West View awards contract for streetscape project
West View Council on Jan. 5 awarded a $484,850 contract to A. Merante Contracting for a streetscape improvement project.
Seven bids had been received for the work.
According to borough Manager Bruce Fromlak, the project will focus on the east side of Perry Highway from Center Avenue to West View Elementary. It includes new sidewalks, removing trees that have lifted up the existing sidewalk, and new benches and garbage cans.
Work is expected to begin within the next two months, as weather allows, and take four to six months to complete.
West View seeks bids for demolition of former bicycle shop, bar
West View is seeking proposals for the demolition of the former Scholl’s Bicycle Center on Center Avenue and the nearby former Grotto Bar on Perry Highway.
The buildings will be torn down to make way for a new fire department garage that will be part of West View’s new municipal center, which will make use of the firemen’s banquet hall.
The borough bought the Grotto Bar for $205,000 in January, according to county real estate records. It bought the bicycle shop in September for $535,000.
Borough Manager Bruce Fromlak said the borough will begin proposals on Feb. 2, and they will be due by March 2.
Middle schoolers to stage ‘Music Man Jr.’
The Drama Club at North Hills Middle School will present “The Music Man Jr.” from Jan. 29-31.
The performances will take place at 7 p.m. each night in the middle school’s auditorium, 55 Rochester Road.
Nearly 100 students are involved in the musical — including cast members, running/set crew, hair/makeup crew, light/sound crew and ushers — as well as several high school student directors.
All seats are reserved and can be purchased at nhchoiranddrama.net. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens 65 and older.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. on the night of each performance. There will be congratulatory gifts available for purchase in the lobby.
All audience members should enter the building using the library entrance.
Interim assistant principal named at Highcliff Elementary School
Carol Richert, currently interim assistant principal at North Hills Middle School, will become interim assistant principal of Highcliff Elementary beginning Jan. 16.
Richert will replace Colleen Frankel, who resigned to become principal of Aiken Elementary in the Keystone Oaks School District.
“Dr. Frankel started at Highcliff in August of 2024 and has been a tremendous asset to our team ever since,” Highcliff Principal Kristy Bilderback said. “Experienced as a teacher and administrator, she brought her wealth of knowledge to support our students, families, and staff. She will be greatly missed, but we know she will be an excellent building leader at Aiken Elementary.”
Richert has been serving as interim assistant principal at the middle school since August while associate Principal Katie Hartman has been on maternity leave. A member of the North Hills School District since 2003, she has taught both first and third grades, most recently at McIntyre Elementary. Over her 23 years with North Hills, she has also served as math K-6 curriculum leader, English language arts K-6 curriculum leader, and head teacher.
“We know that Mrs. Richert will bring her passion for students and learning to this position and we look forward to welcoming her at Highcliff,” Bilderback said.
Hartman will return to the middle school in 2026, according to the district.
AARP chapter to learn about chalk art
The Pittsburgh-North Hills AARP Chapter 595 is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year.
Its next meeting will be at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 2, on Groundhog Day, in Fellowship Hall at Hampton Presbyterian Church, 2942 E. Hardies Road. The program will feature chalk artist Dee Ruckert.
Cookies and beverages will be served. Everyone 55 and older is welcome to attend and join the chapter. Members hail from Hampton, Shaler, McCandless, Richland and beyond.
Membership is $10 per year and includes a monthly newsletter, entertainment, snacks, luncheons, travel opportunities — and friendship.
America250PA offering 25 $10,000 scholarships
To mark America’s 250th anniversary and to honor the legacy of Pennsylvania’s strong commitment to education, America250PA will award $250,000 in scholarships — 25 scholarships worth $10,000 each — to deserving Pennsylvania high school seniors who plan to attend an accredited Pennsylvania college or university in the 2026-27 school year.
The Semiquincentennial Scholarship Program will distribute the scholarships across America250PA’s six regions.
There will be up to 12 awards for community college students and up to 13 awards for students attending four-year institutions.
Applications are due Jan. 31.
To apply, visit america250pa.org/PPE:_Semiquin_Scholarships.
Resources available at Northland for all types of caregivers
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging recently sent Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road in McCandless, materials from its new PA CareKit initiative to help people who are serving in a variety of caregiving roles.
