McCandless Polar Plunge aims to raise $10,000 to support Special Olympics
If there’s a methodology to jumping in ice-cold water in the winter, Jack Casey, a McCandless resident and former council member, has none. “I’m not going to think about it. I’m just going to do it,” he said. Casey signed up for the McCandless Polar Plunge, which will take place...
Marshall installs new supervisor and formally elected incumbent during reorganization
An incumbent and newly elected supervisor officially joined the Marshall Township Board of Supervisors at its Jan. 5 reorganization meeting. Nina Faber, who ran on a two-party ticket, joins the board, filling the shoes of longtime Supervisor Anthony “Jack” Candek, who did not seek reelection after serving for 30 years....
Democrat-led majority takes helm of McCandless Council as members reorganize
McCandless Council now has a Democrat-led majority as three new members were sworn in during a reorganization meeting Jan. 5 at Town Hall. Laureen Alt of Ward 2, Jack Hickerson of Ward 4 and Nathan Babich of Ward 6 won the seats against incumbent Republicans Jack Casey, Don Hart and...
Bradford Woods swears in new council member, 3 incumbents
Matthew Goss officially joined the rest of Bradford Woods Council during the borough’s reorganization meeting Jan. 5. With four open seats in the general election Nov. 4, Goss, a Democrat, received the most votes at 401. He ran uncontested. He joins Republican incumbents Daniel Dimond, who received 325 votes, David...
Franklin Park’s 1st female mayor eager to get started as council reorganizes for new year
It’s official. Franklin Park’s new mayor, Cristen Fiffik, a Democrat, was sworn in during the borough’s reorganization meeting Jan. 5, replacing Dennis O’Keefe, who served as mayor for three terms. Republican O’Keefe lost to Fiffik, 3,092 to 2,738. Mayoral terms in Franklin Park are four years. Fiffik shared her appreciation...
1 of 2 $500,000 jackpot-winning Pa. lottery tickets sold at McCandless pharmacy
Someone has won big in McCandless, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Jan. 7. A $500,000 jackpot-winning Cash 5 with Quick Cash ticket from the Jan. 6 drawing was sold at Adzema Pharmacy along Perry Highway. It was one of two tickets sold, winning a combined $1 million, that matched all five...
‘Surreal’ moment: North Allegheny teacher catches Ravens kicker’s missed FG
Fate seemed to be at work on multiple levels during Sunday night’s Steelers game. Not only for Pittsburgh, which edged the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 in a nail-biter, but also for Justin Karolski, who happened to be seated in the end zone where Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed the would-be game-winning...
Girl Scout trio raises chickens for West View Urban Farm to help address food insecurity
The price of eggs is no concern if you have a bunch of feathery friends to help you out, which is why Girl Scout Cadettes from Troop 36774 are raising chickens to combat food insecurity in their community. Three Cadettes brought two chickens and a lot of knowledge Dec. 10...
WPIAL champion Central Catholic well represented on 2025 Class 6A all-state football team
WPIAL champion Central Catholic was rewarded with six all-state selections after the Vikings reached the state finals for the second year in row. Offensive linemen James Halter and Jimmy Kalis, linebackers Colsen Gatten and Roman Thompson, defensive lineman Ashton Blatt and specialist Antonio DiFatta earned all-state honors Wednesday when the...
In brief: Happenings across the North Allegheny Journal area
North Park’s ice rink to open Dec. 24 North Park’s ice-skating rink at 1101 Pearce Mill Road in Pine will open for the season on Wednesday, Dec. 24. Public skating will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 24. The rink will be closed on Christmas Day. It will...
Northland Public Library’s $4 million renovation complete; open house set sometime in January
Just in time for the new year, the much-anticipated “New Northland” has opened its updated and expanded space, according to an announcement from the library Dec. 19. Northland Public Library’s two-story building extension, new accessible lower-level entrance, expanded and dedicated teen space, coffee shop and more were set to open...
North Allegheny fourth grader’s holiday vision wins Downtown hotel’s annual card contest
A vision of snowy woods and candy canes came to mind for a North Allegheny student, whose design won Omni William Penn Hotel’s annual holiday card contest this year. Charlotte Neumann, a fourth grader at Bradford Woods Elementary School, was one of the 56 students from the school who submitted...
