Quincey Reese stories, Page 24
Former Greensburg Salem, Saint Vincent educator to showcase paintings at Greensburg library
Al Sanfilippo has always been interested in art. But it wasn’t until his retirement from a 50-year career in education that he started exploring his artistic ability at the Greensburg Art Center in Hempfield. About nine years later, Sanfilippo’s artwork is on display until mid-March at the Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library...
New Greensburg Central Catholic principal aims to ‘be a part of moving it into the future’
For Theresa Szmed, the past month has been all about listening. Szmed was hired as principal for Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School in November and took the reins in January, with assistance from interim Principal Sharyn Zalno. “It’s been a fantastic adventure, and it’s been overall positive,” said Szmed,...
‘Non-stop sitcom with incredible music’: Split Stage Productions brings ‘Urinetown’ to Lamp Theatre
Split Stage Productions’ latest performance doesn’t take itself too seriously, said director Rob Jessup. The theater company, which opened in 2013, will perform the musical “Urinetown” Friday and Saturday and Feb. 8-10 at The Lamp Theatre in Irwin. The 16-person cast will tell the story of a post-apocalyptic world experiencing...
Building empathy, understanding: Pitt Greensburg reading initiative sparks community discussion
When Sheila Confer finished reading “Rising Out of Hatred” by Eli Saslow, she wanted everyone to experience the book. Confer, an instructor for Pitt’s Greensburg campus, gathered about 400 students and 100 community members to read the book in 2022 through a program dubbed Westmoreland Reads. Saslow, a writer for...
Irwin natives open Trafford brewery as gathering place for community
Brothers Chris, Nick and Mike Juricich have shared an appreciation for craft beer for as long as they can remember. The Irwin natives will set their passion into motion today with the opening of their latest entrepreneurial venture, Wye Beer Co., located on Forbes Road in Trafford. “Craft beer is...
Westmoreland Intermediate Unit honors 2 educators with awards
After working as a shipper for Age Craft Manufacturing in Greensburg for seven years, Don Sabolcik sought to become a paraeducator. Sabolcik, of Delmont, was inspired to change career paths after the Clairview School in Hempfield provided early intervention services to his son, J.W. This is Sabolcik’s third year as...
‘It gives them the confidence to go beyond’: Stage Right aims to welcome students of all backgrounds with grant
Stage Right in Greensburg distributes $30,000 in scholarships and financial aid to its students each year. About a third of a $175,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation in Pittsburgh will help the nonprofit theater company continue supporting students of all socioeconomic backgrounds, Executive Director Anastasia Robinson said. Stage...
Manor police officer accused of impersonating UPMC police, stealing credit cards, key from employee
A Manor Borough police officer is accused of breaking into a UPMC building, impersonating a UPMC police officer and taking credit cards and a key from an employee’s office. Justin R. Hall, 39, of Washington Township, was observed on security camera footage entering the UPMC Baum/Ross Building in Pittsburgh’s Oakland...
Manor police officer accused of impersonating UPMC police, stealing credit cards, key from employee
A Manor Borough police officer is accused of breaking into a UPMC building, impersonating a UPMC police officer and taking credit cards and a key from an employee’s office. Justin R. Hall, 39, of Washington Township, Westmoreland County, was observed on security camera footage entering the UPMC Baum/Ross Building, located...
Pittsburgh contractor accused of stealing more than $270,000 from couple
A Pittsburgh contractor arrested Tuesday is accused of stealing more than $270,000 from a couple who hired him to design a home more than three years ago. Page F. Thomas, 55, was hired in September 2020 by Douglas and Traci Borsch to design a home in Pittsburgh, according to a...
Western Pa. resident loses more than $1 million in widespread money laundering scheme, 2 men sentenced
Two California residents have been ordered to pay nearly $4.5 million combined in restitution as part of their federal sentences connected to an international money laundering scheme that impacted some Western Pennsylvania residents. Thien Phuc Tran, 34, and Ton Huynh Bui, 30, of Santa Ana, scammed people across the country,...
Hempfield’s High Park firefighters have to decide from 3 options, chief says
After responding to one of 53 emergency calls in the last quarter of 2023, members of the High Park Volunteer Fire Department in Hempfield have a month to decide their fate. The fire department can go under township management, merge with a neighboring station or dissolve, fire Chief Anthony Kovacic...
