Valley News Dispatch category, Page 287
Free shuttle program to transport New Kensington residents to grocery stores
Another free shuttle service is being launched to help give New Kensington residents in the city’s downtown “food desert” access to groceries. Wesley Family Services, the New Ken Downtown Partnership and Westmoreland Community Action are partnering in the pilot transportation program, which will start Monday, April 10. The Fresh Food...
Washington Township police charge man with vandalizing pickup, trying to set it ablaze
Washington Township police accused a man of stealing the license plate off a pickup that he allegedly trashed and then botched the job when he tried to set it on fire. The man was arrested in Forest County four days after the alleged incident, when a state trooper spotted him...
Leechburg Area School Board approves joining land bank in fight against blight
Leechburg officials are one step closer to joining the Armstrong County Land Bank. The Leechburg Area School Board voted 5-4 to approve joining the land bank at its regular meeting last month — a move applauded by Leechburg Mayor Tony Roppolo. “I’m thrilled the school board did pass it,” Roppolo...
District judge orders former Arnold fire chief to repay death benefit, court costs
A hearing to resolve a civil claim against the former chief of the Arnold No. 1 fire department didn’t even make it to a courtroom Tuesday morning. Brian Gouza was still in the lobby of District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.’s courtroom when he simply responded “yes” when the judge...
Recent high winds knock bricks from former Rite Aid in Tarentum
A portion of an East Fifth Avenue sidewalk in Tarentum is off limits after high winds loosened bricks on the adjacent building. The sidewalk near the old Rite Aid at Corbet Street is closed to walkers while the building is assessed for damage. “There were some bricks that came loose...
The Stroller, April 4, 2023: 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. Dinner and show planned at Concordia Apartments Concordia at Cabot Haven...
Pittsburgh Brewing teams with Turner’s Iced Tea for new beer — IC’d TeaVideo
You can’t spell iconic without the letters IC. So when the makers of the iconic Iron City Beer were looking to create a new drink, it seemed only natural to collaborate with another iconic local brand, Turner’s Iced Tea. On April 12 — 412 Day for Yinzers — Pittsburgh Brewing...
Police: Woman assaulted Lower Burrell McDonald’s co-worker with drive-thru headset
Lower Burrell police accused a McDonald’s restaurant employee of assaulting a new co-worker by hitting her in the head with a $900 drive-thru window headset that broke the device. Nicole Monique Brundage, 36, of the 200 block of Freeport Road in New Kensington was charged with misdemeanor counts of simple...
The Stroller, April 3, 2023: 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. Salvation Army plans 5K June 3 Salvation Army of Allegheny Valley,...
Senior citizen forms nonprofit to help generations come together in Vandergrift
There is, or soon will be, a new nonprofit dedicated to helping seniors citizens and children in the Alle-Kiski community. Steve Jurovic, 85, of Vandergrift is the determined citizen behind the Kiski Valley Community Center. A retired structural designer and Army veteran, Jurovic grew up in Turtle Creek, lived in...
Easter Egg Hunt grows in second year at Puckety Presbyterian in Lower Burrell
Two-year-old Vivian Jones held up her purple Easter basket, decorated with pale purple tulle, to show her latest collection. “I got more eggs,” she said. She was among the roughly 200 kids that scoured the grass at Puckety Presbyterian Church’s second annual Easter egg hunt in Lower Burrell. And for...
Scenes from the Valley: Images captured in the Alle-Kiski Valley from March 23-29
Here is a weekly look at recent images captured throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley. From major news events to routine gatherings, the Tribune-Review’s “Scenes from the Valley” photo package brings to life activities and moments happening in your backyard. To have a photo considered as a “Scenes from the Valley” candidate,...
Fire guts Springdale townhouse
A Springdale townhouse was gutted by fire Saturday night, and two adjacent units sustained smoke damage as a result of the blaze, a Springdale official said. No one was reported injured in the fire at the townhouse complex along South North Street, said Bruno Moretti, emergency management coordinator for Springdale....
Building the Valley: Gourmet and bar food meet at Lock 5 Tavern in Freeport
Lock 5 Tavern, formerly the Upper Deck Sports Bar along Fifth Avenue in Freeport, might look old, but it is far from tired. Owner Matt Vogan, 40, has bumped up the pub’s offerings with gourmet bar food in a commercial building from the late 1800s only a few blocks from...
Faces of the Valley: Springdale High School musical director Anthony Martello makes theater a place where everyone feels welcome
Not too long after he learned to walk, Anthony Martello’s mother enrolled him in dance class. It was the start of something special for Martello, who discovered his passion for performance early in life. Now, as the head of the theater program at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School, he works to...
The Stroller, April 2, 2023: 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. Vaccination and microchip clinic offered by Animal Protectors Animal Protectors of...
Easter Grab n’ Go gives books to kids at Knead Community Cafe
During the few hours of clear skies on Saturday, families stopped by Knead Community Cafe in New Kensington to pick up a free lunch, coloring books, journals and other treats at the Easter Grab n’ Go. Six-year-old Hunter Karafa took a moment to sort through this bag of goodies —...
Citizen’s Police Academy resumes in Lower Burrell after pandemic hiatus
While covid prevented a lot of in-person events and regular meetings from happening for over two years, at least one has survived. On Thursday evenings at Lower Burrell City Hall, the only Citizen’s Police Academy still operating in Westmoreland County meets for two hours. The 10-week session is back this...
Fire destroys home, vacant business in Harrison
A fire destroyed a home and an empty business along River Avenue in the Natrona section of Harrison on Saturday. The blaze started at 21 River Ave. Homeowner Jeff Martinka said he was cooking home fries and went into his backyard to eat a meal. Then he turned around and...
Religion Digest, April 1, 2023
Holy Week and Easter Services Brackenridge • A community Good Friday service, “The Seven Last Words of the Cross,” will be from noon to 3 p.m. April 7 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 847 10th Ave., Brackenridge. Each word will be presented by a different local minister and accompanied by...
The Stroller, April 1, 2023: 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. Comedy night to benefit American Cancer Society A night of comedy...
Training seminar teaches police how to handle domestic violence situations
For Harrison police Officer Colton Stebler, responding to domestic violence is an almost daily occurrence. “Sometimes it’s multiple calls a day,” said Stebler, who has spent six years in law enforcement. The Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center sponsored a free training seminar on domestic violence for area law enforcement officials Friday...
Free summer lunch program in Natrona at risk of cancellation
A summer lunch program that feeds up to 20 children in Natrona Community Park is in danger of being canceled after organizers claimed there is a lack of security at the concession stand, among other liability issues. The Building Block of Natrona, a nonprofit that runs the program through a...
Burrell preps for spring musical, discovers relevance of ‘Bye Bye Birdie’
You might say “Bye Bye Birdie” is a bit like Beatlemania: a unique burst of energetic stagecraft designed to capture the essence of a musical phenomenon. In this case, it’s a musical about rock ’n’ roll superstar Conrad Birdie, who is strongly influenced by Elvis Presley. The story is based...
Swift-moving fire engulfs building in Leechburg
No injuries were reported in a swift-moving fire at a commercial structure in Leechburg on Friday. The blaze at Metco Supply Inc., 81 Kiski Ave., was reported just after 5 p.m. Leechburg Volunteer Fire Co. Chief John Foster said it took longer than he was hoping to attack the fire....
