Local category, Page 1491
Goat crew works to clear invasive plants at Historic Hanna’s Town
There’s a crew working hard to clear underbrush on a woodsy tract at Historic Hanna’s Town, but they’re not your typical 9-to-5ers. The team comprises 11 goats, and the supervisor is a miniature donkey. They’re on the scene, courtesy of Allegheny Goatscape and a Laurel Highlands Landscape Conservation Grant, to...
Huey Lewis visits Pittsburgh to promote bird conservation filmVideo
In 1985, Huey Lewis was asked to write a song for the blockbuster movie “Back to the Future.” The tune turned out to be “The Power of Love,” and it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. What Lewis could not have known was that, 37 years...
Longtime Pitcairn funeral home merges with nearby family-owned business
In Pitcairn, the funeral home founded by Thomas Pearce had been a community fixture since 1929. For the majority of that time, Chuck Bruna was a fixture at the business. “I started here when I was a senior in high school, in 1962,” he said, his voice resonating with the...
Penn Hills student news for the week of May 24, 2022
Josiah Schweitzer, a junior premed/predent major, was among approximately 750 Bob Jones University students named to the Spring 2022 Dean’s List. Elijah Mellott, Dustin Runkel, Anthony Vehec, Christine Ritz, Aubrey Lewis and Dorian Adams were named to the President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University for the Winter 2022 semester....
Proposal would allow recreational camping for youth groups in Pittsburgh’s parks
Pittsburgh City Council is considering a proposal to allow recreational camping by youth groups in city parks. Councilman Bobby Wilson, who sponsored the measure, said he worked with the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition to introduce the bill. “At Riverview Park on the North Side, these organizations are planning to open a...
Murrysville area: Golf tournament, veteran banners, more
Email news briefs for the Star to reporter Patrick Varine at pvarine@triblive.com. Golf tourney to benefit FR Panther Foundation The annual golf tournament to benefit the nonprofit Franklin Regional Panther Foundation will take place June 10 at Meadowink Golf Course, 4076 Bulltown Road in Murrysville. The cost is $175 per...
Restaurants, more businesses being proposed in Sewickley Village
A Sewickley business owner has partnered with a couple of residents to bring new businesses to the borough. Former office buildings along Locust Place are being renovated into chef-owned restaurants, a listening lounge and an apartment, among other developments. They are located in what is colloquially called Sewickley Village. The...
Sewickley area real estate transactions for the week of May 22, 2022
Aleppo Bonnie Johnston sold property at 106 Woodcrest Drive to Bernadette Petrillo for $207,000. Bell Acres Sound Ideas Media LLC sold property at 562 Ambridge Ave. to St. Barnabas Land Trust Inc. for $480,000. Gregory Wagner sold property at 105 Bell Farm Estate to Michael and Jodi Dowling for $1,550,000....
Hampton High School spring musical receives 9 Kelly Award nominations
The Hampton High School spring musical production, “Into the Woods,” has received nine Gene Kelly Award nominations, including Andrew Kaehly as Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of “Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf.” Other nominations are for Best All-Student Orchestra and in the award’s Budget Level II category: Best Costume Design, Best Lighting...
1st major contract awarded for West Deer’s new township building
West Deer has taken the first major step toward constructing a new municipal building. Supervisors on Wednesday awarded a nearly $420,000 contract to HHSDR Architects of Pittsburgh to design the new township building to replace the current facility, built in 1952. The new building will be constructed beside the current...
Special Olympics event hosted by Plum Borough School District
Plum Borough School District hosted its first multi-district Special Olympics event on May 19 at the high school stadium. Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides year-round athletic training and competition in 21 sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities, providing them with continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness skills, express courage, and participate...
Lori Mizgorski wins GOP primary, set to face Democratic incumbent Lindsey Williams in November
State Sen. Lindsey Williams says she will continue to do her job in an effort to keep it for another term. Lori Mizgorski wants residents of the state 38th Senatorial District to get to know her better so she can take over the job next year. Unofficial results from Tuesday’s...
