Penn-Trafford aims to hit $500K fundraising goal since inception of annual telethon
Juliet Mastrioanni was in fourth grade when Penn-Trafford High School’s video production class hosted its first telethon benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Eight years later, Mastrioanni is one of the video production students organizing the broadcast, which runs more than four hours. “I just remember thinking ‘It’s just a fun day...
Greensburg store sells items made by Hempfield Area students
Wreaths, bracelets, ornaments and other gifts made by Hempfield Area students are on sale at a downtown Greensburg store in time for holiday shopping. Artisans of Hands and Heart, a co-op store located at 106 S. Pennsylvania Ave., is hosting Hempfield Area’s Perfectly Imperfect Boutique — featuring items made by...
Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain resorts set to open Saturday, 1 week after Seven Springs
Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain ski resorts will open Saturday, one week after Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Somerset County’s Hidden Valley Resort and Westmoreland County’s Laurel Mountain Ski Resort will open at 9 a.m. An opening day celebration — featuring a DJ, complimentary cookies, prizes and giveaways — is slated...
‘So supportive to us and our families’: Norwin Elks donates $6,500 to Westmoreland autism nonprofit
The Autism Society of America’s Westmoreland County chapter hosted its monthly recreation event Nov. 17 at Hillview Bowling Lanes in Hempfield. The nonprofit covered all of the expenses, allowing attendees to bowl free of charge. A recent donation to the society from the Norwin Elks lodge in Manor is partially...
Penn Township church’s cookbook fundraiser leans on ‘history of serving really good food’
Deana Rugh looks fondly on the days of serving delicious food to the Penn Township community from First United Church of Christ’s kitchens. Penn-Trafford soccer players used to stop by the Penn Township church during its biannual country breakfast — fueling up for Saturday morning practice with eggs, pancakes, ham,...
Penn Middle donates 175 tote bags to local cancer patients
About 55 Penn Middle School students and staff packed and donated tote bags for local cancer patients in honor of late teacher, Jackie Landram. This is the third year that the school has donated items to the cancer center through their charitable initiative, Landram’s Light. The school donated 175 bags...
Penn Township proposes steady property tax rate in 2026 budget
Penn Township commissioners will vote next week on a 2026 budget proposal that would not increase property taxes. The nearly $12 million spending plan includes a property tax rate of 17.4 mills, plus a 1.3 mill tax dedicated to the township’s five volunteer fire departments: Claridge, Grandview, Harrison City, Level...
Hempfield students, teachers pitch in to donate holiday meals to local families
Spanish teacher Natalie Fetterman couldn’t unhear the numbers — the 326 Hempfield Area students who take advantage of the district’s weekend food program. That’s in addition to the 900 students throughout the district’s nine school buildings who are registered for free or reduced cost lunches. “These numbers aren’t something that...
Allegheny County sheriff admitted to hospital last week, in stable condition
Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus is in stable condition after being hospitalized last week, according to spokesperson Mike Manko. Kraus was “under the weather” all of last week and decided to see a doctor on Thursday, Manko said. “That doctor suggested he go to the hospital where doctors made the...
Penn-Trafford alum launches nonprofit to give back to hometown
Penn-Trafford alumnus Andrea Lonzo-Porter was raised to understand the importance of helping others. “I come from a very, very large family,” she said. “We’ve always helped each other any way we could, whether it was time, money, just showing up. It taught me the importance of taking care of other...
Realtor: North, South Hills real estate markets have more similarities than you’d think
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series on real estate market trends in Western Pennsylvania. Twenty-six years ago, Bob Topich broke the age-old social norm of Pittsburgh suburbanites — departing his native South Hills for a home north of the city. Topich, 65, of Franklin Park, has never...
Greensburg begins public survey to improve downtown safety, walkability and business mix
If you live, work or shop in downtown Greensburg, Nancy Ligus wants to hear about your experience in the city. The Greensburg Community Development Corp., led by Ligus, is seeking survey responses regarding the public perception of the city — specifically its downtown district. It’s part of a program the...
Grapeville Volunteer Fire Department to dissolve charter
Hempfield’s oldest fire department will formally dissolve its charter in about two weeks, handing over its finances to be managed by the township. Supervisors in March approved Grapeville Volunteer Fire Department’s declaration of intent to dissolve its charter. The 107-year-old station’s finances will be paid and managed by the township...
