Valley News Dispatch category, Page 602
New Kensington-Arnold adds 4 food-distribution locations
New Kensington-Arnold School District is making changes to where and when it is distributing meals to students and children while the district’s schools are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Superintendent John Pallone on Thursday said four new locations are being added to where lunch and breakfast items can be...
Highlands principal gets $135K in settlement, release agreement
A former Highlands School District principal who sued the district in federal court, alleging that administrators retaliated against her for taking unpaid leave, will receive $135,000 as part of a settlement and release agreement. Highlands School Board approved the agreement with Heather Bigney on Monday. The district released the agreement...
Burrell delivers meals to students’ doorsteps during school shutdownVideo
While many school districts are providing food to their students while schools are closed, Burrell School District has gone a step further by delivering food directly to its students’ homes. “We do want everyone to know that we care,” Burrell food service director Andrew Klipple said. “With all there is...
New Kensington, Arnold officers remain on leave following officer-involved shooting
Two New Kensington police officers and one Arnold officer remained on paid administrative leave Thursday, nearly a week after police shot and killed a man they say was brandishing a shotgun. The incident happened around 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon when police responded to calls about a man with a shotgun...
East Deer closes municipal, tax offices to stop spread of coronavirus
East Deer has closed its municipal offices to visitors because of the coronavirus outbreak, but office staff can still be reached by phone and email. The township building, which includes police and municipal offices, will remain on restricted access until further notice, officials said. Township staff can be reached at...
Gilpin, Leechburg offices closed, but services still available
More Alle-Kiski Valley communities have closed their municipal offices to the public due to coronavirus, but residents can still contact officials by phone or email. Gilpin’s office will remain closed through the end of the month. Gilpin Secretary Sharon Long can be reached at secretary@gilpintwp.com or by phone at 724-845-0981....
Here’s A-K Valley schools’ plan to feed students in need
School districts started announcing how they will get food to students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches amid a statewide public school shutdown over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday ordered all Pennsylvania schools to close for two weeks in an effort to stem the...
The Stroller, March 19, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Send cancellations to The Stroller The Stroller will publish news of cancellations and events that will still occur in the upcoming days. If your non-profit has to cancel or change an event or is helping members of the public, please send information to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood...
Emergency pact for Cheswick, Harmar and Springdale provides face masks for first responders
The regional emergency coordinator for Cheswick, Harmar and Springdale has distributed face masks for police, and soon fire companies, for indoor interaction with residents. Bruno Moretti, coordinator of the Allegheny Valley Regional Management Agency, said the measure is meant to protect first responders as well as residents in the potential...
Community rallies around Lelulo’s Pizzeria after burglary, free student lunches continue
Sometimes bad things happen to good people. The phrase never rang more true for Patyn McCune than Tuesday morning when the young owner of Lelulo’s Pizzeria walked up to her shop and found it had been burglarized. Her shop at 311 Unity Trestle Road in Plum has been offering free...
Freeport tries to sustain community during covid-19 pandemic
No one asked Jackie Gaughan to organize a free lunch program in Freeport, but in less than 24 hours, she did. “The town just really rallies together at times like this,” said Gaughan. “It’s great to be a part of this small town.” Like towns across the region, Freeport is...
ATI offering retirement to incentive to cut costs
Allegheny Technologies Inc. will be offering a voluntary early retirement incentive in an effort to cut costs, the company announced. The program will be for eligible salaried, non-union employees, spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said. To be eligible, employees have to meet age and service requirements. The company has not disclosed how...
Highlands community groups offering additional lunch sites for students
Organizations in Highlands School District communities are working together to offer lunches for students in more locations. The school district previously announced it would be providing to-go lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays, beginning Wednesday, at the high school in Harrison, elementary school in Tarentum and in Sheldon...
The Stroller, March 18, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Send cancellations to The Stroller The Stroller will publish news of cancellations and events that will still occur in the upcoming days. If your non-profit has to cancel or change an event or is helping members of the public, please send information to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood...
Highland Park Bridge project meeting canceled, information given online
PennDOT will provide details online of the $55 million Highland Park Bridge interchange project — in lieu of a meeting that was scheduled to be hosted Thursday at Fox Chapel Area High School. This comes in the wake of state-mandated closures of schools and gatherings of more than a handful...
Man struck by car in New Kensington hospitalized
A man hit by a car Tuesday on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington apparently stepped into the road before the crash, said police Chief Bob Deringer. “No charges will be filed against the driver at this time,” Deringer said Wednesday, but that the investigation is continuing. Deringer said the...
Cheswick borough office closed but services still available
Cheswick has closed its borough offices for visits from residents because of coronavirus concerns, but residents can reach out to the borough by telephone and email, officials said. Office staff can be reached during normal business hours by calling 724-274-5125 or sending an email to boroughsecretary@cheswick.us or assistantsecretary@cheswick.us. Residents can...
Highlands accepting emails for vacant school board seat
Highlands School District will now accept applications for a vacant school board seat via email. The district had previously specifically prohibited people from submitting application electronically. The Region 2 seat became vacant when Misty Chybrzynski, former board president, resigned after moving out of the district. Region 2 covers Brackenridge and...
Enclosed portion of Pittsburgh Mills mall closes indefinitely over coronavirus outbreak
The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills will close at 6 p.m. Tuesday and remain closed “until further notice,” the mall announced on its Facebook page. The closure applies to the enclosed mall only. The mall advised shoppers to check with other stores outside the mall about their status. “In response to...
Alle-Kiski Valley police begin responding to some calls by phone
Some police departments in the Alle-Kiski Valley will be responding to some nonemergency calls over the phone. New Kensington officers “will use their discretion” in deciding if a nonemergency call can be handled with a phone call or if they need to respond to the scene, police Chief Robert Deringer...
Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame banquet canceled
The Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame’s 48th annual induction banquet, scheduled for April 26 at Laube Hall in Freeport, has been canceled, the organization’s secretary, Dennis Wolfe, confirmed Tuesday. The decision came in a unanimous telephone vote of the board of governors Monday evening in conjunction with the continuing...
State Rep. Pyle closes district offices, but public can still call, email
State Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Ford City, announced his office will be closed to visitors, but constituents will be able to call and communicate online with his office. Pyle, who has district offices in Buffalo Township and Ford City, said he is following directions from the state House to lessen the...
State Supreme Court Justice Wecht self-quarantines family after son has presumed coronavirus
An Indiana Township man is recovering from a presumed case of the coronavirus, while officials in Fox Chapel Area School District are warning that two of the man’s siblings were at the high school Monday after being in contact with him. Pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht identified the man as his...
Highlands settles former principal’s federal lawsuit
Highlands School District has settled one of two federal lawsuits accusing the district and its superintendent of violating employees’ leave rights. The school board approved a settlement with Heather Bigney, former principal of Highlands Early Childhood Center, at a meeting Monday. A lawsuit filed by former fourth-grade teacher Jason Smith...
Band Together Pittsburgh founders earn international Communitas Award for autism programsVideo
Music can be a stabilizing force and an anchor in one’s life. It’s certainly been that for Ron Esser of Frazer Township, whose longstanding love for live music — the blues in particular — led him to become the owner of Moondog’s and the Starlite Lounge in Blawnox. Esser and...
