Valley News Dispatch category, Page 388
Retired Highlands teachers still promoting literacy with Tarentum storywalks
Two retired Highlands teachers are working to promote literacy in young children, albeit in a park instead of a classroom. Jody Shumaker and Deb Turner, longtime district teachers, are spearheading a program through the Tarentum Area Lions Club to offer story walks in Riverview Memorial Park. “Nobody loves a good...
The Stroller, April 24, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Local parishes to host golf outing St. James and Our Lady, Queen of Peace parishes will sponsor a golf outing June...
New guiderails coming to Sun Mine Road in Fawn
Traffic along Sun Mine Road in Fawn could be affected in coming weeks after the township supervisors approved installation of new guiderails. “We already paved it; this is just putting the finishing touch on certain sections,” Township Secretary Pam Ponsart said. Canonsburg-based Interstate Enterprises was awarded the contract at the...
Survey gives Vandergrift residents opportunity to weigh in on borough issues, set priorities
Vandergrift officials and volunteers are seeking public input as they work to create a new outdoor community initiative for the borough. The Vandergrift Community Improvement Project (VCIP) is a new group formed this year specifically to finalize and produce a survey for the public to weigh in on what’s important...
New business carteBlanche Home & Design opens in Aspinwall
A new home and design business has opened in Aspinwall. Located at 347 Freeport Road, carteBlanche Home & Design offers decor and home furnishings curated by owner and creative director Rachel Schaffer. Schaffer, 44, was raised in Brookline in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. She earned degrees in French and...
Alle-Kiski Historical Society premieres video of beloved New Kensington cobbler Gene Montemurro
Gene Montemurro, a beloved New Kensington cobbler who retired after 66 years, is immortalized in a documentary produced by the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society and videographer John Bailey. An armed robbery and some family health issues caused Montemurro to close Gene’s Shoe Service on Fifth Avenue in 2015. He has...
Flyers Field fishing derby reels in young anglers with bountiful trout
With sunny skies and highs in the low 80s, kids reeled in trout Saturday during the second annual Fishing Derby in Pucketa Creek next to Flyers Field in Lower Burrell. “I’ve seen 50 to 60 fish caught, and we still have the afternoon to go,” said organizer Chris Lowe, an...
Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School alum shares her experience growing up biracial in her children’s book
Growing up, Melinda Suzensky knew right away she was different from her peers. A biracial girl in the predominantly white Allegheny Valley School District, she was bullied for looking different. She described it as being “a chocolate chip within marshmallows in a bowl.” “It was something they weren’t used to...
First ‘Fresh Express’ distribution for food bank clients coming to New Kensington
A drive-thru distribution for food bank recipients in the New Kensington area will be held outside United Presbyterian Church in New Kensington on Monday. Grab-n-Go Fresh Express, previously known as Operation Fresh Express, is an invitation-only distribution that will run from 3:45 to 5 p.m., said Lea-Ann White, program coordinator...
The Stroller, April 23, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Golf outing to benefit Leechburg Education Foundation The Leechburg Education Foundation/NexTier golf outing will be June 4 at the Links at...
Explosion levels house in Plum, neighbors describe the harrowing scene
Residents in Plum’s Holiday Park ran to help as smoke, embers and screams filled their neighborhood Friday night. People living around the house at 5021 Hialeah Drive reported hearing a loud boom that shook their homes. A man living nearby thought his own hot water tank had exploded; a woman...
Alle-Kiski Valley’s only remaining Pearl Harbor survivor celebrates 100th birthday
George Pann smiled as he reached out a hand to pet a large, white sheep. Ryan Maglione, owner of Little Blessings Farm and Mobile Zoo, jokingly asked Pann if he wanted to take the sheep back to his room with him. Pann just laughed, marveling at the animal. It was...
Overcoming the odds: Born premature, baby at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in need of a liver
His eyes light up when you say his name. He smiles when he’s being held, when visitors talk to him, and definitely when his family members kiss his forehead. Chance William Kacin Halloran is 15.2 pounds of one happy infant — despite his challenging arrival into this world. “There were...
