Reorganizations Bring New Beginnings to Local Municipalities in 2012

Leetsdale Council appoints new officers; other boards change meeting schedules.

At the start of every new year, government bodies hold annual reorganization meetings to swear-in newly elected members, name board officers, set meeting schedules and conduct other business.   Leetsdale's new council moved to make the most changes in 2012.  In Tuesday night’s reorganization meeting, Leetsdale Council appointed Joseph McGurk president and Wes James vice president. Council voted to dissolve the administrative positions of manager, senior clerk and junior clerk. Manager Paul Scimio and junior clerk Sandy Bajsec were removed from their positions. Elizabeth Petalino was reinstated as borough secretary and treasurer. She is also in charge of collecting the local service tax. Council also hired a new solicitor, Megan M. Ott of  …

• Photos (1)

Viewfinder

Santa Claus Spotted Around the Area

Jolly Old St. Nick visits a few local communities over the weekend.

Santa Claus was spotted earlier this month at Wolcott Park in Sewickley. Over the weekend, he made appearances in several local towns, including at the Cochran Hose Fire Station in Sewickley on Sunday, and Saturday at the Big Sewickley Creek Fire Station in Bell Acres and the community room at the Leetsdale municipal building. At each stop, Santa held babies, posed for photos and heard plenty of wishes from good little girls and boys.  Patch has received exclusive information from the North Pole that Santa Claus plans to make additional appearances on a fire truck in a neighborhood near you. Santa returns to Bell Acres from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Santa will ride through the borough on a fire truck, escorted by the Big …

• Videos (1)

Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Local Police Officer and School Teacher

Proceeds from Saturday's dinner to help a couple who fell ill within two weeks of one another in September.

Ed Cross, a 31-year veteran police officer, and his wife, Linda Cross, a Moon Area Middle School teacher for more than 20 years, are at home attempting to recover after both were admitted to the hospital in September for unrelated illnesses, according to organizers of a spaghetti dinner benefit for the Crosses. Ed Cross rushed his wife of 30 years to the hospital on Sept. 24 due to complications of a possible stroke. While she was in the hospital, Ed Cross also became ill and was taken to the hospital, where doctors found a mass growing inside his colon. The doctors determined that the mass was cancer. Cross was in and out of the hospital as he underwent chemotherapy treatments, had a colostomy, and was treated for two pulmonary embolisms…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)

Larissa Dudkiewicz

9:37 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011

Ed is a nice guy. I haven't met his wife, but she sounds like a nice person too. Hopefully they get a nice turnout tonight.   more ›

Why Will More Taxes Be Taken Out of Your Paycheck?

A tale of tax collection is unfolding due to changes in Pennsylvania's Earned Income Tax legislation.

  Beginning Jan. 1, your paycheck will be a little lighter even though no one raised the tax rate. How could that happen? There's a new tax collection system in town. In the new year, employers will automatically deduct the local earned-income tax from workers' paychecks. Currently residents are required to estimate their earned-income tax and send in a check or online payment quarterly. Sewickley residents will be paying the same 1 percent rate for the earned-income tax; it simply will be collected differently. Whose idea was this anyway? The change is the result of Act 32, which the Pennsylvania Legislature  passed in 2008. The state is divided into Tax Collection Districts -- TCDs -- that usually line up with county lines. Allegheny …

• Videos (1)

Around the Sewickley Valley: Community Election Results

With 100 percent of the votes counted in Allegheny County, Patch brings you the unofficial results in school board, magistrate, borough and township contests.

  Region I One 4-year term Name of Candidate Party Total % Gianni Floro D/R 832 99.28   Region II Two 4-year terms Robert Riker D/R 490 47.12 David Pusateri D/R 554 52.31   Region III Two 4-year terms Jack Norris D/R 1052 49.58 D/R 1046 49.57   Aleppo Township Commissioners Two 4-year terms Name of Candidate Party Total % Joanne Schollaert D 186 57.76         Aleppo Township Commissioners  One 2-year term Name of Candidate Party Total % Linda S. Vescio R 312 92.69   Bell Acres Council Three 4-year terms Name of Candidate Party Total % Kenneth Alvania D 185   30.48 Christopher Abell D 192 31.63 Dennis Young Jr. R 225 37.07 Leetsdale Judge Office One 6-year term Robert Ford D/R 4924 99.33   Edgeworth Council Three 4-year terms Name of …

• Photos (1)

2011 Election Central Voters Guide

Planning to vote Nov. 8? Sewickley Patch brings you its 2011 Election Central guide to the candidates and races that affect your community.

With the Nov. 8 general election just around the corner, Sewickley Patch brings you its 2011 Election Central database. Here you will find links and pages detailing positions that will be filled in the election, as well as information about the various candidates running and polling locations around the Sewickley Valley. Bookmark this page and return for updates through Nov. 8 and beyond.   In our 2011 Election Log, we'll keep you updated on candidates' stances on issues, events, announcements and any other news related to the races. Interested in something you don't see? Leave a comment, or send an email to larissa.dudkiewicz@patch.com.   Planning a debate, a coffee or gathering with candidates? Let Patch know.     The following locations…

• Photos (1)

Halloween Events

A roundup of Halloween events, activities and trick-or-treating in the Sewickley Valley.

Children's trick or treating in the Quaker Valley communities will take place collectively on Halloween from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 in Aleppo, Bell Acres, Edgeworth, Glen Osborne, Glenfield, Haysville, Leet, Leetsdale, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights and Sewickley Hills. Local Police advise motorists to use extreme caution during these times. Parents are reminded to dress their children in light colored or reflective clothing. A parent or an older child should accompany the very young.     Fall Event   Annual Parade in Sewickley   Merchant Trick-or-Treat   Leetsdale's Annual Halloween Party   Haunted House   Sewickley Hills Annual Halloween Party

• Photos (1)