Valley News Dispatch category, Page 621
The Stroller, Dec. 18, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Youth football association to collect new and used shoes Allegheny Valley Youth Football Association is collecting gently-used and new shoes from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays Dec. 21 through Feb. 15 at Veterans Memorial Field, Lincoln Avenue, Springdale. Shoes will be redistributed through the Funds2Orgs network of small business partners...
Plum school officials say 4% tax hike might be needed for next year
Plum School District property owners could see their real estate taxes jump by more than 4% as school district officials try to plug a $1.3 million budget shortfall in next year’s budget. Instead of adopting a resolution to keep any tax increase at or below the state’s Act 1 index...
Tarentum, other communities receive more than $700K for traffic safety projects
Tarentum is getting $226,000 in state funds to pay for traffic improvements at the intersection of East 10th Avenue and Corbet Street, officials announced this week. The money comes from PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program (ARLE Funding Program). It will be used to upgrade the intersection’s...
Giving spirit abounds in Harmar’s ‘Shop with a Cop’ event
About 80 children from Harmar participated Saturday in the third annual “Shop with a Cop” event organized by township police. Each child had about $100 to spend, courtesy of the Target store in Harmar. Many of the children thought of others before themselves. “Many of them bought things for other...
Harrison Township wants to tackle blight with $500,000 grant
Harrison plans to take on blight in a big way next year. The township is counting on a $500,000 grant from the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. Harrison has up to 100 abandoned homes it would like to demolish, 30 in the Natrona section of the township. Township Manager Rich...
Giant Eagle to get rid of plastic grocery bags, straws by 2025Video
Giant Eagle announced plans to get rid of single-use plastics by 2025, aiming to keep flimsy shopping bags and fresh food containers from clogging oceans and rivers and piling up on land. The O’Hara-based retailer, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh and Sustainable Pittsburgh, unveiled its plan Tuesday during...
Kiski Area improves performance, diversity in Advanced Placement courses
The number of Kiski Area High School students taking Advanced Placement tests is nearly nine times higher than it was three years ago, and students are passing four times as many tests, according to data the district shared this week. The high school also offers AP courses to far more...
Attorney for Plum teacher accused of stealing neighbor’s suits uses ‘impeccable dresser’ defense
Police say the Plum teacher accused with his wife and a 17-year-old of stealing lawn equipment, sheets, a washing machine, five suits and a broom shared a driveway with the house they allegedly broke into. Michael R. Verrico, 47, was placed on leave from his teaching job at Plum Borough...
New Kensington residents won’t pay more with new garbage hauler
New Kensington will switch garbage haulers in 2020, but residents won’t pay more for trash collection. City council awarded the contract to County Hauling, a division of Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill of Rostraver. The company will replace Waste Management, which has been the city’s hauler for several years. The cost to...
Plum suspends teacher accused of burglary, corruption of minors
The Plum School District placed a teacher on leave after police charged him with felony burglary and tampering with evidence in connection to an incident in January, officials said. Michael Richard Verrico, 47, who teaches physical education at Oblock Junior High School, is accused of burglary, theft, criminal mischief and...
Syria Shriners land $17K from Hypnosis Society of Pa., folding after 76 years
One nonprofit’s demise is another’s gain. After 76 years, the Hypnosis Society of Pennsylvania is dissolving and has donated its savings, about $17,000, to the Syria Shriners, headquartered in Harmar. “We consider that a large contribution, and we are very grateful for it,” said David Gardy of Mt. Washington, Syria...
West Leechburg approves 5.5% tax increase
West Leechburg Council has adopted a $505,500 budget for 2020 that includes a 5.5% increase in property taxes. Under the plan, the borough’s tax rate will go up 1.5 mills to 29 mills. At that rate, the owner of a home assessed at $15,218 — West Leechburg’s average assessed home...
