Valley News Dispatch category, Page 67
Vandergrift business owner bringing ‘fresh eyes’ to borough carnival
After more than 30 years in charge, Vandergrift No. 1 Volunteer Fire Department is passing the torch on its annual carnival. Local business owner and self-proclaimed carnival lover Sia Fouse is organizing this year’s festivities, which will include rides, concessions, a children’s talent show, live music, craft vendors and a...
Springdale building lays demolished after partial collapse
A Springdale building that partially collapsed on Sunday now lays entirely demolished. The building, located at 841 Railroad St., was owned by R.I. Lampus Co., a concrete supplier located across the street. It currently sits in a heap surrounded by chain-link fences. Springdale Emergency Coordinator Bruno Moretti said no one...
Their brother left New Kensington to serve in Korea and never returned. 75 years later, they have closure
Marjorie Ann “Marjie” Mahar called her brother, Paul Bowser, one afternoon in March and told him to sit down. “I just got a call from Fort Knox,” she told him. On March 24, three hours before she was set to deliver a speech before the Tennessee House of Representatives about...
Fox Chapel Area School District and its municipalities collaborate for annual health, wellness and safety event
Dozens of Fox Chapel Area families braved the elements to support the school district’s Community Safety, Health & Wellness Event. The annual collaboration of school resource officers, local emergency responders and nonprofits took place in the Aspinwall municipal parking lot on April 26. Things got off to a rainy and...
Vacant warehouse building near New Kensington Bridge to be renovated
What’s currently an old, vacant building with broken windows near the New Kensington Bridge will eventually be a renovated, 100,000-square-foot space to accommodate a large industrial tenant, RIDC officials say. “It’s a great building for a lot of the demand we’re seeing from industrial users,” said Don Smith, RIDC president....
The Stroller, May 7, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Jeep show planned at...
A week after severe storm, nearly all have power restored
Almost everyone who lost power a week ago during a wave of severe storms has had power restored. Almost. Duquesne Light, the biggest power supplier to Allegheny and Beaver counties, said a “small subset” of households still were in the dark but should have their electric service restored Wednesday. The...
School districts showcase STEM with ‘Remake Learning Days’ events
If Greensburg Salem’s STEAM Carnival sparks a desire to learn in even just one student, teacher Michelle Wiltrout will know she did her job. The carnival, a decade-long tradition at the district’s Hutchinson Elementary, is one of more than 200 “Remake Learning Days” activities in Southwestern Pennsylvania aimed at inviting...
SUV flips after crash into utility pole in East Deer, Tarentum man hospitalized
The driver of a small SUV that hit a utility pole on Thursday afternoon and flipped over, only to land upright again on Freeport Road in East Deer, was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment. The crash caused one lane to close and a backup during rush hour. A...
Blue backpack flagged by private eye as key to solving Cherrie Mahan’s disappearance
A private investigator claims a blue backpack carried by Cherrie Mahan at the time of her disappearance 40 years ago from a Winfield school bus stop could be key to cracking the case. “I am convinced through some fairly recent testimony and input that Cherrie’s book bag was very likely...
6 candidates look to fill 4 seats on Riverview School Board
Six Democratic candidates for Riverview School Board are vying for four open spots on the November ballot in the May 20 primary. The candidates include incumbents Bridget Seery and Wendy Wilton and newcomers Chistopher Conard, Adeshewa Metzger, Nick Paradise and Michael Smales. Paradise and Wilton are cross-filed on the primary...
Nature on Wheels roving classrooms coming to Alle-Kiski Valley
A nature-themed educational mobile will be rolling through the Alle-Kiski Valley by this time next year. Nature on Wheels, a partnership of Allegheny Land Trust and CannonDesign, is intended to meet people where they are — physically and educationally. “By bringing different interactive activities and types of programming, we hope...
Agan Park closed indefinitely in wake of heavy storms
Downed and hanging trees have left Agan Park closed indefinitely after heavy storms battered the area last week. The park is an extensive green space along Riddle Run Road in Springdale Township but is jointly managed by Springdale and Cheswick boroughs. Cheswick Council President Brad Yaksich said borough public works...
The Stroller, May 6, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Children welcome at free...
3 new grocery stores expected to be ‘life-changing’ for Tarentum, New Kensington, Natrona
Mich Ankney is excited at the prospect of grocery shopping in his Natrona neighborhood. It’s something he’s never been able to do. “We’ve had a few little candy stores that sold basics, like eggs and diapers,” said Ankney, 21. “But it was more like what they’d have at a gas...
Emergency food distribution planned Tuesday in Sharpsburg
Jennifer Begg knows there are families who may be without food after strong storms last week left people without power for days. She understands firsthand the impact of not having a working fridge or freezer. She and her team at the Sharpsburg-based St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry had to...
Fox Chapel Area School District in-person classes resume Tuesday
Fox Chapel Area School District will return to in-person instruction Tuesday. This comes after days of closures due to power outages and other iussues related to last week’s storms. Students learned virtually on Monday. Messages went out to district families that afternoon about the return to in-person learning. An alert...
New Kensington City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti to retire after 38-year career
New Kensington City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti — referred to as the city’s “go-to guy” by councilman Tim DiMaio — will retire this month after 38 years as the city’s top administrator. Council on Monday accepted Scarpiniti’s retirement letter, which is effective May 30. “I can’t help but feel grateful for...
Highlands High School still without power, internet
Heavy storms that rolled through the area nearly a week ago still are impacting daily life in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Highlands High School remained closed Monday, with district officials blaming an ongoing power and internet outage. “This is all from last week’s storm,” Superintendent Monique Mawhinney said. “We are under...
Springdale Township commissioners take step toward removing sewage pump station
Allegheny County has galvanized Springdale Township’s pursuit of a state grant to eliminate the Carson Street sewage pump station. The township received a letter from Nicolas Binfield, of the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, that supports the Carson Street project. The station has been used to pump sewage to...
The Stroller, May 5, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. AVH Auxiliary plans Mother’s...
As deadline looms for Penn State’s future, former PSNK chancellors share thoughts
Robert Arbuckle has myriad suggestions for what Penn State could do to combat declining enrollment and financial issues at its branch campuses. None of them include closing campuses. “You have to use your imagination and be creative,” said Arbuckle, who was the Upper Burrell college’s CEO from 1977 to 1992....
Springdale building torn down following roof collapse
No one was hurt when a building partially collapsed in Springdale on Sunday afternoon, the borough’s emergency management coordinator said. The collapse of the building on Railroad Street between James and Center streets was reported around 1 p.m. The middle of the roof of the storage building owned by R.I....
2 Republicans vying for supervisor seat in Parks Township
Parks Township Supervisor Scott Kifer, a first-term Republican, faces a primary challenge from retired general contractor and PennDOT maintenance operator John Kuruc. Barring a Democratic Party write-in campaign, the winner of the May 20 primary will run uncontested in the general election and earn a six-year term on the three-member...
Lower Burrell native’s curiosity leads to groundbreaking Mars research
Even at a young age, Benjamin Tutolo was interested in the cosmos. It’s a curiosity that never waned. In fact, it led to the 36-year-old taking a deep dive into all things Mars for the past three years. Tutolo, a Lower Burrell native, was a participating scientist studying NASA’s Curiosity...
