Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 3
21% tax increase in Brackenridge attributed to rising costs, recent $1.2M bond
Brackenridge residents will pay 21% more in property taxes next year after council approved the borough’s $1.5 million budget Thursday. The plan calls for an increase in the tax rate from 7 to 8.5 mills. The owner of a home assessed at the median value of $50,900 will pay $432, an...
Residents get glimpse of proposed ambulance service authority in Harrison, Tarentum, Brackenridge
A consultant for the proposed Alle-Kiski Emergency Service Authority said the tentative cost for property owners would be comparable to a monthly Netflix subscription or two cups of Dunkin coffee. The plan to create a paid authority by merging Eureka Community Ambulance in Tarentum and Citizens Hose EMS in Harrison...
Highlands School Board, teachers union could ratify 5-year deal in January
An early-bird contract that would shore up Highlands School District teachers’ salaries and other benefits through 2030 will be on the school board’s agenda in January. The board was hoping to vote during its meeting Tuesday, but the move was delayed. A tentative five-year contract previously was approved by the...
Fawn considers ordinance for placement of wind turbines, data centers and more
Fawn residents can weigh in on proposed changes to the township’s zoning ordinance during an upcoming public hearing. The meeting will focus on regulations for the location of wind turbines, data centers and nuclear reactor facilities. A proposed amendment provides for conditional uses for all three in the Industrial and...
Ballistic gear in the works for Tarentum police dog
Like their human counterparts, police dogs need specialized equipment to protect them during violent encounters. In Tarentum, K-9 Officer Jeremy Belusar is doing what he can to keep the borough’s police dog, Kilo, safe. The department was awarded a bullet- and stab-protective vest through the nonprofit Vested Interest in K-9s....
After boiler fails, Central Presbyterian’s free holiday concert moves to Brackenridge
An annual holiday concert hosted by Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum has been moved because the building is without heat. Church administrator Dave Rankin said the steam boiler at the church along Allegheny Street is awaiting repairs. Instead, “Ave Maria,” featuring soprano Katy Williams, will be performed Sunday, Dec. 14,...
Owner of Brackenridge Heights Golf Course dismisses rumors of purchase; property remains on the market
The Brackenridge Heights Golf Course remains on the market after several years. If owner Ted Tomson has his way, the 83-acre property in Harrison will remain mostly green. “I’d like to see it stay a golf course,” said Tomson, owner of a scrap metal yard in Brackenridge and Harrison, and...
Sharpsburg, Etna, Millvale ramp up efforts to connect residents with food resources
Leaders in Sharpsburg, Etna and Millvale are ramping up efforts to help people struggling after a government pause of SNAP benefits and an overall increase in grocery costs. A list of food resources was developed to help people in need across the tri-borough area. “We’ve had so many more people...
Highlands to open pool for adult swim programs
The public will be able to enjoy the new $2 million pool at Highlands High School through a free, open swim program for adults. District officials plan to open the program as soon as January for people 18 and older to swim laps, engage in self-paced water aerobics or just...
Leechburg Area among 4 districts suing state’s largest cyber school for tuition costs
Leechburg Area is among four school districts that have filed a lawsuit against the state’s largest cyber charter school asking that tuition be dropped for local students. The suit claims Commonwealth Charter Academy, as well as the state Department of Education through lack of sufficient oversight, fails to provide students...
Fox Chapel Garden Club artists donate skills to boost horticulture projects across Allegheny County
Cece Miller has a passion for needlepoint. A 40-year hobby, it nurtures her creativity through an endless choice of stitches and threads. “I find it relaxing and I love the finished product,” she said. And at least one of those products goes a long way to help others. Miller is...
Christmas in Guyasuta features twinkling hike, zipline under the lights
A twinkling luminary hike is among the newest features at Christmas in Guyasuta, a holiday kickoff for all ages. The longstanding event is a winter-themed festivity hosted at Camp Guyasuta, accessed off 23rd Street in Sharpsburg. The wooded campus owned by Scouting America is glowing with thousands of lights –...
Fawn nearing 3 decades with no tax increase
It’s been 27 years since Fawn property owners have seen a property tax increase, and that streak is likely to be extended. The township supervisors have proposed a $1.8 million preliminary budget that holds the tax rate steady at 3.04 mills. If approved, the owner of a home with the...
