Quincey Reese stories, Page 11
Dozens at Pitt-Greensburg rally to support LGBTQ+, Latino communities in Trump era
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg sophomore Debany Renovato stood before a small group of protesters Thursday afternoon, recounting her experience moving from Mexico to the United States when she was in fifth grade. Two dozen students — many from the college’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance club — and handful of...
‘A light in this school’: Penn Middle School expands Landram’s Light charity, created in honor of late teacher
Pete Landram was emotional when he walked through the doors of Penn Middle School to watch his son, Dylan, and 14 classmates pack tote bags with supplies for local cancer patients in honor of his wife. Jackie Landram taught seventh grade English at the Penn Township school for 16 years....
‘It’s important to be here’: Greensburg Salem musical program rebounds from dip in participation
Across his seven years of musical theater experience, Greensburg Salem senior Wesley Heverly has watched himself and his castmates grow as actors, vocalists and dancers. “It’s really incredible to see how far everyone has come and grown throughout this whole process,” said Heverly, one of the district’s high school students...
Westmoreland native paints business windows, collects donations for LGBTQ+ nonprofits
What started as way for artist Victoria “V” Jennings to boost people’s spirits during the covid pandemic has turned into charitable fundraising. The Westmoreland County native has painted murals for about a decade. When the pandemic restrictions of March 2020 continued into the winter, Jennings put her artistic skills to...
Case will proceed against mother, daughter accused of stealing from estate of Greensburg Beverage CEO
A mother and daughter accused of stealing a relative’s $4.4 million inheritance from the estate of the late Greensburg Beverage CEO will have criminal charges proceed in Westmoreland County Court, a district judge ruled Thursday. Angela Lynne Valesky, 26, of Murrysville and her mother, Lisa Anne Skatell-Valesky, 51, of Jeannette...
Residents voice concerns as Penn Township continues developing zoning change proposal
As Penn Township officials continue to weigh a series of zoning changes aimed at increasing economic development, resident Darlene Leslie is worried her quiet home will be disturbed by traffic, noise and pollution. Leslie lives in the eastern portion of the township, about three miles from Bushy Run Corporate Park...
Reversing enrollment decline among priorities for incoming Westmoreland Co. Community College president
As Westmoreland County Community College grapples with a decline in enrollment and recent turnover in its top leader, incoming president Kristin Mallory aims to stabilize the institution. The vice president of academic affairs at Wor-Wic Community College in Salisbury, Md., Mallory was hired as the college’s president last week after...
‘They can sense the tension in our society’: Rep. Summer Lee speaks to Gateway 5th graders, tours renovated facility
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee didn’t mince words Tuesday afternoon when a Gateway Middle School student asked the Swissvale Democrat what Congress’ biggest challenge is right now. “Can I be honest?” Lee said. “The president.” Lee, D-Swissvale, spoke with Gateway’s fifth grade class about her career path, achieving goals and the...
Ex-Hempfield basketball coach retires from guidance counselor job after investigation
Former Hempfield Area High School boys basketball coach Bill Swan will retire from his guidance counselor role in June, following approval by the school board Monday night. Swan was placed on paid administrative leave from his coaching and guidance counselor positions Jan. 14 as the school district investigated an allegation...
Pittsburgh to open warming centers as frigid temperatures loom
As Pittsburgh prepares to welcome frigid temperatures and icy winds Tuesday, the city will open six warming centers to the community. The city’s parks and recreation department will provide the warming centers from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. They are located at 1555 Broadway Avenue in Beechview, 3515 McClure...
Manor couple aims to create pet-finding app after death of 16-year-old goat
When Penny Layne ventured into the woods behind her Manor home on an icy January night, only one objective was on her mind: to find her missing 16-year-old goat, Patrick. Armed with a flashlight and a cellphone battery life near zero, Layne climbed over downed trees and trudged through the...
Westmoreland high school students pursue first responder certifications
Students in 10 of Westmoreland County’s school districts don’t have to wait until after graduation to pursue a career as a first responder. Through the Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center’s Protective Services class, students in grades 10-12 at select Westmoreland schools can earn certifications in firefighting, policing, EMS and...
