Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 56
Drive-through food distribution open to Alle-Kiski Valley residents
Tarentum resident Rayann Urbanski plucked large bundles of kale from boxes outside Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer and placed them in more than 300 vehicles waiting in line at a recent drive-through food distribution. “Everyone seems to really appreciate the help,” said Urbanski, a Highlands and Pitt grad who now works...
Sheldon Park’s first-ever Fall Fest aims to create unity among residents
A pair of relatively new Sheldon Park residents is working to provide year-round activities that create unity in the Harrison neighborhood. Elizabeth Rivera and Monica Squires are organizing a Fall Fest for all ages Oct. 22 that will offer pumpkins, games and maybe even a hayride. “What we’re looking to...
Single-lane restrictions begin Monday along Route 28 near Highland Park Bridge
Motorists who travel along northbound Route 28 in O’Hara and Sharpsburg should allow extra time next week. Single-lane restrictions are scheduled to begin Monday, according to PennDOT. Crews from Swank Construction Company will be installing new signs. Work will begin at about 7 a.m., just before rush hour, and will...
Penn Salt Museum will give visitors glimpse into Natrona’s historic significance
Polish immigrants Stanley and Josephine Lapczynski arrived in the Natrona section of Harrison before the turn of the 20th century and settled into a cottage at 34 Federal St. The couple raised six children in the four-room house owned by Penn Salt Manufacturing Co., which abutted the Allegheny River and...
Family, friends hope for news on Tarentum woman missing more than 5 weeks
Family and friends of missing Tarentum woman Tonya Sadecky are holding out hope that she will be found safe after last being seen Aug. 28. “I drive around, up and down the streets just hoping that I’ll see her,” said Sadecky’s mother, Carol Richardson. Allegheny County Police on Thursday issued...
Lower Burrell author Tamara Girardi visits Highlands classrooms; Rotary and Lions gift books to students
A Lower Burrell author joined the Tarentum Lions Club and the Highlands Area Rotary on Tuesday to spark a passion for literacy in young students. Kindergartners at Highlands Early Childhood Center were paid a visit by Tamara Girardi, author of “Why, Daddy? Why?,” who read aloud to the youngsters in...
Blawnox seeks code enforcement officer to help keep town in shape
Blawnox is seeking to hire a code enforcement officer — and the search is becoming a bit frustrating for administration officials after not being able to fill the position for at least eight months. “It’s been a struggle,” Manager Kathy Ulanowicz said. “Code enforcement is one of the most important...
Shaler Area students rally to protect Girty’s Run farmland
A project to protect green space and fill it with clusters of endangered butterflies has taken flight at Shaler Area High School. Students in the district’s Sustainability class have partnered with the Sewickley-based nonprofit Allegheny Land Trust on a fundraiser to preserve former farmland in Reserve and Shaler. The parcel...
Harrison’s Hunger Walk to raise awareness of food insecurity
A tradition for more than 40 years to help feed the needy will continue Sunday in Harrison. The Hunger Walk will step off at 1 p.m. from Heights Plaza along Freeport Road. Hosted by the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches (AVAC), the walk attracts about 50 people who traverse a...
Allegheny County Police seek help finding Frazer woman last seen Sept. 11
Allegheny County Police are seeking help to find a Frazer woman they fear may have been kidnapped. They believe Darlene Harbison, 59, who was last seen Sept. 11, disappeared at the hands of her boyfriend, Eric Gibbs, with whom she had a volatile relationship, according to county police. Gibbs, 57,...
Faces of the Valley: Highlands graduate Josephine Vance earns prestigious $25,000 Statler Foundation scholarship at IUP
If her dream came true, Highlands graduate Josephine Vance would someday work as a Disney wedding planner and coordinate events at the happiest place on Earth. A senior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Vance just got a major boost toward her goal, earning the prestigious Statler Foundation Scholarship of Excellence...
St. Joseph High School offers clubs as way to engage students, ignite passions
A new club at St. Joseph High School in Harrison is seeking to give female students an emboldened voice. Empowering Women was spearheaded by junior Jennifer Phan, who said students can only benefit through the open dialogue created by the new club. “We thought it was something we needed,” said...
