In brief: Happenings across the North Allegheny Journal area

Trick-or-treat times

Here is when trick-or-treating will take place in the North Allegheny Journal communities.

Residents who plan to participate are asked to leave their porch lights on.

• Bradford Woods: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31

• Franklin Park: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31

• McCandless: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31

• Marshall: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31

Marshall plans Halloween bash for children

Marshall is planning a Halloween Kids Bash for children 11 and younger from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Elias Fry Barn in Knob Hill Park, 415 Knob Road.

There will be music, crafts, face painting, snacks and lots of candy.

Children are encouraged to come in costume.

The even is free for Marshall residents and $5 per nonresident.

Registration is required and closes Oct. 22.

To register, visit secure.rec1.com/PA/marshall-township-pa/catalog and click on Halloween Fun under Special Events.

Ingomar VFC plans open house, Halloween parade

Ingomar Volunteer Fire Company is hosting its annual Halloween parade and open house at 5 p.m. Oct. 25.

Participants should meet at Ingomar Elementary School, and the parade will proceed to the fire hall.

Everyone is encouraged to dress in costume.

Visitors can meet local firefighters and tour the station.

There will be free treats for children.

Free scary movie night open to tweens, teens

Marshall is hosting a free scary movie night for tweens and teens from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Elias Fry Barn in Knob Hill Park.

The movie will be “The Ring,” a 2002 supernatural horror film from DreamWorks Pictures about a journalist who discovers a cursed videotape that causes its viewers to die seven days later. The film, rated PG-13, is an American remake of a 1998 Japanese film, titled “Ring.”

The township will need approval from parents for all children younger than 13 to view the movie.

There will be snacks by the fire pit.

Registration is required and can be done online at secure.rec1.com/PA/marshall-township-pa/catalog by clicking on Halloween Fun under Special Events.

Trick-or-treat event to include collection for local food bank

McCandless Crossing, 8878 Covenant Ave., is hosting its annual Give a Treat, Get a Treat community event from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 27.

Families are asked to donate nonperishable food items with members of Girl Scout Troop 36774 on the Town Green by Old Navy and Ethan Allen. The Girl Scouts will be making “Everything but the Turkey” care packages for the North Hills Food Bank.

Children then can make the rounds at participating shops to collect treats. Costumes are encouraged.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome to attend and can get their own treats and pet photos at PetPeople by Hollywood Feed, 9190 Covenant Ave.

Registration is required so organizers can plan for enough treats. To register, visit lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/qff5k8s.

2026 collection dates posted for electronic, hazardous waste

Marshall recently posted its 2026 collection dates for household hazardous waste and electronic e-waste recycling.

The township has four pickups scheduled throughout the year.

Residents should notify Vogel Disposal Service at 724-625-1511 by March 5, 2026, for the March 26 pickup, by May 28 for the June 18 pickup, by Sept. 3 for the Sept. 24 pickup and by Nov. 19 for the Dec. 10 pickup.

For a list of what can be collected by Vogel, visit tinyurl.com/y3v637vp.

Garden club members to learn about possums

The Ingomar Garden Club will hold its next meeting Nov. 5 at Northmont Church, 8169 Perry Highway, McCandless.

The 10:30 a.m. business meeting will be followed by a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and a program about possums.

Julie Travaglini, senior director of education and curriculum at the Allegheny Land Trust, will present “Awesome Opossums: Is It Possum or Opossum?” She will speak about the intriguing biology and ecological importance of the often-overlooked opossum.

Prospective members are welcome.

For details, visit ingomargardenclub.com.

OES announces 8th annual holiday craft show

The Norwood Herrington Chapter No. 356 Order of the Eastern Star will hold its eighth annual Holiday Craft & Vendor Show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, 3579 Masonic Way (off Cemetery Lane), Ross.

Admission is free.

Everyone is welcome to start their holiday shopping with offerings from local vendors, including handcrafted items, unique gifts, sweets, jewelry, decor and apparel.

There also will be a large basket auction of items from the vendors at the show.

CCAC schedules fall event for community

CCAC’s North Campus, 8701 Perry Highway in McCandless, is hosting a Fall Community Day from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 5.

Everyone is welcome to join local community organizations, friends and neighbors for crafts, live music, food, games and more.

Complimentary light refreshments will be available.

For details about CCAC’s fall events schedule, visit ccac.edu/ccac-events/index.php.

Free vaccine clinic set for pets of veterans, service members

Animal Friends is honoring our nation’s heroes through its Animal Friends for Veterans program with a free vaccine clinic for the pets of veterans and current service members.

The event will take place on Pittsburgh’s North Side from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 30 in the ALCO Parking Red Lot 7C, 630 Scotland Ave.

No appointment is necessary, and proof of military status will be required. In addition to free vaccines, attendees can receive complimentary pet food and supplies while supplies last.

