Joyce Hanz stories, Page 49
Kiski Area sticks with mandatory masking, declines mask-optional policy
Mask-wearing will remain mandatory the remainder of the year for students and staff in the Kiski Area School District. The board voted 7-1 Monday to keep the mandated mask policy requiring all students and staff to wear a face covering on campus and district school buses. Michelle Schmidt was the...
Kiski Area math teachers’ love of numbers and each other sums up marriage
A love of numbers is adding up as the right answer to one couple’s professional pursuit. Jason and Monica Dunkel, married for 20 years, both teach elementary math at the same school, in the same department, in the Kiski Area School District. And they also share a number: 1976, their...
Kiski Area grad died in wrong-way collision in Washington Township
A Kiski Area High School graduate studying to become a welder died Sunday in a wrong-way crash in Washington Township. Zeth Reber, 22, of Washington Township died when his 2014 Honda Civic was hit head-on by a 2012 Dodge Caravan traveling the wrong direction on Route 380 in Washington Township....
Boone, the little therapy dog from Butler, wins big award
A little dog with a big heart won a nationwide canine competition. Boone, a two-legged special needs hound-mix from Butler Township, was named the 2021 American Humane Hero Dog on Friday in an awards ceremony Friday in Palm Beach, Fla. He appeared as a finalist in the 2021 American Humane...
‘Santa Around Town’ brings the jolly one to the streets of Vandergrift
Vandergrift is prepping for a visit from the big guy himself. Santa will cruise around the borough in a firetruck from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving. Called “Santa Around Town,” the event is sponsored by the Vandergrift Improvement Program (VIP) with the borough’s two...
Turning grief to action, O’Hara family creates ‘Positive Painting Project’ to spread messages of hope
Local projects to promote mental health awareness and support the arts are spreading hope, one canvas at a time. The Positive Painting Project and The Katie Whysong Scholarship for the Arts were created this year by Alisa and Todd Whysong of O’Hara, in honor of their daughter, Katie. Katie died...
Friends continue direct delivery of Thanksgiving meals to those alone, in need
Two friends are teaming up again to help folks living alone enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Last year, as the pandemic highlighted social isolation during the holidays, Molly O’Brien of Fox Chapel and Bethanie Stein of Aspinwall started their own, small-scale effort to provide meals directly to people in need....
New assistant principal joins O’Hara Elementary
An elementary school in the Fox Chapel Area School District has a new assistant principal. Benjamin Canan, 34, joined O’Hara Elementary School this month as program principal, the official name for the role. He said he seeks to bring a personalized approach to helping lead the school and promises to...
Police memorial flag causes a flap in Aspinwall
A flag honoring fallen police officers is causing a flap in Aspinwall. Council members fielded comments during last week’s meeting from about 15 residents either supporting or opposing the flag that has flown outside the borough building for 12 years. Aspinwall resident Karen Hart took to social media to express...
Clean Eatz, a healthy food chain, opening 1st regional location in Blawnox
A national chain focused on healthy eating is opening Wednesday in Blawnox, the first location in the Pittsburgh area. Clean Eatz is opening at 175 Freeport Road, in a new retail plaza at the corner of Center Avenue. Owner Darryl Duncan, 58, hails from the corporate health care field and...
What’s That? Hyde Park foot bridge boasts interesting history and is still functional
Kayla Johnston had a “What’s that?” moment when she moved to Hyde Park in 2004. What caught her eye and interest? The Hyde Park foot bridge. The pale yellow metal pedestrian bridge spans the Kiski River and connects Leechburg and Hyde Park and their two counties — Westmoreland and Armstrong....
Faces of the Valley: Mackenzie Borkovich taking her softball and taekwondo skills to Slippery Rock
A hands-on approach to life is serving up new opportunities for Mackenzie Borkovich of Indiana Township. A senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, Borkovich began playing softball and started taekwondo lessons when she was 6 years old. More than a decade later, she’s a standout pitcher for the Foxes...
School bus driver shortage forces Kiski Area to adjust schedules
A shortage of drivers in the Kiski Area School District has resulted in adjustments to some school bus schedules. School officials asked for patience during ongoing transportation adjustments to pickup and dismissal drop-off times in a post on the district’s official website. John Tedorski, Kiski Area director of technology services...
