Penn Hills Progress category, Page 109

A group of dog lovers in Penn Hills has banded together to raise money for a temporary holding space for lost pets and launched a website aimed at keeping track of them. Brittney Norris of PAWsitive Voice animal advocacy group hopes a $2,500 goal will be met in order to...

There’s a crowded field of candidates seeking two Penn Hills council seats. Six challengers and one incumbent, all of whom are Democrats, are running in the primary. There are no Republicans on the ballot. The six challengers are Chuck Chieffo, James Getsy, Shawn Kerestus, Frank Pecora, Jace Ransom and Tyler...

Two Penn Hills residents are vying for votes to be the municipality’s next mayor. Pauline Calabrese, 56, and John Petrucci, 57, have announced bids. They are both running as Democrats. Mayor Sara Kuhn will not seek re-election. Her term expires in December. Here are where the candidates stand on some...

Volunteers are wanted for the upcoming biannual Verona Cleanup Day. Organized by Luke and Kathy Mattocks for at least 15 years, the next big cleanup is set for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 27. Participants are to meet up around 9:45 a.m. for maps and supplies at the borough...

Car seats can be carrying a family’s most precious cargo. That’s why it’s a good idea to make sure the devices are installed and working properly. One of the ways to do that is through car seat safety check events. Verona recently hosted such an event at the Riverview Children’s...

American Red Cross is assisting at least three Penn Hills residents with shelter after fire destroyed their house Wednesday evening. Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Co. No. 5 Assistant Chief Mike Stadelman said no one was injured battling the two-alarm blaze at 8910 Upland Terrace shortly before 7 p.m. He said...

Not many Penn Hills residents want a chance to lead their school district. That is evident via Allegheny County Elections Division records, which show only two people have filed for five seats in the May 21 primary election. Incumbents board President Erin Vecchio and School Director Bob Marra have cross-filed....

Penn Hills residents will save some money on their quarterly sewage service fee after the municipality decreased the bill by $5. The municipality recently decided to reduce its sewage service fee from $30 to $25, which is billed quarterly. The savings amounts to $20 a year per ratepayer. Manager Scott...

One person was transported to a hospital with injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash in Penn Hills. Allegheny County dispatchers said two cars collided Tuesday shortly before 4 p.m. at the intersection of Allegheny River Boulevard at Nadine Road. There was no word on any other injuries....

Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtJordan Mason, 20, of Penn Hills on charges of simple assault, harassment and strangulation....

A state lawmaker presented a bill package April 17 that seeks to avoid school district financial crises and allows for greater punishment of school officials if poor decisions are made. State Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny, along with state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, unveiled the bill package, dubbed “School Board and...

State financial recovery officer Daniel Matsook and his committee have more time to construct a plan to fix the fiscally troubled Penn Hills School District. Matsook said an extension was granted by the state Department of Education to complete the plan by May 20. He originally intended to submit the...

Penn Hills School Board Vice President George Sens will be joined on the elected panel by a very familiar face: his wife. Board members voted 4-2 at a special meeting Monday to appoint Jan Sens to fill the seat vacated by former President Denise Graham-Shealey. Graham-Shealey resigned in March to...

Penn Hills police said a man was kidnapped at a business along Verona Road and released a few streets away when the alleged assailants realized they had the wrong guy. The incident took place around 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Verona Car Spa in Penn Hills. Police Chief Howard Burton...

Penn Hills officials recognized six first responders for their work to save a young woman after she suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest last year. Taylor Allen, 21, suffered from a sudden cardiac arrest July 31 at her grandmother’s home in Penn Hills. Penn Hills EMS Supervisor Diane Fitzhenry said the...

The Penn Hills mayor said she was sorry a woman felt upset after being silenced at a public meeting in March but doubled down on her decision to cut the woman off. “As mayor of Penn Hills, I am truly sorry the speaker was so upset with the decision of...

Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtMelvin Barnes III, 33, of Pittsburgh on charges of possession of marijuana, driving under...

The Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor an Easter event at a local park on April 20. The department will hold its annual Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt from noon to 2 p.m. at Penn Hills Community Park, 120 Colorado St. The event will be held in rain...

A man in his early 20s is recovering after being shot in the back in Penn Hills. Police Chief Howard Burton said officers found the victim Wednesday after 11:30 p.m. along Robinson Boulevard near the Thad Stevens Volunteer Fire Department. He’s believed to have been shot while in his car...

A Verona police officer is being hailed a hero for finding a missing borough woman who unknowingly needed serious medical attention. Resident Joann Semencar was reported missing Feb. 26 around 11:20 p.m. Police Chief Ron McLemore said she had reportedly left her home on the cold, windy evening in search...

A plan to bring the financially struggling Penn Hills School District back in the black is nearing completion. State financial recovery officer Daniel Matsook has been working with a special advisory committee to craft the extensive plan the past few weeks. It is expected to be submitted to the state...

Penn Hills High School’s Odyssey of the Mind team recently earned awards at a statewide competition. Students in the group were Chloe Campbell, Sophia Corona, Logan Depew, David Lubawski, Zoeie Morgan and Katie Russell. They competed against other schools in the Pennsylvania State Odyssey of the Mind Association’s state finals...

Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtKarla Zenmon, 63, of Penn Hills on charges of driving under the influence and...

For organizers of local fish fries, all that cooking is about more than bringing the community together for a meal during Lent. Many groups rely on the annual events to help pay bills and raise funds for various causes. “We’re a small parish. Everybody tries real hard,” said Bob Steinmeyer...