Folders with resources are available at the upstairs Ask a Librarian desk and in the Caregiver Collection area.
Available guides also are on display across from the Caregiver Collection for the following specific caregiver types:
• Dementia
• Sandwich
• Solo
• Working
• Grandparent
• Long-distance
• Parent
• Spousal
• Youth
The PA CareKit Initiative offers a collection of tools, information and support to help caregivers learn more, plan ahead or catch their breath.
For details about the initiative, visit pa.gov/agencies/aging/pa-carekit.
Pop-up marketplace to showcase local artisans’ wares
I Made It! Market will present a pop-up marketplace from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 7 at The Block Northway.
The event will feature more than 120 local artists, makers and small-batch food sellers showcasing handmade gifts for Valentine’s Day or just because.
Among the offerings will be unique gifts for kids, friends, family, pets and your sweetie, including jewelry, clothing, accessories, housewares, 2D artwork, ceramics, locally distilled spirits, baked goods, specialty chocolates and more.
For a list of artisans and more information, visit imadeitmarket.com. Updates will be posted to I Made It! Market’s Facebook event.
Founded in 2007, I Made It! Market hosts year-round pop-up artisan marketplaces throughout Pittsburgh, providing artists a platform to sell their work and allowing shoppers to support small, local businesses.
Garden club to explore microgreens
Longvue Acres Garden Club’s January program, Let’s Explore Microgreens!, will be held at 7:45 p.m. Jan. 27 at Northmont United Presbyterian Church, 8169 Perry Highway, McCandless.
Local gardener and Ingomar Garden Club member Linda Womsley will explain microgreen basics, including what they are, why we should eat them and to successfully grow them.
Take-home microgreen grow kits will be available for purchase after the meeting.
Programs are offered on the fourth Tuesday of each month and are free and open to the public.
For details, email longvueacresgardenclub1950@gmail.com.
AAA recognizes local police departments for road safety efforts
AAA East Central honored local police departments last month for their efforts to increase road safety for motorists.
Sixty-five Western Pennsylvania departments received platinum awards, while 23 departments were honored with gold or silver awards.
Platinum recipients covering the North Hills area include police departments in Allegheny County, Allegheny County Port Authority, Bellevue, Cranberry Township, McCandless, Northern Regional, Ohio Township, Shaler and West View.
The Hampton Police Department received a gold award.
Free webinar to provide training in suicide prevention
Penn State Extension is offering a free webinar aimed at saving lives and reducing suicidal behaviors.
Participants can select one of four dates: 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 17 or April 21.
Penn State Extension educators will lead the webinar, “QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training,” developed by the QPR Institute. QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer. Participants will learn to recognize the warning signs of suicide in friends, co-workers, family members or neighbors in need.
Designed for all people, regardless of profession, who are concerned about helping others, QPR is an emergency mental health intervention intended to interrupt a crisis and direct someone to proper care. Attendees will discuss potential scenarios and engage in active listening and persuasion techniques.
Penn State Extension offers the webinar free of charge, but participants must register by 11:59 p.m. the day before the event to receive the link to access it. The recording link will not be available after the webinar.
Continuing education credits are available. For details, visit Penn State Extension’s website at tinyurl.com/2suk85t2 or call 1-877-345-0691.
Series to explore management of garden pests
Penn State Extension is offering a webinar series on integrated pest management for home gardeners, Master Gardeners, commercial growers and anyone interested in sustainable pest control.
The series, titled “IPM Essentials: Tools, Tactics and Techniques,” will run from noon to 1:15 p.m. March 10, 17, 24 and 31.
It will teach sustainable and practical strategies for managing pest control across diverse settings, including:
• The basic principles of integrated pest management;
• How to scout and monitor pest populations;
• How to recognize signs and symptoms of common pests and locate reliable identification resources;
• How to apply integrated pest management strategies in real-world settings;
Pesticide applicator recertification credits are available for participants pending approval.
Space is limited, and registration is required by March 9. The cost for the series is $20.
Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinars. A link to the recorded webinars will be emailed to registrants within 10 business days after the live events.
For details, visit Penn State Extension’s website at tinyurl.com/ysddyd5x.