TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need A Braddock man has been charged with homicide and other crimes in connection with a fatal shooting Thursday of a Penn Hills man during a gun battle Allegheny County Police arrested William Thomas “Zeno” Hurst Online court documents indicate Hurst was denied bail and remains in the Allegheny County Jail discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure and three counts of recklessly endangering another person Charges stem from the shooting death of Gene Frederick at a home along the 100 block of Topaz Drive Officers were dispatched to the area for heavy gunfire suffering from gunshot wounds to the right shoulder and right bicep Police discovered a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm semi-automatic pistol in his waistband and a slew of guns and ammunition in his car — including a flamethrower attachment on a rifle officers made their way to the building and found Frederick lying dead at the home’s front door He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his torso Police found a Glock semi-automatic pistol and matching holster and a Bushmaster AR-15 rifle on the floor near Frederick Police also recovered 23 spent shell casings outside near the driveway and in front of the doorway was “found to have significant ballistic damage” with 14 holes on its passenger side A single bullet hole was also discovered on the vehicle’s driver’s side door glass and seven more bullet holes were seen on the car’s roof Police saw an AR-15 style rifle with an extra-large capacity magazine laying on the driver’s seat Fifteen spent casings and one live round were observed on the ground by the car Hurst was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital for treatment Police said in court documents that officers spoke to several witnesses who were at the scene None was identified in Hurst’s arrest papers by name One witness said Frederick was trying to install a Ring doorbell at the front door when a second person arrived at the house Frederick asked them about a black car that raced up the hill and stopped in front of the house Frederick told the person who just arrived to get inside quickly and locked the screen door Frederick told the first witness to take a third person into the basement the first witness told police they looked outside and saw a black man leaning into the trunk of the car parked out front came back down with a rifle and went outside The first witness said as they were going toward the basement they heard gunshots and Frederick saying he was “hit.” That witness said they believe the person shooting at Frederick was a man named “Zeno,” later identified as Hurst who was friends with Frederick’s baby’s mother A fourth witness who was waiting in a car at the scene told police they saw Hurst jump out of the Challenger and start arguing with Frederick who the witness said told Hurst to leave multiple times That fourth witness said they drove a short distance and turned around in the cul-de-sac to be away from the argument The driver told police once the vehicle was turned around they could see Frederick and the other man pointing rifles at one another and started firing told police that a child called them from the scene to report that Hurst had showed up at Frederick’s house and the two were arguing That witness said Hurst accused Frederick of “mistreating” her in the past She said she told Hurst to stop talking to her last November but he left flowers at her residence on April 25 and April 30 and sent a text message April 29 trying to get back with her Two neighbors told detectives they saw a black car pull up and a black man get out who seemed to be “on edge,” according to court documents Both said they saw the man pull out a gun and heard gunfire One called 911 and said the man pointed a gun at their house Police also reviewed Ring doorbell footage from a nearby residence “get in your car and leave,” then “get in your (expletive) car and leave” twice “I’m not playing with you.” Then multiple shots were fired and a man shouted something inaudible He told police he drove to Frederick’s home to confront him about the way he treats the woman that Hurst had had a previous relationship with Hurst told police that he saw Frederick outside the home then quickly go inside and emerge with a rifle while trying to talk with Frederick outside Hurst told police he fired five shots at the ground Hurst said he got into his vehicle and tried to leave but got his rifle and began firing toward Frederick after Frederick fired shots into his car Hurst said he called 911 after the shooting stopped Police said Hurst’s statements conflict with the witness reports and audio/video footage Police searched the Dodge Challenger and recovered a slew of guns and ammunition: an AR-15 with a triple magazine; a Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistol with two loaded 15-round magazines and two loaded 30-round magazines; a loaded Escort “bullpup” style semi-automatic shotgun; a box of shotgun ammunition; a loaded 9mm drum magazine; a loaded 12-gauge drum magazine; a loaded 30-round 12-gauge magazine; and a “Pulsefire flamethrower underbarrel attachment for a rifle equipped with fuel.” Detectives also recovered a black backpack with additional handgun magazine holders and documents pertaining to firearms training Hurst’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 16 at Pittsburgh Municipal Court Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com Stay up-to-date on important news from TribLIVE 1-800-909-8742 © 2025 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved About Us Advertise Career Opportunities Contact Advertising Contact Circulation Contact Newsroom Contact Us Feedback Request Correction Resource Center Scholarship Opportunities Send Letter to the Editor Send News Tip Subscribe Subscriber Services Blog eFeatures Email Newsletters eTrib Facebook Home Delivery Instagram LinkedIn Marketing Minute Store Locations TribLIVE App - App Store TribLIVE App - Google Play X (formerly Twitter) Arts & Entertainment Best of the Best Business Directory Circulars Contests Coronavirus Lifestyles Local News YaJagOff Obituaries Opinion Our Publications Photos Real Estate Sports Video Weather Cookie Settings Privacy Policy Terms of Service spent five years shuffling around Akron's defense But the extra year granted to him by the COVID-19 pandemic provided him with another opportunity Thomas' extra year took him to Charlottesville, Va., where he was cemented as a safety with the University of Virginia football team. Thomas, a Penn Hills graduate showed enough that he earned a camp invite from the New York Giants Thomas finished with 47 tackles and intercepted two passes for the Cavaliers Things weren't always easy for Thomas in college The highlight of Thomas' year with Virginia came against Pitt Thomas intercepted a pass late in the game to help cap Virginia's upset of the then No --Josh Rizzo | rizzo42789@gmail.com | @J_oshrizzo JOSH RIZZOJosh Rizzo has served as a sports writer for high school and college sports for more than 15 years Rizzo graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2010 and Penn-Trafford High School in 2007 During his time working at newspapers in Illinois he covered everything from demolition derby to the NCAA women's volleyball tournament Rizzo was named Sports Writer of the Year by Gatehouse Media Class C in 2011 He also won a first-place award for feature writing from the Missouri Press Association Rizzo was twice given a second-place award for sports deadline reporting from the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors He began contributing to High School On SI in 2025 © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER A man is dead and another hospitalized as a result of a shooting Thursday in Penn Hills Allegheny County Police said they were called shortly after 4 p.m to the 100 block of Topaz Drive First responders found a man deceased at the scene A second shooting victim was transported to an area hospital in stable condition Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the County Police Tip Line 833-ALL-TIPS (833-255-8477) A Penn Hills man awaiting trial for multiple drug crimes was charged this week with carrying heroin cocaine and a stolen gun and repeatedly smashing a stolen SUV into a police vehicle while trying to flee Allegheny County Police on Tuesday arrested Timothy Terry Jr including aggravated assault and receiving stolen property and multiple counts of drug possession and intent to deliver remained in custody Tuesday at UPMC Mercy hospital where he was being evaluated for asthmatic conditions plainclothes detectives first spotted Terry outside a Dollar General in Penn Hills entering a black SUV that Enterprise Rent-A-Car had reported stolen from Pittsburgh International Airport a day earlier Police said Terry had bought baking soda in the store which a criminal complaint called a common agent for cutting narcotics After police switched on their emergency lights outside the store to pull him over Terry reversed the SUV twice into the front of the police vehicle He then accelerated forward and crashed through the store’s front window police found three bricks of heroin and fentanyl five bags of cocaine and a baggie of marijuana Officers also found a loaded .40-caliber handgun that had been reported stolen out of Adams County A “Glock switch” found with the gun enabled it to be used as an automatic weapon Terry is scheduled for a nonjury trial May 13 on separate drug charges in front of Allegheny County Common Pleas Senior Judge Katherine B Terry is facing six drug possession and distribution charges Wilkins and Monroeville found 81 bricks of fentanyl in a search of Terry’s Penn Hills home A majority of the fentanyl was shrink-wrapped in a manner consistent with drug trafficking Police also found two guns in the Deerfield Drive home $12,000 in cash and a money-counting machine Police took Terry to the Allegheny County Jail He was released after posting $10,000 bond who is representing Terry in the 2024 case did not return phone calls Tuesday seeking comment Terry last year entered the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition — or ARD — diversion program for first-time non-violent offenders for a 2023 forgery case Justin Vellucci is a TribLive reporter covering crime and public safety in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. A longtime freelance journalist and former reporter for the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, he worked as a general assignment reporter at the Trib from 2006 to 2009 and returned in 2022. He can be reached at jvellucci@triblive.com Penn Hills School District’s food services department will distribute meals from 10 a.m Schools will remain closed as cleanup and repair efforts continue throughout the district after Tuesday’s deadly storm knocked out power to thousands in the community more than 5,600 Duquesne Light customers in Penn Hills were without power according to the utility’s online outage map The storm killed two people in Allegheny County and the other died when a tree fell on him With the county currently under a state of emergency said Superintendent John Mozzocio in a news release Thursday afternoon For those unable to travel to the high school there will be meal distributions on a first-come to noon at three locations in the district: “The district is committed to supporting everyone in the community especially those affected by storm damage,” he said According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections’ unofficial candidate list there are three Democrats running for two four-year Democratic seats in Penn Hills The list includes Stephen Zelahy as the lone Republican candidate running for one of two four-year Republican seats Here are the Penn Hills residents running in the contested races and their responses to election questions posed by TribLive: Education: Bachelor’s degree in history from Michigan State University Passions: “My wife and I moved here for the greenspace and we are passionate about the rewilding movement taking older property and returning it to nature My wife teaches filmmaking at the University of Pittsburgh and creates video installations Cartwright also is passionate about cycling and has led rides for World Bicycle Relief but I have been a steward of the Allegheny Churchill Valley Greenway since 2021 and was named to the board of the Consumer Council of the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority (WPJWA).” Why I’m running: “This is my first time running for a political role but I always thought I would do something like this We have a lot of individual single-family homes that are being bought up by private equity companies It is important that we hold them responsible It is bad for the community that there are a handful of corporations buying the majority of the homes My wife and I are very involved in the community; we love Penn Hills and want the best for it.” Education: Bachelor’s degree in insurance from Penn State University Passions: “In the downtime that I find I’ll turn on the stereo and listen to some classical music.” Why I’m running: “I was previously on council from 2020 to the end of 2023 and I feel that things are going in the wrong direction The reason I am running is because I want to make a difference for the people of Penn Hills I don’t know how they could possibly make it on Social Security; it is tough and I feel that my duty is that if I am elected Constituent service is a high priority for me.” Pecora has lived in Penn Hills since the age of 2 and he has experienced the political realm since age 12 “What I would like to see is growth and economic development We need to provide opportunities to get more business in the community and incentives to come to the community We need to get Penn Hills back to the way it was and that has to do with federal things as well Many people are having a hard time right now “I would like to see strong fiscal management and accountability state and federal funding for municipal projects to maintain services and reduce the burden of additional taxes on our residents.” Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from the University of Pittsburgh; master’s degree in education from Franciscan University consultant; works to create curriculum alignment I have been the Pittsburgh community leader for Outdoor Afro a national nonprofit dedicated to connecting and celebrating Black people in the outdoors I’ve led groups in activities such as kayaking It is important to me to provide safe space and community for folks who want to enjoy nature and maybe even try something new I get to work closely with other local organizations that keep our communities clean The Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy and more I enjoy working on my fly-fishing game (or lack thereof) spending time with family and being trained by my golden retriever Elected experience: “I have been an elected member of the Penn Hills Democratic Committee for the past four years I dedicate time to our community programming canvassing and serve on the special events committee “In pursuing my love for the outdoors and nonprofit work I also serve as the governance chair on the board of directors for Venture Outdoors an organization dedicated to removing barriers and creating access to outdoor experiences.” Why I’m running: “My objective as a council member is to foster and promote pride in the community by being inviting to new businesses and new homebuyers collaborating with the school board to achieve the best learning environments keeping our streets safe while providing opportunities for our youths and seniors to stay engaged and staying diligent with our spending on utilities and infrastructure.” Refosco said she plans to address community concerns surrounding issues such as maintaining affordable home ownership parks and vacant spaces and doing so in a balanced Shaylah Brown is a TribLive reporter covering art, culture and communities of color. A New Jersey native, she joined the Trib in 2023. When she's not working, Shaylah dives into the worlds of art, wellness and the latest romance novels. She can be reached at sbrown@triblive.com Penn Hills residents are going to see a busy race for school board in the primary With nine candidates running for four open seats only two out of nine candidates are only seeking the Democratic nod The rest of the candidates are cross-filed according to the Allegheny County Office of Elections’ unofficial candidate list Here are the candidates and their responses to election questions posed by TribLive: Age: 48; born and raised in Penn Hills; returned to Penn Hills as a resident about 12 years ago Education: Associate degree in carpentry from the Pennsylvania Carpenters and Joiners Association Occupation: Active duty in the Army for three years and continued in the Reserves for seven years; member of the carpenters union; currently serves as a property superintendent; also serves as head coach of the Penn Hills Middle School football team Do you agree with recent decisions that the board has made Banner said it doesn’t really matter if he agrees or disagrees with the current board’s decisions “I coach in the district and have worked alongside teachers and administrators to help players’ academic and athletic needs be met,” Banner said He said he believes he can bring a new perspective to the board and bring the families he has intereacted with closer to the district to collaborate with the board “I think I have a different view than what the school board may be used to,” Banner said Age: 47; Penn Hills resident for about 13 years Political history: Buckner ran for mayor of Penn Hills in 2022 and lost to the township’s current mayor Buckner made history by being the first black person to run for the seat she was vice president of the Board of Directors for the Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship and served as head of the personnel committee as well as director of its Soaring in the STEAM program Education background: Associate degree from Community College of Allegheny County in general studies; currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Carlow University and earning credits for a master’s in leadership policy at Carlow Occupation: Job coach in a violence prevent program; works with “high-risk individuals” who are reentering the working world “I don’t agree with some recent decisions,” Buckner said She used the recent teacher contract negotians as an example “It took forever for teachers to get a contract to the detriment of our students,” Buckner said “It’s time to stop looking at our kids as dollar signs It’s not about how they can serve the district it’s about how the district can serve them.” she would focus on how to improve standardized test scores “I’ll be doing my due diligence with research and homework,” she said Buckner said she wants to prioritize how to be there for teachers parents and students with an emphasis on proper support for IEP and 504 plans Age: 71; Penn Hills resident for about 30 years Political history: Capozoli is finishing his fifth year on the school board He later attended Duff’s Business Institute and earned an associate degree in accounting Occupation: Retired; previously worked in the Pittsburgh Controller’s Office before being hired as a state auditor What is the biggest issue facing this school district right now Capozoli said he recognizes that despite the district’s recent successes He said there is a need to keep progressing financially and educationally Capozoli comended the work of the board and the administration to leave financial recovery status “We went from a negative $400,000 to a positive $26 million in a four-year period he said the board needs to maintain financial responsibilities for the taxpayers’ money Capozoli said with new administrative leadership the district has been able to make significant progress He said the board has been able to help introduce new programs such as PHorge Academy and the Innovation Institute but we have risen under the new leadership of Superintendent John Mozzocio,” Capozoli said He said he wants to continue his work with the board to see the district reach its potential “The work doesn’t stop here.” Political history: Colbert said she has never run for public office but has served Allegheny County as a ward chair and member of the Penn Hills Democratic Committee since 2020 Education: Bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and English literature from the University of Pittsburgh; master’s degree in American studies from Fairfield University in Connecticut Occupation: Associate director of access and transition initiatives in the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion at Carnegie Mellon University; works with high school students to provide them access to STEM opportunities at CMU as well as with local industries and community partners; also provides support programming for students new to college Do you agree with recent decisions the current board has made “The most recent decision of the board working with the teachers union to avoid a strike in Penn Hills School District last month is profoundly impactful for our community and I am in full agreement with it,” Colbert said She called negotiations a complex matter and said both parties demonstrated collaboration “(It) is a process I look forward to participating in to bring about positive results for our students and families in Penn Hills,” Colbert said Age: 54; Penn Hills resident for about 18 years Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania as well as a master’s in education for school counseling from the University of Pittsburgh; certified school counselor Principal K-12 and has a superintendent letter of eligibility; currently in the dissertation phase of earning a doctorate in educational leadership from Point Park University Occupation: Assistant superintendent of student support services for Pittsburgh Public Schools; previously served as assistant superintendent for special education and pupil personnel for the Penn Hills School District “I believe the school district is finally headed in the right direction; however the delay and lack of focus on student academic outcomes and parent engagement have impacted trust from parents and the community as well as student outcomes,” Golden said Golden said her career has sharpened her “problem-solving skills” and taught her how to make hard decisions and get results She wants to focus on advocating for students and families “My desire to run for the school board is to address the district’s academic challenges advocate for equitable opportunities for students and support and engage parents families and the community at large,” Golden said Golden said she wants to help create schools where the needs of the whole child are addressed to ensure all students can thrive support educators by ensuring they have the necessary resources to support the students and to ensure every family is engaged integrity and commitment to the work of the school board,” Golden said Political history: Seeking third consecutive term on the school board; previously was elected committeewoman from 1998 to 2011 and school board director 2000-04 and 2017 to present Education: Bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh “The biggest issue for the school is the PSSA test scores I would like to see a tax break for senior citizens,” Herbert said Age: 51; moved to Penn Hills about a year ago Political history: Previously served on the Plum School Board in 2018 after being appointed to fill a vacant seat from March to December of that year Education: Bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in teaching from the University of Pittsburgh; doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Indiana University of Pennsylvania Occupation: Educator and director of curriculum at Urban Pathway Charter School Hickman praised the current board’s efforts to create initiatives to improve attendance “I’d lik to see more done for transients we should be there to make sure they’re acclimating to the schools,” Hickman said He said the district had not done enough academically and the improvement plan does not address academics in a robust enough manner Hickman said he used to write school improvement plans and helped districts across the state He said in the district’s current plan there isn’t a section to address intervention if a student is scoring below their grade level or is not scoring proficiently He said some type of multitiered system of support should be in place for students who aren’t performing and it should be there,” Hickman said Political history: School board member since 2020; appointed in October 2020 and elected in May 2021 Occupation: Blended service coordinator supervisor at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital in Pittsburgh she wants to emphasize the improvment of the mental health services offered to students but we want to make sure we continue services in the schools,” Jamison said The district currently offers a program in partnership with Pittsburgh Mercy but introducing new programs in addition would be beneficial the programs would start as early as elementary age so students can be equipped with those skills by the time they’ve graduated from the district We want to make sure it’s offered in the schools,” she said Political history: Richardson is finishing up her first four-year term on the board Education background: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris University; master’s degree in business administration from Phoenix University Occupation: Director of interns of college and career readiness at a private Catholic high school Richardson said the most pressing issue is the district’s ability to maintain fiscal responsibility to avoid state receiverships The district recently was released from financial recovery status by the state in May 2024 “We still need to be good stewards of our finances and budget spending,” Richardson said the three- to five-year projected plans and what we need to do to stay on top of finances and move the district forward with the necessary upgrades we need.” Haley Daugherty is a TribLive reporter covering local politics, feature stories and Allegheny County news. A native of Pittsburgh, she lived in Alabama for six years. She joined the Trib in 2022 after graduating from Chatham University. She can be reached at hdaugherty@triblive.com ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Penn Hills’ Trinity Fielder passes during a flag football game April 13 at Woodland Hills. Penn Hills’ Saniya Horsley makes a catch during a flag football game April 13 at Woodland Hills. Penn Hills’ Aniyah Hickman makes a catch during a flag football game April 13 at Woodland Hills. Penn Hills’ Aniyah Hickman tips a ball during a flag football game April 13 at Woodland Hills. Hickman was one of three players called on to play quarterback because of various injuries afflicting Penn Hills on April 13 at Woodland Hills High School along with Trinity Fielder and Atheena Burnett also stepped in to play the position and helped the Indians score a 13-6 win over McKeesport “I wouldn’t say I was