Harmar House may be total loss after fire; 40 events canceled
Alle-Kiski Valley residents are in shock at the loss of Futules’ Harmar House after the landmark banquet hall that would have celebrated its 25th year in business on Monday went up in flames Wednesday night. The Harmar business was known for hosting a variety of events, from wakes to weddings,...
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks stages ‘Cleopatra’ with all-woman cast
William Shakespeare was not averse to including a ballad or two in his plays. Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks is going the Bard one better this year, adding modern dance numbers to its production of “Cleopatra & Antony.” Audience members will hear snippets of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring...
Sentencing date set in Indiana County head-on crash that killed Jeannette man
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2 in connection with a wrong-way crash on Route 119 in Indiana County that killed a Jeannette man. Elias Jimenez, 29, of Indiana, pleaded guilty earlier in August to homicide by vehicle and accidents involving death in the Jan. 26 crash near Homer City. District...
Morning Roundup: Feds say 3 Panama residents scammed $1.5M from Pittsburgh, U.S. residents
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Aug. 31: Feds say 3 Panama residents scammed $1.5M from Pittsburgh, U.S. residents Three men were extradited from Panama and had initial appearances in Pittsburgh federal court Wednesday on police accusations that they took part in orchestrating a...
Labor Day holiday road signs urge motorists to drive sober
Last year, there were nearly 10,300 crashes on Pennsylvania roads that involved an impaired driver, 452 of them resulting in fatalities. That included 315 impaired-driver crashes and 19 fatalities in Westmoreland County. That’s why PennDOT District 12 is taking part in a National Crackdown Impaired Driving Campaign during the Labor...
The Stroller, Aug. 31, 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. Local bands to rock the weekend for charity The Rock For...
Squonk Opera uses New Kensington digs to prepare a ‘Brouhaha’Video
New Kensington has a new claim to fame: home of the first “Squonkcordion.” The device — described as “an enormous musical instrument powered by behemoth bellows topped with towering tuba bells” — will make its public debut at the Kickoff and Rib Festival on Sunday and Monday outside Acrisure Stadium...
Mural adorns wall overlooking amphitheater in Jeannette
Earthy tones and a Bible verse have replaced a blank brick wall on the side of the J&J Jewelers building in Jeannette. The mural was completed last week by about 15 Cornerstone Ministries volunteers as part of the Murrysville church’s “Uncommon” community service weekend, Pastor Brandon Vieth said. The volunteers...
Hempfield lifts probation for West Point Volunteer Fire Department
The West Point Volunteer Fire Department will be taken off probation for the first time in more than two years following a unanimous vote by the Hempfield supervisors this week. Hempfield fire Chief Anthony Kovacic recommended the move. Kovacic said the department missed five calls over the last seven months....
Fox Chapel Area teens prove vital to Harvest Fair preparation
Recent Fox Chapel Area graduate Siheng Chao spent the last few weeks of summer – before starting classes at the University of Pittsburgh – picking up and packing thousands of donations for one of the area’s most anticipated fall events, the Harvest Fair at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church. “We literally...
Harmar House events center catches fire, displaces 9 residents from apartments
Futules’ Harmar House banquet hall caught fire Wednesday evening right before dusk, displacing nine residents in apartments there. The first call came in at about 7:20 p.m. and first responders reported that there was heavy fire in the banquet hall. Numerous fire companies responded. Lower Valley EMS chief Jamey Lavelle...
Motorcyclist hospitalized in critical condition after Carrick crash
A motorcyclist was taken to the hospital in critical condition after striking a vehicle at the intersection of Brownsville Road and West Meyers Street on Tuesday night. The crash happened around 7 p.m., according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. The 34-year-old man motorcyclist struck a vehicle in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood. The...
Hampton nears selection of manager’s successor
And then there were two. The Hampton Township council is close to making the decision on who will replace longtime municipal manager Christopher Lochner, with a pair of final candidates who met all the qualifications set forth by council. After a long and arduous effort, council members feel confident they...
