The top stories from across the Lower Valley for the week of Jan. 4

Here are some of the top stories from across the Lower Valley for the week of Jan. 4:

• Fox Chapel church hosts ‘Fill-a-Truck’ food collection for local pantries

An annual food collection at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church will help local food banks that include Bread of Life in Etna, St. Vincent de Paul in Sharpsburg and Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center in Indiana Township.

The event is scheduled for 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Feb. 7 in the church parking lot off Field Club Road.

Items needed include boxed dinners, pasta sauce, pancake mix and syrup, napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, toiletries and diapers.

• Schwartzman plays key role for for FC basketball

Six-foot power forward Ellie Schwartzman is back on the basketball court to help the Foxes compete after a three-week state-mandated pause in athletics.

Schwartzman scored a team-best 15 points in Fox Chapel’s 48-41 loss to Oakland Catholic in the season opener Dec. 11.

Schwartzman said she and her teammates banded together during the break with workout regimens to stay focused on the return to team activities.

• Aspinwall taxes remain steady

Aspinwall Council approved the borough’s $2.8 million budget, which holds the real estate tax rate at 6.86 mills.

The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 will again pay $686 to the borough in property tax.

Council approved nearly $645,000 for police expenses and $201,800 for the volunteer fire department.

• Atria’s remains closed despite state restriction lift

Management at Atria’s in O’Hara said the restaurant will remain temporarily closed because of state limitations on capacity.

“We cannot and will not make it as a business on 50% capacity,” said Michael Diaddigo, vice president of operations.

As a scratch-kitchen, more labor is involved, he said, making reopening or operating on takeout only too shaky.

The restaurant is scheduled to reopen Jan. 18.