Patrick Varine stories, Page 13

Anastasia Jaeger believes in living a well-rounded life. For her, part of that involves a return to the acting she did in her younger days. “I think it can push you out of your comfort zone a little bit, which is something I believe people should do,” said Jaeger, 28,...

Sam Westing is dead. And whichever one of his neighbors solves his murders will get his inheritance. So goes “The Westing Game,” the play that members of the Franklin Regional Thespians will stage Oct. 24, 26, and 27. And for most of them, it’s a familiar story. “Almost all the...

The “trunk-or-treat” event has exploded in popularity over the past decade, with shopping centers, nonprofits and even car dealerships getting in on the action. The Palace Theatre in Greensburg will host its first trunk-or-treat on Halloween, but it will take place alongside a heaping helping of haunted local history. “This...

In a divisive political atmosphere both locally and nationally, Democrat Davon Magwood is proud to be running a race against incumbent state Rep. Jill Cooper that puts negativity aside. “I love that we’re running campaigns where we’re not attacking one another,” said Magwood, 38, of New Kensington, who has worked...

The state Department of Education invites residents to nominate candidates for the state’s 2026 Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year program celebrates educators who’ve made significant contributions in their field. Nominations will be taken through Dec. 16. Finalists are recognized in Harrisburg each fall. The 2025 Teacher...

Delmont officials will begin the process to lower the speed limit on Athena Drive from 35 miles per hour to 25 mph. “This is partly the result of some complaints we’ve gotten over the years from residents,” Councilman Stan Cheyne said. “I also recall that Ace Hardware mentioned an issue...

PennWest California will welcome back alumni as the school celebrates homecoming with a full slate of events this weekend . A parade and tailgate will take place Saturday prior to the Vulcans’ game against Slippery Rock at Adamson Stadium. Before the weekend begins, the California club hockey teams will host...

When it comes to inflation, the real estate market is a bit of a different animal, according to experts. “Real estate is a very unique marketplace, and it’s driven very much by supply and demand,” said John Petrack, executive vice president for the Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh, who’s been...

Try and imagine — if you can — turning on your shower, only to have the water come spouting from the overly broad smile of former President Richard Nixon. The “Tricky Dick shower head” is easily among the more bizarre pieces of presidential memorabilia in the collection of Steve Mihaly,...

For more than a dozen years, Murrysville officials were able to run the municipality without a tax hike. And even when it did take place, in 2021, it was a small bump to the earned-income and real-estate transfer taxes. When it comes to stormwater management, that may be changing. “Every...

Shannon Kearney has been around martial arts most of her life. Her father practiced the Korean-based taekwondo, and her sister worked her way to earning a blue belt. After she was the victim of an armed mugging during her student days at the University of Pittsburgh, Kearney got involved as...

Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. Pumpkin patch fundraiser Monroeville United Methodist Church will host a pumpkin patch fundraiser through Oct. 31. Church members will be selling pumpkins in all shapes, sizes and colors for carving, decorating, making pumpkin pies and more, from 11 a.m. to...

Try and imagine — if you can — turning on your shower, only to have the water come spouting from the overly broad smile of former President Richard Nixon. The “Tricky Dick shower head” is easily among the more bizarre pieces of political memorabilia in the collection of Steve Mihaly,...

Nearly 500 people helped raise more than $107,000 as part of the annual Westmoreland County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, held last month at Twin Lakes Park. H2B was the top fundraising team at this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising over $24,000, surpassing its fundraising goal of $13,000. Jennifer Pallitto,...

A woman was in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle Friday night in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, according to city police. Police and EMS were called to Forbes Avenue near Denniston Street shortly before 7 p.m. The woman pedestrian had injuries to her head and both legs, and...

Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Fall festival Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church will host its annual community fall festival from 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 20. The free event will include games for children and adults, a trunk-or-treat event (children are invited to wear costumes), pumpkin carving and decorating and dessert...

Having grown up in Western Pennsylvania, Rossilynne Skena Culgan had a leg up when she started her first guidebook, “101 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die.” A few years ago, the Murrysville native moved to New York City, where she quickly began cataloguing five boroughs’ worth of oddities...

Carl Crawley’s favorite sport? Whichever one was in season. “I played volleyball and we won the state championship,” said the 1957 Monessen graduate. “I was a baseball player and could knock the ball out of the park. Basketball, football, I ran track. My favorite was the one I was doing...

The small bridge carrying Old William Penn Highway over Turtle Creek in Murrysville will close next week for temporary repairs. Beginning Oct. 14, the bridge near the intersection Old William Penn Highway and Hills Church Road will close as work crews begin temporary repairs aimed at bringing its weight limit...

The Jeannette Community Band will host a free concert Oct. 13 with a chance for the public to support its memorial scholarship fund. The band’s Oktoberfest concert will be at 7 p.m. at the American Legion, 109 South Fifth Street in Jeannette. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There will be...

Leaf collection in Murrysville Murrysville residents can schedule a curbside leaf pick-up through local hauling contractor Republic Services for the following Saturdays: Oct. 19, Nov. 9 and 16, and Dec. 7. There is a 20-bag limit on each collection date. The deadline to sign up is the Thursday prior to...

Franklin Regional has released its schedule for homecoming activities. The school’s annual homecoming bonfire will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the high school, 3200 School Road in Murrysville. There is no cost to attend, but proceeds from club booth sales will benefit individual high school clubs. The homecoming...

Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. Bingo at Divine Mercy Academy Divine Mercy Academy will host a super bingo at 6:45 p.m. Oct. 19 at Christ the Divine Shepherd Church, 245 Azalea Drive in Monroeville. Tickets are $30 and include 10 rounds of regular bingo, three...

Jennifer Stys is ready to rally for former President Donald Trump. Stys, 53, of Butler, has a ticket to Saturday’s campaign event at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Butler Township. On July 13, it was the site of an assassination attempt on the Republican presidential nominee. Stys was not...