Gateway names acting superintendent
Gateway School District begins the 2023-24 school year with a new lead administrator. The school board unanimously approved Guy Rossi as acting superintendent, stepping in for William Short, who took the superintendent’s position in 2016. Short approached the school board in late June about taking “leave to deal with family...
Road work to close sections of Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township, Route 271 in Fairfield
Drainage work will close a section of Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township beginning Thursday, according to PennDOT. In Fairfield Township, work on a cross pipe is slated to close a portion of Route 271 starting Tuesday. The Route 981 closure will go into effect at noon, between Mt. Pleasant...
Mt. Lebanon man charged in connection with November crash that killed tree-trimmer in Moon
Moon police have issued an arrest warrant for a Mt. Lebanon man who they say fatally struck a worker trimming trees near the Sewickley Bridge in November. Hampartsoum “Henry” Nazarian, 65, was charged Tuesday with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person and a half-dozen traffic violations in...
Mt. Pleasant Township man gets ‘best birthday present’ with $1.06 million lottery win
Donald Goulding Sr. purchased a Pennsylvania Lottery ticket in July at the local corner market — like he does every evening — and wound up with a $1.06 million birthday present. Goulding Sr., 68, of Mammoth, Mt. Pleasant Township, lives about 200 yards from the S&S Corner Market and stopped...
Opinions mixed on allowing limited hunting in some Pittsburgh parks to control deer population
Christine Graziano said deer run freely through the Squirrel Hill North neighborhood where she lives near Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park. She told City Council members Wednesday that she loves the animals, but supports a proposal to allow limited deer hunting in Pittsburgh parks to get the city’s growing deer population under...
Hempfield seeks items for 250th anniversary time capsule
A signed Bill Mazeroski jersey, fire department patches and a host of other items unique to Hempfield will be preserved for future generations in a time capsule as part of the township’s 250th anniversary celebration this year. The plan is to open the box 50 years from 2023, for the...
Questions surface over East Huntingdon candidates’ eligibility to serve in office
Two candidates for public office in East Huntingdon who have prior felony convictions may not be able to serve if elected. Jonathan Newill Perkey, a Republican candidate for township supervisor, and Tina Curry-Bashioum, a Republican who is running for a seat on East Huntingdon’s board of auditors face potential legal...
Where’s the beef? More than 30 cattle missing from Fayette County farm
A Perry Township farmer is asking for help finding more than 30 cattle that left their enclosure when a gate was left open over the weekend. “The utility companies were up in our hay field repairing poles, and either West Penn Power or one of their contractors left the gate...
McCandless’ newest trail to open this fall
The Town of McCandless will boost its walkability with a new trail set to open this fall. Brandt Trail is a nearly one-mile, natural trail starting near the tennis courts at Wall Park off Sloop Road on the western side of McCandless, according to McCandless Councilman Robert “Jack” Casey. It...
Part of former Springdale plant pulled down; more demolition planned in late September
Part of the former Cheswick Generating Station’s boiler building in Springdale was pulled down Monday night, making way for the rest of the building’s demolition next month. Scott Reschly, vice president of operations for the property owner, Charah Solutions, said the selective catalytic reduction portion of the plant is what...
Legislation aims to protect Pittsburgh homeowners from predatory residential property wholesalers
Pittsburgh City Council is considering a measure that aims to protect homeowners from predatory practices by residential property wholesalers. Residential property wholesalers buy up houses and then sell or lease them. Councilwoman Deb Gross, D-Highland Park, who sponsored the legislation, said these entities often are large corporations that sometimes use...
Wilkinsburg woman accused of stabbing 2 co-workers ordered to stand trial
A Wilkinsburg woman was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on charges she stabbed two co-workers, including one who police said accused her of stealing money from a woman with autism for whom they provided care. Unek Magwood, 27, faces charges including two counts each of attempted homicide and recklessly endangering...
