Natalie Beneviat stories, Page 17
North Allegheny’s per-capita tax headed for elimination
The North Allegheny School District plans to eliminate for five years a flat, $10 per-capita tax levied on each adult living in the district. “The District has historically levied this tax on its residents as part of the annual budget. In an effort to look for opportunities to minimize the...
Transportation and special needs employees needed at North Allegheny
The North Allegheny School District has mounted a “full-court press” to fill open positions, particularly support staff in special needs classrooms and bus drivers. “We have a lot of drivers in the pipeline,” said Marijane Treacy, human resources director, during a presentation to the North Allegheny School Board, which met...
North Allegheny School District 1 of only 20 in state offering Seal of Biliteracy
North Allegheny School District is one of two local school districts that offered the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy program in the Pittsburgh region last school year, honoring its students who attain an intermediate to high proficiency in English and one other world language. North Allegheny and Hampton Township school districts...
Bullet casing found at North Allegheny Intermediate High School in McCandless
Editor’s note: This story is updated with comment from School Resource Officer Mike Metzger A student found a bullet casing at the North Allegheny Intermediate School in McCandless on Monday, Sept. 25, officials said, however authorities determined there was no immediate threat to students or the school. After McCandless police...
McCandless man has made a career out of restringing tennis rackets
Anton Constantino may know a thing or two about tennis rackets, having restrung more than 25,000 of them. Restringing a racket is something that every professional or avid player knows keeps their game tight, according to Constantino — and he knows just how to do it. “A pro can tell...
North Allegheny director of operations resigns amid busing issues
While some students who live within North Allegheny School District but attend private school are left without transportation to and from school, the school board unanimously approved to accept the resignation of director of operations Mark Trichtinger — who handled the operations of the transportation department — effective Oct. 2....
Western Pennsylvania school districts receive email swatting threats
Several Western Pennsylvania school districts were the target of swatting emails this week, authorities said. They included Mt. Lebanon, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and South Park in Allegheny County and Belle Vernon and Derry Area in Westmoreland County. The school districts reported receiving threatening messages via email on Tuesday and Wednesday....
North Allegheny grad and NASA astronaut Hoburg returns to Earth
After 186 days and many, many miles aboard the International Space Station, former North Allegheny graduate Dr. Warren “Woody” Hoburg, a North Allegheny High School graduate and astronaut on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6, is back on Earth. Crew-6 returned to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, splashing down at 12:17 a.m., Sept....
McCandless museum hosts ‘Trolley Trails’ event
Seats are filling up quickly for two sessions of Trolley Trails through the North Hills to be held on Sept. 26 at the McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center. Sessions will be held at both 5 and 7 p.m. Registration must be completed online via the www.townofmccandless.org. Scott Becker, executive...
NA alum is Navy commander in Hawaii, helps in Maui fire tragedy
When huge wildfires struck the Hawaiian island of Maui in August, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Brian Mowry, a McCandless native, conducted search-and-rescue missions with fellow crew members of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37, the “Easyriders.” Their worst enemy? The smoke. “In the first 72 hours, my squadron, HSM-37, provided initial search-and-rescue...
Dragon Boat Festival comes to North Park Sept. 30
The dragon awakens, and it then begins — The Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, which celebrates the sport of dragon boat racing and breast cancer survivors in the greater Pittsburgh area. The festival on Sept. 30, at North Park Lake on Pearce Mill Road is in its fifth year and was...
North Allegheny works to find replacement bus contractors after vendor suddenly cancels contract
The North Allegheny School District is bringing in more staff, searching for contractors and introducing a new mobile tracking app that may help address some problems that led to an abrupt cancellation of bus transportation for private and parochial students during the first week of school. NA officials said a...
McCandless’ newest trail to open this fall
The Town of McCandless will boost its walkability with a new trail set to open this fall. Brandt Trail is a nearly one-mile, natural trail starting near the tennis courts at Wall Park off Sloop Road on the western side of McCandless, according to McCandless Councilman Robert “Jack” Casey. It...
