Tom Yerace stories, Page 2
Senior housing plan gets preliminary OK from Frazer supervisors
Frazer supervisors waived two development requirements while giving preliminary approval for a senior housing development near Pittsburgh Mills mall. Approval for the plan proposed by Foxlane Homes came after a public hearing on the plan attended by about 10 residents. Mike McAneny, a Foxlane official who did not testify at...
Springdale Township commissioners take step toward removing sewage pump station
Allegheny County has galvanized Springdale Township’s pursuit of a state grant to eliminate the Carson Street sewage pump station. The township received a letter from Nicolas Binfield, of the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, that supports the Carson Street project. The station has been used to pump sewage to...
Burrell superintendent recognized with award for leadership
Shannon Wagner, superintendent of the Burrell School District, is the winner of the 2025 Dr. Jean E. Winsand Distinguished Woman in Education Award. According to the University of Pittsburgh website, the award is presented to a woman who has made a “significant impact and positive difference” throughout her career. It...
Springdale High School work just months away
Plans for renovation work at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School are nearly complete, and a contractor is expected to be hired by mid-May. Terry L. Thompson and Doug Zaenger, vice presidents of Foreman Architects Engineers, whom the Allegheny Valley School Board retained to develop plans for the work, updated the board...
Allegheny Valley school officials approve construction of $2.68 million athletic field
Allegheny Valley School Board has given its final approval for construction of a proposed multipurpose athletic field. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to spend $2.68 million for the field. Located along Butler-Logan Road, across from Springdale Junior-Senior High School, the field will provide a home for the district’s football, soccer...
Freeport Area schools to choose path on costly high school renovations
Residents of Freeport Area School District will learn in May how the school board will address needed improvements at the high school. The school board will choose from two renovation plans, down from nine options they have been pondering for at least two years. A third option would be to...
Brackenridge’s garbage collection bill to increase 7.7%, with another hike anticipated next year
Brackenridge residents are going to be paying more for garbage collection. Council is increasing the fee by $5, to $70 per quarter. That’s about a 7.7% hike. Borough officials said the increase isn’t due to any unforeseen change in the contract with Adamik Refuse, its trash contractor. But they said...
Brackenridge councilman steps down after 8 years
John Stanzione is leaving Brackenridge Council but he really doesn’t want to. Stanzione announced he is resigning at Thursday’s council meeting. He said the reason is his family has outgrown his two-bedroom home on Pacific Avenue and he hasn’t been able to find one in the borough that would suit...
Independence Day fireworks display won’t take place in Tarentum this year after public support fizzled
People looking for fireworks in the sky over Tarentum this Independence Day will see only stars and darkness. After 29 years of sponsoring the annual holiday pyrotechnics, Summit Hose Company members told borough council they no can longer sponsor it. Summit had held the fireworks display every July 3. “We...
Springdale Township mulls offer from Harmar Water Authority to buy Springdale’s system
The Harmar Water Authority is offering to buy the Springdale Township water system. Springdale Township officials said this week the Harmar offer was unsolicited and came in a letter dated Jan. 2, that was dropped off at the township office. The letter, signed by Harmar Water Authority Chairman Jason Domaratz,...
Arnold loses its community development director and controller
Arnold is beginning the new year with two vacant offices at city hall. Council has accepted the resignations of longtime employee Rick Rayburg, currently the city’s community development director, and city Controller Toni Montemurro. Neither attended Tuesday’s council meeting, when their resignations were accepted. While Mayor Shannon Santucci and council...
Nearly 10% tax hike finalized in Harrison
As expected, property owners in Harrison will pay more in real estate taxes next year. Township commissioners approved a $5.9 million budget that raises property taxes by 9.8%, or one-half of a mill, next year. The tax rate increases from 5.106 mills to 5.606 mills. The owner of a property...
