Natalie Beneviat stories, Page 15
Warner voted in as president of North Allegheny School Board
The North Allegheny School Board will be led by two Democrats. School board members elected Democrat Elizabeth Warner as president during a board reorganization meeting Dec. 6 by a vote of 7-0 with two abstentions. Democrat Paige Hardy was elected vice president on a 5-4 vote. Warner, who was re-elected...
Lights, decorations wrap up the holiday season in the North Allegheny Area
Wrap up December with holiday fun in the North Allegheny area, including adding some unique decor to the Christmas tree. Franklin Park Borough is selling a commemorative tree ornament to celebrate its bicentennial this year. The silver ornament showcases the borough’s new logo on a stocking with the words “Franklin...
Bell ringers critical to Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, ringing opportunities exist in Pittsburgh’s North Suburbs
This updated version corrects the addresses of the Walmart and Kuhn’s stores where bell ringers can sign up for a shift. Back in the 1800s, when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee was a sailor back in Liverpool, England, there was a big iron kettle called “The Simpson’s Pot” where passersby...
Officials: North Allegheny 2019 bond fund may be used up after 2025-26 school year
The North Allegheny School District continues to use proceeds of a 2019 bond to finance capital projects, but that money may be exhausted after the year 2025-2026. The bond fund contained almost $8 million as of Oct. 31, said Kermit Houser, NA director of finance and treasurer, during a Nov....
North Allegheny exploring creation of 1 campus for senior, intermediate high schools
The North Allegheny School Board is planning its next steps for a possible high school renovation, and there seems to be interest in creating one campus for both the senior and intermediate high schools, said board Director Richard McClure, the board representative to the building and grounds committee. Currently, the...
North Allegheny School Board approves multiple personnel changes at special meeting
The North Allegheny School Board approved a slew of top personnel changes at a special meeting Nov. 29 amid calls by some community members that the board should delay the vote until next month. “No one should be voting on this tonight. No one should be voting at this meeting,”...
Stop the Judgement passes out nearly 100 Narcan kits in Marshall event
Stop the Judgement Project distributed nearly 100 kits containing the drug Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, during a Nov. 25 event at Generoasta Coffee and Cafe in Marshall Township. Those attending were also trained free of charge to spot the signs of an overdose and...
Santa to visit McCandless museum, which will get a new executive director
Santa will be visiting the McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center on Aufman Lane in McCandless on Dec. 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event will also feature a story time and train display, according to Executive Director Joe Wall. He said Santa also will be bringing gifts and...
McCandless hosts Winterfest Dec. 2
Santa and the sisters of “Frozen” fame — Princess Anna and her sister Queen Elsa — will be honored guests at the third annual Winterfest in McCandless on Dec. 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. “Winterfest comes at a time when families are looking to celebrate the holiday seasons and...
Home schooling a strong option in North Allegheny area
There’s been a steady growth of homeschooling in the North Allegheny School District, according to a report presented to the school board. “Homeschooling did increase significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and remaining at its highest level we’ve seen while other enrollment levels have re-balanced,” said Yuko Wong, data manager at...
More than 150 people attend Diwali open house in McCandless
More than 150 people attended a celebration of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, at an open house Nov. 13 hosted by Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-McCandless, at his McCandless office. Venkat was born in India and is Pennsylvania’s first state representative of Indian American background. He immigrated to the United...
Wild turkey population ‘unbelievable’ this year, with wooded areas of Allegheny County popular spots for birds
No doubt about it. It’s tough to be a turkey this Thanksgiving. The farm-bred birds end up in the supermarket. And in parts of Allegheny County and Southwest Pennsylvania, there’s a Thanksgiving wild turkey hunting season from Nov. 22 to 24, said Travis Lau, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Game Commission....
McCandless proposes 1st-time contribution to McCandless Franklin Park Ambulance Authority
The proposed 2024 budget for McCandless contains the township’s first-ever cash contribution to the McCandless Franklin Park Ambulance Authority, according to Assistant Town Manager and Finance Director Trisha Greathouse. The authority had requested $161,680 from McCandless, whose population is the largest of the five communities the authority serves. The town...
