Sewickley Herald category
Sewickley Light Up Night draws a festive crowdVideo
Justin Bollman found delight in watching his children play in the snow outside the Cochran Hose fire station in Sewickley. Braelyn, 9, and Brent, 5, threw snowballs, chased each other around a tree decorated in Christmas lights, and occasionally pelted Bollman and their mother, Kenzie, during the borough’s Light Up...
CeaseFirePA hosts vigil against gun violence at Sewickley United Methodist Church
Donna Hyatt remembered her grandson’s 2022 killing like it was yesterday. Jorden Lee Puskar, 21, of Coraopolis, was fatally shot the early morning of Jan. 22 that year along the 100 block of Prospect Street. Hyatt shared the story of her grandson’s murder during a vigil at Sewickley United Methodist...
In brief: Sewickley Hills budget passes, winter concerts and more
Budget approved Sewickley Hills council voted to approve its 2026 budget on Dec. 9. Real estate taxes remain at 2.84 mills. Projected revenues and expenses were listed at slightly less than $800,000. Income includes about $272,150 in earned income taxes, $270,600 in current real estate taxes, $69,250 in interest earnings,...
For more than 4 decades, Thomas Jewelers has given shine to Sewickley
Justin Thomas spent time at his father’s jewelry store as a 12-year-old, where he learned how to change watch batteries, taking in all the information about the inner workings of these timepieces. His expertise has expanded past making a watch tick again as he helps fashion precious metals into beautiful...
Ex-Steeler Devin Bush acquitted of assaulting girlfriend in fight over mashed potatoes
A judge Tuesday found an ex-Pittsburgh Steeler not guilty of assaulting his girlfriend during a May dispute over mashed potatoes at the linebacker’s Sewickley-area home. Devin Bush, Jr., 27, of Bell Acres was accused of injuring Shkurte Leka, also 27, after she started filming an argument between them on her...
Legislation to rename Sewickley post office in honor of late African-American historian, author passes House
The Sewickley post office is one step closer to being renamed in honor of a late Black borough historian and author. U.S. House of Representatives unanimously voted Dec. 10 to name the facility at 521 Thorn St. the Mary Elizabeth “Bettie” Cole Post Office Building. The proposed legislation, H.R. 1461,...
Holiday services, music and more at Quaker Valley area churches
Antioch Baptist Church 332 Elizabeth St., Sewickley. 412-741-7688. antiochfw baptist sewickley.org. Morning worship and praise service is at 10:45 a.m. First Sunday Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. Beth Samuel Jewish Center 810 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge. 412-266-5238. bethsamuel.org. Beth Samuel Jewish Center offers weekly Shabbat services, monthly family and Zoom Kabbalat...
Aleppo man shares memories of the race track he helped build
At 87, Earl Seiler returned to the track he helped build and took one last lap — this time on foot, hand-in-hand with his daughter. The Aleppo resident and his daughter, Nancy Patterson of Edgeworth, walked from the starting line to the finish at Pittsburgh International Race Complex at the...
Leetsdale hikes property taxes 5.5% next year
Leetsdale property owners will have to pay about 5.5% more in real estate taxes next year. Council voted 6-0 on Thursday to approve its 2026 budget. Councilman Roger Nanni was absent. A separate motion to set the millage rate at 9.5 mills, a 0.5-mill jump, passed 5-1. One mill equals...
Leet commissioners maintain tax rate, programs and services in 2026 budget
Leet property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes as part of the township’s 2026 budget. Commissioners unanimously voted Dec. 8 to pass next year’s spending plan and maintain the millage rate at 9.1 mills. Township officials raised taxes in the 2025 budget by 1.4 mills,...
Bell Acres approves 5.8% tax increase with 2026 budget
Bell Acres property owners will see a 5.8% real estate tax increase next year. Council voted 6-0 on Dec. 8 to approve its 2026 budget and bump the millage rate from 4.82 mills to 5.07 mills. Council vice president Brock Meanor was absent. It is the first tax hike in...
New Quaker Valley High School opening pushed back
The projected opening of a new Quaker Valley High School has been pushed back for the second time this year while school district officials continue to seek federal and state permits related to its construction. Administrators initially had hoped to open the doors of the proposed 167,000-square-foot facility in June...
