Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 51
New Kensington-Arnold introducing NoRILLA mixed-reality system to elementary schoolsVideo
A mixed-reality system is promising to shake up STEM education for New Kensington-Arnold elementary students. Through a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, the district has obtained four NoRILLA tables. Two will be kept at H.D. Berkey Elementary, while Martin and Roy A. Hunt will have one each. The name stands...
Building the Valley: Family-run Grasinger Homes takes pride in custom construction
Over 45 years, the Grasinger family has built hundreds of houses that have become other families’ homes. It’s something John Grasinger thought about as he drove through one of their housing plans on a Christmas season evening, seeing all the houses decorated. “You didn’t just build a house,” he said....
Former church chapel to become concert venue in downtown New Kensington
Three years after moving his record store into a former church and Salvation Army citadel, New Ken Social owner AJ Rassau is adding a second concert venue to the building. The new venue, which has yet to be named, is in what had been the chapel of a former Presbyterian...
Century-old Salvation Army time capsule found in New Kensington
Time was not kind to the contents of a near-century old Salvation Army time capsule found in New Kensington. While water rusted away the metal container’s lid and damaged its mostly paper contents, the documents within — including a newspaper, news clippings, letters and books remain largely legible . “It’s...
New Kensington motorcycle club dealt setback in plan to use former office building as clubhouse
A New Kensington motorcycle club will have to make its case to city council for why it should be allowed to use a former office building in a residential area as its clubhouse. The city’s planning commission voted to not recommend giving the Vultures Motorcycle Club a conditional use approval...
New Kensington-Arnold to seek proposals for replacement of Valley High pedestrian bridges
The twin pedestrian bridges spanning Little Pucketa Creek in front of Valley High School in New Kensington might not be fully replaced until early in the 2024-25 school year, an engineer working on the project for the school district said. The New Kensington-Arnold School Board could vote to seek proposals...
Skyy Moore attending New Kensington parade honoring Super Bowl championVideo
A parade will be held through downtown New Kensington on Friday night for city native Skyy Moore, a member of this year’s Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs, the city announced Wednesday. Moore, 22, is expected to attend and will be presented with a proclamation at the end of the parade,...
Gasoline prices edge higher as change to summer blends underway coast to coast
With the change to more expensive summer gasoline underway across the country, the national average has increased for the second straight week, an industry analyst said. Wholesale gasoline prices are increasing at a rate typical for this time of year, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy....
New Kensington-Arnold adopts new calendar with earlier start, ‘catch-up’ days built in
The 2023-24 school year will start earlier for students and teachers in the New Kensington-Arnold School District under a new calendar that includes other significant changes. Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said students were at the “very center” of the calendar’s development. “The only thing budgets and grant money cannot buy is...
Valley High School pool, auditorium focus of $1.3M in spending
The New Kensington-Arnold School District will spend nearly $1.3 million on projects at the high school and two of the district’s three elementary schools. The lion’s share — a little more than $1 million — will pay for renovations at the pool and auditorium at Valley High School. About $671,000 is...
Plum brings back DelRosso for marketing, public relations consulting
Former state representative and lieutenant governor candidate Carrie Lewis DelRosso says she is “very happy” to be returning to her work in public relations. Plum Council recently approved a proposal for marketing and public relations consulting with DelRosso, who operates her own firm. She has also accepted a position handling...
Leechburg High School cast excited to stage ‘Chicago’
Members of Leechburg’s drama club are getting all jazzed up for this year’s spring musical. The club will stage performances of the teen edition of “Chicago,” the longest-running American musical in Broadway history, the weekend of March 31. “When I heard what our options were, I got so excited for...
New Kensington to consider plans for ModWash car wash in Riverview Plaza
New Kensington planners will consider a proposal for another new car wash off Tarentum Bridge Road. The city’s planning commission will review final site development and subdivision plans for a ModWash car wash in Riverview Plaza when it meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, city Engineer Tony Males said....
