Brian C. Rittmeyer stories
Hampton couple settles suit against Reserve, others over house damaged by landslide
A Hampton couple has settled a court case in which they claimed that a property they own in Reserve was damaged and devalued by a massive sewer line leak or break more than five years ago. Justin and Theresa Richter filed a civil complaint against Reserve, the Pittsburgh Water and...
Etna approves budget with no tax increase, fills council vacancy
Property tax bills won’t be increasing in Etna next year. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, council approved the borough’s $6.1 million budget for 2026, leaving the property tax rate at 9.5 mills. The owner of a property at Etna’s median value of $58,450 will continue to pay about $555 per year....
Millvale residents facing 58% property tax hike in 2026 budget, with discount for seniors
A 58% property tax increase is included with Millvale’s $4.93 million proposed budget for 2026. As proposed, the borough’s property tax rate would increase from 9.5 mills to 15 mills, council President James Machajewski said. For a property at Millvale’s median value of $37,900, the annual borough property tax bill...
Ross property owners to see tax increase for 2nd consecutive year
Property owners in Ross will pay more in taxes to the township after commissioners approved a tax increase for the second consecutive year. While commissioners unanimously approved the township’s $46.7 million 2026 budget on Dec. 15, they voted 7-2 to approve the 8% property tax increase, from 3.7 mills to...
Shaler Area Middle School recognized as a School to Watch
Shaler Area Middle School is one of two new Pittsburgh-area middle schools recognized by the Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools: Schools to Watch Program for 2025-26. The program was developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. The other is Jefferson Middle School in the Mt. Lebanon School District, according...
Man critically hurt after car crashes, catches fire in Downtown Pittsburgh parking garage
A man was in critical condition Sunday after a vehicle crash and fire in a parking garage near PPG Paints Arena, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. Police, fire and EMS responded just before 7 p.m. to reports of a vehicle on fire in the parking garage below Chatham Tower at...
Free haircuts & cookies among offerings at West Deer free store Poppin’ Tags holiday party
Things were poppin’ for a holiday party at Poppin’ Tags Free Store in West Deer on Sunday. The fourth annual party at Poppin’ Tags, which opened in May 2021, extended next door to Mama Jo’s House, which store owner Sonya Dembowski of Shaler opened in September. Named after Mary Jo...
Macy’s helps children with Big Brothers Big Sisters experience joy of holiday shopping for loved ones
Instead of taking their own wish lists to Santa, 50 children got to shop at five Macy’s locations across the Pittsburgh region Saturday to play Santa themselves. The children are part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh’s mentoring program. Helped by their “bigs,” the “littles” got to...
Snow brings Christmas feel to New Kensington church’s live nativity
The snow didn’t keep The United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington from staging its second annual live nativity early Saturday afternoon. Rather than a possible impediment, the Rev. Becca Siddle saw it as a feature. “For people in the neighborhood, it’s perfect because snow means Christmas,” she said. But the...
West View approves 24% property tax increase, borrowing for new municipal complex
Property taxes in West View will increase 24% after council approved the new tax rate along with the borough’s budget for 2026 on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Council approved increasing the tax rate by 1.5 mills, from 6.3 mills to 7.8 mills. It is the first increase in the borough’s tax...
Contract change for Crawford Pool bathhouse saves Shaler $24K
A change in contracts for the construction of a new bathhouse at Crawford Pool in Shaler’s Kiwanis Park will save the township about $24,000. According to township Solicitor Anna Jewart, Shaler was required to separate contracts for the bathhouse project’s electrical and plumbing work from the $2.21 million contract awarded...
Shaler recognizes outgoing Commissioner David Mizgorski
Outgoing Shaler Commissioner Dave Mizgorski was recognized at his final meeting as a township commissioner on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Mizgorski, a Republican, lost his bid for reelection as Ward 2 commissioner in November’s election to Democrat Josh Fleitman. Councilmen Conrad Wagner, Ward 4, and James Boyle, Ward 6, were unopposed...
