Tanisha Thomas stories
Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School students learn importance of mental health from Listen, Lucy founder
Jordan Corcoran felt relief for the first time in her life after hearing the news. When she was 19, she was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. After years of struggling with mental illness, she was able to make her first step forward in finding help. “Asking for...
Verona mother receives free roof as part of annual giveaway
A single mother in Verona received the surprise of a lifetime from a Plum heating, cooling and roofing company this month. Lindsay Kappeler received news earlier in the year from an insurance company who told her a random inspection determined she needed her home’s roof replaced by June 2023. Kappeler...
West Leechburg hires longtime Arnold police officer as part-time chief
A familiar face will be assuming the police chief’s role in West Leechburg. Borough Council voted 7-0 on Sunday to hire William “Willie” Weber as its part-time police chief at a rate of $16.75 an hour. He started Thursday. “He is a good person. I think he will make a...
No injuries reported when school bus collides with car in Springdale
No injuries were reported after a small school bus collided with a car on Pittsburgh Street in Springdale. Several fire firetrucks from the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department were on the scene along with the Springdale Police Department and Lower Valley EMS. Springdale Police Capt. Derek Dayoub said the ABC Transit...
Penn Hills volunteer group aims to beautify the area
People driving into Penn Hills at the intersection of Verona Road and Coal Hollow Road will see a colorful sight at the traffic light. The BOB Project finished a years-long mural project on the wall by Butler Gas Products Co. The 60-by-70 foot mural features a variety of art styles...
22nd Allegheny County Music Festival to rock Hartwood Acres with jam band theme
Those looking to enjoy a day of music and fun during Labor Day weekend can do so for a good cause. The 2022 Allegheny County Music Festival, which is marking its 22nd year, will take place Sunday at Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater. The show kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and...
Faces of the Valley: Leechburg community embraces John Fiorina’s daily postings of Kevin the Peacock
John Fiorina remembers the first time he became aware of Kevin the Peacock. He was walking along the road where he would eventually live when he heard something that he said sounded like a pterodactyl. The flashy and sometimes noisy bird can be heard most mornings at 4 a.m. or...
Two-day music festival held in West Deer enters 16th year
A music festival in West Deer, celebrating its 15th year, is gearing up for its annual two-day event Sept. 3 and 4. Corbriwoodstock, inspired by the iconic 1969 Woodstock, got its name from its location at a farmhouse at 36 Corbriwood Lane. The inaugural festival was held in 2008 on...
Work on northbound Highland Park Bridge ramp to Freeport Road to begin Monday, last into February
Another long-term roadwork closure along the Route 28 corridor is set to start at 6 a.m. Monday as PennDOT crews reconstruct the northbound Highland Park Bridge ramp to Freeport Road. The ramp is expected to be closed until early February. The work will include bridge rehabilitation and drainage improvements. Ramp...
Springdale Volunteer Fire Department provides headstones for 3 firefighters from early 1900s
For decades, members of the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department have placed flags on the graves of fallen firefighters for Memorial Day. In recent years, they noticed something. “There were a couple that didn’t have grave markers,” said Zachary Wilhelm, fire company chaplain. “We noticed that for a couple of years....
Allegheny Valley School Board approves health, safety plan without contact tracing
Allegheny Valley School District students will not have to quarantine if they come in close contact with a student who tests positive for covid-19. School board members voted 8-0 to approve the district’s health and safety plan, which eliminates contact tracing, during their meeting Tuesday, Aug. 16. Board member Jessica...
2 Springdale volunteer firefighters receive award for heroism
When Springdale Volunteer Fire Department Lt. Tanner Michael and firefighter Zachary Wilhelm rescued a man from a Cheswick fire last September, the two saw the work as routine to their job. The pair was surprised with the Provident Agency Valor Award from the Allegheny County Fireman’s Association on Aug. 5,...
Denzel Washington joins grand opening of August Wilson House
Brenda Tate walked past August Wilson’s childhood home many times. She said she lived next door to the famous Pittsburgh playwright while growing up in the Hill District. When she heard the news of his home being preserved and transformed into an arts center, she was thrilled. “This is amazing,”...
