Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 14
Police: Ohio man found with gun at Pittsburgh International Airport
An Ohio man has been charged with a felony firearms violation after he was found to have a handgun at a security checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport. Allegheny County Police said Transportation Security Administration officers found the firearm in a passenger’s backpack around 2 p.m. Tuesday. Police identified the passenger...
Fox Chapel approves new garbage contract with current hauler
Fox Chapel officials have approved a new five-year deal for garbage collection, maintaining the same garage door service with the same hauler, Vogel Disposal Service. The company was the lowest of two bidders. Bids were opened on March 5. Council unanimously voted 6-0 on March 17 to award the contract....
New Castle man nearly strikes police with vehicle during high-speed chase Saturday
A New Castle man is facing multiple charges after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase Saturday through at least two counties and nearly striking a police officer. State police were notified Saturday morning of a stolen vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed eastbound on Mitchell Road...
Hundreds turn out for fundraiser supporting longtime police officer, mentor Willie Weber
Carl Bayne recalled training with Arnold firefighter Willie Weber more than 45 years ago. Bayne had signed on to be a junior firefighter in the city’s volunteer department. “From (age) 14 to 17, you can only do so much until you hit 18 and get into the regular department,” Bayne...
New Kensington residents, church leaders hold anti-drug, anti-violence rally
Melanie Schuler of New Kensington knew she could not sit idly by after what she suspected were drug overdoses in her apartment building earlier this month. She has lived in the city for decades and is one of many residents in the Kensington Manor Central Towers high-rise along Fourth Avenue....
Indiana Township seeks bids for its 2025 paving program
Indiana Township officials plan to repave 12 streets and add some guardrails this year. The township supervisors voted earlier this month to advertise the 2025 paving program. Bids are expected to be opened April 4 and awarded April 9. Construction is anticipated to begin sometime in June and be completed...
Police: Worker seriously injured at Harmar brick manufacturing plant
A worker at a brick manufacturing plant in Harmar was injured by a piece of machinery Friday evening. Harmar Police Chief Jason Domaratz said a man in his 30s was transported with a serious injury to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh from the Glen-Gery plant at 26 Rich Hill Road...
Leetsdale boat launch construction approved, expansion sought
A public boat launch into the Ohio River from the Leetsdale Industrial Park may be getting an even greater face-lift than originally expected. The recreation cite near the Hussey Copper property has been closed since the original concrete slab broke off in the 1990s, causing a safety hazard. Borough officials...
Shady Side Academy computer science students prepare for multi-district competition
Two Shady Side Academy students, bonded by a common love of zeros and ones, are preparing to expand their multi-school district technology-based competition. Zeros and ones are the two digits used in binary code, often described as the fundamental language of computers. Juniors Thomas Wang of Fox Chapel and Vivan...
Aspinwall to form sustainability advisory committee
Aspinwall Council wants to partner with residents to explore ways to make a positive environmental impact on the community. Volunteers are needed for the newly created sustainability advisory committee led by Councilman Mark Chimel. Resumes and letters of interest can be submitted to the borough office, 217 Commercial Ave. About...
Former Fox Chapel Area Baseball Softball Association treasurer charged with theft
A former treasurer of a local youth organization is accused of stealing about $147,000 from the club. Carla O’Brien, 48, of Indiana Township is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, access device fraud and misapplication of trusted property. Charges stem from an investigation by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office,...
Fox Chapel council forms negotiation committee, police contract talks to start
Negotiations between Fox Chapel officials and their police department are set to begin this spring. The department’s three-person negotiating team was formed earlier this year. Council solidified its negotiating team on March 17 with Brad Harrison volunteering for its third spot (other council committee members are Frederick Leech and Betsy...
Multicultural Night celebrates Fox Chapel High School student diversity
Fox Chapel Area High School students showed how much of a melting pot the district is with the third annual Multicultural Night. The third annual installment of the inclusion celebration started by the DESI Club took place March 19. About 200 people participated in the event, including about a dozen...
