Valley News Dispatch category, Page 478
Indiana Twp. man charged with defrauding Highmark of over $50K in security clothing
An Indiana Township man was taken into custody Tuesday amid criminal allegations he defrauded Highmark Health of more than $50,000 in connection with the purchase of clothing for security personnel. Derek Robert Dowiak, 37, has been charged with 11 counts of forgery, two counts of theft by deception, one count...
The Stroller, July 1, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Annual golf outing planned by Tarentum Lions Club Tarentum Area Lions Club will host their annual golf outing July 10 at...
Youth artwork gala, peace pole dedication postponed in Freeport
An event celebrating youth creativity in Freeport was postponed because of thunderstorms Wednesday. The original plan was to host two Celebrating Creativity Galas — one on Wednesday evening and one on July 24. The event will now be solely on July 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., said Jennifer...
Plum School Board passes 2021-22 budget: No tax increase or program cuts
Plum property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes, and students will not have to miss out on educational opportunities as a result of next school year’s budget. The Plum School Board voted 8-0 on June 29 to pass the district’s $65.7 million spending plan for...
Dispatch: 4 people flown by medical helicopters after multi-vehicle crash in Washington Township
Four people were flown by medical helicopter to area hospitals following a multi-vehicle crash along Route 66 in Washington Township, according a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. Crews responded to Route 66 at Hancock Avenue shortly before 4:30 p.m. Both lanes of Route 66 were shut down for about two hours. The...
Vandergrift’s historic Casino Theatre to reopen SaturdayVideo
Vandergrift’s historic Casino Theatre soon will welcome theatergoers again. The 121-year-old theater, which describes itself as Southwestern Pennsylvania’s oldest operating theater, was shuttered last year because of the pandemic. The Trib previously reported that the venue lost more than $70,000 in booking and show revenue since the pandemic-related shutdown. “We...
The Stroller, June 30, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Christmas In July party planned July 10 in West Leechburg The Small Town, Loud Voice dance party fundraiser to benefit the...
Temporary parking acceptable use of former Apollo nuke site, DEP says
The state Department of Environmental Protection said a company that temporarily stored RVs on a former nuclear fuels plant site in Apollo didn’t violate terms of a covenant for the property. “The temporary use of this site for the parking of vehicles will not present any radiological concerns, though substantial...
Upscale eatery 1844 Restaurant reopening in Gilpin
The upscale 1844 Restaurant in Gilpin is set to reopen after remaining closed for more than a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The family-owned and operated restaurant is scheduled to welcome diners again on July 9. The pandemic forced owner Bob Gorelli, 78, to close in March 2020. He...
Prison sentence imposed for rape of Vandergrift child
A Greensburg man will serve up to eight years in prison for the rape of a 5-year-old Vandergrift girl. Eric Jermain Emory, 35, pleaded guilty last week to one count of rape of a child for repeated sexual assaults of a girl in 2019 and 2020 and three additional charges...
Lawyer’s alleged disclosure at issue in Arnold homicide case
The lawyer for a Churchill man charged in a fatal shooting in Arnold last summer told a judge that statements made to police by another attorney should not be used as evidence at his upcoming homicide trial. The trial for Devon Askew, 26, is scheduled to begin Nov. 15. Westmoreland...
Alt-rock band Cracker happy to be back on the road, heads to Harmar this week
It’s a long way from performing socially distant, one-man private acoustic shows in driveways to being back on stage with a full six-piece band. But that’s the road David Lowery, front man for the classic alternative rock group Cracker, has traveled in just one month of pandemic time. Cracker, led...
Freeport Area School District seeks applicants for business manager as theirs departs for Plum
Freeport Area School District is looking to replace its departing business manager, who has accepted a position at Plum School District. Ryan Manzer has served as Freeport Area’s business manager for the past eight years. Before that, he served as assistant director of finance for Pine-Richland School District for three...
The Stroller, June 29, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Murphy’s Music Center Band to present free concert in Tarentum Tarentum Summer Concert Series will feature the Murphy’s Music Center Band...
The Stroller, June 28, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Youth tennis clinics planned in New Ken The City of New Kensington Recreation Commission will sponsor a youth tennis clinic July...
Tarentum Bridge reopens in both directions a day early
The Tarentum Bridge reopened in both directions a half-day earlier than planned, much to the relief of many drivers headed through the Alle-Kiski Valley on Sunday afternoon. PennDOT officials had postponed the reopening of the westbound lane linking New Kensington to Tarentum until 6 a.m. Monday after a car crashed...
Apollo’s Owens Grove turns 100: Cleanup and party set for July 24Video
Turning a century old can come with considerable wear and tear. Apollo borough will celebrate Owens Grove’s centennial with a work party followed by cake and ice cream on July 24. The Apollo Events Committee is billing the birthday celebration as “100 years of giving: Apollo pays it forward.” The...
Appraising the situation, Michelle Bradley went to great lengths to deal with pandemic
Real estate appraiser Michelle Czekalski Bradley went above and beyond during the pandemic in her quest to follow covid-related safety protocols. Bradley, 54, created her own custom covid prevention outfit to wear while appraising properties. “I scoured the internet every night for gloves, booties, rain ponchos and anything that would...
Freeport Theatre Festival’s ‘The Rainmaker’ features sisters serving as director, actress
Freeport Theatre Festival’s production of “The Rainmaker” is a family project for the Bronder sisters. Kristy and Jen Bronder grew up watching local theater together with their parents. Now, for the first time, they’ll be working together in a local theater production at Freeport Theatre Festival this summer. Jen Bronder...
Alle-Kiski Valley restaurateurs contend with new challenges as they struggle to survive pandemic
Restaurants were hit hard by the pandemic and restrictions meant to curb the spread of covid-19 — and, for many restaurateurs, the struggles aren’t over yet. Navigating a pandemic — and the related rules and restrictions — has been a challenge April Platt never imagined she’d have to overcome. Platt...
Overcoming challenges, Alle-Kiski Valley businesses continue to recover
Alle-Kiski Valley businesses are beginning to emerge from the incredible challenges caused by last year’s covid-19 pandemic. Many small-business owners said they’ve experienced a significant loss of income, stress and hardship during the shutdown and subsequent covid restrictions placed on their businesses. A 2020 U.S. Census Bureau Small Business Survey...
Teaching a ‘calling’ for honored New Kensington-Arnold kindergarten instructorVideo
A small painting of a tree hangs in Alissa Szewczak’s kindergarten classroom at New Kensington-Arnold’s Martin Elementary School. Its leaves don’t look like leaves, and most aren’t even green. The splotches of color are actually the thumbprints of her past students — one year of first grade, two years of...
Kid vendors will be in the spotlight next month in Vandergrift
A new children’s vendor show is coming to Vandergrift. The inaugural Kids Vendor Show, sponsored by The Center on Franklin Avenue, is scheduled for July 10 at the Center, 262 Franklin Ave. The event will showcase vendors and activities for, by and in support of children. Center founder and owner...
The Stroller, June 27, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Golf outing to benefit A-K Pulser A-K Pulser Inc. will sponsor a golf outing Aug. 20 at River Forest Country Club,...
Comcast to upgrade Internet service in parts of Armstrong County
Comcast announced it is offering its fastest high-speed internet service to 21 additional communities in Armstrong County. Comcast is among a handful of internet providers serving Armstrong County, including Salsgiver Inc. and Windstream Communications. The high-speed service, known as gigabit service, now will be available to residential and business customers...
