Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 18
Civil lawsuits from families of former nurse Heather Pressdee’s victims continue to work through courts
Eight months after Heather Pressdee pleaded guilty to murdering at least three patients in nursing centers where she worked, wrongful death lawsuits against many of those centers continue to wind their way through the courts. Pressdee, 42, is serving three consecutive life terms without parole, plus an additional 380 to...
West Deer resident praises emergency response after fire, says ‘could’ve been a whole lot worse’
Larry Hopper lost some expensive “tools and toys” when fire ripped through his West Deer garage Sunday, but he woke up Monday feeling grateful that the damage was limited to material items. “Our fire department was so on point,” said Hopper, 42. “There was an army of people at my...
6 Highlands students charged in connection with hazing allegations
Six student-athletes from Highlands School District have been charged in connection with an alleged hazing incident. Harrison police Chief Brian Turack said the students, all members of the boys basketball team, were charged with harassment, disorderly conduct and hazing stemming from an incident Nov. 26 on a bus carrying the...
Springdale resident rallies community to fight Pittsburgh Mills’ potholes
Lisa Alexander refuses to go to the Pittsburgh Mills mall. “I used to walk at the mall or eat at the restaurants or swing by Starbucks a few times a week,” she said. Alexander, of West Deer, vowed to avoid the shopping complex in Frazer after a November trip to...
Patient shuttle service grows, remains vital link to care from Tarentum to Etna
Brad Scherf doesn’t miss a chance to help a fellow cancer survivor — or anyone else — who needs medical attention. As coordinator of a free shuttle offered by the St. Margaret Foundation and Wesley Family Services in New Kensington, Scherf has found himself up before dawn to drive a...
Zynka Gallery marks 5 years of showcasing art in Sharpsburg
It’s a thrill for Jeff Jarzynka when the glass doors of his Sharpsburg art gallery are ajar and something inside catches the eye of a passerby. “The doors are open wide all summer, and you’ll have kids running up the street who stop and ask, ‘Is this a museum? Can...
Tarentum to tow vehicles in no-parking zone
Motorists who park in a no-parking zone at the intersection of East Street and West 10th Avenue in Tarentum have run out of chances. Moving forward, vehicles will be towed and violators will be responsible for costs. “We’re having a problem with people not complying,” Mayor Bob Lang said. “We...
Free school lunches could be on the table again for all students beginning in the fall
A pair of state lawmakers are advocating to again provide universal free lunches to students in the coming school year, though nobody knows for sure how much it would cost. State Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-North Hills, and Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, will reintroduce the Universal School Meals legislation, aimed at...
Dick’s Sporting Goods construction begins at The Waterworks
The new Dick’s Sporting Goods store at The Waterworks near Aspinwall is expected to open this summer. The new store is located in the shopping center’s former Walmart anchor space. It is unclear what that means for the Dick’s store at the Pittsburgh Mills mall — just nine miles away...
Then and Now: Casile’s Courtesy Corner in Aspinwall still a gem of a location — now for jewelry store
People who travel along Freeport Road in Aspinwall are likely familiar with Chapel Hills Jewelry, the upscale shop at the intersection of Virginia Avenue. It’s been a staple more than three decades, opened by Jack and Tina Tesauro in 1989. Previously, the corner was a mainstay for residents and those...
Frazer promotes Sgt. Aaron Scott to police chief
Not much will change for Frazer police Sgt. Aaron Scott after being promoted to chief this week. “It’s just a new uniform and a different badge,” he said. “It’s still work as usual.” Supervisors approved the appointment eight months after the death of former Chief Terry Kuhns. Scott, 39, had...
West Deer starts year with new garbage hauler; cost jumps 34%
A new garbage hauling contract for West Deer residents began this week with costs jumping 34%. Supervisors in October approved a contract with County Hauling for a three-year deal. It came after current hauler Shank Waste Service opted out of its alternate years, Township Manager Daniel Mator said. “New service...
