Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 62
Mary Queen of Apostles’ students, crew prepare ‘Wonktoberfest’ to benefit musical
Bailey Linza likened high school musical theater to finding the golden ticket. She and two classmates at St. Joseph High School in Harrison reaped such joy from their production experiences that they have offered to head up a fall show for students at Mary Queen of Apostles School in New...
Brackenridge playground slated for safety upgrade
The popular playground at Brackenridge Memorial Park will get a surface makeover to boost safety and cut maintenance costs. In a recent round of state funding, the borough received word that it will get about $95,400 from the Greenway, Trails and Recreation Program. “It will be used for safety improvements,”...
Harmar District 3 voters get new polling site
Some Harmar residents will have a new polling site beginning in November. Residents of District 3, who previously voted at the old public works garage along Russellton Road, will now cast their ballots at Pittsburgh’s Syria Shriners center. “In August, the township finalized the sale of 841 Russellton Road,” Manager...
Warrants issued for Tarentum brothers for their role in ‘gun battle’ in Sheldon Park public housing in Harrison
Two brothers from Tarentum have been charged with attempted homicide, as they are accused of shooting at people in a Sheldon Park apartment early Thursday in Harrison. Troy Vickers, 30, and Brian Vickers, 19, are each also charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, conspiracy and firearms violations in what Allegheny...
Summit Hose celebrates members for 50-year milestone
Tarentum resident David Kengor’s life changed forever just by hanging out with friends at a pizza shop across from the Summit Hose fire hall. “We were all young teenagers, and some of the firefighters came over and said they were starting a junior department — the first one in the...
St. Joe’s student-run Spartan Streaming allows online viewers to catch up with sports, events
Watch out Bob Costas, 16-year-old Nicholas Sarno is coming for your job. A junior at St. Joseph High School in Harrison, Sarno isn’t shy in front of the camera. He has become the voice of the Spartans sports teams, providing play-by-play for basketball, volleyball and other games for online audiences...
Tarentum seeks creative crafters for 14th scarecrow contest
Witches and ghosts, step aside. It’s time for scarecrows to have a moment in the spotlight. The Tarentum Recreation Board launched its 14th annual scarecrow contest Monday, with entries competing for a $100 top prize. “They are so creative every year,” said Carrie Fox, recreation board president. “We appreciate everyone’s...
Drive-through food distribution open to Alle-Kiski Valley residents
Tarentum resident Rayann Urbanski plucked large bundles of kale from boxes outside Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer and placed them in more than 300 vehicles waiting in line at a recent drive-through food distribution. “Everyone seems to really appreciate the help,” said Urbanski, a Highlands and Pitt grad who now works...
Sheldon Park’s first-ever Fall Fest aims to create unity among residents
A pair of relatively new Sheldon Park residents is working to provide year-round activities that create unity in the Harrison neighborhood. Elizabeth Rivera and Monica Squires are organizing a Fall Fest for all ages Oct. 22 that will offer pumpkins, games and maybe even a hayride. “What we’re looking to...
Single-lane restrictions begin Monday along Route 28 near Highland Park Bridge
Motorists who travel along northbound Route 28 in O’Hara and Sharpsburg should allow extra time next week. Single-lane restrictions are scheduled to begin Monday, according to PennDOT. Crews from Swank Construction Company will be installing new signs. Work will begin at about 7 a.m., just before rush hour, and will...
Penn Salt Museum will give visitors glimpse into Natrona’s historic significance
Polish immigrants Stanley and Josephine Lapczynski arrived in the Natrona section of Harrison before the turn of the 20th century and settled into a cottage at 34 Federal St. The couple raised six children in the four-room house owned by Penn Salt Manufacturing Co., which abutted the Allegheny River and...
Family, friends hope for news on Tarentum woman missing more than 5 weeks
Family and friends of missing Tarentum woman Tonya Sadecky are holding out hope that she will be found safe after last being seen Aug. 28. “I drive around, up and down the streets just hoping that I’ll see her,” said Sadecky’s mother, Carol Richardson. Allegheny County Police on Thursday issued...
