Community Corner
Missing Woman's 'Person Of Interest' Charged + Local Powerball Winner
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Pittsburgh.
Hello, hello! HAPPY FRIDAY!
I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through all the most important things happening in Pittsburgh these days. In today's Daily, we'll cover these stories and more:
- Pittsburgh police asking for help to identify a person suspected of placing a hidden camera in a public restroom
- Carnegie Science Center to hold Veteran's Day event
- First Look: What Pittsburgh is planning for Light-Up Night 2022
Let's get into it!
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Here are the top stories today in Pittsburgh:
1) Pittsburgh police are asking the local community for help in identifying a person suspected of taping a hidden camera in a public restroom. According to police, the perpetrator is suspected of taping the camera inside of a single occupancy restroom at The Frick Pittsburgh on Homewood Avenue for the purpose of secretly capturing images. The secret camera was recently discovered by an employee. Police obtained a search warrant for the digital data and it revealed video and photos of victims ranging from small children to senior citizens. Anyone with information on the man's identity is asked to call Zone 4 detectives at 412-422-6520.
2) Cassandra Gross has been missing since 2018—and four years later, a 'person of interest' in her disappearance case has been charged with homicide in Westmoreland County. Thomas Stanko, 52, of Unity Township, has long been a person of interest in Gross' disappearance in April of 2018. She was declared dead by a judge in 2019. Cassandra Gross of Unity lasted spoke to her mother on April 7, 2018, via phone call while driving on Route 30, heading to her apartment. After the call with her mother, Gross' phone connected to cell towers near Stanko's Macey Road home in Unity. Shortly after, it ceased contact with the network. Phone records showed Gross and Stanko, who had dated, talked throughout the day April 7, 2018, discussing grocery items and the possibility of getting together in the evening, according to court papers. Police said they recovered several "partially destroyed items" that belonged to Gross from a burn barrel at the Macey Road home, including Coach eyeglass stems, a Michael Kors clothing tag and a broken medication bottle. Stanko is at Westmoreland County Prison serving a seven-year federal gun sentence stemming from weapons police found during their searches. He has been incarcerated throughout the investigation on unrelated charges and has maintained his innocence, denying involvement in Gross's disappearance and death.
3) A local of Lawrenceville is holding onto a $100,000 Powerball winning ticket from Wednesday night's drawing. The Pennsylvania Lottery said the ticket was sold at Lori's Gifts on Penn Avenue. According to its website, the store is located at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The ticket buyer selected the Power Play option for an additional $1. The multiplier was two, so it doubled what would have been a $50,000 prize to $100,000. The winner has one year to claim the prize.No ticket matched all five numbers and the Powerball, so the jackpot will roll to an estimated $800 million for the next drawing Saturday.
4) Getting excited for Light-Up Night 2022? Here's what the city is planning. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership says last year's move of Light Up Night from Friday to Saturday was so successful that it's going to be repeated again this year. Highmark Light Up Night is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19, and will include traditional and contemporary holiday attractions, free musical performances and of course a Zambelli fireworks finale. Friday, Nov. 18 marks the opening of the UPMC Rink at PPG Place. The event features an ice figure skating show, a performance by the East End Kids and a Tribute of Light ceremony honoring those who have been affected by cancer. The centerpiece of the rink is a 66-foot-tall holiday tree featuring hundreds of high-resolution LED lights. Also opening Friday is the 11th annual Peoples Gas Holiday Market in Market Square featuring wooden chalets selling artisan holiday gifts. The Holiday Market will run 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Mon-Thurs), 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Fri-Sat) and 11 a.m. – 6 .p.m. (Sun.) from Nov. 18 to Dec. 24 (excluding Thanksgiving Day). The PDP will release a full schedule of Light Up Night attractions on Nov. 2.
5) Carnegie Science Center will host Veteran's Day event to honor those who have served. The event will take place from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 11, on the USS Requin and inside the center's RiverView Café. Attendance will be a mix of elected officials, veterans and active members of the military and their families. Pittsburgh native Mark Ferrari will sing the National Anthem to kick off the ceremony. Guests will then hear remarks from Congressman Conor Lamb and U.S. Rep. Natalie Mahalek, both of whom are military veterans, and from Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Mayor Ed Gainey. In addition to the event, all veterans and active members and up to three of their guests receive free admission to Carnegie Science Center all day. For more information, click HERE
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Today in Pittsburgh:
- Final Fridays on Rose Way - The Andy Warhol Museum (5:00 PM)
- The Silence of the Lambs Night - Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum (5:30 PM)
- One Dark Night... A Rock Symphony of the Macabre! at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall (8:00 PM)
- Monster Bash Costume Party (8:00 PM)
- DJ Sports & Social Steel City (10:00 PM)
- Howl at the Moon Halloween Party (7:00 PM)
From my notebook:
- US National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA: "If you're hoping for cold and ❄️, you are going to have to wait a while! Temperatures will be rising above normal this weekend, and they are likely to stay that way through early November." (US National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA via Facebook)
- City of Pittsburgh: "Statement from Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey: Four years ago our Jewish Community and City were attacked. Today we commemorate the 11 lives taken from us at the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue." (City of Pittsburgh via Facebook)
- Bike Pittsburgh: "‼️ ALERT ‼️ The South Side Trail will be closing near the Glenwood Bridge for about 5 weeks starting on Oct 31 so that crews can fix "Eagle Lake," ie the section that floods near the eagle viewing area. " (Bike Pittsburgh via Facebook)
- Carnegie Science Center: "They're coming for you! See Night of the Living Dead tomorrow, Fri., Oct. 28 or Sat., Oct. 29 at 5:30 pm. 🧟 The film's sound engineer, Gary Streiner, will introduce both showings." (Carnegie Science Center via Facebook)
- Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: "Live near Oakland? Get groceries at no cost! Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is hosting a walk-up distribution at Schenley Plaza on November 2! Tables with food will be set up inside the tent where you can pick out produce and other items." (Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy via Facebook)
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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.
— Rachel Tasker
About me: Rachel is a native Pennsylvanian with stops in Erie and State College before making Pittsburgh her home in 2020. She's got a background in a little bit of everything... from working in media newsrooms and public health to the 2016 Presidential election in Washington, D.C. and the 2019 Super Bowl where (surprise!) Tom Brady won... AGAIN. She loves good coffee, bad reality T.V., attending local events and trying new food in the 412. She resides in the South Hills.
Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Pittsburgh Daily? Contact me at pittsburgh@patch.com
