Valley News Dispatch category, Page 630

Host families are needed for foreign exchange students for this school year. According to Kathy Harenski, the AFS liaison coordinator for Western Pennsylvania, the eight students needing families to stay with come from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Japan and China. They are between 15 and 17 years old. They can...

An O’Hara man died Thursday morning after he was struck by two vans while riding his bike along Freeport Road in Harmar, officials said. Thomas Haykin, 57, was pronounced dead at 6:23 a.m. shortly after the incident, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said. Haykin was riding his bike in...

Another business is leaving the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. Philip Pelusi, an upscale Pittsburgh-based hair salon with 11 locations throughout the region, opened at the Mills location in 2005, coinciding with the mall’s grand opening. “We have a great team of designers that work at our Mills location,” Philip...

A 5-year-old Fox Chapel girl died Thursday evening when the all-terrain vehicle on which she was riding with her father and sister crashed, according to police. The crash occurred near Guyasuta and Longfellow roads shortly before 7:30 p.m. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the girl as Annabel Whittingham....

Allegheny County Police want to warn people about a phone scam soliciting money with threats of arrest. County Inspector Andrew Schurman said multiple residents have reported receiving such calls the past few days. “In one reported instance the caller requested money from the recipient for prepaid calling cards,” Schurman said....

The cement already is poured for the “catio” and framing installed for the addition of dog kennels at a former school in New Kensington’s Parnassus neighborhood that will soon be an animal shelter. Officials from Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley say the finish line is in sight for the New...

Skip Beal was a passionate newsman who knew the Alle-Kiski Valley inside and out and wasn’t afraid to spark a little outrage when he wrote The Stroller column in the Valley News Dispatch. “He loved his job, there’s no doubt about it,” said his oldest son, Benjamin Beal III of...

A 31-year-old Leechburg man is charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. Mark Faiola was being held in the Armstrong County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 4. According to a criminal complaint, Faiola is accused of touching the girl inappropriately on June...

A Harrison girl is branching out in her efforts to support police — even crossing a river. Kaley Bastine, 7, will be selling cupcakes from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Bird Dog’s Sports Bar & Grill in Harrison to raise money for New Kensington police Officer...

A group working to dedicate a monument to honor veterans of the war on terrorism 20 years after the 9/11 attacks will be holding an informational program in Tarentum. The Westmoreland County Veterans of the War on Terror will hold the free event at the Alle-Kiski Valley Heritage Museum at...

Harrison’s tree-planting campaign is growing, with plans for another 50 to be planted in the township this year. Those trees will bring the number planted in the township since 2016 to 140, according to Harrison Commissioner Chuck Dizard. The latest crop is expected to be planted in early November. The...

A unique waterside dining option is open inside Aspinwall Riverfront Park. Farmer x Baker, a repurposed shipping container-turned-cafe nestled along the Allegheny River in the scenic 10-acre park, is the first of its kind in Pittsburgh. All 160 square feet of it. The eco-friendly creation of owner Jennifer Urich, Farmer...

Harrison commissioners approved spending a little more than $20,000 on a project to repair the township’s World War II Honor Roll memorial. A volunteer committee developed a plan to save the memorial at Freeport and Springhill roads that includes repairing its crumbling structure and replacing its panels of painted-on names...

Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact reporter Madasyn Czebiniak at mczebiniak@tribweb.com. At Full Circle Furniture & Gifts in Vandergrift, wood...

Authorities on Monday started to examine the boat that capsized and caused the disappearance of a Plum man in Lake Erie. Raymond Burns, 58, went missing nine days earlier, on Aug. 17. The 21-foot recreational fishing boat was hit by a squall and swamped by massive waves just before 10...

New Kensington-Arnold School District extended its contracts with Superintendent John Pallone and two other administrators. The extensions for Pallone and athletic Director William Colosimo come two years ahead of the end of their current contracts. The extension for Jeff McVey, director of administrative services, is one year early. The three-year...

A New Kensington man originally charged as the person who supplied drugs in two fatal overdoses two years ago on Monday pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Theodore Brown, 25, was facing two counts of drug delivery resulting in death in connection with the Nov. 5, 2017 overdoses of Malachai E....

A mosquito sample from New Kensington tested positive for West Nile virus, the state West Nile Control Program announced Monday. It came from a trap set by the Westmoreland County Conservation District, according to state Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Lauren Fraley. “Additional trapping will be conducted to gather more...

West Deer officials have approved a program to honor veterans with banners hung from utility poles. The military banners program was approved in a 5-1 vote, with Supervisor Gerry Vaerewyck opposing it. Under the program, residents can honor a family member who served in the Armed Forces by buying a...

Criminal charges have been withdrawn against a New Kensington man who police accused of raping a woman earlier this year. The Allegheny County District Attorney’s office withdrew seven charges, including rape, that were filed against James Michael Tessauro, 38, in connection with an incident in January. The charges were withdrawn...

From turning on the sirens to climbing on the trucks, kids of all ages got to interact with local first responders up close and personal Sunday at the inaugural Buffalo Township Family Day. The free event was hosted by the Buffalo Township parks and recreation committee and the Friends of...