Revolutionary War reenactors will bring history to life at Compass Inn Museum
The sounds of flintlock rifles firing in unison and hammering on a blacksmith’s anvil will greet visitors to the Compass Inn Museum on Saturday and Sunday. Reenactors from Proctor’s Independent Battalion of Westmoreland County and blacksmithing demonstrations will be featured at the historic Laughlintown site during its final Living History...
Eureka Hose, Unity and Holiday Park firefighters score $430K for new air packs
Unity Volunteer Fire Department in Plum is still repaying a loan it took out in 2008 to buy breathing packs for its 25 members. “Can we afford it? No,” Chief P.J. Mudar said. “Is it something we have to do? Yes.” The worst part is that before they’re even paid...
‘It was my life’: Former North Hills resident continues 40-year photography business in Manor
Alicia Dallago’s journey with photography first took shape far outside Western Pennsylvania. Over a 40-year career behind a camera, she earned numerous accolades, including two Kodak Gallery awards. Dallago, owner of Alicia Photography, was a portrait photographer in the North Hills for 36 years. For the past year, she has...
The Stroller, Aug. 14, 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. Free acoustic concert scheduled in Harrison Hills Park Jimbo Jackson will...
In brief: Monroeville area happenings, week of Aug. 14, 2023
Library Fun Fest Monroeville Public Library’s annual Fun Fest is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 26 on the library grounds, 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd. A special guest this year is Daniel Tiger, son of the puppet Daniel Striped Tiger from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Food, beverages and tickets to...
Arson, related charges filed in fire at South Huntingdon gentlemen’s club
A construction worker with no known address is accused of setting a fire early Saturday at the Filly Gentlemen’s Club in South Huntingdon. Javier Santacruz Ramirez, who is in his early 40s, is charged with aggravated arson, risking a catastrophe, failing to prevent a catastrophe, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, criminal...
‘A humbling responsibility’: Rustic Ridge’s Greg Renko leads neighbors through tragedyVideo
Greg Renko bounced from one house to the next on Sunday, one neighbor to the next, one phone call to the next. He consoled them. Answered their questions. Offered whatever insight he could provide, both as Rustic Ridge Estates Home Owners Association president and as an Allegheny County Police officer...
Greensburg YMCA gymnasts capture national titles, medals
Greensburg YMCA gymnasts scored big at this year’s YMCA-USA national championships in Cincinnati. Emma Rost of Greensburg captured national titles in two events. Rost claimed gold medals in the level 4 vault and floor exercises. She also won a bronze medal in the all-around and placed sixth on the bars....
‘We’re so lucky’: Family forced from home after Plum explosion grateful to be aliveVideo
Jeremy Rogers arrived back in his Rustic Ridge Estates neighborhood Sunday morning, unsure what he would find. When he left Saturday, his neighbor’s house was still smoldering, having been consumed hours earlier by a fire that quickly spread when a neighboring home exploded. The Rogers family home, at 145 Rustic...
Rustic Ridge explosion sends different kind of shock wave through Plum’s Holiday Park section
A lot on Hialeah Drive in Plum’s Holiday Park neighborhood where a house exploded and burned in April 2022 is just a grassy space between two other homes today. Since the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s office released the scene, it’s been cleaned up and sold, with a new house expected...
Cause of Plum house explosion could take months or years to find, authorities say
Five people, four adults and one child, died in a massive house explosion in Plum on Saturday, borough police Chief Lanny Conley said at a news conference Sunday. None of the victims from the incident that destroyed three houses and damaged scores of others on Rustic Ridge Drive have yet...
Outpouring of support for victims of Plum house explosion
A deluge of donations poured into the Plum community to benefit victims of a devastating house explosion Saturday that killed five
people. “My daughter gathered her money and wanted to donate,” said Donna Colamarino of Plum as her daughter Sophia, 9, placed money into a marked basket Sunday morning at...
Remembering father and son who died in Plum explosion: Casey and Keegan Clontz ‘loved by so many’
Casey and Keegan Clontz were darn-near inseparable. Keegan, just 12 years old, was known as his dad’s shadow. In particular, they loved the outdoors, especially the times they spent together hunting and fishing. Casey and Keegan Clontz of Plum died Saturday when a house on Rustic Ridge Drive suddenly exploded...
