In brief: Happenings throughout the North Allegheny Journal area

Marshall looking to fill committee post

Marshall residents are encouraged to apply for an open position on the Traffic Impact Fee Advisory Committee. The committee is made up of seven members appointed by the township supervisors.

The TIFAC meets annually, typically in November.

Its duties include:

• Review of transportation capital improvements and impact fee charges;

• Making recommendations to the supervisors on land-use, road improvements and capital improvements;

• Conduct public hearings on any recommendations;

• Prepare roadway sufficiency analyses;

• Propose changes to the manager’s regulations as needed.

The TIFAC is advised by Trans Associates, the township’s transportation engineer.

To be considered for the committee, applicants must be a Marshall resident, own property in Marshall or be involved with a business or development within the township.

Anyone interested in the position should email a letter of interest and qualifications by Nov. 17 to Nicole Hanson at nhanson@twp.marshall.pa.us.

Township supervisors will schedule interviews in early December or January.

Knight at the Races to benefit charities

The Knights of Columbus Council No. 3907 is organizing a Knight at the Races fundraiser on Nov. 22 at the Pine Community Center, 100 Pine Park.

Attendees can cheer on their favorite horses as pre-recorded races play on the big screen — with chances to win cash prizes and enjoy great company.

All proceeds will benefit the fraternal service order’s charities.

Doors will open a 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 5:30 and post-time at 6:30.

General admission is $20 per person and includes dessert and all evening events. A dinner reservations is $35 per person and includes a dinner buffet.

Extras include free soft drinks, coffee, wine and beer — BYOB is welcome.

There also will be raffles, games, blackjack, a wine pull, Super Bowl squares and more — all to support a great cause.

Sponsorship opportunities are welcome and due by Nov. 8.

Horses are $15 each with winner payout $30; jockeys are $10 each (buy three, get one free) with winner payout $20; race sponsorships are $100 each, and only 11 are available.

For details and to purchase tickets, email knightatraces@gmail.com or send regular mail to Knights of Columbus, P.O. Box 131, Wexford, PA 15090-0131.

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. Motorists should use extra caution while navigating roadways.

• 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

Heritage center to serve free breakfast on Veterans Day

The Friends of McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center is hosting a free Veterans Day breakfast honoring all who served from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 11.

Volunteers have set up displays to honor our veterans at the center, 830 Aufman Lane, McCandless.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy a light breakfast spread, coffee and great company while perusing the displays.

No registration is required.

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.

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.

Bradford Woods church to host blood drive

Bradford Woods Community Church is hosting a Vitalant blood drive from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in Kehew Hall on the church’s campus, 4836 Wexford Run Road.

Each donation goes toward saving up to three lives in the community.

As an added incentive, Vitalant is giving everyone who donates at any of its centers or blood drives in November a chance to win one of two $10,000 gift cards.

To make an appointment, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL and use the blood drive code UG081.

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.

The township also is reminding residents that the last pickup day in 2025 for e-waste and household hazards is Dec. 16. Residents must contact Vogel by Nov. 25 to be included on the pickup list.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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.