Murrysville Star category, Page 16
Murryville artist among ‘Art of the State’ winners for 2nd time
A Murrysville artist has once again earned a spot in Pennsylvania’s “Art of the State” contest, and will have her work displayed in the state capitol. Patty Kennedy-Zafred, 72, of Murrysville took first place in the annual contest’s craft division in 2022, with a piece titled “American Portraits: Harvesting Hope,”...
Salem approves 55,000-square-foot Westmoreland Food Bank expansion
The Westmoreland Food Bank cleared another hurdle on the way toward a planned expansion that will double the size of the nonprofit’s food cooler, receiving approval from Salem supervisors to proceed. “We’re expanding by about 55,000 square feet and it’s being funded through (federal American Rescue Plan) funds through the...
East End Kids celebrates 35 years of showcasing teen talent
Larry Cervi began East End Kids, a nonprofit professional teen song and dance ensemble, to showcase student talent several times a year while giving back to the community. “I found it ridiculous that the dance students (from other organizations) were only performing one show at the end of the season,”...
Line upgrades impact November sewage overflow in Delmont, Salem
Delmont officials made the next partial payment last week on the borough’s large-scale, state-mandated sewage project, putting just more than $267,000 toward an collection point on Christy Road and the relocation of a sewage line in Salem. The pressurized sewage line along with a gravity sewage line runs through the...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Dec. 15, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill GMS Global Investments LLC sold property at 3758 E Rural Ct to Femi and Lola Kolawole for $153,000. David Lippock sold property at 2146 Garrick Drive to Moktar Abdou Kerime for $299,900. Edgewood Thomas Lockner trustee sold property at 507 Greendale Ave. to MB Trade LLC for...
Franklin Regional swimming on verge of big things in Class 2A
The Franklin Regional girls swimming team is on the verge of something big. The team dropped to Class 2A, and with the majority of the squad made up of juniors and sophomores, second-year coach Dan Taylor is excited about the future. “The girls are in a good spot for the...
Franklin Regional notebook: After early wins, Panthers hit bump in road
After winning its first two games of the season at the Mike Rettger Tournament, the Franklin Regional boys basketball team dropped two straight at the 20th Hempfield tipoff tournament. Coach Jesse Reed was looking for better starts from his team, which has fallen behind early in games and had to...
Penn-Trafford boys stage huge rally, earn victory in overtime vs. Franklin Regional
One by one, his players emerged from the home locker room at Penn-Trafford and paraded across the gym floor. Most, if not all, of coach Doug Kelly’s crew was in an unusually impulsive mood, laughing and conversing and seemingly feeling as good as can be. In fact, some hardly could...
Murrysville area: Christmas bird count, state band honors and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Christmas Bird Count in Westmoreland County Local residents are encouraged to volunteer for the annual Christmas Bird Count, a worldwide effort to document local bird populations. The survey is the largest citizen science effort held for one day, between Dec. 14 and...
Legislation aims to address post-traumatic stress among first responders
In February 2023, Sardis Volunteer Fire Company Chief Joe Paiano Jr. entered a burning house in Salem Township to rescue an 11-year-old boy. The boy was among three people pulled from the fire, but he died of his injuries a few days later. The incident affected Paiano in a way...
Murrysville Medic One, Mutual Aid to assist in aftermath of Saltsburg-based ambulance service closure
Two Westmoreland County ambulance services are helping to pick up the slack after Saltsburg-based Lifestat EMS abruptly closed its doors this week. Citing financial constraints, the Indiana County ambulance station terminated its services after 36 years Saturday night, according to a statement it released Tuesday. “This difficult decision comes as...
Penn-Trafford girls lean on defense to keep record perfect with win over Franklin Regional
Common denominators in games help to reveal a team’s identity, and Penn-Trafford continues to build on its strengths. Well-rounded guard play again complemented the post, and defense bailed out a shaky-at-times offense as the third-ranked Lady Warriors kept their record clean with a 53-27 victory over Franklin Regional in a...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Dec. 8, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Edgewood Jeremy Hopkins sold property at 1115 E End Ave. to Juris and Madeleine Pukinskis for $610,000. Forest Hills Mark Fallone sold property at 238 Cascade Road to David and Kelsey Peart for $317,500. Vincent Bongiorno sold property at 141 Cherry Valley Road to Autumn Rose Williams and...
