Faces of the Valley: Deer Lakes’ Bernie Donovan earns top prize in national poetry contest
Deer Lakes fifth grader Bernie Donovan loves her life — so much so that she wrote a poem to commemorate it. “Dear Future Self” speaks to how perfect the 10-year-old sees her existence as a girl who loves mac and cheese, soccer and her dog, Carter. “I like the way...
Fox Chapel area real estate transactions, week of Dec. 1, 2024
Aspinwall Robert Defazio trustee sold property at 221 Commercial Ave. to Bogacz Buildings 4 LLC for $805,600. Blawnox Nicholas Liberto sold property at 1117 North Ave. to Michael Derensis II and Madeleine Ross Beiler for $192,000. Water Rinehart Jr. sold property at 41 Riverside Court to Amanda Burkhart for $25,000....
North suburban real estate transactions, week of Dec. 1, 2024
Bellevue Wilkesboro Partn. L.P. sold property at 418-420 Division Ave. to Thierry and Anne Sophie Adam Buffiere for $255,000. Kyle Christopher Snyder sold property at 612 Forest Ave. to Terri Scalise for $150,000. Renault Bonner sold property at 269 N Balph Ave. to Oscar and Maria Dolores Murillo for $240,000....
Sewickley area real estate transactions, week of Dec. 5, 2024
Aleppo Manly Applegate sold property at 505 Timber Ln to Mary Odom for $423,150. Estate of Kathy Bannan sold property at 102 Trailside Drive to Robert Boback for $236,400. Bell Acres John Edward Burlett sold property at 568 Ambridge Ave. to Levi McQuaid for $152,000. Franklin Park RRM Consulting Inc....
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Dec. 1, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill Harry Kuczma sold property at 3 Barton Drive to Elizabeth Anne Lazzaro for $145,000. Donald Robinson sold property at 1931 Hampstead Drive to Alec and Sarah French for $290,000. Natural Home Solutions LLC sold property at 1625 Williamsburg Pl to James and Heather Wilkes for $340,000. Edgewood...
The Stroller, Dec. 1, 2024: 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 two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Christmas concerts planned by...
Happy Hour, exotic animals join Light Up, Holly Jolly celebrations in Latrobe
Latrobe’s holiday season will kick off on Thursday with Light-Up festivities and a Holiday Night Market. Then, on Dec. 7, the town’s annual Holly Jolly event will return with games, crafts and a day filled with live music and entertainment. Set for 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Latrobe, Thursday’s...
Penn Township residents raise concerns over proposed zoning changes
Paul Bush moved to Penn Township three decades ago for the quiet, rural environment. But as the Pennsylvania Turnpike plans a new interchange in Penn Township and township officials weigh proposed zoning changes aimed at encouraging economic development, Bush is worried the community will lose its peaceful atmosphere. “The existing...
Where can you listen to live Christmas music?
From Christmas cantata choirs to community bands to elementary and high schools, ‘tis the season for holiday music. Here are some seasonal concerts happening across southwestern Pennsylvania. Events are free except where indicated. • Scottdale Concert Band holiday concert, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at Woodcrest Senior Living Community, 1 Woodcrest...
Monroeville area: AARP meeting, art league exhibit, holiday events, more
Plum AARP meeting, luncheon on tap Plum AARP will celebrate Christmas with a luncheon buffet at Palmieri’s Restaurant, 951 Old Frankstown Road, Plum, at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 10. The entertainment will be Kathy Zang, who will perform holiday songs. Plum AARP is a social organization open to residents of...
Mt. Pleasant area family racking their way to pool championships
The family that shoots pool together stays together, according to the Barnharts of Mt. Pleasant. The Barnhart family — Roy Barnhart, 76, his son, Kevin, 51, and his grandson, Kevin Jr., 23 — are an integral part of the eight-member Bridgeport Rack Runners team in Bullskin, Fayette County. Their squad...
Fraud is a $10B business, according to FTC; Harrison workshop aims to safeguard people
Pennsylvanians lost more than $118 million in phone scams and other frauds last year, taking a particular hit during the holidays, according to the FBI. Across the country, older Americans appear especially prone to fake calls and emails soliciting money for charities, “family emergencies” or other schemes, the Federal Trade...
