Western PA Local News category, Page 1702
Hempfield jiujitsu academy helps empower women, teaches self-defense
When Rebecca Blair decided to open a Brazilian jiujitsu academy in Westmoreland County last year, she knew she was making waves in a largely male-dominated sport. What she didn’t know was the impact her academy, Gracie Allegiance Jiu Jitsu Academy in Hempfield’s Westmoreland Mall, would have on women across the...
Penn-Trafford teacher helps Jamaican students with English, science
A Penn-Trafford High School science teacher has devoted time, energy and money to a humanitarian project helping students in Jamaica learn standard English while teaching them science. “It gives me the opportunities to share my abilities and knowledge. If I can give back to people who are less fortunate, then...
The Stroller, Dec. 27, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. New award to honor Concordia employees Concordia Lutheran Ministries has announced a new honor, The Stephen W. Johnson Mission Award that will...
Allegheny Township female police officer set to retire after 31 years
A longtime public servant in the Alle-Kiski Valley is retiring. Police Officer Anita King will wrap up her law enforcement career of 31 years on Jan. 3, her last day of active duty with the Allegheny Township Police Department. King has, who has served with the department since 1990, was promoted...
Newest elected supervisor eager to get to work in Allegheny Township
Allegheny Township residents can expect to see a lot of newly elected Supervisor James Morabito. “I plan on being here at the township building weekly,” said Morabito, 58, a small business owner for 35 years. “I’m going to be hands-on, going over details of daily and weekly activities.” Morabito, who...
Former Leechburg Area School Board member to return as district’s new business manager
Leechburg Area School District officials have hired a familiar face as the new business manager. Teresa Edinger, a 1987 graduate and former school board member, was unanimously approved as the top financial administrator on Dec. 8. Edinger lives in the borough. She earned an associate’s degree in computerized accounting from...
Faces of the Valley: Youngsters with illnesses transformed into Superheroes for calendar
Seven-year-old Giuliana Taylor isn’t famous — yet — but she’s already getting the star treatment thanks to a local nonprofit called Superheroes Believe in Miracles. The group rolled out the red carpet at Giuliana’s home in New Kensington to unveil her glammed-up photos that will appear in a 2022 calendar....
Juvenile shot in the back in Pittsburgh’s Perry North neighborhood
Pittsburgh Police found a juvenile with a gunshot wound on Tretow Street in the Perry North neighborhood on Sunday around 4:30 p.m. Police responded to reports of shots fired in the Viola Street area, which is near Tretow Street. The victim was shot in the back and was in stable...
Woman dies 3 days after apartment building fire in Washington County
A woman from a Washington County apartment building died Sunday after a fire swept through the building days earlier, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office reported. Frances Venen, 78, of Washington County, died at an area hospital about 10 a.m. Sunday, according to the medical examiner’s office. A cause of...
2 taken to hospital after Tarentum crash
Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash in Tarentum Sunday in the 1400 block of Bakerstown Road. They were taken to an area hospital by ambulance, according to Allegheny County emergency dispatchers. Details on their conditions and the crash were not available. A section of Bakerstown Road was closed...
Allegheny County offering free covid-19 testing Monday in Tarentum
The Allegheny County Health Department will offer free covid-19 tests at the First United Presbyterian Church in Tarentum on Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The county has a purple van staffed by Curative Inc. which travels throughout the county each week to offer free testing. Visit the county’s...
Freeport Volunteer Fire Department to get new firetruck financed by borough
Freeport officials have agreed to finance a new firetruck for the volunteer fire department. Council voted unanimously to approve a 10-year, $250,000 loan through Volunteer’s Financial Services (VFS) at a 3.35% fixed rate. Those funds, plus $300,000 in capital projects money, will be used to cover the cost of a...