Tarentum lands $200,000 federal grant for water plant upgrades
An effort by Tarentum to upgrade its failing water system has gotten a boost. The borough was awarded $200,000 in federal grants for upgrades to the water treatment plant and pump house, much of which is nearly 100 years old and considered a maintenance nightmare. “This project is another major...
Faces of the Valley: Giuseppe Lopreiato of Brackenridge credits old-school work ethic — and wine — for success
Giuseppe Lopreiato immigrated from Italy in 1960 with nothing but a strong work ethic and a knack for making wine. His wife, Maria, came first, settling with family in Brackenridge. Lopreiato stayed behind in his native Sant’Onofrio, working as a farmer and saving money to eventually follow. “It’s good here,”...
Single-lane traffic coming to Harmar, Indiana Township and Fox Chapel
Motorists in Harmar, Indiana Township and Fox Chapel should allow extra travel time to account for traffic restrictions. PennDOT announced work will continue through mid-December on Saxonburg Boulevard, Harts Run Road, Dorseyville Road, Fox Chapel Road and Guys Run Road as part of an $11.8 million paving group project. Work...
Tarentum taxes to remain steady under proposed budget; utilities to increase slightly
Property taxes were held steady in Tarentum, although residents will likely see a slight increase in some utility costs. The proposed $5.7 million general fund budget was passed Tuesday. It maintains a property tax rate of 5.98 mills. If approved, the owner of a home assessed at the borough’s median...
Tarentum man mauled by his own dogs
A Tarentum man who faced charges last year after his pit bulls attacked several people on Halloween was mauled by his three dogs Tuesday at a borough apartment. Brandon Baynes, 37, suffered severe injuries to his face, Tarentum police said. Emergency crews were called early Tuesday to an Allegheny County...
Paving begins on Pittsburgh Mills roads while mall owner fights $11 million in fines
Shoppers at Pittsburgh Mills didn’t seem to mind the maze of detours Monday at the Frazer mall. They were too busy celebrating the milling and paving of the pothole-riddled Village Center Drive, which runs in front of Lowe’s, Ross and Aldi. The road had become notorious for massive craters that...
State Sen. Lindsey Williams hosts food drive in Harrison, Ross
State Sen. Lindsey Williams is hosting a food drive to benefit local families. Her office at Heights Plaza in Harrison is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. In addition, donations will be collected at her Ross office along McKnight Road. Proceeds will benefit Feeding the Flock...
Harrison Township Manager Amy Rockwell honored for municipal leadership
Harrison Township Manager Amy Rockwell is among the best in the state for municipal management. That’s according to news platform City & State, which honored Rockwell with its annual 50 Over 50 award for leaders who have made an impact in government, business or public service. “This award is a...
Changing times prompt ballistic gear upgrade for ambulance crews
The shooting death of Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire in 2023 continues to shape the way local emergency personnel operate. Eureka Community Ambulance in Tarentum and Citizens Hose EMS in Harrison are ramping up ballistic protection as a direct result of the McIntire ambush, Eureka Chief Brad James said. “It’s...
No tax increase expected in Indiana Township
Indiana Township residents are not likely to see a property tax increase next year. The proposed $8.7 million budget maintains a tax rate of 3.47 mills — 2.99 mills for the township and 0.48-mill for the fire departments. The owner of a home assessed at the township’s median value of...
Brackenridge Salvation Army sets $95,000 Red Kettle goal to support programs
The Brackenridge Salvation Army is kicking off its Red Kettle Campaign Saturday, a week earlier than the agency’s national start. Captain Selah Bender said she is trying to make up for several bell-ringing locations lost in the Alle-Kiski Valley over the past couple of years. “Big Lots closed in Heights...
Faces of the Valley: Paramedic eager to return to Eureka Fire-Rescue after Middle East deployment
Savanna Scholl’s first stop after returning from deployment in the Middle East was Sheetz. “It was 3 in the morning, and I really missed the food in the U.S.,” she said, laughing. “I got mac-and-cheese bites and a milkshake. It was great.” Scholl, a paramedic at Eureka Fire-Rescue in Tarentum,...
