Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 18
Developer, Shaler neighborhood group reach agreement on redevelopment of Mt. Alvernia
A Pittsburgh-based firm specializing in renewing historic buildings and a Shaler neighborhood group have reached an agreement on the firm’s plans for the potential $100 million redevelopment of the Mt. Alvernia property. Attorneys representing Q Development and the Hawthorne Neighborhood Association announced the agreement at the Shaler commissioners meeting April...
Etna, Sharpsburg residents to battle for Earth Day supremacy
A friendly competition between Etna and Sharpsburg will result in cleaner communities for residents of both boroughs. Volunteers are being sought to fan out across their hometowns the morning of April 26 for the annual “Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge.” Residents can sign up online — Etna at volunteersignup.org/9FKRC and Sharpsburg...
Staff cuts, health care savings put dent in Pine-Richland’s budget deficit
Savings in health care and those expected from staff cuts are putting a dent in the deficit that the Pine-Richland School District is forecasting for the 2025-26 school year. In addition to not replacing several departing employees, the school board also is being asked to consider increases in student activity...
New Etna homes will ‘push back’ on forces making ownership unaffordable, Innamorato says
A trio of new, permanently affordable homes are expected to be completed in Etna by the end of the year. State, county and local officials gathered April 7 on Locust Street for a groundbreaking ceremony for the homes being built by City of Bridges Community Land Trust and Allegheny County-based...
State police seek suspect in armed robbery of Derry Township convenience store
State police are asking for the public’s help to identify a man who was armed with a knife when he robbed a Westmoreland County convenience store Sunday afternoon. The robbery of the Par Mar store at 5071 Route 982 in Derry Township happened around 1:15 p.m. According to state police,...
Monthly reptile show draws thousands to Pittsburgh Mills mall
Thousands of people dodged the potholes plaguing the Pittsburgh Mills shopping complex in Frazer Sunday to attend the monthly Pittsburgh Reptile Show & Sale. Some 200 vendors were offering a selection of reptiles, amphibians and other exotic pets. The show, held on the first Sunday of each month, draws about...
Man wounded, charged in shootout in East Pittsburgh
A Pittsburgh man was shot and wounded in East Pittsburgh Saturday night after opening fire on a group of people on a porch, according to Allegheny County Police. George Garland Murphy, 40, suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder in the exchange of gunfire on Prospect Drive in the Prospect...
Continuing rainfall causes flood watch, river flood watch for Ohio at Pittsburgh
A flood watch for much of the region remains in effect through Sunday morning, while a river flood watch for the Ohio River at Pittsburgh is scheduled to be in effect from late Sunday night to Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service Pittsburgh. The flood watch is scheduled...
Suspect in assault of Ohio Highway Patrol officer killed by Pa. State Police on turnpike in Beaver County
A man who stole an Ohio State Highway Patrol car after assaulting an officer was shot and killed by Pennsylvania State Police troopers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Beaver County on Friday. Pennsylvania State Police have not identified the dead suspect. An unspecified number of Pennsylvania troopers have been placed...
Protesters in Pittsburgh join in nationwide ‘Hands Off!’ call to fight policies of Trump and Musk
Maureen Pastorius became one of an estimated more than 6,000 people who gathered in downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday for a protest and march that was part of a nationwide call to action against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Pastorius, 72, of Pleasant Hills came to the “Hands Off!” rally...
Pa.’s 1st Crispy Cones, featured on ‘Shark Tank,’ set to open with free treats for first respondersVideo
A South Buffalo couple will convert their love of the ABC series “Shark Tank” with a new ice cream shop boasting unique cones featured on the show. Mike and Ronna Brestensky will be giving free ice cream to Hampton police, firefighters and emergency medical service personnel from 6 to 9...
Pa.’s 1st Crispy Cones, featured on ‘Shark Tank,’ set to open with free treats for first respondersVideo
The first Pennsylvania location for an ice cream shop built upon a unique cone and featured on the ABC series “Shark Tank” treated first responders this week in Hampton before opening to the public at 10 a.m. April 11. Mike and Ronna Brestensky of South Buffalo served free ice cream...