Leetsdale renews DUI task force commitment
Leetsdale has renewed its commitment to the West Hills DUI Task Force, a state-funded collective of multiple police departments that engages in roving patrols, traditional stationary checkpoints and educational initiatives to help keep streets safe. Council unanimously voted March 13 to renew its municipal police cooperative agreement. Borough officials said...
Pro wrestling organization returning to Springdale — for 1 last time
Springdale Junior-Senior High School marching band members will likely be playing the swan song to one of its biggest fundraisers Friday. Keystone State Wrestling Alliance superstars return to the home of the Dynamos, the Donald C. McGhee Fieldhouse, for Springdale Slam 6. It will be the end of two eras....
Chadwick Street Park in Sewickley to become new home of pickleball courts
Quaker Valley area pickleball players can rejoice as a new place to play in Sewickley will soon be constructed. Four new pickleball courts are in the works for Chadwick Street Park. Other upgrades include a full-size tennis court, new fencing, restructuring of the basketball court and new landscaping by the...
Sewickley-born reverends return to their roots for a ‘Holy Homecoming’ celebration
The Rev. Harold Cottom III recalled a pivotal time in his childhood growing up in Sewickley and attending St Matthew’s AME Zion Church. He was involved in a Buds of Promise youth program at the church. Cottom said the women who ran the program were very focused on scripture, and...
Edgeworth Elementary students raise money for American Cancer Society through carnival
This year’s Carnival for a Cure event at Edgeworth Elementary School raised $3,600 for the American Cancer Society. Its 14th annual installment of the fifth grade, student-driven fundraiser with the Sewickley Valley Relay for Life committee took place on Feb. 27. Committee member and fifth grade teacher Jen Bradley said...
Retail, office space and residential units proposed at former Sewickley funeral home site
A three-story development with retail space, engineering offices and condominiums is expected to fill the site of a former funeral home in Sewickley. The R.D. Cole Funeral Home at 328 Beaver St. was demolished more than a month ago. It had ceased services in September and reopened late that month...
New Kensington daycare hosts ‘Dr. Seuss’ family night in celebration of Read Across America
Dozens of families throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley flocked to the All Kids Are Special Childcare and Learning Center in New Kensington for its annual Dr. Seuss Family Engagement Night. Part of this month’s Read Across America celebration, preschoolers and toddlers, accompanied by their parents, participated in a variety of games...
Christ the Divine Teacher Academy’s fish fry brings the community together
Principal Mark Grgurich knows it takes a lot of community support to make fish fry events at Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy in Aspinwall a success. Everyone does their part, from parent volunteers on the fryers and transporting hot trays, teachers moving desserts and students taking orders. “We’re creating...
Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild set to be bought by Dollywood owners
Kennywood will soon be operating under new ownership whose other holdings include Dollywood and the Harlem Globetrotters. Atlanta-based Herschend will acquire Palace Entertainment’s U.S. attractions, which includes the iconic West Mifflin amusement park as well as Sandcastle in West Homestead and Idlewild & SoakZone in the Laurel Highlands. The deal...
PNC Park unveils new menu items for this baseball season
Aramark, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ food partner for the past 52 years, has several new menu offerings for this year’s baseball season. Additions include the fried almond torte, Polish cannonball and a chipped ham empanada. The torte is funnel cake batter dipped, fried and topped with raspberry sauce, icing and burnt...
Man charged with arson for fire that damaged 2 Millvale homes
A man has been charged with arson and other offenses in connection with a fire in Millvale. Stephen Ebner, 41, no address given, is accused of damaging two homes along the 1100 block of Evergreen Ave. by fire in the early morning of March 6. Allegheny County Police and the...
Leetsdale to install memorial benches for 2 helpful residents
Leetsdale officials plan to install benches at borough parks this spring in memory of two kind souls. A bench in memory of volunteer election worker Brian Tarasi will be placed at Kohlmeyer Park, and one in memory of avid gardener and beloved decorator Jennine DeGori will sit at Henle Park....
