Patrick Varine stories, Page 5
Chilly forecast a boon for Ligonier Ice Fest sculptorsVideo
Even in the dead of winter, nature is the biggest challenge Jared McAlister faces when working with ice. “Rain will melt it. Sunlight will actually heat the ice from the inside and turn it an opaque white color, which we don’t want,” said McAlister, owner of Glacial Ice Works. On...
Esai Aliquo brings Lower Burrell family’s jazz tradition to 3rd generationVideo
Mention the name “Aliquo” to someone in the Alle-Kiski Valley or Pittsburgh, and you’ll likely find yourself in a conversation about jazz music. Don Aliquo Sr., a saxophone player and Lower Burrell resident, has been a fixture in Pittsburgh’s jazz scene for most of the 96 years he’s been alive....
Ruthie’s Diner in Ligonier Township damaged by fire
A fire broke out at Ruthie’s Diner Tuesday night, emergency officials said. Multiple companies were called around 8:10 p.m. for a report of fire coming through the roof at the longtime roadside diner. Route 30 in Ligonier Township was closed in both directions Tuesday night. As of 10:20 p.m., Mutual...
Asian jumping worm threatens U.S. forestsVideo
Some people call it a crazy worm. Some call it an Alabama jumper, although it’s not contained to that state. It’s Amynthas agrestis, one of three main species of earthworm native to southeast Asia that have found their way to North America. It can be distinguished from other earthworms by...
Murrysville area: Cheerleadering youth clinic, comedy night, upcoming meetings, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. FR Cheer youth clinic The Franklin Regional cheer team will host a Feb. 5 youth clinic, and participants will be able to join them to perform at the Feb. 6 Panther boys varsity basketball game. The clinic is for children ages 5-12....
Delmont the latest town to consider switching animal control provider
Delmont officials will consider changing their animal control provider next month. Councilman Chris Bigley invited representatives of Indiana County no-kill shelter Whiskey Acres Rescue and Sanctuary to council’s meeting Wednesday night to give a presentation on their services. Latrobe and Leechburg in recent weeks have opted to change from Salem-based...
Rutter’s opens 1st store in Westmoreland CountyVideo
Rutter’s, the convenience chain founded by members of the Rutter farm family in York, opened its first location in Westmoreland County on Tuesday. The convenience store, gas station and truck stop located at the corner of Interstate 70 and Waltz Mill Road in Sewickley Township also includes a small bar...
Family ties: Local jazz stalwart Don Aliquo, 96, to play gig with son and granddaughterVideo
Don Aliquo Sr. has performed music with his son. He’s performed music with his granddaughter. But on Thursday, the longtime Pittsburgh jazz musician and Lower Burrell resident will get a chance to take the stage with both of them. “It will be great, I can’t wait,” said Aliquo, 96, who...
Murrysville area: Presidents portrayed, Turkey Cup winners, comedy night, more
‘Stars, Stripes & Stories’ The Murrysville Recreation Department will host reenactors portraying three former U.S. presidents during “Stars, Stripes & Stories” at 7 p.m. Feb. 16. George Washington (Bill Choby), Abraham Lincoln (Carl Swick) and Ulysses S. Grant (Ken Serfass) will discuss the successes and lessons that ultimately led to...
Bob Weir: Master of weird rhythm guitar who ‘loved all the chords’Video
I was outside taking a set break during a gig with my band Saturday night, when several members of the group saw the same news on their phones — longtime Grateful Dead, RatDog and Dead & Co. rhythm guitarist and singer Bob Weir had died at the age of 78....
Delmont neighborhood fundraiser will continue through mid-January
The annual Monticello Lights event in Delmont raised more than $12,000 for local charities. Thousands of vehicles drove through the neighborhood in early December. Onlookers could vote for their favorite decorating scheme by making a donation to one of two local charities. The fundraising efforts are expanding this month as...
Western Pa. wineries gear up for annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in HarrisburgVideo
Francesca Howden, owner of La Vigneta Winery with locations in Ligonier and Sarver, always looks forward to the critiques from Pennsylvania Farm Show judges. “We try to make our wines as consistent as possible, but there are always some nuances from year to year in how they turn out,” she...
