Joyce Hanz stories, Page 19
Building the Valley: Essential Fermentation brews fresh taps, seasonal scratch menu
“Come for the beer, and stay for the food.” That’s the message for the dining public from Essential Fermentation Restaurant & Brewery owner Loren Salsgiver. Essential Fermentation, which opened in May 2022, is settling into its business model and navigating a second year in business after deciding to open during...
2 senior health care facilities for sale in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Two senior care living facilities with million-dollar price tags are on the market in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Pine View Personal Care Facility in Parks Township is listed for $1.5 million, and Pleasant Ridge Mature Living in West Leechburg is listed at $1.6 million. Cheryl Scanga and her husband, owner Tommy...
Students welcome veterans during appreciation event at East Union Intermediate Center
Veterans were the guest of honor Thursday during an appreciation event held at East Union Intermediate Center in West Deer. About 40 veterans mingled with third, fourth and fifth graders during the gathering held in the school gymnasium. Lonnie Long, a Navy veteran from Ford City, helped to pack veteran...
More questions than answers in search for man seen jumping from Hulton Bridge
More questions than answers remain as authorities continue to search the Allegheny River for a man witnesses say jumped from the Hulton Bridge between Harmar and Oakmont after crashing his car Tuesday evening. The man remains missing and unidentified publicly, Harmar police Chief Jason Domaratz said Thursday while providing an...
Is it too early to deck the halls? These Western Pennsylvanians say no!
Move over, pumpkins. Step aside, turkeys. Make way for all things Christmas. The Fulgenzio family of Hempfield uses Halloween as the kickoff day for their annual holiday tradition of decorating their home for Christmas. “I’m one of those Christmas-obsessed people,” Daniel Fulgenzio said. “I took the Halloween decor down on...
More electric vehicle charging stations added in O’Hara Township
Just charge it. That’s the message from O’Hara Township officials to electric vehicle owners. The township has recently installed two new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in O’Hara Township Community Park, making for a total of three EV stations in the public park. The stations were paid for in part...
Searchers come up empty in search for man believed to have jumped from Hulton Bridge
Sonar was used to search the Allegheny River on Wednesday for a man witnesses say jumped off the Hulton Bridge after crashing his car on the bridge Tuesday evening. The man, believed to be 42 years old and from the Verona area, has not been found, Harmar police Chief Jason...
Kittanning woman charged with arson in Ford City house fire
A Kittanning woman remained in jail Monday, accused of setting a home on fire Sunday night in Ford City. Joy Rosellie Lloyd, 42, faces two felony and six misdemeanor charges after, police said, she purchased gasoline from a nearby Sheetz store and walked to a home in the 300 block...
History and mystery merge at former West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville
Explore a Gothic-style fortress, prehistoric burial ground and more with a daycation trip to Moundsville, W.Va. Sitting about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh, Moundsville is tucked along the Ohio River in Marshall County. First settled in 1771 by James and Samuel Tomlinson of England and originally known as Grave Creek,...
Alligator last seen in the Kiski River remains missing as lawmaker proposes law aimed at exotic pet owners
After months of alligator sightings after they somehow got loose from their owners in the Apollo area and Kiski River, state Rep. Abby Major, R-60th District, has introduced legislation to increase penalties for such situations. “A lot of people were asking me to do something,” Major said after a series...
Deer Lakes School District voters have 7 candidates to pick from for 5 board seats
Seven candidates are vying for five seats on the Deer Lakes School Board in Tuesday’s general election. Joining incumbent Democrats Cristy McCloskey and Larry Neidig, who are cross-filed, in the race are former board member Phillip Ziendarski, a Democrat, and newcomers James Calvert, a cross-filed Democrat; Susan Claus, Democrat; Pietro...
New Gilpin supervisor brings nonprofit experience to role
A new supervisor in Gilpin is ready to serve. Tina Thompson was appointed to the board Oct. 17, replacing former Supervisor Linda Alworth, who resigned in September. “It’s a close-knit community,” Thompson said of Gilpin and her decision to serve in a public role. “People genuinely care about one another,...
