The Stroller, Oct. 24, 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. Volunteers welcome at cleanup...
Western Pa. counties prepare for Election Day as mail-in voting deadline looms
With less than two weeks to go until Election Day, Unity’s Joyce Jacobs was one of hundreds of people who lined up Wednesday to cast their ballots at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg. Jacobs, a 53-year-old Trump supporter, said she never cast a mail-in ballot before. But this year...
Shady Side Academy celebrates lifting of final beam for $26 million Rockwell Middle School
The geometric steel shell nestled among the wooded campus of Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel looks peculiarly out of place. But as construction moves along on the 49,300-square-foot Rockwell Middle School, leaders said the building will fit seamlessly into the school’s transformation of its campus at 423 Fox Chapel...
Petting zoo, pony rides punctuate annual Fall in the Wall event in Aspinwall
Everyone had different reasons for filling Aspinwall’s Commercial Avenue in picture-perfect autumn weather Saturday, Oct. 12, during the borough’s annual Fall in the Wall celebration. Fox Chapel resident Jodi Linder watched, with a twinkle in her eye, as granddaughter Alanna gazed at a balloon artist plying their trade. Despite being...
Trick or treat can’t be beat: Here’s your town’s time with a rhyme
Spooky season brings a call for sweets; Who doesn’t love the sound of trick or treat? Ghouls, ghosts and goblins galore will soon be knocking on your front door. Gummies, chocolates, Necco wafers; sweet and sour, Now and Laters. Mystery suckers may surprise, but everyone knows the best candy bars...
Italian family pours love of retail, customer service into new boutique winery in Aspinwall
A legendary Italian family known for its specialty food markets is toasting to new beginnings in Aspinwall. Labriola Italian Markets debuted Labriola Winery last month, steps away from its market along Freeport Road. “It’s the beginning of a new era,” said owner Leonard Labriola of Fox Chapel. “This is such...
Joe Biden coming to Pittsburgh
President Joe Biden is returning to Pittsburgh this upcoming weekend, the White House reported Wednesday evening. Biden will travel to Pittsburgh for political engagements on Saturday, according to the White House. It will be the third visit to Pittsburgh this year, following a political speech at the United Steelworkers building...
Unity zoning panel OKs fourth session for solar farm hearing; size requirement in contention
Debate about a proposed solar farm in Unity will continue for a fourth session before the township zoning hearing board. Township officials and the developer have hit a hurdle in determining whether the facility will meet requirements that apply to agricultural property. Township Solicitor Gary Falatovich said during Tuesday’s third...
Pittsburgh leaders argue over discounts for landlords buying vacant city land
Pittsburgh City Council is considering halting a program to sell vacant blighted properties on the cheap while council members debate who should be allowed to enjoy the discount. The Side Yard Sale Program allows property owners to purchase certain vacant, city-owned properties adjacent to their own for $200. Some council...
Pittsburgh police chief plans pay cut so he can referee collegiate basketball
Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto said Wednesday that he will take a salary reduction as part of his deal to return to refereeing NCAA college basketball games. Scirotto last week announced he would resume refereeing, something he had given up when Mayor Ed Gainey named him chief last year. He...
Predicting this year’s trendy Halloween costumes
With Halloween around the corner, time is running out to come up with costume ideas for the festive occasion. There’s still time to scramble, though. From pop stars to superheroes, there are plenty of options for any age. Here’s a list of predicted popular costumes that will take to the...
Check out these upcoming programs at the Cooper-Siegel and Sharpsburg libraries
The Cooper-Siegel Community Library and its Sharpsburg branch offer a variety of programming for visitors of all ages. To view a complete list of offerings, visit coopersiegel.librarycalendar.com. Events at both libraries are listed and can be viewed according to age group and location. Registration is required for most programs as...
Police: Penn Hills man dead after falling off Route 28 in Etna
A Penn Hills man died Tuesday evening after falling 35 to 50 feet onto an overpass below Route 28, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Police said Brian Sabock, 63, was involved in a minor one-vehicle crash at the Route 28 northbound on-ramp at the Route 8 interchange in Etna. Because...
