Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 80
Santa stopping for Sunday breakfast in Fawn
The pancakes at Fawn No. 1 volunteer fire department must be pretty tasty. Santa is scheduled to travel there on Sunday for breakfast. Local children are invited to join him from 10 a.m. to noon for pancakes, sausage and scrambled eggs. The event is a joint project between Fawn No....
Leader of Community Library of Allegheny Valley retiring after 3 decades
Kathy Firestone has worked as a librarian for three decades and yet rarely has time to pick up a book. That might change soon. Firestone, of Allegheny Township, is retiring Saturday from her post as executive director at Community Library of Allegheny Valley in Harrison. “I have no plans,” she...
Male victim in McCandless double shooting identified
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner has identified the male victim in Wednesday’s double shooting in McCandless. A husband and wife died after the shooting in a parking lot of an apartment complex, according to Allegheny County Police. Liam Donavon Mascarenas, 23, of Lakewood died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities...
Police: Missing Wilkinsburg man texted mom he was kidnapped
Wilkinsburg police are seeking help to find a man last seen Thursday leaving his home, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV. Marvase Spell, 25, left home at about 10:45 a.m. and sent a text to his mother shortly after that said he had been kidnapped. The text indicated that Spell...
Al’s Bike Drive in Hampton donates 200 bikes, $30,000 to Marines’ Toys for Tots
Santa visited Hampton a little early this year — in the form of a resident named Al Todd. Todd has organized Al’s Bike Drive for several years. On Thursday, Todd conducted a caravan of 200 bikes down Route 8 from Wal Mart to the Wildwood Country Club. The bikes will...
Police investigating carjacking on Pittsburgh’s North Side
Pittsburgh police are investigating a carjacking and robbery that happened late Thursday on the city’s North Side, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. No one was reported to be hurt in the incident, which happened just after 11:30 p.m. near East Ohio Street and Cedar Avenue. Four people were taken...
Plans delayed to raze administration building at Allegheny Valley Hospital
Demolition of the administration building at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison is still on tap but work is delayed while officials determine what’s best to take its place. The 93-year-old building that abuts the hospital along Carlisle Street was scheduled to be torn down just before the covid-19 pandemic hit....
1 injured in crash in Pittsburgh’s Carrick
A person was injured early Thursday in a one-vehicle crash in Pittsburgh’s Carrick section, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV. Emergency crews responded at about 3:30 a.m. to the intersection of Route 51 and Maytide Street. The car crashed into a pole and left the car with significant damage to...
Citing revenue loss, state senator seeks to bring back Pa. Turnpike toll workers
A senator from northeastern Pennsylvania is spearheading efforts to bring back turnpike toll workers. Sen. Marty Flynn, D-Scranton, said his plan stems from the amount of tolls — $104 million – that went uncollected on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the past year. “Not coincidentally, that’s also when the PA Turnpike...
Medical examiner identifies woman who died in McCandless shooting
A husband and wife died Monday morning after a shooting in the parking lot of a McCandless apartment complex, according to Allegheny County Police. Police said they responded to the 700 block of Duncan Avenue around 8:15 a.m. and found a 23-year-old man behind a dumpster, dead from a gunshot...
Woman who posed as FedEx worker to steal packages from Pittsburgh home being held without bail
A woman who dressed as a FedEx worker and stole packages from a home in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 8. Laura Woester, 50, was arrested Monday by Pittsburgh police and faces charges of theft by unlawful taking. She was denied bail...
Thieves swipe vehicle inspection stickers at 2 Ross auto shops
Ross police are investigating after thieves broke into at least two auto shops and stole vehicle inspection stickers, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV. The thefts happened sometime over the weekend at Midas and Jiffy Lube, both on McKnight Road. The suspects pried open lock boxes to swipe the stickers,...
West Mifflin High School switches to remote learning after threat
Students at West Mifflin Area High School learned remotely on Wednesday after the district was targeted by an online threat. Superintendent Jeffrey Soles said the threat did not appear to be credible, but the district opted to keep students at home out of caution. West Mifflin police are investigating the...
