In brief: Happenings across the North Allegheny area

Junior member sought for environmental committee

McCandless is seeking applicants for a junior member of the Environmental Advisory Committee for the 2026-27 school year, from September/October through June.

The position is open to high school juniors or seniors who live in the town.

The junior member will be involved with local environmental efforts, learn how local government works by participating in meetings, actively share their perspectives and ideas, and write for the Town Crier and McMail newsletter.

The junior member will be required to attend EAC meetings, which are from 7:30 to 9 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, either in person or via Zoom and provide a monthly status update to the committee.

Candidates must submit an “Application for Appointment” form along with an essay of up to 300 words on why they want to serve as a student EAC member. The EAC will review each candidate’s qualifications, conduct interviews, and make selections based on candidate qualifications.

The deadline to apply is Aug. 22.

To learn more and apply, visit townofmccandless.org/435/Junior-EAC-member.

Completed applications can be sent to John Bojarski, public information officer for McCandless, at jbojarski@townofmccandless.org.

Center’s 2nd annual backpack giveaway is this weekend

Genesis Medical Associates: Heyl Family Practice is hosting its second annual Backpack Bonanza from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 9 at the West View location, 1020 Center Ave.

Once again, backpacks and school supplies will be distributed to children of ages.

The free event will include food and fun activities with local first responders.

The practice currently is collecting donations at both of its offices in an effort to support as many families as possible. The McCandless location is at 9104 Babcock Blvd., Suite 3111. Anyone who would like to help is invited to drop off school supplies at either site during office hours.

Lecture to explore Pittsburgh’s City Steps

The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center’s next Third Thursday lecture series, scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 21, will explore the steep, unique City Steps of Pittsburgh.

In Pittsburgh, the elevation varies wildly (fluctuating 660 feet from its highest to lowest points throughout the area), making it one of the hilliest cities in the U.S.

Throughout this physically challenging landscape, the city’s first mass transportation system was built — a steadily expanding network of public stairways. Locally referred to as “city steps,” these flights of stairs are a throwback to a very different time and a very different Pittsburgh.

Join authors Laura Zurowski, Charles Succop and Matthew Jacob for a presentation on the history of the Steel City’s steps and a walking guide to their scenic locations today.

The lecture is free, but registration is required through CivicRec at secure.rec1.com/PA/mccandless-pa/catalog. You will need to create an account to register.

Donations to further support the center’s programming and mission are always appreciated.

Mark your calendars: The Sept. 18 lecture will discuss the history of McCandless as a kickoff to the town’s 175th anniversary.

First aid, CPR sessions open to community

The Bradford Woods Volunteer Fire Company is hosting first aid and CPR/AED training sessions at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 and 25 in the meeting room of the borough building, 4908 Wexford Run Road.

Both sessions will be led by instructors from the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority.

The first aid course will be held Sept. 18.

Participants will learn what to do in a medical emergency such as a heart attack, stroke and seizure. The course also will cover dealing with injuries such as bleeding, broken bones and concussions, as well as environmental emergencies such as bites and stings, heat and cold, and poison.

The CPR/AED session on Sept. 25 will cover cardio pulmonary resuscitation for adults, children and infants, including the use of an automated external defibrillator; choking relief for all ages; AED use for all ages; and Narcan administration in an overdose situation.

The cost is $50 per class, payable by cash or check at the door.

Registration is required for each session. Participants must be 13 or older.

To register, visit tinyurl.com/c76ezjn8.

For questions, email Mandy Cousins at mandy.cousins@mfpaa.org.

Ambulance authority looking to hire

The McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority is seeking qualified applicants to fill a full-time and a part-time EMT position.

The agency seeks highly trained EMS practitioners to provide compassionate and cutting-edge medical care. Competitive wages and benefits are included.

To apply, visit mfpaa.org and click on the careers tab.

For questions, call 412-367-5883.

More filming takes place in McCandless

Additional filming for “How to Rob a Bank” took place from 6 to 11 a.m. July 28 at SSB Bank, off Perry Highway, in McCandless.

