Penn-Trafford Star category, Page 20
Everything clicking for Penn-Trafford baseball on 9-game winning streak
When Lou Cortazzo decided he wanted the interim tag removed from his name and officially became the coach of the Penn-Trafford baseball team, everything started to click. The move felt right. Of course, Cortazzo had to act fast. He had been in rain delays longer than the time it took...
Manor singer-songwriter set to release 1st single from debut album
During his day, Matt Pitschman of Manor tries to take note of any interesting or catchy phrases he hears, tucking them away in case they might develop into a new song someday. Pitschman, 36, is getting ready to release the first song from his debut record, “Long Road to Heaven,”...
Monroeville car cruise benefits new charity each month
Car cruises are a staple of summertime in Southwestern Pennsylvania. From antique roadsters to ’60s muscle cars to giant lifted trucks, it’s not odd to pass a field with several hundred freshly washed rides on display. At Papa Rocks Pizza Pub in Monroeville, the cruises have been going for more...
‘It means everything to me’: Penn-Trafford track athlete raises money for elementary school playground
After breaking Penn-Trafford’s discus record and placing third in the state last year, Matthew Sarnowski returns to the throwing circle this track and field season with lofty goals. But that is not Sarnwoski’s only reason for throwing well this spring. The Penn-Trafford senior’s performance is driving a fundraiser for his...
Penn-Trafford holds on for tight victory over Franklin Regional
No matter how up or down the Penn-Trafford softball team is each year — usually up — it has a tendency to play tight games at Franklin Regional. It’s like clockwork, that short trip to Murrysville. “We’ve had some crazy games here,” Penn-Trafford coach Denny Little said. “I don’t know...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Warriors boys track looks to build off Wildcat Invitational win
Penn-Trafford’s boys track and field team hopes winning the Wildcat Invitational on April 13 propels the Warriors to a second consecutive trip to the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. The Warriors edged Hempfield, 81-77, at the meet earlier this month at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium. The boys clinched their second-consecutive playoff trip...
Penn-Trafford boys lacrosse coming together
It took the Penn-Trafford boys lacrosse team a month to find its groove. But after a three-game losing streak in late March, the Warriors won five of their last six games. The lone loss was to Class 3A Butler in a nonsection match. Penn-Trafford (4-1, 7-4) finds itself a game...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 21, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill Ruben Williams sold property at 110 Fenwick Drive to Haydn Buchanan Niehaus and Lauren Glenn Shay for $269,000. Edgewood NCRC Housing Rehab Fund LLC sold property at 121 Oakview Ave. to Kelly Andrews for $162,300. Forest Hills KAM Realty LLC sold property at 6 Demmer Ave. to...
Armstrong pounds out 14 hits to avenge loss to Penn-Trafford
When the Penn-Trafford softball team defeated Armstrong a month ago in Kittanning, the weather was cold. It was a different story when Armstrong played in Harrison City on Friday. The River Hawks’ bats were smoking. Armstrong (9-1, 5-1) pounded out 14 hits and gained a split in the season series...
Lyons Run acid mine drainage project in Murrysville hits home for Blairsville contractor
Cleaning the acid mine drainage in Murrysville’s Lyons Run is a personal endeavor for Matt Curry, president of Blairsville construction contractor Curry & Kepple. “I grew up on School Road South. I rode my bike back there all the time, and my elementary and middle school buses ran right past,”...
Late fees, shut-offs returning for Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority customers
The Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority will resume its delinquency process May 1 after resolving a billing issue, it announced Monday. Customers were warned Feb. 8 that “a small number” of them may have received incorrect information on their monthly bills, despite being charged the correct rate. WPJWA paused all notices,...
Penn-Trafford grads direct Penn Middle’s ‘Addams Family,’ cultivate ‘safe space’ for growth
Maddie Nick has been a part of the Penn Middle School drama club since its inception. Nick, a 2013 Penn-Trafford graduate, helped with the stage crew for the Penn Township middle school’s 2008 production, “High School Musical,” taking the stage as Rizzo in “Grease” the following year. Even in her...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Football hall of fame class announced
The 2024 Penn-Trafford Warrior Football Hall of Fame Class was announced and it features five former players, a coach, team and contributor. Being honored are players Devin Austin (2015), Luke Graham (2010), Jerry Lavelle (1983), Kirk Rogers (2001) and Mike Simpson (2000). The coach being inducted is Dan Tarabrella. The...
