Patrick Varine stories, Page 50
Murrysville will bring parks fracking proposal up for vote
Murrysville council will take a vote next month to determine whether unconventional drilling can take place beneath its two largest public parks. Council voted unanimously to advertise ordinances that would permit fracking beneath 74 acres of Duff Park and 305 acres of Murrysville Community Park. Both would involve leases with...
Murrysville council advances short-term rental ordinance
Murrysville council will vote next month on an update to its ordinances governing short-term rental properties, typically booked through companies like AirBnB or VRBO. Council voted unanimously to advertise the ordinance, which would remove references to specific zoning where short-term rentals could be located, remove language requiring that a short-term...
Murrysville reserve namesake wants to help maintain trails: ‘It just needs some attention’
Skena Nature Reserve in Murrysville is a quiet, bucolic place. As leaves on the trees start counting their final days this month, the reserve is splashed with color across its 22 acres. But if you try to go for a walk along its trails, things hit a snag — a...
Murrysville area: Santa at Sardis, Dr. Zoot at Symphony East, ‘Advent Adventure’ and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Please email events at least two weeks in advance if possible, for the best chance of timely publication. ‘Santa at Sardis’ The Murrysville Recreation Department will host its annual “Santa at Sardis” event from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 2. It will take place...
Franklin Regional Thespians will present Dickens’ classic ‘A Christmas Carol’
Abby Wingard has spent her time with the Franklin Regional Thespians club in the wings of the theater, as a longtime member of the stage crew. But for her senior year, Wingard, 18, wanted to step onstage for a change. The problem? “I am not an actor, at all,” she...
Delmont Council proposes 2-mill tax hike, pursues $1M road work grant
Delmont officials are proposing a 2024 budget that will raise property taxes for the first time in more than a decade. Council voted 6-1 to advertise the $1.67 million budget, which calls for a 2-mill tax increase. Councilman Stan Cheyne voted no. A final vote on the 2024 budget will...
1 injured in Salem rollover crash
One person was transported by ambulance following a rollover crash near the northern end of the Route 66 Bypass in Salem on Wednesday morning. Westmoreland County 911 officials said the crash, involving a car and tractor trailer in the southbound lanes, was reported around 8:45 a.m. The car was heavily...
Pitt-Greensburg student struck by car near campus entrance
A University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg student was struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening near the entrance to the college in Hempfield, according to school officials. First responders were called to the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Road and University Drive just after 5 p.m., according to a Westmoreland County 911...
Mother of Sorrows principal will take administrative reins at Greensburg Central Catholic
Theresa Szmed is going to have to get used to seeing older students in the hallways of her workplace. Szmed, who has served as principal at Mother of Sorrows School in Murrysville since 2016, will become the new principal at Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School starting in January, diocese...
Natural gas commodities market, milder weather predictions could ease winter heating costsVideo
Members of the natural gas industry, both locally and nationally, are predicting a decline in winter heating bills in 2024 based on the current commodities market as well as the long-range winter forecast. “I think you’re looking at increased production and lower demand overall,” said Columbia Gas spokesperson Lee Gierczynski....
Export mayor proposes 2024 budget with no tax increase
Export will advertise a $1.1 million budget for 2024 that does not call for a tax increase. “Revenue’s up,” Mayor Joe Zaccagnini said in presenting the annual budget proposal. “We’ve been very fortunate. It’s darn near the same budget as last year. We have some savings because of the work...
Murrysville council will consider updates to short-term rental regulations
Murrysville council members will consider an ordinance addressing short-term rental properties. Council directed its staff to prepare an ordinance which would decouple short-term rentals — including AirBnBs and VRBOs — from restrictions based on zoning. The ordinance also would set a maximum occupancy of two people per bedroom or 10...
Wagon Wheel restaurant will close doors after 6 decades
Jodi Susick wasn’t going to miss her chance to order the red devil’s food cake from the Wagon Wheel. “My dad would pick me up on his lunch break and bring me with him for lunch,” said Susick, 49, of Salem as she waited for a massive slice of Our...
