Natalie Beneviat stories, Page 21
K9 Joy and Sgt. Madden retire from McCandless Police Department
McCandless Police Sgt. Bryan Madden and his sidekick, K-9 Officer Joy, have retired from McCandless Police Department. Madden joined the department in 1993 and Joy in 2017. Their resignations were effective Dec. 16. Madden called it “an honor and a privilege” to serve the McCandless community, and McCandless Township Council...
Bradford Woods adopts 2023 budget
The Bradford Woods Council adopted its 2023 budget on Dec. 12 with no taxes raised. The millage rate remains at 3.375 mills and total budgeted expenses are $1.22 million, which exceeds revenue by roughly $260,000 next year, according to Bradford Woods President Victoria Pongrace. The borough prepared for the expense...
3 holiday races planned for North Park
With all the running around during the holidays, there are several upcoming events at North Park that take running literally. The Christmas Eve 5K and the Resolution Run 5K North Park are being held by Wolf Creek Management on separate dates this month, followed by the North Park Half Marathon...
Councilwoman resigns in McCandless
McCandless Town Council is looking to replace Kimberly Zachary, who resigned her council seat in early December. Zachary, the representative of Ward 1, is relocating out of town because of family circumstances, according her letter to council. She requested Council President Michael Tarle to read it at the Dec. 12...
Franco Harris visits NA’s Ingomar Middle School to celebrate 50th anniversary of Immaculate Reception
Editor’s note: This story, which will appear in the Dec. 22 edition of the North Allegheny Journal, was printed on Dec. 15 and does not reflect the passing of Franco Harris on Dec. 21. Ingomar Middle School Principal David Deramo said of Harris following his sudden death: “His dedication to...
McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority wins state grant
The McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority has received a $40,000 state grant for advanced airway and personal protective equipment, state Rep.-elect Arvind Venkat, D-McCandless, announced. “We are extremely grateful. These are capital budget items we hoped to acquire next year but didn’t know if we could,” said ambulance authority Chief Chis...
McCandless/NA Heritage Center has ‘transformative’ 2022, plans for growth in 2023
2022 was a “transformative year’ for the McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center, with plans for 2023 focusing on a possible expansion and establishing partnerships with neighboring municipalities, center Executive Director Abby Lucostic told McCandless Town Council. She presented a year-end review of the museum and strategic plan for next...
North Allegheny students earn flying scholarships
While most highschoolers are practicing parallel parking and highway driving, Ethan Byrne and Curtis Rhoten, both of McCandless, can flash their private pilot’s licenses. The two North Allegheny seniors earned scholarships to the U.S. Air Force’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Private Pilot Certification program during the summer of 2022....
North Allegheny School Board reorganizes
The North Allegheny School Board selected new leadership on Dec. 7 by electing Elizabeth Blackburn board president and Marcie Crow as vice president. Blackburn will replace Richard McClure, who has served as president of the board for four years. Blackburn had been vice president. “To become president is truly a...
Bradford Woods to vote on budget Dec. 12
Bradford Woods is scheduled to adopt its proposed 2023 budget at the Dec. 12 council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Proposed expenses for next year’s budget are listed at more than $1.2 million with no tax increase. The proposed budget is available to view online at www.bradfordwoodspa.org. The meetings...
North Allegheny reviews capital programs for 2023-2024
The North Allegheny School District will focus on immediate needs for its facilities in 2023-2024 and plan for bigger projects, according to NA finance assistant director Kermit Houser, who presented a five-year outline of proposed construction work and related funding to the North Allegheny School board on Nov. 16. “From...
Sites in the North Allegheny area host December blood drives
These blood drives are being held in the North Allegheny area in December: Vitalant North Hills Donation Center McKnight North Professional Center, 9365 McKnight Road, Suite 600, McCandless Schedule by calling 877-258-4825 or at www.vitalant.org Donation hours: Monday through Thursday, 12 to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to...