McCandless police, who were on the scene, alerted the public in a Facebook post about the filming, stressing it was not an emergency situation.

Previous filming in early July resulted in the closure of a section of Babcock Boulevard.

“How to Rob a Bank,” starring Nicholas Hoult, Pete Davidson and Zoe Kravitz, is slated to be released over Labor Day weekend in 2026.

Filming is taking place throughout the Pittsburgh region. According to imdb.com, 87North, Amazon MGM Studios and Imagine Entertainment are the production companies behind the film.

Franklin Park to honor borough’s first chief

The Franklin Park Police Department invites residents to a special bench dedication ceremony in honor of Joseph Hotnich, the borough’s first police chief, at 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Franklin Park Municipal Building, 2344 W. Ingomar Road.

The dedication will take place during National Night Out festivities, which are planned from 6 to 8 p.m. at the municipal building.

The evening will include a touch-a-truck lineup of ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles and public works trucks.

Hotnich began his service in the 1950s when Franklin Park was still known as Franklin Township. In 1963, he became police chief and served until his untimely passing in 1966. During his short but impactful tenure, Hotnich laid the groundwork for the professional, dedicated department we know today.

McCandless gearing up for Night Out event

The fifth National Night Out event in McCandless will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 on the grounds of Town Hall, 9955 Grubbs Road.

The annual event is coordinated by the McCandless Police Department. There will be food trucks, raffles, giveaways, K-9 demonstrations, a touch-a-truck lineup, a balloon artist and more.

Participating agencies include LifeFlight, AHN Special Response, North Hills SRT, McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority, Allegheny County’s mounted horses and the Highland, Ingomar and Peebles volunteer fire departments.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Tickets for kids to ride in town’s vehicles being sold

McCandless is selling tickets for a chance for residents’ children to win a ride to school in one of the town’s vehicles.

Options for McCandless Adventure include a truck from the Department of Public Works; a police cruiser; a fire truck from the Peebles, Ingomar or Highland departments; or an ambulance from the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority.

Tickets, which are $1 each or six for $5, cash only — will be sold at Town Hall, 9955 Grubbs Road, during regular business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The last day to purchase tickets will be during McCandless Community Day, which is slated for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 13 in North Park.

Winners will be drawn Sept. 16, and the rides will be coordinated for some time in October.

All proceeds will benefit McCandless’ 175th anniversary celebrations in 2026.

Winners must be McCandless residents.

Marshall seeks sponsors for Community Day

Marshall’s Parks and Recreation Department is looking for individuals, businesses and organizations to help sponsor the township’s 2025 Community Day on Aug. 23.

The event will start at 4 p.m. and end after fireworks in Knob Hill Community Park.

Sponsorships are available at the platinum level for $1,000, gold for $500, silver for $250. Other donations in any amount are welcome. Raffle baskets also are being sought.

Among the events that donations will help sponsor are inflatables, rides, fireworks, live entertainent, a rock climbing wall, face painting, airbrush tattoos, caricature drawings and more.

Donations are tax-deductible and can be made by check or online at twp.marshall.pa.us.

Checks can be made out to Marshall Township and mailed to Marshall Township Parks & Recreation, 525 Pleasant Hill Road, Wexford, PA 15090.

For details and to arrange the pick up of raffle items, contact Jessica Drozd, recreation director, at jdrozd@twp.marshall.pa.us or call 724-935-3090, ext. 214.

Animal Friends in need of wet cat food

Animal Friends’ Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank is facing a critical shortage of wet cat food.

For many families in crisis, the meals can mean the difference between keeping their beloved cats or having to rehome them.

Animal Friends’ goal is to keep these families together.

To help, wish lists are in place through Amazon at tinyurl.com/3nnvss7h and Chewy at tinyurl.com/ywsph223. Purchases made on those sites can be delivered directly to Animal Friends.

Donations of unopened wet cat food also can be dropped off in the grey donation bins in the lobby of Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Road, Ohio Township.

Every single can makes a difference. Every donation helps keep pets with the people who love them.

