Handiwork of Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission in full bloom across municipality
Summer is the time of the year where everything seems to be in full bloom. And it’s hard not to notice all the bright spots in Penn Hills, a five-time Tree City USA Growth Award recipient. However, the area has not always been beautified with native plants. It wasn’t until...
Summer vehicle break-ins have police urging caution
A wave of summer car break-ins has police across the region urging caution — and locked vehicles. At least seven communities have reported multiple car break-ins since May, most involving unlocked cars or trucks. “It’s sporadic and its random. Throughout the years, we have upticks, then it goes away, then...
Faces of the Valley: Alyce Olszewski keeps busy for 72 years at Harrison tax agency
As long as Michael McKechnie is Harrison’s tax collector, Alyce Olszewski will be right by his side. After all, she has worked for the McKechnie family for 72 years. Olszewski started working for McKechnie’s father, John, in 1953. She was fresh out of high school, looking for a company that...
Verona Boulevard paving hailed as example of intergovernmental collaboration
The bumpy brick road of Verona Boulevard is no more after the completion of a joint paving project between the city of Pittsburgh and the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Penn Hills. Pittsburgh City Councilman Khari Mosley and state Reps. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, and La’Tasha D. Mayes, whose 24th District...
Circus coming to Vandergrift
It’s not often a circus comes to town. That’s why Carl Ward, owner of All Visions Media, was surprised when he came across an ad for the Zerbini Family Circus. Ward thought traveling circuses faded away decades ago. Intrigued, he became involved with the production company that is bringing Zerbini’s...
Turner Dairy Farms receives $750,000 to expand distribution center and automation
From dairy products to iced tea, Turner Dairy Farms in Penn Hills has been a Pittsburgh staple since the 1930s. The company and its reach has expanded. Today, it partners with 35 family-owned dairy farms within a 70-mile radius. With that wide range, the company was in need of an...
Shop ’n Save in Penn Hills closing doors after 34 years; clearance sale to start July 17
Greg Hartley met his wife at the Shop ’n Save in Penn Hills. That was nothing unusual. His brother did the same. Hartley owns the store at 2820 Universal Road along with other members of his family. His parents started the independently owned and operated business in 1991, with ownership...
Talking Safety conversation draws concerns about motorists not adhering to road rules
Driving in Pittsburgh is not an easy feat even for natives of the city. Its complicated road designs, constant construction and a lack of speeding radars has made vehicle safety a priority for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Traffic Incident Management organization. The group hosts a monthly Talking Safety conversation for TIM...
Computer/video game museum relocates from Baltimore to former Penn Hills municipal building
Brendan “The Everything Guy” Becker lost four board members when he chose to relocate the Bloop Museum from outside Baltimore to Pittsburgh. And he doesn’t regret it. The Pittsburgh address is 12245 Frankstown Road — the old Penn Hills Municipal Building. Becker, 45, said he couldn’t pass up a space...
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge pushes hikers to the limit
While 99% of participants finish the Pittsburgh Marathon, the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge has an average finish rate of 75%. The Rachel Carson Trail will put more than 1,000 hikers’ physical and mental endurance to the test Saturday for the 28th annual challenge featuring three separate courses. The full challenge...
Young fans give tips regarding the hunt for U.S. Open autographsVideo
To get an autograph at the U.S. Open, you must be assertive, pushy and, for the most part, you have to be a kid. On Tuesday, Oakmont Country Club was flooded with people and families coming from all over the country. Among the crowd, tiny hands gripped flags, posters, hats...
Glenn Mills hands over the keys of B&J’s Sports in Harrison, but new owner vows to carry on
When Ben Urso approached Glenn Mills several years ago about taking over his B&J Sports store in Harrison, Mills turned him down, lamenting that “some day” he’ll be ready to retire. That day has come. “I’m delighted to be able to do it,” Urso said. “I feel wonderful when, mostly...
Army Corps to give update on Parks Township nuclear waste dump cleanup
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold another public information session Thursday to update residents on remediation efforts for the nuclear waste dump in Parks Township. The meeting will be at the Parks Township Fire Department, 1119 Dalmation Drive. Doors open for display stations at 6:30 p.m. A briefing...
Summer gas prices drop, but economic uncertainty remains as travel season begins
After paying nearly $40 to fill his tank at a Springdale gas station, Davon Magwood will cancel his East Coast trip this summer if he has to. He doesn’t want to, but if gas prices aren’t in his budget, he’ll have to cut back on travel. Prices for regular unleaded...
Tornado, flood watches issued across Western Pennsylvania region
The National Weather Service has issued tornado and flood watches in multiple counties across Western Pennsylvania for Wednesday into Thursday morning. The tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday evening for Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties. “A line of showers are moving through...