Westmoreland category, Page 239
‘It’s heartwarming’: Local running store hosts Labor Day race in support of autism nonprofit
Autism Connection of PA, a Pittsburgh nonprofit, has a “huge mission and a limited budget,” said Director of Operations Tammi Morton. So fundraising events like the Labor Day Run for Autism are vital. Gingerbread Man Running Co., a store for runners with locations in Indiana and Greensburg, has hosted the...
‘Not your grandmother’s center’: Seniors centers evolve with Pilates, pickleball and pub burgers
Strong coffee and bingo are enough to draw Betty Delaney to the Highlands Area Senior Center every day. But her “partner in crime,” Christine Drane, said there’s a spicier reason to check out the Tarentum facility. “The meatballs are exceptionally good,” said Drane of Natrona Heights. “The lunches can’t be...
Seton Hill hosts intensive program on creative, business sides of dance
About 20 dancers learned about both the creative and business sides of the art during the inaugural Commercial Dance Intensive, held July 15 in the Seton Hill University Arts Center in downtown Greensburg. Presented by the Seton Hill Department of Dance, the high-energy dance experience focused on exploring style and...
Out & About: Compass Inn midsummer revel harks back to 1812
They were partying like it was 1812 on July 15 on the grounds of the Compass Inn Museum in Laughlintown. The event was the annual Midsummer’s Night Ball, a highlight of a living history weekend featuring reenactors from Ship’s Company, an organization dedicated to preserving America’s maritime heritage. The group...
Out & About: Latrobe Art Center supporters dine on famed Jamison lamb
For more than 40 years, John and Sukey Jamison of Unity have raised lambs destined for fine dining tables across the country. They’ve also hosted an annual dinner fundraiser for the Latrobe Art Center — a longstanding and eagerly anticipated tradition, according to executive director Michael Tusay. Guests gathered for...
Out & About: Sounds like summer at The Westmoreland
“Sounds of Summer” was the theme for the July 14 Art on Tap happy hour at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. It was a clever link to the weekly SummerSounds concert that would follow in nearby St. Clair Park. Following the museum’s happy hour, guests were encouraged...
Greensburg WWII veteran braved armed foes, harsh jungle conditions with Merrill’s Marauders
(Editor’s Note: This is part of a series about Westmoreland County residents who have been honored as Hometown Heroes.) Walter Krautz Greensburg 1919-1986 Walter Krautz survived the jungle, but the sacrifices he made during a World War II mission behind enemy lines in Southeast Asia didn’t end once he was...
Nigerian activist’s work inspires Greensburg Art Center exhibit
“Hope” is the simple title of the current exhibit at Greensburg Art Center, but there are layers of meaning conveyed in that one word. Featured artists Nancy Rusbosin of Hempfield and Becky Mormack of Unity took their inspiration from the work of Nigerian activist/entrepreneur Olutosin Oladosu Adebowale. Adebowale not only...
Kecksburg UFO festival: ‘quintessentially American’
Little Everly Yencha of South Huntingdon was holding onto the carving of a green wooden cryptid — an alien’s head — that her mother, Holly Yencha, had just bought her Saturday at the Kecksburg UFO Festival. What attracted 5-year-old Everly to prompt her mother to buy her the odd item?...
Greensburg legal services office merges with regional organization
Laurel Legal Services in Greensburg is now known as Summit Legal Aid after merging operations with Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid in Washington. The organizations have the same mission, to provide individuals with limited resources free community legal services in family, housing, financial security and domestic violence matters. As Summit Legal...
Penn Township planning ahead for Pa. Turnpike interchange
Penn Township will request $20 million through a state grant program to put toward future capital projects, including the upcoming Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange on Route 130. “We know that the turnpike interchange is coming,” township secretary/manager Mary Perez said. “In anticipation of any type of capital need or perhaps a...
Popular summer day camp at Hempfield challenged with finding staff
Hempfield’s summer day camp has expanded in popularity, but it is struggling to field enough staff to keep up with demand. “We’re providing a service that is in great need,” Parks and Recreation Director Marissa Haynes said at a township supervisors meeting this week. “We are maxed out everyday, and...
