Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 84
Hampton Community Pool celebrates Christmas in July
Snow cone elves are hard at work prepping for Hampton Community Pool’s Christmas in July festival. The event will be 1:30 to 3 p.m. on July 21 at the pool along McCully Road. “Our elves on staff work many hours making several hundred snowballs leading up to this day,” pool...
Mayoral candidate of North Braddock facing assault charges
A candidate for mayor of North Braddock is facing charges of aggravated assault after being accused of beating two women with a bat, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. Cletus Lee was arrested Tuesday after a confrontation that police said resulted from a domestic dispute. The victims were taken to...
Several residents displaced after McKeesport fire spreads to 3 homes
Several McKeesport residents were displaced in a fire that spread to three homes early Wednesday, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. No one was injured in the fires, which started at about 12:30 a.m. along Stewart Street. Flames destroyed one of home’s porches and scorched the sides of the others....
Winning lottery ticket sold in New Kensington
Someone is going home a little richer Tuesday after winning the jackpot prize on a Treasure Hunt ticket sold in New Kensington. Lottery officials said the ticket was sold at the BP gas station at 7th Street and Linden Way. It was one of two winning Treasure Hunt tickets sold...
Squaw Run Garden club changes name to Trillium Garden Club
In the wake of local and national controversy over the word squaw and its meaning, a Fox Chapel area garden club has changed its name. Squaw Run Garden Club is now Trillium Garden Club – a nod to the prolific white flowers that line local trails each spring. “While the...
Power outages from early storms slowly being resolved
Utility outages caused by Tuesday’s powerful storms are slowing being resolved. About3,000 homes are still without power, according to Allegheny Power and Duquesne Light websites, but that’s down from more than 4,500 in the early morning hours. Allegheny Power reported about 100 regional customers without power, down from 1,700. Most...
Blawnox Community Garden hosting free produce giveaways
Blawnox residents are invited to a community produce stand on Wednesday where they can take home free veggies and herbs. Items will be distributed from 6 to 7 p.m. at the War Monument on the corner of Freeport Road and North Avenue. Zucchini, squash, kale, basil and collard greens are...
Shady Side Academy hires new executive director of Hillman Center for Performing Arts
The Hillman Center for Performing Arts at Shady Side Academy has a new executive director. Dek Ingraham will take over the role Monday, and will also serve as SSA Senior School’s Performing Arts Chairman. “I am ecstatic to join the team at SSA,” Ingraham said. “I look forward to exploring...
Pittsburgh police officer placed on leave after discharging weapon during pursuit
A Pittsburgh police officer is on administrative leave after an incident Saturday in which the officer’s weapon discharged during a pursuit in the city’s South Side. No one was injured in the incident which happened just before 1:30 a.m. when an officer conducted a traffic stop at the corner of...
Semper Gratus’ Santa Shuffle charity run and dinner raises money for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
There was no snow or reindeer, but the Santa Shuffle went off without a hitch Saturday in West Leechburg. The 5K/one-mile foot race, hosted by the nonprofit Semper Gratus, was expected to raise $15,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Participants, many in holiday-themed costumes, stepped off at 9 a.m....
Motorcyclist in critical condition in North Park collision
A motorcyclist was critically injured in a collision Saturday in North Park, Allegheny County Police said. Officers responded at about 2:40 p.m. to the intersection of Babcock Boulevard and Old Ingomar Road in McCandless for the single-vehicle collision. The victim is a man who was taken to a local hospital...
Volunteers pack 300,000 meals in Hampton for Nicaraguan orphansVideo
The social hall at Allison Park Church along Duncan Road in Hampton looked like a manufacturing plant early Saturday, with about 800 people lined up at tables packing food. Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” was blaring in the background while assembly lines of people worked to fill plastic bags with rice....
Hampton area theater group earns national honors at Texas festival
Freeport Area eighth grader Jersey Diehl is good at being bad. Just ask the judges of the Junior Theater Festival Texas, who in late-June awarded the 12-year-old as an acting All Star for her portrayal of Ursula, the purple-skinned wicked sea witch, in a performance of “The Little Mermaid” at...
Volunteers needed to pack 300,000 meals in Hampton
It’s an impressive feat by any standard — 800 volunteers converging to package food for the needy. It’s even more significant when you consider that it’s done by grassroots efforts through local nonprofit Network of Hope, whose members solicit residents, teachers, high school sports teams and others to come together...
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church Harvest Fair back in full swing
After a modified but still-successful Harvest Fair in 2020, Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church is bringing back its signature fundraiser in full force this fall. “I am really happy to report that the event is on for this year,” said volunteer Carol Huff, of O’Hara. The Harvest Fair is scheduled for...
Top stories for the week of June 29 from the Fox Chapel area
Here are the top stories for the week of June 29. • The Rev. Michael Decewicz retires from Sharpsburg’s St. Juan Diego The Rev. Michael Decewicz retired July 1 from his Sharpsburg parish but plans to remain a common sight in the borough. “I love Sharpsburg,” he said. “It will...
Virtual format for St. Margaret Foundation 5K brings in record-breaking proceeds
In the 33 years since the St. Margaret Foundation started its spring 5K fundraiser, a team of “Couch Potatoes” has brought in a staggering $200,000 to help needy hospital patients. Board Member Bill Simpson laughed that his wife named the team after his penchant for falling asleep on the couch,...
Game Commission seeking help to locate turkey poacher in O’Hara’s RIDC Park
A man shooting a crossbow at a flock of turkeys in O’Hara’s RIDC Park could have caused catastrophic results, Game Commission authorities said Friday. “This is a highly populated area, and the fact that someone would do this is shocking,” said Northern Allegheny County Game Warden Madison Kyle. She said...
St. Mary’s youth group creates art to mark parish ‘transformation’
A transition for the faith community at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church is being marked by a collaborative art project from members of its Glenshaw-based youth group. The church’s younger parishioners created a mosaic of a rainbow-colored St. Mary wrapped in butterfly wings to represent the unveiling on July...
New Blawnox cafe to offer meal plans, grab-and-go options for health-conscious customers
A new cafe in Blawnox will offer health-conscious meals prepared for people with appetites for wings, nachos and burgers. Clean Eatz is a national franchise moving into a new retail plaza at 175 Freeport Road. “I was looking to start a business that also had the opportunity to make a...
Neighbor Spotlight: The Rev. Michael Decewicz retires from St. Juan Diego to focus on leading Addiction Recovery Ministry in Harmar
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Neighbor Spotlight: Angela Kenbok joins Hampton as social service coordinator, hopes to offer therapeutic programs for all ages
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Student news: Carnegie Science honors, dean’s list, community outreach and more
Science award Smrithi Shyam of Shady Side Academy was awarded third place in the senior chemistry category of the Carnegie Science Center’s Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair in March. Smrithi’s project was titled “Extracting Amygdalin (a Cyanide Precursor) from Various Fruit Seeds.” College graduates • Andrew Fugh graduated from...
Covid-19 thwarts final show of Hillman Performing Arts Series at Shady Side Academy
The Hillman Performing Arts Series was expected to wrap up its 2021 season with back-to-back outdoor concerts this weekend, but one of the shows has been postponed. Latin Grammy nominee Sonia De Los Santos will not be performing Sunday after a case of covid-19 was confirmed within her circle, according...
Sharpsburg’s Juneteenth celebration aims to inspire, educate
Karen Arrington belted out the Black national anthem “Lift Every Voice” to the delight of a crowd that gathered at Kennedy Park in Sharpsburg for the borough’s first-ever Juneteenth celebration. The event from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 18 saw food, music and activities to educate attendees on the...