In brief: Toy drive, holiday concerts and more in Sewickley area
Toy drive Walking the Talk, a small local group, is holding its 15th annual toy drive serving the Quaker Valley School District, Cornell School District and Moon School District. The drive will be held at the Sewickley Methodist Church on Dec. 13 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The drive is a...
Sewickley officials maintain real estate tax rate in 2026 budget
Sewickley property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes to balance next year’s borough budget. Council unanimously voted Dec. 9 to pass its 2026 spending plan and maintain the millage rate at 6.25 mills. The borough has not raised taxes for at least eight years. Borough...
Paula Sculley’s legacy lives on through generous gift to Fern Hollow Nature Center
The late Paula Sculley had a vision for an outdoor space in Sewickley Heights. She convinced G. Whitney Snyder Sr. to donate property to the Sewickley Heights borough in 1997, a gift of land that created the opportunity for outdoor and educational experiences at the Fern Hollow Nature Center. Sculley...
Sewickley designer Elise Keely creates welcoming outdoor spaces
As a landscape designer, Elise Everett Keely envisions more than yards and gardens. She sees a connection between the architectural style of a home or business and the surrounding outdoor spaces. Sketch pad in hand, she walks into the space and takes in every detail. She begins to draw what...
Quaker Valley School Board reorganizes, welcomes new leadership
The Quaker Valley School Board is under new management. Daniela Helkowski and Geoff Barnes were appointed president and vice president, respectively, at a reorganization meeting on Dec. 3. School Director Missy Walls was also named new board treasurer as part of a shift in leadership following an election year and...
Aleppo’s proposed 2026 budget has no tax increase, paving and park projects postponed
Aleppo property owners should not expect to pay more in real estate taxes next year as part of the township’s proposed budget. Residents should also not expect to see any major paving or park upgrades as township officials plan to use 2026 as a savings year for future projects. Budget...
Sewickley area real estate transfers for the week of Dec. 14, 2025
Aleppo Brenda Hepner sold property at 109 Forest Edge Drive to Peter Borstelmann for $265,000. Bell Acres Jennifer Ashley Wiebe trustee sold property at 1623 Camp Meeting Road to 1623 Camp Meeting Rd LLC for $6,000,000. Bellevue BG15 Properties LLC sold property at 633 Orchard Ave. to Bryant Street Apartments...
Sewickley area real estate transactions for the week of Dec. 7, 2025
Aleppo Angela Schembre sold property at 212 Timber Lane to Cartus Financial Corp. for $322,500. Cartus Financial Corp. sold property at 212 Timber Lane to Michael George and Judith Ostronic for $306,500. Franklin Park Adrian Ciganic trustee sold property at 2652 Glenchester Road to Jared and Erin Lang for $676,000....
Christmas performances, cookie walks and more at Sewickley area churches
Antioch Baptist Church 332 Elizabeth St., Sewickley. 412-741-7688. antiochfwbaptist sewickley.org. Morning worship and praise service is at 10:45 a.m. First Sunday Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. Beth Samuel Jewish Center 810 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge. 412-266-5238. bethsamuel.org. Beth Samuel Jewish Center offers weekly Shabbat services, monthly family and Zoom Kabbalat...
Bar Noel Sewickley serves holiday cheer
Nestled inside Mi Cita, an upscale bar and lounge, is a chic holiday pop-up establishment serving high-end wines and champagne, craft cocktails, beer and mocktails as well as small plates. This is the second year for the Bar Noel Sewickley concept. In 2023, it was located inside the Sewickley Tavern....
Glen Osborne officials seek to maintain real estate tax rate in 2026 budget
Glen Osborne officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes in 2026. Council recently authorized advertising next year’s proposed spending plan, which maintains the tax rate at 4.9 mills. It would be the fifth consecutive year without a tax hike if the budget is passed as-is on Dec....
Love letters written 100 years ago inspired a book by Sewickley native
While searching through boxes after her mother’s death, Nancy Hayes Kilgore came across handwritten letters from her grandmother to her grandfather. As she read the words, she decided to type them into her computer. The more she documented the correspondence, an idea came to her about how the letters could...
Child Health Association of Sewickley celebrated its biennial Backwoods Ball and Play
Dressed in gowns and western-style attire, complete with boots and cowboy hats, guests did a little line dancing at the biennial Backwoods Ball on Nov. 22. Held at the Edgeworth Club, proceeds from the ball and play go to the Child Health Association of Sewickley. Child Health’s mission is to...