Jungle-themed mural at Cooper-Siegel dedicated to late volunteer
Patrons of the children’s story room at the Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel will be greeted by new friends. A brightly colored jungle-themed mural has transformed the walls with paintings of an elephant spraying water onto an umbrella-wielding monkey, sleepy lions resting on cupboards and ostriches batting long eyelashes...
North Hills School District targeted by social media threat
A threat to North Hills School District Tuesday has been deemed not credible, according to district officials. Buildings remain open and classes are scheduled as usual. The district was targeted by a threat on Snapchat. It was investigated by Ross police, among other agencies. Similarly, two Pittsburgh Public Schools were...
Pittsburgh Public Schools targeted by threat
Two Pittsburgh Public Schools were targeted by a threat Tuesday, according to a district spokesperson. “We don’t believe the threat was credible, however we take all threats seriously,” said Ebony Pugh, PPS media relations supervisor. The threat was aimed at South Hills Middle School and Brashear High School, which sit...
Social media threats prompt switch to remote learning at Propel Schools in Pittsburgh
The 13 Propel Schools throughout Pittsburgh will switch to remote learning Tuesday after threats were posted on social media, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. School leaders alerted families that the move was made from “an abundance of caution.” Administrators said initially that Propel Hazelwood and Propel Montour would go...
2 people stabbed in Pittsburgh’s Arlington Heights
Two people were stabbed Monday in Pittsburgh’s Arlington Heights neighborhood, police said. Officers responded to the 3100 block of Cordell Place shortly after 5 p.m. Police found two people with stab wounds, potentially the result of a fight, public safety Spokesperson Amanda Mueller said. Both people were taken to a...
Man robbed at ATM in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood
A man faces charges of robbery after threatening another man and taking his money at an ATM in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section early Monday, according to police. Christopher Henderson, 28, of Pittsburgh is charged with robbery and terroristic threats stemming from the incident just after 2:30 a.m. Henderson is in the...
Police investigating after man shot in Homewood
Pittsburgh police are investigating after a man was shot three times late Sunday in the city’s Homewood section. The victim was taken by private vehicle to a hospital and was in stable condition, Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said. The incident happened just before 11 p.m. in the 7400...
No tax increase likely for Tarentum residents
Tarentum residents likely will not see a property tax increase in 2022. The proposed budget, just more than $11 million, maintains a tax rate of 5.48 mills — the same as it’s been since 2007. If approved, the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would again pay $548 to...
Lower Burrell native finds success with Dancing Gnome brewery, expanded in Sharpsburg
Two windowless steel warehouses in the heart of Sharpsburg have been transformed into a chic, industrial taproom with outdoor seating. Dancing Gnome brewery, founded in 2016, has more than doubled its footprint with a 10,000-square-foot, open-air layout to accommodate revelers flocking to try its hop-centric suds. “Our old place was...
Highlands staff take pies in the face, for a good cause
Easy as pie — that was the day before Thanksgiving break at Highlands High School. A dozen lucky students were selected by raffle to toss a pan full of whipped cream at leery teachers and administrators in the high school gym. Students could purchase tickets — two for $1 —...
Infuzed Bistro reopens its doors in Brackenridge
Infuzed Bistro in Brackenridge is back in business, dishing up high-end, fresh fare in a cozy family-style setting. The upscale eatery with everyday prices is the passion of chef Tim Emery, a New York native who began tinkering in the kitchen as a child at his grandmother’s knee. “Whatever she...
Holiday decorating contests underway in Tarentum, Harrison
If the sight of early Christmas decorations has you feeling your inner-Clark Griswold, now’s the time to wrap the house in strands of lights and inflate the giant nylon Santas. House-decorating contests are underway in Harrison and Tarentum, and judges will be seeking homes that ooze holiday cheer. “Last year,...

