St. Sebastian projects to be displayed at open house
Latest News
February 8, 2020

St. Sebastian projects to be displayed at open house

By Mon Valley Independent

By EMILY BENNETT DILULLO

ebennett@yourmvi.com

St. Sebastian Regional Catholic School in Belle Vernon will host an open house at 12:30 p.m. Sunday for prospective students and their families. 

The event will showcase some of its most recent student projects, including the upcoming construction of a Little Free Library in the school’s serenity garden. 

The Little Free Library will allow students to pause for a moment of relaxation and calm to read a book. 

The garden began last year under the direction of retired principal Dr. Nina Zetty, according to a press release from the Greensburg Diocese. 

Last year’s third- and fourth-grade classes initiated the project by installing a statue, as well as benches and flower pots. Students from every grade also painted “ladybug rocks” to use for decoration, and local boy scouts installed a flower and vegetable bed layout. 

St. Sebastian recently received a grant from the Mon Valley Alliance’s Town-to-Town program to help fund efforts to spruce up the garden by adding the Little Free Library. Students will construct the library bin during the current school year. 

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Saturday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.

McKeesport firefighters rescue cat stuck in tree
Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
December 17, 2025
It’s not known if the animal has an owner. Rescuing cats out of trees is something usually seen on TV shows, but it became a real-life scenario Tuesday when McKeesport firefighters had to do just that...
Elizabeth Borough wastewater system sale official
Latest News, Main
December 17, 2025
Pennsylvania American Water has finalized the purchase, completing the process that began nearly three years ago. For the MVI Pennsylvania American Water announced Tuesday it has completed the acquisi...
Monessen firefighters collect toys for kids
Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
December 17, 2025
A fire truck was filled with donations that will be distributed by the Monessen Family Center. Monessen’s volunteer fire departments held their annual toy drive Tuesday night to provide Christmas gift...
North Belle Vernon approves budget with no tax increase
Latest News, Main
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
December 17, 2025
There’s a slight surplus in the 2026 spending plan. North Belle Vernon council adopted its 2026 budget Tuesday, holding the borough’s tax rate steady at 29 mills and continuing a 3-mill fire tax for N...
Commissioners plan to strip hotel tax revenue from county tourism to build convention center
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
WASHINGTON COUNTY
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
December 17, 2025
Jeff Kotula of the county’s Tourism Promotion Agency warns that the move would be a violation of state law. Washington County commissioners are weighing changes to the county’s hotel tax ordinance tha...
Rep. Davanzo honors lifesavers
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
December 17, 2025
State Rep. Eric Davanzo, R-Smithton, recently presented citations to Turkeytown Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Jamie Pergola and Smithton Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Marty Pon...