In brief: Happenings from the North Allegheny area

Bradford Woods invites residents to meeting on pedestrian safety

Bradford Woods encourages residents who are concerned about pedestrian safety to attend the 7 p.m. July 14 council meeting and make their voices heard.

In response to a petition signed by 165 residents, council is taking several steps to improve pedestrian safety on Bradford Road. Among the actions are implementing traffic-calming techniques and adding a dedicated pedestrian lane on Bradford Road East.

The pedestrian lane will be discussed at the July 14 meeting, which will be held in council chambers at 4908 Wexford Run Road.

To view a letter to residents about pedestrian safety, visit the borough website at bradfordwoodspa.org.

For questions, email borough Manager Rusti Null at manager@bradfordwoods.gov or call him at 724-935-2990.

Franklin Park police 1st in area to get PCPA accreditation

The Franklin Park community is invited to attend the Franklin Park Council meeting at 8 p.m. July 16 to celebrate an accreditation milestone by the borough’s police department.

Chief Jim Adams, accreditation program coordinator for the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, will be in attendance to formally present the official accreditation plaque and certificate.

Franklin Park is the first police department in the North Hills to receive this distinguished recognition.

The Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program is a rigorous, voluntary process that evaluates agencies against established best practices in policing. Achieving accreditation is a mark of professional distinction that demonstrates the department’s adherence to the highest standards in law enforcement.

The accomplishment was made possible with the support of Mayor O’Keefe and borough council, who recognized the importance of the endeavor and provided the necessary resources to make it happen. Their commitment has helped position Franklin Park as a leader in modern, accountable and community-focused policing.

Bradford Woods firefighters plan Touch-a-Truck

The Bradford Woods Volunteer Fire Company is sponsoring a Touch-a-Truck event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 26 at the station, 4908 Wexford Run Road.

The event will feature vehicles of all sizes and shapes, including fire trucks, ambulances and police cars, for families to visit. Children can get a close-up look at all the emergency vehicles.

Free hot dogs, drinks and snacks will be served.

Stop by and meet members of the fire department and others who serve the community.

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 and more.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Participants, sponsors sought for 5K/walk

The North Boroughs 5K and Walk benefiting North Hills Community Outreach and the Northgate Cross Country Team is scheduled for 8 a.m. Aug. 9 at Greenstone United Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon.

The 1-mile walk will start at 8 a.m. and runners in the 5K will start at 8:15.

The cost is $35 for the 5K and $20 for the walk, plus a small transaction fee.

Registration opens at 7 a.m. on the day of the race for those who need to sign up or pick up their bib.

Participants are encouraged to stick around after the race for door prizes and giveaways.

This is a pet friendly event.

To view and download a course map and for details on how to become a sponsor, visit nhco.org/north-boroughs-5k.

For questions, email Angie at amspess@nhco.org.

Sponsors, vendors welcome for big bash

McCandless leaders are preparing for the town’s Community Day 2025 celebration, which will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Sept. 13 in Devlin Park, behind Town Hall.

The town welcomes vendors and sponsors for the event.

Applications for vendor booths are now open and can be found by scrolling to the bottom of the township’s Community Day webpage. Booths are limited and will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For details, visit townofmccandless.org/437/Community-Day.

Sponsors so far include Pine Creek Plumbing, Gateway Engineers, AdVenture Development LLC, McIntyre Square and Pine Creek Shopping Center, Babst Calland, First National Bank, Cushman & Wakefield, Chuck’s Auto Body, Shults Ford and Campbell Durrant P.C.

To learn more about the town’s programs or sponsorship opportunities, contact Abby Lucostic at alucostic@townofmccandless.org.

Community Day 2025 sponsorships must be received by July 31. Your tax-deductible donation can be made on the township website or made via check payable to Town of McCandless, with Community Day noted on the memo line, and mailed to Town of McCandless, 9955 Grubbs Road, McCandless, PA 15090.

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/.

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:

• July 9: Abby Abbondanza

• July 23: The Rust Project, Acoustic Duo

• Aug. 6: Dan Styslinger

• Aug. 20: Samantha Sears

• Aug. 27: Scott Blasey

5K to raise money for Free Care Fund

St. Barnabas Charities is hosting its 34th annual Free Care 5K on Aug. 2.

