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Discover all of our IN Community Magazines articles — local stories, community highlights, and features that keep you connected and informed.

Shaler Area Titans softball players celebrate on the field with excitement after winning the state championship.

Titans Softball Captures 2026 PIAA Class 5A State Championship

What a season to remember! The Shaler Area Titans softball team made history on June 15, capturing the 2026 PIAA Class 5A State Championship with a dominant 10-0 victory over Abington Heights at Penn State University — the program’s third state title and the culmination of a remarkable 22-game winning streak. Haley Machajewski delivered an unforgettable walk-off grand slam to seal the win, while Bria Bosiljevac was untouchable in the circle, allowing just one hit and striking

Aug 131 min read

An outdoor, sunlit photograph capturing a touching moment at a petting zoo. A mother wearing a black hijab and a light green button-up shirt is holding a young child. The child, seen from the back with curly hair and a grey t-shirt, is holding a small green bottle to feed a spotted kid goat. The goat is standing on its hind legs against a wire fence, reaching for the bottle. Next to them, an older boy in an orange t-shirt and a baseball cap watches intently. In the background, other people and a white truck are visible.

Pine Community Day

Families, residents and local businesses came together for Pine Community Day on June 20 for an evening of food, live music and family-friendly entertainment. Held from 4 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at Pine Community Park, this year’s celebration embraced an America 250 theme, featuring patriotic displays and activities. Guests enjoyed a variety of food vendors, interactive activities for children, and live performances by local favorite The Pyramid Incident and southern rock legends A

Aug 131 min read

Historic Home for Soldiers & Sailors

This local landmark has an interesting history and still provides nursing and personal care services for eligible veterans and their spouses. In the 1880s, many area residents who fought in the Civil War were aging and needed care. Still others were permanently disabled from their service. With no disability programs, Social Security or other assistance available, these men were adrift without care. The Pennsylvania Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home in Erie was a godsend for these

Aug 122 min read

A medium shot photograph inside a sweet shop with a brick wall background, featuring a smiling woman with brown hair stirring batter in a white mixing bowl on a metal counter. Text overlay at the top reads "EVERYONE'S" followed by a large, script "Favorite" and block letters "SWEET SHOPPE!". Various kitchen items, including a large metal bowl, a peanut butter jar, a scale, and gift cards, are on the counter. Some paper heart decorations hang on the brick wall.

Everyone's Favorite Sweet Shoppe!

A beloved local candy shoppe is the dream of lifetime Carnegie resident, Nina Midgley Kelman. Owner Nina Midgley Kelman whipping up her delicious treats. When Nina and her parents took over My Favorite Sweet Shoppe in 2014, they had no previous business experience and received very little direction from the shoppe’s previous owners. What they did have, was a great recipe, and Nina’s experience of making homemade chocolates and baked goods with her grandmother. In fact, the st

Aug 122 min read

A family of three views an outdoor art exhibit display. A man in a light blue shirt and a woman in a magenta shirt with a ponytailed child in a black stroller are looking closely at various framed prints and canvases mounted on metal grid panels. The art includes landscape photography, colorful cityscapes, and a pop-art style portrait. The ground is paved with large light-colored tiles.

Bethel Park Art & Music Festival

The Bethel Park Art & Music Festival brought the community together for a day of family fun along the Park Avenue streetscape. The annual event featured around 80 local and regional artists, live musical performances, food trucks, raffle baskets and activities for all ages. Visitors also enjoyed the nearby Splash Park while exploring vendor booths and supporting local talent. Proceeds from the festival benefited several community organizations, including the Bethel Park Commu

Aug 121 min read

A street-level photograph capturing a line of seven young female cheerleaders marching in a parade on a wet, overcast day in a town center. The girls wear matching red and white sleeveless uniforms with "North Hills" across the chest, white skirts, and white sneakers. They hold red and white pom-poms, some raised in the air. The leading cheerleader smiles directly at the camera. In the background are brick buildings, a "Welcome to..." sign, old-fashioned street lamps, a few spectators, and a speed limit sign.

