Quincey Reese stories, Page 14
Penn Township residents raise concerns over proposed zoning changes
Paul Bush moved to Penn Township three decades ago for the quiet, rural environment. But as the Pennsylvania Turnpike plans a new interchange in Penn Township and township officials weigh proposed zoning changes aimed at encouraging economic development, Bush is worried the community will lose its peaceful atmosphere. “The existing...
Jeannette art gallery to host exhibit honoring retired Seton Hill professor
Jeannette art gallery You Are Here’s next exhibit holds professional and personal meaning for co-owner Jen Costello. The exhibit features work created by former students and friends of Maureen Kochanek, who retired from Seton Hill University this year after 42 years teaching art history. “I had Maureen as a professor...
3 businesses debut in Westmoreland County — mobile gaming, custom framing, barbershop
For Joe Perriello, opening a mobile video game business is the perfect mesh of work and family. In January, Perriello of Penn Township will launch Rolling Video Games PGH — a 25-foot trailer decked out with seven TVs and 10 gaming consoles that can be transported to children’s birthdays, graduation...
Staff welcome challenge of serving ‘fully booked’ restaurants on Thanksgiving
While the runway of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport was quiet Thursday, the DeNunzio’s Italian Restaurant above the empty terminal was bustling with activity. Red and white poinsettias and soft yellow Christmas lights greeted customers as they shed their umbrellas and winter jackets. Wait staff weaved through the diners to resupply...
Southwest Greensburg fire department gives college students free housing in exchange for service
Some of Michael Meyer’s fondest memories of his time at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg were spent at the Southwest Greensburg Volunteer Fire Station. Meyer, 28, grew up in Green Tree, just outside of Pittsburgh, and started serving the Green Tree Volunteer Fire Company in 2014. He joined the...
Downtown Greensburg stores to offer incentives to shoppers on Small Business Saturday
Elsie Lampl wants to see crowded sidewalks in downtown Greensburg on Saturday, filled with residents ready to support small businesses. Created 15 years ago by American Express, Small Business Saturday is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving to generate support for locally owned stores. Downtown Greensburg shoppers will receive parking discounts...
Penn Township swears in new police dog, named after longtime resident, business owner
The name of Penn Township’s new police dog may sound familiar to residents. That’s no coincidence. The canine shares the last name of resident and business owner Janet Whirlow, who donated $15,000 to help the police department purchase its next police dog. Officer Blake Danowski led Whirlow into the municipal...
‘I’m not going to continue what I’m doing forever’: Penn borough, township consider merger
When residents stumble upon a tree blocking a roadway in Penn Borough, Randy Dreistadt is the first person they call. He’s also the person who handles parking issues, clogged storm drains and rentals of the town’s park pavilion. When snow coats the borough’s roads in the winter, chances are Dreistadt...
Westmoreland County Transit Authority accepts commuter bus from River Valley
The Westmoreland County Transit Authority will add another commuter bus to its lineup. The River Valley Transit Authority, based in Williamsport, reached out about transferring a 2015 commuter bus it purchased with the help of grant funding, Westmoreland County Transit Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said. The vehicle seats 53...
National Weather Service confirms tornado in Highland Park, Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar
A tornado passed through Pittsburgh’s Highland Park and Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhoods Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service confirmed Thursday. The EF0 tornado, the lowest level of tornado strength, touched down along Stanton Avenue in Highland Park around 5 p.m. Wednesday, continuing along Campania Avenue in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, the weather service said. The...
‘A lot for our small town’ or ‘all for it’: Penn Township residents weigh in on proposed turnpike interchange plan
As the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission continues with its design of an interchange for Penn Township, Randee Barrett isn’t sure what will happen with her family’s farm on Pleasant Valley Road. The farm falls near the proposed interchange site — the intersection of Route 130 with Nike Site, Sandy Hill and...
‘Something to give back’: Retired Naval officer expands low-cost, self-serve bookstore business to Westmoreland Mall
Griffin and Naomi Lotson have gotten used to weaving through stacks of books piled high in their Indiana Borough home. Books line the walls of the Lotson’s three-car garage, allowing just enough room for them to park their vehicles. “We could barely fit our van in there,” said Naomi Lotson,...
