Joyce Hanz stories, Page 65
Leechburg restaurants step up by offering free meals to students
Some Leechburg area restaurants are getting creative during the coronavirus crisis. Three restaurants—CoCo Coffeehouse, Fox’s Pizza Den and Cicero’s Bar and Grill—are offering free takeout meals beginning Monday and Barefoot Bar and Grill in Gilpin Tuesday for Leechburg area students during the state mandated school closures ordered by Gov. Wolf....
Freeport Area High School brings tap-dancing musical ’42nd Street’ to the stageVideo
It’s a musical with a lot of kick. Freeport Area High School presents its 2020 spring musical “42nd Street” from March 12-15. And who better to direct the classic musical chronicling the story of a small town Pennsylvania girl with Big Apple dreams than Freeport alumnus, Broadway performer, New York...
Leechburg High School brings ‘Godspell’ to the stageVideo
Leechburg Area High School drama students will bring to life parables from the Gospel, with an updated twist, as they present “Godspell” on March 13-15. Think punk meets rock in this remastered 2012 version of “Godspell,” created by Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz. “Godspell” features a myriad of...
‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’ opens March 12 at Burrell High SchoolVideo
It’s toga time as Burrell High School presents its spring musical, “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.” Set in ancient Roman times, the show is comedic, fast paced, full of twists and turns as it follows the antics of Pseudolus, a slave attempting to win his...
Apollo-Ridge to bring ‘High School Musical’ to lifeVideo
A wildly popular Disney Channel movie has gone from screen to stage. Apollo-Ridge High School presents “High School Musical” March 5-7, based on the Disney Channel original movie “High School Musical.” Bethany Greenlee, in her 11th season as musical director, began her professional career working at Radio Disney and said...
Vandergrift dance studio joins aerial yoga trendVideo
Take your workout to new heights with aerial yoga. Sandra Lynn’s School of Dance in Vandergrift recently added two weekly classes of this hybrid way of practicing yoga. Kim Stewart, owner and certified yoga instructor at Sandra Lynn’s, says the new classes are a hit and aerial yoga has a...
Mobile cupcake business serves up happiness by the dozenVideo
Confectionery chef Amanda Dingey of Ford City is on a roll. Dingey owns and operates StudeCakers, a mobile and online custom cupcake business she opened in 2012 after leaving a corporate customer service job. “Last year, I sold over 35,000 cupcakes,” says Dingey, 45. “My cupcake flavors scream ‘fun.’ ”...
Married in secret during WWII, this New Ken couple will celebrate 75th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s DayVideo
This Valentine’s Day, take a bit of advice from a New Kensington couple who will celebrate their 75th year together as husband and wife. Rich and Shirley Rosenberger met in high school and married in secret at their church while Rich was on leave during WWII. Their love story endures....
Cellar Works Brewing plans 2nd location at Winfield’s Cooper Station RestaurantVideo
A new business is brewing in Winfield Township. A large digital sign outside of Cooper Station Restaurant, which closed abruptly and without notice to the public in 2019, hints “Something is brewing” to passing motorists along Route 356. Cellar Works Brewing Co. owners confirmed plans are underway to open a...
Chocolate-covered dreams at Speckled HenVideo
Chocolate lovers have a sweet destination in rural Clinton Township. Speckled Hen Chocolate Co. opened in 2013, specializing in unique gourmet hand-dipped chocolates, gift baskets, event favors, chocolate-themed classes and homemade fudge. Sarver native and owner Valerie Cannon, 45, often provided homemade chocolate-covered pretzels for her co-workers. She made the...
Shadyside ‘Babcock Mansion’ listed at $2.45 million housed U.S. presidents, lavish parties
In the market for a fancy mansion known for hosting several U.S. presidents and celebrities? The Beatty mansion at 5135 Ellsworth Ave., near Colonial Place, is listed by Howard Hanna Homes of Distinction with an asking price of $2.45 million. The original asking price was $2.99 million when it went...
New name can’t change the splendid view from Veltre’s in PlumVideo
It’s a slightly different spelling with the same spectacular view. An iconic venue in Plum affording stunning views of the Allegheny River and surrounding countryside has reopened. Veltre’s Wedding and Event Centre, formerly Veltri’s Restaurant, opened in 2016 after being shuttered for 12 years. Only a vowel separates the surnames...
Who wants to buy a house-bus in Pittsburgh?
One can’t help but notice this house rolling down the road that’s for sale. Pennsylvania native Andrew Weidman, 27, is visiting Pittsburgh for the winter, hoping to sell “Lucy Half-Bus.” It’s a 2003 Ford E350 converted former school bus, powered by Ford’s legendary 7.3 diesel, with 137,000 miles on the...
