Dillon Carr stories, Page 13
Allegheny County Court rules in favor of Jefferson Hills in UPMC case
An Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas recent decision means UPMC cannot build a hospital one mile down the road from an Allegheny Health Network hospital in Jefferson Hills — for now. Judge Joseph James dismissed an appeal of AUUE Inc., an affiliate of UPMC, after the Jefferson Hills Zoning...
Restaurants back down from ultimatum, request meeting with Gov. WolfVideo
The president of a group of restaurant and bar owners on Thursday shied away from threatening to reopen establishments at full capacity. Instead, board members of the newly formed Southwestern Pennsylvania Restaurant and Tavern Association will wait for a sit-down meeting with Gov. Tom Wolf. “If we go on the...
Blessed Trinity Academy in Glenshaw outlines return-to-school plans
A Catholic school in Glenshaw will return to in-person instruction for all students and staff later this month, officials said. Blessed Trinity Academy – of the North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, a group of five schools within the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh – will allow its 160 students in...
Bethel Park scraps full in-person learning, leaning toward some in-school days, some days online
Three weeks before school is scheduled to start, the Bethel Park School Board is changing course on how it will reopen to students and teachers. It’s scrapping its plan for a full return to the classroom. The board expects to decide on a different plan Tuesday, Aug. 11, according to...
Restaurants and bars banding together to give Gov. Wolf an ultimatum
Restaurant and bar owners plan to issue a threat to Gov. Tom Wolf later this week: “We’re going to stand together and open up at 100%,” said Rod Ambrogi, a restaurant owner in Bethel Park. The warning comes nearly two weeks after 42 politicians formally asked Wolf through signed letters...
Life experiences help mold Sojourner House leader’s understanding of clients’ challenges
For De’netta Benjamin-Miller, the new executive director of Sojourner House, it wasn’t until life hit her with its ugliness that she was able to find the beauty in a calling she gets to answer every day. “It was through therapy where I found myself,” she said. Benjamin-Miller, 45, of Homewood...
Nadine Road closure delayed until Aug. 3 in Penn Hills
The closure of Nadine Road in Penn Hills will now begin in August, Allegheny County public works announced Thursday. The road closure, originally scheduled to begin July 28, will now begin at 7 a.m. Aug. 3 because of ongoing nearby utility work, officials said. The closure is expected to last...
Gateway School District outlines board-approved reopening plan
The Gateway School Board unanimously approved a reopening plan Tuesday that allows district parents and students to choose one of three options of how school days will look during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The board’s vote came after more than two hours of discussion during the meeting, as well as...
Gateway School Board hears complaints of church not practicing social distancing in high school auditorium
The Gateway School Board delayed a vote Tuesday on a rule that would place a moratorium on all indoor district facility rentals, including a one-year rental of the high school’s auditorium to a church. Grace Life Church has come under fire recently as school district parents and residents have criticized...
Penn Hills police chief receives new contract despite mayor’s strong objection
Penn Hills Council narrowly approved a contract July 20 with the municipality’s police chief, a role that has remained unchanged since 1999. Council voted 3-2 to approve the agreement, which runs through the end of 2021, with Police Chief Howard Burton. Mayor Pauline Calabrese and Councilman Frank Pecora dissented. In...
Portion of Route 286 to see traffic restricted as crews begin overnight road work
A portion of Route 286 in Plum will be restricted to one lane starting Tuesday night, PennDOT officials announced Monday. Traffic will be reduced to one lane between Old Frankstown Road and Hileah Drive as crews work through the night. Restrictions will happen from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday...
Monroeville’s Jack Sedlak Memorial Clean Up Day rescheduled for Aug. 29 with no picnic
The Jack Sedlack Memorial Clean Up Day in Monroeville has been rescheduled for the end of August but the picnic that typically follows it has been canceled. The 25th annual event, usually held in April or May, was canceled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was rescheduled to...
Penn Hills receives $2.5 million grant for transportation and infrastructure
Penn Hills will receive $2.5 million for transportation-related projects in the state’s latest round of Multimodal Transportation Fund money. Gov. Tom Wolf announced in a news release on July 16 that Allegheny County will receive $5.5 million for transportation and other infrastructure projects in Penn Hills Municipality and Harrison Township....