Former Hempfield high school boys basketball coach to retire from guidance counselor job
After resigning from his coaching duties last month, former Hempfield Area High School boys basketball coach Bill Swan will retire from his job as a district guidance counselor. The move was announced at a Hempfield School Board meeting this week. Swan declined to comment when contacted by a reporter Wednesday....
Hempfield Area eyes million-dollar roof replacements at 3 more schools
After voting in December to replace the roof at one of its elementary schools, Hempfield Area school directors will decide next week whether to add three additional roof projects onto the district’s to-do list. The board in December hired Garland Co. Inc. to replace the roof on Fort Allen’s gym...
Public schools embrace Shapiro plan to cut $378M in cyber tuition costs
Gov. Josh Shapiro is proposing unprecedented funding for Pennsylvania’s K-12 public schools, including $526 million in supplemental funding for poor districts, $125 million to help pay for building projects and $111 million to support student mental health and safety. Jeannette City School District Superintendent Matthew Jones said he’s most interested...
Westmoreland County Community College hires next president after 8-month search
Westmoreland County Community College’s next president will take office in July. The WCCC board of trustees voted unanimously Monday to hire Kristin Mallory, vice president for academic affairs at Wor-Wic Community College in Salisbury, Md. Selected from about 150 applicants, Mallory will start a three-year term July 1 with a...
Saint Vincent College, Westmoreland Intermediate Unit to host career expo for aspiring teachers
After hosting an educator career fair last spring, Saint Vincent College and the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit knew they needed to take a different approach. “I think we both recognized the need to try to target a couple of different audiences,” said Tracy McNelly, chair of the college’s education department, “because...
Greensburg Salem 6th graders foster collaboration, school spirit under new ‘house’ system
A group of 13 Greensburg Salem sixth grade students stood at the front of a middle school classroom this week, waiting for the district’s school board members — seated in wooden chairs — to blindly select a set of colored beads from a box. The color of the beads corresponded...
Bushy Run launches winter living history event after canceling August reenactment
After canceling its annual reenactment of a 1700s battle this summer, Bushy Run will host a new living history event at its museum Saturday. Bushy Run canceled its August reenactment — which tells the story of a 1763 clash between British soldiers and Native Americans during Pontiac’s War — in...
Penn Township 8th grader’s glass art earns spot in international showcase
Most 13-year-olds wouldn’t ask for a glass-blowing torch for their birthday. But Penn Township native Caitlin Dolhi isn’t like most 13-year-olds. Dolhi, an eighth grade student at Penn Middle School, learned three years ago about the Pittsburgh Glass Center, tucked along Penn Avenue in the city’s Friendship neighborhood, and enrolled...
Split Stage explores good, evil in performance of ‘Jekyll & Hyde’
Elly Carr will take a step back in time this weekend performing in Split Stage Productions’ rendition of the musical “Jekyll & Hyde.” Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novel “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” the 1990 musical falls on Carr’s all-time favorite list. “When I...
Breeze Airways adds summer South Carolina flights from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh air travelers have a new direct destination available to them. Breeze Airways will start offering flights to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in South Carolina on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the summer, according to a Pittsburgh International Airport release. This is the 13th destination Breeze Airways offers at the Pittsburgh airport...
Fire crews knock down flames sparked by bathroom remodel in Derry Township
Fire crews knocked down Wednesday afternoon an attic fire at a Derry Township home that was sparked during a bathroom remodeling. Crews were called to a home in the 4000 block of Route 982 around 1:20 p.m., Bradenville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mark Piantine said. A relative of the homeowners...
Seton Hill to honor MLK through speaker, day of service
Seton Hill University in Greensburg will honor Martin Luther King Jr. with its annual educational program and day of service. The program will feature speaker Don C. Sawyer III, Fairfield University’s first vice president for diversity, inclusion and belonging. An associate professor in the university’s department of sociology and anthropology,...
Penn-Trafford student, inspired by 8-year-old cancer survivor, aims to raise $10K for nonprofit
Penn-Trafford sophomore Abby Rayman is on a mission to raise $10,000 to support children diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma. It’s part of a challenge posed by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a national nonprofit with a branch on Pittsburgh’s South Side. As a candidate for the society’s Student Visionary of...
