Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 29
Art celebration set for June 15 in Blawnox
A celebration of all things art soon will take place in Blawnox. The third annual Spring Art Fling along Freeport Road is set for Saturday, June 15. Sponsored by Dollar Bank and presented by the nonprofit Best of Blawnox, it’s a chance for families to check out paintings, drawings, ceramics,...
Indiana Township police investigating possible political vandalism
Indiana Township police are investigating a case of what they believe to be targeted vandalism. Someone defaced an Adopt-a-Highway sign promoting controlling litter along Rich Hill Road. The sign was sponsored years ago by township Supervisor and Deputy Mayor Darrin Krally and his family in conjunction with his neighbors, the...
Military servicemen and women remembered at Blawnox Memorial Day parade and service
Blawnox paid homage to the fallen military men and women with a parade and service May 27. Organizers estimate about 200 people lined up along Freeport Road from the Sunoco gas station to the recently refurbished war memorial in remembrance. About 20 groups participated in the parade, including marching bands,...
Blawnox Community Garden marks 1st planting of the season; helpers hope for bountiful harvest
Blawnox Community Garden volunteers hope their seeds will reap a bountiful harvest of friendship and togetherness. Nearly 20 people from 5 to 70 participated in the first planting of the season May 30 at the garden inside Blawnox Community Park. Garden coordinator Carol Hillwig said they are hoping for a...
Sewickley Academy graduation set for June 7
Sewickley Academy officials plan to send off their class of 2024 into their next chapters in life with inspiring words from a University of Pittsburgh medical professional. Dr. Joseph Maroon, clinical professor of neurological science at Pitt’s Medical Center and the Heindl Scholar in neuroscience, will be the guest speaker...
Premier Youth & Community Center in its second year helping Quaker Valley area youths
A former amateur boxer has turned a facility tucked to the side of Chadwick Street by a ball field in Sewickley into a place of fitness and fellowship. Jaryd Boyer runs the Premier Youth & Community Center. The nonprofit is in its second year in the borough at the Sewickley...
Quaker Valley students gain real world experience creating Tom Hanks movie-inspired home for a virtual assistantVideo
When New Castle entrepreneur Jordon Rooney wanted to showcase his latest artificial intelligence project, he knew who to contact: a Quaker Valley High School teacher. Rooney, a personal brand coach and chief executive officer at Jaster, is a longtime friend of pre-engineering and technology teacher Matt Dado. He reached out...
Fox Chapel residents to receive survey about garbage collection options
Fox Chapel officials want to hear some trash talk from their residents. A survey seeking input on what services to seek in the next garbage collection contract is expected to be launched in mid-June. The current contract with Vogel Disposal Services features unlimited weekly collection up to the garage door,...
Fox Chapel Police Department hosts bike rodeo outside church
Fox Chapel Police Department’s third annual bike rodeo rounded up a dozen or so area families at the Presbyterian church along Fox Chapel Road. Sgt. Craig Sorg organized the May 28 event that featured a bicycle obstacle course, raffle giveaways, free helmets for children, tours of various emergency vehicles and...
Plum board approves budget with 6.2% tax hike
Plum School District property owners will see their real estate tax bills go up 6.2% next year. The school board voted 8-1 Tuesday night to adopt their estimated $74.3 million spending plan with the tax hike for the 2024-25 school year. Board member Lindsay Arenth dissented. The 6.2% increase includes...
Quaker Valley property taxes going up 2.9% again next school year
Quaker Valley School District property owners will have to pay 2.9% more in real estate taxes next school year. The school board voted 8-0 May 21 to adopt the district’s $60.66 million final general fund budget for 2024-25. Daniela Helkowski, board vice president, was absent. It is the second straight...
More vendors are welcome at First Fridays in Sharpsburg
Crafters, candle makers, jewelry designers, food vendors and others looking to set up shop would be hard-pressed to find a better price for a spot than free. When and where is this opportunity? That would be First Fridays in Sharpsburg. The monthly event, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the...
