Valley News Dispatch category, Page 126
Services for 700 families at Tarentum center in jeopardy under Allegheny County budget talks
Harrison’s Ashley Griffin said she will be devastated if the Highlands Family Center in Tarentum is forced to cut programs. The East Fourth Avenue facility is a one-stop shop for children and adults, providing services that include a diaper bank, food pantry, financial counseling, story times and employment assistance. The...
Second electronic billboard going up in Tarentum
More than a year after it was approved, Tarentum’s second megawatt billboard is finally expected to light up the borough’s western side. Weleski Transfer along West Fourth Avenue got the go-ahead from council to erect an electronic sign, 14 feet tall by 48 feet wide. “We’re excited it’s moving along,...
Springdale Junior-Senior High School renovation projects could involve more work
Construction of restrooms at Springdale Junior-Senior High School will be contained to the auditorium lobby area. In a consensus poll of Allegheny Valley School Board members, eight members agreed to that concept as presented by Terry Thompson of the Foreman Group, the design and construction services firm hired by the...
Former West Deer supervisor returns to fill board vacancy
A former supervisor is the newest member of West Deer supervisors in District 1. The supervisors appointed Jeffrey D. Fleming to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Vernon Frey, who left the board because of a change in residence. “He (Frey) is still in the township, but has...
‘Like the Wild West’: Spike in dumping at Agan Park prompts Springdale to pursue stricter rules
Springdale is cracking down on dumping at Agan Park. Council on Tuesday directed the borough’s interim manager, Jason Dailey, to develop a no dumping policy at the Springdale Township park. They also directed him to distribute that policy to borough staff and the Agan Park representatives. Agan Park is located...
2024 Christmas events in the A-K Valley
Cheswick • Christmas in Cheswick will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 in Memorial Park and on Maclean Avenue. Sponsored by the Springdale High School Marching Band Boosters and Cheswick Recreation Board. There will be vendors, a basket raffle, food trucks, crafts, children’s activities, a DJ and free...
New Kensington’s The Feisty Goblin expanding again, preparing for Star Wars game event
After less than two years in business and two expansions already, a tabletop gaming store in downtown New Kensington again needs more space while preparing for a major Star Wars event. The Feisty Goblin, opened in April 2023 by Arnold couple Christine and Jim Radeshak, will move to a new...
Contract for surveying, soils testing at Springdale High School soccer field OK’d
Allegheny Valley School District hired a design firm to begin planning for artificial turf at its soccer field, the first step in making improvements to the field at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School that could become home to the district’s football team. The school board approved an agreement with FieldTurf USA,...
The Stroller, Nov. 22, 2024: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Volunteers needed to prepare...
Fundraiser for Burrell’s Unified Bocce team pairs up students for new experience
Bocce season for area high schools will start to heat up soon, but Burrell’s team was serving up some cool drinks Thursday morning in New Kensington. Burrell’s Unified Bocce team, now in its third year, is part of the Special Olympics Interscholastic Unified Sports program. Sixteen students are on the...
Drone operators need certifications, license from FAA for public safety and commercial uses
People who want to operate a drone for public safety and commercial purposes are required to get a license or certificate through the Federal Aviation Administration. Some of the regulations state that an operator cannot fly more than one drone at a time and cannot fly one near manned aircraft...
Eyes in the sky: O’Hara police drone, operator serve multiple communities, purposes
O’Hara police Officer Maria Sciacca had a bird’s-eye view over the land where former President Donald Trump was shot and former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company Chief Corey Comperatore was killed. Two others also were wounded in the July 13 assassination attempt of the Republican presidential nominee July 13 at...
No tax increase planned in Fawn
Fawn residents haven’t incurred a property tax increase in 26 years, and they’re not likely to see one in 2025. Supervisors approved a tentative budget of nearly $1.8 million. The proposed tax rate would remain 3.04 mills. The owner of a home with the township’s median assessed value of $72,750...
Tarentum Lions Club charity event returns from pandemic hiatus; tickets selling fast
A longstanding Alle-Kiski Valley charity fundraiser is making an in-person return after being sidelined by the pandemic. The Tarentum Area Lions Club will host its Jack Marino Charity Dinner with the goal of raising money to help people in and out of the region. Proceeds benefit the Allegheny Valley Association...
Blawnox officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes, restore paving program
Blawnox officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes next year while restoring the borough’s paving program. Council voted 4-0 to advertise its preliminary 2025 spending plan of about $1.65 million. Council President Deborah Laskey and members Mark Lombardi and Elaine Palmer were absent. Budget documents suggest the...
The Stroller, Nov. 21, 2024: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Allegheny Township to celebrate...
Alle-Kiski Valley railroad crossings among ‘riskiest’ in state, feds say
Western Pennsylvania is home to nine of the state’s 20 riskiest rail crossings, according to Federal Railroad Administration data. Three of the crossings are within about 7 miles of each other in the Alle-Kiski Valley, between Cheswick and Brackenridge. The Cheswick crossing, at the borough’s Blockdale Street, ranks as the...
Ruling on Springdale boiler house doesn’t mean structure is coming down soon, attorney says
A state Superior Court ruling seemingly clearing the way for the implosion of the former power plant in Springdale doesn’t necessarily mean the structure is coming down anytime soon. John Kane, an attorney representing the 16 borough residents seeking to block the implosion at the former Cheswick Generating Station boiler...
Allegheny Shores moves forward with site prep, thanks to $1 million infusion from state
Sharpsburg Councilman Corey Ochai believes that the transformation of a 52-acre brownfield along the Allegheny River will grow the borough in the right direction for all. “I don’t think we’re outgrowing the town’s DNA but improving on it,” said Ochai, of the Allegheny Shores project that broke ground in 2022....
Severe storms knock out power to thousands; possible tornado being investigated
Did a tornado move through east-central Allegheny County on Wednesday? That’s what the National Weather Service in Moon Township will look to find out as they conduct a survey Thursday, according to a post from the agency on social media. Heavy rain and wind blew through the region Wednesday, knocking...
Defense questions DNA evidence, proposed death penalty in New Ken case of father accused of killing son
Attorneys for a Brackenridge man accused of murdering his 9-year-old son in New Kensington argued Wednesday in Westmoreland County Court that homicide charges against their client should be dropped, as they took issue with DNA and other evidence prosecutors have indicated links him to the crime. Public defenders Wayne McGrew...
Springdale assessment appeals prompt 19% tax hike
Reassessments on industrial properties in Springdale have led to a loss of $11 million in expected revenues, and borough property owners will likely foot the bill. The borough is considering hiking real estate taxes by 19% next year to cover the assessment losses in addition to a spike in the...
South Buffalo plans 15th year of no tax increases
South Buffalo is maintaining a 15-year streak of no tax hikes as part of its proposed $2.5 million budget. Supervisors approved a preliminary spending plan after a series of public budget workshops, with formal passage scheduled for Dec. 16. The property tax rate is expected to remain at 5.7 mills....
No tax hike expected for Vandergrift property owners
Vandergrift has no plans to raise real estate taxes next year, according to its preliminary spending plan. The proposed budget would keep the property tax rate at 28 mills. Expenditures are projected to hit about $2.5 million, roughly $30,000 more than expected income. That gap would be covered by leftover...
Frazer tax rate to hold steady but assessed values could go up, raising tax bills for some
Frazer officials don’t plan to raise property taxes next year, but some homeowners could pay more nonetheless. The township’s $1.3 million budget will maintain a tax rate of 3.5 mills, but Supervisor/Township Secretary Lori Ziencik said the board plans to reduce the Homestead Exclusion from $40,000 to $20,000. That means...
