Tom Yerace stories, Page 2
Harrison commissioners deadlock on a 1st Ward representative, vacancy board will try to choose
Harrison still needs a fifth township commissioner. The four sitting commissioners failed to agree on appointing someone to fill the vacant 1st Ward seat formerly held by Chuck Dizard, who resigned last month after serving 10 years on the board. A decision on filling the vacancy now goes to the...
Lower Burrell Council OK’s vehicle sales, purchase
Lower Burrell Council has approved the sale of three used vehicles and the purchase of a new one. Two of the vehicles are police vehicles that brought in a total of $15,100. Both are Ford Explorer Police Interceptor models, 2017 and 2020. The winning bid of the 2020 Interceptor, submitted...
Freeport Area schools plan AI as a tool, not a crutch, in classrooms
Freeport Area School District teachers are learning how to use and teach artificial intelligence in their classrooms. Superintendent Ian Magness told the school board a district committee of 16 teachers and administrators mapped out how to approach the use of AI. He said that effort began about two years ago...
Lower Burrell adds streets to paving plans
Three streets are being added to Lower Burrell’s paving program this year. Council approved the paving of Clarendon Avenue, Tioga Street and Prospect Circle, which were not among the streets council approved in July as part of the paving program. The original streets, located primarily in the city’s Kinloch section,...
Springdale Council tables action on proposed parking ordinance near high school
Springdale residents expecting a proposed parking ordinance will have to wait until at least next month. Council voted 4-2 to table any action on the matter to the July 15 meeting. Residents living near Springdale Junior-Senior High School are concerned about how the ordinance will affect them, family members and...
Federal money to benefit Arnold’s firefighters, parks, sewage system
Two of Arnold’s recreation sites are in line to get some improvements though the city’s latest Community Development Block Grant allocations. They are among seven projects likely to get funded from about $300,000 in federal cash. Katie Robson, a part-time financial clerk for the city, outlined the possible uses of...
Buffalo Township supervisors delay vote on solar farms after residents blast the plans
Buffalo Township residents voicing concerns about two proposed solar farms prompted the supervisors to postpone a vote on the facilities. Residents were united in their opposition to SolAmerica’s proposal at two public hearings Wednesday. The hearings, which were attended by about 35 residents and went on for almost three hours,...
East Deer lays out steps for delinquent service payments
Employees and customers of East Deer’s water department are getting firm regulations to follow when it comes to delinquent payments. Commissioners approved a formal policy regarding such payments, not only for water bills but also for refuse collection and sewer maintenance payments. “It’s just a policy that (township Manager) Chrystal...
East Deer wants better repaving after utility work under streets
East Deer Commissioners want to make utility companies do more when it comes to repairing streets they dig up. Commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani said he’s looking at revising the township’s street opening ordinance and wants the rest of the commissioners to do the same. “I’m bringing it to your attention...
Still no vote on Lower Burrell allowing alcohol at city park events
A final city council decision on allowing alcoholic beverages at Lower Burrell park events is being pushed back again. For the second time in two months, council tabled a vote on a proposed ordinance to allow alcoholic beverages to be served at events in city parks. The measure would permit...
Springdale hires new manager away from his same position in Latrobe
Terry Carcella worked for several municipalities, in different capacities, while constructing a 42-year municipal government career. Now, he can add the Springdale Borough manager position to that list, as borough council hired him with a unanimous vote Tuesday. On May 27, he’ll assume his new post, which has been vacant...
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...
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