Ari Plutko returns a shot during WPIAL Class 3A consolation action
Clair senior combined with Shawn Khurana to finish fourth in the tournament
Jonah Jasek and Steven Duing claimed WPIAL gold medals in comeback fashion during the Class 2A doubles tournament played April 22-23 at Bethel Park High School
The South Park juniors rallied after dropping the first set in a tiebreaker and defeated the tandem of Landon Harclerode and Tyler Quinn from Valley in the finals
before winning four of the last five games
but we kept each other positive,” said Duing
“After the tiebreaker we wanted to be more aggressive and start playing more to win.”
Jasek added that the pair “played hesitant in the first set” before recovering for the victory
which South Park head coach Dawn Kempton dubbed “hard-fought.”
Kempton reminded Duing and Jasek to relax and return to what has worked for them in the past
enjoy it and then let them do their thing,” she said
“They knew they needed to be more aggressive and go to the net more
They have played together for 5-6 years and they feed off each other.”
Duing and Jasek entered the tournament as the No
They made it to the championship match by beating Quaker Valley’s Will Meagher and Matthew Henry
They opened tournament action with pro set wins against the tandems of Silas Morris and Tommy Shrum from Greensburg Salem (10-2) as well as Zack Masters and Sean Perez from Beaver (10-0)
Duing and Jasek were bronze medalists in 2023
South Park won its only other doubles title in 2021
Nicole was a WPIAL girls singles champion in 2022
South Park has won WPIAL championships in football and boys soccer
Anna Duncan captured a district crown in wrestling at 124
Duing and Jasek qualified for the PIAA doubles tournament to be held May 23-24 at the Hershey Racquet Club
Clair seniors Ari Plutko and Shawn Khurana combined to finish fourth
They dropped their consolation match against Fox Chapel’s Mason Friday and Frank Siegel
Plutko and Khurana stumbled against Gateway’s Zidaan Hassan and Logan Memije
After winning the first set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (7-5)
Hassan and Memije went on to capture their second straight doubles title together by sweeping Mt
Lebanon’s Luca Ritivoi and Mark Summers
Plutko and Khurana reached the semifinals by beating North Allegheny’s Adhav Ramadas and Nick Scheuring
and Shaler’s Liam Creagh and Roman Vizzoca
who teamed with Ronan Gibbons for runner-up honors against Hassan and Memije in 2024
was the Section 4 doubles runner-up with Khurana
Ritivoi bested Devin Collier from Bethel Park
All four qualified for the WPIAL singles tournament
which was won by Gateway’s Adam Memije
Ritivoi and Khurana won first-round matches but were eliminated from further play in the quarterfinals
Plutko and Khurana helped the Panthers reach the semifinals in the WPIAL Class 3A team tournament
USC will battle top-seeded North Allegheny in the semifinals set for May 5 at a site and time to be determined
Peters Township dropped a 3-2 decision to Franklin Regional
who finished third in the section behind Lebo and USC
The WPIAL team championships are scheduled for May 7 at the Janet L
Swanson Tennis Center on the Washington & Jefferson College campus
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Events for 2025 will be announced later this year
Join talented local musicians for the Fall Concert Series in the Allegheny County Parks
Concerts are held from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm on Saturdays in September and October
and snacks to enjoy great local talent in the beautiful natural setting of the Allegheny County Parks
Events are weather-permitting and in the event of inclement weather, please check the Allegheny County Parks Facebook page for updates
Marjorie Ann D'AlessandroBirth date: Aug 7
Visitation & Funeral Information","description":"Honoring the memory of Marjorie Ann D'Alessandro with their obituary
visitation and funeral information.","articleSection":"Obituaries","articleBody":"Marjorie Ann D'Alessandro
a cherished resident of South Park Township
Marjorie was a devoted homemaker and dedicated her life to her family.\n\nMarjorie is survived by her loving son
She was a proud grandmother to Brandon (Rachel) D'Alessandro
She also leaves behind her beloved brother
George (Diane) Assenat as well as many nieces and nephews.\n\nMarjorie was preceded in death by her husband
Janet Coyle and Jay Assenat.\n\nMarjorie is now reunited with her husband and her son in heaven
and devotion will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.\n\nIn this time of loss
we reflect on the legacy Marjorie leaves behind-a testament to her role as a loving mother
May her memory be a blessing to all.\n\nFamily and friends will be received on Sunday
when a Blessing Service will be held at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home
PA 15236.\n\nOnline condolences may be left at www.jeffersonmemorial.com","keywords":"Marjorie Ann D'Alessandro
Biography","dateCreated":"2024-12-20T18:33:35.75Z","datePublished":"2024-12-20T18:33:35.75Z","dateModified":"2024-12-22T18:04:24.6Z","genre":"Obituary
Marjorie was a devoted homemaker and dedicated her life to her family
She was a proud grandmother to Brandon (Rachel) D'Alessandro
George (Diane) Assenat as well as many nieces and nephews
Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband
Marjorie is now reunited with her husband and her son in heaven
