Penn-Trafford Star category, Page 79
Cops: Man assaulted girlfriend after finding her wrapping presents for other boyfriend
A man who found his girlfriend wrapping a Christmas gift for her “other” boyfriend was arrested early Tuesday in Trafford after assaulting the woman and threatening her with a knife, police said. Daniel W. Hill, 50, of North Huntingdon was arrested at the Cavitt Avenue apartment he was sharing with...
Trafford library’s search for library director hampered by funding limitations
For almost four months, the Trafford Community Public Library has remained open six days a week thanks to volunteers. The small library on Brinton Avenue has not had a director since Jessica Beichler took over as the Penn Area Library director in Harrison City in early September. Beichler, who replaced...
Trafford offers grant for facade improvements – but not for naked mannequins
Entrepreneurs who want to open a business in Trafford next year will have a shot at a $600 matching grant for improving their storefront’s facade, though there is a catch. The money is available to any business owner who has designs on sprucing up their storefront in Trafford “as long...
Penn Township proposes more money for firefighters, no tax increase
Penn Township’s proposed 2020 budget would give more money to the fire department, with no tax increase. If commissioners approve the budget next week, real estate taxes will remain at 17.7 mills, but be divided slightly differently. Currently, 16.7 mills worth of tax revenue goes to the general fund, with...
Westmoreland talent fills out Laurel Ballet’s annual ‘Nutcracker’ production
Although “The Nutcracker” is perfect family Christmas entertainment, surprisingly it was not a hit when it was first performed in Russia in 1892. But when it did finally catch on more than 50 years ago, it quickly became a ubiquitous part of the holiday season. It’s now the most frequently-seen...
Penn Township tattoo parlor will host Toys for Tots fundraiser
When Justin Schultz opened his first tattoo shop in downtown Jeannette in 2012, a Toys for Tots representative stopped by right around this time of year to drop off a donation box. “I thought, ‘It’s such a little box,’ so we had the idea to do an annual fundraiser and...
Penn Township tattoo parlor will host Toys for Tots fundraiser
When Justin Schultz opened his first tattoo shop in downtown Jeannette in 2012, a Toys for Tots representative stopped by right around this time of year to drop off a donation box. “I thought, ‘It’s such a little box,’ so we had the idea to do an annual fundraiser and...
Trafford Legion to serve community Thanksgiving meal
Trafford American Legion Post 331 is preparing to serve a Thanksgiving Day dinner for residents in the community who may not have anywhere to go for a meal on the holiday. The dinner is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at 216 Cavitt Ave., Trafford, and will include turkey,...
Trafford plans holiday events on Dec. 7
Trafford Borough will hold a holiday celebration with a parade and visit by Santa Claus on Dec. 7. Christmas carols will be sung from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the borough building at 414 Brinton Ave A parade in downtown Trafford will follow, beginning in the Haymaker Village parking lot...
Penn-Trafford tops in Westmoreland County on state assessment tests
Penn-Trafford was ranked in the top 2% of the state’s 605 schools districts, based on the results of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and the Keystone Exams, the school district said. The Westmoreland County school district ranked 11th out of 605 statewide, according to scores released in October and...
Penn Middle Drama students will stage ‘A Christmas Story’
This holiday season at Penn Middle School, not one but two Ralphies will be at risk of shooting their eye out with that Red Ryder air rifle. Students at the school will stage the classic holiday tale of “A Christmas Story,” and interest in the play was so strong that...
Penn-Trafford students prepare to air ‘Wishes for Warriors’ telethonVideo
Penn-Trafford High School’s third annual Make-a-Wish telethon has already granted one child’s wish, even though it won’t be broadcast until Dec. 19. “We have already raised more than $5,000 in less than two weeks,” said Steve Vinton, high school video production teacher. “Last year we raised $60,000 and granted 13...
