Joyce Hanz stories, Page 62
Allegheny Township teen finds Alle-Kiski Valley towns, the outdoors compelling photographic subjects
Tyler McCandless is a teen shutterbug. Photography is his go-to hobby, trekking solo locally and regionally — hiking and photographing small historic towns and natural landscapes. McCandless, 18, lives in the Markle section of Allegheny Township and is a freshman studying environmental engineering at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He was...
Leechburg man turns yard — and neighbors’ — into synchronized holiday light-and-music showVideo
Leechburg is shining bright thanks to the generosity of a Main Street resident. Clyde Lindsey is the creator of Leechburg Lights, the annual synchronized holiday light-and-music show now open for the 2020-21 season. It’s in its 13th year. Lindsey is a nationally recognized professional lighting programmer. What began as a...
Brick oven pizza, bourbon featured at newly opened Brick & Barrel Cross Keys in Indiana Township
A historic eatery in Indiana Township is welcoming diners again. Co-owned by Jeff Brungo and Chris Hildebrandt, Brick & Barrel Cross Keys opened in November, offering a casual full-service dining experience. The menu is based on locally sourced burgers and specialty brick oven pizza, and the bar features an extensive...
Gilpin considers 71% property tax increase
Gilpin supervisors are proposing a budget for next year that would increase property taxes by 71%. The proposed increase would raise the tax rate by 5 mills, to 12 mills. At that rate, someone who owns a property assessed at $20,000 would owe $240 in real estate taxes, or $100...
First Commonwealth Bank in Leechburg to shut its doors Dec. 11, the victim of increased online traffic
The First Commonwealth Bank and its detached drive-thru on Market Street in Leechburg are scheduled to close by the end of business Friday. Other Western Pennsylvania branches scheduled to close in December include locations in Tarentum, Buffalo Township, Pine, McKeesport, Lawrenceville and Squirrel Hill. The closures are the result of...
Gilpin tree farm offers personal touch to help make Christmas a little brighterVideo
A rural family-owned and operated Christmas tree farm in Gilpin has served the Alle-Kiski Valley for more than 80 years. Habe’s Nursery co-owners and husband-and-wife team John and Janie Sterosky work overtime during December, making hundreds of homemade pine custom wreaths, grave blankets and kissing balls. “We make our own...
Leechburg Area to resume in-person instruction next week
Leechburg Area School District plans to return to in-person instruction on Monday despite the state deeming there to be a “substantial” risk of covid-19 transmission in Westmoreland and Armstrong counties. The school board approved the move in a 7-1 vote Wednesday following a lengthy discussion. All students in grades pre-k...
Kiski Township man loves his train display so much, he custom-built his house to fit itVideo
Russ Fry built a house around his beloved hobby. Fry, 86, of Kiski Township, is a second-generation train display enthusiast. He designed and constructed a new home on his rural property in Armstrong County about 10 years ago. Key to the design was including a large, custom basement and storage...
Sprankle’s adds sushi, brewpub to market in Saxonburg
The sole rural supermarket in Saxonburg has introduced urban shopping amenities to its customers. Sprankle’s Market recently added two cafes — Conny Creek Brew Cafe and Ace Sushi — both offering take-out or dine-in options, inside the store. Owner Doug Sprankle said customers want more variety with their shopping choices....
Another student tests positive for covid-19 at Leechburg Area
Another student in the Leechburg Area School district in grades 7-12 has tested positive for covid-19, Leechburg Superintendent Tiffany Nix said Friday in an email to district parents. The student was last on campus Nov. 19. The district did not identify the infected student. Current total cases in the district...
Thanksgiving is a day like any other for officer on the beat
Like most other places, Market Street in Leechburg was calm early Thanksgiving Day morning. People appeared to be staying in amid covid-19 travel advisories. And newly hired, part-time borough police Officer Kyle Lewis was hoping it would stay calm. “I don’t want to jinx it by saying it will be...
Alle-Kiski Valley volunteers reach out to provide Thanksgiving mealsVideo
Free take-out turkey meals were abundant across the Alle-Kiski Valley region Thanksgiving Day. Traditional dine-in meals at area churches were off the table this year due to covid-19 restrictions, but individuals, businesses and churches stepped in, giving meaning to the “give” in Thanksgiving. Turkey With A Twist Spice Affair Indian...
Secret Santa: Former ATI employee donates $10K to benefit Leechburg students
A Secret Santa is spreading Christmas cheer again in Leechburg Area School District. A handwritten letter with a $10,000 check enclosed was received this month by David Leech Elementary School Principal David Keibler. Keibler said the donor wishes to remain anonymous, but revealed that the Secret Santa is a former...