and devotion will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her
Family and friends will be received on Sunday
Online condolences may be left at www.jeffersonmemorial.com
Share a story where Marjorie's kindness touched your heart
Describe a day with Marjorie you’ll never forget
Photo/VideoCemetery DetailsJefferson Memorial Park401 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh PA 15236
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Here are some of the latest news items from this morning
A truck crashed into a hole in the road caused by a water main break in South Park Township early Tuesday morning
according to Broughton Volunteer Fire Department
the fire department said in a social media post
Riggs Road is closed between Derbyshire and Piney Bluff drives
Pennsylvania American Water told TribLive news partner WTAE that repairs on the 8-inch main will be completed sometime on Tuesday
$1 million winning lottery ticket sold in Butler County
A $1 million All Cash Scratch-Off ticket was sold in Center Township in Butler County
the Pennsylvania Lottery said in a news release
the restaurant and bowling alley that sold the lucky ticket
All Cash is a $20 game that offers prizes of up to $1 million
meaning the Pennsylvania Lottery and the retailers who sell tickets don’t know where winning tickets will be sold until after a prize has been claimed
Julia Burdelski is a TribLive reporter covering Pittsburgh City Hall and other news in and around Pittsburgh. A La Roche University graduate, she joined the Trib in 2020. She can be reached at jburdelski@triblive.com
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Fire marshal investigating South Park blaze
The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is investigating what caused a fire to break out Monday evening in a commercial building in South Park
The blaze was reported along Brownsville Road near Wrescom Street
Broughton Volunteer Fire Department in a social media post said calls reported a lot of dark smoke billowing from the building
There had also been an initial concern that someone was trapped in the building
Pittsburgh SWAT team responds to domestic incident
Pittsburgh’s SWAT team responded Tuesday morning to a domestic incident at the border of Pittsburgh’s Homewood West and Homewood North neighborhoods
The SWAT unit was called to the 7000 block of Idlewild Street
Public safety officials said SWAT was responding around 4:30 a.m
to an armed man who was barricaded inside a house following a domestic incident
Police executed a search warrant inside the house but did not find the man inside
public safety officials said just after 6 a.m
A man is in stable condition after he was hit by a car in Pittsburgh’s Strip District neighborhood Monday morning
Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 25th Street around 8 a.m
A Pittsburgh Regional Transit driver reported the incident
explaining a man who had been riding the bus ran across the street into traffic
The driver who struck the man stayed on the scene and is cooperating with police
Pittsburgh EMS transported the man to a hospital in stable condition
A $1 million All Cash scratch-off ticket was sold in Butler County
The Quick Stop on South Main Street will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the lucky ticket
All Cash is a $20 game with top prizes of $1 million
and the Pennsylvania Lottery and its retailers don’t know where winning tickets will be sold
Lottery officials find out where winning tickets were sold only after a prize has been claimed
Earlier this month, an Indiana Township pizza shop sold a winning Powerball ticket worth $214 million
South Park Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Edward Snee dubbed the Montour Trail Stewart-to-Wood Section a “hidden secret,” but Diane and Rusty Kerin of Finleyville discovered the gem before its grand opening on Thursday
They had been using the stretch of trail that closely follows Piney Fork Creek along Brownsville Road for about a month
“It’s off the road and it’s quiet,” added Rusty
the Kerins trek about three miles and enjoy the convenience the new stretch provides because they “don’t have to drive out and go all the way up to the other part” of the trail
the completion of the trail from Stewart Road to Wood Street in South Park Township was a long time coming
Clair resident has been with the organization since 1992
He serves as the president of the South Hills Friends of the Montour Trail
“It’s great to finally get this last little piece completed,” he said
Wolfe is president of the Montour Trail Council (MTC)
the MTC celebrated with an official grand opening celebration that included a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 36.6-mile trail marker
The opening of the section closes the last trail gap between Library and the western part of Jefferson Hills Borough
It eliminates the last on-road section of trail between mile marker 0 (zero) in Moon Township and the Green Man tunnel
“We are filling in the last gap in a section that is now 40 miles of continuous off-road trail,” Wolfe said
Trail users now can also ride from South Park westward to the Arrowhead Trail in Peters Township and continue on to Coraopolis without venturing onto roads used for vehicular travel
“It’s the last link in the chain,” said project manager David Oyler
you had to get off the trail and ride on the road
you can go from Mile 0 to Mile 39.5 without getting off the trails.”
