Valley News Dispatch category, Page 686
Belle Voci women’s choir steps up to help Race for the Cure
Music lovers who attend Belle Voci of Pittsburgh’s final season concert Saturday might feel like they’re on a whirlwind tour of Europe, Asia and Africa — all while never traveling farther than New Kensington. Belle Voci, the inter-generational women’s choir led by O’Hara resident Craig Cannon, will perform “Musica Folk...
Comparing superintendent salaries in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Tribune-Review examined Department of Education data to gauge what our local school districts are paying their superintendent. Below is a look at how superintendents are paid in the Alle-Kiski Valley....
Vandergrift police officer honored for community service by VFW
Vandergrift Police Sgt. Tony DePanicis knows listening is crucial to quality police work. That, and not letting a 103-year-old woman grab her slippers during a house fire. The Vandergrift VFW Post 566 recently honored DePanicis and Vandergrift Fire Co. No. 1 Chief Tom Schaeffer with its prestigious Community Service Award....
North Hills Brew Fest takes over Pittsburgh Shrine Center
They brew beer in the basement, sometimes in their kitchens. It’s a hobby, a passion and often an experiment. They will share their drinks at the third annual North Hills Home Brew Fest on May 11 at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center’s Pavilion, an outdoor covered space in Cheswick. This will...
Kitchen fire causes smoke damage at former Giuliani’s Market in Arnold
There was heavy smoke damage Saturday afternoon after a kitchen fire in an apartment in the former Giuliani’s Market in Arnold. Arnold No. 1 Fire Chief Walter Gouza said it was an accidental grease fire that broke out at about 4:30 p.m. and was put out in about 15 minutes....
Photos: Fox Chapel Area prom
Fox Chapel Area students celebrated their prom on May 4, 2019 and this year’s fashions didn’t disappoint. Prior to the event, hosted at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center, students and their dates struck poses at many of the picturesque locations across the Lower Valley. Perennial favorites for photos include Squaw...
After overcoming bullies, 9-year-old becomes Lower Burrell’s mayor
Lower Burrell Mayor Nico Pampena was full of smiles as he shook hands with a bevy of officials after taking office Saturday, when Richard Callender abdicated his seat for a day. Nico, 9, was excited to get to inspect the city’s fleet of police cars, fire trucks and other vehicles...
Special meeting set for Monday in Oakmont to hire new borough manager
Oakmont officials may have found their new borough manager. A special meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday, May 6, at the borough building to approve the new hire. A workshop meeting will follow. More than 70 people have applied and s dozen were interviewed since the original announcement of...
Cause of fire that destroys vacant house in Plum under investigation
An Allegheny County fire marshal is investigating a fire that destroyed a vacant house Friday night in Plum. No injuries were reported. The blaze started shortly before 9 p.m. in the 800 block of Unity-Center Road. Smoke could be seen from blocks away. Unity Volunteer Fire Dept. Fire Chief Glenn...
Roaring Run Rumble brings mountain biking to Apollo this weekend
The Roaring Run Rumble is coming back to Apollo this weekend, with activities for biking pros and novices alike. “The theme is to get people out on bicycles, get them trying bicycles,” said Ashley Reefer, event organizer and owner of Greensburg’s Flat Tire Co. bike shop. The annual rumble is...
Burrell High School Prom
Burrell High School had its prom Friday night. Here is a photo gallery of the highlights from the grand march....
Lower Burrell Dems to hold 2 rallies for incumbent candidates at Burrell Plaza and Mogie’s
Three of Lower Burrell’s incumbent candidates in hotly contested races – Mayor Rich Callender and Councilmen Christopher Koziarski and Christopher Fabry – will hold campaign rallies this month. A “flash rally” with free hot dogs is set for Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the U-Haul moving and...
