Patrick Varine stories, Page 52
Fall is in the air at the annual Fort Ligonier Days festival
It’s not hard to tell that Tom Stablein enjoys helping organize the annual Fort Ligonier Days celebration — he has been its parade chairman since the mid-1990s. “Seeing it all come together in a little town this size, and to be able to put on a festival like this is...
Late North Huntingdon truck racer ‘would give you the shirt off his back’
On Fridays or Saturdays, Ronnie Ruggiero would tow his 1977 Ford F-150 with him to work, at Bob Tyke’s Auto Service in Monroeville, and as soon as the day was done, he’d head off to race it. The F-150 wasn’t just any truck — it belonged to Ruggiero’s father, who...
Derry council disbands police dog program as residents vent anger over K-9 incident
Derry Borough residents had a lot of questions but didn’t get any answers from council members Tuesday night after they met for the first time since the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office announced evidence does not support a criminal charge in the death of the borough’s police dog, Smoke. Several...
Raucous party not the typical event for White Township community center, director says
A raucous party billed as a post-homecoming event, where a Homestead man was killed just after midnight Sunday, is not typical for the Chevy Chase Community Center, located on a relatively quiet block in White Township, Indiana County. “We rent the center quite often, but it’s usually for things like...
Go Laurel Highlands honors tourism champions, awards scholarships
Officials at Go Laurel Highlands recognized some of the region’s leaders in creating memorable tourism experiences at their annual dinner Sept. 28. The group named Nina and Bob Basile their Trailblazers of the Year. The husband and wife team designed and built the Luxury Treehouse in 2021, and this year...
Franklin Regional announces homecoming court, activities
Franklin Regional has announced its 2023-2024 homecoming court: Michael Rettger, Jack Krieger, Owen Sinclair, Lorenzo Aguilera, Keira Valenti, Bridget Yaniga, Finian Hutchison, Julia Kravits, Tyler Kapusta, Catherine Helm, .Angelina Fioravanti, Jadyn Linde In addition, the district posted a schedule of homecoming activities. On Oct. 19 the district will host its...
Murrysville moves ahead with acid mine drainage project in Lyon Run
Murrysville officials will hire a company to clean 2 to 4 miles of Lyons Run, a tributary of nearby Turtle Creek, that is being polluted with acid mine drainage. “It’s a pretty large and exciting project,” said Murrysville Chief Administrator Michael Nestico. The project will clean the heavy metals present...
Murrysville area: Concealed-carry seminar, upcoming library programs, local live music and more
Murrysville woman named club president The International Women’s Club of Monroeville recently introduced Louise Esposito of Murrysville as the club president for the 2023-‘24 year. Esposito has been a member since 1996. Esposito was born in New York. Her mother was Italian and her father was Swiss-French. She grew up...
Murrysville middle school’s fall play is a lost-and-found story about learning to love
Franklin Regional teacher Christine Klemstine couldn’t have been more surprised when eighth grader J.T. Esposito performed his audition for the middle school’s fall play. “He had half of the script already memorized,” Klemstine said. “I couldn’t believe it.” Memorizing 20 pages of dialogue is a big enough challenge for an...
Export considers taking back Italy Road from PennDOT
Export council members are taking the first steps to reclaim Italy Road from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Over the years, Export has handled winter maintenance of Italy Road within the borough, for which they receive PennDOT funding of about $1,000 per year. Council authorized the winter maintenance agreement at...
Forbes Hospital in Monroeville adds behavior health suite to emergency departmentVideo
Allegheny Health Network officials have added a behavioral health suite to the emergency department at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, part of a response to an increase in ER visits by patients with behavioral health needs. “Being hospitalized or visiting an emergency department is incredibly stressful for anyone, let alone those...
Jeannette Community Band cabaret concert to honor late director
Terri Miller of Hempfield remembers watching her father, Carl Masciantonio, directing the Jeannette Community Band from his podium. She can remember watching him onstage playing tuba. And she remembers playing under his direction as a Jeannette student. Those memories will come flooding back Sunday, Oct. 15, when the Jeannette Community...