A cyclist who rides two to three times a week
Walter Prescotz recalls those harrowing times riding alongside traffic
he says he has had to travel a treacherous path before the completion of the trail segment
“I used to have to ride on Brownsville Road to get to Stewart,” he said
acknowledged that it’s important to get foot and bicycle traffic off the streets
“What’s beautiful about the Montour Trail is that there are different sections
different locales with a wide variety of scenery
They also afford an opportunity for everybody to walk
The dog walkers and stroller moms use it,” he continued
“It’s a wonderful resource for our community
So this is a monumental occasion for all of us.”
The nearly $5 million project to complete the four-mile section between Library and the Green Man tunnel has been underway for more than 15 years
It required the construction of four bridges
a multimillion-dollar rehabilitation of the 500-foot long Library Viaduct spanning
and numerous other minor construction projects
The MTC secured significant grant funding from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for the segment between Wood Street and Stewart Road
The prime construction contractor was MSB Excavating of Eighty Four
and the engineering contractor was Gateway Engineers of Pittsburgh
gasoline for vehicles and trucks that work on the trail
the MTC has trail patrols that clear debris from tree branches to deer carcasses
The patrols also make sure users are following the rules and speed limits
They also are certified in CPR and first aid
Kevin McGoun of Scott Township is one of the MTC volunteers who patrols the trails
I love it and I want to do whatever I can to help out.”
The Montour Trail Council is partnering with the Allegheny Country Parks Foundation (ACPF) as it continues to embark on an “audacious” project to connect all nine country parks
According to ACPF executive director Joel-Linn Ulrich
a feasibility study has just been completed regarding connecting South Park with White Oak Park via the rails-to-trails system
“We are connecting people to the outdoors,” Ulrich said
One of a dozen dignitaries to speak during the ribbon-cutting ceremony
“These are avenues to creating memories that last a lifetime,” she said
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Angela GirolParty: DemocratAge: 51Residence: South Park TownshipOccupation: Teacher at Elizabeth Forward Elementary SchoolPolitical experience: Two-term South Park School Board memberAndrew KuzmaParty: RepublicanAge: 28Residence: Elizabeth TownshipOccupation: Lawyer at self-owned firmPolitical experience: One-term state representative
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Jack Troy is a TribLive reporter covering the Freeport Area and Kiski Area school districts and their communities. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in January 2024 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. He can be reached at jtroy@triblive.com
What’s at stake? For more than 50 years the Mon Valley’s HD-39 had been a sure-fire seat for Democrats. That’s until Republican Rick Saccone won it in 2011 — the district that bridges Allegheny and Washington counties has been solidly red since then
entering state politics just eight years after graduating from high school
Democratic challenger Angela Girol is a union-backed educator who teaches at Kuzma’s former school and aims to return HD-39 to its Democratic days of yore
South Park Township and West Elizabeth in Allegheny County and Carroll Township (part)
New Eagle and Union Township in Washington County
Girol has taught in the Elizabeth Forward School District for 17 years — a timeframe during which Kuzma was a student at the school
(Girol’s campaign confirmed she did not instruct Kuzma herself.) She’s campaigning on several legislative goals
plus affordable child care and health care
she’s backed by labor and teachers federations
State policies can help determine the health of the local economy — by adjusting tax rates
What policies do you think Harrisburg should pursue to improve the state’s economic performance
Harrisburg should prioritize policies that support working families
such as expanding access to affordable child care
and investing in public education and workforce training
reducing the tax burden on small businesses and investing in infrastructure improvements would help stimulate job creation and economic growth in our communities
Pennsylvania’s approach to education funding
which relies heavily on local property taxes
has long been criticized for burdening homeowners and for creating gaps between rich and poor communities
What should the legislature do to address those concerns
and are there other reforms you think are needed to improve the education students receive?