Tarentum’s Cycle Diner to serve food again in January
The Cycle Diner in Tarentum soon will be up and running again. It will be renamed Clark’s Cycle Diner and open sometime in early January, according to John Clark, owner of Clark’s Diner in Lower Burrell, who will lease the space and manage the Tarentum restaurant. “I want to keep...
Woman injured in Springdale Township crash
A woman was injured early Monday afternoon when the Chevrolet Impala she was driving slammed into a utility pole in Springdale Township. An Allegheny Valley police officer said the woman might have suffered a medical problem before crashing around 1 p.m. on Freeport Road just south of the New Kensington...
Valley Salvation Army locations struggling to meet fundraising goals
Salvation Army locations are struggling to meet their Red Kettle Campaign fundraising goals as the donation drive comes to a close. Lt. Alex Senak said that the Allegheny Valley Worship and Service Center’s campaign has only raised $52,643, well short of its goal of $125,000 by Christmas Eve. That leaves...
Sandy Hook mom Scarlett Lewis cancels Burrell speech
Scarlett Lewis, the Sandy Hook mom who founded a social emotional learning program, has canceled a speech scheduled for Monday night at Burrell High School because she is ill, according to Burrell Superintendent Shannon Wagner. Lewis’ presentation will be rescheduled, according to Wagner. Burrell said they opened up Lewis’ speech...
2 men claiming they were sold bad weed accused of breaking down Harrison door
Two men claiming they were sold bad drugs kicked in the rear door of a Harrison apartment Friday and threatened a man inside, according to police. The men demanded their money back and left after the man inside the apartment called 911, according to criminal complaints filed in the case....
The Stroller, Dec. 17, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Festival of Trees raffle supports hospital projects Allegheny Valley Hospital Auxiliary is hosting its annual Festival of Trees raffle to benefit projects supporting the hospital. Each hospital department decorates a tree to be raffled off and they are on display in the lobby. Tickets are 10 for $5 or 25...
The Stroller, Dec. 16, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
HOPE Center seeking clothing donations The Alle-Kiski HOPE Center is seeking donations of clothing and personal items for the clients that it serves. Items most needed include new pajamas, slippers, socks, underwear for all sizes and genders, full-size shampoo and body wash, hair brushes, combs and Chapstick. Donations can be...
In New Kensington, there really is a SantaVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. A casting call for a sixth-grade school play would land New Kensington native Tom Hogan the role of a lifetime. St. Joseph School in the early 1970s needed someone...
’Tis the season for the 12th year of Leechburg LightsVideo
Leechburg is lit. Leechburg Lights, the annual synchronized holiday music-and-light show, is open for the 2019-2020 season — its 12th. The free show invites visitors to enjoy a unique visual display from the comfort of their vehicle by tuning their car radio to 100.3 FM. Visitors also can park and...
A tasty exchange: Cookie swap moves from Harrison home to fire hall
When Lori Miller decided to organize a Christmas cookie exchange last year, she did it out of her Harrison home with about a dozen women. She had to move it to a bigger venue this year — a fire hall — due to popular demand. “The first year was last...
The Stroller, Dec. 15, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Santa planning trips through Arnold Members of Arnold Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 will escort Santa Claus around the borough beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Listen for horns, sirens and music. The route on Tuesday will begin at the Sunoco station on Freeport Road into the McKean Plan,...
Formal shop in Vandergrift closing for renovations
Wednesday was the last day of the year to shop at Get Dressed Formals, a formal consignment shop in Vandergrift. The store will be closed for renovations through Jan. 2. Michelle Wehrle opened the shop in April but has quickly outgrown the 1,500-square-foot space. She has more than 1,200 consigned...
Holiday wreath-making is a ‘family affair’ for Upper Burrell manVideo
The lighted wreaths along the driveway leading to the VFW along Wildlife Lodge in Lower Burrell and in front of the Vietnam War memorial are hard to miss. Those are no ordinary holiday decorations. “Those wreaths with the LED lights — people rave every time they drive into the place,”...
