Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 78
New Kensington firefighters stress safety during Martin Elementary visit
They got to see the fire trucks, hold the hoses and sit in an engine’s driver seat. But there were also important lessons to be learned when New Kensington volunteer firefighters paid a visit to the school housing the community’s youngest children Friday. What to do when there’s a fire,...
Corvette car show to benefit Brian Shaw Foundation
Before ’Vette owners put their babies away for the winter, Larry Shaffer hopes they’ll consider bringing them out for one last ride. Shaffer is organizing a judged all-Corvette car show in October at AK Valley Park in New Kensington, proceeds from which will go to the Officer Brian Shaw Foundation....
New Kensington targeting 12 properties for demolition
Frederick Clay says the sooner New Kensington tears down a dilapidated house on his street, the better. “Nature reclaimed the house,” he said of the house at 1211 Leishman Ave., next to his own. “I’ve been cutting this grass for years. It’s a weekly struggle.” Clay said the house has...
Name sought for New Kensington’s community mural
Are you good at coming up with names? A mural in New Kensington needs one. Westmoreland Community Action is taking suggestions for a name for the community mural at Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue. It’s on the side of the building housing Ashley’s Kitchen, across from Central City Plaza. The...
3 new officers, 2nd police dog joining New Kensington force
New Kensington has three new officers and a second police dog joining its force. While City Council approved hiring three new officers, Mayor Tom Guzzo swore in Max, an 18-month-old Belgian Malinois, at the top of council’s monthly meeting Monday. Council approved hiring Christian Leonarski, Cory Rezak and Salvador Zepeda....
‘Call for Catering’ to reopen restaurant at Stella’s in New Kensington
New Kensington residents eager for something new will soon have it, at someplace old. City couple Philip Call and Jillian Ludwiczak plan to reopen Stella’s Restaurant in the Parnassus area of the city on Oct. 29 as Call for Catering at Stella’s. While they’ll be running the food program, Stacey...
Salvation Army aims to become a hub of activity for all in New Kensington
There’s a room for music, a room for clothes and a room for food. There are plans for a library to become an indoor play area, and for offices to become a chapel. It’s been just over a year since Maj. Scott Flanders and his wife, Leslie, took over leadership...
Lamp cord cited as cause of Brackenridge house fire
A lamp cord is believed to be the cause of a fire that damaged a Brackenridge home Thursday night, Pioneer Hose fire Chief Rick Jones said. The fire gutted the living room of the house at 1117 Orchard Way, which is an alley between Brackenridge and Third avenues near Mile...
Route 356 closure extended in Allegheny Township until November
The closure of a section of Route 356 in Allegheny Township has been extended another month, PennDOT announced Thursday. Route 356 closed between Piper and Pleasant Hill roads on Sept. 1, and had been scheduled to reopen Thursday. The road is now scheduled to reopen on Monday, Nov. 1, PennDOT...
More food, fireworks in store for Arnold No. 1’s second annual food truck and fireworks extravaganza
An Arnold fire department’s food truck and fireworks “extravaganza” will formally become an annual event when it’s held for a second time this Saturday. Arnold No. 1 will host the second annual event beginning at 4 p.m. at the 18th Street Ballfield. Food will be served until the lights are...
Frankie’s Friends brings on new veterinarian, to resume spaying, neutering cats
Frankie’s Friends Cat Rescue will have a new veterinarian when it resumes spaying and neutering cats for the public this week. West Deer native Dr. Brandy East is replacing Dr. Becky Morrow, who founded the New Kensington nonprofit in 2010 and left in June to become a clinical assistant professor...
New Kensington police say man evicted from sober home oinked at them, growled at police dog
New Kensington police on Monday arrested a man being thrown out of a recovery home who they said oinked at officers and growled at a police dog. Police charged Ronald Dominic Festa III, 29, with felony counts of taunting a police animal and contraband, and misdemeanor counts of trespass and...
Variance approved for car wash at former New Kensington Kmart site
A developer will be able to pursue building a car wash at the site of a former Kmart on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington. By a 2-to-1 vote, the city’s three-member zoning hearing board Thursday approved 100 Riverview’s request for a variance for the car wash, which otherwise is...
