Patrick Varine stories, Page 66
Longtime firefighter, paramedic named Murrysville Volunteer of the Year
Rick O’Mahony of Murrysville answered his first emergency call in 1964. “You can do the math,” he said. “I’ve been in it ever since.” O’Mahony was named the Murrysville Volunteer of the Year at Wednesday’s council meeting. He is a longtime paramedic, firefighter with Murrysville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1,...
Murrysville Council approves WetGo car wash on Route 22
Murrysville officials approved construction of a WetGo car wash, which will replace the former Standard Bank on Route 22. Giant Eagle officials have expanded their presence in the municipality’s business corridor in recent years, adding a GetGo gas station and upgrading the grocery store to a Market District. In addition...
Murrysville area: FR musical highlights, art show, girls’ computer camp and more
Submit news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Symphony East hosts Franklin Regional musical highlights The Symphony East will present an April 17 program of highlights from Franklin Regional Senior High School’s production of “Grease.” It will be at 1 p.m. at the Lamplighter, 6566 William Penn Highway in Salem....
State approves $485,000 grant for downtown upgrades in Export
Export officials didn’t get the $1.95 million they were hoping for, but a state grant for about $485,000 will go a long way toward realizing a project to unify its downtown features and establish a central community space. The original concept plan, dubbed “Heritage Square” in 2021, used newly designed...
For winners, Pennsylvania’s liquor lottery is worth the time, money
Back in 2018, David Falcheck of Scranton got the notification he was waiting for — he was among a small group of winners chosen from thousands of lottery entries for the chance to buy a 12-year-old bottle of Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon. “It was excellent,” Falcheck said of...
Annual Jack Sedlak Community Clean-Up set for April 29 in Monroeville
Last year, Joe Sedlak said he couldn’t remember when the roadside litter in Monroeville was so bad. And while winter in the Pittsburgh area has been mild in temperature and precipitation, the wind has been another story. “A lot of people seem to think the wind we’ve had the last...
1 injured as car goes over hillside at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills
One person was injured Tuesday when their car rolled down a hill onto the sidelines of the athletic field at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills, according to firefighters. Penn Hills No. 7 was among three fire companies that responded along with police and EMS to the single-car crash, which...
‘Air’ follows Trafford native’s pursuit of Michael Jordan for NikeVideo
Most people won’t get a chance to see a movie made about their lives — much less see themselves portrayed by A-list Hollywood leading man Matt Damon. Trafford native John “Sonny” Vaccaro is about to get both. “Air: Courting a Legend” premieres Wednesday in theaters nationwide. Directed by Ben Affleck,...
Murrysville continues park updates; gaga ball pit planned at Kovalczik Park
The children’s game gaga ball is becoming more popular with Murrysville recreation officials, who are looking to partner with local Boy Scouts to install a second arena for the game at a local community park. “In 2022, a local Scout installed the gaga ball pit at Murrysville Community Park for...
Turtle Creek man arrested after allegedly dragging police officer last year
A Turtle Creek man accused of dragging a Whitehall police officer more than 200 feet with his car was arrested Friday by Allegheny County police after being wanted for nearly a year. Alphonso Francis, 28, was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and a firearms violation, and has been wanted...
Swift-moving fire engulfs building in Leechburg
No injuries were reported in a swift-moving fire at a commercial structure in Leechburg on Friday. The blaze at Metco Supply Inc., 81 Kiski Ave., was reported just after 5 p.m. Leechburg Volunteer Fire Co. Chief John Foster said it took longer than he was hoping to attack the fire....
Westmoreland Conservancy officials seek off-road riders who damaged reserve property
Westmoreland Conservancy officials are seeking information about who drove all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes through the Morosini Reserve property in Murrysville, damaging a fragile ecosystem in the process. Sometime between March 24-26, riders entered the property and drove through what is called a vernal pool off the south trail at...
Murrysville area: Local-access TV changes, gun club Youth Day, chili cook-off and more
Submit news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Craft and vendor show at Union Presbyterian Union Presbyterian Church will host an April 15 craft and vendor show. It will include woodworking artists, a wreath wrapper, stained glass crafter, cross-stitch, flower and plant vendors and more. It will be from 11...
