Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 39
Clean finish: Penn Hills native calls it a career after 35 years in the ring
The end of last year was the end of an era for a Springdale man. Shawn Patrick, known in Western Pennsylvania pro wrestling circuits as “The Pride of Springdale,” is putting away his bow tie and suspenders after 35 years as a referee. The 1983 Dynamo grad and former Springdale...
Fox Chapel Area School District officials approve new security upgrades
Fox Chapel Area School District officials are starting off the new year by spending nearly $379,000 on security upgrades. Board members unanimously voted Monday night to approve an approximately $254,900 proposal from Convergint Technologies and a five-year deal with AEC Group at a cost of about $123,700. The meeting agenda...
Aleppo holds the line on property taxes with this year’s budget
Aleppo property owners will not have to pay more in township real estate taxes this year. Commissioners recently adopted their 2024 budget and maintained the millage rate at 3.5 mills. Township manager Gwen Patterson said Aleppo has not raised taxes in more than 15 years. Projected revenues and expenses were...
Sewickley patrolman Mark Smilek remembered for dedication, bringing joy to others
A Sewickley police officer who died after battling leukemia the past seven years is being remembered as a protector who brought joy to many. Part-time Officer Mark Smilek was a former Pentagon police officer who was at the facility during the 9/11 attacks, with a law enforcement career that spanned...
Crash injures at least 1 on Route 8 near Etna
Route 8 between Kittanning Street and Route 28 in Etna has reopened in both directions after being closed for several hours Monday afternoon following a crash in which two men were hospitalized. Allegheny County dispatch said calls for the vehicle rollover came in about 2:30 p.m. Etna police and firefighters...
Leetsdale approves 5-year contract for Rave Alert system
Leetsdale officials recently approved a new five-year deal for the use of a messaging system to help alert residents of emergencies and borough events. Council voted Dec. 14 to approve the continued use of Rave Alert, a mass notification system through Rave Mobile Safety, at a cost of $1,250 a...
2 men wanted in connection with ATM theft from Downtown business have been apprehended
Both men wanted for allegedly stealing an ATM from a Downtown business on Christmas Eve have been arrested, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday. Raymond Fields III, 59, of Pittsburgh was apprehended Thursday night without incident at a residence along the 2600 block of South 18th Street on Pittsburgh’s...
Several Quaker Valley area communities reorganize leadership
Many Quaker Valley area communities have their newly-elected officials sworn in as well as council and commission leaders appointed. Aleppo Commissioner Judith Haluka was sworn in to her second term by outgoing Magistrate Robert Ford, and Commissioner Arthur Williams was sworn in to his third term by new Magistrate Giuseppe...
Monroeville police officer shot, listed in stable condition; suspect in custody
A Monroeville police officer was shot “multiple times” Wednesday night as he approached an armed robbery suspect, according to Allegheny County Police. The officer was listed in stable condition at an area hospital late Wednesday. Allegheny County Police said in a news release that Monroeville’s emergency dispatching center was notified...
Sharpsburg Councilmembers sworn in; leadership selected
Sharpsburg Council welcomed a few new faces and appointed familiar leaders at its reorganization meeting Jan. 2. Mayor Brittany Reno swore in newcomers Kacie Cope and Corey Egwrube Ochai as well as incumbents Sarah Ishman, Adrianne Laing and Jonathan Jaso to their new seats. Cope, Ishman and Jaso won four-year...
Charges withdrawn against former Leet police chief who had been accused of assaulting his father
Former Leet police Chief Michael Molinaro will not stand trial for allegedly assaulting his father. Beaver County District Attorney’s Office withdrew charges of simple assault and harassment Tuesday, a county court clerk confirmed. Online court documents indicated a preliminary hearing was scheduled that morning before District Judge Steven N. Necaster....
Aspinwall Council welcomes new members, appoints new leadership
Aspinwall Council added new members and new leadership to start the new year. Mayor Joseph Noro swore in newcomers Mark Chimel II and Louis Curcio Jr. to their first four-year terms at a reorganization meeting Jan. 2. Incumbent Heth Turnquist was sworn in to his second term on council. He...
