Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 27
Immune therapy drugs show promise in treating esophageal cancer
Gary Hines didn’t want to lose his hair. The Harrison resident, diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2021, worried about looking his best for his son’s wedding. “I was all worked up,” said Hines, 60, retired after 30 years with the Harrison Township Water Authority. “Turns out, I never lost one...
Cooper-Siegel, Sharpsburg libraries get $80,000 computer upgrade through Allegheny Regional Asset District
New computers at Cooper-Siegel Community Library and its branch site in Sharpsburg are expected to provide a smoother experience for patrons. The project also will provide a boost to the library budget because the computers were upgraded for free. The purchase by the Allegheny Regional Asset District was part of...
Faces of the Valley: O’Hara’s Sarah Jones parlays passion for teaching into Volunteer of the Year Award from National Aviary
O’Hara resident Sarah Jones calls herself a lucky duck. After retiring as a first-grade teacher from the Wilkinsburg School District, Jones spread her wings and found a new passion — birds — while still keeping her love for teaching close. She began volunteering in 2014 at the National Aviary on...
Highlands partners with UPMC for pediatric diabetes study
Highlands Middle School nurse Aliza Zelina keeps individual baskets stocked with snacks and medical supplies for her students battling Type 1 diabetes. “They come to me several times a day,” said Zelina, of the preteens at the Harrison school. “They are little kids who are learning to manage this illness. They...
New Kensington’s Davon Magwood looks to go from comedy clubs and restaurant kitchens to the state House
A professional chef from New Kensington who had an early career as a Pittsburgh comedian has turned his sights to politics. Davon Magwood, 38, is running for the state House’s 55th District seat after having won the Democratic write-in in the April primary. He earned a spot on the November...
Deer Lakes students could be budding ‘Rockhounds’
Cole Protzman was fascinated by the minerals and colorful stones in his Deer Lakes third-grade classroom, but wondered if the program’s host, the Monongahela Rockhounds, had made bigger discoveries. “Have you ever found a T-Rex fossil?” Cole asked Friday at East Union Intermediate Center. Rockhounds member Margaret Robertson said she...
In its 20th year, Ride for Homeless Vets continues to grow; fundraising surpasses $400,000
When Tom Grates first heard the term “homeless veterans,” the Tarentum resident was appalled. “It made me sick,” Grates said. “I’m a vet, my dad and grandfather were both vets, and my son’s in the military now. “I figured I’d better do something to address this.” It was 20 years...
Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services to host Junior Fire Camp to recruit young members
Joining the Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department at 14 is a move that benefited Jean Daniher far beyond learning rescue skills. She was able to earn an associate degree and a registered nurse’s license for free through the Community College of Allegheny County solely because of her status as an active...
Islamic center eyes purchase of former Holy Family church in East Deer
A potential buyer for the shuttered Holy Family Church in East Deer appears to be another religious organization. Alfatimiah of Pittsburgh, a group that describes itself as operating “under the teachings of Islam,” is eyeing the site at 787 Freeport Road, according to East Deer officials. However, the group will...
Jodi Klebick takes reins at Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization
The new executive director of the Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization is hoping to continue more than a decade of work in the nonprofit sector, this time helping to improve the quality of life in the quaint river town. Jodi Klebick will take the reins of the group, founded in 2014 with...
Plans for Harrison Aldi, twice-delayed, appear uncertain
Plans for an Aldi grocery store in Harrison appear to be up in the air, following a two-year construction delay. J.R. Perry, Aldi divisional vice president, said previously that work would start this year for the proposed store at 4024 Freeport Road, on the property formerly occupied by Harbison Nursery....
Faces of the Valley: Harrison’s Diane Umile connects children with music through Pete’s Heartstrings charity
A passion for music runs in Diane Umile’s family. The Harrison resident has orchestrated a way to stoke that passion for others through a new nonprofit, Pete’s Heartstrings. Run from her home along McWilliams Drive in the Birdville section of the township, Umile’s efforts provide musical instruments to people in...
