Natalie Beneviat stories, Page 2
Bradford Woods swears in new council member, 3 incumbents
Matthew Goss officially joined the rest of Bradford Woods Council during the borough’s reorganization meeting Jan. 5. With four open seats in the general election Nov. 4, Goss, a Democrat, received the most votes at 401. He ran uncontested. He joins Republican incumbents Daniel Dimond, who received 325 votes, David...
Franklin Park’s 1st female mayor eager to get started as council reorganizes for new year
It’s official. Franklin Park’s new mayor, Cristen Fiffik, a Democrat, was sworn in during the borough’s reorganization meeting Jan. 5, replacing Dennis O’Keefe, who served as mayor for three terms. Republican O’Keefe lost to Fiffik, 3,092 to 2,738. Mayoral terms in Franklin Park are four years. Fiffik shared her appreciation...
‘Surreal’ moment: North Allegheny teacher catches Ravens kicker’s missed FG
Fate seemed to be at work on multiple levels during Sunday night’s Steelers game. Not only for Pittsburgh, which edged the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 in a nail-biter, but also for Justin Karolski, who happened to be seated in the end zone where Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed the would-be game-winning...
Northland Public Library’s $4 million renovation complete; open house set sometime in January
Just in time for the new year, the much-anticipated “New Northland” has opened its updated and expanded space, according to an announcement from the library Dec. 19. Northland Public Library’s two-story building extension, new accessible lower-level entrance, expanded and dedicated teen space, coffee shop and more were set to open...
North Allegheny fourth grader’s holiday vision wins Downtown hotel’s annual card contest
A vision of snowy woods and candy canes came to mind for a North Allegheny student, whose design won Omni William Penn Hotel’s annual holiday card contest this year. Charlotte Neumann, a fourth grader at Bradford Woods Elementary School, was one of the 56 students from the school who submitted...
McCandless leaders approve master site development plan for community’s parks
A master site development plan shaping the future of McCandless’ parks and recreation programs for the next decade was approved by council members on Dec. 15. Pashek+MTR, a Pittsburgh-based Landscape Planning Firm, was hired by the town’s council in August 2024 to lead the development of master site plans for...
McCandless eyes adding paid staff at volunteer fire departments to help ease workload
A paid full-time fire chief and two part-time firefighters may be the answer to helping out the volunteer fire departments in McCandless. Council approved a 6% increase in contributions for the town’s three volunteer fire departments — Highland, Ingomar and Peebles — with each receiving $200,000 for 2026, up from...
McCandless’ budget for 2026 marks 21 years of no tax increase for town’s residents
The Town of McCandless 2026 budget of more than $20 million was passed unanimously by council Dec. 8 with no change in real estate tax for the 21st year. A proposed budget was first presented to council at its Nov. 10 meeting, and a public hearing was held Nov. 24....
2 stormwater projects included in 2026 Bradford Woods budget with no tax increase
Bradford Woods Council passed its 2026 budget Dec. 8 with no change in taxes. The property tax millage rate will remain at 3.375 mills, with Bradford Woods being the fourth-lowest millage rate among 81 boroughs in Allegheny County, according to borough Manager Rusti Null. Easements were a big part of...
North Allegheny’s Student Council collects 2,000 items, $3,000 during food drive
When it comes to helping out their neighbors, North Allegheny students deliver. About 2,000 food and toiletry items and $3,000 were collected for a food drive from Nov. 17-21 at the senior high school, coordinated by the Student Council. The collections were divided among the North Hills Community Outreach, Millvale...
No tax increase in Marshall for 2026; township working to build capital reserve
Marshall residents won’t see a tax increase in the new year. At their meeting Dec. 1, township supervisors passed a 2026 budget that retains a millage rate of 1.42 mills. While the general fund is listed at $10,985,210 versus expenditures at $14,243,537, that’s because of a transfer of nearly $4...
Tickets available for annual gala recognizing North Allegheny alumni
Celebrating the professional and personal achievements of former North Allegheny graduates is the highlight of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Gala, set for Jan. 22 at the Holy Trinity Center in McCandless. The event, held annually by the North Allegheny Foundation, will begin with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed...
