Local category, Page 2000
Penn Hills community grieving loss of high school student, counseling available
The Penn Hills School District community is grieving the loss of a high school student. Jason Lott Jr., 17, died in his home on April 18, a little more than two weeks after the birth of his daughter, Amora Rose Lott. “It’s horrible,” his mother, Gina Bigenho, said Friday. “I...
Rotary Club of Latrobe celebrates century of community service
Covid-19 pandemic restrictions prevented the Rotary Club of Latrobe from holding its annual projects fundraising dinner this year at Saint Vincent College’s Fred Rogers Center. But that’s not going to keep the organization from continuing the mission it has carried out for the past century: serving the needs of the...
Former Delta Foundation president gets probation for impersonating an officer, forgeryVideo
The former head of a now-defunct LGBTQ advocacy organization will serve two years probation and 300 hours of community service for impersonating a first responder and forging official documents. Gary Van Horn, 41, appeared before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski Friday on charges of forgery, tampering with...
Hempfield woman wins Marine volunteer award
A Hempfield woman who volunteers in a leadership role with the Westmoreland County Young Marines won a national award for her efforts, a year after her daughter won a Young Marines award for her exemplary service. Sheila Myers, who has logged more than 1,000 community service hours in the past...
Map shows where to get a covid vaccine in Allegheny County
Allegheny County has created a public map of active covid-19 vaccination locations. The Vaccine Provider map is available online at the county’s Covid Vaccine Information page. Users can access it directly at alleghenycounty.us/vaccinemap. “We are trying to make it as easy as possible for as many people as possible to...
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto to introduce city-level hate crime legislation
Legislation that Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto will introduce next week seeks to create local-level hate crime laws that will expand upon state law, which does not consider sexual orientation, gender identity or disability protected classes. “What we’re doing is taking a stand against hate in our city,” said Dan Gilman,...
Introducing the new host of the Food Podcast
The Food Podcast has a new host. Starting the week of April 26, Krista Johnson will take the lead on the podcast as the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s newest Communications and Public Relations Specialist. “I’ve worked with food banks in the past and more importantly, I’ve met people who...
TV Talk: Natrona Heights woman appears on ‘Let’s Make a Deal’
Sharon Cushey of Natrona Heights appeared on the April 23 edition of CBS’s “Let’s Make a Deal,” winning $800 and a designer purse valued at $1,700, but it was an eight-month journey from when she applied. During the pandemic, “Let’s Make a Deal” has welcomed a mix of an in-studio...
Don’s Diner to be featured in Showtime series filming in Pittsburgh
Don’s Diner, a fixture of Pittsburgh’s Woods Run neighborhood, is being featured in a new Showtime series called “Rust” set in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The series stars veteran actor Jeff Daniels. The 25-year-old eatery is not only known for its food but is a regular Hollywood fixture when it comes to...
‘My dad would just be ecstatic’: Bruno Sammartino Park dedicated in RossVideo
A Ross Township park was renamed Friday to honor a local legend. Formerly known as Sangree Park, the park now bears the name of Bruno Sammartino, a famed wrestler and the longest reigning champion in World Wrestling Entertainment history. The WWE Hall of Famer was a resident of Ross for...
Frey Road to close for 2 weeks in Penn Hills
Frey Road in Penn Hills will close for two weeks starting Monday, a news release from the Penn Hills Police Department said. Frey Road will be closed between Cameron and Laurie drives starting at 7 a.m. so crews can begin road repair. The announcement said the road will reopen by...
Dr. William Balash’s half-century of medicine reflected deep concern for patients
A former colleague of Dr. William Balash will never forget the snowy night in January several years ago when he received a phone call at 2 a.m. One of Balash’s patients was in the intensive care unit of Allegheny Valley Hospital. He wasn’t doing well. “Dr. Balash cared about his...
U.S. Steel will not drill gas wells at Edgar Thomson Plant
An agreement between U.S. Steel Corp. and New Mexico-based Merrion Oil & Gas to drill Marcellus Shale gas wells near U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Works was terminated Friday. “U.S. Steel has decided to exit a lease agreement that would have allowed a natural gas well on the property of our...
