Natalie Beneviat stories, Page 17
NA alum is Navy commander in Hawaii, helps in Maui fire tragedy
When huge wildfires struck the Hawaiian island of Maui in August, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Brian Mowry, a McCandless native, conducted search-and-rescue missions with fellow crew members of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37, the “Easyriders.” Their worst enemy? The smoke. “In the first 72 hours, my squadron, HSM-37, provided initial search-and-rescue...
Dragon Boat Festival comes to North Park Sept. 30
The dragon awakens, and it then begins — The Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, which celebrates the sport of dragon boat racing and breast cancer survivors in the greater Pittsburgh area. The festival on Sept. 30, at North Park Lake on Pearce Mill Road is in its fifth year and was...
North Allegheny works to find replacement bus contractors after vendor suddenly cancels contract
The North Allegheny School District is bringing in more staff, searching for contractors and introducing a new mobile tracking app that may help address some problems that led to an abrupt cancellation of bus transportation for private and parochial students during the first week of school. NA officials said a...
McCandless’ newest trail to open this fall
The Town of McCandless will boost its walkability with a new trail set to open this fall. Brandt Trail is a nearly one-mile, natural trail starting near the tennis courts at Wall Park off Sloop Road on the western side of McCandless, according to McCandless Councilman Robert “Jack” Casey. It...
North Allegheny Schools trying to resolve bus issues after contractor transporting private and parochial students ceases operations
Families living in the North Allegheny School District who have children attending private and parochial schools experienced abrupt cancellation of bus transportation last week. Busing since has been provided to Holy Cross Academy in Ross Township, but not Aquinas Academy in Hampton as of Aug. 29. NA officials said a...
McCandless hosts Community Day and Car Cruise on Sept. 9
McCandless Community Day and the Frank J. Farina Memorial 2023 Car Cruise and Instrument Drive will make quite a pair. They both happen Sept. 9. The car cruisers will be in gear from 2 to 6 p.m., at the North Allegheny Intermediate High School on Cumberland Road. Community Day begins...
North Allegheny junior’s Eagle Scout project installs food pantry box in Millvale
Franklin Park’s Caden Currykosky wanted his Eagle Scout project to make an impact somewhere beyond just the North Allegheny area. “I kind of wanted to do something that would help a lot of people,” said the NA junior. After he posted a notice on Facebook seeking locations to build a...
Northland Library in McCandless hosting children’s, circus-themed gala
Come monkey around at The Children’s Gala 2023: A Storybook Circus on Sept. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road. Tickets are on sale at $25 per person. Children under 2 are admitted free, and all children receive a complimentary goody bag. “I’m...
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in McCandless hosts food festival Aug. 31-Sept. 3
Souvlaki, soutzoukakia, or spanakopita may be hard to say, but certainly are good to eat. These and other traditional Greek foods will be at the 2023 Taste of Greece Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church in McCandless, Aug. 31 to Sept. 3. The annual Greek food festival is open...
McCandless gets $1 million in state funds for traffic light upgrades, celebrates opening of new sidewalk
PennDOT has awarded McCandless Township more than $1 million in Green Light-Go grants to help upgrade traffic lights. The awards were among more than $35 million given to 77 municipalities statewide, according to an announcement by Gov. Tom Shapiro on Aug. 11. McCandless received: • $306,222 for updated signal equipment...
North Allegheny taps Plum principal to fill NAI principal’s post
The North Allegheny School Board has moved some administrators into new positions to start the 2023-24 school year and on Aug. 9 selected another Plum School District educator to join NA’s top staff. The North Allegheny School Board unanimously approved hiring Heather Hibner, principal at Plum Senior High School, to...
North Allegheny hosts Just for Girls sports camp
Competition can sometimes keep girls from trying a new sport in school, said Michelle Ruiz, the health and physical education teacher at Marshall Middle School. With Just for Girls camp, held July 31-Aug. 4 at the North Allegheny School District, girls were introduced to two to three different sports each...
