Valley News Dispatch category
Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s football watch parties expand to college bowl games
Pittsburgh Brewing Co. is kicking off the new year with a series of football watch parties. The East Deer brewery will host watch parties for college bowl games and the Pittsburgh Steelers game coming up in the first week of the new year. Kicking off on Jan. 1, the brewery’s...
Leechburg Veterans Memorial Bridge lights are all back on
Things are looking a little brighter in Leechburg. At least they are on the Leechburg Veterans Memorial Bridge. After over a year of working with PennDOT to repair the lights on the bridge, borough leadership announced earlier this month the bridge is now fully lit for travelers. Leechburg Mayor Doreen...
The Stroller, Dec. 30, 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 grief workshop offered...
Community rallies around Leechburg business after Christmas vandalism
The Leechburg community wasted no time rallying around a local business after it was vandalized late Dec. 25. Honeybee and Co. on Market Street has received monetary and product donations after the shop’s “Lovely Little Locker,” a donation cabinet filled with free hygiene items, was vandalized. Destiney Beatty, who co-owns...
Buffalo Township approves tax hike to rebuild reserves
Buffalo Township residents will see another bump in their property taxes next year after township supervisors opted to raise the township’s millage rate in their recently passed budget. It raises real estate taxes about 22%, from 13.5 mills to 16.5 mills. That means the owner of a property at the...
No tax increase for South Buffalo residents next year
Next year, South Buffalo residents can expect their tax bills to remain the same. The township passed its 2026 budget without a tax hike for the 16th consecutive year earlier this month. South Buffalo’s property tax rate will remain at 5.7 mills. That means for a home at the township’s...
Plum School District’s new finance director returns to role he previously occupied
John Zahorchak is set to return to Plum School District as its new director of finance and operations. Zahorchak, a Plum resident, previously served in the same role from 2016-2021 before leaving for neighboring Penn Hills School District. There, he helped oversee Penn Hills’ exit from financial recovery status in...
The Cadet Restaurant in Manor Township, along with mascot Cowboy Sam, bid farewell
Patrons of The Cadet Restaurant in Manor Township are wondering what will become of its 30-foot-tall cowboy mascot once the eatery closes on Wednesday. Owners shared the announcement on social media that the restaurant along Route 422 near Kittanning will close at 3 p.m. after more than seven decades in...
So long 2025: Here are some events to ring in the New Year
Ready to put 2025 in the rearview mirror? New Year’s Eve is fast approaching, and it’s a great time to put on a fancy outfit, raise a glass and look forward to all of the good things 2026 will bring. If First Night isn’t for you, here are a few...
The Stroller, Dec. 29, 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. Christmas tree recycling locations...
90-year-old artist paints portraits of caregivers who helped her recover at Plum retirement community
When a broken leg rendered Eva Lu Damianos mostly immobile in June, a whole team of nurses, aides and therapists assembled to get her back on her feet. Months later — now sauntering around with the help of a walker — Damianos, 90, has chosen to express her gratitude by...
Majority of job hunters turn to AI to help land next gig
Mallory Helbling turned to her own professional advice when she found herself laid off in December 2024. Among them: using artificial intelligence tools to assist in her job search as a career coach. “I was able to get my first contract role in February 2025,” said Helbling, 37, of Sharpsburg,...
Verona’s 2026 budget includes 9% tax increase
In a slim majority, Verona council approved a 2026 budget that includes a 9% tax increase for residents. The budget passed in a 4-3 vote during the borough’s December council meeting. The budget includes a 1-mill tax hike, increasing borough millage to 11.7 mills. People with a median assessed property...
Verona hires 2 officers, thanks outside support
Verona welcomed two police officers to its force earlier this month. Officers Jordan Brasile and Jonathan Preece were sworn in during the council’s December meeting, marking the latest move by the borough to bolster its police department. “We appreciate you coming to work in Verona,” said Verona Mayor David Ricupero....
AI prompts increased human interaction at this cyber security company
In an age of artificial intelligence, Dennis Underwood is working it “old school.” He is prioritizing face time. Underwood is CEO of Cyber Crucible, a cybersecurity software company in Fox Chapel that focuses on preventing data theft, identity theft and ransomware. He said the introduction of mainstream AI in the...
7 Brew Coffee finalizing plans for Harrison shop
A coffee shop with a drive-through only concept appears to be moving forward in Harrison. 7 Brew, a popular caffeine stop with nearly 600 locations across the country, is seeking to open along Freeport Road. The township’s planning commission approved a move by parent company, WhoBrew LLC, to consolidate three...
Suspect at large after attempted stabbing, vehicle theft at Tarentum gas station
A Lower Burrell man is accused of trying to stab a man at the Marathon gas station in Tarentum before stealing his minivan early Friday morning, according to police. In court records, Tarentum police say they were able to identify Robert Matthew Harmon, 35, as the accused assailant because a...
Driver flees after crashing into Penn Hills home
Police are investigating after a vehicle crashed Friday into a Penn Hills home and the driver fled the scene, authorities said. Emergency crews were called at about 5:15 a.m. to a home in the 7900 block of Aber Road, where they found an unoccupied vehicle that had struck the corner...
The Stroller, Dec. 28, 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. MyHeritage research database available...
Alle-Kiski Senior Citizen News – Dec. 28, 2025
Armstrong County Senior Centers All centers are closed Thursday for the New Year’s Day holiday. Apollo Hours: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays. Details: Charlotte at 800-368-1066 or Amy at 724-478-1410. The center is at 707A N. Fifth St., Apollo. Freeport Tuesday: money bingo. The center is at 102 Fifth...
Water main break repaired at Winfield mobile home park after persistent issues
A “boil water advisory” has been lifted for residents of Bernie’s Mobile Home Park in Winfield after a six-day repair period for a broken water main. Park management and the state Department of Environmental Protection both confirmed the advisory was lifted on Tuesday. In a statement sent to residents, park...
The Stroller, Dec. 27, 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. Bingo bash planned in...
Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization continues mission of creating a ‘community of opportunity’
Jodi Klebick is relishing her role as executive director of the Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization, a nonprofit working to improve the quality of life for Sharpsburg residents. Klebick, who was hired in 2024, resides in Highland Park, but most days she can be found at SNO’s headquarters at 511 S. Main...
Sharpsburg library officials to revisit courtyard project after bids come in over budget
A courtyard renovation project at Sharpsburg Community Library is being sent back to the drawing board after contract bids for the work came in over budget. Council unanimously voted Dec. 18 to reject the bids. The vote was needed because the borough owns the building. However, the project is being...
Tarentum to replace Redcat Power bucket truck, other aging vehicles
Tarentum will replace several aging vehicles in the borough’s fleet next year. Namely, a new bucket truck will be purchased for the municipal-owned electricity distribution company, Redcat Power. The truck is used every day and is critical to the electric system operations, officials said. It’s essential for line maintenance, emergency...
