Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 46
O’Hara officers recognized for heroism, leadership skills
O’Hara Township honored several of its police officers for outstanding service, leadership and lifesaving skills. Council chambers was packed with family and friends of the four officers lauded at the July 11 meeting. Natalie Richards, of Hampton received the township’s Life Saving Recognition Award for her response to a possible...
Carson City Saloon in Pittsburgh’s South Side temporarily closes amid recent shootings
A popular nightspot in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood has temporarily closed after recent gun violence. Carson City Saloon announced Monday on Facebook that it will shut its doors for a while “for the safety of our staff and patrons alike.” It is the first such closure in the sports bar’s...
Bicyclist struck by vehicle in Sewickley on Fourth of July
A Sewickley bicyclist is recovering after being struck by a vehicle in the borough on Independence Day. Police Chief David Mazza said a resident in his late 60s or early 70s was riding a bike southbound along Beaver Street when he was struck near the Boundary Street intersection by a...
Sewickley Night Mart brings thousands to the borough
Liam Loughney had the best view out of the thousands of people in attendance for this summer’s opening Sewickley Chamber of Commerce Night Mart. The young borough resident was perched atop his father, Roger’s, shoulders as the pair made their way through the crowd along Beaver Street June 30. “I...
Penn Hills School District 2023-24 budget approved with no tax hike, program cuts
Penn Hills School District property owners will not have to dig deeper into their wallets to pay real estate taxes in the upcoming school year. School directors approved their 2023-24 budget with no tax hike and no cuts to programs or staffing. The vote was 8-0 at a June 28...
Kennywood to close every Tuesday through the rest of the season
Got a free Tuesday this summer? Kennywood will not be an option, beginning next Tuesday, July 11. According to the West Mifflin park’s website calendar, Kennywood will be closed every Tuesday for the remainder of the summer season. Park spokesperson Tasha Pokrzywa issued a statement about the change in hours...
Fox Chapel-area municipal races taking shape for November
Fox Chapel-area municipal races in November are becoming more apparent as Allegheny County Elections Division officials updated the list of write-in party nominations. The list of write-in winners and status of acceptance was updated as of June 26. A person needs at least 10 write-in votes to qualify as a...
Penn Hills School District joins growing list of educational entities suing social media companies
The Penn Hills School District has joined many others nationwide taking legal action against social media companies. The school board voted 8-0 at its June 28 meeting to join a civil, multijurisdictional lawsuit against social media companies including Facebook, TikTok and YouTube claiming they have bolstered a youth mental health...
Former Sewickley police chief, Pittsburgh officer remembered as ‘all-world human being’
John F. Mook of Leet dedicated his life to serving his country, community and family. The former Sewickley police chief and Pittsburgh officer died June 20. He was 83. Law enforcement was one of his passions. Mook served in the U.S. Army Military Police in the early 1960s and began...
Rodi Road in Penn Hills briefly closed Monday afternoon after a sinkhole, utility pole fell
Rodi Road in Penn Hills was temporarily closed after a sinkhole opened up and a utility pole fell Monday afternoon. Penn Hills police sent out a traffic alert about the hole and power lines being down around 1:30 p.m. The hole was off the road between Dunkin’ Donuts and Flynn’s...
Sharpsburg hires new public works foreman
Sharpsburg Council promoted Dominic Magnelli to public works foreman to fill a vacancy left by public works Director Joel Carmody of Aspinwall, who resigned June 21, less than a year after he was hired. Carmody did not specify in his resignation letter why he was leaving, only to “move on...
Oakmont Greek food festival serves record crowds, meals
Officials and parishioners of the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church are celebrating after a record-setting weekend of the Oakmont Greek Food Festival. Tens of thousands of people participated in the post-pandemic party and fundraiser June 23-25. “This year was a record year for us, and we prepared food...
New Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame in the works; nominations sought for inaugural class
Nominations are being sought for the inaugural class of Sharpsburg’s new Sports Hall of Fame. Launched this year by Councilwoman Kayla Portis, District Judge Matthew Rudzki and volunteers with the Sharpsburg Historical Commission, about 14 nominations had been received as of June 14. There is no deadline for submissions. The...