Ross Township Community Day

Families and neighbors gathered for Community Day on June 28 at the Ross Community Center for an evening of summer fun and celebration. Following the annual parade, attendees enjoyed a variety of food vendors, live music, a petting zoo and family-friendly activities before the night concluded with a spectacular fireworks display. PHOTOS BY NORTH HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT, BRIAN RITTMEYER AND CATIE SIEBER STAVREV.

Aug 121 min read

A medium shot from behind music stands focusing on musicians performing in a brass band. In the center, a musician with short brown hair and sunglasses resting on his head plays a large upright silver tuba with focused concentration. The shiny bell of the tuba reflects the stage lighting and surrounding environment. To his left and right, other band members are partially obscured by music stands and instrument bells, including a brass tuba. The background is a mural depicting a cityscape with warm yellow lights.

River City Brass Band Celebrated America at SummerSounds Concert

Patriotic music filled the air as the River City Brass Band took the SummerSounds stage in Greensburg on July 10, delivering a memorable celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. This well-known professional brass ensemble entertained audiences with a mix of patriotic favorites, American classics and crowd-pleasing selections that showcased the rich musical heritage of the nation. The performance was part of the popular SummerSounds concert series, bringing together familie

Aug 121 min read

A celebratory graphic on a dark purple background. At the top, text in large, pink, shadowed letters reads, "Peters Township Police Department". Below it, in smaller white letters, it says, "Earns National Recognition for School Safety Excellence". The bottom half of the image features a group portrait of seven uniformed Peters Township School Resource Officers, standing with arms crossed or at their sides, smiling. They wear black tactical uniforms, caps, and vests, with patches clearly visible on their sleeves.

Peters Township Police Department Earns National Recognition for School Safety Excellence

The police department’s School Resource Officer program has been recognized with the prestigious 2026 NASRO Model Agency Award—honoring its exceptional commitment to school safety, education and mentoring. When students walk through the doors of Peters Township schools each morning, they are greeted by more than police officers. They are welcomed by mentors, educators, counselors and guardians—an approach that has now earned the Peters Township Police Department one of the hi

Aug 113 min read

Greensburg Night Market

Experience one of the area’s premier community events: the Greensburg Night Market, held once a month from April through December. Spanning four city blocks and three parking lots, the market features around 150 vendors during the regular season and 100 during its holiday markets. Visitors can browse fresh produce, handcrafted goods, jewelry, specialty foods and much more while supporting local farmers, artisans, makers and other small businesses in a lively atmosphere. For m

Aug 101 min read

A close-up photograph taken from the back of a moving flatbed trailer during a parade. Several women and children are seated on white bedding, waving towards the crowd on the sidewalk. The trailer's metal rails are decorated with red, white, and blue tinsel. A girl in a red hat is prominent in the foreground. In the background, spectators, including a woman in a white shirt and blue shorts, watch from the sidewalk. A yellow truck is visible further down the street.

Mars Celebrates Independence Day

Mars Borough celebrated America250 and Independence Day with a two-day community event July 3 & 4, featuring patriotic ceremonies, a parade, family activities and much more. The festivities included a youth punt, pass and kick contest, flag football clinic, vendor market, food trucks, live entertainment, a community picnic, family movie night featuring “The Sandlot,” and a spectacular fireworks display. PHOTOS BY RALPH LOVUOLO

Aug 101 min read

A wide-angle photograph of the entire stage crew posing for a curtain call on a stage. They are arranged in three rows: a seated front row, a standing middle row, and a standing back row. All members wear black clothing, with some in hoodies and others in plain shirts. They are positioned in front of a stage backdrop depicting a beach scene with a blue sea and sky, with some artificial palm fronds visible on the left. To the front and sides are stage blocks painted to resemble stone walls and stairs. At the bottom of the image, there is a white overlay box containing large, stylized blue text that reads "CURTAIN CALL" above smaller dark blue text that reads "FOR THE CREW".

