Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 29
Quaker Valley property taxes going up 2.9% again next school year
Quaker Valley School District property owners will have to pay 2.9% more in real estate taxes next school year. The school board voted 8-0 May 21 to adopt the district’s $60.66 million final general fund budget for 2024-25. Daniela Helkowski, board vice president, was absent. It is the second straight...
More vendors are welcome at First Fridays in Sharpsburg
Crafters, candle makers, jewelry designers, food vendors and others looking to set up shop would be hard-pressed to find a better price for a spot than free. When and where is this opportunity? That would be First Fridays in Sharpsburg. The monthly event, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the...
Sewickley to install new EV stations by next spring with help from Duquesne Light
Sewickley officials plan to bolster the borough’s sustainability efforts with the borough’s first EV stations. Council unanimously voted May 14 to authorize Borough Manager Donna Kaib to submit paperwork to Duquesne Light seeking a $40,000 investment through the electric company’s Community Charging Program. The plan is to have three stations...
Aspinwall, Fox Chapel councils approve funding boosts for Foxwall EMS
Aspinwall and Fox Chapel councils have approved increased annual contributions to the boroughs’ ambulance provider. Foxwall EMS officials had requested $40,000 and $60,000, respectively, from the communities they serve. Acting EMS Chief Gino Mollica said the money was necessary to boost salaries and wages for staff retention and recruitment. “I...
Natural gas well fracking plans on hold in Indiana Township
A decision regarding a rezoning request in Indiana Township that could pave the way for new gas well construction won’t come for two months. The township’s planning commission voted 4-0 Wednesday night, May 22 before an overflow crowd to postpone its decision on a proposal by Cranberry-based MPF Management for...
Renfrew man charged with bringing gun to airport
Allegheny County Police charged a Renfrew man with firearms violations for allegedly bringing a gun to Pittsburgh International Airport. TSA officers observed a handgun within a passenger’s backpack at the main security checkpoint of the airport around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the police report. Police identified the passenger as...
Sewickley Memorial Day plans announced
Sewickley Memorial Day festivities include services and celebrations of military men and women. Things kickoff with a service at 11 a.m. Sunday at Sewickley United Methodist Church, 337 Broad St. Lunch will be served afterward. Fountain Street will be closed from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday for a Memorial...
Fox Chapel Council approves new solar panel project for public works facility
Fox Chapel officials are continuing their efforts to improve energy efficiency through solar means. Council unanimously approved a $70,700 contract with Energy Independent Solutions to install solar panels at the public works operations facility behind the borough building along Fox Chapel Road. The vote took place May 20. EIS was...
Shady Side Academy announces graduation plans
Shady Side Academy officials are getting ready to welcome families and friends of the graduating class of 2024. There is no limit to how many guests each of the 133 graduates can bring to commencement June 8 at Michael J. Farrell Stadium on the senior campus in Fox Chapel. The...
Quaker Valley elementary students participate in state STEM competition
Several Quaker Valley School District Edgeworth Elementary students recently participated in the state STEM Design Challenge Championships in Harrisburg. Fifth graders Hannah Yocca, Lydia Beichner, Francesca Zeiders and Emily Custers, under the direction of coach Sara Schoener, showcased their science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills against multiple other school districts...
Woman with dementia reported missing from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh police seek help finding a missing woman with dementia. Joan Blaney, 78, wandered from her residence along the 8400 block of Bricelyn Street on Friday, Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz reported. She was spotted by staff at Second Chance at 8350 Frankstown Ave., walking inbound at about 12:40 p.m....
New Kensington police investigate phone store robbery
New Kensington police are searching for a man who is accused of robbing a business Friday evening. Westmoreland County Public Safety officials said officers were dispatched shortly after 7 p.m. to the AT&T store at 270 Tarentum Bridge Road. No injuries were reported. Officials said the suspect was described as...