Aspinwall residents, business owners doing their part so everyone enjoys Thanksgiving
Aspinwall is experiencing a turkey trifecta of Thanksgiving generosity. Three separate groups in the borough — two close friends, business owners and a borough official — are on turkey-themed holiday mission to make Thanksgiving Day special, more convenient and meaningful for the Pittsburgh public. Friendly Turkey Time Molly O’Brien, 39,...
Pandemic forces Tarentum Area Lions to hold longtime annual fundraiser online this year
A mainstay Alle-Kiski Valley charity dinner has opted to instead hold a virtual fundraiser this year due to pandemic restrictions. The annual Jack Marino Lions Club Charity Drawing will take place online Dec. 9 via Facebook livestream. Sponsored by the Tarentum Area Lions Club, the fundraiser is traditionally a dinner...
Leechburg woman spends Thanksgiving week organizing holiday take-out dinner for 150
Jamie Rimmel never spends Thanksgiving Day in her own kitchen. Instead, she volunteers her time every year organizing and cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal for the public at her church, Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church in Leechburg. A free take-out Thanksgiving dinner will be offered Thursday to anyone from noon-...
Car plows into Kelly’s in East Liberty; driver arrested, no one hurt
A wayward vehicle crashed into the front of Kelly’s Bar & Lounge in East Liberty early Saturday, leaving significant damage to the facade, said owner Caleb Cornell. Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said Pittsburgh police responded to the crash in the 6000 block of Centre Avenue just before 4:30...
Pandemic has pre-orders for take-out Thanksgiving meals way up at Aspinwall restaurant
An Aspinwall eatery is offering free home delivery of downsized Thanksgiving turkey meals this year, in response to recent covid-19 restrictions. Cornerstone Restaurant owner Erin Connolly said her regular Tuesday meal deliveries have been “through the roof,” with more people opting to remain at home this holiday season. She made...
Some Alle-Kiski residents decking the halls earlier to spread holiday cheer amid pandemicVideo
For some in the Alle-Kiski Valley, decorating for Christmas before the Thanksgiving holiday has been the perfect pandemic pick-me-up. Here’s a look at some of the early-bird decorators. Harrison Matt Bedick of Harrison has one festive front yard. Bedick, an emergency room nurse at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, is a...
Leechburg schools report first student covid-19 case
A Leechburg Area School District student in grades 7-12 has tested positive for covid-19, Leechburg Superintendent Tiffany Nix said Monday in an email to district parents. It is the district’s first positive case. The district did not identify the infected or say what grade he or she is in. “Leechburg...
Sam the cowboy stands tall outside The Cadet Restaurant waiting pandemic’s end
An iconic roadside eatery remains closed since March, due to covid-19 restrictions. The Cadet Restaurant, located along Route 422 in Manor Township, near Kittanning, has welcomed diners since opening in 1952. But owner George Morda, 90, said current coronavirus conditions are too dangerous to risk opening. Morda said customers have...
Luminate Leechburg, Small Business Saturday to kick off holiday season on Nov. 28
Kick off your holiday shopping when Leechburg presents its ninth annual “Luminate Leechburg” event, coinciding with Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28. Sponsored by the Leechburg Area Community Association, Luminate Leechburg is a “go” this year, despite covid-19 restrictions, but the popular parade is canceled. Normally the float-filled parade draws...
Formal wear consignment shop for women moves to larger digs in Leechburg
Formalwear and bling at bargain prices have arrived in Leechburg. Get Dressed Formals, a formalwear consignment shop for ladies, relocated from Vandergrift to 153 Market St. in Leechburg this month. Washington Township resident Michele Wehrle said she originally opened her store last year in response to customers seeking affordable formalwear....
Leechburg Area to go forward with last spring’s musical next month; virtual learning Wednesdays continues
The show will go on after all. Leechburg Area High School students will perform their postponed spring musical “Godspell” after the school board unanimously gave their blessing Wednesday night. The musical was canceled hours before opening night in March just as covid-19 pandemic restrictions and statewide school closures were imposed....
Leechburg Area trio volunteers to bring sports broadcasts to fans near and far
It’s lights, camera, action for three Leechburg Area High School students. Video Club members Eli and Nick Sherbondy and Tucker Spiering have been volunteering their time, broadcasting games on the district’s YouTube sports channel, in response to there being limited or no spectators allowed due to covid-19 restrictions. “We are...
