Emily Balser stories, Page 3
You didn’t have to be Italian to enjoy Festa Italiana di VandergriftVideo
Italian music played through the speakers, Italian flags waved in the winds and the smell of meatballs and pizza wafted through the air Sunday in Vandergrift for the 16th annual Festa Italiana di Vandergrift. The event was in Kennedy Park, where nearly 20 vendors served food, drinks and other treats....
Allegheny County violence shelters team up for program to promote independent living
For survivors of domestic violence, starting their lives over can be a daunting task. Some never had the opportunity to have their own money. Others don’t know how to look for an apartment. Even more still feel fearful of their abuser. Four domestic violence centers in Allegheny County started a...
CMU study: Football players can still have brain damage from hits without concussionVideo
Football players can still experience brain damage from repeated hits to the head even if they don’t result in a concussion, according to a study released Wednesday involving researchers from Carnegie Mellon. The news comes as teams across the country prepare to begin their football seasons this month. The study,...
Pet of the week: Max, a shepherd mixVideo
Everyone, meet Max! This fun-loving guy is TribLive’s very first Pet of the Week, and he’s available for adoption at Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley in New Kensington. Age: 4 or 5 years old Breed: He’s a shepherd mix who came to the shelter with some pretty bad allergies but,...
Boater dies in Allegheny River near Harmar
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect hometown of the victim. Officials have identified the man who fell out of his boat and into the Allegheny River and died Thursday. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as John Franklin Kenawell, 76, of Ballwin,...
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger’s Hampton mansion for sale for $2.3 million
If you’re in the market for a new mansion and have about $2.3 million to spend, Ben Roethlisberger’s house in Hampton could be yours. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is selling the gated, 5-acre estate that includes eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a six-car garage, home theater, wine cellar and game room,...
Chuck Booth remembered for his commitment to the Alle-Kiski Valley
Long-time New Kensington resident Chuck Booth may have been one of the most influential people in the Alle-Kiski Valley, but many never knew the full impact he made because he often worked behind the scenes without notoriety. “He worked hard every day of his life trying to make the Valley...
Lily’s offers upscale dining with a view in Allegheny Township
It’s not just burgers and fries anymore at River Forest Country Club in Allegheny Township. Lily’s, the revamped restaurant at the golf course and country club, offers a fresh take on classics like chicken wings and sandwiches while adding in dinner entrees like a broiled rib-eye and shrimp scampi. “We...
Bishop Zubik to undergo back surgery for collapsing disks
Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik will undergo spinal fusion surgery Monday, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced Sunday. The surgery will be done at UPMC Mercy Hospital and will address issues related to collapsing disks. Zubik has undergone three other procedures for the same issue. An update will be provided when...
Pennsylvania officials, clergy react to shootings in Ohio, Texas
Officials and religious leaders across Pennsylvania are sending their condolences and extending offers to help communities in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, after two mass shootings in less than 24 hours this weekend. The shootings killed nearly 30 people and injured dozens more. They came less than a week...
No one injured in Parks Township house fire
A smoldering cigar ash was the cause of a fire Saturday evening in Parks Township, officials said. Parks Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 Chief Jay Start said the fire happened around 6:45 p.m. at a home on Fitzgerald Lane. Start said the homeowner was smoking a cigar and some of...
Crews battle fire at Greensburg Hose CompanyVideo
Members of Greensburg Hose Co. No. 1 did not have to go very far to fight a fire Sunday morning because the fire was above them. The fire that started in the attic at the fire hall at 6 McLaughlin Drive, Greensburg, caused between $5,000 and $6,000 in damage, Greensburg...
Grieving Harrison mother mentions suicide in daughter’s obituary to create awareness
When it came time for Michelle Gibb to begin the painful process of writing her daughter’s obituary, she had a choice to make: list her daughter’s death as a suicide, or use a more vague phrase, like “died unexpectedly.” To many people’s surprise, she chose the first option. It was...
Work on Harmar hospital expected to start next week
After nearly a year of delays, work to build Allegheny Health Network’s neighborhood hospital in Harmar is expected to begin next week. AHN spokeswoman Candace Herrington said Rycon Construction crews will begin by preparing the site for construction, including installing fencing around it and placing a trailer onsite. The planned...
Cheswick to flush fire hydrants this month
Cheswick will be flushing its fire hydrants across the borough the week of Aug. 12-16. During this time, residents may experience discolored water or low water pressure. Officials said hydrant flushing is required by the state Department of Environmental Protection....
National Night Out event planned in Springdale
Springdale residents will have a chance to get to know their police and emergency responders better during the borough’s first National Night Out event next week.Springdale police Chief George Polnar hopes the local event, held in conjunction with the national campaign, will encourage residents to not be afraid of police...
Oversized fun for all ages at Harmar’s Zone 28
Oversized patio games, a fire pit and more than 100 different beers are just some of the options being offered at the new beer park at Zone 28 in Harmar. The beer park is the latest in Zone 28’s entertainment evolution over the past few years. In that time they’ve...
Frosted Mug in Cheswick, soon to close, remembered for much more than good food
The freshly popped popcorn on the tables, the chicken wings and the fish sandwiches are just a few of the items regulars of the Frosted Mug in Cheswick will miss once it closes. Karen Black, 62, said the bar and restaurant will close its doors and she will retire later...
Allegheny CleanWays removes 11,300 pounds of trash from Allegheny River
Volunteers collected 11,300 pounds of trash from the Allegheny River and its shorelines during 16 cleanups held in June from Millvale to Freeport, according to the nonprofit Allegheny CleanWays. “We’re so pleased with it,” Hannah Samuels, volunteer and outreach coordinator with Allegheny CleanWays, said. “It was so high quality.” The...
Penn State names road after Lower Burrell native
Joe Swanderski has made quite an impression in his 17 years working at Penn State University. So much so that the Lower Burrell native recently had a road named after him at the State College campus. Swanderski, 67, works as a supervisor for utility operations at the university. He has...
What to expect when ‘GMA’ broadcasts live from Pittsburgh
ABC’s “Good Morning America” will set up shop Thursday morning on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. The show, featuring Ginger Zee, T.J. Holmes and Tory Johnson, airs from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on WTAE. Here’s what you can expect form the show, part of GMA’s “Big Summer Road Trip” series. STEEL...
Former Knoch High School student won’t serve jail time in online threat case
A Butler County teen charged with making online threats about shooting classmates at Knoch High School won’t face any jail time after a plea agreement was reached Monday with the Butler County District Attorney’s office. Laura Pitchford, assistant district attorney for Butler County, said Tuesday that Jason Michael Bowen entered...
Audience spots limited for Pittsburgh broadcast of ‘Good Morning America’
“Good Morning America” fans who were hoping to be part of the live audience when the show films in Pittsburgh on Thursday could be out of luck. An ABC spokeswoman said Tuesday morning that “due to an overwhelming” response they are advising all interested audience members space will be very...
Both lanes of Freeport Road in East Deer reopen after yearlong bridge project
A yearlong bridge project in East Deer that caused Freeport Road to be reduced to one lane is completed. The road reopened to traffic Monday, according to a news release by Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners. The project to replace the bridge over Baileys Run began last summer. The bridge, located...
Special dill-ivery: Magee newborns dressed as pickles ahead of Picklesburgh
Picklesburgh may still be days away, but the celebrating has already begun at UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital. The hospital dressed some of its newborns Monday in homemade pickle outfits knitted by a UPMC nurse. The babies also wore onesies that said “special dill-ivery.” UPMC captioned posted some of the photos...
