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9/3/10
History returns

It was an emotional moment for Jennie-Lynn Knox as she held the wheel of LST 325, a Navy ship that paused in the Emsworth Locks on Wednesday morning on its way to docking on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

“I can’t believe that this is where he would have stood,” she said softly, looking straight out at the water just as her father, James W. Knox of Emsworth, must have done for countless hours during his service aboard LST 491.

9/3/10
Opening night

If you noticed a glow in the skies over Bellevue tonight, that would have been the heat from the Northgate Flames' season-opening win over Our Lady of Sacred Heart. Quarterback Jon Girvin rushed for FIVE touchdowns to lead the home team to a 44-6 section win.

9/3/10
A recipe for success

A celebration tomorrow on Lincoln Avenue will go far beyond simply marking the 65th anniversary of Bellevue’s oldest family business.

It also will commemorate an “American-as-apple-pie” recipe for success, as baked up by Lincoln Bakery owner Joe Porco, who purchased the business from his father-in-law, Andy Slezak, in 1990.

The recipe that has worked so well for him throughout the decades? Lots of hard work, quality service and products, dedicated employees and loyal customers.

Lincoln had already been established for 10 years when Slezak purchased it in 1945.

9/3/10
Avalon Police News

A South Home Avenue resident reported Aug. 27 that someone had used a credit card without permission, making an internet purchase of $218.65 on May 5.

Nathaniel Vickinovac, 20, of Perrysville Ave., Ben Avon, was charged with driving under the influence on Route 65 on Sept. 2.

Gregory Omlor, 21, of Sewickley, was charged with theft of services and public drunkenness on Sept. 2. Police located him on Ohio River Boulevard after he apparently left without paying his check at Eat n’ Park.

9/3/10
Obituaries 9-3-10

Judith California Judith Ann Papania California, 44, of Ross Township,. died Monday, Aug. 23, 2010. Mrs. California was a graduate of North Hills High School and Carnegie Mellon University. She worked as a chemical engineer for several years.

8/27/10
Ambulance Service

Bellevue Council will solicit proposals from ambulance services.

During council's regular meeting on Aug. 24, safety committee chair David Gillingham Jr. said that he was concerned that Bellevue did not have a formal written contract with any ambulance service. Up to now, he said, Bellevue has had only a "handshake" with NorthWest EMS.

The agreement holds only that calls to 9-1-1 and emergency requests from police for an ambulance are automatically routed to NorthWest. Residents of Bellevue are free to employ any ambulance service.

8/27/10
Anti-discrimination

Bellevue has adopted a new, more encompassing, anti-discrimination policy, but perhaps not completely.

Council voted Tuesday to adopt an Ordinance amending the personnel code to clarify that "Bellevue Borough is an equal opportunity employer whose non-discrimination policy extends to matters of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, religious affiliation and disability."

8/27/10
Avalon Police News

A 10-foot brake, weighing several hundred pounds, was reported stolen during the burglary of a McKinley Avenue residence on Aug. 23. The owner said the equipment was valued at $2,000, and had been stolen between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Avalon Police were called on Aug.20 when someone witnessed a person in a silver vehicle pull up to a Jackman Avenue home, get out, and steal a copper downspout from the side of the house.

8/27/10
Committee to look at possible park lot sale

Despite opposition from some officials, Bellevue Council’s parks and recreation committee will explore the possibility of selling a portion of Memorial Park.

Council members Linda Woshner and Jane Braunlich attempted to nip in the bud any plans to sell a portion of the park property, specifically the “cinder lot” that has been the focus of recent efforts after Ross Township and the owners of adjacent residential property demanded it be cleaned up.

8/27/10
Director resigns

At its regular meeting on Aug. 24, Bellevue Council accepted the resignation of Sharon Helfrich, Bayne Library's library and cultural director.

Council member Linda Woshner said that the borough was losing an important part of the community, and would have a difficult time replacing her. Helfrich has been at the library for more than 12 years, and started numerous programs and services. Woshner expressed her opinion that council needed to make the library an important part of the community and to provide it with more funding.

8/27/10
Hospital Update

Representatives of West Penn Allegheny Health System updated Bellevue Council Tuesday on changes at the Allegheny General Hospital - Suburban Campus.

Gregory Burfitt, CEO of Allegheny General Hospital and Kim Sperring, vice president of AGH- Suburban Campus, spoke to council about what has happened since inpatient and emergency room services were discontinued last week.

8/27/10
Improve the Vue

Chuck Gohn, pastor of Bellevue Christian Church, spoke to Bellevue Council at its regular meeting on Aug. 24 to promote "Improve the Vue" Day, and to request the help of council in distributing flyers and information.

The day of community service will be held on Oct.9. Gohn said that organizers hope to recruit 300 to 500 volunteers from civic organizations to work on various improvement projects in Bellevue.

8/27/10
Letters to the Editor

Editor:

Someone owes my tenant (and friend) $120 that it cost him to retrieve his dying mother’s car, after it was illegally towed away by order of the Bellevue Police Department following the January - February heavy snowfall.

