Valley News Dispatch category, Page 71
Deer Lakes Middle School tackles deforestation in a feature film about the environment
Deer Lakes School District is one of 17 schools across Southwestern Pennsylvania participating in the creation of an animated feature-length film about confronting ecological problems. Each school is writing a segment of the film. Deer Lakes Middle School is focusing on deforestation. The idea was developed by Terry Thoren, CEO...
Lead water service lines in New Kensington, Arnold to be replaced
Lead water service lines soon will be replaced in New Kensington and Arnold in a project that will affect 100 residential customers in the two cities. “This will replace all lead service lines. We will not have any lead lines in the New Kensington water system,” said James Matta, manager...
Brackenridge eyes 3 roads for summer paving project
Brackenridge Council has narrowed a list of streets to be paved this summer. It’s short but covers a lot of ground. This year’s road improvement project will target portions of First Avenue, Union Avenue and Prospect Street. Borough officials said they expect to approve the project to go out for...
Aspinwall Council Democratic candidate race has 5 people seeking party nods for 4 seats
Editor’s note: The Herald is featuring candidate interviews in contested municipal and school board races only. Aspinwall Democrats have five candidates seeking party nods for four council seats in the May primary election. Candidates include current council President Jeff Harris, Councilwoman Lara Voytko, former councilwoman Patti McCaffrey and newcomers Andrew...
The Stroller, April 25, 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. 5K race and vendor...
Frazer could see luxury senior living near Pittsburgh Mills
A proposal to bring what’s billed as luxury living for older adults is creeping forward in Frazer. Described as the “Pittsburgh Mills Active Adult” community, it would target those 55 and older in a five-parcel area along Butler-Logan Road adjacent to the Pittsburgh Mills mall. Foxlane Homes at Pittsburgh LLC...
Long-awaited Route 356 widening project has some property owners in limbo
On warm afternoons, James Buchanan likes to turn on the radio, crack a beer and watch the cars go by from his garage where Route 356 and Bear Creek Road meet. The entertainment amps up around rush hour, when shoppers and commuters pour onto the highway cutting through Buffalo Township...
Development key issue for Lower Burrell Council candidates
Business growth and development are priorities identified for Lower Burrell by all three candidates seeking two seats on city council. Incumbent Councilman David Stoltz and newcomers Lance Anthony and Carley Logan are running for council on the Republican ballot. No Democrats filed as candidates for the primary, so it’s likely...
Logistics shaping up for Saturday’s Pittsburgh Karate Championships in New Kensington
Frank Caliguri has a lot on his mind with the Pittsburgh Karate Championships just a day away. While there is so much to get done before Saturday’s annual event at the Quality Inn in New Kensington, he knows the preparations are in good hands. “Everything is on track,” Caliguri said...
Free Chamber concert in Tarentum to provide ‘backyard arts’
A Tarentum church will offer a free chamber music concert Sunday to “build community” and provide arts in “our own backyard,” organizers said. Central Presbyterian Church will partner with the Academy String Quartet and special guest Linda Fisher on bassoon. The concert is at 2 p.m. “The minute you say...
‘Everything’ is on the table to close $4.2 million shortfall in Fox Chapel Area School District budget
Tax hikes, program cuts, increased class sizes and pulling from funding reserves are all on the table to help balance Fox Chapel Area School District’s proposed 2025-26 budget. “Everything is still on the table right now,” district Business Manager Kimberly Pawlishak said following a preliminary budget presentation at the school...
Ham radio broadcast to honor late Lower Burrell man, raise awareness for pancreatic cancer
Leeanna Ryba would often tease her husband, Rich, that he was off to Peter Pan’s “Never Never Land” when he’d go to Skyview Radio Society to partake in the amateur, or ham, radio activities. “He’d play with the boys. He enjoyed his time there,” Leeanna said of the society’s Upper...
Free garden containers aimed at providing access to fresh food in Sharpsburg
Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization wants residents to “bloom where they are planted.” Despite the borough being labeled as a food desert, officials believe healthy eating habits can form at home. Organizers will distribute free garden containers to the 40 people – first come, first served — in Sharpsburg, Etna and Millvale...
2nd rally planned to support Penn State New Kensington
Another rally supporting Penn State New Kensington is planned this week as a decision on the Upper Burrell campus’s fate is anticipated to be made in less than a month. The “Too Fast, Too Final” rally will be at Penn State New Kensington’s main parking lot in Upper Burrell, 3550...
New Kensington’s Ethical Hope to cultivate life, community with larger space
Meredith Hedeen believes her newer and bigger space can provide people in New Kensington with a little more hope. She is nearly quintupling the size of her store, Ethical Hope, by moving to 938 Fifth Ave. and having a grand opening Friday during Downtown New Kensington’s Fridays on Fifth event....
The Stroller, April 24, 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. Free fishing event planned...
Plum School Board moves forward on proposed budget with 2.26% tax hike
Plum real estate owners will likely be paying 2.26% more in property taxes to the school district next school year. The Plum School Board on Tuesday approved its tentative 2025-26 budget, which would increase the tax rate from 23.3896 mills to 23.9159 mills. That increase is partially the result of...
ATI strikes labor deal with nearly 1,000 workers
ATI and its employees have reached a six-year labor agreement. The deal was announced Wednesday, about a week after ATI and the United Steelworkers union reached a tentative agreement on wages, working conditions and benefits for nearly 1,000 employees. Many produce specialty alloys at the company’s Harrison, Vandergrift and Latrobe...
Private school, fire office approved by Arnold Zoning Hearing Board
The Arnold Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday gave the green light to a future private school and an administrative regional fire office. Matt DeHart of Harrison sought to return the 1704 Fourth Ave. building to its original use as a school for his Teach from DeHart Academy, a private school...
Chalk the Wall meant to promote creativity, community spirit
It’s not uncommon to find Christina Sharbaugh doodling with chalk on the sidewalk in front of her Aspinwall eatery, Treat Down the Street. The graduate of Georgia’s Savannah College of Art and Design hopes her passion spreads town-wide with her new initiative, the Chalk the Wall Sidewalk Arts Festival. Hosted...
3 generations of Arnold family facing charges in drug bust
An Arnold grandmother, her daughter and 15-year-old grandson are facing criminal charges after a drug bust last week that, police say, turned up $13,000 worth of crack cocaine and suspected fentanyl. Desdrene Smith, 64, and Brittany Shelton, 34, each are charged with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver...
Former East Deer man charged with animal cruelty and neglect of animals
A former East Deer man is facing multiple counts of animal cruelty and neglect charges after he left three dogs to die, according to the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office. Christopher J. Edmunds, 30, was apprehended Tuesday evening at his workplace, about five minutes from the township house where the dogs...
The Stroller, April 23, 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. Tea party to celebrate...
Work set to start on site for long-awaited Oakmont parking lot
Construction on a long-awaited parking lot designed to alleviate traffic congestion in part of Oakmont’s business district is set to begin. Oakmont Community Foundation president Ray Rogers said work should be underway at the lot along Allegheny Avenue by the end of April. Those passing through Oakmont along Allegheny Avenue...
Teen recounts 100-foot fall in Harrison Hills Park that left her with broken ankle, back
Star Henwood admits she likes to take risks. Her thrill-seeking tendencies landed her in trouble — and the hospital — last week when she plunged about 100 feet down a hillside in Harrison Hills Park, leading to a two-hour effort by first responders to hoist her back to safety. She...
