Local category, Page 3137
17-year cicadas are coming already? Here’s why
If cicadas emerge from the ground only once every 17 years, why do they seem to show up so often? There are actually 15 separate broods of cicadas in the United States — five of which include Pennsylvania as part of their territory. Related story: Cicadas will swarm Southwestern Pa....
Murrysville man joins supercomputing research team at Berkeley lab
So far, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif., has been home to 13 Nobel Prizes, and hosted the discovery of 16 elements on the periodic table as well as more than 600 isotopes. Late last year, and two more times in 2019, it will be home — albeit...
South Greensburg man loved dancing
Frank J. Rossi of South Greensburg enjoyed ballroom dancing so much, and was so good at it, that he was an instructor at an Arthur Murray dance studio in the 1950s in Pittsburgh. “He loved to dance. He was still dancing up until the last few years,” said his son,...
Pittsburgh Festival Opera welcomes Christopher Powell as executive director
Christopher M. Powell was named executive director of the Pittsburgh Festival Opera effective March 12. Powell was the director of artistic initiatives for the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, N.Y., for the past four years. He will work alongside Artistic Director Jonathan Eaton into the opera’s 42nd season. The upcoming season...
Northern Tier Library experiencing spike in popularity of ebooks
Circulation was up at the Northern Tier Regional Library in 2018 thanks to the growing popularity of electronic books that patrons can borrow online. Director Diane Illis said that circulation remained roughly the same from 2016 to 2017, but then took a jump of 5,300 in 2018. Their ebook circulation...
No Bad JuJu to play for NHCO fundraiser
Fans of No Bad JuJu will be able to see them at the North Hills Community Outreach’s Neighborhood Block Party fundraiser March 24 to benefit those in need. The fifth annual event will take place from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at The Chadwick on Perry Highway in Wexford. The event...
Talbot THON fundraiser slated
A community hour will kick off the Hampton Township High School student council’s Talbot THON event March 29, giving the public a chance to help raise money for the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. The student-led Talbot THON replaces the former mini-THON held annually at Hampton the past four years....
Shaler promotes long-time employee to assistant manager
The Shaler commissioners recently approved the promotion of Judy Kording, the township’s finance and administration director of 30 years, to assistant manager. In addition to taking on the new role, she will retain her former title and duties. She will have no salary change. As finance and administration director, Kording,...
Elliott Group opens new facility in India
Elliott Group announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in India as part of an expansion there. The new facility is equipped to design, manufacture and test steam turbines as well as house employees and a training center, according to a news release. The company has its U.S. headquarters...
Armstrong DA approves extradition of three Virginia men accused of stealing from Walmart
Three Virginia men accused of stealing more than $6,000 worth of merchandise from an Armstrong County Walmart will return to Pennsylvania to face felony theft charges, state police in Kittanning said. The Armstrong County District Attorney approved the extradition of Shawn Terrance Acklin, 27; Adarrus DePriest Ferguson, 27, and Brandon...
Judge rejects bid to have Hempfield man released from prison pending jury trial
A Hempfield man charged in two separate criminal cases of rape and assault against the same woman will remain in jail until an unrelated drunken-driving case is resolved. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Rita Hathaway on Monday rejected a defense bid to have Harold M. Franks released on nominal bail...
PennDOT approves more turning restrictions near new Oakmont Bakery
PennDOT has approved more turning restrictions at a busy Oakmont intersection that the borough’s mayor said was a problem before the popular Oakmont Bakery opened a new location there and compounded traffic headaches. Westbound motorists on Hulton Road who are headed toward Hulton Bridge will be prohibited from turning left...
Level Green multiphasic blood test slated
A multiphasic blood screening test to check a person’s levels of cholesterol, hemoglobin, triglycerides, prostate-specific antigen, as well as thyroid function, will be conducted from 7 to 10 a.m. March 23 at the Level Green Community Building. 123 Murrysville Road in Penn Township. The blood screening also will test levels...
