Valley News Dispatch category, Page 275

Two New Kensington Girl Scouts who know not every child in their community has books to read at home wanted to do something about that. To earn their Silver Award, friends and troopmates Kamryn Graham, 14, and Aceyln Sell, 13, built three “little libraries.” One stands outside each of New...

March is Women’s History Month, a celebration of women’s contributions to history and culture. Years ago, I was in Squirrel Hill at a used bookstore, where I found a Victorian autograph book among the bargain books. I always examine these books because they contain beautiful engravings, and I admire the...

New Kensington police accused a man of stealing $20,000 worth of jewelry from his wife and selling it to a local shop. Sean Richard Imm, 36, of the 500 block of Greenridge Road was charged with a felony count of theft. He was released from the Westmoreland County jail after...

Falling into a coma didn’t quell Brooke Damore’s craving for heroin. Neither did sitting in jail. “I was doing 10 bags a day at one point,” said Damore, 30, a Leechburg native who attended Kiski Area High School. “I had to learn to walk and talk again after I was...

A crumpled, peeling or otherwise unreadable license plate can earn drivers a $100 fine, but people can get a free replacement through a local program in April. Under state law, PennDOT will replace a license plate for free if it is verified as illegible by police or mechanics during the...

Whether it’s rug tufting, making a leather bag or quilting, those involved in the world of crafting are passionate about it. For the past half-dozen years, Lower Burrell resident Amy Mitchell has gone away occasionally for weekend retreats in places such as Mercer, some 70 miles away, to an Airbnb-type...

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. Springdale students to perform, ‘Seussical, the Musical’ Springdale High School Drama...

There was the crab rangoon from Panda Chinese. And the wedding soup from Fat Cat’s Fundraisers. But also bacon cheeseburger rolls from Ashley’s Kitchen. And chocolate peanut butter baklava from Sweet Tillies. “We’re stuffed!” said Donna Black on Saturday afternoon as she and her husband, Doug, walked along Tenth Street...

A New Kensington woman is facing charges after troopers said she struck a state police horse in Indiana during a delayed St. Patrick’s Day celebration by college-age revelers dubbed IUPatty’s. State and local police boost enforcement during the annual weekend that is student-planned and not associated with Indiana University of...

Oh, the places they’ll go on stage at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School! A student-driven production of the wildly colorful and comic “Seussical” will leave audiences marveling at the kooky costumes and toe-tapping tunes adapted from the stories of legendary children’s author Dr. Seuss. “I love making people laugh, and I...

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. Highlands High School to present spring musical The students at Highlands...

A Frazer woman with a prior conviction for selling drugs was ordered to stand trial on charges she was using heroin while caring for two children. Brandy Marie Kralik, 38, of the 100 block of Snyder Lane was charged Jan. 27 with two felony counts of endangering the welfare of...

Safer crosswalks, energy-saving solar panels and improved sewer lines are planned for several Alle-Kiski Valley municipalities that will share in more than $2 million in state grants. From Harrison to Blawnox, communities along the Allegheny River will benefit from the funding announced last week by state Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox...

Now that a blighted building has been demolished along Corbet Street in Tarentum, ideas are popping up about how to spruce up the business corridor. A raised deck, a gazebo and a grandstand are among plans being considered by council. “If there is built-in electricity, the borough can use it...

The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County is set to receive more than $600,000 to settle a federal lawsuit it filed in 2016 against the energy company that operates dozens of gas wells at the Beaver Run Reservoir. Board members this week approved the settlement with CNX Resources. The lawsuit involved...

When Harrison capped off more than $80,000 in repairs to the World War II Honor Roll at Freeport and Springhill roads in February, it was only the start to upgrades at the busy intersection. The township commissioners are eyeing a $2 million project to redo the five-way intersection, which, at...

Tina Cadamore couldn’t contain her pride as the Deer Lakes boys basketball team made the rounds Friday morning at the district’s four buildings. “I’m here to support my nephew, (player) Billy Schaeffer,” she said between hooting and hollering for the Lancers. Cheering students and faculty lined the hallways in a...

A Tarentum man was ordered to stand trial on charges that he beat a woman and repeatedly burned her while they were arguing. Brian Scott Schuller, 51, of West Seventh Avenue was charged with a felony count of aggravated assault and counts of simple assault and unlawful restraint. Schuller has...

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. Back the Blue concert planned Sunday at Quality Inn The Back...

Washington Township supervisors are grateful for state grants that make expensive bridge projects possible for small, rural communities like theirs. The township’s former Poke Run Church Road bridge was torn down this month to make way for a box culvert bridge. The new bridge is being paid for by a...

District judges in Pennsylvania aren’t required to be lawyers to serve on the bench. But Suzanne Blaschak-Rogers always made sure she understood the letter of the law before making decisions that affected the lives of the people who appeared in her courtroom during the three decades she served as a...

A district judge denied bail for a man accused of setting a fire inside a control room at the Harsco building in Harrison on Tuesday. Harrison police charged Mark Porter, 35, of the 800 block of Lardintown Road in Fawn with felony counts of arson and criminal trespass along with...

When Connor Green returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and was discharged from the Army in 2014, all he wanted was to live unnoticed. The transition to civilian life, coupled with a diagnosis of a seizure disorder, was more difficult than being deployed. Green couldn’t fathom his life...

A purse bash Saturday at the Harrison Veterans of Foreign Wars will send lucky participants out the door with a new bag, but the larger purpose will be sending veterans home with a service dog to help transform their lives. The fundraiser will benefit a Washington County group that helps...

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. Tickets on sale for benefit concert in Harmar Blue Force Foundation...