Patrick Varine stories, Page 17
Country’s largest screen manufacturer acquires Murrysville’s FlexScreen
A genuine, made-for-TV success story that began in a Plum garage continues to play out in Western Pennsylvania. Murrysville company FlexScreen — manufacturer of the world’s first flexible, easy-to-remove-and-install window screen — is being purchased by Pennsylvania-based RiteScreen, the country’s largest maker of door and window screens. The sale price...
Franklin Regional students ‘discover dairy’ by adopting a Holstein calf
A classroom pet isn’t always a workable scenario for an elementary school teacher. But when that pet can help students learn across several school subjects, the decision is a lot easier. That’s how Brienne May’s fifth-grade science class at Franklin Regional Intermediate School found themselves adopting a 100-pound Holstein calf...
Police investigate alleged financial issues at Pennsylvania’s largest youth football league
The largest youth football league in Pennsylvania is part of a police probe as officers investigate accusations of financial impropriety. Its former president suddenly and unexpectedly resigned this week. The league, which includes 44 organizations and 140 teams across seven counties, is under investigation by the Greene County Regional Police,...
Murrysville area: Library chess tournaments, musical mystery fundraiser and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Chess tournaments Library chess tournaments are taking place across Westmoreland County this spring. Tournaments will take place at the following dates and locations: • March 15, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, 237 S. Pennsylvania Avenue in...
Monroeville area: Egg hunt, used book sale, spring craft fair, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. Vendors sought for Spring Makers Market Divine Mercy Academy is seeking vendors for its Spring Makers Market, planned from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 26. Vendor fee is $50 and includes one 8 foot table and two chairs....
Monroeville welcomes new assistant manager, looks forward to mall redevelopment plans
Monroeville officials hired an assistant manager who will work alongside municipal manager Alex Graziani. Council hired Makayla Zonfilli-Lang, who was introduced as its February voting meeting. Zonfilli-Lang has a master’s degree from Penn State, graduate and paralegal certification from Duquesne University and an undergraduate degree in political science. She is...
Baldwin-Whitehall will rename district offices to honor former superintendent
Baldwin-Whitehall school directors will rename the district’s administration building to honor longtime superintendent Charles H. Faust, who filled the role from 1986-2004. Current Superintendent Randal Lutz said Faust, a native of Ruffs Dale in Westmoreland County, was fully dedicated to his job at Baldwin-Whitehall, and even recalled seeing Faust sit...
Delmont Recreation group to host chili cook-off fundraiser
The Delmont Recreation Committee is seeking entries for its annual chili cook-off fundraiser, set for noon on March 22 at Yellow Bridge Brewery. There is a $10 donation requested to attend the event. Those entering a chili will have the entry fee waived and will receive two complimentary draft beers....
Cheesemaker claims the Ligonier Country Market is penalizing it because it’s too successful
The owners at Pleasant Lane Farms feel like they’re being penalized by a local food and craft market for being a successful small business. According to organizers at the nonprofit Ligonier Country Market, the Unity-based dairy farm and cheese-making operation is too big to participate in the seasonal weekly farmers...
United Way, Shop’n Save host annual charity shopping spree in Greensburg
Megan Loughner of Hempfield helped collect more than $800 worth of groceries for the Welcome Home Shelter in Greensburg as she raced the aisles of the Charley Family Shop ’n Save in Greensburg on Tuesday morning. Loughner, global sourcing manager for Kennametal in Unity, was chosen for the annual United...
Murrysville elevates in-house staff to community development director
Murrysville Council has named municipal engineer technician Emily Mallisee as the new director for community development. “She’s been with us in an engineering role, but she’s been handling some things on the development side,” Murrysville Chief Administrator Michael Nestico said. “As you know, we haven’t had a community development director...
Murrysville area: Play auditions, modern media discussion and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. AAUW speaker discusses modern media The Murrysville chapter of the American Association of University Women will welcome guest speaker Andrew Conte at its March 13 meeting, 10 a.m. at the Murrysville Community Library. Conte is the director at Point Park University’s Center...