Lottery officials present Mt. Pleasant man with $1 million ‘check’ at North Huntingdon pharmacyVideo
Nick Pletcher stopped by the pharmacy to get a prescription filled. He left with $1 million. Well, technically he left with a winning Pennsylvania Lottery ticket. On Wednesday morning, he was joined by lottery officials at AccuServ Pharmacy in North Huntingdon, where he bought the winning Millionaire Maker scratch-off ticket....
Murrysville council approves Kistler Road development; will upgrade Duff Park bridges
Murrysville council recently approved a project along William Penn Highway that includes both retail space and apartments. Council granted reapproval to Kistler Place, a mixed-use project proposed near the intersection of Kistler Road and Route 22 west of Rick’s Sports Bar in Murrysville. Developers are required to sign and post...
Annual Gombosh Fishing Derby set for April 1 in Murrysville
The annual Joey Gombosh Fishing Derby will offer free fishing for children ages 15 and under on Saturday The derby will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the pond at Townsend Park. No fishing license is required for children, and there is no fee to participate. There are...
WetGo car wash proposed along Murrysville business corridor
Giant Eagle officials are looking to expand their presence along the Route 22 business corridor in Murrysville, proposing a WetGo car wash. The 1.2 acre site, formerly home to Standard Bank, is situated adjacent to the GetGo fuel station and convenience store, and across Old William Penn Highway from the...
CDC report: Tick-borne illness babesiosis on rise in Northeast
As a rare tick-borne disease is on the rise in the northeastern United States, a local professor is awaiting test results to see whether babesiosis is taking hold in the Keystone State. Pennsylvania is among the worst states in the nation for Lyme cases, and concern about its prevalence has...
Murrysville area: Egg hunts, leaf collection dates, girls’ computer camp and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Local egg hunts • The Delmont Recreation Committee will host an April 8 egg hunt for children in three different age groups at Newhouse Park. There will be a craft for children at 11:30 a.m., with the hunt starting at noon for...
Penn-Trafford goes ‘Under the Sea’ with spring musical ‘Little Mermaid’
For seniors in the Penn-Trafford Drama Guild, this year’s musical is exciting but perhaps a little bittersweet, it being their last before graduating. But it’s not stopping any of the 16 seniors from working as hard as they can to make “The Little Mermaid” a show to remember. “It’s a...
Opponents of Saturday deer opener cite negative economic, social impacts
A few years ago, Randy Santucci’s deer hunting season would begin at a leisurely pace once Thanksgiving was over. “People would start trickling into camp on Saturday, we’d do a campfire Saturday night, my brother would fly in from South Carolina with a bunch of dove breasts from hunting, and...
Murrysville Medic One officials hope for strong response to subscription drive
Murrysville Medic One staff members responded to more than 15,000 calls in 2022, an average of more than 40 a day. To continue that level of service, they are hoping for a good response to their annual fundraising drive. “Many residents believe in a mistaken way that they may never...
Delmont moves ahead to develop ‘jake brake’ ordinance; police say they can’t enforce it
Delmont officials will move ahead in developing a “jake-brake” ordinance, despite acknowledging that their police department will not be able to enforce it. Borough officials asked the state transportation department to study a stretch of Route 66 in order to post signs prohibiting the use of engine brake retarders, or...
Penn Township couple readies to open ice cream shop in Murrysville
A Penn Township couple is opening a franchise of a popular Pittsburgh-based ice cream maker. Brian and Lori McBarron will operate the 10th location of Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream at the Blue Spruce Shoppes in Murrysville. “It’s close to home,” said Lori McBarron of Harrison City. “With the traffic that...
New Jersey man charged after biting police officer during Saltsburg arrest
A New Jersey man is accused of biting a state trooper while trying to fill a fraudulent prescription Wednesday at a Saltsburg pharmacy. William Tifa, 25, of Newark, faces charges including assault of a law enforcement officer, attempting to obtain a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, identity theft, simple...
