Western PA Local News category, Page 1311
Quaker Valley celebrates Homecoming
Quaker Valley School District celebrated Homecoming Week Oct. 3-7 at each building across the district. Schools participated in Spirit Week by sporting wacky hair, tacky outfits, pajamas, QV gear and pink out shirts. High school football players, cheerleaders, band members and color guard participated in pep rallies across the district...
State officials: Bigfoot isn’t lurking in Pennsylvania parks and forests; fake flyers reported
Bigfoot or no Bigfoot, the state and a local paranormal researcher are not amused by fake flyers warning state park and forest visitors about the presence of the unconfirmed, yet hugely popular, hairy hominid creature. Because the fake flyers appear to use official state letterhead, the state doesn’t want the...
Remember When: Polish immigrants built St. Ladislaus Church
The latest round of church closings within the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh includes the iconic St. Ladislaus Church in the Natrona neighborhood of Harrison. The final Mass was celebrated Thursday, Sept. 29. But a group has emerged wanting the diocese to keep the building and have it declared a holy...
Oakmont Paranormal Society partners with Munhall library for ghost hunt
This Halloween season, the Oakmont Paranormal Society again is partnering with the Carnegie Library of Homestead to offer something spooky, historical and fun. From 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 29, visitors will be able to take a guided ghost tour of the reportedly haunted library location in Munhall. The library...
Burrell School District to offer indoor bocce through program with Special Olympics
The Burrell School District will offer inclusive, co-ed bocce for students with and without cognitive disabilities thanks to Special Olympics Pennsylvania. The school board recently approved the program with Special Olympics, which will pay for the team’s expenses for the first two years, including uniforms, and provide expertise to a...
Cancer Bridges benefit concert in Bakerstown raises $4,200
Three bands rocked the Richland Park Pavilion in Bakerstown to benefit Cancer Bridges on Oct. 8. Cancer Bridges board co-chair Mike Fitzgerald (with wife Kristene) hosted the event and performed with his band, The Hip Waders. Major Morgan and The Serious Moonlight also jammed before an appreciative crowd that donated...
Wednesday morning house fire in Latrobe intentionally set, investigators say
A Latrobe man is accused of setting a couch on fire at his house Wednesday morning after an argument with a woman, according to city police. Dale O. Smith Jr., 34, was taken into custody outside his East Monroe Street home, where the blaze was reported at 6:15 a.m. No...
Westmoreland happenings: Oktoberfests, Rosary rallies, burger bash, 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 address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks before the event. Each announcement is printed once; there...
Steelers players help cook up healthy meals for cancer patients
Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams had a slight look of trepidation as he prepared to take his first bite of a quinoa burger slider he had just helped prepare. He made up his mind to dive in and try it. Suddenly a smile crept over his face. “Mmmm, I like...
Short hikes offer the best views in peak Western Pennsylvania fall foliage season
The brightly colored leaves and earthy scent of autumn might best be taken in with your feet tucked inside a sturdy pair of shoes. Westmoreland County and the Laurel Highlands have plenty of spots for hiking amid tall deciduous trees with sun-dappled gold, orange and red leaves. But it can...
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald proposes 2023 budget with no tax hike
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald on Tuesday presented a proposed 2023 budget to county council that includes no property tax increase for county residents. This marks the 21st time in 22 years that the budget includes no property tax increase, he said. “I’m very proud of the fact that we...
Pittsburgh hosting Walk and Roll to School Day Wednesday to encourage walking, biking to school
Pittsburgh on Wednesday is hosting its biannual Walk and Roll to School Day, an event that encourages students to walk or bike to class. It’s part of the Safe Routes to School program, which aims to increase the number of students who walk or bike to school by offering education,...
Armed carjacking reported in Pittsburgh’s East Allegheny neighborhood
Police said they responded to an armed carjacking overnight in Pittsburgh’s East Allegheny neighborhood. Three juveniles approached a man in a vehicle along East Ohio Street around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, according to Pittsburgh police. One of the juveniles showed a firearm and demanded the vehicle, police said. The suspects took...
Summit Hose celebrates members for 50-year milestone
Tarentum resident David Kengor’s life changed forever just by hanging out with friends at a pizza shop across from the Summit Hose fire hall. “We were all young teenagers, and some of the firefighters came over and said they were starting a junior department — the first one in the...
Rick Cessar, longtime state representative from Etna, dies
Rick Cessar loved his hometown, and he loved public service. He combined those two passions throughout his working life, first serving as a police officer for 17 years in Etna, before being elected the community’s state representative, where he served for 24 years. “He was a great leader for Pittsburgh...
Letter to the editor: Forget the new Quaker Valley High School
My two cents on the QV high school: After reading the recent Sewickley Herald article dated Sept. 29, 2022, detailing the latest school board expenditure in the now interminable saga of the new Quaker Valley High School, I was struck by two things: No. 1. The firm contracted to design...
Shady Side Academy junior honored for his volunteer work supporting area refugees
A middle-school assignment evolved into a meaningful mission for Shady Side Academy junior Deven Nahata. While in seventh grade at SSA, his teacher assigned individual student projects with a social-based focus. “I did some Google searches for Pittsburgh nonprofits because I was really interested in the refugee crisis and found...
The Stroller, Oct. 12, 2022: 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 a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Cub Scouts to host youth fishing derby Deer Lakes Cub Scout...
New Kensington-Arnold 2nd graders present $450 donation to Animal Protectors
A donation from students at a New Kensington-Arnold elementary school will help a New Kensington animal shelter in many ways, the president of the shelter’s board of directors said. Second graders at H.D. Berkey Elementary School in Arnold collected $450 through a coin drive the week of Sept. 26, teacher...
Penn State officials criticize student group’s event featuring Proud Boys founder
Penn State University officials criticized a student organization’s plans to host an upcoming event with Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes. Student organization Uncensored America on Oct. 24 is scheduled to host McInnes and BlazeTV contributor Alex Stein’s “Stand Back & Stand By.” University officials on Tuesday released a statement criticizing...
Legislation proposed to regulate book bans in Pennsylvania school districts
A Philadelphia Democrat is working to reign in the number of book bans occurring at Pennsylvania schools as challenges continue at unprecedented rates. State Rep. Chris Rabb proposed legislation Tuesday that would establish uniform procedures for school boards to follow before they could eliminate a student’s access to a book....
Driver in critical condition as a result of crash in Westwood
Pittsburgh Police said a female driver was in critical condition on Tuesday morning after a crash on Greentree Road. Police, fire and EMS workers responded to the 600 block of Greentree Road in the city’s Westwood neighborhood around 9:45 a.m. Police said they believe the female driver attempted to illegally...
Balloon Rosary makes annual flight above Bethel Park school
A longtime tradition continued this year at Ave Maria Academy’s Bethel Park campus, albeit with a slight change of venue. To help celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary each year, the campus — formerly St. Thomas More School, before its merger with St. Bernard in Mt. Lebanon...
Details of theft probe of Victor Steban’s home to remain under wraps
Helen Mongelluzzo knows her longtime friend Victor Steban isn’t likely to ever be released from prison. Still, she appeared Tuesday in a Westmoreland courtroom seeking information about allegations raised last year that motorcycles and other belongings were stolen from his home following his arrest on murder and other charges. Mongelluzzo,...
Judge dismisses insurance fraud charge from Bell arson case
A Westmoreland County judge has ruled there was not enough evidence to support a criminal charge of insurance fraud against a former Bell woman accused in the torching of her home two years ago. Following a pretrial hearing Tuesday, one felony count was dismissed in the ongoing case against Britny...
