Western PA Local News category, Page 1183
New Kensington’s Golden Dawn goes into new year under new ownership
For Gene Tommasi, becoming a new owner of the New Kensington Golden Dawn has brought his grocery career full circle — after he thought it was over. Tommasi of Mt. Lebanon and Jim Faccenda of Bethel Park took over ownership of the 60-year-old neighborhood grocery store in June. After painting,...
Fox Chapel Evening of Hope fundraiser returns after three-year hiatus
An elegant evening fundraiser benefiting Pittsburgh-area students is returning to Fox Chapel. The Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh’s Fox Chapel Evening of Hope will be March 2 at the Pittsburgh Field Club. The event, last held in 2019, had been on a pandemic-induced hiatus. “We’re happy to be back....
Father-son firefighting leadership continues in Leechburg
The Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company has new leadership from a fifth-generation firefighter. John A. Foster was appointed chief Jan. 1, replacing his father, Tom, who was appointed chief emeritus after 36 years of serving as chief and 50 years as a firefighter. “I was 5 when my dad became chief,...
Renowned pilot honored at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Greensburg native and X-1 test pilot Chalmers H. “Slick” Goodlin was on the verge of making history as the pilot who broke the sound barrier. After a contract dispute, Goodlin, who flew military planes for three countries, lost his seat in the cockpit and faded into the ranks of aviation...
High school robotics teams gear up for a new season of ‘FIRSTs’Video
Franklin Regional Superintendent Gennaro Piraino wanted to know what junior Rory Messersmith considered to be more valuable to his academic future — being a member of the high school’s robotics team, or studying for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests. “I’m not sure if I should answer that,” Messersmith...
Pittsburgh Ballet’s new artistic director returning to familiar spaces
Adam McKinney will take over as artistic director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in March, but he says there are many ways in which he already feels at home in the role and in the city. McKinney, 46, grew up in Milwaukee but often visited Pittsburgh, where his late father, Gerald...
Artist lining up sponsors for underpass mural below Route 22 in Murrysville
As she works her way through the design of her largest mural to date, Florida artist and Export native Christina Donahoe is also lining up partners in the project, which would cover a popular spot for graffiti on a William Penn Highway underpass in Murrysville. “I’ve been in touch with...
Out & About: The Westmoreland’s Vintage Ball is good, old-fashioned fun
Sometimes you just want to have a little, old-fashioned fun. The Westmoreland Museum of American Art provided just the ticket, packing decades of enjoyment into one night at its Jan. 21 Vintage Ball. Everything old felt new again, as guests flocked to the sold-out soiree looking like they’d stepped out...
Egg prices remain high in first month of 2023
Egg prices have remained high this month, following concerns about increases in grain costs and the impacts of bird flu on agriculture. In December 2022, egg production in Pennsylvania was down 17% from the year before, and the total number of egg-laying birds was down 15%, according to the northeastern...
Greensburg Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church sewing group clothes girls in hope
Calling someone a “so-and-so” is not a compliment, but change the spelling to “Sew ’n Sew,” and the term takes on a new — and positive — meaning. It’s the name adopted by a group of women who meet monthly at Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greensburg. At home and...
Stings by Harrison police, state agents lead to arrest of 2 accused heroin dealers
Two accused heroin dealers targeted in separate sting operations by Harrison police and state narcotics agents are scheduled to appear before a district judge this week to face felony drug charges. Last February, an undercover team of Harrison police officers and agents from the state Attorney General’s Office arranged to...
Irwin Borough plans improvements to Irwin Park
Irwin officials are planning to spend about $350,000 to improve Irwin Park and its facilities, including paving a gravel and partial-asphalt parking lot. The borough wants to pave both parking lots — a large one off Pennsylvania Avenue and a smaller one off 10th Street, replace stormwater inlets on the...
Out & About: Fort Ligonier hosts local scoop on ‘Pale Blue Eye’ filming
About 150 guests heard the inside scoop about local filming of the Netflix historical thriller “The Pale Blue Eye” prior to a Jan. 19 screening at Fort Ligonier. The blacksmith shop at nearby Compass Inn Museum in Laughlintown was transformed into an 1830s tavern for a scene between actors Christian...
