Here are some of the top stories for the week of June 14, 2021:
- Pride event in Aspinwall aimed at inclusion
Aspinwall Riverfront Park hosted the inaugural Pride in the Park event to connect the LGBTQIA+ community and allies.
In all, more than 350 people attended the family-friendly gathering June 8.
“Our primary goal was to connect our local community, and I think it’s safe to say we accomplished that,” said co-organizer Sarah Shaffer.
- Fox Chapel Area school taxes climb slightly
District residents will pay slightly higher school taxes in 2021-22.
The school board on June 14 approved its $104 million budget, seeing the tax rate climb from 19.8 to 20.1 mills. It is a 1.3% increase.
The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 will pay $2,010, up from $1,980.
School board members passed the budget with a vote of 6-2, with Vanessa Lynch and Edith Cook voting against it.
- Aspinwall swimmer qualifies for Olympic Trials
Aspinwall’s Zoe Skirboll will be in the pool in the 100 breaststroke.
Skirboll, a former WPIAL and PIAA champion as a freshman at Fox Chapel, advanced to Wave II in the 100 breast after a second-place finish (1:09.32) in the event during the Wave I trials June 5.
Skirboll is seeded 32nd in the 100 breast prelims at the Omaha event.
- Fundraiser underway for Sycamore Island in Blawnox
A fundraiser to support maintenance of Sycamore Island in Blawnox is underway.
The Earth Volunteer Fund will match $1,000 in donations, dollar-for-dollar, to help upgrade the unique river island conservation area.
Owned by Allegheny Land Trust, Sycamore Island sits in the Allegheny River between Blawnox and Verona.
Volunteers work to clear litter, remove invasive plants and plant native trees and flowers.
