Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 16
Developer of upscale 55-plus housing to pitch Frazer plan
A developer seeking to build upscale 55-plus housing in Frazer is expected to present its plan Tuesday. Foxlane Homes is scheduled to have a conditional use hearing at the start of the township supervisors meeting, after which the board could vote on the project, Supervisor/Secretary Lori Ziencik said. The public...
West Deer VFDs say state grants help lighten financial burden
West Deer Fire Chief Luke Raynovich breathes a sigh of relief with every dollar donated to his department. “It takes some of the financial burden off,” said Raynovich, chief of West Deer No. 1. “With the fire department being volunteer, there is always stress with money and needing to update...
4 escape injury in Frazer rollover
Four occupants of an overturned pickup truck late Sunday in Frazer appear to have escaped injury, according to officials. No cause for the crash was available early Monday. Frazer police Chief Aaron Scott said the report was not yet complete. Frazer and East Deer volunteer fire departments were called at...
Tarentum man says Peace Corps still critical even after 64 years
Dennis Mialki enrolled in the Peace Corps in 1978 and found himself — at 22 — as the city engineer of Siguatepeque, Honduras, a farm town in the mountains of Central America. The Tarentum resident spent two years engineering roads, building kindergarten classrooms and establishing a building code. “I was...
Main Street gas line project bumped up for impending streetscape in Sharpsburg
A four-month gas line replacement is underway along busy Main Street in Sharpsburg. Contractors are on site, working between 19th and 23rd streets, at the entrance to town. Traffic is limited to one-lane in that area. The project is not being paid by borough tax dollars, manager Christine DeRunk said....
Barred owl makes for exciting guest at Aspinwall home
Terry Nelson Taylor’s newest neighbor along Eastern Avenue in Aspinwall is making quite a ruckus. “It has caused a great sensation in the neighborhood,” Taylor said of the barred owl, which has taken up residence in the tree next to her house. “He seems to hoot at all hours.” Barred...
Crocs in crosshairs nationwide as schools cite safety risks
The chunky rubber-looking shoes called Crocs have been on the market since 2002. In recent years, as they have become the obsession of children and teens, they have caught the eye of school administrators nationwide — but not as fashion favorites. Some districts across the country are stepping up to...
After 40 years of searching and praying, Cherrie Mahan’s mother asks for closure
Cherrie Mahan’s favorite color was purple. The 8-year-old loved Cabbage Patch dolls, the movie “E.T.” and tuna fish sandwiches. She sang at church on Sundays with her grandma. It’s the happy details that her mother, Janice McKinney, remembers most about Cherrie. The Winfield Elementary third grader went missing Feb. 22,...
Missing 11-year-old East Allegheny girl found safe
An 11-year-old girl who was reported missing to Pittsburgh police has been found safe, according to authorities. The girl was reported missing Saturday after being last seen the day before at her home in the city’s East Allegheny neighborhood....
Then and Now: 1875 O’Hara home is among oldest in township
One of the oldest existing homes in O’Hara stands along Freeport Road overlooking the Allegheny River. According to township historian Tom Powers, the home was among the first built in the Montrose Plan and is at least 150 years old. It sits in an area of the township not far...
Former Fawn Primary Center could go back on the market
The former Fawn Primary Center in the Highlands School District could be going back on the market. The school board last week voted to hire Integra Realty Resources to prepare a valuation on the building at 5591 Ridge Road. The cost for the appraisal is $2,500. The board did not...
Harrison juveniles face charges for vape shop burglary
Two Harrison juveniles are facing charges after, police say, they broke into a vape shop along Freeport Road and made off with more than $3,000 in merchandise. Harrison police Chief Brian Turack said the teens face charges of burglary, criminal trespass, theft and flight to avoid apprehension. He credited a...
Fox Chapel, Shady Side Academy students part of Junior Achievement’s 18 Under Eighteen
Robotics, medical careers and baking have something in common at Fox Chapel Area High School and Shady Side Academy — students who are using each of these paths to promote change in their community. Shady Side Academy students Kiran Tevar and Özge Ada Uzman, along with Fox Chapel Area’s Laila...
