Murrysville Star category, Page 68
Murrysville GOP organizer will challenge Silvis in 55th District
A Murrysville political organizer will challenge fellow Republican and state Rep. Jason Silvis in the May primary election for the newly shaped 55th District. Jill Cooper of Murrysville been active in local politics for more than a decade, working as part of the Murrysville Export Republican Committee and serving as...
Study identifies potential east suburb path to connect Westmoreland, Allegheny trails
Allegheny County officials on Friday released a feasibility study for a project connecting the Westmoreland Heritage Trail to the Great Allegheny Passage by way of the Turtle Creek Valley, which runs through Pittsburgh’s east suburbs. Several proposed routes could serve to link the Westmoreland Heritage Trail from its western terminus...
Murrysville teen heads to eastern regional skiing championships in Vermont
The competition generated by sibling rivalry means that following in your big brother’s or sister’s footsteps isn’t always appealing. But for Becket Pottinger of Murrysville, whose older siblings were both competitive skiers, it’s motivation. “Watching the way they ski, hearing the advice they’ve been given, plus going to almost all...
Faced with loss of his district, state Rep. Bob Brooks opts not to run for re-election
When the new maps for Pennsylvania’s legislative districts were released, state Rep. Bob Brooks was more than a little disappointed to discover his 54th District was being shifted across the state to the Norristown area. On Thursday, the Murrysville Republican announced he will not seek re-election. “Government has many forces...
Murrysville: Easter pet photos, youth fishing tournament, scholarships, more
Submit news, briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Easter pet photos session at Heritage Trail The Murrysville Recreation Department will host an Easter pet photos session from 10 a.m. to noon, April 9 at the Westmoreland Heritage Trail visitor center on Route 22. The event is free to attend, but...
Debate continues about teaching ‘Persepolis’ at Franklin Regional schools
Franklin Regional School Board members, administrators and parents on Wednesday continued their discussion about the district’s decision to pause the teaching of “Persepolis,” Marjane Satrapi’s award-winning graphic novel, in the ninth grade honors English class. District officials said earlier this month that the school board’s curriculum committee wanted to make...
Murrysville police arrest man after accusations of prowling, stalking ex-girlfriend
A 55-year-old man was arrested for stalking and related charges by Murrysville police after a former girlfriend said he entered her yard to look through her windows and repeatedly drove his car along her street. Brian Begor of Mt. Lebanon was arraigned Tuesday on multiple charges of harassment, prowling and...
Murrysville PixCams brings live footage of wildlife and more into homes
While PixCams of Murrysville is best known for its live Pittsburgh Hays bald eagle webcam, the small company has been expanding and now has 30 live webcams. They rolled out a new product for the public, businesses and nonprofits to set up their own live webcam system and broadcast it...
TJ’s Bilski nets hat trick, FR’s Knizner scores OT winner in Penguins Cup semifinals
Thomas Jefferson scored four second-period goals, including a hat trick by Colby Bilski, and skated past Penn-Trafford, 6-2, in the PIHL Cup Class 2A semifinals Tuesday at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center. . The victory puts the Jaguars in the Penguins Cup championship game against Franklin Regional on...
Book challenges are becoming more frequent, driven in part by social media
The time, thought and effort that English teachers and librarians put into their work is not random, says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director for the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “They have college degrees, they care very deeply about the work they do, and to suggest that the objections of...
Murrysville Alzheimer’s educator publishes children’s book about dementia
During her time as director of a memory-care facility in Rhode Island, former teacher Doreen Putnam began to notice the children who were coming to visit residents whose cognition had been affected by diseases such as Alzheimer’s. “They really didn’t understand what was happening to their grandma or grandpa,” Putnam...
Eastern Pittsburgh suburban real estate transactions for the week of March 13, 2022
Edgewood Eric Holtzman sold property at 430 Greendale Ave. to Harvey and Roberta Lyn Borovetz for $319,000. Forest Hills Curtis Cunningham sold property at 401 Woodside Road to Mary Joyce Connors for $171,000. Monroeville JCMR Properties LLC sold property at 1206 Bowling Green Drive to Michael and Melanie Hampton for...
