Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 23
Allegheny Valley Hospital workers plan candlelight vigil ahead of potential strike
Allegheny Valley Hospital union workers will gather for a candlelight vigil Thursday outside the Harrison facility ahead of a potential strike. About 450 union members on Friday authorized a strike, as they call for increased recruitment and compensation to help meet growing patient care needs. “We are ready to stand...
Trash to treasure: Fox Chapel Area artists compete in global Junk Kouture competition
A castaway graduation gown and a pile of plastic spoons might look like they’re destined for the recycling bin. But for two Fox Chapel Area juniors, the scraps combined for a winning look that will sashay down a professional runway with a global audience. Ayla Ojanen and Lily McLaughlin, both...
West Deer police organizing breast cancer 5K: Disease ‘is one we can try to prevent’
West Deer police Sgt. Rob Petosky wears his pink with pride. For 13 years, he has helped to organize the township’s 5K Run/Walk to raise funds to fight breast cancer, which is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women. “When people can’t afford to go and have a mammogram,...
‘Inclusion Revolution’: No Offseason Sports in West Deer scores Special Olympics North America Softball Championship
The lightning-fast turf fields at No Offseason Sports in West Deer don’t scare Special Olympian pitcher Rachel Miles. When the 25-year-old takes the mound this week during the Special Olympics North America Softball Championship, she’ll keep an unwavering eye on the prize. “I want to win it all,” said Miles,...
Deer Lakes welcomes back students with coffee shop, Legos-style learning and colorful parking spots
Sixty-three colorful parking spaces welcomed Deer Lakes High School students back to school, some with neon flowers and others with lines of a football grid. The creative initiative led by Student Council President Scarlett Hadlum fosters a sense of ownership and pride within the school community, high school Principal Ryan...
‘Outstanding selection’ promised at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church’s 3-story Harvest Fair
The Harvest Fair at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church — which brings in about $100,000 for charity each fall — wouldn’t open its doors without volunteers like Matt Scott. Scott and a slew of others have prepped, cleaned, sorted and baked for months in anticipation of the 69th Harvest Fair on...
Cheswick, Tarentum begin riverfront planning
Tarentum Council’s decision to eliminate boat docks caused a furor among residents last year, but, since then, many are excited about the prospect of new recreational opportunities, officials said. “The people that I spoke to are interested in new sidewalks for safer walking, a fishing pier and a community boat...
Masked burglars hit Lojaks in Fawn for $60K in motorcycles
Masked thieves made away with $60,000 in Yamaha motorcycles from a Fawn business early Sunday using a U-Haul box truck emblazoned with a camel graphic for their getaway. Owner Ryan Lojak said four suspects stole six bikes, broke a glass door and busted through a garage door. They were caught...
Frazer puts Pittsburgh Mills owner on notice: Fix potholes or face court
Fix the potholes or end up in court. That’s the message Frazer officials gave the owner of the Pittsburgh Mills mall, saying the condition of the parking lots and roads at the shopping center have become a public safety hazard. Potholes at the Mills have become an infamous sore spot...
Tarentum museum to launch exhibit on Allegheny Ludlum’s rare stainless steel cars
After 33 years as a hot ladle craneman at the former Allegheny Ludlum (now ATI), Todd Barbiaux couldn’t enjoy retirement until he salvaged a bit of the company’s history for future generations. The former union president of Local 1196, Barbiaux recovered a 17-foot side silhouette of a stainless-steel 1960 Thunderbird...
Faces of the Valley: Broadcast duo celebrates 25 years calling Highlands sporting events
Highlands sports broadcasters Mike Choma and Mike Pavlik still get chills when they enter the Golden Rams basketball court and see the 2020 WPIAL boys basketball championship banner hanging from the ceiling. “That’s one I’ll never forget,” said Pavlik, 60, of Lower Burrell. “When we got back from that game...
Citizens, Eureka EMS consider merger to combat financial burden
Financial struggles could force the merger of two of the longest-serving EMS companies in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Citizens EMS in Harrison and Eureka Community Ambulance Service in Tarentum are considering joining forces to become one provider — though discussions are in the early phases and details are scant. Harrison’s commissioners...