2 Alle-Kiski Valley educators win top awards for excellence in education
Students from Julie Erb’s kindergarten class at Martin Elementary School in New Kensington are looking forward to a special party Friday to honor their teacher. Erb is one of two Alle-Kiski Valley educators who received statewide recognition this week for excellence in academics. The Education Partnership named Erb its Elementary...
North Allegheny School Board changes budget adoption meeting to June 21
The North Allegheny School Board plans to give final approval to a 2022-2023 budget package of more than $191 million on June 21, according to school district spokeswoman, according to Brandi Smith. The vote had been scheduled for June 15. The budget will be discussed at a June 8 board...
Monroeville begins planning for Westmoreland Heritage Trail connector bridge
While it’s only a short distance from the edge of Valley Park in Monroeville to the Westmoreland Heritage Trail in neighboring Murrysville, the bridge connecting the two is still a fair distance away. “There’s a lot that goes into it,” said Monroeville Municipal Manager Tim Little. “We have to get...
Monroeville Public Library hosts summer gardening classes
Miriam Cheng, owner-operator of Wild Child Native Gardens LLC, is presenting gardening classes at Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd. The classes are scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. On May 25 is “Seed Sowing for the Beginning and Advanced Gardener.” Cheng will discuss how to start seeds inside...
Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship breaks ground on community garden
A Penn Hills School broke ground to begin construction on its community garden. A dozen Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship staff and students gathered to break ground on May 12 to officially signify the construction of their “Garden of Entrepreneurship.” Construction will include installing a parking lot, classroom area...
North Huntingdon OKs plans for road to proposed senior citizen building
The Westmoreland County Housing Authority cleared another hurdle this week toward building a 50-unit, four-story apartment building in Irwin for low-income senior citizens by winning North Huntingdon’s approval of plans for a 1,300-foot roadway to connect the complex to a township road. Despite strong and impassioned opposition from several residents...
Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship earns accreditation, grant money
Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship was awarded accreditation from the Commission on Elementary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in April. The accreditation will be effective until July 2029. An accredited school is an “educational organization that meets all MSA Standards for Accreditation, adheres to...
North Huntingdon narrowly approves backyard chickens for 2 homes
North Huntingdon officials this week narrowly approved permits for two residents to keep chickens, with a warning from one council member that it could open the floodgates for more backyard hens. By 4-3 votes, the commissioners approved permits for Megan Javor of Lancelot Drive and Sarah Helzlsouer of Adams Drive...
Developer wants to turn Downtown Pittsburgh warehouse once owned by Mark Cuban into apartments
A Washington, D.C., developer told the Pittsburgh Planning Commission that it wants to begin transforming a Downtown warehouse formerly owned by celebrity billionaire Mark Cuban into an apartment building this summer. Douglas Development Corp. presented its plans Tuesday for the vacant building at 642 Fort Duquesne Blvd., facing the Allegheny...
Man shot in Derry Township accused of damaging $900 worth of property at suspect’s home
A man who was shot in Derry Township this week is accused of setting a fire at the home of the person state police believe pulled the trigger, according to court papers. Police said the fire damaged $900 worth of items. Troopers on Wednesday arrested Jonathan Thomas Corey, 39, of...
No tax increase planned in preliminary Hempfield Area budget
Residents in the Hempfield Area School District will not see a tax increase after school directors on May 16 unanimously passed a $100.9 million preliminary budget. This is the fourth consecutive year that taxes held steady, following five years of gradual increases. Taxes will remain at 83.46 mills. Of the...
Greensburg Salem searches again for business manager, OKs maintenance, custodial contract
The Greensburg Salem School Board last week approved a new three-year contract with maintenance and custodial workers extending through June 2024. The board also agreed to search for two new central office administrators, including a replacement for business manager Joan Wehner, who has resigned to accept a similar post at...
Pit bull shot after escaping Cook Township property
A Cook Township man’s dog was shot Sunday night after leaving his property, police said. The pit bull belonging to Mark E. Ahner, 60, of Stahlstown, escaped the property and became aggressive toward two men near the intersection of Main Street and Hoffer Plan in Stahlstown shortly after 9:30 p.m.,...