The clinic will provide vaccinations for dogs and cats, including:

• Rabies

• FVRCP (cats)

• DHPP and Leptospirosis (dogs)

Additional services also will be available:

• Microchips: $11

• Flea and tick treatments: Seresto collars ($55-$65) and topical treatments ($8-$10)

The event site is accessible by train and bus to Allegheny Station (a 10-minute walk) and by bus to the General Robinson Street Parking Garage (a three-minute walk).

Animal Friends is dedicated to supporting veterans and service members through accessible and compassionate pet care.

For details about the Animal Friends for Veterans program, visit ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org.

McCandless offering fall junk collection

McCandless residents invited to a Dump Your Junk collection from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at the town’s Public Works yard, 9957 Grubbs Road, with the assistance of Waste Management and Junkluggers.

Residents only — IDs will be checked — can get rid of a carload or truckload of oversized items, furniture, construction materials, lumber, scrap metal and large bags of trash.

From 8 to 11 a.m. only, Junkluggers will be on-site to collect computers, flat-screen TVs, small electronics (DVD players, video game consoles, cellphones, printers, etc.), small appliances (toasters, microwaves, etc.) and window air-conditioning units.

Unaccepted items include tires and other auto parts, mattresses, batteries, tube TVs or monitors, large appliances (washers, dryers and refrigerators), medical equipment, yard and tree waste, paints, varnish and household chemicals.

There is a limit of one carload or truckload per address; no trailers will be accepted. This is for residential trash only — no businesses or contractors.

Public invited to genealogy conference

The North Hills Genealogists is a group of family history enthusiasts who hold free monthly meetings both on Zoom and in person at Christ Episcopal Church, 5910 Babcock Blvd., Ross.

To celebrate 35 years, the organization is hosting a special one-day conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 8 at Sechler Event Center, 500 Commonwealth Drive, Marshall, and via Zoom.

The public is invited to register to hear speaker Blaine Bettinger discuss genetic genealogy and artificial intelligence topics. Bettinger is a professional genealogist, author and blogger who specializes in DNA evidence.

Everyone also is welcome to register for the organization’s free monthly meetings, which are held the third Monday of each month except December.

For details and to register, visit northhillsgenealogists.org/index.php.

Tickets, sponsorships available for annual Shining Star Gala

The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center will host its third annual Shining Star Gala at 5 p.m. Nov. 1 at The Camelot Event Center, 250 Swinderman Road, Pine.

The gala recognizes outstanding volunteers in the community. This year’s honorees are Jay Adzema, Kristin Chick, Steven D’Achille, Mary Anne Eisenreich, Don Falkner, Paul Kline, Chuck Jackson, Longvue Acres Garden Club, Margie Miller, Daniel Moon, Michael Tarle nd Bob Wright.

For more information about the volunteers being honored, visit townofmccandless.org/457/Shining-Star-Gala-2025.

Cocktail hour will begin at 5 p.m., followed by a welcome message at 6 p.m. and dinner, dessert, music and dancing.

There will be a cash bar, raffle baskets and more.

To become an event sponsor or to purchase an ad for the event program, email heritagecenter@townofmccandless.org.

Individual tickets are $90 each, and a table of eight is $720.

All proceeds advance the mission and programming of the heritage center.

To purchase tickets, visit secure.rec1.com/PA/mccandless-pa/catalog and click on Shining Star Gala.

Residents sought for various boards, committees

McCandless is looking for residents to serve of a variety of boards and committees:

• One partial term on the Environmental Advisory Committee (to expire Dec. 31, 2028)

• Three terms on the Heritage and Cultural Center FDPC (to expire Dec. 31, 2029)

• One term on the McCandless Industrial Development Authority (to expire Dec. 31, 2030)

• One term on the McCandless Township Sanitary Authority (to expire Dec. 31, 2030)

• Two terms on the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority (to expire Dec. 31, 2030)

• Two terms on the Personnel Board (to expire Dec. 31, 2028)

• Two terms on the Planning Commission (to expire Dec. 31, 2029)

• One term on the Zoning Hearing Board (to expire Dec. 31, 2028)

The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Oct. 27.

Anyone interested is encouraged to complete the fillable PDF application online and email it to administration@townofmccandless.org or mail or hand-deliver it to Town of McCandless, 9955 Grubbs Road, Wexford, PA 15090. A majority vote by McCandless Council will lead to the appointment.

For additional details about each committee, including when they meet, visit townofmccandless.org.

Discounted park tickets available for fall, holiday events

Franklin Park is reminding residents that fall and holiday amusement park discount tickets are available.

Tickets are available for Kennywood’s Phantom Fest ($40 as opposed to the gate price of $75.99), Idlewild’s Hallowboo! ($36 instead of the $65.99 gate price) and Kennywood’s Holiday Lights ($24 instead of the $60.99 gate price).

To purchase tickets, visit the township’s Discount Park Tickets page at franklinparkborough.us/323/Summer-Discount-Park-Tickets.

