Westmoreland category, Page 228
Election Day bake sales, meals benefit community organizations
As voters head to the polls Tuesday for a great ritual of our democracy, many will encounter another tradition that is not enshrined in the Constitution: Election Day bake sales, soup sales and lunches. For many community organizations, the sales are fundraisers to support their missions, as reliable as Lenten...
VA seeks to expand successful adult day health care program
The Pittsburgh VA is always seeking new ways to connect veterans, both with its services and with one another. After a successful start to its adult day health care program this summer, it’s seeking additional host sites in Monroeville, White Oak and the South Hills. “It’s been going rather well,”...
‘You don’t have to let it go in the river:’ Breeders, owners defend exotic pets, push responsible care
Of the 600 to 700 reptiles Jessie Freeman brought to the Westmoreland Reptile Expo on Sunday, the crocodiles are his favorite. “They’re cool. They can hide and thrash out on you so fast, yet … if you understand their behavior, you can interact with them,” said Freeman of Asheboro, N.C....
Ligonier, Laurel Mountain residents asked to boil, conserve water following main break
Residents in Ligonier and Laurel Mountain boroughs and portions of Ligonier and Fairfield townships will have to boil their water before use following a water main break Sunday near Waterford. The main break occurred along the transmission line from the Greater Johnstown Water Authority, said Matt Junker, spokesperson for the...
Greensburg planning for possible pedestrian, biking improvements
Greensburg is poised to create a plan for helping people get around town more easily — on foot, on bicycles or in wheelchairs. Following through on a recommendation of the recent Shape Greensburg comprehensive plan, the city is expected to hire a consultant to develop an active transportation plan by...
Fatal fires prompt Greensburg campaign to distribute free smoke alarms
Three recent fatal fires in Greensburg have prompted the American Red Cross to partner with local firefighters Saturday to offer free smoke alarms to residents who may not have the means to purchase or install them unaided. To be included in the smoke alarm distribution, taking place between 11 a.m....
Sewickley Township library supporters hold fundraiser; new building in the works
A Sewickley Township library support group is helping to raise money with an Election Day Soup & Bake Sale for the small library that has been forced to move into temporary facilities. There are plans for a new building in Herminie. “We’ve got volunteers lined to donate more than 100...
Drop in Jeannette’s Democratic voters reflected in city council shift
In the past 20 years, the number of Democrats registered to vote in Jeannette has decreased by about 2,000 while the number of Republican voters has risen by 400, according to West moreland County statistics. Now, that shift will be reflected in city council. After Tuesday’s election and once a new...
Spending of covid relief to be focus of new commissioners’ board
Westmoreland commissioners voted last week to allocate $270,000 from the county’s pool of American Rescue Plan funds, and, as a result, about half of the $105 million pool of covid-relief cash received from the federal government in 2021 has been spent. Commissioners will have nearly $53 million to allocate by...
Irwin group seeks funds for home cleanup, hoarding disorder treatment
An Irwin-based organization that strives to address blight-related problems is proposing to provide mental health services to those with hoarding disorders. “There’s no formal program (for treating hoarding disorders) in Westmoreland County and this half of the state,” said Matt Williams, founder of the nonprofit Fight the Blight Inc. Williams...
‘Sky’s the limit’: 2 flying club members receive Wright Brothers awards for 50 years of flight
Ever since they were children, John Dyke and Ed Patrick have been fascinated by airplanes. “I could spend hours on the observation deck watching planes take off and land,” said Dyke, 75, of Carnegie. For Patrick, 81, of Murrysville, the first ride he took in a smaller plane was the...
‘His impact is almost immeasurable’: Longtime YMCA leader bids job farewell in pursuit of foundation position
After 27 years of working for the YMCA, Larry Stormer will pursue his goal of foundation work with a local nonprofit benefiting children and families in need. Stormer, 54, of Ligonier, has worked at YMCA branches in Greensburg, Erie, Plum and Ligonier Valley. He has served as fitness director, executive...
