Valley News Dispatch category, Page 64
Vandal strikes vehicle parked at Vereb Funeral Home in Harrison
Contractor Brad Rowan parked his work van overnight at Vereb Funeral Home in Harrison this week in advance of a job at the building. He never dreamed, however, that it would be vandalized in the building’s parking lot along Freeport Road. “I understand everyone is upset about the situation,” said...
Freeport Area weighs how fast to raise taxes as decision on high school renovation nears
Property owners in the Freeport Area School District may be facing a tax increase for next school year, even though the school board passed a preliminary budget that includes no tax increase. That’s because the preliminary 2025-26 budget shows a $450,000 deficit, and administrators warn more revenue will be needed...
Fox Chapel area property owners should expect to see a 2.3% hike in real estate taxes
Fox Chapel area property owners should expect to see a 2.3% hike in real estate taxes as part of the next school year’s budget. The school board unanimously voted May 5 to pass its 2025-26 proposed spending plan with a tax hike and an estimated $2.4 million shortfall that will...
Tarentum staple, Asay’s News Stand, closes just shy of 100 years in borough
A small Tarentum mini-mart which drew generations of residents for cigarettes, milk and lottery tickets, has closed its doors. Asay’s News Stand, at 328 E. Sixth Ave., was sold May 1 — just four years shy of marking 100 years in the borough. “I will miss a lot of the...
Podcast: Pet funeral director accused of burials that didn’t happen
A longtime funeral director in Pittsburgh is facing felony charges after authorities say he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from grieving pet owners, some of whom were unknowingly given ashes that did not belong to their animals. Patrick Vereb, who ran a pet cremation business in Pittsburgh and Natrona,...
Last plea? PSNK professors ask for moratorium, task force on campus closures
In what might be its final plea, some Penn State New Kensington professors are asking the university’s board of trustees to temporarily pause any decisions to shutter branch campuses and to establish a task force to try to resolve any demographic and financial issues at the satellite colleges. “We urge...
Longtime PPG employee donates windshield to Tarentum museum
Ray Bowser still holds a grudge against PPG for closing its Creighton plant before he could reach seven decades at the glass manufacturing facility. “Don’t ever say I retired from there at 66 years and six days, because I didn’t,” said Bowser, 91. “I stayed until they closed the doors.”...
Leechburg Area School District announces multi-meeting town hall
Property owners within the Leechburg Area School District will be receiving a long-awaited update about taxation differences between West Leechburg, Leechburg and Gilpin. District officials have announced a Town Hall Tour for Wednesday, May 14. Starting at 6 p.m. at the West Leechburg Fire Hall, district officials will hold a...
The Stroller, May 9, 2025: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Anything That Floats Regatta...
7 candidates compete for 4 seats in Allegheny Valley School Board primary
Four seats are open on Allegheny Valley School Board this year, and seven candidates are vying to fill them. Each of the seven has cross-filed to appear on both Democratic and Republican primary ballots May 20. Only one, Nino Pollino, is an incumbent. The top four voter-getters from each party...
Area Catholics laud Pope Leo XIV, confident he’ll be a ‘bridge builder,’ serve the poor, marginalized
Area Catholics lauded the selection of Pope Leo XIV, not just because he’s American born, but because they’re confident he’ll be a “bridge builder,” dedicated to serving the poor and marginalized. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, originally from the Chicago area but serving the church for decades in South America, was...
Weekend closure set on stretch of Allegheny River Boulevard from Penn Hills to Pittsburgh
PennDOT will conduct around-the-clock seal coating and pavement marking operations this weekend, May 10-11, on Allegheny River Boulevard, weather permitting. Allegheny River Boulevard will close to traffic from 7 a.m. Saturday through 6 p.m. Sunday between Sandy Creek Road and Washington Boulevard. Traffic will be detoured. The posted detour east...
