Tanisha Thomas stories, Page 5
Historic Homewood site to get boost from Boston-based nonprofit
The effort to restore and preserve the National Opera House, a historic landmark located in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, is receiving a helping hand from Castle of Our Skins, a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to amplifying and uplifting Black artistry. Ashleigh Gordon, artistic and executive director and co-founder of Castle of Our...
Springdale Cemetery preps for 200th anniversary with annual projects
The Springdale Cemetery Board of Directors is starting the celebration early for the cemetery’s 200th anniversary — in 2027. Cub Scouts from Pack 554 and their parents volunteered their time Tuesday evening to begin the work of preparing for the occasion. They dug up dirt and planted about 500 daffodils...
Political newcomer seeks GOP nomination over legislator in state Senate 38th District race
A political newcomer is looking to earn his first elective office as a state senator. Jake Roberts, 31, of Ross will be facing state Rep. Lori Mizgorski, 55, of Shaler for the Republican nomination in the state 38th Senatorial District race. Both candidates have similar views on abortion following the...
Gilpin supervisors give residents glimpse of potential police merger with Freeport
Gilpin supervisors gave a presentation showing what a regional police force would look like with Gilpin and Freeport combined. The presentation Tuesday evening was led by Chris Fabec, who serves as police chief for both municipalities. Fabec said a survey was sent out to Gilpin officers to get an idea...
First responders speak to students at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship
Penn Hills patrolman Lindsey Bigger laughed as students asked her if it was true that police officers ride around with donuts in their car. Bigger enjoyed the opportunity to educate students on what police officers do. “I love talking to the kids. This shows them we are people too, and...
Leechburg Area Middle School students pitch in as part of Pick Up Pennsylvania initiative
Leechburg Area Middle School students were in a different classroom environment Tuesday afternoon — for a good cause. Students and staff donned bright Hi-Liter green safety vests and heavy duty gloves, grabbed trash bags and picked up trash around the downtown Leechburg business district and other areas for an hour...
Work underway for Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority treatment plant expansion
Work is underway on the Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority treatment plant expansion project. The expansion is part of a federally mandated upgrade to control discharges of sewage and stormwater into the Allegheny River. Harmar Township engineer Matthew Pitsch said Hancock Camp Road, a private road that serves the Werner...
No cellphones for Penn Hills School District students next year
Starting in the 2022-23 school year, Penn Hills School District students will have their cellphone and any other communication devices stored away during the school day. Penn Hills High School Principal Eric Kostic made the announcement in a Facebook post on May 5. On April 26, the school board approved...
Penguins fans excited about return of the big screen
Despite the cloudy, chilly weather, hundreds of Pittsburgh Penguins fans flocked to perch on a chair and cheer on their team outside of PPG Paints Arena as the “big screen” made its return Saturday. Fans were able to watch Game 3 of the first round from the corner of Centre...
Design contest encourages residents to reimagine Penn Hills Shopping Center
A design challenge contest is calling for Penn Hills community members to reimagine the ideal layout of the Penn Hills Shopping Center to better serve the community. Participants are asked to create a design and upload a photo of it to Instagram, tagging @DesignPennHills. Submissions will be collected through May...
Penn Hills resident volunteers, maintains Old German Cemetery
Mowing two acres of a cemetery may not sound like an ideal Friday night activity, but for one Penn Hills resident, it’s his therapy. Carl “Butch” Lang has been helping to maintain the Old German Cemetery, located on the intersection of Hamil and Poketa roads, for nearly the past 10...
Penn Hills businesses Ma’s Honey, Sweet Honey’s Bakery to partner
Two Penn Hills businesses are coming together to provide the ultimate sweet experience for customers. Sweet Honey’s Bakery is partnering with Ma’s Honey at 11101 Frankstown Road. The joint business will be a diner-style experience, and the menu will expand to offer traditional breakfast items, coffee, baked goods, desserts and...
