Valley News Dispatch category, Page 506
Citing Zoom fatigue, Fox Chapel Area Adult Education sees sharp decline in enrollment; eyeing better turnout for spring semester
Zoom fatigue and mild spring weather have combined to thwart a hearty enrollment for the upcoming Fox Chapel Area Adult Education (FCAAE) semester, leaders said. The program, which enjoyed robust fall and winter semesters, is experiencing a significant dropoff with enrollment down about 75% this academic year, Executive Director Sue...
Cheswick Council to hold special meeting to fill council vacancy
Cheswick Council is holding a special meeting Thursday night to address a vacancy on council. “Pennsylvania law gives us a limited time frame in which we can appoint someone to fill that vacancy and the time period between when the vacancy occurred and our next regularly scheduled meeting was beyond...
Kiski Area trivia buff to compete in national quiz tournament
A lifelong love of trivia is paying off for Eddie Fuhrer of Allegheny Township. The Kiski Area High School senior began watching “Jeopardy!” when he was 5. “I’ve always been a trivia person,” he said. Fuhrer joined the Quiz Bowl Team three years ago and is team captain. Now, on...
New Kensington mural to be dedicated Sunday
A new mural brightening a gateway to New Kensington will be dedicated Sunday — providing the weather cooperates. An unspooling roll of aluminum is a prominent feature of the mural, reflecting New Kensington’s history with Alcoa and it becoming known as the “Aluminum City.” The roll transitions into waterways that...
Free trees, native plants available to Buffalo Creek watershed residents
Free trees and native plants will be offered to Buffalo Creek watershed residents attending workshops on managing invasive species, attracting wildlife and other topics concerning the watershed. The watershed stretches from Butler to Freeport. The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is offering the six free online workshops for residents. They...
The Stroller, April 8, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Kiski Watershed Association accepting donations The Kiski Watershed Association is accepting donations to be used to stock the Kiski River with trout. The association...
Tarentum police arrest man after responding to shots fired call
A Tarentum man who is not legally allowed to possess a gun was arrested early Wednesday after police said he fired shots in the air. Tarentum police charged Thomas William Curt Mueller, 38, with two felony firearms charges and lesser charges. In a criminal complaint against Mueller, borough police said...
Harrison seeking bids for 2021 road program
Harrison is seeking bids from contractors interested in milling and resurfacing 15 roads in the township. The township estimates that its 2021 road program will cost about $430,000. Sealed bids are due by 4 p.m. April 22. The most expensive work is expected to be on Federal Street, at about...
Vandergrift residents frustrated over portions of online council meetings being muted
Vandergrift’s online council meeting went silent for several minutes Monday night after discussion involving some council members grew heated, drawing criticism from some residents. The audio function on the Zoom broadcast was muted for several minutes after the council discussion became heated around 8:30 p.m. A few residents attending the...
AHN, UPMC to vaccinate 25,000 people at drive-thru clinics
About 25,000 people will receive a covid-19 vaccine at multiple drive-thru clinics throughout Western Pennsylvania in the coming week. Allegheny Health Network and UPMC, the region’s two largest health systems, announced partnerships Wednesday with the Allegheny County Health Department to provide Johnson & Johnson shots to the public. AHN and...
Ford Motor Co. unveils sneak peek at resurrected Bronco model during O’Hara eventVideo
Removable doors that stash in the back, a slide-out tailgate table and optional 35-inch tires are some of the raddest features of the 2021 Ford Bronco, a model resurrected by the car manufacturer after a 25-year hiatus. The Ford Motor Company gave car enthusiasts a brief glimpse of its beloved...
Former Vandergrift lawyer hiking Appalachian Trail for charity, in memory of his wife
Aspinwall resident Tim Geary is on one heck of a trek for charity. Geary, formerly of Vandergrift, began a solo hike March 17 on the Appalachian Trail. He’s hoping to raise more than $5,000 for research of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, in honor of his late wife,...