McCandless leaders approve master site development plan for community’s parks
A master site development plan shaping the future of McCandless’ parks and recreation programs for the next decade was approved by council members on Dec. 15. Pashek+MTR, a Pittsburgh-based Landscape Planning Firm, was hired by the town’s council in August 2024 to lead the development of master site plans for...
Owners of Franklin Park Mexican restaurant say they will rebuild after fire
A Mexican restaurant in Franklin Park is closed for repairs following a kitchen fire last week. Owners of Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant said on their Facebook page that repairs are expected to take at least a couple of months and that they expect to reopen in 2026. “We will miss...
La Roche University gifted buildings, including motherhouse, from Sisters of Divine Providence
A property transfer from a Catholic organization to La Roche University sets the college up for long-term growth, officials say. The Sisters of Divine Providence has gifted the Providence Heights Motherhouse and about 15 acres of nearby property to La Roche, the university announced Tuesday, Dec. 16. The transfer includes...
McCandless eyes adding paid staff at volunteer fire departments to help ease workload
A paid full-time fire chief and two part-time firefighters may be the answer to helping out the volunteer fire departments in McCandless. Council approved a 6% increase in contributions for the town’s three volunteer fire departments — Highland, Ingomar and Peebles — with each receiving $200,000 for 2026, up from...
McCandless’ budget for 2026 marks 21 years of no tax increase for town’s residents
The Town of McCandless 2026 budget of more than $20 million was passed unanimously by council Dec. 8 with no change in real estate tax for the 21st year. A proposed budget was first presented to council at its Nov. 10 meeting, and a public hearing was held Nov. 24....
2 stormwater projects included in 2026 Bradford Woods budget with no tax increase
Bradford Woods Council passed its 2026 budget Dec. 8 with no change in taxes. The property tax millage rate will remain at 3.375 mills, with Bradford Woods being the fourth-lowest millage rate among 81 boroughs in Allegheny County, according to borough Manager Rusti Null. Easements were a big part of...
North Allegheny’s Student Council collects 2,000 items, $3,000 during food drive
When it comes to helping out their neighbors, North Allegheny students deliver. About 2,000 food and toiletry items and $3,000 were collected for a food drive from Nov. 17-21 at the senior high school, coordinated by the Student Council. The collections were divided among the North Hills Community Outreach, Millvale...
North Allegheny’s Mack Leftwich builds explosive Texas Tech offense
The life of a football coach, any coach at the college or professional level, is nomadic. In Tulsa for a time, then a cup of coffee in Columbus, then jetting to Jacksonville. All the while leading young men to winning games. Mack Leftwich is no stranger to this life. He’s...
No tax increase in Marshall for 2026; township working to build capital reserve
Marshall residents won’t see a tax increase in the new year. At their meeting Dec. 1, township supervisors passed a 2026 budget that retains a millage rate of 1.42 mills. While the general fund is listed at $10,985,210 versus expenditures at $14,243,537, that’s because of a transfer of nearly $4...
Tickets available for annual gala recognizing North Allegheny alumni
Celebrating the professional and personal achievements of former North Allegheny graduates is the highlight of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Gala, set for Jan. 22 at the Holy Trinity Center in McCandless. The event, held annually by the North Allegheny Foundation, will begin with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed...
Local lawmakers, librarians celebrate $5M increase in Pa. budget for public libraries
Librarians and others joined local legislators Dec. 5 at Northland Public Library to celebrate a $5 million increase in the Pennsylvania budget for public libraries. The extra funding is reflected in the statewide public library subsidy of $75,470,000 for the coming fiscal year and is part of the $50.1 billion...
Taxes to spike 63% in Franklin Park as borough adopts ‘fiscally proactive’ 2026 budget
Franklin Park residents will see a 63% jump in taxes in 2026. The millage rate was increased by 1 mill, to 2.59 mills from the current 1.59 mills, to address deficits in the budget and reserve funds. While the budget passed unanimously Dec. 3, the millage rate passed 4-2, with...
‘The perfect fit’: North Allegheny’s Lincoln Hoke fired up to join hometown Panthers
To locate a player they believe will be an important member of Pitt’s defensive line for years to come, Pat Narduzzi and Tim Daoust looked into their own backyard. They found North Allegheny’s Lincoln Hoke, a two-way standout who committed to the Panthers this summer before officially signing with the...