Aldi gives opening date for Allegheny Township store
Aldi will open its store in Allegheny Township on Nov. 7, the ever-expanding supermarket chain has announced, giving shoppers another option in an area thin on grocers. A grand opening ceremony will be held at the store in Hyde Park Plaza before customers are let in at 8:45 a.m. The...
Allegheny Valley’s new anti-bullying program aims to bolster school climate, culture
Allegheny Valley school administrators say a new anti-bullying program will build relationships among students and foster a greater sense of belonging at the district’s two schools. Fifth and sixth grade students at Acmetonia Elementary and seventh through 12th graders at Springdale Junior-Senior High School will participate in the Rachel’s Challenge...
Bethel Park students named National Merit semifinalists
The National Merit Scholarship Corp., one of the country’s best-known and longest-running scholarship programs, recently announced the names of more than 16,000 semifinalists in the 70th annual program, including Bethel Park’s James Sipe and Lyla Walsh. The students join an elite cohort among their peers throughout the country. As semifinalists,...
Gateway school board to review Costa Rica trip proposal, approve expenses
Gateway School District could sponsor an educational trip to Costa Rica next summer. Board members this week heard a presentation from Shea O’Sullivan of EF Educational Tours about a possible trip in June 2025. High school teacher Lynn Martin reached out to EF Tours. The tour operator has been in...
Carnegie woman identified as pedestrian killed when struck by vehicle in Point Breeze
Authorities say a Carnegie woman was killed when she struck by vehicle Wednesday morning in Pittsburgh’s Point Breeze neighborhood. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Vira Petrakh, 51. She was a pedestrian who was struck at the intersection of South Dallas Avenue and Reynolds Street at...
Cracks in new Pittsburgh airport garage fuel concern, controversy
Allegheny County Council President Pat Catena is sounding the alarm on a series of cracks found recently in the massive parking garage being built as part of Pittsburgh International Airport’s $1.5 billion modernization project. The Allegheny County Airport Authority, which is managing the project, said it is aware of cracks...
Former investigator at state AG’s North Huntingdon office could lose pension if convicted
A North Versailles woman accused of taking money from the Pennsylvania attorney general’s North Huntingdon office while she was an employee there could lose her pension if she’s convicted. The Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act requires a Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System member or participant who commits certain crimes related...
Allegheny Health Network’s Forbes Hospital to begin paying property taxes under proposed settlement
Gateway school board members will consider a settlement that would bring in more than $250,000 in back taxes from Allegheny Health Network’s Forbes Hospital campus as well as nearly $60,000 in annual taxes moving forward. At issue is a small portion of AHN’s 50-acre hospital campus in Monroeville. The property...
State police seek return of suspect in stolen car case related to missing dog, Lucky
Lucky the dog has been missing for a month, but his owner’s heartbreak is still as fresh as when he first disappeared. “We’re just basically still hoping that we can find Lucky,” said Linda Folino, whose 87-year-old father, Willard Martz, is the dog’s owner. “He’s such a big part of...
Bethel Park Historical Society hosts open house for Schoolhouse Arts and History Center
Eight years ago, a recently returned Bethel Park native started contacting media outlets about a project he was promoting. Bill Haberthur, a 1978 Bethel Park High School graduate who moved back after a career primarily in New York City, wanted to spread the word about plans to renovate the building...
Plans for improvements at Veterans Memorial Field, Springdale soccer field advance
Plans for renovations at two Springdale fields — one owned by the borough and the other by the Allegheny Valley School District — are moving forward. Springdale Council awarded a contract of about $580,000 to Harmar-based Panza Landscaping for installation of a retaining wall and sidewalks at Veterans Memorial Field,...
Jeannette property tax rate expected to hold, future reduction of earned-income rate discussed
Property taxes in Jeannette are not expected to rise in 2025 under a tentative spending plan. “For now, we’re not anticipating a tax increase,” said city manager Ethan Keedy. Council members and Keedy on Tuesday discussed the proposed budget that would hold the line on property taxes at 35.62 mills....