Lower Burrell author Tamara Girardi visits Highlands classrooms; Rotary and Lions gift books to students
A Lower Burrell author joined the Tarentum Lions Club and the Highlands Area Rotary on Tuesday to spark a passion for literacy in young students. Kindergartners at Highlands Early Childhood Center were paid a visit by Tamara Girardi, author of “Why, Daddy? Why?,” who read aloud to the youngsters in...
Blawnox seeks code enforcement officer to help keep town in shape
Blawnox is seeking to hire a code enforcement officer — and the search is becoming a bit frustrating for administration officials after not being able to fill the position for at least eight months. “It’s been a struggle,” Manager Kathy Ulanowicz said. “Code enforcement is one of the most important...
Shaler Area students rally to protect Girty’s Run farmland
A project to protect green space and fill it with clusters of endangered butterflies has taken flight at Shaler Area High School. Students in the district’s Sustainability class have partnered with the Sewickley-based nonprofit Allegheny Land Trust on a fundraiser to preserve former farmland in Reserve and Shaler. The parcel...
Harrison’s Hunger Walk to raise awareness of food insecurity
A tradition for more than 40 years to help feed the needy will continue Sunday in Harrison. The Hunger Walk will step off at 1 p.m. from Heights Plaza along Freeport Road. Hosted by the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches (AVAC), the walk attracts about 50 people who traverse a...
Allegheny County Police seek help finding Frazer woman last seen Sept. 11
Allegheny County Police are seeking help to find a Frazer woman they fear may have been kidnapped. They believe Darlene Harbison, 59, who was last seen Sept. 11, disappeared at the hands of her boyfriend, Eric Gibbs, with whom she had a volatile relationship, according to county police. Gibbs, 57,...
Faces of the Valley: Highlands graduate Josephine Vance earns prestigious $25,000 Statler Foundation scholarship at IUP
If her dream came true, Highlands graduate Josephine Vance would someday work as a Disney wedding planner and coordinate events at the happiest place on Earth. A senior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Vance just got a major boost toward her goal, earning the prestigious Statler Foundation Scholarship of Excellence...
St. Joseph High School offers clubs as way to engage students, ignite passions
A new club at St. Joseph High School in Harrison is seeking to give female students an emboldened voice. Empowering Women was spearheaded by junior Jennifer Phan, who said students can only benefit through the open dialogue created by the new club. “We thought it was something we needed,” said...
Prospect Cemetery Ghost Tour brings history to life in Brackenridge
Self-described history buff Fran Jones can’t wait to dress up as long-deceased Tarentum townswoman Annie Walker and share her story during the annual Prospect Cemetery Ghost Tour. “Actually, most of my story is really talking about her husband, (Dr. A.F.) ‘Daddy’ Walker, a most popular figure in local history,” Jones...
St. Ladislaus group lobbies for shrine designation at Natrona church
Longtime Natrona resident Conrad Zylinski attended the former St. Ladislaus Elementary School in the 1960s and served as an altar boy at the magnificent domed church on Spruce Street. He no longer attends Mass every week but said he sees the significance of the 118-year-old church to the community. Zylinski...
Haunted Mine offers hair-raising scares at abandoned Fawn site
Enter if you dare. Dark and dank, the narrow passages that wind deep underground at Tour-Ed Mine and Museum in Fawn have transformed into a frightening Halloween attraction seeking only the bravest souls to wander through. “We play off your natural phobias here, so we’re talking rats, bats and spiders,”...
Blawnox VFC hosting blood drive to assist critical shortage
An upcoming blood drive sponsored by the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company is aimed at helping people in the community and beyond. Victor Eperthener, department member and blood drive coordinator, said, “We want to help people all across the Pittsburgh area.” The event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m....
Harrison Manager John Pallone resigns after 6 months
Harrison Manager John Pallone has resigned after six months on the job. Pallone, a former five-term state legislator and superintendent of the New Kensington-Arnold School District, was not immediately available for comment. The township commissioners accepted his resignation during their meeting Monday. At least one commissioner said he believes Pallone...
Haunted Guyasuta returns with fright-filled festivities
Fright will abound in the forest during the annual Haunted Guyasuta event at the Boy Scout camp in O’Hara. The Halloween-themed festival is scheduled for Oct. 15 and offers both fun and fear, depending on the time of day. Pumpkin patches, hayrides and other non-scary activities will run from 3...
