Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 10
Aspinwall Zoning Hearing Board to receive plans for proposed townhouses at former church site
Plans for five high-end townhouses at a former Methodist Church site in Aspinwall are moving forward. Planning commissioners voted 7-0 June 15 to push the proposed development by Amena Properties founder Tony Pompeo Jr. on to the zoning hearing board. Vice Chairman Robert Scott was absent. The earliest that the...
Fox Chapel area Eagle Scout hopefuls turn to nature for top scout honor
A pair of Fox Chapel area Eagle Scout hopefuls are seeking the highest honor in scouts through nature projects. Josh Lowe, who recently graduated from Fox Chapel Area High School, is in the process of digging an estimated 310-foot connector trail down a hillside by Shady Side Academy’s Country Day...
Construction continues at future retail space, condominiums and engineering HQ in Sewickley
Construction continues at the future Orbital Engineering headquarters in Sewickley. Crews have been working for months to create a multi-use facility at the former R.D. Cole Funeral Home on Beaver Street. The funeral home was demolished earlier this year. It had ceased services in September and reopened late that month...
Sewickley welcomes borough’s 1st therapy dog
The Sewickley Police Department recently welcomed a new furry friend to the force. Harley, an 18-month-old English black Labrador, has become the borough’s first certified therapy dog. Owned by police Chief Dave Mazza, the canine citizen, as she is called by trainers at Franklin Park-based Misty Pines, received her certification...
Leetsdale Fourth of July celebration a destination for many in nearby communities
Leetsdale resident Tom Belcastro recalled marching in the borough’s Fourth of July parade about 70 years ago as an Ohio Valley Little League player. He and his teammates would be in uniform, making their way down the main streets to the delight of their family and friends who were also...
Opa! Oakmont Greek Food Festival continues through weekend
Bob Zazac and his daughter Mia braved the elements in order to keep their father-daughter tradition of attending the Oakmont Greek Food Festival alive. The huge fundraising weekend at Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church kicked off Friday. The hot and humid afternoon gave way to thunderstorms shortly before...
Bethel Park School District officials say farewell to the class of 2025
Bethel Park High School grad Ella Milliken believes there is much more to life than material things. That shared experiences are what matter most, not what someone is wearing at the time. “Think about the last time you had a conversation with a friend,” Milliken told her fellow classmates at...
Season’s final Funnel Cake Friday set in Sharpsburg
A Sharpsburg summer tradition that mixes funnel cake batter with a powdered sugary sprinkle of community spirit will soon come to a close. This season’s final Funnel Cake Fridays is set for June 27 from 5-8 p.m. at Kennedy Park. It is expected to be packed with musical performances by...
Suffering together bonds those daring to brave Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
Trekking 37 miles with temperatures approaching 90 degrees Saturday sounds like it would be a grueling challenge for anyone. But Morgan Kiebler and Wade Endress said it was premarital bliss to take part in this year’s Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. The couple plan to wed July 16 in Maine. “It’s...
Blawnox considering tax credit for volunteer firefighters
Blawnox firefighters may soon get a tax break. Borough officials are drafting an ordinance that could slash hundreds of dollars from their earned income tax. There are many details that still need to be worked out with the fire department, borough manager Kathy Ulanowicz said on June 11, including criteria...
Sewickley Police Department makes history with officer promotion
Celina Kelly has made history once again. The soft-spoken New Brighton resident and law enforcement veteran has become Sewickley Police Department’s first full-time female officer. “It’s a nice community,” Kelly said shortly after being sworn in to her new role by Mayor George Shannon on June 10. “I’m still getting...
Sewickley Academy celebrates the Class of 2025
Watching a son or daughter accept their high school diploma is often a proud moment for a parent. It can be extra special for the family to be on stage together. Six Sewickley Academy grads had that opportunity at this year’s commencement on June 6. All of the parents involved...
Fox Chapel Area School District celebrates the class of 2025
Fox Chapel Area High School senior Anna Mohn believes asking odd questions is among the best ways to get to know someone. As editor of the school’s weekly student newspaper, she has sought knowledge such as someone’s hype song, what they are most thankful for and their favorite word. Mohn...