Blood donations needed in the North Allegheny area
It can’t be withdrawn from an ATM or streamed online. And there’s nowhere on Amazon Prime to place an order. Getting blood is entirely dependent on people. And this is the best time of year to give the gift of blood, said Kristen Lane, communications manager for Northeast Division of...
No tax increase planned in West View
There is no tax increase planned for West View residents next year, as commissioners prepare to vote on the 2023 proposed budget, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. at their Council Chambers at 441 Perry Highway. The tax rate is proposed to remain the same at 6.30 mills. The last time...
Franklin Park proposed budget open for review
Franklin Park’s proposed 2023 budget contains no tax increases and anticipates spending of nearly $13.3 million next year, a roughly $1.1 million increase from 2022. The budget is scheduled for adoption Dec. 21. “The borough real estate tax rate of 1.29 mills, (which is) $129 for every $100,000 of your...
Ross Township proposed 2023 budget has no tax increase
The Ross Township proposed general fund budget for 2023 will have no tax or township sewer rate increases, with a vote for consideration at the town board of commissioners’ Dec. 5 meeting. The budget is balanced at $41,894,985, approximately more than $1.3 million than the 2022 budget, according to Ross...
Shaler proposed budget keeps tax rate at 3.49 mills
Shaler Township presented its proposed general fund budget for 2023 in November, with no increase in property taxes, which will remain at 3.49 mills. The proposed 2023 budget is balanced at $16 million with a vote set for the next commissioner’s meeting on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. The budget...
North Allegheny middle schools present ‘Disney’s Newsies JR.’
With a cast and crew from all three North Allegheny middle schools, the musical “Disney’s Newsies JR.” takes center stage at North Allegheny Senior High School on Dec. 9-10 at 7 p.m. and on Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $14. “Disney’s Newsies JR.” is a 60-minute version of...
North Allegheny hosts child internet safety discussion for parents
A representative of the U.S. Secret Service will lead a discussion for North Allegheny parents about “Internet Safety for Kids” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Carson Middle School auditorium. Topics discussed include sharing location on apps like Snapchat; anonymous accounts on social media that “allow” bullying...
Bradford Woods man makes wood carvings from the heart
As a boy growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., Alfred Akner would patriotically carve model airplane kits. It’s what all of the kids did to pass the time during World War II, he said. But the hobby fell away when he was in high school. Then, close to 30 years ago,...
Marshall Township to vote on 2023 budget on Dec. 5
Marshall Township’s proposed budget for 2023 continues a 34-year streak in which the township hasn’t raised property taxes. The property tax millage rate would remain at 1.42 mills, according to Marshall Township Manager Julie Bastianini. The township’s earned income tax would remain at a half-percent, where it has been since...
McCandless church imagines a night in Bethlehem
A local church makes visiting Bethlehem a whole lot easier. St. John’s Lutheran Church of Highland on Cumberland Road in McCandless is hosting a realistic re-imagining of the first Christmas in “Take a Visit to Bethlehem,” on Dec. 3-4 and Dec. 10-11. The event is free. Folks can drop in...
Volunteers sought for Marshall steering committee
Volunteers are needed to help guide growth and development in Marshall Township during the next 10 years. The township is asking residents to join a Land Development Ordinance Update Steering Committee that will focus on land development ordinances in their neighborhoods, according to township Manager Julie Bastianini. Letters of interest...
North Allegheny region to greet the holidays with lights, snowplows and Santa
Whether it’s pancakes or wreath-making, Santas or snowplows, there are a variety of things to do in the North Allegheny region to get ready for the holidays. Local communities waste no time after the turkey’s done to move on to celebrating the winter season. And there’s something for everyone, from...
North Allegheny School Board OKs resolution to lay off some library secretary positions
The North Allegheny School Board approved a resolution to reduce the number of library secretary paraprofessionals from 12 to six effective with the 2023-2024 school year. The board approved the resolution on Nov. 16 by a vote of 5-3 following about 45 minute of public comment, in which most of...