Sewickley to install new EV stations by next spring with help from Duquesne Light
Sewickley officials plan to bolster the borough’s sustainability efforts with the borough’s first EV stations. Council unanimously voted May 14 to authorize Borough Manager Donna Kaib to submit paperwork to Duquesne Light seeking a $40,000 investment through the electric company’s Community Charging Program. The plan is to have three stations...
Aspinwall, Fox Chapel councils approve funding boosts for Foxwall EMS
Aspinwall and Fox Chapel councils have approved increased annual contributions to the boroughs’ ambulance provider. Foxwall EMS officials had requested $40,000 and $60,000, respectively, from the communities they serve. Acting EMS Chief Gino Mollica said the money was necessary to boost salaries and wages for staff retention and recruitment. “I...
Natural gas well fracking plans on hold in Indiana Township
A decision regarding a rezoning request in Indiana Township that could pave the way for new gas well construction won’t come for two months. The township’s planning commission voted 4-0 Wednesday night, May 22 before an overflow crowd to postpone its decision on a proposal by Cranberry-based MPF Management for...
Renfrew man charged with bringing gun to airport
Allegheny County Police charged a Renfrew man with firearms violations for allegedly bringing a gun to Pittsburgh International Airport. TSA officers observed a handgun within a passenger’s backpack at the main security checkpoint of the airport around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the police report. Police identified the passenger as...
Sewickley Memorial Day plans announced
Sewickley Memorial Day festivities include services and celebrations of military men and women. Things kickoff with a service at 11 a.m. Sunday at Sewickley United Methodist Church, 337 Broad St. Lunch will be served afterward. Fountain Street will be closed from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday for a Memorial...
Fox Chapel Council approves new solar panel project for public works facility
Fox Chapel officials are continuing their efforts to improve energy efficiency through solar means. Council unanimously approved a $70,700 contract with Energy Independent Solutions to install solar panels at the public works operations facility behind the borough building along Fox Chapel Road. The vote took place May 20. EIS was...
Shady Side Academy announces graduation plans
Shady Side Academy officials are getting ready to welcome families and friends of the graduating class of 2024. There is no limit to how many guests each of the 133 graduates can bring to commencement June 8 at Michael J. Farrell Stadium on the senior campus in Fox Chapel. The...
Quaker Valley elementary students participate in state STEM competition
Several Quaker Valley School District Edgeworth Elementary students recently participated in the state STEM Design Challenge Championships in Harrisburg. Fifth graders Hannah Yocca, Lydia Beichner, Francesca Zeiders and Emily Custers, under the direction of coach Sara Schoener, showcased their science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills against multiple other school districts...
Woman with dementia reported missing from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh police seek help finding a missing woman with dementia. Joan Blaney, 78, wandered from her residence along the 8400 block of Bricelyn Street on Friday, Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz reported. She was spotted by staff at Second Chance at 8350 Frankstown Ave., walking inbound at about 12:40 p.m....
New Kensington police investigate phone store robbery
New Kensington police are searching for a man who is accused of robbing a business Friday evening. Westmoreland County Public Safety officials said officers were dispatched shortly after 7 p.m. to the AT&T store at 270 Tarentum Bridge Road. No injuries were reported. Officials said the suspect was described as...
Pittsburgh police take 2 guns off the streets, make 2 arrests
Pittsburgh police have arrested two people and took two guns off the streets. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said officers during a traffic stop Thursday determined the driver illegally had a gun. The vehicle was pulled over at the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Lillian Street. Dalaun Samuels, 25, of...
Search of Vandergrift home results in 2 arrests, police say narcotics recovered
A pair of Vandergrift residents face several drug charges after borough police and Westmoreland County detectives raided their Delaware Avenue home early Thursday. Kaeona Booker, 26, and Eugene Iagnemma, 54, were taken into custody after law enforcement executed a search warrant and seized “several items related to drug activity,” according...
May Mart in Sewickley brings garden clubs, communities together
Flowers, fun and fellowship were in full bloom at the annual Sewickley Civic Garden Council’s May Mart. A few hundred of people packed Broad Street, from Thorn to Beaver streets, for the vegetation celebration in Sewickley on May 11. The event could not have worked out better for the flora...
