Joyce Hanz stories, Page 34
Part of Route 356 reopens in Allegheny Township
Portions of Route 356 reopened to motorists Tuesday evening in Allegheny Township. Allegheny Township Supervisor Jamie Morabito confirmed the reopening about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The road is open in both directions. He said the road will remain open until PennDOT resumes construction in the spring. It’s estimated the road will...
Leechburg appoints Doreen Smeal as new councilwoman after resignation of Ruth Bender
A Leechburg native is the newest face serving on Leechburg Council. Doreen Smeal was unanimously appointed to council Oct. 18 after the resignation of former Councilwoman Ruth Bender. Bender of Leechburg served almost three years and cited a hectic schedule for the reason for her departure from council. “Personally and...
Building the Valley: Vandergrift native’s jewelry business success set in stone
Vandergrift native Bobbie Morda opened her dream jewelry store 34 years ago with a handful of necklaces and six engagement rings. Her store, Bobbie’s Jewelers, occupies a former barbershop at 173 Columbia Ave. in Vandergrift’s historic business district. “This comes from blood, sweat and tears. This was not turnkey,” Morda...
Delayed $16 million senior housing project resumes in East Vandergrift
After a nine-month setback, development plans for a new senior citizen residential complex have resumed in East Vandergrift, Westmoreland County. The Morning Sun Senior Lofts project was awarded a $1.2 million grant this month from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and $1.3 million in low-income tax credits. The low-income...
Missing 70-year-old Springdale Township man found
A Springdale Township man who has been missing since Sunday was found Monday night, police said. Gerald Zilka, 70, was found near the Fox Chapel exit of Route 28, according to Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department chief Mike Naviglia. Zilka’s wife and daughter reported him missing after Zilka told his...
Gilpin officials urge residents to provide input on zoning ordinance
Gilpin officials are seeking additional public participation at an upcoming zoning ordinance update meeting. An in-person zoning meeting is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Gilpin Township Volunteer Fire Department, 113 Fire Hall Road. Gilpin Supervisor Charles Stull said the informal meeting is open-house style, and...
Leechburg’s Twisted Thistle has new ownership, new name
A well-known restaurant in Leechburg is under new ownership and has a new name. Twisted Thistle was sold this month by Linda Alworth of Gilpin to three new owners: friends Bobby Elliott, Sean Watson and Corey Pistininzi. They’ve renamed it National Public House. Alworth, 68, recently sold Lingrow Farm, a...
Kiski Area bus drivers recognized by students at Kiski Area Upper Elementary
Kiski Area bus drivers were recognized by students Wednesday at Kiski Area Upper Elementary School in Washington Township. It’s the second year the school has rolled out the KAUE Bus Driver Thank You event for its 21 bus drivers. Hosted by KAUE Student Council, the surprise event began at 3 p.m....
Damage from wayward taxi forces Tailspin Hobbies in Washington Township to close for now
Car crash woes continue to wreak havoc at a local hobby shop in Washington Township. Tailspin Hobbies, a full-service hobby shop at 4498 Route 66, was severely damaged about 10 p.m. Tuesday when a taxi, owned by CCC&P Transportation, careened into the business and left a gaping hole. It’s the...
‘Snoopy!!! The Musical’ fundraiser set at Leechburg Area High School
Snoopy and the “Peanuts” gang are set to grace the stage this weekend at the Leechburg Area High School auditorium as the district’s drama department presents “Snoopy!!! The Musical.” The fall musical serves as the primary fundraiser for the spring production, which will be “Chicago: Teen Edition,” said drama club...
Annual tree plantings take root in Aspinwall
The green scene continues to grow in Aspinwall. Members and volunteers with The Aspinwall Shade Tree Commission planted 31 trees during a daylong event Oct. 29. Aspinwall Shade Tree Commission Chairman Bruce Columbus said about 30 volunteers participated during the six hour planting mission. The commission was formed in 2009...
River Forest Country Club under new ownership
Longtime friends have partnered as co-owners of the country club in Allegheny Township. River Forest Country Club’s new faces are David Rice and Eric Meyhofer, joining co-owners Andi and Steve Irwin. The new general manager is Gary Miller of Gilpin. Previous co-owners Jamy and Robert Rankin recently sold their interest...
