Western PA Local News category, Page 1602
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate continues to drop
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point in January to 5.4 %, the lowest since March 2020, according to figures released by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. It’s the 21st consecutive month without an unemployment rate increase. The commonwealth’s unemployment rate was 2.1 percentage points below...
Out & About: Westmoreland Museum toasts tenure of curator Barbara Jones
Friends, relatives, colleagues, artists and admirers gathered Saturday at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art to celebrate the career of Chief Curator Barbara Jones. More than 250 strong, they raised a Cosmopolitan — Jones’s favorite libation — or other glass to toast her 26-year career at the Greensburg museum, which...
Murrysville Alzheimer’s educator publishes children’s book about dementia
During her time as director of a memory-care facility in Rhode Island, former teacher Doreen Putnam began to notice the children who were coming to visit residents whose cognition had been affected by diseases such as Alzheimer’s. “They really didn’t understand what was happening to their grandma or grandpa,” Putnam...
Medical examiner identifies man found dead in McKees Rocks
Officials late Sunday identified a man found dead hours earlier in McKees Rocks. The medical examiner’s office identified the man as 22-year-old Anthony Lofton. Authorities learned through a 911 call at about 6:30 a.m. about a body discovered in the 300 block of Derby Alley. According to police, first responders...
Job fairs slated for seasonal work at Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild
Three affiliated amusement parks in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties plan to hold job fairs starting this weekend as they look to hire more than 2,000 seasonal workers for the summer. A job fair is slated from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, for applicants...
Lower Burrell councilmen seek new uses for empty JCPenney store, a longtime eyesore
Two Lower Burrell councilmen are working to change the city’s symbol of lost retail luster — the empty JCPenney building fronted by pothole-riddled asphalt once lined with more than 300 parking spaces. Councilmen David Stoltz and Chris Fabry are trying to bring in a new buyer to Penney’s, as well...
Fred Rogers Center event in Unity will aim to help grown-ups ‘learn to listen’
Millions of children grew up singing songs including “It’s You I Like” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” with Mister Rogers — but those children, now grown, might not realize the musical depth present in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” The Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College in Unity this month...
Hempfield will no longer maintain, operate Swede Hill Park after county balks at handing over ownership
After a quarter-century run, Hempfield no longer will maintain and operate the 17-acre Swede Hill Park. Hempfield officials chose not to renew the township’s $1 annual lease after they could not persuade Westmoreland County to transfer ownership of the park at no charge, said George Reese, chairman of the township...
Unity seeks $1M grant to replace bridge over Sewickley Creek branch
Unity officials are seeking a $1 million state grant to help replace a township bridge over the North Branch of Sewickley Creek that is rated in poor condition. Though the bridge on Shinsky Road isn’t in imminent danger of falling down, “We want to stay ahead of the curve,” said...
Arnold Council couldn’t act on the business before it because it didn’t tell the public ahead of time
Arnold Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday after not getting anything done when it met last week because, legally, it couldn’t. That’s because, if it had voted on anything on its agenda, it would have been in violation of a state regulation that went into effect last August. The...
The Stroller, March 13, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community Easter Egg hunts, breakfasts with the Easter Bunny and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Kiski Area musical cast to host breakfast The cast of Kiski Area High School’s spring...
Local Provisions, a ‘chef-driven’ market and cafe, to open in Fox Chapel Plaza
A well-regarded Pittsburgh restaurateur is opening an artisan market and cafe in the Fox Chapel area. Brian Pekarcik, a chef best known for operating Spoon in East Liberty, and his wife, Jessica, are launching Local Provisions Market & Cafe in late summer. The 4,000-square-foot venue in Fox Chapel Plaza in...
Deer Lakes School District announces launch of Hope Squad
A West Deer mother’s goal to have a Hope Squad in the Deer Lakes School District soon will be a reality. The district announced Friday the suicide prevention program will launch later this month, teaching students how to lead their peers to mental health resources and help those who may...