The legislature must reform the current funding formula to ensure equitable distribution of resources
We should also reduce the reliance on property taxes by increasing the commonwealth funding for public schools
and modernizing school facilities will help bridge the gaps and provide all students with the quality education they deserve
Nearby states have legalized the adult recreational use of marijuana
and there have been proposals to do so in Pennsylvania
possibly through new distributors or through existing state stores or medical marijuana dispensaries
who should be allowed to sell the product?
I support the legalization of adult recreational marijuana
provided it includes strong regulations and safeguards
The commonwealth should permit both existing medical marijuana dispensaries and new small businesses to sell the product
ensuring a fair marketplace that benefits local communities and generates tax revenue for public services
Arguments over voting provisions — such as mail-in balloting
“drop boxes” and voter verification requirements — have become a part of the electoral landscape
How well do you think our election systems work now
changes to our state voting laws would you support?
Pennsylvania’s election system works well overall
I support maintaining and expanding mail-in voting and drop boxes to increase voter accessibility
ensuring robust voter verification and security measures while protecting against voter suppression is crucial
Our goal should be to make voting as accessible and secure as possible for every eligible Pennsylvanian
there have been discussions in state capitals across the country about whether to limit abortion access or expand it
would you favor to the state's current abortion laws?
I strongly support expanding access to abortion services and safeguarding reproductive rights in Pennsylvania
The commonwealth should ensure that abortion remains legal
without unnecessary restrictions that jeopardize the health and autonomy of individuals seeking care
It’s essential to protect the right to choose for all Pennsylvanians
Kuzma is a first-term representative who formerly served as commissioner in Elizabeth Township right out of high school
He’s now an attorney and state lawmaker in a district that covers his hometown in the Mon Valley
opposition to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
WESA Candidate SurveyKuzma did not respond to the WESA Candidate Survey
Have a tip for the WESA newsroom? Email news@wesa.fm
A view to the east down 53rd Street on April 5
Property value reassessments are hitting mailboxes across Chicago this year, and officials are urging Hyde Park Township residents to check out their reassessment notices and get any appeals filed amid “big spikes” in some property values on the mid-South Side
a large area that stretches along the lakefront from Bronzeville to Altgeld Gardens and Hegewisch
the total assessed value of residential and commercial property grew by 38% this year
according to data released from Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s office last week
The biggest increases in residential property values
according to a spokesperson from the assessor’s office
South of that and in the Hyde Park neighborhood specifically – the latter of which had property values that were already high – the increases in residential values are less substantial
The office assesses one-third of Cook County each year
reflect changes in the real estate market over the last three years
including the recent trend of spikes in property values in parts of the mid-South Side
Hyde Park Township values saw the biggest growth of other Chicago townships reassessed so far this year; Rogers Park Township saw an increase of 32%
and both Lake View Township and West Chicago Township grew by 27%
The impact of increased assessments won’t show up on Hyde Park Township taxes until next year
and the assessor’s office is encouraging residents to look at their reassessment notices
and file any appeals before the mid-September deadline to avoid surprises come the next tax bill
Property taxes in Cook County primarily fund school districts, as well as parks, libraries and county and municipal services. This year, property taxes totaled about $18.3 billion in Cook County
the office first determines the fair market value of a property
which is based on an individual property’s characteristics and the value of nearby properties
the median sale price for single-family homes in 2023 in Hyde Park Township was $161,000
while the assessor’s median market value estimate for the same property class is $127,000
The property’s assessed value is 10% of this fair market value
Since the last reassessment in Hyde Park Township
property values rose in some places and decreased in others
According to data from the assessor’s office
the median sale prices of single-family homes and condos across the whole township decreased slightly from 2021 to 2023
single-family residences decreased from $164,000 to $161,000; condos decreased from $197,000 to $172,000; and multi-family residences rose from $247,000 to $267,000
condos in the neighborhood saw a median sale price of $197,000; single-family homes saw a median sale price of $588,000; and multi-family homes saw a median sale price of $800,000
A full breakdown of the township is available here.
