Fox Chapel Herald category, Page 24
In brief: Alley Bash, community flea market and more in Aspinwall area
July 4 celebration at library Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel will host a Fourth of July celebration from 6-9:45 p.m. Bring a picnic or snacks, enjoy lawn games and listen to a live reading of the Declaration of Independence. The event will be in the Fritz Mitnick Welcome Garden...
O’Hara book-lover turns the page on a new job post-retirement
Karen Fornari grew up walking herself to the public library in her hometown of Indiana, Pa. “From childhood, I was a reader. Nancy Drew was my favorite,” Fornari said. “I always looked for the brand new books and it was exciting.” Her love of books continues post-retirement with a part-time...
Pickleball popularity presents sustainability problems with plastic balls
When pickleball exploded in recent years as America’s favorite sport, the pastime came with collateral damage — plastic neon-colored balls piling up in landfills. More than 500 million pickleballs are manufactured each year, seemingly with nowhere to go, said Jeff Pepper, an avid player from Verona. “The number is huge,”...
Fox Chapel Area student achievements for the week of June 24, 2025
Three Fox Chapel Area School District students were named national winners in the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. In the writing portion of the national contest, Fox Chapel Area High School 2024-2025 freshman Eliana Wellman won a silver medal for her story “The Prankster” in the humor category; and...
Student-led garden at Fox Chapel Area High School to help feed community
An organic idea by two rising Fox Chapel Area seniors is expected to make a lasting impact on their larger school community. James Manges and Aavree Hill are creating a community garden at the high school, the crops from which will help feed those in need. Fruits and veggies will...
Fox Chapel woman trades classroom for career in real estate
Tracy Wiley is wild about real estate. She is the one-woman Realtor behind the brand “Real Estate Gone Wiley,” with social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram that feature Wiley and her advice and tips and tricks for navigating the real estate world in Pittsburgh — with an emphasis on...
Fox Chapel area real estate transactions for the week of June 22, 2025
Etna Estate of Charles Fredwin Osthoff sold property at 42 Cherry St. to Brian Gonzalez for $73,000. Estate of Barbara Synan sold property at 85 Dewey St. to John Becker and Amanda Ireland for $50,000. Daniel Bill sold property at 21 Lincoln St. to Todd Levy for $210,000. Elaine Gazdik...
Memorable girls basketball season leads list of Shady Side Academy 2024-25 highlights
The Shady Side Academy girls basketball team took a crushing loss in the WPIAL Class 3A championship game. The Bulldogs also lost their 6-foot-2 forward Cassie Sauer for their run through the state playoffs. But Shady Side Academy was able to pull itself together and move on to the PIAA...
Wrestler’s resilience highlights winter, spring seasons in Fox Chapel sports
Michael Worsen shouldn’t have even been at the Class 3A Western Regional. But the Fox Chapel senior made the most of his opportunity, entering the tournament as a late scratch and earning a spot at the PIAA tournament at 121 pounds. Worsen, who also crossed the 100-win mark for his...
UPMC St. Margaret opens urology lab, streamlines prostate cancer testing, treatment
A new urology lab with advanced diagnostic testing is up and running at UPMC St. Margaret Hospital to deal with a slow but steady increase in the number of prostate cancer cases diagnosed each year. The second-leading cause of cancer death in men, prostate cancer impacts one in eight men,...
Blawnox considering tax credit for volunteer firefighters
Blawnox firefighters may soon get a tax break. Borough officials are drafting an ordinance that could slash hundreds of dollars from their earned income tax. There are many details that still need to be worked out with the fire department, borough manager Kathy Ulanowicz said on June 11, including criteria...
New ‘pawfficer’ program promotes dog adoption in Fox Chapel
Fox Chapel Borough officials and the Fox Chapel Police Department are looking to beef up dog adoption awareness with a new program. A rescue dog named Mr. Beefaroni was the first of many dogs that will hopefully find their furever homes through the “K9 Officer for a Day” initiative. The...
Fox Chapel Area School District celebrates the class of 2025
Fox Chapel Area High School senior Anna Mohn believes asking odd questions is among the best ways to get to know someone. As editor of the school’s weekly student newspaper, she has sought knowledge such as someone’s hype song, what they are most thankful for and their favorite word. Mohn...
