Natalie Beneviat stories, Page 5
North Allegheny School District welcomes return of 8,500 students, 1,200-plus staff members
The North Allegheny School District welcomed the return of about 8,500 students Aug. 21 — the first of 182 days of the 2025-26 school year. The district has seven elementary, three middle and two high schools, the last of which are beginning five minutes later this year to help pull...
Principal’s faith-filled journey leads to Blessed Trinity Academy
A principal is following a calling to lead Blessed Trinity Academy in Indiana Township, not long after her former Catholic school closed its doors after 99 years. Margaret “Peggy” Ruefle was a principal at Providence Heights Alpha School in McCandless for 13 years until the school held its final day...
‘They made it too easy’: Franklin Park residents told to lock vehicles, don’t keep keys inside after early-morning thefts
A large number of thefts from vehicles as well as two vehicle thefts occurred early Thursday, Aug. 21, in Franklin Park. Franklin Park police Chief Aron Leach said the thefts took place around 4 and 4:30 a.m. All of the vehicles were unlocked and keys were left inside, he said....
Farina family gears up for annual car cruise, instrument drive on McCandless Community Day
The Frank J. Farina Jr. Memorial Car Cruise, a favorite stop for those attending the McCandless Community Day on Sept. 13, will be parked at the Ashton Commons Senior Living off Blazier Drive from 3 to 6 p.m. The site is just down the road from Town Hall on Grubbs...
Deadline looms for signatures to study possible adoption of home rule charter in Franklin Park
Franklin Park residents only have until Aug. 26 to collect the 164 signatures required to be placed on the next election ballot to serve on a commission to study the pros and cons of possibly switching to a home rule charter. The borough needs to have seven residents on the...
Among NA’s new faces are assistant principal at Franklin, special education/gifted coordinator, basketball head coach
North Allegheny held its first school board meeting after a short summer break on Aug. 6, marking the occasion with two new hires, including a new assistant principal for Franklin Elementary School. Audra Meehan joins Franklin, one of North Allegheny’s seven elementary schools, replacing Tommie Guess, who now is the...
The Olive Branch, a fair-trade store in Pine, marking 50 years with special celebration
The roots of The Olive Branch reach back 50 years, when the fair-trade store, now located in Pine, began with just $250 in seed money and a motivation to help others. To celebrate, the store is hosting a 50th anniversary event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 6 at...
North Allegheny installs new bocce courts to help boost unified team
United Bocce at North Allegheny is upping its game this year. Two new bocce courts, located at the senior high campus off Perry Highway in McCandless, were built this past summer, complete with the official bocce regulations, even down to crushed oyster powder at its base. This will be the...
North Allegheny Tiger Marching Band invites community to free preview show Aug. 15
To celebrate completing two weeks of band camp, the North Allegheny Tiger Marching Band plans to share the fruits of its labor during a free community preview show at 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at Newman Stadium off Perry Highway in McCandless. The Tiger Marching Band is one of the largest...
Bench dedication marks touching moment during Franklin Park’s National Night Out
Franklin Park marked National Night Out on Aug. 5 with a special ceremony honoring the borough’s first police chief. A bench near the entrance of the Franklin Park Police Department was dedicated to the late Joseph Hotnich, an officer who served as chief in the 1960s when Franklin Park transitioned...
Apartment-style classroom to teach North Allegheny students how to live on their own
A new apartment at the North Allegheny Senior High School will be an important educational tool for any student wanting to increase their independent living skills. The real-life living quarters will feature all of the elements of an actual apartment within the walls of the senior high school in McCandless....
Market’s Christmas in July theme channels thoughts of cooler weather with foam ‘snow’
The 90-degree temperatures didn’t dampen the jolly for patrons of the Christmas in July Farmers Market on July 24 at The Block Northway in Ross. Food trucks, local artists, bakers and candymakers were setting the gift-buying course early — on a date alerting shoppers that Christmas Eve is a mere...
