Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 26
Sewickley Harvest Festival set to return Sept. 7
A fall tradition geared toward community engagement and supporting local businesses will soon sprout up again in Sewickley. The annual Harvest Festival is scheduled for Sept. 7. It will be the 33rd installment of the autumn jubilee presented by the Rotary Club of Quaker Valley and Kiwanis Club of Sewickley....
Woman severely injured in tractor crash in Allegheny Township
A woman was flown from Allegheny Township to a Pittsburgh area hospital with a severe leg injury sustained in a crash Monday afternoon. Westmoreland County Public Safety reported a tractor rolled over onto a woman shortly before 6 p.m. at 1357 Route 356, not far from Leechburg Road. Township police...
St. Januarius Catholic Church in Plum to close
St. Januarius Catholic Church in Plum is closing next month. The final day for the church along Renton Road that is part of Holy Family Parish is set for Sept. 23, according to a decree from Bishop David Zubik posted Sunday on the parish website. “The age and physical condition...
‘Band Blast’ supporters say new committees will keep event going in New Kensington
There was speculation whether music fans would be witness to the last “Band Blast” at New Kensington’s Memorial Park Sunday evening. But the annual musical tradition will continue, according to organizers and city officials. The event was started more than a decade ago by volunteers called the New Ken/Arnold Social...
Citizens Hose firefighters eschew boot drives for body slams as part of annual fundraising effort
Typical fire department fundraisers involve bingo or boot drives. Harrison-based Citizens Hose Fire/Rescue/EMS prefers something else — body slams. The fourth annual Battle in Birdville took place outside the station off of Burtner Road on Saturday evening. “We were looking to do a fundraiser outside the box, outside the traditional...
Mother recounts the pain of her loss as residents of Arnold and New Kensington hold anti-drug march, outdoor forum
Roxanne White, a mother from Arnold, has taken steps to ensure no other parent has to experience what she did on Mother’s Day. In fact, she took many, many steps Saturday afternoon as she joined about 30 others in a March to Save Our Community effort up and down the...
Wrestlers at Verona’s Battle in the Borough perform through raindrops and chest chops
Verona first responders answered an “unusual call” after a rainstorm earlier this month. Police, firefighters and Lower Valley Ambulance personnel responded to Cribbs Field along Second Street for a report of two men “fighting” the evening of Aug. 17. It was not a typical emergency. In fact, it wasn’t an...
Leet planning commission recommends approval of Quaker Valley high school plan
Quaker Valley School District’s plans for a new high school have cleared another hurdle as Leet planning commission voted 4-0 on Aug. 22 to recommend approval of the preliminary and final site plan. The proposed 167,000-square-foot school is on 150 acres of land off Camp Meeting Road. The district property...
Gene the Werewolf to celebrate release of ‘best of’ vinyl recordVideo
Pittsburgh rockers with a throwback sound have taken to a throwback way to listen to their best work so far. Gene the Werewolf is ready to launch its “best of” vinyl album Friday via concert at the South Park Amphitheater. Admission is free to the all-ages show, which is part...
Quaker Valley School District celebrates the first day of classes
Quaker Valley schools were once again packed with young learners and eager teachers. First day of classes for the K-12 school district in the Sewickley area and neighboring boroughs was Aug. 21. About 1,820 students are enrolled in the 2024-25 school year. The district has 323 employees, including 164 teachers....
Quaker Valley area volunteers help restore butterfly garden at Edgeworth Elementary School
Several Quaker Valley area families came together to spruce up an unkempt elementary nature site just in time for students return to school. About 25 volunteers took shovels to dirt at the butterfly garden outside Edgeworth Elementary on Aug. 12. They also cleaned up the walkways around the area. First...
O’Hara, Blawnox officials eager to move forward with new police agreement
Excitement is brewing between Blawnox and O’Hara officials as they look to finalize an intergovernmental agreement for police services. The plan is for the Blawnox’s four full-time officers, including Chief Patrick Goodman, to become O’Hara officers and join the township force at the O’Hara municipal office at the start of...