Nesbit’s Lanes in Plum to close this summer for renovations
Nesbit’s Lanes, a longtime bowling alley in Plum, will be closing until August for renovations after a tree fell on the building in February. A statement on the bowling alley’s Facebook page said the building would shutter for “safety and liability reasons” beginning May 19 for up to two and...
Senior housing plan gets preliminary OK from Frazer supervisors
Frazer supervisors waived two development requirements while giving preliminary approval for a senior housing development near Pittsburgh Mills mall. Approval for the plan proposed by Foxlane Homes came after a public hearing on the plan attended by about 10 residents. Mike McAneny, a Foxlane official who did not testify at...
Western Pa. Catholics anticipate papal conclave to usher in new era
The late Pope Francis opened the way for women in the Roman Catholic Church to serve as readers and altar servers, and to assist priests during services or in administering Communion. But the church continues to bar women from the roles of deacon or priest, and debate over that issue...
The Stroller, May 8, 2025: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Donations welcome at Animal...
H.D. Berkey students get bike-riding lesson: ‘It’s a fundamental life skill’
Seven-year-old Kai’ere King has a need for speed. “I like riding bikes that are fast,” said Kai’ere, a student at H.D. Berkey School in Arnold. “I like fast bikes. “It’s like the speed of light.” Kai’ere and his first and second grade peers at H.D. Berkey spent the past week...
Opera star, retired Pirates pitcher to headline fundraising gala for Pittsburgh Youth Chorus
An internationally renowned opera star and a retired Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher will headline the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus’ first gala-style fundraiser in June. Marianne Cornetti, a Winfield native who is one of the leading Verdi mezzo-sopranos of her generation, and Steven Brault, a multitalented vocalist and former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher-turned baseball...
Site of former Springdale power plant to be sold to data center developer
After a yearslong saga that resulted in the implosion of two towering smokestacks and the two-part demolition of a massive boiler house at the former Cheswick Generating Station, the property owner says the site will likely become a data center. Scott Reschly, president of Charah Environmental Redevelopment Group, the Louisville-based...
Plum to host 1st ‘Walking and Wagging’ community dog walk
Dozens of paws will march down Mike Thomas Way in Plum this month for the borough’s first annual “Walking and Wagging” community dog walk. Totaling just over a mile, the walk will take attendees and their canine companions from the Plum Municipal Building parking lot to Renton Road and back,...
Vandergrift business owner bringing ‘fresh eyes’ to borough carnival
After more than 30 years in charge, Vandergrift No. 1 Volunteer Fire Department is passing the torch on its annual carnival. Local business owner and self-proclaimed carnival lover Sia Fouse is organizing this year’s festivities, which will include rides, concessions, a children’s talent show, live music, craft vendors and a...
Springdale building lays demolished after partial collapse
A Springdale building that partially collapsed on Sunday now lays entirely demolished. The building, located at 841 Railroad St., was owned by R.I. Lampus Co., a concrete supplier located across the street. It currently sits in a heap surrounded by chain-link fences. Springdale Emergency Coordinator Bruno Moretti said no one...
Their brother left New Kensington to serve in Korea and never returned. 75 years later, they have closure
Marjorie Ann “Marjie” Mahar called her brother, Paul Bowser, one afternoon in March and told him to sit down. “I just got a call from Fort Knox,” she told him. On March 24, three hours before she was set to deliver a speech before the Tennessee House of Representatives about...
Fox Chapel Area School District and its municipalities collaborate for annual health, wellness and safety event
Dozens of Fox Chapel Area families braved the elements to support the school district’s Community Safety, Health & Wellness Event. The annual collaboration of school resource officers, local emergency responders and nonprofits took place in the Aspinwall municipal parking lot on April 26. Things got off to a rainy and...
Vacant warehouse building near New Kensington Bridge to be renovated
What’s currently an old, vacant building with broken windows near the New Kensington Bridge will eventually be a renovated, 100,000-square-foot space to accommodate a large industrial tenant, RIDC officials say. “It’s a great building for a lot of the demand we’re seeing from industrial users,” said Don Smith, RIDC president....