Monessen inducts 1st ‘Wall of Fame’ class, will serve as fundraiser
Long before he beat Evander Holyfield to become the world heavyweight boxing champion in 1994, Michael Moorer would cross the Monongahela River from his home in Monessen to his grandfather’s house in neighboring Charleroi, where he would cut the grass and help plant an annual garden. He can still remember...
Monongahela man struck, killed while crossing Route 30 in Hempfield
A 22-year-old Monongahela man died after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Route 30 early Sunday, Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson said. Police said Dominic A. Bottino, 22, of Cedarwood Drive in Monongahela, was walking across a divided section of Route 30 in the area of Dollar Bank shortly...
South Side man jumps out 2nd-story window to flee SWAT arrest
Pittsburgh Police arrested a South Side man with outstanding warrants after he showed up at a family member’s home. Police were called to the 3200 block of Edwards Way just before 5:15 a.m. Saturday morning. Xuan Sayles, 19, of Pittsburgh’s South Side Flats neighborhood, was wanted on charges of aggravated...
Does the 2010s stink bug invasion hold any spotted lanternfly lessons?
Tracy Leskey remembers when the brown marmorated stink bug became “explosively invasive” in the early 2010s. “We had significant crop losses, some homeowners had thousands trying to overwinter in their houses,” said Leskey, a research entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Appalachian Fruit Research Station in West Virginia. Leskey...
Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art announces fall programs
Following the annual Garden Party fundraiser, officials at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Ligonier Valley are planning several upcoming fall programs. This year’s garden party featured two curated exhibits showcasing local artist J.D. Titzel and antique Bryce Glass, as well as music by Pittsburgh group RML Jazz. Felting...
Bushy Run hosts 11th annual car cruise
It’s easier than you might think to find parts for a 1928 Ford Model A. “It’s one of the most popular antique cars out there,” said Ron Giuliana of Irwin, who secured himself one of the few available shady spots at the 11th annual Bushy Run Car Cruise, held Saturday...
A snort and a yip: Pugfest takes place in Derry Township
Pugs of all shapes and sizes were snuffling, snorting and sending up good-natured barks during Pugfest, held Saturday at the Kingston Veterans & Sportsmens Club in Derry Township. There were tiny, svelte black pugs with long craning necks. There were traditional-colored pugs with, perhaps, no chance of ever enjoying the...
Pitt police searching for robbery suspect in Oakland
University of Pittsburgh and city police are seeking information about a man who robbed two people early Friday in the city’s Oakland neighborhood. Campus police posted a crime alert to their X (formerly Twitter) account at 1:50 a.m. Friday alerting students to a robbery that occurred on the 300 block...
Red Cross honors Pirate security employee for saving co-worker from choking
American Red Cross officials honored a security employee for the Pittsburgh Pirates whose quick thinking helped save a life during his first day on the job this summer. Patrick Benedict was working his first shift as game-day security at PNC Park on June 7 when he noticed a co-worker choking...
1 dead, 1 rescued from Allegheny River after jumping incident
A man died after jumping into the Allegheny River early Saturday, and a second man who dove in after him was rescued, according to Pittsburgh police. First responders were called to the Ninth Street Bridge around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday for reports of witnesses who saw a man run from...
Franklin Regional: Mental health survey could ‘gauge the climate’ in school district
Franklin Regional might undertake a student mental health survey that is generating debate about how much a school district should get involved with the issue and to what extent parents should be included in those decisions. School directors recently delved into the issue, with district officials defending a proposed student...
Murrysville area: Bonsai workshop, hospice discussion, used book sale and more
Bonsai tree workshop The Murrysville Community Library, Murrysville Garden Club and municipal recreation department will present “The Ancient Art of Bonsai,” about bonsai tree cultivation, at 6 p.m. Oct. 16. Murrysville resident Dave Metzgar will discuss the history of the art form, what constitutes a bonsai tree and will show...
Pa. liquor stores offering up several varieties of Japanese whisky
Pennsylvania’s Fine Wine & Good Spirits store is adding some international flavor to the whisky section this month, with several Japanese varieties available at select stores and online. The crown jewel in the group, at least based on price, is an 18-year-0ld Hakushu single-malt peated whisky created to celebrate Suntory...
