Patrick Varine stories, Page 30

Jaromir Jagr watched his No. 68 float up into the rafters in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, a powerful moment in a long and storied career that still has yet to reach its conclusion. One matter Jagr — who both owns and continues to play for a Czech hockey team —...

Here are a few morning news items for Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. Penn Township garage destroyed by fire An explosion and subsequent fire destroyed a garage in Penn Township late Saturday night. TribLive news partner WTAE reports that dozens of firefighters worked late into the night battling a fire which...

Larry Larese recognized the value of the former school building in Export when its use was discontinued by the Franklin Regional School District. “My sister was part of the last class to graduate from there in the early 1960s,” said Larese, 76, of Murrysville. “I know how much that building...

Westmoreland Performing Arts Professional Theatre Company will transport theater fans back to a time of big guitar solos and even bigger hair as they present the musical “Rock of Ages” on Feb. 23-24. “It’s a party!” said director Tony Marino. “You’re going to sing along with pretty much every song,...

Robin Robinson began his entertainment career as a comedian in the 1970s. He convinced a band at the old Portfolio bar in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood to let him use their microphone for a little stand-up comedy during the set break. But while he’ll crack plenty of jokes during a March...

Delmont Borough officials say their local American Legion improperly sold its former post to the next-door neighbor, and suggested the man should retain an attorney. Matthew Cunningham, 33, received a letter from borough Solicitor Dan Hewitt after agreeing to purchase the post’s property at 64 Freeport St. in November 2023....

A former East Hills man and convicted felon was sentenced to a decade in federal prison on Friday, after he was found in possession of a machine gun that prosecutors said was fired during multiple shooting incidents in Pittsburgh and Penn Hills. Oronde Shelton, 51, was sentenced following conviction on...

SportZone seeking proposals for naming rights The Murrysville SportZone is accepting bids for arena naming rights at the athletic complex on School Road South. The 30,000-square-foot sports and event complex hosts dek and inline hockey, volleyball, wrestling, soccer and in recent years, mixed-martial arts and boxing matches. For more, email...

Last year, Franklin Regional student actors playing the leather-jacketed T-Birds in “Grease” called themselves a gang. But it’s quite a leap from the goofy high-school antics of “Grease” to the actual gang violence of this year’s musical, “West Side Story,” which opens March 7. “‘Grease’ is a fun, dumb show,”...

Monroeville municipal and tourism officials want to make it clear to Hobby Lobby: the arts and crafts business is welcome to come to town, but they don’t want it taking the place of the Monroeville Convention Center. Monroeville Mayor Nick Gresock and Visit Monroeville Board Chair Amanda Settelmaier sent a...

Virginia Farkas was emotional about renewing her vows on Valentine’s Day with her husband of 62 years, Bernie. But the main emotion she had about her wedding day makeup was slight annoyance. “That’s as good as it’s going to get,” she said with a laugh, looking into her mirror as...

Getting into the piano business is a heavy decision. While that’s a bit of a bad pun, it’s also the truth. Piano dealers mostly have their own infrastructure in place to deal with one of the world’s heaviest instruments. But for people who have a piano and don’t want it...

Commuters on Route 22 will have another spot to grab their morning coffee later this year, with a Starbucks moving into the former Boulevard Restaurant location at the Hollywood Square shopping Center in Salem. “It’s going to be a drive-thru plus café,” said Jeff Paul, who owns the building which...

The following are fish fry fundraisers scheduled to begin in the region. Allegheny County • Christ the Divine Shepherd, 245 Azalea Drive, Monroeville; 4:30-7 p.m. Feb. 16 and 23; March 1, 8, 15 and 22. CDSfishfry.org. • Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy, 205 Brilliant Ave., Aspinwall; 11 a.m. to...

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Audubon Society held its annual Christmas Bird Count. This month, they’ll ask avid avian watchers to cast their eyes to the skies once again for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count from Feb. 16-19. In Monroeville, the local library will host a...

Franklin Regional student musicians had a strong showing in the annual Young Artists Competition, hosted by the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra and Seton Hill University. Panther students swept the competition’s Level I instrumental category, and earned nine spots on the winners’ list. Winners will take part in a recital Sunday at...

When he started planning his nonprofit theater company, former University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg professor Stephen Schrum wanted to look for works that strayed from the traditional theater production. Without a dedicated venue to perform in, Schrum said he hoped to adapt the medium to fit into new and unique...

Franklin Regional Panther Marching Band students loaded onto several buses around 2 a.m. in early December, the first leg of a lengthy journey to Hawaii. The band had a chance to perform in the annual Pearl Harbor Day Parade and also to play in the shadow of the USS Arizona...

Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Kindergarten registration opens at FR Kindergarten registration is open and being accepted online for Franklin Regional students through March 31. Parents and visit FRSDk12.org, click on “Parents & Community,” followed by links for “Enroll Your Child” and “Kindergarten 2024-25. An evening parent...

Export sewage customers will pay an additional $5 beginning March 1, after borough officials voted unanimously this week to pass along a $5 rate hike by the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority that’s set to take effect next month. Council President Barry Delissio said it was the best course of...

Murrysville residents who don’t want an auto body and paint business next door to their Manordale Farms neighborhood got good news and bad news at the Murrysville Council meeting Wednesday night. The good news was council did not approve the 12,500-square-foot Caliber Collision repair center proposed for property just east...

Mini golf fundraiser at Monroeville library The Monroeville Public Library will host two miniature golf fundraisers on Feb. 24. The first is an all-ages event at 10 a.m. with the final tee off at 3:45 p.m. The cost is $5 per person to play the 18-hole course, and children ages...

Jefferson Hills police said a man who fled from his second traffic stop in three months in late January was taken into custody Wednesday evening. He was transported to Allegheny County Jail. Police were searching for Thomas W. Hanbury, 32, of the South Hills, who fled on foot from police...