Upper Burrell officials defend proposed home inspection ordinance
Editor’s note: this story has been modified to clarify and correct errors. The Upper Burrell Supervisors are trying to assure residents that a proposed home inspection ordinance would not be restrictive. Ron Saylor of Guyer Road recently questioned the intent of the ordinance. Saylor said Upper Burrell’s is similar to...
Ford City, Cadogan residents face cocaine charges
Two Armstrong County residents are accused of selling cocaine. Dennis John Johnson Jr., 38, of Ford City, and Shana Lee Warcholak, 33, of Cadogan each are facing 11 drug-related charges. Johnson was arrested Thursday by the Armstrong County Narcotics Enforcement Team (ARMNET). He was arraigned and sent to the Armstrong...
People being scammed out of ‘thousands of dollars,’ West Deer police chief saysVideo
West Deer Police Chief Jon Lape has seen phone scams pop up pretty much everywhere, including his community. In the last year, Lape said his department has received roughly a dozen calls from residents reporting phone scams. “They seem like around March, April and now there’s a lot of them...
DeStefano Florist is closing after 35 years in business in Arnold
And then there was one. For years, Arnold Flower Shop and DeStefano Florist have been a few doors from each other on Fifth Avenue in Arnold. That’s changing this month, as DeStefano’s is closing. “It’s time,” said Lynda Demharter, who has owned DeStefano’s for 17 years. She bought it from...
Upper Burrell temporarily shelves fire-tax proposal
Upper Burrell Supervisors will temporarily shelve a proposal for a 2-mill fire tax as they further study the finances of the township’s volunteer fire company, according to Supervisors Chairman Ross Walker. In April, the board directed its solicitor to draw up a resolution for a 2-mill fire tax to pay...
Springdale flushing hydrants this month
Springdale residents may experience changes in water color and pressure while the borough flushes hydrants this month. Crews will flush the hydrants the week of May 19 to May 24. Residents should test the water before washing clothes or using large amounts of water. If problems persist, residents can contact...
Freeport Area looking at tax hikes for proposed $33.5M budget
Freeport Area school directors will vote Wednesday on a proposed budget that would raise real estate taxes an average of $20 per year in Armstrong County and $80 per year in Butler County. The $33.5 million budget for the next school year is a 2.4% increase over the current school...
West Deer schedules family fishing event
The West Deer Parks & Recreation Board and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold their annual family fishing event this month. Families can come out and fish from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 31 at Deer Lakes Park. Children will learn basic fishing skills such as baiting a...
Washington Township burglary suspect remains in jail
A Washington Township man accused of a string of burglaries last year in the township was arrested this week. David Andrew Cavitt, 35, was arrested Wednesday in Beaver County. He was being held in Westmoreland County Prison on Friday after failing to post $100,000 bond. A preliminary hearing before District...
Brackenridge man posts bond on charges of using slur, chasing man with bat
A Brackenridge man who police said yelled racial slurs at another man, chased him with a baseball bat and mooned him last week is free on bond. Eric Todd Clark, 47, was arrested Wednesday and released from the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh on Thursday after posting $10,000 bond, according...
Alle-Kiski Valley first target for ‘reimagining’ Westmoreland County
An initial step in Westmoreland County’s new comprehensive plan will be getting under way in the communities of the Alle-Kiski Valley. County commissioners on Thursday approved a $22,500 yearlong agreement with Susan Hockenberry Coaching and Consulting to begin the process of developing a sub-county regional plan in conjunction with “Reimagining...
Harmar sheet metal union gets $500K for training, renovations
The Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 12 in Harmar plans to make building improvements and buy new training equipment with a $500,000 state grant. “We’re very excited. We’ve been really hoping this would go through,” said Greg Blose, Local 12’s business manager. The Harmar location includes the Local 12 union...
Faithful observe National Day of Prayer in New KensingtonVideo
Nine people joined together in prayer at noon Thursday by the flag pole at the New Kensington municipal building during a National Day of Prayer service. They sang and took turns lifting the nation and region up in prayer, asking for a resurgence in faith in the country and a...