Jeannette woman to lead international pharmacist group
A Jeannette pharmacist is taking her seat as the leader of an international pharmacy advocacy organization that works to care for senior patients. Deborah Milito of Diamond Pharmacy Services was installed as president of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists on Oct. 26, after having spent a year as the...
Loyalhanna convenience store sustains damage in fire
A convenience store in Loyalhanna Township sustained significant damage in a fire Friday night. Saltsburg, Bell Township and New Alexandria volunteer fire departments responded to a fire at Marshall’s Market, located along Route 981, around 10:15 p.m. Friday, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. None of the fire departments...
Manor church’s free clothing store expands hours, options to meet community need
Grandparents trying to clothe their grandchildren. A woman looking for clothes to bring with her to rehab. A nursing student in search of affordable scrubs for school. Refuge Boutique, a free clothing store run by Refuge Church in Manor, has helped people in each of these scenarios. In the spring,...
Penn Township man set to run New York City Marathon to support his son, raise funds for genetic disorder foundation
Will Hoffman’s main motivation for running the New York City Marathon on Sunday has little to do with a finishing time or position. Rather, Will and about 25 other runners are chasing down a fundraising goal of $150,000 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation — an organization that supports research for...
Youngwood man charged with multiple counts of child rape, sexual assault
An arrest warrant has been issued for a Youngwood man accused of multiple counts of child rape, according to state police. Nathan A. Fitzpatrick, 21, of Youngwood faces charges of child rape, sexual assault, indecent assault and rape by forcible compulsion filed Friday by state police out of Greensburg. The...
Pa. court filing fee discount ends
Discounted court filing fees that originated during the summer’s budget stalemate in Harrisburg have ended. State lawmakers this week reauthorized a $40.25 surcharge assessed on most court-related documents filed in courthouses throughout Pennsylvania. Since Aug. 1, the cost to file documents such as divorces, deeds and mortgages were discounted by...
Pennsylvania’s election to be headlined by races for statewide courts, including high court seat
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania voters will settle four statewide judicial contests in Tuesday’s election, filling an open seat on the state Supreme Court — which has played a hugely consequential role in election-related cases in the presidential battleground state — and three seats on two lower appellate courts. The state Supreme...
Officials eye 2025 to complete demolition of former state prison in Hempfield
The proposed demolition of the former state prison in Hempfield may not be completed until 2025, officials said this week. Westmoreland county will seek up to $4 million in state funding to pay for the initial engineering and the demolition of the former State Correctional Institution-Greensburg prison and 14 outbuildings...
Hempfield man gives $19,000 to scammer claiming to need bail money
An elderly Hempfield man lost $19,000 Thursday in a scam, according to state police. The man got a phone call from a person who claimed to be a family member in jail and made a request for money to post a fictitious bail. Another person claiming to be an attorney...
Morning Roundup: SWAT team called to Pittsburgh’s East Allegheny; crash shuts down Greensburg street
Here are some of the latest news items for Friday, Nov. 3: SWAT team called to incident in Pittsburgh’s East Allegheny A SWAT team was called to an incident in Pittsburgh’s East Allegheny neighborhood early Friday morning. Police said the situation came to an end just before 6 a.m. after...
Motorcyclist found 30 feet over embankment in Bell Township after collision with deer
A motorcyclist was found about 30 feet over an embankment Thursday after a collision with a deer in Bell Township. According to Westmoreland County 911, police received a call at 5:48 p.m., and the male driver was conscious with “numerous head injuries.” The collision occurred at the intersection of Pine...
Westmoreland commissioners vote to show support for Israel
Westmoreland Commissioners took an unusual step into foreign policy on Thursday as they formally expressed support for Israel following last month’s terrorist attack that left more than 1,300 dead. Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution that backs Israel’s right to defend itself, condemns terrorism and called for humanitarian aid to innocent...
5 things to do in Westmoreland: Nov. 3-5
We’re just past the Halloween season and the fall calendar is filling up quickly, starting with a wide range of attractions — from reptiles to creative crafts and insightful tours. Masters of Illusion Live The Palace Theatre in Greensburg will host Masters of Illusion Live at 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets...
