Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 16
Holiday Park VFD starts fish fry season with Ash Wednesday lunch
The Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department kicked off its fish fry season with lunch on Ash Wednesday. About 20 volunteers operated multiple stations and served more than 200 pieces of fish at the start of the Lent fundraiser at the Tuttle Social Hall off Old Abers Creek Road. Josh Scalamogna,...
The faithful receive ashes at Blawnox church on Ash Wednesday
Families throughout Blawnox and nearby communities flocked to St. Edward Church to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. Pews were packed at the Catholic church along Walnut Street that evening as the Rev. Bill Siple delivered a message of repentance and how ashes show a person’s identity and commitment to their...
Police say Pittsburgh interior designer bilked clients out of nearly $500K
A Pittsburgh interior designer is facing multiple charges after being accused of bilking clients of nearly half a million dollars. Lauren Piasecki, 44, of Morningside has been charged with various counts of theft by unlawful taking, home improvement fraud, receiving stolen property and deceptive business practices, the Allegheny County District...
Sharpsburg to launch new community police program with pizza
Sharpsburg Mayor Kayla Portis and the borough police department hope to foster friendly relationships with residents one slice at a time. They have partnered to present the inaugural Pizza with the Police & Mayor Portis on March 4 at Ketchup City Creative. Food and drink will be provided by Gino...
12 native Sewickley pastors to be honored March 8
A Sewickley-based nonprofit is planning a celebration to honor Sewickley born African American pastors. Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society officials will recognize a dozen religious leaders at the Sewickley United Methodist Church next month. The ceremony will include guest speakers, musical performances and testimonials. The event is free and open...
Quaker Valley School Board approves new courses, curriculum changes
A new music pathway for students who prefer not to perform, as well as focus on business and entrepreneurship, are among the new courses being developed at Quaker Valley School District. School directors voted 7-0 on Feb. 18 to approve amended program of studies for the middle and high school....
Fox Chapel police seek to ID package thieves
The use of new cameras and license plate readers in Fox Chapel may have led to theft suspects being identified in Greensburg. Police Chief Michael Stevens said officers received a report of packages being stolen from a home along North Drive on Feb. 13. Borough cameras caught images and a...
Aspinwall parking study findings, recommendations revealed
A national consulting firm is proposing a number of recommendations to help mitigate parking issues in Aspinwall. Among the suggestions offered on Feb. 20 by Walker Consultants were: • Charge for residential parking permits and place limitations on them; • Increase signage and communication of parking policies; • Use new...
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to assist with tree plantings at Fox Chapel’s McCahill Park
An ongoing renovation project at Fox Chapel’s McCahill Park will get a lot greener this summer. Council this month authorized spending up to $14,000 to contract with Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to plant about 1,500 trees, shrubs and other perennials at the recreation site off Hemlock Hollow Road. Conservancy leaders would...
Aspinwall safety talk rescheduled
A safety discussion at St. Scholastica Pastoral Center in Aspinwall has been rescheduled. The Allegheny County Police had partnered with Aspinwall police and AAA to lead a talk about careless and distracted driving at 309 Brilliant Ave. on Feb. 27. Mayor Joe Noro said plans have changed due to a...
Lawsuit filed against Aliquippa VFW owners on behalf of man ‘brutally’ attacked inside lodge
The owners of an Aliquippa VFW club are accused of negligence after an employee allegedly failed to protect one of its members from being brutally beaten inside the club earlier this year. Personal injury and civil rights attorney Todd Hollis recently filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of Aliquippa resident...
Sewickley Community Library renovation to create bigger, modern storytime space
Renovations are underway to restore a storytime room turned storage space to its former glory. Allison Park-based Landau Building Co. crews have been working since January replacing the ceiling, lighting, flooring, furniture and more in the second-floor children’s department of the Sewickley Community Library. The work is part of a...
Fox Families Care partners with Sharpsburg library for family literacy
Sharpsburg toddler Asa Reinthaler reared her head back in delight after having a few tiny bites of fresh fruit with her family. Accompanied by her parents Kelsey Squelch and Nick Reinthaler, they were among the participants of a children’s literacy program called Story Supper. “I like the concept — encouragement...