Remains of Pittsburgh native, shot down over Sicily in 1943, positively identifiedVideo
On July 10, 1943, Pittsburgh native and Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Gilbert Myers was flying a bombing mission over Sicily with crewmates from the 310th Bombardment Group, part of the 381st Bombardment Squadron during World War II. Myers’ B-25 Mitchell was struck by anti-aircraft fire and went down near...
Murrysville area: ‘Christmas Carol’ senior breakfast, woman’s club meeting, Delmont wellness checks and more
Senior citizen holiday breakfast The Franklin Regional School District will host a senior citizen holiday breakfast featuring a performance the classic “A Christmas Carol” on Nov. 30. It will be at the senior high school cafeteria, 3200 School Road in Murrysville, and is open to senior citizens 65 and older...
Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund officials visit Flight 93 memorial, meet with community
“You are not forgotten.” That was the message Allison Turkel wanted to make clear for anyone who responded to the Flight 93 crash site in Stonycreek on Sept. 11, 2001. Turkel, who was appointed in March as special master of the federal Sept. 11th Victim Compensation Fund, was joined by...
Pittsburgh native brings directorial debut, ‘Two Lives in Pittsburgh,’ to Three Rivers Film Festival
When Brian Silverman was growing up in Mt. Lebanon, his parents often took him along to the many cultural events they attended around Pittsburgh. That early exposure to the arts made an impression on Silverman, who’s now 55 and living in Los Angeles. He’s returned the favor to his hometown...
Proposed Murrysville budget tweaks Medic One allocation
Murrysville will make some changes in the way the municipality designates some of its tax millage, according to a 2024 budget proposal. The $15.6 million budget, first presented at council’s Nov. 1 meeting, represents a 1.34% increase over 2023, finance director Jacie Milchak said. “The (property) tax rate will remain...
Franklin Regional school board will see 3 new faces
Three newcomers and two incumbents prevailed in Tuesday’s election for four-year seats on the Franklin Regional school board, according to unofficial vote tallies. With 100% of the vote, unofficial results showed Deb Bucciero (16%), Scott Weinman (15.8%), Vince Azzolina (15.3%), John Fallat (14.8%) and Joshua Zebrak (14.2%) as the top...
Here are results from contested races in Westmoreland County
Here are results from several of Tuesday’s contested races in Westmoreland County, according to unofficial vote tallies. Export district judge Longtime assistant district attorney Judi Petrush beat out Murrysville attorney Robert Klingensmith in the election for Export district judge, where longtime Judge Charles Conway will retire at the end of...
Newcomer Opsitnick takes top spot in Export council election
A longtime incumbent was unseated in Export, according to unofficial vote tallies from Tuesday’s election. Incumbent John Nagoda, who has been on borough council since 1976, came in fourth with just over 19% of the vote. Nagoda, along with fellow incumbents David Silvis (22.8%) and Joe Ferri (22.4%), along with...
Youngwood Sportsmen’s Association hoping for 2nd successful charity turkey shoot
Winners at the Youngwood Sportsmen’s Association’s annual Youngwood Charity Turkey Shoot get more than just bragging rights. They’ll get the satisfaction of knowing they’ve helped a family in need put a Thanksgiving meal on the table. “Last year, we were able to donate 50 complete dinners to local families,” said...
VA seeks to expand successful adult day health care program
The Pittsburgh VA is always seeking new ways to connect veterans, both with its services and with one another. After a successful start to its adult day health care program this summer, it’s seeking additional host sites in Monroeville, White Oak and the South Hills. “It’s been going rather well,”...
Youngwood man charged with multiple counts of child rape, sexual assault
An arrest warrant has been issued for a Youngwood man accused of multiple counts of child rape, according to state police. Nathan A. Fitzpatrick, 21, of Youngwood faces charges of child rape, sexual assault, indecent assault and rape by forcible compulsion filed Friday by state police out of Greensburg. The...
Murrysville area: Monticello Lights, bell-ringing volunteers, Thanksgiving concert and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. To ensure timely publication, please send information two weeks in advance if possible. Salvation Army seeking bell-ringing volunteers The Salvation Army’s Delmont Service Center is seeking volunteers to perform bell-ringing duty during one-hour shifts between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Volunteers are...
