James Engel stories, Page 16
Memorial Park Church in McCandless seeking to pack a quarter-million meals in upcoming drives
In two upcoming events, Memorial Park Church in McCandless hopes to pack 250,000 meals for local distribution, requesting aid from the public for the second event. Memorial Park, an Evangelical Presbyterian Church with about 1,000 members, is a “mission-based” congregation, according to its communications director, Greg Hollack. The upcoming events,...
6 people scammed after card skimmer found at 7-Eleven in Etna; more people likely affected
Several customers at a 7-Eleven location in Etna have reported fraudulent charges on their accounts after a card skimmer was found Monday on one of the store’s registers. Etna police Chief Tim Rodman said his department has received fraud reports from six residents so far, though it is likely more...
Pine to host 2nd Earth Day event with more environmental activities, vendors and 5K run
After large crowds and a positive reception last year, Pine is set to mark the second iteration of its Earth Day celebrations. The event, which will take place throughout the grounds of the Pine Community Center and its surrounding park, will feature workshops, merchants and food vendors, resembling something close...
Etna to relocate borough’s headquarters to higher elevation with purchase of building
After years of seeking higher ground, the Borough of Etna purchased a building March 7 that eventually will become the municipality’s new headquarters. The location, at 30 Pine St., sits almost directly above the current borough building at 437 Butler St. The 47,570-square-foot building is an industrial space formerly occupied...
Area fish fries gear up for lent, often with expanded menus
As Western Pennsylvania communities rev up the fryers for Lenten season fish fries, many churches and organizations have expanded their menus beyond the cod. Last year, during the first Friday of Lent, Kristen Jones said Lloydsville Volunteer Fire Department in Unity served 2,000 meals, using about 1,500 buns. Though the...
Projectiles launched, zombie art composed at annual Shaler Area STEAM competition
Teams from 16 schools applied their knowledge and creativity in a series of challenges Friday during an annual STEAM competition hosted by Shaler Area High School. The competition, which began several years ago with just six schools, features a daylong sequence of science, technology, engineering, art and math trials in...
Construction begins on Rachel Carson EcoVillage in McCandless
Construction on the long-awaited Rachel Carson EcoVillage at Providence Heights, a sustainable cohabitation of 35 units in McCandless, has broken ground after several years of discussions and rezoning. The village is located on land donated by the Sisters of Divine Providence near Cumberland Road and Babcock Boulevard adjacent to La...
Ingomar Living Waters fundraiser to help hydrate thousands around the world
Gazing out over Pittsburgh’s three rivers from the Carnegie Science Center, attendees of Ingomar Living Waters’ upcoming fundraiser will be considering the waters elsewhere. The group, founded as a charity organization among parishioners at Ingomar United Methodist Church in Franklin Park, has held its Turning Wine Into Water event since...
Etna’s Bread of Life Food Pantry seeking donations after number of shoppers ‘skyrockets’
During the Lenten season, the Bread of Life Food Pantry in Etna is seeking donations to provide Easter hams to local families and bear the weight of a “dramatic increase” of people seeking its services. Alexis Weber, manager of the pantry located in Calvert Memorial Presbyterian Church at 94 Locust...
Shaler seeks residents’ thoughts on master plan for parks
After years of discussions about park improvements and the potential addition of a recreation center, Shaler is seeking resident input about the future of its dozen parks in a survey. The extensive questionnaire comes as a result of recommendations made by the Kiwanis Park Focus Group in May 2024, Shaler...
Ross honors 9 police officers in inaugural awards ceremony
Ross recognized several police officers with awards and commendations March 3 in what Deputy Chief Brian Kohlhepp said he hopes is the first of many years of annual awards for its 46-officer staff. Though nine officers were recognized at a meeting of a township commissioners, two took home special honors....
After initial hesitation, Ross votes to approve former Steeler’s medical marijuana dispensary
While the Ross commissioners voted to table the approval of a medical marijuana dispensary on McKnight Road at its last meeting, the nine member board voted unanimously Monday to allow the facility to operate. The dispensary will sit at 7725 McKnight Road, where G&G Fitness Equipment currently resides. That will...
