Natalie Beneviat stories, Page 3
Retired Hampton officer finds calling at Blessed Trinity, Holy Cross schools
Having worked for the Hampton Township Police Department for 25 years, Officer Pete Halli is enjoying a slower-paced career as a school resource officer at Blessed Trinity Academy in Indiana Township. But that doesn’t mean he’s let his guard down. “Our job is not only about providing a safe environment...
McCandless celebrates completion of North Meadows sidewalk, a key link to Route 19
A new sidewalk off Route 19 in McCandless near Wexford Flats onto North Meadows Drive is another effort to create walkable connections throughout McCandless and the North Hills. A ribbon-cutting was held Oct. 17 in celebration of the completion of the North Meadows sidewalk, located along North Meadows Drive and...
15% of North Allegheny student population is enrolled in special education, report shows
More students are participating in the special education program at North Allegheny, representing 15% of its student population, a slight increase from last year’s numbers, according to a 2025 enrollment and projections report presented by the district Oct. 15. It’s the largest increase from last year to this school year,...
Enrollment projected to increase slightly over next decade in North Allegheny School District
While the population at North Allegheny’s elementary schools is projected to hold steady over the next decade, the high school could increase by 100 students, according to a demographic study presented to the school board Oct. 15. With the design phase for renovating three elementary schools and the high school...
Music, food and friends highlight senior lunch, which Franklin Park hopes to revive in 2026
Good music, good food and good friends were all part of the Oct. 14 senior luncheon in Franklin Park, which hadn’t been held since pre-pandemic days. A group of about 20 seniors from Franklin Park and the surrounding municipalities enjoyed music from Pittsburgh singer and musician Megan Paullet before lunch...
North Allegheny thespians to stage ‘Addams Family’ as fall musical
The creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky will be brought to life, so to speak, for North Allegheny’s fall production of “The Addams Family Musical” — hitting the stage on Nov. 6, 8 and 9 at the senior high school. Director Bob Tozier, chair of the North Allegheny music department, said...
Tickets available for Shining Star Gala to honor volunteers making impact in McCandless
Volunteers and community members who made an impact on the Town of McCandless will be celebrated and recognized at the 2025 Shining Star Gala on Nov. 1 at the Camelot Banquet facility in Pine. This year honors 11 individuals and one community group who have given their time and talents...
McCandless looks to hunters to protect town’s trees from hungry deer
Applications to hunt on McCandless-owned property are available now that deer season is underway, and it’s just one of the efforts from the town to help curb the deer population. A wildlife deer management presentation in McCandless on Sept. 30 addressed the problems related to too many deer and possible...
McCandless raffle offers memorable experience for youngsters, granting cool rides to school
Forget the bus. These McCandless youngsters received more memorable morning rides to school Oct. 15 as part of the McCandless Adventure raffle. Getting picked up by a McCandless police car on a recent Wednesday morning was the highlight of the week for Peebles Elementary student Austin Steiner, 11. “He was...
Illusionist to headline fundraiser to end shame of substance abuse, mental health disorders
Las Vegas star and former “America’s Got Talent” semifinalist Murray SawChuck, a master at blending humor with illusion, is bringing some much-needed comic relief and awe to Stand Up Against Stigma, a fundraiser set for Nov. 22 in Harmony. The show, presented by the Stop the Judgment Project, will be...
E-bikes under review in McCandless after complaints of usage on Brandt Trail
The safety and use of electronic bikes, also known as e-bikes, are under review in McCandless because of an increase in calls over concerns and complaints. Regulating e-bikes is not easy since these recreational transportation devices may, in some instances, fall under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. However, they can be...
8 candidates vying for 4 seats on North Allegheny School Board
Four seats are open on the North Allegheny School Board this general election, which is Nov. 4, with only one incumbent, Paige Hardy, seeking reelection. Other terms ending are currently held by Dr. Vidya Szymkowiak and Leslie Britton Dozier, both of whom served one term beginning in 2021. Also not...
3 wards for McCandless Council face contested races
Wards 2, 4 and 6 for McCandless Council are up for grabs on Election Day, Nov. 4. The incumbents, all Republicans, are seeking reelection. In Ward 2, Laureen Alt is running against incumbent Jack Casey. In Ward 4, Jack Hickerson is squaring off with incumbent Jason Singer. In Ward 6,...