‘We all have something to give,’ retired veterinarian says in book about therapy cat Scooter
A paralyzed cat led to retired veterinarian Dr. Betsy Kennon changing the way she sees her purpose in life. In 2008, Kennon was presented with a kitten suffering from a spinal cord injury and unable to use its hind legs. Her professional judgment told her to put the ownerless cat...
Rags identified as cause of Plum house fire, owner plans to rebuild
Discarded rags were behind the cause of a fire that led to severe damage to a Plum house two weeks ago. Allegheny County Chief Fire Marshal Matt Brown said the Feb. 21 fire at 435 Millers Lane was accidental “due to spontaneous heating of discarded rags used for oil base...
Kiski Township supervisor Sherry Tamski resigning after alleging gender discrimination, ‘despicable treatment’
A Kiski Township supervisor who has accused other supervisors of discriminating against her because of her gender has submitted her resignation. Township supervisors were expected to vote on Sherry Tamski’s resignation during their meeting Wednesday night, according to an agenda for the meeting. The motion also authorizes advertising to fill...
2 die in multi-vehicle crash in Armstrong County
Two women died in a crash Monday in Plumcreek Township, according to Armstrong County Coroner Brian K. Myers. State police on Tuesday identified the women as Lacy L. Gohn, 41, and Marasco Sonza, 70. Where they lived was not disclosed. The crash happened around noon on State Route 210 just...
Gas prices trending upward as annual change to summer blends is underway
The average gasoline price in the Pittsburgh area came down slightly in the past week while the national average increased as the transition to summer gas has started across the entire country, an industry analyst said Monday. Pittsburgh’s average was $3.72 per gallon, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy and its...
2nd annual ‘Restaurant Ramble’ features 10 downtown New Kensington eateries
An Allegheny Township man who took over a Lower Burrell pie business will be opening a storefront in New Kensington in time for the city’s second annual “Restaurant Ramble” this month. Jim Rennick, owner of Farm House Fresh, said a mini cheesecake will be his contribution to the small bites...
Arnold fire department accuses former chief of misusing funds
The former chief of Arnold’s No. 1 fire department is facing a civil claim against him by the department and is the subject of a criminal investigation. In a civil complaint filed with New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr., the department says Brian Gouza owes $1,525 for advance...
New Kensington-Arnold retirees, others volunteer to read to students for Read Across America Week
Debbie Schreckengost hasn’t been inside one of New Kensington-Arnold’s schools since retiring from her maintenance job with the district eight years ago. An invitation to read to students during Read Across America Week brought her and other retirees to Roy A. Hunt Elementary in Arnold on Wednesday. An initiative of...
Aldi announces closing, opening dates for Lower Burrell, New Kensington stores
Aldi’s new store in New Kensington is slated to open March 23, a spokesperson for the company said Wednesday. The opening of the newly built store in Riverview Plaza on Tarentum Bridge Road will be preceded by the closing of the nearby store in Lower Burrell, scheduled for two days...
Greensburg Road lanes to be shifted for bridge replacement
Traffic will be shifted on Greensburg Road near Lincoln Beach Drive in Plum for work to replace a bridge over Pucketa Creek, the Allegheny County Department of Public works announced Tuesday. The lane shifts will start at 9 a.m. March 13 and are expected to end in December, the department...
Gas prices resume fall on worrisome inflation figures, analyst says
Pennsylvania is among a majority of states that saw gas prices decline over the past week, an industry analyst said. “The national average has resumed its decline after a pause last week as oil and wholesale gasoline prices fell on worrisome inflation figures showing the Fed likely to ramp up...
Arnold felon found in possession of loaded gun after seen running stop sign, police say
An Arnold man who is not allowed to possess a firearm because of his criminal history was found to have a loaded handgun when police pulled him over for running a stop sign, according to court paperwork. Arnold police charged Nathan Nateef Harper, 32, Wednesday with two felony gun offenses...
