Joyce Hanz stories, Page 48

Allegheny Township officials are taking steps to tackle a sewage problem affecting multiple residences on LaBelle Vue Road. Eight houses on the rural road in Westmoreland County have what township Manager Greg Primm described as failing septic systems. An unidentified female LaBelle Vue Road resident filed a complaint June 28...

A new charity event in Vandergrift is making the cut with area students. The Kiski Valley Lancers & Ramsey’s Place Cuts 4 Kids will offer free back-to-school haircuts to any student in prekindergarten through 12th grade at the borough’s Kennedy Park on Aug. 23. “There’s a lot of underprivileged people...

State police are investigating a stabbing that happened early Thursday outside an Oklahoma Borough bar. Two people went outside the Oklahoma Inn at 1544 Hancock Avenue around 1:30 a.m. to engage in what police described as a “mutual fight” in an alley. One of the people was injured during the...

Kiski Area School Board will discuss its current health and safety plan during Wednesday night’s agenda meeting. A draft of the district health and safety plan, presented to the public on July 26, makes it optional for students, staff and visitors to wear face coverings or masks when classes begin...

An administrator with the Chartiers Valley School District is poised to become Kiski Area School District’s next superintendent — and the first woman to hold the district’s top post. Kiski Area School Board is expected to vote Monday, Aug. 16 on a proposal to hire Misty Slavic to a three-year...

A new restaurant is coming to Leechburg. Frankie’s on 2nd St. will occupy the former Pappy’s restaurant, at 81-83 Second St. Before closing, Pappy’s was a staple eatery in downtown Leechburg. Before that, it was home to another popular restaurant, Bonello’s. “I’m thrilled,” Leechburg Mayor Wayne Dobos said. “It’s good...

A multi-million dollar construction project in Parks and Kiskiminetas Townships is the reason for a road and bridge closure on Route 56 scheduled for Aug. 15. The affected area is near the intersection of River and Gravel Bar roads, from Vocelli’s Restaurant to Taps and Caps on River Road (Route...

A crumbling fire escape at Vandergrift’s historic Casino Theatre that dates back nearly a century will be replaced with the help of grant money. “It’s rusty, attached only in one location and the steps are not up to code,” said Janice Oberdorf, treasurer of the nonprofit Casino Theatre Restoration Management....

A woman appears to be in line to become Kiski Area School District’s next superintendent. Kiski Area officials wouldn’t identify the top candidate late this week, but Business Manager Peggy Gillespie said the district’s website would be updated Monday to announce the choice. The school board is expected to vote...

Long before gymnast Jade Carey won gold with her nearly flawless floor routine Monday at the Tokyo Olympics, the 21-year-old from Arizona nailed a living-room floor routine in the Alle-Kiski Valley during a visit to see relatives. “We had a huge family room, and from the time she walked in...

Vandergrift officials are taking steps to adopt an ordinance on backyard chickens. “The only thing we have in place right now is an old ordinance for nuisance fowl,” borough Solicitor Larry Loperfito said, adding that the decades-old ordinance addresses concerns such as a noisy rooster crowing. A three-person committee created...

West Leechburg’s Jack Froncek doesn’t let the grass grow under his feet. He prefers garlic. Froncek, 94, has been growing garlic at his Giron Street residence for 50 years. He said he got his start in garlic growing by accident. After noticing a large dirt excavation project near his home...

Walking is about to get more interesting with a new self-guided family program offered by the Vandergrift Public Library. StoryWalk is a self-guided initiative encouraging the public to visit local parks, learn something new and spend time together. The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vt., and...

A painting that was feared stolen from Vandergrift’s ArtFest last weekend has been found. ArtFest chairperson Lisa Dormire posted the update to social media Sunday morning. An ocean-themed 16x20 oil painting by Alle-Kiski Valley artist JoAnn Wesolosky disappeared from a pop-up gallery last Sunday and organizers took to social media...

Organizers of Vandergrift ArtFest are seeking help from the public to locate a missing painting they fear was stolen. ArtFest chairperson Lisa Dormire said the ocean landscape painting by Alle-Kiski Valley artist JoAnn Wesolosky was last seen Saturday night in the Decorator’s Workshop, a pop-up gallery and acoustic lounge on...

Downtown Leechburg is losing another restaurant. Market Street Pizza, at 132 Market St., is scheduled to close July 30. Thistle Events president Joe Hesketh announced the news on social media Wednesday, posting the decision to close was decided with “conflicting emotions.” Market Street Pizza is part of a restaurant portfolio...

Leechburg Area School Board voted to make it optional for students and staff to wear masks or face coverings when classes resume Aug. 25. Superintendent Tiffany Nix presented the proposed change to the district’s health and safety plan to board members on Wednesday. Under it, masks and face coverings also...

Fox Chapel Area School District parents have started opposing online petitions regarding the district’s proposed voluntary mask-wearing policy for students and staff. A petition drive on ipetitions .com, started Tuesday by Sarah Stanger, asks the district to require mask-wearing on campus and had gathered more than 375 signatures as of...

A popular ice cream business in Allegheny Township is on the market. Sweetie’s Ice Cream, at 6273 Leechburg Road, is listed for $339,000 with Jason Mazzei of Keller Williams Realty. Co-owner Edward Spix, who has owned it for almost a decade, said, “It’s time to move on.” Mazzei said he...

A new volleyball court in Vandergrift aims to honor the memory of a longtime devoted Alle-Kiski Valley coach and teacher. The Ellen Toy Grass Court at Kennedy Park recently was completed. It was made possible by funding from the nonprofit We Serve First Foundation. “Let’s let people know there’s a...

A portion of Route 356 in Allegheny Township near Stanford Home Center was closed for several hours Tuesday because of what the township deemed a utility pole failure. Township officials posted a traffic alert to their official Facebook page around 8:50 a.m. Tuesday that showed a utility pole leaning over...

The Leechburg Carnival is returning after being canceled last year because of the pandemic. The popular event raises money for the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Department. It will be held from Aug. 2-7 at the fire company grounds located at 268 Canal Street. The department is trying by August 2022 to...