Valley News Dispatch category, Page 384
Women of Alle-Kiski Engaging to hold session on finding work-life balance
As she wrote prescriptions for her patients, Dr. Danielle Godinez decided to pen a new script for her well-being, figuratively. She was living the hectic life of an ambulatory medicine physician: seeing patients every 15 minutes, filling out mounds of paperwork and logging long hours. Godinez walked out of that...
Candles lit, balloons released in memory of Azuree CharlesVideo
“Playful,” “friendly,” “polite” and “nice kid” were all common responses from people when asked about Azuree Charles. The 9-year-old boy was remembered by at least 200 people outside the East Ken Manor office building along Gardlock Court in New Kensington on Thursday evening, a day after his body was found...
Vandergrift man charged with 16 felonies after 2 children tell cops he sexually assaulted them
A Vandergrift man faces 16 felony charges after two police departments in the Alle-Kiski Valley accused him of sexually assaulting young children. Vandergrift police charged Timothy Robert Johnson, 37, of the 300 block of Lowell Street, with 11 felony sex charges after a girl reported he sexually assaulted her multiple...
New Kensington-Arnold approves proposed final budget with 5% tax increase
Grants are boosting New Kensington-Arnold School District’s budget by $7.2 million, but a maximum allowable property tax increase — 5% — remains. The school board approved the district’s proposed budget for the 2022-23 school year, with plans to take a final vote on June 7. The budget is showing a...
Westmoreland DA: There is a ‘person of interest’ in the death of New Kensington boy, 9
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said authorities have a person of interest in the death of Azuree Charles, a 9-year-old resident of East Ken Manor in New Kensington. Ziccarelli did not share any details Thursday afternoon as East Ken Manor residents prepared to honor the memory of Azuree, who...
The Stroller, May 5, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Gospel concert to feature local musicians A gospel music concert, Gospel Explosion, will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at...
Victim of fatal Arnold apartment house fire identified, cause under investigation
A man died in a fire early Thursday at an apartment house on Woodmont Avenue in Arnold. The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Frank J. Cable, 54. The early morning blaze in the two-story frame house at 1937 Woodmont Ave. also claimed the life of Cable’s dog,...
Rubber duck race to benefit Valley High girls volleyball teams
The creek passing in front of Valley High School is set to become a race course — for rubber ducks. The first-time “Rubber Ducky Derby” scheduled for May 15 is a fundraiser for the junior varsity and varsity girls volleyball teams, said April Stone, their coach and a paraprofessional at...
Harrison cleanup rids massive amounts of trash from township
If the Natrona neighborhood of Harrison is looking fresh and clean, there are volunteers to thank for the makeover. A group of diligent workers collected a massive amount of garbage April 23 during a townshipwide Earth Day cleanup event. More than 120 tires were collected from streets and empty lots....
Fox Chapel Area senior named a Student of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
When a classmate and friend asked Hanna Essey to help raise money and awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society last school year, the Fox Chapel Area High School student did not hesitate. She assisted with then junior Sarah Giuffre’s campaign and the team raised around $30,000. Now, both seniors,...
Alle-Kiski Valley largely spared wrath of storms that downed trees, knocked out power to thousands
A 150-foot tall elm tree that toppled Tuesday along Carlisle Street in Harrison couldn’t have been positioned more perfectly. Inches either way, and the 110-year-old tree would have smashed roofs, broke windows or at least tore gutters away from the two homes it landed between. “If this had to happen,...
Pet duck becomes Aspinwall celebrityVideo
An unexpected friendship between a boy and his pet duck is causing a splash in Aspinwall. Steven Hu, 11, is raising a 1-month-old call duckling he named Aspinwall. “I was considering Joe for a name,” Steven said. Aspinwall doesn’t wear a leash and follows Steven around everywhere. The family said...
Death of 9-year-old boy shakes New Kensington neighborhood
Police are investigating the death of a 9-year-old boy, Azuree Charles, in New Kensington. The Westmoreland County coroner was called to the scene Wednesday afternoon at East Ken Manor, a Westmoreland County Housing Authority complex along Haser Drive. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli was also at the scene. The...
New Kensington to pave 2 roads, possibly more with remaining money
Two New Kensington roads are slated to be resurfaced this year, and city officials are looking for more that can be done with the money available. Council on Monday awarded a nearly $103,000 contract to A. Folino Construction to resurface Locust Street from Victoria Avenue to Freeport Road, and Earl...
Alle-Kiski Valley teacher, principal among finalists for teacher appreciation awards
Two Alle-Kiski Valley educators are among finalists in an awards program in which the public selects the winners. R. Patrick Marchand, principal of Kiski Area East Primary School, is up for principal of the year for The Education Partnership’s third annual Teacher Appreciation Awards. Julie Erb, a teacher at Martin...
Freeport, Gilpin mull combined police force; no decision made
Freeport and Gilpin officials are considering the idea of merging police departments. No decisions were made at a recent meeting, where both municipalities were represented by three officials. Among the pros and cons discussed was 24-hour coverage for both communities, led by eight full-time officers. Already, Chris Fabec serves as...
West Deer receives $1.5M grant for municipal complex; contract decision delayed
West Deer will receive a $1.5 million state grant that will go toward the construction of a municipal complex. Rep. Bob Brooks announced the grant in a news release April 22. He advocated for the funding through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), according to the release. “The grant...
The Stroller, May 4, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Bingo fundraiser to benefit Lower Valley food bank Lower Valley Community Food Bank will host a spring fling bingo at 7...
Remember When: Allegheny Valley Expressway took much longer to build than anticipated
It was a day many in the Alle-Kiski Valley thought might never come: Aug. 9, 1985, the day the Allegheny Valley Expressway was completed. More than 40 years of designs, redesigns, funding, defunding and demographic changes that threatened to derail the entire project were overcome that day with the ribbon-cutting...
Cookbook fundraiser for Harrison library a compilation of nourishment, nostalgia
Fifth-generation Tarentum resident Cindy Homburg relishes memories of time spent in her grandmother’s kitchen. “Her creamed cucumber recipe with the sauteed onions, that’s one that our family still makes today,” Homburg said. “She would add a touch of sugar and enough vinegar to make it bite.” Homburg is hoping that...
New Kensington-Arnold approves new contract with teachers union
A new five-year contract between the New Kensington-Arnold School District and its teachers union is formally in place following the school board’s approval Tuesday. The board voted 8-0 in favor of the agreement, which increases teachers’ pay while also having them pay more toward health care. Board member Eric Doutt...
New Kensington woman accused of breaking into former home, strangling woman there
A New Kensington woman is charged with breaking into the house where she previously lived and strangling a woman who now lives there. Nazhae Vicki Nico Banks, 25, of the 1900 block of Victoria Avenue, is charged with felony counts of burglary, strangulation and criminal trespass as well as one...
The Stroller, May 3, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Riverview football boosters and alumni plan golf outing The Riverview Football Boosters and Alumni Association will host a golf outing July...
New Kensington Redevelopment Authority continuing efforts to develop industrial park
It has been almost two years since Affival moved into New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park. The move from Plum has worked out well for the business, which supplies the steel industry with cored wire products used to change the properties of steel. “A move anywhere was going to be a...
Police nab Allegheny Township man facing charges of leading cops on chase and carjacking
An Allegheny Township man accused of auto theft and trying to carjack another vehicle by assaulting the owner has been arrested, according to authorities. Jeffrey Scott Nedley, 39, of the 200 block of McGeary Hollow Road, was charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and theft along with two counts...
