Kellen Stepler stories, Page 56
Westmoreland 250: 10 unique things in Lower Burrell, Upper Burrell
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...
Burrell administrators shift for upcoming school year
New initiatives and administrative staffing changes are planned as the Burrell School District prepares for the upcoming school year. Brian Ferra, formerly the principal at Charles Huston Middle School, will be the principal at Stewart Elementary. Travis Welch, Huston’s assistant principal, will be the building’s new principal, and Krista Pisano...
Allegheny Valley School District to offer new learning, technology for upcoming school year
It has been a busy summer of planning in the Allegheny Valley School District. When students return Aug. 21, there will be several new programs in place, including a reading series for elementary students, a math intervention pilot program for first and third graders and technology upgrades districtwide. Superintendent Pat Graczyk...
‘Just heartwarming’: Alle-Kiski Inclusion Games to be held in September in Lower Burrell
Courtney Kobelenske recalls seeing a sea of purple shirts, signaling they were volunteers for the inaugural Alle-Kiski Inclusion Games, last fall at K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park in Lower Burrell to set up for the day’s activities. Then came the blue shirts — representing the event’s participants — to...
East Deer’s summer celebration set for Memorial Field
Food, games and live music are just some of the attractions available when East Deer celebrates summer on Saturday, Aug. 19. The township’s summer celebration will hit East Deer Memorial Field from noon to 8 p.m. “It’s grown into a very good festival for our community,” said township Commissioner Tony...
Monarch Hospice to host bereavement walk
A Lower Burrell hospice care provider will hold its traditional walk and celebration of life this fall for those who have lost loved ones within the past year. The fourth annual Memorial Walk and Celebration of Life, sponsored by Monarch Hospice, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept....
Leechburg celebrates back to school with block party
Leechburg-area students got a warm welcome back to school Saturday on Main Street. Sponsored by the Leechburg Ministerial Association, families and community members descended upon the inaugural Back 2 School Block Party for free school supplies, food, refreshments, games and more. “I am amazed to see how much our community...
Group of Deer Lakes French students gets first-hand look at culture on overseas trip
Years spent learning French in the Deer Lakes School District came to life last month for some students and their families. The group visited Europe and soaked up knowledge in France, Monaco and London, said Deer Lakes French teacher Desiree Rotondo. She said the trip was planned for July 2021...
Springdale, Riverview may team up in softball, wrestling, golf
Bitter rivals in Lower Valley high school athletics scene may be teaming up in three sports. Allegheny Valley school directors are considering a cooperative sponsorship agreement with the Riverview School District for its softball, wrestling and golf programs. “We believe that creating positive, meaningful relationships with our neighbors such as...
Riverview School Board to interview candidates Aug. 14 for 2 vacancies
The Riverview School Board has two vacancies to fill. Superintendent Neil English said board members Jeanine Hurt-Robinson and Jane Miller have resigned from the panel. Their resignation letters weren’t immediately available. In an updated statement Wednesday, the district said that after consulting with the county department of elections, the school...
Kids games to return at St. Margaret Mary Parish’s annual festival
An annual Lower Burrell festival will be returning to St. Margaret Mary Parish church grounds later this week. The St. Margaret Mary Parish Festival of Friendship will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the church at 3055 Leechburg Road. “Our main thing is that we...
Shoring work nearly complete on Route 28 bridge in Harmar
Additional work to fix a railroad bridge where rocks fell onto the Route 28 expressway last week is underway. Crews are adding shielding under the railroad structure, this time southbound, between Exit 11 (Harmar) and Exit 12 (Cheswick) with single-lane restrictions for travelers. Northbound Route 28 was closed early Friday...
East Deer seeks noise exemption from Liquor Control Board for Pittsburgh Brewing concert venue
East Deer is seeking an exemption from the state’s Liquor Control Board rules on noise, as a concert venue is in the works at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. In June, the township commissioners approved a noise ordinance that was prompted, in part, by Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in the township’s Creighton neighborhood...
