Monroeville Times Express category, Page 89
Relief, satisfaction from first covid-19 vaccine recipients in Monroeville
Medical workers who received the covid-19 vaccine in Monroeville expressed relief and satisfaction with the process Jan. 6. “I’ve been waiting for this all year,” said Ben Haddis, 23, of Oakland moments after receiving the shot at The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville. Haddis was one...
Monroeville passes 2021 budget without raising taxes, uses $4.2 million from savings
Monroeville Council held the line on property taxes going into 2021. Council approved the $35.7 million budget during a special meeting Dec. 22. When first presented to the public in October, Manager Tim Little recommended council use $5.9 million of the municipality’s fund balance to fill a gap caused by...
State, local NAACP chapters reiterate need for Gateway School Board member to resign
The leader of the local and state NAACP chapters further denounced an alleged racist text from a Gateway School Board member and again called for him to resign during a virtual press conference Wednesday. Kenneth Huston, the Pennsylvania NAACP president, said Gateway school board member Paul Caliari’s text sent in...
Calls for Gateway school board member to resign come after racially charged text message
A Gateway School Board member who is the subject of a federal lawsuit has doubled down on his innocence as calls for his resignation grow louder. Paul Caliari, 46, of Monroeville is currently serving a two-year term on the Gateway School Board. A federal lawsuit filed Jan. 1, which also...
Cinemark theaters set to reopen, showing new and classic filmsVideo
Cinemark will reopen its Pennsylvania theaters on Friday, including these Southwestern Pennsylvania locations, in accordance with updated local covid mandates: • Cinemark Monroeville Mall and XD, 600 Mall Circle Drive • Cinemark North Hills and XD, 851 Providence Blvd., McCandless • Cinemark Robinson Township and XD, 2100 Settlers Ridge Center...
Western Pa. wine and cheese experts to hold virtual session on ‘perfect pairings’
Dee Weinberg was at a cheese counter having trouble deciding which variety to purchase to complement a specific wine. “The thought came to me that if I wasn’t sure what cheese was best with the wine I had, then other people probably would have the same problem,” said Weinberg, founder...
Allegheny County adds new vaccine distribution location for priority populations
The Allegheny County Health Department on Monday announced a new distribution location for covid-19 vaccines, and the county is expected to release the first version of its distribution plan on Wednesday. The new Point of Distribution (POD) will be for health care organizations and facilities in the Phase 1A category,...
Monroeville water, sewer rates to increase Jan. 10
Monroeville’s water and sewer rates are increasing in 2021. The 7% increase to customers’ sewer bills and the 5% increase to water bills will take effect Jan. 10, according to a news release posted Dec. 28 on the Monroeville Municipal Authority’s website. The current sewer rate is $12.75 per 1,000...
Eastern area real estate transactions for the week of Jan. 3
Delmont Steven Smith sold property at 5 W White Oak Drive to Michael Daverio for $180,000. Export Kim Eberman sold property at 2797 Italy Road to Robert McGrath for $79,700. Christopher Schmader sold property at 5829 Madison Ave. to Farbarik Enterprises LLC for $27,000. Ken Blunkosky sold property at 5928...
Woman sues Gateway School District, claiming interracial marriage cost her athletic director job
An athletic director at a small college claims she was passed over for a similar job with the Gateway School District because she is married to a Black man, according to a federal lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed Jan. 1 by Pittsburgh attorney Todd Hollis, claims that Korie Morton-Rozier experienced “race...
Living out a ‘calling from a distance’: Monroeville religious leaders reflect on 2020 pandemic
Life was full of tests in 2020. There were tests of relationships, tests of finances — tests of faith. The covid-19 pandemic touched nearly all parts of life, including religious faith and worship habits. As state officials brought forth restrictions, church leaders were left largely to make their own calls...
It’s a boy! First New Year’s baby born to Greensburg woman
Siearra Pantojas of Greensburg received an early New Year’s Day surprise. A healthy baby boy. Pantojas, 21, was out shopping when she went into labor early on New Year’s Eve. After about five hours of hard labor, she welcomed son Bentlee Cole, the first 2021 baby born at Forbes Hospital...
Year in review: A look back at the stories that shaped Monroeville in 2020
Monroeville participated in some of the world’s largest and most impactful stories in 2020. Here’s a look back on how the municipality fit into some of the top stories that defined the year. The covid-19 pandemic It’s the story that, unfortunately, won’t go away. Covid-19 rapidly spread through every fabric...