Empty Bowl fundraisers feeds hungry
Serenity Struble of McCandless was having a good time Sunday afternoon, one of a few hundred people who patronized the Empty Bowl luncheon that benefits the needy and hungry served by the Westmoreland County Food Bank. “It is really a great thing for a great cause … ’cause it is...
Oakmont manager search extended through March
Oakmont officials’ search for a new borough manager has been extended. Council wanted to have a manager in place by the end of January, but opted to appoint retired Avalon Manager Harry Dilmore as its interim administrator and repost the position. Interested parties can email cover letters and resumes through...
Snow causes a rash of mostly minor accidents across the region
The winter storm that swept across large portions of the country wasn’t as bad locally as was feared, but it was enough to make roads slippery Sunday evening and contributed to several crashes across the region: • Route 28 southbound at the Route 8 off-ramp in Etna was closed because...
Crash injures man, shuts down part of Second Avenue in Pittsburgh
A man was taken to a Pittsburgh area hospital in critical condition following a crash along Second Avenue in the city Sunday evening. Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Alicia George said police, firefighters and EMS were dispatched to the 700 block of Second Avenue around 4:40 p.m. for a vehicle into...
Ukrainian Easter eggs teach heritage along with craft
People eager to learn the art of creating Ukrainian Pysanky/Easter Eggs took to a workshop in Ross Community Center put on by St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Church member and instructor, Michael Kapeluck, 55, who’s parents hail from Western Ukraine, has been painting Pysanky Eggs since the...
Big Blitz looks to take its ‘noise jazz’ and Burrell High School roots on the roadVideo
They play “noise jazz.” That’s how Big Blitz members Nick Grabigel, 17, and brothers Lucas, 18, and Mason Ciesielski, 16, describe their original jazz/rock/dance music. The teens hail from Lower Burrell and formed Big Blitz in 2017, after meeting in middle school and later performing together at a high school...
Gun enthusiasts lukewarm on proposed background check legislation
Gun enthusiasts didn’t seem fazed by the gun control legislation being considered in Congress during a gun show Sunday at the Pittsburgh Mills. The gun show was one of several held each year by the Pennsylvania Gun Collectors Association, which draw dozens of gun sellers, buyers and collectors. Sunday’s event...
Injuries reported in multi-vehicle crash in Manor Township
Emergency responders are on the scene of a multi-vehicle crash in Manor Township. An Armstrong 911 dispatcher said the crash happened around 12:40 p.m. in the area of Route 66 and Fairground Road. The dispatcher said there is a report of injuries. No other information was immediately available....
Vehicle hits Springdale veterinary hospital
A pick-up truck crashed into the River Valley Veterinary Hospital at 1046 Pittsburgh St., Springdale, on Saturday night. The crash destroyed the front doors of the business but, according to social media reports, no animals are housed in the hospital overnight. Springdale Police Chief George Polnar could not be reached...
Fire destroys small building on Murrysville farm
Fire destroyed a small out building and killed the chickens inside it on a Murrysville farm early Sunday morning, a Sardis fire department spokesman said. The fire, which was reported at 5:46 a.m., occurred at a farm at 4320 Fairview Lane, said Sardis Deputy Fire Chief Joey Paiano. No one...
Longtime volunteer a familiar face in LeechburgVideo
Violet Stivason cannot walk more than a few feet in Leechburg without seeing a familiar face. “My great grandchildren don’t like to go shopping with me because I see too many people I know,” she said. It’s for good reason. The lifelong resident has volunteered for organizations in the area...
Litter, declining water quality in Buffalo Creek watershed among concerns in upcoming report
Diminishing water quality, litter, development and lack of recreational opportunities were among the chief concerns in an upcoming report on the Buffalo Creek watershed, which extends from Buffalo Township to north of Chicora in Butler County. Keeping the beautiful and biologically diverse Buffalo Creek area that way continues to be...