East Deer refers proposed billboard rules to planners; fate of 4 digital displays pending
As the fate of four proposed billboards in East Deer looms, the township commissioners Thursday referred its drafted rules regarding those signs to township and county planners. The proposal amends the township’s zoning ordinance regarding billboards and was advertised last month. Now, the next step in the process is to...
Frazer promotes 3 police officers, looking to hire 2-3 more full-timers
Three part-time Frazer police officers are now full time. Township supervisors on Tuesday approved the promotions of Sean Moore, Michael Shook and Cole Berg as full-time officers, effective Sunday, Aug. 6. Lori Ziencik, Frazer township secretary and supervisor, said the promotions were recommended by Chief Terry Kuhns. Kuhns said Moore...
Olympus submits DEP application for 5th well pad in Upper Burrell
A fifth natural gas drilling well pad may be on its way to Upper Burrell. Township officials received notification that Olympus Energy of Canonsburg is applying for an erosion and sediment control permit to the state Department of Environmental Protection for the proposed Artemis well pad project. Artemis would be...
New playground, pickleball courts included in Lower Burrell parks improvements
Enhancements are coming to Lower Burrell’s parks and playgrounds. The city is working through two grants to improve its parks, Councilman Chris Fabry said. The impact of the first grant can be seen at Veterans Park for two new playgrounds — one of which was installed a couple weeks ago....
Lower Burrell angler catches American eel in Allegheny River
Shirley Cooper was hoping the fishing would be good while on her friend’s boat in the Allegheny River on Monday night. But she caught something she’d never seen in the river before — and neither have most people. At 9:50 p.m. near the Cheswick Marina, Cooper, who has fished her...
Lower Burrell firefighters make case for additional funding from city
Volunteer firefighters in Lower Burrell are joining forces to ask city council for more funding. No official action has been taken, but council members heard from Ted Hereda, chief of Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 in Kinloch, and Brennan Sites, chief of Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No....
West Deer to consider allowing linkup of Leto well pad with eastern interconnect
West Deer supervisors heard more than six hours of testimony last week on a project that, if built, would allow gas to flow from the approved Leto well pad in Bairdford to the eastern interconnect pipeline. Hyperion Midstream, a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Energy of Canonsburg, seeks approval for...
Springdale fire department becomes certified to help with medical emergencies
Springdale residents shouldn’t be alarmed when the fire department shows up to a 911 medical call. That’s because this month, the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department became certified as a Quick Response Service from the state Health Department, which means a fire apparatus will respond along with an ambulance service to...
Chiropractor aims to promote healthy living at new Lower Burrell location
Chiropractor Seth Hornack believes that to age well, one must live well. And he plans to continue to spread that message in the community with his new practice, the Healthy U Factory at 2869 Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell, which is expected to open by Sept. 1. “I had a...
Student organizing 5K in Lower Burrell to raise money to start mental health foundation for teens
A Burrell High School student aiming to promote mental health wellness is coordinating a physical challenge for the cause in August. Grace Nesko, a rising senior at Burrell High School, is coordinating a 5K on Aug. 12 in K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park. Nesko said shirts and concessions will...
Company seeks electronic billboard upgrade in Harmar
The billboard blitz has made its way to Harmar. Kenjoh Outdoor Advertising of Charlotte seeks to alter its sign on the Harmar side of the Hulton Bridge. The three-sided sign has two displays facing Freeport Road and one facing the Hulton Bridge and the Allegheny River. A hearing for the...
Another natural gas drilling well pad, pipeline proposed in West Deer
Another well pad is proposed in West Deer, as residents learned during a public hearing Tuesday for a separate interconnect pipeline. Olympus Energy is proposing the Tyche well pad and an associated pipeline at property located at 201 Bairdford Road, west of the Pittsburgh National Golf Club. The proposed well...
