Joyce Hanz stories, Page 30
Inclusive dance entertains at O’Hara Elementary School
A red-carpet event returned after a pandemic-induced hiatus, welcoming more than 600 students and family members to the “Special Someone Dance” Feb. 11 at O’Hara Elementary School. Each student was invited to bring a special someone as his or her guest. There was no dress code, and people were encouraged...
Man shot, killed in Wilkinsburg on Sunday
Allegheny County Police are seeking information after a man was shot to death Sunday afternoon in Wilkinsburg. According to Allegheny County 911, the county’s homicide unit responded to a request for assistance around 2:49 p.m. in the 100 block of Bryn Mawr Court. When first responders arrived, they discovered a...
Boil water advisory affects thousands of households in multiple Pittsburgh neighborhoods
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has extended a precautionary boil-water advisory for Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield, East Liberty, Friendship, Garfield, Highland Park, Homewood North, Morningside, North Point Breeze, Point Breeze, Shadyside, South Oakland and Swisshelm Park neighborhoods after an electrical outage Sunday at an undisclosed pump station. More than 6,100 households...
‘Absolutely heartbreaking’: Mourners honor slain McKeesport police Officer Sean SluganskiVideo
Brittany Weaver of Monessen broke down in tears Sunday afternoon en route to pay her respects to slain McKeesport police Officer Sean Sluganski. Sluganski, 32, of McKeesport was killed in the line of duty Feb. 6 while responding to a domestic/ mental health incident in the city. Weaver, 33, worked with Sluganski...
Fast love: 4 couples share their speedy romance stories
In life and love, the length of a couple’s engagement holds no hard and fast rules. The average engagement length for U.S. couples is 16 months, according to a study presented by the Knot in 2021, an increase in duration from 14 months in 2019. Retired co-pastors Lisa and Gary...
Belle Vernon woman gives old cat a new home after 11 years at Apollo shelter
Courtney Scalzott was grieving the recent death of her cat when she saw a Facebook post that changed everything. The social media plea by Kiski Valley Cat & Kitten Rescue was made in hopes of finding an owner for an adult cat that had been waiting 11 years to be...
New food bank in Apollo overwhelmed with high turnout
A library is offering more than just books in Apollo. The Apollo Memorial Library opened the Fresh and Free Community Pantry last week, offering perishable foods such as eggs, vegetables and fruit to the public. In its first three days of operation, more than 260 people visited the library seeking...
Leechburg resident combines passion for barbecue with helping people in need
A barbecue pitmaster from Leechburg uses his grill skills for charity. Joe “Big Joe” Felschow organizes barbecue benefits for anyone experiencing hardship in the Leechburg area. “It’s something I started and have a passion for. I love helping others in this crazy world we live in, even if it’s just...
Once-popular summer festival set to return in Allegheny Township
A popular summertime festival is returning to Allegheny Township. Community Days — last organized in 1997 — is set to return June 24. The township recently approved the formation of a Community Days Committee, spearheaded by Supervisor James Morabito. “We have no records indicating why the event ceased 26 years...
Former Vandergrift YMCA preschool teacher branching out with new program
A longtime educator and former Valley Points Family YMCA employee is opening a new preschool program after a drama-filled departure from her previous teaching post at the West Vandergrift Early Learning Center in Vandergrift. Andrea Bennett was a YMCA employee for 35 years before cleaning out her classroom at the...
Kiski Garden Center in Allegheny Township under new ownership
A popular year-‘round garden center in Allegheny Township is under new ownership. Dave Vargo, former owner of Kiski Garden Center, sold his business Friday for $200,000 to Pat D’Amico of Buffalo Township. Vargo removed a large banner outside his former business that same afternoon as D’Amico looked on and later,...
Couple plans to open full-service dog kennel in Allegheny Township
A canine-loving couple are moving ahead with plans to open a full-service dog kennel in Allegheny Township. Dan and Lindsay Janoski live on 15 acres along Indian Hill Road. Lindsay Janoski grew up with fond memories of her grandparents’ former dog kennel, Mar-Ken-El in Allegheny Township. “I’ve had dogs my...
