Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 48
Fire destroys 2 vacant houses near former Oakmont Auto Body
Two vacant houses next to the former Oakmont Auto Body were gutted by a fire Monday evening. Oakmont Fire Chief Joe Flanick said his department was dispatched about 5:50 p.m. for a fire at a house near the intersection of Plum Street and Dark Hollow Road. Before they arrived, firefighters...
Verona Farmers Market kicks off the new season at Railroad Park
Verona Farmers Market attendees can expect to see some new and familiar faces at Railroad Park every Thursday through mid-November. This year’s market season kicked off June 1 with a variety of vendors, entertainers and a taco food truck. Balloon artist Ray Lucas made animals and other creations for children...
Officials identify man fatally stabbed in Tarentum
A 26-year-old man died Sunday after being stabbed in Tarentum, Allegheny County Police reported. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Thomas Baczynski of Tarentum. County homicide detectives said borough police were notified of a stabbing around 6:25 p.m. along the 100 block of Davidson Street. Baczynski was...
Juneteenth celebration planned in Sewickley
A celebration of historical significance is about to mark its fifth anniversary. Sewickley’s annual Juneteenth celebration is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. June 17 at the Sewickley Community Center, 12 Chadwick St. There will be performances by the Triumph Church Choir, the Bryan Nash Trio, youth poets and Pittsburgh...
Proclamation given to Penn Hills High School basketball team
State Rep. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, delivered a proclamation to the Penn Hills High School basketball team in celebration of their WPIAL championship this school year. Coach Chris Giles led his players to a 70-65 win over Peters Township for the Class 5A title at the Petersen Events Center in...
Fox Chapel Area High School robotics team named ‘grand champion’ in national competition
Fox Chapel Area High School teacher Ryan Siniawski knew his robotics students were winners. They now have the national hardware to prove it. The team of 15 students from freshmen to seniors was named the overall grand champion in the ’Burgh Bash National Championships hosted by the BotsIQ manufacturing workforce...
Sharpsburg passes rules for alcohol at special events
Restrictions on alcohol use during events in Sharpsburg are now formalized. Council approved the policy May 25. “We had restrictions on events with alcohol like requiring wristbands, but they weren’t in writing,” Councilwoman Sarah Ishman said. “This just solidifies best practices and makes it clear to everyone what we expect...
Penn Hills plans to pave 14 streets this summer
Penn Hills officials plan to spend about $1.8 million to repair 14 streets and other sections of the municipality. Council awarded contracts of about $1.35 million, $305,700 and $156,300 to Shields Asphalt Paving of Bakerstown at a special meeting May 25. Part of the street reconstruction will be paid for...
Penn Hills senior citizens to get 3% real estate tax break in 2024-25 school year, but tax hike expected then, too
Penn Hills School District officials want to give low-income senior citizens a slight break on their real estate taxes in 2024. The board unanimously voted May 31 to approve a 3% tax rebate program effective the 2024-25 school year. District chief financial officer John Zahorchak said 1,092 Penn Hills seniors...
Penn Hills School District to petition the state to lift financial recovery status
The Penn Hills School District may be on its way out of its “financial recovery” status. A petition to the state Department of Education is in the works, state-appointed chief recovery officer Dan Matsook announced at a board meeting Wednesday, May 31. He said there will be a lot of...
Part of Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell reopens after water main break is fixed
A portion of Leechburg Road was closed and several Lower Burrell residents went without water Wednesday as a result of a water main break the night before. The Lower Burrell Emergency Management Agency reported via Facebook the break occurred around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Officials said there was damage to the...
Fox Chapel Police Department hosts annual bike rodeo
Fox Chapel Police Department welcomed about 90 people to its second annual Bicycle Rodeo, according to organizer Sgt. Craig Sorg. The event took place May 23 at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church along Fox Chapel Road. Families had their bicycles inspected for free by mechanics from Pro Bike+Run in Monroeville. They...
