Week in Review North Hills: West View Park carousel panels, new park-n-ride garage, dark fantasy novel and more

Here are some recent Tribune-Review news stories and features from the North Hills.

For more details on these and other stories, follow the links below or find more news at TribLIVE.com.

Panels from old West View Park carousel ride to be centerpiece of new North Hills history museum

For 71 years, West View Park was a summertime destination for countless family gatherings, school picnics and people looking for fun and excitement.

Whether it was the thrill of riding the roller coaster or Dips, catching a show at Danceland or sharing a first kiss on one of the rides, the long-gone amusement park in West View holds a special place in the hearts of many.

West View Park, which operated from 1906 to 1977, was torn down and replaced by a shopping center.

A lone horse from the old carousel ride that adorns the shopping center’s sign is the only reminder of what stood there before the park closed its gates to the public.

But a dedicated group of residents thinks the memory of the popular amusement park is worth preserving.

Ross OK’s Port Authority’s plan to double size of park-n-ride facility

Ross commissioners have approved the Port Authority’s plan to double the number of spaces available at its park-and-ride lot in the township to relieve congestion.

But the unanimous vote on Dec. 8 to green-light the project comes with a hitch — if traffic near the lot spikes because of the expansion, the township wants the transportation agency to pick up the tab for installing a traffic signal if it is warranted.

For years, the Port Authority’s parking enforcement officers at the lot have observed unsafe conditions created by vehicles that park illegally on the grass, jam in-between other vehicles to park and taking spots designated for drivers with physical challenges, agency officials said.

Hampton woman’s debut dark-fantasy novel takes readers on journey to magical world

Mayté Losada has always had a dark side yearning to break free from the confines of life in the modern world.

Enthralled as a child by the vivid “other” worlds depicted in Greek mythology, the Harry Potter novels and later, Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, the Hampton Township woman has created her own mystical landscape for the young-adult dark fantasy “Magic in Blood.” It’s the first novel in a trilogy titled “A Darkness So Blessed and Wicked.”

Owner of Studio Raw Elite salon honored with Citizen of the Year Award

The owner of a Ross Township hair styling studio has received the Citizen of the Year Award for his contribution to the community.

Dan Burda, owner of the Studio Raw Elite salon on Babcock Boulevard, is this year’s recipient of the Durachko-Gottfried Ross Township Citizen of the Year Award.

The award was created last year to honor Dr. Peg Durachko and her late husband Dr. Richard Gottfried, who was one of the victims killed during the Oct. 27, 2018, shooting spree at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill.