Patrick Varine stories, Page 101
New Year’s resolution to get more exercise? Cycling offers a variety of local options
One of the most popular among New Year’s resolutions is the one about getting back into shape, getting out more and exercising. Western Pennsylvania residents are being afforded more and more opportunities to do just that, through the ongoing development of trails across the region that appeal to walkers, runners...
Nutting family completes sale of Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain to Vail Resorts
The Nutting family and Vail Resorts have completed the sale of Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Hidden Valley Resort and the Laurel Mountain Ski Area for $118 million. “Looking back over the past 15 years, I am proud to be leaving all three properties much better than we had found them,”...
2 in critical condition following hit-and-run crash in Tarentum
Allegheny County Police investigators are pursuing information on a hit-and-run crash that critically injured two pedestrians Thursday on the Tarentum Bridge. The two people injured — an adult and juvenile — were transported by ambulance to undisclosed area hospitals after the 6:04 p.m. crash. Police reported the collision occurred in...
University of Pittsburgh issues shelter-in-place request, required covid testing for students
The University of Pittsburgh’s Covid-19 Medical Response Office has released a plan for the spring semester that includes a phased move-in beginning Jan. 8 along with a shelter-in-place request and testing for students. Pitt will make available one covid-19 test through Quest Diagnostics for all of the approximately 34,000 students...
Murrysville: Tree recycling, New Year’s Day hike and more
Submit news briefs and event information to pvarine@triblive.com. Rotary plans Christmas tree recycling in January The Murrysville-Export Rotary Club’s annual Christmas tree recycling drop-off will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 8 and 15 at the Windstream parking lot, 4792 Old William Penn Highway, Murrysville. AAUW speaker will...
Delmont police settling into new, expanded station
When Delmont police used to interview a victim or a witness, the cramped quarters in their previous department made it difficult. “You’d be talking to someone, and if we’d arrested a suspect, the suspect would be right there, basically able to hear everything,” Chief T.J. Klobucar said. “It wasn’t ideal.”...
Franklin Regional receives grant to expand annual Science Olympiad for elementary, middle-school students
Franklin Regional elementary teachers will be up-sizing their annual Science Olympiad in 2022 with the help of a $2,500 grant from the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh. “We were able to establish an elementary and middle school Science Olympiad program in partnership with the SSP,” said fourth grade teacher Megan Melucci....
Sharky’s among those offering holiday meals for those in needVideo
It’s the season of giving, and volunteers from the Unity and Latrobe area gave their time and resources Thursday, working alongside staff at Sharky’s Cafe to package 600 meals that will be delivered in time for Christmas. That’s what it’s all about for Latrobe Rotarian and Youngwood business owner Todd...
TribLive Taste Test: Apple Pie and Sugar Cookie Toast CrunchVideo
If you’re a kid, you don’t want to waste a lot of time on Christmas morning deciding what you’ll have for breakfast. That’s taking up time better spent playing with toys. So the TribLive Taste Test team — working from home this week, and with the assistance of professional kid...
Pedestrian dies following Forest Hills crash
Allegheny County Police are investigating a crash that resulted in a pedestrian’s death Tuesday night in Forest Hills. Emergency responders were called to the 2000 block of Ardmore Boulevard, just south of Kenmore Avenue, where they found a man who’d been hit by a vehicle. Police said the man was...
Pittsburgh police: No victims found following gunfire in Homewood
Pittsburgh police say they only located a vehicle struck by bullets after responding to a report of gunfire in Homewood early Tuesday evening. Officers responded to the 7000 block of Frankstown Avenue near Homewood Avenue shortly before 5:30 p.m. for a ShotSpotter alert, according to police. Police found evidence of...
Westmoreland Conservancy marks winter solstice with nature hike in Murrysville
Technically speaking, “Tuesday night” began at 4:57 p.m. That was the official time for sundown at the winter solstice — the official start to winter, and the shortest amount of daytime sunlight the region will see in 2021. About 15 participants in the Westmoreland Conservancy’s Winter Solstice Walk, held Tuesday...