Aspinwall to examine parking problems via study
Aspinwall officials know they have to do something about parking issues in the borough. What possible solutions there are will be determined through a new study. Council approved a $50,000 deal with Walker Consultants to examine spaces, potential changes to the zoning ordinance, collect data and come up with recommendations...
Aspinwall Police Department’s campaign to slow down speeding motorists in full force
Aspinwall police have launched a new initiative to encourage safe driving habits. The Slow Down Campaign involves placing yard signs at strategic sites throughout the borough, particularly near bus stops, busy intersections and other high-traffic areas. “We are looking to slow down vehicles for back to school,” Mayor Joe Noro...
Upgrades set for McCahill Park in Fox Chapel, including borough’s 1st public pickleball courts
Cora Susi leapt from a wooden ramp onto a small black circular platform and pole and launched herself into the great beyond. That beyond was 30 feet down a zip line at McCahill Park in Fox Chapel. It’s the favorite activity of Cora, 4, and her sister, Mira, 5, at...
Police: 11-year-old girl struck and killed in Natrona
An 11-year-old was struck and killed while walking Tuesday night in Harrison, leaving residents in the neighborhood in disbelief. “I can’t believe this happened,” said Denise Parkin, resident and friend of the victim’s family. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Roxanne Alexis Bonnoni, 11, of Natrona....
McKees Rocks man sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for drug, gun crimes
A McKees Rocks man who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and being a felon possessing a gun has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. Reginald Bernard Blunt, 32, was sentenced Thursday by Senior U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer. Federal prosecutors showed that Blunt was caught with methamphetamine,...
Indiana Township supervisors deny request that could have led to new gas wells and fracking
Plans for Cranberry-based MPF Management to have a portion of Indiana Township rezoned for potential oil and gas development were put to a halt by township supervisors. The board voted 4-1 Aug. 14 to deny advertising a public hearing on a request to change a 59-acre parcel along Route 910...
Plum approves new contract with police chief, promotes 2 officers
Plum police Chief Lanny Conley has a new five-year contract and two newly promoted officers to go along with it. Council approved the contract and promotions at its meeting on Monday, Aug. 12. Conley’s current salary is $154,628. The contact includes 3.5% annual raises with the first effective in January....
Sewickley Academy to welcome students Aug. 29
Sewickley Academy teachers and staff are preparing to welcome their pre-K to 12th grade students back to school. First day for learners at the private campus along Academy Avenue is Aug. 29. Officials said 513 students are enrolled for the 2024-25 school year, including 109 new students. There are 137...
Fox Chapel Area School District to welcome students Aug. 22
Fox Chapel Area School District officials are preparing to welcome students for the start of the 2024-25 school year. First day of classes is scheduled for Aug. 22. Teachers reported to work and had staff meetings with administrators Aug. 14. Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac said there is a lot of...
Man killed in Wilmerding
Allegheny County Police are investigating the murder of a man in Wilmerding. Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of State Street for a shooting around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. First responders found a man fatally shot. No further information about the victim or possible suspects was immediately available. Anyone with...
4 residents and Plum police officer recognized for saving woman from fiery crash
Several good Samaritans and a Plum police officer were recognized for their efforts in saving a woman from a fiery crash last month. A Lower Burrell woman suffered a medical emergency while driving the morning of July 17. It became a tumultuous ride as her vehicle struck a street sign...
Sewickley Council welcomes new member
Sewickley officials have tapped a retired clinical nursing instructor and former Cornell School District school board member as their new councilwoman. Linda Solecki was appointed to borough council Aug. 13. She fills the vacancy created when former councilman Brian Bozzo moved to nearby Glen Osborne. Bozzo, 39, was appointed to...
Man shot in arm in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood
A man was hospitalized in stable condition Tuesday after being found shot in the arm. Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Emily Bourne said police continue to investigate the shooting in the city’s Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood. Officers were dispatched for two ShotSpotter alerts at about 2:45 p.m. near the intersection of Lincoln Avenue...
