North Hills the week of Feb. 1, 2021: North Park expansion, covid vaccination clinic and more

Here are some recent Tribune-Review news stories and features from the North Hills during the week of Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, 2021.

For more details on these and other stories, follow the links below or find more news at TribLIVE.com.

• Land donation from conservation group increases size of Hampton portion of North Park

About 20 acres of woodlands consisting of three plots is being added to the section of North Park in Hampton Township through a donation by the Allegheny Land Trust, according to officials with the nonprofit conservation group.

The land being added to the park was purchased by the Land Trust for $165,000 with a grant from the state’s Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund, said Roy Kraynyk, the trust’s vice president of land protection and capital projects.

• 2nd Allegheny County vaccination clinic could open in Ross Township by March 1

A second covid-19 vaccination clinic could be up and running at the Ross Community Center by March 1 if Allegheny County and township officials can hammer out an agreement.

Brian Dunbar, a deputy county solicitor for the county, attended the board’s online meeting on Feb. 1 to outline the proposal to use the community center’s gymnasium for about nine months to administer vaccinations to the public.

• Supporters help raise spirits of 9-year-old Pine-Richland boy recovering from brain surgery

Whether it’s a pickup game of baseball, football or soccer or a game in an organized league, Pine-Richland fourth-grader Cooper Nindl loves all kinds of sports.

So when the active 9-year-old started to experience headaches in October, his parents thought he might be suffering from a concussion.

But when treatments failed to relieve the pain, doctor’s ordered an MRI to help them diagnose the cause.

The test revealed that the source of Cooper’s pain was a brain tumor that required immediate surgery.

New Cranberry manager no stranger to township’s vision for a ‘world-class community’

When Dan Santoro was hired as an assistant in Cranberry’s planning and zoning department in 1991, he quickly realized that the person who could provide a clear understanding of how best to serve the community was working in the same building.

“I tried to be tied to (manager) Jerry Andree’s hip whenever I could,” said Santoro, 55, who recently was appointed as Andree’s successor as the township’s chief administrator. “He created the blueprints for success and I believe it sets the stage for many great days ahead for Cranberry.”

Andree wrapped up a 30-year career when he retired on Jan. 4.

“I was fortunate enough to have worked side-by-side with him for many years,” Santoro said. “But Jerry leaves some pretty big shoes to fill.”