Franklin Park seeks items for annual Thanksgiving drive

For the ninth year, Franklin Park will serve as a drop-off site for North Hills Community Outreach’s annual Thanksgiving on Every Table campaign.

Donations will be accepted during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Nov. 5 at the municipal office, 2344 W. Ingomar Road.

Please consider donating any of the following items to help families in need: $25 grocery store gift card; large box of stuffing mix or instant mashed potatoes; canned cranberry sauce, vegetables or yams; box of muffin mix, “easy” pumpkin pie mix, pie crust mix or andy dessert mix; turkey gravy mix; evaporated milk; and canvas shopping bags.

Outreach collecting items for Thanksgiving dinner

North Hills Community Outreach is collecting items to provide a complete Thanksgiving dinner to families in need through Nov. 9.

Everyone can help by donating any or all of the following goods:

• Large box of stuffing mix

• Large box of instant mashed potatoes

• 15-ounce can of cranberry sauce or yams

• 16-ounce cans of vegetables

• Any dessert mix

• Box of corn muffin or biscuit mix

• Package of turkey gravy mix

• Package of napkins

• Grocery certificate for $25 or more (to purchase a turkey)

• Canvas shopping bag

Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at any of NHCO’s three offices — its main office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton; the second floor of the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave.; and Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon. Items also can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 1 at the Hampton location.

Next up will be the Holiday Toy Collection, which takes place from Nov. 9-Dec. 8. Last year, 821 children received new toys, games and other gifts for the holidays. For a list of suggested items to donate and a link to NHCO’s Amazon wish list, visit nhco.org/sharing-project-donations.

Cosmetology students offering free haircuts to veterans

The cosmetology students at A.W. Beattie Career Center’s training salon will provide free haircuts for all veterans on Veterans Day.

The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11.

No appointment is needed; the event is walk-ins only.

The center is located at 9600 Babcock Blvd. in McCandless.

Tickets, sponsors available for Green Light Gala

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Keystone Pennsylvania is hosting its Green Light Gala from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at The Wintergarden at PPG Place.

This benefit for mental health awareness takes place every other year. Proceeds benefit peer and family support, education and advocacy services in the community.

The evening will include cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, complimentary valet service and silent and chance auctions.

Standard tickets are $250. Patron sponsor costs $300 and includes one ticket or $550 for two tickets; benefactor sponsor costs $500 for one ticket or $950 for two tickets.

Patron and benefactor sponsors will be listed in the gala’s program.

There also are opportunities for other sponsor levels and to place an ad in the gala program.

For details, visit namikeystonepa.org/events/green-light-gala-for-mental-health-awareness.

NAMI’s Keystone Pennsylvania affiliate is located in McKnight Plaza, 105 Braunlich Drive, Suite 200, in Ross.

For information about the organization and to find help and support, visit namikeystonepa.org.

If you or someone you know is in crisis or you need to talk for any reason, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org; the service is available 24/7, and a trained crisis worker will listen to your concerns and share resources that can help. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Franklin Park helping with fall yard spruce-ups

Franklin Park is planning a series of leaf bag collection dates for fall.

Residents must place all bags curbside by 6 a.m. Monday of the following weeks: Oct. 20; Nov. 3, 10 and 17; and Dec. 1.

Only leaves in biodegradable paper bags will be collected. Bags should not be taped or stapled; leave enough room at the opening so the top can be folded or rolled closed.

Fall brush clipping will start Monday, Nov. 3.

All brush must be placed curbside by 7 a.m. Monday morning. The service is provided for brush and tree trimmings up to 4 inches in diameter. No thorn bushes will be accepted.

Yard waste and leaf bag drop-off sites for Franklin Park residents are located at the south end of Blaine’s Way in Blueberry Hill Park and are open from March 1 to Dec. 1. An application must be completed annually. The sites are for residential disposal only; commercial use is prohibited. Landscapers using residential permits are prohibited. The disposal of entire trees also is prohibited.

These areas are under video surveillance, and all violators will be prosecuted.

Veterans invited to 3rd annual breakfast salute

Franklin Park is planning its third Salute to Veterans Breakfast on Nov. 15 at the Blueberry Hill Park Activity Center.

All veterans are welcome, no matter when, where or how long they served.

The breakfast is to honor the service of the men and women who have served or currently are serving in our nation’s armed forces.

If you are a veteran or know a veteran who you think would like to attend, contact Donna Platt at 412-364-4115, ext. 302, or email her at dplatt@franklinparkborough.us.

Breakfast sponsorships currently are available.

The borough welcomes gold sponsors at $1,500, silver at $1,000 and bronze at $500. Each sponsorship will include two tickets to the breakfast, signage indicating event sponsorship and recognition in borough publications. In addition, gold and silver sponsors will receive an ad in the borough newsletter.

Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor at any level is encouraged to contact Platt.

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.

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.