Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 57
Tax keeps Pennsylvania gas prices high despite nationwide downward trend, analyst says
Despite falling gas prices nationwide, Pennsylvania finds itself in the company of West Coast states with the highest average prices in the nation. Pennsylvania’s statewide average on Monday was about $3.97 per gallon, about 42 cents higher than the national average and higher than all surrounding states, according to AAA....
6th annual ‘Christmas at Plum Creek’ moves to new borough building
Plum’s annual “Christmas at Plum Creek” is moving this year, but Santa will know where to find it and all the boys and girls eager to tell him what’s on their lists. The event, in its sixth year, will be the first to be held at the borough’s new building...
Far more than a D-Day survivor, Bill Tingle was (for starters) a scientist, musician, poet, cookbook author, great dad
In talking about the life of William “Bill” Tingle III, “Where do we start?” is not just a saying. His daughter, Susan Krumpe, asked that question herself as she remembered her father Friday. Bill Tingle was a soldier, a scientist, an inventor, a sailboat racer, a snow skier, a chess...
Car found abandoned, wrecked in New Kensington was stolen
New Kensington police are investigating after a stolen car was found abandoned early Friday after being crashed along Freeport Road. The crash was reported shortly after 6 a.m. in the 2300 block of Freeport Road, across from Mary Queen of Apostles School, fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said. A Dodge...
Plum planning to draw down reserves, not increase property tax in 2023
Plum is not increasing real estate taxes, but would draw down its reserves by about 42% under the proposed budget for 2023. The entire proposed budget for all borough funds is about $23 million, Finance Director Michael Whitico said. That’s an increase of $3.42 million — or about 17.5% —...
Bus added for 2nd Shop Small Crawl in New Kensington
A bus has been added for the second Shop Small Crawl in New Kensington to help shoppers get to the 50 businesses that will participate in the event on Small Business Saturday, which is Nov. 26 this year. The crawl first was held in 2021 to highlight the city’s growing...
DelRosso weighs options for her future after gubernatorial race
Republican state Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso wasn’t going to run against veteran Democratic state Rep. Tony DeLuca. Part of that, she says, was a matter of respect between one Italian American and another after redistricting took her home in Oakmont out of her 33rd House District and put it in...
Faces of the Valley: Longtime volunteer finds purpose at Knead Community Cafe
Colleen Clark-Sulava hasn’t been one to spend retirement in a rocking chair. She has been volunteering at Knead Community Cafe in New Kensington since its opening in 2017. “As much for me as anything, I wanted to feel I was doing something important,” she said. “I want my life in...
Plum’s Beninati twins achieve ‘commended’ status in National Merit Scholarship competition
Amy and Jim Beninati raised their twins, Carly and Nathaniel, to value education. “We always thought it was important to do museums and science centers,” Amy Beninati said. “Play activities revolved around learning experiences in a fun way. They always enjoyed it, too. They seemed to have an affinity for...
First snow of the season features fluffy flakes, light accumulation before rain moves in
The Pittsburgh area was treated to what a National Weather Service meteorologist called “snow globe snow” on Tuesday. “It’s very pretty. But, luckily, our ground is warm, so we’re not seeing it accumulate to the point it would cause any problems,” meteorologist Myranda Fullerton said. How true that was appeared...
Falling gas prices in Great Lakes states, oil prices drive decline in national average
After increasing the prior week, the national average price of gasoline posted a modest decline last week, with prices dropping in a majority of states, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy. The national average fell 2.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.76 on Monday, GasBuddy reported. That’s 14.3...
New Kensington to hold line on property taxes despite rising costs
Despite rising costs, New Kensington is expecting to hold the line on property taxes next year. City Council preliminary approved a $9.2 million budget for 2023 that keeps the city’s property tax rate unchanged at 32.03 mills. The city would spend almost 9% more than its $8.5 million budget for...
