Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 34
Leetsdale community event results in 24 new trees planted in the borough
Leetsdale officials and Quaker Valley area community members partnered with an environmental nonprofit to plant 24 trees in the borough. Numerous residential sites and sites and Kohlmeyer Park are a little greener thanks to the efforts of more than 60 people on March 23. The event was in partnership with...
Sewickley Hills launches new borough website
Sewickley Hills officials recently launched a new website to boost communication with residents and businesses. The site, sewickleyhills.com, was created in partnership with municipal website builders Town Web. Borough secretary Diana Steele said council reviewed at least three service providers and worked on the project with Town Web for nine...
Man shot in head, shoulder and neck in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood
A man was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood Monday. Public Safety spokeswoman Emily Bourne said police were dispatched shortly after 5:15 p.m. to the intersection of Paulson Avenue and Dodge Way for a three-round ShotSpotter alert. Police found a man with gunshot wounds to...
Fox Chapel Area School District considers new policy to help children of active military parents
Fox Chapel Area School District officials want to make it easier for the children of military families to attend school there. Military families often face problems with school attendance because they can be forced to move on short notice, sometimes arriving in a new school district in mid-term. That can...
Sharpsburg approves new 3-year police contract, first one negotiated through Teamsters
Sharpsburg officials have inked a new three-year police contract. The vote was 6-0 in favor of the collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 249. Both parties approved the deal March 28. Council Vice President Kayla Portis was absent. The contract is through Dec. 31, 2026. It impacts six full-time officers....
Vacancy pending on Leetsdale Council
Beth Carroll is stepping down from Leetsdale Council. The borough posted a notice about the pending vacancy on its website March 21. It states, in part: “Council anticipates that a vacancy may be created at the April 11 legislative meeting, for the position with term ending 2025.” Borough Solicitor Dan...
Leet Township officials expected to appoint a familiar face as police chief April 8
Acting Leet Township police Chief Brian Jameson is expected to formally become the top cop. The Ambridge resident was hired on an interim basis Aug. 8, 2022. The unanimous appointment was made shortly after Michael Molinaro was formally fired from the leadership post for lying to commissioners, unlawfully terminating a...
Blawnox’s annual Easter Egg Hunt draws nearly 150 children to community park
The third annual Best of Blawnox Easter Egg Hunt on March 24 had nearly 150 Fox Chapel-area children rummaging through Blawnox Community Park in search of more than 3,000 eggs. Nearly 150 Fox Chapel-area children descended on Blawnox Community Park for the third annual Best of Blawnox Easter Egg Hunt...
Settlement approved between Leet and former township police officer
Leet Township will pay about $12,000 to settle an employment dispute with one of its former police officers who was unjustly fired. The township commissioners unanimously accepted the resignation of part-time patrolman Nicklas Vigliotti on March 26. He had been with the department for several years and has taken a...
Environmental group touts success against proposed injection well in Plum
An environmental group is celebrating some recent legal challenges against a proposed injection well in Plum while encouraging others to join the effort. “We’re really excited and happy that we have good news to share with the community,” said Gillian Graber, executive director of Protect PT. “We’re making some really...
Police: Pedestrian in critical condition after being struck by vehicle in Findlay
A woman was hospitalized in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle in Findlay, Allegheny County Police reported. The incident took place around 3 p.m. Tuesday along the 1100 block of Clifford Ball Drive. Police said a 47-year-old man driving an SUV was pulling out of a parking space...
Fire at Squirrel Hill apartment building under investigation
The cause of a blaze that forced a Squirrel Hill apartment building to be evacuated Monday afternoon is under investigation, Pittsburgh fire officials said. Firefighters were dispatched at about 4:45 p.m. to a fire inside inside an apartment at the Murray Towers, 2825 Murray Ave. The fire was contained to...
