Jason Mignanelli stories

The Block Northway pepped up its weekly farmers market Sept. 18 by inviting some boisterous guests. Normally, the market is a quiet place to shop for local produce, visit with vendors and grab a bite to eat from a food truck. Not on this evening. The echoes of high school...

When Shaler’s wooded recreational areas became overrun by invasive Japanese knotwood, authorities did the only thing they could do: They brought in some goats. After exploring chemical use and landscapers, township officials felt it was best to bring in two groups of hungry goats, dubbing them “seasonal employees.” The teams...

Lynne Sciulli’s son, Anthony, graduated from North Hills High School in 2014, and her other son, Nicholas, graduated in 2020. After spending so many years involved at the school, Sciulli, a lifelong Ross resident and North Hills graduate herself, wanted to find a way to stay involved. Understanding that many...

Hampton Council held a public hearing Aug. 13 to discuss the sale of a single-family home in the 2500 block of Hampton Road to a company planning to use it as a group care home. Council members approved the conditional use application. “The property is in a residential B zoning...

Members of the Hampton School Board met Aug. 11 to vote on several new initiatives before school begins Aug. 21. The board voted unanimously to adopt a revised policy to No. 227 controlled substance and paraphernalia in the school’s handbook. The new policy will include restrictions on vaping and newer...

A crowd of administrators, teachers, community members and students gathered Aug. 6 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and sneak peek of the newly renovated West View Elementary School. The unveiling of the nearly $40 million project was a special moment, held 100 years since the school first opened. Principal Jesse Simpson...

Students in grades 1-12 in the North Hills School District will begin the new school year on Aug. 20; kindergartners will start two days later. With the students’ return comes an opportunity for the community to have a hand in their success. The school board announced a fundraising opportunity to...

The youngsters at the Vincentian Child Discovery Center off McKnight Road on the campus of the Vincentian Sisters of Charity invited their grandmothers to school with them on July 23 to celebrate Gorgeous Grandma Day. The children provided mask-making supplies, makeup stations, jewelry making, glamour shots, cookie decorating and games...

A group of lucky boys and girls got to spend an hour with Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes on June 27. Young baseball and softball players, including 25 from four local organizations — Ingomar, Hampton, Fox Chapel and North Hills — were invited to the first-ever Pack Wars event at...

Members of Hampton Council discussed a variety of topics at their regular meeting July 9. The township’s police social worker, Angela Kenbok, gave a presentation on the progress being made in the community. Hampton is one of only a few townships in the area that employs a full-time social worker...

Every year for Community Day, members of Shaler’s fire departments gather in Kiwanis Park and give free fire truck rides to those in attendance. The 2025 gathering was even more special because the township is celebrating its 125th anniversary with events all year long. Representatives from the Shaler Villa, Elfinwild...

Father Daniel J. Roberts was joined by family, friends, fellow priests, bishops and seminarians as he celebrated his first Mass on June 29 at St. Bonaventure Church in Shaler. “Ten years ago, I never would have dreamed that I’d be standing here in front of you as a priest, especially...

Splish, splash and monster mash! Hampton’s first Summerween turned out to be a big hit June 21 at the Hampton Community Pool. “We were looking for something cool and different to do this year, and it’s kind of been a trend happening online — this idea of celebrating Halloween twice...

Tristan Mikelas of Richland has been building things since he was 3. Now 11, he celebrated making his 100th Kids Workshop project on June 7 at Home Depot along William Flinn Highway in Hampton. Every Home Depot location offers a free workshop once a month where children of all ages...

The National Safety Council and the U.S. Postal Service recently recognized two mail carriers from the Verona Post Office for their safe driving records. The NSC Million Mile Award is given to drivers who complete either 1 million miles of driving or 30 years of driving without a preventable accident....

Two chapters of the nonprofit Team Friends met Monday, June 2, at the corner of Route 910 and Saxonburg Boulevard in Indiana Township for a special monthly gathering. Members from the Armstrong County chapter joined the Allegheny County founding chapter to plant flowers at the busy intersection, which is one...

Memorial Day is a time to honor the men and women who died serving their country. At this year’s celebration in Richland, a group of local Scouts received special recognition for their service, too. The American Legion presented Boy Scout Troop 150 of Gibsonia with its Outstanding Troop of the...

Students in grades K-12 recently gathered in North Park for the semiannual Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh walk-a-thon fundraiser. Each year, the private Catholic institution picks a fundraiser to help support a certain initiative at the school in Hampton. “Some years we’ve done a gala for our fundraiser. Other years, we’ve...

Pittsburghers are very familiar with Fred Rogers, and the Shaler Area School District is making sure his legacy of love and kindness lives on through the 143 Day of Kindness event. Rogers used the number 143 to represent “I Love You” — with 143 being the number of characters in...

Dick’s Clothing and Sporting Goods is the proud new owner of the highly sought-after autographed Paul Skenes rookie debut baseball card and wants to share it with everyone, especially Pittsburgh Pirates fans. The 2024 Topps Chrome patch card, purchased at auction for $1.11 million, was delivered Thursday night to Dick’s...

There is no denying the popularity of e-bikes, and anybody who has ridden one will tell you what an amazing experience it can be. Whether you are tackling the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania or simply riding the 5-mile loop around the lake at North Park, the electronic assistance turns...

This year’s Firecracker 5K in Hampton will be held on July 4, just as it has been for the past 18 years. The Hampton Township Rotary Club sponsors the event, which brings roughly 120 runners from all over the Pittsburgh area. “We think it’s a great opportunity to bring people...

The Depreciation Lands Museum in Hampton hosts its annual Independence Day Celebration on June 30. Festivities begin at 1 p.m., and at 3 o’clock, a bell will ring signifying the start of a riveting reading of the Declaration of Independence by Dennis Rable, a volunteer. “The reading will be followed...

Hampton Township will hold its annual Community Day on July 3. This year’s event will once again offer food, entertainment and fireworks. “Hampton Community Day is a tradition that many residents look forward to each year. It is an opportunity for people to get together and enjoy fireworks close to...

The last day in May marked the first day of life without mandatory education for the North Allegheny Senior High School Class of 2024. Newman Stadium began to fill up early in the afternoon. Traffic and parking were a nightmare, but everything else was nearly perfect, including the weather. Families...