Freeport seeking more grant funding for new sewage plant to keep consumer bills down
Freeport is continuing to seek more funding for a proposed $16.9 million sewage treatment plant. In January, the borough received an $11 million state grant. But officials are looking for more sources of funding to avoid a bank loan to finance the remaining $5.9 million. A borough analysis in February...
Trafford Post Office to remain at site; no replacement for one in Wendel
The post office in Trafford is staying where it is, despite the building being sold, but the U.S. Postal Service has not been able to find a suitable site for another office in the West Hempfield village of Wendel. The post office in Trafford will remain at 411 Cavitt Ave.,...
North Hills real estate transactions for the week of March 13, 2022
Franklin Park Estate of Stanley Hoehl sold property at 2387 Fairhill Road to Patricia Edwards for $389,000. John Keelin sold property at 1527 Field Club Drive to Joseph Fennimore and Julie Mueller for $466,000. David Fassinger III sold property at 2521 Hopkins Church Road to Jonathan Ray Crawford for $224,900....
Eastern Pittsburgh suburban real estate transactions for the week of March 13, 2022
Edgewood Eric Holtzman sold property at 430 Greendale Ave. to Harvey and Roberta Lyn Borovetz for $319,000. Forest Hills Curtis Cunningham sold property at 401 Woodside Road to Mary Joyce Connors for $171,000. Monroeville JCMR Properties LLC sold property at 1206 Bowling Green Drive to Michael and Melanie Hampton for...
Fox Chapel area real estate transactions for the week of March 13, 2022
Blawnox John Novak sold property at 27 Riverside Ct to Christina Marie Mackay for $38,253. Fox Chapel James Wolf sold property at 105 Dogwood Ln to Sean Patrick and Rachel Whelan for $1,450,000. Donald Bruce Phillips sold property at 500 Glade Run Ln to Michael Jeffrey and Chelsea Lintelman Dukovich...
Aspinwall to get custom florist Fox and the Fleur on Brilliant Avenue
A new artisan floral business is coming to Brilliant Avenue in Aspinwall, thanks to a Fox Chapel woman with a passion for artistic floral expression. Anne Dickson, 41, is the force behind Fox and the Fleur, a custom florist specializing in weddings, events and holiday decorating and more. Dickson secured...
Port Authority reacts to high number of call-offs
A significant number of Port Authority employees called off from work Saturday, in what Port Authority officials called an apparent protest of the authority’s vaccine mandate. Port Authority spokesman Adam Brandolph declined to give an exact number of how many employees didn’t show up for work Saturday, adding a number...
URA poised to launch pilot programs to encourage minority entrepreneurship, business expansion
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority is poised to create two new social impact pilot programs aimed at encouraging minority entrepreneurship and business expansion. URA Ventures and the Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise Developer Equity Fund programs will provide risk capital to minority and women-owned businesses. The redevelopment authority is hoping to...
Street entertainers, games, prizes get Irwin visitors primed for St. Patrick’s Day
A late winter storm didn’t stop residents from getting out to enjoy a Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Food and Family Funfest on Saturday afternoon in downtown Irwin. Meadow Golick, 7, stopped at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Hall to get a shamrock and other Irish-related images painted on her hands after...
Coroner: East Huntingdon man using snow blower killed by passing pickup
A man operating a snow blower was struck and killed by a pickup Saturday morning, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. County Coroner Timothy Carson identified the victim as Brian P. Hyde, of East Huntingdon. Hyde, 49, was struck around 10 a.m. by a Dodge Ram pickup traveling at...
Cold and snow don’t dissuade hearty Pittsburghers from St. Patrick’s Day parade
Despite ominous snowfall predictions for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, thousands of green-clad revelers and participants still gathered Saturday morning in Downtown Pittsburgh for the two-hour event. The route started at the Greyhound bus station near Liberty Avenue, moved down Grant Street before turning onto Boulevard of the Allies...
Lower Burrell holds St. Patrick’s Day parade for local folks in spite of bitter cold
Ellie Ogurchock of Upper Burrell was the first youngster to arrive along the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade route Saturday along Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell. “I’m here for the good candy,” said Ogurchock, 5, who attended with her mother. Dozens of parade-goers braved overnight snowfall, temperatures in the low...