Monroeville family has warm Christmas after receiving free furnace
It was a warm Christmas for Doug Gaworski of Monroeville, his wife and nearly 2-year-old daughter. The Gaworski family received a free furnace from a Plum heating and cooling company just two days before Christmas. Gaworski, 29, said the family moved to the house in 2017. The move meant inheriting...
Monroeville WWII veteran dies at 99, remembered as ‘beautiful,’ ‘smart’
Frances Brumback always looked beautiful. When she and her daughter, Carol, would go out together, they would often be mistaken for sisters. “But she never would correct anyone,” said Carol Brumback. “She didn’t want anyone to feel bad. That’s just the way she was.” Frances Brumback, a longtime resident of...
Monroeville bodybuilder claims Amateur Olympia title
When the Mr. Olympia and Amateur Olympia bodybuilding competitions were moved to this month from September because of covid-19 logistical concerns, Monroeville’s Ahmad Matour didn’t waver in his goal to compete at one of the world’s biggest events of its kind. “I knew it would give me plenty of time...
House on Oliver Drive wins grand prize in Monroeville’s 2020 Holiday Light Contest
The Richards household on Oliver Drive brought home the grand prize in Monroeville’s Holiday Light Contest. Bruce Richards, 68, started stringing the lights and decorations the week of Thanksgiving. The yard features all sorts of lights, a lit Nativity scene, two arches, a Nutcraker blowup decoration and three decorated Christmas...
Gateway officials extend online learning for another 2 weeks
Gateway schools will remain in remote learning through Jan. 15. The announcement came through a letter to district parents authored by Superintendent Bill Short. It was posted to the district’s website Dec. 24. “Based on the metrics and data associated with significant increases in covid-19 cases and positivity percentages, Allegheny...
Eastern area real estate transactions for the week of Dec. 27
Churchill Norene K D’Amico Ficery sold property at 306 Surrey Place to Julian Toker for $299,000. Edgewood Estate of Eugene Stern sold property at 520 Locust St. to Lawrence Connelly III and Carla Rosemarino for $266,849. Forest Hills Anna Geanous sold property at 245 Avenue B to Peachpit LLC for...
Small fire reported inside store at Monroeville Mall
An Allegheny County fire marshal is attempting to determine the cause of a minor fire inside a store at Monroeville Mall Sunday. Firefighters and police responded to a fire alarm about 6:30 a.m. at the SoKool store in the mall, according to the fire department. Firefighters reported finding smoke and...
Pine-Richland’s Cole Spencer tabbed state’s Class 5A Player of the Year
Postseason honors continue to roll in for Pine-Richland’s Cole Spencer. After leading the Rams to WPIAL and PIAA championships this fall, the senior quarterback was named the state’s Class 5A Player of the Year on Wednesday in a vote by Pennsylvania football writers. The Trib HSSN Football Player of the...
Assault, drugs among charges filed recently by Monroeville police
Monroeville police filed the following charges in October and December with District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst. Charges were filed by Monroeville police: • Keira Linsenbigler, 29, of Pittsburgh with recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief, carrying a firearm without a license and two counts of aggravated assault. Charges were filed...
In brief: Pickup service available for pre-selected ‘bundles’ at Monroeville Public Library
The Monroeville Public Library will offer Browsing Bundles for teens and adults in December. The service offers pre-selected books, audiobooks, DVDs, graphic novels, music, games and other items. The items can be requested for pickup from the library’s contactless pickup area. The service requires patrons to tell library workers about...
Eastern area real estate transactions for the week of Dec. 20
Churchill Arlene Siegel sold property at 120 Thornberry Drive to Paul Rutherford and James Reese for $195,000. Delmont Sharon McGinnis sold property at 1114 Volek Court to Jack and Barbara Lyman for $335,000. Edgewood Dino DeFlavio sold property at 619 Greendale Ave. to Vane Investments Ltd. for $225,000. Michelle Gil...
Perfect timing: Boyce Park ski slopes, snow tubing opens Saturday
Just days following a 9-inch snowfall, the Boyce Park ski slopes and snow tubing area will open for the season on 10 a.m. Saturday. Restrictions will be in place to comply with Pennsylvania’s temporary covid-19 protection measures. Only 50 skiers and 50 snow tubers will be permitted during each session....
