Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 25
Plum man in medically induced coma after being shot at Trump rally
A Plum man is in stable condition, but remains in an induced coma, after being shot Saturday during an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, officials said. David Dutch, 57, was shot in the liver and chest during a rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds, according to a...
Allegheny Township Community Day Festival draws hundreds, despite fundraising turmoil
Claims of financial impropriety against the Allegheny Township Community Days committee could have doomed the event hosted Sunday in sweltering heat at Northmoreland Park. Instead, organizers said, the adversity helped the event prosper. “Look at this turnout, it’s wonderful,” said Frank Weissert, committee president, pointing to crowds of people who...
Jill Biden revs up Italian Sons and Daughters of America in Pittsburgh
First Lady Jill Biden riled up a group of supporters Saturday at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, speaking about the grit of her Italian ancestors and telling the crowd that her husband, President Joe Biden, is just as much a fighter. “He’s making sure that no matter where you start...
Former Boat House Bar/Sisters Hotel in Natrona to be redeveloped as restaurant, possible entertainment spot
As a kid, Brianna Thorpe spent a lot of time visiting family in Natrona. “There was a bakery on the corner, and it was kind of awesome that you could walk around and hit different businesses,” she said of Harrison’s riverfront neighborhood. Now, the 27-year-old Springdale High School graduate from...
Frazer Sgt. Aaron Scott remains head of police department, though official title may be a while in coming
Frazer police Sgt. Aaron Scott continues to run the township’s police department three months after Chief Terry Kuhns died. It’s unclear whether he will take the role officially — and Scott is fine with that. “The officers that we have assist me greatly in making sure the day-to-day operations are...
Cameras at Natrona Community Park expected to deter crime, police say
Harrison police are hoping an extra set of eyes on Natrona Community Park will help deter vandalism and other crime at the River Avenue recreation spot. Police Chief Brian Turack said security cameras will be installed at the playground and basketball courts, where police were called Saturday to investigate a...
After years of delay, Harrison Aldi taking steps forward
A decision on whether an Aldi grocery store will move forward in Harrison could come as soon as next month. Store officials submitted plans to the township planning commission last week, seeking a recommendation for land development. The move comes two years into discussions on a store proposed for 4024...
Tarentum museum to feature exhibit on former St. Ladislaus Church
During a four-month salvage job at the former St. Ladislaus Church in Natrona, Rachel Brown climbed into the ceiling and crawled through walls to research architecture at the 120-year-old building. “I was in places of the church that people hadn’t been in 100 years,” said Brown, who wasn’t a member...
Cousins open ‘judgment-free zone’ Brick House Chic Boutique in Tarentum
When Anna Mayhood and Kristen Farringer couldn’t find styles to suit their size, they did something better — they opened their own boutique. “Everyone should love themselves, no matter their size,” said Mayhood, 46. “We want to provide a fun experience for us girls who typically don’t have luck in...
History, architecture and scandals outlined in Tarentum walking tour
Tarentum native Evelyn Nesbit made her mark in New York City as a model and chorus girl at the turn of the 20th century before becoming the object of a deadly love triangle between wealthy entrepreneurs. Her story and many others will be the focus of a Tarentum walking history...
110 years of soot scrubbed from stained glass at Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum
The sun will be shining more brightly on parishioners at Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum. Eleven enormous stained-glass windows, removed and boarded in 2022, are being reinstalled this week after a meticulous project that took hundreds of hours to clean and restore them. “It’s not just the color that’s brighter,”...
Retired engineer puts tinkering skills to good use at Fox Chapel church
Retired Acutronic electrical engineer Howard Havlicsek spent his career testing navigational systems for aircraft and missiles but always found time to put his talents to good use on the ground. He’s been the go-to “Mr. Fix-It” at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church since joining in 1979. For 45 years, the O’Hara...
Fox Chapel Area Rotary honors Shady Side Academy grads at annual luncheon
The Fox Chapel Area Rotary honored 10 Shady Side Academy seniors for outstanding leadership and academics. “These are outstanding students who represent the very best the academy has to offer,” said Bob Trimble, club president. “They not only have earned top grades taking difficult subjects but also found time to...
