Stephen Huba stories, Page 4
Ag secretary announces $1 million grant program at Pa. Farm Show
If agriculture is to remain one of Pennsylvania’s top industries, then farms have to succeed as businesses. That was the message at the Pennsylvania Farm Show’s Public Officials Day in Harrisburg, where Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced the latest grant to be funded by the 2019 Farm Bill. The $1...
Solar energy conference coming to Indiana County
A statewide conference on solar energy is coming to Indiana County in February. The 2020 Pennsylvania Solar Congress will be held at Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort & Conference Center, 132 Pine Ridge Road, Blairsville, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. The event was held in Wilkinsburg last...
Survey: Fewer Pa. households entered 2019-20 winter without heat
Fewer Pennsylvania households entered the current winter season without heat than in the two previous years, according to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. More than 18,350 households across the state entered the winter season without heat-related utility service or using unsafe heating sources, PUC said in its 2019 Cold Weather...
Visiting rabbi to address anti-Semitism at Pittsburgh lecture
Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin will give the 2020 Harris Interfaith Lecture at Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh. Salkin’s lecture, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10, is titled “Why Is It Always the Jews? An Interfaith Look at the History of Anti-Semitism.” The annual event is free for clergy...
Pa. Farm Show draws farmers, families and the public for competition, education
For the Davis family, the holidays are not just Christmas and New Year’s. The annual Pennsylvania Farm Show also makes the list. The Fayette County family has been going to the Farm Show since 2005. Their youngest child, Maddox, now 12, is showing a dairy goat and cow at this...
Pa. Farm Show opens Saturday with some new food offerings
Food is one of the biggest draws to the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and this year is no exception. The Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, famous for its milkshakes, is introducing a new sandwich — Grilled Cheese Stix. The offering features mozzarella cheese sandwiched between Martin’s potato bread, served with a side of...
Lawsuit over ‘exploding’ Aldi turkey burger settled
A Wilkinsburg woman who sued Aldi after being burned by a turkey burger that she said exploded as she cooked it has settled a lawsuit against the German grocery chain, her attorney said. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Pittsburgh attorney Anthony Giannetti, who represented Wilkinsburg resident Gloria Besley,...
Kindness comeback: Acting like Fred Rogers in his neighborhood and beyond
At a time of partisanship, polarization and rancor, Christmas comes along to smooth the hard edges of our divisions. Acts of kindness somehow come more naturally this time of year. But by the time February rolls around, everybody’s grouchy again. Does kindness have any staying power? Perhaps because kindness may...
Lifelong nurse enjoyed travels, modeling
Although nursing defined much of Leilah Potthoff’s life, her interests extended to everything from modeling to volunteering, and traveling to sewing. “If my mom wasn’t a nurse, she probably would have been an actress,” said her daughter, Robbie Potthoff. “My mother liked to keep busy.” Mrs. Potthoff never really retired...
Pa. official confirms that, despite that red nose, Santa’s reindeer are ready to fly
Santa’s reindeer have been cleared for entry into Pennsylvania for temporary toy delivery duty, according to Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. The nine reindeer were recently given a clean bill of health by Dr. Robert Gerlach, Alaska’s state veterinarian, and inspected by Pennsylvania state officials during a quick stop at Hersheypark...
Pittsburgh nonprofit hosts essay contest, scholarship for ‘ambassador’ camp
Tired of incivility, social media fights and partisan divisions? A Pittsburgh-based nonprofit is doing its part to promote respect and civility by sponsoring the ninth annual Luminari scholarship for “I Want to be an Ambassador!” camp. The 2020 Luminari Award essay competition is open to all Pittsburgh-area students currently in...
Santa’s secret to success? His management philosophy, says Saint Vincent College prof
Ever wonder how Santa Claus can cover the entire world in a single night? The legend of Rudolph says the secret is the guidance system of the reindeer’s bright red nose. The movie “Elf” posits the collective belief in Santa as the power behind the sleigh. For Michael Urick, it’s...
