Murrysville Star category, Page 29
Murrysville council approves auto-body shop that has drawn neighbors’ anger
Dayne Dice summed up the unenviable position where he and his fellow Murrysville council members found themselves Wednesday night as they approved a proposal for an auto-body shop that has drawn the ire of hundreds of neighbors. “To me, voting ‘no’ tonight would feel really good but would not be...
Murrysville sportsmen’s group brings back annual youth fishing derby
The Sportsmen and Landowners Alliance of Murrysville is bringing back its youth fishing tournament after a four-year hiatus. The 2024 SLAM Youth Fishing Derby will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18 along Haymaker’s Run in front of the Franklin Regional Intermediate School in Murrysville. “Right after the...
Franklin Regional hockey coach disappointed after being ousted
John Winebrenner holds no ill will toward the Franklin Regional Hockey Club board, but that doesn’t mean he agrees with its decision to open his position. Winebrenner, the Panthers’ coach since 2019, was told his time behind the bench is finished, a message that has him questioning why such a...
‘As a parent, it scares the hell out of me,’ Franklin Regional superintendent says of AI
Franklin Regional officials paused a proposed artificial intelligence summer student program after questions arose about its content. Inspirit AI is an eight-session summer program developed and taught by graduates of Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT. “Students will learn the fundamental concepts of AI and gain...
Memorial fishing derby honors Murrysville boy on the first day of trout season
Parents and children took part Saturday in the annual Joey Gombosh Fishing Derby, at Townsend Park in Murrysville. The tournament is held in memory of Gombosh, a Murrysville resident and avid fisherman who died at age 15 when a virus attacked his heart....
Ex-Allegheny County detective pleads guilty to harassment in Export bar incident
A former Allegheny County detective pleaded guilty Monday to two summary harassment citations connected to an incident at an Export bar last year. Raymond Bonacci, 57, of McKeesport, was ordered to pay $362 in fines and costs, according to court records. The two harassment counts were filed last week when...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 4, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Forest Hills Estate of Marilyn O’Connor sold property at 4 Hillcrest Road to TLH TD Properties for $125,000. Katherine Opsitnick sold property at 321 Sharon Drive to Justin Pawlowski and Ashley Baskin for $281,950. Jupiter Financial Services LLC sold property at 231 Woodside Road to Nicholas and Sara...
Westmoreland community band members will help dedicate World War I memorial in D.C.
Westmoreland County’s five community bands regularly take an annual summer trip together, assembling a group that performs somewhere at their destination. This year, however, it will be delayed a month, so the bands can help dedicate the centerpiece of the World War I memorial in Washington, D.C. Members of the...
Community bands converge on Murrysville for free annual festival
A classic John Philip Sousa march. Variations on the “Scarborough Fair” theme. Music inspired by the “Lord of the Rings” books. Musicians from all over the Pittsburgh area will perform music from all over the map at the 18th annual Three Rivers Community Band Festival, set for April 6 in...
Franklin Regional’s Cam Rowell headlines TribLive Westmoreland boys basketball all-stars
Player of the Year Cam Rowell, Sr., G, Franklin Regional The state championship game looked like it was getting away from Franklin Regional. But just then, Cam Rowell growled. The senior guard took a pass from Colin Masten, who came up with a steal, and broke into the open court...
Residents concerned for Bernese Mountain Dogs seen wandering Murrysville since January
It’s not that easy to lose a Bernese Mountain Dog, at least from a visual standpoint. They can get up to 110 pounds, and the breed traces its lineage back, in part, to the ancient Roman mastiffs. The American Kennel Club characterizes them as loyal, calm and high-energy. Two Berneses...
Murrysville abandoned gas well to be plugged; state officials assessing thousands more
When Pamela Schrank’s family moved into their Murrysville home last May, she was told an old gas well at the edge of some woods on their property had been capped. That wasn’t the case, according to state environmental officials — a fact Schrank found out last fall when she was...
Murrysville area: Boxing discussion, used book sale, oil and gas workshop and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. ‘Punching Out Parkinson’s’ Mother of Sorrows Church’s “Boomers and Beyond” series will feature Fit 4 Boxing Club General Manager Brett Burkhart on April 9. Burkhart will discuss how the gym’s boxing program has helped improve symptoms and slow the progression in people...