No cellphones when Penn Hills School District students return Aug. 29
Penn Hills students will be adjusting to a no cellphone policy when they return to school on Aug. 29. Superintendent Nancy Hines said the new policy comes after an observation of increased cell phone use within schools in the last year. Hines said Linton Middle School did a test trial...
Buffalo Township karate studio to host kick-a-thon to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy Association
C.S. Kim Karate Inc. in Buffalo Township is hosting a kick-a-thon Tuesday to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Brian Sackett, master and owner of the Buffalo Township location, said the school started working with the association 30 years ago to raise funds. He said that over the...
Gilpin police officer commended for saving man’s life
Gilpin Patrolman T.J. Bajack received a surprise during the supervisors meeting Tuesday night. Police Chief Christopher Fabec presented Bajack with the department’s first certificate of commendation for an incident Bajack handled that saved a man’s life. “It’s nice to see some good come out of a situation that could’ve ended...
Deer Lakes students install buddy benches to promote inclusion, friendship
Four Deer Lakes students earned their Silver Award in Girl Scouts for a project aimed to promote friendship and inclusion at their primary and intermediate schools. Freshmen Natalie Naugle, Tessa Lovich, Melanie Brown and Alexis Hoburg installed a “buddy bench” at the Curtisville and East Union playgrounds. The members of...
Leechburg woman holds annual tradition of sending thanks to service members
An effort that started from encouragement from her job to volunteer has become an annual tradition of giving back for a Leechburg resident. Brittany McLaughlin organizes an initiative to collect thank-you cards for service members for the California-based nonprofit Operation Gratitude. The nonprofit, founded in 2003, curates care packages to...
More northbound, southbound Route 28 headaches to start Tuesday
PennDOT announced more headaches Friday for motorists on Route 28. Beginning Tuesday, the on-ramp from Fox Chapel Road to southbound Route 28 in O’Hara will experience nightly closures, and single-lane restrictions will occur on northbound Route 28 between the RIDC Park (Exit 10) and the Russelton/Creighton (Exit 13) interchanges. The...
West Leechburg, Gilpin, Leechburg, Parks fire departments to hold gun bash
Four local fire departments are coming together to raise funds by throwing a community gun bash. Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company, West Leechburg Volunteer Fire Department, Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department and Parks Township Volunteer Fire Department will hold a “Kiski Valley ’80s Beach Bash” on Saturday at the West Leechburg Fire...
Penn Hills, Verona businesses among those selected for Comcast RISE grants
Penn Hills resident Renee Galloway opened a business in 2011, making ready-to-order treats for clients. The self-taught baker operates Sweet Inspirations at her home and locally delivers her treats but makes some exceptions to ship them to customers. She looks forward to finding a storefront for her business after being...
Penn Hills artist builds pirate shipwreck sculpture for underwater museum in Florida
A Penn Hills artist was able to give a unique contribution to the sea by commissioning his first large sculpture for an underwater museum in Florida. Sean Coffey, owner of the Coffey Shop, built a 10-foot-long, 9-foot-wide replica of a pirate shipwreck for the Underwater Museum of Art, the first...
Bellevue man wanted by several towns accusing him of shoplifting, accused of stealing nearly $12k in Frazer alone
Multiple warrants are out for the arrest of a Bellevue man accused of helping to shoplift nearly $12,000 worth of merchandise from the Walmart in Frazer last year. Police are looking for 46-year-old John Gehlert, who faces 32 felony charges of retail theft and conspiracy in retail theft. Police said...
$384 million in state money could expand pre-K programs across the region
Pre-K classes soon could be available at more schools throughout Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Several schools and child care centers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties were chosen to receive part of more than $384 million Gov. Tom Wolf is aiming at early childhood education in the state. Among them are...
Springdale to hold Second Saturdays event, community day in August
Springdale residents have a new communitywide event to look forward to as Springdale Council aims to increase summer fun in the town. The event, dubbed Second Saturdays, will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 13 along the 800 block of Lincoln Avenue. It will feature 30 vendors and...
