The Dedicated
Retired Teacher Doesn’t Let Grass Grow Under His Feet
J. C. Rea of Freeport retired in 2002 from his 35 years of teaching elementary students at Freeport Area School District. But, as they say, there is no grass growing under his feet. At his exit interview he met two other retired teachers and learned about the local association for retired teachers. Without hesitation he joined. And, today he is President-Elect and looking forward to even more community involvement.

AK Educators
Cooperation Without Competition - Principal Michael Stofa, Burrell High School
He walked down a long corridor, past the atrium, to the library. A student emerged from the right through the cafeteria door. “Hi, Jason. How are you?” he asked. The student’s smile widened from ear to ear, and he returned the gentleman’s hello warmly.

Gloria's Kitchen
Southwestern Chicken Salad
During these fast passed nights when you need to fix something quick and nutritious so you can get out the door fast to a football game or some other activity, you will find this salad will accomplish all these requirements. It is so delicious you will be tempted to savor every bite and perhaps be late to the game. Try it, you will find it will become a family favorite

Our Local Heritage
Worth Their Weight In Gold
Very little remains in our area today reflecting what these men did. Many AK towns were not even born yet at that point. But when Ft. Sumter was fired upon in 1861 and President Lincoln called for more than 300,000 men to fight, men from all over the Alle-Kiski signed up en mass. Their first stop?

AK Sports
Apollo-Ridge Vikings Cheerleaders: energetic and focused
Coach Robin Coleman's squad has earned a special place in her heart.

AK Sports
Kiski Area Cheerleaders: working together
They not only have school spirit and the drive to win...

AK Sports
Springdale Dynamo Cheerleading: building pride
The Dynamos augment their cheering by folding in a bit of the familiar past

AK Sports
Valley High School Cheerleaders
Valley Vikings Cheerleaders' roster.

AK Sports
Freeport Yellow Jackets Cheerleaders: motivated
Giving them responsibility has proven them "great leaders..."

AK Sports
Leechburg Cheerleaders: involved in the community
When you see Alle-Kiski Varsity cheerleaders rallying crowds at a game, you're seeing the tip of the iceberg

AK Sports
Cheswick Christian Academy Cheerleaders: preparing
Coach Brenda McGee and her daughters Janaye and Jatara drilled the squad on fundamentals at first.

AK Sports
Plum Mustang Cheerleading: pushing to be the best
Not many people can lift someone their own age and size six feet into the air...

AK Sports
Highlands Golden Rams Cheerleading
The cheer squad and the competition squad became a part of history.

AK Sports
Burrell Bucs Cheerleaders
They've made the job easy for me because of their talent and cooperation...

AK Sports
St. Joseph Spartan Cheerleaders
Cheerleading is one part spirit which the SJHS cheerleaders come by naturally.

Veterans of Freedom
The Sky Was Covered With Japanese Fighter Planes
“The sky was covered by Japanese fighter planes,” explained Walter P. Kajut of Markle (Allegheny Township). Aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in 1944, he said, “the entire sky was almost black with their planes”. The Japanese Imperial Air Forces were diving plane after plane at the USS Yorktown. Walter could laugh about his decision to join the navy. When he was drafted at 18 in 1944, the first question asked was what service did he want to join? His reply was “not where there are foxholes or cold ground,” and, “I don’t want to be a hero”. So, he chose the Navy. That choice led him to be in some of the fiercest fights in World War II.

Healthy Eating
Country Oven Baked Fries
Eating healthier means giving up things like French fries and other high fat foods. Sometimes you can sneak them in – in moderation – but the better thing to do is just find a suitable healthy substitute that can be just as tasty or even more tasty. I have taken vegetables, potatoes, and boneless cubed chicken and coated them with spices and made a great oven bake.

Alle-Kiski Businesses
Hometown Mattresses
When I met Kevin Delancey of Carlisle Mattress Factory in Washington Township for this interview, I found out how much I didn’t know about mattresses. The first thing I didn’t know that there was a true, honest to goodness mattress factory here my area. The second thing I didn’t know was the differences in mattress manufacturing and what real quality was.

Alle-Kiski Churches
Pleasant View Brethren Practice Word, Fellowship and Service
The Pleasant View Brethren Church in Keppel Hill put into practice what they believe, according to Pastor T.J. McLaughlin. “We focus on the word, fellowship and service,” he said. The word is studying the Bible and fellowship is living their lives in the Christian community. Service is helping others in the community by good works.

A-K Dining
Italian Oven Ranks High In Good Food, Environment and Service
When eating out I look for not just a good meal but a nice environment and good service. Italian Oven in New Kensington fits all three requirements. I’ve been going there since it opened in 1991 and have never been disappointed. One reason dining is fun at Italian Oven is its people. They have some of the best, most friendly and service oriented waiters and waitresses I’ve encountered.