It was supposedly reported as an “abandoned car,” but it was a totally legal vehicle, with both proper license plate and inspection stickers. The only thing “wrong” was the two front tires went flat. That probably bothered the “someone” who reported the legally parked vehicle to the police.

8/27/10
Letters to the Editor

Editor:

Just because someone sent you a letter that tars 1.4 billion people on this planet are terrorists who want to wipe out all us “infidels,” was that cause for you to print it?

I am not a Muslim, but I note a number of our citizens in Bellevue - Avalon are from the Middle East and Near East, and are probably adherents of that religion. How do you think they feel after reading what was printed in your Aug. 20 “Letters to the Editor”? Some of them run little shops that carry your paper.

8/27/10
New chair

Bellevue Council'spublic works committee has a new chair.

At council's regular meeting on Tuesday, president Kathleen Coder said that Jane Braunlich had resigned as the committee chair. She will be replaced by council member Jim Viscusi.

8/27/10
Ohio Twp. Police News

A vehicle was reported stolen from Kensington Road in the Cobblestone plan in Ohio Township on Aug. 22. Police say it later was recovered in the City of Pittsburgh.

Five juveniles face charges after police caught them in Avonworth Community Park on Aug.19. The youths are charged with underage drinking, possession of drug paraphernalia, and one with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Five more juveniles were charged with underage drinking on Aug. 21 when police found them walking along Camp Horne Road late at night.

8/27/10
Route 65 to close in Emsworth

PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) in the Borough of Emsworth, will be closed in both directions this weekend, Aug. 27-30.

Crews will be installing a temporary support beam to allow traffic to remain on the existing bridge over Lowries Run between Hiland Avenue and Camp Horne Road while long-term construction to replace the structure continues. This beam installation work cannot occur with traffic on Route 65.

8/27/10
Seniors spark Northgate’s return to Class A

By MEL PERKINS

The Northgate Flames appear to be primed to make some noise in the 2010 football season.

The Northgate football team has moved from the Class AA Century Conference to the Class A Eastern Conference. This move should prove beneficial for the Flames, when you consider that they were one of the smallest schools competing in the WPIAL's Class AA.

Coach Mike Pipak, in his fourth year, will be leading an experienced Flames team, with a core group of seven returning seniors.

8/27/10
‘Lopes field strong “supporting cast”

By JIM RUMBLE

Despite having lost a considerable number of good senior players from last year's squad, Avonworth head coach Jason Kekseo, in his sixth season at the helm, is convinced that this year's team is one of the better squads to take the field. Although fans are unlikely to see the “superstars” of seasons past, Kekseo says that the “supporting cast” is better than ever.

8/21/10
Avalon pool hours

Because many of the Avalon pool life guards will be returning to college soon, the pool will be open with limited hours using high school students as life guards.

Bellevue passes will not be honored, officials stated.

The new hours are: Aug. 23 - 27, 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.; weekend hours remain unchanged, noon - 6 p.m.; Aug. 30 - Sept.7, 11 - 5 p.m.

8/21/10
Back to school

Almost every girl has that ballerina dream. The lights, the tights, the music, the Prince Char-ming.

But then come the practice -- hours of practice -- along with ankle sprains and instructors' demands and so often that dream becomes a memory, along with Barbies and other childhood interests.

Amy Herchenroether, the daughter of Wendy and Dan Herchenroether of Ben Avon, probably experienced all of those stages in her dance training, but since starting "…about when I was 3," her love of dance has grown with her skills, and at age 17, the dedication is beginning to pay off.

8/21/10
Bellevue Police News

Linda McCallister, 55, of Shiloh Avenue, was arrested for shoplifting and public drunkenness after an incident at CVS on July 14.

James Kelly, 28, of Dellrose Street, Pittsburgh 15210, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Pittsburgh during a traffic stop on July 12.

Holly Berger, 18, of Ohio River Boulevard, and Kayla Lennex, 19, were cited for shoplifting at CVS on July 17.

On July 15, a vehicle in the lot of Russ's Auto was reported broken into during the previous night.

A South Jackson Avenue residence was reported burglarized on July 17.

8/21/10
Model school

At the Northgate School Board meeting on Monday, Superintendent Dr. Reggie Bonfield announced that the National Inclusive Education Initiative (NIEI) has selected the Avalon Elementary School as one of 20 model schools in the country.

The NIEI works to improve education and outcomes for students with autism. The model school project will help teachers improve their ability to teach students with autism as well as non-disabled students in regular education classes.

8/21/10
New bids wanted

Ben Avon engineer Ed McGee said he received two bids for the ADA restroom to be installed at the fire department building, and "neither bid makes sense."

The low one was for $37,000 and the high one was $69,000, whereas McGee's estimates were in the $25,000 to $28,000 range.

He recommended rejecting the bids and soliciting new ones directly from contractors the borough has worked with in the past. Council agreed with his recommendation.

8/21/10
No parking

Ben Avon Council adopted an ordinance at Tuesday's meeting to prohibit parking in front of the fire department building Saturdays from 10 to11 a.m. to allow parking for the Bookmobile.

The vote was unanimous, with Dan Herchenroether and Brian Tokar absent.