Expert: Social Security not meant to be one’s only retirement income, but often becomes that
Not everyone is going to have a viral social media video and a runaway crowdfunding campaign to pay for retirement. An 81-year-old waitress at an Eat’n Park in Ross, known only as Betty, will be able to work and worry less thanks to both of those, brought about by a...
Hampton bringing teen edition of Broadway’s ‘Hadestown’ to high school stage
When it comes to announcing their spring musical, Hampton High School teachers keep the students guessing by floating different possibilities of what it will be, sophomore Lordyn Schomaeker said. Schomaeker, 15, was “very, very excited” when the word finally came down that this year’s production would be the teen edition...
Raptor presentation, free picnic lunch part of Earth Day event at Bradford Woods Reserve
The upcoming annual Earth Day celebration at Bradford Woods Reserve offers an opportunity for parents to bring their children into the outdoors and learn a love of nature, says Ward Allebach, a former longtime president of the Bradford Woods Conservancy. “The whole idea is to try to bring the community...
Pine-Richland Middle School nurse contender for statewide honor
A Pine-Richland Middle School nurse is a contender for a statewide honor. Michelle Schonbachler was recognized March 21 in State College as this year’s winner of the School Nurse Excellence Award for the southwest region of Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners. Her colleagues nominated her...
Eat’n Park waitress stunned by donations after viral video
Betty knows. The 81-year-old Ross Eat’n Park waitress still known only by her first name has learned that she’s the beneficiary of a fundraiser that will change her life. A GoFundMe campaign started Wednesday by a customer to help Betty exceeded $260,000 on Friday. Tamie Konzier of Millvale wanted to...
Just a Short Run cancer fundraiser to restrict roads in North Park
Traffic restrictions will start at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 29, in North Park for a fundraiser to benefit a cancer charity, Allegheny County Police announced Friday. A large turnout is expected for the 25th annual Sean T. Smith Just a Short Run that will begin with pre-race ceremonies at 8...
Road work to restrict traffic on Route 8 in Shaler, Etna
PennDOT is alerting motorists of road work that will restrict traffic on Route 8 in Shaler and Etna beginning Monday, March 31. There will be single-lane restrictions between Saxonburg Boulevard and Route 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. weeknights through late...
Businesses, artists to be featured at 2 Millvale Market Days
More than 40 artists, makers, bakers and creatives are scheduled to be set up throughout Millvale’s business district for two Millvale Market Days this year. The events, hosted by the Millvale Community Development Corp., are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 26 and July 26, rain or shine....
Eat ‘n Park diner’s GoFundMe retirement fund for 81-year-old waitress tops $250K — and growingVideo
A $40 tip from a concerned Eat’n Park diner has started a quickly growing retirement fund for an 81-year-old waitress. In a TikTok video, Tamie Konzier, 41, of Millvale, who works as an esthetician at Bloom Beauty Parlor in East Liberty, was with her son, Leo, 10, at an Eat’n...
Event to admire, learn about North Park’s blooming Japanese cherry trees scheduled
The flower buds on North Park’s Japanese cherry trees began to swell in late March, and an event to take in their short-lived beauty is scheduled for the first Saturday in April. The Pittsburgh Sakura Project will host its annual cherry blossom viewing event from 2 to 4 p.m. April...
PennDOT schedules McKnight Road traffic crossover, ramp closure detour
A traffic crossover on McKnight Road in Ross is scheduled to start Saturday, March 29, and be in place through late April, PennDOT announced. Southbound traffic is expected to be crossed over into the northbound lanes to allow crews to start work on the bridge over Babcock Boulevard. Work to...
Building the Valley: New Kensington brewery, Buffalo Township restaurant combining forces
A shuttered Buffalo Township restaurant and New Kensington’s newest brewery are evolving together. Evolution Grille, which chef and owner Michael Barbiaux closed in September, has moved into the kitchen at Tortured Souls Brewery, which is marking its first anniversary on Sunday. Barbiaux learned through a friend in a band, The...
Plum School District eyeing 2.5% property tax increase as district moves to annual changes
A 2.5% property tax increase is included in the working draft of the Plum School District’s 2025-26 school year budget, Business Manager Ryan Manzer told the board Tuesday. That’s less than half of the 6.2% increase that district property owners were hit with for the current school year, and reflects...
