Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 86
Fox Chapel Area Class of 2021
Fox Chapel Area School District celebrated its graduation ceremony June 6. About 330 seniors received their diplomas during the event at 2 p.m. at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. The graduates are: Suparna Agrawal, Arda Akinci, Kaya Akinci, Nathan Anderson, Antonio Andrade, Eliza Auffenberg, Alexis Austin,...
No one hurt in Adamsburg trailer fire
No one was hurt in a trailer fire early Tuesday in Adamsburg, officials said. Crews responded to a blaze at about 6 a.m. along Penn Manor Road. Adamsburg Fire Chief Don Thoma said firefighters were able to knock it down quickly. Seven departments responded, he said. “It was empty, nobody...
Police: Man missing from Pittsburgh’s South Side found safe
A man who was reported missing since May 17 by Pittsburgh Police was found safe Tuesday, officials said. Clinton “CJ” Connors, 40, had last been seen in the city’s South Side neighborhood. Public Safety officials posted an alert at about 10:15 p.m. that Connors was located. They thanked the public...
Peace Pole erected in Monroeville with mission of inclusionVideo
Each of the 37 languages welded onto the newly installed Peace Pole in Monroeville Community Park West represents the municipality’s rich diversity. The 12-foot stainless steel pole was delivered June 4 from Cincinnati and erected near the park’s gazebo, just past the main entrance. On it is the saying “May...
Aspinwall seeking grants to launch upgrades to sidewalks, trail links
Aspinwall is eyeing a $20,000 grant from the state to help begin implementing safety upgrades for bikers and pedestrians in the borough. The money would launch traffic improvements across the borough that would include safer crosswalks, a bike trail and a directional change along Eastern Avenue. The grant is being...
Man faces charges after being stopped for gun at Pittsburgh International Airport
A loaded handgun was found Sunday in a passenger’s carry-on bag at the main security checkpoint of Pittsburgh International Airport, the 14th firearm found at the site this year, authorities said. Transportation Security Administration officers observed the loaded .45-caliber handgun in a bag carried by 50-year-old Michael DiCicco just before...
Pittsburgh Citiparks continues Grab ‘N Go meals through Friday; summer food distribution begins Monday
Citiparks will continue its Grab ‘N Go meals through Friday before the summer food distribution begins June 14. Grab ‘N Go meals and snacks are doled out at more than a dozen sites that include the eight Citiparks Recreation Centers. Food is given out from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m....
Student news: Performing Arts Series, Battle of the Books, dean’s list and more
FCA students win awards at science and engeneering fair Two Fox Chapel Area High School students won awards at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF) 2021. Junior Zoe Lakkis received a third-place Grand Award of $1,000 in the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics category for her project titled...
Hampton High School gets approval for new storage garage
Construction of a storage garage at Hampton High School is expected to get underway as soon as this fall thanks to approval by Hampton council. School leaders asked to build a 2,400-square-foot garage to store maintenance and lawn equipment. Because the school along McCully Road sits in a conservation district,...
Hampton playground renamed for former councilwoman, township stalwart Martha Hunkele
The large playground at Hampton Community Park will be renamed for former council member Martha Hunkele, who by all accounts is among the township’s most ardent supporters. Hunkele served on council for 14 years, having most recently been elected in 2019 but forced to resign because of health concerns. She...
Neighbor Spotlight: Hampton residents convert school bus into tiny home on wheelsVideo
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: Fox Chapel Area senior and aspiring engineer Isabella Krisky earns LEED green associate certificate
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...
Fox Chapel Area’s Xavier Perry wins Belle Voci music award
A passion for music — and his ability to bring joy to others through it — has earned Fox Chapel Area senior Xavier Perry the 2021 Jeffrey Dean Memorial Award from Fox Chapel-based women’s choir Belle Voci. “I am so honored,” Perry, 18, said. “It means a great deal to...