Report looks at impact of coal mining on ‘neighbors on the surface’
Pennsylvania’s coal mining industry has more active mines than five years ago but is causing less damage to water supplies and surface structures a new report on the industry shows. The report, which covers the years 2013 to 2018, is required by the Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act...
Mastandrea named CEO of MedCare Equipment
Westmoreland County native Patricia Mastandrea has been named CEO of MedCare Equipment Co. LLC, a home medical equipment company, after serving in an acting capacity since April, Excela Health announced. Mastandrea previously was chief operating officer of MedCare for 15 years. She has 30 years of health care experience, beginning...
Proposed methane emissions rule passes Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board
A proposed rule aimed at reducing methane emissions from the state’s existing oil and gas operations overwhelmingly passed the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board this week by a vote of 18-1. The rule, drafted by the state Department of Environmental Protection and recommended by Gov. Tom Wolf, immediately drew praise from...
Greensburg accountant named partner at Deluzio & Co.
Cole Beehner has been named a partner in the CPA firm of Deluzio & Co. LLP, effective Jan. 1. Deluzio & Co. has offices in Greensburg and Pittsburgh. Beehner has been with the firm since 2006, conducting audit and attest services for clients, and most recently has served as audit...
Family honors Forbes Road WWII veteran’s service on his final day
The men called them flying coffins, and for many of the American paratroopers in March 1945, that’s what the gliders became. Cpl. James J. Sackett dodged a bullet and lived — but not without taking flak in his leg and back and spending months recuperating in a stateside hospital. Sackett...
Connellsville man arrested for Vanderbilt bank robbery
A Connellsville man is charged with robbing a Vanderbilt bank on Friday, state police said. Donald Ray Homer Jr., 56, is facing two counts of robbery, two counts of terroristic threats and one count each of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, according to a criminal complaint against...
‘Interactive’ Fred Rogers portrait to go on display at his alma mater
An interactive mixed-media portrait of Fred Rogers will go on display at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary starting in January. The “Fred Rogers: Just The Way You Are” portrait by Nashville artist Wayne Brezinka has been making the rounds of Pittsburgh area venues, including the Saint Vincent College Fred Rogers Center and...
Hempfield family packs ‘chemo comfort’ tote bags for adult cancer patientsVideo
A Hempfield family’s loss has turned into gain for hundreds of cancer patients in Westmoreland County. On Sunday, Dave Carr and his sons, Eli and Grant, gathered with family and friends at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg to assemble special tote bags for adult cancer patients. The Chemo Comfort...
North Belle Vernon councilman honored for park transformation
For a guy who’s into parks and recreation, R.J. Sokol doesn’t seem to take a break. Sokol, 62, of North Belle Vernon, has a day job as a production supervisor at the Eastman Chemical Co. in Monongahela. In his free time, he serves on North Belle Vernon Borough Council, oversees...
Edward Constantine of Southwest Greensburg was ‘ultimate role model’
Edward Constantine was a family man par excellence. As the last Constantine of his generation, he was a father figure to many and the “ultimate role model,” said his son Michael. “His whole life revolved around his wife, his kids, his grandkids and his great-grandkids,” Michael Constantine said. “He was...
Greensburg Salvation Army is short of 2019 Red Kettle campaign goal
With only eight days left, the Greensburg Salvation Army still has more than half of its Red Kettle campaign goal to raise. Lt. Cheyenne Martinez, assistant corps officer, said the Greensburg Salvation Army had raised $41,296 as of Monday — leaving $48,704 still to be raised toward the 2019 goal...
Trail Life troop lays wreaths for Revolutionary War soldiers in SalemVideo
An obscure Salem cemetery where three Revolutionary War soldiers are buried got some much-needed attention on Saturday, despite persistent rain and temperatures in the high 30s. Members of Trail Life Troop 2717 of Export laid seven wreaths at the Lessig Riddle Cemetery on Mark Drive in conjunction with the Wreaths...
Man found dead on 8th floor of Downtown Pittsburgh hotel
Police are investigating the death of a man found on the eighth floor of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh early Saturday. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Jacob E. Brown, 41, of Burgettstown. No cause of death was given. Police responded to a 911 call about a...