Shelter seeks public’s votes to win challenge

Animal Friends is participating in the Back to the Rescue Shelter Challenge through Aug. 27, with a grand prize of $5,000 going toward the nonprofit shelter with the most votes.

The challenge, sponsored by GreaterGood, also includes prizes for second place, $3,000; third, $1,500; five runners-up at $500 each; and three random winners of $1,000.

People can vote once per day to help Animal Friends win the grand prize at tinyurl.com/2j23vpe8.

Cancer screening clinic set for Aug. 16

Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute is hosting its monthly cancer screening clinic on Aug. 16 at the AHN Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion, 12311 Perry Highway, in Pine.

Registration is now open for the clinic, which is open to AHN patients and non-AHN patients, as well as those with or without health insurance.

Appointments can be made by calling 412-359-6665.

Patients can receive multiple screenings during the event, including ones for:

• Breast cancer (ages 40-74)

• Cervical cancer (ages 21-65)

• Colorectal cancer (ages 45-75)

• Head and neck cancers (18 and older)

• Lung cancer (ages 50-80 with a history of smoking)

• Prostate cancer (ages 45-74)

• Skin cancer (18 and older)

Marshall hosting summer concerts

Marshall Township offers Summer Concerts in the Park. Here is the remaining lineup:

• Aug. 8: The Eldorado Band

• Sept. 12: Big Fat Jazz

All concerts start at 7 p.m. at the Elias Fry Barn in Knob Hill Park.

Bring a chair and friends, and join us for a night of good music.

Outreach collecting school supplies

North Hills Community Outreach is seeking donations of school supplies through Aug. 10 for its Back to School project. 

Last year, supplies were distributed to nearly 790 students, an increase compared to previous years.

Donations also can be dropped off at any of NHCO’s three offices from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of each month at its main office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton.

The other offices are on the second floor of the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave., and at Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon.

Items being collected include new backpacks, colored pencils, 24-pack crayons, erasers, glue sticks, highlighters and markers, loose-leaf paper, notebooks, binders, pens and pencils including mechanical ones, pencil boxes and sharpeners, pocket folders, rulers, scissors and Texas Instruments graphing calculators in working order for advanced high school science and math.

Donations also can be ordered from NHCO’s Amazon wishlist and sent directly to its office.

Star Party planned to observe Perseids

McCandless is planning a Star Party for all ages to view the Perseids meteor shower from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Aug. 12 in Wall Park.

The Perseids are leftover comet particles and broken asteroids. The meteor shower peaks in mid-August, and its meteors are known for their speed and brightness and typically leave long trails in the atmosphere.

According to nasa.gov, the space debris that creates the Perseids originate from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which last visited the inner solar system in 1992. The comet orbits the sun about once every 133 years.

The event is being held in partnership with the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh. Members of the AAAP will give a brief presentation, timed to finish as twilight ends.

Once it’s dark, guests will be invited to peer through the telescopes and enjoy the night sky. Attendees can bring their own telescope, if desired.

The event is free, but registration is required through CivicRec at secure.rec1.com/PA/mccandless-pa/catalog. You will need to create an account to register.

Donations to further support the center’s programming and mission are always appreciated.

Celebrate summer with a free concert

There are plenty of concerts left in Allegheny County’s 2025 summer concert series.

The free concerts, which run through Aug. 31, take place either at the Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater in Hampton or the South Park Amphitheater.

Here is the remaining lineup:

Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater

• Aug. 10: KT Tunstall 

• Aug. 17: Smash Mouth

• Aug. 24: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Aug. 31: Monty Alexander

South Park Amphitheater

• Aug. 8: Over the Rhine 

• Aug. 15: Robert Jon & the Wreck

• Aug. 22: Pittsburgh Honky-Tonk

• Aug. 29: Tamburitzans

Free concerts lined up at Ross Park Mall

Ross Park Mall, 1000 Ross Park Mall Drive, is hosting a series of Wind Down Wednesday events featuring local acoustic musicians throughout the summer.

People are invited to unwind from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on select Wednesdays near entrance No. 1 by L.L. Bean or on the patios of Wigle Whiskey, Plaza Azteca or The Cheesecake Factory. The three eateries will offer happy-hour options, and L.L. Bean will provide yard games for attendees.

