Valley News Dispatch category, Page 481

Springdale’s Amanda Monnich is uniquely qualified to provide online classes teaching people how to decorate freshly baked sugar cookies. Formerly a teacher with cyber-school experience, Monnich, 31, became inspired to run her cookie business full-time after taking a cookie-decorating class in 2019. “It was just a fun hobby, and now,...

The Valley News Dispatch will publish a list of community Easter egg hunts and activities. To have an event listed online and in the print edition, send the information as soon as possible to The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Fourth Ave., Tarentum PA 15084 or email Carol Pinto-Smith; email...

A Buffalo Township man who was found by searchers late Tuesday after going missing earlier in the evening died of of hypothermia, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dennis Fester, 74, who suffered from dementia, went missing Tuesday. His wife, Sally Fester, said her husband went for a...

Police say a Pittsburgh man who was taken into the home of a New Kensington friend because he had no place to stay assaulted the friend repeatedly and kept him from escaping his own home. Police say Darius Delaine Smalls, 29, then fought with police when they answered the distress...

Following an unprecedented year of isolation and hardship, Aspinwall Riverfront Park wants to know what you are grateful for. Be it your job, your family or your pet guinea pig — an answer which four people have already submitted — park directors will include your attitude of gratitude in a...

Fox Chapel Area teachers will be scheduled for a covid-19 vaccination as early as this week, school officials announced Monday. At the same time, the school board voted to return middle school and high school students to full-time, in-person education beginning March 15. “Personnel may begin to receive invitations (for...

An overwhelming majority of parents surveyed by Highlands School District want their children to return to in-person classes four days a week. Of nearly 1,600 responses to an online survey, 80% of parents and caregivers favored the switch to mostly in-person classes as covid rates decline in the community, according...

The Valley News Dispatch will publish a list of community Easter egg hunts and activities. To have an event listed online and in the print edition, send the information as soon as possible to The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Fourth Ave., Tarentum PA 15084 or email Carol Pinto-Smith; email...

Westmoreland County is planning $2.2 million in improvements at Allegheny Township’s Northmoreland Park this summer. Brandon Simpson, the county’s parks and recreation director, said the work will include adding a large playground, a walking trail and a handicapped-accessible kayak and canoe launch. Soccer complex No. 2, used by the Kiski...

Plum Community Library reopened March 8 to patrons after months of being closed due to the covid-19 pandemic with a few differences. “We are excited to see our users, who we haven’t seen in a while, and welcome them back to the library,” Director Pam Calfo said. The library closed...

An Oakmont man was taken into custody Monday morning in connection with an overnight standoff with borough police and Allegheny County SWAT. Officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Allegheny River Boulevard shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday for a welfare check on a man threatening to harm himself. Police...

Aspinwall council will consider more than $2 million in traffic upgrades along Freeport Road that include increased parking, safer crosswalks and a directional change along Eastern Avenue. Council heard from consultants, TranSystems, during its March agenda meeting about a plan to improve safety for pedestrians and bikers, as well as...

The Valley News Dispatch will publish a list of community Easter egg hunts and activities. To have an event listed online and in the print edition, send the information as soon as possible to The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Fourth Ave., Tarentum PA 15084 or email Carol Pinto-Smith; email...

Yoga, painting, gardening and storytime await home-schooled youngsters at a new program in Vandergrift. The Homeschool Co-op class meets every Friday in the lower level hall at The Center on Franklin Avenue in Vandergrift. It’s two hours of creative and nontechnology focused activities for children who are home-schooled. It’s taught...

The Easter Bunny will be getting some help from Freeport Area High School’s cheerleaders this year. The cheer squad is hosting a fundraising event to spread joy — and Easter eggs — to families within the school district. Families can order eggs and provide information about their kids’ ages, genders...

In Freeport Area School District, the show must go on — even if a global pandemic presents new obstacles. The district is staging three musicals this spring: • Buffalo Elementary is performing “Lion King Kids” on April 22 through 24. • The middle school is presenting “Matilda Junior” on April...

After failed attempts to secure grant money, Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 secured $108,000 from a state insurance fund to pay for firefighters’ special breathing equipment. The fire company recently received 18 self-contained breathing apparatus as well as portable air supplies. Firefighters wear the breathing equipment when entering...

PennDOT will begin preservation work on the Tarentum Bridge from March 15 to mid-April. Crews will replace deteriorating concrete in the structure underneath the bridge, said Yasmeen Manyisha, PennDOT spokeswoman. No traffic disruptions are planned. However, some traffic restrictions are expected later this year when PennDOT works on other bridge...

The Valley News Dispatch will publish a list of community Easter egg hunts and activities. To have an event listed online and in the print edition, send the information as soon as possible to The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Fourth Ave., Tarentum PA 15084 or email Carol Pinto-Smith; email...

Fish fry organizers at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Oakmont credit their volunteers for being able to offer a pre-covid menu and streamlined operations during the pandemic Lenten season. “We’re able to do this due to the time and dedication of the volunteers,” said event co-chair Caryn Cebulak. “People taking...

A Leechburg church has partnered with a Lower Burrell- area nonprofit to ensure food supply is not a problem in future free distributions. Twice last month, volunteers from Kiski Valley Community Church had to turn away families who waited for hours at the Leechburg Fire Hall for boxes of food....

Brackenridge, Harrison and Tarentum each have different plans for Easter this year, after community egg hunts were canceled in 2020 because of the covid pandemic. While Tarentum is returning to a traditional event, Brackenridge and Harrison each are doing something different. Brackenridge Brackenridge will be handing out Easter treat bags...