Peers say New Kensington’s revitalization efforts paying off
For decades, New Kensington’s elected leaders, business owners and residents have striven to improve the city’s downtown in both image and function. Those efforts now appear to be bearing fruit. The Pennsylvania chapter of the American Planning Association singled out New Kensington’s Fifth Avenue corridor for a Great Transformation award...
Buffalo Elementary to upgrade heating and air conditioning systems
More than $57,000 in improvements on Buffalo Elementary School’s heating and air conditioning system are moving forward. In November, the Freeport Area School Board voted to approve the repairs and upgrades on the school, which was built in 1936. Brad Walker, the district’s business manager, said they’re part of a...
Springdale Junior-Senior High School renovation projects could involve more work
Construction of restrooms at Springdale Junior-Senior High School will be contained to the auditorium lobby area. In a consensus poll of Allegheny Valley School Board members, eight members agreed to that concept as presented by Terry Thompson of the Foreman Group, the design and construction services firm hired by the...
Former West Deer supervisor returns to fill board vacancy
A former supervisor is the newest member of West Deer supervisors in District 1. The supervisors appointed Jeffrey D. Fleming to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Vernon Frey, who left the board because of a change in residence. “He (Frey) is still in the township, but has...
Tarentum property tax could jump 9% next year to help fire companies
Tarentum real estate owners would see their taxes go up 9.1% in 2025 under council’s proposed budget. The $4.7 million proposed budget would raise taxes by one-half mill from the current rate of 5.48 mills. The increase is specifically targeted to benefit the borough’s three fire companies as a fire...
Springdale Township residents will receive water bills late but no late fees due
Springdale Township residents worried about paying late fees for water bills they have not received yet can rest easy. The township commissioners said Thursday that residents have not received water bills or are getting them late this month because of the new meter reading and billing system the township is...
Garbage hauling will cost West Deer residents 34% more next year
Residents of West Deer will be paying 34% more to have their garbage picked up next year. The township supervisors voted unanimously to approve a three-year garbage hauling contract with County Hauling of Belle Vernon. With the new agreement, residents will pay $32.25 per month in 2025, which is an...
Arnold needs almost half-million dollar upgrade to pump station
Arnold needs to renovate a malfunctioning sewage pump station on Riverside Drive to the tune of almost half a million dollars. Council is asking Westmoreland County to approve its request to the state Commonwealth Financing Authority for a $479,000 grant from the Local Share program. City Public Works foreman Joe...
Arnold’s city manager says financial shortfall has been cut by more than half, but still remains
Arnold City Manager Mario Bellavia told council this week that the city is slowly but steadily climbing out of a budget hole. Bellavia said the city was looking at a major financial shortfall after the previous administration erred in creating this year’s budget. The budget overestimated the city’s 2024 revenue...
Freeport passes short-term rental regulations, but parking concerns remain
If and when Airbnb-type rentals start popping up in Freeport, borough officials say they will be ready. Council unanimously approved an ordinance governing short-term rentals offered by businesses such as Airbnb. The ordinance defines short-term rentals as a dwelling unit or part of one, that is available to rent for...
Brackenridge reviving holiday cheer with new decorations after 3-year hiatus
Christmas decorations once again will brighten Brackenridge Avenue this holiday season. Councilman Dino Lopreiato, chairman of parks and recreation, told Brackenridge Council he has ordered decorations to adorn utility poles along the business district’s main street. “Brackenridge Avenue will light up again like it used to,” Lopreiato said. He said...
Buffalo Township hearings set on ordinances for solar energy, repeat emergency responses
The Buffalo Township supervisors have set up a busy night for themselves on Sept. 11. In addition to their normally scheduled meeting at 7:30 p.m., the supervisors will conduct three hearings. Two have been set for 7 p.m. and deal with the adoption of ordinances. One of those ordinance addresses...
Park your car on garbage collection day in Arnold and you risk getting it towed
The rat infestation in Arnold is so bad now that it could result in your car getting towed. City officials have been trying get the problem under control by cutting down on garbage that litters properties, streets and alleys. They say that rats are attracted to garbage that’s left out...
