Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 19
Light Up the Wall in Aspinwall draws huge holiday crowd
An illuminating holiday tradition drew hundreds of people tiny Aspinwall on Dec. 7. The annual Light Up the Wall is one of the largest events organized by the Aspinwall Chamber of Commerce and presented in partnership with the borough. Freezing temperatures did not stop dozens of families across the Fox...
Sewickley Light Up Night draws thousands, sparks holiday spirit
Graham Walker sat stoically in the Sewickley Public Library surrounded by balloons, marshmallow snowmen and inflatable reindeer antlers. The Sewickley teen was focused and determined as he dared not jingle a single bell stacked on a popsicle stick. He walked out a victor in one of the many games taking...
Blawnox officials celebrate their police officers’ next chapters
Blawnox police Chief Patrick Goodman sat at the main desk of the police station talking with his fellow officers on the first floor of the borough building. Some wearing fully-equipped uniforms and a part-timer in plain clothes. It was a familiar scene since 2019 when Goodman took over the small...
O’Hara property taxes going up about 14%
O’Hara property owners will have to pay about 14% more in real estate taxes as part of the township’s 2025 budget. Council voted 5-2 on Dec. 10 to pass its spending plan and raise the millage rate from 2.1 mills to 2.4 mills. Council Vice President Mike Hamill and Councilman...
West Mifflin High School shifts to remote learning after auditorium fire
West Mifflin Area High School students will have a remote learning day Tuesday to learn remotely after a fire ripped through the auditorium. No injuries were reported in connection with the fire around 5:30 p.m. Monday at 91 Commonwealth Ave. Allegheny County officials are investigating the cause of the blaze,...
Fire at Verona apartment leaves at least 6 people homeless
At least six people were left homeless Thursday evening after a fire ripped through an apartment building in Verona. Multiple fire departments responded to the call for a fire with entrapment shortly before 5 p.m. in the 400 block of Center Avenue. Bystanders and borough police were kicking in doors...
Sewickley Valley YMCA, Heritage Valley Health System Thanksgiving tradition trots on
A little rain did not dampen the spirits of participants in the eighth annual Sewickley Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. About 1,900 people took part in the race organized by the Sewickley Valley YMCA and Heritage Valley Health System. It benefits the Y’s Faith in Action program, which matches elderly...
Still time to donate to Aspinwall’s Presents from Police toy drive
Aspinwall police officers again will serve as Santa’s deputies as they and other law enforcement agencies join forces to deliver presents to children. The 14th annual Presents from Police is underway with about 20 departments, including the Allegheny County and state police, joining in Aspinwall’s holiday efforts. New, unwrapped gifts...
Fox Chapel Area School Board reelects president, vice president, assistant board secretary
Fox Chapel Area School Board leadership will remain the same heading into the new year. The school directors reelected Marybeth Dadd and Ron Frank as president and vice president, respectively, for the nine-member panel. Board member Vanessa Lynch also was reelected as assistant board secretary. Votes were unanimous at a...
Quaker Valley School Board reappoints president, vice president
Quaker Valley School District will head into the new year with familiar faces leading its school board. Jonathan Kuzma and Daniela Helkowski were reappointed as board president and vice president, respectively. The unanimous votes were made at a reorganization meeting on Dec. 4. Kuzma, a Leetsdale resident and 2001 Quaker...
Proposed 2025 Glen Osborne budget has no real estate tax hike
Glen Osborne officials hope to hold the line on property taxes with their 2025 budget. The proposed $800,0000 spending plan is expected to be passed Dec. 17. Projected revenues include about $391,600 in real estate taxes, $255,000 in earned income taxes, $45,000 in real estate transfer taxes and $9,000 in...
Medical examiner: Deaths of Mt. Lebanon woman, daughter found dead in South Park ruled murder-suicide
The deaths of a Mt. Lebanon woman and her daughter who were found dead in their car in June has been ruled a murder-suicide. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office released the findings late Tuesday into its investigation into the deaths of 43-year-old Serena Guan and her 10-year-old daughter, Abigail...
