Haley Daugherty stories, Page 23
Riverview School Board passes final budget with slightly smaller tax increase of 3.3%
After an unorthodox voting session Monday night, the Riverview School Board members adopted a final budget that includes a tax hike for Oakmont and Verona residents. The spending plan includes a 3.3% (0.8-mill) tax increase, which is slightly lower than the tentative budget approved earlier. It projects expenditures of just...
Oakmont presents Dark Hollow Woods master plan, looking for volunteers
Last July, Oakmont Council set in motion a plan to restore Dark Hollow Woods, a 40-acre nature reserve that has fallen victim to erosion and invasive species. A year later, Assistant Borough Manager Phyllis Anderson and other members of the master plan’s committee have introduced the Dark Hollow Woods Restoration...
Tarentum restaurant owners announce closing after relocation attempt fails amid dispute
Community members are gathering in support on social media after owners of Cindy’s Hometown Restaurant, Bob and Cindy Hatajik, announced the diner’s closing this week on their Facebook page. In the post, Cindy Hatajik cited a dispute with the owner of the building as the reason for the closing. The...
Leechburg Area’s proposed final budget includes tax changes
Leechburg Area School District members presented a proposed final budget for the 2024-25 school year that includes a tax increase for some residents and a slight decrease for others. While the district would collect about the same amount of real estate taxes as during the school year that just ended,...
Leechburg Area tax rebate proposal may run afoul of state constitution
Leechburg Area School Board’s proposed tax rebate program for West Leechburg residents may be illegal. Chuck Pascal, an attorney and Leechburg councilman, warned school officials the plan likely violates the state constitution. “I understand that you made a political promise to the people of West Leechburg — some of you...
Penn Hills flower shop marking 85 years of business
Sometimes you just want to go where everybody knows your name. Frankstown Gardens in Penn Hills is one such place. Generations of local families have passed through the doors of the 85-year-old business. And there’s no end in sight for Vincent Tumminello, 58, its third-generation owner. His grandparents opened the...
Multi-county school districts try to find solution for STEB complaints
During Leechburg Area school board’s proposed budget presentation in March, board members were put on the spot when West Leechburg residents demanded a new tax structure. “We were alerted by the taxpayers that (the consistent school tax hikes) are unacceptable and we wanted to follow their lead,” said Leechburg Area...
Law changes give options for schools, but don’t expect 4-day weeks
A change in Pennsylvania’s education laws allows school districts to move away from a requirement that students attend classes for 180 days each school year. But anyone dreaming of four-day school weeks shouldn’t get their hopes up. By changing just one word in the state’s school code late last year,...
Penn Hills School District’s 2024 commencement features 296 graduates
Penn Hills School District’s 2024 commencement ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. tonight, May 31, at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium. The district has 296 graduates this year. There are 14 valedictorians, representing the top 5% of the graduating class: Makenna Carricato, David Dudas Jr., London Irish, Caleb Lohr, Isabelle Marazas, Caroline McDevitt,...
Historic Oakmont church celebrates 150 years of community service
St. Thomas Memorial Episcopal Church in Oakmont has seen a lot of history. The church has had congregants march off to two world wars as well as conflicts in Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East. It weathered the Great Depression and recessions — all while remaining a haven and support...
Noah Kahan’s sold-out show kicks off the Pavilion at Star Lake’s season
Noah Kahan may be “in the business of losing your interest,” but he certainly wasn’t losing any attention at Thursday night’s show at the Pavilion at Star Lake. The sold-out venue was filled to the brim with fans of all ages — most of which were dressed in planned outfits...
Penn Hills teen shares lessons learned in years of developing clothing brand
Arshad Bryant was 12 years old when he created the first sketch for his clothing line. He was on punishment. He can’t remember what for, but he can remember the moment he created The Underworld Apparel. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to start a clothing brand,’ ” Bryant said....
Penn Hills School District exits financial recovery statusVideo
After five years of financial recovery, Penn Hills School District has been officially released from the designation. Members of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Penn Hills administration and the public gathered Thursday, May 23, in the library of Linton Middle School to announce the district’s exit from financial recovery status....
