In brief: Happenings from the North Allegheny area

North Hills Arts Center seeking instructors

The North Hills Art Center, 3432 Babcock Blvd. in Ross, is looking for instructors for its adult and children programming.

Instructors can set their own schedules and write their own curriculums.

If you have knowledge in the arts to share, click on the application link at northhillsartcenter.org and complete the form. You will need to upload a resume and cover letter, as well as examples of your artwork.

The deadline to apply is May 30.

For questions, contact the center at 412-364-2622 or email info@northhillsartcenter.org.

1 arrested, 13 cited in task force’s DUI detail

The North Hills DUI Task Force recently conducted a stationary DUI detail May 9 in conjunction with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Checkpoint Strike Force.

The sobriety checkpoint was held May 9 in McCandless.

A total of 837 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, and a field sobriety test was administered to two people, one of whom was arrested. Thirteen citations and three warnings were issued for various vehicle code violations.

This is the 29th year for the North Hills DUI Task Force. To date, 264 checkpoints and roving patrols have been conducted. There have been 2,272 individuals tested for DUI; of those tested, 1,072 were arrested.

The task force is comprised of officers from Aspinwall, Blawnox, Etna, Hampton, Indiana Township, McCandless, Millvale, Northern Regional, O’Hara, Reserve, Ross, Shaler, West Deer and West View.

McCandless looking to boost police force

The McCandless Police Department is seeking applicants for full-time police officers.

With recent and upcoming retirements, town officials are looking to ensure residents and businesses in the growing community are protected.

The town is patrolled 24/7 and is divided into several patrol districts, served by 12 marked patrol units. These units provide preventive patrols, respond to residents’ complaints and respond to requests for aid and traffic law enforcement. The police department also provides a number of community-oriented programs throughout the year.

Officers have 12-hour shifts, paid time off, a competitive insurance package, $1,300 uniform allowance, three-year DROP plan, and full retirement at age 50 with 25 years of service. Officers also have opportunities for career advancement in firearms instruction, K-9, detective division, defense tactics, accident reconstruction, traffic division, SRT team and community relations.

For a complete list of requirements and an application, visit townofmccandless.org.

The deadline to apply is at 4 p.m. June 23.

Applications can be returned from 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the police department in Town Hall, 9955 Grubbs Road. Applications also can be emailed to policeapplicant@townofmccandless.org.

Junior councilperson sought in McCandless

McCandless officials are looking for incoming juniors and seniors who reside in the town to serve as a 2025-26 junior councilperson.

As a junior councilperson, you will attend monthly council meetings and compose a monthly written report to council advising them of issues affecting local students and providing your perspective of current local issues. In addition, you can select a focus area, work collaboratively with the town on projects, assist town staff with information gathering and social media, foster greater involvement in government by students and even collaborate with junior councilmembers from local municipalities.

The junior councilperson will serve a term coinciding largely with the school year — September/October through June. A full list of qualifications and requirements is available online at townofmccandless.org/286/Junior-Councilperson-Program.

To apply, complete the online application, which is in a fillable PDF format, and email it to administration@townofmccandless.org or mail or hand-deliver it to Town of McCandless, 9955 Grubbs Road, McCandless, PA 15090.

The deadline to apply is at 4 p.m. June 6.

Franklin Park offers paper recycling bin

Franklin Park now has a paper recycling bin at its municipal building, 2344 W. Ingomar Road, for residents to use.

The Paper Retriever bin is across from the police department.

The following items are accepted: newspaper, magazines/catalogs, office and school papers, junk mail, envelopes (with or without windows), folders, colored paper, shredded paper (must be bagged) and books (soft and hard back).

The following items are not accepted: food wrap/containers, tissue products, plastic, glass or aluminum.

Paper still can be recycled in your curbside container. The bin is being offered for those who have larger-than-usual amounts of paper material or those who prefer not to place paper in their curbside container.

Residents should follow the rules posted on the container.

Discounted tickets for area parks available

Summer park discount tickets are available at the Franklin Park Municipal Building, 2344 W. Ingomar Road.

The tickets can be purchased by cash, check or credit card. Good-any-day tickets are available for Idlewild, $40; Kennywood, $43; Sandcastle, $35; and Waldameer Park in Erie, $42.

For questions, call the office at 412-364-4115.

Festival at St. Ursula set May 26-31

Our Lady of Pepetual Help is holding its 2025 Festival at St. Ursula, 3945 Kirk Ave. in Hampton, starting at 6:30 p.m. nightly from May 26-31.

There will be games, rides, raffles, food and entertainment.

The rides include a Ferris wheel, spinners, merry-go-round and helicopters. There also will be face painting and children’s fingerprinting by the Sheriff’s Reserve unit.

