Local category, Page 1126
Excela CEO, Ohio entrepreneur join honored Greensburg Salem alumni; late coach gets new award
A hospital executive and an entrepreneur with an engineering background this year will join distinguished alumni honored at Greensburg Salem School District. John Sphon of Greensburg, a member of the graduating class of 1975, and Bill Lendl, a 1980 graduate who lives in West Chester, Ohio, will be recognized on...
Behind the art: Unusual mural spotlights perspectives on reality
What’s upside down is actually right side up in a curious multi-paneled mural on display at The Fred Rogers Center in Unity. Artist Roman Verostko’s pen and ink drawings from the early 1970s were repurposed on 11 panels that line the wall next to a staircase at the Saint Vincent...
Greensburg veteran of D-Day, Battle of the Bulge enjoyed creating art, model train layouts
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series about Westmoreland County residents who have been honored as Hometown Heroes. The program honors local military and non-military heroes by displaying photos on decorative banners in area communities. Elmer Klingler Greensburg Elmer Klingler didn’t talk much about his service in the Army...
Attorney Thomas Babinsack announces bid for Highlands area district judge’s seat
Attorney Thomas Babinsack has announced his bid for district justice in the office that serves Harrison, Tarentum, Brackenridge, Fawn and East Deer. A lifelong resident of Harrison, Babinsack has a private law practice. He also serves as part-time business manager for the Guardian Angels Parish, which is part of the...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of March 19, 2023
Churchill Chad Gales sold property at 2424 Greensburg Pike to Troy Hoster and Troy Prather for $230,000. Peter Cnossen sold property at 3709 Greensburg Pike to Kimberly Williams for $312,000. Edgewood Estate of Rolland Ritts sold property at 324 Dewey Ave. to Jacon Edward Johnson and Margo Helena Lynch for...
Police and firefighters shut down part of Tarentum street due to gas leak
A gas leak coming from a vacant house at 520 Third Ave. in Tarentum caused police and firefighters to shut down that block Saturday afternoon. “There was an odor of natural gas coming from (the house),” said Deputy Fire Chief Brad James of Eureka Fire Rescue in Tarentum. “It looks...
‘Cookie Brigade’ fills cookie table and hearts at Hometown Hero Thank You in Harrison
It was a day filled with tears and joy Saturday as emergency responders were saluted at the Harrison Veterans of Foreign Wars. The event was coordinated by the Cookie Brigade’s Lori Miller, who acknowledged the tears still being shed in the wake of Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire’s line-of-duty death...
Burrell High School life skills students get work experience at local restaurant
Courtney Kobelenske organized a work day Saturday at Rudy’s Table, a restaurant in Lower Burrell, for special needs students in the Burrell High School life skills program. Four students in the program participated Saturday morning. Kobelenske expects to continue to bring more special needs students from the school for work...
South Fayette student adds to résumé with Disney Dreamers selection
A teenager who heads to Florida in March isn’t necessarily going on spring break. In fact, the accomplishments racked up so far by Prerna Chakkingal would seem to indicate that she rarely takes a break of any type. The latest feather in the South Fayette High School junior’s cap is...
Chartiers Valley area real estate transactions, week of March 26, 2023
Bridgeville Estate of David Bojanac sold property at 684 Elizabeth St. to Michael Kinslow for $168,000. Daniel Woodall sold property at 1001 Grandview Ave. Unit 703 to Ann Lockhart for $115,000. John Heinrich sold property at 1392 Pennsylvania Ave. to Jeffrey Berry for $225,000. Art Image America LLC sold property...
West Newton man gets 7 years of probation for attempted sexual assault of a young girl
A West Newton man was sentenced to seven years of probation Thursday for trying to sexually assault a girl who was visiting an apartment complex where he lives after exposing himself. Eric Espinosa, 23, pleaded guilty to corruption of minors, unlawful contact and attempted indecent assault. He was ordered to...
Seven Springs ‘pond skim’ draws crowd
The annual “spring pond skim” at Seven Springs Mountain Resort near Champion drew a crowd of skiers and snowboarders Saturday who dared to go downhill and then jump — or try to jump — over a small pond at the bottom of the slope. With temperatures below freezing, those who...