Indiana Township lands 2 new police SUVs through state grant
Indiana Township police log a lot of miles patrolling the 17-square-mile community. With the addition of three full-time officers this year, for a total of 13, Chief Steve Colucci said police are on the road a lot and “the miles add up.” One of the department’s SUVs racked up 120,000...
Deer Lakes Middle School provides gaming club to build skills, friendships
For gamers like Deer Lakes seventh grader Lucas Channel, a school club dedicated to Super Smash Bros. and Minecraft sounded like a dream come true. “I love this club,” Channel said. “It’s a bit of time after school where you get to play in a nice surrounding.” The 13-year-old is...
Rabkin Gardens is Tarentum’s hidden gem
When Michael Rabkin purchased the 1890s 2nd Ward Public School Building in Tarentum to house his medical practice, the view was less than inspiring. “There was a hideous termite-infested shack that my office overlooked,” said Rabkin, a Brooklyn native and retired skin pathologist. “I figured I could spend the rest...
Dallas executive Kimberly Fields to take reins at ATI
ATI will have new leadership July 1. Kimberly Fields will assume the role of CEO to replace Robert Wetherbee, head of the specialty metals company since 2018. Fields of Dallas has served the past two years as chief operating officer and was named president in 2023. “I’m honored to succeed...
Highlands greenhouse aims to spur collaboration, instill ‘humanitarian heart’
Highlands School Director Eli Majocha believes a new outdoor classroom at the high school will help students flourish. A greenhouse spearheaded last year while Majocha was a high school senior will impact students through hands-on and project-based learning, he said. “I want these students to be engaged with the lessons...
Merle Norman boutique owner Olivia Grace thanks Tarentum for start, announces move to Oakmont
It’s been three years since Olivia Grace opened her Merle Norman Cosmetics store in the old Isaly’s building in Tarentum, helping to spark momentum for Corbet Street redevelopment. Now the Highlands graduate is taking another leap — she’s moving her growing business to Oakmont, where she hopes to capitalize on...
Frazer in no hurry to appoint police chief
It may be some time before Frazer has a new, permanent police chief. Supervisors will not vote at their meeting Tuesday to appoint a new chief, and there is no timeline for doing so, said Lori Ziencik, board member and township secretary. “That takes time,” she said. “We haven’t really...
Roof of vacant Sharpsburg duplex collapses during fire; no injuries reported
A brick duplex under renovation in Sharpsburg went up in flames Sunday evening, causing half of the building to be demolished just before midnight. “We had to tear half of it down because the roof had collapsed to the basement,” said Mike Daniher, chief of Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services....
Highlands, PA CareerLink focus on manufacturing jobs as alternative to college
Jim Rugh knows one thing for sure: Companies like his need workers to fill manufacturing jobs. As human resources manager for Washington Township manufacturer Composidie Inc., Rugh is familiar with the challenges employers face when looking for workers. “Anything we can do to help make people more aware of the...
Building the Valley: New concept in vet care, Pets After Dark, founded by Fox Chapel couple
It’s a problem that too many pet parents are familiar with — what to do when your four-legged friend is sick or injured after office hours. “The options are either go to the emergency room and wait for hours or take a chance to get them seen the next day,”...
Tarentum Council demands pothole fix from Norfolk Southern
Anyone who drives over the Norfolk Southern train tracks — and the adjacent potholes — in Tarentum knows it’s a bumpy ride. It might be smoothed out after council voted to press the rail lines and state officials for attention to the growing craters. Specifically, council urged repairs for the...
Morningside VFW to host 15th Fish Rodeo in O’Hara for hospitalized vets, those in care homes
It doesn’t get much better than a day at the park, fishing for blue gill and barbecue grilling with friends. Just ask veteran Thomas Stubler, a resident in the VA Pittsburgh Community Living Center. He is among the 100 or so hospitalized veterans who are treated every year to an...
Portion of Baileys Run in East Deer set for long-term closure
Tony Taliani knows as well as anyone the inconvenience that will be caused by the long-term partial closure of Baileys Run Road in East Deer. The township commissioner lives along the stretch of the road that will be closed at 9 a.m. Monday, May 6 by the Allegheny County Department...