O’Hara, Blawnox eye police consolidation
O’Hara and Blawnox residents likely will be protected by one police department beginning in the new year. Councils from both municipalities have reached a tentative agreement to consolidate departments, saying they are “looking forward to the combination.” An announcement was posted Thursday to the O’Hara website. Township Manager Julie Jakubec...
Highlands proposes dress code, class time changes for some students
Changes in dress code, grading and class times could be coming to Highlands School District when students head back to class Aug. 27. Building principals have presented proposed 2024-25 handbooks that the school board will vote on during its next meeting at 7 p.m. Monday. The most significant changes include...
Highlands’ tennis team preps for all-away season while courts are renovated
The girls tennis team at Highlands School District will be serving up their skills away from their home court this season while the district completes a $1 million capital project. Court resurfacing and a revamped track at the nearby middle school are included in the work. “Crews will come Monday...
Highlands School District considering tax appeal settlement with the Highlands Mall
The Highlands School District could reap a tax windfall of $28,000 if the board accepts an assessment appeal settlement proposal from the owners of the Highlands Mall, the 15-store shopping plaza off of Freeport Road. The district also would earn more tax income each year going forward. The Highlands Mall...
Salvation Army’s Back-to-School Bash doles out supplies, confidence
From Bluey to Dora to Transformers, nearly 350 colorful bookbags — and all the supplies that could fit into them — went home with school-aged children at the Paul Field Memorial Back-to-School Bash at the Salvation Army in Brackenridge. In its 15th year, the event doubled as a festival for...
Indiana Township pizza shop sells winning Powerball ticket worth $214 million
Someone is $214 million richer after buying the jackpot-winning Powerball ticket at an Indiana Township pizza shop. The ticket, sold Monday at AJ’s Pizza on Harts Run Road, matched all five white balls drawn, 9-22-57-67-68, and the red Powerball, 14. The shop’s owner, Jinal Pandit, was shocked to hear he...
Harrison police warn of vehicle break-ins
Harrison police are urging residents to lock their doors after a spree in which two females were reported to be rifling through vehicles early Tuesday. Chief Brian Turack said officers were called about 12:15 a.m. to Spruce Street in the township’s Natrona neighborhood. “We received a report of two individuals...
Allegheny County has 90 days to green-light Brackenridge’s public works facility
Brackenridge Council will learn within 90 days whether it can move forward with construction of a $1.1 million public works building. Allegheny County hosted a Zoom meeting Thursday to review the preliminary land development application to replace the current facility that’s nearly 125 years old. The county oversaw the process...
Community fruit grove on ATI property proposed for Brackenridge
In the coming years, Brackenridge residents might be able to walk to a community fruit grove and pluck an apple or plum from a tree along Stieren Avenue. Councilman Dino Lopreiato is working to turn a vacant gravel lot into a hub for health and socialization. As head of the...
Wooden footbridge in Brackenridge will connect sections of Three Rivers Heritage Trail
A wooden footbridge is coming to First Avenue in Brackenridge to connect the borough’s two sections of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. It will span a water intake well near Morgan Street and provide a link in the borough’s walking trail, which was partially constructed last year. “The (well) structure...
Rural Ridge Tunnel closure, Brian Kelley concert could create traffic tangles in West Deer
A tunnel closure in Indiana Township and a high-profile country music concert in West Deer could create a traffic nightmare Friday. The 130-year-old Rural Ridge Tunnel on Little Deer Creek Valley Road is scheduled to close at 7 a.m. Friday for five weeks of repairs. On Friday night, former Florida...
Harrison Township Water Authority moving offices
After nearly 40 years in its location along Freeport Road, the Harrison Township Water Authority is moving its offices to better equip its operations. “The new building will have more storage and better data for communications,” General Manager Nick Colledge said. “When our site was built, computers weren’t even a...
Efforts to add liquor license at Freedom Square Diner in Harrison delayed
Diners at a popular Harrison eatery might be able to order an alcoholic beverage with their pancakes or Reuben sandwiches. It just won’t be any time soon. Freedom Square Diner, at the Walmart Plaza on Freeport Road, is seeking approval for a liquor license transfer to its space at 18...
