Valley News Dispatch category, Page 158
Use it or lose it: Experts push for meaningful reading for kids during the summer break
Eight-year-old Hannah Woch has a stack of chapter books she plans to read this summer. It’s important to read over the summer, said Hannah, a student at Bon Air Elementary School in Lower Burrell. “Now that I’m reading, I understand more stuff,” she said. With the school year concluding in...
St. Joseph High School’s Class of 2024 includes 26 graduates
St. Joseph High School in Harrison held its 108th graduation Friday evening. A Baccalaureate Mass and graduation ceremonies were held for the 26 graduates in the Walter Dlubak Center. The event was livestreamed....
The Stroller, June 1, 2024: 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. Local cat sanctuary seeking volunteers Zen Cat Sanctuary, a nonprofit cat...
Lack of funding might force closure of 88-year-old Eureka Community Ambulance Service
Eureka Community Ambulance Service in Tarentum is placing its own call to 911. Leaders said Thursday the 88-year-old emergency response service likely will close or significantly curtail operations by January, barring crucial and consistent funding from local, state and federal sources. “When we provide a $900 ambulance service and get...
Portion of Route 356 in Allegheny Township to close through August
A portion of Route 356 will close Thursday and is expected to remain closed through the end of August as crews replace a bridge over Pine Run, according to PennDOT. Traffic will be blocked from Melwood Road/Hyde Park Road to La Belle Vue Road in Allegheny Township. Crews have already...
Arnold wants to renegotiate with water authority for shutoffs
Arnold officials want the leverage of being able to shut off water service to residents who don’t pay their sewage bills. They just don’t want to pay quite so much for that power. Under an agreement with the Municipal Authority of the City of New Kensington, the water supplier to...
‘I can’t imagine why you would do this,’ judge tells man whose jailhouse threat cost him probation
Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani was moments away from granting leniency to a man who testified against three of his co-defendants in connection with a 2022 fatal shooting in New Kensington. But the judge abruptly halted a sentencing hearing after learning that the defendant — Raquan Carpenter, 20 — may...
Brackenridge Improvement Group making ‘BIG’ impression in the borough
Community pride is a big deal to lifelong Brackenridge resident Dino Lopreiato. As president of the Brackenridge Improvement Group (BIG), the owner of Vibo’s Bakery often is spotted around town planting trees, pruning park flowers or spearheading fundraisers. He’s not alone. Lopreiato is backed by a core group of 15...
Avonmore woman combines passion for engineering, art at custom craft shop in Tarentum
A longtime mechanic’s garage in Tarentum has been transformed with different sorts of machinery. Jackie Danielle Rearick replaced the car lift and other tools at the former Wally’s Garage with a Computer Numerical Control machine and laser engraver to open her custom craft store, dubbed JD CNC, along East Seventh...
The Stroller, May 31, 2024: 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. Rockin’ Roosevelt concert to raise funds for Arnold park New Ken/Arnold...
No quick fix in sight for 114-year-old bridge in South Buffalo
Every other month for the past 10 years or so, Phillip Tompkins has complained to the South Buffalo supervisors about what he says is a rickety bridge on Clinton Road. He worries that emergency vehicles could miss the posted 10-ton weight limit and cause the span to buckle, or that...
Highlands High School dunks teachers during annual Spring Sanity fundraiser
Students at Highlands High School took their best shot at trying to drench some teachers Thursday during the National Honor Society’s annual Spring Sanity Dunk Tank Day fundraiser. Two teachers volunteered each period to be dunked. Students paid $1 for three balls. This year, all of the proceeds will benefit...
Charges held against Lower Burrell man in connection with Jehovah’s Witnesses child sex assault probe
A Lower Burrell man who, authorities say, was part of a statewide probe of child sexual abuse among the Jehovah’s Witnesses community will face charges in Westmoreland County Court. The state Attorney General’s Office charged Ronald W. Mangone, 69, on April 2 with three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault,...
Brackenridge moves forward with new, $1.1 million public works facility
A new public works facility will be taking shape in Brackenridge now that a $1.1 million contract has been awarded. Brackenridge officials expect the new building to be a significant upgrade and provide modern working conditions for its road crew that currently works at a building that dates to 1900....
$1 million lottery scratch-off sold at Freeport gas station
A BP gas station in Freeport sold a $1 million scratch-off, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery. The million dollar-winning ticket was from the lottery’s “$1,000,000 Game” and was sold at the BP gas station at 222 Buffalo St. Radhe Oil Corp., owner of the gas station, will get a $5,000...
Historic Oakmont church celebrates 150 years of community service
St. Thomas Memorial Episcopal Church in Oakmont has seen a lot of history. The church has had congregants march off to two world wars as well as conflicts in Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East. It weathered the Great Depression and recessions — all while remaining a haven and support...
Pine resident opens West Deer brewery
As is abundant among Western Pennsylvania beer drinkers, Paul Copelin tended toward a certain locally produced brand of low-calorie lager. “He is a Pittsburgh dad to the fullest, and he’ll never really try a lot of craft beer,” Pine resident Angela Bogacz explained about her father. “So I said, ‘Dad,...
Public meeting scheduled for Parks Township nuke dump cleanup plans
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled an information session to update the public on its cleanup efforts at the nuclear waste dump in Parks Township. The meeting is scheduled for June 11 at the Parks Township Fire Department, 1119 Dalmatian Drive. Doors will open for display stations at...
The Stroller, May 30, 2024: 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. Free art show set at Tarentum’s Manos Gallery The Manos Gallery...
Fox Chapel residents to receive survey about garbage collection options
Fox Chapel officials want to hear some trash talk from their residents. A survey seeking input on what services to seek in the next garbage collection contract is expected to be launched in mid-June. The current contract with Vogel Disposal Services features unlimited weekly collection up to the garage door,...
Longtime Kiski Area football coach Dick Dilts, remembered for lifelong impact, dies at 93
There was no greater compliment Tony Despotakis could pay Richard “Dick” Dilts than to compare him to Vince Lombardi. The former Kiski Area football coach shared many similarities to one the NFL’s greatest coaching minds. “He was a big fan of Lombardi, and he studied Lombardi and his coaching style,”...
Springdale to play home football games at Burrell, Freeport in 2024 season
Without a home field this season, Springdale’s high school football team is planning to play two home games at Freeport’s football field and a pair of games at Burrell’s Buccaneer Stadium. During a school board discussion last week, Allegheny Valley School District Superintendent Pat Graczyk said the Dynamos football team...
Hillcrest Shopping Center in Lower Burrell to be auctioned, starting bid at $1.14 million
With progress made at Burrell Plaza, all eyes have turned to Hillcrest Shopping Center in Lower Burrell. The shopping center off Leechburg and Wildlife Lodge roads will be auctioned off online from June 10 to 12, according to a listing. The starting bid is $1.14 million. “From a city standpoint,...
The Stroller, May 29, 2024: 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. Poker run to raise money for homeless veterans Ride for Homeless...
Rustic Ridge family that lost home to explosion awaits completion of new house
As Rick and Beth Napoleon planned their new house in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood, they knew it had to be different. “With every decision, we’re pretty much trying to do the complete opposite of the last house,” Rick Napoleon said. “Every decision is the opposite. We want something new, different...
