Fox Chapel Herald category, Page 163
Girl dies after ATV crash while riding with dad, sister in Fox Chapel yard
A 5-year-old Fox Chapel girl died Thursday evening when the all-terrain vehicle on which she was riding with her father and sister crashed, according to police. The crash occurred near Guyasuta and Longfellow roads shortly before 7:30 p.m. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the girl as Annabel Whittingham....
ScareHouse to create Scream District in Strip District
Pittsburgh’s popular haunted attraction ScareHouse is transforming. The creators of ScareHouse, formerly housed on Locust Street in Etna, will present a new attraction called “The Scream District” in a new temporary home in the Strip District. An exact location has not been revealed. The new iteration of the ScareHouse will...
New study shows optimists live longer
As Monty Python says: “Always look on the bright side of life.” Turns out, those funny Brits hit upon a very healthy outlook. A new analysis of two previous studies shows that optimists have a better chance of reaching age 85 and older. “A lot of evidence suggests that exceptional...
‘BEEP for B’man’ a great reason to lay on your hornVideo
Motorists have a great excuse to lay on their horns in O’Hara. Fourteen-year-old Bill Carney, also known as B’man, sits at the corner of Fox Chapel and Freeport roads in Fox Chapel Plaza several evenings a week. His mission? Soliciting honks, beeps and waves from the driving public. A large...
Photos: Fox Chapel’s first day of school
Nearly 4,000 students headed back to class Aug. 22 in the Fox Chapel Area School District. As is tradition, school administrators and board members hopped on the buses first thing in the morning and rode to the district’s six buildings along with the youngsters. It’s a way to ease any...
Grant to help with Aspinwall sewer line project
An Allegheny County grant worth $85,000 will cover the gap in cost for a major storm sewer line project in Aspinwall. The borough was awarded the money through the county’s Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund (CITF), Manager Melissa Lang said. Aspinwall previously earned $477,000 through ALCOSAN’s Green Revitalization of Our...
Longtime Blawnox police chief George Bucha retires at 81
Blawnox police Chief George Bucha signed off for the final time with his 2501 code on July 31. But the lifelong borough resident guaranteed he’ll still be a familiar sight in the community. “I consider everyone in town family,” said Bucha, 81. “That’s what’s nice about a small town. You...
Aspinwall paving work set to begin
Aspinwall paving is finally set to begin, officials said Tuesday. A bid was awarded Aug. 14 that will target four borough roads, including Field Avenue, which has been a priority for council. Members approved $100,000 for the annual road improvement program with a paving list that includes 6th Street, Center...
Photos: Final touches put on Kerr Elementary
Palumbo Construction is making the final upgrades to the new Kerr Elementary School on Kittanning Pike in O’Hara. Students will be welcomed Aug. 22 for the start of the school year at Fox Chapel Area School District. The $21 million building includes all new designs with a SMALLab learning space...
Fox Chapel soccer season kicks off against Pine-Richland
The Fox Chapel varsity boys soccer team kicks off its regular season on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. against Pine-Richland. The game is at Fox Chapel Area High School along Field Club Road. Next up, the Foxes will take on Shaler in an away game at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5....
Lauri Ann West Community Center opening earlier
Good news for folks who like to get their early morning exercise on. Lauri Ann West Community Center is rolling back its hours so that doors open at 5:30 a.m. weekdays. New hours begin Sept. 3. “We heard the feedback, and we know that people like to come to the...
Blawnox unveils new website
Blawnox council is keeping its promise to provide better communication with residents through a newly unveiled website. The site, blawnox.com, debuted this week and is designed to be more user-friendly, officials said. Residents can pay utility bills, report concerns and view council meeting minutes. “The borough had received a grant...
St. Margaret employees raise more than $129K for patients in need
The employee giving campaign hosted by St. Margaret Foundation drew record-breaking results this year, topping $129,000 to help patients in need. President Mary Lee Gannon said the total reaffirms that UPMC St. Margaret employees are confident that the foundation makes a meaningful difference. “They see first-hand the tragedies our patients...
