Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 13
Shaler Garden Club’s upcoming Great Gardens Tour touted as inspiring learning experience
Tucked away next to a shopping center in the middle of Ross is a garden that Sue Colaizzi has been tending for nearly 50 years. In mid-July, she’ll be welcoming guests to her home as one of five gardens on the Shaler Garden Club’s 17th annual Great Gardens Tour. “It’s...
Shaler Area seniors graduate a day late because of weather
The Shaler Area Class of 2025 had to wait an extra day before graduating. Because of the chance of bad weather, the district postponed the commencement ceremony from Friday, May 30, to Saturday, May 31, at Titan Stadium. JoAnne Townsend, interim principal of Shaler Area High School, said the class...
North Hills School Board approves 2025-26 budget with no tax increase
Property owners in the North Hills School District will not see their school district taxes increase for the 2025-26 school year. The school board on June 5 gave final, unanimous approval to the district’s $100.12 million budget, leaving the property tax rate unchanged at 20.37 mills. A property at Ross’...
Hampton School District graduates 187 students
Hampton High School celebrated commencement for the Class of 2025 on May 29 at Fridley Field. The class consists of 187 graduates. Of those, 83 graduated with honors — 32 graduated summa cum laude, 23 graduated magna cum laude and 18 graduated cum laude. In their future plans, 87% of...
Pine-Richland School Board OKs budget with no tax increase over concerns of superintendent, residents
A five-member majority of the Pine-Richland School Board approved the district’s 2025-26 budget with no tax increase over the concerns of the superintendent that the district’s finances are being politicized, and worries that future deficits could lead to severe cuts. Superintendent Brian Miller has been urging the board to consider...
Pine-Richland celebrates graduation of 374 seniors
The Pine-Richland School District graduated 374 seniors during its 2025 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 7. The ceremony included a performance of the Pine-Richland alma mater by senior choir members followed by introductory remarks from high school Principal Frank Hernandez. The district continued its tradition of the Pine-Richland “family photo,”...
In brief: Happenings from the North Allegheny area
Children’s books sought to replenish library boxes Marshall officials are collecting children’s books to stock the free library boxes in the township’s parks. If you have extra books or ones your children have outgrown, drop them off at the municipal building, 525 Pleasant Hill Road. ‘Moana 2’ to be shown...
2 men rescued from car that crashed into Pine Creek in Etna
Two men were rescued after their car crashed into a creek Sunday morning in Etna, Mayor Robert Tunon said. The crash happened on Crescent Street near Grant Avenue around 11:30 a.m. According to Tunon, the men were traveling down Grant Avenue toward Crescent when their car left its lane, crossed...
Leechburg begins weeklong 175th anniversary celebration with worship service
As Leechburg began a weeklong celebration of its 175th anniversary with a Sunday worship service, Greensburg Bishop Larry Kulick, one of its native sons, invoked the area’s original name: Friendship. “Christian friendship is more than just a politeness or a casual acquaintance,” Kulick said in his reflection. “Christian friendship is...
Dick’s closes Pittsburgh Mills location, plans grand opening at Waterworks
The Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer is one step closer to having no remaining anchor tenants. Sunday was the last day of business for the Dick’s Sporting Goods store at the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, according to signs posted at the store. A store manager was not permitted to provide...
Residents, businesses in Murrysville-Export area clean up from Friday’s deluge
Kim Zannikos has seen flooding before at her Murrysville town house, but nothing like what she saw Friday. It was so bad that her SUV, parked at the far end of the property, away from Old William Penn Highway, and with Turtle Creek on the other side, was not spared....
Energy company abandons plans to take water from Big Sewickley Creek for shale gas wells
An environmental group is celebrating after an energy company abandoned its plans to take water from Big Sewickley Creek to develop shale gas wells in Beaver County. In March, the state Department of Environmental Protection rescinded permits issued to PennEnergy Resources at the company’s request. It ended a four-year battle...