Prospect Cemetery Ghost Tour brings history to life in Brackenridge
Self-described history buff Fran Jones can’t wait to dress up as long-deceased Tarentum townswoman Annie Walker and share her story during the annual Prospect Cemetery Ghost Tour. “Actually, most of my story is really talking about her husband, (Dr. A.F.) ‘Daddy’ Walker, a most popular figure in local history,” Jones...
St. Ladislaus group lobbies for shrine designation at Natrona church
Longtime Natrona resident Conrad Zylinski attended the former St. Ladislaus Elementary School in the 1960s and served as an altar boy at the magnificent domed church on Spruce Street. He no longer attends Mass every week but said he sees the significance of the 118-year-old church to the community. Zylinski...
Haunted Mine offers hair-raising scares at abandoned Fawn site
Enter if you dare. Dark and dank, the narrow passages that wind deep underground at Tour-Ed Mine and Museum in Fawn have transformed into a frightening Halloween attraction seeking only the bravest souls to wander through. “We play off your natural phobias here, so we’re talking rats, bats and spiders,”...
Blawnox VFC hosting blood drive to assist critical shortage
An upcoming blood drive sponsored by the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company is aimed at helping people in the community and beyond. Victor Eperthener, department member and blood drive coordinator, said, “We want to help people all across the Pittsburgh area.” The event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m....
Harrison Manager John Pallone resigns after 6 months
Harrison Manager John Pallone has resigned after six months on the job. Pallone, a former five-term state legislator and superintendent of the New Kensington-Arnold School District, was not immediately available for comment. The township commissioners accepted his resignation during their meeting Monday. At least one commissioner said he believes Pallone...
Haunted Guyasuta returns with fright-filled festivities
Fright will abound in the forest during the annual Haunted Guyasuta event at the Boy Scout camp in O’Hara. The Halloween-themed festival is scheduled for Oct. 15 and offers both fun and fear, depending on the time of day. Pumpkin patches, hayrides and other non-scary activities will run from 3...
Building the Valley: One of nation’s largest building wholesalers sets up in Harmar
One of the nation’s largest building suppliers has opened a location in Harmar. ABC Supply Co. opened its doors Aug. 1 at 460 Nixon Road. “We’re a 40,000-plus-square-foot, all-under-roof supplier,” said site manager Mike Mrakovich. “We will be a one-stop shop for the Cheswick community and surrounding areas.” The facility...
More than 7,000 participate in Pittsburgh Great Race
More than 7,000 runners and walkers laced up their shoes to participate Sunday in the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race. Rain was no deterrent for the largest 10K in the state, which marked its 45th year. Squirrel Hill runners Nick Wolk and Jennifer Bigham were first to...
Donor families honored for gift of life at the CORE ceremony
Antwon Rice Sr. of Homewood was shot twice in the head during a crime in April 2020. When he died, his mother, Yolanda White made the difficult decision to donate his kidney and liver through the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), headquartered in O’Hara. “I didn’t even know...
Polkamaniacs concert at Harrison Hills draws a crowd of young and old
Gloria Parobeck alerted everyone on her Brackenridge street that a polka concert was coming to Harrison Hills Park on Saturday. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Parobeck said. “I even brought my German shepherd, Sunshine, because she’s 100% Polish since she joined the family.” About 100 people lounged...
German music, stein-holding contest highlight Vandergrift’s Oktoberfest
Beer flowed and brats sizzled Saturday during Vandergrift’s first-ever Bavarian-themed craft fair. Oktoberfest, co-sponsored by Allusion Brewing Co. and the Vandergrift Business Association, transformed portions of Grant and Columbia avenues into a lively celebration complete with authentic German music, dancing and a stein-holding contest. “We’re hoping to do our best...
Harrison kayak launch parking lot inching closer to reality
Good news keeps rolling in for park-goers in Harrison. The township will receive $70,100 from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for work on its kayak launch parking lot in the Natrona section. The grant covers about half of the $141,000 cost to transform a vacant lot into...
Aspinwall, O’Hara parks land state grants to improve and expand green space
Park users in Aspinwall and O’Hara will benefit from a round of state grants aimed at green space upgrades. Sites in both communities will see significant benefits thanks to grants from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced Sept. 7. O’Hara Township will receive $62,500 for development of the...
