Fox Chapel Herald category, Page 9
Youth swimming coach from Aspinwall honored as one of nation’s best
Jim Skirboll has slowly had to let go of some of his favorite references. Skirboll, a 60-year-old Aspinwall resident, has spent 38 years coaching swimming. The owner of Racer X Aquatics has had to alter his messaging. “My style hasn’t changed too much over the years,” Skirboll said. “I’ve had...
Fox Chapel volleyball in search of consistency
The Fox Chapel girls volleyball team is in search of a consistent second hitter. Foxes coach Diana Andreyko saw flashes of what Lucy DiRocco can bring to the table Sept. 16 against Penn Hills. DiRocco finished with a team-high nine kills as the Foxes swept the Indians, 25-15, 25-22, 25-5,...
Fox Chapel boys soccer not resting on laurels
Fox Chapel boys soccer coach Erik Ingram is excited about the attitude the Foxes have approached this season with. The senior class Ingram has isn’t interested in reveling in the past. The Foxes won their first WPIAL Class 4A championship in 30 years last season, which was the sixth championship...
Sharpsburg group encourages residents to join Rivertown Changemakers; program also open to Etna and Millvale
Lori Claus doesn’t live in Sharpsburg but that didn’t stop her from wanting to get involved in the small river town. Three years ago, she stumbled upon a webinar offered by the Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization on how to implement community-minded projects. It resulted in the O’Hara resident spearheading an initiative...
North Hills capitalizes on mistakes to roll past Fox Chapel, pick up 1st win
Both North Hills and Fox Chapel came into Friday searching for Class 5A Northeast Conference win No. 1. The Indians were also in search of their first win of the season, and they used three first-half turnovers on the way to a 56-7 victory over the Foxes. “I thought we...
Business tax proposed in Blawnox
Blawnox officials are considering implementing a business tax that would charge $400 to those providing goods or services in the borough. The potential new revenue stream for the small Allegheny County municipality was proposed at a council meeting on Sept. 10. Borough officials hope to have a draft ordinance ready...
In brief: Hall of fame nominations, beer crawl and more in O’Hara area
Hall of Fame nominations Sharpsburg Historical Commission is accepting nominations for this year’s Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame class. The commission seeks nominations for athletes, coaches and/or teams from the borough to be inducted later this year. Nominations will be accepted through the end of September. Inductees will be announced...
Old Thunder Brewing reveals official Blawnox centennial brew
Blawnox officials have tapped Old Thunder Brewing Co. to create the official beer of the borough’s centennial celebration. The 100th anniversary event is set for noon-8 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Blawnox Community Park. Old Thunder co-owners Josh Taylor, Rob Dillman and Zach Gordon debuted cans of its festive libation,...
A true love story: Penn Hills High School sweethearts celebrate 75 years of marriage
Sitting side by side, Harold McKamish with his arm around his wife, Daisy, the couple recalled the first time they met. They were juniors at Penn Hills High School — seated next to each other in Spanish class. The year prior, Daisy was chosen as sophomore queen. Each class had...
Fox Chapel area student achievements for the week of Sept. 16, 2025
Fox Chapel Area High School ninth-grader Rishabh Krishnamurthy has been named one of the Top 300 Junior Innovators in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge for the third consecutive year. Thermo Fisher JIC is the nation’s premier science, technology, engineering and math competition for middle school students and...
Blawnox marks 100 years forged by ‘working-class ethic’
Historian Tom Powers is giving residents a peek into the evolution of Blawnox as the town prepares to celebrate its centennial. Born from a forested riverbank that transformed into Depreciation Lands, Blawnox was originally known as the village of Hoboken before growing into a bona fide manufacturing hub. “Even with...
Much-anticipated return of Sharpsburg Open Streets eyed for borough bicentennial
One of Sharpsburg’s biggest events is set to make a return next year to coincide with the borough’s bicentennial. Open Streets, which in the past drew more than 3,000 people for a Main Street festival, is a fitting addition to the anniversary lineup, organizers said. It will showcase how the...
O’Hara area real estate transactions for the week of Sept. 14, 2025
Etna Michael Motta sold property at 8 Robertson Pl to Elaine Vuksic for $234,900. Harmar William Swaskoski sold property at 116 School Ave. to Max Rayburg and Marissa Baker for $280,000. Indiana Maronda Homes LLC sold property at 3342 Lenox Drive to Thomas Holbrock and Maggie Rachele Duer for $664,030....
