Joyce Hanz stories, Page 49

One Alle-Kiski Valley family hasn’t let covid stand in the way of celebrating Christmas. When the pandemic forced a cancellation of their usual Christmas Day family gathering in Tarentum last year, Kathy Kemp of the Cabot section of Winfield Township, Butler County, got creative. “My mom was not happy with...

It’s been smooth sailing this weekend for the 119th annual Oakmont Yacht Club Regatta. The three-day event is back along the banks of the Allegheny River this summer after being canceled last year because of the covid-19 related pandemic. Dom Conte, board member and 2021 regatta organizer, said the regatta...

Lisa Fiorina of Lower Burrell didn’t have to fret over what to make for dinner Saturday. The Food Truck Extravaganza sponsored by Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 solved her dinner dilemma. “No cooking tonight,” Fiorina said. “It’s important to support your local fire community.” More than 18 food...

A popular waterfront eatery is expanding its operations. Farmer x Baker, a repurposed shipping container-turned-eatery located inside Aspinwall Rivertrail Park, plans to open a new brick-and-mortar location in O’Hara Township this fall and serve as the exclusive caterer and provider for a new weekend brunch at Cellar on Penn in...

Allegheny Township is hosting a picnic next month at Northmoreland Park as part as part of the community’s participation in National Night Out. It’s a free gathering aimed at building relationships between first responders and the community and serves as a positive crime and drug prevention event. Coordinated by the...

It’s a fundraiser with an emphasis on fun. The Arnold Volunteer Engine Company #2 is offering a party bus package fundraiser, featuring a 26-passenger party bus from Extreme Limousines in Lower Burrell. The unique fundraiser prize is in response to what company volunteer and secretary Chris O’Leath said is a...

Danny Hilliard of Leechburg has loved fishing since he was old enough to clutch a rod. He recently created the Leechburg Angling Club, a new public Facebook group, with a goal of promoting angling on the Kiski River and its associated tributaries. “When I was a kid, the Kiski was...

The flower power scene is reppin’ at a farm in South Buffalo Township. Renshaw Farms has kicked off Sunflower Days. More than 150,000 sunflowers are in bloom in a giant field — available for the public to explore, buy and enjoy. Owner Jason Renshaw said his wife, Jamie, suggested he...

A Leechburg woman diagnosed with cancer hasn’t let personal hardship diminish her passion for fundraising. Sherry Price, founder and organizer of Pink Day, was diagnosed with breast cancer in February during a routine mammogram. “Never in a million years did I think I’d get breast cancer,” said Price, 57. She...

Police have released details concerning the robbery of the Apollo Trust Bank in North Apollo on Monday and the arrest of Vandergrift man charged with the crime. Bradley James Mondi, 33, remains behind bars while awaiting a July 21 preliminary hearing at the Armstrong County Jail after failing to post...

Vandergrift Police Officer William Moore, who was suspended last month for unprofessional conduct, is back on duty. Council member Casimer Maszgay confirmed Tuesday that Moore returned to his beat last week. Vandergrift Police Chief Joe Caporali refused to comment on Moore’s return, citing a personnel matter. Moore also declined to...

A Gilpin man is facing multiple misdemeanor charges in connection with the assault of a man during his one-man political protest in Allegheny Township. Michael Robert Atwood, 38, has been charged by Allegheny Township police with misdemeanor charges of simple assault and related charges for incidents that unfolded at a...

Leechburg officials have taken legal action in response to a constable they say lacks authority to pursue code violators in the borough. Council addressed the matter during their June meeting, passing two resolutions, after a series of social media posts by Leechburg Constable Corey McIntyre. The resolutions are designed to...

Two Alle-Kiski Valley restaurants and a Leechburg woman were to be featured Friday on an episode of HGTV’s “My Lottery Dream Home.” The series follows its host, David Bromstad, as he helps lottery winners purchase luxury properties with their newfound winnings. Friday’s show was to feature a Leechburg woman, Charity...

A scenic eatery in Allegheny Township has closed for the summer and fall season. Lily’s, the renovated restaurant at River Forest Country Club overlooking the golf course, announced the closing on social media last week. Referring to the decision to close as “tough” in a Facebook post, Lily’s blamed the...

A four-month strike by workers at ATI hasn’t impacted plans to upgrade and expand the company’s Vandergrift operations from moving forward. “We’ve been proceeding as planned throughout all of the strike activities,” said Danielle Carlini, Vandergrift’s ATI project manager for specialty rolled products. The expansion is set to happen over...

A Vandergrift woman has created a petition to try to reduce the speed limit on Holland Avenue. Ursula Clark, a retired steelworker, said motorists exceeding the posted 25 mph speed limit is a daily problem. She said her beloved dog, Titan, recently was struck by a vehicle traveling at what...

A volunteer group committed to promoting kindness, safety and positive play among children in Vandergrift area parks is looking to grow its membership. The group, called the Vandergrift OWLS Park Supervisor Program, uses volunteers who are dedicated to making sure borough parks are safe and welcoming for the community. During...

Tim Geary is a man on a mission — again. The 77-year-old retired attorney from Aspinwall has resumed his hike on the Appalachian Trail in honor of his late wife, Gillen, who died after a seven-year battle with melanoma last year. Geary, formerly of Vandergrift, began his hike March 17...

Leechburg Area School District students will return to a pre-pandemic schedule this fall. The school board voted unanimously last month to return to in-person learning five days per week, eliminating previous virtual Wednesdays. “As of now, we are planning a return to school that will look the same as it...

A section of Route 356 in Allegheny Township that is used by about 10,000 motorists daily will be closed for nearly seven weeks as a $15.9 million project continues along the state road. “This will be a pain, but to fix a major highway like this you have to be...