Mary Ann Thomas stories, Page 47
Apollo Borough gets new offices, councilwoman, return of its Christmas parade
There are changes coming to Apollo this month and next, as the borough office is moving to a new location, its council vice president has resigned just after winning a new term, a new councilwoman has started a little early, and the Christmas parade returns Friday. Council expects the borough...
Audubon plans bird festival, other activities in Buffalo Creek watershed
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania will use a $30,000 state grant to put on a bird festival and offer free tree giveaways, youth programs at libraries and more in Buffalo Township and nearby communities. The nonprofit also will use grant money from the state Department of Conservation and Natural...
Cheswick council looking to appoint new council member and police board member
Cheswick Council is expected to appoint a new council member and board representative to the recently formed Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department. Incumbent councilman Michael Girardi won two seats in the Nov. 5 election, one with a four-year term and another with a two-year term. Girardi is expected to choose...
State wants to know who dumped 100 tires on state game lands in Washington County
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is asking the public for information about the illegal dumping of 100 tires on state game lands in Washington County over the weekend of Nov. 9-10. The Game Commission issued a report of 100 tires dumped along Lindley, Dutch Glory and Little Daniels Run roads in...
Harmar again considers lowering property taxes for homeowners
For the third time in four years, the Harmar supervisors want to decrease real estate taxes for township homeowners. The tax cut would come in the form of homestead tax exemptions that reduce the assessed value of homes for tax purposes. Allegheny County offers homeowners an $18,000 decrease in the...
Pittsburgh stations to play Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young marathon, ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ on Thanksgiving
Turn on the Thanksgiving tunes Thursday for a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young marathon on WYEP and the annual WDVE airing of Arlo Guthrie’s 18-minute-plus song “Alice’s Restaurant.” As much a tradition as turkey on Thanksgiving, WDVE will air “Alice’s Restaurant” at noon Thursday when cooks throughout the region pause...
Customers flock to Glen’s Frozen Custard as season draws to closeVideo
Tuesday’s mild weather prompted many devoted followers of Glen’s Frozen Custard to race to stands in Springdale and Lower Burrell before they close for the season at 10 p.m. Wednesday. Many customers went to scoop up Glen’s traditional cones, while others went for seasonal favorites such as homemade pumpkin roll...
Aspinwall author watches his novel jump from page to film
For Aspinwall’s Philip Beard, a punctuating moment in an 18-year journey came when he and his daughter watched actress Sadie Sink of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” shoot a scene in Kennywood Park for a movie based on his novel, “Dear Zoe.” “It’s surreal not only hearing my words coming from the...
Last call for electronic, hazardous household waste disposal in Cheswick
Cheswick residents can dispose of their electronic and hazardous household waste in the final of four special collections this year on Dec. 6. Residents have until 5 p.m. Monday to schedule a pickup by calling Vogel Disposal Service at 724-625-1511. Household items being collected include latex paint, automotive products, garden...
Lower Burrell Republican hopes to challenge incumbent state Sen. Jim Brewster
A New Kensington-based attorney and mother of four wants to challenge state Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, for his seat in the 2020 general election. Nicole Ziccarelli, a Republican, announced she is running for Brewster’s seat in the 45th Senatorial District, which includes the Alle-Kiski Valley communities including Plum, Arnold, Lower...
Children’s book about Merlyn the police dog has special connection to Allegheny Valley schoolsVideo
Who wouldn’t love a police dog that pines for French fries? Second-graders at Acmetonia Elementary School in Harmar learned the eating and work habits of Merlyn, the now retired police dog for Springdale Township. Jennifer Callen-Naviglia and her sister, Leslee Green, recently released the children’s book, “K-9 Merlyn Police Dog...
Police investigating reported shooting along Route 28 in Harmar
Details of a reported armed robbery along Route 28 in Harmar that left one man wounded remain a mystery, state police said Wednesday. A Pittsburgh man who was treated at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison for shooting-related injuries told police that he had been robbed and shot near Route 28’s...
State Parks plan: More pet-friendly campsites, elevated tree house-like cottages and no Wi-Fi
A preliminary report on the future of Pennsylvania’s 121 state parks revealed that park users want pet-friendly campsites and no Wi-Fi. While “glamping” was not mentioned, park users do want more adventurous sleepovers by trying something new, such as building elevated camping cottages to simulate a treehouse effect. “Penn’s Parks...