Rosedale Beach Club dedicates lifeguard chair in memory of Nick Theofilis
The legacy of the late Nick Theofilis continues to grow as a new fixture memorializing the Penn Hills native was unveiled at the Rosedale Beach Club. He served as a lifeguard there for several summers. A member of the club’s swim team, Theofilis taught others how to swim and some...
Sewickley Valley YMCA Wellness Center reconstruction project underway
A reconstruction project at the Sewickley Valley YMCA Wellness Center is underway. Crews from McKeesport-based TBI Contracting are replacing the windows around its track and will be installing a new roof to prevent future leaks. The estimated $650,000 project began May 22. It’s expected to be completed in three to...
Pittsburgh man accused of harassing local news anchor arrested for alleged bond violation
A Pittsburgh man charged with repeatedly harassing a local TV news anchor has been taken into custody for allegedly violating conditions of his bond, Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus announced late Friday. Phillip Franks, 59, was charged March 7 with harassment of a local female television news anchor. The...
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett’s SUV recovered after being taken from Monroeville dealership, Murrysville man charged
A Murrysville man is charged with unauthorized use of vehicles after he allegedly took Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett’s SUV from a Monroeville car dealership. Monroeville police said Pickett was at Bowser Chevrolet along Route 286 doing some advertising Wednesday afternoon when Christopher Carter, 60, of Railroad Lane took his...
Lee resigns as Leetsdale council president
Leetsdale council president Patricia Lee has resigned from her leadership role. Lee said professional and additional personal responsibilities have caused her to relinquish her appointed position and devote more time to other issues. She will remain a council member. Maria Napolitano was appointed new council president. Osman Awad was named...
Pittsburgh woman arrested, accused of spraying Munhall court staffers with pepper spray
A Pittsburgh woman was arrested on multiple charges after allegedly using pepper spray on court employees in Munhall, Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus announced. Santhiya Mahilkanthan, 32, went into the courthouse of District Judge Patrick Campbell around 3 p.m. Thursday and began arguing with court staff members about a...
Sharpsburg Council member resigns; seat to be placed on November ballot
Sharpsburg Councilwoman Carrie Tongarm has resigned. It was announced and accepted at council’s May 25 meeting. Tongarm said she is moving to O’Hara for family reasons, and will formally step down June 15. The Democrat is in the second year of a four-year term. She was instrumental in forming the...
Inmate dies days after being booked at Allegheny County Jail
An Allegheny County Jail inmate died Thursday just days after being booked, according jail officials. A 60-year-old man, who’s name has not been released, was brought in by a local police department on a bench warrant for retail theft from another county and booked on Monday, the jail report read....
Quaker Valley real estate taxes going up 2.9%
Quaker Valley property owners will see their real estate tax bills go up 2.9% in the coming school year as part of the school district’s 2023-24 budget. School directors voted 7-0 at the May 23 meeting to adopt the budget with a tax increase. Board vice president Marna Blackmer and...
Class of 2023 graduates from Plum
Plum High School graduates made their way onto the football field to thunderous applause at the start of the commencement ceremony May 24. Bleachers were packed with family and friends of the 268 diploma recipients. School board representative Lauren Price delivered some opening remarks. The chamber choir performed the national...
Plans for proposed Quaker Valley High School move forward
A proposed Quaker Valley High School project has cleared another design hurdle. School board members voted 7-0 at the May 23 meeting to approve design development plans prepared by BSHM Architects and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. Board vice president Marna Blackmer and board member Jeffrey Watters were absent. The approval was...
Quaker Valley High School commencement scheduled
Quaker Valley High School graduation plans have been announced. The commencement ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 1 at Chuck Knox Stadium. District officials said all seniors participating in commencement are required to attend a mandatory practice that morning at 8:45. Students must check into the school auditorium. Student...
Oakmont to relaunch pedestrian safety committee; volunteers wanted
Oakmont officials plan to restore the borough’s pedestrian safety committee. Councilman John Arnold announced the intent to relaunch the volunteer group at a May 15 meeting. He said the deplorable condition of borough sidewalks is the main reason he wants more people involved in finding possible solutions and grants for...