Presented by CIBC Bank USA, the race will begin at 9 a.m. at the St. Barnabas Gibsonia campus on Meridian Road.

Proceeds from the event support the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, which provides $6 million in care to patients and residents every year.

Everyone is invited to participate. Competitive and amateur runners, joggers, walkers, teams, stroller pushers and wheelchair racers of all ages will enjoy a rolling 3.1 mile out and back course.

No pets, smoking or inline skates are permitted.

The Free Care 5K will feature ChampionChip Timing, a start line corral, USA Track & Field certification, as well as medals awarded for all ages.

A post-race party will be held after the race featuring raffle prizes, food and the awards ceremony.

Registration is $30 per person before Aug. 2 and $35 per person on race day. Register before July 11 to be guaranteed a race T-shirt and runner’s bag.

Those unable to attend can still register and receive a race shirt and runner’s bag.

To register, visit FreeCare5K.com or call 724-625-3770. Volunteer opportunities are also are available.

To donate to the Free Care Fund, TEXT the word GIVE to 41444.

Lecture to cover history of Park View Riding Academy

The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center’s next Third Thursday lecture series, scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. July 17, will explore the Park View Riding Academy.

Located on Grubbs Road, the academy has been a fixture in McCandless for a century.

Join Wanda Haney and equestrian student Claire as they discuss the academy’s special-needs riding programs and its place in McCandless history.

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.

McCandless police collecting school supplies for NHCO

The McCandless Police Department is collecting new school supplies for North Hills Community Outreach through Aug. 5, which is the town’s National Night Out event.

A collection box will be set up in the lobby of the police station, 9955 Grubbs Road.

NHCO 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.

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.

Free tennis clinic to teach fundamentals

McCandless is partnering with the U.S. Tennis Association for a free Intro to Tennis Clinic from 10 a.m. to noon July 12 at the tennis courts in Devlin Park, 9955 Grubbs Road.

The clinic for beginners is open to those 18 and older.

Participants will learn proper grips, an introduction to basic topspin forehand and backhand, volley, overhead and serve.

Equipment will be provided by the U.S. Tennis Association.

Registration is required because space is limited to 24 participants.

To register, visit the CivicRec site at tinyurl.com/32kx2adf. You will need to create an account to register.

Golf outing to benefit scholarship fund

The 22nd annual Franklin Park Community Scholarship Golf Outing is planned for July 28 at the Cranberry Highlands Golf Course.

All proceeds from the outing will benefit the Franklin Park Borough Community Scholarship Fund.

Foursomes as well as singles, who will be paired into teams, are welcome to participate.

The format will be a four-person scramble. Team prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. The golf package includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, a snack at the turn, a beverage cart and lunch buffet. There also will be skill prizes, prize drawings, a 50-50 raffle and a putting contest.

A foursome with a tee sign costs $810; a regular foursome is $660; individual golfer is $165; lunch and the awards ceremony are $75. The deadline to register is July 11.

The borough also is offering several advertising and golf packages, all three of which include one foursome: event sponsorship at $2,500, lunch sponsorship at $1,500 and the diamond package at $1,500. Event, lunch and tee sign sponsors also are being sought, as well as donations of prizes and gift baskets.

For details, view the Golf Outing Brochure Information Packet at franklinparkborough .us/DocumentCenter/View/ 2000/Golf-Outing-Brochure- Information-Packet.

For additional information, call Donna Platt at 412-364-4115, ext. 302, or email her at dplatt@franklinparkborough.us.

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.

There will be special themed events each month:

• July 24: Christmas in July

• 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.

Children’s books sought to replenish library boxes

Marshall officials are collecting children’s books to stock the free library boxes in the township’s parks.

If you have extra books or ones your children have outgrown, drop them off at the municipal building, 525 Pleasant Hill Road.

Summer concerts set at Elias Fry Barn

Marshall Township recently announced its Summer Concerts in the Park lineup:

• July 25: No Excuse

• 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.

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.

Discounted tickets for area parks available

Summer park discount tickets are available at the Franklin Park Municipal Building, 2344 W. Ingomar Road.

The tickets can be purchased by cash, check or credit card. Good-any-day tickets are available for Idlewild, $40; Kennywood, $43; Sandcastle, $35; and Waldameer Park in Erie, $42.

For questions, call the office at 412-364-4115.

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