No tax hike in proposed 2025 Edgeworth budget
Edgeworth officials plan to hold the line on real estate property taxes next year. Council voted 5-0 on Nov. 19 to advertise its proposed $3.355 million spending plan. Councilman Dan Wilson and councilwoman Beth Genter were absent. Budget documents indicate the millage rate will remain at 4.5 mills. Next year...
Sharpsburg magistrate announces candidacy for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas judge
District Judge Matthew Rudzki of Sharpsburg wants to become a judge for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Rudzki announced his candidacy to become a county judge Dec. 4, a few days after the death of Judge Alexander P. Bicket. Bicket, 68, of Mt. Lebanon died on Dec. 2...
New sensory rooms planned at Quaker Valley Middle School and Edgeworth Elementary
Quaker Valley School District officials know life can be stressful for their young learners. Managing school work, extracurricular activities, home life and other situations can sometimes cause students to feel overwhelmed. That’s why the district plans to create two new sensory rooms, one at the middle school and one at...
Man hospitalized after being shot in the face in Clairton
A man was recovering Thursday after being shot in the face in Clairton. Allegheny County Police said officers were dispatched around 1:35 p.m. to the 300 block of New York Avenue for a shooting at the City of Prayer. First responders found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to...
No real estate tax hike in proposed 2025 Aleppo budget
Aleppo officials plan to hold the line once again on township real estate taxes as part of their 2025 budget. Commissioners recently approved advertising next year’s proposed $1.476 million spending plan. Budget documents indicate the millage rate will remain at 3.5 mills. One mill generates approximately $166,000 in revenue. It...
New housing development proposed in Indiana Township; public hearing scheduled
Indiana Township residents and property owners have an opportunity to weigh in on a proposed residential development off Saxonburg Boulevard. Imperial-based developer Maronda Homes wants to build 32 single-family homes on a 22.47-acre property in a residential district. The housing plan, called Frederick Farms, is expected to feature similar homes...
Sharpsburg passes budget with no tax increase; Hall of Fame induction set at next council meeting
Sharpsburg property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes or borough sewage fees as part of next year’s budget. Council approved its 2025 spending plan Nov. 21. It maintains the millage and sewage rates at current levels. A draft of the budget was made available at...
Leetsdale police ready to host 8th annual drive-thru gift giveaway
Leetsdale police officers are ready to give away some holiday spirit. They’re preparing for their eighth annual drive-thru gift giveaway, with Santa making a special stop at the Leetsdale VFW Post 3372 from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 21. The event is designed to provide presents to borough youth and...
Quaker Valley High School stadium to get new turf, track for next school year
Quaker Valley School District student-athletes will have a new home-field advantage next school year. The school directors recently voted to award a $1.16 million turf and track replacement project to Keystone Sports Construction of Montgomery County. Charlie Gauthier, district director of facilities and administrative services, said the current surface is...
Leetsdale officials plan to hold the line on real state taxes next year
Leetsdale officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes with their 2025 budget. Council unanimously voted Nov. 14 to advertise its estimated $2.9 million preliminary spending plan. Budget documents indicate the millage rate will remain at 9 mills. Of that, 8 mills are planned for general purposes and...
Future of Herbst House in Sewickley discussed at borough library event
A slight majority of Sewickley Valley Historical Society survey participants want to see a former Catholic school and convent demolished in the borough’s historic district. An even larger majority of participants identified themselves as members of Divine Redeemer Parish, which remains in discussions with borough officials over the future of...
Sewickley’s Light Up Night set for Dec. 6
A holiday tradition that draws thousands of people to the main streets of Sewickley is quickly approaching. The borough’s annual Light Up Night celebration is set for 5-9 p.m. Dec 6. About 10,000 people attended last year’s celebration and organizers are expecting the same attendance this year. “Our goal is to...
Indiana Township officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes with next year’s budget
Indiana Township property owners should not expect to pay more in real estate taxes to balance next year’s budget. Supervisors unanimously voted Nov. 13 to advertise its estimated $6.5 million 2025 budget. Budget documents indicate the millage rate will remain at 3.47 mills, with 2.99 mills for township operations and...
