Valley News Dispatch category, Page 574
Allegheny Valley Regional Police force moves office over covid-19 concerns
The Allegheny Valley Regional Police moved its office from the Springdale Township municipal building to Cheswick’s borough building as a precaution to prevent the spread of covid-19 and to make more room for other township employees. “This is more a shift to an office than a move,” said Michael Girardi,...
The Stroller, July 10, 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@tribweb.com or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Annual St. Joseph golf fundraiser set for Sept. 18 The...
Market Street Pizza in Leechburg opens successfully amid coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating effect on businesses across the country, including local restaurants like the Twisted Thistle in Leechburg. But instead of looking outside the box, owners Joe Hesketh and Linda Alworth looked inside the box — literally. On June 22, the pair opened Market Street Pizza...
Riverview High School students teach youngsters worldly lessons before graduating
Four Riverview High School graduates were able to leave their international mark on school district youngsters before leaving to take on the world. Marina Pietz, Francesca Lio, Mikaela Colins and Emily Pietragallo each earned a Global Scholars Certificate through the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia this past school year. They...
Tarentum updating law that assesses $50 fee for ‘excessive’ police calls
Tarentum residents who make excessive calls to police could find themselves paying for them. Council is considering updating a 14-year-old ordinance that imposes a $50 charge for each police response in excess of three every 30 days to the same location. Although the ordinance already exists, Borough Manager Michael Nestico...
Deer Lakes cancels in-person commencement amid latest coronavirus-related restrictions
Deer Lakes School District has canceled its Class of 2020 in-person commencement. The event was scheduled for July 16, but had to be canceled due to coronavirus-related restrictions recently imposed by the Allegheny County Health Department, which limited gatherings of more than 50 people for two weeks to help mitigate...
The Stroller, July 9, 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@tribweb.com or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Community Library adds local history department Community Library of Allegheny...
Freeport Theatre Festival opens 31st season Friday with pandemic safety protocols in place
The curtain will go up at the Freeport Theatre Festival for a 31st year. This season, there will be noticeable changes at the summer barn theater. Because of the coronavirus pandemic the Allegheny Township theater will seat fewer people. The usual meet-and-greet sessions with actors won’t be taking place. “We...
Vandergrift councilwoman gets no support in quest to form a shade tree commission
Vandergrift Council isn’t interested in starting a shade tree commission. Councilwoman Karen McClarnon, head of the council’s tree and light committee, asked council on Monday to formally establish such a commission. No other council member agreed to move forward with the idea at its virtual meeting. Shade tree commissions are...
Preliminary hearings continued to Sept. 4 for defendants in death of Oakmont toddler
The preliminary hearings for three Oakmont residents accused of the physical and psychological torture, and eventual death, of a toddler have been continued to September, according to court records. Jose Salazar-Ortiz Sr., 29, and Laura Ramriez, 27, were charged June 24 with homicide, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault of a child,...
Fox Chapel Area School District weighing in-person, online learning scenarios
Fox Chapel Area students could start the new school year from home, learning online with instruction from district teachers. Or, students could return to the six campuses and be mandated to wear masks in the classroom and socially distance from others in the buildings. Officials this week announced several scenarios...
Tarentum to have all full-time police force after promoting 2 part-timers
Tarentum Council has promoted two part-time borough police officers to full-time status. Officers Jordan Schrecengost and Jeremy Belusar will go full-time on Aug. 1. They have been with the department for about a year each. Belusar started on July 12, 2019; Schrecengost on Aug. 30, 2019, according to borough Manager...
Bridge work to restrict traffic on Route 28 in Harmar
Two lanes of northbound Route 28 in Harmar will be closed from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, PennDOT announced. The lanes are scheduled to be closed in the area of the Hite Road bridge over Route 28 from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday while crews work on the...
Tarentum to resume utility shutoffs Aug. 1
Tarentum will resume shutting off water and electric services for customers who aren’t paying their bills on Aug. 1. Council on Tuesday approved a resolution stating it will no longer voluntarily comply with a March 13 emergency order from the state Public Utility Commission prohibiting utilities from being shut off...
The Stroller, July 8, 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@tribweb.com or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free webinar to explore how to operate a small business...
Fire damages 2 homes in ArnoldVideo
A vacant Arnold house is believed to be a total loss, and neighboring family was displaced from their home as a result of a fire Tuesday night, officials said. Firefighters from Arnold, New Kensington, Lower Burrell and Murrysville responded shortly before 8:30 p.m. for the blazeat 1616 Fourth Ave. in...
Lower Burrell Eagle Scout recognized for creating fitness stations
A Lower Burrell councilman and others surprised Eagle Scout Scott Fennell when they stopped by his high school graduation party to proclaim Sunday as Scott Fennell Day. They honored the teen for his volunteer Eagle Scout project constructing four outdoor work-out stations in the city’s Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park....
Bayernhof Museum in O’Hara closes for 2nd time amid rise in Allegheny County covid-19 cases
One of the Lower Valley’s most unique attractions has shut down for the second time after a rise in covid-19 cases in Allegheny County. Bayernhof Museum in O’Hara posted Monday on its Facebook page that the eclectic facility will be closed temporarily. “We will open back up but for now...
Adaptive bikes, strollers, devices unlock new potential for Westmoreland County childrenVideo
Aiden Rogers beamed Tuesday morning as his mother Melissa Burke helped him into the bright green adaptive bike that is destined to become a new friend. The 10-year-old Greensburg boy, who will be a fifth grader this fall at Clairview School in Hempfield, battles multiple challenges every day. In the...
Diabetes education program in Tarentum canceled due to covid-19 surge
A Tarentum nurse has canceled a series of talks on diabetes because of the recent increase in covid-19 cases. The talks with Denise Kissell, a registered nurse and certified diabetes care and education specialist, were scheduled to begin today in Riverview Memorial Park in Tarentum and be held each Tuesday...
Fox Chapel Area School Board approves budget with program cuts, 1.5% tax hike
Covid-19 and its unknown long-term impact have taken a toll on the Fox Chapel Area School District 2020-21 budget, with program cuts that include the elimination of two school resource officers and a pause on the elementary Spanish Immersion program. “Because of the unknown impact on projected revenues and expenditures,...
Police: Leechburg man arrested for selling cocaine in North Apollo
A Leechburg man was arrested early Tuesday morning after police said he was selling cocaine in North Apollo. Jonathan Rearick, 28, was arrested around 12:50 a.m. by the Kiski Township Police Department after they said he was selling cocaine at the R Bar, located at 418 16th Street. Officers said...
The Stroller, July 7, 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@tribweb.com or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free diapers produce and baby food to be distributed Free...
Allegheny Township fire departments out of service because of coronavirus exposure
Both of Allegheny Township’s fire departments are out of service because as many as 45 people may have been exposed to coronavirus at a July 4th gathering, WPXI-TV reported. Township Manager Greg Primm told WPXI that a fire department member tested positive for coronavirus and potentially exposed those at the...
Dr. Lawrence Ferlan was truly a man for all seasons
Dr. Lawrence Ferlan’s daughter, Mary Ferlan, found the words to sum up her father’s life: “He was about going and seeing and doing and learning.” Dr. Ferlan, who lived in Harrison and practiced medicine in Tarentum for decades, died in his New Hampshire house last Thursday. He was 85. “Larry...
