Local category, Page 1113
Verona sets meeting on plan for spending pandemic-related money
Residents of Verona are invited to learn more and share their opinions about a proposed budget for spending money the borough has received through the pandemic-related American Rescue Plan Act. A public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 11, half an hour before the start of borough council’s monthly...
Bridge over Kiski River renamed after North Vandergrift baseball legend
A bridge spanning the Kiski River and connecting Vandergrift to Parks Township finally bears the name of a local hometown sports hero. After nearly 10 years of petitioning, the Vandergrift Bridge is now the Rudy Minarcin Memorial Bridge. “I had no idea my dad had such an impact on people,”...
McCandless Democrats seek scholarship applicants
The McCandless Democratic Scholarship Committee is seeking applicants for a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to a civic-minded North Allegheny School District Area senior planning post-secondary education. The scholarship recognizes a student who has excelled academically, is engaged in the community, and exemplifies the values Democrats hold dear. The application...
Franklin Park woman heads Azure Family Concerts Pittsburgh, an autism-friendly concert group
There was something missing for the Birnbaum family when they moved to North Allegheny from Baltimore in 2020. Aaron Birnbaum, who is on the autism spectrum, was hoping to find performances here in Pittsburgh similar to the Azure family concerts in Baltimore. These concerts provide a relaxed environment for people...
Pittsburgh to get $1.5M for electric vehicles, natural gas trucks
Pittsburgh is slated to receive more than $1.5 million in state grant money for new electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and compressed natural gas trucks. Three separate grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will provide the cash, pending approval from Pittsburgh City Council. Council members unanimously supported...
Jeannette plans more than $300K in street paving projects
Jeannette is doubling its annual paving project to tackle sections of seven streets. Council on Tuesday approved a $321,000 bid from Derry Construction that chief fiscal officer Ethan Keedy said will be paid through liquid fuels money and American Rescue Plan funding. “This is hopefully the first of many street...
‘I’m a very flawed man’: Man who forged letters to court gets 6½ years
One letter described a scene where the defendant was so kind that, for an afternoon, he took in a one-legged man standing outside in the cold in the Strip District. They stopped at a shop, and Randy Frasinelli bought the man a hoodie and sweatpants, then he took him home,...
Pitt-Greensburg thespians delve into women’s lives in spring play
Pitt-Greensburg Theatre Company will close out Women’s History Month with a production of “Talking With …” a play composed of 11 monologues by women relating the ordeals of their lives. Among the idiosyncratic characters portrayed by four student actors are a baton twirler, a fundamentalist snake handler, an ex-rodeo rider...
Virtual reality gaming company coming to the Strip District
A new entertainment option — one with your choice of zombies, pirates or space exploration — will be setting up shop in the Strip District. Virtual reality gaming company Sandbox VR is expected to move into The Terminal on Smallman Street this summer. The 5,571-square-foot location will be the first...
North Allegheny goes into secure mode in response to shooter hoaxes in Pittsburgh
The North Allegheny School District placed its schools in a precautionary secure mode for about 90 minutes on Wednesday , after schools in Pittsburgh and around the state received threats that later turned out to be hoaxes. NA first notified families and student caretakers by an email from NA Superintendent...
Lottery officials present Mt. Pleasant man with $1 million ‘check’ at North Huntingdon pharmacyVideo
Nick Pletcher stopped by the pharmacy to get a prescription filled. He left with $1 million. Well, technically he left with a winning Pennsylvania Lottery ticket. On Wednesday morning, he was joined by lottery officials at AccuServ Pharmacy in North Huntingdon, where he bought the winning Millionaire Maker scratch-off ticket....
Active shooter calls send panic across Western Pa. before deemed a hoax by investigators
Panic, confusion and then relief spread across the region Wednesday morning after two Pittsburgh Catholic schools received what investigators deemed were hoax active shooter threats that prompted evacuations, lockdowns and large responses from police. Families raced to Oakland Catholic and Central Catholic high schools as the news unfolded, but soon...
