Westmoreland category, Page 470
Farmers market at Keystone State Park sees resurgence under new management
The Keystone Farmers Market at Keystone State Park is regrouping this season under new management, following a year in hiatus during the covid-19 pandemic. Samantha Matter, who manages the market for the Friends of Keystone State Park volunteer organization, said participation by vendors was spotty at the beginning of the...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Aug. 13-15
Sounds of summer Jazz by Shaun Martin & Band is on tap at 7 p.m. Friday, for the season’s second SummerSounds concert in Greensburg’s St. Clair Park. Keyboard player Martin is a member of Snarky Puppy, a Grammy-winning jazz fusion ensemble that has previously played SummerSounds. He is also music...
Rostraver woman charged with embezzlement, setting credit union fire
A Westmoreland County woman is charged with embezzling money from a Monessen credit union and setting a fire in an attempt to conceal the theft, federal officials announced. Patty L. Mavrakis, 63, of Rostraver was indicted on charges of embezzlement, wire fraud and use of fire to commit a federal...
Unity to display plans for Wimmerton intersection upgrade
Unity officials are planning a Sept. 20 meeting to get public input on potential improvement of the intersection of Route 30 and Wimmerton Boulevard. The open house meeting is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the township municipal building on Beatty County Road. Township Engineer Dan Schmitt said...
Fire extensively damages Latrobe pastry shop, displaces apartment dweller
A fire extensively damaged Latrobe’s Dainty Pastry Shoppe Thursday night and displaced one occupant from an apartment in the Depot Street building, according to fire officials. Reported at about 9:30 p.m., the blaze was knocked down within an hour, Latrobe Fire Chief John Brasile said, though crews remained on the...
Latrobe historical society to screen film portraying community in 1937
In a two-part program, Latrobe Area Historical Society will present a documentary film produced in 1937 that depicts the people and places of the community in the period before World War II. Originally sponsored by Latrobe’s public school system, the silent black-and-white film includes images of local schoolchildren, businesses and...
Westmoreland commissioners pressed to take public opinion into account when spending relief fundsVideo
Westmoreland commissioners will convene a public hearing to gather recommendations on how the county should spend $105 million in American Rescue Plan funds. No date has been set. Commissioners Doug Chew and Gina Cerilli Thrasher committed to hosting an information session after hearing from dozens of community members who spoke...
Arnold Palmer airport gets $2.3M to offset covid-related costs
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport is set to receive a federal grant of more than $2.3 million to help cover covid-19 mitigation costs. The money from the U.S. Department of Transportation may be used to reimburse pandemic-related expenses including staffing, cleaning costs and janitorial services, U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-Blair County)...
Motorcyclists head to Murrysville for Freedom Fest
Less than three hours into Freedom Fest 2021 — the second annual fundraiser and campout hosted by the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education’s Westmoreland County Chapter — it was 92 degrees and shade was already at a premium. Late Thursday afternoon, the shady treeline along the edges of Murrysville’s...
Job seekers flock to state-sponsored job fair near YoungwoodVideo
With the extra federal unemployment insurance due to expire next month, jobless workers flocked to a state-sponsored job fair near Youngwood in search of work among some 40 employers offering positions in manufacturing, light industrial, office, restaurant, nursing home, emergency dispatching and a variety of driving jobs. Shujuane Martin, president...
Former Franklin Regional school director held for court on political sign theft charges
A judge on Thursday rejected a defense argument that a former Franklin Regional school director was removing “litter” by taking campaign signs from a Hempfield intersection. Defense attorney Jack Manderino argued that Gary English, 65, of Murrysville was enforcing a law that prohibits signs on state roads without permission. “He...
Greensburg-based Laurel Region Big Brothers Big Sisters named national Agency of the Year
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America named the Laurel Region branch in Greensburg as its national Agency of the Year in the “Small Agency” category. Four affiliates in the small, medium, mid-large and large agency categories were chosen from among 279 agencies across the U.S. “Just like everyone else, we...