Comedy fundraisers to benefit county parks, trails
Westmoreland parks and trails will benefit from ticket sales to two stand-up comedy shows coming to the Live Casino in Hempfield. The Venue at the casino will host the comedy fundraisers on March 6 and 7. Proceeds from the first night will benefit the nonprofit Westmoreland Parks and Recreation Citizen...
Panther cheer competition squads prepare for alumni night, national competition in FloridaVideo
As Franklin Regional competition squad cheerleaders prepare for a trip to a national competition in Florida this month, alumni who came before them will get a chance to hit the sidelines one more time. Former Panther cheerleaders can sign up for the alumni night, attend a practice on Jan. 19,...
New year means jump in tax rates for multiple communities in Western Pa.
For a number of communities across Southwestern Pennsylvania, 2026 is arriving with higher property tax bills. Those cities, boroughs and townships have hiked their millage rates for the new year to contend with rising infrastructure costs, inflation and the exhaustion of pandemic-era federal subsidies. In Westmoreland County, many municipalities are...
Got turkeys? The Pennsylvania Game Commission wants to know
Thanksgiving is long gone, but for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, it’s time to talk turkey — specifically, where they are and how many you see. The commission is making its annual request for public assistance in reporting the location of turkey flocks they see between now and March 15, as...
Delmont will accept letters of interest for mayor’s seat
Borough reorganization meetings — where the council swears in new members and handles a few appointments — don’t generally draw much of a crowd. But it was nearly standing-room-only at Delmont’s reorganization meeting Monday night, as a sizable number of residents came out to see what would happen with the...
Duquesne City School student grazed by bullet
A Duquesne City School District student was grazed by a bullet Monday afternoon, according to school officials. Police were called to Duquesne High School during bus dismissal around 2:30 p.m. for a report of gunfire. Authorities responded and shortly thereafter called for a SWAT team, according to TribLive news partner...
Disability advocates will launch program to help transition hospital patients to home care
Across Pennsylvania’s health systems, hundreds of children with disabilities or complex medical conditions live in hospitals or extended-care pediatric facilities instead of with their families. Pittsburgh nonprofit Achieva plans to launch a comprehensive home transition program in 2026 to help those children and families. “Every child deserves to grow up...
Export relocates helicopter pad, continues developing J.M. Hall property
The helipad used for emergency transport in Export will move to a new community park. A few years ago, community officials took the first steps to develop a plan for the future J.M. Hall Jr. Community Park, on a piece of property behind the PNA Polish Club and the former...
About that ‘Stranger Things’ finale: Ending a series is hard
NOTE: Spoilers ahead for the entirety of the “Stranger Things” franchise through Wednesday’s series finale. It’s hard to end a series. Really hard. So hard, in fact, that not many of them manage to nail it. It’s tough to blame them: Writers, directors, crew, actors all put years and years...
Temps in the teens? No problem for Connellsville Polar Bear Plunge participantsVideo
Everyone has their own strategy for the Connellsville Polar Plunge on New Year’s Day. For Dale Kooser and Geoffrey Bittner, it’s get in and get out. “My rule, though, is it doesn’t count if you don’t dunk your head. You’ve got to go underwater,” Bittner said, decked out head-to-toe in...
Hempfield man charged with fatal shooting on New Year’s Eve
A Hempfield man is charged with criminal homicide after police said he shot and killed a man late Wednesday night. Shortly before 8:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Westmoreland 911 officials received a call from a man identifying himself as Robert D. Naugle Jr., 30, of Hempfield. Naugle told emergency...
Police release details about South Hills Village Mall shooting incident
An altercation in which a gun was fired near the AMC Theatre at South Hills Village Mall led to the arrest of three suspects after an ensuing police chase ended in Dormont. Bethel Park police initially responded to a report of an attempted shooting. Officers arrived to find a male...
Salem officials seek additional funding to extend public water service
Greg Bosich has been waiting for good news about his water for about six or seven years. Bosich lives on Kennan Drive in Salem, where a falling water table has caused wells to fail for homeowners along the road that connects Route 819 to Orr Drive. “They built a park...