In the case of inclement weather, the performance will take place inside the mall, near Starbucks.

Here is the remaining lineup:

• Aug. 6: Dan Styslinger

• Aug. 20: Samantha Sears

• Aug. 27: Scott Blasey

Volunteer needed to serve on library board

Bradford Woods is looking for a representative to serve on the board of the Northland Public Library Authority for the remainder of a five-year term ending Dec. 31, 2027.

The selected volunteer will be asked to attend the Dec. 9 board meeting and begin their service on Jan. 1.

If interested, send a resume and cover letter to manager@bradfordwoods.gov no later than Oct. 9.

Borough council will select the representative during its Oct. 13 meeting.

Qualifications and responsibilities can be found online at northlandlibrary.org/board-member-qualifications-and-responsibilities/.

Wine fundraiser benefits outreach

Corks for the Community, presented by NaturaLawn of America, will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 28 at Greystone Fields, 4085 Sandy Hill Road in West Deer.

The outing is the signature fundraising event for North Hills Community Outreach, and all proceeds benefit its programs and services.

The cost is $99 per person and includes, wine, appetizers and food stations, a silent auction, a wine pull, music and door prizes.

For details and to purchase tickets, visit nhco.org/corks.

Farmers Market runs through Sept. 25

The annual Farmers Market at The Block Northway runs through Sept. 25.

The market, produced in partnership with the I Made It! Market, offers a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and homemade treats, handcrafted goods and rotating food trucks from 3 to 7 p.m. every Thursday throughout the season.

Vendors include Jodikinos Farms, Binko’s Pepper Sauce, Couldn’t BEE Better Honey, Nedalgyro, Sweet Florence Candy Co., Glencoe Gourmet, A Sweet Morsel Co., Boyd and Blair and many more.

The next special themed events are:

• Aug. 14: Back to School

• Sept. 18: Pep Rally

• Sept. 25: Coffee With a Cop

The market is sponsored by Jim Shorkey Mitsubishi, SSB Bank, Key Bank, Highmark and AHN.

Sellers are added throughout the season. Interested vendors are welcome to apply at https://bit.ly/4i3rsZb.

Workshops to provide driving tips for teens

Impact Teen Drivers, in partnership with the Northern Regional Police Department and Marshall leaders, will present free workshops for teens and their parents or guardians throughout the year.

The workshops will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Aug. 12 and Oct. 14 at the lower level of the Marshall Municipal Building, 525 Pleasant Hills Road.

The workshops will provide evidence-based strategies to keep teens safer on the road. Attendees will learn about Graduated Driver Licensing, tips and tricks to avoid distractions, the importance of seat belts, the risks of speeding and more.

The workshops are free thanks to funding by the NJM Insurance Group.

Seating is limited. To reserve a spot, email Detective Tim Hohos at thohos@nrpolice.com.

Vendors sought for 11th annual fall market

Ascension Lutheran Church, 8225 Peebles Road in McCandless, is getting an early jump on its 11th annual Pumpkin Fest & Flea Market, which is planned from 8 a.m. 1 p.m. Oct. 11.

Community members are invited to spend a crisp fall morning on the church’s grounds.

Its “famous” homemade apple and pumpkin pies will be on sale, as well as hot dogs, homemade soups, beverages and other goodies.

Pumpkins also will be available for purchase.

The event includes a variety of craft and “treasures” vendors in the indoor and outdoor flea market. Vendors currently are being sought for the event. A space costs $20 and can be reserved by emailing vickig@zoominternet.net or calling 724-816-0413.

Singles welcome to join Association of University People

The Association of University People invites singles 50 and older who are four-year college graduates to join them for activities and to meet new people. Activities include spring/summer picnics, monthly dinners, a book group, Scrabble, meeting up at wineries and local outdoor concerts.

Those interested can attend three activities as guests before joining.

For details about AUP or to become a member, call and leave a message at 412-353-9088 or email aupsingles@gmail.com.

To have your news or event listed, email editor Marje Horvath at mhorvath@triblive.com.