Fatal fires prompt Greensburg campaign to distribute free smoke alarms
Three recent fatal fires in Greensburg have prompted the American Red Cross to partner with local firefighters Saturday to offer free smoke alarms to residents who may not have the means to purchase or install them unaided. To be included in the smoke alarm distribution, taking place between 11 a.m....
Sewickley Township library supporters hold fundraiser; new building in the works
A Sewickley Township library support group is helping to raise money with an Election Day Soup & Bake Sale for the small library that has been forced to move into temporary facilities. There are plans for a new building in Herminie. “We’ve got volunteers lined to donate more than 100...
Drop in Jeannette’s Democratic voters reflected in city council shift
In the past 20 years, the number of Democrats registered to vote in Jeannette has decreased by about 2,000 while the number of Republican voters has risen by 400, according to West
moreland County statistics. Now, that shift will be reflected in city council. After Tuesday’s election and once a new...
Spending of covid relief to be focus of new commissioners’ board
Westmoreland commissioners voted last week to allocate $270,000 from the county’s pool of American Rescue Plan funds, and, as a result, about half of the $105 million pool of covid-relief cash received from the federal government in 2021 has been spent. Commissioners will have nearly $53 million to allocate by...
In brief: Monroeville area happenings, week of Nov. 5, 2023
‘Walk With a Doc’ A “Walk With a Doc” program is scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Monroeville Community Park West, 2399 Tilbrook Road. Participants meet at Pavilion 3. The program is rain or shine, except in extreme weather. Take a few minutes to learn about a...
Fox Chapel area real estate transaction, week of Nov. 5, 2023
Blawnox Estate of William Crothers sold property at 231 Walnut St. to Fayden Property Mgmt LLC for $213,000. Real Estate Transactions provided by RealSTATs. Contact RealSTATs at 412-381-3880 or visit www.realstats.net....
North Hills area real estate transactions, week of Nov. 5, 2023
Franklin Park Maronda Homes LLC sold property at 1328 Adrian Drive to Matthew Thomas Brock and Jennifer Amanda Murtha for $652,320. Estate of Velia Schubel sold property at 2231 Montgomery Road to Nicholas Schubel for $240,000. Hampton Dale Lynn sold property at 5027 Apple Ridge Drive to Derek and Kattiana...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Nov. 5, 2023
Forest Hills Carol Lucas sold property at 3810 Greensburg Pike to Morgan Weyels for $159,900. Monroeville Thomas Cocchi sold property at 759 Cottonwood Drive to Pamela Long and Brad Piazza for $190,000. Estate of Patricia Prucnal sold property at 406 Eden Drive to Kirithigavali Balasubraminiam and Vibisanan Gurumurthi for $242,500....
Irwin group seeks funds for home cleanup, hoarding disorder treatment
An Irwin-based organization that strives to address blight-related problems is proposing to provide mental health services to those with hoarding disorders. “There’s no formal program (for treating hoarding disorders) in Westmoreland County and this half of the state,” said Matt Williams, founder of the nonprofit Fight the Blight Inc. Williams...
The Stroller, Nov. 5, 2023: 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. AV League of Artists to exhibit at Lower Burrell Peoples Library...
Tarentum police eyeing traffic cameras, license plate readers for Brackenridge to help with investigations
Tarentum police are eyeing the installation of more traffic cameras and license plate readers — for Brackenridge. Chief Bill Vakulick is considering participating in the ANNIE traffic program, which covers the cost of equipment and installation in exchange for a percentage of fines and revenues. It was not clear what...
School board meetings attract crowds as races become next political frontier
From book bans to gender-neutral bathrooms, culture wars have found a battlefield in Western Pennsylvania schools. National politics increasingly are influencing school boards, as party lines are splitting members over hot button issues such as sex education, trans rights and the appropriateness of classroom materials. School boards’ once-marginally attended monthly...
