Valley News Dispatch category, Page 329
Community festivals, events increase exposure for local merchants
Mary Wilmes usually closes up her Greensburg gift shop, Penelope’s, at 5 p.m. But when there’s a Greensburg Night Market event, she is open until 9. It makes for a long day, but she says it’s worth it. “It’s been very, very good. It brings a lot of people to town,”...
The Stroller, Oct. 24, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Tarentum to celebrate at Boo Festival The Tarentum Boo Festival will...
Fire tears through Arnold homes; no injuries
No injuries were reported when fire damaged three homes Sunday night in Arnold. Firefighters responded shortly before 9 p.m. to the 1400 block of Taylor Avenue, where a home undergoing renovations caught fire, according to Chris O’Leath, public information officer for the Arnold Volunteer Fire Department. “They found a house...
Arnold fire company’s fundraiser lost some vendors but not community support
A food truck and fireworks fundraiser in Arnold, rescheduled this month because of inclement weather, went off with out a hitch Sunday evening. People from multiple communities packed Fifth Avenue around Drey Street for the third annual extravaganza for Citizens Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. “It’s a good layout,” said...
GQT Movies at Pittsburgh Mills to offer sensory friendly setting
GQT Movies at the Pittsburgh Mills is offering an alternative for people who might be overwhelmed sitting in a dark, loud theater. Sensory friendly movies will be offered the last Wednesday of the month through April in an effort to give everyone a chance to enjoy the theater. “If you’ve...
‘Pittsburgh Pumpkin Guy’ shares tips for Halloween carving and sculpting
Take it from a pro — if you want to create the perfect jack-o’-lantern, you have to pick a pumpkin “that speaks to you.” That’s professional pumpkin carver Brendan Conaway’s best advice. Conaway, a 35-year-old Plum resident, doesn’t just carve pumpkins, he sculpts them, a completely different art form, he...
Lost Dreams Awakening celebrates growth of space, expansion of services in New Kensington
A New Kensington-based recovery community center is celebrating the expansion and growth of its space and services. Lost Dreams Awakening more than doubled its space in the building the nonprofit has rented at 408 Eighth St. since its founding in 2014. It also has taken on its first paid employees...
The Stroller, Oct. 23, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Hobgoblin hike planned at Northmoreland Park The Northmoreland Park Hobgoblin Hike...
Man who fled faces felonies for tearing up bean field during chase by Parks Township police
Parks Township police say a man who was caught after fleeing from a traffic stop will face multiple felony charges, including two for tearing up a bean field with his car. John Jacob Kemerer, of Vandergrift was charged with two felony counts each of fleeing from police and drug possession...
New Leechburg fall festival draws crowd to borough park
Sherry Lockhart of Leechburg couldn’t help but take a trip down memory lane as she petted some of the animals brought to the borough by a Worthington-based farm Saturday afternoon. She affectionately stroked the chin of Samson, a nearly 2-year-old Brahman steer, as she thought about her days growing up...
Late Arnold fire chief remembered at memorial Oktoberfest, volunteer company’s fundraiser
Arnold Volunteer Engine Company No. 2 was like a second home for Keith Dziobak. The longtime public servant joined the company as a junior firefighter in 1982. Of his 40 years with the department, Dziobak was its chief for 12 years over two tenures. A life member, Dziobak had also...
Vandergrift police say man in wreck was Tasered twice while resisting arrest; felony charges filed
Vandergrift police say a Michigan man they found asleep behind the wheel after he wrecked into a parked vehicle had to be Tasered twice when he resisted arrest and ran from officers. Stanley Francis Molette, 35, of Farmington Hills was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault and counts...
Lower Burrell police charge man with strangling child after investigating ChildLine abuse report
Lower Burrell police charged a man with a felony count of strangulation after investigators received a state ChildLine report that he choked a juvenile during an argument. Ronald Gregory Jefferies, 38, of Caribou Drive also faces charges of simple assault and harassment in connection with the incident that allegedly occurred...