Hempfield moves Weatherwood Community Park, municipal complex projects forward
The first phase of its Weatherwood Community Park construction project is set to get underway in Hempfield. Officials will vote Monday to advertise the construction bid for the first phase of the park project, which will be completed in tandem with a new municipal complex. “We’re always trying to look...
‘We want to bring everybody in’: Hempfield aims to bring fire stations under township management
Hempfield will meet with its 11 fire departments to discuss having all of them being managed by the township. North Hempfield Fire Department became Hempfield’s first “nonchartered station” — managed entirely by the township — in 2021. That means all of its expenses are paid by the township. The township...
Penn-Trafford unites general, special education students through bocce
Penn-Trafford High School is one of the latest Western Pennsylvania schools to start an interscholastic sports team that purposely fills its roster with students who have intellectual disabilities and ones who don’t. Penn-Trafford’s new bocce team is part of the Special Olympics’ 13-year-old Unified Champion Schools program, which uses sports...
‘Up and running’: Penn-Trafford creates 1st security camera policy, installs new devices
After purchasing more than 400 security cameras and seven door access systems in the fall, the Penn-Trafford School District has a policy to guide the use of its new technology. The school board voted this month to approve the district’s first security camera policy. “We really didn’t have a policy,...
‘A pretty overwhelming feeling’: Greensburg Salem, Slippery Rock grad completes ‘Triple Crown of Hiking’
Greensburg native Jared Frith witnessed plenty of breathtaking sunsets and sunrises from the tops of mountains while hiking more than 8,000 miles from June 2021 to November. But Frith found much greater value in the low moments of his journey — shivering in rain-drenched clothes for days during a tropical...
Greensburg bridal store showcases ‘Bridgerton’-themed wedding dress collection
Bishop sleeves, tiered layers and florals are making a comeback in bridal dresses. MB Bride in Greensburg is showcasing Allure Bridals’ new wedding dress line themed after the hit Netflix show “Bridgerton” — a series based on Julia Quinn’s novels about eight siblings in London high society in the early...
Greensburg Art Center to showcase members’ work, teach window screen painting
The Greensburg Art Center will host its annual member artwork showcase and teach a Cafe Art class on a unique painting method. About 100 people are submitting about 200 pieces of art to the free showcase — including photography, pottery, sculptures and painting. The event will run from Jan. 20...
High winds, cold temperatures forecast for weekend: Here’s how to prepare
With cold temperatures and high winds forecast for the Pittsburgh area this weekend, power outages may be on the horizon. High winds Tuesday afternoon left about 41,000 FirstEnergy customers without power in Western Pennsylvania, the power company said in a post on its website. Power was restored to homes Wednesday...
Morning Roundup: Multiple vehicles crash in North Versailles; hunt is on for South Side tagger
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Jan. 12: Crane truck overturns on Route 119 ramp An electrical truck carrying a crane overturned on a ramp on Route 119 coming off Route 66 at the New Stanton interchange. The crash occurred around 6:30 a.m. State...
Man in critical condition after being shot multiple times in Penn Hills
A man is in critical condition after being shot multiple times late Thursday in Penn Hills. Allegheny County Police were dispatched to the 1800 block of Funston Avenue around 11:45 p.m. At the scene, police said they found a man with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby...
4-vehicle crash shuts down Washington Township road
Two people were taken to a hospital following a four-vehicle crash that shut down Greensburg Road for nearly two hours in Washington Township on Thursday morning. Washington Township police were dispatched to Greensburg Road near its intersection with Saddle Pack Trail, Chief Jason Montgomery said. A vehicle turning west onto...
Morning Roundup: Fire damages Fairfield Township house; windstorms on hold until Friday
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Jan. 11. Fairfield Township house damaged by fire Parts of a Fairfield Township residence sustained damage following a chimney fire early Thursday morning. The Fairfield Township Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched to a home on Rabbit Ridge Drive...
Morning Roundup: Vehicle crash lands on parked car in North Versailles; downed power lines ignite fire in Greenfield
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Jan. 10: Vehicle crash lands on parked car in North Versailles Two vehicles were significantly damaged early Wednesday morning during a crash in North Versailles. A vehicle crashed and flipped onto a parked car near the 3200 block...