‘It’s an honor, it’s a blessing’: Manor appoints longtime resident to finish out term of former mayor
When Lewis Brant saw Manor accepting applications for the borough’s next mayor, he knew it was the perfect opportunity to give back to his hometown of nearly 29 years. Brant, 56, a Republican, comes to the post with no prior political experience. He worked more than 15 years as a...
Former Penn Hills toll collector adapts, excels in turnpike maintenance job
Lindsae Heidenreich spends her days crawling under plow trucks and skid steer loaders in a Penn Township turnpike maintenance shed, chipping away at the rust nestled in every nook and cranny. Heidenreich, 37, of Penn Hills has rust removal down to a science. Scrub down the vehicle with a degreaser,...
2 hospitalized after vehicle overturns into Rostraver creek
Two people were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after their vehicle overturned into a creek in Rostraver, according to the Rostraver Central Fire Department. The vehicle veered from Ridge Road and overturned into Cedar Creek, located near Route 51, according to a social media post from the fire department. The crash occurred...
Rostraver Airport will have Dunkin’ Donuts, barbecue and catering business
The Rostraver Airport will add a Dunkin’ just two months after leasing its former on-site restaurant to a barbecue and catering business. The coffee and doughnut chain expressed interest in acquiring a piece of the airport’s 197-acre property this summer. The Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the airport, rejected...
$58K needed to remove fuel tank at Palmer airport in Unity
The Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity will pay about $58,000 to dispose of an abandoned fuel tank it removed during a $22 million project to expand its terminal by 32,000 square feet. A vacant hangar was demolished after the Westmoreland Airshow in August as part of the terminal expansion...
Penn Township to host info session on zoning change amid resident concerns
Penn Township will host an informational meeting this month to explain a series of potential zoning changes. Meant to encourage economic development in the township, the proposed changes include Harrison-City Export Road, Mellon Road near Bushy Run Corporate Park and near the intersection of Route 130, Pleasant Valley Road and...
1st female military pilots remembered
Growing up, John Marsh did not fully grasp the significance of his mother’s role as a pilot serving in the military during World War II. His mother, Marie Barrett Marsh, was one of about 1,800 women accepted into the Women Airforce Service Pilots program — created in 1942 to bolster...
St. Vincent recognizes Westmoreland high school students in mock trial competition
Students from three Westmoreland high schools were recognized for their performance at a mock trial competition at Saint Vincent College last month. Hosted by the college for more than five years, the competition assesses students on their ability to form and deliver opening statements and closing arguments in a hypothetical...
Irwin business, apartment building damaged by early Saturday blaze
The air still smelled of smoke as Don Sowash took his 11-year-old Morkie, Benny, for a walk down Irwin’s Main Street on Saturday afternoon, pausing at a building he saw engulfed in flames just 12 hours prior. “Lots of smoke (was) pouring out all of these upper windows, and I...
Greensburg support group for international women serves as cultural hub
The average passerby would likely not expect a 1900s mansion on Greensburg’s Main Street to be a cultural hub. But for more than 30 years, nonprofit YWCA Westmoreland County has dedicated itself to welcoming women who move to the area from another country — helping with the transition to life...
Several Westmoreland municipalities issue burn bans in light of dry conditions
At least three Westmoreland municipalities have enacted burn bans in light of dry conditions in the region. Derry Township issued a burn ban Monday, and Mt. Pleasant Township announced a burn ban Tuesday that will remain in effect until further notice. Hempfield issued a burn ban Tuesday that will remain...
‘We need to hear their stories’: Seton Hill to host Holocaust education conference for K-12 teachers
Seton Hill will host a conference next week to support local educators teaching the Holocaust. Scheduled for Sunday through Wednesday, the conference will focus on telling the stories of individuals involved in the Holocaust, said James Paharik — director of the university’s National Catholic Center of Holocaust Education. The center...
Southwestern Pa. sets record high of 81 degrees on Election Day
As voters turned out to polling locations across Southwestern Pennsylvania, unseasonably warm weather graced the region. Temperatures reached 81 degrees in the Pittsburgh area about 3:15 p.m., beating the previous 80-degree record high temperature for Nov. 5 set in 1948, said National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Kennedy. “It’s been warm...
