Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 57
Penn Hills council selects Pittsburgh firm to design VOPP bike/walking trail
A Pittsburgh branch of an engineering and design firm has been tasked with crafting a near 14-mile bike and walking trail. Penn Hills council unanimously voted Jan. 23 to select TranSystems to develop the VOPP Trail – Verona, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Plum. Municipal planning director Chris Blackwell said Penn...
Police: Man found dead of gunshot wound in Hill District apartment
A man has died after being shot in the face Sunday evening in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said officers were dispatched to the 2100 block of Bedford Avenue shortly before 6:20 p.m. for reports of a man with a gunshot wound. Officers found the victim, who...
New Kensington pro wrestling school hosts event for vendor collective
Hand-crafted earrings and trinkets, glass pendents, vintage clothing from the 1960s and pins made from old magazine photos are not things usually found at a pro wrestling venue. However, all of that and more was on display Saturday as part of Shops and Suplexes, an event at the wrestling school...
More than 100 permanent layoffs to take place at a Munhall pipe manufacturing plant
Leaders of a Munhall stainless steel pipe and tubing manufacturing plant plan to layoff more than 100 workers by the end of the year. Cuts have already begun as part of a four-phase process at Ascent Tubular Products, according to a notice posted on the state Department of Labor’s website,...
Construction to cause disruptions to ‘T’ service this weekend
Riders on Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s light-rail “T” routes Downtown, on the North Shore and in parts of the South Hills should expect significant disruptions this weekend, PRT officials announced. Contractors are working on two separate projects from Friday night up to the start of Monday’s service. Riders should allow for...
Pittsburgh police: Man in critical condition after crashing truck into utility pole
A man was hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday after crashing a truck into a utility pole in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said police, fire and EMS personnel responded to the crash near the intersection of Brownsville Road at Birmingham Avenue at about 4:20 p.m. Cruz said...
Penn Hill School District’s chief financial officer excited about new opportunity
Former Plum School District business manager John Zahorchak has found a new professional home in a neighboring community. He was recently hired as Penn Hills School District’s chief financial officer at a starting salary of $150,000. “I’ve been very familiar with Penn Hills for a long time, and it just...
Penn Hills School District officials claim no tax hike necessary in next school year’s budget
Penn Hills School District officials may have an opportunity to do something almost unheard of the past several years: not raising taxes. “There won’t be a tax increase this year, and you can take my word on that,” board President Erin Vecchio said during a finance committee meeting Jan. 18....
Gala to raise funds for memorial soccer field project in Bell Acres rescheduled for March
Organizers of a recreation gala hope the event will be a catalyst for raising funds for a matching state grant. The Quaker Valley Recreation Association recently received approval for $500,000 through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. Michael Riordan, development lead for the association’s capital campaign, said it is a...
Municipal intern being considered for Leetsdale
A municipal intern from the Local Government Academy may be able to help Leetsdale officials get more done this summer. Council members at the Jan. 12 meeting discussed seeking help from the nonprofit, non-partisan organization. Council vice president Maria Napolitano said potential intern projects include helping with the borough website...
Quaker Valley School District officials promise to keep any potential real estate tax hike to 4.1% or less
Quaker Valley School District officials have pledged to keep any tax hike for next school year to 4.1% or less. That percentage is the highest the district can push for under the inflation-based state limit known as the Act 1 index. Act 1, passed in 2006 to provide property tax...
Police say no foul play in man’s fatal fall from Lower Lawrenceville building
A man who died after falling about 30 feet from a rooftop Tuesday in Pittsburgh’s Lower Lawrenceville neighborhood has been identified. Jonathan Encrapera, 41, of Pittsburgh was declared dead shortly after he fell, according to an Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office report. Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said officers...
ShotSpotter reports 11 shots fired in the East Hills, Pittsburgh police find man shot in the arm
A man was hospitalized in stable condition Tuesday after being shot in Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighborhood. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said officers were dispatched shortly after 8 p.m. to the 2300 block of East Hills Drive after a ShotSpotter alert reported 11 rounds had been fired. Police found a...