Pittsburgh police take 2 guns off the streets, make 2 arrests
Pittsburgh police have arrested two people and took two guns off the streets. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said officers during a traffic stop Thursday determined the driver illegally had a gun. The vehicle was pulled over at the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Lillian Street. Dalaun Samuels, 25, of...
Search of Vandergrift home results in 2 arrests, police say narcotics recovered
A pair of Vandergrift residents face several drug charges after borough police and Westmoreland County detectives raided their Delaware Avenue home early Thursday. Kaeona Booker, 26, and Eugene Iagnemma, 54, were taken into custody after law enforcement executed a search warrant and seized “several items related to drug activity,” according...
May Mart in Sewickley brings garden clubs, communities together
Flowers, fun and fellowship were in full bloom at the annual Sewickley Civic Garden Council’s May Mart. A few hundred of people packed Broad Street, from Thorn to Beaver streets, for the vegetation celebration in Sewickley on May 11. The event could not have worked out better for the flora...
Pittsburgh man arrested in connection with Hill District homicide
Pittsburgh police have made an arrest in connection with a homicide early this month in the city’s Hill District. Anthony Young, 35, of Pittsburgh was killed May 3. Young was shot in the head in the 2500 block of Bedford Avenue, near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Watt Lane....
A vintage fire truck bell may soon sound again in Leetsdale
A piece of Leetsdale fire department history has made its way back to the borough. Mary Jane Wasco, daughter of the late fire Chief Charlie Wasco, donated the bell of a 1937 Ahrens-Fox fire truck that was driven by her father for many years. She presented it to council and...
Foxwall EMS launches annual subscription drive
Foxwall EMS, the main ambulance company of Fox Chapel and Aspinwall, has launched its annual subscription drive. Mailers were sent out this month to homes and apartments in both boroughs. The company saw a 22% return on the thousands of subscription forms that were sent out last year. The drive...
Aspinwall Memorial Day plans include a flyover, service, parade with 26 units
Aspinwall will honor military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice with a parade and service on Memorial Day. Festivities will begin with a flyover and service at 11 a.m. May 27 outside American Legion Post 77 along Commercial Avenue. There will be a color guard and a 21-gun salute along...
Sewickley officials award paving contract
Sewickley officials approved a contract with Donora-based El Grande Industries to pave five streets and an intersection and some inlet repairs later this year. Council voted 7-0 on May 14 to award the paving project at a cost of $625,825. Vice president Julie Barnes and councilman Todd Hamer were absent....
Lawn outside The Lindsay Theater & Cultural Center in Sewickley to be turned into a park
The lawn outside the main entrance to The Lindsay Theater & Cultural Center in Sewickley will be made into a little park as part of a borough project. The historic entertainment venue sits at 418 Walnut St. It underwent a major face-lift last year. The borough owns the land and...
Quaker Valley School District officials announce commencement plans
Quaker Valley School District officials are gearing up to celebrate the graduating class of 2024. Commencement is set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 30 at Chuck Knox Stadium. There are 155 graduates participating. Student speakers will be seniors Everest Gray, Olivia Berry, John McHenry and Hanna Carver. Other speakers include...
Man driving with 3 children struck by bullet in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood
A man was caught in a crossfire by at least one bullet as drivers in two vehicles reportedly shot at each other Tuesday in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Public Safety spokeswoman Emily Bourne said officers were dispatched shortly before 5 p.m. to the 6300 block of Morrowfield for reports of...
Aspinwall extends garbage contract, appoints new zoning board members
Aspinwall has extended its garbage collection contract with Shank Waste as it pursues other contract and vendor options. Council voted to approve the extension with the Lower Burrell-based hauler on May 8. The contract now runs through June 30. The borough was in its final year of a three-year contract...
Red Line T cars derail in Castle Shannon, transit officials say
Pittsburgh Regional Transit officials said about 15 people were on board two rail cars when they derailed Monday afternoon. It happened at about 4 p.m. while they were traveling inbound on the outbound tracks along the Red Line at Willow Station in Castle Shannon, PRT said via X, formerly Twitter....
