Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 29
Foxwall EMS has a new chief and ambulance
Foxwall EMS has a new chief and a new ambulance. The official ambulance service provider of Aspinwall and Fox Chapel is now run by Ben Shopland of Pittsburgh’s North Side. He was selected out of multiple candidates and five finalists to formally replace the late Tony Cuda, who died Oct....
Sharpsburg mural artists selected
Emily Paige Armstrong had hoped to make a positive impact on her new community. The 2015 Valley High School grad had recently bought a home in Sharpsburg with her twin sister, Catherine. Still in the process of settling in, Armstrong found an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. A request for...
Suspected electrical fire displaces 2 in New Kensington
Two New Kensington residents were displaced Wednesday evening when an apparent electrical fire began damaging their home. Firefighters from New Kensington, Arnold, Tarentum and Logans Ferry Heights responded to the call shortly before 9 p.m. at 19 Cherry St. The home is tucked away at the end of the block...
$300K in upgrades set for Ambridge Avenue Park in Leet
A committee of Leet residents have worked to find an appropriate location to honor township residents who have died while serving their country. The last honor roll was on the side of a brick wall of the former municipal building. Committee members said it was not a very prominent place,...
Firecracker 100 proves to be big draw for Lernerville SpeedwayVideo
The roar of dozens of engines was music to Buffalo Township native Tara Barthel’s ears. It was a familiar sound for her and several family members as they took in the sights and sounds of the 18th annual Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway. “It’s always been a family thing. We...
Plum SummerFest at Larry Mills Park returns with traditional 3-day event
Plum’s three-day seasonal celebration at Larry Mills Park has begun. SummerFest kicked off Thursday evening with a mix of carnival rides and games across from nonprofit and community group booths and food trucks. It is the same layout as last year with C&L Shows providing all the bells and whistles,...
16th Street Park in Sharpsburg may get multiple upgrades by next summer
New benches, decorative fencing and a basketball court are just some of the upgrades being planned for 16th Street Park in Sharpsburg. Borough officials announced the project at their council meeting last month. “Nothing is wrong with the park. It’s just all improvements,” borough Manager Christine DeRunk said. “These are...
Spring Art Fling in Blawnox draws crowd, artists to borough
A giant purple hand, student sketches, miniature creations and a snake made out of painted rocks were just a few of the artworks on display at this year’s Spring Art Fling. The third annual Best of Blawnox artistic celebration took place June 15. About 200 people visited the borough that...
Blessing of the Animals set for June 29 in Aspinwall
One of the Rev. Scott Hill’s favorite annual services will soon take place. The Aspinwall Presbyterian Church will conduct a blessing of animals at 10 a.m. June 29 on the Third Street side of the church grounds. The church is at 299 Center Ave. in Aspinwall. The informal service is...
Leetsdale Council president receives state recognition for community service
Leetsdale Mayor Sandra Ford knows a hard worker when she sees one. Someone who helps make the borough better through countless hours of community participation, continuing education and volunteerism. It is that spirit and drive that Ford sees in Maria Napolitano, council’s president and planning commission secretary . The elected...
Shaler Area School District to raise real estate taxes 6.6% with its 2024-25 budget
Shaler Area School District property owners should prepare to pay 6.6% more in real estate taxes. School board members were poised to adopt their near $98.76 million 2024-25 budget at the June 19 meeting. That schedule was after presstime for this issue. The proposed final budget was posted in the...
Penn Hills School District administrator to become assistant superintendent at Shaler Area
A North Hills High School graduate who was voted most likely to teach in the district will start next school year as one of the top administrators in a neighboring community. Brian Brown, 42, will become Shaler Area School District’s new assistant superintendent in August. He grew up in the...
Illuminated crosswalk signs installed along Freeport Road in Blawnox’s business district
Motorists driving through Blawnox have some new lights to look out for. The borough recently installed solar-powered illuminated crosswalk signs at four intersections along Freeport Road. They are located at North, Cable and McKinley avenues as well as Humbolt Street. Police Chief Patrick Goodman said those locations were approved by...
Families throughout Quaker Valley area to gather in Sewickley for Night Mart
A monthly summer tradition of bringing various craft and candlemakers, food vendors and artists to Sewickley is set to begin. Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Night Mart returns June 28, July 26 and Aug. 30. The borough’s business district along Beaver Street will be bustling from 6 to 9 p.m....
Leetsdale ‘hump’ along Washington Street to be removed by end of the year
Councilman James DeGori has lived along Washington Street in Leetsdale long enough to witness his share of near misses at an intersection colloquially called the hump. It is at the intersection of the former Leet Street Bridge, which was closed to traffic in 2013 and removed in 2017. The bridge...
Aspinwall starting to post council meeting videos online
Aspinwall Council’s meeting videos are now being posted for public consumption. The borough has provided a livestream Zoom feed for its workshop and voting sessions for a long time. However, the footage was not available online after the meeting ended. Council unanimously voted to change that and post at least...
Butler man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug, gun crimes
A Butler man who was the shooter in an incident in Butler nearly 3½ years ago that led to discovery of a large amount of heroin and fentanyl in his car has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Darnell Wynn, 44, was found guilty of possession with intent...
Ribbon cut on Allegheny RiverTrail Park expansion in Aspinwall
O’Hara couple Dennis and Lynn Marsico find riding their bikes on various trails keeps them young. Gearing up to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in August, they were among the first riders to use the Allegheny RiverTrail Park’s trail extension shortly after park and government officials cut the ribbon June...
Quaker Valley School District selects new mental health service provider for 2024-25 school year
Quaker Valley School District officials believe taking care of a student’s mental health is just as important as their academics, arts and athletics. That’s why various administrators and professionals evaluated service providers the past several months in order to select one that would best fit the district’s needs. School board...
Aspinwall police join North Hills DUI Task Force
The Aspinwall Police Department is the latest municipal law enforcement agency to join the North Hills DUI Task Force. Council unanimously voted to authorize a cooperative agreement June 12. The multijurisdictional police force can now do DUI checkpoints and other related activities in the borough. Chief Dave Nemec said it...
Moving out of town, Sewickley councilman announces he will step down in July
Sewickley Councilman Brian Bozzo is stepping down and moving to another town. The registered independent announced his soon-to-be independence from his elected position at a council meeting June 11. He told his colleagues he and his wife, Lindsay, and their three children will be moving next month out of the...
Speeding motorists in Sewickley cause concern for Laughlin Children’s Center officials
MaryAnn Perkins understands speeding is a problem in every town. Speed limits are more like suggestions for aggressive drivers. What she is most concerned about is the safety of the youths at Laughlin Children’s Center along Frederick Avenue in Sewickley. The center sits between Walnut and Broad streets. “It is...
Fox Chapel Area School Board passes 2024-25 budget with 3.75% tax hike
Many Fox Chapel Area School District property owners will pay 3.75% more in real estate taxes next school year. The school board voted 8-0 on June 10 to pass the district’s $119.1 million budget for 2024-25, using a tax hike and money from the district’s fund balance to balance it....
Sewickley Academy graduates 39
Anjali Shah knew her message at Sewickley Academy’s graduation ceremony needed to be memorable. The Senior School student body president and member of the class of 2024 stood behind the podium with poise at the private school’s commencement ceremony on June 7. She talked about how she started her academic...
Missing ‘at risk’ man located by Pittsburgh police
A man considered “at risk” by Pittsburgh police has been located after more than a week missing. Gregg Patterson, 41, had been last seen June 3 at his workplace, Waffles INcaffeinated, along the 400 block of Fifth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh, Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz reported. Pittsburgh police enlisted...