Still no charges 6 months after 11-year-old killed by vehicle in Natrona
Amber Bonnoni is still unable to think straight six months after her daughter, 11-year-old Roxanne, was hit and killed by a vehicle near their Natrona home. “I am lost in my head,” she said. “The (person) who stole her life away will go on to have another day and is...
Sharpsburg’s 16th Street Park to get facelift
A facelift at the 16th Street Park in Sharpsburg is a sign of great things to come, according to borough officials. Arguably among the borough’s most popular recreation spots, the park sits along Main Street across from the municipal offices. Its official name is the Marion Gerardi Memorial Park. “It’s...
Faces of the Valley: Aspinwall Neighbors’ Sarah Shaffer works to make ‘great place to live even better’
From snow angels to soup delivery to sustainable rain gardens, Aspinwall Neighbors is just what the moniker says — a way to help connect people. “We’re guided by the mission of neighbors helping neighbors to build a thriving community,” said Sarah Shaffer, group president. A senior marketing manager for global...
As head of Aspinwall Neighbors, Sarah Shaffer works to make ‘great place to live even better’
From snow angels to soup delivery to sustainable rain gardens, Aspinwall Neighbors is just what the moniker says — a way to help connect people. “We’re guided by the mission of neighbors helping neighbors to build a thriving community,” said Sarah Shaffer, group president. A senior marketing manager for global...
Decreased barge traffic could impact river locks in Harmar, Highland Park
Lock service in Harmar and Highland Park could be on the chopping block pending a review of commercial barge traffic this year. “It could very well happen,” said Mike Ferris, president of the Allegheny River Development Corp. “We don’t know when it would happen, but it will be reviewed this...
Tarentum ministry aims to help people go from ‘surviving to thriving’
People with connections outside of their family tend to be healthier and more resilient. That’s the belief of a new initiative, Communities of Transformation, hosted nationally by the United Methodist Church. “People who have trust points — people you can rely on — are better able to reach their goals,”...
Natrona trailhead to provide town gateway, safe access to kayak launch
A trailhead project in the Natrona section of Harrison could begin moving forward if all goes smoothly with design and permit approvals. The township commissioners awarded a $30,000 contract to GAI Consultants in January to begin work on the project, which will create designated parking with safer access to the...
New rescue truck at Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services expands specialized response
While most fire departments across the state are struggling to stay afloat, Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services is finding itself on solid ground. A merger of Aspinwall and Sharpsburg, the department is expected to purchase a $1.3 million heavy rescue truck that not only will respond to local emergencies but...
Brackenridge sewing group, Holy Scraps, uses skills for community good
When life gives you scraps, make a quilt. That’s the motto of a weekly sewing group, Holy Scraps, run from the Salvation Army Allegheny Valley Worship and Service Center in Brackenridge. “These ladies have a tremendous heart for serving the community,” Capt. Selah Bender said. “They really use their talents...
Blawnox VFC staying focused on emergency preparedness
When a Norfolk Southern train derailed in Harmar nearly three years ago, thousands of gallons of crude oil spilled into Guys Run headed for the Allegheny River. Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company was among the first to respond, helping to boom the area and keep the toxic materials contained. Chief Jeff...
Deer Lakes social worker says broad work experience readied her for the job
Logan Donahue didn’t envision a job as a school social worker, but she couldn’t be happier with her new role at Deer Lakes School District. Her job experience includes work with a forensic psychologist, the homeless and people suffering traumatic brain injuries. She said the breadth of work adds to...
Free energy audits can boost efficiency, lower costs
Home energy audits are being offered to property owners in Sharpsburg with the goal of boosting utility efficiency and lowering heating bills. But there’s also a chance the assessment could lead to free attic insulation or a hot water pump for qualifying residents. “We want to find out where the...