Special menus are in for Greensburg Restaurant Week
The menus are in for Greensburg Restaurant Week. The semiannual showcase of Westmoreland County restaurants and what they do best runs Friday through Aug. 29, with this round featuring 21 eateries. During the event, local restaurants promote lunch and/or dinner specials offering reduced prices for a fixed-price menu. The specials,...
Delmont officials receive 1st American Relief plan payment
Delmont officials will tuck away their first payment of federal American Relief Plan funding until they decide how they’d like to spend it. The borough received roughly $132,000 in federal covid relief funds, a partial payment that will be completed next year. Council President Andrew Shissler said the money will...
Greensburg Salem approves mask ‘recommendation’ for new school year
When Greensburg Salem students and staff head back to class for the fall semester, they’ll have a choice on whether to wear masks inside schools. Some school board members, however, are concerned parents won’t realize students have that flexibility. As several parents voiced their objections to governmental mask mandates, the...
Westmoreland Museum’s summer fun day includes shopping, music, movie
On Saturday, visitors to The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg can browse a pop-up shop, grab a bite to eat, hear live music and finish the late-summer fun day with a free movie. Three small business owners will be selling their wares from 3-8 p.m., including: • A...
Hempfield house hit by fire
A house along Bridge Street in Hempfield was extensively damaged by a fire late Thursday night. The fire, which was reported at 10:50 p.m. , went through the roof on the 900 block of Bridge Street, located off the Cedar Street exit of the Route 30 bypass. The property is...
Road sign honoring late Rep. Mike Reese unveiledVideo
Motorists traveling along a section of Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township will be reminded they are traveling on a highway named for a beloved state legislator who died in January. Family members of the late Rep. Mike Reese joined state, county and local officials and scores of friends Wednesday...
Export man arrested in connection with Homewood shooting
An Export man was arrested in connection with a fatal shooting Aug. 2 in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood. Pittsburgh police said Roemon Howard, 21, of Export was charged Wednesday with criminal homicide, carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, and reckless endangerment. Howard is...
Blairsville man acquitted for threats after wife recants allegations
A Blairsville man was found not guilty of making threats to kill his wife after she told a Westmoreland County jury she lied to police. Police claimed James Leroy Trout Jr., 45, pointed a gun at a Latrobe home on Oct. 15, 2019 where his wife fled to after the...
Westmoreland tax office to remain closed until Monday as covid-19 cases confirmed
The tax office at the Westmoreland County Courthouse will remain closed to the public until Monday, Aug. 16 after employees testified positive for the coronavirus. County officials said test results reported Wednesday afternoon confirmed that three employees in the first-floor courthouse annex office had contracted the virus. The office was...
Ex-Latrobe wrestling coach testifies in alleged hazing case
A former junior high school wrestling coach testified he didn’t originally believe any crimes were committed or students were hurt when he saw one of his team leaders brandish a stick before practice last year. But Cary James Lydic admitted Wednesday that video of the incident suggested wrongdoing. Responding to...
Child safety advocates launch billboard campaign against Sen. Kim Ward
Child sexual abuse prevention advocates are making good on their promise to keep the heat on state Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward for her refusal to advance a bill giving adult survivors of child sexual abuse their day in court. This week, they took their battle to the Hempfield Republican’s...
Lead Safe Westmoreland program offers free abatement, training for contractors
Westmoreland officials hope county homeowners with children will help get the lead out of their residences. Funded through a $3.4 million federal grant that began in January, the newly formed Lead Safe Westmoreland program is seeking both homeowners to take part in the lead abatement program and contractors to help...
Wine Store at Vallozzi’s Restaurant in Hempfield offers unique varieties
While other folks were learning to crochet or bake bread during quarantine, restaurateur Ernie Vallozzi turned his attention to wine. The results of his study are on display — and for sale — in the new Wine Store at Vallozzi’s Restaurant in Hempfield. “We had a realization (during pandemic restrictions)...
