Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 14
Ray Schafer Boxing Association in Sharpsburg continues to help shape young lives
Bacardy Conard stood in the ring poised, eyes focused and hands clenched. Face flushed red, the Etna girl was undeterred. She continued to throw punch after punch, shifting her feet and shoulders quickly until the final bell. Her reward was a sense of accomplishment, a cool drink and congratulations from...
Police: 2 people hurt during car-to-car gunfight in Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighborhood
Pittsburgh police are investigating a shooting incident that resulted in two people being hospitalized Friday evening. Public Safety spokesperson Emily Bourne said officers were dispatched around 5:15 p.m. to the 1700 block of Crestline Street in the East Hills for two separate ShotSpotter alerts totaling eight rounds. Preliminary investigation revealed...
PennDOT proposes preservation project for Glenfield viaduct
PennDOT wants to preserve the main access point to Glenfield — a viaduct that takes motorists and pedestrians across the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. Officials said the bridge that leads down to Glenfield Street is in fair condition. It has not received major rehabilitation since it was built in 1988....
Bishop David Zubik visits St. James Church in Sewickley
Sewickley teen Kallie McCune was a little nervous volunteering at her church’s fish fry. The Friday Lenten feast has been a tradition at Divine Redeemer Parish’s St. James Church for many years. For Kallie, 13, this was her first year — and the last fish fry in March was a...
Part of Crescent Avenue in Sewickley closed due to landslide
A portion of Crescent Avenue in Sewickley is closed after a landslide caused slope stabilization concerns. Borough engineer Mike Galet said no homes were impacted by the slide, which occurred on April 4. A $500,000 retaining wall the borough built within the past two years was also not affected. The...
Next phase of ADA upgrades in Indiana Township’s Emmerling Park planned this summer
Accessibility upgrades to Emmerling Park in Indiana Township are expected to continue this summer. Officials recently announced the third phase of a multi-phase Americans with Disabilities Act project that will include expanding a sidewalk from a bridge over Little Deer Creek to a pavilion. The expansion is about 500 feet...
Unity Township man rescued from creek in Latrobe
A Unity man was rescued from Loyalhanna Creek on Friday afternoon. Unity fire departments as well as the Westmoreland County Swift Water Rescue team were dispatched shortly after 4 p.m. for a man floating in the creek, according to Unity Township Bureau of Fire officials. Rescuers from the Lloydsville Fire...
Quaker Valley School District no longer accepting tuition students
Quaker Valley School District is no longer accepting tuition students. The school board unanimously voted on March 25 to update the district’s policy on nonresident students, including terminating the section that permits them to attend Quaker Valley if they pay tuition. The district currently has four tuition students, all in...
PennDOT begins repairs to Way Hollow Road in Sewickley Heights, Edgeworth
A state road connecting Sewickley Heights and Edgeworth that has been closed for more than four years is being repaired. Allison Park Construction crews have begun the restoration of Way Hollow Road. The work includes drainage upgrades, geotechnical repairs, roadway resurfacing and guardrail updates. The estimated project cost is $4.1...
Monroeville fish fry using new inventory tracking system to improve efficiency
Few things are more frustrating for fish fry fans than finding their favorite fundraising site is out of food. Carefully managing inventory is key to ensuring orders are filled and patrons are well fed, while supplies last. St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Monroeville has instituted a new item and...
Police: Ohio man found with gun at Pittsburgh International Airport
An Ohio man has been charged with a felony firearms violation after he was found to have a handgun at a security checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport. Allegheny County Police said Transportation Security Administration officers found the firearm in a passenger’s backpack around 2 p.m. Tuesday. Police identified the passenger...
Fox Chapel approves new garbage contract with current hauler
Fox Chapel officials have approved a new five-year deal for garbage collection, maintaining the same garage door service with the same hauler, Vogel Disposal Service. The company was the lowest of two bidders. Bids were opened on March 5. Council unanimously voted 6-0 on March 17 to award the contract....
