Penn-Trafford Star category, Page 28
Big plays, takeaways help McKeesport defeat Penn-Trafford
Before its matchup with Penn-Trafford, the Class 4A No. 3 McKeesport added a play to its offensive repertoire that coach Matt Miller did not know if they would use. That play: a halfback pass. Not only did the Tigers use it, but they used it to perfection. That play also...
Planned reduction of Medicare drug costs could ease burden on cash-strapped seniors
Susie Bell of Penn Township dreads this time of year. It’s not the hot weather that bothers her, but the fact that by early summer, she’s fallen into the “doughnut hole,” a colloquial term for the annual Medicare coverage gap — when the health care plan contributes far less toward...
Sage’s Army recognizes victims of drug overdoses
Sage’s Army held a ceremony Thursday at Penn-Trafford High School to recognize Westmoreland County residents who have died from a drug overdose. Balloons were released on Drug Overdose Awareness Day at Warrior Stadium in between Penn-Trafford’s junior varsity and varsity boy’s soccer games. Community members who have lost a loved...
Franklin Regional beats Penn-Trafford in OT in defensive struggle
When two defensive-minded girls soccer teams get together, you don’t expect to see much offense. Maybe none at all. At least not in the run of play. Franklin Regional and Penn-Trafford didn’t take many chances, or shots, as they battled deep into the second half and into overtime Wednesday night,...
Paws in the Park invites dogs, owners to Bushy Run
Dog owners and their four-legged companions will feel right at home during Bushy Run’s Paws in the Park event in September. Paws in the Park, which first took place in 2019, will host a variety of pet-oriented vendors, adoption agencies and activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9...
Sage’s Army plans balloon release at Penn-Trafford on Drug Overdose Awareness Day
Sage’s Army will release balloons at Penn-Trafford High School this week in honor of Westmoreland County residents who have died from a drug overdose. The balloons will be released at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday — Drug Overdose Awareness Day — at Warrior Stadium in between Penn-Trafford’s junior varsity and varsity...
Westmoreland 250: 10 unique things in Penn Township area
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...
Trafford’s Theatre Factory to debut play this weekend at Pittsburgh New Works FestivalVideo
When Josette Kurey realized she would be directing actors Ron and Mary Ferrara of Vandergrift as part the world premiere of a new play about a married Italian-American couple from Queens, N.Y., she knew things were on the right track. “They’re almost playing themselves, married Italian grandparents. It’s very funny,...
Pittsburgh 3D Prints finds home in Harrison City storefront
Matt Lockmer had no plans to become a 3D printing expert. But when he received a 3D printer from his partner, Amanda, for Christmas in 2020, his curiosity took off. He rebranded his former computer repair and consulting business to fit his 3D printing interests. Since winter 2021, Lockmer has...
Turnpike commission announces location of Route 130 interchange
A turnpike interchange will be installed near the intersection of Nike Site Road, Sandy Hill Road, Pleasant Valley Road and Route 130 in Penn Township, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced. The interchange, which will fall between the Irwin and Pittsburgh interchanges, will be accessible for westbound and eastbound drivers. It...
Penn-Trafford tennis star Mia Williams back for more after brilliant freshman year
Penn-Trafford sophomore Mia Williams can make history if things go as expected over the next three years. Williams, the returning WPIAL Class 3A champion, could become the first girl in her classification to win four titles. Knoch’s Laura Greb won four titles (2017-2020) in Class 2A. Five girls have won...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Aug. 27, 2023
Chalfant Estate of John Tomasic sold property at 229 Greenfield Ave. to 229 Greenfield Ave LLC for $27,000. Edgewood Timothy Palko sold property at 124 Lincoln Ave. to 124 Lincoln LLC for $249,630. David Hayes sold property at 1112 Mifflin Ave. to John Lindsay Wallace III and Patricia Louise Turner...