Shots fired, no one injured in potential burglary at Kiski Township home
A Kiski Township man fired shots inside his home during a potential burglary, township police reported. Chief Lee Bartolicius said officers responded to the call for a burglary along the 1400 block of Ridge Road around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday. Officers learned the homeowner fired several shots inside, but no one...
Fox Chapel officials hold line on real estate taxes, garbage bills
Fox Chapel property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes or for garbage collection in 2024. Council voted 6-0 last month to adopt its 2024 budget and maintain the tax rate at 2.95 mills. Councilman Thomas Karet was absent. The borough has not raised real estate...
Sewickley Heights officials hold the line on real estate taxes for next year
Sewickley Heights property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes next year. Council unanimously voted Dec. 18 to pass its 2024 budget and maintain the tax rate at 5.5 mills. Projected revenues and expenditures were listed at about $2.89 million. Expected income includes about $1.59 million...
Aspinwall sets new rules for short-term rental properties
People who want to operate short-term rentals, often called Airbnbs, in Aspinwall have some new rules to follow. Council unanimously voted Dec. 13 to pass an ordinance regulating such businesses catering to folks staying in town less than 30 days. Rules state the proprietor must obtain a permit and live...
New stop signs coming to busy Fox Chapel intersection
New stop signs will be installed at a busy Fox Chapel intersection in an effort to make turning safer. Police Chief Michael Stevens said there have been numerous near misses and complaints about traffic safety at Old Mill and Easton roads. “It has a sight distance problem,” he said. “When...
Glen Osborne officials hold the line on real estate taxes for next year
Glen Osborne property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes next year. Council unanimously voted Dec. 19 to pass its 2024 budget and maintain the tax rate at 4.9 mills. Budgeted revenues and expenditures were balanced at about $793,000. Projected income includes about $380,000 in real...
Edgeworth Elementary second grader takes over as principal for a day
Ellie Neal got a very early start on a potential career in education. The Edgeworth Elementary second grader served as principal for a day shortly before the school district’s holiday break. Dressed in a blazer and other work apparel, the young administrator walked the halls with a radio and handled...
Giant Eagle to move headquarters to Cranberry
Giant Eagle plans to move its headquarters from the RIDC Park in O’Hara to Cranberry. Officials said Wednesday the company signed a long-term lease on a four-story, 100,000-square-foot building at 700 Cranberry Woods Drive in the Cranberry Woods Business Park. It declined to renew its lease at 701 Alpha Drive...
Leetsdale officials hold the line on real estate taxes for next year
Leetsdale property owners will not have to pay more in borough real estate taxes. Council voted 6-1 to adopt its 2024 budget on Dec. 14. Councilman Roger Nanni dissented. He said he wanted more time to review the spending plan and look for ways to reduce taxes. The tax rate...
Finished, at last: 2 southbound lanes open on Route 28 near the Highland Park Bridge
Southbound Route 28 is now fully open at the Highland Park Bridge interchange, PennDOT announced Wednesday. That means that at least two lanes of traffic can travel uninterrupted from Kittanning to Pittsburgh. The ramp from Virginia Avenue Extension to southbound Route 28 also has reopened. PennDOT officials said the new...
Leanne and Erik Ford open the state’s 1st Buck Mason location in Sewickley
A unique business recently opened in Sewickley, founded by a former building renovation TV star and her husband, a clothing mogul. Leanne Ford of HGTV’s “Restored by the Fords” and “Home Again With the Fords” opened Pennsylvania’s first Buck Mason location, a high-end casual clothing store. However, unlike the other...
Fire study recommends Fox Chapel area departments merge
A fire protection study by the state Governor’s Center for Local Government Services recommends fire departments from Sharpsburg, O’Hara, Blawnox and Aspinwall merge into a regional department. The study was prepared with input from officials in those communities. Its final report was released earlier this year. The study finds the...
Leaders of merged Aspinwall, Sharpsburg fire departments elected
A Sharpsburg firefighter will take command of the newly merged Aspinwall and Sharpsburg fire departments after winning an election over longtime Aspinwall Fire Chief Gene Marsico to lead the department. Mike Daniher becomes the inaugural chief of Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services, or SAVES. The deputy chief is J.C. Teyssier....