Aspinwall’s National Night Out raises $20,000
More than $20,000 will be split among Aspinwall’s first responders, thanks to the most successful National Night Out in the borough’s 10-year event history. Hosted by Aspinwall Neighborhood Watch, the event on Aug. 6 drew 1,200 revelers to the community ball fields for a night of appreciation for emergency responders....
Sharpsburg and Etna National Night Out honored first responders
Sharpsburg and Etna celebrated their inaugural National Night Out on Aug. 6, drawing crowds to meet and greet with local first responders. Hosted at the Gateway Portal, along Bridge and North Main streets, the shared event was meant to boost relationships among neighbors and emergency personnel. “It was a fun...
Roots of Faith’s VBS a success
Roots of Faith’s vacation bible school had children roaring with laughter, friendship and lessons on Christianity through themed activities at “God’s Wild Kingdom Camp.” The Rev. Scott Shaffer, pastor at Roots’ sister church Faith United Methodist, summed up the successful program by saying, “Life is Wild, God is Good.” About...
Jessica Brickman and Michael Mitnick announce engagement
Michael Mitnick, son of Barry and Margy Mitnick of Fox Chapel, and Jessica Brickman, daughter of Marshall and Nina Brickman of New York, N.Y., have announced their engagement. The couple met at the wedding of Jessica’s sister. Michael, a 2002 Fox Chapel Area High School graduate, received his bachelor’s degree...
Police attend Kerr Elementary student’s birthday party
There were flashing lights at Cruz Elliot’s birthday party, but not the kind you’d expect at a 7-year-old’s celebration. To mark his big day, the Kerr Elementary youngster requested to spend the day with his “best friends” — police officers from across the Lower Valley. “It was my best day!”...
Squaw Valley Park tennis courts closed
The tennis courts at Squaw Valley Park in O’Hara remain closed after a portion of the surface buckled, township officials announced. Manager Julie Jakubec said she expects repairs to be made within two weeks, weather permitting. “There is a roll towards the back left corner,” she said. “We are waiting...
This week in the Lower Alle-Kiski Valley
Here are some of the news highlights from around the Lower Valley for the week of Aug. 4: • Blawnox cracks down on code violations. • Fox Chapel Area ready for new school year. • Fox Chapel pastor encourages unity in wake of recent shootings nationwide. • Rabies bait to...
Fox Chapel Farmers Market enjoys success in 9th season
The smell of freshly baked pizza wafted across the campus of Shady Side Academy Senior School on a Wednesday afternoon while the sounds of jazz played in the background. Dozens of people strolled between vendors at the Fox Chapel Farmers Market, in its ninth season, near the school’s McIlroy Center...
In wake of recent shootings, Fox Chapel pastor aims to ‘build community’
In the wake of a deadly weekend during which 32 people were killed in mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, a local preacher is stretching out his arms and inviting people of all denominations to his Fox Chapel church. “We need to build community,” said the Rev....
Fox Chapel’s Kerr Elementary ready to welcome students back to school
The countdown is on. In just about a week, Fox Chapel Area students will head back to class. District officials have been busy readying new courses, programs and building upgrades for the Aug. 22 start. Kerr Elementary students will start the year in the new $21 million building that was...
Glass recycling event coming to O’Hara
A pop-up event in O’Hara will give residents a chance to discard glass items which will be recycled into mayonnaise jars, beer bottles and other consumer products. The collection will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14 in the municipal lot, 325 Fox Chapel Road. Presented by the Pennsylvania...
Blawnox cracking down on code violations
Blawnox code enforcement will have extra teeth thanks to an ordinance recently approved by council. The Quality of Life law is meant to enable Code Enforcement Officer Mallori McDowell to crack down on time-sensitive issue like high grass, trash and snow removal. “The biggest problem we had was that the...
