Valley News Dispatch category, Page 324
Homeless man arrested in burglary after New Kensington apartment break-in attempt
A homeless man who was barred in 2019 from entering the Central Towers public housing complex in New Kensington was arrested Tuesday, accused of trying to break into an apartment the day after its tenant died, according to authorities. Paul Walter “Charlie” Graves, 54, was charged with felony counts of...
Social Security moving office from New Kensington to Harrison’s Heights Plaza
The Social Security Administration office that has been in New Kensington for nearly 40 years will be moving to Harrison, a government spokesman said. The U.S. General Services Administration signed a new lease for the office to be at Heights Plaza in Natrona Heights, spokesman Will Powell said. The office...
Spaghetti dinner fundraiser returns after long hiatus at St. Gertrude’s in Vandergrift
A big fundraiser with big flavor is back in Vandergrift. The monthly spaghetti dinner, long held in person at St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Church in Vandergrift, has returned. “I’m glad it’s back,” the Rev. James Loew said. “It’s a fundraiser, but it’s an event that brings the parish and the...
The Stroller, Feb. 17, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Early Childhood Fair planned by Highlands School District Highlands School District...
Local entrepreneurs profit from advice offered through free programs
Bryan Krazel and Mark Williamson have taken control of their destinies. They both started new businesses last year — joining about 5 million other U.S. entrepreneurs who did the same thing, according to the Commerce Institute, a website that curates small-business statistics. Krazel had worked as a veterinarian for 25...
Fire displaces 8 New Kensington residents; multiple pets rescued
Eight New Kensington residents, including three children, are being helped by the American Red Cross after being displaced by a fire Thursday night. The three-story building in the 400 block of Fifth Avenue housed two apartments. Two people lived in the apartment on the first floor while six lived on...
New Kensington Council halts Tarentum contractor from buying abandoned house
New Kensington officials said they were doing a Tarentum contractor a favor by not allowing him to buy a long-vacant house in the city from Westmoreland County’s unsold repository. Council voted unanimously last month to not consent to the sale of 304 Charles Ave. to Bryaunt Williams, owner of One...
Former ‘Home of the Whopper’ for lease in Harrison
Changes to the Harrison business district could be coming. There’s space for a new restaurant now that the former Burger King building is officially on the market. The 1,900-square-foot space sits at 1513 Freeport Road, in the heart of the township’s commercial corridor. Listed for lease by CBRE Group Inc.,...
Block funding to cover repairs of broken, lifted sidewalks along Fifth Avenue in New Kensington
Word that New Kensington plans to fix broken and lifted sidewalks through the heart of the city’s downtown this year is welcome news to residents and property owners. Repairs to the sidewalks on both sides of Fifth Avenue, between Seventh and 11th streets, are expected to be complete in July,...
2023 fish fries in Alle-Kiski Valley
All menus are subject to change and availability. Events begin either Ash Wednesday or Feb. 24. Allegheny Township Markle Volunteer Fire Department, 470 Joyce St., 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays during Lent or until sold out. Dine in or takeout. Menu: hand battered fish sandwich dinner, $14; chicken tenders meal,...
RIDC O’Hara shifts to adapt to post-pandemic life
Like many business corridors over the past several years, RIDC O’Hara is reshuffling as it readjusts to the world shaped by covid-19. “We haven’t been immune to what everyone else is going through,” said Michael Connor, vice president of office services at Hanna Langholz Wilson Ellis. “There has been a...
North Apollo, Parks Township join Leechburg police regionalization study; more participation sought
Leechburg officials are hoping to add more nearby municipalities to an upcoming police regionalization feasibility study. In addition to Leechburg, North Apollo and Parks Township officials have agreed to participate in a state-run study to explore whether regionalization would reduce costs and pave the way for 24/7 police coverage. Leechburg...
New Kensington Pub Crawl expanding into Arnold, Lower Burrell
A pub crawl that started in New Kensington last year is expanding for its second run. Seven bars are participating in the second annual Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl from noon to 5 p.m. March 4. The 2022 event drew hundreds decked out in as much green as possible. This...
The Stroller, Feb. 16, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Come and count the birds! Friends of Harrison Hills Park will...
Longtime police officer eyes district judge post in Butler County
Butler County native and longtime Penn Township police Officer Jack D. Ripper announced his candidacy Wednesday for district judge in Southeastern Magisterial District 50-3-03. The position is being vacated by District Judge Sue Haggarty, who recently announced her retirement. Ripper, 48, of Jefferson Township will seek both the Democratic and...
Harrison police eye suspect after Sunoco robbed at knifepoint
Less than 12 hours after a Harrison gas station was robbed at knifepoint, police have identified a suspect. Chief Mike Klein said a warrant has been issued for Nicholas Dupree, 21, who is known to frequent Tarentum and the Natrona section of Harrison. Dupree is accused of walking into the...
Harrison woman with previous drug convictions accused of selling crack cocaine after home raided
Harrison police accused a woman who was convicted of selling drugs in the past of being a crack cocaine dealer after her home was raided Friday. Kim Romanelli, 62, of the 1000 block of Idaho Avenue was charged with a felony count of possession of drugs with the intent to...
New Kensington-Arnold pursuing serving line, restroom improvement projects
Officials in the New Kensington-Arnold School District are pursuing improvement projects at two of the district’s schools. The school board voted to explore replacing the meal serving line at H.D. Berkey Elementary in Arnold and renovating restrooms at Valley Junior-Senior High School in New Kensington. H.D. Berkey houses first and...
Valley Dairy Restaurant slated for former Kings restaurant in Allegheny Township
A new family-style restaurant is coming to Allegheny Township. Valley Dairy Restaurant plans to set up shop in the former Kings Family Restaurant at 315 Hyde Park Road. Kings permanently closed at 2 p.m. Feb. 5 without advance notice to staff and customers. Known for its “You Never Had It...
The Stroller, Feb. 15, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Seminar about veterans’ benefits set Saturday in Vandergrift A free informational...
Indiana Township man charged with sex crimes against a minor
An employee of the Allegheny County Controller’s Office charged with sexual assault of a minor and other crimes was apprehended Tuesday, Allegheny County Police reported. Cam Zmenkowski, 25, of Indiana Township remains lodged in the Allegheny County Jail after being denied bail, according to online court documents. He was fired...
Armstrong County billboard with message of inclusivity taken down
A Worthington-area billboard meant to welcome people of all faiths, genders and sexual orientations was up for six days before opponents forced its removal. Erected by the Armstrong County Democratic Committee and paid for by donations, the sign was meant to combat a nearby billboard along Route 422 that has...
‘The King’ on hand at flower shop to croon for those who can’t help falling in love on Valentine’s Day
Elvis lives again — at least on Valentine’s Day at New Kensington Floral — as part-time employee Aldo Santucci donned “The King’s” attire to entertain the steady stream of patrons picking up flowers and candy for the Feb. 14 holiday. Santucci, 60, of New Kensington offered to do the gig...
Future of Tree of Life focus of Fox Chapel program
People can hear plans for the future of Tree of Life in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood — the site of the 2018 shooting that marked the deadliest antisemitic attack in the country — during a mid-March presentation in Fox Chapel. Carole Zawatsky is the new CEO of a nonprofit institute...
Former Valley dean of students, an anti-violence crusader, organizes healing event for community
When he was a dean of students in the New Kensington-Arnold School District, Henry “Hank” Commodore handled discipline. If he was still in education today, Commodore would make love and kindness part of the curriculum for all students. “We’re all family. All of us are family. We need to be...