Promoting smart fashion for all women, East West Boutique to open storefront in Vandergrift
They’re two best friends with a passion for fashion. Alle-Kiski Valley natives Dessie Mitcheson Pilek and Jen Zatko Atchison met as cheerleaders in seventh grade and graduated together from Kiski Area High School in 2009. These days, they are business partners expanding their online clothing business — East West Boutique...
‘Pumpkin Guy’ on target to hit goal for Project Bundle-Up
It’s the gourd that keeps on giving. Donations are still rolling in for Pittsburgh’s Project Bundle-Up, thanks to the dedication of one Aspinwall resident. Joel “The Pumpkin Guy” Keefer, 70, of Fourth Street began carving elaborate oversized pumpkins for the public 25 years ago. After collecting and donating $89,000 over...
Kiski Area students experience 9/11 history with Flight 93 Memorial visit
Kiski Area Upper Elementary sixth graders are experiencing a field trip to a sacred field this week. Almost 300 students are visiting the Flight 93 National Memorial on three days, in three groups, in Shanksville. “For those that remember 9/11, it’s living history. But for the kids, it’s history,” Kiski...
‘High School Musical Jr.’ to bring smiles at Fox Chapel’s Dorseyville Middle School
Dorseyville Middle School students return to the musical stage this month as they present “High School Musical Jr.” The cast of almost 80 students includes about 30 technical and stage crew members. “After such a challenging year we wanted to do a show that would make people smile,” said musical...
Veteran local comedians to perform this weekend at Casino Theatre in Vandergrift
A night of comedy is coming to Vandergrift. Professional comedian Shaun Blackham will headline a 90-minute show Saturday in the historic Casino Theatre. Blackham, who lives in the Mamont section of Export, has opened for famous comedians, including Adam Sandler, Steven Wright, Tracy Morgan, Mitch Hedberg and Dave Attell. “This...
Evoke Physio expanding to new location in historic Aspinwall building
A Fox Chapel physical therapist is helping others with a distinct approach to well-being. Kristen Carlin, 38, opened Evoke Physio three years ago inside the yoga studio at Green Heiress Holistic Health in Aspinwall. Blending physical therapy and training, Evoke offers clients of all ages personalized physical therapy, private and...
Kiski Area happy to welcome audiences for upcoming performances of ‘Blithe Spirit’
Theater productions are back and in-person at Kiski Area High School. The school’s drama club is set to present “Blithe Spirit” on Nov. 4-6 in the high school auditorium. The play, set in Kent, England, during WWII, is recommended for ages 13 and older due to language and content. Musical...
‘The Pumpkin Guy’: Aspinwall man carves oversized gourds for charity
A giant gourd is helping one man give back. Joel Keefer, 70, of Aspinwall began decorating oversized pumpkins for the public’s enjoyment 25 years ago. “I’m known as The Pumpkin Guy,” Keefer said. Keefer initially began his Halloween tradition of carving gourds weighing more than 1,000 pounds in an effort...
Fox Chapel Area senior masters softball, taekwondo
A hands-on approach to life is serving up new opportunities for MacKenzie Borkovich of Indiana Township. A senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, Borkovich began playing softball and started taekwondo lessons when she was 6. More than a decade later, she’s a star pitcher for the Foxes and Ohio...
New appointee to East Vandergrift Council aims to stay with write-in campaign
East Vandergrift Council last month named Jeremy Manners to fill a vacant seat. While his appointment lasts through December, Manners aims to stay on council with a write-in campaign in the Nov. 2 election. The seat became open after the July death of council member Bonita “Bonnie” Bober, who was...
Kiski Area High School band wins at Southwestern Pa. competition
The winning continues for the Kiski Area High School marching band. The band earned another championship win Saturday at the 2021 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association (PIMBA) competition, hosted by Gateway High School in Monroeville. Kiski Area concluded its competition Saturday with a performance titled “Beneath the Shifting Sands” and...
Michael J. Stevens named Fox Chapel Police Chief
Michael J. Stevens has stepped into his new role as chief of the Fox Chapel police department. Stevens, 55, has served with the Fox Chapel police force for 33 years. He was appointed chief in August, saying he is “honored” to serve in his “dream job.” “This community is amazing...