Westmoreland happenings: Easter events, Asian music program, summer youth camps, more
Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to Carol Pinto-Smith at cpinto-smith@triblive.com or mailed to Briefly Speaking, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Include a complete street address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks before the event. Each announcement is printed once;...
Westmoreland primary election on track as legal challenge progresses
Uncertainty about whether two Republicans can remain on the ballot in the race for Westmoreland commissioner is not expected to impact the county’s preparations for the spring election. “Our schedule is intact right at this second. We have until April 5 to get answers,” election bureau Director Greg McCloskey said...
Morning Roundup: Squirrel Hill tunnel crash snarls traffic, man found shot in Stanton Heights
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, March 29, 2023: Parkway East traffic snarled A multivehicle crash inside the Squirrel Hill tunnel has snarled traffic on the Parkway East. The crash in the outbound direction was reported about 7:45 a.m., PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said....
Fox Chapel to host planting of 1,000 tree seedlings for Arbor Day weekend
A new opportunity to connect with nature will soon take root in Fox Chapel. The borough and its park commission have partnered with Keystone 10 Million Trees to acquire 1,000 seedlings for a tree planting in celebration of Arbor Day, which is April 28. The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership...
The Stroller, March 29, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. First star parties of the season planned at West Deer park...
Famous Alle-Kiski Valley women highlighted at Tarentum history museum
Women from the Alle-Kiski Valley have made their mark on the world through stardom, smarts and scandal. From the inventor of Kevlar to the focus of a deadly love triangle that became fodder for a Hollywood movie, famous females brought a spotlight to the Valley. Third Ward school teacher Julia...
$12 million expansion of Allegheny Valley Hospital radiology will combine services in one place
People who use a satellite radiology center on Freeport Road in Harrison will instead receive services at Allegheny Valley Hospital beginning this summer. A $12 million hospital expansion project is underway to enhance the imaging department and will feature a broader range of services under one roof. The project won’t...
PennDOT projects in Westmoreland, neighboring counties part of $585M construction budget
Replacement of the Route 356 bridge over Pine Run in Allegheny Township and resurfacing of an 8-mile stretch of Route 136 are set to get underway in Westmoreland County in the months ahead. They join 64 other highway and bridge construction projects PennDOT has awarded or intends to advertise for...
Quaker Valley officials boost mental health services for elementary students
Quaker Valley School District officials have made an investment in their elementary students’ mental health. The school board voted 7-0 on March 21 to approve an agreement with Pathways Human Services to provide a behavioral health counselor this school year. Board members Geoffrey Barnes and Jeffrey Watters were absent. Assistant...
State police: Trooper tried to stop wrong-way driver before Rostraver crash
A Pennsylvania state trooper who spotted a wrong-way motorist on Route 51 in Rostraver on Tuesday night tried to stop the SUV before a crash that injured the driver, according to a news release. Police said they saw Rebecca Stevenson, 71, of Belle Vernon driving the SUV north in the...
Lawyer for New Kensington man accused of killing son asks for more time to prepare for trial
The lawyer for a Brackenridge man accused of killing his 9-year-old son told a Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday he needs additional time to prepare for trial. Assistant Public Defender Michael Garofalo said he needs about six months to prepare his defense of Jean J. Charles, 41, who was charged...
Bicyclist shot and killed in Bloomfield identified as former Pittsburgh city intern
Pittsburgh officials on Tuesday mourned the loss of a former city intern who was shot and killed while riding his bike through Bloomfield. Alexander Yerkey, 26, whose home address was listed as Bethel Park, died shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday after being shot in the head, the Allegheny County Medical...
Students at Indiana Township’s Blessed Trinity Academy excel in forensics
Fear of public speaking may be prevalent, but not among a group of Blessed Trinity Academy students. The Indiana Township school’s forensics team impressed judges with their oratorical skills, racking up numerous awards during its post-pandemic return to competition for 2022-23. As part of a forensics league for Diocese of...
