Western PA Local News category, Page 929
Chili tasting, bonfire, rally prep Greensburg Salem fans for Homecoming game
Residents of Greensburg Salem School District added some spice to their evening Wednesday as they sampled entries in an inaugural chili cook-off, part of the annual pre-homecoming festival and bonfire at the high school. The chili offerings included recipes from amateur chefs as well as dishes prepared by professionals in...
Drone show to light up sky for North Huntingdon 3-day 250th anniversary celebration
North Huntingdon’s 250th anniversary extravaganza, which caps a yearlong celebration, kicks off Thursday and continues through Saturday. There will be carnival attractions, amusement rides, food, fireworks, live music and a drone-operated light show at the township’s public works property off Route 30. The Jim Shorkey Auto Group Sestercentennial Summer Celebration...
Wesley Family Services to offer wellness programs at new center in New Kensington
Programs open to the general public are expected to be offered starting in November at a new wellness center at Wesley Family Services’ Pioneer Apartments in New Kensington. Those programs could take the form of blood pressure screenings and vaccine clinics, financial workshops, meditation classes and yoga sessions, said Heather...
Highland Park Bridge ramps open to traffic
Ramps at the Highland Park Bridge interchange in Aspinwall and Sharpsburg have opened to traffic, according to PennDOT. The southbound Route 28 ramp to Highland Park Bridge; the Highland Park Bridge ramp to Freeport Road (Aspinwall Exit); and the Freeport Road ramps to northbound and southbound Route 28 have all...
Nursing home operator says without sale of some W.Pa. facilities, they may close
The embattled operators of 15 nursing homes in Pennsylvania said if they are not permitted to go through with the proposed sale of seven facilities in Western Pennsylvania, they may be forced to shut down, potentially displacing hundreds of residents. Attorneys for Comprehensive Healthcare said in a court filing this...
Greensburg Civic Theatre opens 72nd season with ‘The Last Five Years’
A two-person performance will light up the stage and kick off the 72nd season at the Greensburg Civic Theatre this weekend. The show, “The Last Five Years,” will be performed at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This will be an early season opener for...
Shetler’s lawyer claims Westmoreland criminal trial system unconstitutional
Lawyers for a New Florence man accused of assaulting a police officer nearly two years ago argued during a hearing Wednesday that Westmoreland County’s criminal trial system is unconstitutional. Assistant public defender Mike Garofalo said the assault and resisting arrest charges against Ray A. Shetler Jr. should be dismissed. The...
Latrobe officer’s quick reaction saves life of man trapped under runaway food truck
Latrobe police Officer Zachary Lukon was on duty at the city’s Great American Banana Split Celebration when he noticed a food truck starting to roll down Ligonier Street. He was able to stop the runaway vehicle, which saved the life of a man who had been trapped underneath. “The only...
Kiski Area School Board president steps down early, district seeks short-term replacement
Kiski Area School Board President Michelle Schmidt has resigned from her seat on the board about two months before her term was set to expire, Superintendent Misty Slavic confirmed Wednesday. The board vacancy was announced Sept. 21 on the district’s Facebook page and website, and eligible residents were encouraged to...
Lawyer: Delmont dad accused in death of adopted son should be released on bail
The lawyer for a Delmont man accused in the death of his adopted son told a Westmoreland County judge on Wednesday that prosecutors cannot prove his client committed first-degree murder. Assistant Public Defender David Mulock argued that evidence presented last month during a preliminary hearing did not conclusively show that...
Grand opening of mosaic trail, riverfront access celebrated in Natrona
Officials celebrated the grand opening of a mosaic trail off River Avenue in Natrona on Tuesday, saying it was the first step in a trifecta of upgrades that would transform the neighborhood. The small concrete trail, 10 feet wide and 100 feet long, provides a critical connection for walkers, bikers...
New gardens on view at Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art
Michael Strueber can be found in one of two places at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art: sitting in a rocking chair on the porch, sipping coffee with just a dash of cream, or in one of the site’s seven gardens, elbow deep in soil. Director emeritus of SAMA, Strueber,...
