Murrysville Star category, Page 124
Murrysville marketing firm earns national award for podcast production
A Murrysville marketing agency specializing in engaging the Christian community will receive a National Religious Broadcasters award for producing the weekly “Health, Hope & Inspiration” podcast. Sponsored by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America and produced by Murrysville-based Infinity Concepts, “Health, Hope & Inspiration” was developed to provide information and...
Murrysville will hire consultant to help plan for community-park amphitheater
Murrysville will seek a consultant to help plan for an amphitheater at Murrysville Community Park, and addressing traffic will likely be a high priority. “I know you’re trying to build it up more, but there’s problems with the traffic out there,” said Marlene Campas of Murrysville at a recent council...
Cops: Man who allegedly claimed to be firefighter during burglary arrested again
A man awaiting trial for burglary and impersonating a firefighter was arrested again Wednesday in Salem Township after a break-in at a senior citizen recreation center. Charles J. Beiter, 33, was arraigned Thursday on charges of disorderly conduct, illegally trespassing, loitering, theft and possession of marijuana filed by state police...
Union Presbyterian in Murrysville marks 60 years since moving ‘across the street’Video
Donna Doyle remembers watching her father supervise the construction crew that set the steeple on a newly built Union Presbyterian Church in Murrysville in 1959. In March, members of the church will mark their 60th anniversary in that building. As Doyle looks at a photo of that steeple being lowered...
Conservancy seeking volunteers to help prune apple trees in Murrysville
Westmoreland Conservancy officials are looking for a few good apples, so they can create a whole bunch more. The metaphorical “few good apples” would be additional volunteers to help with a Feb. 22 apple-tree pruning session at the Conservancy’s Morosini Reserve in southeast Murrysville. “This will be our third time...
Western Pa. libraries prepare for upcoming chess tournamentsVideo
At 12 years old, Sidd Ramineni is understandably a little shy when it comes to discussing his accomplishments. But with a display shelf at his Murrysville home that’s filled with chess trophies, he certainly would have plenty to brag about. “I like the strategy you have to use,” said Sidd,...
Murrysville police seek information on criminal mischief at Bear Hollow ParkVideo
Murrysville police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the vandals responsible for property damage at the municipality’s Bear Hollow Park. Vandals “have been breaking picnic tables by flipping them over and also throwing them into the creek,” police officials wrote in a Feb. 14 post to their Facebook page....
Franklin Regional journeys to Egypt with spring production of ‘Joseph’Video
Vishal Pandey could be forgiven for having acting whiplash. This past fall, the Franklin Regional senior was working on becoming as creepy and intimidating as possible for his lead role in “Dracula.” During a rainy week in February, however, Pandey, 18, was belting out tunes about his coat of many...
Roof work, colonial garden proposed for Shields Farm cabin in Delmont
A Delmont group is hoping to make some improvements at the Shields Farm log cabin on East Pittsburgh Street, but they may need to rein in their ambition just a bit, according to the borough solicitor. Visionary Committee members presented a $2,800 bid to council to have eaves installed on...
Newlonsburg students will transform into ‘Kids of Steel’ for Pittsburgh marathon weekendVideo
Newlonsburg Elementary kindergarten student Penny Ryan is really just excited to see her father’s office in Downtown Pittsburgh on May 2. That she and her brother will run with the Kids of Steel group in the Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh Kids Marathon during the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon weekend is more...
Stage crew: Unsung heroes of the high school musicalVideo
If Franklin Regional sophomore Jess Wingard never has to build another staircase, it will be too soon. “That’s the biggest challenge,” said Wingard, 15, a member of the stage crew for FR’s spring production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” “You have to cut some things bigger than they...
Delmont readies for borough-wide spring cleaning
Delmont Borough has its spring cleaning all planned out. The weekend of April 25-26 will see the annual borough-wide cleanup take place, with Dumpsters on hand for residents to make drop-offs, but the Delmont Visionary Committee also will patrol borough streets with volunteers picking up trash. “We’ve got trash bags...
