Leslie Savisky stories, Page 4

A Kiwanis Park focus group has suggested either a rental/event or a community center at the Shaler Township park. They conducted a study of all Shaler parks, with a concentration on Kiwanis, to determine what is best suited for each location. The study includes what amenities currently exist at each...

Morgan Anders doesn’t like to paint on typical canvases. “I find random objects to paint on, such as irons, cabinet doors and church pews,” said Anders, who signs all of her pieces as Morganza Paisley. In particular, she is drawn to discarded and unwanted items. The Friends of the Monroeville...

Gateway School District teacher Emily Levine was presented the Roy A. Hunt Foundation Award on April 24 during a ceremony at The Frick Pittsburgh. Levine is the 25th educator to receive the honor. “Since 1999, The Frick Pittsburgh has annually recognized a teacher with the Roy A. Hunt Foundation Award...

This time each year, first grade teacher Kassandra Poliziani asks her students at Gateway School District’s Dr. Cleveland Steward Jr. Elementary to decorate brown paper bags. But they don’t keep the colorful bags. Instead, they actually return them to two local stores to encourage shoppers to make environmentally sound choices....

Although the Carter family moved often, Debbie and her brother Frank lived in Pitcairn and Monroeville for about six years with their parents, Frank Sr. and Barbara. Frank Sr. attended Carnegie Institute of Technology, where he studied chemical engineering. Frank’s high school sweetheart, Barbara Boyd, wanted to study art. She...

Monroeville Rotary members meet every week, but their meeting on April 4 marked two exceptional milestones. Two Rotarians – Ron Lombard and John “Jack” Finnegan – were honored for 50 years of service. President John Keating noted April 4 was Lombard’s exact 50-year anniversary, as he joined on April 4,...

Friends of the Monroeville Public Library are featuring husband and wife Al and Patti Middlemiss in April’s art exhibit. The pair’s works are on display at the Elaine Biondi Gallery Space through April 24. According to Patti Middlemiss, there are about 35 pieces featured. Al Middlemiss’ latest watercolor collection of...

Monroeville resident Craig Rowland will conduct a three-part series at the Monroeville Public Library on growing fruit and permaculture. The term “permaculture” — a combination of permanent agriculture and permanent culture — was coined by Bill Mollison and is “the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems.” The philosophy...

When Sunrise School in Monroeville returned to the classroom after the covid pandemic, middle school support teacher Erica Pavlovic wanted to bring some joy and fun back into the Allegheny Intermediate Unit building. Pavlovic created a March Madness event for students to celebrate the annual NCAA college basketball tournament. “Restrictions...

Although this is Diane Milow­icki’s first year as Gateway High School’s music director, she has a long history of directing community theater in California, where she spent much of her adult life. She was born in Pennsylvania and returned about four years ago. “I really love working with the kids,”...

Last fall, the Monroeville Rotary partnered with Divine Mercy Academy to create the first EarlyAct Club in the school. President-elect Diane Milowicki, along with President John Keating and parent-teacher guild member Tina Cuda, wanted to bring EarlyAct to Divine Mercy Academy and presented the idea to the school. This year,...

Longtime Monroeville resident Jill Cullen began writing her first book in 2007. “My sister told me I should write something funny, so that’s what I’d set out to do when I started,” Cullen recalled. “I started and stopped several times over a 15-year period, where it evolved into more than...

Monroeville Public Library will host a free entrepreneurship program, a three-part series for anyone interested in starting their own business. In this career development program, presenter Shawn McCune will share his enterprise journey which has developed into several successful businesses, including Enlightened Property Administration, Envisioned Environments and The Castle. According...

The Friends of the Monroeville Public Library will host an after-hours age 21 and older Spring Trivia Night on April 13 at the library. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Sliders, snacks and drinks are included in the ticket price. There...

At Monroeville Public Library, several century-old, framed photographs are on display. One of these intriguing, enlarged black-and-white photos, also featured in a book by Marilyn Grace Truan Chandler, is titled “Picnic in McMaster Grove: Circa 1900.” Below the title, it reads, “Judge Haymaker pictured in light suit with napkin.” Shaded...

Both floors of the Monroeville Public Library were transformed into a miniature golf course recently for a popular fundraising event. The first part of the day was a family- friendly activity for all ages, from the morning through afternoon. Tickets included one round of golf. The evening’s time slot, for ages...

Helping to ensure people are fed, clothed and spiritually educated is the goal of The Well Corp. Of Pennsylvania, a street ministry that provides community outreach, information and resources to the public. The nonprofit group formed in 2018 and collaborates with 17 churches in the Monroeville, Pitcairn and Trafford areas....

People might not know that Phillis Wheatley was the first African American author of a published book of poetry in 1773. Or that Mary Fields was the first African American female mail carrier in 1895. Retired Penn State professor Anthony Mitchell highlighted the work of these women and other African...

Pitcairn’s Borough Park Building was the site of the inaugural community Christmas party on Dec. 9. The free event was open to the public and included a spaghetti dinner and cookies, Christmas carols, crafts and games for kids, and information about community resources. “The borough allowed us to have this...