2.3M birds culled in Pa. this year as flu spreads in commercial, backyard flocks
Ken Pounds has a coop full of turkeys, and with justifiable concerns about bird flu, that’s all he wants in there. No flies if he can help it. Definitely no people who don’t need to be there. And certainly no other birds. “The biggest thing you can do is have...
Murrysville mobile home park residents left without consistent water since January
Betty Pusateri has taken just one shower in her home since Jan. 20. Melanie Leggens has been able to take three. “My sister lives in Delmont, but I’m not driving out there every day to take a shower,” Leggens said. “I have a bucket of water and a bar of...
Derry farmer joins board of directors at food-centered nonprofit
Derry Township farmer Rick Ebert has joined the board of directors at Food21, a Pittsburgh-area nonprofit that works to create sustainable jobs, economic opportunity and access to nutrition by converting undervalued community assets into food-centered ventures. The group has partnered with the Larimer Consensus Group to renovate the gymnasium of...
2 men found dead in Butler County house
Two were men found dead Wednesday evening inside a Washington Township home in Butler County, Pennsylvania State Police said. Authorities said the two were found in a home along Swope Road, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. Emergency officials said the residence tested negative for carbon monoxide, and troopers are...
TribLive Taste Test: Jack Link’s Dr. Pepper beef jerkyVideo
Dr. Pepper and dried beef… two great tastes that taste great together? Let’s find out. Thanks to my 12-year-old son — who will apparently try soda-flavored beef, but not just a regular hamburger — the TribLive Taste Test team has once again reconvened to try out Jack Link’s Dr. Pepper-inspired...
Morning Roundup: No injuries reported in early morning Plum fire
Here are a few news items for Friday, Feb. 28: No injuries reported in Plum fire No injuries were reported in a fire early Friday morning in Plum’s Renton neighborhood. Four fire companies responded to a home on the 200 block of Plum Street at 3:48 a.m., according to Renton...
Murrysville area: ‘Brass from the Bluff,’ woman’s club spring fundraiser and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Woman’s Club spring fundraiser The Murrysville Woman’s Club will host its annual spring fundraising event at 10 a.m. March 29. It will be at The Lamplighter, 6566 William Penn Highway in Salem. Tickets are $35, and all proceeds benefit the club’s community...
Morning Roundup: No injuries reported in Etna fire; Glassport man charged in McKeesport shooting
Here are some news items for Thursday, Feb. 27: No injuries reported in Etna fire Multiple fire companies quickly knocked down a fire reported late Wednesday night in the wall of an Etna home. Fire crews were called to the unit block of Ann Street just after 10 p.m. They...
Local competitors prepare for USA Dance National Ballroom championships, held in Pittsburgh
Sitting in a Murrysville restaurant on a chilly Wednesday in February, John and Deana Foley’s heads occasionally sway to the pop music on the radio. But if a tango or a foxtrot were to start up, John would have to battle the urge to don a topcoat and tails, sweep...
‘Anything Goes’ features humor, entries from the Great American Songbook
The Franklin Regional Senior High School auditorium will transport its audience back to the days of the Golden Age of Hollywood, big-band music and the end of prohibition in its spring musical. The high school’s Theatre Guild will stage “Anything Goes” on Feb. 27-28 and March 1-2, presenting a madcap...
Monroeville area: Library trivia, gospel performance, Gateway musical, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. ‘Good as New’ book sale The 30th annual “Good as New” book sale will be held March 21-23 at Monroeville United Methodist Church, 219 Center Road. A variety of fiction, nonfiction and children’s books will be available. Gently used puzzles...
Morning Roundup: Tractor-trailer fire closes Parkway West; delivery driver shot at in North Braddock
Here are some news items for Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025: Trailer fire shuts down Parkway West Four fire companies responded to a vehicle fire late Tuesday night that shut down a section of the Parkway West (Interstate 376). The fire, in the cab of a tractor-trailer in the westbound lanes,...
Monroeville Giant Eagle recalls bread
Giant Eagle officials have issued a voluntary recall of multi-grain sourdough bread sold at its Monroeville store on Monroeville Boulevard. A limited amount of bread, sold at the store’s bakery, was incorrectly labeled as “multi-grain Tuscany,” resulting in an undeclared sesame allergen being potentially present. It was discovered during a...

