Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 15
Blawnox teen proposes recycling service for residents
A Blawnox teen wants to bring back a service his residence has not had in about two years. Recycling was eliminated in the garbage contract that council approved in September 2023. Borough Manager Kathy Ulanowicz said the decision came down to economics. The new three-year contract with Waste Management came...
Quaker Valley students learn from local professionals
Quaker Valley High School students learned about business, finance and information technology from local professionals as part of the district’s Future Ready Academies’ Career Conversations program. On March 5, about 25 students in grades 9-12 learned from leaders like BNY Mellon investment strategist Matthew Keller, PNC Financial Services early career...
Aspinwall officials warn residents of a scam soliciting money for police via mail
Mailers soliciting money for the Aspinwall Police Department are a scam and should be thrown away, according to borough officials. Council President Jeff Harris said residents, including his family, recently received letters asking for money for police. There is also a mailer that reads, “Aspinwall City Council Members need to...
Indiana Township mayor inducted into state association Hall of Fame
Indiana Township Mayor Darrin Krally can add another accomplishment to his public service resume: Hall of Famer. Krally was recently inducted into the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors’ Hall of Fame for his 20 years of service on his town’s board of supervisors. The nonprofit, nonpartisan member service organization...
Fox Chapel sets gold standard of care for feathered friends with top Bird Town honors
Fox Chapel Parks Commission members are celebrating recognition being bestowed by a statewide environmental group. The borough has set the gold standard in environmental preservation and educating people about birds, according to Bird Town Pennsylvania. The borough recently received the highest municipal recognition level, Gold, from the nonprofit group just...
Edgeworth hires retired Ohio Township corporal as its newest police officer
Edgeworth officials have added new manpower and equipment to their police force. Council unanimously approved the hiring of full-time officer Russ Hartzell and the purchase of a new Ford Explorer Interceptor last month. Hartzell, 43, of Ohio Township was selected out of two candidates and had the highest scores out...
Fish fry tradition continues at Logans Ferry Heights VFD in Plum
Hundreds of folks packed the Logans Ferry Heights Volunteer Fire Department social hall for the start of fish fry season on March 7. Department treasurer Justin Irwin said they went through a surprise inspection by the Allegheny County Health Department shortly before the start of the event. Everything met department...
2 injured in train derailment in Somerset County after collision with coal truck
A truck collided with a train Monday afternoon in Somerset Township, causing the train to partially derail and injuring two people. State police said the incident occurred around 3 p.m. in Somerset Township. TribLive news partner WTAE reported the train derailed and a coal truck caught fire following the crash....
Sharpsburg chili cook-off welcomes new competitors
Sharpsburg Community Library’s Robert “Snakeguy” Habegger Chili Cook-off has a new champ. Ben Maffei of Shaler and his sweet and spicy smoked brisket barbeque chili delighted the taste buds of about 30 taste testers and three judges at the food-themed fundraiser on Feb. 22. The competition took place at the...
Sharpsburg public works department has a new foreman
Sharpsburg officials have hired a Freeport resident and former country club superintendent as their new public works foreman. Council unanimously voted Feb. 27 to ratify the employment of Mark Marshall as the department head. “I was looking for a new adventure in life,” Marshall said after the meeting. He had...
Amazon to install automated vehicle inspection device at Aleppo Township Industrial Park
Amazon wants to add an automated vehicle inspection facility on its property in Aleppo Township Industrial Park. Company spokesman Sam Fisher on Feb. 26 said he did not have any township-specific information but shared a report with an overall look at the devices. The machine uses a series of plates...
Townhouses proposed at former Methodist church property in Aspinwall
A Fox Chapel developer wants to knock down a former Aspinwall Methodist church and its school to make room for five high-end townhouses. Tony Pompeo Jr., founder of Amena Properties, made his introductory pitch to the borough’s planning commission on Feb. 26 for the future of the old sanctuary and...