New Westmoreland chamber leader seeks to expand outreach efforts
The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce’s new president said he wants the chamber to be more involved in the community, working with different nonprofits and assisting businesses and people in need. “It’s about supporting the business community and helping them with their employment issues,” said Dan DeBone, 55, of Murrysville,...
1st-year coaches take lessons from Franklin Regional basketball season
While their teams fell short of the WPIAL postseason, first-year basketball coaches Jesse Reed and Bernie Pucka saw new systems begin to take root and programs take on new personalities this winter. The boys finished 7-14 overall and 5-7 in section and lost out on a tiebreaker to make the...
Troopers cite 2 drivers for alleged ‘road rage’ incident on Route 22 through Salem
The driver of a pickup and a tow truck operator were cited for misdemeanor and traffic charges after state police said the men engaged in a miles-long road rage incident along Route 22 through Salem. Troopers said they used witness accounts and a video volunteered by the pickup driver to...
Delmont woman charged with threats against judge
A Delmont woman was charged amid allegations that she threatened to hang the Westmoreland County judge who is overseeing her ongoing custody dispute. Detectives said Jennifer Gesuale, 42, posted a YouTube video on March 7 in which she is alleged to have called for the murder of Westmoreland County Common...
Murrysville: Book sale donations, trail bridge closure, hot chocolate hike, more
Submit news, briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. AAUW collecting for community book sale The Murrysville American Association of University Women is collecting donations of gently used books starting April 1 for the group’s used book sale on partnership with the Murrysville Community Library. The sale will take place May...
Mineo’s in Squirrel Hill teams with Helltown Brewing for a hazy IPA
Pizza and beer. It’s the perfect combination. Mineo’s Pizza House in Squirrel Hill and Helltown Brewing in Export have collaborated on a hazy IPA. The silver, green, red and white can contains a photo of Giovanni Mineo Sr., who started the pizza business in 1958. Written across the bottom in...
2022 maple sugar season nearing its end in Western Pennsylvania
Don’t get too sappy about it: The 2022 maple sugaring season is nearing its end in Western Pennsylvania. Dan Roseum, owner of Roseum Maple Syrup in Murrysville, expects the season to last one or two more weeks at most. The Pennsylvania season, which typically begins in early February and ends...
Delmont officials headed to court over eminent-domain request for sewage project
A Westmoreland County judge has ordered an evidentiary hearing as Delmont officials continue trying to condemn land in neighboring Salem Township, where they are planning a multi-million-dollar sewage project over the objections of the property owners. Delmont is invoking eminent domain in order to obtain a permanent easement on Salem...
With young, eager roster, Franklin Regional girls basketball team excited about future
Bernie Pucka’s first year as Franklin Regional girls basketball coach didn’t go as expected. The young Panthers struggled, going 2-10 in Section 4-5A and 6-15 overall. But what encouraged Pucka about the team is the players didn’t want the season to end. “We missed the playoffs by 12 points,” Pucka...
Eastern Pittsburgh suburban real estate transactions for the week of March 6, 2022
Churchill Robert Render sold property at 3619 McCrady Road to Jordan D’Ambrosio for $310,000. Jon Patrick Hansen sold property at 1630 Williamsburg Pl to Flavia Laun for $225,000. Edgewood Philip Roy Currie sold property at 1208 Savannah Ave. to Stephen Panicho for $370,500. Forest Hills Robin Wagner sold property at...
Franklin Regional officials start repurposing stately Newlonsburg Elementary building
To say Newlonsburg Elementary School has quite a bit of history is probably an understatement. “Our finance director’s grandmother graduated in this building, back when it was Franklin Township High School,” said Superintendent Gennaro Piraino, sitting in his office in the new administrative center, which has been relocated to the...
Murrysville area: FRAA opening day, glass recycling dates, Bible study group, more
Submit news, briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Athletic association sets opening day for April 23 The Franklin Regional Athletic Association will host its 2022 opening day April 23 at Murrysville Community Park. Opening ceremonies will take place at noon in the park, 4056 Wiestertown Road in Murrysville. Team practices...
Penn-Trafford, Franklin Regional grads start podcast to help athletes when cheering stops
Keep chasing the life you want to live. That is one of the core messages Tim Cortazzo and Colin Jonov want to push in a new podcast they created called “Identity Impact.” The pair of former Division I football players from Westmoreland County high schools want to assist former athletes...
