Fox Chapel Herald category, Page 3
Aspinwall’s proposed 2026 budget contains no tax hike, cuts to programs or services
Aspinwall officials hope to hold the line on real estate taxes in next year’s budget. Proposed revenue and expenses are expected to come to close to $3.9 million. Budget documents project the millage rate will remain 8.36 mills, including 0.5-mill for public safety. One mill generates about $150,000 in revenue....
Brick & Barrel serves up hearty fare with a side of history in Indiana Township
Brick & Barrel co-owner Jeff Brungo wants customers to enjoy more than just a meal when they visit his eatery and bar in the historic Cross Keys Inn in Indiana Township. “There’s history here. We have original bricks from 1850,” Brungo said of the former hotel and stagecoach stop. The...
Restoration labor of love for Aspinwall couple residing in Sauer Buildings Historic District
Newlyweds Chris and Heather Smith are in love with something besides each other — their new “old” house in Aspinwall. The couple bought a historic stone home in the Sauer Buildings Historic District on Center Avenue in the borough. The Smiths were so enthralled with their residence, they chose the...
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...
In brief: Holiday happenings, leaf collection and more in Aspinwall area
Cookie Tour Best of Blawnox will host its annual cookie tour from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 6. The event runs at the same time as the borough’s holiday celebration. There will be an information booth at the monument along Freeport Road with a map to the businesses with cookies. Participating businesses...
Fox Chapel’s proposed 2026 budget contains no tax hike, no cuts to programs or services
Fox Chapel property owners should not expect to pay more in real estate taxes as part of next year’s borough budget. Council unanimously voted on Nov. 17 to advertise its proposed 2026 spending plan, which maintains the tax rate at 2.95 mills. The borough has not raised taxes since 2019,...
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...
Eco-conscious resident finds ‘off-the-grid’ solar success in Aspinwall
Aspinwall resident Steve Paff hasn’t had an electric bill in six years. He followed his keen interest in solar energy and made the decision to install a large, 20-panel solar unit in his backyard in 2019. The ground-mount solar panels were installed in a fixed position and cost around $27,000,...
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 –...
Fox Chapel area real estate transactions for the week of Nov. 23, 2025
Aspinwall Rainbow Point Development LLC sold property at 127 Second St. to Motheral Properties LLC for $418,250. Etna Justin James Kirckwood sold property at 86 Grant Ave. to Michael Saldana for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $87,858). Estate of Patricia McVey sold property at 31 Pine...
O’Hara couple set to open new ‘elevated’ dining experience in Aspinwall’s business district
Two restaurateurs from O’Hara are the husband-and-wife team behind a new, casually chic restaurant and bar opening soon in Aspinwall. Adam and Diana Kucenic are co-owners of Foxhole Tavern, located in the former Tavern in the Wall, known as Sam’s Tavern to locals, at 211 Commercial Ave. Sam’s Tavern operated...
Sharpsburg’s 1st elected Black mayor talks about her deep roots and future plans
A fourth-generation Sharpsburg resident has made political history. Kayla Portis, 40, is the first elected Black mayor to serve the borough nestled along the Allegheny River in Allegheny County. “I feel like it’s long overdue,” she said. “Representation matters.” Portis’s ancestors, former slaves, fled rural South Carolina after the Civil...
In brief: Toy drives, free Thanksgiving dinner and more in Aspinwall area
Aspinwall Neighbors toy drive Aspinwall Neighbors is again teaming up with Play It Forward Pittsburgh to collect, package and deliver toys to local children and families, giving toys a second life and spreading a lot of holiday cheer. Play It Forward Pittsburgh is a regional toy donation effort that collects...
Aspinwall to repurpose old fire station into an emergency shelter
Aspinwall officials plan to repurpose a former fire station into an emergency shelter and community center. When Aspinwall and Sharpsburg volunteer fire departments began to merge in 2022 into what would become Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services, leaders had to choose where to maintain operations and what services would no...
Sharpsburg holiday tree lighting set for Nov. 22
Sharpsburg parks and recreation commission volunteers will soon hit the switch on the borough’s holiday season. The annual tree lighting celebration is set for 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. Festivities will take place in Guyasuta Square along North Canal Street and parts of Main Street. North Canal Street will be...
O’Hara native travels the country collecting baseball-themed bobbleheads
Tom Iurlano was 5 when his late aunt Margaret Tomko treated him to a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game at Forbes Field in Oakland. He came home with a souvenir he still holds dear and keeps on display in his O’Hara home. “She bought me a L.A. Dodgers bobblehead,” said Iurlano...
Sharpsburg inducts new Sports Hall of Fame class
A beloved coach and center director, a cross-country champion turned district judge, a late basketball standout and business owner, and a youth athletic association became the latest members of the Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame. Officials inducted Gregory Domain, Matthew Rudzki, Alan Susi and the Sharpsburg Baseball/Softball Association as the...
Blawnox area real estate transactions for the week of Nov. 16, 2025
Blawnox Janki Varindani sold property at 307 Freeport Road to Telm Holdings LLC for $470,000. Etna Bradley Johnson sold property at 42 Hickory St. to Etna Flippers LLC for $75,000. Penn Pioneer Enterprises LLC sold property at 16-18 Weible St. to Scolieri Properties LLC for $100,000. Harmar Leonard Lachina sold...
Fox Chapel runners enthusiastic after productive cross country season
The Fox Chapel cross country program should be more energized going into the indoor track season after having a strong fall. The girls team won its first section title since 2023 and qualified for states as a team. On the boys side, the Foxes won their seventh consecutive section title...
Fox Chapel notebook: Former Foxes soccer star returns to Riveters
Kate Friday will be coming back for a second season with the Pittsburgh Riveters. The team recently announced Friday, a Fox Chapel graduate, will be back to build on the pre-professional team’s success during their first season in the USL-W. Friday, who plays for Florida Gulf Coast University, appeared in...
Fox Chapel girls enjoy championship season, gear up for return to Class 4A
Carlo Prati didn’t want to take the Seneca Valleys and North Alleghenys of the world off of the Fox Chapel girls soccer schedule. The Foxes coach knew that their stay in Class 3A may not be very long. Fox Chapel finished this season 20-2-1, winning its second WPIAL title in...
Shady Side Academy junior reflects on rewarding cross country season
Charlotte Barker chose to come back to cross country as a junior because she wanted to compete for a state title. The Shady Side Academy runner was able to leave a strong first impression, as an individual and with the Bulldogs collectively. “It was my first season, obviously,” Barker said....
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...
Sharpsburg parks and recreation commission at full strength with newest member
Sharpsburg’s parks and recreation commission is at full strength with the addition of its newest member. Resident Julia Granito was sworn in by Mayor Kayla Portis as the volunteer panel’s ninth commissioner on Oct. 23. It was the first council meeting Granito, a scientist at Quick-Med Technologies and freelance artist,...
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...
