Joyce Hanz stories, Page 26

A library is offering more than just books in Apollo. The Apollo Memorial Library opened the Fresh and Free Community Pantry last week, offering perishable foods such as eggs, vegetables and fruit to the public. In its first three days of operation, more than 260 people visited the library seeking...

A barbecue pitmaster from Leechburg uses his grill skills for charity. Joe “Big Joe” Felschow organizes barbecue benefits for anyone experiencing hardship in the Leechburg area. “It’s something I started and have a passion for. I love helping others in this crazy world we live in, even if it’s just...

A popular summertime festival is returning to Allegheny Township. Community Days — last organized in 1997 — is set to return June 24. The township recently approved the formation of a Community Days Committee, spearheaded by Supervisor James Morabito. “We have no records indicating why the event ceased 26 years...

A longtime educator and former Valley Points Family YMCA employee is opening a new preschool program after a drama-­filled departure from her previous teaching post at the West Vandergrift Early Learning Center in Vandergrift. Andrea Bennett was a YMCA employee for 35 years before cleaning out her classroom at the...

A popular year-‘round garden center in Allegheny Township is under new ownership. Dave Vargo, former owner of Kiski Garden Center, sold his business Friday for $200,000 to Pat D’Amico of Buffalo Township. Vargo removed a large banner outside his former business that same afternoon as D’Amico looked on and later,...

A canine-loving couple are moving ahead with plans to open a full-service dog kennel in Allegheny Township. Dan and Lindsay Janoski live on 15 acres along Indian Hill Road. Lindsay Janoski grew up with fond memories of her grandparents’ former dog kennel, Mar-Ken-El in Allegheny Township. “I’ve had dogs my...

A new physical therapy business in Allegheny Township has partnered with the Kiski Area School District. East Suburban Sports Medicine Center opened Jan. 2 at 451 Hyde Park Road in Hyde Park Plaza. ESSMC, the official sports medicine provider for Kiski Area, signed a three-year athletic training contract with the...

An elegant evening fundraiser benefiting Pittsburgh-area students is returning to Fox Chapel. The Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh’s Fox Chapel Evening of Hope will be March 2 at the Pittsburgh Field Club. The event, last held in 2019, had been on a pandemic-induced hiatus. “We’re happy to be back....

The Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company has new leadership from a fifth-generation firefighter. John A. Foster was appointed chief Jan. 1, replacing his father, Tom, who was appointed chief emeritus after 36 years of serving as chief and 50 years as a firefighter. “I was 5 when my dad became chief,...

The third grade hallway inside David Leech Elementary School was transformed Friday into a historical photo display project to celebrate the 100th day of school. The inaugural 100 Day Museum Walk, created by third grade teacher Michelle Grooms, is a black-and-white photo display containing 32 photos taken in various locations...

Visual artist Corey Ochai is on a mission to positively promote the borough he calls home. “I want people to give people a birds-eye view of Sharpsburg and all the beautiful things here,” said Ochai, 36. Ochai created a Facebook group four years ago called “The Beautiful Sights of Sharpsburg”...

A new, inclusive event is coming to Vandergrift. Pride Picnic at the Park is tentatively scheduled for June 24 at Kennedy Park. Pride — an acronym for professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence — was adopted 16 years ago by the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. “We’re organizing...

The latest addition to the Kiski Area School District staff is of the four-legged variety. Roo, a 5-month-old mixed-breed deaf rescue dog, is the district’s first full-time therapy dog. Kiski Area Superintendent Misty Slavic said she noticed a need for a therapy dog while hearing feedback from students and staff...

Pink Day’s first fundraiser of the year is here. The Marconi Club Pink Day Extravaganza 2023 is scheduled for Saturday in downtown Leechburg. All proceeds benefit Leechburg’s Pink Day, a daylong festival dedicated to supporting breast cancer research and held every September on Market Street. Pink Day events have raised...

The Kiski Area School District has been nationally recognized for achieving high female representation in Advanced Placement computer science. Kiski Area High School announced last week that it earned the 2022 College Board Female Diversity Award for AP Computer Science Principles. It’s the first time the district has earned an...

The Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department is adding another police dog to its force. Veegee, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, will be flown from Oregon to Pittsburgh this week and begin training to earn a police certification from the North American Police Work Dog Association. Upon completing several months...

A student-run business at Leechburg Area High School is expanding. Creations by Creation Candles is the latest line of handmade resin jewelry sold by Creation Candles, a custom candle business established last year in the school’s art, marketing, design and technology class. The course is taught by art teacher Shayle...

Arvind Seshan, a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, has been building and programming robots since he was 6. “My interest in science stems from getting an early start through robotics,” said Seshan, 18. Seshan, of Fox Chapel, has been named one of the top 300 scholars...

PNC is closing two more bank branches in the Pittsburgh region. The branches at 100 Grant Ave. in Vandergrift and at Duquesne University are scheduled to close at 3 p.m. March 17. An ATM will remain open at the Vandergrift location but not at Duquesne, according to PNC spokeswoman Olivia...

Buffalo Township officials are keeping mum about ongoing construction at the site of the former Kings Family Restaurant in Buffalo Plaza along Route 356. Township Manager Rich Hill declined to comment Wednesday when asked for details on the project at 400 Buffalo Plaza. But plaza owner Anthony Pompeo confirmed Wednesday...

Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company officials are excited about the latest addition to the company’s fleet of firefighting vehicles. After a 10-year fundraising initiative, a new 2022 Pierce Commercial Cab fire engine that was ordered almost two years ago was delivered last Wednesday after Leechburg fire company Chief Emeritus Tom Foster...

Kiski Area School Board is seeking a new member after the recent resignation of director Bertram Gardner. Gardner resigned Monday, citing a busy schedule as his reason for stepping down, Kiski Area Superintendent Misty Slavic said. A board vacancy in Region II was announced Monday on the district’s Facebook page...

A Penn Hills native is pouring her passion for art into her Oakmont business, one glass at a time. Amanda Lee, 42, of Oakmont has been determined to carve out a career in art since she could hold a crayon. But not everyone shared her enthusiasm. “My dad was a...