Westmoreland category, Page 153
Westmoreland happenings: Pet blessing, bus trip, senior citizen activities, more
Bus Trip • Greensburg Garden Center will sponsor a bus trip June 20 to the Penn State Arboretum. There will be a lunch stop at Cracker Barrel and a nursery on the way home. Cost: $90; center members, $85. Tickets: 724-837-0245. Fundraisers • First Presbyterian Church of Avonmore, 518 Indiana...
A final farewell: Honor guards pay respects at military funerals
Army Maj. Eric Gass finds it difficult to talk about the times he carried a meticulously folded American flag and placed it in the trembling hands of a young widow. Seeing children cling to their mother’s side during the funerals of their killed-in-action fathers is difficult to take — no...
Unity soldier was killed in action in ‘forgotten’ Alaskan battle of World War II
The Battle of Attu, on one of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, is known by historians as the “Forgotten War” of World War II. A Derry Township man is making sure his great uncle, one of the 549 U.S. troops killed in that battle, isn’t forgotten. David W. Bates, a native of...
‘Music of the Heart’ showcases nonprofit’s music therapy clients
Katie Harrill has seen what music can do for people’s social and emotional states. As the supervisor of the Creative Arts Program and one of many music therapists at Wesley Family Services, Harrill has extensively worked with clients across various developmental stages. Despite the program’s inception 23 years ago, she...
Joe Zelenak honored with Mt. Pleasant Citizen of the Year award
Mt. Pleasant VFW Commander Joe Zelenak was invited to speak at a recent mid-week luncheon meeting of the Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club. Instead of telling the service organization about his veterans group, Zelenak learned he was chosen as the Rotary club’s 2023 Citizen of the Year. “We all said the...
Mt. Pleasant Rotary marks century of service to community, for international causes
U.S. flags fly along the streets of downtown Mt. Pleasant Borough on Memorial Day and other national holidays. A clock keeps time at the town’s Veterans Park and local Little League players take a swing at a home run at restored Willows Park Field. The common denominator in those community...
9 new recruits join Westmoreland County Young Marines
Nine new recruits recently joined the Westmoreland County Young Marines — bringing the local group’s total to an even dozen. Though some may assume the group is a pipeline to the United States Marine Corps, Eric Friez, unit commander for the Westmoreland County Young Marines, said it’s unaffiliated. The program...
‘Wonderettes’ brings back song hits of ’50s, ’60s for Saint Vincent Summer Theatre
A high school prom and reunion, set to a string of popular songs, will unfold on stage for those who purchase tickets for “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” the first production in Saint Vincent Summer Theatre’s upcoming season. This season marks Greggory Brandt’s 10th as producing artistic director of summer theater at...
Blairsville man dead after crashing motorcycle over embankment in Derry Township
A man died when the motorcycle he was driving went over an embankment in Derry Township on Saturday morning, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson. Joshua M. Haynes, 24, of Blairsville, was traveling south near 216 Derry Lane just before 9 a.m. when his vehicle left the roadway and...
Rochester man drowns in Donegal Township pond
A Rochester man’s apparent drowning death Friday in Donegal Township is under investigation by state police and Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson. Carson said it appears that Glenn T. White, 58, was the victim of an accidental drowning when he jumped into a pond to retrieve an injured bird, went...
Hempfield crash involving 2 motorcycles sends 1 person to Pittsburgh hospital
One person was flown to a Pittsburgh trauma center after a crash involving two motorcycles Friday afternoon in Hempfield. The patient, who was in critical but stable condition, was flown to UMPC Presbyterian Hospital, according to Shawn Penzera, public information officer for Mutual Aid Ambulance Service. No other injuries were...
Scottdale mayor: Humble servant with ‘heart of gold’ honored for service
Charles King kept bankers’ hours for more than 50 years at Scottdale Bank & Trust Co. Now retired, King, 82, has been mayor of the borough of about 4,300 residents for 13 years and he’s willing to lend a helping hand no matter what time it is. “When a disaster...