Elaine Jasso pours heart into Sheldon Park’s Booker Center
Elaine Jasso has become a surrogate grandma to hundreds of children in Harrison. As program coordinator for the Deborah D. Booker Community Center in Sheldon Park, Jasso, 73, plans daily activities at the facility that’s run by the Allegheny County Housing Authority. Sometimes, her role is to provide a listening...
Deer Lakes student with rare genetic disorder searching for perfect bone marrow match
Caisen Bedillion is a typical teenage girl who loves cheerleading, roller coasters and horror movies. The 13-year-old from West Deer, however, has endured an atypical amount of medical challenges. “Since she was born, she had a number of medical problems and delays at every turn,” said her mom, Erin Bedillion....
Universal Lunch initiative would mean free meals for all students, regardless of family income
Hungry kids can quickly turn into hangry students. Rumbling stomachs can lead to classroom distraction and discipline issues, research shows, along with feelings of isolation for children whose families struggle to afford school lunches. “Not only do we see the benefits of full bellies in academics, but it’s social, too,”...
Barb Kalina marks 25 years as St. Joe’s costume designer, making kids’ comfort her priority
When Barb Kalina began lending a hand with St. Joseph High School’s theater program in 1997, she spent a week washing and ironing 40 white aprons for the production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” “That was my entire duty,” said Kalina, a Lower Burrell resident and retired reading specialist from...
Junior Fire Camp in Aspinwall, Sharpsburg draws a dozen teens
The first Junior Fire Camp hosted by the Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services was a hit, officials said. A dozen local teens, 13 to 17, participated in the two-day event. Hosted June 22-23 at the stations in Sharpsburg and Aspinwall, participants learned the ins and outs of fire safety and...
East Deer opts into exploratory committee to save Eureka ambulance service
While the clock is ticking on the potential closing of Eureka Community Ambulance Service in Tarentum, another of the municipalities it covers has joined an effort to save the ailing EMS. East Deer commissioners on Wednesday opted into an exploratory committee that will research the formation of an ambulance authority....
Blighted Sharpsburg brownfield gets $25 million boost in Allegheny Shores transformation
Transformation of Allegheny Shores, a 52-acre brownfield along the Allegheny River in Sharpsburg, got a boost of nearly $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Money will be funneled to construction of a multimodal transportation network to support the project. Work includes a bridge over the Conemaugh rail line,...
Deer Lakes junior Madison Rethage among 250 selected for Congress-Bundestag program
Deer Lakes junior Madison Rethage was running typical errands last weekend, heading to the pet store to buy supplies for her guinea pigs, Jacques and Pierre. “My mom happened to check her phone and saw an email for a scholarship I had been waiting on,” the 16-year-old said. “She wanted...
St. Joseph High School eyes expanding band and chorus to meet growing demand
St. Joseph sophomore Louisa Palumbo misses the chance to showcase her musical chops in school. The 15-year-old participated in chorus throughout middle school at Mary Queen of Apostles in New Kensington and said it helped her grow not only as a singer but socially. “It’s nice to be a part...
Summer program ‘brings the world’ to youngsters at Natrona Community Park
From Phipps to Warhol to the Carnegie Museum, children in Natrona can tour the city’s biggest attractions this summer without ever leaving their backyard. “Our goal is to make learning fun, which keeps children coming back,” said Bill Godfrey, president of the advocacy group Natrona Comes Together. His group has...
Deer Lakes School Board resistant to posting meetings online, says member Leonard Verdetto
People who can’t tune in live to the Deer Lakes School Board meetings are out of luck, according to new board member Leonard Verdetto. The board meets the second and third Tuesdays of each month in the high school library. Meetings are available live on Zoom, through which people can...
Growing demand prompts $2.5M expansion at Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel
Books are still the star of the show at Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel, but the space draws a growing number of people for classes, programs and lending of nontraditional items. “Although the library offers a place for people and small groups to work or study in quiet, patrons...
