West Deer, Foxwall ambulance services explore merger for better coverage, faster response times
A fledgling partnership between the West Deer and Foxwall ambulance services has resulted in faster, more efficient service for residents. Just four months in, the chiefs of both stations have agreed to participate in a state study to gauge the viability of a merger or shared management. “Instead of each...
Small space, big environmental impact: Aspinwall resident to plant public pollinator garden
Pam Dickinson hopes to beautify her Aspinwall neighborhood, even if it’s one little green patch at a time. The First Street resident plans to install a butterfly and pollinator garden along Commercial Avenue in the borough’s business district, just a block or so from her home. “I always walk by...
Aspinwall eyes Brilliant Avenue realignment to provide safer access to Allegheny RiverTrail Park
A project to realign Brilliant Avenue in Aspinwall with the entrance to Allegheny RiverTrail Park is expected to improve safety and ease navigation along one of the borough’s busiest and most challenging corridors, authorities said. Mayor Scott Zimmermann said the $3.9 million construction will fix a long-standing “wonky” entrance to...
New self-care, wellness studio 1st of its kind in Fox Chapel areaVideo
High school sweethearts Dan and Erika Scherling are using advanced technology to provide optimal wellness and health at their new business venture focused on self-care. The Ross residents opened Degree Wellness Fox Chapel on March 21 in Indiana Township. It’s one of two Degree Wellness locations in Pennsylvania — the...
Volunteers replace 10 invasive trees with native ones along Freeport Road in Blawnox
Blawnox is looking a little greener with the help of multiple volunteers and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. The nonprofit environmental agency partnered with the borough for a tree planting through TreeVitalize on April 2. TreeVitalize is a community tree planting program. It’s a joint project of Allegheny County Parks, the...
Bill would designate the scarlet tanager as Pennsylvania’s official migratory birdVideo
This time of year, backyard bird enthusiasts are keeping an eye out for flashes of red. Most of the year, it would probably be a male cardinal. But in the spring, it might also be a scarlet tanager, which has been proposed for designation as Pennsylvania’s official state migratory bird....
Free ‘Birds of Prey’ program aims to ‘inspire curiosity of our own backyards’
Chris Kubiak is willing to bet that time spent outdoors can provide more wonder than social media scrolling. “Everyone has screens galore these days,” said Kubiak, director of education for Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. “Putting the phones down and connecting with nature always makes me want to do it...
O’Hara considers mandating safety boxes at commercial, industrial, multifamily buildings
O’Hara officials are considering an ordinance mandating commercial, industrial and multifamily facilities provide quick emergency access for first responders to their facilities. A Knox Box is a small, wall-mounted safe that holds building keys that fire departments could use to gain access so they wouldn’t have to force their way...
Foxwall EMS invites people to annual Run for the Hill of It fundraiser
Endurance will be on full display during an annual fundraiser that challenges runners to scale one of the steepest hills in Allegheny County. Registration is open for the Run for the Hill of It, scheduled for April 26 in Aspinwall. The course begins at the borough building and ends at...
In brief: Happenings across the Fox Chapel area
To have your news or event listed in our briefs section, email editor Marje Horvath at mhorvath@triblive.com. Chili chefs, tasters sought for cook-off fundraiser The annual Robert “Snakeguy” Habegger Chili Cook-off will be from 5 to 7 p.m. April 18 at a new location this year: Roots of Faith, 800...
Fox Chapel area real estate transactions for the week of April 5, 2026
Indiana Blue Run Development LLC sold property at 1008 Blueberry Drive to DR Horton Inc. NJ for $454,000. Maronda Homes LLC sold property at 3332 Lenox Drive to Patrick Morgan and Lindsey Marie Brannigan for $769,785. Twin Oaks Development LLC sold property at 3333&3347 Lenox Drive to Maronda Homes LLC...
Key section win has Fox Chapel softball flying high
Ava Wamsley waited until the sixth inning of the Fox Chapel softball team’s matchup with North Hills to ask coach Larry Troutman about a previous promise. The senior catcher inquired if the Foxes hung on to win, was dinner still on him? “North Hills was always the team we wanted...