Governor orders flags to half-staff in memory of Mt. Pleasant mayor, fire chief
State flags at government buildings across Pennsylvania will fly at half-staff until sunset Wednesday by order of Gov. Tom Wolf, in honor and memory of late Mt. Pleasant mayor and fire chief Gerald “Jerry” Lucia. He died unexpectedly Dec. 17 and will be buried Wednesday. Lucia had responded to a...
Sharky’s taking donations for holiday meal distribution, aiming to serve 600
Cindy Love of Latrobe can remember delivering a holiday meal to a family in need last year, and the look on a little boy’s face as it arrived. “It really broke my heart,” said Love, a volunteer who helped deliver more than 450 meals cooked by the staff at Sharky’s...
Scottdale farm earns American Dairy Association’s community outreach award
After a local farm was named the American Dairy Association North East’s among its Dairying For Tomorrow award winners in the Community Outreach category, its owners immediately lived up to the title. Maple Bottom Farm, with facilities in Scottdale and Dawson, Fayette County, donated their Dairying For Tomorrow award to...
Delmont police use local instructor for state-mandated harm-reduction training
When Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 59 of 2020 into law, one of its elements was mandatory police officer training to include harm-reduction components such as de-escalation, defensive and control tactics. For Chief T.J. Klobucar of the Delmont Police Department, that was as simple as a quick phone call to...
Franklin Regional multimedia students prepare for 2nd year of ‘Holiday Showcase’ with some live aspectsVideo
Franklin Regional senior Anthony DeFilippo is looking forward to getting back behind the microphone at this year’s Holiday Showcase, which will take the place of the annual telethon for the second year in a row, albeit with a bit more creative freedom than last year. “This year, it will be...
Delmont notes: 2022 budget passes with no tax hike, Eagle project proposed in Newhouse Park
Delmont Council has given its blessing for a local Boy Scout to move forward with his Eagle project, installing a covered picnic table at Newhouse Park. Cody Kuehen of Troop 211 out of Delmont wants to install a table with metal roofing atop an asphalt base at the front of...
Franklin Regional elementary students ready for the holidaysVideo
Students at Franklin Regional Primary and Intermediate schools have had a busy holiday season. From serving snacks for staff to STEAM projects and more, elementary students have been making the most of the new and renovated buildings they returned to this school year. Franklin Regional students will be on winter...
Murrysville adopts 2022 budget, enacts 1st tax increase since 2007
It wasn’t a property tax increase, but Murrysville officials adopted a $9.5 million 2022 budget this week that includes the municipality’s first tax hike of any kind since 2007. The budget includes a projected $1.6 million in additional revenue by way of a bump in the municipality’s share of the...
Future of ‘double-fronted Beetle’ on Route 66 up in the air
With the exception of a few years in the early 2010s, the double-fronted Volkswagen Beetle, painted Hawaiian blue, has been a constant landmark along Route 66 in Salem Township. Created by Excel Auto Body’s original owner, Ed Britz, in 1970, it has been repaired and replaced over the years, and...
Delmont library’s matching fundraiser challenge nears $30,000 goal
Last year, Delmont librarian Denni Grassel and members of the library board got an early Christmas gift, when work on their brand-new building allowed them to start moving in just a few days before the holiday. This year, they are on track for another early visit from St. Nick, in...
Multiple vehicles involved in Connellsville crash
Multiple vehicles including a semi truck were involved in a crash Wednesday night in Connellsville, according to emergency officials. The crash happened shortly before 9 p.m. near the Sheetz gas station at the intersection of West Crawford Avenue and South Eighth Street in Connellsville. Multiple people were transported to area...
3 convicted of scheme to smuggle drugs into federal prisons
Three Pittsburgh-area residents were convicted Wednesday by a federal jury on drug distribution and money-laundering charges in connection with a drug ring operating within the federal prison system, according to U.S. Attorney Cindy Chung. Noah Landfried, 37, of Moon Township; Michel Cercone, 48, of Sewickley; and Anthony Smith, 30, of...
Delmont residents given ‘absolutely no notice’ about stormwater pond project
When Delmont officials started making plans for a stormwater detention pond off of Stotler and Dogwood drives, several Dogwood Drive residents asked to be kept in the loop. But when work began on the project, as part of the borough’s state-mandated pollution reduction plan, Dogwood residents were surprised to see...
