Natalie Beneviat stories, Page 5
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...
Franklin Park lauds hands-on track record of new borough manager, who takes helm July 7
Zachary Filous is excited to take on the role of borough manager for Franklin Park, beginning July 7, after successfully managing Freeport Borough in Armstrong County since 2023. Though the communities are very different in size, Filous feels confident in making the switch. Freeport has a population of 1,736, while...
Franklin Park fielding interest on transitioning to a home rule charter community
In November, Franklin Park residents may have the opportunity to vote on whether the borough should form a government study commission to investigate transitioning to a home rule charter community. Council stressed that the ballot question is only to ask residents whether they want to form a government study commission...
McCandless intern helping to document town’s land developments for future digitization
As land develops and properties change ownership over the years, it’s important to keep it all straight and accessible. Taking on this necessary work for McCandless is summer intern Alyssa Broome-Webster, who graduated in May from Duquesne University with a bachelor’s degree in history. She also interned with the university’s...
North Allegheny School Board OKs 2025-26 budget with no tax increase for 3rd year
The North Allegheny School Board unanimously approved its 2025-26 budget of $204,355,366 on June 11 that keeps real estate taxes at 19.74 mills. “This is the third year we will not be raising our millage rate, and I think that’s quite an accomplishment given the big hit we took in...
Northern Regional Police Department test-pilots equine therapy program
Several officers from the Northern Regional Police Department recently traded in their patrol vehicles, uniforms and police radios for saddles, fresh air and horses. The day was spent at Orchardview Stables in Marshall to learn about the benefits of equine therapy. “I can speak for myself when I say it...
Annual NerdCon brings comic convention fun to Northland Public Library
The day when everyone wants to be a nerd finally arrived at Northland Public Library’s annual NerdCon celebration, held June 14, as folks of all ages dressed in their cosplay best. Anyone into comics, anime, board games, role playing — or even Mario Kart — were able to dress up...
AARP Chapter 595 provides hundreds of work gloves to nonprofit that conducts home repairs
One organization quite literally is offering a helping hand — albeit a gloved one. The Pittsburgh North Hills AARP Chapter 595 is donating 407 work gloves to volunteers at Hosanna Industries Inc., a local nonprofit that helps build and repair houses for people who are less fortunate. Hosanna Industries, with...
North Allegheny School District celebrates graduation of 673 students
They did it. The Class of 2025, the 69th graduating class of North Allegheny School District, was celebrated the morning of June 7, after the event was postponed from the previous night due to inclement weather. The stadium was packed with friends and families of the 673 graduates. After an...
North Allegheny students surpass goal with Jared Box Project to brighten days of hospitalized children
More than 1,000 little boxes of happiness have been prepared for children at local hospitals over the past four years, courtesy of students in the North Allegheny School District. Senior Julia O’Keefe and sophomores Fischer Modic and Sidney Rice spearhead the project to make Jared Boxes, handheld containers filled with...
North Allegheny soccer standout Elliana Vitale scores scholarship named for 1983 graduate
The Richard J. Collins Scholarship, a $3,000 award given to a North Allegheny soccer player, was presented to Elliana Vitale, a senior and one of the captains of the high school soccer team. Vitale, 18, of McCandless received the award May 21 from members of the Collins family, with her...
Police departments in the North Allegheny area address needs, shortages
Police departments in the North Allegheny region are addressing various needs, from more staffing to newer facilities. The McCandless Police Department currently is advertising for positions. Chief Ryan Hawk said they fall just short of their traditional manpower because of recent retirements. “We are down two officers right now, but...
Outcry by Marshall residents postpones vote on proposed zoning, subdivision ordinances
Adoption of new zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances in Marshall was rescheduled for July 7 after a lengthy public hearing at the June 2 supervisors meeting. The meeting marked the end of an official 45-day review process on the final draft of the proposed SALDO and zoning ordinance,...