SoCal Mexicali Grill to bring Southern California cuisine to New KensingtonVideo
Before Jeff Cieslewicz starts cooking his Southern California-themed menu in New Kensington, he’s taking a trip to the state to get some ideas. Cieslewicz, 38, of Latrobe is a chef and partner with Sean Watson, 41, a businessman from Lower Burrell, in SoCal Mexicali Grill, a restaurant they plan to...
Suspect in Millvale, Reserve burglaries arrested
A 62-year-old man suspected of committing burglaries in Millvale and Reserve has been arrested. Elwood Bartrug was arraigned early Friday morning and being held in the Allegheny County Jail after being unable to post a $5,000 bail, according to court records. Millvale police charged Bartrug with theft, burglary and criminal...
Man shot 3 times in Arnold
A 34-year-old man is expected to survive after being shot three times in Arnold late Thursday, police Chief Eric Doutt said. The shooting happened shortly before midnight in the 1500 block of Fourth Avenue. The man was outside a house when someone shot him with a handgun in an arm,...
Florida man, 32, dies after being struck on Route 22 in Monroeville
A Florida man was hit and killed by an SUV on Route 22 in Monroeville Thursday night, Allegheny County Police said. The collision happened at Route 22 and Elliot Road around 9 p.m. According to county police, first responders found Kenneth Allan Kissell Jr., 32, of Nokomis, Fla. He was...
‘Sustainability Stroll’ highlights New Kensington’s past, new businesses
With the help of a quick scan of a QR code, a stroll down New Kensington’s Fifth Avenue can offer a glimpse of the city’s past along with its present. Signs for a “Sustainability Stroll” recently went up along Fifth Avenue from The Corner at Seventh Street to Westmoreland County...
AHN announces closing date, relocation for New Kensington outpatient center
Allegheny Health Network said Thursday it will move its outpatient center from the former Citizens General Hospital to Kensington Square in New Kensington later this year. The new location at 1B Kensington Square is on Eighth Street, across from Central City Plaza. “After an exhaustive search and assessment of available...
Project keeping kids fed on weekends growing in New Kensington-Arnold School DistrictVideo
A nonprofit that works to make sure New Kensington-Arnold School District students don’t go hungry on weekends is expanding its mission, and a district graduate is helping to make that happen. Project SEED, which provides bags of food to children in need at the district’s Martin and H.D. Berkey elementary...
Man shot on Beltzhoover street dies at Mercy Hospital
A 26-year-old man died after a shooting in Beltzhoover Wednesday, according to authorities. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the man as Daniel Brice, of Pittsburgh, who died at Mercy Hospital. Pittsburgh police said officers responded to an alert of multiple rounds fired in the 100 block of Climax Street...
Woman charged in fatal Washington County hit-and-run
State police arrested and charged a woman in connection with a fatal hit-and-run in Washington County on Wednesday. Police said Jessica Renee Vanderlee, 39, of Washington was driving the vehicle that hit Justin Lyndell Gilbert, 19, of Tionesta around 4 a.m. in the area of 1940 West Chestnut St. in...
‘Las Hachas’ bringing ax throwing, green chili to New KensingtonVideo
Some say ax throwing is a bit like bowling meets darts. But while the lanes, targets and hatchets are ready, what’s really going to make Las Hachas in New Kensington complete is when the kitchen gets running and brothers Brian and Zach Heidenreich’s mother’s Mexican green chili starts getting smothered...
Pittsburgh police charge woman after infant found exposed to narcotics
Pittsburgh police arrested and charged a woman after they say an infant was exposed to narcotics in Brookline. According to police, an unresponsive 5-month-old girl was taken to a city fire hall on Brookline Boulevard Tuesday. Firefighters and paramedics gave aid to the child, including giving her Narcan. The girl...
Man dies after being found shot in Clairton
A man died after being found shot in Clairton early Thursday morning, according to Allegheny County Police. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified him as Robert Linnen, 41, of Clairton. According to county police, a shooting in the 400 block of Saint Clair Avenue was reported to 911 shortly before...