too comfortable,” Hickman said.”I was forced to take on that role We work hard to understand everything.” Penn Hills sophomore guard Saniyah Horsley said the Indians could adjust on the fly Depending on who was being tasked with throwing the ball Horsley said they were able to find ways to get open on shorter routes “We would try not to go too deep to help each other out,” Horsley said we did well at getting extra yardage.” The Indians are in fifth place in a 10-team division Penn Hills nearly beat undefeated Latrobe last Sunday The East Division-leading Wildcats beat Penn Hills when Carley Berk threw a touchdown pass to Maggie Maiers on the last play of the game Penn Hills had two possessions with the game tied late Penn Hills was hit with some bad luck against Latrobe Hickman was able to make an athletic play to tip a Latrobe pass but the ball deflected high in the air and into the arms of Berk for a touchdown Penn Hills had won three straight over Burrell The Indians’ losses came to teams — Latrobe and Plum — above them in the standings Horsley said she has enjoyed how the team has bonded throughout the season “We stay after school to practice,” Horsley said “We also hang out together and talk.” Hickman first started playing flag football to prove that girls can play the game That idea still drives Hickman’s motivation “Playing flag football seems like a prove-them-wrong type of moment,” Hickman said “I like proving people wrong.” If Javascript is disabled browser, to place orders please visit the page where our photos are available to purchase Two men on Wednesday pleaded guilty in connection with a 2022 shooting death in Penn Hills of Penn Hills will be sentenced July 10 by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jill E Brandin Jackson pleaded guilty to third-degree murder conspiracy and a firearm count stemming from the June 14 who was killed inside his home on Crescent Pines Drive Raquan Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit homicide while charges of criminal homicide and burglary were withdrawn Police said Brandin Jackson was one of two people who killed Brookins while Raquan Jackson was the getaway driver According to Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Berosh Brookins was home with his girlfriend when the power went out When he went to the basement to check on it She later saw two people fleeing from the house Berosh said that detectives were able to tie the two men to the crime through cell phone messages and GPS data on Raquan Jackson’s vehicle Paula Reed Ward is a TribLive reporter covering federal and Allegheny County courts. She joined the Trib in 2020 after spending nearly 17 years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where she was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. She is the author of "Death by Cyanide." She can be reached at pward@triblive.com Franklin Regional’s Ethan Raver dives safely back into first base as Penn Hills first baseman Kevin Buckner waits for the throw during a Section 3-5A baseball game Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at Penn Hills. Penn Hills infielder Caden Wood, left, gives Kevin Buckner a high five after Buckner turned an unassisted double play during the Indians’ 18-0 loss to Franklin Regional on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at Penn Hills High School. Penn Hills baseball coach Joe Capobianco claps as he stands along the third base line Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at Penn Hills High School. Penn Hills pitcher Gavin Tierney delivers a pitch against Franklin Regional on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Penn Hills catcher Anthony Sipple gathers the ball as Franklin Regional’s Ethan Raver heads home Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at Penn Hills High School. The 1996 Penn Hills graduate is learning on the job with his alma mater The Indians coach also admits that he may be learning things about himself Penn Hills is off to an 0-4 start and has been outscored 65-5 Following a 18-0 loss to Franklin Regional at home March 25 Capobianco acknowledged he is working on a new challenge “It’s very difficult when you are a competitor to try and stay patient,” Capobianco said “I think we’re all put here for a reason Maybe my reason is to learn to be more patient.” The Indians were no-hit by Franklin Regional’s Jonah Willochell during the second game of their Section 3-5A series Catcher Anthony Sipple drove in a run and doubled twice while first baseman Kevin Buckner also doubled for the Indians who is starting after being on the junior varsity team last season said he believes Penn Hills will find its footing eventually While the Indians have several returning starters they also have several first-time players who are learning the ropes “It’s definitely a struggle,” Buckner said “We have to find the momentum and roll with it Penn Hills didn’t get an opportunity to ease into the season which is a perennial WPIAL title challenger which has scored 10 or more runs in its first three games Capobianco thought that the Indians had benefited from beating McKeesport in a scrimmage before the season started “We came back in that game,” Capobianco said “Even though it was an exhibition game we played every game as if it was a real game I thought we competed for the first three innings against Shaler who has played baseball since he was little said he has targeted areas for improvement He turned an unassisted double play in the second game against Franklin Regional “I would like to hit to the opposite field better,” Buckner said Capobianco said Penn Hills had plenty of players put in work during practices in the offseason “We have to keep rolling and being confident,” Capobianco said “They have to realize that the effort and all the little things mean something.” If Javascript is disabled browser, to place orders please visit the page where our photos are available to purchase. Penn Hills’ Calix Clark hits against Plum during a boys volleyball match April 8 at Penn Hills. Penn Hills’ Corey Coleman celebrates against Plum during a boys volleyball match April 8 at Penn Hills. Penn Hills’ Corey Coleman hits against Plum during a boys volleyball match April 8 at Penn Hills. Penn Hills halted a long losing streak in section play when the Indians tripped up Plum in four sets April 8 1-2) fell back to earth during their next match when North Hills swept them Penn Hills coach Will Piccolino knows it’s a process to maintain momentum The Indian coach has worked with this group for three years “They just need to remember it’s a lot different when you have a gym full of people and everyone’s yelling and screaming at you compared to a quiet gym for practice,” Piccolino said but these kids have been with us for two or three years It’s awesome to get over the hump finally.” Senior Anthony Collins was happy to see the team’s seven-year streak of section losses end The Indians had come close to ending the losing streak last season Penn Hills took the Mustangs to five sets but lost in a close match Penn Hills was able to take advantage of a weakened Plum lineup to pick up a win “This feels good,” Collins said “Our last game of the season last year was against Plum While Penn Hills has had hard luck in the section outside the win over Plum the Indians built confidence with out-of-section results Penn Hills picked up a 3-1 victory over McKeesport and played competitive matches with Franklin Regional and Bethel Park Penn Hills senior Lucian McCollim said the Indians are determined to have a strong season they made the sections smaller and wanted to make it harder to make the postseason “I think we all know from the end of last year’s season that this was a big year,” McCollim said and we all knew this was our year years in advance and we have to make the most of it.” The Indians beat Plum Tuesday night during a Section 4-3A battle at home It was the first time Penn Hills had won a section game since it swept the Mustangs on April 17 The Indians losing streak in section play lasted 64 matches which wasn’t played due to the COVID-19 pandemic Penn Hills went five full seasons without a section win when they lost their final seven section contests after beating Plum “Because of what we just had in the locker room I hope they get addicted to winning and bringing back the name of the program and going from there.” Lucian McCollim sets the ball Tuesday night during the Indians' section match with Plum The Indians beat the Mustangs 3-1 to win their first section match in seven years / Josh RizzoHonoring the pastPenn Hills senior Lucian McCollim was relieved to see the streak end He was even happier that one of his former teammates “He was a senior when I was a freshman,” McCollim said “It feels good to be able to win with him here and all the other seniors that I grew up with.” 1-1) is now one match away from equaling its win total from last season The Indians have been more competitive in matches this season Penn Hills lost in five sets to Franklin Regional and in four sets to Bethel Park “It’s really nice to see because I’ve been here for four years and we never won a section game Penn Hills' Calix Clark sees his shot get blocked by a Plum defender Tuesday night at home The Indians beat Plum 3-1 to snap a 64-match losing streak in section play / Josh RizzoSick Problem in the WPIALThe boys volleyball season in the Pittsburgh area has been plagued with matches being postponed due to teams not having players available due to illness A planned match between two top-10 ranked teams in Class 2A was postponed after the Planets had too many players unavailable Penn Hills had an earlier section match with Fox Chapel delayed due to the same reason Plum coach William Marzina said they had a scheduled match with the Foxes last week that was postponed The Mustangs had four varsity players out with illness Plum’s issues were compounded when they lost Bryce Nabozny to an injury in the first set but we canceled against Fox Chapel last week,” Marzina said Penn Hills senior setter Anthony Collins said the Indians will have to be ready for new wrinkles the next time around “We take that with a grain of salt,” Collins said “We know that later in the season that it’s going to be a different team and we have to adapt.” but struggled to serve in the third set and Plum was able to cut the deficit to 2-1 The Indians had a 19-12 lead when Max Grice stepped to the service line Grice rolled off several strong jump serves that brought the Mustangs within two points After Grice’s next serve got stuck in the net Penn Hills was able to grind out the final few points to pick up the win “I think we can rise to the occasion a lot while Calix Clark contributed nine kills and two blocks Piccolino was happy with the all-around effort “One thing I was really happy with today was accountability from the players “My setters were reassuring us that we can pass We picked each other up the whole time and that was necessary to pull out a win.” --Josh Rizzo | rizzo42789@gmail.com| @J_oshrizzo Penn Hills boys volleyball coach Will Piccolino watches from the sideline at Norwin last season. The Indians also have the benefit of having coach Will Piccolino back for his third season Penn Hills is more capable of playing his system now While the Indians dropped their first two matches of the season they are more competitive than they were last year Having middle blockers Calix Clark and Tristan Davis make improvements has paid dividends for the Indians (0-2) “Both of my middles have made massive improvements and demand attention from opposing blockers which will lead to one-on-one opportunities for our other hitters,” Piccolino said “Expecting a blocker to respect our middles and still be able to get out and block at the pins with the pace we run is a very tall task.” Penn Hills opened with a 3-1 loss to Bethel Park The Indians followed that up with a 3-2 defeat against Franklin Regional “I thought we opened well against Bethel,” Piccolino said “Two of their three set victories were by two points so it was very close the whole time.” the Indians have two setters they will rely on in Anthony Collins and Lucian McCollum Both players have gained experience over the past few seasons “Our team has grown simply with experience,” Piccolino said “I also have hitters at all positions to win us points.” The Penn Hills softball team picked up its second win of the season against McKeesport on March 26 London Seymore hit a grand slam to spark the Indians during the 12-1 win Isabella DeCarlo struck out eight batters and allowed two hits for Penn Hills (2-3) to earn the win in the circle Free paper-shredding event open to households are teaming up for a free document shredding event from 9 a.m to noon May 3 at the former Westinghouse site The event will take place weather permitting Vehicles should not line up before 8:30 a.m Only paper will be accepted — no magazines or newspapers The paper must be in paper bags or standard-size trash bags; boxes and plastic totes will not be accepted This service is for households only — no businesses Participants are encouraged to donate an unexpired nonperishable food item for distribution to local pantries contact McAndrew’s office at 77 Universal Road Volunteers needed to help clean up greenway site The Friends of Churchill Valley Greenway is looking for volunteers to help from 10 a.m April 27 with a cleanup of the greenway area in Penn Hills Helping hands are needed for litter picking as well as heavy lifting at the former country club site Volunteers are welcome to pitch in for an hour or two or stay the entire day The Allegheny Land Trust is