Sugar Spell Scoops outgrows Sharpsburg spot
Amanda Burk is disappointed to see her sweet times in Sharpsburg potentially coming to an end. The owner of Sugar Spell Scoops, a vegan ice cream spot along North Canal Street, announced the store is closing — with its final hours the first weekend of January. The lease expires Jan....
Fawn taxes remain same for 27th year
Fawn property owners are nearing three decades without a property tax increase in the township. Supervisors this week approved a nearly $1.8 million budget that keeps the tax rate at 3.04 mills. It is the 27th consecutive year without an increase. The owner of a home with the township’s median...
Highlands pre-kindergarten students kick off holiday with song and dance
Pre-kindergarten classes at Highlands Early Childhood Center presented “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” on Thursday to the delight of parents and staff. The 30-minute holiday concert featured songs such as “Jingle Bells” and “The Reindeer Pokey” with choreographed dance moves. Accompanying the 34 singers was music teacher Amy Karavlan...
Then and Now: From EMS to community library, this Fox Chapel property is always in service
From EMS to community library, the property at 403 Fox Chapel Road has long served residents. The site adjacent to the Fox Chapel Municipal Building was home to Foxwall EMS for years before it was replaced in 2011 by the $6 million Cooper-Siegel Community Library. Foxwall EMS landed a larger...
Leaders of community garden hope to nurture young residents with scholarship program
Organizers of the Sharpsburg Community Garden are hoping to grow a new generation of people with a passion for planting. The garden, situated behind the community library along Main Street, is launching a scholarship program for 2025 through which a newbie can get their hands dirty and harvest crops such...
More than just books: Cooper-Siegel Community Library closes in on funding for $2.5M expansion
Tools, 3D printers and musical instruments probably aren’t what most people associate with libraries. But Cooper-Siegel in Fox Chapel is far from ordinary. The $6 million, 24,000-square-foot facility along Fox Chapel Road has grown its lending libraries, programs and classes to meet the demands of patrons who number nearly 30,000...
Tarentum real estate tax increase to benefit volunteer fire departments
Tarentum property owners will pay 9% more in real estate taxes next year, ending a 20-year run with no increase. Council approved the borough’s $4.7 million budget, raising the millage from 5.48 to 5.98 mills. The hike is to institute a fire tax, meant specifically to benefit the borough’s three...
West Deer foots bill for $203,000 ambulance
While ambulance services across the state struggle to stay afloat, West Deer EMS just got a life-saving lift. The township is footing the bill for the group’s $203,000 ambulance, delivered to the East Union Road station on Tuesday. Chief Bill Humes knows how significant it is. “There’s only so much...
Highlands basketball coach resigns amid hazing allegations
The Highlands High School varsity boys basketball season will continue despite the resignation of its head coach, Bill Flow. Flow, hired this summer, submitted a letter of resignation Monday, citing personal reasons, school officials said. He remains a teacher at the high school. The departure comes on the heels of...
Building the Valley: The Amish Home in Frazer thrives with custom, handcrafted furniture
Anyone seeking custom, American-made hardwood furniture might want to take a spin through the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. Nestled inside the shopping center off Route 28 is The Amish Home, a furniture showroom that in recent years built such a clientele that expansion was necessary. It’s housed in an...
Pittsburgh Brewing wants to make sure docks are in place for summer concerts
One way or another, boaters are expected to have another summer of concert-listening from the water at Pittsburgh Brewing in East Deer. The company submitted an application with the state Department of Environmental Protection to build a temporary dock on the Allegheny River at the rear of its facility along...
S’mores, songs and skillet tossing create successful Christmas in the Woods in Lower Burrell
Andrea Guido isn’t a trained performer but there she was Saturday, donning a Santa hat and belting out Christmas carols at K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Park in Lower Burrell. Guido got a text from a friend earlier in the month, asking if she would like to perform at the city’s...
4 Highlands grads host Christmas ‘dinner’ for those in need
Not everyone has enough money to enjoy a Christmas feast with all the trimmings, so four Highlands alumni are stepping in to provide help. A free giveaway with holiday dinner items will be hosted from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 19 by high school friends Chris Nemeth, Tom Schmaus, Kurt...
