Valley News Dispatch category, Page 445
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...
Holiday events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
• Visit with Santa from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21 on the second level at Arnold No. 2 Firehall, 1100 Drey St. Bring a camera for photos with Santa and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate. Buffalo Township • Santa Claus will drive around the township with Sarver...
Man charged with attempting to arrange sex meeting with teen in New Kensington
A Washington County man is accused of arranging to meet with a 15-year-old girl in New Kensington for sex in exchange for cash and drugs after answering an advertisement on a website offering escort services, according to authorities. The girl was, in reality, a state law enforcement agent posing as...
The Stroller, Nov. 24, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Luminate Leechburg event set Saturday The annual Luminate Leechburg holiday celebration will be from 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday in Leechburg....
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 —...
Medical examiner: Man pulled from river in Plum Sept. 1 drowned accidentally
A man whose body was pulled from the Allegheny River in Plum on Sept. 1 died accidentally from drowning, according to the Allegheny County medical examiner. Shawn M. Ferraccio, 46, of Washington Township, was found dead in the river shortly before 10:30 a.m. after police responded to the 100 block...
Hearing for man accused in fatal shooting at Upper Burrell tavern delayed for 2 months
A preliminary hearing for a man charged with fatally shooting a customer at an Upper Burrell tavern on Nov. 13 has been delayed for two months to give his defense attorney more time to prepare a case. Daniel J. Moles, 61, of Dogwood Lane, Lower Burrell was scheduled to appear...
Friends of Washington Township man killed in wrong-way crash to hold fundraiser for family
A fundraiser for a 22-year old Washington Township man killed in a wrong-way crash is planned for this weekend in Oklahoma Borough. Zeth Charles Reber died on Nov. 14 when his car was hit by a minivan traveling the wrong direction on State Route 380 in Washington Township. The driver...
Oakmont Hometown Christmas returns to ring in holiday spirit
After a one-year hiatus due to the covid-19 pandemic, the Oakmont Hometown Christmas celebration was back in action this year, and it picked up right where it left off with an entire evening of family-friendly holiday fun Nov. 20. A massive crowd packed Allegheny River Boulevard for the 5 p.m....
Freeport officials mum on missing EMS money and its repayment
Freeport officials won’t say how much money was taken by someone working for the borough’s emergency medical service in early 2020. But the borough’s lawyer recently issued a statement to clarify what he says is false information circulating by word of mouth about how the borough handled the apparent misappropriation...
The Stroller, Nov. 23, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. HOPE Center collecting donations for its SAF-T kennel The Alle-Kiski HOPE Center offers a Sheltering Animals and Families Together (SAF-T) Kennel...
Freeport hires 3 police officers, still looking for new chief, more part-timers
Freeport has its own police force again. Council voted 5-0 at a special meeting Monday night to hire Jodi Greiser of Freeport as a full-time officer and named Chris Fabec of Murrysville the department’s officer in charge. Mayor James Swartz Jr. said he swore in Fabec — who also serves...
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...
Vandergrift murder suspect to pursue psychiatric defense
The attorney for a Vandergrift woman accused in the 2018 fatal shooting of her cousin is expected to present a psychiatric defense at trial. Attorney Patrick Thomassey told Judge Scott Mears of the plan Monday during a hearing for Ashley Croft, 38. She is accused of fatally shooting John Edward...
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,...
Highlands broadens curriculum to bolster career readiness; decreases graduation credit requirement
Highlands High School seniors will need slightly fewer credits to graduate in coming years. The school board on Nov. 15 approved a motion to reduce the credit requirements from 24.5 to 24, beginning with the 2022-23 school year. Highlands already requires more than the state minimum of 21 credits to...
No lull in hiring this holiday season as unfilled jobs persist in Alle-Kiski Valley
Job postings at the state Department of Labor’s CareerLink Alle-Kiski remain high, with continued hiring expected through the holidays. As of Thursday, the Alle- Kiski job center, which covers 28 ZIP codes in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties, had 480 job openings posted and active, according to Phil Grove, an account representative...
The Stroller, Nov. 22, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Gingerbread houses wanted to complete holiday train display New Kensington Recreation Committee will set up a model train display for the...
A destination for popular Pop It toys and more, Fidget Tree to open in Lower Burrell
As many brick-and-mortar stores give way to online retailing, not everyone is going along with the trend. Kylee Hornack-Kohler and her mother, Denise Hornack, are popping the scenario with their new store, Fidget Tree, opening Wednesday in Lower Burrell. They specialize in “fidgets” and Pop It devices — sensory and...
Highlands athletic director wants players to prioritize academics
When Highlands athletic director Drew Karpen joined the district two years ago, his focus wasn’t solely on sports. “One of my main objectives was to build the academic side of the program,” said Karpen, a former assistant athletic director at North Allegheny. He launched a Scholar- Athlete program to recognize students...
3 new members to join New Kensington-Arnold School Board
Two teachers who work at other schools and a chemist who works at her brother’s pizza shop are slated to join the New Kensington-Arnold School Board in December. Jane Graham, Nick DiCarolis and Sarah Yurga all were unopposed in the Nov. 2 election. The trio will join the nine-member school...
Thanksgiving plans for Alle-Kiski Valley families almost back to normal
Thanksgiving Day is usually a big deal for Joe Weltner of Harrison. Weltner usually kicks off his Christmas decorating frenzy right after polishing off a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. “I start to politely shuffle the guests out so the first of 15-plus Christmas trees can be put up,” said Weltner of...
Harmar’s proposed 2022 budget could help homeowners but would face high deficit
Some Harmar property owners might pay less in taxes under the proposed $2.7 million budget for 2022, but it will come at a cost. The proposed $2.7 million spending plan would increase the Homestead Exemption by $5,000, from $30,000 to $35,000. That move, though, could cost the township more than...
The Stroller, Nov. 21, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Pajama and Book Project seeks donations The Rotary Club of Leechburg and Interact Club of Leechburg Area High School are sponsoring...
Habitat for Humanity helps Iraqi vet and family with new start in Tarentum
Jonathan Butter is giving his four young sons the best Christmas gift he can imagine — room to play. Butter, an Iraq war veteran from Pitcairn, will move with his family into a two-story home at 413 West 10th Ave. in Tarentum once Habitat for Humanity completes an extensive overhaul...
