Murrysville Star category, Page 108
Westmoreland commissioners dole out $4.3 million in covid-19 relief grants
Westmoreland County commissioners Wednesday awarded more than $4.3 million in grants to 26o small businesses that suffered financial losses because of the covid-19 pandemic. The grants were funded through $31.5 million in federal funds funneled through the state as part of the government’s coronavirus relief program. “Our goal was to...
Murrysville students’ shirt design wins NASA Wear Challenge competitionVideo
Murrysville residents are turning their eyes to the stars. When Pittsburgh tech company Astrobotic launches a lunar lander to the moon next summer, it will have been tested by Murrysville company Software Design Solutions. And the next time astronauts travel to the International Space Station, it’s possible they’ll be wearing...
Murrysville library expands hours starting Sept. 28
In-person appointments will no longer be required beginning Sept. 28 at the Murrysville Community Library, but staff will keep capacity low to maintain health and safety, as they expand the library’s hours. The library will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday; from 10 a.m....
More coronavirus cases found at Westmoreland Manor
Westmoreland officials said Tuesday another 12 residents and an additional staffer at the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield tested positive for coronavirus. The latest test results means that 9.5% of the Westmoreland Manor’s 336 residents are infected. Federally mandated baseline testing for the virus started last week at the facility....
Trafford Road in Murrysville reopens after tractor-trailer crashVideo
Trafford Road reopened near the Murrysville/Penn Township border after a tractor-trailer crash forced a closure late Tuesday morning, emergency officials said. Initial reports indicated the trailer’s load — steel ingots to be smelted — shifted around 11:15 a.m. as it was headed south along Trafford Road near Lyons Run Road,...
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport runway on track for reopening Friday
Crews are wrapping up work this week on widening the runway at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Meanwhile, construction has begun on an addition to the airport terminal. “We’re right on track,” for scheduled reopening of the improved runway on Friday, according to Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County...
Franklin Regional officials examine attendance policies in light of new education model
Franklin Regional officials are taking a deeper look at how excused absences will be recorded amid the coronavirus pandemic, after receiving several comments and questions from parents during the first weeks of school. The district is asking parents to keep children home if they exhibit any of the 13 general...
Franklin Regional board moves to make final borrowing on Sloan ‘elementary campus’ project
Franklin Regional school board members opted to move ahead with combining the final two bond issues for the Sloan “elementary campus” project into one, taking advantage of current interest rates and borrowing the final $15 million necessary to complete the work. The board’s 7-1 vote empowers bond consultant Chris Bamber,...
Council discusses development projects in southeastern Murrysville
Murrysville council will hold a public hearing next month for Hillstone Village, a proposal to build 11 carriage homes and 20 single-family homes on 37 acres near the intersection of Claridge and Harrison City roads. Bruce Corna, vice president of builder Kacin Companies, said the development would focus on “build-down”...
Top-ranked girls volleyball teams keep positions in coaches rankings
WPIAL girls volleyball competition turns to Week 2, and section races are heating up in the four classifications. The top-ranked teams in each class from last week’s preseason Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association top-10 poll — North Allegheny (Class AAAA), Franklin Regional (Class AAA), North Catholic (Class AA) and Bishop...
Eastern area real estate transactions for the week of Sept. 20
Churchill Robert Feinberg trustee sold property at 2240 Harmain Road to Dario and Kathy Donatelli for $221,000. Edgewood Maxwell Williams sold property at 504 Greendale Ave. to Aaron Charles Watson and Marisol Edelmira Lalut for $359,500. Forest Hills Dolores Marie Paul trustee sold property at 110 Braddock Road to Aaron...
Murrysville couple funds purchase, training of new police dog
Murrysville Police Sgt. Scott Kettren was not shy about his emotional state when his K-9 partner of nearly a decade, a Belgian Malinois named Argos, spent his last day with the department in May 2019. “I cried driving home that night,” Kettren said. Kettren took stock of his professional skills...
