Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 32
Quaker Valley School District projects 2.9% tax hike in next school year’s budget
Quaker Valley School District property owners should expect to pay 2.9% more in real estate taxes next school year. School directors unanimously voted April 15 to adopt its 2024-25 proposed budget with a tax increase and no cuts to programs or services. The millage rate would go from 20.6277 mills...
Interior possibilities of proposed Quaker Valley High School project revealed
Quaker Valley School District architects have revealed potential interior color schemes and materials for the proposed high school project. Officials said they focused on sustainability and related issues when it came to selecting samples and had multiple discussions over the past few months about aesthetics and functionality. It culminated in...
Public input needed about Leetsdale park
Leetsdale officials want to hear from residents about what can be done to improve Kohlmeyer Park. The recreation site is located at 1301 Brickworks Drive. It has a small pavilion, a basketball court, a playground and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking. “It’s a small park tucked into a highly developed...
Annual Spin Your Wheels fundraiser moves to new location with same charitable goal
Jennifer Evashavik hopes more people answer the call of the late Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Queen front man Freddie Mercury: “Get on your bikes and ride.” The ninth annual Spin Your Wheels fundraiser is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27 at the Lauri Ann...
Artists needed for 240-square-foot community mural project in Sharpsburg
Artists are being sought for a major mural project in Sharpsburg. Artspiraton, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting Sharpsburg, Etna and Millvale through the arts, has put out a request for qualifications for a 240-square-foot art piece on the side of Conicella Family Dentistry, 701 Main St. The project is through...
Small fire reported at Kennywood
A fire at Kennywood was quickly put out Wednesday evening. Allegheny County dispatchers said the call for the fire at the West Mifflin area amusement park came in around 9:20 p.m. Emergency responders began clearing the scene around 9:45 p.m. Lynsey Winters, a spokesperson for Kennywood, told news partners WTAE...
Fox Chapel officials to turn curvy intersection into 3-way stop for safety reasons
Bill Bates has lived near the intersection of Guyasuta Road and Fieldvue Lane in Fox Chapel for about four decades. He has seen his share of near misses from cars attempting to turn onto Guyasuta and motorists going up and down the winding road. “It can be (dangerous) because the...
Leetsdale appoints new member to fill vacancy
Leetsdale has a new councilman. James DeGori, 42, was appointed to fill the seat vacated by councilwoman Beth Carroll, who stepped down for personal reasons effective March 15. Council accepted her resignation and shortly thereafter voted 4-1 to appoint DeGori on April 11. Councilwoman Patricia Lee was absent. Councilman Benjimen...
Armwell Township man dies in motorcycle crash
An Amwell Township man died in a motorcycle crash Monday afternoon along Amity Ridge Road in Amwell Township, according to the Washington County Coroner’s Office. Noah Nicholas Polites, 20, was not wearing a helmet, the coroner’s office said. Polites was pronounced dead at about 4 p.m....
Sewickley Bridge to close for 10 days
Sewickley area emergency responders are coordinating to ensure minimal disruptions during an upcoming Sewickley Bridge closure. PennDOT officials said the bridge connecting Sewickley to Moon Township across the Ohio River is expected to close from 7 p.m. April 19 through 6 a.m. April 29 so crews can make permanent repairs...
Aspinwall forms commission to address potential human rights issues; parking study in works
Aspinwall has a new group to address potential human rights issues. The borough’s Human Relations Commission was formed April 10. Mayor Joe Noro swore in several members in attendance. Its formation was spearheaded by council Vice President Heth Turnquist. “This (commission) is similar to many formed by municipalities around the...
Emergency repairs authorized to fix Sewickley road slope
A slope of a Sewickley road has deteriorated so much that it is in need of an emergency repair. Borough engineer Mike Galet said there is no danger yet to properties along Dickson Road, but repairs can’t be put off any longer. Council voted 8-0 on April 9 to authorize...