hosting the cleanup Participants must wear closed-toe shoes and long pants and should consider wearing protective layers that can get dirty Children are welcome to help but must be accompanied by an adult The event will take place rain or shine but will be canceled if there are thunderstorms Participants should park in the upper parking lot and sign in at the registration table to pick up your gloves To register, visit alleghenylandtrust.networkforgood.com/events/83173-earth-day-cleanup-at-churchill-valley-greenway The Penn Hills Community Development Corporation is organizing a cleanup of Rodi Road from 9 to 11 a.m Anyone who would like to help is encouraged to show up Hebron Church is hosting a Thrift-A-Thon fundraiser from April 24-26 at the church There is a $10 entry fee on Early Bird Thursday patrons can fill a bag for $10 from 10 a.m Snacks and beverages also will be available for purchase All proceeds will benefit the church’s Family Life ministry Vaping presentation open to district parents The Penn Hills School District is offering a presentation on vaping for parents of K-12 students from 6 to 7 p.m Adagio Health will be on hand to discuss how the vaping epidemic might be affecting one’s child • Where youths are hiding and concealing devices; • Health concerns related to vaping; • How to talk to one’s child about vaping; • Review Tabocco Free Adagio Health programming Art show to spotlight students’ talents The community is invited to attend a free Student Art Show from 4 to 6 p.m Community invited to Arbor Day celebration The Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission is planning its seventh annual Arbor Day celebration from 2 to 4 p.m April 26 at Duff Community Park in Penn Hills The community is invited to help plant 15 new trees in the park which is located near the Penn Hills Municipal Center along Duff Road The event will include giveaways of tree seedlings free refreshments and face painting and nature crafts for children The Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission also will be selling hats and T-shirts Speaker to discuss Jewish history in Verona area The Verona Historical Society’s 2025 Speaker Series will feature a presentation by Eric Lidji of the Heinz History Center at 7 p.m director of the center’s Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives will discuss “Jewish History in the Verona and Sandy Creek Area.” The Verona Historical Society meets at 7 p.m on the third Thursday of each month in the municipal building Programs or speakers are scheduled each month to discuss past and present historical events Mark your calendars: The June 19 presentation by John Schaal is titled “Tribute to Coach Joe Zelek Twin Borough Apaches and the Verona High School Panthers.” The Head Turners Pittsburgh car group will host a car show from noon to 4 p.m May 14 at Community College of Allegheny County’s Boyce Campus Proceeds will benefit Tiny Cause rescue and foster service in Vandergrift The afternoon will include entertainment by DJ Never Nice trophies and dash plaques and driver bags for the first 100 cars to register The Boyce Campus is at 595 Beatty Road in Monroeville Seniors for Safe Driving is offering an upcoming course for motorists 55 and older from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m The PennDOT-approved course is an opportunity for older motorists to refresh their driving skills and their knowledge of the rules of the road There is no testing or behind-the-wheel driving Participants who complete the course can receive a three-year discount of no less that 5% on their auto insurance Course highlights include one’s health and driving performance; effects of medication and alcohol on driving; yielding and intersections; strategies for safe passing and managing one’s speed; keeping up with vehicle technology; preventive ways to reduce driver distractions; air bags and anti-lock brakes; defensive driving tactics and sharing the road; dealing with aggressive drivers and road rage situations; and the latest information on traffic laws and regulations To register for a class, call 800-559-4880 or 724-283-0245 or go online at SeniorsForSafeDriving.com Upcoming municipal and school district meetings include: in Council Chambers at the government center April 29 and May 28 (regular public voting meetings) Jay Costa Media Center at Linton Middle School agendas or other changes to the municipal meeting schedule scroll down to the bulletin board section of Penn Hills’ homepage at pennhillspa.gov or sign up for Savvy Citizen alerts To sign up for Savvy Citizen alerts, visit savvycitizenapp.com/signup or download the app on your mobile phone Want to stay informed about the municipality and school district you live in and the decisions made by people you elect to office Both entities livestream their meetings online • Penn Hills Council livestreams its monthly meetings on YouTube @PennHills TVONLINE. Past livestreams of meetings also are available to view. Check them out at youtube.com/@PennHillsTVONLINE/featured • The Penn Hills School District livestreams its monthly school board meetings on its website at https://www.phsd.org/our-district/school-board/live-stream-and-video-archive Among the videos are the school board’s regular public voting meetings Safety/Buildings & Grounds and Curriculum Committee meetings Community invited to learn about Haitian culture Haitians in Pittsburgh United invites the community to a cultural event from 3 to 8 p.m June 21 at the Blackridge Civic Association Clubhouse The event is an opportunity for people to learn about the Haitian culture through art Attendees will be able to immerse themselves in the beauty of Haiti and connect with fellow community members and authors who will spotlight the country’s history The event is free, but reservations are required through eventbrite.com. To make a reservation, visit https://tinyurl.com/vxyz26en Eastbound I-76 ramp restrictions set through November Restrictions on the ramp from Rodi Road to eastbound Interstate 376 are underway through late November The ramp is reduced to an 11-foot width around the clock for the duration of the project Crews are conducting shoulder reconstruction Motorists are advised to exercise caution while traveling through the construction zone Tickets are available for Oakmont Carnegie Library’s annual Taste of Two Towns event Interested parties can purchase tickets on the Oakmont Carnegie Library website for $65 In addition to food and tasting selections from Oakmont and Verona the event will feature door prizes and raffles Details will be released closer to the date of the event about which restaurants will participate Youths encouraged to apply for summer job program Applications are being accepted through June 6 for Allegheny County’s 2025 Learn & Earn Summer Youth Employment Program The program is open to youths ages 14 to 24 the program has served over 13,500 young people investing more than $14.3 million in wages The initiative helps participants gain real-world experience and build essential skills in fields such as health care 1,000 spots are available in three age categories: and work readiness training to help younger participants build a strong foundation provides real-world work experience and college preparation activities to help youth develop valuable skills preapprenticeships and industry-led training programs giving them a direct path to high-demand careers For eligibility requirements and to access an online application, visit jobs4summer.org Interested youths also can visit any of the in-person application support center locations throughout Allegheny County and the city of Pittsburgh 250 businesses participated in Learn & Earn Those interested in hosting a Learn & Earn participant this summer can contact Markese Long Dollar Bank Foundation offering $10,000 scholarship The Dollar Bank Foundation is offering a $10,000 college scholarship to one student in each of the financial institution’s three markets — Greater Pittsburgh Greater Cleveland and Greater Hampton Roads The scholarship will be doled out as $2,500 per year over four years Students from the class of 2025 must submit an essay answering the following: What would you like to see change in your community How can financial institutions work with community partners to achieve this The essay must be typed in English and follow MLA format (Times New Roman font contain no fewer than 1,000 words and be the original work of the submitting student Submissions using artificial intelligence will be disqualified all parts of the question must be answered May 16 via email to PublicAffairs@dollarbank.com and must be sent as an attachment — as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) or as a PDF file Any essay sent in the body of the email will not be considered To register and apply for the scholarship, visit Dollar.Bank/ScholarshipContest Pet walk to benefit rescues planned for Boyce Park will be held April 27 at the Tanglewood Shelter on Pierson Run Road at Boyce Park New dog and cat items will be collected for rescues Walk participants must register and sign a release Proceeds benefit local rescues including Wildflowers Sanctuary Homeless Cat Management Team and Bridges from Kuwait visit amongthewildflowerssanctuary.com or email amongthewildflowerssanctuary@gmail.com The third annual Peter Flaherty IV Memorial Golf Outing will take place July 27 in Penn Hills died in 2021 of complications related to type 1 diabetes Proceeds benefit the Flaherty Memorial Scholarship Fund which is distributed to seniors graduating in 2026 it has generated about $15,000 in scholarships (registration at 7 a.m.) at the 3 Lakes Golf Course Lunch will follow at the Pitcairn Park Building around 1:30 p.m Register online at Zeffy.com/ticketing/peter-flaherty-iv-2025-memorial-golf-0uting email jbreid26@gmail.com or call 412-584-6811 All are welcome to join the men and women at Oakmont TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) who are learning how to lose weight we gain knowledge of healthy eating and exercise You may visit with no obligation Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m Weigh-in is private followed by a brief business meeting and educational program all ending by 7:15 call 412-828-3854 or email jmjkwj@gmail.com The following events are scheduled at the Monroeville Convention Center visit Gratzieventures.com/tattoos-booze-tacos-expo • May 16-18: Main Line Autograph Show — Featuring local and national sports figures visit MainLineAutographs.com/pittsburgh-show • May 24-25: Mega Reptile Expo — Event offers thousands of reptiles and exotic pets • May 24-25: Steel City Cannabis Convention — Event for those 18 and older brings together investors Coin Show — Event held twice a year by the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists offers collectors and dealers a platform to buy A REAL ID-COMPLIANT NONCOMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE | COURTESY PA.GOV Penn Hills junior wrestler Daemon Phipps tilts Allderdice’s Caleb McFarlane during the 114-pound match Dec. 28 at the Penn Hills holiday tournament. Phipps won in the first round by pin. The Indians returned to team competition this season after opting out of the WPIAL schedule the past few seasons Penn Hills saw its next marker for improvement with how it performed at the Allegheny County Wrestling Championships The Indians would like to find a way to get more kids in the position to win big matches Daemon Phipps was the only wrestler to place “We had four wrestlers make the second day,” Packer said “We had some bright spots in some places and disappointments in others.” Darnel Jackson (152 pounds) was the only other Penn Hills wrestler to reach the quarterfinals in the championship bracket Jackson finished one match short of being all-county who reached the finals of the Penn Hills Holiday Tournament before losing via injury default in a match he was ahead in is 11-7 this season and will likely exceed his win total of 14 from last season Packer said that Penn Hills missed some opportunities to pick up wins Levi Smith (139 pounds) got caught turning the wrong way before being pinned with a 9-3 lead in the consolation round Bradley Repovich (145) lost a match 2-0 in ultimate tiebreaker in the consolation bracket Freshman Denairo Price (285) also reached the second day by winning two matches in the consolation bracket “We lost a lot of close matches,” Packer said “There were a few things we could have done to finish those matches.” The Penn Hills girls wrestling team has made progress during its first season Packer said every member of the team has won at least a match All of the girls on the team are underclassmen Emily Durrant leads the team with four wins “They’ve exceeded expectations,” Packer said “I had never coached girls wrestling before so I find myself with no expectations going in and I’ve enjoyed coaching it.” Kiski Area coach Corey Smith celebrates with Amaree Gonzalez after beating Penn Hills on Friday. Kiski Area’s Amaree Gonzalez scores past Penn Hills’ Aiden Thompson and Cam Glenn on Friday. Kiski Area’s Tyler McDermott (15) and Carson Heinle pick up Amaree Gonzalez after a basket against Penn Hills on Friday. Kiski Area’s Jacob Musselman scores over Penn Hills’ Cam Glenn on Friday. Penn Hills’ Ahmod Brown blocks the shot of Kiski Area’s Carson Heinle on Friday. Kiski Area’s Tyler McDermott blocks the shot of Penn Hills’ Cody Hunt on Friday. Kiski Area’s Carson Heinle grabs a rebound from Penn Hills’ Ahmod Brown on Friday. Kiski Area’s Amaree Gonzalez blocks the shot of Penn Hills’ Todd Bishop on Friday. The Cavaliers captured the outright