Quincey Reese stories, Page 27
‘His impact is almost immeasurable’: Longtime YMCA leader bids job farewell in pursuit of foundation position
After 27 years of working for the YMCA, Larry Stormer will pursue his goal of foundation work with a local nonprofit benefiting children and families in need. Stormer, 54, of Ligonier, has worked at YMCA branches in Greensburg, Erie, Plum and Ligonier Valley. He has served as fitness director, executive...
Loyalhanna convenience store sustains damage in fire
A convenience store in Loyalhanna Township sustained significant damage in a fire Friday night. Saltsburg, Bell Township and New Alexandria volunteer fire departments responded to a fire at Marshall’s Market, located along Route 981, around 10:15 p.m. Friday, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. None of the fire departments...
Manor church’s free clothing store expands hours, options to meet community need
Grandparents trying to clothe their grandchildren. A woman looking for clothes to bring with her to rehab. A nursing student in search of affordable scrubs for school. Refuge Boutique, a free clothing store run by Refuge Church in Manor, has helped people in each of these scenarios. In the spring,...
Penn Township man set to run New York City Marathon to support his son, raise funds for genetic disorder foundation
Will Hoffman’s main motivation for running the New York City Marathon on Sunday has little to do with a finishing time or position. Rather, Will and about 25 other runners are chasing down a fundraising goal of $150,000 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation — an organization that supports research for...
New Stanton Volunteer Fire Department hosts 3rd winter clothing giveaway
Hundreds of winter clothing items are available for those in need this weekend at the New Stanton Volunteer Fire Department. Located on South Main Street, the department will host its third annual winter clothing giveaway from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday — donating coats, sweatshirts, gloves, ear muffs and...
Westmoreland County students tour Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, prepare for design challenge
Madison Labuda likes to learn how things work. When Mt. Pleasant Area High School’s gifted program announced an opportunity to tour Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity and participate in a design challenge, she could not pass it up. “To be here and tour (the airport) and learn how all...
Greensburg dentist teaches American history through reenacting, podcast
Bill Choby knew he wanted to be a dentist since he was 16 years old. But that would not be the only field to capture his attention. Choby, owner of Center for Dental Implants in Greensburg, is an avid historian on the side, boasting a book and an accompanying podcast....
‘We try to help out any way we can’: Manor Lions club celebrates 75 years in community
Joy Clontz always had a box of eyeglasses in her home during her childhood. Her father was a member of the St. Marys’ Lions Club in Elk County for 60 years. She remembers helping him with various Lions events, including Recycle for Sight — a program in which Lions members...
Westmoreland Catholics pray for peace in Holy Land
About two weeks before war broke out between Hamas-led Palestine and Israel, Katie Zuzik was on a trip to Israel with a group from the Diocese of Greensburg. “To be able to have seen the Holy Land for myself and to walk the path and to see it for myself,...
Hempfield unveils decade-long vision for township park
Hempfield Park is set to undergo a series of improvements over the next decade under an updated master plan presented at the township supervisors meeting this week. The plan focuses on enhancing the park environment, expanding recreation opportunities, fine-tuning operations, increasing accessibility, improving facilities and increasing staff, said Chris Sarson,...
Bus driver shortage leaves schools, public transit agencies scrambling
A shortage of drivers is pinching school bus companies and public transit agencies that are left scrambling to transport students and workers, fill vacancies and keep their current stable of employees from burning out. “It’s just hard to get drivers. We just can’t figure it out,” said James Varner, manager...
Penn Township family receives community support after house fire
Greg Benson and his wife, Donna, had no idea their house was on fire Thursday evening. “A passerby came beating on the front door. We have two chocolate Labs, and I thought it was my oldest son just trying to irritate the dogs,” said Greg, 65, of Penn Township. “I...
Hempfield celebrates township’s past, future at 250th anniversary gala
Hempfield closed out a year of celebrations surrounding its 250th anniversary at a gala Thursday night. About 200 township residents of all ages attended the event, held at Live Casino Pittsburgh’s venue space at Westmoreland Mall. “We’re recognizing Hempfield Township as a part of the founding of Westmoreland County 250...
