Valley News Dispatch category, Page 280

Little time and little name recognition are two challenges the Republican candidate for the state House 32nd District sees himself and his Democratic opponent sharing. Clayton Walker figures that helps level the playing field between himself and Joe McAndrew as they vie to succeed a titan of Pennsylvania politics in...

Maggie (Baird) Griffith first fell in love with musical theater at 5, when she and her mother would sit in the audience at Highlands High School and dance along in their seats with whatever ballads or toe-tapping numbers were being performed. “I just couldn’t get enough of the life and...

The Rev. Helen Burton believes there has never been a better time to preach Martin Luther King Jr.’s messages of unity. “He was always teaching about love and caring for others,” said Burton, pastor at First AME Church in Clairton. “These days, it appears to be every person for themselves,...

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. Orders being accepted for annual Daffodil Days fundraiser The American Cancer...

Friends and family of Penn Hills native Nick Theofilis gathered at one of his favorite watering holes for a celebration of his life. An estimated 400 people stopped by Carnivores in Oakmont for a “Nite For Nick,” which was organized by longtime friend Katie Shimko. Laughter and joy filled the...

Sharpsburg officials plan to use a federal grant to hire a full-time social worker. The borough received $180,564 in covid relief funds earlier this year to cover the salary of a social worker for two years and purchase two computers for police cars. Council Vice President Karen Pastor said candidates...

Highlands administrators will get an edge in their battle against the popular — but unhealthy and illegal — teen habit of vaping. Detectors will be installed in restrooms at the middle and high schools in the coming weeks to notify officials when students are puffing inside the stalls. “Vaping is...

A housing development in West Deer will proceed following approval of the plan of lots by township supervisors earlier this month. The Kingston Plan, formerly known as the Unionville Plan and located at 292 East Union Road, was approved by township supervisors Jan. 18. The subdivision calls for lots to...

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 murder-mystery dinner in Leechburg A murder-mystery dinner...

A new physical therapy business in Allegheny Township has partnered with the Kiski Area School District. East Suburban Sports Medicine Center opened Jan. 2 at 451 Hyde Park Road in Hyde Park Plaza. ESSMC, the official sports medicine provider for Kiski Area, signed a three-year athletic training contract with the...

Esther Whittinger doesn’t know anyone who takes drugs. She doesn’t have any loved ones she thinks might overdose. But she still attended a free Narcan training clinic and took with her a few doses of the drug, which reduces the effects of opioid overdoses. “I’m just interested in the aspect...

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. Free advice available for those with financial troubles Allegheny Valley Association...

Serving an estimated 1,100 visiting police officers for funeral events for fallen Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire was just another facet of The River Community Church in New Kensington and its pastor, Dean Ward. Ward, 56, of New Kensington isn’t your typical pastor. He built a business diving for golf...

For Gene Tommasi, becoming a new owner of the New Kensington Golden Dawn has brought his grocery career full circle — after he thought it was over. Tommasi of Mt. Lebanon and Jim Faccenda of Bethel Park took over ownership of the 60-year-old neighborhood grocery store in June. After painting,...

An elegant evening fundraiser benefiting Pittsburgh-area students is returning to Fox Chapel. The Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh’s Fox Chapel Evening of Hope will be March 2 at the Pittsburgh Field Club. The event, last held in 2019, had been on a pandemic-induced hiatus. “We’re happy to be back....

The Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company has new leadership from a fifth-generation firefighter. John A. Foster was appointed chief Jan. 1, replacing his father, Tom, who was appointed chief emeritus after 36 years of serving as chief and 50 years as a firefighter. “I was 5 when my dad became chief,...

Two accused heroin dealers targeted in separate sting operations by Harrison police and state narcotics agents are scheduled to appear before a district judge this week to face felony drug charges. Last February, an undercover team of Harrison police officers and agents from the state Attorney General’s Office arranged to...

A couple of mannequins and a drop ceiling were among the last vestiges inside the old JCPenney building in Lower Burrell, now gutted to make way for an open-air, 90,000-square-foot electrical supply warehouse and store. The former department store’s brick shell still stands, but most of the interior is gone....

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. Annual Martin Luther King Jr. service planned Feb. 5 Allegheny Valley...

The Fallen Officers Food Drive in Lower Burrell serves two purposes: to collect food for neighbors in need and to honor local police who have died in the line of duty. Hosted at Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell, the annual food drive is in its fifth year, said Leslie...

Allegheny RiverTrail Park officials closed this winter’s Cabin Fever program with some fire pits and fun off Freeport Road in Aspinwall. Dozens of families flocked to the 10-acre park Jan. 27 to make s’mores, watch a movie and participate in arts and crafts. Phil Teplitz of Aspinwall showed his daughters,...

Two people were injured after the deck collapsed at their Vandergrift home Saturday morning. Katie Bragg, 34, and Mike Horton, 33, were injured when the deck collapsed around 9:45 a.m., relatives said. The pair used the deck space every day, said Sophie Bragg, their 11-year-old daughter. Half of the deck...

A Mustang and a Maserati along with $15,000 worth of drugs, body armor and nearly $36,000 in cash were seized during a raid Monday at a Lower Burrell auto repair shop and a home in Plum, according to authorities. A team of agents and police officers from New Kensington and...

A South Greensburg man was arrested on charges that he assaulted an emergency room nurse at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison. James Gregory Wilbur, 55, of the 1100 block of Spruce Street faces a felony count of aggravated assault along with simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment, according to court...

The Brackenridge street where fallen police Chief Justin McIntire was killed could be renamed in his honor if a longtime resident has her way. Family friend Debbie Beale is spearheading the effort to rename Third Avenue, where the 46-year-old chief grew up and also where he was killed during a...