Joyce Hanz stories, Page 31

Vandergrift’s youngest residents can get their hands on a free pumpkin during the fourth annual Vandergrift Great Pumpkin Patch. The free community event, sponsored by the Vandergrift Parent Project, is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 29 at Franklin Park in Vandergrift. “Our goal since starting the VPP is...

Residents of Gilpin and Freeport officially have a new regional police department. The Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department held a pinning and inaugural first shift ceremony Wednesday morning at the Gilpin Municipal Building. The new police force combines the Freeport and Gilpin police departments, providing 24-hour police coverage for both...

A middle-school assignment evolved into a meaningful mission for Shady Side Academy junior Deven Nahata. While in seventh grade at SSA, his teacher assigned individual student projects with a social-based focus. “I did some Google searches for Pittsburgh nonprofits because I was really interested in the refugee crisis and found...

Terry Simmers likes to bring the fun to his volunteer job at St. Vincent de Paul in Apollo. Simmers, 48, began volunteering at the Catholic-based thrift store in 2016. “I enjoy doing what I do because helping others out gives me a great feeling, knowing that I’m important to the...

The Kiski Area High School varsity swim team is making a splash with a new fundraiser. Team organizers hope to boost swim safety awareness in the community and showcase the program during the Oct. 29 clinic. A Halloween swim theme will welcome registered participants during the one-hour swim session from...

Kiski Area High School freshman wrestler Abrahm Taylor works out almost daily in the weight room on campus. But using outdated, old and broken equipment isn’t optimal, he said. “Everything is so old,” Taylor said Thursday during a lunchtime weightlifting session. A new weight and cardio facility renovation project is...

A one-woman barista is stirring up the coffee scene in Gilpin. Gilpin native Damia Lorenz, 29, opened The Caffeinated Co., a mobile coffee cafe, on Aug. 21. On most days, you’ll find the trailer parked and operating from a vacant lot next to Stu’s Truck & Auto at 352 Route...

Big changes are coming to the former Big Kmart and the plaza it occupies in Allegheny Township. A new owner is redeveloping the once-busy plaza at 451 Hyde Park Road. Hyde Park Plaza was purchased for $3.8 million Sept. 16 by Pittsburgh-based developer Jeff Paul of Fox Chapel. The long-shuttered...

A group of volunteers has major flower power in Oakmont. The Oakmont in Bloom committee from The Garden Club of Oakmont plants and maintains 27 flower beds, 12 hanging baskets, nine urns, three hay baskets and three planters along Allegheny River Boulevard in Oakmont. The boulevard project bloomed a decade...

Enrollment in Valley Points YMCA’s Explorers program at the West Vandergrift Early Learning Center in Vandergrift has dropped by about 33% since rumors about the fate of the program and its teacher began swirling on social media and in the community last week. Administrators of the preschool are dispelling rumors...

Fancy a formal fundraiser? The inaugural Leechburg Masquerade Ball is scheduled for 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 29 at The Marconi Club at 135 River Ave. in Leechburg. Proceeds from the ball benefit the Leechburg Area Community Association. Organizer and LACA volunteer Kira Karpinski of Gilpin said she pitched the...

There’s a new specialty market in Leechburg. Market on Second opened last week and sells made-from-scratch, grab-and-go meals, soup, sandwiches, sides and more. Everything is made fresh daily. “I opened this because I have a passion for cooking soups and pierogies,” said owner Jennifer Tony, who also owns the Beermuda...

Ron Korczynski of Fawn is proud of his 100% Polish heritage. A noted ceramics artist for more than 20 years, Korczynski, 79, is the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Polonian Award by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation. An award luncheon in his honor is scheduled for Sunday at...

How much rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ian can the Pittsburgh region expect to receive over the weekend? National Weather Service meteorologist Jenna Lake said most of the Pittsburgh area will remain on the edge of Ian’s system, resulting in about a half-inch of rain over the weekend. “But...

Explore green acres in Greene County with a day trip focused on agritourism. Agritourism is described as a form of business enterprise linking agricultural businesses with tourism for education and entertainment purposes. Tourism in Greene County has created more than 480 jobs, and, in 2019, visitors spent more than $78...

Allegheny County police are investigating a shooting early Friday morning that left a man injured in Duquesne. Officers responded just after midnight to a report of shots fired in the 100 block of Peter Street. Responders discovered an adult man with a gunshot wound to the leg. He was transported...

For the second time in 24 hours, Pittsburgh police are investigating a reported carjacking near Shadyside. Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Amanda Mueller officers were called about 11:20 p.m. Thursday to the 700 block of College Street for the latest incident. Police said a driver told them three males approached, showed...

Vandergrift police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a man they said illegally dumped a big screen TV Wednesday in Kennedy Park. Chief Joe Caporali said surveillance footage obtained from Kennedy Park recorded a man getting out of what appears to be a dark Jeep Grand Cherokee with a...

A Freeport native is the new psychologist at Leechburg Area School District. Cortney Chelecki, 32, resides in Harrison and graduated from Freeport Area High School in 2009. But high school life had its challenges for Chelecki, and, as the district psychologist, she is dedicated to helping students navigate school in...

After 48 years in business, another Pittsburgh-area Kings Family Restaurant has closed. Kings district manager George Brown confirmed that the Kings in Presque Isle Plaza in Plum’s Holiday Park neighborhood closed its doors Monday. “The plaza has been sold, and the new owner had different plans,” Brown said. “We’re still...

A fatal shooting Tuesday night has left a man dead in Pittsburgh’s St. Clair neighborhood. The man, identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner as Marcus Watts, 26, of Pittsburgh, was discovered by Pittsburgh Police around 8:15 p.m. in the 500 block of Kohne Street after officers responded to reports...

A suspicious fire overnight Wednesday gutted three Pittsburgh Police cruisers at their Training Academy facility. Pittsburgh police said they are investigating the incident as an arson case. The three cars were parked in the academy parking lot. ATF investigators arrived on scene early Wednesday morning at the academy at 900...

There’s a new culinary team at Luke & Mike’s Frontporch in Aspinwall. The newest face customers will see there is Scott Baker, of Pittsburgh’s North Side. Baker, 31, will serve as executive kitchen supervisor. He was born in Charleston, S.C. After graduating high school, Baker began working as a cook....

A new seasonal monthly event in Vandergrift has proved to be a crowd-pleaser. Gathering on Grant, a community-based food and vendor festival, debuted in May. Lead organizer Eric Mikula said the event has been a great success. “It’s been wonderful. The response from our neighbors has been great. We have...