Valley News Dispatch category, Page 6
Harrison Commissioner Chuck Dizard, credited for much township revitalization, resigns
Harrison Commissioner Chuck Dizard hand-delivered his annual newsletter to more than 900 homes in the First Ward on Friday, calling it his grand finale. Dizard plans to resign July 31 after 10 years on the board. “We need some young leadership,” he said. “We need new people coming to the...
Brackenridge officials ask for patience during staff shortage
Brackenridge Mayor Lindsay Fraser is asking residents to be patient while the borough administrative staff undergoes transitions to help solve staff shortages. While some people have taken to social media with complaints about their difficulty reaching anyone at the borough building, Fraser said, residents can “expect more efficient and accessible...
Officials eye safety upgrades at Tarentum spray park amid vehicle crashes
Tracy Tressler is a regular at the Tarentum spray park. Most days in the summer, she walks the few blocks from her job at Kiddieland on East Fourth Avenue with her students so they can run around and cool off. Hearing the borough is eyeing safety upgrades at the splash...
Route 28 Harmar exit reopened after car crash takes out light pole
The Harmar exit of Route 28 inbound (Exit 11) has reopened Monday morning after being closed for several hours while crews addressed a fallen light pole. A car crash reported to PennDOT just before 2:30 a.m. knocked over the light pole along the exit lane, said spokesperson Steve Cowan. Utility...
Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler rock it old school at Pittsburgh Brewing Co.
On Sunday night, Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in Creighton got a lineup that would’ve completely packed Star Lake in 1995. You can just imagine a sea of tie-dye-clad hacky-sackers rocking out to three of the moment’s hottest bands. Considering it’s 30 years later, the bill of Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms and...
Sharpsburg Parks and Rec Commission welcomes new members
Sharpsburg’s parks and rec commission recently welcomed two new members. Residents Paul Rouse and Jon Andrascik were sworn in to their volunteer positions by Mayor Kayla Portis earlier this year. Commission terms are four years. Rouse said he moved to the borough from O’Hara about three years ago and wanted...
The Stroller, July 14, 2025: 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 two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Free meal offered at...
Hot, muggy weather forecast to continue along with risk of excessive rainfall
Thunderstorm and flash flood warnings for parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties on Sunday have expired, but the risk for more heavy rain along with oppressively muggy weather continues into the coming week, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service issued warnings for severe thunderstorms and flash flooding...
Plum fracking injection well battle continues as company appeals rejection
The years-long battle over a second injection well in Plum will continue. That’s because oil company Penneco Environmental Solutions filed an appeal in Allegheny County Court on Friday to the Plum Zoning Hearing Board’s rejection of the well last month. The Delmont-based firm has been attempting to convert a natural...
Curran Funeral Home prioritizes families, community during 50 years of business
Being a co-owner and funeral director at Curran Funeral Homes is a full-circle experience for James Kunkle, 48, of Vandergrift. Kunkle’s father, Arthur “Art” Kunkle, 70, of Apollo, purchased the funeral homes in 2002 after Gary Curran’s passing. Art Kunkle worked by Curran’s side for years before his death. Curran...
Burrell School Board to consider bids for Bon Air Elementary construction projects
The Burrell School Board will meet Tuesday to consider awarding contracts for construction at Bon Air Elementary School. The board will consider hiring contractors for a cafeteria addition, air conditioning and boiler repairs at Bon Air, said Superintendent Shannon Wagner. Bids haven’t yet been made public but architects previously estimated...
AI opens new worlds for the blind
When Chris Donahue opens the door to let his dog out, he is unable to see where the animal runs. The Brighton Heights resident is blind, but he can find his dog outside via the Ray-Ban AI (artificial intelligence) Glasses he’s wearing. “Meta, I am blind,” says Donahue, 48. “Do...
The Stroller, July 13, 2025: 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 two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. SpongeBob and pals to...
A year after their father’s death, Corey Comperatore’s daughters still looking for their new normal
Each Valentine’s Day, Allyson Comperatore said, her father brought home flowers for her and her sister. This February, the first without their dad, friends and neighbors came together to shower the daughters with flowers. “We’ve had people there for us every step of the way, whether it was shoulders to...
Nighttime traffic restrictions planned for Coxcomb Hill, Logans Ferry roads
Overnight work to repair Coxcomb Hill and Logans Ferry roads through Plum is scheduled to begin Monday night and continue through late November, PennDOT announced. Traffic will be restricted to a single, alternating lane between 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly on Coxcomb Hill Road between Hulton and Logans Ferry...
AI-powered heart scans transform care at Allegheny Valley Hospital
Cardiovascular analysis that used to take hours can now be done with the click of a button at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison. As artificial intelligence seeps into almost every aspect of life, the technology is helping to revolutionize medical care at the Allegheny Health Network community hospital. “When you...
Construction of Valley High School pedestrian bridges continues
Plans are underway to complete construction of the two pedestrian bridges over Pucketa Creek at Valley High School. Initial school board approval occurred in October 2023. These bridges served as the main pedestrian access to the school from its student parking lot. Students have been using alternate building entrances during...
The Stroller, July 12, 2025: 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 two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Women’s golf outing scheduled...
Building the Valley: My Garden Floral in Indiana Township celebrates 25 years
Pamela Vrabel was a teenage Springdale Dynamo when she started working at the now-defunct Peterson’s Greenhouse. The high school job in the early 1970s sparked a passion for plants that has led to a 53-year career in the floral industry. “I think I was born with an eye for design,”...
Verona manager resigns from post
Verona officials will soon be in the market for a new manager. Council member accepted Stefanie Woolford’s resignation during this month’s council meeting. During the meeting, council Vice President Trish Hredzak said Woolford’s last day will be Aug. 8. She was not present at the meeting. “Stefanie, on behalf of...
Deer Lakes and A.W. Beattie students recognized at national skills competition
Two Deer Lakes and A.W. Beattie Career Center graduates got a taste of the national spotlight after placing in SkillsUSA national competitions. SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization for students that helps develop personal, workplace and technical skills. Paiton Yeager, 18, of West Deer competed on a team with two...
Brackenridge section of Three Rivers Heritage Trail important for ‘bigger picture’
Small but mighty. That’s what officials are saying about the recently completed half-mile segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Brackenridge. The path along First Avenue provides a significant amenity for the small borough, but it is an even bigger deal for the nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront. The...
The Stroller, July 11, 2025: 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 two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Cycling team to host...
Safe to splash? State parks, watershed associations monitor rivers for E. coli contamination
When it rains, it pours E. coli. That’s what water quality testers across Western Pennsylvania might tell you right now. Every week during the summer months, volunteers and employees monitor the region’s public waterways for E. coli, which can flow into lakes and streams from agricultural and sewer systems overwhelmed...
Riding for Corey: Memorial cruise, concert celebrate fallen firefighter’s legacy
Corey’s Cruise, an all-day memorial event for Buffalo Township firefighter Corey Comperatore, is set to hit the road Saturday ahead of a concert in West Deer. The event marks a year since Comperatore was shot and killed during the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at a political rally in...
