Valley News Dispatch category, Page 520
Armstrong County to give $733K in grants to restaurants hard hit by pandemic
Armstrong County announced it expects to distribute about $733,000 in grants to county restaurants for relief from pandemic losses under the new state covid-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program. The program recently announced by Gov. Tom Wolf includes $145 million in funding to the state’s 67 counties, based on population, to...
$1.5M Babcock Nature Center under construction in Buffalo Township
A soft opening is planned this spring for the $1.5 million Babcock Nature Center in Buffalo Township, under construction off Monroe Road next to the Butler-Freeport Community Trail. A collaboration between the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania and Buffalo Township, the new 2,500-square-foot center and a 1,200-square-foot pavilion will offer...
Tarentum house fire spreads to neighboring homeVideo
Tiffany Lott stood on Tarentum’s Lock Street on Monday afternoon, a blanket draped over her, as smoke billowed from her home and firefighters pumped it full of water. A fire Lott said had started in her home had spread to another beside it, ultimately destroying both. “I am OK,” she...
Medical shuttles across Alle-Kiski Valley among services funded by St. Margaret Foundation
A free medical shuttle that transports patients throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley is among services funded by $675,755 in grants recently announced by the St. Margaret Foundation. Money will be distributed with the specific goals of supporting patient access, education and experience, foundation President Mary Lee Gannon said. “This past year...
The Stroller, Feb. 15, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, fundraisers and community events in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Highlands students to perform virtual talent show Highlands High School will present a virtual February Follies Talent Show at 7 p.m. Thursday online...
Aspinwall Riverfront Park gets a little more ‘love-ly’
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Aspinwall Riverfront Park got a little more lovely. Colorful, oversized letters that spell love were installed at the park entrance, near the playground’s imposing slide. Two large painted wooden hearts were erected in the western section and near the off-leash dog park, so that...
New craft beer festival may prompt Tarentum to alter alcohol ban
Tarentum Council has approved holding a new craft beer festival at Dreshar Stadium later this year. But in addition to hoping the covid-19 pandemic has waned by late August, council will need to amend borough regulations that prohibit drinking alcohol on borough-owned property. Councilman Brian Snyder, who proposed and is...
2 women transform historic Buffalo Township barn into event venueVideo
Two local women are transforming a historic Buffalo Township barn into an event venue that will host weddings and other private events. Cathy Burnheimer and Jessica Krynicki are set to launch Avenue in Sarver in June, though couples can tour the venue and book event dates now. The barn, Krynicki...
Lower Burrell councilman to hang up politics but singing ‘God Bless America’
After 16 years, Lower Burrell Councilman Joe Grillo said it’s time to go. He announced last week he would not seek reelection this year during a council meeting this week. “I’ve given it long and hard thought since 2018 when I had a cancer scare,” Grillo said. “Thank God, I’m...
Deer Lakes considers possible return to full-time, in-person instruction
Deer Lakes School Board is expected to consider a possible return to full-time, in-person instruction when it meets Tuesday. Last week, the district temporarily closed East Union Intermediate Center and Deer Lakes Middle School after multiple people tested positive for covid-19 at the respective schools. At a meeting last Tuesday,...
Want to help make a baby? Jobs available at Cook Medical for in vitro fertilization devices.
As one of the world’s leaders in producing equipment for in vitro fertilization, Cook Medical in Parks Township is expanding operations and looking to hire 25 employees this quarter. Headquartered in Bloomington, Ind., Cook Medical recorded worldwide sales of $2.2 billion in 2019 for all of its business lines. Cook...
Duster Funeral Home in Tarentum commits to eco-friendly practices
While an electric Tesla SUV may seem like a luxury, Duster Funeral Home in Tarentum’s most recent vehicle purchase is actually a big step toward “going green.” The funeral home has set in motion a five-year plan to create an eco-friendly facility. The plan includes eliminating air pollutants by replacing...
