Valley News Dispatch category, Page 627
New Kensington pushes back garbage pickup because of Thanksgiving
Friday garbage pickup in New Kensington has been pushed back a day, according to the city. The city said in a news release that garbage normally scheduled to be picked up on Friday would be picked up on Saturday instead because of the Thanksgiving holiday....
Thousands of miles apart, Oakmont brothers stay close through fishing
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. A love of fly fishing and a love of helping people thousands of miles away has bonded a pair of Oakmont brothers. Matt Geppert and his older brother, Sam, grew...
Highlands hopes to address deficiencies in grade school English, math and science
Highlands School District appears ready to go to work to remedy deficiencies from a state performance measure. Assistant Superintendent Cathleen Cubelic said the Pennsylvania Future Ready Index showed Highlands students are not meeting state averages in a number of categories. The three testing categories were: state assessment measures, on-track measures...
Allegheny Valley School District considers fortifying wall of Veterans Memorial Stadium
Allegheny Valley School District officials are considering fortifying the Lincoln Avenue wall of Veterans Memorial Stadium in Springdale. “It’s pretty evident that the wall is continuing to move,” Matt Pitsch of Senate Engineering told the school board last week. The large block wall of the stadium where the Springdale Junior- Senior...
Rite Aid gives former pharmacy building to Tarentum church
Cathy Blythe was driving past the shuttered Rite Aid on Corbet Street in Tarentum when, she says, God spoke to her. He told her to call the real estate agent selling the building. Blythe took over as pastor of Abundant Joy Fellowship in Tarentum after her husband, Greg Blythe, died...
The Stroller, Nov. 25, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Stuff the Cruiser event set in Saxonburg Saxonburg Police Department will host a Stuff the Cruiser event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at South Butler County Library, 240 W. Main St., and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Saxonburg Coffee and Tea, 211 W. Main St., in...
Eccentric millionaire’s O’Hara mansion leaves lasting legacy as Bayernhof Music MuseumVideo
This isn’t your typical mansion-turned-museum. On high ground overlooking Sharpsburg and the Allegheny River in O’Hara sits the Bayernhof Music Museum, the former 19,000-square-foot residence of Pittsburgh millionaire Charles Boyd Brown III, known simply as “Chuck” to his friends. Often referred to as one of the area’s best-kept secrets, the...
Last call for electronic, hazardous household waste disposal in Cheswick
Cheswick residents can dispose of their electronic and hazardous household waste in the final of four special collections this year on Dec. 6. Residents have until 5 p.m. Monday to schedule a pickup by calling Vogel Disposal Service at 724-625-1511. Household items being collected include latex paint, automotive products, garden...
The Stroller, Nov. 24, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Alle-Kiski HOPE Center collecting clothing and personal items The Alle-Kiski HOPE Center is seeking donations of clothing and personal items for the clients that it serves. Items most needed include new pajamas, slippers, socks, underwear for all sizes and genders, full-size shampoo and body wash, hair brushes, combs and Chapstick....
No tax increase planned in Allegheny Township
Allegheny Township Supervisors have approved a $4.1 million preliminary budget that includes no property tax increase. If the final budget, scheduled to be approved next month, remains unchanged, it would be the 10th consecutive year without a tax increase. Proposed spending in the preliminary budget is 4.4% higher than this...
Allegheny Valley sewage authority upgrading treatment plant ahead of 2023 deadline
The Allegheny Valley Joint Sanitary Authority’s sewage treatment plant expansion is moving forward through the planning phase. John Mowery of KLH Engineers said Wednesday the mechanical design is all but complete, to be followed by the electrical design and structural design. The authority plans to expand its sewage treatment capacity...
Tarentum-Brackenridge Christmas Parade gets Alle-Kiski Valley pumped for holidaysVideo
To his shivering musicians warming up their vocal chords, Matthew Beresik offered these motivational words: “Sing like Santa’s watching you.” The Highlands High School Golden Rams Marching Band director then led them as they ushered in the annual Tarentum-Brackenridge Christmas Parade on Saturday by playing and singing familiar Yuletide tunes....