Monroeville Municipal Authority member questions union contract, attorney change
A Monroeville Municipal Authority board member is concerned that a lack of transparency among its seven members will lead to water- and sewer-rate hikes in the near future. Gary Delorenzo, who has been on the board for almost 10 years, has taken issue with two recent decisions the board has...
License plate shortage affects auto industry as PennDOT works to catch up after pandemic shutdowns
Car dealerships and notaries throughout Pennsylvania are experiencing a hiccup in the supply chain for license plates — often leaving management at those retailers scrambling to continue doing business during the coronavirus pandemic. The problem, according to dealerships, notaries and state officials, is twofold: License plate stockpiles at car dealerships...
Food pantry open at Penn Hills Service Association for those in need
The Penn Hills Service Association is reminding people its food pantry is still operational. Kathy Lynch, the PHSA’s food pantry coordinator, said Thursday the pantry has fewer people signing up to receive food. “Maybe it’s the stimulus checks or unemployment checks,” Lynch said. “Maybe some of our clients just aren’t...
New owners thrilled to purchase quirky Plum homeVideo
The couple that bought a unique house on Rainier Drive in Plum won’t change much about their new home. “It’s right up our alley,” said Nick Sarver, just days after he and his wife, Katelyn, moved into John Cope’s getaway house he rebuilt as Epoc I. The castle-starship-beach-hippie house in...
Former Penn Hills municipal building set to be sold after 2 years on market
Penn Hills Council is in the process of selling the municipality’s old headquarters along Frankstown Road. According to a sale agreement, Narinder Singh and Kulwant Kaur will buy the building in a cash deal for $175,000. The prospective owners were not available for comment. Michael Pirollo, the property’s real estate...
Missing Monroeville boy found safe
Monroeville police have said a 14-year-old boy who went missing Sunday has been found safe. The police department posted to its Facebook account that Sean Douglas Stitt was found safe Monday. No other details were provided. The teenager was reported missing after being last seen playing basketball at Overlook Park...
Nadine Road in Penn Hills to see 2 rounds of closures starting July 28
Nadine Road in Penn Hills will be closed for two weeks or more starting July 28 and again in August so crews can build support walls along the road, officials announced Tuesday. The July 28 closure will start at 7 a.m. and is expected to last “at least two weeks,”...
Penn Hills Council’s July 20 meeting to be held virtually amid rising coronavirus numbers
Penn Hills Council will continue to meet virtually for its July meeting as Allegheny County sees an increase in coronavirus cases. The format of July 20’s meeting was left tentative, with hopes Council Chambers could once again be used, said Mayor Pauline Calabrese. The last time council met in person...
Penn Hills Shop ‘n Save reopens with new hours after 6-day closure
A Shop ‘n Save store in Penn Hills has reopened with updated hours after closing for six days when four of its employees tested positive for coronavirus. The store, located at 2820 Universal Road, reopened with shortened hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 11, according to an...
JCPenney stores to remain open in Monroeville Mall, Beaver Valley Mall
Two JCPenney stores in Western Pennsylvania will survive the retail giant’s restructuring that includes shuttering more than 100 stores nationwide. The stores, which originally were on the list of stores to close but will now remain open, are located in the Monroeville Mall and the Beaver Valley Mall in Center...
Initiative offers free lunches at 35 stops along Penn Hills school bus routes
Free lunches are available to pick up three days a week at 35 school bus stops throughout Penn Hills. The initiative grew out of an existing effort to get food to people in need during the coronavirus pandemic, said Jace Ransom, a Penn Hills-based community outreach specialist for the Allegheny...
Preliminary hearings continued to Sept. 4 for defendants in death of Oakmont toddler
The preliminary hearings for three Oakmont residents accused of the physical and psychological torture, and eventual death, of a toddler have been continued to September, according to court records. Jose Salazar-Ortiz Sr., 29, and Laura Ramriez, 27, were charged June 24 with homicide, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault of a child,...