Crews battle blaze at Penn Township home
Crews from multiple fire departments were battling a blaze Thursday evening that caused extensive damage to a Penn Township home. The blaze was reported about 4:45 p.m. in the 300 block of Mt. Manor Road. Harrison City and Westmoreland City fire departments were the first to respond to the scene....
Southwest Greensburg man thanks first responders who saved him during cardiac arrest
Greg Yurcevich does not remember Sept. 2. He does not remember going to the home of a Penn Township woman to install her front door, going into cardiac arrest and ending up at the hospital for a week. “It’s all kind of foggy until I came home,” Yurcevich said. But...
Blackthorne Investors files appeal against township’s vote on construction of new clubhouse
Blackthorne Investors is appealing a vote by Penn Township to deny construction of a new clubhouse in the Blackthorne Estates golf course community. The commissioners voted 4-1 on Aug. 16 against construction of a new facility, citing the possibility of increased traffic in a residential area near the proposed site....
Bushy Run adapts annual hayride to haunted museum play, citing state hayride policy update
Bushy Run is adapting its annual haunted hayride event to a night of scary stories in the museum in light of state policy changes for hayride attractions. The Penn Township historical site had hosted a hayride each October, wheeling visitors along the trail as 18th-century reenactors tell the story of...
Penn-Trafford student, teacher recognized in Cornell scholarship program
When Jeffrey Backus was given an opportunity to recognize a high school teacher who impacted him, Stephanie Bruggeman was the obvious choice. Backus, a 2019 Penn-Trafford graduate, was among 43 students selected for Cornell University’s Merrill Presidential Scholars Program. The program, created in 1988, recognizes the top 1% of each...
Westmoreland, Allegheny emergency units practice hazard response with Norfolk Southern’s ‘safety train’
More than 100 Westmoreland and Allegheny County first responders spread across the Norfolk Southern train yard in North Versailles for a safety training Wednesday night. Members of the counties’ emergency response and hazmat units, wearing neon vests and jackets, surrounded Norfolk Southern’s “safety train,” a nine-part train used to simulate...
Knights of Columbus groups serve local communities despite controversial namesake
The legacy of 15th-century Italian explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus has sparked controversy in recent years, but there remain about 100 Knights of Columbus councils in Western Pennsylvania. “When you join the Knights of Columbus, you swear to do charitable works,” said Albert Borgony, grand knight for a Westmoreland council....
Hobgoblin Hikes returns to Westmoreland for 46th year
Cedar Creek and Twin Lakes parks will play host to witches, zombies, monsters and more Halloween scares in late October for Westmoreland County’s annual Hobgoblin Hikes. The free hikes, hosted by the county Parks and Recreation Department, have been held since 1977. The first hike will take place Oct. 21...
Penn-Trafford approves purchase of new administration building, security cameras
Penn-Trafford school administrators will get new offices in Bushy Run Corporate Park after the board agreed this week to spend $1.7 million on a new building there. The current administration building is located on Harrison City-Export Road less than a mile away from the high school. The building — which...
Greensburg Central Catholic principal and director of admissions resigned last month, search is ongoing
Three high-level administrators have left Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School since June. Principal Kevin Frye resigned without warning effective immediately Sept. 6, two weeks into the academic year. Director of Admissions Elyse Bogner resigned in the same fashion Sept. 8. The assistant principal, Nicole Marchese, left in June —...
State police locates Punxsutawney man wanted after Indiana County shooting
State police have apprehended a Punxsutawney man wanted in connection with a shooting last week in Indiana County. Storm Michael Armagost, 27, is charged with possession of a firearm without a license, reckless endangerment of another person, assault and harassment. Troopers responded to the shooting at an apartment on South...
2 midwives, 3 doulas and no pulse: Fast-acting Mutual Aid crew help save Hempfield baby
Samantha Kindelberger was confident that the two midwives and three doulas she selected for her home birth would bring her new son into the world successfully. She and her husband, Roy, would become parents to a second child to join their 2-year-old daughter, Ivah. She did not expect to be...