Pickleball coming soon to Oakmont’s Riverside Park
Oakmont is hopping on the pickleball bandwagon. Council voted Monday, May 20, to award the contract for the Oakmont Borough Park Improvement project to Dun Rite Construction & Paving of Tarentum. The more than $251,000 project will take place at Riverside Park to help foster a community-friendly activity space. “I’d...
Riverview School District graduation set for June 6
Riverview School District’s 2024 commencement ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. June 6 at Riverside Park. The district has 50 students graduating this year. Outstanding Senior winners and scholarship recipients were recognized Wednesday night at the district’s annual Senior Honors and Athletic Awards night. In case of inclement weather, the...
Leechburg elementary students ‘pumped’ for first science olympiad
McKenzie Rollinson enjoys science, even if it isn’t her best subject. “I’m not really good at science, but I’m pretty decent at it,” McKenzie, 10, said as she participated in the first-ever science olympiad this week at David L. Leech Elementary School in Leechburg. Students in third through fifth grades...
‘Force of nature’ Patty Ameno dies at 72
The Kiski Valley is missing one of its most dogged, outspoken voices. Longtime environmental activist and Kiski Valley resident Patty Ameno has died. Ameno, 72, of Hyde Park died Friday, according to friends, who are flooding social media sites with expressions of grief and condolences. Ameno was known by friends,...
Riverview budget would raise taxes 5.3% next year
Riverview School District taxpayers could see a 5.3% tax increase next year under the district’s proposed budget. The 1.279 mill real estate tax hike for next year will be used to cover expenses associated with rising health insurance rates, updated curriculum, two new teacher positions and hiring a director of...
Penn Hills fudge factory creates inclusive work environment
Roger Haney and his wife, Erin, have done everything they can to support their son, Jake, after he was diagnosed with autism in 2015. They joined different autism and special-needs associations and groups, trying to help their son and keep him engaged with the family. Roger Haney, concerned for his...
Penn Hills charter school hosts 7th annual Soaring Shark Tank; teen’s self-care line wins top prize of $2,000
Friends, family and community members gathered May 10 in the gym of the Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship to listen and share the ideas of young business owners. The seventh annual Soaring Shark Tank pitch competition consisted of three eighth grade students presenting their businesses to three judges to...
Solution to Oakmont flooding years in the making for some residents
Anne Alcorn loves her neighbors, her 7-year-old son’s school and the safety of the Oakmont Commons. There’s only one thing she’d change about her home. The flooding. Since moving there in 2016, Alcorn, 38, has had an issue with her backyard flooding during rainstorms. On multiple occasions, water has come...
Leechburg Area School District appoints new superintendent
Leechburg Area’s David Leech Elementary School library had a buzz of excitement Wednesday night. After months of uncertainty about leadership, the Leechburg Area School Board made the school district’s interim superintendent, David Keibler, its superintendent. Keibler was appointed, 8-0. Director James Dunmire was absent. The vote received an ovation from...
Oakmont Borough adds incentive for fire department volunteers
Members of Oakmont council have passed a new incentive in an effort to gain fire department volunteers. Beginning in 2025, active members will receive a stipend of $65 per month. Borough manager Scot Fodi said that the stipend came after the state gave options for credits for active members in...
Proposed state legislation over guns at airports on hold as talks with law enforcement continue
Legislation drafted to reduce the number of guns confiscated by the Transportation Security Administration at Pittsburgh International Airport has been sent back to the drawing board. State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, said he was hoping to have already presented his proposed TSA Firearm Compliance Act, a measure that would...
PHRESH idea: Young entrepreneurs event at Penn Hills High School all about creativity, community
The Penn Hills community is invited to spend Friday evening at the very first Penn Hills Regifting and Entrepreneurial Spirit of Hope (PHRESH). According to Dion Dupree, the district’s school and community liaison and outreach coordinator, the event will celebrate the high school’s young entrepreneurs and network a mentorship program...