The Stroller, April 7, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Earth Day bike raffle to benefit Animal Protectors Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley is holding an Earth Day bike raffle online. The winner will...
Pennsylvania’s push for vaccine equity has been a challenge
Getting shots into the arms of the state’s most vulnerable elderly and minority residents remains a challenge, even as vaccine begins a steady flow into Pennsylvania, state officials said Tuesday. It took the combined efforts of three managed care giants tasked with reaching out to the marginalized and those most...
New Kensington-Arnold’s new superintendent eager to get started
After a second interview, Chris Sefcheck said he wanted the job of superintendent of the New Kensington-Arnold School District so much he didn’t care if it meant a longer commute. He’ll start making that drive on July 1, after the school board hired him on Tuesday. “I really already feel...
Aspinwall seeking more than $215,000 in grants for townwide upgrades
Aspinwall council is seeking three grants totaling more than $215,000 for townwide upgrades. They include money for trail improvements at Fireman’s Memorial Park, sewer separation along Western Avenue and work at the Aspinwall Volunteer Fire Department garage. Work at the park in upper Aspinwall will include replacing the current asphalt...
Support sought for purchase of Brilliant Line rail corridor for bike/ped trail from Aspinwall to Pittsburgh’s East End
Residents from Sharpsburg to Pittsburgh’s East End could be connected by a four-mile bike/pedestrian corridor that would provide access to fitness, recreation, shopping and dining in a project that’s expected to cost nearly $14 million. Allegheny Valley Railroad has agreed to sell the Brilliant Line to Aspinwall Riverfront Park. The...
The Stroller, April 6, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Tarentum community garden plans workday The community is welcome to participate in a spring workday set for 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the...
Holiday Park VFD Junior Fire Academy to return in June after yearlong covid hiatus
An educational program designed to teach teens about leadership, teamwork and safety skills is expected to return after being canceled last year due to the covid pandemic. Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department is expected to host its Junior Fire Academy from June 21-25. “I think it’s very important to bring...
Neighbors object to use of New Kensington building for mental health, substance abuse services
New Kensington Council postponed voting on a nonprofit’s proposed use of an office building for its outpatient mental health and substance abuse services Monday after a few neighbors raised concerns. Southwest Behavioral Care, an affiliate of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, wants to move from its existing location at 408 8th...
With eyes on revitalization, business owners band together in VandergriftVideo
Steve Jurovic said he had grown tired of hearing local people complain that the Vandergrift area was economically depressed. “There’s too much defeatism and pessimism in this area. You can’t just sit there and sulk,” said Jurovic, 83, who owns Apollo Replacement Windows on Vandergrift’s Grant Avenue. Jurovic said he...
Spring lantern walk by Fox Chapel Parks Conservancy brings in nearly $20,000 for preservation efforts
A starry night and a tree-lined walking path combined for a picturesque fundraiser by the Fox Chapel Parks Conservancy. The group ushered in spring with a lantern walk at Riding Meadow Park, the second in a series of four fundraisers to protect green space in Fox Chapel. “It was a...
Apollo native Dan Swank gets gig with favorite band All Time Low
How many music lovers dream of getting onstage with a favorite band? How many actually get a chance to do it? Apollo native Dan Swank is one of the lucky ones. In 2020, he became a member of his all-time favorite band, All Time Low. Working with the band as...
The Stroller, April 5, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Manos Gallery seeking entries for child’s art exhibit The Manos Gallery, 320 E. Fifth Ave., Tarentum, is accepting entries from children age 5 to...
Restaurants seeing resurgence as restrictions loosenedVideo
It was a great day for family gatherings this Easter, as the country emerged from the darkness of a year ago when restaurants were open only for takeout and the covid-related restrictions were just beginning to clamp down on the country. “We had 2,000 reservations,” Ron DeNunzio said Sunday, counting...
