Fox Chapel Herald

11/26/2025

In brief: Holiday happenings, leaf collection and more in Aspinwall area

Cookie Tour Best of Blawnox will host its annual cookie tour from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 6. The event runs at the same time as the borough’s holiday celebration. There will be an information booth at the monument along Freeport Road with a map to the businesses with cookies. Participating businesses

11/26/2025

Cece Miller has a passion for needlepoint.

A 40-year hobby, it nurtures her creativity through an endless choice of stitches and threads.

“I find it relaxing and I love the finished product,” she said.

And at least one of those products goes a long way to help others.

Cece Miller has a passion for needlepoint. A 40-year hobby, it nurtures her creativity through an endless choice of stitches and threads. “I find it relaxing and I love the finished product,” she said. And at least one of those products goes a long way to help others. Miller is

11/26/2025

Aspinwall resident Steve Paff hasn’t had an electric bill in six years.

He followed his keen interest in solar energy and made the decision to install a large, 20-panel solar unit in his backyard in 2019.

Aspinwall resident Steve Paff hasn’t had an electric bill in six years. He followed his keen interest in solar energy and made the decision to install a large, 20-panel solar unit in his backyard in 2019. The ground-mount solar panels were installed in a fixed position and cost around $27,000,

11/26/2025

Fox Chapel property owners should not expect to pay more in real estate taxes as part of next year’s borough budget.

Council unanimously voted on Nov. 17 to advertise its proposed 2026 spending plan, which maintains the tax rate at 2.95 mills.

Fox Chapel property owners should not expect to pay more in real estate taxes as part of next year’s borough budget. Council unanimously voted on Nov. 17 to advertise its proposed 2026 spending plan, which maintains the tax rate at 2.95 mills. The borough has not raised taxes since 2019,

11/25/2025

’Tis the season to celebrate with a festive drink at one of the region’s Christmas-themed pop-up bars. Check out these Pittsburgh-area pop-up bars offering festive fa-la-la fun.

Nostalgia mixes with a winter wonderland at The Industrialist’s Atomic Tinsel Cocktail Club, featuring colored lights, Christmas trees and over-the-top tinsel.

11/23/2025

Emily McKee scored 48 goals this fall.

She has 106 for her three-year varsity career.

But the Fox Chapel junior’s most vivid memory of the season was the wins, no matter how they came, and also celebrating the biggest one on a rainy night late last month at Highmark Stadium. https://tribhssn.triblive.com/fox-chapels-emily-mckee-named-a-k-valley-boys-soccer-player-of-the-year/

11/23/2025

Here are the Fox Chapel area real estate transactions for this week.

Justin James Kirckwood sold property at 86 Grant Ave. to Michael Saldana for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $87,858).

11/22/2025

Jonna Burke doesn’t plan to let the Shady Side Academy girls basketball team live in the past. The Bulldogs coach knows every season is different.

“We’ve been talking about how we are a different team,” she says. “We are not the same team that made the run, while we do have some of the same parts.”

Karis Thomas, left, and Leah Burford, right, celebrate following the end of Shady Side Academy’s 43-29 win over OLSH in the PIAA semifinals last season.

11/22/2025

The Shady Side Academy boys basketball team will be under new leadership this winter. The Bulldogs hired Jim Dudas to replace David Vadnais.

Dudas has a long history in coaching and has coached at North Hills, North Allegheny, Slippery Rock, Quaker Valley, Montour, Ambridge and South Fayette.

The Shady Side Academy boys basketball team will be under new leadership this winter. The Bulldogs hired Jim Dudas to replace David Vadnais.

11/22/2025

Lyla Jablon will be presented with a different challenge for the Fox Chapel girls basketball team this season. The senior point guard will be part of a team that is short on experience.

Following the graduation of Natalia Schaffer and Bella Urso, the Foxes will have to replace two of their leading scorers if they want to find a way back to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.

Jablon isn’t running from the changes.

Lyla Jablon will be presented with a different challenge for the Fox Chapel girls basketball team this season. The senior point guard will be part of a team that is short on experience.

11/21/2025

Fox Chapel boys basketball coach Zach Skrinjar won’t have twin towers at his disposal this season. He won’t have any towers at all, really.

The Foxes’ success will be measured in grit and toughness. Fox Chapel, which doesn’t have anyone over 6-foot-2, will have to battle to get back to the WPIAL Class 6A playoffs.

“We have little to zero size,” Skrinjar said. “We’ve never really had that. It’s nothing new for us.”

Central Catholic’s Xxavier Thomas defends on Fox Chapel’s John Rehak during WPIAL quarterfinal action Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 at Fox Chapel Area High School.

11/20/2025

Historic achievement in Sharpsburg as Kayla Portis steps into the role of the borough's first elected Black mayor. Find out how her past shapes her present and her plans for the community.

Kayla Portis, 40, is the first elected Black mayor to serve the borough nestled along the Allegheny River in Allegheny County.