North Allegheny Schools trying to resolve bus issues after contractor transporting private and parochial students ceases operations
Families living in the North Allegheny School District who have children attending private and parochial schools experienced abrupt cancellation of bus transportation last week. Busing since has been provided to Holy Cross Academy in Ross Township, but not Aquinas Academy in Hampton as of Aug. 29. NA officials said a...
McCandless hosts Community Day and Car Cruise on Sept. 9
McCandless Community Day and the Frank J. Farina Memorial 2023 Car Cruise and Instrument Drive will make quite a pair. They both happen Sept. 9. The car cruisers will be in gear from 2 to 6 p.m., at the North Allegheny Intermediate High School on Cumberland Road. Community Day begins...
North Allegheny junior’s Eagle Scout project installs food pantry box in Millvale
Franklin Park’s Caden Currykosky wanted his Eagle Scout project to make an impact somewhere beyond just the North Allegheny area. “I kind of wanted to do something that would help a lot of people,” said the NA junior. After he posted a notice on Facebook seeking locations to build a...
Northland Library in McCandless hosting children’s, circus-themed gala
Come monkey around at The Children’s Gala 2023: A Storybook Circus on Sept. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road. Tickets are on sale at $25 per person. Children under 2 are admitted free, and all children receive a complimentary goody bag. “I’m...
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in McCandless hosts food festival Aug. 31-Sept. 3
Souvlaki, soutzoukakia, or spanakopita may be hard to say, but certainly are good to eat. These and other traditional Greek foods will be at the 2023 Taste of Greece Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church in McCandless, Aug. 31 to Sept. 3. The annual Greek food festival is open...
McCandless gets $1 million in state funds for traffic light upgrades, celebrates opening of new sidewalk
PennDOT has awarded McCandless Township more than $1 million in Green Light-Go grants to help upgrade traffic lights. The awards were among more than $35 million given to 77 municipalities statewide, according to an announcement by Gov. Tom Shapiro on Aug. 11. McCandless received: • $306,222 for updated signal equipment...
North Allegheny taps Plum principal to fill NAI principal’s post
The North Allegheny School Board has moved some administrators into new positions to start the 2023-24 school year and on Aug. 9 selected another Plum School District educator to join NA’s top staff. The North Allegheny School Board unanimously approved hiring Heather Hibner, principal at Plum Senior High School, to...
North Allegheny hosts Just for Girls sports camp
Competition can sometimes keep girls from trying a new sport in school, said Michelle Ruiz, the health and physical education teacher at Marshall Middle School. With Just for Girls camp, held July 31-Aug. 4 at the North Allegheny School District, girls were introduced to two to three different sports each...
NA earns a top school ranking in debate, speech
North Allegheny is a 2023 Debate School of Excellence, after an exceptional performance at the annual National Speech and Debate Championships in Phoenix in June. Several students from North Allegheny also won individual school record-breaking honors. “The Debate School of Excellence award is given to the Top 20 Debate schools...
North Allegheny hosts active shooter response training for North Hills officers
It’s training police officers hope to never use. “Heaven forbid, if (an active shooter event) would happen, they would have to familiarity with the buildings,” said Greg Garcia, a Ross Township police officer and and member of the North Hills Special Response Team. Police officers from throughout Allegheny County’s northern...
Hydration important as youth sports heat up in North Allegheny Area for the fall
There’s no rest for the weary when it comes to youth sports. Even in the summer, young athletes gear up for the fall season. But it’s still summer and likely hot, so play it safe, said Dr. Tyler McCardell, a board director for McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority, who is also...
North Allegheny begins celebrating 75th birthday
In 1948, a loaf of bread was 15 cents, a movie ticket was 60 cents, the average cost of new house was $7,700, historical archives say, and the North Allegheny School District was born. The district officially turned 75 on June 10. There’s been much growth since its inception in...

