Western PA Local News category, Page 2159
Vandergrift adjusts Christmas parades for covid concerns
Christmas festivities in Vandergrift will be altered to account for covid-19, but the festivities will continue. The Vandergrift Improvement Program’s (VIP) “Light-up Night” takes place every year the weekend after Thanksgiving, normally including a Christmas parade attended by every fire department in the area, incorporating floats, food vendors and entertainment....
Allegheny Township proposed budget has no tax increase
Allegheny Township residents won’t have a property tax increase next year, marking the 11th consecutive year without an increase. Township supervisors presented the preliminary 2021 budget Monday. The budget includes a general fund of just under $4 million, along with about $335,000 allocated for debt service, $235,000 for the fire...
12 staff members at Westmoreland Manor test positive for coronavirus
Twelve staff members at Westmoreland Manor, the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield, recently tested positive for coronavirus, the facility announced Thursday. Since Sept. 19, the number of residents testing positive stands at 152; the number of staff with positive test results has reached 60, according to Assistant Administrator Abby Testa....
Small business owners hoping for strong weekend sales
In recent years, the mad rush of post-Thanksgiving sales promotions has been tempered by the steady rise of online shopping. This year, it will be further tempered by concern over the coronavirus, as the U.S. is in the midst of a nationwide surge in positive cases. That makes Small Business...
Alle-Kiski Valley volunteers reach out to provide Thanksgiving mealsVideo
Free take-out turkey meals were abundant across the Alle-Kiski Valley region Thanksgiving Day. Traditional dine-in meals at area churches were off the table this year due to covid-19 restrictions, but individuals, businesses and churches stepped in, giving meaning to the “give” in Thanksgiving. Turkey With A Twist Spice Affair Indian...
Holiday spirit of giving wasn’t dampened by covid-19 surgeVideo
The steady stream of volunteers arriving at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Latrobe had to find their way to an unassuming concrete ramp to get into the building on Thanksgiving morning. Despite serving more than 160 takeout meals on the 40th anniversary of the church’s annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner, the...
Natrona Heights man ID’d as inmate who died at Allegheny County Jail
The Allegheny County Jail inmate who died Thursday is a 63-year-old man from the Natrona Heights neighborhood of Harrison, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office said. Daniel Pastorek, 63, was found unresponsive in his cell, Warden Orlando Harper said. A corrections officer and medical staff tended to Pastorek until paramedics...
Norwin moves to remote learning next week
Norwin schools will be closed next week and its 5,300 students will receive remote instruction in response to new state guidelines for counties such as Westmorelandwith a substantial level of community transmission of covid-19. The school board Wednesday unanimously agreed with Superintendent Jeff Taylor’s recommendation to close the buildings from...
Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster delivers turkeys to seniors after Thanksgiving game canceledVideo
Turkey with a side of JuJu? Thanksgiving turned out to be an off day for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. So, he delivered turkeys to seniors. “Giving back to the community has always been a thing in my heart,” Smith-Schuster said. He gathered with volunteers Thursday morning at Dive...
Pedestrian in critical condition after being struck in Strip District
A man is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle in Pittsburgh’s Strip District late Wednesday night. Police said officers from Zone 2 were called to Liberty Avenue and 21st Street around 11:30 p.m.. Investigators said the man was walking in front of a stopped Port Authority bus...
Holiday baking traditions survive changing times amid growing coronavirus casesVideo
Large family gatherings might be out for some because of covid-19, but many in the region aren’t giving up on baking and other holiday food traditions. Pat Frye, 75, of Monroeville, sitting with a friend over a coffee at Oakmont Bakery, said she and her daughter will still get together...
The Stroller, Nov. 26, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
A heartfelt thank you to all our loyal readers. Happy Thanksgiving! – Carol Pinto-Smith Westmoreland County Marines to supply Christmas groceries Westmoreland County Marines will provide Christmas groceries to local veterans’ families in need. To apply, veterans must provide proper identification and proof of military service such as a VA...