UPMC St. Margaret names East Deer resident Marianna Stoneburner as Chief Nursing Officer
East Deer resident Marianna Stoneburner is the new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at UPMC St. Margaret, the same hospital where she spent more than a decade working in the intensive care unit. Stoneburner returns to St. Margaret after serving the past six years as CNO at UPMC Horizon in Mercer...
Near-century old Aspinwall building getting new look
A landmark building in Aspinwall will look a bit different in coming months. Jim Mitnick, owner of the former PNC branch at 101 Brilliant Ave., received the green light from council to remodel the nearly 100-year-old building. Council approved the conditional use for office space in a third-floor addition to...
What to do with your covid-19 vaccination card
You’ve gotten your covid-19 vaccine dose and accompanying small, white vaccination card. Now what do you do? Take a picture of the card for backup purposes. No selfie required. The card from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention serves as official documentation. The cards contain important information about a...
Teen charged as adult in Jeannette shooting; 2nd shooter acted in defense, DA says
A 16-year-old boy is charged as an adult with attempted homicide for an incident in which, police say, he shot a 17-year-old boy in Jeannette during an argument earlier this month. Desean Ingram of Jeannette also was shot during the April 7 altercation, but District Attorney John Peck said Ingram...
Hempfield to revisit possible Valley Green project next weekVideo
Some of the first plans for residential development on the former Valley Green Golf & Country Club in Hempfield will be put in front of township supervisors Monday. If passed, the plans would grant conditional approval for the Valley Green subdivision for the purpose of a residential plan consisting of...
Emergency pet pantry needs donations to keep it stocked
When humans are in crisis, organizations like the Red Cross, fire departments and food banks are there to help. But who is there for the pets affected by those emergencies? Westmoreland/Fayette/Allegheny County Animal Response Team established a pet pantry to provide food and other supplies to furry friends whose owners...
Astrobotic teams with German space agency to take radiation detector to moon
When two Apollo 11 astronauts in 1969 became the first humans to walk on the moon, there were tremendous risks involved, including potential exposure to high levels of radiation. With an upcoming NASA mission to carry the next two American astronauts to the moon in the planning stages, Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic...
Strike a pose: Yoga returns to Market Square
Take a deep breath. Yoga in the Square is returning. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will once again partner with a variety of local yoga studios for twice-weekly classes in Market Square. Each 60-minute outdoor session is free. Classes will be held at 10 a.m. Sundays starting May 2, and at...
Ligonier teen installs shelter on Loyalhanna Nature Trail in Eagle Scout projectVideo
Hikers or anglers who get caught in a rainstorm on the Loyalhanna Nature Trail can thank Tristan Glenn and fellow members of Boy Scout Troop 372 for a place to dry off. Glenn, 18, of Ligonier Borough, joined local Scouting officials and the Loyalhanna Watershed Association this week in unveiling...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: April 23-25, 2021
Fresh and local Saturday is the season opener for the Greensburg Farmers Market at Lynch Field, 520 New Alexandria Road. From 9 a.m.-noon, shop for locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with a variety of baked goods, prepared foods, jellies, honey, sauces, meats, wine and spirits and other seasonal items....
Former Vandergrift resident Tim Geary vows to return to Appalachian TrailVideo
An unexpected injury while hiking has temporarily derailed a former longtime Vandergrift resident from walking the Appalachian Trail. Tim Geary, 77, formerly of Vandergrift and now of Aspinwall, returned home this week from his solo hike on the 2,200-mile trail that he began March 17. He said his 30-pound backpack...
AHN, UPMC change dates for closing, opening New Kensington facilities
Allegheny Health Network and UPMC have each updated plans for their facilities in New Kensington. AHN is delaying closing its outpatient center in the former Citizens General Hospital, spokeswoman JoAnne Clobus said Friday. The center, offering laboratory, medical imaging and cardiology services, was originally slated to close on May 11....
