Patrick Varine stories, Page 69
Morning roundup: Police seek missing West View man
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, May 3, 2023: Police seek missing Pittsburgh man Pittsburgh police are seeking the public’s help in locating a West End man missing since April 27. Jeffrey Farren, 60, was last seen at his Autumnwood Drive home in the...
Aged Van Winkle bourbons featured in upcoming PLCB lottery
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s next round of lottery drawings for more than 3,900 specialty bottles will take place next week. Registration will be open through 5 p.m. on Friday. The lottery is only open to Pennsylvania residents and liquor-license holders. Winners will have a chance to purchase limited-release bourbon...
Morning roundup: Robinson Giant Eagle sold $1M lottery scratch-off
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, May 2, 2023: $1 million lottery winner from Robinson Giant Eagle A $1 million winning ticket was sold in Robinson through the Pennsylvania Lottery’s “$1 Million? Seriously?” scratch-off game. The ticket was sold at the Giant Eagle on...
Westmoreland Food Bank among 9 in U.S. recognized for outstanding work
Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief group, recognized the Westmoreland Food Bank for its outstanding work. The Delmont-based food bank was part of a group of nine such organizations given recognition at the conference’s “Network Celebrations” last week. Feeding America officials highlighted how Westmoreland Food Bank officials organized...
Morning roundup: 3 injured in Ambridge house fire
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, May 1, 2023: 3 transported from Ambridge fire Multiple people were injured in a house fire Sunday night in Ambridge, according to county 911 officials. Fire crews were called to the 800 block of 11th Street around 8:30...
Eating plants and blinking: Western Pa. scientists research evolutionary path of ancient mammal ancestors
Blinking — all of us do it, all the time. But research by scientists in Western Pennsylvania is shedding new light on how something as simple as blinking helped ancient animals begin the transition from water to land, and how some of them developed into plant-eaters. At Seton Hill University,...
Seton Hill pop-up shop to honor memory of 2017 graduate Ashley Kertes
On Saturday, Seton Hill students will honor the memory of a deceased alumna, Ashley Kertes, at a pop-up market filled with handcrafted items made by students at the university. The SHUdents Sell student-run pop-up shop will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Wick and Wax Studio...
Small-town America takes center stage with Franklin Regional production of ‘Our Town’
Declan Van Soest is used to playing characters with a lot more funny lines. “It’s definitely the most philosophical role I’ve ever had,” Van Soest, 17, said of his role as the stage manager in the Franklin Regional Thespians’ upcoming production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.” Written in 1938, it...
AHN Mobile Health Unit will begin stopping in Jeannette thanks to grant funding
Jeannette Outreach Factory and First Presbyterian Church of Jeannette are partnering to bring the Allegheny Health Network’s Center for Inclusion Health Mobile Unit to town. The unit will begin stopping at First Presbyterian every other Tuesday from noon to 3 p.m. May dates will be May 2, 16 and 30...
Route 22 road work set to start Monday in Churchill, Wilkins and Monroeville
PennDOT will have long-term single-lane restrictions in place starting May 1 as road work begins on William Penn Highway through Monroeville, Churchill and Wilkins. Beginning at midnight on Monday, westbound traffic will cross over to the eastbound lanes at the bridge over Lower Rodi Road. Single-lane traffic in both directions...
Sam’s Club volunteers help clean up Miracle Field in Murrysville
Volunteers from Pittsburgh-area Sam’s Club locations helped to clean up the Miracle League of Western PA ball field in Murrysville and participate with players in one of the season’s first games on Tuesday. It is part of the Sam’s Club Day of Service. Volunteers also presented a $5,000 grant to...
Still playing strong, Jeannette Community Band marks 35th anniversary
Joe Scarlett was — in his words — sitting “fat, dumb and happy” watching television in 1988 when a friend called and asked him if he still had his clarinet. “I hadn’t seen it since 1964,” said Scarlett, 76, of Monroeville. “Then I remembered I’d lent it to a friend.”...
Evidence tampering charges withdrawn against Arnold policeman in Pa. Game Commission case
After being found not guilty last week of unlawfully killing an antlered deer, charges of tampering with evidence were withdrawn Tuesday against an Arnold police officer because of a lack of evidence. Pennsylvania Game Commission officials said Jacob A. Pollick, 29, of Murrysville killed an antlered whitetail Oct. 11 in...
Murrysville sisters turn creative energy into Etsy shop Carefree Critters
As the covid-19 pandemic pressed on into 2021, Anna Pinto wasn’t able to attend her high school in Highland Park, and her younger sister, Gia, wasn’t able to attend the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Both were at their Murrysville residence being home-schooled — and ended up taking the...
Youth choir concert at First Presbyterian in Greensburg to benefit music scholarship
The Chapel Youth Choir and Festive Ringers will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg. Free-will donations will be accepted for the Montreat Worship and Music Youth Scholarship. The choir and ringers are touring musicians from Abington Presbyterian Church...
Murrysville mayor sues Westmoreland elections bureau after being left off 2023 primary ballot
Murrysville Mayor Regis Synan was looking forward to another election season in which he was the sole candidate running for the office. He was surprised to find out that, according to the Westmoreland County Bureau of Elections — but contrary to Murrysville’s Home-Rule municipal charter — he still is mayor...
Coast Guard calls off search for lost boat with Murrysville native aboard
After searching more than 200,000 square nautical miles, U.S. Coast Guard officials and their Mexican counterparts have called off the search for three American sailors, including a Murrysville native, whose boat was last seen April 4. Kerry O’Brien, a 1989 Franklin Regional graduate, left Mazatlán, Mexico the morning of April...
Mask mandate ends at Allegheny Health Network while Excela, UPMC hold to CDC guidelines
Allegheny Health Network is lifting the mask mandate in place at hospitals, outpatient clinics and other “patient-facing” facilities as of Thursday, officials announced. “Throughout this pandemic, AHN has made every effort to help reduce the spread of covid-19 in our region while also keeping out patients, visitors and staff members...
1 transported by ambulance after bus crashes into West Mifflin house
One person was transported by ambulance after a school bus crashed Thursday afternoon into a West Mifflin house, according to Allegheny County emergency officials. Emergency responders were called to the 1500 block of Homestead-Duquesne Road around 3:25 p.m. for a bus that had went off the road and crashed into...
Murrysville council updates alcohol permit policy for parks
As Murrysville officials were going over their park policies, they discovered an odd restriction when it came to alcohol permits for events at park pavilions. “We had a section restricting alcohol at high school graduation parties,” Chief Administrator Michael Nestico said. Some council members thought it didn’t make much sense....
Comedy for a Cause event benefits Myasthenia Gravis Association
A Comedy for a Cause event to benefit the Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western Pennsylvania will be held at 7 p.m. April 29 in North Huntingdon. It will include comedians Teresa Logan and Phil Hughes, and will be at Elements, 3000 Commerce Loop. The cost is $50 and includes a...
Murrysville area: Plant sale, used book sale, National Day of Prayer and more
Plant sale in Murrysville The Murrysville Garden Club will host its annual plant sale at 11 a.m. May 10 at the Murrysville Volunteer Fire Department pavilion on Sardis Road. The club will sell annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and patio pots, and club members will also be selling propagated plants, second-hand...
Westmoreland County hosts free fishing derby at Mammoth Park
The Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation, Westmoreland County Sportsmen’s League and Dick’s Sporting Goods officials will host a free fishing derby for people of all ages on Sunday in Mt. Pleasant Township. It will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mammoth Park, 171 County Park Road. Registration...
Murrysville musician will perform with Westminster College OrchestraVideo
It’s one thing to sit down and practice Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 at home. It’s quite another to sit down and play it with an orchestra backing you. Westminster College alum and Murrysville resident Amy Simpson will have the chance Friday, as a featured performer at the music department’s...
Washington Township man secures patent for device to help propel wheelchairs
When John Britz played with Lego sets as a child, he rarely built what was pictured on the box. “I was always making other things,” said Britz, 76, of Washington Township, who spent a career in manufacturing with the Elliott Group in Jeannette. Britz’s creativity — which also includes having...