NA earns a top school ranking in debate, speech
North Allegheny is a 2023 Debate School of Excellence, after an exceptional performance at the annual National Speech and Debate Championships in Phoenix in June. Several students from North Allegheny also won individual school record-breaking honors. “The Debate School of Excellence award is given to the Top 20 Debate schools...
North Allegheny hosts active shooter response training for North Hills officers
It’s training police officers hope to never use. “Heaven forbid, if (an active shooter event) would happen, they would have to familiarity with the buildings,” said Greg Garcia, a Ross Township police officer and and member of the North Hills Special Response Team. Police officers from throughout Allegheny County’s northern...
Hydration important as youth sports heat up in North Allegheny Area for the fall
There’s no rest for the weary when it comes to youth sports. Even in the summer, young athletes gear up for the fall season. But it’s still summer and likely hot, so play it safe, said Dr. Tyler McCardell, a board director for McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority, who is also...
North Allegheny begins celebrating 75th birthday
In 1948, a loaf of bread was 15 cents, a movie ticket was 60 cents, the average cost of new house was $7,700, historical archives say, and the North Allegheny School District was born. The district officially turned 75 on June 10. There’s been much growth since its inception in...
Summer brings community festivities to Marshall Township
Summer is sizzling in Marshall Township with two upcoming concerts, an outdoor movie, and its annual community day. The 56 East Band with Special Guest “The Hex” of Waddell’s Rock School will be in concert July 28, from 7 to 10 p.m., at the Elias Fry Barn in Knob Hill...
Golf outing to aid McCandless man needing kidney
George “Alex” Reed of McCandless was fortunate to have a successful living-donor kidney transplant in 2015, but the organ is now failing, and the 33-year-old Reed is searching for another living donor. His friends and family are hoping that a golf fundraiser Match Made on the Green on Aug. 6,...
North Allegheny Day at Kennywood is Aug. 12
While the North Allegheny School District will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, the district’s annual Kennywood Day isn’t quite as old. Kennywood Day has been an NA fixture at least since the 1980s, according to Brandi Smith, school district spokeswoman. While researching the district’s history in preparation for...
Incoming North Allegheny superintendent devoted to education from a young age
From the time he was in eighth grade, Dr. Brendan Hyland knew he wanted to be a social studies teacher. Fast-forward to today, Hyland is set to take over as superintendent at North Allegheny starting July 1. “Having previously spent a decade in this district, I know the limitless potential...
Some North Allegheny school board members express concerns over hiring of new Superintendent Brendan Hyland
The more that North Allegheny residents get to know Dr. Brendan Hyland, NA’s new school superintendent, “the more they will like him,” said school board Vice President Marcie Crow. The NA school board, voting 6-3 on June 12, selected Hyland, the superintendent of the Plum School District and a former...
Search firm, BR2, aided in search for North Allegheny superintendent
The search for a new North Allegheny school superintendent was guided by a local consulting firm, BR2, made up of two fellows of the Pittsburgh-based Grable Foundation, Dr. Billie Rondinelli and Dr. Bart Rocco. “They are locally based, which has proven very beneficial in their accessibility. They have not worked...
North Allegheny School Board approves 2023-2024 budget
The North Allegheny School Board on June 13 unanimously adopted the district’s $193 million general fund budget for the 2023-2024 school year with no increase in the district’s property tax. Property taxes will stay at 19.74 mills. The budget takes effect July 1. School Board Vice President Marcie Crow said...
Former North Allegheny Intermediate High School Principal hired as district superintendent
The North Allegheny School Board voted to hire former North Allegheny Intermediate High School Principal Brendan Hyland on Monday as the district’s superintendent despite concerns from some board members and members of the public that the search for a new leader had been rushed. In a 6-3 vote, the board...
North Park kiddie pool renovations continue
Parents anticipating the finish of the North Park baby pool renovation and site improvements project will have to wait a little longer. Allegheny County’s pools opened June 3, but these renovations are still underway and should be completed later this summer, said Amie Downs, communications director for Allegheny County. But...
