Latest news with #NatronaHeights
CBS News
25-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Natrona Heights' Community Supermarket to shut down this fall
The days of having a convenient supermarket just down the street are coming to a close in Natrona Heights. The Community Supermarket in the Heights Plaza Shopping Center will close its doors this fall. "It just breaks my heart," Debbie Crusan of Saxonburg said. Everyone has their favorite find. But Crusan and others will soon have to look for an alternative grocery store. "It's going to be an inconvenience for sure, for a lot of people, I think anyway," Paul Norris of Tarentum said. Community Supermarket's general manager says it's been a tough economic time for places like this. "They make it tough," general manager George Sears said when asked about the pressures of bigger competition. "They got the money; I guess they can survive," Norris said. About 30 people worked at the store in Natrona Heights. "I'm just going to miss them all. They've been great," Jane Jarosinski of Sarver said. It's part of why coming here was worth it to these residents. "It's not a big box chain," Crusan said. Sears told KDKA-TV that Community Supermarket hopes to retain employees at other locations in Bloomfield, Lower Burrell and Penn Hills. "We are deeply disappointed that Giant Eagle affiliate, Community Market, has opted to discontinue operations at Heights Plaza," asset manager of Heights Plaza Shopping Center, Richard Lubkin, told KDKA-TV in a statement. "Community Market has been a mainstay of the Natrona Heights area for many years. The value-oriented product the grocery store provided was appreciated by thousands of local consumers. A sizable portion of Harrison Township and surrounding communities have relied on Community Market for its shopping needs, including many of our mature citizens. We hope to provide an alternative grocery option for the community in the future."
CBS News
09-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Bikers take to the roads for 18th annual Poker Run to support homeless veterans
Bikers take to the roads for 18th annual Poker Run to support homeless veterans Bikers take to the roads for 18th annual Poker Run to support homeless veterans Bikers take to the roads for 18th annual Poker Run to support homeless veterans They served our country, and now far too many are left to struggle alone. But this weekend, a group of bikers hit the road to make sure our homeless veterans are not forgotten. It's a number no one truly knows: how many veterans are experiencing homelessness, all while many are already fighting a war within. "Not only homelessness, they suffer from PTSD, [and] there's drug issues," said Dr. Therone Wade-White, Director of Veteran Services at Shepherd's Heart Veteran Home. For 20 years, the Natrona Heights VFW Post 894 has made it a mission to help. On Sunday, bikers roared to life for their 18th annual Poker Run. "When they get back from the war, their houses will be gone. They'll have PTSD, unable to keep a job, so they end up on the streets," said Tom Grates, co-president of Ride for Homeless Veterans. The ride stretches 100 miles, but it's more than just a road. It raises money for Shepherd's Heart and raises awareness. There was food, a silent auction, and music, all for a purpose. "I've seen the transition since I was a kid, and it has grown and grown," said Alexis Kwalick, co-president of Ride for Homeless Veterans. "I can remember from the first couple of years when we were putting just socks, underwear, and that in a bucket for them. To now, we're getting stuff signed by Ted Nugent," said Grates. For those who ride, the mission is clear. "I think every bit helps, every bit helps," said Randall Kaczor. "We need to help them out." For many veterans, this ride means more than money: it means they're not forgotten. "The veterans sometimes feel as if they're unloved or unwanted, and then they see their brothers and sisters riding bikes with them to raise funds for them," said Therone Wade-White.