The Stroller, Nov. 23, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Cub Scouts to collect blankets for homeless veterans Cub Scout Pack 556 Wolf Den will host a drive to collect new or gently-used blankets for homeless veterans from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Lower Burrell Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1601 Wildlife Lodge Road. To make a donation at...
Fox Chapel native opens Simple Sugars holiday pop-up shopVideo
Bakery Square will be a little smoother this holiday season. Simple Sugars, an all-natural handmade skincare product line specially formulated for sensitive skin, has opened a holiday pop-up shop through Dec. 22 in the East End shopping complex. The products have previously been sold only through its website. “I have...
2 injured in Saltsburg Road crash in Washington TownshipVideo
Saltsburg Road was closed late Friday night near Pfeffer Road in Washington Township after two people were injured in a crash that left one car on its roof. Washington Township police said they believe one of the two cars involved was pulling out from Pfeffer Road into the eastbound lanes...
Deer Lakes Middle School students win ‘Powering Pittsburgh’ competitionVideo
Four Deer Lakes Middle School students are renewable energy champions. Students Natalie Shaffer, Elizabeth Strang, Jillian Beiber and Lia DeForce-Petersen placed first in the middle school division of Powering Pittsburgh, a competition that encourages students to come up with alternative ways to generate power in the city of Pittsburgh or...
Lower Burrell Republican hopes to challenge incumbent state Sen. Jim Brewster
A New Kensington-based attorney and mother of four wants to challenge state Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, for his seat in the 2020 general election. Nicole Ziccarelli, a Republican, announced she is running for Brewster’s seat in the 45th Senatorial District, which includes the Alle-Kiski Valley communities including Plum, Arnold, Lower...
Salvation Army buys New Kensington’s Fort Crawford building for $850K
The Salvation Army of New Kensington closed on a deal Friday to buy the former Fort Crawford Elementary School for $850,000, its captain said. The organization plans to start moving into the Third Street building in December. “The biggest thing we’re excited about is our opportunity to be able to...
New Kensington Bridge inspection to close section of Freeport Road
A section of Freeport Road that goes under the New Kensington Bridge will be closed to northbound motorists from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday because of inspection work. Northbound motorists will be able to use the bridge ramps to exit and get back on Freeport Road. Flaggers will be...
Salvation Army loses week of fundraising to Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving coming later than usual this year, many Salvation Army centers across Western Pennsylvania are starting their annual Red Kettle campaigns early in order to meet their fundraising goals. The Salvation Army’s Western Pennsylvania Division will place the familiar red kettles at Giant Eagle stores starting Monday, spokeswoman Ava...
Witness in New Kensington cop killer’s case transferred amid safety concerns
A key witness in the trial of convicted New Kensington cop killer Rahmael Holt has been transferred out of the Westmoreland County Prison, the District Attorney’s Office said Friday . Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar said Tavon Harper is being held in Washington County “for his protection.” Harper, 29, was...
The Stroller, Nov. 22, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Santa needs help: You can ‘adopt’ senior for Christmas Concordia Lutheran Ministries has again opened its Adopt-A-Resident Program to the community. Individuals, businesses or congregations may call the facility of their choice to “adopt” a resident and give him or her Christmas gifts. Gift suggestions include a sweat suit, door...
Vandergrift holding night markets during holiday season
Vandergrift has launched a new series of night markets and invites local vendors to sell handcrafted goods and connect with the community. The first Holiday Night Market took place Thursday in the town’s former J.C. Penney building on Grant Avenue. The event was sponsored by the Vandergrift Improvement Program, a...
Children’s book about Merlyn the police dog has special connection to Allegheny Valley schoolsVideo
Who wouldn’t love a police dog that pines for French fries? Second-graders at Acmetonia Elementary School in Harmar learned the eating and work habits of Merlyn, the now retired police dog for Springdale Township. Jennifer Callen-Naviglia and her sister, Leslee Green, recently released the children’s book, “K-9 Merlyn Police Dog...
Leechburg talent show to raise money for spring musical
The Leechburg Drama Club is hoping its second annual talent show fundraiser Friday is at least as successful as last year’s inaugural event, which raised $4,000 to help put on a high school musical. Regardless, those attending Friday’s event are going to get a good show, according to Leechburg Area...
