Valley News Dispatch category, Page 94
As head of Aspinwall Neighbors, Sarah Shaffer works to make ‘great place to live even better’
From snow angels to soup delivery to sustainable rain gardens, Aspinwall Neighbors is just what the moniker says — a way to help connect people. “We’re guided by the mission of neighbors helping neighbors to build a thriving community,” said Sarah Shaffer, group president. A senior marketing manager for global...
Decreased barge traffic could impact river locks in Harmar, Highland Park
Lock service in Harmar and Highland Park could be on the chopping block pending a review of commercial barge traffic this year. “It could very well happen,” said Mike Ferris, president of the Allegheny River Development Corp. “We don’t know when it would happen, but it will be reviewed this...
Alle-Kiski Valley Senior Citizen Center calendar: Feb. 16
Armstrong County Senior Centers All centers are closed Monday for Presidents Day. Apollo Wednesday and Thursday: 10 a.m., bingo. Hours: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays. Details: Charlotte at 800-368-1066 or Amy at 724-478-1410. The center is at 707A N. Fifth St., Apollo. Freeport Tuesday and Thursday: bingo. The...
Tarentum ministry aims to help people go from ‘surviving to thriving’
People with connections outside of their family tend to be healthier and more resilient. That’s the belief of a new initiative, Communities of Transformation, hosted nationally by the United Methodist Church. “People who have trust points — people you can rely on — are better able to reach their goals,”...
The Stroller, Feb. 16, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Teen vaping to be...
Bellefonte native found second career as history teacher at Valley High in New Kensington
As a father, Ronald Lee Sheetz was fun, but you couldn’t pull anything over on him, according to his daughter, Michelle VanHorn. “I was never given a curfew, but I knew I needed to be home,” she said. “I never wanted to be an embarrassment to my parents because I...
West Leechburg getting 24/7 police coverage as part of deal with Allegheny Township
West Leechburg residents will soon go from having a local police officer available only occasionally to 24/7 coverage. Starting in March, Allegheny Township will provide around-the-clock coverage to the 1.2-square-mile borough for roughly the cost of what West Leechburg is paying to keep its three-officer force going on a part-time...
The Stroller, Feb. 15, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Burrell Bucs Hockey raising...
Railing installation to restrict New Kensington bridge traffic
Traffic will be restricted on the New Kensington Bridge next week, PennDOT announced Friday. The two-lane bridge over the Allegheny River between East Deer and New Kensington will be reduced to a single, alternating lane from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, the agency said. Crews will be...
Allegheny Township officials blame traffic light timing for backups into Route 356 roundabout
The roundabout where Route 356 meets La Belle Vue Road in Allegheny Township, completed in 2023, was meant to reduce crashes and congestion. And while police say the safety gains are real, traffic improvements from the $7.7 million project haven’t quite met expectations. Township officials have raised concerns to PennDOT...
Independence Day fireworks display won’t take place in Tarentum this year after public support fizzled
People looking for fireworks in the sky over Tarentum this Independence Day will see only stars and darkness. After 29 years of sponsoring the annual holiday pyrotechnics, Summit Hose Company members told borough council they no can longer sponsor it. Summit had held the fireworks display every July 3. “We...
Natrona trailhead to provide town gateway, safe access to kayak launch
A trailhead project in the Natrona section of Harrison could begin moving forward if all goes smoothly with design and permit approvals. The township commissioners awarded a $30,000 contract to GAI Consultants in January to begin work on the project, which will create designated parking with safer access to the...
1 shot in East Vandergrift police raid
Officials declined to identify the suspect shot by police during a raid at an apartment Friday morning in East Vandergrift. The man was shot during a police raid led by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force around 7 a.m. Friday, according to state police. Residents say the raid targeted an...
Plum awards road paving contract, seeking slide repair bids
Plum plans to resurface seven roads and six alleys in the borough this year, while also repairing a slide on another. Council on Monday accepted a bid of just over $680,000 from Tresco for the resurfacing work covering about 4 miles of road. Councilwoman Vicky Roessler was absent. The company...
Daunting equipment costs eased for Allegheny Township, Murrysville VFDs after $250K infusion from energy company
The Markle Volunteer Fire Department needs to make major repairs to its two trucks, but, like most of its peers in Western Pennsylvania, money is scarce. Spare cash will still be hard to come by for the foreseeable future, but a $100,000 grant from Olympus Energy is expected to at...
The Stroller, Feb. 14, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Happy Valentine’s Day! Don’t...
At fire academy, high school students earn class credit while training to be firefighters
Desiree Schramm wasn’t looking to become a firefighter when she was choosing electives during her junior year at North Hills High School. “I was scheduling for classes and, ‘What’s this?’ ” said Schramm, of Ross, now 18 and a senior. “This is actually pretty cool.” What Schramm stumbled across was the...
Westmoreland high school students pursue first responder certifications
Students in 10 of Westmoreland County’s school districts don’t have to wait until after graduation to pursue a career as a first responder. Through the Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center’s Protective Services class, students in grades 10-12 at select Westmoreland schools can earn certifications in firefighting, policing, EMS and...
Weapons, drug charges against former Pagans member dismissed in New Kensington
Weapons and drug charges against a former member of the Pagans motorcycle gang have been dismissed. The charges, including prohibited possession of a firearm, against Bill Robert Rana, 44, of Sharpsburg were dismissed after a preliminary hearing Thursday before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. Rana and three...
Heroin or litter box: Arnold stabbing suspects don’t agree on cause of fight
Two men who police say stabbed each other in an Arnold apartment Sunday morning were fighting over either heroin or a dirty kitty litter box, according to a criminal complaint. Police charged Michael James Holliday, 43, of Arnold and William Johnson, 54, of Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood each with felony aggravated...
New rescue truck at Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services expands specialized response
While most fire departments across the state are struggling to stay afloat, Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services is finding itself on solid ground. A merger of Aspinwall and Sharpsburg, the department is expected to purchase a $1.3 million heavy rescue truck that not only will respond to local emergencies but...
Plum School District planning $270K replacement of tennis courts
Replacing the tennis courts at Plum High School is a matter of safety, Superintendent Rick Walsh says. The courts are in such bad condition that students will play this coming season on courts at Allegheny County’s Boyce Park. “A few years ago we put a Band-Aid on the tennis courts,”...
Sheriff: 2 stolen guns recovered at New Kensington home
Westmoreland County authorities recovered two stolen guns while serving protection from abuse and eviction orders in New Kensington on Wednesday morning. The Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office charged Ralph Earl Scott Jr., 18, of New Kensington with two counts of prohibited possession of a firearm and two counts of receiving stolen...
Mercurio’s pizza chef takes home win competing in Italy
A trio of local Italian siblings are celebrating their sister’s pizza-making prowess and subsequent win in an international pizza competition. Anna Crucitt and Michael and Joe Mecurio co-own and operate Mercurio’s, known for authentic homemade Neapolitan pizza and artisan gelato, with locations in Shadyside and O’Hara. Crucitt recently won first...
The Stroller, Feb. 13, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Night at the Races...
