Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 97
Blawnox encourages residents of all ages to pick up a good book at its new Little Free Library
From Dr. Seuss to James Patterson, Blawnox residents have access to a revolving list of good reads at the borough’s new Little Free Library along Freeport Road. Borough officials gathered Oct. 29 near the Veteran’s Memorial to celebrate the opening of the 2-foot-by-2-foot box filled with free books for all...
Shaler Area students present virtual performance of classic tale ‘Little Women’
Shaler Area Theater Director Anne Loudon never expected to produce one of her favorite shows, “Little Women,” because of its small cast. Ironically, covid-19 and its accompanying restrictions changed that. “I have wanted to do this show for years, however, we usually like to produce a larger show to give...
Chick-fil-A in O’Hara expected to open by February
Work continues on the construction of fast food giant, Chick-fil-A, going up along Freeport Road in O’Hara. The restaurant will open at the far end of Fox Chapel Plaza where Rita’s Ice once stood. Despite construction delays because of covid-19 restrictions, the restaurant is expected to open by February, Township...
Aspinwall awarded $537,000 from ALCOSAN for Western Avenue sewer project
The Western Avenue sewer project in Aspinwall will be paid in large part with money from the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN). The borough has been awarded $537,199 through ALCOSAN’s GROW program, marking the third time the authority has prioritized stormwater overflow projects in Aspinwall. Work is expected to start...
Minimal lines at polling sites mid-day across the Lower Valley
Lines were minimal at polling sites across the Lower Valley just before noon Tuesday but poll workers expected a rush later in the day. At the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Department along Freeport Road, traffic cones were set up to keep voters 6 feet apart. Poll workers wore masks and had...
Optimist Club replaces in-person toy collection with drive-thru event in O’Hara
The Pittsburgh North Optimist Foundation won’t let covid-19 thwart its annual effort to collect holiday gifts for needy children. Members of the Fox Chapel-based club are hosting a toy drive-thru to replace their typical in-person fundraiser. The event will be noon to 3 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Lauri...
Shaler Area not considering 5-day, in-person learning at this time
Shaler Area School District leaders are not considering a return to full-time, in-person classes at the moment, Superintendent Sean Aiken told families last week. Students in mid-October began a hybrid model, with two days of in-school learning, after having started the year entirely online. “The next question is when we...
Top stories from across the Lower Valley for the week of Oct. 26
Here’s some of the top stories across the Lower Valley this week: • Fox Chapel will have a meeting to gather input on “Squaw.” A meeting will be held Nov. 9 with Fox Chapel officials and residents of Squaw Run Road and Squaw Run Road East to gather input on...
Fox Chapel lands $442,000 grant for Hardie Valley Park development
On the heels of the new 17-acre Hardie Valley Park opening in Fox Chapel, officials announced the borough was awarded a nearly $450,000 grant to help with development. Money will help pay a six-year, three-phase improvement plan for the space off Old Mill Road. In all, work is expected to...
Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy celebrates Halloween with parade
Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy students participated in the annual Halloween parade through the Aspinwall business district Oct. 29. “Although it looks different than years past, the kids had a fun time,” said Katie Lovett, school director of marketing. Every year, the 100 or so students from CDTCA march...
Girl Scout Troop from Dorseyville Middle School builds 3 little libraries for Aspinwall, O’Hara
Settling down with a good page-turner will be easier now for residents in Aspinwall and O’Hara thanks to the efforts of Girl Scout Troop 52231. Members constructed three little libraries which were installed at the Aspinwall playground and Fireman’s Park, and at Lauri Ann West Community Center on Powers Run...
Polling places: Where to vote in the Shaler area
Here’s a list of where you can vote Nov. 3 in the Shaler area: • Etna: Calvert Memorial Presbyterian Church, 94 Locust St.; and All Saints Church, 19 Wilson St. • Millvale: Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave.; Christ Lutheran Church, 917 Evergreen Ave.; and Holy Spirit School, 608 Farragut...
10-year-old Shaler student stops spotted lanternfly in its tracks
Ten-year-old Ludi Aguera didn’t realize the significance of the bug she squashed at the Shaler Area Elementary School track – she just thought it was a cool-looking moth. “I had no idea what it was,” said Ludi, who stumbled across a spotted lanternfly — an invasive insect with the potential...