ATM kiosk approved for vacant lot along Route 8
An ATM kiosk was approved for construction along Route 8. Hampton council approved the conditional use during a recent meeting for the vacant lot at 4640 Route 8, Manager Chris Lochner said. The property sits at the Talley Cavey intersection, just north of the BP station near Alpine Pools. Developers...
Hartwood Acres Sculpture Garden breaks ground on multimillion-dollar site renovation
A ceremonial groundbreaking for the $2.4 million sculpture garden at Hartwood Acres showcased grand, decades-old art that will dot the landscape in new configurations at the 629-acre Allegheny County-owned park. Hosted by the county and the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, the June 1 event spotlighted 13 large-scale pieces of art...
Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg hosts covid-19 vaccine clinic
Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg will offer a covid-19 vaccine clinic on June 12. The event from 9 a.m. to noon is open to the community and will offer the Pfizer vaccine to people ages 12 and older, leaders said. The clinic is being hosted in conjunction with UPMC. “We...
Free Little Art Gallery opens in Sharpsburg
Sharing art and building community. That’s the mission of the newly unveiled Free Little Art Gallery in Sharpsburg. Situated at 713 Main St., the stand is similar to the Free Little Library and Pantry stands that have popped up in recent years. Caleb Adams, co-founder and Dorseyville Middle School student,...
Fox Chapel Area to host in-person graduation ceremony
Fox Chapel Area School District is marching forward with plans for in-person graduation ceremonies where participants and guests will be required to wear a mask — even those who are fully vaccinated against covid-19. Jill Leonard, district community engagement manager, said face coverings fall in line with requirements set by...
Monroeville author releases debut novel, ‘The Souls of Clayhatchee’
Monroeville author Anthony Todd Carlisle untangles long-hidden family secrets of racism and rage in his debut novel, “The Souls of Clayhatchee,” released in early May. The story follows one man’s pilgrimage to the South to fulfill his mother’s last wish of being buried in her small Alabama hometown. As the...
Hometown Heroes banners to be displayed in O’Hara
O’Hara’s roads will be dotted with new banners saluting Hometown Heroes as the military program renews. The township will accept reservations for banners to honor those who have served the U.S. Armed Forces. “Council loves the banner program, as it honors true heroes of our community,” township Manager Julie Jakubec...
Grants pay for new basketball court in Blawnox
A new basketball court is on tap for Blawnox, thanks to two recently awarded state grants. The project will see a full-size court installed near the Blawnox Hi-Rise where the old tennis courts sat. The cost is about $105,000. “That area has not been used in quite a few years...
Family business resurrected with Periwinkle’s Bakery & Cafe in O’HaraVideo
When the late business tycoon “Billy Kay” Kratsa would venture out, he always had a cigar in his mouth and armfuls of breads and pastries to distribute to friends and strangers. “If he was going to a doctor’s office, he would bring enough for all of the nurses and staff,”...
Race for Hampton council looks to be competitive
Six candidates will seek three available positions on Hampton council this fall. The highly contested race saw the slimmest of margins among the field in the May 18 primary. According to unofficial results from the Allegheny County Office of Elections, Democratic nominee Bethany Blackburn earned 1,402 votes, followed by Julie...
Several Lower Valley elections uncontested in May primary
At least four municipalities in the Lower Valley had no contested races in the May 18 primary for people seeking party nominations to run for office this fall. Aspinwall Voters saw three Democratic incumbents — Marcia Cooper, Jeff Harris and Lara Voytko — along with newcomer Mary Hancock on their...
Fox Chapel Area trio wins Governor’s STEM competition for occupancy tracking app
A team of Fox Chapel Area High School students earned top honors in the eighth annual Governor’s STEM Competition for their occupancy tracking system that revolutionizes social distancing practices. “CITISYNC” was devised by junior Janise Kim and sophomores Arvind Seshan and Prajval Sreenivas. It tracks the number of people in...