Seventh Street Road in Upper Burrell reopened after fatal motorcycle accident
A 1-mile stretch of Seventh Street Road in Upper Burrell was shut down Friday afternoon while police investigated a fatal motorcycle accident, according to authorities. The accident occurred around 4 p.m. near the township’s volunteer fire department and was reported by a passing motorist, according to a Westmoreland County 911...
Allegheny Township man’s ‘reign of terror’ ends with rape, sexual assault convictions
Jurors on Friday found an Allegheny Township man guilty of four rapes and the sexual assaults of two other woman in crimes prosecutors said dated back to the early 2000s. Eric Wright, 50, could receive up to 100 years in prison for the rape offenses, according to Westmoreland County District...
Police seek tips from public about 2 runaway teenage girls from New Kensington
The New Kensington Police Department is seeking the public’s help locating two runaway teenage girls. The cases are not related. • Police are searching for Sarah Chessario, 14, who is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 125 pounds. No clothing description for Chessario was available from investigators. Police...
ATI Vandergrift expansion on schedule; more jobs expectedVideo
Construction on the multimillion-dollar expansion project at ATI’s Vandergrift mill is on schedule. Last year, ATI announced plans to invest more than $65 million to shift operations from standard stainless steel to produce specialty steel for a global market, primarily for energy, defense and aerospace. A new bright anneal external...
Springdale VFD’s annual Jubilee comes to an end after 9 decades
The Springdale Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Jubilee carnival has been canceled, with no plans of returning. Zach Wilhem, secretary for the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department, said decreased attendance in the last 10 years and costly overhead expenses led to the decision to stop holding the event. “This announcement is made...
Riverview Senior Living apartment building set to open its doors in Harrison
A nearly 100-year-old former elementary school in a residential Harrison neighborhood is expected to open its doors as senior citizen rental apartments in June. “We’re doing ‘punch out’ work now,” developer Andy Haines said. “There’s lots of cosmetic work and cleaning up. The last month is always challenging to get...
The Stroller, April 22, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Motorcycle run helps to fund Camp Cadet The Pennsylvania State Police will sponsor a motorcycle run May 22 to benefit Armstrong...
Arnold awards contract for demolition of 10 buildings, hires code officer
Arnold Council has awarded a contract for the demolition of 10 buildings in the city. AP Wise Excavating’s bid of $75,840 was the lowest of seven the city received. The highest bid, of nearly $141,000 , was submitted by Davis Demolition and Excavation. Six other companies picked up information on...
Fathers for Literacy event in Harrison offers books, bean bags and bonding
When George Fleming first began a career in social work, he immediately noticed a lack of interest in reading by children. A supervisor for Allegheny Family Network, which has offices in Harrison and Oakland, Fleming was startled to learn that nearly two-thirds of low-income families have no books at home...
Arnold, Buffalo Township getting share of $47.8M in state transportation funding
Projects in two Alle-Kiski Valley communities are among 56 highway, bridge, transit, bike and pedestrian projects in 28 counties selected for $47.8 million in state funding, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced Thursday. • Arnold is getting $53,000 for improvements to Rankin Street from Woodmont Avenue to Freeport Road. The improvements...
Student-run ‘Cavalier Closet’ at Kiski Area High School offers free clothing and more
A charitable closet inside Kiski Area High School offers more than just clothes. Staffed by 10 students from the high school’s Life Skills Program, the Cavalier Closet is a free student store offering donated clothing, accessories, shoes and toiletries to any student in need. The closet concept was created in...
Attorney: Prescription drugs, marijuana led Vandergrift woman to kill cousin
The lawyer for a Vandergrift woman told a Westmoreland County jury Thursday that marijuana, combined with medications she takes for ongoing mental health issues, left her unable to form an intent to kill her cousin nearly four years ago. “She was suffering from an altered state of consciousnesses,” defense attorney...