Curtain Call for the Crew

Behind the spotlight success of “Mamma Mia,” Keystone Oaks technicians earn Gene Kelly Award recognition. In April, the high school presented “Mamma Mia!”—the fun musical set in Greece. Audiences were delighted with the production, which included a talented cast. But behind the scenes, students worked hard at creating the sets as well as the perfect lighting and sound to make the show a success. The stage crew was rewarded for their efforts with a nomination for the Gene Kel

Jul 301 min read

A wide-angle photograph of a four-piece teenage rock band, Soul Dive, performing on a graffiti-covered riverbank, likely in Pittsburgh. The city skyline and the historic Fort Wayne Railroad Bridge are in the background across the water. The band members, dressed in white shirts and black pants, are posed with their instruments: a guitarist on the left (wearing sunglasses), a drummer behind a yellow Yamaha kit, a lead singer with a microphone and a light green electric guitar, and a bassist on the right. Above the band, large, distressed blue and orange text reads "SOUL DIVE" and "HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES".

Soul Dive Hits All the Right Notes

Young rock band from Moon builds momentum with debut single, strong chemistry and big ambitions. Soul Dive has been described as an alternative rock band, blending punk revival and post-grunge influences. But perhaps more important than their unique sound is the chemistry between the four musicians, who transition seamlessly on stage, weaving their vocals and instrumentation into a driving rhythm. Luca Becker provides the vocals and guitar, Cristiano Kinol also plays guitar,

Jul 302 min read

A celebratory graphic with a cream to light grey gradient background. At the top, there is a decorative border of various white balloons with strings. Centered below the balloons is the text "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONROEVILLE!" in bold, dark blue capital letters, arranged on two lines. Below the text is a faded, black and white group photograph showing 13 people, mostly men in suits and one woman, seated and standing behind a long table with large floral arrangements.

Happy Birthday Monroeville!

First Monroeville Borough Council. January 10, 1952. 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of Monroeville’s creation as a borough. But what led to the leaders of Patton Township, as the area was known at the time, to want to incorporate into a borough? Patton Township was formed in 1849 when Plum Township was divided in half, with the southern portion becoming Patton Township. Part of Patton was a little hamlet along the Northern Turnpike where Joel Monroe had his general store and

Jul 293 min read

A promotional graphic against a solid black background. On the left, the words "Healing" in a large, blue-grey script font are positioned above "Through Music" in a white serif font. On the right, a young man with light brown hair, wearing wire-rimmed glasses and large black headphones, holds a baton and conducts with a focused expression, dressed in a white button-down shirt.

Healing Through Music

Mt. Lebanon band director Brett McCutcheon transforms personal grief into a global message of love and healing through his award-winning music and documentary. When tragedy struck in September 2017, Franklin Park native and North Allegheny graduate Brett McCutcheon found himself searching for a way to process his grief. His older brother Ryan—a talented percussionist—was killed in a car accident at just 19 years old. For Brett, who was also just a teenager at the time, music

Jul 283 min read

Under an open-sided pavilion, a woman in a red plaid shirt examines small potted Pilea plants on a wooden table. A smiling vendor with a beard and grey cap stands opposite her. Other attendees walk in the background.

Renzie Market Showcases Local Vendors

From homegrown produce to handmade crafts, the Renzie Market has something for everyone. From May through October, the Renzie Market welcomes local farms, kitchens, and crafters to sell their wares in a new location under the Jakomas Blue Top Pavilion. Upcoming markets take place on July 16, August 27, September 17, and October 15 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. In October, the setup will include a fall festival and bonfire.