Leet appoints police chief, promotes part-time officer to full time
Leet officials welcomed a familiar face as their new township police chief. Commissioners voted 4-0 on April 8 to appoint Brian Jameson as the top cop. Commissioner Rody Nash was absent. The Ambridge resident was hired on an interim basis Aug. 8, 2022. His starting interim chief wages were set...
Blawnox councilwoman resigns; letters of interest to fill vacancy being accepted
Blawnox officials are seeking to replace Councilwoman Meghan Kennedy, who has resigned. Her colleagues on council accepted her resignation 5-0 on April 10. Council President Deborah Laskey was absent. Kennedy was appointed to council in 2016 and has since served as the borough’s finance expert. She was chair of council’s...
Brownies learn about judicial system from Sharpsburg-area district judge to earn badge
Members of Girl Scout Brownies Troop 51378 recently visited with Sharpsburg-area District Judge Matthew Rudzki as part of efforts to earn their Democracy for Brownies badge. The troop is based out of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Etna. Its Scouts are second and third graders from O’Hara, Shaler and the surrounding...
Weekend closure planned for northbound Boulevard of the Allies starting Friday night
A full weekend closure of the northbound Boulevard of the Allies in Pittsburgh is planned for Friday night through Monday morning as part of a construction project, PennDOT officials announced. The northbound (inbound) lanes of the boulevard will close between Craft Avenue and Jumonville Street from 8 p.m. Friday through...
Sewickley welcomes familiar face as its newest full-time patrolman
Richard Stuart placed his right hand on a small Bible held by his father. It was maybe 4-inches long; the same book used in December 1978 when the patriarch, Brian Stuart, swore his oath to become an inspector for the national police force of South Africa. The son followed in...
Sewickley fire chief charged in connection with hit-and-run insurance fraud investigation
Cochran Hose Company Fire Chief Shayne Quinn and another person have been charged in connection with an Allegheny County Police insurance fraud investigation. Charges stem from an incident March 24 in front of the fire station. Police said security video from the station shows Monica Hinda, 27, of Coraopolis go...
Leetsdale community event results in 24 new trees planted in the borough
Leetsdale officials and Quaker Valley area community members partnered with an environmental nonprofit to plant 24 trees in the borough. Numerous residential sites and sites and Kohlmeyer Park are a little greener thanks to the efforts of more than 60 people on March 23. The event was in partnership with...
Sewickley Hills launches new borough website
Sewickley Hills officials recently launched a new website to boost communication with residents and businesses. The site, sewickleyhills.com, was created in partnership with municipal website builders Town Web. Borough secretary Diana Steele said council reviewed at least three service providers and worked on the project with Town Web for nine...
Man shot in head, shoulder and neck in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood
A man was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood Monday. Public Safety spokeswoman Emily Bourne said police were dispatched shortly after 5:15 p.m. to the intersection of Paulson Avenue and Dodge Way for a three-round ShotSpotter alert. Police found a man with gunshot wounds to...
Fox Chapel Area School District considers new policy to help children of active military parents
Fox Chapel Area School District officials want to make it easier for the children of military families to attend school there. Military families often face problems with school attendance because they can be forced to move on short notice, sometimes arriving in a new school district in mid-term. That can...
Sharpsburg approves new 3-year police contract, first one negotiated through Teamsters
Sharpsburg officials have inked a new three-year police contract. The vote was 6-0 in favor of the collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 249. Both parties approved the deal March 28. Council Vice President Kayla Portis was absent. The contract is through Dec. 31, 2026. It impacts six full-time officers....
Vacancy pending on Leetsdale Council
Beth Carroll is stepping down from Leetsdale Council. The borough posted a notice about the pending vacancy on its website March 21. It states, in part: “Council anticipates that a vacancy may be created at the April 11 legislative meeting, for the position with term ending 2025.” Borough Solicitor Dan...
Leet Township officials expected to appoint a familiar face as police chief April 8
Acting Leet Township police Chief Brian Jameson is expected to formally become the top cop. The Ambridge resident was hired on an interim basis Aug. 8, 2022. The unanimous appointment was made shortly after Michael Molinaro was formally fired from the leadership post for lying to commissioners, unlawfully terminating a...
