Maria Sosso stories, Page 4

Amy Pampiks, director of human resources for Pine Township, is retiring after 18 years of service. “She’s really helped me in my transition as the manager here. She’s guided me and helped me understand how Pine Township works,” township manager Jason Kratsas said. Pampiks was recognized for her dedication to...

After 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy, Hampton resident Amy Knight has transitioned into a new form of service by opening Flour Power Cooking Studios — Pittsburgh, which recently marked its first anniversary. Her years in the Navy took her all around the globe, where she had the...

An annual tradition, Pine Township will hold its annual Community Day on July 15 from 4-9 p.m. at Pine Community Park. Pine residents will be able to enjoy food from local vendors, live music and activities for all ages. The Boy Scouts will be present for the grand opening ceremony....

Greater Works Church in Monroeville announces the much-anticipated return of its Holy Spirit Seminar, “Miracles Happen!” After a three-year hiatus, Greater Works’s doors will open to the community on July 10 to 14 with worship, empowering teachings and personal ministry. “I couldn’t be more excited to get it started again...

The Pittsburgh Vegan Expo & Festival has expanded this year to double as both a food and arts event, adding a second day of activities, as well. The festival, scheduled for July 8-9, was established in the 1990s by owner and CEO Amy “Amethyst” Cottrill, who has spent all these...

Following a traffic study for the intersection of Community Center Drive and Gibsonia Road in Richland, the installation of a traffic signal and left turn lane were deemed necessary to increase safety and ease traffic flow. The Richland board of supervisors voted on June 21 to authorize Trans Associates to...

Pine Parks and Recreation is getting a new look. The Pine board of supervisors approved a proposal from Pashek + MTR for $14,000 for Pine branding and sign standards at the June 19 meeting. The new signage is part of a rebranding project with sign standards that are modeled after...

Scouting has become something of a family tradition for recent Eagle Scout siblings Mathew and Teagan Yurocko. Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is no small feat, and it’s rare for siblings to achieve it. It’s a relatively new opportunity for a brother and sister to celebrate earning Eagle together...

The Monroeville Independence Day Parade Committee has selected Gateway student Briana Harper as its 2023 logo contest winner. This year’s Fourth of July parade theme is “Celebrate America.” The contest was open to Gateway students in grades K-12. Students submitted designs for a simple logo to represent the theme “Celebrate...

Winners were announced at the annual Miss Independence Luncheon on June 17 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Monroeville. Finalists in this year’s scholarship contest were Michelina Estremera, Mallory Brown, Jayla Chase, McKenna Brown, Shanyn Mitchell, Hailie Ramey and Peyton Jones. Jayla Chase was named Miss Independence and McKenna Brown,...

The Rotary Club of Monroeville held its annual scholarship luncheon on June 8, presenting awards to Marina Grado, Sofia Hernandez, Julian Livingston, Kaitlyn Novak and Amiya White. The students were considered not solely based on their academics. The club’s scholarship committee considered if the students demonstrated a trade or talent...

Gibsonia residents Roger and Stephanie Poorman, along with a team of volunteers helped their friend, Patti Navilliat, by staining her deck and painting her deck furniture. It was a fundraiser, but not a typical one. The volunteers who came together on June 3 to help Navilliat also played a critical...

Pete Geis has been hired as Pine Township’s director of parks and open space. His predecessor, Joni Patsko, retired last month after 30 years of service to the township. Geis has spent the last 10 years as the director of parks and recreation at Cranberry Township and served the 10...

Divine Mercy Academy students presented their production of “Tangled” on May 30. Based on the 2010 Walt Disney Pictures film, which in turn draws from European fairy tales, “Tangled” follows long-haired heroine Rapunzel on an adventure to leave the tower in which she is held and see a vast array...

Commander of American Legion Post 820 Regis J. Dugan served as the master of ceremony for the Monroeville Memorial Day remembrance at Old Stone Church Cemetery on May 29. Deacon Mike Kelly of Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish opened the ceremony with an invocation. Gateway High School student Jayla Chase...

Fourteen-year-old Kasia Cunningham, a local author and Gateway student, led a discussion on her book, “Growing Up Divided,” at Monroeville Public Library on May 25. The book chronicles her early life, raised in two conflicting households and educated in two distinct school districts. Despite experiences with bullying and discrimination, she...

Students and faculty members at Divine Mercy Academy have gotten their steps in, exceeding a fundraising goal in the process. The Monroeville school’s annual walk-a-thon was held on the afternoon of May 23. Kindergarten through eighth-grade students participated, acquiring pledges via mybooster.com. Every grade had the opportunity to contribute to...

Monroeville Community Park West was blooming with activity on May 20, thanks to a Back to Roots event. The Monroeville Area Native Plant Group and the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of Wild Ones hosted the festivities. Nature lovers and budding botanists came out to swap native seeds, purchase native plants, listen...

The tunnel at the Pearce Mill Trail has a new look. Twenty-five Pine-Richland students worked to complete their mural tunnel project with the help of donations from five community organizations. Pine-Richland School District, Township of Pine, Rich-Mar Rotary, Pine-Richland Opportunities Fund, and Friends of Pine Community Parks sponsored the project....

Poor Yorick’s Players started with a dream in 2006: to bring Shakespeare in the Park to Monroeville and the Pittsburgh region. “We’re dedicated to keeping the historical tradition of Shakespeare alive by focusing on the universal impact of Shakespeare’s words,” Dana Babal, president and artistic director, said. The troupe’s mission...

Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church in Monroeville celebrated Scottish Heritage Sunday on May 7. Bagpiper Matt Peterson, Scottish dancer Katie Janeiro and vocalist Bridget Steele were a part of the celebration. The day’s morning worship service remembered the 1560 origins of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland. The service included a retelling...

The steady rain May 13 did nothing to keep Pine residents away from celebrating the Pine Athletic Complex opening. The grand opening event, Party at the PAC, featured food trucks, raffle baskets, bounce houses, games, prizes and entertainment. There was a ribbon cutting for the new turf fields and playground....

Though 78-year-old Sal Greco said he has been sketching all his life, taking an acrylic painting course 12 years ago set in motion a mission of kindness for him. The Hampton resident originally painted on canvas, then wood, and now it’s all about reclaimed wood. He did some large pieces...

Improvements are coming to parks in Monroeville. On May 9, Monroeville Council voted to approve construction of a pedestrian bridge, pavilion and restroom facility at Valley Park. Also approved was construction of climbing walls and a BMX bike track in Boyce Park. Further pertaining to parks, information was provided about...

Gateway High School students in the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy showcased their Gators Helping Gators impact project at a May 4 ceremony. For this year’s project, the group of young leaders chose to impact students in their school district who are homeless, face crisis situations and/or are in the foster care...