Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 23

If all goes as planned, six dilapidated homes will be demolished this year in Tarentum, clearing what council called significant eyesores and hazards from the borough. Work would bring the total to 60 structures razed since council began its anti-blight fight in 2020. “Eventually, most of the blighted properties will...

Julie Ann Farren jokes that her career aspirations were cemented in second grade when her dad gave her a frozen deer heart to take to school for show and tell. “He gave me a whole speech on the anatomy,” said Farren, who attended St. Alphonsus Catholic School in Springdale. “All...

As the Lost Boys bluegrass band croons onstage during the first of Tarentum’s summer concerts, volunteers will be working the crowds with a message to “Back the Blue.” The borough’s free concert series kicks off Thursday, May 25, doubling as the unofficial start to summer as well as a fundraiser...

The Tarentum Council race was seemingly decided Tuesday, save for the at-large position which pits Democratic incumbent Scott Dadowski against newcomer Maggie Smith, a Republican. Either way, both of them appear to have earned a seat on council after winning their individual uncontested ward contests, according to unofficial results from...

The race for Harrison commissioner in the 3rd Ward appears to have come down to the slimmest of margins. Incumbent Eric Bengel eked out a victory for the Democratic nomination over opponent Gary Hines, according to unofficial results from the Allegheny County Elections Department. Bengel earned 213 votes to Hines’...

The Kiski Township supervisor candidate at the center of a social media controversy appears to have cruised to victory and ousted three incumbents along the way. The operative phrase, though, is “appears” to have done so. Brittany Hilliard, 29, earned the most votes of four Republican candidates seeking two available...

The first time Highlands senior Elijah Majocha was legally able to vote, he cast a ballot for himself. The 18-year-old was among a field of 11 people vying for five positions in three school board regions — and he appears to have come away with a nomination on both tickets....

A Brackenridge-based magistrate with 30 years in office appears to have won the nomination on both tickets this fall, essentially guaranteeing another six years on the job. With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Carolyn Saldari Bengel handily beat her opponent, Thomas Babinsack, on the Democratic ticket, earning about 60%...

South Park is getting spruced up just in time for summer. A recent green upgrade came courtesy of a significant tree-planting effort by the Allegheny County Parks Foundation and communications infrastructure company Crown Castle. Through the Connected by Good partnership, 180 trees were put in the ground at the county-owned...

The Community Library of Allegheny Valley has a new section for patrons to browse, but it doesn’t include books. The site along Broadview Boulevard in Harrison has established a seed library, the first of its kind since the facility opened in 1998. “A seed library is a great community resource...

The desire to maintain one of the oldest homes in Allegheny County remains strong for volunteers at the Burtner House in Harrison, but the hearty work is a lot to shoulder for the aging group. A handful of do-gooders at the Burtner House Restoration Society are tasked with mowing the...

A small-scale replica of a Native American longhouse sits among artist Robert Griffing’s depictions of 17th-century life in a new display at the Harrison Hills Environmental Learning Center. “If you have ever wondered what life was like in our locale before it was densely populated by European settlers, the new...

Only Fans strikes again. A candidate for Kiski Township supervisor is the latest person forced to contend with leaked news that she has a page on the social media site featuring racy photos of herself. But it might not be supervisor candidate Brittany Hilliard who ends up paying the price...

Ahead of a possible $2 million upgrade at Tarentum’s water plant, cameras will be installed to boost security. Council on Tuesday approved about $11,500 for five security cameras that will be mounted at the plant, pump house and water tanks. Video feed will be collected from several locations, including parking...

A Highlands-area glam squad is converging to help students prep for prom on Friday — for free. With hashtags like #GetYourPrettyOn and #FeelHandsomeFriday, volunteers from the Highlands Partnership Network have plastered social media to seek teens who need a little assistance getting red-carpet ready. “I want to make sure that...

Residents in the Deer Lakes School District will have a choice in the May 16 primary of seven candidates seeking nominations to the ballot of the Nov. 7 general election, where five school board seats will be determined. Newcomers James Calvert, Susan Claus, Pietro Porco, Leonard Verdetto III and Phillip...

Leaders at the Highlands Family Center in Tarentum tried to think outside the box with their latest fundraiser. Where could they target a crowd of people who might step up to do good for those in need? “Our food pantry is getting a little scarce, and we thought the Night...

Foxwall EMS will be better equipped to care for critically ill and injured patients thanks to new IV pumps aboard their ambulances. The Fox Chapel-based group, stationed along Hemlock Hollow Road, said the upgrade came courtesy of a grant from the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner. Foxwall was...

Future brides can say yes to the dress at a new boutique in Tarentum. The boho business is creating a buzz as the only shop of its kind in the borough. “I want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome here,” said Madison Vargo, owner of Maria V’s Bridal Boutique. “We’re...

A Harrison attorney hoping to bring fresh ideas to the magistrate’s office is taking on an incumbent who has served in office for three decades. Thomas Babinsack will compete against Carolyn Saldari Bengel for the position that covers Brackenridge, East Deer, Fawn, Harrison and Tarentum. Magisterial district judges earn about...

Motorists who drive through Tarentum should be aware of a construction project that is scheduled to begin Monday. Crews will be working on Corbet Street to replace a pole. A section of the road from East Ninth to East 10th avenues will be closed through Thursday. A portion of the...

Sales at ATI, one of the Alle-Kiski Valley’s largest employers, exceeded $1 billion for the third quarter in a row, officials announced Thursday. Aerospace and defense sales in particular are driving strong year-over-year growth, spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said. First-quarter results showed that products for aerospace and defense represent 56% of...

Natrona native Stephen Ferris, dean of the Miller College of Business at Ball State University, said it’s unusual for strong professional opportunities to align with personal interests. So when a position opened at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Ferris jumped at the chance to move closer to home. “I still have...

A new traffic light at Corbet Street and 10th Avenue got the green light from Tarentum Council more than a year ago, but a supply chain shortage has stalled the project. Borough Manager Dwight Boddorf said he met with engineers last week, and work is expected to be done this...

The U.S. Postal Service is making it easy for people to join the fight against hunger. A Stamp Out Hunger campaign will take place May 13 in Blawnox and Sharpsburg where people can set out cereal, chicken soup, canned corn and other items for mail carriers to collect. Food will...