Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 98
The top stories for the week of Dec. 13Video
Here are some of the region’s top stories for the week of Dec. 13: PennDOT pouring $10 million into Route 356 Route 356 in Buffalo Township will be expanded to five lanes through a $10 million PennDOT project. The plan targets the area near Buffalo Plaza, which houses Buffalo Pizza,...
Brentwood Borough High School closed after increase of covid cases
Brentwood Borough Middle/High School is closed through Tuesday after seven positive covid-19 cases were reported in the building. Superintendent Amy Burch alerted families through a letter on the district’s website that the virus was reported in six student cases and one staff member. “The year is going out very much...
Pittsburgh region sees record day for snow
It was a record day for snow Wednesday across the Pittsburgh region, with a total of 9.3 inches making it the fifth highest December calendar-day total, officials at the National Weather Service said. The No. 1 spot still belongs to a storm that dumped 22 inches of snow in 1890....
Shaler expands tax credit for fire volunteers to include retirees
Shaler Commissioners are expanding the township’s tax assistance for fire volunteers by offering a property tax credit to department retirees and others who qualify. Manager Tim Rogers said the township currently offers firefighters a $300 earned income tax (EIT) credit but wanted to extend a hand to fire volunteers that...
Fox Chapel Area School Board elects new leadership
Fox Chapel Area School Board has new leadership. Marybeth Dadd was elected president, and Ron Frank was elected vice president. Dadd, who represents the district’s Region 3, said her priority is to work with fellow members to keep schools safe and help families get through the covid-19 pandemic. Once a...
Blawnox holds line on taxes; suspends road paving in 2021
Blawnox residents will pay the same real estate taxes to the borough in 2021 but revenue loss related to covid-19 will suspend road improvements in the new year. Council approved the borough’s $2.6 million budget on Dec. 10, keeping the property tax rate at 9.85 mills. The owner of a...
Aspinwall’s Christ the Divine Teacher bucks remote learning trend, remains full-time in-person and covid-free
Students at the Catholic elementary school in Aspinwall have been in full-time in-person learning since the beginning of the school year, bucking a trend across the region which has so many districts switching between remote and classroom instruction. Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy, which houses about 190 students in...
Rally set for North Allegheny over district’s extended remote learning plan
Some parents upset with North Allegheny’s new remote learning plan are expected to rally at the intermediate school at 9 a.m. Monday, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. The group, North Allegheny Parents for In-Person Education, disagrees with the district’s plan to keep students learning from home through Jan. 18....
Top stories from across the Lower Valley from the week of Dec. 6Video
Here are some of the past week’s top stories from across the Lower Valley: • Fox Chapel approves tentative budget with no tax increase Fox Chapel residents will likely pay the same real estate taxes to the borough in 2021 thanks to council’s tentative approval of an $8.6 million budget....
Fox Chapel Area students offer array of fundraisers in telethon to benefit Sharpsburg Community Library
Fox Chapel Area residents can tune in to watch the district’s 31st annual telethon, beginning at 11 a.m. on Dec. 23. Students will stream the fundraiser on the Swift Fox Media YouTube Channel, the link for which will be available on the district’s website and its Facebook page. For the...
Stocking stuffer rivalry between Riverview, Springdale school districts benefits the homeless
A rivalry is brewing between Riverview and Springdale students, but this time it’s a race to get on Santa’s nice list. The school districts are dueling to help the region’s homeless community by collecting small, stuffed stockings to deliver to shelters this holiday season. “There is no greater gift than...
Giant Eagle to leave 1 of 3 offices in O’Hara’s RIDC Park
One of O’Hara’s largest employers will vacate leased township office space as the lingering covid-19 pandemic impacts its corporate operations. Giant Eagle will not renew its lease at 701 Alpha Drive, one of three office buildings it occupies in RIDC Park off Route 28. The building sits on 8.2 acres...
Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization awarded tax credits to help with employment programs, flood insurance costs
Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization is among several groups selected by the state to receive tax credits to assist with employment programs and training for residents, officials announced on Dec. 8. The nonprofit along South Main Street will receive $75,000, a portion of which will be used to reduce costs for flood...
Fox Chapel Area returns to in-person classes, reports 10 active covid-19 cases in district
As Fox Chapel Area students returned to in-person classes this week, officials said there is no current plan for middle and high school students to be in the buildings on a full-time basis. Elementary students have returned to five-day, in-person classes but older students will remain in a hybrid learning...
Shaler Area Elementary School counselor chosen as top in state for 2020
A longtime Shaler Area Elementary School counselor was named the top counselor in Pennsylvania for her efforts to foster kindness and acceptance in her young students. Lezlie DelVecchio-Marks was chosen as the state’s School Counselor of the Year by the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association (PSCA) during the group’s annual conference...
Fox Chapel property tax rate likely to remain steady
Fox Chapel residents will likely pay the same real estate taxes to the borough in 2021 thanks to council’s tentative approval of an $8.6 million budget. The property tax rate is expected to remain the same at 2.95 mills. If the final budget is approved, the owner of a home...
Shaler Area girls volleyball team raises money for Glenshaw Century Club
Shaler Area girls volleyball coach Paul Stadelman teaches his team that small individual contributions turn into large team success. He does that on the court and off. At the start of every season, each of his players commits to giving up something she enjoys – cookies, gum, chocolate – no...
News briefs: Indiana Township seeks volunteers for parks board, historical and shade tree commissions
Indiana Township welcoming letters of interest for various positions Indiana Township is accepting letters of interest from people who want to serve on the historical commission, shade tree commission and parks and recreation board. Send letters to Township Manager Dan Anderson, 3710 Saxonburg Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15238. Trib journalism scholarships...
Shaler Area extends online learning model through Jan. 4
Shaler Area students will continue virtual learning a bit longer than expected. Superintendent Sean Aiken alerted families on Friday that the district will extend its remote learning model at least through the beginning of January. Officials had planned to resume in-person instruction the week of Dec. 14 but because of...
Etna approves non-discrimination ordinance to protect from bias in housing, jobs
Just after being elected to Etna council in 2019, Jessica Semler introduced an anti-discrimination ordinance to support marginalized residents. “I ran for council as an openly queer woman because representation matters,” Semler said. The ordinance prohibits bias based on race, sexual orientation, family status, age and other identifiers. It follows...
Blawnox policeman receives ‘Top Gun’ award for DUI-related arrests
Blawnox police Officer Nickalas Hawk thwarted 28 people from driving drunk on borough roads in 2019. For his efforts, Hawk was honored with a “Top Gun” award from the Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association. He is among 21 officers throughout the state to be lauded for their work to...
O’Hara to have special meeting to interview candidates for council vacancy; holiday food drive on tap
O’Hara council will have a special meeting Monday to interview candidates for the 3rd Ward vacancy. The township needs to appoint someone to serve the balance of Scott Frankowski’s term through 2021. Frankowski resigned from council in November after taking a job that prohibits him from serving in local politics....
Shaler Area, teacher’s union reach 1-year contract extension
Shaler Area teachers will see a 3.9% pay increase in the 2021-22 school year, according to a contract extension approved Dec. 2 by the school board. The teacher’s union and the board agreed to a one-year extension of their contract, which was set to expire on Aug. 15, 2021. Highlights...
Townhouse development proposed for former Bell Harbor Yacht Club site in O’Hara
Development at the former Bell Harbor Yacht Club site in O’Hara might move forward, more than 10 years after an original proposal to township council. Don Housley from River Road Development on Dec. 1 presented the Miramar Landing plan for 38 single-family townhouse units that would include parking, patios or...
Administrator of new Shaler Area parish urging members to ‘focus on the whole’
Recent parish mergers by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh can be likened to Jesus’ death and resurrection, according to the Rev. James Gretz, administrator of a new grouping in the Shaler area. “In this corner of the Kingdom, we travel that same path,” Gretz said. “There are things through which...
