Joyce Hanz stories, Page 20

The only in-house brewery in Vandergrift is brewing up global accolades. Allusion Brewing Co. recently won Best Tap Handle, Best Charitable Partnership and Best RTD (ready-to-drink) Cocktail at the Craft Beer Marketing Awards. Co-owner and head brewmaster John Bieranoski attended the weeklong Craft Beer Conference in Nashville in May. “We...

Leechburg officials have taken steps to resolve an ongoing parking predicament in the borough’s downtown business district. After fielding complaints from a business owner about limited parking options on Second Street, council unanimously voted to approve the installation of two, 10-minute free parking spaces along the street. The new spots...

A tiny riverside borough big on tourism is rolling out the welcome mat for visitors from near and far along the Allegheny River in Clarion County. Foxburg, located less than 15 minutes off exit 45 on I-80 and about 85 miles from Pittsburgh, offers natural beauty, a nationally recognized public...

Hundreds of Dynamos appeared to have a dynamite time Saturday at an all-class high school reunion in Harmar. More than 800 Springdale Junior-Senior High School alumni didn’t let rain damper their robust reunion that included food trucks, cash bar and music. The event was held outside, under the picnic pavilion...

Allegheny Township supervisors will be searching for a new township manager with the pending departure of Gregory Primm. But it appears Lower Burrell has found its new city clerk — Primm — as its council is set to vote on his hiring. Primm submitted his letter of resignation via email...

A Leechburg Area High School senior is having a summer to remember. Summer St. John, 17, celebrated the news Tuesday of her mother’s million-dollar lottery win with a commemorative check presentation at the Giant Eagle in Allegheny Township. Summer and her parents, Paul and Tricia St. John, shared hugs, smiles...

A former Vandergrift mayor and longtime Leechburg Area School District educator is being remembered as a dedicated servant in two neighboring communities. Barbara Jo (Sendry) Turiak died on June 20, 2023 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. She was 70. Turiak lived in Vandergrift for more than 19 years, often...

After a 17-year absence, Allegheny Township Community Day returned Saturday on the grounds of Kiski Area High School. Held as a partnership between the township and Kiski Area School District, the day featured, food, live bands, games and visits by police, fire and other emergency vehicles for kids to explore....

Saturday’s mix of rain and sun was a perfect recipe for a rainbow and visitors to Vandergrift’s first PRIDE in the Park festival made sure there were many to see. Supporters of the LGBTQ+ community wore rainbow-themed clothes and even had PRIDE-themed desserts to enjoy at Kennedy Park. Shannon Gourley,...

A spate of stolen and vandalized traffic signs along two rural roads in Allegheny Township have officials seeking the public’s help in apprehending the thieves. “We’ve been here seven times since January,” said Allegheny Township Public Works Director Roger Schwarz, while standing next to a recently replaced stop sign Thursday...

The day has finally arrived. The day that Swifties have been waiting months for — Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” comes to Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Fans began arriving early, even thought the parking lots weren’t scheduled to open until 1:30 p.m. And most gates opened at 4:30...

The Kiski Area School District is collaborating with Allegheny Township officials in an effort to help curb ongoing safety issues at Kiski Area Intermediate School. “Since the return to normal in-person education (after the pandemic), we’ve seen a dramatic increase in fighting as well as other less-than-positive interactions,” said Allegheny...

Leechburg property owners can expect no tax increase in their school property taxes for the coming school year. The Leechburg Area School Board unanimously passed its $15.6 million preliminary budget for 2023-24. “Folks have been hit hard with inflation and need a break,” board President Anthony Shea said. “Also, the...

A million-dollar scratch-off ticket was sold at a grocery store in Allegheny Township. Pennsylvania Lottery officials announced Wednesday a winning ticket for Hasbro’s “The Game of Life” was sold at the Giant Eagle, 41 Towne Center Drive. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket. Scratch-off tickets...

A Chicago couple have traded in their big-city lifestyle for small-town living. “I wanted to buy an old church or house — and I got both,” said co-owner Jason Fitzpatrick, who originally was from Butler County. Fitzpatrick, 48, and husband Thomas Murphy, 32, who married seven years, began their search...

Ken Kaminski has blazed a trail volunteering in nature, emergencies and fires across the Alle-Kiski Valley since he was 14. Giving back to his community is a mainstay for the 63-year-old Allegheny Township resident. Kaminski’s nature-loving mission involves volunteering as president of the Roaring Run Watershed Association in Kiski Township....

Leechburg officials are hopeful a newly available riverfront property will entice a buyer or developer looking to invest in a scenic location. A 2.83-acre property along the Kiski River, previously used by ATI’s idled plants in Bagdad and West Leechburg, went on the market May 8 for $1.39 million by...

Family and friends are mourning the sudden death of a standout student hockey player from Washington Township. Alex Presley Orange, a 2020 Kiski Area High School graduate and PennWest University California student, died Sunday from injuries sustained in a car crash. He was 21. His parents, Todd Orange and Leesa...

A whitetail deer, seen for weeks by Fox Chapel area residents sporting a large, white, plastic feeder around its neck, was freed Thursday morning, thanks to the persistent efforts of Pennsylvania Game Commission officials. Commission officials spotted the deer early Thursday in the Orchard Hill/Driftwood area of O’Hara and were...

A young buck in the Fox Chapel area got itself in a jam a few weeks ago when it somehow got its neck stuck in a plastic animal feeder. It has been spotted by area residents with the container still around its neck. O’Hara resident Melissa Marlo said she has...

Poolgoers hoping to cool off at a popular summer swimming destination in Allegheny Township will have to be patient. The Vandergrift Pool, officially named the Joseph A. Petrarca Memorial Pool, remains empty and closed. The pool at 1639 La Belle Vue Road has not opened for the season because of...

New female leadership appears to be on the horizon in Leechburg. Councilwoman Doreen Smeal, 69, scored a victory on the Democratic and Republican primary elections in the race for mayor, all but securing a victory in November. The only thing that could stop her from winning is somebody mounting a...

A seasonal socializing and shopping event is returning to Leechburg. Mingle on Market, sponsored by the Leechburg Area Community Association, had a successful inaugural year last summer, and organizers are hopeful the event will continue to bring people together to shine a spotlight on the borough. The community association is...

A high-flying adventure awaits those brave enough to jump out of an airplane in rural Mercer. Skydive Pennsylvania is the only full-service skydiving facility in Western Pennsylvania, located at the Grove City Airport. Owner Cecil Smith, 66, has logged more than 5,912 jumps in his 49 years of skydiving. Smith...

Michael Trenga was retired two days before he jumped back into the workforce. The decision was financially motivated. “I retired on a Friday and went back to work on a Monday,” said Trenga, 71, of Leechburg. “Without my job, I would have to cut back on a lot — not...