New physical therapy business in Allegheny Township partners with Kiski Area School District
A new physical therapy business in Allegheny Township has partnered with the Kiski Area School District. East Suburban Sports Medicine Center opened Jan. 2 at 451 Hyde Park Road in Hyde Park Plaza. ESSMC, the official sports medicine provider for Kiski Area, signed a three-year athletic training contract with the...
Fox Chapel Evening of Hope fundraiser returns after three-year hiatus
An elegant evening fundraiser benefiting Pittsburgh-area students is returning to Fox Chapel. The Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh’s Fox Chapel Evening of Hope will be March 2 at the Pittsburgh Field Club. The event, last held in 2019, had been on a pandemic-induced hiatus. “We’re happy to be back....
Father-son firefighting leadership continues in Leechburg
The Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company has new leadership from a fifth-generation firefighter. John A. Foster was appointed chief Jan. 1, replacing his father, Tom, who was appointed chief emeritus after 36 years of serving as chief and 50 years as a firefighter. “I was 5 when my dad became chief,...
Leechburg Area third graders take a walk on the historic side to celebrate 100th day of school
The third grade hallway inside David Leech Elementary School was transformed Friday into a historical photo display project to celebrate the 100th day of school. The inaugural 100 Day Museum Walk, created by third grade teacher Michelle Grooms, is a black-and-white photo display containing 32 photos taken in various locations...
Sharpsburg artist creates social media page to promote borough
Visual artist Corey Ochai is on a mission to positively promote the borough he calls home. “I want people to give people a birds-eye view of Sharpsburg and all the beautiful things here,” said Ochai, 36. Ochai created a Facebook group four years ago called “The Beautiful Sights of Sharpsburg”...
Vandergrift residents organizing inaugural Pride event
A new, inclusive event is coming to Vandergrift. Pride Picnic at the Park is tentatively scheduled for June 24 at Kennedy Park. Pride — an acronym for professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence — was adopted 16 years ago by the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. “We’re organizing...
Kiski Area School District welcomes deaf therapy dog
The latest addition to the Kiski Area School District staff is of the four-legged variety. Roo, a 5-month-old mixed-breed deaf rescue dog, is the district’s first full-time therapy dog. Kiski Area Superintendent Misty Slavic said she noticed a need for a therapy dog while hearing feedback from students and staff...
Charity party kicks off annual Pink Day fundraising
Pink Day’s first fundraiser of the year is here. The Marconi Club Pink Day Extravaganza 2023 is scheduled for Saturday in downtown Leechburg. All proceeds benefit Leechburg’s Pink Day, a daylong festival dedicated to supporting breast cancer research and held every September on Market Street. Pink Day events have raised...
Kiski Area nationally recognized for gender diversity in computer science
The Kiski Area School District has been nationally recognized for achieving high female representation in Advanced Placement computer science. Kiski Area High School announced last week that it earned the 2022 College Board Female Diversity Award for AP Computer Science Principles. It’s the first time the district has earned an...
Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department expands police dog program
The Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department is adding another police dog to its force. Veegee, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, will be flown from Oregon to Pittsburgh this week and begin training to earn a police certification from the North American Police Work Dog Association. Upon completing several months...
Leechburg High School art students expand in-house business with handmade jewelry
A student-run business at Leechburg Area High School is expanding. Creations by Creation Candles is the latest line of handmade resin jewelry sold by Creation Candles, a custom candle business established last year in the school’s art, marketing, design and technology class. The course is taught by art teacher Shayle...
Fox Chapel Area senior nationally recognized for science research
Arvind Seshan, a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, has been building and programming robots since he was 6. “My interest in science stems from getting an early start through robotics,” said Seshan, 18. Seshan, of Fox Chapel, has been named one of the top 300 scholars...
PNC closing 2 more Pittsburgh-area locations, including Vandergrift branch
PNC is closing two more bank branches in the Pittsburgh region. The branches at 100 Grant Ave. in Vandergrift and at Duquesne University are scheduled to close at 3 p.m. March 17. An ATM will remain open at the Vandergrift location but not at Duquesne, according to PNC spokeswoman Olivia...