Community in shock as Greensburg police chief’s apparent double life is exposed
It wasn’t a major arrest, but one that can make a small difference in a community. Shawn Denning got a tip Aug. 10 and the next day staked out Spring Avenue in Greensburg, eyes peeled for a blue Chevrolet Colorado. The driver had a few bundles of heroin, according to...
Out & About: Success stories shared at Westmoreland Community Action meeting
Two young men shared very different stories of success during the Westmoreland Community Action annual board meeting and luncheon. JT, 19, of Greensburg told how he received help in finding housing through WCA’s Transitional Age Living Program. He, his mother and two siblings became homeless on the day of his...
Trial for Rialto shooting suspects delayed until March
The attempted homicide trials of two men charged in connection with a shooting last year in downtown Greensburg has been postponed until March. The joint trial for Evan Curley, 24, of Greensburg, and Stevin “Twogunz” German, 28, of Uniontown was to begin Feb. 6, but following in court discussions on...
Out & About: Elements inspire Greensburg Art Center members’ work
Awards judge Lisa Rasmussen took an extra step to familiarize herself with the works submitted to “Earth Wind & Fire,” the new members exhibition at Greensburg Art Center. She supervised the placement of the 96 pieces on the gallery walls. Her picks were announced by center President Jerry Scorpion during...
From perfume to light bulbs, Lower Burrell Plaza’s former JCPenney building getting more than a facelift
A couple of mannequins and a drop ceiling were among the last vestiges inside the old JCPenney building in Lower Burrell, now gutted to make way for an open-air, 90,000-square-foot electrical supply warehouse and store. The former department store’s brick shell still stands, but most of the interior is gone....
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Jan. 29, 2023
Churchill Emily Rybinski sold property at 3766 E. Rural Ct to Shanay Monique Baker for $169,500. William Suiters sold property at 1640 Georgetown Pl to James and Tina Weiland for $380,000. Edgewood Dane Vandenberg sold property at 839 E Hutchinson Ave. to Tyler and Dana Henke for $385,000. Forest Hills...
North Hills area real estate transactions, week of Jan. 29, 2023
Bellevue Phillip Pfeiffer IV trustee sold property at 632 Forest Ave. to Jonathan and Lindsey Ulrich for $200,000. Yury Andreev sold property at 73 N Bryant Ave. to Michael Mazza and Meghan Conwell for $315,000. PrimInvest Corp. sold property at 88 S Euclid Ave. to Jonathan Boggs and Danielle Ficco...
The Stroller, Jan. 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. Annual Martin Luther King Jr. service planned Feb. 5 Allegheny Valley...
Fallen Officers Food Drive raises food for neighbors in need, honors local law enforcement
The Fallen Officers Food Drive in Lower Burrell serves two purposes: to collect food for neighbors in need and to honor local police who have died in the line of duty. Hosted at Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell, the annual food drive is in its fifth year, said Leslie...
Behind the Art: Ligonier museum intrigues Pittsburgh artist Robert Bowden
Though Robert Bowden is best-known for his cityscapes, the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley is one of the Pittsburgh painter’s favorite subjects. He’s painted the log structure, just south of the borough along Route 711, in both winter and summer. In the winter, he painted while sitting...
Westmoreland Mall sports card show sees strong turnout as hobby’s popularity continues
When the pandemic hit, sports card collector and seller Joe Tucci expected sports cards to dip in popularity. Instead, the opposite happened. “We got stimulus checks and everyone jumped in,” said Tucci, from Robinson. “… The hobby exploded.” Tucci was one of dozens of sellers reaping the benefits of the...
State police investigating chase on the Parkway East near Swissvale
The state police are investigating a pursuit that started at the Parkway East (Interstate 376) eastbound near the Swissvale on-ramp, police said. The chase started with a Chrysler minivan near the Swissvale ramp around 4 p.m. Saturday, according to the state police. The vehicle minivan got off the Parkway eastbound...