Live music will start at 7 p.m.: Stealing Time, May 26; Kardaz, May 27; Brass Staff, May 28; Greg Iskat, May 29; Lindsay Liebro, May 30; and Marty G., May 31.

Special activities include a visit by Jalapeno Hannah, a Pirates pierogie, on May 28, and BJ’s Brewhouse cookies on May 29.

Food includes hot dogs, hamburgers, kielbasa, Italian sausage, meatball hoagies, pulled pork, haluski, french fries and pizza, as well as a variety of hot and cold snacks from pretzels to funnel cakes and ice balls to lemonade.

Many organizations and businesses have donated prizes to the big basket raffle or are serving as sponsors for the six-day event.

For details, visit olphpgh.org/parish-festival.

Members sought for 175th anniversary committee

McCandless is looking for residents and business owners to join its 175th anniversary committee.

The town, which was chartered in 1851, is gearing up to mark the milestone in 2026.

This year, officials want to put together a committee of 10 residents to help with fundraising, advertising and implementing community events and programs leading up to the big day.

Interested residents can apply online at tinyurl.com/yc6m9u4z.

Applications will be accepted until June 15. Council will review the applications and make the selections.

Lab to feature vintage Apple computers

Gamers of all ages are invited to attend a throw-back computer lab session.

Historian Scott Baret will display a dozen Apple computers from the early 1990s from noon to 4 p.m. June 7 at the Heritage & Cultural Center.

The devices will be loaded with old school games such as Oregon Trail, Kid Pix, Word Munchers, Number Munchers, Math Blaster, Midnight Rescue, Carmen Sandiego and more.

Registration costs $15 and guarantees a computer in the lab for a two-hour period.

There will be two sessions from noon to 2 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

Registration for the Vintage Apple Computer Lab takes place through the CivicRec site at https://secure.rec1.com/PA/mccandless-pa/catalog. You must have a CivicRec account to register.

For details and to create an account, select the McCandless Parks and Recreation tab on CivicRec. For immediate assistance, call 412-364-0616, ext. 124.

Church to serve spaghetti dinner on May 20

Bakerstown United Methodist Church, 5750 William Flynn Highway, Richland, is hosting a primary election day spaghetti dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. May 20.

Enjoy spaghetti, salad, bread and butter, drinks and dessert. The cost is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and $5 for children 3-12.

All proceeds will benefit the Costa Rica mission trip.

For questions, call the church office at 724-443-3184.

Summer festival set for Blueberry Hill Park

The community is encouraged to mark their calendars for Franklin Park’s annual Festival in the Park.

The festivities will kick off at 4 p.m. June 28 on the lower fields at Blueberry Hill Park.

The event will include inflatable fun for all ages, food trucks, activities, entertainment, a petting zoo, axe throwing and live music. A fireworks display will be held around 9:30 p.m.

Cleaning products sought to help people in need

North Hills Community Outreach currently is collecting cleaning products through June 8 to stock its pantries.

Donations can be dropped off at any of its three offices from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon April 5 at its main office, 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton.

Other locations are NHCO Millvale on the second floor of the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave., and at NHCO North Boroughs at Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon.

Items needed include laundry detergent (under 100 ounces), disinfecting wipes, all-purpose cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, dish detergent, packs of sponges, rolls of paper towels and canvas shopping bags.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits cannot be used for cleaning products. Such items are a necessity and often pose an expense that many low-income families are unable to afford.

Each family in need receives a bag containing the above products.

Donations also can be ordered from NHCO’s Amazon wishlist or Walmart wishlist and sent directly to its office.

Remembrance Run to benefit veterans set at boathouse

The Veterans Leadership Program is organizing its second annual Memorial Day Remembrance Run on May 24 at the North Park Boathouse, 10301 Pearce Mill Road, McCandless.

The event, held in partnership with GCXC Racing Pittsburgh, aims to raise awareness and support for Western Pennsylvania vetreans, service members and their families.

Race start times are at 9 a.m. for the 5K and 10K and 9:05 a.m. for the 1-mile walk.

Early bird and active-duty/veteran discounts are available. The early bird price before May 23 for the 5K is $35 for civilians and $30 for active-duty personnel or veterans; for the 10K, it’s $50 for civilians and $40 for military members and veterans. For the 1-mile run/walk, the cost is $25.

Prices will increase by $5 for civilians after May 23.

To register to run or walk, visit runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/MemorialDayRemembranceRun.

Race sponsors, from $100 to $1,000, also are being sought. If your company or organization would like to be a sponsor, contact Toshua Jarrett, chief development officer at VLP, at jarrettt@vlpwpa.org or 724-787-8809.

The Veterans Leadership Program provides housing, employment, wellness and supportive services to veterans and their families residing in the Pittsburgh, Altoona, Butler and Erie Veterans Administration Medical Center catchment areas. In 2024, the program assisted 7,287 veterans and their family members across 30 counties in Western and Central Pennsylvania.