Weeknight closures of 62nd Street Bridge ramp to Etna scheduled through mid-June
Overnight closures of the 62nd Street Bridge ramp to South Main Street in Etna will begin Wednesday night, PennDOT announced. The ramp from the 62nd Street Bridge, or southbound Route 8, to South Main Street will be closed to traffic from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. weeknights through mid-June, PennDOT...
Following approval of 3rd dispensary, Ross considering setting minimum distance between medical marijuana facilities
Following approval of a third medical marijuana dispensary along McKnight Road, Ross commissioners are considering a regulation that would prohibit them from being adjacent to each other. As proposed in an ordinance introduced at the commissioners’ June 2 meeting, medical marijuana dispensaries would have to be at least 1,000 feet...
Ross Exceptional Citizens Expo brings out the kid in everyone
Elise Terry’s three children were thrilled to see the big trucks, but she saw another benefit to bringing them to the Exceptional Citizens Expo in Ross on Saturday, May 31. “It’s important for them to know the people that keep us safe and the safety rules,” said Terry of Ross,...
You Be You Music, a nonprofit children’s music school, finds home of its own in Millvale
Georgia English rejects the idea that making music is only for the precious, famous few and everyone else is a loser if they try. “We assign shame to anyone who tries to express themselves musically but fails,” she said. “We laugh at people who bomb their ‘American Idol’ auditions, and...
In brief: Happenings from the North Allegheny area
Open house meeting set on parks plan As a part of McCandless’ ongoing Comprehensive Parks Master Plan process, an open house/public meeting is planned from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 19 at the Devlin Pavilion, which is behind Town Hall. Residents are encouraged to share their ideas and vision for...
5th annual PizzaFest celebrates pie artistry at Dough Daddy Brewery in West Deer
If there was only one food left in the world, Ross resident Janet Ramaeckers says it better be pizza. She and her husband, Martin, were among many who would agree with them at the fifth annual PizzaFest, held this year at Dough Daddy Brewery in West Deer. Ramaerckers said they...
New Verona kayak, canoe launch to improve access to river recreation for all, officials and residents say
Anyone who has tried to launch a kayak from a muddy river bank knows it can be difficult. For Lester Bennett of Munhall, who has lived with a spinal cord injury for more than 30 years, it would be impossible. But a new handicapped-accessible public launch on the Allegheny River...
‘We’ll really miss it’: Riverview Relay for Life ends after 25 years, raising $2M for cancer research
The Relay for Life of Riverview has come to an end after a 25-year run in Oakmont, but the battle against cancer continues. Oakmont breast cancer survivor Nancy “Moochie” Donatucci, a longtime organizer for the relay benefitting the American Cancer Society, says she’ll keep up the fight by selling hanging...
Ross crafts touch-a-truck event to be accessible, welcoming for all
A free public safety and community touch-a-truck style event with an emphasis on being more accessible to people with special needs is returning to Ross for its second year. Ross police hosted the first Exceptional Citizens Expo in 2024. The second annual expo will be from noon to 3 p.m....
Pine-Richland recognizes 15 retiring employees
Pine-Richland has recognized 15 retiring employees who together have more than 400 years of service to the school district. The group includes teachers, paraprofessionals, a librarian and a custodian who will retire at the end of the current school year. “The annual retiree recognition program always comes with mixed emotions,”...
Threat of rain prompts Plum School District to reschedule graduation
The threat of rain has prompted the Plum School District to reschedule its graduation ceremony. The district announced Tuesday that it has pushed the ceremony ahead a day, from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Plum High School stadium. “While the extended forecast is still subject to...
In brief: Happenings from the North Allegheny area
Open house meeting set on parks plan As a part of McCandless’ ongoing Comprehensive Parks Master Plan process, an open house/public meeting is planned from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 19 at the Devlin Pavilion, which is behind Town Hall. Residents are encouraged to share their ideas and vision for...
In brief: Happenings in the Pine Creek Journal area
1 arrested, 13 cited in task force’s DUI detail The North Hills DUI Task Force recently conducted a stationary DUI detail May 9 in conjunction with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Checkpoint Strike Force. The sobriety checkpoint was held May 9 in McCandless. A total of 837 vehicles passed...