Local lawmakers, librarians celebrate $5M increase in Pa. budget for public libraries
Librarians and others joined local legislators Dec. 5 at Northland Public Library to celebrate a $5 million increase in the Pennsylvania budget for public libraries. The extra funding is reflected in the statewide public library subsidy of $75,470,000 for the coming fiscal year and is part of the $50.1 billion...
Taxes to spike 63% in Franklin Park as borough adopts ‘fiscally proactive’ 2026 budget
Franklin Park residents will see a 63% jump in taxes in 2026. The millage rate was increased by 1 mill, to 2.59 mills from the current 1.59 mills, to address deficits in the budget and reserve funds. While the budget passed unanimously Dec. 3, the millage rate passed 4-2, with...
North Allegheny School Board reorganizes, swears in 3 new members, 1 incumbent
Three new directors and one incumbent were sworn in at the North Allegheny School Board’s reorganization meeting Dec. 3. Paige Hardy was reelected Nov. 4 to keep her seat, joined by newcomers Emily Theys, Jackie Leicht and Dr. Jesse Adams, all of whom ran as Democrats. Adams is an independent...
Holiday performances, gingerbread house display keep things festive at The Block Northway
The shopping atmosphere at The Block Northway was kept seasonally festive thanks to a free concert performed by the Slippery Rock University Clarinet Choir on Nov. 30. The clarinetists were part of a free series of concerts and performances held during the holiday season at the mall off McKnight Road...
Social worker marks 1 year of supporting McCandless residents
Mental health challenges, substance use, domestic crises or people needing a place to live are serious issues that can be found in any ZIP code. Jennifer Frye, as a social worker for the McCandless Police Department, knows this first-hand. “Our team works alongside law enforcement to respond to complex situations,...
‘Archiving history’: Aural-style jam sessions of NA Fiddlers offer unique experience for student musicians
Sporting their signature look of a simple red polo shirt and a fiddle in hand, the North Allegheny Fiddlers took to the Maywood Recording studio in McCandless recently to lay down some new, and old, tracks. This is the third time that Dennis Morton, who started the NA Fiddlers in...
Long-time coach provides ‘GPS’ for youths in book detailing challenges from childhood
A McCandless resident, known to many in the North Hills as Coach Dave Gray, is celebrating the release of his debut book, “Next Point Wins: A Playbook for Future Champions.” The book details what it was like growing up as a foster child, finally being adopted, his challenges as a...
Round of grants to benefit multiple North Hills communities
Multiple communities in the North Hills are getting a boost from a recent round of state grants. A $106,000 grant will support the chassis replacement of an ambulance from the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority. The total cost of the chassis replacement, also known as an ambulance remount, is $225,000, according...
A.W. Beattie students turn Thanksgiving parade into schoolwide event benefiting North Hills Community Outreach
Giving thanks and giving back to those in need were the themes of a student-led Thanksgiving parade at A.W. Beattie Career Center in McCandless. It also was a special treat for the preschoolers of Beattie’s Kiddie Tech program, who got to march in the parade around the school. While the...
Veterans and active-duty military members find a career fit with Postal Service
Two words: mail call. That may be one of the most welcoming phrases for deployed men and women in the U.S. military, said Ross resident Mark Wahl, a strategic communications specialist for the U.S. Postal Service. So, it’s rather fitting that the Postal Service also has been a rewarding career...
North Allegheny School District’s 2026-27 calendar makes room for construction
An earlier first day of school — Aug. 18 — for the upcoming 2026-27 school year will help accommodate pending construction beginning at several schools in the North Allegheny School District. Hosack, Ingomar and Peebles elementary schools, as well as Phase 1 of the high school and the natatorium, are...
McCandless spreading extra cheer with 5th annual Winterfest
Winterfest, gingerbread houses and lights, oh my. Creative bakers with a flair for architecture can test their edible skills in a new gingerbread house contest in McCandless, with all entries to be judged at the fifth annual Winterfest, the town’s signature seasonal celebration, scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m. Dec....
Veterans touched by ceremony, parade at Holy Cross Academy in Ross
A time of reflection, reverence and recognition was part of the annual Veterans Day celebration and parade Nov. 7 at Holy Cross Academy in Ross. “It’s very emotional,” said Dave W. Graver of McCandless, who was visibly moved after coming out of the church service honoring the veterans. Graver served...