2 incumbents face 3 newcomers in West Deer race for 3 supervisor seats
Five candidates are vying for three open supervisor seats in West Deer. The board consists of five members, with four-year terms. Supervisors are limited to two terms, as stated in the township’s home rule charter. Incumbent Republican Vernon Frey will appear on the ballot for voters in District 1 in...
Political newcomers vying for supervisor seats in Kiski Township
Voters in the Kiski Township supervisors race will have their choice of four candidates vying for four open seats in the Nov. 7 election, with two seats available for six-year terms and two seats for four-year terms. There are three candidates on each term’s ballot. Mary Long, who is cross-filed,...
Gas leak forces evacuation at new store in Allegheny Township
Shoppers and employees had to vacate the newly opened Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Monday afternoon after a reported gas leak, according to a spokesperson from Westmoreland Public Safety. The store held its grand opening on Oct. 25 and is located in Hyde Park Plaza, Allegheny Township. Fire units were called to...
Multimillion-dollar anonymous donation benefits Catholic high school students in Greensburg and Pittsburgh dioceses
The generosity of an anonymous donor is helping to bridge the financial gap faced by some Catholic school students as they seek to continue their Catholic education into high school. The same donor has contributed nearly $7.5 million to the St. Pope John Paul Tuition Opportunity Partnership over the past...
Westmoreland 250: 10 things to see in Allegheny, Washington townships
Two rural townships offer visitors history, agriculture commerce and nature pursuits in Westmoreland County. Allegheny and Washington townships have a combined population of fewer than 10,000 residents. Early settlers were drawn to the once-prosperous coal mining industry in Washington Township, which was founded in 1789 and named after George Washington....
Gilpin officials look to expand business district
Gilpin officials have drafted a proposed zoning ordinance with a goal of modernizing the township’s 38-year-old rules in hopes of attracting businesses to the rural township. “The board is hopeful new, less restrictive and more inclusive zoning will help spur development within the township,” said Charles Stull, chairman of the...
$250,000 improvement project slated for Aspinwall Park
More pickleball courts are coming to Aspinwall. But it’s going to take a while. A large-scale park refurbishment is being financed with a $100,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Plans include adding four pickleball courts, constructing a pedestrian walkway and a multipurpose court, installing fencing,...
Morabito responds to criticism of Allegheny Township’s Community Days management
A newly formed nonprofit plans to ensure Community Days remains an annual event in Allegheny Township. James Morabito, a township supervisor and one of the organizers of the festival, responded to criticism from some residents and fellow supervisors Rennick Steele and Michael Korns, who allege financial wrongdoing concerning the summer...
Nationally recognized magician to perform at Casino Theatre
Spending countless hours practicing magic in his bedroom as a youngster growing up in West Kittanning paid off for Tim Kutch. “I’d lock myself in my room practicing my magic tricks and then test them out on my family,” said Kutch, 39. Kutch, a practicing minister and part-time professional master...
Leechburg Area School Board candidates weigh in on biggest issues facing the district
Voters in the Leechburg Area School District will select from seven candidates in the Nov. 7 election to fill five seats on the Leechburg Area School Board. An eighth name on the ballot, former school board member Karen Freilino, resigned Sept. 20. Although her name remains on the ballot, Freilino...
High-speed fiber internet expansion announced for several Armstrong County communities
More than 2,200 homes and businesses in Armstrong County are now eligible for high-speed fiber internet, through broadband provider Kinetic by Windstream. Kinetic’s Armstrong County fiber project is part of a $2 billion multiyear investment strategy by Kinetic to expand gigabit fiber service across the company’s 150-community, 18-state fiber footprint....
La Belle Vue Road roundabout connection opens
Construction on the first roundabout in the Alle-Kiski Valley is complete. Mark Kmetz, assistant construction engineer for PennDOT, confirmed Wednesday that the La Belle Vue Road portion comprising the third access to the roundabout in Allegheny Township opened to motorists without incident Tuesday afternoon. “There was a complete reconstruction to...
Tractor-trailer damaged, disabled in unusual accident in Allegheny Township
Allegheny Township police Chief Duane Fisher just about has seen it all in his 20-plus years responding to vehicle accidents. That is, until he responded about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to a 911 report of a tractor-trailer incident along South Leechburg Hill Road. A major malfunction caused the trailer to crush...