2-car crash reported on Route 56, Lower Burrell
Multiple fire and ambulance units responded to a two-car accident along Route 56 in Lower Burrell around noon Sunday, according to Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety. The crash occurred by Leechburg Road and one patient was reported entrapped, according to dispatches from emergency responders. A landing zone for a...
Highland Park shooting leaves man in critical condition
A man shot on Christmas Day in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood was reported in critical condition, Pittsburgh police said. The unidentified victim was found in the road in the 5500 block of Avondale Place at around 5 p.m. Saturday, with what police believe were several gunshot wounds. Medics arrived and...
Pittsburgh police investigate death of woman in homeless camp
Pittsburgh police are investigating the death of a woman who died on Christmas Day in a homeless camp in Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner said. Colleen E. Curley, 39, of Pittsburgh, was pronounced dead at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Moultrie and Tustin streets, the medical...
State grants approved for Route 30 intersection upgrades in Irwin, Unity
Fines generated through Pennsylvania’s automated red light enforcement program are set to fund two proposed intersection improvements on Route 30 in Westmoreland County. A $167,000 grant has been approved for proposed modifications to improve safety at Route 30 and Wimmerton Boulevard in Unity. In Irwin, the program also is providing...
New Italian market preparing to open next fall at site of former Fazio’s store in Vandergrift
A new Italian market is coming to Vandergrift. Fasano’s Italian Store and Deli is set to open next fall in the former Fazio’s Italian Store, at 301 Longfellow St. Fazio’s shut its doors in 2015 after co-owners Joseph and Teresa Spina made the decision to close for health-related reasons. Fasano’s...
Franklin Regional receives grant to expand annual Science Olympiad for elementary, middle-school students
Franklin Regional elementary teachers will be up-sizing their annual Science Olympiad in 2022 with the help of a $2,500 grant from the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh. “We were able to establish an elementary and middle school Science Olympiad program in partnership with the SSP,” said fourth grade teacher Megan Melucci....
The Stroller, Dec. 26, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Library announces annual Quilt Show Community Library of Allegheny Valley will host its annual Quilt Show Jan. 17 to 29 online and...
Bacha dynasty comes to an end in Westmoreland County coroner’s office
Ken Bacha’s father, Leo, served as Westmoreland County coroner for almost 24 years before he retired in 2001. At first, Ken Bacha didn’t consider going into the family business, which included ownership of two local funeral homes in addition to the elected coroner duties. “I am the fourth generation out...
Glen’s Frozen Custard demolishes old Clementine’s restaurant for new production facility
The owner of Glen’s Frozen Custard demolished the former Clementine’s Family Restaurant building at 2604 Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell last week to make way for a new production facility. Glen’s, with stores in Lower Burrell and Springdale, bought the old restaurant this year to build a 10,000-square-foot facility to...
Holiday Family Day planned at Hempfield’s Historic Hanna’s TownVideo
Guests visiting Historic Hanna’s Town in Hempfield this week will be transported back to the late 18th century, where they will learn how people celebrated the holidays. A variety of hands-on activities, crafts and history lessons are planned during the Holiday Family Day, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m....
Greensburg church spreads Christmas joy through meals
Carolyn Noel stood in the lobby of the Pershing Square apartment building in Greensburg, holding three bags of Christmas meals for herself and neighbors, courtesy of the First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg. Noel was thankful for the meal delivered by church volunteers Christmas morning for people who could not make...
No one injured in yard fire in Harmar
Harmar police are investigating a yard fire that broke out shortly before 3 p.m. Friday at a home along Orr Avenue in the township. The fire was quickly extinguished by Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Company, police said. Although the home was not damaged by the fire, some personal property was...
Holiday delivery: Christmas baby for Unity family
Santa had a little something special on his sleigh when it passed over central Westmoreland County on Christmas morning: a baby girl for the Gorzelsky family of Unity. Iris Ann Gorzelsky, the daughter of Kaitlin and Adam Gorzelsky, came into the world two days earlier than anticipated — at 7:47...