Shady Side Academy’s class of 2025 has impressive future plans
Shady Side Academy’s class of 2025 included 122 graduates who will study at 90 different colleges and universities in 37 states. The academy’s chief marketing officer Diana Toole said that 95% of the students will attend institutions that have been ranked among the nation’s top colleges and universities by U.S....
New Fox Chapel borough manager’s salary information obtained
The new Fox Chapel borough manager’s salary will be $185,000, according to borough records obtained by TribLive. Council unanimously voted May 19 to hire Julie Bastianini as its next top administrator upon the retirement of current manager Gary J. Koehler. Her salary was not listed in the May meeting minutes...
Shady Side Academy reportedly rethinking proposed west entrance to Fox Chapel campus
Shady Side Academy officials are expected to change their plans for an entrance on the west side of the Upper School campus. Fox Chapel Mayor Alex Scott, borough manager Gary Koehler, several council members and others met with academy leaders behind closed doors to discuss the project on May 21....
In brief: July 4 celebration at library, water valve replacement and more in Aspinwall area
July 4 celebration at library Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel will host a Fourth of July celebration from 6-9:45 p.m. Bring a picnic or snacks, enjoy lawn games and listen to a live reading of the Declaration of Independence. The event will be in the Fritz Mitnick Welcome Garden...
Fox Chapel Borough Manager Gary Koehler set to retire after 40 years of government service
Gary Koehler remembers being fascinated by project designs when he was growing up in Shaler. He would watch as his father, Jack, a township volunteer planning commissioner, reviewed various documents and architectural drawings. “As a little boy, 12 years old, he would bring home plans and put them on the...
Fox Chapel Area School Board approves 2025-26 budget with 2.3% tax increase
Fox Chapel Area School District officials have approved next school year’s budget with a 2.3% tax hike and no cuts to programs or services. The board voted unanimously on its 2025-26 spending plan on June 9. The millage rate jumps from 21.51 mills to 22 mills, about a 0.5-mill increase....
Fox Chapel Area student achievements for the week of June 17, 2025
Five Fox Chapel Area School District students were named winners in the 2025 WQED Writers Contest. Fairview Elementary School second-grader Theresa Zigler was named a first-place winner for her story “The Case of the Missing Guitar.” Kerr Elementary School first-grader Ameena Searight won first place for her story “Ameena’s Silly...
Fox Chapel area real estate transactions for the week of June 15, 2025
Aspinwall 211 Commercial Avenue LLC sold property at 211 Commercial Ave. to Bird On The Run LLC for $667,000. Blawnox Estate of Gary Miller sold property at 715 Laurel St. to Alyssa Guzzie for $53,000. Etna PWP1 LLC sold property at 41 High St. to David Miller Jr. and Valerie...
Penn State football’s WPIAL players discuss hopes for next season at Fox Chapel event
Penn State redshirt senior tight end Khalil Dinkins felt prepared when the Nittany Lions reached college football’s biggest stage last season. How Penn State has prepared this summer since reaching the semifinals of the first 12-team College Football Playoff last season hasn’t felt much different to Dinkins. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound...
3 boats from Fox Chapel compete at scholastic rowing national championships
This wasn’t the best spring for training for rowing competitions. The Fox Chapel rowing crew was able to make accommodations to put them in the best spot for success. Niko Vavpetic and his teammates — Gavin Nguyen, Keitaro Inada and Ian Wellman — will line up their rowing machines on...
Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired modern home on the market in Fox ChapelVideo
A nature-inspired luxury home featuring modern, new construction is on the market in Fox Chapel. The eight-foot custom Douglas fir front door is the first sign of the craftsmanship in this contemporary home with an open floor plan, listed by Howard Hanna Realtor Molly Finley. Finley noted that the property,...
Fox Chapel teen finalist in global sustainable fashion competition
Green is the way to go for a Fox Chapel teen with a passion for recycled-inspired sustainable fashion. Raina Guzman of Fox Chapel was named a Junk Kouture New York World finalist in May in the 2025 Junk Kouture World Final competition. Junk Kouture is marketed as the world’s first...