Section 2-5A championship Friday night, their first section title since 2012-13, with a 68-61 victory at Penn Hills. “It means so much that we worked so hard for this,” said Kiski Area coach Corey Smith, who won section titles at Kiski as a player in 2000 and 2002. “That was a goal since I got here. Every day I come up to that gym, and I look at that section-title banner. This community is so supportive, and these kids work so hard day-in and day-out. I owe it to them. I owe it to my JV team because they are important for this team, too. They go hard every single day and make (the varsity guy) work. I am just so excited and so proud of my boys right now.” The Cavaliers players celebrated their section-title clinching victory by soaking Smith with the contents of the water bucket in the locker room. “This is amazing. It is such a surreal feeling,” said senior Colin Keller who scored 22 points with five 3-pointers in the victory. “Going into the season, this was a big goal for us.” Amaree Gonzalez also scored 22 points for Kiski Area, and Jacob Musselman added 13 points. Carson Heinle and Tyler McDermott were strong on the boards with nine and eight rebounds, respectively. Four players tallied double digits in points for Penn Hills. Calix Clark scored 16, Cam Glenn had 4, Amon Hawthorne added 15 before fouling out with 4 minutes, 7 seconds left in the fourth, and Cody Hunt scored 10. Kiski Area improved to 14-6 overall and concluded section play at 11-1. The Cavaliers also completed a season sweep of the Indians, having also triumphed 68-53 on Jan. 14. Penn Hills ended its section slate at 10-2. It fell to 10-9 overall. The game was intense for all 32 minutes in front of a spirited collection of supporters for both teams. “We were able to keep our poise the whole game and make play after play,” Keller said. “We have some great guys on this team. We just hung together and played for each other. It was a great win.” Kiski Area fought off Penn Hills’ attempts to erase its six-point halftime lead. Musselman converted a layup for the Cavaliers at the third-quarter buzzer to give Kiski a 49-41 advantage heading to the fourth. The Cavaliers led by 11 with 4:06 left, but the Indians kept battling. Penn Hills cut the Kiski lead to 61-55 on a 3-pointer from Glenn with 1:11 left in regulation. The Cavaliers went 12 of 14 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and were 22 of 27 for the game. Penn Hills and Kiski Area will find out their WPIAL first-round opponents Monday afternoon as the playoff committee releases the Class 5A brackets. Then Indians and Cavaliers then will close out the regular season with nonsection road contests. Penn Hills will visit West Mifflin, and Kiski will take on Burrell. Neither team could establish a sizable lead in the first quarter as they worked to establish a secure footing at both ends of the court. Keller drained a pair of 3-pointers to lead the Cavaliers over the first eight minutes. The long-range field goals gave Kiski leads of 7-4 and 10-8. A jumper from Clark with a minute left in the quarter allowed Penn Hills to tie the score at 10. The back-and-forth, intense play continued through the second quarter. The lead changed five times in the first five minutes of the frame. Kiski built its biggest lead of the first half — 11 at 31-20 — with a 13-3 run punctuated by a layup and a 3-point play from Gonzalez. But Penn Hills cut into the lead in the final minute. Glenn sank a pair of free throws, and Hawthorne nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to draw the Indians to within 31-25 as the teams headed to their locker rooms. with such a significant personnel transition First-year Penn Hills coach Michelle Stiller would like to see their long-term plan pay dividends by the end of the year The Indians are off to a 2-5 start and are 0-2 in Section 1-5A play mostly everyone is new except for our pitcher,” Stiller said “I think it’s been productive for the first few weeks We’ve been learning defensive possessions and getting the bats going was big for us.” Freshman Keira Kaefer has stepped in behind the plate Addison Helsel is another freshman who has seen time in center field Sophomore Brooklyn Best has started at shortstop while fellow sophomore London Seymore plays first base “They’ve been adjusting to the intensity of the varsity level,” Stiller said “We’re incorporating working on their mental toughness and ability to stay calm when things aren’t going our way Penn Hills has defeated Carrick and McKeesport this season Isabella DeCarlo pitched well for the Indians against the Tigers DeCarlo struck out eight batters in the win over McKeesport “She’s been the best leader for our team,” Stiller said “She pitched through difficult games and kept her team up She’s an incredible captain and leader She can throw different pitches and hit the spots she needs to hit.” Penn Hills hopes to be competitive in section games The Indians allowed 15 or more runs during their first two section losses The schedule wasn’t going to provide a break for Penn Hills either The Indians were faced with playing Shaler on April 7 The Titans played in the state championship game two years ago and have top-end talent Results from the game with Shaler were too late for this edition The Indians still have a few nonsection games remaining “The nonsection games will take some of the pressure off of the intense section we are in,” Stiller said “We want to regain confidence and see how good we are when we play together Milani Oliver celebrates making a 3-pointer during the fourth quarter of Penn Hills’ 43-40 loss to Woodland Hills on Dec. 10 at Penn Hills High School. Milani Oliver steps back after making a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter of Penn Hills’ 43-40 loss to Woodland Hills while teammate Cara Crawford (left) celebrates Dec. 10 at Penn Hills High school. pulled up at the 3-point line and knocked down a key jumper was fouled and made a layup to put Penn Hills ahead the 5-foot-5 junior guard gave spectators a full range of what to expect from her “It’s all confidence,” said Oliver The Indians are off to an 0-3 start and employ a young roster Oliver has excelled in multiple sports for the Indians She helped Penn Hills’ 1,600-meter relay team qualify for the PIAA Class 3A championships last season “It gets me motivated to run faster,” Oliver said During a wild final 120 seconds against Woodland Hills Penn Hills trailed 31-27 entering the fourth quarter The Indians battled back and took the lead when Oliver made a layup with 38 seconds left a Penn Hills player came off the bench onto the court and the team was hit with a technical foul Woodland Hills tied the game at 40 after making two of four free-throw attempts Two of the attempts came due to the technical the other two came following a common foul by Penn Hills Oliver was chirping at the free-throw shooter “It’s all love,” Oliver said But it’s all love with everybody I play with.” Penn Hills coach Robert Cash said he believes Oliver still has room to grow “She still doesn’t understand the level she can get to,” Cash said “I still don’t think she reached a peak of where she can be at She just has to get in the gym and keep working to understand what her levels are.” Oliver said that Cash has always pushed her hard He also coaches club basketball and has worked with Oliver for six years I feel like I’m improving every day,” Oliver said Cash said he would like to see Oliver improve her ball handling and decision-making He also would like to see her grow as a leader With the makeup of the Indians’ roster but she’ll become an elite leader and an elite ball handler,” Cash said “She could be an elite level player that could play at a lot of different schools but it’ll come back to the work that she puts in over the next year Penn Hills junior catcher Anthony Sipple waits for a ball to be thrown back to him during practice March 5 at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium. Penn Hills’ Mason Wade throws the ball during practice March 5 at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium. Penn Hills sophomore shortstop Dontae Giddens throws the ball back to first base during practice March 5 at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium. the Penn Hills baseball team has a blunt reminder of what they hope to avoid in the future of the Indians’ results in section play since they beat Woodland Hills “There are 0-22 signs posted everywhere giving us reminders that’s what happened in the past and we have to change that,” Indians sophomore Dontae Giddens said The Indians will open the season March 18 on the road against perennial power Shaler First-year Penn Hills coach Joe Capobianco wants to help the Indians get in a position to have long-term success The Indians haven’t had a winning season since 2014 and haven’t made the WPIAL playoffs since 2010 a 1996 Penn Hills graduate and a former assistant coach with the program “I don’t think it was as easy as I thought it would be,” Capobianco said “It’s a lot harder because of the bad habits and not having a lot of structure here which finished 2-15 and 0-12 in section last season will have several returning players shifting into different roles Anthony Sipple will be one of the Indians’ starting pitchers but also will start at catcher Sipple said his experience catching before this spring was minimal Sipple got a glove and catching gear from his coach “I’ve never really caught against actual pitching,” Sipple said “It’s definitely going to be a change Capobianco was surprised no one had asked him to try playing catcher before “The best part of him is his frame,” Capobianco said I was shocked when he said he hadn’t caught before He understands the flow of the game and how to call games.” Logan Bollinger and Mason Wade also will be counted on to pitch The Indians have 18 players out for the team Giddens will be called on to play shortstop Capobianco said he believes Giddens has the potential to be the best defensive shortstop in the section Giddens started playing shortstop in seventh grade after previously playing third he helped me get my feet right and my hands right,” Giddens said The Indians are working to be on the same page They don’t want to continue making the signs’ numbers any larger “I think it’s a good environment,” Sipple said Maybe we can get out there and get a few section wins.” Penn Hills’ Aiden Thompson dunks over Hampton defenders during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Penn Hills won, 51-46, in overtime. Penn Hills’ Amon Hawthorne eyes up a 3-pointer against Hampton on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Penn Hills won, 51-46, in overtime. Penn Hills’ Cam Glenn shoots a 3-pointer against Hampton on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Penn Hills’ Aiden Thompson scores against Hampton on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Penn Hills won, 51-46, in overtime. Penn Hills’ Amon Hawthorne pressures Hampton’s Jonas Cupps during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Penn Hills’ Amon Hawthorne brings the ball upcourt against Hampton on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Hampton’s Zack Danner scores against Penn Hills’ Amon Hawthorne during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Penn Hills’ Aiden Thompson scores off a steal against Hampton on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Penn Hills’ Aiden Thompson (right) and Cody Hunt pressure Hampton’s Andrew Butler during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Franklin Regional’s Chloe Pucka drives to the basket past Penn Hills’ Jayah Golden during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Franklin Regional won, 47-26. Franklin Regional’s Maddie DeRiggi drives to the basket to score past Penn Hills’ Saniyah Horsley during their game on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. Franklin Regional won, 47-26. Franklin Regional’s Katherine Yaniga drives to the basket against Penn Hills on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2024, at Penn Hills. in overtime in Section 2-5A boys basketball Wednesday night Aiden Thompson added 18 points for Penn Hills (6-7 Zach Danner scored nine points to lead the Talbots (9-7 Greensburg Salem 41 – John Wasnick dropped 17 points and Stanley Rajkovich finished with 13 to lead Derry (10-5 Tyler Martin put up 15 points and Luke Rullo added 11 for Greensburg Salem (4-10 Shenango 40 – Vinny Pezzuolo totaled 20 points and Bobby Fadden finished with 18 to lead Mohawk (13-3) to a nonsection win Joey Nail scored 12 and Drew Wrona added 11 for the Warriors Teagan Russo had 11 points for Shenango (7-8) Clairton 56 – Owen Dumbroski dropped 23 points and Brayden Graham added 19 to lead Serra Catholic (13-2) to a nonsection win Taris Wooding had 13 and Mikey Ruffin finished with 10 for Clairton (5-6) Shady Side Academy 52 (OT) – Luke Scarf drained four 3-pointers and finished with 29 points while Cooper Hochendoner added 13 as South Park (11-4 4-1) secured a Section 3-3A win in overtime Seamus Riordan dropped 25 points to lead Shady Side Academy (4-11 Penn-Trafford 64 – Nick Trklja led all scorers with 28 points Justin Fry followed with 27 and Noah Kaszer finished with 21 as Thomas Jefferson (8-8) defeated Penn-Trafford (8-7) in nonsection play Brayden Stone chipped in 11 and Tyler Boss contributed 10 for the Warriors Uniontown 49 – Skyler Gates led all scorers with 27 points and Ava Clark added 14 as Brownsville (9-6) defeated Uniontown (5-11) in nonsection play Lyric McLee and Emily Myers each scored 13 points for the Red Raiders Western Beaver 38 – Malaha Williams (14 points) Patty Weselowski (14) and Scarlet D’Amico (11) combined for 39 points in a nonsection win for Lincoln Park (3-10 Jazmin Winterhalter had 12 and Taraji Backur had 11 for Western Beaver (3-10 Shenango 31 – Gigi Pezzuolo scored 13 points to pace Mohawk (5-11) in a nonsection victory Amara DeFrank put up 14 to lead Shenango (1-13) New Castle 24 – Tiffany Miller scored 14 points and Abigail Cleary followed with 13 to lead Montour (7-9) to a Section 3-5A win West Allegheny 42 – Vange Balouris scored 17 points and Rosalia Varlotta contributed 10 as North Allegheny (6-8) edged out West Allegheny (9-7) in nonsection play Alaina Holtz put up 14 and Ella Smith followed with 12 for the Indians Mars 41 – Haylie Lamonde put up 20 points Juliette Leroux added 15 and Lailah Wright chipped in 14 as South Fayette (15-1 8-0) ran away with a Section 3-5A win over Mars (9-7 Alexis Cashdollar and Carmella McDole each scored 14 for the Fightin’ Planets Hempfield 33 – Nick Hillyard (172) and Austin Coddington (285) had first-period pins and Kage Churby (152) won by tech fall to lead Albert Gallatin (6-5 Dominick Woods (139) and Leroy Corey (160) recorded pins and Ty King (127) won a decision for Hempfield (2-7 Noah McCollum (121) and Xander Day (127) had pins Noah Layhue (189) won a decision and Aiden Whisner (160) won in overtime to help Beth-Center (6-7 Drake McClure (133) had a pin and Paxton Thomas (152) won by tech fall for Bentworth (6-6 1-3) to win its second straight Section 3-3A title Hunter Goelz (215) and Michael Gibson (285) recorded pins for the Black Hawks while Pierce Reinhart (121) Aden Stout (139) and Ian Bucheli (160) earned technical falls and Colton Fisher (127) and Ethan Higgins (152) won by major decision 3-0) got four straight wins as Kai Vielma (139) and Julian Ruggieri (145) won by tech fall and Evan Petrovich (152) and Lonzy Vielma (160) recorded pins in a Section 8-3A win and Christopher Cook (215) also had pins while Zachary Franks (114) won a decision and Luke Lilley (127) won by major decision for the Falcons Luke Willochell (133) and Hunter Snyder (189) had first-period pins for Latrobe (5-4 Bradan Bronson (172) and Marco Scarton (285) each won decisions Ligonier Valley 29 – Greensburg Salem (7-3 Sadie Sarver (121) and Noah Somerville (139) Aidan Mulheren (152) earned a tech fall for Ligonier Valley (3-13 Tristan Miller (215) and Landon Heath (285) recorded pins while James Dulaney (133) and Johnny Gilbert (139) won by tech fall as Jefferson-Morgan (9-3 Ryan Celaschi (160) had a pin and Jackson Angelo (172) won by tech fall for Frazier (5-12 Fox Chapel 21 – After being down 21-15 4-0) won the last six bouts to defeat Fox Chapel (9-3 3-1) and claim first place in Section 5-3A Mark Gray (189) and Cooper Roscosky (285) recorded pins while Tyler Bollinger (152) won by major decision and Travis Shearer (160) and Abrahm Taylor (215) won by decision Daniel Noel (139) and Adam Haines (145) had pins while Landon Funk (127) won a decision for the Foxes Paxton Newell (107) and Gavin Murphy (114) each had a pin while Jackson Pollick (133) won a decision for the Cavaliers Summit Academy 17 – Owen Layhew (145) Wyatt Foster (215) and Lucas Rouleau (285) each had a pin while Brayden McGowan (152) won by tech fall as Knoch (4-3 Brycen Wymer (160) had a pin and Rocco Zugai (127) won by tech fall for Summit Academy (2-4 Kolton Carlson (215) and Casey Wilson (285) recorded first-minute pins and Josh Sherman (139) won by tech fall as Laurel (16-3 and Gabe Lilly (160) had pins while Braiden McClure (107) won a major decision for the Wolverines Chartiers-Houston 9 – Blake Jamison (107) Aaron Supler (189) and Damyan Pevarnik (215) recorded pins as McGuffey (13-4 2-1) to clinch first place in Section 1-2A Jacob Lyle (285) had a pin and Jesus Chavez (285) won a decision for the Buccaneers Emmett Wolfe (133) won by tech fall for the Highlanders Thomas Cunningham (152) and Lucus Jenkins (215) recorded pins to lead Montour (5-7 Nolan Moore (121) won by fall and Brecken Vandecoevering (127) won a decision for Blackhawk (3-10 getting pins from Gus Stedeford (139) and Brody Magorian (145) and major decisions from Griffen Reid (152) and Kellen Buggey (160) to pull away and win the Section 4-3A title Mason Hartung (215) and Bradyn McConneha (285) also had pins for the Tigers Brennan Michael (172) and Troy Ritson (189) had pins and Nicholas Savannah (107) and Sullivan Stutz (127) won by decision for Butler (7-3 Dylan Clayton (152) and Cael Ott (160) had pins and Logan Ventura (133) won by major decision to lead Penn-Trafford (7-8 Donovan DeLuco (189) and Kittim Highsmith (285) won by fall Luke Pawlowski (139) won by tech fall and TJ Mitchell (172) won by major decision Darius McMillon(152) and Parker Nave (189) recorded pins to lead Peters Township (11-8 Ryder Baker (139) won by tech fall and AJ McGarrity (145) by decision for Peters North Catholic 16 – Mac Miller (172) Bennett Ferraro (114) and Peyton Ferguson (145) recorded pins to lead Pine-Richland (5-8) to a nonsection win Dominic Ferraro (139) won by tech fall and Aiden Gordon (160) won a decision for the Rams Victor Wagner (121) won by fall and Scott Huffmyer (152) by major decision for North Catholic (5-7) Belle Vernon 30 – Deydon Soto (139) won by tech fall to record his 100th career victory as Belle Vernon (3-2 Mars 17 – Led by pins from Bryce Berekstazi (114) Landon Davis (215) and Thomas Wuycheck (285) Riley Smith (107) by major decision and Dean Sauers (152) by decision for the Raiders.Samuel Passarelli (121) and Liam Hein (145) won by fall and Joseph Zottola (172) earned a tech fall for Mars (5-6 Elizabeth Forward 32 – Lucas Guzek (127) and Parker Cunningham (285) each had pins to lead the way for South Park (11-2 and Ethan Childers (145) recorded pins while Lucas Boyer (152) won by tech fall and Warren Woleslagle (107) won a 6-0 decision for Elizabeth Forward (2-2 Canon-McMillan 27 – Jackson Hoy (107) Dominick Canali (127) and Devin Junko (139) had pins while Thomas Allison (145) won a decision and Behr Bruckner (160) won a major decision for Trinity (6-2 which claimed first place in Section 2-3A with the win Giono Gardner (121) and Brayden Collins (215) won major decisions Collier Hartman (133) and Mikhail Krenzelak (152) won by tech fall and Ayden Solomon (172) and Owen Rush (285) won decisions for Canon-McMillan (9-8 Mason Bryan (127) and Cam Danna (285) each recorded a pin while Blake Scheppis (152) and Michael Johnson (107) won by decision as West Allegheny (12-10 Lucas Carson (114) won by tech fall and Logan Slovick (139) won by major decision for the Indians Liam Costa (172) and Thaddeus Novak (215) had pins Cael Yanek (133) won a decision and Tavis Lindsay (160) and Michael Olszewski (215) had pins for the Tigers Washington 21 – Hunter Gorby (189) and Colin Whyte (285) recorded pins and Caleb Orndoff (45) won by tech fall to lead West Greene (2-8 Jahvon Woods (152) won by tech fall and Caleb Patton (160) won a major decision for Washington (1-3 Maya Scott (148) and Alex Gosnell (235) recorded pins to lead North Allegheny Kaitlynn Plopi (142) and Olivia Hageman won by fall for Butler Penn Hills baseball players recently volunteered at the food pantry at Zion Lutheran Church. kept tabs on the Penn Hills baseball program long after he graduated Seeing the program slowly decline wasn’t something he ever wanted to see Capobianco didn’t want to be one of the people standing by and complaining about the program’s current status who is a 1996 Penn Hills graduate and lives in Economy interviewed and accepted the job to lead the Indians’ varsity program “I don’t want to see Penn Hills baseball die,” Capobianco said “I don’t want to be a person who complains about what is happening It’s no one’s fault the program is where it is It’s a cluster of different things that have happened.” Penn Hills has compiled a 5-28 record and lost all 24 of its section games The Indians’ struggles have gone back much further Penn Hills hasn’t had a winning season since 2014 and hasn’t made the WPIAL playoffs since 2010 who played baseball at CCAC South in college previously served as an assistant with Freeport’s baseball program for three years He also previously coached at Penn Hills for 11 seasons “I figured I was already driving 45 minutes It’s just 45 minutes in the other direction,” Capobianco said I felt I could make much more of an impact here than coaching in the North Hills somewhere.” Capobianco has been pushing the program on social media Capobianco has been having regular workouts at the Fralic Center After starting with about five kids for the workouts he said the number has been routinely around 17 Capobianco would like to find a way to help Penn Hills close the learning gap in the sport “I would love to have a middle school program,” Capobianco said “I think a lot of the kids quit playing around 12 to 13 The game’s not as popular as it used to be Capobianco knows that growing the program will be a process He is looking forward to the challenge of improving a team that means a lot to him This process will require building from the ground up “I don’t want to put a timetable on anything,” Capobianco said “I can’t look too far into the future but we must ensure they understand everything When I notice something in practice that is wrong How to helpA GoFundMe campaign is underway to help Penn Hills teacher Joshua Willy's family.As of Saturday evening it had raised more than $42,000 toward a $70,000 goal from just over 400 people.Organized by Elene Fornella of Bridgeville the campaign says all of the money will be given to Willy's wife Nate and Alex.The campaign can be found at gofundme.com/f/help-the-willy-family-in-their-time-of-need Joshua “Josh” Willy was a popular social studies and gifted program instructor at Penn Hills High School who was known for warmly welcoming students at the start of the school day and offering them inspiration and encouragement The 49-year-old husband and father of three died Friday morning after his car plunged from Pittsburgh’s Parkway East and came to rest in a stream below A phone message left Saturday afternoon for Willy’s family wasn’t immediately returned Among those he left a lasting impression on were Penn Hills resident Jennifer Lackey and her son a ninth grader in an honors civics course Willy taught “It’s Kai’s first year in high school and he was one of the teachers he looked up to,” Lackey said pleasant and in a good mood,” she said of Willy When Lackey carpooled her son and some of his friends to school Willy was the first staff member standing ready to greet them with a smile and conversation Answering off-the-cuff questions posed by the students during those brief talks Willy revealed his fondness for peanut butter cups and his interest in the Revolutionary War period There were a lot of kids there who didn’t have him for a class; they just wanted to spend time with him.” “It is a tragedy that is affecting our entire community,” Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese said ”Our hearts go out to the family.” “He was a phenomenal teacher,” school board President Erin Vecchio said noting Willy’s 23 years of service to the district It wasn’t just about the books; he actually got to know them “The whole community is shocked.” “This is such a tragic loss for Penn Hills,” said one of Willy’s former students understood and inspired his students.” Geminetti was one of Willy’s history students during the 2006-07 academic year at the district’s Linton Middle School “He then became a high school teacher,” she said “Even though I wasn’t his student in high school he’d still check up on me until I graduated in 2012.” recalled one of the inspirational phrases Willy was known to use ”He would have us recite every day in class: ‘Good best … never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best,’ ” she said “And he was willing and able to help you achieve it.” “He was awesome,” associate high school Principal Jacqueline Dorsett said “He built relationships with our students He had the students engaged and they loved him He can capture their attention and make them want to learn.” Dorsett spoke near the end of an informal gathering of students and staff Saturday in the high school auditorium About 100 people attended the gathering that included prayer with clergy on hand from Penn Hills and the surrounding areas Those attending were signing a banner as a tribute to Willy It will remain up next week for more people to sign Dorsett said students were talking about Willy and what they want to see happen 28 basketball game with Shaler dedicated to him and a ribbon on his classroom door Support will be available this coming week for students and teachers Students are scheduled to return Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr but that is uncertain given the forecast for extreme cold said she and Willy taught many of the same gifted students ”He was devoted to our Penn Hills family and we liked having conversations about the many students we shared We both cared about them reaching their potential and achieving their dreams “He coached them for (the quiz show) ‘Hometown High Q’ and sat with them to talk about their futures He was a gentleman and spoke that way — in a gentle paid a summer visit to her Pleasant Hills home more than a decade ago She was considering hiring him related to his side job of painting houses but he suggested it would better to retain the natural finish of her new wooden patio cover “He convinced us that it was probably better to not paint it at all,” she said “Anyone else would have taken the job.” Dice said she and Willy also shared a passion for Penn State sports Willy contributed to youth sports in the South Fayette community According to the organizer of a GoFundMe drive set up to benefit his family he was involved in youth baseball and basketball programs He was head coach of the South Fayette Lions 14U ball team The crash that claimed Willy occurred as he was traveling outbound on the Parkway East and had gone through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel about 8:30 a.m The vehicle then “traveled over the guard rail,” tumbled down a roughly five-story hillside and came to rest in part of the Nine Mile Run stream The crash scene is in the 1200 block of Commercial Street a stretch of parkland that straddles Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill and Swisshelm Park neighborhoods A Parkway East bridge next to the hillside stands about 85 feet above Commercial Street Another fatal crash occurred in the same area on Dec of Plum drove off the Parkway East on the Swissvale side of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and traveled down a steep coming to rest in a ravine about 200 feet below Richards’ SUV left the roadway on the same bridge TribLive asked local PennDOT officials about safety issues there While Willy’s fatal crash remains under investigation PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan noted a medical emergency was involved in the 2023 wreck Cowan said the bridge is slated for replacement as part of a $95 million project with work occurring below the existing bridge “We are looking into options to reduce future incidents of this type until the new bridge is completed The new bridge will have a widened roadway and a concrete barrier to protect the drop-off.” the replacement bridge will be built on temporary foundations just south of the existing bridge and will be slid into place following demolition of the current structure New overhead signage and an eastbound retaining wall are to be installed Pittsburgh Union Progress Here are projects starting in the next few days: Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Penn Hills PennDOT Driver License Center Applications for Real IDs will be the only services available during the event No other driver’s license business will be conducted anyone 18 or older will need a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification to fly domestically or visit certain federal and military facilities A valid passport or military ID will be able used in lieu of the Real ID for domestic commercial flights The Real ID is denoted as a star icon on one’s driver’s license Though the Real ID is optional for Pennsylvanians according to the commonwealth’s website the state Department of Transportation is hosting Real ID Days across the state to help residents get their documents verified and imaged Social Security number and Pennsylvania residency even if you already have a Pennsylvania driver’s license or photo ID card For a list of documents required to apply, visit tinyurl.com/5e3d59t8 Penn Hills High School’s thespians are gearing up for their spring musical “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” which will run April 3-6 at the school’s auditorium “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” brings the art of the con to the stage with charm Tickets, which are $8 for students and $12 for adults, can be ordered online at phhsmusical.com A 20-cent service fee will be charged for student tickets and a 30-cent fee will apply to adult tickets Bingo night to benefit Rosedale firefighters The Rosedale Civic Association is hosting a bingo fundraiser March 29 at Redeemer Lutheran High School Tickets cost $20 and includes six bingo cards for each of the 10 regular games All proceeds go toward purchasing protective gear for firefighters at the Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department Additional bingo cards and special games cost extra Food and soft drinks will be available for purchase email rosedalecivicassociation222@gmail.com Applications being accepted for seasonal work in parks Penn Hills currently is looking for seasonal maintenance workers for the upcoming parks season These workers carry out park maintenance duties to keep the grounds safe and clean They are assigned to various parks for janitorial pavilion/ball field upkeep and grounds services Work takes place outdoors and is assigned as needed Hours will vary but primarily take place on weekend afternoons and evenings The position requires extensive walking and standing on possible uneven terrain the operation of a motor vehicle and heavy lifting and carrying of supplies such as equipment and picnic tables Applications are available online at pennhillspa.gov/employment and can be emailed once completed to John Scaglione assistant superintendent of the public works and parks and recreation departments Completed applications also can be delivered by mail or in person to the Penn Hills Government Center All applicants must have the necessary state and federal clearances/background checks to obtain employment The Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission once again is partnering with Tree Pittsburgh for its second Tree Adoption Event from 11 a.m April 12 at the Sycamore Pavilion in Penn Hills Community Park Residents are invited to add some beauty to their yard with up to two free trees from the Penn Hills group and Tree Pittsburgh Additional information about Tree Pittsburgh’s Tree Adoptions is available on its website at treepittsburgh.org/programs/tree-adoption/ Closer to the event, a registration link to Tree Pittsburgh will be provided on PHSTC’s website at pennhillsstc.org residents will be able to select the type of tree or trees they want to reserve for pickup during the adoption event April 12 The park is near the Penn Hills Municipal Center along Duff Road the community is invited to help plant new trees in the park Africana Wellness Conference open to community is presenting the sixth annual Africana Wellness Conference daylong event focusing on self-care and holistic health will take place from 9 a.m March 15 at the Community Empowerment Association in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood Attendees will have access to health resources holistic wellness products and local businesses committed to community well-being a marketplace of vendors and family-friendly activities for children the Black Dream Escape and Legacy Arts Project the workshops will focus on holistic self-care practices that nurture individual and collective well-being Community partners participating in the conference include Children’s Hospital East End Food Co-op and Primary Care Health Services For details and to register, visit legacyartsproject.org The Plum Creek Masonic Lodge is planning a Spring Craft Fair from 10 a.m The lodge is at 9521 Saltsburg Road in Plum contact Wayne at mrdarts@verizon.net or call 412-916-5835 Spring Fabric Fair to benefit Salvation Army The Salvation Army is presenting its annual Spring Fabric Fair on April 12 made possible by the Salvation Army Greater Pittsburgh Women’s Auxiliary at the Salvation Army Pittsburgh Temple Worship and Service Center this fundraiser has offered bargains on rare fabrics unique patterns and a variety of materials and equipment needed for crocheting shoppers can enjoy a $10 bag sale outdoors which will be stocked with a variety of materials the fabric fairs have raised more than $800,000 with all proceeds providing critical assistance to individuals and families throughout Allegheny County Complimentary parking will be available on-site with free shuttles running from two satellite parking locations at Keystone Oaks’ middle and high schools Snacks and lunch items also will be available for purchase The Spring Fabric Fair is made possible by donations of all the items for sale as well as additional volunteers to measure and sort fabric in preparation for the fair Please note that fabric donations will not be accepted during the fair For details, call 412-446-1500 or visit salvationarmywpa.org/fabricfair Follow The Salvation Army Greater Pittsburgh Women’s Auxiliary on Facebook and @salarmypgh on Instagram to preview items for sale Mark your calenders: The Fall Fabric Fair will be Oct Vitalant is hosting a blood drive from 11 a.m one of dozens of blood drives the group is holding in the Pittsburgh area this month Donors who participate at any Vitalant site during the month will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of two $5,000 prepaid gift cards but the greatest need is for type O — the most compatible when a patient’s blood type is unknown To make an appointment, visit donors.vitalant.org The participating breweries are Acclamation Brewing at 314 Arch St in Verona and Local Remedy Brewing at 531 Allegheny Ave The trolley adventure will include unlimited hop on and off rides from noon to 4 p.m Rides will be provided by Molly’s Trolleys Reservations for the trolley cost $5 and must be made in advance To register, visit innergroovebrewing.com/stpaddywagon Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to make pit stop The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is stopping by the community from 10 a.m March 14 at Penn Hills Family Care Connection a state-of-the-art pediatric primary care center on wheels is a collaboration between UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists from Children’s Hospital will provide medical care to children at no out-of-pocket cost referrals for specialty care and assistance with WIC (Women For questions, additional information or to view the full list of services provided, call 412-352-1059 or visit chp.edu/our-services/mobile-medical-clinic Fort Pitt Museum offering free admission for kids Admission to the Senator John Heinz History Center and Fort Pitt Museum will be free for children 17 and younger during Women’s History Month thanks to support from community partners UPMC and UPMC Health Plan youngsters will get free general admission to the Smithsonian-affiliated History Center which includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum Regular admission applies for all adult visitors and groups The museums also offered free admission for children during Black History Month in February families can explore six floors of award-winning exhibitions and interactive learning spaces • Spiral down a 12-foot Liberty Tube slide in the Great Hall and design pop art construct bridges and more in the interactive Discovery Place exhibition • Explore the Neighborhood of Make-Believe featuring the original set and puppets in the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood exhibition • Exercise their minds and bodies while climbing the UPMC SmartSteps the world’s only history exhibition in a stairwell Punch a stamp card on all six floors to win a free Heinz pickle pin • Land a space rover on the surface of the Moon inside the Apollo 11 section of “Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation.” • Throw a touchdown pass to legendary Steelers and score the winning goal for the Penguins inside the two-floor Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum families can explore the history and culture of American Indian tribes who once called Western Pennsylvania home through a new exhibit titled “Homelands: Native Nations of Allegheny.” Created in collaboration with federally recognized Delaware present and future of the region’s Native tribes with rare artifacts and new scholarship The History Center and Fort Pitt Museum are open daily from 10 a.m For details, visit heinzhistorycenter.org is pleased to introduce Pastor Oyango Burney as its interim pastor and he brings a wealth of experience and a passion for serving others The congregation also is inviting members of the community and surrounding areas • The church operates a prayer hotline and welcomes requests If you need prayer and don’t know where to turn the congregation wants to help and will pray for you • A weekly Bible study class meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m • Free coffee and doughnuts are served from 10 to 11 a.m • A blood drive conducted by the American Red Cross is planned from noon to 5 p.m visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-Red-Cross (1-800-733-2767) email monroeville.brethern@gmail.com or call 412-372-4165 Heating assistance available to low-income households Thousands of eligible customers miss out on bill assistance by not applying for federal grants many income-eligible customers remain unaware of programs that can significantly reduce their energy bill encourages its customers to take advantage of available resources to help offset winter heating costs The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now open for the 2024-25 heating season LIHEAP is a federally funded assistance program that provides grants to eligible low-income households to help pay for heating costs Grants start at $200 and may be higher based on income and the number of people living in the home To qualify for a LIHEAP grant, customers must have a total gross household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Customers do not have to be on public assistance or have an unpaid heating bill. LIHEAP is open to renters and homeowners. To learn more about the income limits and to apply, visit https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dhs.html click on Services in the menu and search for LIHEAP In addition to LIHEAP, Peoples offers programs to help make energy-saving home improvements that reduce long-term costs. If you or someone you know needs assistance, call 1-800-400-WARM (9276) or visit peoples-gas.com/help to learn more Station 225 of the Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department is accepting applications for its new Junior Firefighter Program The program is open to 16- and 17-year-olds email pennhillsvfd225@gmail.com or stop by the station from 7 to 9 p.m The department encourages members of the community to join in its lifesaving efforts The Verona Volunteer Fire Company is accepting applictions for active firefighters as well as junior members 16 and 17 years of age Interested individuals can stop by the fire station Training is provided through the Allegheny County Fire Academy Free books available monthly for kids through age 5 Children who reside in the 15235 ZIP code are eligible to receive free books every month until their 5th birthday through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in conjunction with Reading Ready Pittsburgh is open to all children within the city of Pittsburgh and 18 ZIP codes in the Mon Valley area carefully selected book will be mailed in your child’s name directly to your home The first book is always the classic “The Little Engine That Could.” For details about the program and to enroll your child Cub Scout Pack 817 is looking for new members Boys and girls in grades K-5 are welcome to see what the fun is all about Cub Scouts offers members many opportunities to try new things develop leadership skills and make new friends Members of Pack 817 participate in pinewood derby races contact Cubmaster Randy Ford at 412-852-5840 or pack817.verona@gmail.com operates a free Clothesline to people in need from 10 a.m and there is a bus stop nearby at Frankstown Road and Parkridge Drive but visitors also are encouraged to bring their own The church also is accepting and loaning gently used children’s books call 412-793-0227 or visit mthopepcusa.org/youth-ministries Penn Hills’ Aiden Thompson dunks over Hampton defenders on Jan. 22. Penn Hills’ Amon Hawthorne eyes up a 3-pointer against Hampton on Jan. 22. The Indians already had their ticket to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs punched before their final section game with Kiski Area the result of which was too late for this edition “I think this is a great opportunity for the kids,” Giles said “We always talk about the team getting better as the season goes on The team has done that and been in a good position to play for something that matters.” Junior guard Amon Hawthorne has established himself as Penn Hills’ top scorer He averages 17.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game Calix Clak is second on the team in scoring He also pulls down a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game 10-1) built toughness with a young roster by playing a difficult nonsection schedule The Indians started the year 0-3 but showed they could handle challenging tests once section play started “I think they are all willing to listen,” Giles said There’s a lot of information they have to take in that’s difficult to maintain Penn Hills’ only losses came to Aliquippa at the PBC Hall of Fame Classic and on the road against Kiski Area The Indians have shown they can win in a variety of different ways Four of Penn Hills’ first five section wins came by 10 or more points sliding by Armstrong by two points on the road and overtaking Hampton in overtime Giles is happy with the opportunity Penn Hills has in front of them and everyone played JV last year,” Giles said “If you had asked me at the beginning of the season I would have told you it’s tremendous to be in a spot where one game decides the section.” The Indians don’t have the numbers to fill out all of the events Penn Hills was able to use its only home meet of the season to build some confidence for the upcoming big invitationals “I thought we had some nice performances,” Zelkowitz said “The invite is a whole different animal There is more pressure because there are a lot of stellar athletes there.” When Penn Hills competed at home on April 1 against Central Catholic the Indians had a few events where they finished in first and second place Marcus Dorsey and Ronald Porter finished first and second in the 100-meter dash Dorsey won the event with a time of 11.31 seconds Dorsey also won the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.14 who battled injuries during the indoor season Isaiah Petty-Allen and Porter won the high jump and long jump the Indians had the top two finishers in the 400 dash Mackenzie McIntyre won with a time of 1:00.14 Ashyah Aquil placed second in the high jump with a leap of 4-2 Zelkowitz said the Indians were using the dual meets as workouts so he chose not to run McIntyre in the 100-meter dash “We are being protective of Mackenzie,” Zelkowitz said “We are waiting for the invites to let her run in the 100 and 200 An 84-year-old woman died Tuesday in a fire in Penn Hills that officials say was set off by a propane gas leak Allegheny County medical examiner personnel were called to the scene of a fire and explosion in the 300 block of College Street The victim will be identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office Allegheny County 911 dispatch received calls about the incident just after 3:30 p.m Preliminary investigations determined that there were two explosions at the house It appeared there was a propane gas leak in the basement that caused a “low-order explosion,” he said That blew out the foundation walls and started the fire the fire hit a second propane tank outside “It was a matter of maybe a minute between the two,” he said and the back of the home was engulfed in flames That home’s resident is still able to live there One firefighter was examined due to heat exhaustion Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com Members of the Penn Hills Education Association have voted in favor of a strike authorization According to a news release from the association 13 resulted in favor by a super majority after a year of bargaining with the district “This is certainly not the point we wanted to come to,” said PHEA President Mark Wolfe “There is only so much we can take and only so long that we can cross our fingers and wait for reasonable proposals from the district Our members spoke very clearly tonight to give the authorization to our executive team to call for a strike if conditions at the table don’t improve.” the association represents 225 Penn Hills educators including teachers and counselors Employees have been bargaining with the district since January 2024 and working without a contract since June school district leadership was made aware of the authorization to strike after receiving media requests for comment “Penn Hills School District Administration and the School Board hope to quickly reach an agreement especially since it comes in the middle of the school year The District is committed to transparent communication to students parents and staff throughout this process,” the statement said The association noted there has been some progress on issues during bargaining but one recent challenge was a proposal to implement “drastic changes” to employee health care District administration said they did not propose changes in coverage for teachers or their families but identified a plan that “matches teachers’ current benefits while saving over $500,000 per year.” They did not detail how this money was being saved Briscoe said multiple educators are being treated for longstanding medical issues such as cancer and kidney failure Changing health care plans could delay needed The negotiating team requested a copy of the proposed health plan from the district and did not receive one “After having been at the table for so long our bargaining team really took the district’s offer to change health care as a step sideways,” Briscoe said With the increasing demands on our workloads We care about our students and this school district and we know where the district is financially We aren’t asking for anything outrageous; our asks are completely within the financial ability of the district,” Wolfe said in the statement we can’t be walked all over or handed a proposal that’s going to hurt more people than it would help.” The district’s statement referenced Wolfe’s quote saying the PHEA’s initial financial proposal sought a 10% annual salary increase while the district already has offered more than $3 million in raises over four years The district said its teachers’ salaries are top-ranked among other schools with 2,000 to 4,000 students and free or reduced lunch rate above 50% teacher salaries rank seventh highest out of Allegheny’s 43 school districts with an average salary of $90,527 for 191 workdays — significantly higher than per capita annual income of $34,849,” the district’s statement read Briscoe said the majority of educator’s salaries are for workers who have worked at the district for about 30 years New hires are offered a starting salary in the low to mid-$40,000 range Administration said PHEA leadership rejected offers to increase instructional days despite the district operating at the state minimum of 180 days The district also claimed one of the matters being negotiated was some teachers’ time with students “PHEA leadership has demanded that some teachers have only six periods with students per day teachers already receive a preparation period and a paid lunch,” the statement read The statement did not share which teachers were asking for reduced periods The district referenced Penn Hills rankings as reasons to deny this request: ▪ English Language Arts: 38th out of 42 Briscoe said educators teaching for six periods has been district standard for at least 10 years and the system was not being negotiated “We are not proposing to change to six periods,” Briscoe said It’s been established for more than 10 years now We are not asking for any fewer numbers of periods with students The only time without students is a 35-minute lunch break.” teachers have contact for six of those periods Teachers also have a duty period where they are scheduled to watch over lunch periods detentions or other programs dealing with the general student body The teachers also get a prep period to work on grades prepare lesson plans or host tutoring sessions Briscoe said teachers have reported losing a portion or all of their prep periods and having to cover for other classes because of the district’s substitute shortage “The whole notion of teachers trying to get less time with students is not accurate,” Briscoe said “Some of our members were hurt to see that insinuation There’s no attempt to minimize the time they have with students and I don’t know why (the district) included that statement.” The authorization does not mean members of the association are going to strike but union leaders now have the ability to call for one when or if they deem it necessary The PHEA said the association and the district do not have another bargaining date confirmed at this time claimed there are negotiation sessions scheduled but did not specify when they would take place Penn Hills teachers were able to avoid a strike after a contract agreement was reached with district administration According to a news release from the Penn Hills Education Association an unspecified majority of the membership voted to ratify their collective bargaining agreement with the district Wednesday night The school board also approved the four-year contract Wednesday night “The district is excited for the outcome,” Superintendent John Mozzocio said and we feel it resulted in a fair and equitable contract the students will benefit from the new contract.” It will be retoactive to last June and run through June 30 He added starting salaries exceed $50,000 under the new contract “We are pleased with the outcome,” Mark Wolfe president of PHEA and a middle school music teacher The association represents 225 Penn Hills educators did not respond to multiple requests for contract details regarding the wage increases and health care costs Members previously voted to authorize a strike after bargaining with the district since January 2024 and working without a contract since June Briscoe previously said a large factor in voting to authorize a strike was because of a proposed change to the teachers’ health care plan She said multiple educators are being treated for longstanding medical issues such as cancer and kidney failure Wolfe said members’ health care will be “maintained” with the new agreement Mozzocio said health care remains the same but teachers will have a small increase in the share they have to pay in the next three and a half years next year it will be 12% and so on until the end of the contract when they’ll be paying 13.5%.” we were able to maintain our health care and secure wage increases that will help our members — many of whom have dedicated their careers to this district,” Wolfe said “We are also hopeful that these improvements will attract and retain new teachers to the district at a time when there’s a severe teacher shortage across the state.” In addition to increased wages and a health care agreement association members received an early retirement incentive Teachers also agreed to more “flexibility with scheduling,” Mozzocio said He said there will be more opportunities for teachers to provide remediation and extra tutuoring sessions throughout the school day Wolfe did not immediately respond to a request for further comment regarding contract details confirmed that the board approved the contract Vecchio said members of the administration Business Manager John Zahorchak and Solicitor Dayne Dice I appreciate everything the teachers do and just want to move forward,” Vecchio said “We want to get the students the best education they can and get our test scores up.”