North Allegheny caps homecoming parade and crowning with win over Mt. Lebanon
With a win over the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils, 28-19, the North Allegheny Tigers football team helped make homecoming 2025 a memorable night for fans Oct. 3. This was especially true for the newly crowned king and queen, seniors Andrew Peigh and Mallory Kim. Peigh, an at-large representative, and Kim,...
Marshall’s new manager aims to help township balance growth while preserving open spaces
Balance and preservation is what Robert Grimm hopes to achieve as the newest manager of Marshall Township. With a career of managing municipalities from Bellevue to Beaver Falls, North Fayette and, most recently, McCandless from 2019 to 2022, Grimm is ready to take on Allegheny County’s northern-most community. With an...
Anti-bullying talk hosted by swim club teaches kids importance of being ‘careful with words’
A worn, crumpled-up dollar bill is worth the same as a clean, newly printed one. This is one example award-winning motivational speaker Rob Oliver used to show that one’s worth can’t change, no matter how much someone may try to discredit or ruin it. Oliver was the guest speaker for...
Ingomar Elementary students raise $587 for charities with 2nd Mystery Inflatable Teacher Race
An enormous baby recently dominated an important race at Ingomar Elementary School. Teacher Savanna Barton, in an air-filled costume, sprinted to first place in the second annual Mystery Inflatable Teacher Race, a fundraiser held Sept. 10 by the school’s Parent Teacher Organization. Barton shared her unique racing experience. “I could...
12th Trick or Trot benefiting NA Foundation coming up; 2026 distinguished alumni named
The spirited Trick or Trot 5K and 1-mile fun-run race, one of North Allegheny Foundation’s biggest fundraisers, returns for its 12th year Oct. 25 on the campus of Marshall elementary and middle schools off Wexford Run Road in Marshall. Students, families, staff and community members can register to race, walk...
North Allegheny senior scores silver in international linguistics competition
North Allegheny senior Jason Liu made his mark globally after winning a silver medal at the International Linguistics Olympiad, competing against other linguistic opponents from more than 40 countries. Liu represented Team USA at the competition held in July in Taipei City, Taiwan. A total of 227 contestants from 42...
Car enthusiast honored with repair fund to help people with transportation needs
Julian DiNino of Kilbuck bought his first BMW E-30 when he was 14. He was serious about cars. With skills he learned from both friends and his dad, who was an airplane mechanic, DiNino worked on becoming adept at fabrication and welding, eventually becoming a car performance mechanic. After graduating...
1st-year wages for police increasing in McCandless; Franklin Park, Northern Regional also seeking officers
Salary adjustments for McCandless police were approved at the town council meeting Sept. 22, with the hopes of attracting more applicants. The change eliminated the first tier of service level, bringing the wage structure to a graduated increase over a five-year period, rather than six years, said John Schwend, manager...
Celine tribute show to honor late founder of Act One Theatre School, support breast cancer foundation
Two good causes will be part of the Celebrating Celine concert on Oct. 19, including supporting Glimmer of Hope, a local breast cancer foundation, and honoring the late Karen Cordaro, the beloved founder of Act One Theatre School in Bellevue. Jenene Caramielo, a Celine Dion tribute artist and North Allegheny...
North Allegheny snags top spot in 2026 Niche ratings as best school district in Pittsburgh area
North Allegheny School District achieved the No. 1 spot as the best school district in the Pittsburgh area, and second out of 494 other districts in the state, according to the 2026 K-12 School and District Niche ratings. It also scored third in the state as the best place to...
McCandless manager notes ‘majestic’-looking crew in ‘The Office’-like prank to mark work anniversary
The Town of McCandless recently had a workday that looked a little like an episode of “The Office.” Modeling prank-like humor from the popular television comedy from the 2000s, the crew in McCandless had their fun to celebrate town Manager John Schwend’s one-year work anniversary. “I was suspicious when I...
7th annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival draws record crowd while supporting breast cancer survivors
Dragons were spotted recently on North Park Lake, but they weren’t the fire-breathing kind. And the misty morning provided the perfect backdrop for the seventh annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival on Sept. 27, hosted by Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel, a nonprofit breast cancer awareness organization. Dragon boat racing is a...
