Joyce Hanz stories, Page 38

A charitable closet inside Kiski Area High School offers more than just clothes. Staffed by 10 students from the high school’s Life Skills Program, the Cavalier Closet is a free student store offering donated clothing, accessories, shoes and toiletries to any student in need. The closet concept was created in...

The Gilpin Township supervisors have awarded a contract to Mackin Engineering to overhaul the township’s decades-old zoning ordinances. The supervisors voted 4-0, with Supervisor Linda Alworth absent, to hire the firm April 12 for just under $39,000 for the project. Gilpin has zoning laws, which only allow certain types in...

A fitness-themed fundraiser offering fun and fellowship returns to Allegheny RiverTrail Park in Aspinwall April 23. Spin Your Wheels was created in 2015 by Aspinwall resident and attorney Jennifer Evashavik. She bills it as the “fitness party of the year” and hundreds attend. The family-friendly event offers classes for everyone,...

Kiski Area High School junior Grace Wilferd put her knowledge of welding on display to win big at a competition last weekend in Hershey. Wilferd, 16, of Allegheny Township took first place in the welding demonstration competition at the SkillsUSA State and Leadership Conference, held April 6-8. Additionally, she received...

A Kiski Area High School student started an online petition this month calling for all the school’s bathrooms to be open, all of the time. As the petition gathered more signatures, Principal Chad Roland called in the student this week to explain why the school began rotating bathroom closures, starting...

With the playgrounds in Vandergrift’s two parks yet to open this year, some residents are petitioning borough officials to take off the padlocks and let people in. Vandergrift resident and business owner Chloe Kruse created an online petition on Change.org about a month ago, asking borough officials to open the...

A Kiski Area School District color guard team struck gold during a recent international competition last weekend in Ohio. The 18-member Kiski Area Scholastic Open Winter Guard made history, winning a gold medal in the 2022 WGI (Winter Guard International) World Championships. “We could not be more proud of the...

With the Fox Chapel police, Officer Robert Katich is well regarded for the K-9 program he started 23 years ago. But his renown in the field extends beyond the woodsy suburb. Over the decades, he has become a nationally recognized master dog trainer who has trained more than 1,000 dogs...

Vandergrift’s chicken committee, formed last August by officials proposing changes to the borough’s fowl ordinance, has disbanded. A proposed chicken ordinance was moving forward last September, with plans to amend an ordinance regulating the ownership of backyard chickens in the borough. The three-person chicken committee had included Councilwoman Christine Wilson,...

The lunch ladies at Kiski Area School District are serving up more than just healthy meals. The Kiski Area School District food service department was recognized recently for its efforts in child food-related programs. The department of about 50 employees received a 2021 Child Hunger Hero Award from the Greater...

You could call him Pyro Joe. Joe Veltri has a blast using his love of fireworks to brighten the nights of residents in his Indiana Township neighborhood, known as Park Place. Veltri, 49, began putting on fireworks shows in the neighborhood after virtually everything — including in-person birthday parties —...

Kiski Area Superintendent Misty Slavic is on a mission to improve communications and brand awareness in the district. Slavic has partnered with the school board to form a new Public Relations Subcommittee with a goal of increasing positivity in the district. “We’re trying to get our community members involved,” Slavic...

Two Kiski Area High School seniors took top spots in this year’s contest to design billboards with messages against distracted driving. Seniors Jack Coleman and Amber Coutch placed first and second, respectively. They were recognized Friday during a ceremony held at the high school. The contest was sponsored by State...

Monarch Veil, a new multi-venue wedding and event space, is open on the grounds of the former J-Barn Country Inn in Buffalo Township. Dean and Janae McAfee purchased the popular rural restaurant last year and opened for business this month. The J-Barn, once known as Jardine’s, closed in 2018. After...

Sharpsburg Magisterial District Judge Matthew Rudzki made good on one of his campaign promises from last year. Rudzki implemented a night court option for people seeking an alternative to having to miss work or school to attend court. “I have high hopes it will be a successful program,” Rudzki said....

A fifth-generation Allegheny Township farmer is bringing the barnyard to the people with a new business: Quack A Doodle Doo, a mobile barnyard petting zoo. Heather Waltz, born and raised on the family farm founded in 1874, is a self-professed animal lover. The new business takes her farm animals to...

Kiski Area High School is set to unleash everyone’s favorite ogre and fairy tale creatures with its upcoming production of “Shrek The Musical.” Director Robert Capanna said he wanted to present a fun show this year, especially after two years of covid-related conditions. “We wanted a big, hilarious and fun-for-the-whole-family...

A fire was reported on the second floor of a two-story home in Pittsburgh’s Duquesne neighborhood Sunday, according to an Allegheny County police dispatcher. Emergency crews responded at about 7 p.m. to the fire at 109 Dell St. There were no injuries, the dispatcher said. The fire is believed to...

A SWAT incident Saturday in Butler Township has resulted in the arrest of 38-year-old Butler resident Kenneth Eugene Snyder Jr. Snyder is charged with terroristic threats and aggravated assault, according to a release from the Butler Township Police Department. Snyder is accused of stabbing a 39-year-old man multiple times in...

Donna Hare of Upper Burrell hadn’t visited New Kensington in more than 20 years. But a new food and commerce-themed event held there Saturday changed that. Hare and five of her friends attended the 2022 Restaurant Ramble & Spring Fling. The group said they all were happy to support local...

A drive-thru sale Saturday in Brackenridge offered motorists a convenient way to score their favorite Girl Scout cookie. Girl Scout Troop 28807 leader Jessica DePascale said the troop introduced the drive-thru option for purchasing cookies last year because of the pandemic. The 11-member troop braved snow showers and freezing temps...

Kiski Area High School drama students rolled out a swampy green welcome mat for a “Character Breakfast” fundraiser Saturday morning at the high school cafeteria. Guests were able to interact with numerous lead characters — in full costume — from the upcoming spring musical production of “Shrek the Musical.” More...

Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market launched a T-shirt fundraiser Tuesday to help the people of Ukraine as they suffer under a Russian military invasion. The Sprankle’s chain, with locations in Leechburg, Saxonburg and Kittanning, hope to raise $5,000 for the Red Cross by selling the shirts. Co-owner Ryan Sprankle said an employee...