JoAnne Klimovich Harrop stories, Page 9
Where did Penguins radio broadcaster Mike Lange get his memorable calls?Video
Editor’s note: This story was originally published on May 15, 2017. A guy walked into the former Wren Haven bar in Scott Township where Penguins announcer Mike Lange was having lunch and said to the bartender “Buy Sam a drink and get his dog one, too.” “It made me smile...
Inside Western Pennsylvania’s thriving sword-fighting community
A sword is the draw. Each participant carries a 48- to 52-inch saber into the former Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in East Deer for Friday Night Fights where, two by two, they enter a ring wearing gear representative of medieval times. They are prepared to attack their opponent —...
Pennsylvania man honored for more than 5 decades of refereeing basketball
No matter what call a referee makes, someone is going to be unhappy. So, when a basketball game was stopped Feb. 3 to cheer for an official, it was a rare occurrence. “It was a touching moment and brought tears to my eyes,” said Bernie Mackowski, 76, of Erie, who...
Pet safety while driving part of Pittsburgh International Auto Show
It’s a law for humans to have their seat belts fastened in vehicles, but when it comes to canine companions, automobile safety can be an afterthought. “Most people don’t think about anything bad happening,” said Marcy Kronz, president of Greater Pittsburgh Retriever Club and owner of Ruffwater Golden Retrievers, where...
Sewickley’s latest boutique, Picket Fence was inspired by similar family-owned stores
One of the newest businesses in Sewickley, The Picket Fence, opened last fall to a warm welcome from the community. “Sewickley is a wonderful neighborhood,” said Maureen Staley, who co-owns the business with her sister and their mother, Patti Staley. “It has a good community presence, and people have told...
Daniel and Carole Kamin give $25M to Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin continue to give back big to Pittsburgh. A little over a year after donating $65 million to the Carnegie Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore — the largest gift to the Carnegie museums since their founding by Andrew Carnegie — the couple have gifted...
In style: Bellwether in Sewickley defines fashion forward
According to Merriam-Webster, the word bellwether means a leader and an indicator of trends. Bellwether on Beaver Street features the latest styles from casual to evening wear, jewelry, shoes and home goods — making it an apropos moniker. “We had a sign here that read: ‘She’s kind, she’s brave, she...
Region’s 1st padel courts headed to Aleppo
A 30,500-square-foot warehouse is being transformed into the first padel courts in Western Pennsylvania. Matt Ferrari, CEO of Gamma Sports, a tennis and pickleball equipment company based in Pittsburgh, is building four indoor padel courts and six indoor pickleball courts in Aleppo, close to Sewickley. Dubbed Matt’s Pickle & Padel,...
Grist House opening taproom at Sprankle’s in Saxonburg, with Korean food from Pocha by Kye-Won
At the end of 2023, Grist House Craft Brewery held a temporary beer event at Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market. The pop-up has turned permanent. On Feb. 15, the Millvale-based brewery is opening a taproom from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Sprankle’s in Saxonburg, Butler County. The partnership also includes food...
One Brilliant continues to shine in Aspinwall
Erica Miller is a good listener and has style sense, helping customers to feel and look good. “I say I am a psychologist first and a retailer second,” said the owner of One Brilliant clothing and accessories boutique in Aspinwall. “Customers want to connect. They want to talk, and sometimes...
Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty’s Kathe Barge opens doors for clients
People often ask Kathe Barge about her favorite homes. “It’s not about the houses,” said Barge, a Realtor with Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty in Sewickley. “It’s about the stories.” Those stories begin when a client chooses a Realtor such as Barge, who is a member of the National Association of...
Moe’s celebrates 20 years in Western Pennsylvania with throwback prices
Mike Geiger and John Iaquinta took a chance 20 years ago when they opened their first Moe’s Southwest Grill franchise in Cranberry. The move paid off — the business has since expanded to include 10 locations in Western Pennsylvania and two in Erie. To celebrate two decades of serving Mexican...