Jul 281 min read

Lobb’s Cemetery: A Window into Jefferson Hills’ Earliest History

Hidden beside a popular community park, this historic burial ground preserves the stories of Revolutionary War soldiers, Whiskey Rebellion participants, and generations of residents. Many residents and visitors enjoy Lobb’s Park, which offers playground equipment, three pickleball courts and a basketball court. It’s the scene of a lot of fun and activity during the warmer months. But did you know it’s also part of a registered historic place? Lobb’s Cemetery (also known as Lo

Jul 282 min read

A professional feature graphic on a plain white background. On the right, a portrait-style photo of smiling magician Dan Kamin, with gray hair, wearing a black double-breasted tuxedo with a velvet lapel, a red pocket square, a white shirt, and a black bow tie. He is placing his right hand over his left jacket lapel. On the left, large text in bold red font reads "The Magic Behind." Below it, a black horizontal rule. Under the rule, text in a stylized black font with a red drop shadow reads "the Man." Below the red rule, a small graphic features a vintage-style comic book cover entitled "THE MAGIC LESSON with DAN KAMIN," featuring a young boy with card fans.

The Magic Behind the Man

A Mt. Lebanon performer whose career has spanned Hollywood, symphony halls and Pittsburgh stages returns home with a deeply personal new show. For decades, audiences have known Dan Kamin as a magician, mime, actor, comedian and master of physical comedy. Pittsburghers have watched him perform at the Three Rivers Arts Festival, alongside the Pittsburgh Symphony, on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and in schools throughout the region. Moviegoers may know him as the man who traine

Jun 232 min read

A graphic design featuring an action photograph from an outdoor pickleball game alongside bold promotional text. The left side of the graphic consists of a solid, vibrant blue sidebar overlayed with large, stacked white text that reads "PICKLEBALL FEVER HITS THE SUBURBS." The right side features a bright, daytime photograph of a pickleball match in progress on an outdoor court with a red and tan surface. In the foreground, a young man with dark hair, sunglasses, a blue t-shirt, and dark athletic shorts is viewed from behind as he lunges forward to strike a yellow pickleball near the net with his black-and-green paddle. Across the net, two opponents stand ready on the opposite side of the court: a woman wearing a teal athletic two-piece set and sunglasses, and a man wearing a light grey t-shirt, dark shorts, and sunglasses holding a black paddle. A black chain-link fence and a line of lush green trees under a bright sky form the background.

Pickleball Fever Hits the Suburbs

How courts are becoming the hottest summer hangout in the west suburbs. In the rolling hills and river-carved valleys of Pittsburgh’s western suburbs, a new sound has officially overtaken the Friday night roar of high school football stadiums and the Sunday afternoon crack of a baseball bat. It is the rhythmic, plastic pop-pop-pop of the pickleball, a sound that has transformed the region into one of the sport’s most intense hotspots for active older adults looking for low-im

Jun 233 min read

A man with a pensive expression, his chin resting on his hand, is looking at a camera monitor in a dark television studio. An older man with white hair is visible behind him. Large text at the bottom of the image reads, "FROM SENECA VALLEY TO MISSION CONTROL."

From Seneca Valley to Mission Control

Former Seneca Valley student Gary Jordan helps bring America’s space missions—including the recent Artemis II—to audiences around the world from inside NASA’s Johnson Space Center. NASA/Robert Markowitz: Gary Jordan directs the video shoot with Artemis II astronauts ahead of the crew reveal event at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 2023. Growing up in Cranberry, Gary Jordan never imagined he would one day sit inside mission control helping narrate one of NASA’s most historic ev

Jun 183 min read

A photograph shows the Norwin Girls Cross Country Team standing together inside a government chamber. Ten young women stand in a row wearing dresses, with most also wearing medals around their necks and denim jackets. They are all smiling at the camera, and the girl in the center holds up a large wooden PIAA championship plaque. To the far left stands a man in a dark suit and yellow tie, and to the far right stands a woman in a striped long-sleeve shirt and dark trousers. Three coaches stand directly behind the team. The group is posed on a patterned blue carpet in front of rows of historic dark wood desks and elevated leather chairs.

Champions Honored at the Capitol

Earlier this year, the Norwin Girls Cross Country Team traveled to Harrisburg to be recognized for their outstanding achievement as the 2025 Class 3A PIAA State Champions. The team was honored for its hard work, dedication, and historic season representing Norwin on the state level. During their visit, the students also had the opportunity to tour the Pennsylvania State Capitol, where they learned more about the history and government of the Commonwealth. The special trip gav

Jun 181 min read

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