JoAnne Klimovich Harrop stories, Page 8
Kennywood’s Steel Curtain to reopen this season
Kennywood Park will open for its 127th season on a truly Pittsburgh kind of day — April 12, also known as 412-day, a nod to the city’s area code. The Steel Curtain roller coaster is also scheduled to reopen at some point this season. “Our most up-to-date and official statement...
Going to the Pirates home opener? What you need to know
The Pittsburgh Pirates open their PNC Park season Friday, hosting the New York Yankees in a home opener for the first time in franchise history. The first pitch is set for 4:12 p.m. — a nod to the city’s 412 area code — at PNC Park on Pittsburgh’s North Shore....
Marc Fogel to throw out 1st pitch at Pirates home opener
To open its 25th season, PNC Park will welcome former Oakmont teacher Marc Fogel to throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the Pirates host the New York Yankees on Friday. Game time is 4:12 p.m. Fogel was arrested Aug. 14, 2021, in Moscow for bringing medical marijuana into Russia...
32-acre Franco Harris Memorial Park to be created in Glen Osborne
Legendary Steelers running back Franco Harris, one of Sewickley’s own, sported the number 32. The athlete is known for arguably the most iconic play in the National Football League — the Immaculate Reception — when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Oakland Raiders on a touchdown play that is still talked...
Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Riverfront Park getting a new look
Once completed, Allegheny Riverfront Park’s upper promenade will be refreshed, adding green space Downtown, similar to Allegheny Landing across the river on the North Shore. The cross-river destination project between Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday. The $5.4 million rehabilitation effort is...
A vintage Isaly’s shop to open in Pittsburgh’s Strip District
Skyscrapers — tall, pointed ice cream cones — chipped ham and nostalgia come to mind when Pittsburghers hear the name Isaly’s. Jim Conroy, who has co-owned Isaly’s LLC since 2015 with his wife, Leslee, said he hopes people who remember the iconic brand will enjoy it when he opens a...
North Side author highlights Pittsburgh’s history of stadiums and arenas
Pittsburgh had the first indoor rink in North America with artificial ice. The Schenley Park Casino was located at the entrance to Schenley Park when it opened in 1895. Built at a cost of $400,000, it had 18-foot windows, 1,500 incandescent lights, two tiers of seating, luxury boxes, a café,...
Western Pennsylvania couples incorporating their love of sports into weddings
Andrea Soltis and her husband, Tony Soltis, chose a different kind of diamond for their wedding — they were married June 8, 2013, on the dugout inside of PNC Park. “We are both from Pittsburgh and we love going to Pirates games and one of our first dates was a...
The Ireland Funds’ Pittsburgh Gala honors Chip Ganassi, Evan Frazier
The attire was fittingly green-tie for The Ireland Funds’ Pittsburgh Gala on Monday. Chip Ganassi of Chip Ganassi Racing and Evan S. Frazier, founder of The Advanced Leadership Institute, an initiative that promotes Black executive leadership in the Pittsburgh region, were honored at the 34th annual event, held on St....
Sewickley Yarns instills a creative vibe for the knit and crochet community
From the boldest reds, oranges and yellows to vibrant shades of greens, pinks and purples and some pastels and neutrals, too, the shelves at Sewickley Yarns are filled. For those who knit or crochet, pretty much whatever they can envision, the Beaver Street shop has the supplies they’ll need to...
O’Hara-based Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas hosted its first Mardi Gras-themed fundraiser
Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families navigating the difficult journey of pregnancy loss, hosted its first Mardi Gras-themed fundraiser on Feb. 28 at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh on the North Shore. Proceeds from the event helped to raise funds to provide services, education and emotional support to families...
Steelers fans plan to travel abroad for first regular-season NFL game in Ireland
The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to Ireland this fall — and so are a number of their die-hard fans. Dublin will host the first regular-season NFL game played in Ireland at its Croke Park. The Steelers played a preseason game against the Chicago Bears in 1997, also at Croke Park....