New Castle man nearly strikes police with vehicle during high-speed chase Saturday
A New Castle man is facing multiple charges after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase Saturday through at least two counties and nearly striking a police officer. State police were notified Saturday morning of a stolen vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed eastbound on Mitchell Road...
Hundreds turn out for fundraiser supporting longtime police officer, mentor Willie Weber
Carl Bayne recalled training with Arnold firefighter Willie Weber more than 45 years ago. Bayne had signed on to be a junior firefighter in the city’s volunteer department. “From (age) 14 to 17, you can only do so much until you hit 18 and get into the regular department,” Bayne...
New Kensington residents, church leaders hold anti-drug, anti-violence rally
Melanie Schuler of New Kensington knew she could not sit idly by after what she suspected were drug overdoses in her apartment building earlier this month. She has lived in the city for decades and is one of many residents in the Kensington Manor Central Towers high-rise along Fourth Avenue....
Indiana Township seeks bids for its 2025 paving program
Indiana Township officials plan to repave 12 streets and add some guardrails this year. The township supervisors voted earlier this month to advertise the 2025 paving program. Bids are expected to be opened April 4 and awarded April 9. Construction is anticipated to begin sometime in June and be completed...
Police: Worker seriously injured at Harmar brick manufacturing plant
A worker at a brick manufacturing plant in Harmar was injured by a piece of machinery Friday evening. Harmar Police Chief Jason Domaratz said a man in his 30s was transported with a serious injury to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh from the Glen-Gery plant at 26 Rich Hill Road...
Leetsdale boat launch construction approved, expansion sought
A public boat launch into the Ohio River from the Leetsdale Industrial Park may be getting an even greater face-lift than originally expected. The recreation cite near the Hussey Copper property has been closed since the original concrete slab broke off in the 1990s, causing a safety hazard. Borough officials...
Shady Side Academy computer science students prepare for multi-district competition
Two Shady Side Academy students, bonded by a common love of zeros and ones, are preparing to expand their multi-school district technology-based competition. Zeros and ones are the two digits used in binary code, often described as the fundamental language of computers. Juniors Thomas Wang of Fox Chapel and Vivan...
Aspinwall to form sustainability advisory committee
Aspinwall Council wants to partner with residents to explore ways to make a positive environmental impact on the community. Volunteers are needed for the newly created sustainability advisory committee led by Councilman Mark Chimel. Resumes and letters of interest can be submitted to the borough office, 217 Commercial Ave. About...
Former Fox Chapel Area Baseball Softball Association treasurer charged with theft
A former treasurer of a local youth organization is accused of stealing about $147,000 from the club. Carla O’Brien, 48, of Indiana Township is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, access device fraud and misapplication of trusted property. Charges stem from an investigation by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office,...
Fox Chapel council forms negotiation committee, police contract talks to start
Negotiations between Fox Chapel officials and their police department are set to begin this spring. The department’s three-person negotiating team was formed earlier this year. Council solidified its negotiating team on March 17 with Brad Harrison volunteering for its third spot (other council committee members are Frederick Leech and Betsy...
Multicultural Night celebrates Fox Chapel High School student diversity
Fox Chapel Area High School students showed how much of a melting pot the district is with the third annual Multicultural Night. The third annual installment of the inclusion celebration started by the DESI Club took place March 19. About 200 people participated in the event, including about a dozen...
Leetsdale renews DUI task force commitment
Leetsdale has renewed its commitment to the West Hills DUI Task Force, a state-funded collective of multiple police departments that engages in roving patrols, traditional stationary checkpoints and educational initiatives to help keep streets safe. Council unanimously voted March 13 to renew its municipal police cooperative agreement. Borough officials said...
Pro wrestling organization returning to Springdale — for 1 last time
Springdale Junior-Senior High School marching band members will likely be playing the swan song to one of its biggest fundraisers Friday. Keystone State Wrestling Alliance superstars return to the home of the Dynamos, the Donald C. McGhee Fieldhouse, for Springdale Slam 6. It will be the end of two eras....
