Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 48
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...
Local wrestling promoters and talent react to Iron Sheik’s passingVideo
Local wrestling promoters and talent are mourning the loss of pro wrestling legend — and one of the greatest bad guys of the 1980s — the Iron Sheik. The Iron Sheik, whose real name was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, died June 7. The Iranian-born athlete was 81. Keystone State Wrestling...
Paving to begin this month in Leetsdale, other projects on the horizon
Leetsdale’s summer paving program is expected to begin this month. Projected paving includes Davis Avenue, parking lots of the borough building and Henle Park along with milling/repaving the trenches for the Edgeworth Water Authority and Leetsdale Sewage Authority projects. Borough Engineer Dan Slagle said crews from Oakmont-based A. Folino Construction...
Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society in Sewickley looking for photos, items to add to its collection
A historical society in Sewickley dedicated to the preservation of African American culture and experiences is searching for photos and other media to add to its collection. The Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society at the St. Matthews AME Zion Episcopal Church is in the process of “rebirth,” according to society...
Pittsburgh man wanted in connection with shooting last week in the Hill District apprehended
A Pittsburgh man wanted in connection with a shooting in the city’s Hill District last week has been arrested. Damon Peters, 19, was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force and Pittsburgh Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit sometime overnight in the Hill District, Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara...
Water line replacement project planned for the fall in Glen Osborne, Haysville
A grant-funded waterline replacement project in Glen Osborne and Haysville is in the works for later this year, according to Sewickley Water Authority officials. General Manager Mark Brooks said 724 feet of a 4-inch line along Center Street in Glen Osborne will be replaced by a 6-inch line, and 1,050...
Penn Hills High School Class of 2023 celebrates commencement
Penn Hills High School graduation featured more than 260 students, including 16 valedictorians, sharing their final moments as district students. Tears of joy and laughter could be seen on many faces June 9 at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium. Some of the graduates decorated their caps with messages such as “A World of...
Leetsdale councilman honored by state association for ‘distinguished service’
A state association recently let Leetsdale Councilman Osman Awad know his services to the borough did not go unnoticed. Awad was given the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs’ Distinguished Service Award. He and others were recognized at the association’s banquet in Hershey on June 6. “We’re elected to do a...
Alleys and patchwork repairs to be focus of Aspinwall paving program this summer
Aspinwall’s paving program will focus on alleys and patchwork repairs this year. Council unanimously voted June 14 to award its paving program to Oakmont-based A. Folino Construction, which was the lowest of three bidders at $57,414. “We’ve used them before. They’re really good,” said council Vice President Lara Voyko, chair...