Brothers camp for charity inside Sprankle’s Neighborhood Markets
Two brothers and business partners are camping for charity at Sprankle’s Neighborhood Markets. Doug and Ryan Sprankle own the markets in Leechburg and Kittanning. They’re known for their store promotional antics on social media. Both set up tents inside their respective stores for their latest venture. Ryan owns the Kittanning...
Harmar eatery offers home-cooked Italian food in an actual homeVideo
It’s out with the old and in with the new at a longtime eatery in Harmar. Garlic Grille opened in June in the former Emilia’s Garden, serving Italian American home-style cuisine. “We just wanted to break away from Emilia’s Garden and start something new and fresh,” says co-owner and executive...
Aspinwall Beans ‘N’ Cream stands out with more than just coffeeVideo
This coffee shop brews up the cool factor. Aspinwall Beans ‘N’ Cream, known as ABC by the locals, serves up coffee, specialty drinks and homemade breakfast and lunch items amid 1960s and ’70s pop/rock memorabilia. “The decor isn’t the usual coffee shop vibe,” said co-owner Pete Sanida of Squirrel Hill....
Leechburg students make blankets for guests of a soup kitchen in Pittsburgh’s Hill DistrictVideo
Fifteen students from the Leechburg Area High School life skills class crafted 30 no-sew fleece blankets in class this month for the needy. The project is in its third year. It doesn’t cost the district anything thanks to a $500 donation from Sue Jones. She is a school volunteer, area...
Marigold, the wayward pig found in Indiana Township, remains unclaimed
A pig found wandering in Indiana Township two weeks ago remains unclaimed. The female adult mini-sized pig, named Marigold by its caretakers, is said to be healthy but “grumpy,” according to Blue Martin, co-founder of Pigsburgh Squealers, a nonprofit pig rescue farm in Frazer. “Pigs are incredibly social and sensitive,”...
Marigold the potbellied pig found wandering in Indiana TownshipVideo
A pig found wandering along Dorseyville Road last week in Indiana Township remains unclaimed. The female adult mini-sized potbellied pig was found without any identifying tags on Dec. 5, reported to Indiana Township Police and later transported by volunteers to a pig rescue facility. The pig remains under the care...
Twisted Thistle eatery in Leechburg staying put with new menuVideo
The Twisted Thistle in Leechburg is here to stay. The historic eatery on Market Street is no longer on the market after being listed for $1.5 million in 2018. “Linda (Alworth, the owner) was interested in selling last year due to her desire to focus on other projects such as...
Brick & Barrel to replace Andora restaurant in Indiana Township
A popular restaurant in the Fox Chapel area is closing and will reopen as Brick & Barrel, a new wood-fired pizza and bourbon-themed casual eatery. Andora Restaurant, located in the former Cross Keys Inn at 599 Dorseyville Road, will remain open until the end of December after seven years in...
Former Fallingwater cook Elsie Henderson, 106, dishes on serving Pittsburgh royaltyVideo
Elsie Henderson spent decades cooking for American royalty. She’s still dishing about her culinary journey. Henderson, who is 106 years old, was hired by several prominent Pittsburgh families, including the Heinzes and Mellons. Her most notable position was as the Kaufmann family’s cook, baker and meal planner at Fallingwater from...
Eccentric millionaire’s O’Hara mansion leaves lasting legacy as Bayernhof Music MuseumVideo
This isn’t your typical mansion-turned-museum. On high ground overlooking Sharpsburg and the Allegheny River in O’Hara sits the Bayernhof Music Museum, the former 19,000-square-foot residence of Pittsburgh millionaire Charles Boyd Brown III, known simply as “Chuck” to his friends. Often referred to as one of the area’s best-kept secrets, the...
Labriola’s Italian Store has kept family heritage alive for 90 yearsVideo
A Pittsburgh Italian favorite is celebrating its 90th year in business. Leonard Labriola’s Italian Store, with four locations in Aspinwall, Monroeville, Penn Hills and Warrendale, offers an extensive selection of gourmet Italian groceries and freshly prepared Italian specialties passed down from generations of Labriola family recipes. Owner Leonard Labriola, 80,...
Freeport Area cast set to bring ABBA’s hits to stage with ‘Mamma Mia’
Freeport Area High School expanded its musical theater program, adding a fall musical. A cast and stage crew of almost 60 students from grades 9 through 12 will showcase “Mamma Mia” on Nov. 16 and 17, with three performances at the Freeport Middle School Auditorium. Freeport Musical Director Tom Koharchik...
