Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 60
Sewickley’s annual Light Up Night celebration draws a big crowd to the borough
Thousands packed Broad and Beaver streets in Sewickley to kick off the holiday season. The borough’s annual Light Up Night celebration brought in families from multiple communities on Dec. 2. “It’s a nice way to meet the community and see the families having holiday fun,” said Sharon Klugh of Hampton,...
Democrats express interest in Tony DeLuca’s state House seat
Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese and school board president Erin Vecchio have put their names in the hat for the Democratic nomination for the state House District 32 seat. The 32nd District has been represented by Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, for nearly 40 years. He died Oct. 9, 2022, at...
Driver hospitalized after crashing car into Vandergrift building
A man was hospitalized after crashing his car into a Vandergrift business Thursday night. Westmoreland County Public Safety said the one-car crash occurred around 7:45 p.m. at 140 Washington Ave. Vandergrift Fire Chief Randy Dunmire said his crew was able to free the driver from the wrecked car . The...
4-year-old dies in Pittsburgh shooting, 2 others injured
Three people were hospitalized in connection with a double shooting Thursday night in Pittsburgh. On Friday, Pittsburgh police said in a news update that the 4-year-old victim has died. Allegheny County dispatch said calls for the shooting came in around 6:40 p.m. along the 1500 block of Lincoln Avenue. Among...
Best of Blawnox Holiday Cookie Tour set for Saturday
A holiday celebration in Blawnox is back for its second year in the borough. The Best of Blawnox Holiday Cookie Tour and Blawnox Night of Lights are planned for Saturday. The tour takes place from 1-4 p.m. and Night of Lights festivities pick up from there until 6:30 p.m. Participants...
Quaker Valley area residents weigh in on Allegheny County judge’s ruling of a proposed high school project
Quaker Valley area residents have mixed reactions to an Allegheny County judge’s ruling on a zoning issue for a proposed Quaker Valley High School. Senior Judge Joseph James issued his six-page opinion Monday overturning a Leet Township zoning board decision to deny a special exception for the 167,000-square foot project....
Penn Hills paramedic remembered as an eager public servant
Penn Hills resident Nicholas Theofilis dedicated his life to public service. The Eagle Scout had dreams of working in the medical field, and while in high school, already had begun training as an emergency medical technician. Those dreams were cut short when the 23-year-old paramedic died Nov. 27 while on...
No tax hike or fee increases in Jefferson Hills 2023 preliminary budget
Jefferson Hills property owners should not expect to pay more in real estate taxes as part of next year’s borough budget. Council unanimously voted Nov. 14 to approve and advertise its 2023 preliminary budget. It maintains the millage rate at 5.66 mills. Council has not raised taxes in about a...
Sewickley Public Library goes fine-free at the start of December
Sewickley Public Library officials have announced a new policy regarding late and overdue materials. The library will no longer charge late/overdue fines on items borrowed from the library. The change became effective Dec. 1. It does not matter whether borrowers check out books, movies, audiobooks, or music — there will...
Pittsburgh police officer hurt while breaking up fight, separate shooting incident results in arrest
A Pittsburgh police officer was injured while attempting to break up a fight on Tuesday evening in Market Square. A Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesman tweeted about the incident around 8:30 p.m. They said officers responded to a dispute between juveniles at the Five Guys fast food restaurant. An officer suffered...
Pittsburgh man pleads guilty to firearms possession in connection with other crimes
A Pittsburgh man has plead guilty in federal court to possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, authorities announced Tuesday. Daryl Williams, 24, recently went before U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Authorities said Williams admitted having a gun as part of drug trafficking on two dates in May 2018....
Coraopolis man sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for possessing child porn
A Coraopolis man has been sentenced to spend the next five years in federal prison after he was convicted of possession of child pornography. The sentence was imposed on Christopher A. Sennett, 34, by U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon, federal authorities announced Tuesday. Sennett was found guilty of possession of...
