Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 71
Public hearing Monday for Harrison dog daycare
An ongoing fight to bring a doggie day care to Freeport Road in Harrison will culminate in a public hearing Monday. People can weigh in on the request by Ringer’s Pet Dog Training to offer the service at 3041 Freeport Road, a former car dealership that Kim Ringer and her...
Highlands school board votes to make masks optional
Highlands students are not required to wear masks in class, or elsewhere on district property, after the school board on Wednesday night reversed a previous mandate. The policy extends to staff and visitors, though the new mask-optional guidelines will limit outsiders in the building. The board voted 6-3, with members...
Tarentum approves seed money for West Seventh Avenue renovation plan
By this time next year, Tarentum’s West Seventh Avenue business corridor could look brand-new with updated facades on many of the storefronts. That’s the hope of council, which last week agreed to put up seed money for a redevelopment plan by Faith Community Partners (FCP). The nonprofit has worked a...
O’Hara fourth grader sells art to raise money for hungry children
A fourth-grade O’Hara Elementary student is using his passion for art to create tangible change at his school and beyond. Tucker Patsey, 10, is selling hand-painted canvases to raise money for Backpack for Hunger, a program that provides weekend food to Fox Chapel Area School District students in need. “When...
Tarentum bids farewell to Tarena, approves construction storage facility
It’s time to take down the silver mirror ball at the Tarena. Council on Tuesday night approved a conditional use by a Wexford-based construction company to transform the long-running Tarentum entertainment spot into a storage facility and staging area. “We have to take the emotion out of it,” council President...
Community Library in Harrison welcomes voters for 24th annual Quilt Show
A winter tradition at Community Library of Allegheny Valley is filling the Harrison site with bright, spring-like colors. The 24th annual Quilt Show is on display with about 20 entries hanging above the book stacks, slung over exposed ceiling beams in the facility on Broadview Boulevard in Natrona Heights. Voting...
Citing time for change, entire Brackenridge recreation board resigns
Brackenridge is without a recreation committee, at least temporarily. All five members of the volunteer group resigned during the borough’s reorganization meeting Jan. 3. “I am proud of everything this committee has done,” said Cindy Kish, who stepped down as president of the group. “We have always done our best...
Women’s Board moves fundraiser to May amid surging pandemic
Surging covid numbers have pushed back the annual fundraiser by the Women’s Board of Pittsburgh, originally scheduled for Jan. 28. “In the best interest of our guests, we have moved our event,” said board spokesperson Debbie Burke. Festivities are scheduled for May 5-6. The event will be offered both virtually...
Sewer project in Sharpsburg closes portion of Seventh Street
A much-anticipated sewer project expected to help alleviate flooding in Sharpsburg is expected to last into February. The project was scheduled to begin Tuesday, Jan. 18. A long-term closure of part of Seventh Street is required while crews work to improve drainage. The road will be closed to traffic at...
Allegheny RiverTrail Park expands 2 acres with help from state grant
A two-acre addition to Allegheny RiverTrail Park (ARP) in Aspinwall is a coveted gift to the community, park founder Susan Crookston said. “For now and for generations to come,” she said. The site, just off Freeport Road, was awarded a $367,000 state grant last week to help with the purchase....
Public can weigh in on future of Tarena roller rink
Tarentum council on Tuesday will provide the public with a chance to weigh in on the proposed transformation of the Tarena roller rink. A Wexford-based construction company hopes to buy the 50-year-old skating rink and use it as a storage facility. Bridges & Co. is seeking a conditional use zoning...
Fox Chapel councilwoman Mandy Steele to enter race for 33rd House District
A Fox Chapel councilwoman is expected to launch her candidacy on Tuesday for state House of Representatives in the 33rd District. Mandy Steele is seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat in the May 17 primary. She is the first candidate to announce a campaign for nomination. Steele, 44, said...
