Valley News Dispatch category, Page 211
Annual Sprankle’s Octoberfest festival moving to permanent, rural location
A German-themed festival is moving to new permanent digs in southeastern Butler County. The annual Sprankle’s Octoberfest, in its sixth year, has grown from a fledgling festival to a full-scale three-day event filled with beer, fellowship, food, music, family fun and entertainment. “We’ve been looking for land, and the Sprankle...
The Stroller, Jan. 23, 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. Opportunities available to help senior citizens Open Your Heart to a...
Program at Harrison library promotes growing vegetables, herbs and flowers at home
A program at the Community Library of Allegheny Valley is growing in more ways than one. The library along Harrison’s Broadview Boulevard plans to expand its Seed to Salad program so people can take packets of vegetable, herb and flower seeds and plant them at their homes. Julia Strzesieski, the...
New Fox Chapel Area club ‘bakes’ a difference for those in need
A classic round green cake, decorated with a simple phrase, “Congratulations,” delivered a big message of support to a cancer patient who completed chemotherapy. The cake, a gift delivered to a person who recently completed chemotherapy, is one of numerous desserts donated by a group of student bakers from Fox...
West Deer to promote part-timers to replace retiring longtime police officers
Two officers with a combined 60 years of experience are retiring from the West Deer Police Department. To ease the loss, the township elevated two part-time officers to full-time status and also hired two new part-timers. The township supervisors accepted the notice of the resignations of Sgt. Darren Mikus and...
Participants sought for free Startup Accelerator program at The Corner, Digital Foundry in New Kensington
Selecting the right cocoa beans is important to making good-tasting chocolate. But for home chocolate-maker Wayne Dudding, that’s something he has to do by hand. “Some of the beans I receive aren’t very good for making chocolate. There’s different defects in them,” said Dudding, 62, a Freeport native who lives...
New parking lot, exterior repairs will position Harrison’s Hilltop Hose for the future
Upgrades to Hilltop Hose in Harrison won’t just boost safety, they’ll provide a station ready to house the next generation of firefighters, officials said. Chief Jeff Balog said his department will spend about $157,000 this year to repave the parking lot and replace the siding and windows. “We are located...
Donors needed to give blood as supply falls to critically low levels
Randy Beatty had a good reason to donate blood for the first time in the 1980s. His grandfather needed it, and Beatty, of Parks Township, wanted to be the one to help. Since that day, he has tried to donate blood as often as he can. “You never know when...
The Stroller, Jan. 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. Food distribution set at Lernerville Speedway Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank...
Salvation Army expands healthy options as food assistance need grows
Capt. David Bender compares it to Black Friday when about 50 local residents line up outside the Salvation Army of Allegheny Valley for its Thursday food pantry and community luncheon. Doors are open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., but most of the take-home food is gone by 11:30 a.m....
3 more well pads coming to Fawn
Three more well pads are expected to be constructed in Fawn this year along Sun Mine Road. Supervisors in December approved a conditional use application by Range Resources to implement the project. Township Secretary Pam Ponsart said the well pads will be constructed on the Norris property in the 2700...
O’Hara residents can look forward to tennis court upgrades and safer pedestrian access
Upgraded tennis courts and more curb cuts will come to O’Hara after the township landed more than $130,000 in state grants. Accessibility and recreation will get a nice boost, officials said, thanks to the Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund, which is administered through the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority. A...
Scenes from the Valley: Images captured in the Alle-Kiski Valley from Jan. 10-17, 2024
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,...
Remember When: Numerous train stations dotted Allegheny Valley Railroad route from Braeburn to Oakmont
The Allegheny Valley Railroad, which ran along the Lower Burrell side of the Allegheny River, was the first major rail line to open in the Alle-Kiski Valley. When completed in January 1856, the rail line extended from Pittsburgh to Kittanning. There were numerous train stations, or depots as they were...
Leechburg church to host new, free, after-school youth club
A church is ready to spread some good news to children in Leechburg. Kiski Valley Community Church is extending an invitation to Alle-Kiski Valley youngsters enrolled in grades K-6 to join the “Good News Club,” a free weekly Bible-themed after-school program. The program kicks off Monday from 6 to 7:30...
The Stroller, Jan. 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. Soup cookoff planned by Brackenridge American Legion Auxiliary The Brackenridge American...
Opportunities endless at Cheswick’s Rachel Carson Park, officials say
Rachel Carson Park in Cheswick has no permanent restrooms, no direct riverfront access and really not much other space for people to gather. But borough officials are working to change that. And a state grant to the tune of just over $200,000 will help park revitalization come along. “We’re really...
Fire destroys home in Bell Township
A home in Bell Township caught fire Saturday evening. A blaze started around 5 p.m. at a house at 125 Johnston St., said Westmoreland County dispatchers. About 12 fire companies responded to the house that was fully involved. 911 distatcher said the Bell Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief described the...
Allegheny County exec Innamorato announces new board appointees
Newly elected Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato has named her first slate of board appointees, and they include criminal justice advocates, a state representative from the Allegheny Valley, and others. Innamorato nominated six people on Friday to serve on the Allegheny County Housing Authority, Jail Oversight Board, and Redevelopment Authority...
Leechburg Cub Scouts’ Pinewood Derby brings out more than 100 spectators
More than 100 spectators showed up Saturday at the Leechburg Elks club to watch one of the most celebrated events in Scouting — Pinewood Derby Day. More than 30 scouts from Leechburg Cub Scout Pack 553 revved up their engines — gravity — as they competed in six divisions. The...
Allegheny Valley school directors disagree on, but ultimately approve, Portrait of a Graduate study
Allegheny Valley School Board members agree they want Springdale High School graduates to be productive members of the community, but how exactly to get there caused some disagreements among the board. School directors Tuesday approved an agreement with the Consortium for Public Education to create a district-specific Portrait of a...
Burrell swim co-op with Kiski causes some waves
While Burrell School District is eyeing a swimming cooperative agreement with Kiski Area for the next two years, it’s unclear what the future may hold for Burrell’s pool. And that’s causing some waves between the Bucs’ swimming community and school officials. Burrell swimmers, parents and swim team alumni took their...
Retired doctors combine creativity with camaraderie through woodworking
A group of medical professionals with almost 200 years of combined service in the health care industry are using their hands for something beyond helping and healing: woodworking. Dr. Frank Kunkel, 66, of McCandless shares his passion for creativity through woodworking with a group of retired medical professionals, including an...
Indiana Township dad continues backyard hockey rink tradition
The more than 2,700-square-foot ice hockey rink in Ken Kieffer’s Indiana Township backyard is a far cry from the first rink he made as a kid. “It was a dam in a creek that flowed into Pine Creek,” said Kieffer, 46, a plumber who grew up in Shaler. He was...
The Stroller, Jan. 20, 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. Winfield ministry offers help to mothers, children The Matrona Family Resource...