Family sues Norwin over alleged disability rights violation, claims defamation by school director
A North Huntingdon family filed a federal lawsuit this week against Norwin School District, claiming their civil rights were violated. Melissa Karabin; her husband, Matthew Karabin; and children, Samantha and Joseph Karabin, filed the 12-count lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages....
Bids to demolish Jeannette’s Fort Pitt Brewery range from $335K to $1.4M
It will cost less than expected to raze the former Fort Pitt Brewery complex in Jeannette. Proposals from 10 demolition companies were opened Friday for the job that when completed will remove the industrial complex that has been a presence in the city for more than a century. Bids for...
Last call: Pagano’s in New Stanton closes doors, items up for auction
When Rhonda Davis began working as a cook at Pagano’s Restaurant & Lounge in 1980, she was missing a relevant skill. “I started here, I didn’t know how to cook anything,” she said. She learned as time went on, eventually turning out batches of Sicilian pasta sauce and homemade raviolis,...
State trooper receives multiple doses of Narcan after drug bust in Murrysville
A Pittsburgh man is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and illegal possession of narcotics following a drug bust Thursday evening in Murrysville, after which a state police trooper had to receive multiple doses of Narcan, according to court records. The trooper, who was transported to AHN Hempfield Hospital, was...
Air conditioning out at Greensburg Post Office, causing some delays
When 73-year-old Hempfield resident Debbie Ciak visits the Greensburg Post Office on a typical day, she said, the errand usually takes about 5 minutes. But the air-conditioning system was broken at the post office during her visit this week, and she said the label machines weren’t working properly in the...
New veterans clinic planned for Westmoreland County
Veterans in Westmoreland County will have a new, larger outpatient medical clinic to serve them by 2026. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed Thursday a new 33,000-square-foot facility will replace what officials said is an outdated, smaller clinic that opened in 2007 behind Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield. A location...
Woman accused of shooting at another woman in Unity
A Unity woman is accused of shooting at another woman on Wednesday, state police said. Marissa Hall, 33, was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person. State troopers were called early Wednesday morning to the Rose Garden Terrace in Unity after there...
Memorial Day observances planned in Westmoreland area communities
These Memorial Day observances are planned: Hecla The Veterans of Hecla Honor Roll will host a service at 10:15 a.m. Monday in Porterfield Hall at Community Church of Hecla, 537 Hecla Road, Mt. Pleasant Township. Refreshments will be served. Hempfield The annual remembrance ceremony will be held at 11 a.m....
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: May 24-27
There’s something to entice all ages during this long weekend in Westmoreland County. Here are just a few of the happenings to keep everyone busy: Art on Tap: National Scavenger Hunt The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, at 221 N. Main St. in Greensburg, will be full of mysteries Friday...
Fort Ligonier to host Prussian reenactors, offers free admission for military families
A Prussian invasion is anticipated this weekend at Fort Ligonier. Reenactors portraying Prussian soldiers who engaged in combat during the mid 18th century will take up residence for a historical military encampment Saturday and Sunday at the reconstructed fort. Based in the Midwest, the infantry brigade will be on hand...
Part of Route 981 to close in Mt. Pleasant Township
Part of Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township will close starting Tuesday. The road, also known in that section as Mt. Pleasant Calumet Road will be closed from Waltons Lane to Boyer Road. The closure is anticipated to continue into mid-June depending on weather and operations, according to PennDOT. Drivers...
Judge sets $250K bond for Jeannette man facing child porn charges
A Jeannette man charged this month with possessing and distributing images of sexual assaults against infants and toddlers can pay a $250,000 cash bond to be released from jail as he awaits trial, a Westmoreland County judge ruled Wednesday. Anthony Cortazzo IV, 38, was charged May 8 by Greensburg police...
Norwin board grapples with covering $7.8M deficit
Even with a 6.8% property tax increase, Norwin School District will have to use $4.8 million of its reserves to balance a proposed $91 million budget for the 2024-2025 school year. If it foregoes the tax hike, the district would deplete its reserves from $9.7 million to $1.9 million to...