Faces of the Valley: Deer Lakes student is 1st in school district to achieve trifecta of musical festivals
A Deer Lakes High School student has achieved a musical feat never before seen in the district. Michael Everhart, a senior, became the first Deer Lakes student to qualify for three ensembles — band, orchestra and choir — at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Region Festivals held earlier this...
Fire levels trailer home in Buffalo Township
Fire destroyed a trailer home and damaged a neighboring trailer in Buffalo Township on Saturday morning. No injuries were reported in the fire that broke out around 10 a.m. and lasted until about 3 p.m. at Jack’s Mobile Homes on Bryan Drive, according to Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department Fire...
2 excavators stuck in muck pulled from Cheswick construction siteVideo
It’s not every day you witness an excavator — let alone two — being suspended in the air. The rare sight was why about a dozen Cheswick residents gathered Thursday afternoon to watch the excavators being lifted out of a quagmire at a Cheswick construction site. The recovery of the...
Sewickley Academy names Associate Head of School
Sewickley Academy has named Chris J. Anderson as its Associate Head of School. Anderson will assume the role in July, the Academy announced on April 25. “I am so excited to be back. I left 11 years ago to come here to Episcopal Academy. I have really missed Sewickley Academy...
Penn Hills Arts Festival canceled for 3rd year in a row
For the third year in a row, the annual Penn Hills Arts and Music Festival will not be held. Penn Hills Arts Council president Catherine Meara said due to covid and other issues among its members, holding the festival was not possible. The event normally takes place in mid-July. “I...
Springdale power plant documented for history
Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society Board President James Thomas remembers when Springdale was called “The Power City.” The establishment of the Cheswick Generating Station in 1970, producing 565 megawatts of electricity, was part of the borough’s claim to fame. The location’s proximity to coal mines and the river was the perfect...
Officials identify man, woman found dead in Springdale apartment
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the two people found dead Monday in a Springdale house as Robert Devaughn Williams, 36, of New Kensington and Morgan Kurpakus, 24, of Springdale. Their bodies were discovered after 3:30 p.m. Monday in a house in the 1000 of block of Pittsburgh...
Deer Lakes High School students plan walkout Friday to protest bullying, discrimination
After what he called “countless empty promises by the administration,” Deer Lakes High School senior Kevin Hoffman said he is compelled to speak up about bullying against him not being handled by the school. Since middle school, he said, he has faced racism, sexual harassment and threats. Each time he...
Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School alum shares her experience growing up biracial in her children’s book
Growing up, Melinda Suzensky knew right away she was different from her peers. A biracial girl in the predominantly white Allegheny Valley School District, she was bullied for looking different. She described it as being “a chocolate chip within marshmallows in a bowl.” “It was something they weren’t used to...
Alle-Kiski Valley’s only remaining Pearl Harbor survivor celebrates 100th birthday
George Pann smiled as he reached out a hand to pet a large, white sheep. Ryan Maglione, owner of Little Blessings Farm and Mobile Zoo, jokingly asked Pann if he wanted to take the sheep back to his room with him. Pann just laughed, marveling at the animal. It was...
Springdale VFD’s annual Jubilee comes to an end after 9 decades
The Springdale Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Jubilee carnival has been canceled, with no plans of returning. Zach Wilhem, secretary for the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department, said decreased attendance in the last 10 years and costly overhead expenses led to the decision to stop holding the event. “This announcement is made...
Penn Hills organization puts all hands on deck to help others
Nestled uphill on Frey Road in Penn Hills is a center that offers a variety of services many residents may not be aware of. The Western Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Development Center is a nonprofit that “has become the only search and rescue agency in Western Pennsylvania,” according to the...
Penn Hills alumni, teacher surprise family on Easter
A Penn Hills School District teacher and a Plum resident worked together to bring an uplifting surprise to a family in need on Easter weekend. Alexa Verricho and her family started a tradition three years ago of reaching out to their alma mater to find families in need in the...