Quaker Valley grad and retired Ambridge police officer gets new job at alma mater
Quaker Valley grad Glen Sovich was recently hired to protect and serve students and staff at his alma mater. School board members unanimously voted Feb. 10 to hire the retired Ambridge police sergeant. His acquisition restores the district police department to four full-time officers — one in every school. Sovich,...
Kwik Fill in Oakmont burglarized
Oakmont and Allegheny County Police are investigating a burglary at the Kwik Fill gas station along Allegheny River Boulevard. A cashier at the convenience store said someone broke through a door, stole a register and attempted to access the safe around 4 a.m. Friday. Both the door and the register...
National Aviary to take over Shady Side Academy middle school
A Shady Side Academy alumnus is helping the National Aviary find a nest for its next breeding and conservation center, teaching hospital and educational space. S. Kent Rockwell, a Fox Chapel resident and 1962 academy graduate, is in the process of acquiring his alma mater’s 35-acre middle school campus. The...
Pedestrian upgrades planned for War Memorial Park in Sewickley
Sewickley officials plan to make one of their parks more pedestrian friendly. War Memorial Park’s old wooden bridges may be removed this summer and replaced with steel ones. The 20-acre park’s walking trail, including the access point from the woods by the Sewickley Valley YMCA parking lot along Blackburn Road,...
Aspinwall police using multiple tools to address aggressive driving, speeding in the borough
Anna Hartle of Aspinwall holds out hope that one day people will slow down when driving past her Fourth Street home. The longtime resident and some of her neighbors have let motorists know how they feel about going over the 15 mph limit. “We yell at speeders all the time,...
Leetsdale officials contemplating borough manager position
Leetsdale officials may be adding a new top administrator. Council plans to work with the Allegheny League of Municipalities to find a borough manager. The issue was raised at recent borough meetings; however, no agreement with ALOM has been struck and starting a search was not listed on this month’s...
Leetsdale considering major renovations to Henle Park
Leetsdale officials plan to leverage state and Allegheny County funds to make upgrades to a popular borough park. Henle Park is in line for a number of improvements, including a multi-sport court, Americans with Disabilities Act compliant sidewalks, playground equipment, landscaping and other improvements. Plans are in the design phase...
Sharpsburg library’s chili cook-off returns Feb. 22
One of the most delicious times to ever be at a municipal building will soon take place in Sharpsburg. The annual Sharpsburg Community Library’s Robert “Snakeguy” Habegger Chili Cook-off is set for Feb. 22. Chefs and taste testers are needed for the food-themed fundraising event at 1611 Main St. Registration...
Recreation center proposed in Indiana Township park by Winter League Basketball
Fox Chapel Winter League Basketball officials believe a new recreational center in Indiana Township’s Emmerling Park will help secure the organization’s future and continued growth. It would also create a more permanent home for the youth and adult program, alleviating rentals at both Fox Chapel Area School District and Shady...
The Watson Institute helps Leet police secure new speed sign
Leet police soon will have a new speed-monitoring device to combat aggressive driving. The department is in the process of acquiring a new Traffic Logix solar-powered radar speed sign that can be set up along nearly any road and will flash a motorist’s speed as they pass. The device also...
Animal Friends plans to increase presence, programming in Sharpsburg
Animal Friends, an Ohio Township-based nonprofit dedicated to helping pets and their owners, wants to expand programming in Sharpsburg. Discussions are underway between leaders of the no-kill shelter and borough entities including the Sharpsburg Community Library and Roots of Faith, a nonprofit ministry of Faith United Methodist Church in Fox...
Families craft love at Sharpsburg Community Library’s Heart-a-Palooza
Love was in the air at the Sharpsburg Community Library for its Heart-a-Palooza event this month. A handful of Fox Chapel Area School District families participated in the pop-up led by library education and engagement coordinator Alison Babusci on Feb. 1. She hosts a free family drop-in on the first...