Penn Hills High School principal Kostic retiring
Penn Hills High School principal Eric Kostic likes to remind seniors about an important life lesson: the message is to not burn bridges and be the best person you can be. Or, as he puts it: “Don’t tease the alligator until you cross the river.” It is something that does...
Sharpsburg fills council vacancy
Sharpsburg officials tapped the executive director of a nonprofit organization as the borough’s newest councilman. David Breingan, 34, was appointed unanimously on June 22 to fill a seat vacated by Councilwoman Carrie Tongram. Tongram announced her resignation in May and formally stepped down June 15. The Democrat was in the...
Aspinwall considers raising $100 business privilege tax to $500
Aspinwall officials are considering raising the borough’s annual business privilege tax from $100 to $500. Councilman Heth Turnquist, chair of finance and personnel, pitched the idea as a way to generate more revenue for the borough instead of raising real estate taxes, which have remained steady since 2019. The business...
Holiday Park VFD summer camp teaches youth about safety, emergency response skills
Youth from across Allegheny and Westmoreland counties learned a bit about what it takes to be a firefighter as part of a Plum summer camp. Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department hosted its annual camp June 19-23. Activities included cadets learning from firefighters on how to handle various scenarios at the...
Aspinwall Democrat earns enough write-ins to be on Republican ballot in November
An Aspinwall Democrat who lost his bid for a party nomination for a council seat in November earned enough write-in votes to be on the Republican ticket, according to returns from the Allegheny County Elections Division. Lou Curcio Jr. came in fourth in a five-person race for the Democratic nod...
Family fun found at annual Fox Chapel Day in McCahill Park
Families throughout the Fox Chapel area flocked to McCahill Park for Fox Chapel’s annual community celebration, Fox Chapel Day, on June 17. Hundreds of folks enjoyed activities under sunshine and blue skies. There were train rides, an Allegheny Health Network LifeFlight helicopter, balloon artists, face painting, a deejay, food trucks,...
Aspinwall, Sharpsburg volunteer fire departments merge into new organization
The Sharpsburg and Aspinwall volunteer fire departments are now Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services — SAVES. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Michael E. McCarthy signed the order merging the two departments on June 20. The driving force behind the merger was the need for more volunteers and to boost efficiency....
Allegheny RiverTrail Park officials break ground for expansion project
A 6-acre expansion of Allegheny RiverTrail Park in Aspinwall is officially underway with the park’s multi-use trail to be extended 1.5 miles to 13th Street in Sharpsburg with dreams of a connection to a trail in Millvale. “It really is tremendous, ” said ARP Executive Director Dee Stathis. “There’s not...
Sewickley to upgrade its parking system with new meters, mobile pay options
Sewickley officials plan to make upgrade the borough’s parking system. New Flowbird parking meters are expected to be installed sometime in July. Motorists will also be able to use its mobile app and the ParkMobile app to pay for parking. Central business district rates will be $1.50 per hour with...
Leetsdale launches new borough website
Leetsdale officials recently launched a new borough website designed to make its usage easier and to better communicate with residents. The site went live in late May after many months of development. Council awarded a four-year contract with CivicPlus to construct and operate the site in August. Cost is just...
Oakmont Farmer’s Market open Saturdays through September
Fresh produce, honey and who knows what else is available every weekend in Oakmont through September as part of a nonprofit’s program to build up the borough and its neighbor. The Twin Boro Experience, a volunteer group dedicated to promoting Oakmont and Verona, presents its Oakmont Farmer’s Market from 9...
Father’s Day car show rolls on in Oakmont
Bob Wildow of Penn Hills enjoys the open road and cruising in his 2013 blue Ford Mustang GTS. What he loves more is to be accompanied by his son, Sean Wildow, of Plum and his red 2000 Mustang GTS. Family moments like those are what help make the Oakmont Lions...