O’Hara residents to see changes in trash collection in a few months
Changes are coming to O’Hara trash collection, specifically with new bins and collection days. Township officials recently approved a new trash and recycling contract with Waste Management through the North Hills Council of Governments. It runs 2023-26 with an option year for 2027. Township Manager Julie Jakubec said garbage collection...
Plum man faces federal gun, drug charges
A Plum man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on drug and gun charges. Authorities said convicted felon Taiwan Donje Rodgers, 25, of Unity-Trestle Road possessed firearms and ammunition as well as possessed heroin and fentanyl with the intent to distribute them. The charges stem from...
Circus theme has patrons under ‘Big Top’ at Food Truck a Palooza inside Monroeville Convention Center
Food Truck a Palooza brought families from across Western Pennsylvania to the Monroeville Convention Center for some fun under the Big Top. The sixth annual installment of one of the nation’s largest indoor food truck festivala featured a circus theme complete with clowns, stilt walkers, puppeteers, face painting and much...
U.S. Steel donates to Jefferson Hills Fire Rescue
Jefferson Hills Fire Rescue officials purchased a variety of new equipment courtesy of a grant by U.S. Steel. Don German, manager of U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works Irvin Plant, presented a $30,000 check to the fire company on Jan. 13. “First responders and what they do day in and day...
Man’s body discovered in Penn Hills
The body of a deceased man was found on a hillside in Penn Hills Friday afternoon. Allegheny County dispatch confirmed police activity shortly before 3 p.m. along the 9000 block of Frankstown Road. It was still an active scene a few hours later. Mayor Pauline Calabrese said she spoke with...
Leetsdale police officer suspended, borough officials mum
A Leetsdale police office is suspended and another resigned. The officer’s suspension was unanimously approved at this week’s council meeting. Council President Patricia Lee and police Chief Daniel Raible said they could not comment on personnel matters. Other council members also declined comment. Borough solicitor Daniel Conlon would only confirm...
Big Spring Spirits opens new location in Sewickley
Big Spring Spirits, an award-winning distillery based in Bellefonte, recently opened a new bar and restaurant in Sewickley. Doors opened at the estimated 1,000-square-foot facility at 418 Beaver St. in November shortly before Thanksgiving. Located at a former bank, project manager Josh Wyka said his seven-member crew have served a...
Sharpsburg couple gets engaged during Blawnox holiday celebration
Taylor Klutch wanted to make a holiday moment his girlfriend, Christa Coban, would never forget. Klutch, 32, called on Coban’s mom, Blawnox Councilwoman Katie Coban, and Santa for some Christmas magic. They collaborated with other borough officials to create an opportunity for Klutch to pop the question during Blawnox’s Night...
Sewickley council appoints residents to commissions, boards
Sewickley council recently appointed several residents to various boards and commissions. Teresa Duff was named to the Historic Review Commission for a three-year term ending Dec. 31, 2025. Carole Ford and Marjorie Carlson were both appointed to the planning commission for a three-year term ending Dec. 31, 2025. Andrew Frishkorn...
Aspinwall Council has a vacancy, no vice president
Aspinwall Council has delayed accepting the resignation of Councilman Dave Borland so that the council will have more time to find his replacement. The council had been expected to accept Borland’s resignation during its Jan. 11 meeting. Instead, it elected to let the resignation take effect Jan. 28, a full...
Annual Howard Hanna clothing drive going on at Fox’s Pizza in Oakmont
Lori Hummel of Oakmont recently launched Howard Hanna Real Estate’s 25th annual winter coat drive in the borough. New or gently used coats, gloves, mittens and hats for adults and children can be donated to the cause at Fox’s Pizza Den, 314 Allegheny River Blvd. “I’m like a big proponent...
Tractor-trailer rig slams into Giant Eagle in New KensingtonVideo
New Kensington Police are trying to find out what caused the detached rig of a tractor-trailer to slam into the beer and wine section of the New Kensington Giant Eagle on Wednesday evening. No injuries were reported. Police were dispatched to the Giant Eagle plaza off Tarentum Bridge Road around...
