Mary Ann Thomas stories, Page 4
National Labor Relations Board issues unfair labor complaint against Braeburn Alloy Steel
The National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint Friday against Braeburn Alloy Steel in Lower Burrell for breaking the National Labor Relations Act by not recognizing the collective bargaining unit represented by the United Steelworkers. The union, which represents about 30 workers, filed unfair labor practice complaints with NLRB in...
Fire breathers, magic and trick-or-treat on tap for 3rd annual Freeport Halloween Festival
The third annual Freeport Halloween Festival will feature fire breathers, live entertainment, amusement rides, food, crafts and more Friday through Sunday. Admission is free for the festival, which will be held in the heart of Freeport at James E. Swartz Sr. Memorial Field. The town’s two previous three-day Halloween festivals...
School district seeks nominations of local veterans for Hampton Heroes program
Hampton Township School District is asking for nominations for its 2022 Hampton Heroes program, which recognizes and honors local veterans. The district is accepting nominations through Oct. 22 for the 2022 Hampton Heroes program on Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. at Fridley Field, the district’s stadium. Students and staff members...
State officials: Bigfoot isn’t lurking in Pennsylvania parks and forests; fake flyers reported
Bigfoot or no Bigfoot, the state and a local paranormal researcher are not amused by fake flyers warning state park and forest visitors about the presence of the unconfirmed, yet hugely popular, hairy hominid creature. Because the fake flyers appear to use official state letterhead, the state doesn’t want the...
Burrell School District to offer indoor bocce through program with Special Olympics
The Burrell School District will offer inclusive, co-ed bocce for students with and without cognitive disabilities thanks to Special Olympics Pennsylvania. The school board recently approved the program with Special Olympics, which will pay for the team’s expenses for the first two years, including uniforms, and provide expertise to a...
Building the Valley: Lower Burrell’s Sharpe Auto Repair back in business after 2021 fire
In July 2021, Arthur “Artie” Grazier vowed to rebuild his Sharpe Auto Repair in Lower Burrell after an overnight fire destroyed his business. Almost a year later, the auto repair shop owner made good on his promise. “The big thing was that nobody was hurt, and, that I will always...
Harmar police nab attempted homicide suspects after Route 28 chase
Shortly after Pittsburgh police called off a chase on Route 28 early Sunday afternoon, Harmar police said they apprehended the two men — who are accused of attempted homicide — just past the Fox Chapel exit on the highway. After Harmar officers caught the suspects, Pittsburgh police interviewed and arrested...
Jeep driver hits state police car in South Huntingdon and flees
Police are looking for the driver of a Jeep Wrangler who hit a marked state police car Saturday at 8 p.m. in South Huntingdon and fled. The hit and run of the police car occurred on Route 31 just east of Route 136, according to a state police press release....
Woman found shot in car in Homewood
A woman found shot in a car in Homewood was in critical but stable condition late Sunday afternoon, according to a Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman. Police were alerted just after 4:15 p.m. to the shooting. They found the woman in a car on Brushton Avenue near Frankstown Avenue, according to...
Polish-style beer, vendors draw crowds to fall markets in Lower Burrell, New Kensington
On a Saturday featuring harvest festivals across the region, Lower Burrell and New Kensington attracted hundreds of patrons shopping for craft beer, soy candles, and coconut and curry butternut squash soup. For Lower Burrell’s final farmers market, organizers held a harvest festival, adding guest vendors offering autumn-themed products. The traditional...
Civil War re-enactors and local honey enliven Burtner House festival
The Burtner House’s Fall Harvest Festival keeps the history of the 201-year-old homestead alive. True to the character of the home, more than 35 volunteers dressed in Civil War-era costumes wandered the grounds and staffed food booths and other stations Saturday for the outdoor festival. The fall harvest and the...
Lower Burrell Farmers Market Harvest Festival to offer magic wands, craft beer and more
Lower Burrell’s Farmers Market will go out with a bang for its final market of the season with its Harvest Festival Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The special themed market will feature about 30 vendors including guest vendors providing more products and more choices, including craft beer from...
