Local category, Page 3222
Water under the bridge
I have been writing this column in one version or another since 1994 for a variety of long-suffering publishers. The version published in the newspaper these days is about 550 words long, satisfying the requirements of the printed newspaper. To produce this version, I begin with a rough draft that...
Stage 62 to premier ‘Junie B. Jones’ at Carnegie Free Library
Losing that first baby tooth. Becoming a big sibling. Starting the first grade. All are milestones of childhood that, for 26 years and counting, young readers have been able to experience alongside sassy fictional first-grader Junie B. Jones. Written by Barbara Parker, the Junie B. books have sold tens of...
Ross Park Mall hosting free Chinese New Year celebration Saturday to mark Year of the Pig
North Hills residents can celebrate Chinese New Year at the Ross Park Mall on Saturday with a variety of performances, food and other activities focusing on Chinese culture. The free event in the mall’s Center Court runs from 1 to 3 p.m. There will be colorful performances by the Yanlai...
Franklin Regional looks to equip all high school students with Google Chromebooks
As Franklin Regional School District officials pursue the goal of equipping every high school student with a Google Chromebook, they plan to move away from in-classroom laptop carts and toward simply providing each student with one of the computers. Following the success of a 2016 pilot program equipping roughly 90...
Oakmont has a new interim manager, search for more permanent hire continues
Retired Avalon Manager Harry Dilmore was named Oakmont’s new interim manager. He will stay on indefinitely as borough officials continue to seek a more permanent replacement for longtime borough Manager Lisa Cooper Jensen. Dilmore, 67, of Avalon, served his community on council from 1975 through 2001. He was its manager...
McCandless Democrats hosting fundraiser at Sieb’s Pub
Democrats in the North Hills will gather Feb. 28 for a fundraiser to support the McCandless Democratic Committee. The event will be held at Sieb’s Pub starting at 6:30 p.m. Participants will be able to meet committee members, elected officials and potential candidates for the upcoming election. A 50-50 raffle...
No students hurt after Penn Hills school bus involved in 4-vehicle crash
There were no students on a Penn Hills school bus when it was involved in a four-vehicle crash at a busy intersection Tuesday afternoon. The crash happened around 2:15 p.m. at the intersection of Robinson Boulevard and Frankstown Road. Penn Hills Supervisor Diane Fitzhenry expected the road to be cleared...
Ross swears in 5 new cops; 4 more could come on board this year
Five recently hired Ross Township police officers were sworn in on Feb. 4 by District Judge Richard Opiela. The officers — Nathan Roy, Christopher Shortley, Troy Modrak, Kevin Novak and Jason Gilotty — were hired by unanimous vote on Jan. 7. The new officers will be paired with a field...
Ross Park Mall update would include movie theater, fitness center
Plans are in the works for a major project at the Ross Park Mall that includes redevelopment of the former Sears department store, relocation of the food court and adding a two-story building. Ross commissioners are scheduled to vote Feb. 11 on whether to approve the project, which includes a...
Ross getting $2.2 million grant for McKnight-Siebert intersection upgrades
A plan to make major improvements at the heavily used intersection of McKnight and Siebert roads in Ross Township is one of five in Allegheny County that will be funded by a state grant. The township will receive $2.2 million for new sidewalks along Siebert from McKnight to Woodland Road....
Penn Hills grad soars in first all-female flyover for Rosemary Mariner
“For Rosemary.” Those two simple words will forever be the ones Leslie Mintz, a 1996 Penn Hills High School graduate, will remember from the day she was involved in the funeral of one of the nation’s most beloved aviators. Mintz, a weapons system operator for naval fighter jets at Naval...
Duo bringing hackathon to Pine-Richland
Pine-Richland High School students Arjan Guglani and Justin Waltrip are already app designers who’ve participated in tech events across the region, and now they’re bringing a “hackathon” to their own school. The two whiz kids are hosting the school’s first Hack-the-Ram Hackathon in which students in grades seven through 12...