Fox Chapel Area School District partners with 6 districts to offer new STEM initiative
Fox Chapel Area School District has partnered with six school districts to lead a STEM advancement effort for students and educators in Western Pennsylvania. The district announced in September it was awarded a $480,000 PAsmart Advancing Grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The grant will help to support educational...
Daycation: Smicksburg offers a rural retreat 60 miles from Pittsburgh
Unplug and unwind with a rural road trip retreat to Amish country in Indiana County. A daycation to Smicksburg offers a glimpse into a large Amish population living a simpler, agricultural lifestyle rich in their religious beliefs. More than 300 Amish families reside in the Smicksburg area, co-existing among those...
Indiana Township Police Department to host free class on the dangers of child sextortion
The Indiana Township Police Department is hosting a free class Nov. 15 about child and internet safety, and topics covered will include the dangers and methods involved with online child sextortion threats. Indiana Township Sgt. Marc Myers said the department is committed to offering educational seminars about relevant criminal topics...
Airfare takes off this holiday season — priciest in recent years
Airline ticket prices are set to soar this holiday travel season. Domestic airfare for Thanksgiving is expected to increase by more than 17% per round-trip ticket, according to travel booking group Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg. International fares have increased 30% compared with last year, with a round-trip ticket this...
Indiana Township Police Department to host free class on the dangers of child sextortion
The Indiana Township Police Department is hosting a free class Nov. 15 about child and internet safety, and topics covered will include the dangers and methods involved with online child sextortion threats. Indiana Township Sgt. Marc Myers said the department is committed to offering educational seminars about relevant criminal topics...
Bakers sought for bakeoff fundraiser to benefit Leechburg library
Calling all bakers. Organizers from the Leechburg Public Library are seeking bakers of all ages and skill levels for the annual Spaghetti Dinner and Bakeoff fundraiser on Saturday. The dine-in dinner will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. in Marconi Club’s Mirror Ballroom in Leechburg. Spaghetti, salad and bread...
Building the Valley: Specialty drink business set to open in Allegheny Township
An Allegheny Township couple is ready to mix it up with their first business. Bobby and Jennifer Bucci are co-owners of Mixed Nutrition, a specialty nutrition-based drink shop set to sell smoothies, juices, loaded teas, meal-replacement shakes, iced coffees, children’s drinks and more when it opens before Christmas. Weight management...
Kiski Area drama students to stage ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’
A play promising plenty of laughs and mishaps is on tap at Kiski Area High School. The school’s drama students will present “The Play That Goes Wrong” Thursday through Saturday in the high school auditorium. The cast has nine thespians and 32 crew members. Junior Garrett Seymour described his role...
Fox Chapel Area High School grads awarded William C. and Susan A. DeLaney Scholarships
Two former student executive board members at Fox Chapel Area High School have earned 2022 William and Susan DeLaney Scholarships. Anthony Miles and Gabrielle Uku were each awarded $1,000. They each served on the Fox Chapel Area High School Black Student Union during their senior year. Both graduated in 2022....
Alle-Kiski students get an early start on Halloween festivities
Halloween kicked off early for many youngsters throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley. Preschoolers were on parade Monday morning during a Halloween trick-or-treat outing in Allegheny Township. More than 75 students from the PreK Counts program at Appleseed Learning Center lined up to show off their costumes and receive treats from various...
Homeowners brace for higher heating costs this winter
Miranda McDermott is dreading winter. With home heating costs forecast to reach their highest levels in more than 10 years, McDermott of Allegheny Township said her family can’t afford to pay monthly heating bills in full. “Our average heating bill is $800,” McDermott said. “We have wood chopped and ready...
Celebrity tribute artist channels his inner ElvisVideo
Don’t step on his blue suede shoes. He needs them. Professional Elvis tribute artist Kelly Hylton’s fancy footwork often wears out the heels of his shoes. “I go through dress shoes like crazy. I blow the soles off dancing too much,” Hylton said. Hylton, 51, lives in Rural Valley, Armstrong...
Gilpin woman transforms home — inside and out — into haunted Halloween hotel
Terri Smith of Gilpin embraces the Halloween scene at her home in rural Gilpin. Smith, 61, works as an X-ray technician, but Halloween is her favorite “job.” Each September she dons her favorite Halloween costume, a mad maid, and begins decorating, transforming home into the fictitious, but festive, “Smith’s Dead...
