North Journal category, Page 3
West View mourning death of council vice president
West View Councilwoman M. Kimberly Steele died on Wednesday, Nov. 26, following a 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 72. During her tenure on borough council, Steele had been president and was most recently vice president. She also had served on the West View Water Authority’s board of directors....
Ross budget cuts fail to make dent in projected 8% property tax increase
Ross officials have continued to work on the township’s 2026 budget but have not found enough cuts to make a dent in a proposed 8% property tax increase. At a commissioners meeting Nov. 17, finance director Dan Berty told commissioners that while they found spending that could be cut, they...
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...
West View manager proposes 24% property tax increase with 2026 budget
A nearly 24% property tax increase is included in West View’s proposed budget for 2026. In his budget report, borough Manager Bruce Fromlak says the 1.5 mill increase “is recommended to preserve fiscal stability and provide the resources necessary to maintain operations, meet contractual obligations and invest in future capital...
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...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 21-23
If Light Up Night isn’t your jam, that doesn’t mean having to hide in the house all weekend! Here are some other events to attend, sans twinkly trees and super-cold temps. Record Convention Fall Show Music collectors of Pittsburgh, here’s your chance to shop and meet like-minded people. The Record...
Time capsule from 1990 opened at Highcliff Elementary School in Ross, 10 years after intended date
Students at North Hills’ Highcliff Elementary in Ross stumbled upon a time capsule in their school, a decade after it was planned to be opened. The capsule, created by students and staff in 1990, was found while the stage was being prepared for the Drama Club’s production of “Cinderella …...
Ross Manager Ronald Borczyk, a West Deer resident, announces retirement
After nearly 30 years as an elected and appointed local government official, Ronald Borczyk is calling it a career. Borczyk, 67, will retire Jan. 9 from his current position as manager of Ross, Commissioner Dan DeMarco announced during the commissioners meeting on Monday, Nov. 17. “We’re gonna miss you, Ron,”...
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...
State Sen. Lindsey Williams hosts food drive in Harrison, Ross
State Sen. Lindsey Williams is hosting a food drive to benefit local families. Her office at Heights Plaza in Harrison is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. In addition, donations will be collected at her Ross office along McKnight Road. Proceeds will benefit Feeding the Flock...
At the library: Here are some upcoming programs at Northland Public Library
Speaker to share strategies for parents of disabled children Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road, McCandless, is hosting a session on “Parenting for Different Needs: Supporting Children With Physical or Intellectual Disabilities” from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4. Raising a family member with special medical needs can require extra...
North Hills fights to the finish during difficult but rewarding season
North Hills’ football team got far too familiar with one of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s famous sayings this season. The Indians finished the year 3-8 with a 38-7 loss to Bethel Park in the Class 5A first round. But it was a record that didn’t exactly reflect the competitiveness of...
After playoff season, North Hills boys again looking for players to step into new roles
Having to find players to fill big shoes has become a yearly requirement for the North Hills boys basketball program and coach Buzz Gabos. This year is no exception. Last season, the Indians stumbled early, but managed to find themselves in key moments down the stretch to reach the playoffs....
Northland Public Library’s executive director retiring; search on for replacement
The grand opening of the newly renovated Northland Public Library may be a bittersweet moment for its executive director, Amy Steele, who is set to retire Feb. 12. Steele has worked at Northland for 24 years, the past 12 as its executive director. “While we aren’t quite done yet, the...
Eat’n Park on southbound McKnight Road closing
Ross’ days as a two-Eat’n Park town are numbered. On Dec. 1, the Homestead-based chain will close its restaurant along southbound McKnight Road after 46 years of business, company spokeswoman Courtney Koch told TribLive. Another Eat’n Park, on the northbound side of McKnight Road just half a mile away, is...
In brief: Happenings across the North Hills Journal area
North Hills kicking off holiday season The North Hills School District will host its annual Hilltop Holiday Town and A Night Around the World from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 21. Lighted and decorated displays from parent and community groups, sports teams and clubs will be outside on the hilltop...
Northland Public Library secures bump in funding for staffing costs; renovation nears completion
Municipalities in the North Hills are agreeing to a slight increase in funding for Northland Public Library’s 2026 budget, which will help keep staff pay competitive and cover rising health care costs. The library’s 2026 $3.5 million budget reflects an overall 5.7% increase. “This budget will help us to continue...
Cosmetology students at A.W. Beattie Career Center thank veterans with free haircuts
As a thank-you for veterans, cosmetology students at A.W. Beattie Career Center’s training salon provided free haircuts for all members of the military, past and present, on Veterans Day. The training salon, located at the school along Babcock Boulevard, is a full-service salon for students in the cosmetology program. This...
Proposed $46.9M Ross 2026 budget carries 8% property tax increase
Property owners in Ross are looking at a township tax increase for the second year in a row. An 8% property tax increase is included with the township’s proposed $46.9 million budget for 2026. As proposed, the township’s property tax rate would increase from 3.7 mills to 4 mills. The...
Allegheny County offices to close for Veterans Day
All Allegheny County offices, including the independently elected offices, courts and County Council, will be closed Tuesday for the Veterans Day holiday. The North Park and South Park golf courses will be open during their normal operating hours, from dawn to dusk. The offices will return to regular hours on...
From rival to viral: Shaler Area, North Hills marching bands unite on shared song from halftime shows
Editor’s note: The following story was submitted for the Shaler Area Student Section, a collaboration between TribLive and The Oracle, the student newspaper of Shaler Area High School. It was supposed to be a night of football rivalry: Shaler Area at North Hills on a Friday night. But after the...
Democrats sweep races for 4 Ross commissioner seats
Democratic candidates swept elections for four Ross commissioner seats in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Voters elected commissioners in four of the township’s nine wards. In Ward 2, incumbent Democrat Chris Rand Eyster defeated Republican Joseph Aguglia. In Ward 4, Democrat Dwayne Lee Allen defeated Republican...
Democrats sweep North Hills School Board election, returning 3 of 4 incumbents
Three incumbents are among four Democrats won seats on the North Hills School Board in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Democratic board members Allison Mathis, Mike Santucci and Sandra Kozera kept their seats. Also elected was Democratic newcomer Anthony Hall. Board member Elizabeth Nease, on the...