Noting that many South Suburban property owners this year reported that they were “blindsided” by the changes to their tax bills following reassessment last year
the spokesperson said the assessor’s office is encouraging residents to evaluate their reassessment notices and file any appeals before the September deadline
Appeals for Hyde Park Township must be submitted by September 11
Property owners may appeal their assessment if the property characteristics listed on their assessment notice are incorrect
or if they think the estimated market value of their property is significantly more than what it could sell for in the current real estate market
“I strongly encourage property owners to review their reassessment notice to ensure their property characteristics and market value reflect their home,” said Kaegi in a statement
Kaegi’s office and other local alders are hosting virtual workshops and offering other help to assist property owners with appeals and help them understand the reassessments
More information on upcoming events hosted by the office is available at cookcountyassessor.com/event-list
Ald. Lamont Robinson’s (4th) office will hold a virtual event on how to file appeals and apply for exemptions 6:30 p.m. on August 26. For more information and to register, click here.
Ald. Desmon Yancy (5th) and Ald. Jeanette Taylor also said they’re planning similar events, but details have not been finalized. Visit Yancy and Taylor’s social media pages for more information in the coming weeks
The Cook County Board of Review also hosts appeals workshops
A Hyde Park workshop has not yet been announced
This year, many residents of the South and Southwest Suburbs, which was reassessed last year, saw a substantial increase in their tax bills. According to a report from the Cook County Treasurer’s office, the median south suburban residential tax bill increased by nearly 20%
the largest percentage increase in at least 29 years
The spokesperson attributed this growth in part to reductions to the assessments for commercial properties by the Cook County Board of Review
which shifts the burden to residential property owners
The effect is that “a lot of homeowners who can’t afford it are going to see their tax bills increase pretty significantly,” the spokesperson said
they accumulate debt and eventually end up in the county’s tax sale
The spokesperson said the assessor’s office is pushing for a number of reforms to help mitigate these spikes
Chief among these is a “circuit breaker” program in the county that would offer assistance to people struggling to pay their bills
low-income homeowners in gentrifying neighborhoods and individuals who experience a loss of primary income
“We could potentially see this kind of tax bill spike again next year in Chicago,” the spokesperson said
“Our worry is that we need some action on this
or else it’s going to keep getting worse.”
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Allegheny County Police are investigating the deaths of a woman and a 10-year-old girl found dead Friday evening in a vehicle in South Park
County police said released a statement saying Mt
Lebanon police were contacted by a male Friday afternoon requesting a welfare check on the 43-year-old woman and the girl
determined the woman’s vehicle was at the Diana Grove in South Park
Allegheny County Police were dispatched and found Serena Guan
The county police’s Homicide Unit reported preliminary information that showed no obvious signs of trauma to either the woman or child
Detectives will await results from the county medical examiner’s office regarding cause and manner of death before making any additional determinations
Investigators believe there is no threat to the public
Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the County Police Tip Line 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477)
The bison herd at Allegheny County’s South Park has grown by two
County officials announced that two baby bison were born in South Park’s game preserve since Friday
“We’re really glad to have them come to the family,” said Andrew Baechle
There are nine adult bison at South Park’s preserve — seven males and two females
Parks staff does not yet know the sex of the newborns
Both newborn bison — one born Friday and the other born Sunday — have their vitamin shots
“So far they seem to be healthy,” Baechle said
“They’re running with their mother
Parks staff named the baby born Friday Riis
founder of Allegheny County’s Parks system
The baby born on Sunday was named by county staff as Roddey
the first Allegheny County executive who recently died
volunteer group Friends of the South Park Buffalo Preserve has named the babies Takoda
from the Sioux tribe meaning “friend to all,” and Elu
meaning “beautiful” from the Zuni tribe
“We really didn’t know they were naming them
I think it’s great that we have a support group that supports the buffalo,” Baechle said
That’s what we’re going to call them
I think it’s great to have nicknames
“The really important thing is we’ve got healthy babies right now.”
Bison have roamed the South Park preserve since the 1920s
“We’ve had them here since 1927,” Baechle said
“We’ve had a healthy herd of buffalo that have been here educating (visitors) and making South Park a nice place to come.”
Baechle encouraged people to visit the preserve and check out the new bison
Public feedings are from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m
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
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY | ALLEGHENY COUNTY POOLS
PHOTO BY RICHARD COOK | THE NORTH PARK SWIMMING POOL