Halloween week is packed with hometown fun, from pumpkin painting and trunk-or-treats to the Haunted Mine at Tour-Ed Mine. Find dates, locations and neighborhood trick-or-treat schedules for October 27–31.

For young children, a few friendly doorsteps can make a memorable Halloween.

Plan a short, familiar route, check costume fit, and add reflective details and a flashlight.

Stay with little ones, cross streets together, and save candy tasting until an adult has checked the treats.

These practical tips help parents and grandparents keep the evening comfortable and fun, with room for breaks—or an early trip home.

Fall color in the Alle-Kiski Valley is approaching its brightest stretch, though the hills may not turn at the same time.

Regional assessments placed southwestern Pennsylvania near peak in mid-October, making late October and early November a promising window for local leaf-peeping.

It is a window, not a guarantee: elevation, tree species and weather can shift the timing from one neighborhood to the next.

Cool nights and mild, sunny afternoons can bring out vivid reds and oranges, while wind and hard rain can strip leaves early.

River views around Tarentum, Freeport and Kittanning offer broad looks at changing hillsides without a long hike.

In Leechburg and Vandergrift, wooded slopes can add color to an everyday drive or walk.

For photographs or a weekend outing, check conditions before leaving and keep a backup day open.

The display may be brief, but it is a chance to slow down and enjoy familiar places before the leaves fall.

After opening delays, Tractor Supply is fully open in Lower Burrell at 200 Greensburg Road.

The approximately 21,930-square-foot store adds a new shopping option for pet, garden, and farm supplies.

Open Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; call 724-230-4388 for product questions.

Bumblebee Resale & Consignment gives Alle-Kiski Valley shoppers a new place to browse secondhand clothing in Lower Burrell.

Owner Kimberly Conway opened the shop September 5 at Leechburg Road and Park Drive, offering clothing, shoes, and accessories for adults and children.

Consignment lets residents give gently used clothing another life while sharing in the sale proceeds.

With Goodwill also planning a Lower Burrell store, local thrifters could soon have another stop to add to their shopping outings.

A little preparation before freezing weather can make winter easier on your home and household.

This home winterizing checklist helps Alle-Kiski Valley homeowners work through heating service, filters, alarms, chimney care, drafts, gutters, outdoor faucets, and vulnerable pipes.

It also covers snow-removal supplies, power-outage preparations, and a simple household plan.

Start with heating and safety, then tackle the outdoor work while the weather is cooperative.

Give downtown Tarentum a closer look with breakfast at Massart’s Restaurant, followed by Gatto Cycle Shop, Diamond Antiques and Gifts, and Seita Jewelers.

Discover local history at the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Heritage Museum, whose Art Deco building houses cobalt blue mirrored glass, wartime murals, and collections exploring the region’s industries and everyday life.

Regular museum hours are Wednesday and Saturday, noon–3 p.m., or by appointment.

Add time at Riverview Memorial Park and a meal at JG’s Tarentum Station Grille in the former railroad depot.

The guide links these stops with the community’s ongoing investment in its businesses and public spaces, with business links and scheduling details to help plan a visit.

Our love for pets connects neighbors across the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Meet eight nonprofits providing shelter, foster homes, adoption, affordable care, and support for dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds.

The guide includes local organizations and a Pittsburgh-based bird rescue, with direct links and contact information for readers who want to adopt, volunteer, foster, or contribute.

Also meet Polly, a playful adult Boxer, and Mikala, a cat learning to trust, both listed for adoption through Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley.