Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 110
O’Hara council meeting to discuss community liaison officer program, covid-19 update
O’Hara council is expected to discuss the creation of a community liaison officer program during its virtual meeting Tuesday night. The program, in conjunction with the township’s police department, would aim to develop relationships and better understand needs of minorities. According to Tuesday’s agenda, the program would “engage ethnic minorities...
Week in review: Outdoor dining, Juneteenth, climbing covid casesVideo
Here are some of the top stories from the week of June 21: • Pittsburgh restaurants can expand outdoor seating into some streets. Touting small businesses as the lifeblood of the city, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership said it will allow restaurants and bars to expand outdoor dining seating into some...
St. Januarius parishioners in Plum warned of possible coronavirus exposure
Parishioners who attended June 22 services at St. Januarius Church in Plum may have been exposed to covid-19, diocesan officials said. A parishioner who attended the service that day is being tested for the virus after a relative contracted it, said Ellen Mady, Diocese of Pittsburgh chancellor. Precautionary measures are...
Amber Alert issued for 1-year-old girl taken from Youngstown
Police are seeking help in locating a 1-year-old girl taken from her home Thursday in Youngstown, Ohio. An Amber Alert was issued for Nova Sheridan, who was taken just about 11:30 p.m. after her father broke into her mother’s home, according to missingkids.org. The baby is about 2 feet tall...
In-person services to resume at Faith United Methodist Church in Fox Chapel
In-person worship services are scheduled to resume Sunday at Faith United Methodist Church in Fox Chapel. Services will look slightly different, with all parishioners required to wear face masks and other options for people to remain in their cars, Pastor Scott Shaffer said. Services will begin at 10 a.m. and...
Shaler Area School District holds line on taxes with 2020-21 budget
Shaler Area School Board last week approved the district’s $90 million budget, green-lighting a slew of security projects that board members said target student safety. Residents won’t see a tax hike in the 2020-21 school year, with the final budget maintaining the tax rate at 23.5 mills. The owner of...
Parkway Center Giant Eagle reopening to shoppers
Giant Eagle in Parkway Center Mall will reopen to in-person shopping Thursday after serving since May solely as a curbside pick-up location. The company announced the move Tuesday, saying that increased capacity for contactless pick-up at neighboring Giant Eagle stores made the time right to revert to in-store service at...
Fox Chapel Area High School cancels plans for a traditional graduation ceremony
Fox Chapel Area School District will not pursue a graduation ceremony this summer as hoped, officials announced. High school principal Michael Hower told district families that any possible mass celebration has been scrapped because of CDC and state Health Department recommendations. “We do not want to jeopardize the health and...
Saxonburg Road closed in Fawn
A section of Saxonburg Road in Fawn was closed to traffic early Tuesday. The road was closed in both directions between Route 908 in Fawn and Freeport Road in Harrison, PennDOT said. PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said crews were assessing the situation. “We are not sure what the issue is...
Part of Little Deer Creek Valley Road in Indiana Township to close
A section of Little Deer Creek Valley Road in Indiana Township is expected to be closed for up to two months while crews complete bridge repairs. Work will target the span that crosses Little Deer Creek between Crawford Run Road and Marshall Hill Road. The project is expected to run...
No injuries reported in Polish Hill fire
Two people escaped injury after a house in Pittsburgh’s Polish Hill section caught fire early Monday, police said. Firefighters responded to the incident in the 1000 block of Herron Avenue around 3 a.m., Public Safety spokesman Maurice Matthews said. The residents were able to exit on their own, Matthews said....
Fox Chapel Area School Board holding special meeting to vote on tentative budget
Fox Chapel Area School Board will have a special meeting to vote on the district’s tentative $102 million budget which calls for a 1.5% property tax increase. The remote session will be at 6 p.m. June 29, using Zoom. Anyone who wants to comment during the meeting can access it...
Recreational facilities reopening in O’Hara, Aspinwall
Parks are slowly reopening in the Lower Valley, with O’Hara announcing Friday that all facilities — including playgrounds — are welcoming visitors. Basketball courts, the sand volleyball court at Squaw Valley Park and flex courts are all open in O’Hara, though township officials are still not renting pavilions. In Aspinwall,...
Police: Woman in critical condition after McKeesport shooting
A woman was in critical condition after being shot several times late Sunday in McKeesport, Allegheny County police said. Homicide detectives are investigating the incident which happened just before 10:40 p.m. in the 700 block of Evans Avenue. Emergency crews found the 41-year-old victim suffering gunshot wounds to the back,...
Despite delays, Chase Bank in O’Hara expected to open this year
Construction on a new Chase Bank in O’Hara is moving forward, with an opening expected late this year, bank officials said. Work at the site along Fox Chapel Road was temporarily stalled during a state-mandated shutdown for coronavirus concerns, but resumed in May. “The branch is slated for a Q4...
O’Hara still mulling timeline for fully reopening parks, playgrounds
O’Hara leaders expect to know by Friday if township playgrounds can reopen after an extended coronavirus-related shutdown. Township Manager Julie Jakubec said she expects to make an announcement after council weighs information from Allegheny County. “Council is continuing to monitor the covid-19 daily statistics from the county health department,” she...
Shaler teen selected as Traveling Tutus ambassador
Shaler Area sophomore Hannah Stelitano has been dancing since she learned to walk. The 15-year-old, a member of Ideal Dance in Etna and the Shaler Area Dance Team, trains in ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and tap (her favorite.) Hannah also uses her moves to put good into the world....
Etna curb and sidewalk repair work beginning
Curb and sidewalk repairs in Etna were scheduled to begin today and last for several months. Work will target Butler Street where traffic will be limited to single lanes at the Freeport Street and High Street intersections. This week, the project bill begin near Elm Street. Crews from Costa Contracting...
Virtual activities hosted by Cooper-Siegel, Sharpsburg Community libraries
The following programs are hosted virtually by Cooper-Siegel and Sharpsburg Community libraries. For a Zoom link or other information, call 412-828-9520 or 412-781-0783 or visit coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org. • Let’s Talk Photos and Memories, 7 to 8 p.m. June 16. Have a few photos on hand to share on camera and chat...
Blessed Trinity Academy student wins full ride to Space Camp
It’s not the moon, but a trip to Huntsville, Ala., will be nearly as cool for Blessed Trinity Academy eighth-grader Michael Bridgeman. The 14-year-old won a full-tuition scholarship to Space Camp in Huntsville, home to the second largest research park in America. Bridgeman, a science enthusiast, will take part in...
Peaceful anti-racism rally draws about 500 people to O’Hara park
The Fox Chapel Area School District needs to equip students for a post-George Floyd world, one that is evolving and answering cries for change, recent district graduate William Generett III told a crowd of protesters on Thursday night. “It’s not OK to talk about Martin Luther King Jr. and call...
Black Lives Matter rally to take place at Squaw Valley Park on Thursday
A community rally to support the Black Lives Matter message will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Squaw Valley Park in O’Hara. Leaders said this is planned as a peaceful, family-friendly event with songs and speakers that will focus on social justice. Fox Chapel Area graduate and immediate past president...
Shady Side Academy hosting Zoom sessions to discuss any inequities on campus
Shady Side Academy president Bart Griffith told his school community this week that it’s time to move past talking about social injustices and focus on action. The Black Lives Matter message that has spurred protests across the region in recent weeks has students, alumni and parents challenging the school to...
O’Hara begins phased plan to reopen parks
O’Hara has begun a phased reopening of its parks with baseball fields and other low-volume areas first to welcome back visitors. Though walking was permitted on township trails the last few months, council shut down parks and fields to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Township manager Julie Jakubec said...
Lauri Ann West Community Center reopens with new guidelines
Lauri Ann West Community Center opened its doors Monday to visitors eager to return to a “sense of normalcy,” leaders said. New hours for the facility along Powers Run Road in O’Hara will be 6 to 8 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3...