Carol Ann Banaszak, a Woodland Hills coach and pioneer, dies
Carol Ann Banaszak was everyone’s biggest cheerleader. As an ardent supporter of the initial “no cuts” policy for athletics and extracurricular activities, she believed that all students should have an opportunity to participate and represent Woodland Hills School District, where she was one of the first coaches in the inaugural...
Polish cafe Polska Laska opens in Sharpsburg
Olive Visco recalled watching her grandmother Staniswava Zawistowski braiding the dough around the edges to keep the potato and cheese tucked inside. The family pierogi recipe Zawistowski always used came from Visco’s great-grandmother, Anna Zawistowski. It is one that continues to be handed down through the generations of this Polish...
Family-owned Sewickley nail salon offers clients a polished look
Family-owned Nail Inc. in Sewickley has aimed to create a chill vibe with a cozy, home-like feel that is about more than pretty nails. With a wall of shelves holding hundreds of bottles of nail polish and dip containers in bold and bright colors, tables adorned with half-circle strips of...
Super Bowl Sunday FanFest at Acrisure Stadium reaches maximum capacity
The first Super Bowl FanFest in Pittsburgh, a free event, is at capacity. Verizon is bringing a Super Bowl LIX experience to 30 NFL cities across the country, including 20 NFL stadiums. Acrisure Stadium is one of them. Fans will have access to the UPMC Club Level and FedEx Great...
Casa Del Sole a slice of life in Aspinwall
Located on First Street in Aspinwall, a family-owned pizza shop has been cooking pies in the original ovens since 1979 when Bob Cozza first opened the place. There is nothing fancy about Casa Del Sole, which is part of its charm. “Our ovens are seasoned,” said Nick Lombardi of O’Hara,...
Smashed ‘N Fried to open inside Mondays Brewing in Greenfield
Soon patrons of Mondays Brewing Co. in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood will be able to order a burger and french fries with their craft beer. Smashed ‘N Fried, a food truck that offers smash burgers and more, is opening its first brick-and-mortar location there. “You may think that burgers and fries...
Some Pittsburgh Restaurant Week establishments extending deals
The winter edition of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week has lived up to its name. Pittsburgh Restaurant Week is being extended for the first time because of last week’s inclement weather. Two days of snow accumulations led to diners canceling reservations. Snow isn’t predicted for this week but there are below-zero temperatures...
50 artists collaborate to create awareness for Oakmont teacher Marc Fogel as President Trump takes over
An image of Malphine Fogel praying the rosary with an angel hovering nearby captures her unwavering faith. It was painted by Fogel family attorney Sasha Phillips as part of a multiperson mural spearheaded by local artist Tom Mosser with Marc Fogel’s face in the background. The U.S. government recently declared...
Bell Acres attorney, Pitt alum honored by university’s Varsity Letter Club
Beth Tarasi has always been one to hold her own on — and in — the court. The attorney is always willing to do what she needs to do to earn a win, whether making a good pass to a teammate on the basketball court or representing a client in...
Edgeworth artist’s work to be featured in ‘See What I Hear’ exhibition
Andrea Echavarria is inspired for her paintings by how she believes something sounds. You can’t hear the images but she hopes you can envision the splash of waves on a beach, an American flag flapping in the wind or fireworks exploding from the canvas. Echavarria is deaf. “These paintings represent...
Film class: 4 Shaler Area School District 6th graders part of statewide movie-making project
Four sixth graders in the Shaler Area School District are wearing some cool T-shirts. The image on the front is inspired by the “Wizard of Oz” film. The text on top reads “I am a proud member of the team making this movie.” “We sent the students who are part...
Balena Bagels open in Castle Shannon
Inside her bagel shop on Willow Avenue in Castle Shannon, Audrey Brown strives to replicate what she’s learned in every batch. Each bagel is made with all-natural unbleached, unbromated flour and ferments for 48 hours. Everything is made fresh daily. “It’s a process,” said Brown, of Mt. Lebanon, owner of...
For some, Dry January leads to full-time sobriety
For Scott Page, Dry January goes year-round. At the beginning of his sobriety journey, he avoided even being in bars where other people were drinking alcohol. “I was worried it could be triggering,” the South Side resident said. “For me, one drink is too many and 100 is not enough....
