Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 9
Ligonier woman killed by falling tree branch at softball event in McKeesport
A Ligonier woman was killed Wednesday after tree branches fell on her at a youth softball event in McKeesport. Gendie Miller, 49, was attending the event to watch her teenage daughter participate. USA Softball of Western Pennsylvania officials said the incident took place prior to game play during the Western...
Blawnox Community Park mural highlights nature, spring colors
A pair of Pittsburgh area artists have brought some nature and seasonal colors to Blawnox Community Park as part of a mural project commissioned by a borough nonprofit. Monica Cervone McElwain of Glenshaw and Lynn Ratkovich of Brighton Heights spent several weeks this summer putting brush to the wall of...
Exterior renovation project underway at Sewickley Public Library
Bob Lavery has been coming to the Sewickley Public Library for nearly 30 years. The borough resident has witnessed many of its renovations and rehabilitations from the expansion in the late 1990s and the replacement of its Spanish tile roof of the reference department (also known as the original entrance...
Indiana Township paving project to begin soon
Paving will soon be underway in Indiana Township. Supervisors recently awarded this year’s road repair project to Bakerstown-based Shields Asphalt Paving. They were the lowest of six bidders seeking to repave 12 streets in the township’s Indianola neighborhood. Public works crews were doing asphalt prep work along multiple roads this...
diVino Wine Bar a step closer to opening in Leetsdale
A push to turn a former Leetsdale church into a wine bar has led to a change in the borough’s zoning ordinance that could make it easier for future building use changes. Nate and Valeriya Harsch of Harmony Township plan to open diVino Wine Bar & Retail at 126 Broad...
Sewickley Chamber Night Marts continue July 25
Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce officials are counting on repeat success as they plan for this summer’s next Night Mart. The first of three major summer gatherings of food vendors and crafters took place on June 27. Organizers estimate more than 2,000 people packed the Sewickley business district from 6-9...
Blawnox borough manager retiring at the end of the year
The search is on for a new Blawnox borough manager as Kathly Ulanowicz plans to call it a career at the end of this year. Council voted 6-0 on July 9 to post the top administrative position. Councilman Mark Lombardi was absent. Borough officials plan to advertise it through the...
Leetsdale mayor receives state service award
Leetsdale Mayor Sandra Ford is known in her community as someone to bring concerns to and who cares deeply about people. She has organized various senior luncheons and holiday events, is in her fourth year as head of the borough’s food pantry and oversees the police department, among other duties....
O’Hara welcomes new social worker to the township
Kayla Somerville has found herself in a new community with the same goal of helping people. The Butler resident and University of Pittsburgh grad was recently hired as O’Hara’s human services coordinator and leads the township’s social worker program. She works closely with the police department to help residents with...
Glen Osborne officials appoint familiar face as their new mayor
Glen Osborne officials recently welcomed a familiar face as their new mayor. Former council president Tom Huddleston was appointed last month to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Barbara Carrier, who resigned from office in May because she moved out of the borough. Carrier, 76, a Democrat, has served as...
Fox Chapel Area School District STEAM camp draws nearly 200 students
Fox Chapel Area School District hosted its annual STEAM Camp at Fairview Elementary School last month. About 200 students participated in the week dedicated to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. It was open to students in first through eighth grades. District community engagement specialist Jill Leonard said students attended...
Tarentum man charged in connection with Halloween dog attacks
Editor’s note: This story was changed on Wednesday, July 15, to reflect that all charges against Brandon Baynes were dismissed in June. A Tarentum man is facing criminal charges, accused by police of letting pit bulls out of an apartment on Halloween that attacked and severely injured other residents. Shawn...
Sewickley celebrates longtime police officer’s service, retirement
Sewickley and state officials saluted one of the borough’s finest as he recently traded in his badge and gun for shorts and household chores. Former Sgt. Bob McNatt was honored for his 33 years of service on the police force. Mayor George Shannon presented him with a plaque and Lori...
Girl falls from Leechburg Bridge onto shoreline of Kiski River
A girl was taken by medical helicopter to a local hospital after falling off the Leechburg Bridge and onto the shoreline along the Kiskiminetas River Monday evening. Lower Kiski Ambulance Service confirmed the incident via its Facebook page. The post said crews responded to the scene at the bridge, along...
Cat rescue in Bethel Park rehomes felines after car crashes into building
A Bethel Park cat rescue had to scramble to find homes for several felines after a car crashed into the charity’s community room on Monday. In a Facebook post Monday evening, Cali Cats Rescue said that its power had been shut off after the accident, making it impossible for cats...
Man in stable condition after being shot in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood
A man has been hospitalized in stable condition after being shot in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said city police responded to two ShotSpotter alerts at about 2:50 p.m. Monday along the 7200 block of Race Street. About 13 shots were fired, according to the report....
Sharpsburg Parks and Rec Commission welcomes new members
Sharpsburg’s parks and rec commission recently welcomed two new members. Residents Paul Rouse and Jon Andrascik were sworn in to their volunteer positions by Mayor Kayla Portis earlier this year. Commission terms are four years. Rouse said he moved to the borough from O’Hara about three years ago and wanted...
West Nile virus found in mosquito samples from multiple Allegheny County neighborhoods
Allegheny County Health Department officials announced mosquitoes collected in certain parts of the county this month tested positive for West Nile virus. Samples found to have the virus were taken July 8 from Wilkinsburg, Schenley Park, Mt. Washington, Beltzhoover, Mt. Oliver and Hazelwood. West Nile virus is the leading cause...
Quaker Valley officials say stadium turf/track replacement could be done by early August
It’s literally a rebuilding year for Quaker Valley High School athletics as a turf and track replacement project nears its halfway point. Keystone Sports Construction crews have been working to gut the playing surface at Chuck Knox Stadium since June 4. Charlie Gauthier, district director of facilities and administrative services,...
Quaker Valley grad named new Allegheny County Bar Association president
Amy (Barrick) Coco never forgot a saying learned from her late Advanced Placement English teacher Shirley Stevens at Quaker Valley High School. “She taught me, ‘specific is terrific,’” said Coco, 57, a 1985 graduate. She recalled several teachers and looked back fondly on her early education during her first day...
Rite Aid in Sewickley among the locations closing
Many Rite Aid locations across Western Pennsylvania are closing and the Sewickley store is no exception. The last day to buy things at 517 Beaver St. is July 20. Everything must go, according to a sign in the window — including the shelves and fixtures that are up for sale....
Sharpsburg Market Garden is a growing opportunity for volunteers
People don’t need to have a green thumb to help out at the Sharpsburg Market Garden. Tucked away near the intersection of Middle and 13th streets is where free fresh vegetables can be found. A handful of volunteers on Friday evenings tend to 25 beds each about 3 feet wide...
New Fox Chapel pickleball courts come with new rules
Pickleball players on the recently opened public courts at Fox Chapel’s McCahill Park have some fair-play rules to follow. Regulations include no reservations and no saving courts, which are available on a first-come-first-served basis. If other players are waiting, games should end at 11 points (waiving the customary rule of...
Sewickley Tavern still on the market
Sewickley Tavern remains for sale more than six months after it went on the market. Howard Hanna Real Estate agent Michael Levenson said the property at 409 Beaver St. was put on the market between mid-November and early December. The listed price for the “turn-key restaurant” is $2.3 million, according...
Aspinwall Zoning Hearing Board to receive plans for proposed townhouses at former church site
Plans for five high-end townhouses at a former Methodist Church site in Aspinwall are moving forward. Planning commissioners voted 7-0 June 15 to push the proposed development by Amena Properties founder Tony Pompeo Jr. on to the zoning hearing board. Vice Chairman Robert Scott was absent. The earliest that the...
