Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 46
Volunteers needed for joint Earth Day cleanup by Harrison, Tarentum and Brackenridge
People who want to get down and dirty to help Mother Nature can volunteer at an Earth Day program hosted by three local communities. Harrison, Tarentum and Brackenridge are having their first-ever joint event to rid the roads and parks of pop cans, candy wrappers, tires and other trash. It...
Tarentum business owners can vie for borough-paid facade grants
Tarentum Councilwoman Carrie Fox said the old adage of not judging a book by its cover isn’t always easy. When it comes to borough businesses, she wants them to look pristine and up to date. “It may be something small like a new sign or an awning or just painting,...
Eureka EMT tapped to lead Tarentum disaster response
Tarentum has hired a longtime emergency medical technician (EMT) from Eureka Fire-Rescue-EMS to handle responses to large-scale borough disasters such as train derailments, fuel spills and criminal manhunts. Rodger Blystone was appointed Tuesday by council as the borough’s emergency management coordinator. A largely voluntary role, Blystone will be paid a...
Generations House of Worship in Brackenridge extending its reach to Lower Burrell
Brackenridge Pastor Nick Chybrzynski became a Christian at 15, well before he had a driver’s license or access to a car. “I didn’t have a way to get to church in Springdale from my house in Natrona Heights so I walked, rode my bike or took a PAT bus,” said...
Highlands School Board: Region 1 — Large field for primary has 4 candidates seeking 2 positions
Editor’s note: A second installment of this story, featuring the Region 2 candidates, will appear in Friday’s edition. Region 3 will appear in Saturday’s edition. All three installments can be viewed online at TribLIVE.com. The Highlands School District drew a large field of interest in the upcoming primary election with...
Highlands School Board: Region 3 — Field sees 4 vying for 2 seats
The Highlands School District drew a large field of interest in the upcoming primary election with 11 people vying for five open seats across three regions. In Region 3, a soon-to-be Highlands graduate and a former board member are among the mix of four candidates for two open seats. Elijah...
Highlands School Board: Region 2 — Large primary field sees 3 newcomers vying for 1 seat
Editor’s note: The first installment of this story, featuring the Region 1 candidates, appeared in Thursday’s edition. Region 3 will appear in Saturday’s edition. All three installments can be viewed online at TribLIVE.com. The Highlands School District drew a large field of interest in the upcoming primary election with 11...
Safer crosswalks, park landscaping coming to Blawnox
Blawnox residents will likely begin noticing several projects across town that are expected to improve safety and accessibility. Lighted crosswalks, pavement markings and signs will benefit people of all ages strolling through the borough. Work will impact eight intersections. A second project will upgrade sidewalks and landscaping at Blawnox Community...
Tarentum Night Market to kick off 4th season with more than 40 vendors
Mild weather and a sold-out venue with more than 40 vendors will mark the kickoff of the Tarentum Night Market on Thursday. Back for its fourth season, the outdoor shopping event features food, music and special promotions at many borough businesses. Hosted from 5 to 8 p.m., the market is...
‘Springtime in Paris’ fundraiser by Women’s Board will benefit kids in need
A French-inspired fundraiser with fashion, fresh flowers and food hosted by the Women’s Board of Pittsburgh will benefit needy children across the region. The “Springtime in Paris” soiree will serve as the group’s annual campaign to benefit children’s nonprofits that focus on education, recreation and other needs. It is scheduled...
Guardian Angels Parish helps rebuild St. Vladimir Ukrainian Church; pastor says shared faith ‘makes the church come alive’Video
Sifting through the charred remains at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church in Arnold, the Rev. Yaroslav Koval spotted what he considers a miracle. A painting of St. Michael, the patron saint of protection, clung to the wall of the sanctuary where flames burned the hottest during a 2021 blaze that...
Construction of half-mile recreation trail kicks off in Brackenridge
Brackenridge Councilman Dino Lopreiato said a new half-mile walking trail through the borough will do more than create recreational opportunities. “It will showcase some of the nicest river views in Western Pennsylvania,” he said. “People will be able to walk or ride a bike, and, hopefully, it will encourage residents...
