Penn-Trafford Star category, Page 79
Route 130 reopens in Penn Township following 2-vehicle crashVideo
A two-vehicle crash shut down Route 130 in Penn Township for more than four hours Saturday afternoon, according to authorities. The crash, involving a car and a pickup truck, was reported at 12:20 p.m. on Route 130 near Hungry Hank’s Pizzeria, a 911 supervisor said. “We had one patient in...
Penn-Trafford wrestler diagnosed with MRSA, school says
A Penn-Trafford High School wrestler recently was diagnosed with MRSA, a contagious staph infection, the school district said Tuesday. The wrestler, who was not identified, is receiving medical treatment and will not return to the team until he receives a medical clearance, said Tony Aquilio, high school principal. The student...
Comedy fundraiser to benefit Westmoreland Heritage Trail, nearing 5th phase
As Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials begin prep work for the trail’s fifth phase, they are also gearing up for an annual fundraiser to offset the cost of trail maintenance. This year’s Comedy Night will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 15 at Colton Hall in Penn Township’s Claridge neighborhood....
Penn Township targets growth with comprehensive plan
Penn Township last adopted a comprehensive plan for the community in 2005. A lot has changed since then. Officials hope an updated plan will position the community for growth in the decade ahead. New housing developments are cropping up all over the township. Plans for a high-speed rail line, once...
Penn-Trafford telethon raises more than $65,000 for Make-a-WishVideo
Penn-Trafford students raised more than $65,000 to help local children through the Make-a-Wish Foundation at their annual telethon Dec. 19. See the video above for a few numbers that will help put this year’s telethon in perspective....
Penn Township veteran’s Quilt of Valor was a ‘labor of love’Video
Homer Lyons sat in the chair of his Penn Township living room, the center of attention, as his three children and several grandchildren gathered around him Christmas Eve. Around the shoulders of this World War II veteran was draped a special quilt, a Quilt of Valor presented to him because...
Cops: Man assaulted girlfriend after finding her wrapping presents for other boyfriend
A man who found his girlfriend wrapping a Christmas gift for her “other” boyfriend was arrested early Tuesday in Trafford after assaulting the woman and threatening her with a knife, police said. Daniel W. Hill, 50, of North Huntingdon was arrested at the Cavitt Avenue apartment he was sharing with...
Trafford library’s search for library director hampered by funding limitations
For almost four months, the Trafford Community Public Library has remained open six days a week thanks to volunteers. The small library on Brinton Avenue has not had a director since Jessica Beichler took over as the Penn Area Library director in Harrison City in early September. Beichler, who replaced...
Trafford offers grant for facade improvements – but not for naked mannequins
Entrepreneurs who want to open a business in Trafford next year will have a shot at a $600 matching grant for improving their storefront’s facade, though there is a catch. The money is available to any business owner who has designs on sprucing up their storefront in Trafford “as long...
Penn Township proposes more money for firefighters, no tax increase
Penn Township’s proposed 2020 budget would give more money to the fire department, with no tax increase. If commissioners approve the budget next week, real estate taxes will remain at 17.7 mills, but be divided slightly differently. Currently, 16.7 mills worth of tax revenue goes to the general fund, with...
Westmoreland talent fills out Laurel Ballet’s annual ‘Nutcracker’ production
Although “The Nutcracker” is perfect family Christmas entertainment, surprisingly it was not a hit when it was first performed in Russia in 1892. But when it did finally catch on more than 50 years ago, it quickly became a ubiquitous part of the holiday season. It’s now the most frequently-seen...
Penn Township tattoo parlor will host Toys for Tots fundraiser
When Justin Schultz opened his first tattoo shop in downtown Jeannette in 2012, a Toys for Tots representative stopped by right around this time of year to drop off a donation box. “I thought, ‘It’s such a little box,’ so we had the idea to do an annual fundraiser and...