Washington Township police charge man awaiting trial with trying to intimidate witness
Washington Township police say a man who is in jail awaiting trial on multiple felony counts was charged with another felony after he tried to intimidate a witness. Harold Michael Franks, 40, 300 block of Route 356 is in the Westmoreland County jail awaiting trial on felony charges filed in...
Sheldon Park’s Pink Out proceeds benefit Highlands students’ Change for Cancer effort
Sheldon Park hosted a Pink Out celebration Thursday at the Lloyd D. Hayden Center, where people packed the facility to raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Residents Council President Sydney Hayden said fundraising efforts brought in nearly $500 to be donated to Highlands High School’s Change for Cancer...
50th anniversary of The Tomb celebrated with gathering in Arnold
Daniel Crenner was among the first to walk through the doors of The Tomb in Arnold on Friday evening for a gathering celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Christian coffeehouse. Crenner, 69, who had lived in Arnold and Washington Township, made the trip back from his home in Sugarcreek in...
Kiski Junction Railroad Trail party attracts officials from state, region
The estimated 225 visitors Friday afternoon in Schenley celebrating the new Kiski Junction Railroad trail was about four times greater than the population of the village in Gilpin. Federal, state and local officials attended, including Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; state Sen....
Fawn man found guilty of sexually assaulting 2 children
A Fawn Township man who was arrested in 2019 is awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of repeatedly sexually assaulting two young children. Douglas Charles Simoncic Jr., 31, of Iron Bridge Lane was found guilty Oct. 11 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to two counts each of involuntary deviate...
Allegheny County election officials announce Tarentum polling site changes
Some Tarentum voters will visit new sites in November to cast their election ballots. The Allegheny County Department of Elections announced changes Friday to two polling locations in the borough. Residents of Ward 1 will vote at First United Presbyterian Church, 913 Lock St. People who live in Ward 3...
Alabama man accused of using cellphone during fatal crash with New Kensington motorcyclist
New Kensington police accused an Alabama man of looking at his cellphone while driving when he ran a red light in September 2021 and crashed into a motorcycle, killing the rider. Jim Robert Adamson, 59, of Goodwater, Ala., is charged with a felony count of homicide by vehicle along with...
Hubz Kitchen, with 25 varieties of fries, to open in former Ida’s place in Lower Burrell
Hubz Kitchen, renowned for its cheesesteak hoagies and 25 varieties of french fries, will open in early November at the site of the former Gigi’s Place and Ida’s restaurant at 2803 Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell. Hubz is well-known in the city, as it operated out of Just JAK’S bar...
Police: Bell Township man charged with felony in fatal shooting of beagle that wouldn’t listen
State police charged a man from Bell Township with a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals after his estranged wife told them he fatally shot their beagle because it wasn’t listening. Eric J. Rumbaugh, 51, of the 300 block of Nelson Road also faces charges of simple assault, reckless...
Bus driver recruitment continues to challenge school district transportation contractors in Alle-Kiski Valley
School bus companies serving Alle-Kiski Valley school districts are advertising for bus driver openings. But applicants have not been flocking to replenish the ranks at area school bus terminals. Driver shortages have been an issue for many districts in recent years. In early September, state officials reported a shortfall of...
Pay hike approved for Westmoreland DA spokesperson, finance department
A monthslong search for a public information officer for Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli is nearly over after commissioners agreed to a 50% salary increase before the job is even filled. The county’s salary board, which includes all three commissioners and Controller Jeff Balzer, approved raising the salary for...
Volunteers sought to plant trees in New Kensington
Volunteers are being sought to help plant trees in New Kensington on two dates in November. Trees are scheduled to be planted Nov. 1 at the new JFK playground on Fourth Avenue and in the median on Campbell Avenue, and Nov. 5 in Fairmont Park off Fairmont Drive. The plantings...
