Joyce Hanz stories, Page 57
Vandergrift to install cameras at Kennedy Park in attempt to stop vandalism, littering
Vandergrift officials plan to install surveillance cameras in the borough’s Kennedy Park in attempt to stop ongoing vandalism there. Council recently approved installing video cameras in the park. The $1,200 cost will be covered through a donation by Vandergrift resident and longtime parks volunteer Anthony Guerrera. “My goal is to...
Vandergrift considering its options in getting a borough website up and running again
Vandergrift officials are hopeful they will fix ongoing website woes. The borough hasn’t offered a functioning website for the public since February. Visitors to the site encounter an oversized message stating the site is no longer being updated or maintained. “We’re hoping we can move forward on getting this website...
Kiski Area trivia buff to compete in national quiz tournament
A lifelong love of trivia is paying off for Eddie Fuhrer of Allegheny Township. The Kiski Area High School senior began watching “Jeopardy!” when he was 5. “I’ve always been a trivia person,” he said. Fuhrer joined the Quiz Bowl Team three years ago and is team captain. Now, on...
Vandergrift residents frustrated over portions of online council meetings being muted
Vandergrift’s online council meeting went silent for several minutes Monday night after discussion involving some council members grew heated, drawing criticism from some residents. The audio function on the Zoom broadcast was muted for several minutes after the council discussion became heated around 8:30 p.m. A few residents attending the...
Former Vandergrift lawyer hiking Appalachian Trail for charity, in memory of his wife
Aspinwall resident Tim Geary is on one heck of a trek for charity. Geary, formerly of Vandergrift, began a solo hike March 17 on the Appalachian Trail. He’s hoping to raise more than $5,000 for research of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, in honor of his late wife,...
With eyes on revitalization, business owners band together in VandergriftVideo
Steve Jurovic said he had grown tired of hearing local people complain that the Vandergrift area was economically depressed. “There’s too much defeatism and pessimism in this area. You can’t just sit there and sulk,” said Jurovic, 83, who owns Apollo Replacement Windows on Vandergrift’s Grant Avenue. Jurovic said he...
Coming in July: Vandergrift’s Artfest; artisans, volunteers wanted
Vandergrift’s annual Artfest is back, and organizers are seeking artisans and volunteers. In-person activities resume this year for the popular summer daylong festival scheduled for Sunday, July 25. Last year’s event was held virtually because of the pandemic. This year’s theme is “Art, Heart and Soul.” Art, Heart, and Soul:...
‘B’man’ continues to enjoy his honking ‘Beeple,’ but now also volunteers, raises money for charityVideo
After receiving countless beeps and honks from the motoring public, B’man is giving back. Sixteen-year-old Bill Carney, also known as B’man, is a fixture most evenings at what his family dubs his “corner office,” located at the corner of Freeport and Fox Chapel roads in the Fox Chapel Plaza parking...
Vandergrift community garden expands, adds ‘sensory garden’
A community garden in Vandergrift is expanding. It’s the third season for the public garden in Franklin Park along Franklin Avenue. Sponsored by the Vandergrift Parent Project, about five adult volunteers and numerous children from the community help with prepping, planting, weeding, watering and harvesting the bounty. “It was created...
Signature Dishes: The ‘Yak Mak’ burger at Yak Diner in North ApolloVideo
This is part of an ongoing series highlighting Signature Dishes at locally owned restaurants in the region. See Trib Total Media’s new online directory of restaurants, Dine Local, at dinelocal.triblive.com. An old-school diner in North Apollo serves up its own version of a popular chain burger. Yak Diner sells a...
Apollo couple accused of repeatedly abusing child, sometimes with Taser shocks
A couple is accused by Apollo police of abusing a young teen with a Taser. On Monday, Apollo police charged suspects Dawn Marie Callender, 33, of Chicora, and Joshua Michael Hetrick, 41, of Bethel Township, with felony charges including aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child and use of...
Air Force JROTC program taking off at Kiski Area High SchoolVideo
Kiski Area High School senior Alexei Cramer is a young man on a mission. Cramer of Avonmore began pushing for the district to create a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, or JROTC, program when he was a freshman. The district formally approved creating an Air Force JROTC program last year,...