Lower Burrell hosts largest St. Patrick’s Day parade to date
The hundreds of spectators lining Leechburg Road on Saturday for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade were treated to a bigger-than-ever green scene. “They do it up,” said Lower Burrell resident Jacquie Springer, who arrived in tow with several youngsters. “It’s a great reason to get the kids out of...
Pittsburgh launches citywide composting pilot
Pittsburgh on Friday announced the city will launch a five-month, citywide composting pilot across the city. The initiative, headed by the Department of City Planning’s Sustainability and Resilience division, aims to address Pittsburgh’s goal of becoming a zero-waste city, officials said. “We want to empower residents to create positive change...
Former church chapel to become concert venue in downtown New Kensington
Three years after moving his record store into a former church and Salvation Army citadel, New Ken Social owner AJ Rassau is adding a second concert venue to the building. The new venue, which has yet to be named, is in what had been the chapel of a former Presbyterian...
Century-old Salvation Army time capsule found in New Kensington
Time was not kind to the contents of a near-century old Salvation Army time capsule found in New Kensington. While water rusted away the metal container’s lid and damaged its mostly paper contents, the documents within — including a newspaper, news clippings, letters and books remain largely legible . “It’s...
New Kensington motorcycle club dealt setback in plan to use former office building as clubhouse
A New Kensington motorcycle club will have to make its case to city council for why it should be allowed to use a former office building in a residential area as its clubhouse. The city’s planning commission voted to not recommend giving the Vultures Motorcycle Club a conditional use approval...
New Kensington-Arnold to seek proposals for replacement of Valley High pedestrian bridges
The twin pedestrian bridges spanning Little Pucketa Creek in front of Valley High School in New Kensington might not be fully replaced until early in the 2024-25 school year, an engineer working on the project for the school district said. The New Kensington-Arnold School Board could vote to seek proposals...
Backyard workshop slated at Mammoth Park
Troublesome pests, pollinator-friendly plantings and low-maintenance gardening are among topics that will be explored during a free Sustainable Backyard Workshop April 22 at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant Township. Organized by the Lauglintown-based staff of Forbes State Forest, the event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Pavilions...
Attorney Leslie Uncapher Zellers announces bid in race for district judge
Leslie Uncapher Zellers, a longtime lawyer in the Alle-Kiski Valley, is running for district judge. “It is time for change in this office,” she said. “It’s time for the justice we need now. It is important for magisterial district judges to have a solid foundation in all areas of the...
Delmont moves ahead to develop ‘jake brake’ ordinance; police say they can’t enforce it
Delmont officials will move ahead in developing a “jake-brake” ordinance, despite acknowledging that their police department will not be able to enforce it. Borough officials asked the state transportation department to study a stretch of Route 66 in order to post signs prohibiting the use of engine brake retarders, or...
Dog walker in serious condition after hit-and-run accident
A woman hit by a vehicle while walking her dog in Pittsburgh’s Hill District on Friday night was hospitalized in serious condition, Pittsburgh police said. The victim was hit at the intersection of Centre Avenue and Logan Street around 9:45 p.m., by a vehicle that fled from the scene, police...
Penn Township discusses adding beer garden to Fall Festival
Visitors to the Penn Township Fall Festival may have the chance to quench their thirst with an alcoholic beverage at this year’s event, if a proposal before the Penn Township board of commissioners is approved. At a meeting Wednesday, commissioners discussed the possibility of adding a fire department benefit beer...
Penn Township couple readies to open ice cream shop in Murrysville
A Penn Township couple is opening a franchise of a popular Pittsburgh-based ice cream maker. Brian and Lori McBarron will operate the 10th location of Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream at the Blue Spruce Shoppes in Murrysville. “It’s close to home,” said Lori McBarron of Harrison City. “With the traffic that...
Water works suppliers with operations in Harrison to merge
Two water works supply companies with operations in Harrison are joining up. National Road Utility Supply Inc., a water works distributor with operations on Alter Road as well as in Tridelphia, W.Va., and Morgantown, W.Va., is being acquired by CITCO Water. Financial terms were not disclosed. “The teaming up of...