WPIAL Class 5A roundup: Derrick Davis scores 4 times as Gateway tops Bethel Park
Carsen Engleka threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns to lead Class 5A No. 2 Gateway to a 55-14 victory over Bethel Park (0-2) in Class 5A nonconference play Friday. Derrick Davis ran for 157 yards and four touchdowns for Gateway (2-0), which scored all of its points in the...
Indiana’s Beckwith, Kiski Area’s Miller claim titles at unique Kiski Cavalier Invitational
Cool and breezy morning weather gave way to comfortable afternoon temperatures as some of the WPIAL’s top runners kicked off their fall seasons Friday at the Gingerbread Man Kiski Cavalier Invitational at Northmoreland Park in Allegheny Township. Because of covid protocols in place limiting the overall number of people permitted...
Coronavirus impacts High Holy Days in Jewish community
In a typical year, members of the Jewish community would’ve dressed up and assembled Friday night at the local temple for two days of services with friends, family and fellow congregants to mark the start of the High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in 2020 are different. Congregations...
Westmoreland Transit hopes to boost rebound with extended hours, trips
Two hours of local bus service on Westmoreland County Transit Authority routes will be added in early October as the struggling agency seeks to rebound from massive losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said final details on the expanded service will be released as early...
Murrysville woman, 20, appointed to national Crohn’s advocacy board
For Rachel Stackiewicz, enjoying most meals is a temporary pleasure at best. Stackiewicz, 20, of Murrysville, has been living since age 11 with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Along with ulcerative colitis, it is one of two illnesses classified as inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. “Every...
Westmoreland Manor staff to be tested for coronavirus
All staff at Westmoreland Manor will again be tested for coronavirus. Commissioners on Thursday cut a deal with Excela Health to test the staff of the county owned nursing home in Hempfield as part of a federal mandate put in place this week. The county will pay Excela $105 per...
Slot machine arrival marks milestone in Hempfield casino constructionVideo
The former Bon-Ton department store at Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield is starting to look a lot like a casino. Live! Casino Pittsburgh, a $150 million venue owned by The Cordish Companies of Maryland, is slated to open before Thanksgiving with 750 slot machines and 30 table games. By Thursday, about...
Golf outing delayed, ‘Movies in the Park’ set for Saturday
Panther Foundation moves golf outing The Franklin Regional Panther Foundation has postponed its annual golf fundraiser. It will now be held June 11, 2021. Questions can be directed to frsdpr@frsdk12.org, or 724-327-5456, ext. 7617. Final ‘Movies in the Park’ set for Saturday The Delmont Recreation Board will host its final...
Vice president makes a quick stop at Murrysville GOP Victory Center
On the way to a campaign event at Cornerstone Ministries, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence made an unscheduled stop at the Murrysville GOP Victory Center on Rt. 22 on Sept. 9. Pence met briefly with Murrysville Mayor Regis Synan and local state Rep. Bob Brooks (R-Murrysville), and spoke to the...
Jeannette native helping students of military personnel killed or disabled
A Jeannette native is spearheading efforts to raise money for educational scholarships for families of military service people who have died or have been disabled while on active duty. Michael Popella of Grove City founded the Folds of Honor of Western PA Chapter after meeting the national organization’s founder, Lt....
Golf outing raises more than $4,000 for Animal Friends of Westmoreland
Animal Friends of Westmoreland currently has 152 animals in their care. Since its inception in 2006, the nonprofit has rescued more than 5,700 animals. Like most nonprofits, Animal Friends relies on donations and they could not be happier to have received a $4,200 donation recently — the proceeds from the...
In-person visits resume at Westmoreland Manor
Westmoreland officials said Tuesday that in-person visits with residents at the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield have restarted. Visitation of residents at Westmoreland Manor initially was suspended in March at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and briefly restarted on a modified basis in late July before being again put...
Westmoreland Court Appointed Special Advocates seek to double grant through social media shares
An organization that trains volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in Westmoreland County is seeking shares on Facebook and a chance to double a $5,000 grant it recently received. CASA Westmoreland, a group that trains and staffs volunteers for the Court Appointed Special Advocate — or CASA —...