Parking an issue as Shaler commissioners approve mausoleum expansion
The Catholic Cemeteries Association of the Diocese of Pittsburgh is preparing to expand a mausoleum at St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery along Soose Road in Shaler. Shaler commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 9, approved construction of the 3,600-square-foot addition, conditioned on the provision of 16 parking spaces or the association seeking a...
Shaler approves 2026 budget; property tax rate unchanged
Shaler property owners will not see their township property tax bills increase in 2026. Township commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 9, approved a $17.4 million budget for next year and left the property tax rate unchanged at 3.49 mills. For a property at Shaler’s $132,200 median value, the township tax bill...
Rising special education costs could allow Pine-Richland to increase property tax by up to 5.2%
Property taxes in the Pine-Richland School District could increase up to 5.2% if the state allows the school district to exceed its inflation limit. District administrators and the school board are considering ways to increase revenue, a property tax increase among them, along with spending reductions to tackle a $4.9...
Shaler Area retains leadership as 3 new members join school board
Leadership of the Shaler Area School Board is unchanged following the November election, which saw three new members join the board. James Tunstall was reelected president of the board at its Dec. 3 reorganization meeting. Eileen Phillips was reelected vice president. Their seats were not up for election this year,...
Reserve commissioners approve $6M 2026 budget with no property tax increase
Reserve commissioners have approved the township’s $6 million budget for 2026, which carries no property tax increase. The township’s property tax rate will remain at 6.47 mills. For a property at the township’s median value, the annual township property tax bill will stay at about $615. Commissioners approved the budget...
North Hills School Board approves limiting any potential property tax increase to state limit
The North Hills School Board has agreed to limit any potential property tax increase in the district’s 2026-27 budget. At its Dec. 2 meeting, the board approved a resolution stating it would not seek to increase the property tax rate by more than 4.2%, the district’s inflation limit imposed by...
PennDOT announces overnight closures of Route 8 in Etna
Southbound Route 8 in Etna will be closed overnight Tuesday through Friday, Dec. 9-12, PennDOT announced. The closures between Kittanning Street and the Route 28 interchange are scheduled for 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. each night. The ramps from southbound Route 8 to northbound and southbound Route 28 also will...
Man pistol-whipped during armed home invasion in Swissvale
A man was pistol-whipped during a home invasion in Swissvale on Sunday, Allegheny County Police said. The armed home invasion in the 2500 block of Delaware Avenue was reported to 911 shortly before 6 p.m. First responders found a man suffering from head lacerations. He was taken to a hospital...
Hundreds gather in Squirrel Hill to hear account of Israeli held captive by Hamas for 491 days
For Jay Idler, reading the first published account of an Israeli taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, was difficult, but necessary. “A lot of the hostages are appropriately closed in after having such a traumatic experience,” said Idler of Squirrel Hill. “Having someone elaborate after what they went...
Monessen man charged after 24 shots fired during fight outside Springdale restaurant
Springdale police have charged a Monessen man after two dozen shots were fired outside a borough business late Saturday night. Police charged Armando Antonio Diaz, 22, with robbery, theft, aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment, and firearms offenses, according to court records. According to a criminal complaint, an officer monitoring...
Highlands community shocked after popular teacher, photographer accused of sexually assaulting 2 boys
Sean Dicer was a familiar face in the Highlands School District community. He’d be seen at various sports events and activities, taking pictures of students. He was a popular teacher. That made the news that broke Friday about Dicer, 53, being accused of sexually assaulting and extorting two boys at...
North Allegheny graduate travels to Hawaii as part of effort to better predict severity, timing of volcanic eruptions
A North Allegheny graduate is participating in an effort at the University of Rhode Island aimed at predicting volcanic eruptions sooner and more accurately. Eleanor Martin, who graduated from North Allegheny in 2021, is working on a doctorate degree in marine geology and geophysics. She joined students researching two active...
Pine-Richland School Board names new leadership following election of 4 new members
The Pine-Richland School Board has new leadership following the election of four new members in November. At the board’s reorganization meeting Wednesday, Dec. 3, Ashley Fortier was elected president, replacing Philip Morrissette, who remains on the board. Newly elected member Melissa Vecchi was elected vice president, replacing Lisa Hillman, who...
