Valley News Dispatch category, Page 306
Faces of the Valley: Julia Strzesieski returns to her roots for role at Harrison library
Julia Strzesieski graduated from Highlands in 1979 and hit the road for California. She graduated from San Francisco State University and spent 42 years building an award-winning marketing career with a focus on sustainability efforts. Now, the 61-year-old is back in Harrison in hopes of using her experience to bolster...
Building the Valley: Buffalo Township woman launches Bubbly Bar and mobile bartending business in Freeport
As effervescent as her adult beverages, Nikki Wright of Buffalo Township is adding spirits to Freeport with her new Bubbly Bar and bartending business at 506 High St. A longtime mixologist and bartender for restaurants and caterers in the region, Wright struck out on her own in February 2021. She...
Allegheny Township man accused of strangling woman ordered to stand trial on felony charge
An Allegheny Township man was ordered to stand trial for allegedly strangling a woman. Robert Lee Stewart, 52, of the 1200 block of Hancock Avenue, was charged with a felony count of strangulation along with counts of simple assault and harassment. Allegheny Township police wrote in a criminal complaint charging...
Former Harrison bar-restaurant Bird Dog’s on the market for $750,000
A prime piece of commercial real estate is for sale in Harrison. Bird Dog’s Sports Bar & Grill, a 7,000-square-foot space along Freeport Road, is on the market. The asking price is $749,900. The restaurant opened at 2615 Freeport Road in October 2018 by township resident Bruce Daniels and his...
Calabrian Girl Tours allows Americans to live — and eat — like Italians
For several years, Ladles restaurant in Springdale has offered fine Italian food along with other homemade dishes. But now, Ladles owner Kathy Marsico is offering connoisseurs of all things Italian an opportunity to take a deep dive into the Italian way of life. Marsico is sharing aspects of her Italian...
Police: Ohio woman accuses New Kensington man she met on Facebook of holding her captive in basement
A New Kensington man was arrested after a woman from Ohio told police the man stole her cellphone and kept her captive in his basement for several hours when she visited him after meeting on Facebook. Steven Daniel Best Jr., 39, of the 200 block of Fifth Avenue was charged...
The Stroller, Jan. 22, 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. Food distribution scheduled at Lernerville Speedway Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank...
New Kensington pro wrestling school hosts event for vendor collective
Hand-crafted earrings and trinkets, glass pendents, vintage clothing from the 1960s and pins made from old magazine photos are not things usually found at a pro wrestling venue. However, all of that and more was on display Saturday as part of Shops and Suplexes, an event at the wrestling school...
Allegheny Township man accused of spanking 5-year-old so hard it left handprint, bruises
An Allegheny Township man was accused of spanking a 5-year-old so hard that it left a handprint on the child’s back and buttocks. Benjamin Paul Eshenbaugh, 35, of Kepple Road was charged Tuesday, Jan. 17, with felony counts of aggravated assault of a child under age 6 and endangering the...
Pot ‘sticking out of’ pants pocket leads to felony drug arrest at New Kensington hotel
New Kensington police arrested a man on felony drug charges after staff at a local motel reported that he refused to leave and was following a woman around the parking lot. When officers arrived at the Quality Inn off Tarentum Bridge Road about 6:45 a.m. Jan. 1, they found Melvin...
Police accuse Lower Burrell man of hitting woman in face with baseball bat during fight over dog
Lower Burrell police accused a man of punching a woman during an argument over a dog and then hitting her in the head and face with a baseball bat multiple times when she tried to fight back. Matthew Anthony Betts Sr., 56, of the 2700 block of Lori Drive was...
New Kensington man accused of trying to strangle woman during argument faces felony charge
A New Kensington man was charged with a felony after a woman told police that he tried to stop her from leaving his house during an argument and covered her mouth and nose until she couldn’t breathe when she screamed for help. Andrew Paul Ziencik, 39, of the 700 block...
A-K Health Foundation footing the bill for EMT certification to help alleviate responder crisis
Free EMT training by the Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation will help stop the bleed for ambulance services hit hard by dwindling funding and worker shortages, local officials said. John Pastorek, president of the Harrison-based foundation, said his group will pay up to $21,000 to cover EMT training for 21 students, beginning...
Demolition of former Springdale power station expected to be completed in 2024
Demolition of the former Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale likely won’t be completed until March of next year. Although what will become of the property after the power plant demolition is still unknown, workers this week were using blowtorches to remove exterior panels. Removal of the metal cladding is part...
Frazer parents say children’s walking route to school bus stop is dangerous
A road in Frazer has been deemed too dangerous for a school bus to drive on, yet the Deer Lakes School District considers it safe enough for an 8-year-old girl to walk nearly a mile to the bus stop along the same street. Dana Russell of Frazer said her 8-year-old...
The Stroller, Jan. 21, 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. Veterans banners available for Springdale veterans Springdale Team of Active Residents...
Staffing issues force temporary closure of Periwinkle’s in O’Hara
An O’Hara bakery renowned for its award-winning donuts is temporarily closed. Periwinkle’s Bakery & Cafe — a spinoff from the original, popular 1970s Harmar bakery — shut down in late 2022. A sign posted to the door of the RIDC Park location cites a worker shortage as the problem. “We...
Leechburg High School art students expand in-house business with handmade jewelry
A student-run business at Leechburg Area High School is expanding. Creations by Creation Candles is the latest line of handmade resin jewelry sold by Creation Candles, a custom candle business established last year in the school’s art, marketing, design and technology class. The course is taught by art teacher Shayle...
DA’s office says Pittsburgh activist should be jailed over social media posts after police chief’s killing
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office said a Pittsburgh activist should be jailed and resentenced after she posted messages on Facebook about the shooting death of Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire. Prosecutors filed a motion to detain Nicky Jo Dawson on Jan. 6 and supplemented that with an additional 20-page...
4 face felony drug charges after agents find fentanyl during raid at New Kensington house
Four people arrested by a team of agents who raided a home in New Kensington in late December have been ordered to stand trial on drug charges. Tammy Alane Hess, 53; Paul Scott Scratchard, 55; and Didiel Tirado, 57, all of the 2500 block of Seventh Street in New Kensington;...
West Deer supervisors proceed with $10 million municipal building
The West Deer supervisors took the first step to secure financing for a new municipal building. On Wednesday, the supervisors authorized the required advertising of an ordinance that will allow for the borrowing of no more than $8 million. Township Manager Dan Mator said it remains to be decided whether...
Dry January continues to rise in popularity
Six years ago, Jacob Zadnik spent most of the week traveling for work as a consultant. That included eating out most days — and, with that, drinking lots of alcohol. He and his coworkers challenged each other to try Dry January — 31 days of no alcohol. This month is...
2nd T-shirt sale set for fallen Brackenridge chief; organizers say support has ‘surpassed expectation’
Anyone who missed the chance to buy a memorial T-shirt for fallen Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire will have another chance next week. Considering the merchandise at the first sale Jan. 14 sold out in 25 minutes, lines are expected to be long, organizer Shasta Biricocchi said. More than 4,000...
The Stroller, Jan. 20, 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. Burrell HS choirs to perform benefit concert The choirs of Burrell...
Staffing issues force temporary closure of Periwinkle’s in O’Hara
An O’Hara bakery renowned for its award-winning donuts is temporarily closed. Periwinkle’s Bakery & Cafe — a spinoff from the original, iconic 1970s Harmar bakery — shut down in late 2022. A sign posted to the door of the RIDC Park location cites a worker shortage as the problem. “We...
