Valley News Dispatch category, Page 327
Former Blawnox Mayor Tom Smith recalled as epitome of small borough
Friends are recalling former longtime Blawnox Mayor Tom Smith as the ultimate figurehead for the small Allegheny River town. He founded the Thomas M. Smith Funeral Home in 1966 and later delved into local politics as a way to spur community revitalization. “My family knew him all our life, and...
New Kensington-Arnold selects vendor for classroom furniture
The New Kensington- Arnold School District hopes to have new classroom furniture in all of its schools by September, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said. The school board voted last week to buy classroom seating and furniture from P.E.M. Co., an educational furniture dealership in the South Hills that was founded in...
New Kensington business earns first silver ‘sustainable workplace’ honor from Sustainable Pittsburgh
A downtown New Kensington business is among the first three to be designated as “sustainable workplaces” by Sustainable Pittsburgh. Trademark Threads, an embroidery and printing business at 1007 Fifth Ave., earned a silver level designation. The nonprofit Sustainable Pittsburgh says its program recognizes any business, nonprofit or other organization that...
PNC closing 2 more Pittsburgh-area locations, including Vandergrift branch
PNC is closing two more bank branches in the Pittsburgh region. The branches at 100 Grant Ave. in Vandergrift and at Duquesne University are scheduled to close at 3 p.m. March 17. An ATM will remain open at the Vandergrift location but not at Duquesne, according to PNC spokeswoman Olivia...
Tarentum officials challenge people to keep community spirit high
Tarentum Mayor Bob Lang and Council President Scott Dadowski are challenging people to maintain the lofty neighborhood spirit that spiked in the wake of the Jan. 2 death of Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire. The pair posted a three-minute video to the borough’s Facebook page Sunday to thank everyone who...
Starbucks and Italian eatery slated for former Kings in Buffalo Township
Buffalo Township officials are keeping mum about ongoing construction at the site of the former Kings Family Restaurant in Buffalo Plaza along Route 356. Township Manager Rich Hill declined to comment Wednesday when asked for details on the project at 400 Buffalo Plaza. But plaza owner Anthony Pompeo confirmed Wednesday...
The Stroller, Jan. 17, 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. Free Breaking Bread dinner set Thursday Knead Community Café, 1011 Barnes...
Kiski Township police locate endangered man missing since Saturday
A man missing since Saturday who was believed to be in danger has been found safe, according to Kiski Township police. Police were searching for Jeff Manchini, who went missing from his home in the West-In-Arms apartments at 403 20th St. in North Apollo. Authorities were concerned because Manchini has...
Route 356 in Washington Township reopened to traffic after vehicle shears gas line
A section of Route 356 in Washington Township has been reopened after traffic was halted when a vehicle struck a gas line, according to authorities. The crash was reported shortly before 2 p.m. in the 100 block of Route 356 near the Moore Bus Co., according to a Westmoreland County...
‘Remembrance is the thing’: Owners of vintage, antique stores report big business
The rapid growth of Yesterday’s RAVE in Greensburg has been a surprise to co-owner Patty Wolfe. The store that specializes in antique and vintage items with 15 vendors in a renovated space at the former Schaller’s Bakery building on Highland Avenue opened in November 2021. As more sections of the...
Westmoreland doubles plans for broadband upgrade projects
As much as $3 million will be spent this year on four projects aimed at improving high-speed internet access in Westmoreland County, commissioners said. These broadband upgrades come as a followup to a study by the county last year that, according to preliminary results, determined as much as 71% of...
The Stroller, Jan. 16, 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. Card party planned Wednesday in Apollo St. James Parish, Apollo, will...
Pedestrian hospitalized after being hit by car on Vandergrift Bridge
A pedestrian was taken to a hospital via helicopter Sunday night after being hit by a car on the Vandergrift bridge, authorities said. Vandergrift police and firefighters responded to the incident on the bridge at 6:21 p.m. Sunday, closing it to traffic as a helicopter was set to land at...
Faces of the Valley: West Deer Scout boasts rare set of achievements
Fiona Lilly isn’t your average Girl Scout or Boy Scout: She’s both, and she has received the highest honors each organization offers. Lilly, an 18-year-old West Deer resident and student at Chatham University, earned the coveted Gold Award for her work in October on a mural for Girl Scout Troop...
Remember When: A look at more area high schools and how they got their names
Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part series. If you look a little deeper into the name of your local high school, you might be surprised by what you find. How local high schools were given their names can sometimes have interesting backstories. Here are some intriguing ones...
New Kensington planners approve concept of new downtown playground, garden amid concerns
New Kensington’s planning commission has approved the concept of a new playground and garden in the city’s downtown area, but some neighbors have concerns about it. Westmoreland Community Action and Wesley Family Services have proposed building a playground and garden on vacant lots along 10th Street, with Third Avenue running...
The Stroller, Jan. 15, 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. Apollo Meals on Wheels seeking volunteer help Apollo Area Meals on...
State Rep. Abby Major pushing lead waterline replacements and other projects in Alle-Kiski Valley
State Rep. Abby Major, R-Leechburg, started her term this month in the newly constituted 60th District — which now includes a large section of the Alle-Kiski Valley — and is working on landing grant money for improved roads, new waterlines and more. Major, 38, of Leechburg and formerly of Ford...
McIntire memorial items sold as fundraiser for fallen chief’s family in Tarentum
By the time Zach Meso arrived Saturday at noon at the Tarentum Borough Building to buy items memorializing fallen Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire, the T-shirts were long sold out and the Sunday sale was cancelled due to a lack of available merchandise. Meso didn’t seem bothered. The Natrona Heights...
West Deer man accused of stealing car, gun inside it
A man from West Deer’s Russellton neighborhood was arrested last week for allegedly stealing a car and attempting to take a gun that was inside it. Harmar police arrested Brad Stanek, 39, after being tipped off by a local business owner Jan. 4 that his girlfriend’s car was stolen. The...
Rental costs, alcohol policies considered in rentals of new Plum facilities
Facilities at Plum’s new municipal center are in demand, and borough officials are working on rates and terms for renting them. Plum started moving into the $20 million facility on Old Mine Road in November. “Christmas at Plum Creek” on Dec. 1 was the first event there. In addition to...
The Stroller, Jan. 14, 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. Leechburg Elks to host annual hoop shoot event The annual Leechburg...
New Kensington man receives life prison sentence for Arnold fatal shooting
Shirley Clegg didn’t mince any words for the man who killed her brother. “I hope you never know peace because I will never know peace,” Clegg testified Friday during a sentencing hearing for Mario Gatti. Gatti, 33, of New Kensington was convicted of first-degree murder in October for the January...
Steelers’ Levi Wallace talks importance of air quality with Acmetonia Primary School students
School can sometimes be a drag, but an educational show featuring an NFL football player and a professional DJ made for a fun afternoon for Acmetonia Primary School students. Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace was welcomed with raucous cheers and applause Friday when he visited the Allegheny Valley district school...
New Ken-Arnold pledges to keep next school year’s taxes within state-imposed inflation limit of 6.1%
The New Kensington-Arnold School Board has committed to not increasing the district’s property taxes for the 2023-24 school year by more than its state-imposed inflation limit. New Kensington-Arnold’s limit for the 2023-24 school year is 6.1%, up from 5% for this school year. It’s the highest limit the district has...