Murrysville recreation department takes over former adult education classes
Over the course of more than six decades, the Franklin Regional Adult School offered opportunities for residents to explore a wide range of topics, from law classes to Indian cooking to a class for older adults just starting out on Facebook. The non-credit enrichment program — in which classes were...
Performing arts group will host 1-day ‘Moana’ children’s workshop in Murrysville
Children with an interest in singing, dancing and acting can get a taste of theatrical life when the Alabaster Performing Arts group hosts a one-day “Moana” workshop Feb. 22 in Murrysville. “The workshop gives kids an experience and a quick one-day lesson on performing,” Duquesne University music school alum and...
A-K Valley SWAT team operational after delays last year
A new special response team made up of officers from several police departments in the Alle-Kiski Valley is up and running and has been deployed twice this year. The team’s first dispatch was a high-risk search warrant in New Kensington in early January, said Thomas Seefeld, chief of the Murrysville...
State grant aims to align local education with employers’ expectations
If Franklin Regional teachers are going to prepare their students for the modern workplace, it only makes sense to find out what that workplace looks like and how its expectations align with the district’s curriculum. Staff members were given that opportunity, along with professional development training in college and career...
Murrysville woman lived life to help others
Patricia Loughran was the kind of person who lived her life for others. She raised seven daughters. She was director of financial aid at St. Francis University in Loretto for 18 years. She was a grief counselor at several Catholic parishes. She was an advocate for people with disabilities. In...
Franklin Regional grad Jared Smith climbs rankings in karate
Jared Smith’s journey at USA Karate’s senior level — ages 18-34 — still is in its early stages, but the Murrysville resident and 2019 Franklin Regional graduate continues to prove he is one of the best at this level in the country. The 19-year-old freshman at Carnegie Mellon put his...
Amphitheater in the works for Murrysville Community Park
A state grant could bring an amphitheater one step closer to reality at Murrysville Community Park, though not everyone is happy about the prospect. Planning for the amphitheater was boosted by a $299,000 grant from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and municipal parks and recreation officials would...
Delmont library, Westmoreland Cleanways to host ‘Love Your Planet’ program
You can’t get a free Blizzard after the blizzard, but if Friday’s winter weather hasn’t made you weary of frozen stuff, the Delmont library’s Saturday program offers children a chance for a free ice cream cone. The library will hold a “Love Your Planet” program and craft session at 11...
3 men indicted in fraudulent tax collection scheme
Three men were indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for wire fraud in connection with a bogus tax-collection scheme, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady. Michael Galanis, 31, of Export; Ronnell Taylor Jr., 37, of Jeannette; and Barry Nealer, 40, of Pittsburgh are the defendants in a one-count...
Winter weather briefly closes westbound lanes of Route 380
While it reopened about a half-hour later, the westbound lanes of Route 380 were shut down shortly after 8 a.m. Friday morning until about 8:35 a.m. Poor road conditions due to snow accumulation, and several vehicles stuck on the road forced the closure, police said via a Nixle alert. Police...
Murrysville, FTMSA seek temporary repairs for several bridges
The Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority and Murrysville will advertise for a project to repair three bridges in Murrysville, but officials say it is only a temporary fix. Three bridges — in the Heather Highlands, Cal-Ken Court and Logan’s Ferry Road areas — are in need of repairs. “The original...
Murrysville man accused of swindling $18K from Allegheny Township business
A Murrysville man is accused of taking nearly $18,000 from an Allegheny Township business to install signs promoting the business, but never doing the work. Orbin Swisshelm, 60, took the money from McGuire Family Auto Service, according to a criminal complaint filed by township police. Police said Swisshelm disbanded his...
Newlonsburg associate pastor retires following 37 years of service
For the first time in nearly four decades, Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church will have a new associate pastor following the retirement of the Rev. Marion Silbert on Jan. 31. A Western Pennsylvania native, Silbert is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and Princeton Theological Seminary. She joined Newlonsburg in...