Pittsburgh may offer child care service for city employees
Pittsburgh city employees may have access to on-site child care when Pittsburgh Public Schools close unexpectedly or they have to participate in some city meetings. “The legislation is necessary to enable city employees with children who attend Pittsburgh Public Schools the opportunity to not miss work while ensuring the safety...
Transportation and special needs employees needed at North Allegheny
The North Allegheny School District has mounted a “full-court press” to fill open positions, particularly support staff in special needs classrooms and bus drivers. “We have a lot of drivers in the pipeline,” said Marijane Treacy, human resources director, during a presentation to the North Allegheny School Board, which met...
Art show, blood drive part of Pitt-Greensburg Blue & Gold activities
Members of the public are invited to enjoy a showcase of regional art and are encouraged to roll up their sleeves to give the gift of life during the annual Blue & Gold Celebration this week at the Pitt-Greensburg campus. The American Red Cross will conduct a public blood drive...
Pittsburgh officials look to tweak controversial purple curb loading zone program
Pittsburgh officials are considering tweaks to the city’s smart loading zone pilot program after some local business owners voiced concerns the new initiative was a hindrance. City officials have touted the smart loading zones — which are marked with purple-painted curbs and matching signage — as a way to make...
Norwin theater group to present ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
William Shakespeare’s 423-year-old comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” will come to life in the Norwin High School Theatre Company’s four performances from Oct. 12 -15 at the Norwin High School auditorium in North Huntingdon. “We think our students are ready to put forth one of Shakespeare’s finest comedic plays,” said...
Judge blocks zoning variance for affordable housing project in Pittsburgh
A zoning variance for an affordable housing project in Pittsburgh’s Fineview neighborhood has been overturned by a judge, forcing the project back to square one. Earlier this month, Common Pleas Judge Mary McGinley ruled that a variance should not have been granted to the community group the Fineview Citizens Council...
Hempfield approves comprehensive plan, will tear down old prison outbuildings
Hempfield supervisors approved a comprehensive plan this week which will guide the township’s actions for the next 10 to 15 years. The township supervisors began drafting the plan about a year and a half ago to fulfill a requirement under the state Municipalities Planning Code. The supervisors were slated to...
‘Keep it from becoming a strip mall’: Plum farm joins state preservation program
Farmland may be disappearing from Western Pennsylvania, but some property owners are bucking the trend. Greg and Kim Serakowski of Plum, for example, guarantee that their 36 acres off Elicker Road is preserved in perpetuity. On Sept. 26, they greeted guests with custom-made ball caps and T-shirts to celebrate Serakowski...
Pittsburgh to require inspections, permits for rental units, Airbnbs
Owners of rental units and Airbnbs in Pittsburgh will need to go through a permitting and inspection process after City Council on Tuesday approved legislation that aims to regulate such properties. People who own long- or short-term rental units will need to apply for a permit annually. They will need...
Zoning change clears way for GetGo in Homewood
A zoning change approved Tuesday by Pittsburgh City Council paves the way for a new GetGo to be built in the city’s Homewood West neighborhood. The zoning change would allow for a new GetGo gas station and store to be built on a vacant 1.3-acre site near the corner of...
West Deer police say man was heavily intoxicated, had illegal gun, pot in car when pulled over
West Deer police say a man who was pulled over after nearly crashing into a police cruiser was intoxicated and had an illegal gun and pot in his pickup. Alexander J. Settembrino, 24, of the 500 block of Madison Drive in Richland was charged with a felony count of carrying...
Greensburg’s College Connect highlights area schools during September Night Market
Institutions of higher learning in and around Greensburg will be showcased Thursday during the third annual College Connect in the city. Set for 5:30 to 9 p.m., the free event will coincide with September’s Greensburg Night Market, an array of vendors and musical entertainment stretching along South Pennsylvania Avenue between...
Murrysville company provides $3.1 million in air tank upgrades for Pittsburgh firefightersVideo
If a house catches fire in the Pittsburgh region, there’s a good chance equipment from MSA — and, specifically, from its Murrysville production facility — played a role in firefighters’ efforts. For the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, MSA’s G1 self-contained breathing apparatus will be well worth the $3.1 million investment...