Confidence grows for Fox Chapel flag football
Gia Mort was nervous about playing flag football for the first time. But the Fox Chapel junior saw the nerves go away quickly. Mort, who also plays basketball, saw a lot of the skills she had were transferable. “It’s the same skills,” Mort said. “When you are grabbing flags, it’s...
With senior-led squad, Fox Chapel boys lacrosse looking to spruce up offense
Having a few days off for spring break provided a built-in period of reflection for the Fox Chapel boys lacrosse team. The timing ended up being a good opportunity for coach Jordan Hodder to take a look at how to juice the offense. Following a 3-0 start, the Foxes took...
Almost 100 communities need new road salt supplier after vendor ends contract with council of governments
A lot of Allegheny County communities need a new road salt supplier. The South Hills Area Council of Governments (SHACOG), which runs a purchasing alliance for road salt, learned this month its salt vendor will not renew its contract with SHACOG for the coming winter. According to an April 1...
Pittsburgh Sakura Project readies for peak cherry blossom viewing in North Park
A spring hanami event, a Japanese term for flower-viewing, will be celebrated from 2 to 4 p.m. April 18 along the lake and at Harmony Shelter in North Park, near the boathouse off Pearce Mill Road. The blooming buds are all part of the Pittsburgh Sakura Project, a group of...
Letter to the editor: Should he stay or should he go?
The news regarding the mayor of Aspinwall’s crime and “brain fart” fascinates me. My thoughts surrounding this predicament were that the act of secretly recording a private meeting, which included borough officials, was a failed attempt at gotcha politics. Mayor Scott Zimmermann failed to find negative information about some participants’...
Shopping experience lauded at Sharpsburg’s Harvest on Main market
Harvest on Main Community Market in Sharpsburg’s business district just logged its first month since opening its doors, and operations are going smoothly, according to volunteers. The only hiccup thus far is an apparent delay in being able to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Bonnie DeMotte, executive director of...
Sharpsburg Family Worship Center hides 10,000 eggs for annual extravaganza
It was an “egg-cellent” day at Allegheny RiverTrail Park in Aspinwall when more than 1,000 children searched for a whopping 10,000 eggs as part of an Easter extravaganza sponsored by Sharpsburg Family Worship Center. “We moved the event to Aspinwall this year, and it turned out to be a great...
Aspinwall filmmaker lets hometown roots shine in creative endeavors
Gavin Rapp is happiest when he’s creating. The 59-year-old Aspinwall resident works full time as a digital media specialist for FedEx, but his creativity extends outside his professional life with a passion for writing, producing and directing independent films. “I don’t golf, and it (filmmaking) was one of those things...
Fox Chapel Area School District, community partners prepare for 5th annual health and wellness event
A community event launched by Fox Chapel Area School District is about to hit a milestone. The fifth annual free Community Safety, Health & Wellness Event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 18 in the Aspinwall municipal parking lot. The event will feature vendor booths, a touch-a-truck...
On a small Greek island, a former Pittsburgh attorney discovers a new chapter worth writing about
Emails to cheer up a sick friend have been parlayed into a collection of essays by former Pittsburgh attorney and Fox Chapel resident Laura Aristidou Candris. Her literary debut, “Greek by Osmosis: My Life on a Small Greek Island (With Mama Kiki’s Recipes),” reached Amazon’s bestseller status in the Cyclades...
Sharpsburg Councilman Corey Ochai resigns; opportunity available
Sharpsburg Council has a vacancy. Councilman Corey Ochai has stepped down from his elected post to refocus on family and art. He tendered his resignation at a council meeting March 26. Ochai was in the first year of his second term. In his letter, Ochai thanked the community for its...
Pine-Richland completes comeback vs. Fox Chapel
It was a situation that screamed small ball. Instead, Pine-Richland played long ball. With the score tied in the top of the eighth inning and with a runner at first base and no outs, Rams junior Austin Cwynar smacked a two-run homer over the right-center fence as Pine-Richland came back...
At the library: Here are some upcoming events at Cooper-Siegel and Sharpsburg community libraries
The Cooper-Siegel Community Library and its Sharpsburg branch offer a variety of programming for visitors of all ages. To view a complete list of offerings, visit coopersiegel.librarycalendar.com. Events at both libraries are listed and can be viewed according to age group and location. Registration is required for most programs as...