Season passes are back Vandergrift Pool; officials look to a more normal swim season
Vandergrift Pool memberships are back. The popular pool, which is in Allegheny Township but owned by the borough, is officially named the Joseph A. Petrarca Memorial Pool and Veterans Memorial Park, for the late state legislator. Vandergrift Council voted to not sell season passes last summer because of covid-19-related restrictions...
Anonymous Vandergrift donor offers $100 prize to person who picks up most trash in cleanup event
A Vandergrift resident who wishes to remain anonymous is offering a $100 cash prize to the person who picks up the most trash during the Earth Day 2021 Cleanup Challenge With Vandergrift event starting Saturday, according to Vandergrift Community Watch. Vandergrift Community Watch normally hosts an annual Earth Day cleanup...
Incumbent Vandergrift mayor to face primary challenge from councilman
Democrat Barbara Turiak has competition from a familiar face in her bid for a second term as Vandergrift’s mayor. Councilman Lenny Collini, also a Democrat, announced his candidacy for mayor after serving 12 years on council. Pennsylvania’s primary is May 18. Both candidates said they are friends and there’s not...
Hyde Park canoe launch grows into river recreation gemVideo
What once was a small canoe launch and water source for local firefighters has grown into a river recreation gem in Hyde Park. The Twin Towers Landing, referred to as the Hyde Park Boat Launch, offers a boat launch, picnic pavilion and trail area along the banks of the Kiski...
Police: Vandergrift man faces attempted homicide charge after masked home invasion
An Apollo man told police he woke to a masked man pistol-whipping him during a robbery and a fight ensued. The allegations led state police to charge a Vandergrift man with attempted homicide stemming from the apparent robbery. Javon Michael Lambert, 21, faces 11 felony charges, among them attempted homicide...
North Buffalo Township woman captures photo of large black bear at her home
Jessica Rock of North Buffalo Township may have another mouth to feed. A black bear sauntered onto Rock’s deck last Wednesday night, inches away from her door. The mother of four said that after her dog began barking frantically, she peered out her window and saw a bear eating on...
Kiski Area graduate who lost cousin in fire recognized with Firefighter AwardVideo
Jade Bothell used to be afraid of fires. Now, the East Vandergrift woman fights them. Bothell, 20, joined the Oklahoma Volunteer Fire Company at 17 after a fire claimed the life of her 16-year-old cousin in 2017. “When I was little, I was terrified of fires — house fires, everything...
Gilpin Supervisor Susan Brown was ‘able to turn any situation to good’
Gilpin Supervisor Susan Brown died unexpectedly at home Wednesday morning at age 61. Family members and friends remembered her for her steadfast dedication to the community, her church and her career. “I’m overwhelmed with how many people truly cared for Sue,” said her mother, Shirley Camp. “I never realized how...
Kiski Area assistant principal wins statewide awardVideo
Kiski Area Upper Elementary Assistant Principal Dan Smith has been named Pennsylvania’s 2021 Outstanding Assistant Principal. Smith, a Kiski Area High School alumnus, said the award from the Pennsylvania Principals Association has special meaning given his hometown ties to the district. “It’s wonderful to continue working in the same place...
Another Dollar General coming to Washington Township
Washington Township is getting another Dollar General discount store. Construction is nearing completion at Hancock Avenue and Route 66. In an email, Dollar General spokeswoman Angela Petkovic said the store is tentatively scheduled to open within the next two weeks but didn’t provide a date. Supervisor Rich Gardner said exterior...
Fox Chapel cheerleader Sloane Simon to perform on ‘American Idol’
Fox Chapel Area High School cheerleader Sloane Simon is going to Hollywood. The 16-year-old sophomore from O’Hara is a contestant on “American Idol.” She announced the news Tuesday on her Twitter account. So my audition didn’t air, but I got THREE YESes and I’M GOING TO HOLLYWOOD!! Make sure you...
Kiski Area Superintendent Tim Scott to retire
Kiski Area School District Superintendent Tim Scott announced he is retiring from the district’s top post. Scott, 58, did not give a timetable for his departure from the district of about 3,500 students. “There is such a distinct sense of purpose in trying to grow children into caring adults and...
Zebra, camel OK’d for Victory Stables in Washington Township
Things are about to get exotic in Washington Township. Township supervisors on Thursday approved a request by Victory Stables on Camp Nancy Road to house two exotic animals. Victory Stables manager Jessica Corbin, 31, said she plans to acquire a zebra and a camel within the next few months and...
