James Engel stories, Page 15
Demolition crews level former Colfax Upper Elementary School in Springdale
By March 26, the remnants of the former Colfax Upper Elementary School in Springdale were razed after extensive demolition work throughout the month. The Allegheny Valley School Board shuttered the school in 2018 after years of declining enrollment and voted to demolish the building four years later, according to the...
Despite market volatility, local retirement experts urge restraint
Ride it out. That’s the general advice local financial advisers are giving those nearing retirement age who are watching stock markets around the world tumble after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs. With at least 60% of Americans, by some estimates, tied to the stock market through 401(k)s, IRAs or...
Leechburg baseball association’s stolen wood replaced, police investigating theft
The Leechburg Youth Baseball Association has its wood back. After about $1,400 worth of lumber was stolen from the group recently, a local hardware store donated exact replacements on Wednesday as the association prepares to begin its season. Covered with a tarp behind an equipment shed at Gilpin-Leechburg Park, the...
Springdale Council sifts through 15 applications for borough manager position
Springdale Council is considering applications from 15 candidates to fill the borough manager’s post. After the window to submit applications closed Monday, interim Manager Jason Dailey said council’s personnel committee will rank the applicants before conducting interviews. Of the 15 applicants, Dailey said four have previous municipal experience. Though the...
Judge clears Region 2 candidate to run for Pine-Richland School Board after objections
Judge John McVay ordered objections to Pine-Richland School Board candidate Robert Stein’s election petitions be denied on March 31, leaving Stein clear to run in the May primaries. The objections, filed by Pine-Richland attorney Chris Cafardi, alleged that Stein, who is running in Region 2 of the district, did not...
Decision on 2nd injection well in Plum to come in June, zoning board says
Plum’s zoning hearing board says it will have a final decision on the development of a second injection well along Old Leechburg Road by June. The board heard testimony from three people Monday night during the third in a series of hearings. Local environmental advocacy group Protect PT (Penn-Trafford) and...
‘Absolutely a miracle’ — Driver recounts harrowing Buffalo Township crash, help of good Samaritans
Christy Dray-Blackham says she must have had divine help when the minivan she was driving plunged 50 feet into a ravine and then a creek Thursday afternoon in Buffalo Township. That intervention came in the form of two nurse “angels” who happened by in separate cars and a slew of...
Judge likely to strike objections to Pine-Richland School Board candidate’s election petitions
After a brief hearing March 27, Judge John McVay indicated he likely will strike two objections filed against Pine-Richland School Board candidate Robert Stein. The objections, filed by Pine-Richland attorney Chris Cafardi, alleged that Stein, who is running in Region 2 of the district, did not have enough Democratic signatures...
Plum School Board member resigns, district seeks replacement
Devin Adams, nearing the end of his first term on Plum School Board, resigned from his position this month after he and his family moved out of the district. Headed to the Norwin School District, Adams, who previously served as the Plum board’s vice president, said his time on the...
More than 200 students gather for anti-hate summit at Acrisure Stadium
In anticipation of September’s Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh, students from 25 school districts throughout Allegheny County convened March 26 at Acrisure Stadium to discuss their efforts to promote acceptance and counter hate in their communities. The conference, which marked a halfway point between last October’s Eradicate Hate summit...
Muslims at Islamic center in Marshall celebrate Ramadan as holy month nears end
Three times a week, hundreds have gathered around sundown at the Islamic Center of Western Pennsylvania in Marshall to celebrate and break their fasts during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Fasting during Ramadan, which happens to align with the month of March this year, is one of the five...
Ross takes first steps in what could be big changes to township’s fire services
After an extensive study recommended changes last year, Ross is taking the first steps in what likely will result in a yearslong revamp of the township’s fire services. During a meeting earlier this year, the township commissioners tasked Robb Consulting, a Central Pennsylvania public safety consulting firm, with finding a...
Walgreens in McCandless set to close May 1
A Walgreens pharmacy location is set to close its doors in McCandless come May. The location at 30 Pine Creek Road will shutter May 1 after 18 years at the site. The closure comes after the pharmacy chain announced last year it would shut down 1,200 of its locations over...
