Valley News Dispatch category, Page 493
The Stroller, June 28, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Youth tennis clinics planned in New Ken The City of New Kensington Recreation Commission will sponsor a youth tennis clinic July...
Tarentum Bridge reopens in both directions a day early
The Tarentum Bridge reopened in both directions a half-day earlier than planned, much to the relief of many drivers headed through the Alle-Kiski Valley on Sunday afternoon. PennDOT officials had postponed the reopening of the westbound lane linking New Kensington to Tarentum until 6 a.m. Monday after a car crashed...
Apollo’s Owens Grove turns 100: Cleanup and party set for July 24Video
Turning a century old can come with considerable wear and tear. Apollo borough will celebrate Owens Grove’s centennial with a work party followed by cake and ice cream on July 24. The Apollo Events Committee is billing the birthday celebration as “100 years of giving: Apollo pays it forward.” The...
Appraising the situation, Michelle Bradley went to great lengths to deal with pandemic
Real estate appraiser Michelle Czekalski Bradley went above and beyond during the pandemic in her quest to follow covid-related safety protocols. Bradley, 54, created her own custom covid prevention outfit to wear while appraising properties. “I scoured the internet every night for gloves, booties, rain ponchos and anything that would...
Freeport Theatre Festival’s ‘The Rainmaker’ features sisters serving as director, actress
Freeport Theatre Festival’s production of “The Rainmaker” is a family project for the Bronder sisters. Kristy and Jen Bronder grew up watching local theater together with their parents. Now, for the first time, they’ll be working together in a local theater production at Freeport Theatre Festival this summer. Jen Bronder...
Alle-Kiski Valley restaurateurs contend with new challenges as they struggle to survive pandemic
Restaurants were hit hard by the pandemic and restrictions meant to curb the spread of covid-19 — and, for many restaurateurs, the struggles aren’t over yet. Navigating a pandemic — and the related rules and restrictions — has been a challenge April Platt never imagined she’d have to overcome. Platt...
Overcoming challenges, Alle-Kiski Valley businesses continue to recover
Alle-Kiski Valley businesses are beginning to emerge from the incredible challenges caused by last year’s covid-19 pandemic. Many small-business owners said they’ve experienced a significant loss of income, stress and hardship during the shutdown and subsequent covid restrictions placed on their businesses. A 2020 U.S. Census Bureau Small Business Survey...
Teaching a ‘calling’ for honored New Kensington-Arnold kindergarten instructorVideo
A small painting of a tree hangs in Alissa Szewczak’s kindergarten classroom at New Kensington-Arnold’s Martin Elementary School. Its leaves don’t look like leaves, and most aren’t even green. The splotches of color are actually the thumbprints of her past students — one year of first grade, two years of...
Kid vendors will be in the spotlight next month in Vandergrift
A new children’s vendor show is coming to Vandergrift. The inaugural Kids Vendor Show, sponsored by The Center on Franklin Avenue, is scheduled for July 10 at the Center, 262 Franklin Ave. The event will showcase vendors and activities for, by and in support of children. Center founder and owner...
The Stroller, June 27, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers 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 A-K Pulser A-K Pulser Inc. will sponsor a golf outing Aug. 20 at River Forest Country Club,...
Comcast to upgrade Internet service in parts of Armstrong County
Comcast announced it is offering its fastest high-speed internet service to 21 additional communities in Armstrong County. Comcast is among a handful of internet providers serving Armstrong County, including Salsgiver Inc. and Windstream Communications. The high-speed service, known as gigabit service, now will be available to residential and business customers...
PennDOT to replace four bridges/culverts for nearly $5.4 million projects in Apollo area
Gov. Tom Wolf recently highlighted important road projects in the region, including four bridge replacements with new culverts for $5.4 million in Apollo and Kiski Township. These projects will replace four structurally deficient bridges, said Tina Gibbs, a spokeswoman for PennDOT District 10, which covers Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, and...