Food for thought: Your Turkey Day menu, by the numbersVideo
A trip around the Thanksgiving menu is like a trip around the United States, as American farmers produce much of what we savor on this national holiday, according to USAFacts.org. Below are some facts and figures about some of the popular foods to be shared today, with figures from 2019....
Norwin area happenings Nov. 26-Dec. 5
‘Christmas Tree Tour ‘set for Irwin Irwin’s business organization is planning to replace its annual holiday Cookie Tour with a two-day Festival of Lights Christmas Tree Tour because of covid-19 restrictions. Decorated trees will be in stores in downtown Irwin and available for viewing from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec....
Operation Santa Claus returns in year of extreme need
Operation Santa Claus has been helping Western Pennsylvania families with the gift of a holiday meal for 36 years, and this year may prove to be the most challenging in the long history of the nonprofit organization. “The need is greater than ever this year. We’re trying our best to...
Search to continue for missing Jefferson Hills teen
Dive teams from several places in Western Pennsylvania spent part of Tuesday and all of Wednesday traversing the Monongahela River in the area of the Elizabeth Bridge, searching without success for a 15-year-old Jefferson Hills boy reported missing earlier this week. Jeno Moretti was reported missing by his family. He...
Soured: Pittsburgh pickle balloon popped when it was being installed for the holiday seasonVideo
2020 continues to deflate. A giant pickle ornament that was supposed to be the perfect backdrop for a selfie in Downtown Pittsburgh was canned before its planned debut Friday, according to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. The ornament was being tested Wednesday for a final time when installers heard a loud...
Plum School District moves to all online classes due to rising covid cases
Plum School District will move to all remote learning through Jan. 4, district officials announced Wednesday. It is one of several districts in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties to make the change this month from hybrid in-person classes to virtual schooling due to surging covid-19 cases. “We will continue to monitor...
Murrysville-area happenings, Nov. 24 and beyond
Delmont library plans 2021 events After finishing 2020 with a new building, Delmont Public Library officials are gearing up for the first events of the new year — two outdoor walks exploring local nature spots. A “First Day Walk” will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., Jan 1 at...
Pittsburgh forms task force to enforce new covid-19 restrictions
Pittsburgh Public Safety has formed a task force to enforce new covid-19 restrictions. It was formed at the request of Mayor Bill Peduto to help enforce Gov. Tom Wolf’s renewed coronavirus mitigation efforts, Public Safety Spokesman Chris Togneri said Wednesday. “The task force will conduct random, unannounced compliance checks at...
Several Allegheny, Westmoreland county school districts moving to online learning
Several school districts in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties have announced plans to move to remote learning in light of surging covid-19 cases. Here are the districts and the plans that have been announced:Allegheny Valley School District officials announced Wednesday that full virtual instruction for all students will start Dec. 1...
UPMC reports $17B revenue despite pandemic
The covid-19 pandemic does not appear to be threatening the financial strength nor slowing the growth of UPMC, according to the health giant’s executives and newly released documents. Buoyed by federal aid and insurance revenue gains, UPMC’s total revenue from January through October reached nearly $17 billion — 11% higher...
As covid cases rise, overwhelmed case investigators and contact tracers forced to adaptVideo
The rapid influx of new covid-19 cases in Allegheny County has resulted in changes to the health department’s case investigation procedure, as overwhelmed case investigators and contact tracers work to keep up with the pace of the virus. “They haven’t been able to reach every case, and they’re spending less...
American Legion in Lower Burrell closes after patron tests positive for covid
Lower Burrell’s American Legion, Post 868, along Wildlife Lodge Road is closed until at least Monday because of a verified covid-19 case. Legion officials found out that one of their patrons tested positive for covid-19 on Monday night, said Post 868 Commander Ed Zollinger. The Legion promptly closed its facilities,...
Allegheny County certifies 2,300 mail-in ballots without dated envelopes
The Allegheny County Board of Elections certified roughly 2,300 remaining ballots on Wednesday, the same day the state Supreme Court declined to reconsider its ruling that the votes be counted. The roughly 2,300 ballots at issue had been challenged by Republican state Senate candidate Nicole Ziccarelli of Lower Burrell, who...