Forever Young: Families of teens killed in North Park crash fight to move on
Twice a week, Ellie Tourney eats lunch on a stone bench near her son’s grave. She doesn’t want her youngest boy to feel like he has been forgotten. Nearly a year has passed since Jonathan Tourney and Taylor Orlowski were killed on Christmas weekend when the speeding SUV they were...
A year later, families of teens killed in North Park crash remain overcome with grief while fighting to move onVideo
Twice a week, Ellie Tourney eats lunch on a stone bench near her son’s grave. She doesn’t want her youngest boy to feel like he has been forgotten. Nearly a year has passed since Jonathan Tourney and Taylor Orlowski were killed on Christmas weekend when the speeding SUV they were...
Scott-based service provider Mainstay marks 25th anniversary
An organization that fills a vital need for a quarter of a century can be considered as a mainstay. Meeting those criteria is a Scott-based nonprofit that goes by the name, appropriately enough, Mainstay. Founded in 1999 for the benefit of people who have intellectual disabilities and/or autism, Mainstay Life...
1st day of deer rifle season is busy for some deer processors, not so much for others
Mike Galup has hunted with his grandfather since he was a kid, and this year, was no exception. Galup, 29, of West Deer, and Matt Ciocca, 85, were up at 5 a.m. and in the woods an hour later on Saturday — the first day of rifle season — to...
Small Business Saturday fosters community, local sales in Irwin
Small Business Saturday is Tracy Alaia’s favorite day of the year. “It’s so nice to see the community out and about supporting all of these great small businesses,” said Alaia, 52, of Level Green, who owns Feathers Gift Shop in Irwin. Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday...
Shoppers near and far embrace New Kensington’s Shop Small Crawl
Kim Denne stood at a table in her gift shop on Saturday, winding white, green and red string around a wooden plaque in the shape of Santa Claus. As each customer entered, Denne greeted them, telling them that all of the products in the store — from the pottery pieces...
Chevy Chase lights Rivers Casino Christmas tree, brightens ‘Vacation’ fans’ spirits
The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh had a special guest light its Christmas tree on Friday night. Actor Chevy Chase, who played Clark Griswold in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” and other movies in the “Vacation” franchise, plugged in the tree. But not before he declared “Drum roll, please!” just as Griswold...
Erie slammed with lake effect snow, Shapiro declares disaster emergency; dangerous cold forecast into next week
Some portions of Erie County were under almost 3 feet of snow Saturday in the middle of the hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend, with a forecast of frigid temperatures to start off the week. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a proclamation of disaster emergency. Shapiro said parts of Erie...
Jeannette art gallery to host exhibit honoring retired Seton Hill professor
Jeannette art gallery You Are Here’s next exhibit holds professional and personal meaning for co-owner Jen Costello. The exhibit features work created by former students and friends of Maureen Kochanek, who retired from Seton Hill University this year after 42 years teaching art history. “I had Maureen as a professor...
Former Meier & Sons Hardware building to get 2 new tenants
John Meier & Sons Hardware in Murrysville was filled with tools from 1953 until its closing in 2022. Soon, it will be filled with tools for self-defense and improved physical performance. The Murrysville branch of ATA Martial Arts, and Gallagher Performance will be the new tenants following a building-wide remodel...
The Stroller, Nov. 30, 2024: 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 two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Gift program benefits victims...
3 businesses debut in Westmoreland County — mobile gaming, custom framing, barbershop
For Joe Perriello, opening a mobile video game business is the perfect mesh of work and family. In January, Perriello of Penn Township will launch Rolling Video Games PGH — a 25-foot trailer decked out with seven TVs and 10 gaming consoles that can be transported to children’s birthdays, graduation...
‘It keeps my brain sharp’: 88-year-old Norwin library staffer reflects on decades-long career
At 88, Marge Vessalo could have been retired decades ago. But the North Huntingdon resident has no plans to give up her one-day-a-week job at the Norwin Public Library in Irwin. “Retire from the library? Probably never. I think that it is good for the brain,” said Vessalo, who started...