Penn Township tattoo parlor will host Toys for Tots fundraiser
When Justin Schultz opened his first tattoo shop in downtown Jeannette in 2012, a Toys for Tots representative stopped by right around this time of year to drop off a donation box. “I thought, ‘It’s such a little box,’ so we had the idea to do an annual fundraiser and...
Trafford Legion to serve community Thanksgiving meal
Trafford American Legion Post 331 is preparing to serve a Thanksgiving Day dinner for residents in the community who may not have anywhere to go for a meal on the holiday. The dinner is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at 216 Cavitt Ave., Trafford, and will include turkey,...
Trafford plans holiday events on Dec. 7
Trafford Borough will hold a holiday celebration with a parade and visit by Santa Claus on Dec. 7. Christmas carols will be sung from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the borough building at 414 Brinton Ave A parade in downtown Trafford will follow, beginning in the Haymaker Village parking lot...
Penn-Trafford tops in Westmoreland County on state assessment tests
Penn-Trafford was ranked in the top 2% of the state’s 605 schools districts, based on the results of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and the Keystone Exams, the school district said. The Westmoreland County school district ranked 11th out of 605 statewide, according to scores released in October and...
Penn Middle Drama students will stage ‘A Christmas Story’
This holiday season at Penn Middle School, not one but two Ralphies will be at risk of shooting their eye out with that Red Ryder air rifle. Students at the school will stage the classic holiday tale of “A Christmas Story,” and interest in the play was so strong that...
Penn-Trafford students prepare to air ‘Wishes for Warriors’ telethonVideo
Penn-Trafford High School’s third annual Make-a-Wish telethon has already granted one child’s wish, even though it won’t be broadcast until Dec. 19. “We have already raised more than $5,000 in less than two weeks,” said Steve Vinton, high school video production teacher. “Last year we raised $60,000 and granted 13...
Trafford marks park’s 100th anniversary on Veterans DayVideo
More than 100 years ago in Trafford, on Nov. 11, 1918, Charles Bolam and his wife Mary heard the peal of bells — a ringing that signaled the end of World War I. The Bolams had two boys, Edward and Norman, serving overseas. Edward was in an ambulance company, and...
Trafford officials to mark war memorial’s centennial on Veterans Day
Trafford residents were ready to celebrate Veterans Day before it was even a national holiday. “They billed it as an all-day event on Nov. 11, 1919, but the planners were thinking it would be declared a holiday and people would have the day off,” said local historian Andrew Capets. “That...
Incumbents hold steady in Penn Township, Penn-Trafford elections
Incumbents held steady in contested races for Penn Township commissioner, while it was smooth sailing for school board candidates in the general election. First Ward Republican incumbent Jeffrey Shula came away with a commanding win, taking 71.6% of 862 votes over Democratic challenger Bill Leonard. Incumbent Republican Lisa Rose Zaucha...
Penn Borough council: Zero candidates, 15 write-in votes
The 15 write-in ballots cast in Penn Borough could decide who fills three vacancies on council — although just who that will be has yet to be decided. No candidates appeared on the ballot. According to unofficial results of Tuesday’s election, four candidates each received three write-in votes: incumbent council...
Penn-Trafford Drama Guild courts cynical politics with ‘The Mouse That Roared’Video
A tiny, fictitious European-ish nation starts a phony war with the United States — in the hopes that they can immediately surrender and the Americans will pay to rebuild their country and economy. That might sound a bit political for a high school play, but it’s nothing new for the...
Penn-Trafford business class raises nearly $100,000 for charity
Students in a business class at Penn-Trafford High School raised almost $100,000 for charity since the class started 14 years ago, and they expect to pass the six-figure mark this year. Students in the “Introduction to Administration and Management” class sell T-shirts of their own design, with the profits going...
Penn-Trafford toy drive honors student, aids cancer patients at Children’s HospitalVideo
Like other 5-year-old girls, Lilli Durante loves dresses and dressing up like Disney princesses. What makes her love of pretending to be a Disney princess special is when and where she wears those dresses. The Manor girl plays dress-up when she goes to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for chemotherapy...