After program’s 1st playoff berth last year, Penn-Trafford girls lacrosse keeps growing
The Penn-Trafford girls lacrosse team qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for the first time in 2023. Now the squad, which graduated four seniors, has set a bigger goal. “They want to hang up a banner in the gymnasium,” Penn-Trafford second-year coach Rich Vislocky said. “The girls are excited to get...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 14, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Chalfant Julie Molyneaux sold property at 931 Greensburg Pike to SRK Real Properties L.P. for $160,000. Churchill Marie Hickam sold property at 2321 Forest Drive to Jane Molina for $155,000. Edgewood Kitchen & Bath Experts LLC sold property at 209 Lincoln Ave. to Jordan Sheets and Alaina Leblanc...
Penn Township commissioners consider updating solar regulations
Penn Township commissioners will consider whether to make some adjustments to the ordinance regulating solar installations later this month. The board of commissioners and staff discussed the possibility of adding language addressing commercial solar installations at the township’s caucus meeting Wednesday, spurred by a proposal for a “solar farm” on...
Westmoreland Cultural Trust taps Penn Township native as new CEO
Twenty-one years ago, Penn- Trafford High School student Benjamin Luczak stood on the stage of The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, performing for an audience in the musical “Brigadoon.” In a few weeks, Luczak, 37, will have the responsibility of overseeing operations of The Palace, now that the Westmoreland Cultural Trust has...
Seton Hill ships puppets to Florida middle school drama program left without props one week before showtime
When Seton Hill University professor Lisa Leibering’s theater design students created puppets for a local middle school production of “Finding Nemo Jr.,” they never expected their work would travel more than 1,000 miles away from Greensburg. But, when a middle school drama program director from Broward County, Fla., called about...
5 sets of twins help bolster Penn-Trafford track and field teams
Opponents of the Penn-Trafford track teams will be seeing double this season. That’s because the Warriors feature five sets of twins. There are the Lett, Cheplick and Martin twins on the boys team, the Weishaar twins on the girls team, and the Jacksons on both. “Our 4-by-400 relay team only...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Matt Sarnowski, Amelia Barilla make college plans
Penn-Trafford seniors Matt Sarnowski and Amelia Barilla have selected their future schools. Sarnowski plans to attend Penn State on a track scholarship, and Barilla is off to Bowling Green on a track scholarship. Sarnowski is an all-conference football player, who finished third in the PIAA in Class 3A discus in...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 7, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill Susanne Steving sold property at 34 Barton Drive to Elaine Rachelle Wilson for $187,000. Tanner Yocca sold property at 1046 Black Forest Drive to Daniel Festa and Emily Dahlin for $255,000. Edgewood Tiffany GP Inc. sold property at 409 Edgewood Ave. to Trevor and Emily Mauk for...
Penn-Trafford musical takes audiences back in time with 1950s show ‘Bye Bye Birdie’
The Penn-Trafford Drama Guild is taking a step back in time with its spring musical “Bye Bye Birdie,” set in a small town in Ohio in 1958. The show — which will debut Friday — is a 180-degree turn from the drama guild’s production of “The Little Mermaid” last year,...
After last season’s tough losses, Penn-Trafford volleyball aims to again contend
Members of the Penn-Trafford boys volleyball team feel they still have enough talent to compete in Class 3A, despite the loss of solid players Daniel Tarabrella, Andrew Kessler and Carson Good to graduation. “We had some good guys and did a lot of winning,” coach Jim Schall said. “Daniel was...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 4, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Forest Hills Estate of Marilyn O’Connor sold property at 4 Hillcrest Road to TLH TD Properties for $125,000. Katherine Opsitnick sold property at 321 Sharon Drive to Justin Pawlowski and Ashley Baskin for $281,950. Jupiter Financial Services LLC sold property at 231 Woodside Road to Nicholas and Sara...
Penn-Trafford baseball avenges tight loss to Fox Chapel by walking it off in rematch
One walk-off win deserves another. Wearing the frustration of a tight loss from two days earlier, Penn-Trafford’s Eric Biroscak led a last-inning rally in a rematch with No.5-ranked Fox Chapel. The senior right fielder delivered a clutch, two-run single in the seventh Wednesday to lift the Warriors to a rousing...
