Jeff Himler stories, Page 50

It wasn’t quite the dog days of summer, yet canines were among the main attractions Thursday evening during the kickoff of Greensburg’s three-day Summer in the City festivities. Betsy Scheeren, a dog sitter from South Greensburg, was right in her element as she used both hands to vigorously pet Morgan,...

A $1 million state grant is expected to cover close to half the costs of planned infrastructure improvements at RIDC Westmoreland Innovation Center, the former Sony television plant in East Huntingdon. The grant will help pay for work on a few hundred thousand square feet in the southeastern corner of...

An expanded antique shop, a studio where patrons can make their own candles and a place to sip tea and savor pastries are among recent and upcoming additions to Greensburg’s business community. Yesterday’s RAVE provides space for an array of dealers offering a variety of antique and collectible items. Opening...

A section of Roseytown Road in Hempfield that has been plagued by potholes is scheduled for reconstruction next year. PennDOT is going to preview the project with a virtual plans display and public comment opportunity Monday, July 18, through July 31. Despite patching and repaving, potholes have appeared repeatedly beneath...

Greensburg’s annual Summer in the City event will kick off July 21, offering three days of activities with appeal for animal lovers, music lovers, foodies and those who like to shop for bargains. Most activities will take place at the Pitt & Penn parking lot on South Pennsylvania Avenue. Thursday’s...

Worker recruitment has become a challenge for employers in many fields, and the Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau is no exception. The county Salary Board has responded to that challenge by approving signing, recruitment and retention bonuses for union workers at the bureau, including caseworkers. There are 13 vacant caseworker positions...

Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday hired a human services director, taking the first step in a effort to better coordinate local human services programs. To fill the post that has been vacant since 2018, the commissioners selected Robert Hamilton, a former Lower Burrell councilman and most recently executive director of...

Knee-high by the Fourth of July is the old adage for measuring corn. But if the measurement refers to your neighbor’s lawn, the outcome might not be so sweet. Overgrown properties are a recurring summertime problem shared by many area communities. Greensburg resident William Weir can look across Harrison Street...

High school students who will be starting their senior year this fall are invited to a summer “Pitt-nic” July 16 on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. The outdoor admissions event is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those attending will have an opportunity to tour...

Greensburg Hempfield Area Library is expecting a funding boost under the recently passed Pennsylvania budget, which includes an $11 million increase for public libraries across the state. Although the amount has yet to be determined, it will be a welcome hike for the library at a time when it has...

Greensburg YMCA is hosting an inaugural indoor yard sale July 23 as part of the town’s annual Summer in the City event. “The Y is looking to get more involved in the community,” said Debby King, membership director. “We’re going to get everybody at the Y involved, and, hopefully, we’ll...

The Davis brothers of Greensburg would love to open a museum dedicated to antique automobiles. “That would be our retirement dream,” said Dave Davis, 62. He’s the most mechanically gifted of the three local brothers who all own vintage vehicles — an interest inherited from their father, Robert. They’ve collected...

Mandy Zalich, CEO of Westmoreland Community Action, expects to see an increase in requests for energy assistance in the next few months, as rate hikes might add to an influx of those who have sought help with their electricity bills during the covid-19 pandemic. Energy assistance requests come in waves...

Electricity bills in Pennsylvania are increasing sharply this summer, driven in large part by a tight market for natural gas, industry experts say. The boost in electric rates has come as air ­conditioning units are cranked up for the summer. That makes it a good time for Pennsylvania residents to...

The SummerSounds concert last Friday drew a huge crowd of about 8,900 to Greensburg’s St. Clair Park to hear an Elton John tribute band. But there was a sour note earlier that day, well before the free performance, when several people working behind the scenes to prepare for the event...

Kirk S. Nevin Arena is slated for an overdue $3.1 million overhaul so area ice hockey teams and other people can continue to enjoy smooth skating at the Greensburg facility. Greensburg City council is expecting to receive a $1.5 million grant for the project, available from the state Department of...

Motorists traveling in Westmoreland County after the Fourth of July weekend will encounter a road closure in West Newton and Route 22 lane restrictions in Salem. PennDOT has announced drivers will be detoured around a section of West Newton’s East Main Street (Route 136) beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The...

Because the Fourth of July falls on a Monday this year, police will have an extended weekend to be extra vigilant in watching for impaired drivers and working to prevent the potentially fatal crashes they could cause. “The July 4 holiday season is traditionally one of the most deadliest times...

Running can help support a healthy heart. Those who run in Monday’s 21st Freedom 5K race, beginning and ending at Greensburg’s Lynch Field, will help the hearts of others as well. The annual race, which includes a virtual option, benefits the American Heart Association. Money from sponsorships and entry fees...

Six-year-old Levi DiCola put hammer to nail Wednesday as he started a construction project. “I was building a house,” the Greensburg boy said. “It was just a basic house, but I didn’t finish it.” That’s because it was time for him to rotate to the next station of the Central...

Residents will have a second chance this year to unload their scrap tires at a discount at Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling near Pleasant Unity. Following up on an effort in April, the recycling center at 355 Pleasant Unity Mutual Road is partnering once more with the Westmoreland Conservation District for...

Eight projects have received a collective boost totaling more than $162,000 in the latest round of grants awarded in the Revitalizing Westmoreland program. The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County this month approved matching grants for projects including a vendor marketplace in Mt. Pleasant Borough, a trail-side cafe in West Newton,...

An abortion rights rally is planned Wednesday in downtown Greensburg in the wake of last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Roe v. Wade and ending the federal right to an abortion. The rally is slated for 5:15 p.m. at Main and Otterman streets, according to a post on...

He’s the lone man standing at one of downtown Greensburg’s busiest intersections. A statue of a Civil War soldier, perched atop a tall pedestal, now gazes out over construction activity spread across the remainder of the Courthouse Square space at Main and Otterman streets. Situated on solid ground close to...

Kris Jon Fischer of Greensburg is disappointed when he goes to a place that serves beer and finds only major label brands on tap. “I want to see craft beers,” he said. That wasn’t a problem during the past 11 days, when the annual Greensburg Craft Beer Week spotlighted specialty...