Valley News Dispatch category, Page 530
Peoples Gas demolishes eyesore in Kiski TownshipVideo
A demolition crew paid for by Peoples Gas toppled an old, abandoned three-story commercial building in Kiski Township that was so flimsy it groaned when the wind blew. Township officials are still deciding what they can do with the now-vacant property of less than an acre at 502-26 Highland Ave....
New Kensington opts to stick with garbage hauler
New Kensington Council has decided to keep its garbage hauler for at least another year. Council approved a one-year contract for garbage service with County Hauling with options for two additional years. The quarterly charge to residents will remain $78.13. According to City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti, County Hauling submitted the...
Lower Burrell fire company having success raffling off AR-15 rifles to raise money
In a year when the covid pandemic has forced many organizations to cancel fundraising events, Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 (Kinloch) has had success raffling off AR-15 semiautomatic rifles to raise money. The department’s fundraising efforts have been down about $100,000 this year, but Kinloch Chief Ted Hereda...
Tarentum seeking candidates for vacant 1st Ward council seat
Tarentum will accept applications for a soon-to-be vacant seat on borough council until Jan. 4. Council on Tuesday accepted the resignation of 1st Ward Councilwoman Erika Josefoski. Her resignation is effective Dec. 31. Josefoski, 36, announced her intention to resign earlier this month. She said she did not have enough...
Pandemic changed holiday happenings but can’t stop them in one Harrison neighborhoodVideo
Harrison was shining bright Friday night. More than 20 homes located in the 1st Ward in the township participated in the inaugural Holiday Light Contest Friday night. Winners announced in three categories: “Hallmark Movie,” “Clark Griswold” and “Car Stopper.” Harrison Township Commissioner Charles Dizard said the holiday decorating contest was...
Supervisors approve 63-unit housing development in West Deer
The West Deer supervisors have approved a plan that will allow a developer to build a 63-unit development in the township. The McIntyre Heights housing development will be made up of 31 single- family dwellings and 16 duplexes. There also will be a picnic pavilion area for residents of the development,...
The Stroller, Dec. 20, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Santa Claus to visit Leechburg Tuesday Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company will transport Santa Claus around the borough on a fire truck beginning...
Beermuda seeking donations for toy drive
The Beermuda, a bar and restaurant in New Kensington, is seeking donations for a toy drive. The Beermuda has held an annual toy drive for years, with the goal of helping 16 local families, said Jadyn Sugajski, bar manager. But this year, the need is especially great. “It’s all about...
West Deer considers prohibiting on-street parking in housing plans, upping parking fine
The West Deer supervisors are considering prohibiting parking on certain township streets and fining people who continue the practice. Officials say on-street parking in certain housing plans is a safety hazard for first responders such as firefighters and for snowplow drivers. “When it comes to emergency services such as fire...
The Stroller, Dec. 19, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. St. Joseph High School accepting enrollments St. Joseph High School, Harrison, is accepting enrollments for the fall 2021-22 school year. Admission fees...
Oakmont crews ready for next round of snow
Oakmont public works crews remain undaunted by the recent snowfall, and are ready to clear a path for travelers should they be called out again. “We are always prepared to treat and clear roads within the borough,” Borough Manager Scot Fodi said via email. Oakmont has three full-time public works...
Medical examiner: Natrona Heights inmate died of heart disease in the Allegheny County Jail
A Natrona Heights man who was an inmate in the Allegheny County Jail died of heart disease last month, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner said Friday. Daniel Pastorek, 63, of Harrison, was found unresponsive in his cell on Thanksgiving at about 10:20 a.m., Warden Orlando Harper and the medical examiner...
Alle-Kiski Valley restaurants continue to defy governor’s order suspending indoor dining
David’s Diner co-owner Lisa Speer said Friday she will not close her restaurant to customers looking to dine in, despite Gov. Tom Wolf’s order to suspend indoor dining and recent visits from health officials looking to enforce the order. Representatives of the Allegheny County Health Department stopped by the Springdale...