St. Vladimir unveils initial plans to rebuild as bishop visits for Divine Liturgy
Just six weeks after a massive fire caused more than $4 million in damage to St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church, parishioners gathered for Divine Liturgy in the church social hall and devised a plan to move forward. “You can’t stop this church,” said Susan Podolski, 68, a lifelong member of...
Celine Dion cancels stop at PPG Paints Arena as health woes continue
Celine Dion has canceled the Pittsburgh stop of her “Courage World Tour,” the singer announced Saturday on her website. Dion was expected to perform at PPG Paints Arena on April 20. According to the post, the songstress is dealing with health issues and recovery is taking longer than expected. Dion...
More than 100 firefighters battle blaze in Kittanning
A massive fire early Saturday spanned multiple structures along Orr Avenue in Kittanning, displacing up to 10 residents and leaving a storage facility in a pile of rubble, fire officials said. No one was injured in the blaze, which began at about 1 a.m., said Kittanning Fire Department Chief Buzz...
Pedestrian identified who was fatally struck by Port Authority bus
A woman hit by a Port Authority bus on Tuesday died from her injuries, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The victim was identified as Dal Rai, 64, of Whitehall. Rai was struck just after 6:15 a.m. in the 600 block of Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh. She was taken...
Ministry eyeing February opening for Brackenridge homeless facility
By this time next month, a former Brackenridge personal care home will be nearly ready to welcome new residents. The owner of the building, Allegheny Valley Association of Churches (AVAC), is performing minor construction to reconfigure the site as a homeless facility. “We are hoping to be ready to house...
Green space in Sewickley area to grow more than 90 acres
A network of connected green space in Sewickley Hills, Ohio Township and Franklin Park is expected to grow by nearly 95 acres. Allegheny Land Trust, a non-profit that protects Pittsburgh-area land from development, was awarded $728,200 through recently announced state grants to help purchase the land. Money was made available...
Highlands property taxes unlikely to increase more than 4.9% — if at all
Highlands School Board next week will consider limiting any real estate tax hike for next school year to 4.9%. The board is expected to vote on staying under an inflation-based cap assigned each year to each school district in the state. The district’s limit is up from this school year’s...
North Park expected to expand through 2-acre Hampton parcel
It’s been years in the making, but a long-sought-after property in Hampton is finally expected to be purchased by Allegheny Land Trust to expand North Park. The two-acre site is situated adjacent to the park and would provide a connection to Pine Creek. ALT, a non-profit that works to protect...
New Harrison commissioners take office
Harrison Commissioners welcomed two new members during a reorganization meeting on Monday, Jan. 3. Jim Erb and Jamie Nee, both Republicans, were elected to four-year terms in November. They will take the place of Democrats Bill Heasley and Gary Lilly, who did not seek reelection. Also during the meeting, Gary...
Freeport Area High School goes remote after surging covid counts
Freeport Area High School students will switch to remote learning through Friday because of elevated covid cases and ongoing in-school transmission, district officials announced. The shutdown impacts the high school only. A covid dashboard on the district website confirms 31 active cases at the high school, 29 of them in...
Highlands School Board could make masks optional next week
The Highlands School Board next week will consider reversing its mandatory mask policy, allowing students, staff and visitors the option to choose. “We should not be imposing rules on our parents,” board member Judy Wisner said. “They should be free to make their own decisions.” Wisner added that “the sooner...
Missing Knoxville teen found safe
A 13-year-old girl who was missing since Thursday has been located, Pittsburgh police said. Sarai Stevens had last been seen on Suncrest Street in the city’s Knoxville section. Police said Stevens was returned home safely. Further details were not available....
Bed, Bath & Beyond to close its North Hills store
A McKnight Road shopping staple is closing in Ross. Bed, Bath & Beyond announced plans to close 37 stores across the country, one of them in the busy North Hills shopping district. New Jersey-based Bed, Bath & Beyond is a favorite destination for shoppers scouting housewares, small appliances and trendy...
