Valley News Dispatch category, Page 518

Christmas festivities in Vandergrift will be altered to account for covid-19, but the festivities will continue. The Vandergrift Improvement Program’s (VIP) “Light-up Night” takes place every year the weekend after Thanksgiving, normally including a Christmas parade attended by every fire department in the area, incorporating floats, food vendors and entertainment....

Allegheny Township residents won’t have a property tax increase next year, marking the 11th consecutive year without an increase. Township supervisors presented the preliminary 2021 budget Monday. The budget includes a general fund of just under $4 million, along with about $335,000 allocated for debt service, $235,000 for the fire...

The Allegheny County Jail inmate who died Thursday is a 63-year-old man from the Natrona Heights neighborhood of Harrison, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office said. Daniel Pastorek, 63, was found unresponsive in his cell, Warden Orlando Harper said. A corrections officer and medical staff tended to Pastorek until paramedics...

A heartfelt thank you to all our loyal readers. Happy Thanksgiving! – Carol Pinto-Smith Westmoreland County Marines to supply Christmas groceries Westmoreland County Marines will provide Christmas groceries to local veterans’ families in need. To apply, veterans must provide proper identification and proof of military service such as a VA...

Operation Santa Claus has been helping Western Pennsylvania families with the gift of a holiday meal for 36 years, and this year may prove to be the most challenging in the long history of the nonprofit organization. “The need is greater than ever this year. We’re trying our best to...

Lower Burrell’s American Legion, Post 868, along Wildlife Lodge Road is closed until at least Monday because of a verified covid-19 case. Legion officials found out that one of their patrons tested positive for covid-19 on Monday night, said Post 868 Commander Ed Zollinger. The Legion promptly closed its facilities,...

Riverview High School senior Alexio Ciorra has been selected as one of eight bassists in this year’s All-National Honors Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra, under the direction of world-renowned international conductor and violinist Nobuyoshi Yasuda, features the top high school musicians from across the nation. They usually perform at a festival...

A Secret Santa is spreading Christmas cheer again in Leechburg Area School District. A handwritten letter with a $10,000 check enclosed was received this month by David Leech Elementary School Principal David Keibler. Keibler said the donor wishes to remain anonymous, but revealed that the Secret Santa is a former...

Boy Scouts to sell Christmas trees in Allegheny Township Boy Scout Troop 551 of Hyde Park is conducting its annual Christmas tree sale at Stanford Home Center, 1173 Route 356, Allegheny Township. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Black Friday, 4 to 8 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 6...

New Kensington police said they found guns, ammunition and drugs in a man’s home Monday after responding to a fight allegedly brought about by his girlfriend trying to catch him with another woman. Police said Albert Earl Taylor, 49, is a felon who is not legally permitted to possess firearms....

Around the WPIAL, schools have delayed the start of winter sports season. Whereas teams were set to begin practice last Friday, some schools pushed their start dates to Dec. 7. On Monday, the Highlands School District announced it was postponing winter sports until Jan. 15, though athletic director Drew Karpen...

The Republican challenger in the 45th Senatorial District that includes parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties has asked the state Supreme Court to reconsider its Monday order allowing undated mail-in ballots to be counted. Nicole Ziccarelli, of Lower Burrell, filed an emergency application for reargument Tuesday morning. She is running...

Annual holiday celebration planned Saturday in Leechburg The Luminate Leechburg celebration will be Saturday on Market Street. The community tree lighting will be at 6:30 p.m. in the garden across the street from the Twisted Thistle Restaurant. Toy donations will be accepted for Toys for Alle-Kiski Kids. A family friendly...

Highlands School District will move all students to full remote instruction beginning Dec. 1 and continuing through Jan. 15, the district announced Monday. All extracurricular activities and sports will be suspended during that time. The announcement comes a week after the district closed its middle school through the Thanksgiving break...

A 20-year-old man is accused of demanding employees at a New Kensington Family Dollar store fill a bag with money, or give him a job, according to police. Police charged Marcus Tyquan Walker of New Kensington with two felony counts of robbery. He was arraigned before District Judge Frank Pallone...

A Springdale couple is charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct, accused of attacking a borough police officer called to their apartment for a domestic incident, according to a criminal complaint. Springdale police Officer Larry Bonazza said he was punched and bitten during the incident and was taken to a...

The owner of JG’s Tarentum Station Grille said Monday he made the difficult decision to postpone the restaurant’s reopening, which had been set for Dec. 1. The restaurant, in a historic train station in the heart of Tarentum’s business district, has remained closed since March because of the coronavirus pandemic....

The sound of gunfire, and her dog barking, woke Yvonne Scarselli in her Tarentum home around midnight Monday morning. What Scarselli heard was a shooting that left an 18-year-old man dead and another, 19, wounded. Scarselli said she heard what sounded like gunfire being exchanged near her home on Conroy...