Pittsburgh Regional Transit driver and passenger face assault charges in Sharpsburg incident
A Pittsburgh Regional Transit driver is on paid leave while he faces criminal charges for allegedly dragging a passenger stuck to the moving bus and then nearly running her over in Sharpsburg. Port Authority police have charged driver Jesse White, 55, of Pittsburgh with aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another...
Quaker Valley’s Black Student Union teaches valuable lessons to elementary students
Quaker Valley High School senior Olivia Jordan said maintaining traditions is important to her. An older brother, Malcolm, founded the school’s Black Student Union in 2019. Another brother, Noah, later became president of the group designed to empower Black students and create a comfortable environment to share stories, experiences and...
Holiday Park VFD life member remembered as loving volunteer
Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department is mourning the loss of life member and staple at its Plum social hall. Annabell Ratner was someone firefighters could count on while recovering from a big emergency call. “Ann was always the person who was here when we came back from a fire and...
Holiday Park VFD starts fish fry season with Ash Wednesday lunch
The Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department kicked off its fish fry season with lunch on Ash Wednesday. About 20 volunteers operated multiple stations and served more than 200 pieces of fish at the start of the Lent fundraiser at the Tuttle Social Hall off Old Abers Creek Road. Josh Scalamogna,...
The faithful receive ashes at Blawnox church on Ash Wednesday
Families throughout Blawnox and nearby communities flocked to St. Edward Church to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. Pews were packed at the Catholic church along Walnut Street that evening as the Rev. Bill Siple delivered a message of repentance and how ashes show a person’s identity and commitment to their...
Police say Pittsburgh interior designer bilked clients out of nearly $500K
A Pittsburgh interior designer is facing multiple charges after being accused of bilking clients of nearly half a million dollars. Lauren Piasecki, 44, of Morningside has been charged with various counts of theft by unlawful taking, home improvement fraud, receiving stolen property and deceptive business practices, the Allegheny County District...
Sharpsburg to launch new community police program with pizza
Sharpsburg Mayor Kayla Portis and the borough police department hope to foster friendly relationships with residents one slice at a time. They have partnered to present the inaugural Pizza with the Police & Mayor Portis on March 4 at Ketchup City Creative. Food and drink will be provided by Gino...
12 native Sewickley pastors to be honored March 8
A Sewickley-based nonprofit is planning a celebration to honor Sewickley born African American pastors. Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society officials will recognize a dozen religious leaders at the Sewickley United Methodist Church next month. The ceremony will include guest speakers, musical performances and testimonials. The event is free and open...
Quaker Valley School Board approves new courses, curriculum changes
A new music pathway for students who prefer not to perform, as well as focus on business and entrepreneurship, are among the new courses being developed at Quaker Valley School District. School directors voted 7-0 on Feb. 18 to approve amended program of studies for the middle and high school....
Fox Chapel police seek to ID package thieves
The use of new cameras and license plate readers in Fox Chapel may have led to theft suspects being identified in Greensburg. Police Chief Michael Stevens said officers received a report of packages being stolen from a home along North Drive on Feb. 13. Borough cameras caught images and a...
Aspinwall parking study findings, recommendations revealed
A national consulting firm is proposing a number of recommendations to help mitigate parking issues in Aspinwall. Among the suggestions offered on Feb. 20 by Walker Consultants were: • Charge for residential parking permits and place limitations on them; • Increase signage and communication of parking policies; • Use new...
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to assist with tree plantings at Fox Chapel’s McCahill Park
An ongoing renovation project at Fox Chapel’s McCahill Park will get a lot greener this summer. Council this month authorized spending up to $14,000 to contract with Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to plant about 1,500 trees, shrubs and other perennials at the recreation site off Hemlock Hollow Road. Conservancy leaders would...
Aspinwall safety talk rescheduled
A safety discussion at St. Scholastica Pastoral Center in Aspinwall has been rescheduled. The Allegheny County Police had partnered with Aspinwall police and AAA to lead a talk about careless and distracted driving at 309 Brilliant Ave. on Feb. 27. Mayor Joe Noro said plans have changed due to a...