Franklin Regional students, staff raise money to fight pediatric cancer with Mini-THONVideo
Franklin Regional students and staff were dancing the day away on Wednesday at the school’s first Mini-THON, modeled on the wildly successful Penn State fundraiser that raises money for pediatric cancer patients and families through care, support and research. This is the first year for the Franklin Regional Mini-THON Club,...
Former Allegheny County DA detective has assault charge reduced to harassment citation
A former Allegheny County detective initially charged with simple assault and harassment after being accused of punching two women at an Export bar last year instead was given a lesser summary citation in court this week. Melanie Jones, spokeswoman for Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli, said the initial charges...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of March 24, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill PA Real Estate Development Inc. sold property at 758 Margaretta St. to Oladipupo Olafiranye for $45,000. Roberta Anderson sold property at 444 Woodland Hills Drive to Elizabeth Hughes for $365,000. Forest Hills Ann Chay sold property at 507 Bevington Road to Evan Niznik and Stephanie Stras for...
Former Greensburg Salem high school principal honored by Pa. House of Representatives
Recently retired former Greensburg Salem Principal David Zilli was surprised with an honor from the state House of Representatives. State Rep. Jill Cooper, R-Murrysville, presented Zilli with a citation commemorating his 35 years in education and 15 years as principal of Greensburg Salem High School at this month’s school board...
Franklin Regional softball sluggers back for more in ’24
Get your warning tracks ready. Franklin Regional is back for more. The Panthers softball team blasted 32 home runs last season and there is no reason to believe the can’t hit that many — or more — in 2024. Franklin Regional could be one of the top offensive teams in...
Imhotep Charter finally puts away pesky Franklin Regional to win 10th PIAA basketball title
HERSHEY — Franklin Regional and Imhotep Charter are 300 miles apart, on opposite ends of the state. They are also distant in PIAA championship history and when it comes to producing high-end college talent. But the teams were a lot closer on the scoreboard than many expected Friday night at...
Murrysville area: Used book sale donations, library events and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Used book sale donations The Murrysville Community Library and local branch of the American Association of University Women will host their annual used book sale April 25-27, and are collecting donations for the sale beginning March 25. Gently used books, particularly for...
Western Pennsylvania students learn about manufacturing through video contest
Bella Paulone and her eighth-grade classmate Alishba Raja didn’t have much of a frame of reference for what modern manufacturing looks like. “Before this, we’d have thought it was just a bunch of factory workers picking things up, assembling them and putting them down,” said Raja, 13, of Murrysville. Thanks...
Community bands converge on Murrysville for free annual festival
A classic John Philip Sousa march. Variations on the “Scarborough Fair” theme. Music inspired by the “Lord of the Rings” books. Musicians from all over the Pittsburgh area will perform music from all over the map at the 18th annual Three Rivers Community Band Festival, set for April 6 in...
Murrysville council works to refine voluntary conditions for proposed auto-body shop
Murrysville council members continued to work through a list of voluntary conditions for a national auto-body chain looking to build a shop just east of the Manordale Farms neighborhood. Over the past few months, council members have had to strike a balance between the private property rights of Caliber Collision,...
PIAA Class 5A boys basketball championship preview: Franklin Regional vs. Imhotep Charter
PIAA Class 5A boys basketball championship Franklin Regional (27-3) vs. Imhotep Charter (28-3) 8 p.m. Friday at Giant Center, Hershey District seeds: Franklin Regional 7-2; Imhotep Charter 12-1 Coaches: Jesse Reed, Franklin Regional; Andre Noble, Imhotep Charter State titles: Franklin Regional 0; Imhotep Charter 9 Players to watch: Cam Rowell,...
Franklin Regional playoff run rekindles memories of ‘perfect storm’ 1997 team
Rob Greenleaf called it a “perfect storm,” his 1997 Franklin Regional boys basketball team that made the state finals in Hershey. “These guys truly liked each other,” the former Panthers coach and Franklin Regional alum said. “They did everything together. “I remember after we had a (youth) basketball camp, I...