10 Japanese students ‘broaden horizons’ in visit to Shaler Area
Hailing from Niigata High School on Japan’s western coast, 10 Japanese students attended three days of classes at Shaler Area. The students, mostly third-year high schoolers, sat in on science, technology, engineering and math classes from March 10-12 in an effort to learn more about American STEM education. Michael Burke,...
Ross resident scammed for more than $8,000 by caller claiming to be from Sheriff’s Office
Ross police are investigating a scam that snatched more than $8,000 from a township resident who thought they were sending the money to the county sheriff. The victim received a call with a caller ID reading “Allegheny Cnty Sheriffs Dept,” during which they were told that an arrest warrant had...
Walnut Grill at Waterworks shutters doors, reason for closing remains unclear
Walnut Grill at Waterworks near Aspinwall closed its doors on March 16 after 16 years in business. Though it is unclear if the closure is related, it comes about a month after the Allegheny County Health Department issued a consumer alert regarding rodent droppings and 11 dead mice, along with...
Pine-Richland School Board candidate pulls out of race amid accusation of falsifying petition signatures
A lawyer from Pine has withdrawn her candidacy in both primary races after a legal objection to her Democratic election petition alleged that several signatures were falsified. The objection, filed on March 17, questioned the authenticity of five signatures — 10 are required to run— on the petition of Kathleen...
Shaler Area marched in New York, Hampton in Chicago for St. Patrick’s Day parades
Two school districts from the North Hills marched in the nation’s largest two St. Patrick’s Day parades — in New York and Chicago — during festivities March 17. Hampton High School’s marching band ambled up Columbus Drive near Lake Michigan in Chicago, while its counterparts from Shaler Area High School...
North Hills junior 1 of 5 Americans selected to attend International Science School in Australia
A North Hills junior, after a rigorous admissions process, was selected as one of five Americans set to attend the prestigious International Science School at the University of Sydney this summer. Raine Dickinson said she became aware of the school while participating in a program with the STEM nonprofit Higher...
North Hills music teacher in the running for $10K Barry Manilow award
A North Hills High School music teacher is one of several area educators nominated to receive a $10,000 award from the Manilow Music Project, which is giving away grants to schools during 81-year-old Barry Manilow’s final arena tour. If Len Lavelle emerges victorious from a public vote, North Hills would...
Alioto’s, a longtime Etna staple, will close at the end of March
After decades of service, the owner of Alioto’s Restaurant & Sports Bar in Etna announced it will permanently close its doors March 31. Lilli Mosco, who has owned the restaurant since 2009, said Alioto’s has not been able to “keep pace” in the face of rising costs, especially after the...
Objection to Pine-Richland School Board candidate petition alleges forged signatures
A legal objection requesting a judge set aside an election petition for a Pine-Richland School Board candidate alleges that several signatures appearing on her Democratic primary petition were falsified. To register for the Democratic primary, candidates must acquire 10 signatures from Democrats in their election region. The objection, filed on...
Pine-Richland board gives itself final power over book selections at school library
After months of tumultuous debate, the Pine-Richland School Board voted 5-4 Monday night to pass a new library policy, amid outcry from community members who have labelled it a “book ban.” The policy places the final power to add or remove district library books in the hands of the school...
Students in North Hills school districts continue to organize against hate ahead of upcoming conference
Students throughout Pittsburgh’s North Hills have persisted in organizing events and countering hate in their communities as they prepare to convene for a conference later this month at Acrisure Stadium with more than two dozen schools. The event is a follow-up to last October’s Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh,...
Shaler commissioners table Mt. Alvernia development discussions amid community concerns
After a more than two-hour meeting with extensive public engagement, Shaler commissioners voted March 11 to table a zoning ordinance that would have advanced a plan to redevelop the Mt. Alvernia property. The property, which straddles the border of Shaler and Millvale, was once the campus of the Sisters of...