McCandless holds the line on real estate taxes for 19th year in $28M proposed spending plan
For the 19th straight year, McCandless has held the line on property taxes. “There is no planned increase in the real estate tax millage” in the town’s proposed $28 million budget for 2024, said Assistant Town Manager and Finance Director Trisha Greathouse. The real estate millage rate will remain at...
North Allegheny student growth is slow but steady, report finds
The slow, but steady growth in the North Allegheny School District is coming at a good pace, according to William Kirk, assistant director of project management and infrastructure at North Allegheny. “What we’re seeing is a stable housing market, not an explosive one. We like what we’re seeing here,” Kirk...
McCandless race brings 2 Republicans, 1 Democrat to town council
Two Republicans and one Democrat won seats Nov. 7 on McCandless Council in races for three contested ward seats, according to unofficial results from the Allegheny County Board of Elections. Republican Doug Arlow defeated Democrat Claire Buonocore, 729 to 700, in Ward 1; Democrat Nicholas Giorgetti took the Ward 3...
New Franklin Park Council swearing-in scheduled in January
One of the last tasks awaiting Franklin Park Council President John Parks before he leaves council is the borough’s budget for 2024. Parks, a nine-year council veteran, “at the tender age of 83” decided not to seek re-election. He’ll be succeeded on the board in representing Ward 2 by newcomer...
Election wins: Democrats constitute new majority on North Allegheny School Board
Democrats will take control of the North Allegheny School Board with the re-election of Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Warner and the election of Democratic challengers Bob Gibbs and Dr. Anisha Shah in the Nov. 7 General Election. Nearly 95,000 votes were cast, according to unofficial election results from the Allegheny County...
New transportation director appointed for North Allegheny
The North Allegheny School Board has hired a new director of transportation following a bumpy start to the school year that left the district unable to provide bus transportation to some students. The board on Oct. 25 voted to hire Scott Mergen at an annual salary of $115,000. Neither the...
North Allegheny Middle School presents ‘Finding Nemo Jr.’
An undersea world comes alive as North Allegheny’s middle schools present Disney/Pixar’s “Finding Nemo Jr.” on Nov. 16 and Nov. 18-19 in the North Allegheny High School Auditorium. “ “Finding Nemo Jr.” is filled with so much energy hard work and talent. These kids have a gift not many others...
North Allegheny eliminates safety and security manager position
Members of the North Allegheny School Board showered district Safety and Security Manager Dan Stack on Oct. 25 with words of appreciation just moments before voting to eliminate his position. Stack has been the safety and security manager for the North Allegheny School District since July 2021. But the board...
Shining Star Gala to benefit McCandless museum
The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center is hosting its first-ever Shining Star Gala on Nov. 25 at the Chadwick Banquet Center in McCandless. The event begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails, with dinner at 6 p.m. There will be an award presentation for long-standing volunteers in the community, followed...
McCandless cultural center hosting presentation about Pittsburgh musicians
The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center is hosting a free presentation about “Famous Pittsburgh Musicians,” Nov. 16, with two sessions at 5 and 7 p.m. Speaker and musician Gail Griffith will discuss famous musicians who came from Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh-area, including Bobby Vinton, Perry Como, Gene Kelly, George...
Local leaders recognize North Allegheny’s 75 years
State elected leaders presented citations during the Oct. 25 school board meeting that celebrate the 75th anniversary of the North Allegheny School District. State Rep. Dr. Arvind Venkat, D-McCandless; Rep. Rob Mercuri, R-Pine and Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, presented the citations. Grace Muller, a representative of State Sen. Lindsey Williams,...
McCandless-based Variety’s ‘chief excitement officer’ retires after long career helping kids
When Tyler Winfield at age 4 first met Charlie LaVallee, Tyler couldn’t talk. He was termed nonverbal due to a disability. Fortunately, LaVallee was chief executive officer — or chief excitement officer as LaVallee likes to say — at Variety — the Children’s Charity, which provides services for disabled children,...