Quaker Valley educator honored for her leadership, positive impacts
A Quaker Valley School District educator was recently honored for her leadership skills. Susan Gentile has been with the district for more than 25 years. She began her teaching career as a middle school English language arts teacher and worked as a high school English teacher. Gentile also served as...
Major Fox Chapel Garden Club fundraiser planned
An annual Fox Chapel Garden Club fundraiser will soon make its return to a familiar location. After a year outside in the cold due to covid-19 pandemic protocols, Glitter & Glow comes back to the Fox Chapel Golf Club on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The fundraiser was canceled in 2020 due...
Mandy Steele steps down as Fox Chapel councilwoman to take state House seat
Fox Chapel Council chose a former borough councilman who lost his bid for re-election in 2021 to fill the remaining 13 months of state Rep.-elect Mandy Steele’s council seat. Steele, 44, a Democrat in her first term on council, won the 33rd District state House seat in November’s general election...
Penn Hills School District receives boosted grant through state Department of Education
Penn Hills School District officials are working on a plan to use an estimated $1.1 million grant through the state Department of Education. The district was awarded a little more than $850,000 in a Ready to Learn Block Grant earlier this year. Officials announced in November they were able to...
Leetsdale’s 2023 preliminary budget contains no tax hike
Leetsdale property owners should not expect to pay more in real estate taxes next year. Council voted 4-1 Nov. 10 to pass and advertise the preliminary 2023 budget. The final budget is expected to pass Dec. 8. President Patricia Lee, vice president Maria Napolitano, Osman Awad and Jeffery Weatherby in...
Steel City Con returns to the Monroeville Convention Center
While it might be true that “dead men tell no tales,” pro wrestling legend The Undertaker should have some great stories to tell. And Pittsburghers might be able to hear a few as the pop culture icon will soon make his way to the Monroeville Convention Center for Steel City...
Fox Chapel’s 2023 proposed budget holds the line on real estate taxes
Strong earned income tax collection and a projected year-end surplus for 2022 has put Fox Chapel officials in a position to hold the line on real estate taxes next year, according to council Vice President Harrison Lauer. “The EIT was about $600,000 over budget, tremendous year,” he said at the...
Light Up the Wall in Aspinwall helps hundreds prepare for the holiday season
People packed the streets of Commercial and Brilliant avenues in Aspinwall to celebrate the borough’s annual Light Up the Wall holiday celebration. Festivities began with a live nativity musical with second graders from Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy under the direction of teacher Margaret Katocs shortly before 5 p.m....
Teen missing from Knoxville neighborhood found safe
A teenager missing from Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood was found safe. City police sought help from the public to find the 13-year-old boy who was last seen Thursday afternoon. He was found Friday, according to police....
Edgeworth officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes in next year’s budget
Edgeworth officials hope to stave off a real estate tax hike despite rising costs. Council voted 6-0 on Nov. 15 to approve and advertise its preliminary 2023 budget. Councilman Dan Wilson was absent. The millage rate is projected to remain at 4.15 mills. Proposed revenues and expenses were listed at...
New Kensington residents mark 5th anniversary of police officer Brian Shaw’s death in line of duty
It has been five years since New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw was killed in the line of duty. For many, like police Chief Robert Deringer, it feels like yesterday. “They say time heals all wounds,” Deringer said, standing across the police station after a memorial service Thursday night. “It...
Fox Chapel Garden Club hosts Glitter and Glow on Dec. 7.
Fox Chapel Garden Club is hosting Glitter and Glow from 7-9 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Fox Chapel Golf Club, 436 Fox Chapel Road. The club will be selling festive fresh arrangements made by its members. Other activities include an auction and cash bar. Tickets are $35. More information is...
Leet officials hope to hold the line on taxes with next year’s budget
Leet property owners should not expect to have to pay more in real estate taxes as a result of the township’s 2023 budget. Commissioners voted 4-0 on Nov. 14 to approve and advertise next year’s preliminary spending plan. President Martin McDaniel was absent. The millage rate is projected to remain...