Scenes from the Valley: Images captured in the Alle-Kiski Valley from Aug. 3-9, 2023
Here is a weekly look at recent images captured throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley. From major news events to routine gatherings, the Tribune-Review’s “Scenes from the Valley” photo package brings to life activities and moments happening in your backyard. To have a photo considered as a “Scenes from the Valley” candidate,...
Public support essential for Tri-Community South EMS in Bethel Park
Housed in the garage of Tri-Community South Emergency Medical Services are six ambulances and two sport-utility vehicles, which should qualify as reassuring numbers for residents of its coverage area in Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair and South Park Township. For further peace of mind, everything is updated frequently. “We replace...
Building the Valley: New Kensington couple offer elevated dining experiences at Jillian’s Restaurant
Philip Call and Jillian Ludwiczak are happy to have diners spend quality time enjoying meals at their New Kensington restaurant. They’re not in any hurry to turn tables over. And now, servers won’t have to waste any of that time explaining the restaurant’s name to customers, which was, thanks to...
Police: Man found unconscious in Swissvale was robbed, beaten
A man found unconscious Saturday morning in a Swissvale parking lot had been robbed and beaten earlier that morning, according to Allegheny County police. The man was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition, police said. A call to county 911 dispatchers at 8:15 a.m. Saturday alerted authorities...
Penn-Trafford senior wins county title from ‘Distinguished Young Women’
Kari Leventopoulos has known she wants to be a doctor since she was five years old. Now, a scholarship opportunity will help her chase that goal. Leventopoulos, a rising senior at Penn-Trafford High School, won the Westmoreland County title for Distinguished Young Women — a national scholarship program for high...
‘Heartwrenching’: Rustic Ridge residents come to terms with 5 deaths in house explosionVideo
Residents of Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood milled about in their yards and driveways Sunday, trying to come to terms with what happened there the day before. They watched as emergency and utility crews returned to the scene of a fatal house explosion, searching through debris from three homes destroyed by...
No injuries in house fire in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood
No injuries were reported in a dwelling fire early Sunday in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood. The house fire was reported shortly before 5 a.m. in the 100 block of Prospect Street, according to an Allegheny County 911 dispatch supervisor. Emergency crews cleared the scene by 7:30 a.m....
New Kensington landlord accused of choking tenant who said she was buying a home
Editor’s note: The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office decided not to proceed with the case, according to court documents. A New Kensington property owner is accused of choking and hitting a tenant after the woman told him she was buying a house and moving out. New Kensington police charged Terrance...
You Are Here is a thriving part of Jeannette’s cultural scene
When something is meant to be, it will be. Case in point: You Are Here in Jeannette. The art gallery and maker space recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, despite its founders not starting with a clear vision of what exactly they wanted to do. Jen Costello of Hempfield and Mary...
Sewickley area real estate transactions, week of Aug. 17, 2023
Bell Acres Christopher Horvath sold property at 225 Summerlawn Drive to Julien Karlsson and Deena Gauntt for $775,000. Franklin Park Philip Crawford sold property at 1525 Robertson Drive to Zachary Laplante and Terra Tomasic for $490,000. Leetsdale Brian Wojkowski sold property at 415 Beaver St. to Gretchen Joan Stough for...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Aug. 17, 2023
Edgewood Suzanne Chybrznski sold property at 223 Chestnut St. to Marcial Saldana and Samantha Shaye for $245,000. Forest Hills Scott Ruffing sold property at 333 Castlegate Road to Ryan Read and Katie Graham for $385,000. Monroeville Estate of Williams Jirak sold property at 250 Azalea Drive to Adriano and Jennifer...
North Hills area real estate transactions, week of Aug. 13, 2023
Etna Fay Cristina sold property at 127 Vista St. to David Flory for $83,000. Franklin Park Philip Crawford sold property at 1525 Robertson Drive to Zachary Laplante and Terra Tomasic for $490,000. Hampton Hampton Development Co. LLC sold property at 4332 Muirfield Drive to Peter and Angeline Allen for $964,000....