Fox Chapel football’s next challenge: Beating a blue blood
Blue blood season is coming up for the Fox Chapel football program. Coach Dave Leasure is excited to see his program measure up to some of the WPIAL Class 5A programs that make up the cream of the crop of the Northeast Conference. The Foxes, which entered a road matchup...
With nod to past, Shady Side Academy boys soccer working to tighten up in future
Ed Ellsworth wants every group of Shady Side Academy boys soccer players to know that they have a strong support system in place. The goal is for the Bulldogs to become part of the pipeline once they move on in life. Ellsworth said Shady Side Academy had 12 alumni drop...
Old Dominion commit Emma DiRocco takes on multiple roles for young Fox Chapel volleyball team
Emma DiRocco feels most comfortable playing middle blocker. The 6-foot-2 senior for the Fox Chapel girls volleyball team is asked to do much more than that. DiRocco is the most experienced player on a Foxes’ roster that is filled with young players. During Fox Chapel’s Section 4-4A opening loss against...
Freshman ace fits right in on Fox Chapel tennis team
Zoey Liu feels fortunate to share a home with the sparring partner she has on the tennis court. Zoey, who is Fox Chapel’s No. 1 singles player as a freshman, will often play with her 11-year-old brother, Luca. “My dad used to hit with us a little bit,” Zoey said....
Infields at the Aspinwall ball fields being improved
The fields at the Aspinwall Recreational Area along Field Avenue are getting an upgrade in time for fall ball. Crews from Mars-based Treesdale Landscaping Company went to work on the infields in both play areas on Sept. 2. Work includes removing humps on the infield edges that roll into the...
Sharpsburg Community Library courtyard to be renovated
Sara Mariacher has a vision of people reading, doing crafts and enjoying each other’s company outdoors. The Sharpsburg Community Library branch manager sees just that in the near future for the courtyard at 1212 Main St. “I’m an idea person,” Mariacher said. “We’ll definitely be incorporating more outdoor activities into...
Sharpsburg awards paving contract, welcomes new public works laborer
Sharpsburg officials plan to spend about $133,000 to repave a pair of roads this fall. Council unanimously voted to award paving contracts to Donora-based El Grande Industries on Aug. 28. Roads to be repaired are Ali Street and Penn Street, from School t0 Ninth streets. Borough Manager Christine DeRunk said...
Shaler Area School District hires business manager from Fox Chapel Area
The Shaler Area School District has a new business manager. During a special voting meeting Wednesday, Sept. 10, the school board approved hiring Kimberly Pawlishak as director of finance and operations for a three-year term beginning on or about Dec. 10. Her salary was set at $140,000. Pawlishak is coming...
In brief: Craft beer crawl, Art in Recovery and more in Aspinwall area
Contract approved Blawnox council voted 6-0 on Aug. 13 to approve a new contract with borough fire marshal John Simmons to do annual fire inspections at businesses, industrial properties and multi-residential properties. Councilwoman Elaine Palmer was absent. Borough manager Kathy Ulanowicz said the terms of the contract are until either...
Fox Chapel Area Adult Education is back with crochet, cocktails and chair yoga
From crochet to pickleball and pottery to guitar, a world of learning opportunities is opening in Fox Chapel — and for these classes, children aren’t the ones headed back to class. Fox Chapel Area Adult Education opened registration on a slew of unique, quirky and traditional courses that will run...
Chris Bason ready to soar with new role at Audubon Society, headquartered in Fox Chapel
After two decades targeting the environmental health of Delaware’s three inland bays, Chris Bason is pivoting his focus to land and birds. Bason is the new executive director of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, headquartered at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel. He began the role Sept. 2,...
Fox Chapel area real estate transactions for the week of Sept. 7, 2025
Aspinwall Estate of William Hansen sold property at 916 Guyasuta Ln to Cullen AG Construction Inc. for $125,000. Etna Frank Muto sold property at 131 Cherry St. to Scott Kramer for $350,000. Ray Ventura sold property at 84 Vilsack St. to Better World Properties LLC for $187,000. Patricia Ann Taylor...