‘Start Up’ television episode featuring New Kensington debuts at Voodoo Brewing
An episode of a PBS series focusing on revitalization efforts in New Kensington is “a tremendous postcard for the city,” Mayor Tom Guzzo said. The episode of “Start Up” featuring Mike Malcanas and his Olde Towne Overhaul debuted at Voodoo Brewing New Kensington Pub on Friday evening. “Anyone who watches...
1 person dead, 1 hurt in Upper Burrell crash
A 73-year-old man died Wednesday evening after a crash in Upper Burrell. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as Joseph Demichele of Penn Township. The two-vehicle crash on Milligantown Road, between Stoney Hill Road and Rustic Lane, was reported just before 5:15 p.m. According to Upper Burrell...
Summer Lee wins 12th District race, poised to become Pa.’s first Black woman in Congress
State Rep. Summer Lee defeated Plum Councilman Mike Doyle on Tuesday night in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District and is poised to become the state’s first Black woman in Congress. With 97% of the district’s precincts reporting results just before midnight, the Democrat Lee had collected 55.5% of the votes counted...
New Kensington-Arnold students learn programming with Bee-Bots
The gymnasium at H.D. Berkey Elementary School in Arnold was buzzing with activity Monday as the school’s first and second grade students were learning the basics of programming with the help of “bees.” After two weeks of working with them, the school’s nearly 300 students broke up into teams to...
New Kensington-Arnold increasing efforts to help students quit smoking, vaping
The New Kensington-Arnold School District will be taking a less punitive, more helpful approach to students caught violating its tobacco and vaping policy for the first time. The school board recently approved an update to the tobacco policy in the student handbook. For a first offense, students will receive three...
Plum planning retail development at former borough building site
As Plum prepares to move into the borough’s new municipal center, it already has plans for the redevelopment of the building and property it is moving out of. The borough will take its plans for a retail development on the almost 14-acre site, The Shops at Plum Creek, to its...
Plum prepares to move into $20M municipal center
Plum officials are moving into the borough’s $20 million municipal center, which will host its first public event in December. The building on Old Mine Road, between Old Leechburg and Renton roads, is expected to be ready for occupancy by Nov. 14, and borough council will meet there for the...
Faces of the Valley: England native Michelle Thom plays big role in New Kensington’s revitalization
With her English accent, Michelle Thom is a unique voice in the ongoing revitalization of New Kensington. From growing up in small towns between Manchester and Liverpool in Cheshire County in northwest England, Thom, 44, came to the Alle-Kiski Valley via stays in Germany and California. She is asked about...
Average gas prices rise in Pittsburgh region, nationally
Average gasoline prices have increased in the Pittsburgh area and across the nation in the past week, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy. Pittsburgh’s average is now $4 after a 1.3-cent increase, based on GasBuddy’s survey of 731 stations. That’s 1.9 cents per gallon more than a month ago and 45.6...
Approval sought for auto repair shop in downtown New Kensington
Mike Smith was looking for more room for his auto repair business, Ar-Ken Automotive, when he moved from Constitution Boulevard to Fifth Avenue in New Kensington earlier this year. The space accessed from the back of 649 Fifth Ave. gave him another good 500 square feet, which he said was...
On 1st anniversary, Las Hachas patron set to vie in world axe throwing championships
A New Kensington ax-throwing venue is marking its first year in business at the same time one of its patrons is preparing for a world championship competition. Las Hachas held its grand opening at 1043 Fifth Ave. on Nov. 6, 2021. Its owners — brothers Brian and Zach Heidenreich and...
Liquidation sales begin at bankrupt home goods retailer Altmeyer’s
Bankrupt home goods retailer Altmeyer’s started a liquidation sale at four of its locations Thursday. Stores in New Kensington, Greensburg, Uniontown and West Mifflin are open for the sale, which offers discounts of 20% to 50%. Stores in Butler and Johnstown are not open. The sale is authorized by an...
New Kensington-Arnold delays action on stage, pool, other building projects
The New Kensington-Arnold School Board has postponed voting on a number of building and capital projects that touch all of the district’s schools. The board had been expected to vote Tuesday on projects for the high school stage and pool, the public address systems at Martin and H.D. Berkey elementary...