Challenged Fawn supervisor accepts defeat as newcomers corner election ballot
A longtime Fawn supervisor says he accepts defeat, while a newcomer says she isn’t taking for granted that she’ll become a supervisor despite her and another newcomer cornering the ballot. Paula Legge and Dan Selfridge Jr. defeated incumbent supervisor David Montanari in the race for two seats in Republican primary....
Connellsville man killed on Armstrong County road
A Connellsville man was killed early Saturday when he was struck by a vehicle in Armstrong County. Pennsylvania State Police in Kittanning said Alan Lipscomb, 29, was laying in the middle of State Route 422 near Worthington Slate Lick Road shortly after 2:30 a.m. when he was hit by an...
The Stroller, June 26, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Summit Hose accepting donations for fireworks display Summit Hose Volunteer Fire Company in Tarentum is accepting donations to offset the cost...
Kiski Township to add 1 full-time police officer
Kiski Township supervisors recently agreed to add one full-time officer to the police department, which has one full-time officer and a handful of part-timers. “We’re losing part-time offers who are finding full-time jobs elsewhere,” Supervisor Chuck Rodnicki said. “We pay our part-timers well, but if they get a full-time offer,...
Mangy black bear trapped and treated in Bethel; spread to other bears possible
The Pennsylvania Game Commission trapped and treated a black bear plagued with the contagious skin disease mange in Bethel Township this week. Mange is transmitted by parasitic mites. The centuries-old disease causes hair loss and sometimes emaciation and death, according to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Studies. However, most bears’...
PennDOT announces 1-day road closure near Freeport High School football field
A one-day closure on Monroe Road will impact drivers in Buffalo Township on Monday. PennDOT announced the closure, which will impact a stretch of Monroe Road from Sarver Road to the intersection of State Route 356. The area stretches from Freeport Area High School’s football field to the Butler-Freeport Rails...
Peace poles showcase youth artwork, inspiring messages in Freeport’s Hope Garden
Colorful mosaics and inspirational messages adorn a trio of decorative peace poles which will be dedicated in Freeport’s Hope Garden during a Celebrating Creativity Gala next week. The peace poles bear messages such as “be kind,” “have hope” and “inspire the world.” Jennifer Covey, a Freeport native who owns JLC...
Voice of Westmoreland launches survey on priorities for county’s Rescue Plan spending
Westmoreland County’s first installment of $107 million in American Rescue Plan money already hit the bank. It wasn’t quite like winning the lottery, with 3,069 counties nationwide sharing $65.1 billion. And that has left some wondering just how local officials will set their priorities. According to the National Association of...
Tarentum police charge 2 in armed burglary of home
Two brothers are wanted in connection with a home burglary in Tarentum on Monday night, and three unidentified suspects were believed to be involved, Chief William Vakulick said. Police charged Wilnal Anthony Reddix, 21, of Natrona Heights and Manrico Reddix, 15, of Clairton with felony counts of burglary, robbery, conspiracy,...
Alle-Kiski Valley job openings increasing
Job openings across the Alle-Kiski Valley are on the rise, data show. PA CareerLink Alle-Kiski reported a four-week rolling average of more than 250 job openings in the region this month, up from 225 a month ago. When last month’s number was reported, officials said it was the highest number...
Crash delays reopening of Tarentum Bridge
The Tarentum Bridge from New Kensington to Tarentum is expected to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday, PennDOT announced Friday. That side of the bridge over the Allegheny River was scheduled to reopen by midnight Sunday. The reopening was delayed after a car crashed in the work zone last Saturday and...
Freeport business will hook up outdoorsmen with fishing gear, kayak rentals
If you’re in need of fishing rods, bait or kayak or paddleboard rentals, Jackie Lowes can hook you up. Her new business, The Hook Up, began selling fishing equipment in March. About two weeks ago, Lowes expanded the business to include paddleboard and kayak rentals. “I love what I do....
The Stroller, June 25, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. West Deer American Legion to honor original members The West Deer American Legion plans to honor the original members of the...