Trafford marks park’s 100th anniversary on Veterans DayVideo
More than 100 years ago in Trafford, on Nov. 11, 1918, Charles Bolam and his wife Mary heard the peal of bells — a ringing that signaled the end of World War I. The Bolams had two boys, Edward and Norman, serving overseas. Edward was in an ambulance company, and...
Trafford officials to mark war memorial’s centennial on Veterans Day
Trafford residents were ready to celebrate Veterans Day before it was even a national holiday. “They billed it as an all-day event on Nov. 11, 1919, but the planners were thinking it would be declared a holiday and people would have the day off,” said local historian Andrew Capets. “That...
Incumbents hold steady in Penn Township, Penn-Trafford elections
Incumbents held steady in contested races for Penn Township commissioner, while it was smooth sailing for school board candidates in the general election. First Ward Republican incumbent Jeffrey Shula came away with a commanding win, taking 71.6% of 862 votes over Democratic challenger Bill Leonard. Incumbent Republican Lisa Rose Zaucha...
Penn Borough council: Zero candidates, 15 write-in votes
The 15 write-in ballots cast in Penn Borough could decide who fills three vacancies on council — although just who that will be has yet to be decided. No candidates appeared on the ballot. According to unofficial results of Tuesday’s election, four candidates each received three write-in votes: incumbent council...
Penn-Trafford Drama Guild courts cynical politics with ‘The Mouse That Roared’Video
A tiny, fictitious European-ish nation starts a phony war with the United States — in the hopes that they can immediately surrender and the Americans will pay to rebuild their country and economy. That might sound a bit political for a high school play, but it’s nothing new for the...
Penn-Trafford business class raises nearly $100,000 for charity
Students in a business class at Penn-Trafford High School raised almost $100,000 for charity since the class started 14 years ago, and they expect to pass the six-figure mark this year. Students in the “Introduction to Administration and Management” class sell T-shirts of their own design, with the profits going...
Penn-Trafford toy drive honors student, aids cancer patients at Children’s HospitalVideo
Like other 5-year-old girls, Lilli Durante loves dresses and dressing up like Disney princesses. What makes her love of pretending to be a Disney princess special is when and where she wears those dresses. The Manor girl plays dress-up when she goes to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for chemotherapy...
Bedbugs found at Penn Middle School in Penn Township
Bedbugs have been found at Penn Middle School in the Penn-Trafford School District. District officials alerted parents Wednesday that a student was found with bedbugs on their body. No additional bugs were found in the student’s belongings. When a professional exterminator and the district’s maintenance director began searching classrooms frequented...
Penn-Trafford senior named finalist at international short-film competitionVideo
When Ryan Mickey of Penn Township was in middle school, he remembers getting together with his cousins during the holidays. “We had our little iPods, and we’d make these little two-minute videos,” Mickey said. The 18-year-old’s early interest in multimedia is paying off: Mickey’s three-minute short film, “Mirror Image,” was...
New director takes the helm at Penn Area LibraryVideo
Jessica Beichler sees a lot of opportunity for growth at the Penn Area Library, where she began serving as director Sept. 3, following the retirement of Dorene Miller. “I like the community here,” said the Trafford resident, who previously served as director. “There are people moving into the community who...
Christian Life pastor to retire in October
When the Rev. Gary Simpson came to Christian Life Church in Trafford, the Haymaker Village neighborhood was a grassy field, and a stop sign was perfectly capable of handling traffic at the corner of Forbes Road and Route 130. That was in 1985. “Children who were born in the early...
Bushy Run Battlefield going to the dogs
Dog owners who love to walk their pets around historic Bushy Run Battlefield along Route 993 in Penn Township will be able to enjoy a dog-centered day at the park Sept. 7. The dog-friendly Paws in the Park will feature a series of activity stations and vendor booths for what...
March for Parks surpasses $1 million in fundraising
The county’s annual March for Parks event has surpassed the $1 million fundraising mark, as residents, businesses and organizations have come together since 2003 to raise money for improvements at places like the Westmoreland Heritage Trail, Mammoth Park and Cedar Creek Park. The 17th annual March for Parks this past...