Sewickley company helps save family legacies 1 snapshot at a time
Shelley Murray saves memories. She collects messy boxes of images, documents and newspaper clippings and sorts, organizes, cleans and scans or digitizes them to curate a legacy history for future generations. “We transform your memories by bringing your story to life, while also preserving that story,” Murray said while in...
Sewickley pastors partner to distribute ashes on the go
The Rev. Hannah Loughman and the Rev. Ryan Kobert believe in the importance of bringing the church to the people. The pastors did just that on the drizzly morning of March 5. Stationed at the Wolcott Park Gazebo on Broad Street in Sewickley, they invited anyone passing by to stop...
Picklesburgh announces dates for summer festival
Picklesburgh dates for this year have been announced. The event of all things pickle will be held July 11-13. A specific location will be announced at a later date, according to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, which produces the event. “We’re not discussing location details at this time … we’ll be...
5 things to know about the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Pittsburgh
The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade strolls through Downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday and Miss Smiling Irish Eyes — Melanie Grace Rayl of Mt. Lebanon — most likely won’t be the only one grinning. The weather forecast looks favorable, so marchers won’t have to worry about any blizzards like the one...
On the runway: Cancer survivors show their style at 412 Thrive fashion fundraiser
When Alayna Gallagher was asked to help with a fashion show for cancer survivors she immediately thought of her best friend in college — Lindsay Freed. “I keep Lindsay’s spirit with me every day,” said Gallagher, who lost Freed to cancer at 28 years old. “I immediately said I would...
Sewickley Food Pantry helps residents put food on their table
As co-managers of the Sewickley Community Center Food Pantry, Miriam Rader and June Wormsley make sure the shelves are stocked, with the most recent use, sell and buy dates in the front. “We are constantly checking and re-arranging items,” said Wormsley, whose mother, Lucille Blair, was a member of the...
Brother Andre’s Cafe opens 2nd location in Bellevue
Patrick Fitzgerald has the ingredients for “Patrick’s Famous Snickerdoodles” memorized. They’re famous because they are made with love at Brother Andre’s Café, a coffee shop that hires adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Brother Andre’s Café opened a second location on Saturday at The Church of the Assumption in Bellevue,...
A life of service: John ‘Jack’ Lovey’s dedication to Aspinwall spans decades
John “Jack” Lovey’s job with U.S. Steel took him all over the world, but the most cherished location to him is a borough 10 miles northeast of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River — his beloved Aspinwall. It has been his home for more than seven decades, the place where he...
On the mat: Female wrestling continues to grow at all levels
Wrestle. Like. A. Girl. Those four words inspire females dressed in the signature singlet to grapple and take down opponents, just like their male counterparts. In the past two years, the sport has grown by the largest percentage of mainstream high school sports including football, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer...
Living with periodic paralysis: Ryan Csupak’s fight for awareness on Rare Disease Day
In the past 15 years, Ryan Csupak has been in an emergency room 30 to 40 times, unable to move his legs and arms. He’s experienced shortness of breath, extreme fatigue and weakness. This is the reality of having hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, a rare muscle disorder characterized by episodic attacks...
East Allegheny becomes 1st U.S. public school district to integrate ‘immersive reality technology’
Step into a classroom at East Allegheny School District and it can immerse you in places all over the world. With the latest technology, it’s like experiencing virtual reality — without looking into a headset. Instead of putting on large goggles, the room around you is filled so that you...
Cranberry mother and daughter reunite with surgeon who saved them both more than 18 years ago
When Dani Jo McLane noticed some blood in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy with her second child, she went to her doctor multiple times. Tests were done, then a biopsy was taken. Hearing the diagnosis of cervical cancer caused concern — but not for her own health. The...
‘Bettis: Where Pittsburgh Aviation Took Off’ details forgotten local history
McKeesport native Helen Richey became the first woman to fly a commercial airliner to deliver mail and transport passengers. She was part of what was known as the “air-minded movement.” Richey and Amelia Earhart, the first female pilot to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean, appeared in an advertisement...
