Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 4
County leaders say furloughs, service cuts won’t disappear because of state budget deal
County officials are relieved that state money will begin flowing again but they aren’t out of the woods just yet. Despite a new state budget being signed Wednesday, austerity measures in most counties are expected to continue, including employee furloughs that, in some cases, could last through the end of...
Reading is Fundamental for Fox Chapel Area volunteers; group impacts childhood literacy
Story-tellers are success-builders, according to a group of Fox Chapel Area residents helping to battle the country’s literary crisis. Through the simple task of turning pages in a book, the volunteers are helping to build successful foundations for children. “We are igniting passions,” said Kyle Fahsel, director of mentoring at...
Food drive to support Harrison’s 1st Ward residents
Harrison Commissioner Justin Johnson has organized a food drive for 1st Ward residents to help neighbors in need. Though federal and state budgets were approved this week and SNAP benefits are expected to be restored, Johnson said “people in need are still going to be in a deficit. They have...
Boil water advisory for Harmar, Indiana Township, O’Hara and Fox Chapel
Portions of Harmar, Indiana Township, Fox Chapel and O’Hara are without water after two major line breaks late Wednesday. Residents in impacted areas should boil water as a precaution, according to the Fox Chapel Authority. As a result, Fairview Elementary School in the Fox Chapel Area School District is closed...
Student musicians ‘Play for the Vote’ to amplify election turnout and experience
Their instruments might have looked unfamiliar, but the message by a group of Fox Chapel Area students on Nov. 4 was loud and clear. Play for the Vote, a non-partisan group that mobilizes musical performances at polling places, was on a mission to amplify voter turnout and civic engagement. “Our...
Tarentum gives overdue electric bills a break
Tarentum residents who are experiencing financial difficulties will get a slight reprieve from the borough this month. Council voted to temporarily suspend electric shutoffs for November because of the ongoing federal government shutdown and state budget impasse. Both government bodies have signaled the stalemates could end as soon as this...
Public to get 1st glimpse of proposed Alle-Kiski Emergency Services Authority
Details of a proposed multi-municipal EMS authority will be shared during a public meeting at Highlands High School. It’s the first time residents will hear about the paid service meant to resolve struggles with call volumes, costs and staffing problems at Eureka Community Ambulance in Tarentum and Citizens Hose EMS...
Retiring St. Margaret Foundation president fundraised $19 million for projects
Mary Lee Gannon finds peace in gardening. As president of the nonprofit St. Margaret Foundation, Gannon spearheaded a $364,000 fundraising campaign to add a colorful plot of perennials, a fountain, rocking chairs and a swing on the campus of UPMC St. Margaret near Aspinwall. “I was comforted to know we...
Brackenridge residents call for stricter code enforcement
Brackenridge resident Heather Artman wants more bite, less bark from council regarding code violations across the borough. The Horner Street resident questioned why some residents appear to get away with letting their grass grow too high or leaving their trash cans out 24/7. “It might seem like a minor issue,...
Brackenridge seeks volunteers for tree planting at borough park
Trees are returning to Brackenridge Memorial Park, much to the relief of many residents who balked at their removal. The borough is seeking volunteers to help with planting up to 31 small to mid-size trees during an event at noon Nov. 19. They will replace several trees that were torn...
Schools starting to feel the pinch of state budget impasse
Art students at St. Joseph High School in Harrison spent a recent class learning the techniques of charcoal drawing — again. They were scheduled to be learning to use paints, but with government funding largely cut off because of the state’s ongoing budget impasse, the school doesn’t have money to...
Brackenridge to consider $1.2 million bond for public works project
Brackenridge Council will have a special meeting Wednesday to consider a $1.2 million bond to pay for a new public works building. The meeting will be at 3 p.m. in the borough building on Brackenridge Avenue. The borough last year applied for a preliminary land development application to replace the...
Democrat Carrie Fox wins return to Tarentum council
Tarentum council will have a least one change come January when a familiar face returns. Democrat Carrie Fox won Tuesday’s election for a four-year term representing the borough’s 3rd Ward. She unseated Republican Brian Nolan by a vote of 164 to 76, according to unofficial results from Allegheny County. “Thank...
Actress, Fox Chapel Area alum Regina Gibson returns home for original 1-woman show
Actress and singer Regina Gibson returns to her Pittsburgh-area stomping grounds for a one-night show on a relatable topic – dating angst – heightened by the comedic addition of opera music. The Fox Chapel Area High School alum brings her “Divina: A Fantasy Cabaret,” a one-woman original opera-comedy-cabaret, to the...
Community Roundtable hopes to help people struggling with SNAP, LIHEAP benefits
Michael Eckert knows the struggle of relying on government assistance to stay warm and fed. The East Deer resident received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in previous years. “These programs didn’t just help my wife and I survive,”...
Road work on Route 28, Route 910 to force restrictions
Travelers along Route 28 will see single-lane restrictions Wednesday and Thursday near O’Hara. PennDOT said crews will be repairing digital signs on northbound lanes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Work will be done near O’Hara and Sharpsburg, weather permitting. On Wednesday, motorists will be affected in the areas from...
Grind Hard Conditioning empowers kids to grow on and off the field
When a spontaneous pick-up game of flag football in Brackenridge attracted 80 kids, Julius Johnson and Jonathan Butter were excited to imagine it growing into something more. “We enjoy working with the kids, showing them what hard work can do,” said Johnson, of Brackenridge. “We thought, ‘What more can we...
Name of new Harrison restaurant at former Anchor Inn is nod to township’s history
A new Harrison restaurant will pay homage to the township’s past. Owners Corey Pistininzi and Sean Watson on Thursday revealed the name of the eatery — Salt and Steel – a nod to industrial giants Penn Salt and Allegheny Ludlum (now ATI). Both manufacturers were pivotal in the township’s growth,...
Human trafficking and how to help will be the subject of Fox Chapel presentation
It was a conversation with an Indian missionary that prompted the launch of Living in Liberty, a North Hills nonprofit dedicated to helping heal victims of human trafficking. Elizabeth Echevarria, CEO, founded the group in 2012 after hearing about conditions in Calcutta and subsequently learning that the U.S. leads the...
Proposal by Pa. Dems would provide $62M to help with SNAP fallout
Pennsylvania Democrats are making a push to help people who are set to lose SNAP benefits on Saturday, but the help won’t come immediately. Members of the state Senate Democratic Caucus introduced legislation this week to use reserve money to provide $50 million to 18 food banks, $10 million to...
Tips for Cops fundraiser has huge turnout; organizers set goal of $6,000 to help needy
Monroeville police Officer Robert Gowans said cops can sometimes get a bad rap. That wasn’t possible on Oct. 19, when off-duty officers turned out in force to help the less fortunate. Police from Penn Hills, Wilkins, Churchill and Monroeville traded in their uniforms for aprons to serve a hungry crowd...
Protesters rally against proposed data center in Springdale; 2nd event planned
Brown water, power outages and noise pollution. “The list goes on and on,” said Springdale resident Sharon Spirk, citing reasons she’s against a proposed data center to be built on 47 acres off Porter Street. Spirk was one of about 10 people who rallied Monday in opposition to a plan...
Schools working to keep children fed ahead of potential SNAP benefits shutdown
As the federal government shutdown lingers, food assistance is in jeopardy for about 2 million people across the state. With the largest anti-hunger program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, on course to shut down Saturday, school districts are ramping up efforts to make sure children continue to be...
Blawnox water rescue boat ramps up safety from Harrison to Pittsburgh
Catastrophe was averted during a Labor Day boat fire in Harmar, at least in part, because of a new water rescue boat at Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company. Marine 111, a 26-foot Stanley fire rescue landing craft, played a critical role after flames engulfed a boat below Lock 3 and forced...
Incumbent Brian Nolan challenged by former councilwoman Carrie Fox for Tarentum seat
Two familiar faces will vie for a four-year term on Tarentum Council. Carrie Fox, a Democrat who previously served eight years on council, came out of retirement to seek another term because she missed being involved in the day-to-day business of the borough. Brian Nolan, a Republican, is an incumbent...