New Fox Chapel borough manager’s salary information obtained
The new Fox Chapel borough manager’s salary will be $185,000, according to borough records obtained by TribLive. Council unanimously voted May 19 to hire Julie Bastianini as its next top administrator upon the retirement of current manager Gary J. Koehler. Her salary was not listed in the May meeting minutes...
Shady Side Academy reportedly rethinking proposed west entrance to Fox Chapel campus
Shady Side Academy officials are expected to change their plans for an entrance on the west side of the Upper School campus. Fox Chapel Mayor Alex Scott, borough manager Gary Koehler, several council members and others met with academy leaders behind closed doors to discuss the project on May 21....
Fox Chapel Borough Manager Gary Koehler set to retire after 40 years of government service
Gary Koehler remembers being fascinated by project designs when he was growing up in Shaler. He would watch as his father, Jack, a township volunteer planning commissioner, reviewed various documents and architectural drawings. “As a little boy, 12 years old, he would bring home plans and put them on the...
Fox Chapel Area School Board approves 2025-26 budget with 2.3% tax increase
Fox Chapel Area School District officials have approved next school year’s budget with a 2.3% tax hike and no cuts to programs or services. The board voted unanimously on its 2025-26 spending plan on June 9. The millage rate jumps from 21.51 mills to 22 mills, about a 0.5-mill increase....
West Jefferson Hills School District officials bid farewell to class of 2025
Gavin Hart did not waste time by patting himself on the back for making it through the rigorous academia that is Thomas Jefferson High School. Instead, the senior class president spent the better part of his commencement address highlighting the accomplishments of his classmates and student clubs the past few...
Legacy Wall being developed at Sewickley Community Center
Jaryd Boyer believes the legacy of the Sewickley Community Center is something to be celebrated. As a borough resident and the center’s first employee in more than 30 years, the recently hired program director is working with board members and local business owners to develop a Legacy Wall. The wall...
Nippon Steel investment in U.S. Steel to move forward with Trump’s blessing, security agreement
A pair of Mon Valley-area mayors are celebrating a major moment for Western Pennsylvania industry as the Trump administration announced on Friday another hurdle to Nippon Steel’s planned acquisition of U.S. Steel has been cleared. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that says the deal can go through so...
Aspinwall conference room dedicated to longtime councilman, firefighter
Memories flooded back to former Aspinwall councilman and volunteer firefighter John “Jack” Lovey as he stood in a recently renovated borough building conference room. Lovey was on Aspinwall council for 28 years and president for 15. “It brings back a lot of memories sitting there looking at my people,” he...
Sewickley Heights public works crews cleanup landslide onto Little Sewickley Creek Road
Cleanup is underway on a state road impacted by landslides in Sewickley Heights. Landslides in mid-April 2024 caused significant damage to Backbone Road between Little Sewickley Creek Road and Grouse Lane in Bell Acres. It had further deteriorated since then and PennDOT crews have been out at least twice since...
Quaker Valley High School celebrates the class of 2025
Texas Music Hall of Famers Timbuk3 sang “the future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.” Many Quaker Valley School District officials took that advice as they led 135 seniors along the track of Chuck Knox Stadium, and watched as their newest alumni gathered on the field for commencement June 2....
Pittsburgh Police seek help finding missing boy with special needs
Pittsburgh Police are asking for help in locating a missing 12-year-old boy with special needs. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said Kiemoni Thompson was reportedly last seen Sunday on a green bicycle with black lettering. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with black sweatpants. Kiemoni was described as standing 5...
Quaker Valley Pedal with Police connects students, local police and community
A new Quaker Valley initiative geared toward connecting students, district police and local first responders resulted in a caravan of kids cruising through Sewickley on May 17 for the inaugural Pedal with Police event. More than 120 kids rode their bicycles from Osborne Elementary along Beaver Street to Edgeworth Elementary,...