Spiritwear store takes over former Buckets Boutique location in Harrison City
For Lori Allen, moving her spiritwear business from her home to a Harrison City storefront “just felt right.” Allen of Penn Township started LNJ Spiritwear out of her home 13 years ago to provide local school apparel to the community. Now, she is taking over the former Buckets Boutique space,...
Senior Metcalfe set to lead Penn-Trafford football team
It seems like every year Penn-Trafford has a senior football player step up to make a name for himself. This year’s player might be safety/wide receiver Carmen Metcalfe. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior is a three-sport athlete. He also plays basketball and was a center fielder for the baseball team. Metcalfe...
‘It’s a small number of people who are very loud’: Local libraries grapple with book challenges, bans
Over the past few years, Librarian Sharon Coronado has been tested by select patrons who oppose the presence of certain voices in books at Ligonier Valley Library, particularly the voices of people of color and LGBTQ individuals. In one instance, Coronado recalls, a group of parents came into the library...
Penn Township ambulance ‘ahead of the curve,’ state report says
Penn Township’s ambulance service is “ahead of the curve” and could be a model for others across the state, according to a recent EMS report. The report took four to five months to complete, said presenter Ken Hellendall, a peer consultant for the state Department of Community and Economic Development....
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Aug. 24, 2023
Chalfant Estate of Robert Richard Fox sold property at 240 Highland Ave. to Christopher Leasher for $123,000. Churchill Jeffrey Vella sold property at 2394 Collins Road to Marco Longo for $221,000. Peter Yannopoulos sold property at 165 Thornberry Drive to Rebecca Ann Bennett for $303,900. Edgewood Jonathan Raney sold property...
World War II D-Day vet, 98, receives Blanket of Honor in Penn Township
Eighteen-year-old Carmen DiPaolo from Rankin was crammed into a landing craft plowing through the surf of the English Channel on a dreary June morning 79 years ago, facing a date with destiny or death at the hands of the German soldiers protecting a spit of French coast during World War...
2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the offensive line
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top offensive linemen for the 2023 season. 1. Ryan Cory Pine-Richland Senior, 6-4, 290 Pine-Richland had one of the state’s best running attacks last season, and the blocks Cory...
‘Perfect timing’: Penn Township EMS, police save Murrysville man after motorcycle crash
If it were not for a Penn Township police officer stopping to investigate debris on the road and some damaged mailboxes, Steven Antolovich might not be alive. The police officer and three Penn Township ambulance personnel were honored by the Allegheny Health Network Friday for their lifesaving efforts. Antolovich, 29,...
Biondi Biscotti to bring food, fellowship to Penn Township in 2nd Italian Festival
Biondi Biscotti will bring Italian food and fun to Penn Township on Saturday. The cafe, located off of Route 130, will celebrate its second year of business at its second annual Italian Festival, featuring food, desserts, music and children’s activities. The event will run from 3 to 7 p.m. Louis...
Penn Township votes against construction of new golf facility in Blackthorne Estates
Penn Township commissioners voted 4-1 this week to deny construction of a new golf operations facility in the Blackthorne Estates community near Harrison City-Export Road. The new facility for the unfinished 18-hole Blackthorne golf course was discussed at a township meeting last month. After a 30-minute executive session, commissioners held...
Blackthorne Estates residents weigh in on upcoming Penn Township golf course vote
Maureen Brusca and her husband hoped to retire on a golf course when they moved to Penn Township’s Blackthorne Estates community five years ago. Now, that dream is in jeopardy. The clubhouse for the community’s unfinished 18-hole golf course — Club at Blackthorne — has been closed to the community...
New entertainment venue coming to former Shop ‘n Save in Hempfield
A new entertainment venue is expected to open in Hempfield in November. Owners of 814 Lanes & Games of Johnstown announced last year they would open a second location at the former Shop n’ Save, 4589 Route 136. The grocery store closed in 2014 and the 44,000-square-foot building has remained...
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...