Man claims false arrest in 1965 kept him from substitute teaching jobs at Deer Lakes, Northgate
A Baldwin man is suing Deer Lakes and Northgate school districts, alleging that both refused to hire him as a substitute teacher because of what he claimed was a bogus arrest over loud music in 1965. Anthony Gaglierd, who said in his lawsuit that he had a teaching career spanning...
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg smashes fundraising goal, netting $233,950
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg hoped its online Guardian Angel Appeal fundraising campaign would raise about $50,000. Donors smashed that goal, then kept giving. The campaign raised $233,950. “There’s no way I could express how amazed I am at the success of the campaign, not because of any...
‘Senior Secret Santa’ delivers gifts, cheer to homes of nearly 100 Apollo-Ridge studentsVideo
Apollo-Ridge School District’s Senior Secret Santa didn’t circle the world in a supersonic sleigh, but he covered 220 miles Friday in a four-wheel drive SUV delivering gifts to the district’s 96 high school seniors. Apollo-Ridge High School Principal Dan Consuegra donned the outfit of the jolly old elf to serve...
Allegheny Valley Hospital workers see ‘beacon of hope’ as they get 1st doses of covid vaccine
Kristen Miller didn’t think twice about getting the covid vaccine. The intensive care unit registered nurse at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison on Friday was among the first workers in Allegheny Health Network to get a shot of Pfizer’s vaccine against the virus that has killed more than 300,000 in...
West Deer passes $7.2M budget, no tax increase
West Deer Supervisors on Wednesday adopted a $7.2 million budget for 2021 that keeps the property tax rate at 2.99 mills. At that rate, the owner of a West Deer home assessed at $117,000 will pay $350 in taxes next year. “I’m extremely proud of this budget,” Supervisors Chairman Arlind...
Lower Burrell to fix 2 partially collapsed sewer lines with $200K grant
A $200,000 state grant is helping the Lower Burrell Municipal Authority fix sections of two sewer lines that have partially collapsed. One section is under the former JCPenney parking lot along Leechburg Road, while the other is along Wildlife Lodge Road near Leechburg Road. “This is good news for the...
Salvation Army’s Red Kettle fundraisers struggle in pandemic year
The Salvation Army’s famous red kettles are a lot lighter than usual this year, and there are fewer of them to be found around Westmoreland County. “As of right now, we’re not even at half our goal, and we have six kettle days left,” said Lt. Donna Hannan, assistant corps...
New Kensington police charge man in hotel fight with 3 other men
A New Kensington man was arraigned Wednesday on a felony charge of aggravated assault stemming from a fight in which two men suffered brain bleeds and one had skull fractures. Police charged Kenneth Lorenzo Johnson Jr., 32, on Nov. 17 in connection with the fight that happened June 12 at...
Lawsuit: Allegheny Health Network failed to accommodate Cheswick nurse with asthma during pandemic
A Cheswick registered nurse is suing Allegheny Health Network because she said the health network discriminated against her and failed to accommodate her when the covid-19 pandemic began in the spring. Samantha Eiler, who was hired by the health network in January 2019, was diagnosed with asthma when she was...
Leechburg native Msgr. Larry Kulick named new bishop of Diocese of GreensburgVideo
Catholics in the Greensburg Diocese are celebrating an early Christmas gift from Rome: the appointment of one of their own, Msgr. Larry J. Kulick, as bishop-elect. Pope Francis announced the appointment of Kulick, a Leechburg native, as the sixth bishop of the diocese early Friday. The appointment of the 54-year-old...
The Stroller, Dec. 18, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Santa to visit West Deer with township firemen Santa will travel through West Deer with the township volunteer fire companies this weekend....
Pittsburgh-based Rycon Construction to build new $12 million Plum municipal center
Plum officials have taken the next step in developing a new municipal center. Council approved a $16.5 million contract from Rycon Construction Thursday night. The Pittsburgh company was the lowest of 11 bidders. The so-called town center would house a police station, municipal offices, gym, a plaza and a community...
