Haley Daugherty stories, Page 26
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: March 1-3
Folks seem to have taken Punxsutawney Phil seriously when he declared an early spring. With the arrival of March, there are a few Easter activities to get in a festive mood, along with art, wine and music events. Easter Bunny at Westmoreland Mall Shoppers at the Westmoreland Mall on Route...
Shaler Area School Board fills vacancy
Shaler Area School Board members officially filled the board’s only vacant seat on Feb. 21. The seat was left vacant after the sudden loss of long-time member Tim Gapsky on Jan. 23. School board president April Kwiatkowski said that four applicants were interviewed for the position. James Burn was approved...
Penn Hills Middle School celebrates Black History Month with soul food experience
Penn Hills Middle School students experienced firsthand the power of soul food in honor of Black History Month. On Friday morning, the scent of sweet and savory spices wafted from the home economics classroom. Select students from sixth through eighth grades gathered in the room to learn about and present...
Shaler North Hills Library updating restrooms, meeting ADA guidelines
Construction will be taking place at Shaler North Hills Library in the coming months. According to library director Sharon McRae, the building’s two upstairs restrooms are being updated to meet American Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines and a family restroom will be added to the first floor of the building. McRae...
North Hills School Board approves 5-year contract with teachers
North Hills School Board approved a five-year contract with the district’s teachers’ union Feb. 22. The same day, North Hills Education Association, which represents 380 teachers, ratified the pact. “This agreement is reflective of our fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers while also ensuring that North Hills School District remains a...
Butler Treasure Hunting Club finds untold value in camaraderie, friendship
There’s a place where rings of gold and silver line dining room tables, jewels sparkle under the lights and historic coins of every size are within reach. Where is this modern day El Dorado? It’s on Main Street in Butler County. Brotherhood of the hunt The Butler Treasure Hunting Club...
Lower Kiski Ambulance paramedic in stable condition after ambulance crash
When Lower Kiski Ambulance medic Samantha Boyd learned her co-worker was injured on the job in an ambulance crash, she knew she had to help out any way she could. So, Boyd started a GoFundMe account for paramedic Dina Filo-O’Neil and her husband, Ray. As of Thursday, it already had...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Feb. 23-25
In preparation for St. Patrick’s Day, luck has come a little early with all of these unique events happening this weekend in Westmoreland County: Celebrating a lifelong helper As a part of the Fred Rogers Scholars Program, Saint Vincent College students have partnered with Latrobe Art Center, 819 Ligonier St.,...
Ross fire departments in ‘crisis,’ seeking solutions
A public meeting was held Tuesday by Ross commissioners to discuss the future of fire departments that service McKnight Road, Ross Park Mall and the Parkway North. “We’re in crisis mode right now,” said Daniel DeMarco, president of the board of commissioners. “We’re all volunteer (fire departments). We need to...
North Hills School District renews contract with assistant superintendent
Beth Williams renewed her contract as North Hills School District assistant superintendent. She will remain in the role for at least the next five years. “I was lucky enough to have them choose me to come back,” Williams said during a January school board meeting. “I’ve had the honor and...
Books donated in honor of School Board Appreciation Month in North Hills School District
Books were donated to libraries through North Hills School District in January. In celebration of School Board Appreciation Month, North Hills board members’ family and friends hand-picked a book for each member to donate to school libraries throughout the district. Allison Mathis, Helen “Dee” Spade, Samantha Ellwood, Sandra Kozera, Phil...
Shaler woman creates Hannahtopia, selling EEG caps called NillyNoggins
Heather Shuker, 49, is a mother who knows fear — she’s felt helpless as she’s watched her daughter, Hannah, battle severe intractable seizures for the past 20 years. Hannah has seen the inside of a hospital more than she’s seen the inside of a high school. Despite doctors telling Shuker...
Silent Book Club gains traction in the Pittsburgh region
The rules of Silent Book Club are simple: No assigned reading, no homework and no small talk required. Members are expected to show up at a designated meeting place with whatever title they’re enjoying, sit and read. They can share thoughts if they want, but they don’t have to. The...
Shaler Area High School prepares for school musical
In July of 1918, Anastasia Romanov, historically known as Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna, was assassinated with the rest of her family in a merchants home in Yekaterinburg by members of the White Army. During the aftermath, Anastasia’s body...
5 Things to do in Westmoreland County: Feb. 16-18
This weekend is all about the parties. Decorations, dancing and unveilings make up a full calendar of things to do this weekend in Westmoreland County. Student exhibition Beginning Friday, the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Ligonier, off Boucher Lane in Ligonier Township, will open the Artists of the 21st Century,...
‘Mayor of Kingstown’ films in Millvale
Millvale residents saw an increase in police activity on Monday, but not because of crime. According to a Facebook post from the Millvale Police Department, the television show “Mayor of Kingstown” is filming in the area. Police cars with “Kingstown Police” written on the side could be seen parked in...
Fajita Pete’s coming to Ross
Fajita Pete’s, a Tex-Mex chain that is slowly making its way up from Texas, is set to open its doors on Feb. 12 at The Block Northway in Ross. Located on Northway Mall Drive, the 1,733 square-foot restaurant will serve Tex-Mex cuisine, including its namesake fajitas, in single orders and...
Etna community remembers late Mayor Tom Rengers
Etna residents are still reeling from the loss of their long-time mayor in December. Tom Rengers, 71, had a 30-year career in Etna politics, serving as a council member for 11 years and then as mayor for 19. He died on Dec. 7 from prostate cancer. Known as a family...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Feb. 9 – 11
Did preparing for the Super Bowl distract you from buying your sweetheart a Valentine’s Day gift? Or worse? Are you heartbroken that your team didn’t make it to the championship? Well, there’s plenty of sweet events to cheer you up and do some last minute shopping this weekend in Westmoreland...
Penn Hills School District celebrates students, staff, parents with new initiative
In an effort to recognize hard work within the school district, Penn Hills Superintendent John Mozzocio has started an initiative called Pride and Promise. Each month, a student, teacher or staff member and a parent will be recognized with an award. “These are given to community members, parents, students and...
Fresh Prep Pittsburgh offers eat-in and takeout options in Penn Hills
Bobby Franklin grew up playing sports. The constant movement in his youth kept his metabolism up and a few fries never mattered. When he stopped playing sports and began working full time, like most people who grew up as athletes, he realized his days of fast food on the go...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Feb. 2 -4
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, there’s plenty of events to attend and show love to your community. Here’s five things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Alliance for Creative Rural Economies art exhibit On Friday at 6 p.m., You Are Here Jeannette will host an opening reception to...
Shaler Area School district mourns loss of board member Tim Gapsky
Shaler Area school board members are grieving after the sudden loss of long-time member Tim Gapsky. Gapsky, 57, died of natural causes on Jan. 23. An alum of Shaler Area High School, he served on the school board for 10 years before his passing. “We have lost a valued colleague...
Millvale Police social worker a great asset to department
While pursuing a social work degree, Alyssa Peters never expected to work in a police department. That is, until she completed a police social work internship during her final year of her master’s studies. For the past two years, Peters, 26, has been reporting to emergency calls with the Millvale...
Shaler Area students double as baristas, bakers at Cafe 118
“Large iced coffee with a pump of vanilla!” “A hot chocolate and two cinnamon rolls at the counter!” Believe it or not, these are the phrases heard from classroom 118 in Shaler Area High School every Thursday and Friday morning. Since its opening in September, Cafe 118 has quickly become...