Shady Side Academy students to livestream a production of ‘Alice in Wonderland’
Take a ride down the rabbit hole with Shady Side Academy students as they present “Alice In Wonderland – A Radio Play,” streamed live to accommodate covid-19 restrictions. “I have loved this story since I was a child and am grateful for an opportunity to perform,” said junior Ava Kronman,...
Polling places: Where to vote in the Fox Chapel area
Here’s a list of where you can vote Nov. 3 in each of the six municipalities in the Fox Chapel Area School District: • Aspinwall: Municipal building, 217 Commercial Ave.; Aspinwall Fire Hall, 2201 12th St.; and St. Scholastica Church, 300 Maple Ave. • Blawnox: Blawnox Fire Hall, 376 Freeport...
Shaler Area alum awarded STEM scholarship for junior, senior years at Saint Vincent College
Shaler Area graduate Grace Tavitas is blazing a trail for young female academics with a passion for science. The Saint Vincent College junior was named a Clare Boothe Luce scholar, earning full-ride tuition, room and board for her final two years of undergraduate studies. The Shaler resident is an engineering...
Sharpsburg street fair features costumes, crafts and community art
A Halloween-themed vendor fair in Sharpsburg brought out ghouls and witches but also offered visitors some candy-themed science experiments, fall crafts and the chance to participate in borough art installations. Shop Sharpsburg Street Fair on Oct. 24 was a way to show off the business corridor and engage the community....
Free covid-19 testing in Millvale, Penn Hills, Squirrel Hill
Free covid-19 tests will be offered in Millvale today through a mobile unit of the Squirrel Hill Health Center. Tests will be available from 9 a.m. to noon in the municipal building parking lot between Butler and Black streets. No doctor’s referral is necessary. Anyone that has symptoms is encouraged...
Fox Chapel will host private meeting with some residents to hear input on ‘Squaw’
Residents of Squaw Run Road and Squaw Run Road East in Fox Chapel will get a final chance to provide input on their road names — and whether the word Squaw is removed — during a private meeting Nov. 9. Council will host a closed meeting with residents to hear...
Sharpsburg’s $3.5 million Ravine Street sewer project on hold
A stormwater project expected to help alleviate flooding near Ravine Street in Sharpsburg is on hold. Work was scheduled to begin in November but PennDOT Spokesman Steve Cowan said bids for the proposed $3.5 million project came in higher than expected. “We are looking at what options are available to...
News briefs: Trunk-or-treat, cooking class for kids on tap
Salem United Methodist Church invites you to trunk-or-treat from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. Come in costume to get a head start on your Halloween fun in the safety of the church’s parking lot, 350 Manor Road, Wexford. For more information, email CommunityLife@Salem-umc.org. Hillman Performing Arts Series lineup...
News briefs: Boo Bash, Hillman Performing Arts Series on tap
Fox Chapel Area High School students are sponsoring a Boo Bash Drive-Thru on Oct. 29. It is free to children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and is sponsored by the high school student government, National Honor Society, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the community outreach committee. High...
O’Hara manufacturer named Small Business Administration Exporter of the Year
A third-generation O’Hara manufacturer was named the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Western Pennsylvania Exporter of the Year. Sauereisen, Inc., along Gamma Drive in RIDC Park, is a locally owned coating company that, since 1899, has produced corrosion-resistant materials commonly used in household appliances. “We’re not a commodity material provider but...
Fox Chapel’s Hardie Valley Park open to the public
Fox Chapel officials hosted a private opening ceremony Oct. 17 to usher in its newest amenity, Hardie Valley Park. The 17-acre parcel off Old Mill Road is now open to the public, largely for passive recreation such as walking or bird watching. The park opening included members of the land’s...
Aspinwall seeking volunteers for Green Streets cleanup
Aspinwall’s yearly street cleanup is moving forward, though participants will have to register for a specific area to handle this year. “Green Streets” will be Oct. 23-25. A borough tradition, the cleanup typically sees crowds of people canvassing roads, walkways and green spaces to collect litter. In past years, there...