Well, La Dee Dah! Vintage jewelry store in Leechburg celebrates 10th anniversaryVideo
Judy Provias has always loved antiques. “My grandmother lived in a 200-plus-year-old house that George Washington actually slept in. Everything in her house was antique,” Provias said. “I loved it.” Provias, of Leechburg, owns and operates La Dee Dah Antiques, located at 161 Market St. in her hometown. La Dee...
New Kensington’s Knead Community Café has provided food for the soul for 4 years
At Knead Community Café in New Kensington, a meal is more than just a plate of food. “This is about community and feeding everyone,” said Mary Bode, who opened the nonprofit restaurant with her husband, Kevin, four years ago on Feb. 20. “We care about everyone who walks through the...
Greater Latrobe, Deer Lakes among area schools lauded for computer science diversity
Several area schools are among a little more than 1,100 nationwide being recognized for helping to promote interest in computer science among female students. Greater Latrobe, Deer Lakes and East Allegheny high schools and Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy are among 22 public schools in Pennsylvania that have received the...
Groups ramping up for covid-style fish fry fundraisersVideo
As the pandemic closed in last year, fish fry organizers at St. Agnes Church in North Huntingdon scrambled to establish a drive-thru plan for an expected large crowd of hungry patrons. Volunteers set up traffic cones to direct drivers and gave the drive-thru a shot in addition to the regular...
The Stroller, Feb. 14, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, fundraisers and community events in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Wheel Good Wednesday events planned in Apollo The Apollo Parades and Events Committee will sponsor the Wheel Good Wednesdays food truck events May...
Leechburg Area reports covid-19 cases dropping, in-person musical rehearsals underway
The number of active covid-19 cases in the Leechburg Area School District has decreased. Superintendent Tiffany Nix reported one active case campuswide during Monday’s board meeting, which was a decrease from two active cases the week before. Friday’s covid case tracker reported a further decrease to zero active cases, and...
West Deer mulls upgrade, expansion or replacement of municipal building
The West Deer supervisors are studying whether the township’s nearly 70-year-old municipal building needs to be upgraded, expanded or replaced with a new one. West Deer’s township office complex, built in 1952, is located on East Union Road. West Deer Supervisor Chairman Arlind Karpuzi wants a study done to determine...
Leechburg food distribution organizers say need is clear as 600 boxes go in about 30 minutesVideo
Volunteers at a food distribution event Saturday in Leechburg swiftly doled out more than 600 boxes of fresh meat, yogurt and produce to people struggling with basic needs nearly a year into the lingering covid-19 pandemic. “The lines are crazy,” said volunteer Reilly Sullivan, 15. “We take for granted how...
Gilpin seeks donations for care of township’s police dog
Gilpin’s police dog now has a fund designated for his expenses. Township supervisors Monday approved a Gilpin Township K-9 Fund, an account specifically for donations that go toward the dog’s needs. Rudy is a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois certified police dog that specializes in detecting drugs such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana...
The Stroller, Feb. 13, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, fundraisers and community events in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Annual Shamrock Shuffle event planned in West Leechburg The 2021 St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Shuffle 5K and one-mile Family Fun Walk will begin...
2 Leechburg sisters spread kindness, love to strangers for Valentine’s DayVideo
Two Leechburg sisters are making Cupid proud. Sisters Madison and Olivia Chiusano, aka The Kindness Girls, delivered Valentine’s Day-themed treats to the public Friday. Madison is 5, and Olivia is 3. Dressed in coordinated red outfits and bouncing up and down — a lot — the duo doled out what...
Indoor training facility for baseball, softball opens in New Kensington’s Pittsburgh Ice Arena
Don’t worry about the snow and frigid temperatures — conditions for baseball and softball are perfect at a new indoor training facility in New Kensington’s Pittsburgh Ice Arena. BB Sports Baseball & Softball opened Monday with several 50-minute training sessions for groups of local players. An open house at the...
West Leechburg mourns the loss of longtime borough Secretary Pat Grantz
The community of West Leechburg is mourning the loss of a longtime, steadfast borough employee. Patricia Ann Grantz of West Leechburg died Feb. 7. She was 82. Grantz served as borough secretary and treasurer for 43 years. “She was the rock that kept everything together,” West Leechburg Mayor Jim Gallucci...