New Kensington job fair features 12 local employers
CareerLink Alle-Kiski will hold a job fair Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its New Kensington office, 1150 Fifth Ave. Registration is not required. A dozen local companies will be recruiting at the event, said Phil Grove, account representative for CareerLink in New Kensington, which includes portions of...
New Freeport mayor eager to help residents, local businesses
New Freeport Mayor Zachary Gent greeted business owners and others while strolling through the town in sandals in late September, which is appropriate for this river-loving town. He succeeds longtime Mayor James Swartz Jr., who resigned in June. Borough council had difficulty finding candidates and, several months later, voted unanimously...
Pine man’s Richard Nixon showerhead and other campaign items focus of Apollo history group’s event
If you are looking for a Richard Nixon shower head or a baby-shaped bar of William McKinley soap, Steve Mihaly has you covered. The Pine Township resident will present “Marketing the Presidency: A Visual Tour of 125 Years of Presidential Memorabilia” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday for the Apollo Area Historical...
New Dunkin’ in Lower Burrell to bring more life to once-deserted Burrell Plaza
Dunkin’ will open a new store in December in the former First National Bank building in Burrell Plaza along Leechburg Road. The popular coffee, breakfast and snack restaurant will bring 30 to 40 full- and part-time jobs, said Chelsea Halker, marketing manager of Heartland Restaurant Group, the largest Dunkin’ franchisee...
Route 28 construction 70% done; the rest is coming — eventually
PennDOT will complete about 70% of the work for the Route 28 Highland Park interchange by the end of the year as well as 40% of the Harmar-to-East Deer improvement project. A third, related project on the expressway will be mostly finished by the end of the year. The $15.3...
‘Dont Wait on 28!’ Facebook page sees big uptick in followers
Whether it’s to discuss what caused traffic backups or to lambaste pokey drivers insist on using the passing lane, the “Dont Wait on 28!” Facebook page has amassed more than 26,000 followers since its inception eight years ago. “The crazy part is when the page was first created, they didn’t...
Girls soccer teams support Hampton’s Lucy Interthal with a special message
The Mars Area High School girls soccer team had a special message Sept. 26 for its competitors, the Hampton girls soccer team: Hampton’s Lucy Interthal is loved by all who know her. The Mars girls wore the wristbands emblazoned with “22,” Interthal’s number, to show their support for the Hampton...
Hampton manager Lochner honored by international group for service
Hampton Township Municipal Manager Chris Lochner was honored recently by the International City Management Association for his 40 years of public service. Most of Lochner’s career has been spent as the manager of Hampton, with previous work as an intern for the City of Pittsburgh Planning Department and a manager...
One of 4,000 beagles saved from a Virginia facility finds home in Upper Burrell
There’s just something about a friendly, doe-eyed beagle with its unassuming size and floppy ears that caused Michele Binder to keep the dog breed at her side most of her life. When news broke in July of the rescue of 4,000 beagles in deplorable conditions at a Virginia breeding facility...
Freeport borough offices closed to public as council tries to hire backup secretary
One could make an argument that Freeport’s government is suffering from “long covid.” The term refers to having effects from the virus persist long after the infection is cleared. It’s much like Freeport’s situation with a borough building that has been closed to the public for the past two weeks...
Municipal attorney starts new job as 5th Shaler Township manager in 122 years
Longevity is key for new Shaler Township manager Christopher Lovato, who will serve as only the fifth township manager in 122 years. Lovato, 39, of Franklin Park, began his tenure this month as deputy township manager, under the guidance of manager Tim Rogers until he retires in December. Lovato will...
Faces of the Valley: The Cupcake Girls incorporate inclusivity into their lives and their bakery business
About nine years ago, two sisters started with a mixer and an idea to make small gourmet cupcakes and large old-time cookies served with a mix of fun and inclusiveness. Courtney Kobelenske and Kylie Lash, both of Lower Burrell, opened Cora Lee Cupcakes, now based in New Kensington’s Feldarelli Square,...
After mass resignations, Kiski Township hires more officers to restore positions
After Kiski Township police Sgt. Thomas Dessell, four other officers and the police secretary quit in protest in early July, the township supervisors whose actions they objected to have scrambled to replace the officers. The township is recovering from the mass resignation. The township supervisors have restored the positions with...
