Valley News Dispatch category, Page 611

Alle-Kiski Valley residents broke a sweat to raise money for less fortunate children this holiday season. Members of the Anytime Fitness locations in Allegheny Township and Cheswick participated in a Lift-a-Thon to raise money for Toys for Tots, a Marine Corps program that collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them...

Training for tax counseling offered AARP Tax Aide is recruiting volunteers for the upcoming tax preparation season. Tax Aide volunteers assist taxpayers with filing their federal, state and local taxes at no charge. Sites are located at senior centers, libraries, churches and the officers of state representatives in the Alle-Kiski...

A stretch of Route 56 westbound between New Kensington and Lower Burrell reopened after being closed for several hours following a crash Sunday night. The wreck that involved multiple vehicles was reported shortly after 9 p.m. near the cloverleaf interchange where Route 56 meets Route 366. Authorities shut down the...

No one was injured when a chimney at a New Kensington home caught fire early Sunday morning, but the blaze caused an estimated $45,000 worth of damages, fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said. The fire was reported just before 1 a.m. at 1931 Meade Ave. All the occupants were able...

Vilija Dinner planned at Tarentum church Holy Martyrs Parish, Tarentum, will host a traditional Vilija Dinner at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the church, 353 W. Ninth Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $16. The menu will include baked fish, pierogies, farina, bobalky, sauerkraut and mushroom soup, oplatki...

Get in the holiday spirit at “Hometown Christmas 2019: Counting Down to Christmas.” This 24th annual event will feature songs that exude happy feelings this time of the year. There are three performances at the Casino Theatre in Vandergrift. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7 and 2 p.m. Dec....

Apollo-Ridge High to sponsor annual Senior Citizen Luncheon The annual free Senior Citizen Luncheon at Apollo-Ridge High School will be Dec. 12 at the high school, Route 56, Kiski Township. A concert featuring the school band and chorus will begin at 12:30 p.m. and lunch will be served at 1:15...

Financial woes and a lack of officers might prevent a five-decade-old pool in Springdale Township from opening next summer. Richard Kern is interim treasurer for the Allegheny Valley Swimming Pool Association, which operates Bouquet Park Pool. Kern said the most significant issue the pool is facing is the need for...

Natalie Cale was moving through the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer, two stuffed bags in each hand, with a destination in mind. It was her car, where she planned to drop off her load of gifts before heading back in for more. Cale was finding the deals on this year’s...

Organizers of Harrison’s Christmas parade and festival plan to hold the festival under a tent this year to avoid a repeat of last year, when Mother Nature was a Grinch and rained out the festivities. Rain or shine, the parade will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and is...

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania will use a $30,000 state grant to put on a bird festival and offer free tree giveaways, youth programs at libraries and more in Buffalo Township and nearby communities. The nonprofit also will use grant money from the state Department of Conservation and Natural...

A record number of runners participated in the annual Kiski Valley Turkey Trot on Thursday. The run is one of the Kiski Area Youth Network’s largest fundraisers. The event raised more than $20,000, which is substantially more than in previous years, said Josh Westurn, the organization’s director. Even though the...

Toys For Children drive to benefit Deer Lakes children West Deer Police Department is sponsoring its 23rd annual Toys for Children drive to benefit children age 1 to 14 living in low-income households in the Deer Lakes School District. New toys can be dropped off from 7 a.m. to 3...

Rebecca Dick figured she’d work off some calories before consuming more by taking part in the Deer Lakes Turkey Trot with her father, Robert. “He likes to run, and I like to eat a lot on Thanksgiving,” Dick, of West Deer, said Thursday morning after stretching outside of Deer Lakes...

While many are thankful for their own family on Thanksgiving, Madolyn Hyde was thankful for another. Hyde was among those who came to Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church in Leechburg on Thursday for the free dinner now in its 10th year put on by Jamie Rimmel, members of her family...

Between 50 and 60 years ago, three brothers decided to play football in their small Vandergrift backyard on Thanksgiving. Pete Guerrera was 12 or 13; Michael Guerrera was 7; and Anthony Guerrera was 5. Now that they’re in their mid- to late 60s — or early 70s in Pete’s case...

As it has for 35 years, Operation Santa Claus will make sure thousands of needy Western Pennsylvania families enjoy the gift of a holiday meal this year. Operation Santa Claus is a nonprofit organization and a cooperative effort by Trib Total Media, Shop ’n Save and the Salvation Army. This...

Cheswick Council is expected to appoint a new council member and board representative to the recently formed Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department. Incumbent councilman Michael Girardi won two seats in the Nov. 5 election, one with a four-year term and another with a two-year term. Girardi is expected to choose...

Count your blessings this Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is more than the festivities. It gives us time ponder upon what lessons we have learned and how we can spread happiness around, to look back at all the great memories and good people who came in our lives. Happy Thanksgiving Day to our...

Forty families in Vandergrift will have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner this week thanks to the town’s Community Watch and donations from community establishments. The Vandergrift Community Watch organized Thanksgiving packages for the families, complete with turkeys, potatoes, vegetables and more. In the four years his group has been putting on...