National Night Out: Franklin Park to dedicate bench; McCandless to introduce new K-9
After being forced to cancel last year’s National Night Out festivities because of storms, Franklin Park and McCandless police are hopeful Mother Nature will cooperate this year. The history of National Night Out started in 1981 as a community-building event to promote police-community relationships. It is celebrated every year across...
Deer overpopulation continues to be a nuisance in North Hills region
Deer continue to be problematic in the North Hills region. It’s such a problem that the McCandless Environmental Advisory Committee read a public statement at the town’s June 9 council meeting about the need for stronger deer management. The growing McCandless deer overpopulation has existed for many years and has...
Young ball players turn out for Pitch, Hit & Run competition at Vincentian fields in McCandless
The McCandless Athletic Association hosted the Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run competition on July 12 and 14 at the Vincentian fields in McCandless. The free event was open to boys and girls from the Pittsburgh area to compete in a series of movements that are important in baseball...
Bradford Woods shares traffic calming efforts, seeks easement for pedestrian lane
Traffic calming efforts are being employed along Bradford Road in Bradford Woods to deter speeders. Methods were presented to residents during the July 14 council meeting. More police patrolling and installation of two radar speed signs that also track driving behaviors already have been implemented on the road that is...
Franklin Park votes to place government commission study question on November ballot
A vote to place a government commission study question on the ballot in November’s general election for Franklin Park residents, passed 4 to 2, after a vote at the July 16 council meeting. Voting yes were Ward 1 representative and council President Uday Palled, Jiang Li of Ward 1, Laura...
In 10-year process, Franklin Park is 1st police force in North Hills to achieve accreditation
Franklin Park is the first police department in the North Hills to achieve accreditation status from the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. Aron Leach, chief of the Franklin Park Police Department, was presented with an accreditation plaque and certificate from Chief James Adams of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association...
‘It took a village’: Ross couple grateful for community’s help in finding dog missing for 34 days
Ginette Conover was losing hope. Penny, her Pomeranian mix, likely was somewhere in the area of Ross Township, where Ginette and her husband, Kevin, live. But it was already January, and over one month since Penny escaped through an open gate on Dec. 3. “It was a horrible 34 days,”...
Green thumbs, novice plant growers welcome to annual Garden in the Park
The peak of the summer garden season is finally here. To celebrate, the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Allegheny County once again will host its free event for green thumbs and novice plant growers alike. Garden in the Park will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July...
Block party and blood drive planned in honor of McCandless tot with rare condition
Clementine Blackham, a 2-year-old from McCandless, is loving life. She loves her big sister, FinnLee, water balloons and Peppa Pig. She even loves coffee. Most of this sounds like any other toddler. However, Clementine is very unique in that she is the only known female with a rare genetic mutation...
Marshall supervisors table overlay rezoning vote until July 28
Discussion and a possible vote on the repealing and adoption of changes to Marshall’s zoning ordinances that would create an overlay district along Route 910 was tabled until the next township supervisors meeting at 7 p.m. July 28. A public hearing was held June 2 for the proposed Route 910...
North Catholic student driving force behind soccer camp for Boys and Girls Club of Western Pa.
When it comes to soccer, teamwork is key. And it’s no different when you’re a high school student organizing a camp for kids. North Catholic soccer players ran a summer camp in June for kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, thanks to the inspiration of rising...
McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority seeks 5-year funding commitments
McCandless is being asked to join other municipalities in a five-year funding commitment to the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority. This would reflect a total of $1.7 million over five years, if all municipalities agreed. In 2026, there would be a total commitment of $299,000, reflecting contributions of Bradford Woods, Pine,...
Franklin Park’s annual Festival in the Park dubbed ‘success’ despite stormy start
While storms rolled in at the start of Franklin Park’s Festival in the Park on June 28, it certainly didn’t dampen many moods as people still arrived to the annual summer celebration in Blueberry Hill Park. Rides shut down briefly during the inclement weather. But drier skies quickly prevailed as...