Penn-Trafford area: Live Nativities, decorating contest, light recycling, more
Live Nativities planned Level Green Presbyterian Church and St. Barbara Parish in Penn Township will host live outdoor Nativity events on Dec. 19 and Dec. 13, respectively. The Mon Yough Chorale community choir will kick off the Level Green Presbyterian event with a performance inside the church at 6 p.m....
Seven Springs set to open its slopes
As the first significant snowfall of the season rolled through Western Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Seven Springs Mountain Resort announced its official season opening. The Somerset County resort, which received its first snow of the season Nov. 10, will open for skiing Saturday. A celebration will include a live DJ, cookies,...
Firefighters battle blaze, hoarding at New Kensington home
Fire crews spent about three hours Wednesday battling a blaze at a home in the 40 Acres neighborhood of New Kensington that had heavy hoarding conditions, according to city Fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. Volunteer fire departments from numerous Alle-Kiski Valley towns — including New Kensington, Arnold, Lower Burrell, Plum...
‘I know what it’s like to be hungry’: Greensburg church to donate 400 Thanksgiving dinners to local families
Kim Colosimo remembers what it’s like to be hungry. “I went through a divorce many, many years ago,” said Colosimo, who moved to Latrobe from Johnstown two years ago. “I had two small children. I was ‘this close’ from not having a home.” The church she attended in Johnstown is...
Woman fatally stabbed in Latrobe apartment, image of ‘person of interest’ released
A woman was stabbed to death in her Latrobe apartment over the weekend, and investigators on Monday released a surveillance photo of a man they described as a person of interest. Latrobe police and Westmoreland County detectives are investigating the death of Pamela Puskar, 59. She was found dead inside...
Westmoreland developments: 6 new businesses open doors
Aaron Allen could have opened his cigar business anywhere in Southwestern Pennsylvania. But in the Greensburg Salem graduate’s eyes, Humidor Cigars & Lounge only made sense in his hometown — Jeannette. “I truly believe in Jeannette and I truly believe in the people,” said Allen, 37. “By us in the...
How one Southwestern Pa. school district is trying to improve test scores — while on a budget
Monessen City School Superintendent Robert Motte is faced with a dilemma. Motte admits the district’s state test scores could use some improvement. On the 2024 Keystone Exams, 3% of the district’s students achieved a proficient or higher score in algebra 1. Students hitting that proficient or higher mark in biology...
Increased school funding could lead to higher test scores — but it’s often more complicated
When it comes to education spending, more isn’t always better. At least that’s what the numbers — standardized test scores and per-student spending — suggest about Southwestern Pennsylvania’s school districts. School districts that spend the most per student do not always have the highest test scores, according to data from...
Independence hospital staffers ‘trying to piece everything together’ in aftermath of merger announcement
Butler Memorial Hospital staffer Tara Erskine is ready for change. Erskine, 30, of Kittanning has worked as a CT scan technologist at the Butler hospital for eight years. A member of the hospital’s technologists union, Erskine is optimistic about Butler Memorial being partnered with West Virginia University Health System. Officials...
Hempfield business owner gives back with 50 turkey donations this Thanksgiving
When Hempfield business owner Kris Wilkins was a child, holidays were a financially stressful time of year for his family. That’s why Wilkins, owner of Beautiful Kitchens along North Greengate Road, is donating 50 turkeys to local families in need — no questions asked. “I didn’t have much money growing...
Education leaders applaud state budget that adds $900M in new funding for school districts
Education is the centerpiece of Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 budget. At least that’s what Laura Boyce took away from the funding plan for the state’s 500 K-12 public schools, approved last week after a 4½-month impasse. “There were a lot of hard decisions that had to be made as the governor’s original...
‘Step into the painting’: Italian producers bring immersive, winter-themed exhibit to Westmoreland museum
If visitors lose themselves in the Westmoreland Museum of American Art’s latest exhibit, Italian video producers Max De Ponti and Andrea Corti will know they have done their job. De Ponti and Corti launched a video production company, OLO Creative Farm, in Como, Italy, 20 years ago. It was their...