Chocolate Bread Pudding perfect addition to Valentine’s Day dinner
Looking for a recipe that is personally created yet extraordinary to charm your Valentine? Lori Burgman, business logistics manager at Northern Tier Library, allows you access to her rich, chocolate bread pudding. She and her husband of 32 years, John, took a favorite bread pudding and over the years refined...
The ever-changing language of youth
No wonder communicating with kids can be difficult. During a round of the home version of “Family Feud” at my house, this became clear. My wife was reading the questions and asked, “Name something that gets ripe.” Before the words had cleared her lips, my youngest son slammed his hand...
Recent violence prompts increased police presence around Penn Hills bars
Penn Hills law enforcement is ramping up its presence near two bars along Verona Road where recent bouts of violence have occurred, Police Chief Howard Burton said. “Our antennas are up now,” Burton said. “It’s usually pretty quiet there — we get typical calls. But now, it seems to have...
DNA’s role in ancestry research topic of 2-day genealogy conference in North Hills
A pair of experts on the role DNA can serve when doing genealogy research will be the guest speakers at the annual Family History Conference March 22 and 23. sponsored by the North Hills Genealogists, the programs will be lead by Blaine Bettinger, who holds a doctorate and a law...
McCandless residents, groups can now post free announcements on town calendar, mobile app
McCandless residents and local non-profit organizations can now spread the word about activities and events by posting information for free on the town’s website and a mobile communication’s app. Town council on Jan. 28 approved a list of rules for posting announcements to the website and the Savvy Citizens mobile...
‘Snow Angels’ needed in Etna, Millvale
North Hills Community Outreach is seeking snow lovers, or at least volunteers who don’t mind shoveling it. The group’s In Service of Seniors program needs people to shovel walks for older residents to avoid them risking a fall or other injury. Help is particularly needed in Etna, Glenshaw, Millvale, McCandless,...
Deadline today for ‘early bird’ tickets to 16th Glass Slipper Ball charity tasting event
Fulfill your fix for fine food at the North Hills’ yearly top shelf tasting event, the Glass Slipper Ball. The 16th annual event on March 2 will showcase dozens of chefs from some of the area’s finest restaurants creating signature dishes and desserts as wine and beer purveyors pour premier...
Community gets a Taste of Hampton
At this year’s Taste of Hampton on Saturday, Feb. 2, 16 different establishments showcased their food and beverages at Hampton Community Center. Proceeds from the event go toward improvements in community park....
Franklin Regional school board will discuss Sloan project bids Monday night
Franklin Regional school board members will discuss awarding prime contracts for renovations to Sloan Elementary as well as a new elementary building on the Sloan property at Monday night’s meeting. The board’s committee-of-the-whole meetings do not include taking action on agenda items. They are discussion meetings, with a formal vote...
Opus 2 Orchestra will play free concert, fundraiser preview Feb. 16 and 17
Members of the Opus 2 Orchestra will perform its second free concert of the 2018-19 season on Feb. 17, with a preview performance and fundraiser the day before. The orchestra will perform a 4 p.m. concert, Feb. 17 at Christian Life Church, 900 Seventh Street in Trafford, which will feature...
Thomas Jefferson High School adding personalized learning period, cutting class rank
The school day will look different for students at Thomas Jefferson High in 2019-20 — and attending classes at the new $95 million school is only one of the many changes coming. Starting next school year, the high school will shift from nine to eight periods a day. Midday, there...
Westmoreland notables: Norwin grad takes on responsibilities for Penn State’s THON
Standing on a stage in the middle of Penn State’s Bryce Center last year, 13 students held up a blue and yellow sign announcing THON had raised over $10 million. The room, filled with thousands of students and kids who are battling cancer, exploded with applause. The annual student-run event...
‘Grease’ is the word for Shaler Area Middle School musical
Grab your poodle skirt or leather jacket and hop in a classic car bound for Rydell High School — by way of Shaler Area Middle School. More than 60 middle-schoolers will star in “Grease” on Feb. 15 and 16 in the school auditorium. The students will perform a full-length, school-appropriate...