Shaler Area student to be charged for allegedly assaulting basketball referee
Shaler police are in the process of charging a juvenile after they allegedly punched a referee on March 1 during a fourth grade basketball game at Shaler Area Elementary School. According to Lt. Josh Watkins, police likely will charge the suspect, a Shaler Area High School student, in juvenile court...
10 Japanese exchange students to attend Shaler Area High School classes in March
Hailing from Niigata High School on Japan’s western coast, 10 Japanese students attended three days of classes at Shaler Area High School. The students, mostly third-year high schoolers, sat in on science, technology, engineering and math classes from March 10-12 in an effort to learn more about American STEM education....
North Allegheny middle schoolers advance to international Lego competition
After finding success at a statewide competition Feb. 15, six North Allegheny middle schoolers will head to an international Lego competition in June with their team Bands of Steel. The competition, organized by the international youth organization First Lego League, tasks participants with constructing and coding a Lego robot in...
Pine-Richland students win 1st place at Shakespeare competition; teacher honored
“Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs, myself am moved to woo thee for my wife.” With those words, amid a flurry of puns and Shakespearean sparring, two Pine-Richland seniors took first place on Feb. 24 in the upper-level scene category of Pittsburgh Public Theater’s Shakespeare Monologue & Scene...
New Hampton-based theater company to offer 4 showings of ‘Be More Chill’ musical
Beginning Feb. 27, Hampton-based theater company Soulshine Performing Arts Collective Experience will stage four showings of the “Be More Chill” musical at Sunken Bus Studios in Ross. Lacey Overholt, the company’s creator and show director, said the performances will be the first for SPACE, which she opened in January. A...
Etna Slice House closed indefinitely after chef departs
Etna Slice House, open for less than a year, is closed indefinitely after the departure of its manager and some staff. Though he said there is no hard feelings, the Slice House’s former manager and head chef, Massimo Vozza, said he decided to leave the business last week. That is...
Heated debate surrounds Pine-Richland School Board’s library policy; final vote next
A final vote on Pine-Richland’s controversial library policy is in sight after another contentious meeting Feb. 24 set the stage for a third and final read of the proposed rule changes. The three-hour meeting was the latest in a series of often embittered discussions during which community members have lashed...
Author of book rejected by Pine-Richland School Board draws large crowds during local visit
During two afternoon talks on Saturday, Alabama-based author Randi Pink spoke to large and inquisitive crowds at Northern Tier Library in Richland. Her visit was arranged after the Pine-Richland School Board last month voted not to include her novel, “Angel of Greenwood,” in its ninth grade language arts classes. The...
Etna swears in new member of borough council after brief vacancy
Etna Mayor Robert Tuñón swore in the newest member of borough council Feb. 18 after a monthlong vacancy in the First Ward. Brice Lynn, who has resided in Etna since 2019, was appointed to fill the seat left by Megan Tuñón after she resigned because of her “increasing duties” as...
New tattoo shop, Wexford Tattoo Company, to offer ink to North Hills communities
Some new ink will soon be available on Perry Highway in McCandless. The Wexford Tattoo Company plans to open its doors March 15 at 10431 Perry Highway in the Phoenix Centre office building near North Allegheny Senior High School. The shop may be new, but it is not the first...
Pine-Richland High School will return to the classics with ’42nd Street’ musical
Students at Pine-Richland High School will offer “big number” performances and plenty of tap routines during five showings of “42nd Street” next month. The 1980 musical, based on a 1930s novel and film adaptation, is a meta-musical romance that follows an often troubled Broadway production during the Great Depression. The...
Shaler’s public works crew applauded for keeping roads safe during winter months
During the winter months, it is easy to spot where the work of Shaler’s public works crew begins and ends. That has produced hundreds of compliments on social media during January’s winter weather, with many of those messages citing the crew’s consistency and the difference in road quality compared to...
Hampton’s indoor percussion ensemble heading to Indianapolis for regional competition
Hampton High School’s indoor percussion ensemble will head to Indianapolis later this month to compete in a regional percussion competition. The competition, hosted by World Guard International, will take place between Feb. 28 and March 2. Hampton will be the sole group from Pennsylvania to compete. Charlie Houck, director of...