Franklin Regional grad writes name in Washington & Jefferson record book
As Washington & Jefferson football players filed into the locker room at halftime, Justin Johns knew he had broken the other team’s spirit, but was unaware he’d broken a team record. Johns, a frightening fifth-year linebacker out of Franklin Regional, had heard he was close to breaking the Presidents’ all-time...
Franklin Regional boys rally for 2 victories at host tournament
Franklin Regional boys basketball coach Jesse Reed’s heart may not take many more games like the two in the Rettger Memorial basketball tournament. His Panthers rallied in the fourth quarter to claim the tournament title with wins against Seneca Valley, 43-37, and Quaker Valley, 49-48 overtime, last week. The lone...
Greensburg Central Catholic holds on to beat Franklin Regional
One coach was concerned with how his team started. The other, with how his finished. It’s very early, but critiques now are going to be harsher than they might be later in the season. Greensburg Central Catholic built double-digit leads at halftime and at the start of the fourth quarter...
Murrysville council approves 2025 budget with no tax hike
Property taxes will remain at 12.05 mills next year in Murrysville, after council members voted to pass a $17.3 million budget for 2025. The municipality’s $17.28 million budget includes $3.8 million in capital spending. Capital projects for next year will include grant-supported bridge work along with $100,000 for new police...
Ohio man charged with stalking 1 day after release on similar charge
Hours after being released from jail Monday for stalking singer Lacey Sturm in Murrysville, an Ohio man was back behind bars after he showed up at the woman’s home, according to court papers. Anthony A. Carpenter, 43, arrived at the house at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday in a flat bed truck,...
Murrysville area: East Suburban Artists League reception, holiday events and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. East Suburban Artists League exhibit The East Suburban Artists League invites the public to a Dec. 14 reception for its exhibit at Gallery Space in the Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway Campus Boulevard. It will be from 6-8 p.m. and will showcase...
Harrison business delivers Christmas locally and in hurricane-ravaged North Carolina
Harrison real estate agent Cameron Yockey wants to work some holiday magic at home and more than 400 miles away in communities ravaged by Hurricane Helene. Through his company, Realty One, Yockey is spearheading a toy collection to provide a joyful Christmas for children in North Carolina towns that are...
Connor Crossey helps Franklin Regional boys rally past Seneca Valley
Connor Crossey is the lone starter returning from the 2023-24 Franklin Regional boys basketball team that had a memorable season. The Panthers were PIAA and WPIAL Class 5A runners-up. Franklin Regional opened the 2024-25 season Monday in the annual Mike Rettger Memorial Basketball Tournament, and Crossey played a key role...
Delmont will lower Athena Drive speed limit to 25 mph
Delmont will officially lower the speed limit on Athena Drive to 25 mph. Council voted 6-1 at its November meeting to reduce the top speed on the stretch of Athena between Freeport Street and the borough line just north of Park Drive. Council President Andy Shissler voted no. Athena is...
Ohio man pleads guilty to stalking of Flyleaf singer
An Ohio man jailed since May after he was accused of stalking a singer at her Murrysville home was paroled Monday after he pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges. Anthony A. Carpenter, 44, of Rutland, Ohio, had been in jail without bond for more than six months after he was...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Dec. 1, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill Harry Kuczma sold property at 3 Barton Drive to Elizabeth Anne Lazzaro for $145,000. Donald Robinson sold property at 1931 Hampstead Drive to Alec and Sarah French for $290,000. Natural Home Solutions LLC sold property at 1625 Williamsburg Pl to James and Heather Wilkes for $340,000. Edgewood...
Ankle injury just a temporary setback for Franklin Regional linebacker
Franklin Regional made the WPIAL Class 5A football quarterfinals without one of its top defensive players. Senior linebacker Austin Kerns was on his way to a monster year when he was injured in a Week 7 loss at Penn-Trafford. He already was recovering from a high ankle sprain when he...
