Communities

ASPINWALL

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association has named Aspinwall Riverfront Park one of its Great Public Spaces for 2017.

The group cited the grassroots effort that turned a brownfield into a riverfront promenade, play area, amphitheater and small marina.

Murrysville

During a public hearing on the municipality’s capital improvements budget, finance director Diane Heming presented a series of budget transfers and line item adjustments that will result in an overall increase of $3.8 million in the capital budget.

Ms. Heming said a total of $2.5 million will be transferred from budgets in the general fund.

About $2 million will be used for planned projects during the five-year period. The remaining amount will be available for unspecified future projects.

The budget plan also projects the purchase of three fire engines over the next five years. To fund the purchase, the municipality will transfer about $1 million from a fund dedicated to the purchase of emergency equipment and another $1 million from loans approved by council earlier in the year.

“This budget is a planning tool for the next five years,” Ms. Hemming told council. “We will spend about $10 million on road projects, $3 million on firetrucks, $1.6 million on vehicle replacement, and $1 million on park improvements. Once approved, we will move the funds into the capital budget in November of this year.”

BUTLER TOWNSHIP

The community living center at Veterans Affairs Butler Healthcare will be named the Sgt. Joseph George Kusick VA Community Center following unanimous votes in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, RButler, introduced the bill to honor the Vietnam War hero from Bruin.

On Nov. 8, 1967, Sgt. Kusick distinguished himself while serving as the radio operator of a Special Forces reconnaissance team on a combat mission.

Although seriously wounded during an ambush, he refused aid and radioed the forward air controller to advise him of the critical situation. While the team leader led a withdrawal to a landing zone, Sgt. Kusick maintained contact with the controller and requested emergency extraction for the reconnaissance team, according to material provided by Mr. Kelly.

Sgt. Kusick refused evacuation by the first helicopter on the scene and called for another to evacuate the rest of the soldiers.

He finally boarded the last helicopter, which was shot down, resulting in his death.

For his actions, Sgt. Kusick was awarded the Silver Star.