Dillon Carr stories, Page 7

Carnegie held the line on property taxes heading into 2021. The borough’s council unanimously approved the $6.8 million budget during a Dec. 28 meeting. Council president Sue Demko was absent. The budget represents a 2.9 increase in spending compared to 2020’s plan. Still, the borough expects to net a little...

Gateway schools will remain in remote learning through Jan. 15. The announcement came through a letter to district parents authored by Superintendent Bill Short. It was posted to the district’s website Dec. 24. “Based on the metrics and data associated with significant increases in covid-19 cases and positivity percentages, Allegheny...

Penn Hills Council adopted a spending plan for the upcoming year without raising property taxes and, officials were quick to emphasize, with a surplus in leftover funds. The $34 million budget, a 6% increase from the previous year, was balanced by using $3 million in carryover funds – an identical...

In Arabic, the name Jafar means “rain or water that comes from heaven.” The words came from Khalid Samad, an activist from Cleveland who came to Homewood on Friday to pay his respects during a dedication to the young Jafar Brooks, who died Dec. 15 after being gunned down in...

Bridgeville council ratified the borough’s spending plan that did not raise property taxes for the next year during its meeting Monday. Council voted unanimously to adopt the $3.3 million budget, which includes 2.5% salary raises for police and public works employees. Other expenses for the police department – which has...

Those who knew Jafar Brooks were lost for words in the days following the teenager’s untimely death. “There are no words, you can’t describe this feeling. When you love someone, ain’t no words to make them feel better,” said Rashad Byrdsong, grandfather of the Churchill teen who was fatally shot...

Brentwood Borough officials wrapped up a yearlong deal Dec. 7 when they sold its sanitary sewer system for $19.2 million to a separate utility company. Brentwood’s roughly 4,500 customers will now be served by Pennsylvania America Water. The sewer authority, which only owns the pipes that carry the sewage to...

Leetsdale council held the line on property taxes and reduced another tax when it ratified the borough’s spending plan for 2021. The borough projects its revenue to come in at $2.6 million, a surplus of $126,000 when compared to its $2.4 million projection in expenditures. Council president Wesley James said...

Roughly 19 years ago, a dad wrote a message on a wooden stud of his toddler’s playhouse he had built just for her in the backyard. “For Genevieve’s third birthday,” it read. He then signed his name. A few weeks later, the surprise playhouse was complete. Ron Carlson, 62, of...

It all started by glancing up for Richard Narushoff. Narushoff, 75, of Monroeville remembers being 3 years old when he saw his first airplane flying through the sky. “I figured I’d fly someday,” he said. “I guess it’s always been in my mind.” Those memories came back recently after he...

A busy intersection along Frankstown Road in Penn Hills will get a facelift soon thanks to a recently issued state grant. Penn Hills received a $328,803 grant from PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) program to modernize traffic and pedestrian lights at the intersection of Frankstown Road, Spring Grove Road...

The covid-19 pandemic has altered traditions, but in some cases, perhaps it has created new ones. Plum Creek Presbyterian Church had to change plans for its 17th annual Christmas nativity walk-through event. Initially the event was changed to a drive-thru but Gaye Mallisee, a congregant and member of the church’s...

Brentwood council approved its 2021 spending plan without raising property taxes during its meeting Monday. Council unanimously approved the $9.9 million budget, which represents a 12% increase from the 2020 spending plan. Like many municipal budgets, Brentwood experienced some shortfalls in tax revenue, based largely on the effects from the...

The Riverview Board of School Directors maintained the status quo when it reelected its president and vice president to the same roles Monday. Lisa Ashbaugh, 53, of Verona will begin her second year as president of the nine-member board. Janine Hurt-Robinson, first appointed to the board in 2016, retained her...

The Gateway School Board of Directors elected a new board president and vice president during its Dec. 1 reorganizational meeting. Brian Goppman will serve as the board’s president. He replaces Mary Beth Cirucci, who held the position for two years. Valerie Warning will serve as vice president, replacing Rick McIntyre....

The West Jefferson Hills School Board retained its president and vice president, each beginning their fifth consecutive year in the respective roles. Brian Fernandes will continue on as president of the nine-member board. Suzanne Downer will serve as first vice president. Each member was first elected in December 2015. Fernandes...

Gateway schools will remain in remote learning through Jan. 4. The announcement came through a letter to district parents authored by Superintendent Bill Short. It was posted to the district’s website Dec. 2. “Based on the metrics and data associated with significant increases in covid-19 cases and positivity percentages, Allegheny...

As one of nature’s elements, fire will never burn out. But the ones who volunteer to fight it might. It’s a problem that in recent decades has only grown. In Penn Hills, the number of volunteer firefighters has dwindled for years. The municipality closed one of its seven fire stations...

The Chabad Jewish Center of Monroeville will host its fourth-annual menorah-lighting event in a covid-friendly fashion on Dec. 13. Typically, the synagogue’s “Light Up the Night” event draws several dozen people to the Miracle Mile Shopping Center along Route 22 for singing, dancing and hot latke eating. This year, the...

Hannah Loughman used an array of words to describe what it’s like being Sewickley United Methodist’s new pastor during covid-19. Different. Opportunity. Draining. Hurt. The 36-year-old mother of two was recently ordained as the church’s first female and youngest pastor ever. She’s also — in her words — the “bonus...

Penn Hills School District will shift to remote learning Tuesday because of forecasted snowfall. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has called for 2 to 4 inches of snow in the area Tuesday. A winter weather advisory in the region runs from 1 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday. The...