Officials hope changes at Routes 66, 366 make intersection safer
The flowers of a makeshift memorial at a Washington Township intersection where a Brackenridge woman died in a July 27 crash haven’t faded yet. The fatal crash happened when Haley Montgomery’s northbound car tried to turn left from Route 66 onto Route 366 but was struck by an oncoming SUV....
Police: Venango man topped 120 mph on Route 28 after driving away from traffic stop
A Venango County man drove more than 120 mph while holding a woman against her will in his car as police pursued him on Route 28, according to state police. Kirk Edward Heath, 43, was arraigned Monday on 19 charges, including kidnapping to facilitate a felony and fleeing or attempting...
High-tech equipment, land leasing, age-old practices keep today’s farmers growingVideo
By looking at a computer screen in his new $500,000 combine, Andrew Kimmel knew his yield was about 225 bushels-per-acre of feed corn for one of the Burrell Township fields he was harvesting Thursday afternoon. It’s harvest time, modern style. On Thursday, Kimmel climbed a six-rung, steel ladder to reach...
Burrell School Board president appears to win reelection with write-in campaign
The Burrell School Board will have the chance to appoint a new school board member at its Dec. 3 reorganization meeting because of the lack of candidates and a win by board President Tricia Shank for a seat she didn’t seek and can’t accept. Shank won two seats — both...
Study: More than 500M pieces of litter strewn along Pennsylvania roads
An estimated 500 million pieces of litter were strewn along Pennsylvania roads in 2018-2019, with cigarette butts and plastic food packaging, bottles and bags ranking among the most commonly picked-up items, according to the Pennsylvania Litter Research Study. Motorists and pedestrians are leading litterers, followed by improperly secured truck loads,...
Allegheny River lock reopens after $6.6M fix
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday reopened the Allegheny River’s Lock 2, which has been closed most days for three months because of a $6.6 million renovation project. The land wall in the 87-year-old lock chamber near the Highland Park Bridge had been deteriorating for years at what...
Burrell School Board to reconsider artificial turf when it seeks contract bids next week
A new estimate knocks down the cost of artificial turf to a $550,000 option for a renovation project at Burrell High School’s Buccaneers Stadium. The original estimate for the field renovation with natural sod was about $400,000, while artificial turf was expected to cost $1.2 million to $1.3 million. However,...
New Venture Outdoors executive director to move Kayak Pittsburgh hubVideo
Valerie Beichner, the new executive director of Venture Outdoors, said her to-do list includes moving the nonprofit’s Kayak Pittsburgh outfitter hub from beneath the Sixth Street Bridge on Pittsburgh’s North Shore to another location in 2020. Beichner promises to keep a Kayak Pittsburgh location in the Pittsburgh navigational pool, or...
Buffalo Township to consider final plans for $1M Audubon nature center, park
Buffalo Township Supervisors are scheduled to vote Wednesday on the final site plan for a $1 million nature center and park along the Butler-Freeport Community Trail. The nature center site is owned by the township and operated by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. The proposed nature center and park...
Burrell School Board to receive new estimates for proposed stadium project
The architects for Burrell High School’s proposed Buccaneer Stadium renovation project are scheduled to present new estimates at Tuesday’s school board meeting on the cost to install artificial turf versus natural grass. “We’ll wait to see what the architects say Tuesday night, mull it over and make a decision during...
Owls, beer on tap for Audubon outing in Buffalo Township
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is offering a double header event, combining nature with the partaking of microbrews, later this month. The event, which runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 30, starts with an owl prowl at Audubon’s Buffalo Creek Nature Center in Buffalo Township led by an...
Verona wildlife rehab center receives donation after outrage from shot bald eagleVideo
While rescuing a bald eagle with a fatal shotgun wound was an act of human kindness, so is raising the money to pay for its medical bills at a nonprofit wildlife rehab center. Dorothy Pierini-Rodgers, 61, and her husband, Bill Rodgers, of Blairsville donated about $1,660 of $2,660 raised through...
