Natalie Beneviat stories, Page 23

Lifeguard certification classes begin Feb. 25, and will continue throughout the next few months for those interested in working as a lifeguard at one of Allegheny County’s four swimming pools, including North Park. The first set of classes will be Feb. 25-27 at Upper St. Clair Recreation Center, followed by...

A fire at Bellisario’s Restaurant on Duncan Avenue Feb. 13 was determined to be accidental, according to McCandless Fire Marshal Jeff Wissner. Fire crews responded about 5:40 p.m. and found smoke in the restaurant and a fire burning in an outside post that supports an overhanging roof. The fire had...

The student-run A.W. Beattie Career Restaurant is open to the public every Thursday and Friday for breakfast and lunch. The restaurant, located at the A.W. Beattie Career Center on Babcock Boulevard in Allison Park, serves a different menu selection every week. Breakfast is available from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. and...

When Hannah Shin found out she was a Cameron Impact Scholar, one of 15 in the country to receive a four-year, full tuition, merit-based scholarship to the college of her choice, she didn’t hold back the tears. The North Allegheny senior earned the prestigious scholarship through The Bryan Cameron Foundation...

McCandless has received a federal grant to help cover the costs of body-worn cameras for police, according to police Chief Ryan Hawk. Hawk told town council in January that the department was approved for a $36,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to help cover the costs of the...

“Murder’s in the Heir,” being performed by a cast of North Allegheny Intermediate students, is an interactive murder mystery in which the audience will decide who the murderer should be. The NAI spring play will be performed at the school auditorium Feb. 10 and 11 at 7 p.m., and Feb....

Despite the challenges of a pandemic — or maybe because of them — the Northland Public Library was one of the busiest libraries in Allegheny County last year. The library, located on Cumberland Road in McCandless, serves Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall, McCandless and Ross and is one of the...

McCandless has a new fire marshal, Jeff Wissner. As head of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Protection for McCandless Township, Wissner will be responsible for conducting fire inspections of commercial buildings to ensure code compliance, conducting fire prevention programs, investigating the origin and cause of fires and providing support...

A 10-year-old student in the North Allegheny School District is the youngest honoree for the Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania’s inaugural 18 Under Eighteen awards for 2022. Makayla Alaquiva is a fourth grader at Hosack Elementary and has made caring for those in need, spreading kindness and welcoming new friends...

Council meetings for the Town of McCandless are now fully remote until the end of March, a move fueled by covid concerns. “I’m trying to protect staff and citizens in our town,” said Councilmember Kimberly Zachary of Ward 1, who proposed moving to remote meetings, which council adopted on a...

McCandless is opposing the preliminary redistricting maps for the Pennsylvania House and Senate that would split McCandless from other municipalities within the North Allegheny School District. The preliminary plan was adopted by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission. Robert Grimm, town manager for McCandless, sent a letter on behalf of council...

The North Allegheny School Board allowed only in-person public comments at its meeting Jan. 19 as it returned to its pre-pandemic procedures for meeting location and public comment periods. Those procedures allow only people attending school board meetings in-person to deliver public comments. Some North Allegheny residents expressed their concern...

Local fire departments want to spark some enthusiasm in volunteering to combat lagging membership. Brandon McCrea, deputy chief at Highland Volunteer Fire Department, one of the three fire departments that serve McCandless, said compared to when he became a volunteer there 16 years ago, he has noticed a big difference...

The November elections changed the make-up of town councils and governing bodies. During meetings in January election winners were sworn into office and the boards filled leadership positions. Here is a breakdown: Bradford Woods Victoria Pongrace was elected president of Bradford Woods Council and David Baldonieri vice president during its...

Padded, packed and prepared for shipping, an army of potato chips went on a special mission to take a nonbreakable journey between two elementary schools in the North Allegheny and Pine-Richland school districts. Fifth graders from Ingomar Elementary in North Allegheny and fourth graders from Eden Hall Upper Elementary in...

McCandless Town Council unanimously elected Michael Tarle of Ward 3 as council president during its reorganization meeting on Jan. 3. “We all have an equal voice. We’re all here to work together to better the community. We may disagree but when we do we’ll do it with civility and respect...

North Allegheny communities have made preparations for disposal of live Christmas trees after the holiday. Allegheny County also is offering a Christmas tree recycling program at county parks. Here’s the run-down: Franklin Park The first week of Christmas tree collection will start Monday, Jan. 10, and the second week will...

THRIVE Pittsburgh helps refugees, immigrants and asylum-seekers coming into the United States by providing basic necessities and the support needed to begin again. These individuals and families arrive in Pittsburgh with basically nothing after fleeing their home or country or after living years in a refugee camp, according to Pauline...

Be part of what’s called the country’s oldest citizens science project by counting birds in the Pittsburgh Christmas Bird Count, happening in the North Hills and beyond. Master birders, casual birders and novices can take part in the early winter bird census coordinated by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania....

Zoning and land ordinances in McCandless will get a major overhaul in 2022, bringing the land use code book up-to-date, partly with the public’s help. The McCandless Complete Zoning and Land Development Ordinance Modernization project should simplify zoning laws regulations and make them more user friendly and easier to understand,...

Wearing a mask took on a whole new meaning at Runway RePurposed, a fashion show by The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division. Designers were challenged to take everyday items and remake them into wearable fashions. North Allegheny seniors Abby Rapp and Madison Kraus took home the Best Student Design trophy...

Mandatory indoor masking would cease on Jan. 18, 2022 in the North Allegheny School District if Gov. Tom Wolf follows through on his promise to return mask-wearing decisions to local school authorities. The NA school board voted 5-4 on Dec. 8 to change district policy so that mask wearing would...

Upcoming vaccination clinics and an overview of the Health and Safety report were one of several items addressed at the Quaker Valley School District annual reorganization meeting on Dec. 7. District assistant superintendent Dr. Andrew Surloff said they hope to have a vaccination clinic provided through UPMC Children’s Hospital of...

New board members were sworn into the Quaker Valley School Board at its reorganization meeting on Dec. 7. Members sworn in included Kuzma and Daniela Helkowski, both of Region 1; incumbent Kati Doebler, of Region 3; and newcomer Stratton Nash, of Region 2. Both Kuzma and Marna Blackmer were selected...

It’s been 22 years since Hosack, Ingomar and Peebles elementary schools have had major renovations or construction, and the North Allegheny School District is planning for upgrades at the three schools that could begin in 2026 at an estimated $31.8 million, according to district officials. The latest capital funding plan...