Blawnox Council adds new member to quickly fill vacancy
An Aspinwall businessman and Fox Chapel Area graduate was named the newest member of Blawnox Council. Mark Lombardi recently was appointed as former Councilman John Simmons’ successor. Simmons resigned, effective Feb. 29, because he and his wife, Ellie, moved to his hometown of O’Hara. Simmons, 72, was appointed to council...
Quaker Valley School District promotes new finance director
Quaker Valley School District will soon have a new top financial administrator. The board recently approved the promotion of Brooke Baker to director of finance and operations. She has served as the assistant director of finance and operations since July 2022. Baker, a Baden resident, will take over for Scott...
Man identified who was found stabbed to death in Pittsburgh’s Elliott neighborhood
An investigation is underway after a Pittsburgh man was found dead outside a vacant home in the city Thursday. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said first responders were dispatched shortly before noon to the 100 block of Steuben Street in the city’s Elliott neighborhood for reports of a man found...
Police say missing New Kensington girl found safe
New Kensington and Pennsylvania State Police said that a New Kensington girl that had been reported missing late Thursday has been located. She was found safe at around 9:20 p.m. Thursday night after she had been missing for more than seven hours. New Kensington and state police were seeking public...
Leetsdale patrolman honored for apprehending fugitive
Leetsdale police Officer Shawn Schreckengost was recognized for his heroic efforts in apprehending a wanted fugitive. The incident took place Jan. 9 when Schreckengost attempted to make a traffic stop and the fugitive took off. He was able to make an arrest after the chase went through several neighborhoods. State...
Quaker Valley School District officials adopt new policy to address memorials
The sudden death of a student or school district staffer can be very emotional not just for the families affected, but for entire communities. People may want to show their support by bringing flowers, balloons, trinkets, stuffed animals and other objects in memory of a classmate, friend, family member, beloved...
Leetsdale Cleanup Day set, volunteers wanted
Volunteers are needed for the annual Spring Cleanup Day in Leetsdale. The event is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27. Volunteers will meet for donuts, coffee and supplies including safety vests, bags and gloves at the borough building, 373 Beaver St. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be...
Sewickley couple launches new street-legal golf cart business in Leet
Quaker Valley area residents may soon see new vehicles driving along their neighborhood roads. They are not the latest Fords, Subarus or Porches, but street-legal golf carts from a recently opened business in Leet. Village Buggy, an all-electric vehicle seller, was founded by Sewickley couple Matthew and Jena Simmons. They...
Quaker Valley School District busing issues cause concern for parents
Quaker Valley School District parents are concerned about their children showing up tardy to school and returning home late as a result of busing issues. Ellen Stevenson of Leet presented the school board with a letter from 18 families from Quaker Heights. She said there have been frequent delays at...
Fox Chapel to spend more than $1.6 million for paving this year on nearly a dozen roads
Fox Chapel officials have announced the borough roads that will be repaved or repaired this year. Council awarded a $1.675 million contract with Wampum-based Youngblood Paving to repair about 11 streets and handle some spot repairs. Council voted unanimously March 18 to hire Youngblood, which was the lowest of five...
2-car crash disrupts traffic in Harrison
Traffic along Route 908 in Harrison was disrupted Tuesday evening as a result of a two-vehicle crash near the BP gas station at the intersection of Alter Road. The crash occurred around 6:30 p.m., and traffic was restored to normal by 7. Police at the scene did not release any...
1 hospitalized in critical condition after Sharpsburg stabbing, borough man arrested
A Sharpsburg man has been charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing a 71-year-old woman multiple times at a borough home Tuesday afternoon, according to Allegheny County Police. Aspinwall and Etna police responded at about 2 p.m. to the 1600 block of Middle Street where the woman...
Cheswick man sentenced to federal prison for failure to register as a sex offender
A Cheswick man has been sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender, officials announced Friday. U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the 21-month sentence on Roy W. Knoch, 51. Authorities said from May 2022 until around November 2022 Knoch failed...