Plans to be revealed Tuesday for improved riverfront access and trail development in Tarentum
People have spoken, and they want better access to the Allegheny River in Tarentum. A public survey sponsored by the nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront revealed that people are eager to see public docks, fishing piers and other amenities along the borough’s stretch of shoreline. “Now is the time to...
Trailhead project in Natrona enhances safety, creates regional draw
A trailhead project that doubles as a gateway into the Natrona section of Harrison has gotten the green light from the township and is expected to draw people from across the region. Work will include designated parking and safer access to the kayak launch off River Avenue, along with landscaping...
AAUW honors Fox Chapel Area female academics
More than 30 teenage girls were honored for their academic prowess by the Fox Chapel affiliate of the American Association of University Women. A ceremony on March 20 recognized the future female leaders from Fox Chapel Area High School for their achievements in STEM fields. Each student was nominated by...
Energy-saving solar panels, improved trails among projects covered by state funding
Fox Chapel residents who live downstream from Hardie Valley Park will get help to stave off potential flooding thanks to a recent round of state funding. In O’Hara, state money will be used to stabilize trails at the township’s Community Park, providing renewed access to outdoor recreation opportunities. The improvements...
Recent high winds knock bricks from former Rite Aid in Tarentum
A portion of an East Fifth Avenue sidewalk in Tarentum is off limits after high winds loosened bricks on the adjacent building. The sidewalk near the old Rite Aid at Corbet Street is closed to walkers while the building is assessed for damage. “There were some bricks that came loose...
Faces of the Valley: Springdale High School musical director Anthony Martello makes theater a place where everyone feels welcome
Not too long after he learned to walk, Anthony Martello’s mother enrolled him in dance class. It was the start of something special for Martello, who discovered his passion for performance early in life. Now, as the head of the theater program at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School, he works to...
Free summer lunch program in Natrona at risk of cancellation
A summer lunch program that feeds up to 20 children in Natrona Community Park is in danger of being canceled after organizers claimed there is a lack of security at the concession stand, among other liability issues. The Building Block of Natrona, a nonprofit that runs the program through a...
Famous Alle-Kiski Valley women highlighted at Tarentum history museum
Women from the Alle-Kiski Valley have made their mark on the world through stardom, smarts and scandal. From the inventor of Kevlar to the focus of a deadly love triangle that became fodder for a Hollywood movie, famous females brought a spotlight to the Valley. Third Ward school teacher Julia...
$12 million expansion of Allegheny Valley Hospital radiology will combine services in one place
People who use a satellite radiology center on Freeport Road in Harrison will instead receive services at Allegheny Valley Hospital beginning this summer. A $12 million hospital expansion project is underway to enhance the imaging department and will feature a broader range of services under one roof. The project won’t...
Highlands students bring creepy, kooky ‘Addams Family’ to life
With ice in her veins and venom on her tongue, Highlands High School senior Helena Vasey perfected the soft-spoken but scathing wit of Morticia Addams. Sophomore Elliot Vunora, likewise, mastered his portrayal of the hairless and hunched Uncle Fester, a kooky, barrel-chested man forever wearing a full-length fur-lined coat. The...
Colorful community mural will serve as welcome to Tarentum
Tarentum artist Ernesto Camacho sketched a bright, cheerful mural that represents all the borough has to offer in hopes of producing a larger-than-life version this summer. It depicts churches, antique shops and the former Manos Theater where he now operates a gallery. There are building blocks with words like family,...
Goat Rodeo Farm in Indiana Township earns top cheese honors in national contest
Despite growing up on a farm in Buffalo Township, India Loevner didn’t expect to make a career in the dairy business. The Knoch High School alum took her passion with her, however, when she moved to a 130-acre farm in Indiana Township. “It was 2015 when we started milking the...
Recovering addicts give firsthand look at opioid crisis in documentary by Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation
Falling into a coma didn’t quell Brooke Damore’s craving for heroin. Neither did sitting in jail. “I was doing 10 bags a day at one point,” said Damore, 30, a Leechburg native who attended Kiski Area High School. “I had to learn to walk and talk again after I was...