Greensburg mom shares family moment at veteran memorial
Greensburg mom Adina North shared a snapshot of a heartfelt family moment at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Crabtree. She and her family attended a funeral for their relative, John Barchiesi, 88, of Crabtree, at the church earlier in July. North and her kids were standing outside when she reminded...
Ligonier Valley police justified in fatal shooting of man with machete, DA says
Police were justified in their fatal shooting of a man armed with a machete in a July 2 domestic incident in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli said Friday. Westmoreland County detectives said Robbie Thomas Saunders, 59, aggressively approached two Ligonier Valley Police Department officers and was...
Police: Trafford man arrested during ‘ride-out’ at Pittsburgh airport
A Trafford man who was wanted on a warrant was arrested early Friday after a stolen license plate was discovered in his vehicle at Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny County police said. Dashawn Evans, 41, was charged with receiving stolen property and multiple traffic citations after police arrived at the airport...
Trafford man arrested at Pittsburgh airport in car stolen out of Altoona
Dozens of “high-end performance vehicles” trekked to Pittsburgh International Airport to race in the dead of night Thursday — and police said they apprehended a Westmoreland County man driving a stolen car. Allegheny County police said officers saw a number of cars gathering at the airport’s public arrivals curb around...
Police: Hempfield woman stole money while working at Citizens Bank
A Hempfield woman was arrested Friday on police accusations that she stole $3,300 from a bank where she worked, according to court papers. Rachel A. Bates, 25, is free on $10,000 unsecured bail on felony charges of theft and receiving stolen property. An investigator from Citizens Bank contacted Westmoreland County...
Salem barn destroyed by fire following lightning strikeVideo
Ed Immel was getting ready for bed on Thursday night when a loud clap nearly shook him out from under the covers. “I thought it was just thunder,” he said. A few minutes later, he saw a dull orange glow out the window and knew that his barn was on...
‘Changed man’ gets probation for police standoff and parking lot attack
On Thursday, nearly two years after he barricaded himself in his Hempfield home and tried to kill himself, George Gardner claimed he was a new man. Gardner pleaded guilty Thursday to charges that stemmed from two separate incidents in 2021 in which authorities said he shot at his wife and...
South Greensburg man pleads guilty to recording sex with teen
A South Greensburg man pleaded guilty Thursday to charges that he recorded video of sexual encounters with a teenage girl. Police said Nicholas James Rossi, 27, had a seven month sexual relationship with a then 17-year-old girl in 2021 and 2022 in which he recorded their sex acts. Rossi pleaded...
Hempfield closes on former state prison property, bulks up security
Hempfield officially received a full box of keys to the former SCI Greensburg state prison facility after closing on the property last week. “There are a lot of keys to a prison, I found out,” township manager Aaron Siko joked at a meeting this week. The township supervisors announced the...
North Huntingdon moves step closer to residential rental registry
Landlords renting homes and apartments in North Huntingdon will have to register their buildings and tenants and pay a fee, if township commissioners approve a proposed ordinance. Commissioners on Wednesday authorized the township solicitor to write an ordinance requiring the registration of residential rental properties, despite concerns by some landlords...
Greensburg police officer pleads guilty in 2022 assault case, resigned from force
Editor’s note: Former Greensburg Kenneth Burke pleaded guilty Friday to an amended misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct and summary harassment. The charges to which he pleaded guilty were incorrect in the original version of this story. A suspended Greensburg police officer has been forced to resign after pleading guilty Friday...
Independence Health announces 4 members of leadership team
Independence Health System officially has a new leadership team, composed of four longtime department heads from the system’s component parts of Butler Health System and Excela Health. On Thursday, Independence introduced Dr. Carol Fox as chief medical officer; Dr. David Rottinghaus as president of Physician and Provider Network; Karen Allen...
Murrysville man will sing national anthem at PNC Park
Joe Hnath of Murrysville is making his mother proud at a pretty rapid rate these days. Hnath, 24, is on the autism spectrum and was diagnosed at age 2 with Asperger’s Syndrome. His mother, Lisa, is a volunteer education advocate with the nonprofit East Suburban Citizen Advocacy, which is dedicated...