Brackenridge man accused of speeding while high with 2 kids in the car, trying to elude arrest
State police accused a Brackenridge man of smoking pot while he was driving with two kids in the car and then trying to elude arrest when a trooper clocked him going 90 mph on Route 28 in Harmar. Altamese Kharon Thompson, 29, was charged with two counts of endangering the...
Vandergrift teen accused of assaulting 63-year-old man, beating him with his own walking stick
Vandergrift police accused a teenager of beating a 63-year-old man until he fell to the ground then continuing the assault by grabbing the walking stick the man was using and repeatedly striking him. Jackson Mills, 15, of the 200 block of Holmes Street in Vandergrift was charged Tuesday with felony...
‘Sky’s the limit’: 2 flying club members receive Wright Brothers awards for 50 years of flight
Ever since they were children, John Dyke and Ed Patrick have been fascinated by airplanes. “I could spend hours on the observation deck watching planes take off and land,” said Dyke, 75, of Carnegie. For Patrick, 81, of Murrysville, the first ride he took in a smaller plane was the...
‘His impact is almost immeasurable’: Longtime YMCA leader bids job farewell in pursuit of foundation position
After 27 years of working for the YMCA, Larry Stormer will pursue his goal of foundation work with a local nonprofit benefiting children and families in need. Stormer, 54, of Ligonier, has worked at YMCA branches in Greensburg, Erie, Plum and Ligonier Valley. He has served as fitness director, executive...
Jeannette woman to lead international pharmacist group
A Jeannette pharmacist is taking her seat as the leader of an international pharmacy advocacy organization that works to care for senior patients. Deborah Milito of Diamond Pharmacy Services was installed as president of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists on Oct. 26, after having spent a year as the...
Loyalhanna convenience store sustains damage in fire
A convenience store in Loyalhanna Township sustained significant damage in a fire Friday night. Saltsburg, Bell Township and New Alexandria volunteer fire departments responded to a fire at Marshall’s Market, located along Route 981, around 10:15 p.m. Friday, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. None of the fire departments...
The Stroller, Nov. 4, 2023: 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. Annual lottery ticket fundraiser to aid Animal Protectors Animal Protectors of...
Manor church’s free clothing store expands hours, options to meet community need
Grandparents trying to clothe their grandchildren. A woman looking for clothes to bring with her to rehab. A nursing student in search of affordable scrubs for school. Refuge Boutique, a free clothing store run by Refuge Church in Manor, has helped people in each of these scenarios. In the spring,...
Penn Township man set to run New York City Marathon to support his son, raise funds for genetic disorder foundation
Will Hoffman’s main motivation for running the New York City Marathon on Sunday has little to do with a finishing time or position. Rather, Will and about 25 other runners are chasing down a fundraising goal of $150,000 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation — an organization that supports research for...
Homicide accusations against nurse Heather Pressdee raise scrutiny of state, nursing home vetting processes
Administrators and staff at five nursing homes where Harrison nurse Heather Pressdee worked either were suspicious or knew outright that she was harming patients, according to charges filed Thursday by the state Attorney General’s Office. Pressdee, 41, was charged in connection with 17 total deaths at five nursing homes in...
East Deer revises draft of proposed billboard rules
Taking Allegheny County and township planners’ recommendations into consideration, East Deer officials have revised their draft of an ordinance targeting proposed billboards and signs. Following a June hearing where Butler-based America First Enterprises, which does business as Oliver Outdoor, sought to erect four electronic billboards in the township, the East...
School news from the Fox Chapel area
Fishing club assists with trout stocking Members of the Fox Chapel Area High School Fishing Club partnered with the Allison Park Sportsmen’s Club and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to stock trout in the Pine Creek Watershed on Oct. 24. The students and FCAHS teacher and fishing club sponsor...
Missing Ford City teen found unharmed
A Ford City girl who went missing Friday night was found and returned to her parents by Southern Armstrong Police. Gabriella Dunmore, 14, went missing sometime after 5:15 p.m. Friday, possibly heading to Pittsburgh, police Chief Chris Fabec said. The police department sent an update on the case via Facebook...