AAUW fundraiser to showcase local authors

The North Hills Pittsburgh branch of the American Association of University Women is hosting its annual For the Love of Books fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 31 at La Roche University, 9000 Babcock Blvd., McCandless.

Featured speakers include Liz Milliron, the Shamus award-nominated author of “The Laurel Highlands Mysteries Series”; JoAnne Klimovich Harrop, features writer for TribLive and author of “A Daughter’s Promise”; and Jocelyn Kraemer, author of “The Metamorphosis of Becca.”

The event will kick off with light refreshments and the opportunity to meet the authors, who will be signing their books.

There also will be vendors on-site as well as a basket raffle.

A gluten- and nut-free light lunch with dessert will be served.

The cost is $45 per person, payable by check to AAUW North Hills Pittsburgh. Mail to June Maier, 959 Broad Meadow Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Include your email address to receive an email confirmation of receipt. Registration is your check, and checks must be received by May 23.

The event helps the AAUW branch raise money for scholarships and supports the organization’s mission to advance gender equality for women and girls.

Free lecture to discuss community forestry

The Environmental Advisory Committee in McCandless is hosting a free lecture at 7 p.m. May 22 at the Devlin Park pavilion, 9955 Grubbs Road.

Joe Stavish of Tree Pittsburgh will discuss the meaning and importance of community foretsry and how residents can participate. Stavish, a McCandless native, will share information about Tree Pittsburgh’s Heritage Nursery and local native trees.

Attendees will learn about the environmental services provided by trees, common stress issues, pests, diseases and what steps they to take to help rebuild the town’s tree canopy.

Bring a lawn chair.

For details and to register, visit secure.rec1.com/PA/mccandless-pa/catalog and click on EAC Programs.

Workshops to offer driving tips for teens

Impact Teen Drivers, in partnership with the Northern Regional Police Department and Marshall leaders, will present free workshops for teens and their parents or guardians throughout the year.

The workshops will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. June 10, Aug. 12 and Oct. 14 at the lower level of the Marshall Municipal Building, 525 Pleasant Hills Road.

The workshops will provide evidence-based strategies to keep teens safer on the road. Attendees will learn about Graduated Driver Licensing, tips and tricks to avoid distractions, the importance of seat belts, the risks of speeding and more.

The workshops are free thanks to funding by the NJM Insurance Group.

Seating is limited. To reserve a spot, email Detective Tim Hohos at thohos@nrpolice.com.

Red Cross seeks volunteers in rural areas of Pa.

The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania is in need of volunteers in rural communities.

Volunteers are needed to:

• Respond to disasters. Help families after a home fire or other disaster by providing emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover.

• Help donors at blood drives. Engage with blood donors by greeting them at blood drives, helping them to register, answering questions, providing information and assisting them at the refreshments table.

• Support community education and outreach. Attend events and activities to raise awareness around home fire safety and emergency preparedness.

In 2024, more than 3,400 volunteers supported the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. These volunteers provided care and comfort to families after more than 1,500 local disasters such as home fires and floods. In addition, volunteers supported more than 5,000 local blood drives to help ensure patients had access to lifesaving blood.

To learn more and to volunteer, visit redcross.org/GPAvolunteer.

Student leaders sought for environmental program

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Seeking Student Leaders for Young Ambassadors Program

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, in partnership with PennDOT, is seeking civic and environmental leaders in 10th through 12th grades to keep Pennsylvania clean and beautiful through the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania program.

The Young Ambassadors program empowers young community stewards and civic leaders to become ambassadors in their community for a shared vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania.

Ambassadors will have the oppurtunity to train and network with industry leaders, state agencies, local media and the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful network. They will recieve a taste of life in the public service sector.

“I’ve been in public service a long time, and I can say that community leaders are the key difference makers between getting things done and just talking about it,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. “Every new generation has more to lose with enviornmental damage, so I invite every young Pennsylvanian to be part of the solution.”

Applications are being accepted through June 10.

Students will be chosen through a competitive application process. To apply, visit keeppabeautiful.org or contact Kylie McCutcheon at 724-836-4121, ext. 114, or kmccutcheon@keeppabeautiful.org.

Animal Friends in need of pet food

Animal Friends’ Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank has put out an urgent call for wet dog and cat food.

To help, browse its wish lists on Amazon or Chewy, and your donation will be delivered to Animal Friends.

Unopened wet pet food also can be dropped off in the grey donation bins in the front entranceway and lobby of the shelter at 526 Camp Horne Road.

The Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank supports struggling pet owners throughout Allegheny County. According to its website, it distributed more than 17,000 pounds of free pet food to over 3,000 families last month.

For details, visit thinkingoutsidethecage.org/programs-services/chow-wagon.