A crowd of skateboarders and their supporters -- from kids to grandmothers -- watched Tuesday as Bellevue Council voted unanimously to apply for a grant to fund the first phase of a Bayne Park plan that will include the area’s first skate plaza.

Officials hope to create a “multi-generational use” park that will include an upgraded playground, additional parking and bocce courts in addition to the skate plaza.

Bellevue Council voted unanimously Tuesday to fire a police officer.

Brian Bradford has been a Bellevue Police officer for just over four years. Officials said they could not discuss the reasons for his dismissal, although the motion approved by council said that Bradford had intentionally committed several "infractions."

Solicitor Tom McDermott said that Bradford has the right to appeal the decision by council in a closed hearing, and officials could not comment on his firing until he decided whether to exercise his right to a private hearing.

Dale Heffley Dale D. Heffley, 65, of Ross Township, formerly of Avalon, died Wednesday, July 21, 2010. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy "Peg" Heffley; his daughter, Catherine Oliverio and her husband Bill; two grandchildren, Salvatore "Sal" and Catherine "Katie" Oliverio; his sister-in-law, Nancy Bevan; his brother-in-law, John Wedlock and his wife Pat; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Catherine Heffley; and two brothers, James Heffley and Dee Carrick.

An array of electronic devices has been recovered by Ohio Township Police as they arrested the three teenagers responsible for a series of vehicle break-ins in the Avonworth School District.

Three 17-year-olds -- two from the district and one from the North Hills -- were caught after an Emsworth resident saw two youths peering into a parked vehicle and alerted police. Chief Beaver Micklos said that the boys ran when police arrived, but officers were able to identify them, and they later confessed.

Avalon Police are investigating the burglary of a Taylor Avenue apartment reported July 19.

A flat screen television was reported stolen, police say.

The windshield and a side window were smashed in a vehicle parked on McKinley Avenue on Jul;y 21.

The driver of a tractor-trailer truck that hit a utility pole at California and North Home avenues was stopped on Route 65 after he left the scene of the accident on July 16. Traffic controls on the pole were damaged.

The question of open burning was addressed at Tuesday's Ben Avon Council meeting when Council member Judy Konitsney said that she had been receiving complaints about it.

When pressed for details, Konitsney said she didn't have any, but said someone told her they had seen embers going up. She added that she knows "the county doesn't allow it." However, council member Dan Herchenroether said, "We have to know what it is about (before we can do anything)."

Avalon Council will hold another hearing on an application to move a liquor license into the borough after the first hearing proved to be a no-show not only for residents, but for council as well.

The failure to have a quorum (five members) of council present during the first hearing necessitated a second, according to council president Ed Repp.

The owner of the Mia Madre restaurant on California Avenue has asked for permission to transfer a liquor license from McKees Rocks to Avalon so that he can open what he described as a more upscale sports bar in a nearby building.

Editor:

The nepotism policy that the Avonworth School Board voted into existence a couple of years ago was put in place to restrict relatives of employees from being considered for a job with the school district. The statement, "this should apply especially to school board members and their families" was emphatically stated by certain board members at that time. The policy was not unanimously approved.

By ROBERTA SLANINA O’BRIEN

Dr. Timothy Makatura of Bellevue was selected by the Northgate School Board at its July 19 meeting to replace board vice president Chuck Miklos, who recently passed away.

Three candidates were interviewed for the position. All three candidates were asked the same seven questions and then were able to provide additional information if they wished.

The owner of property that fronts on a walkway leading to the closed Birmingham Avenue steps in Avalon complained to the borough council Tuesday that the deterioration of the sidewalk has led to a safety hazard for her tenants.

Denise Dyer told council that her property is landlocked, with the walkway being the only access for an ambulance crew, firefighters, or others who may need to reach the house. There was no snow removal last winter, she said, and the walkway continues to deteriorate.

The Ohio Township Police department is investigating a series of thefts in which G.P.S. and other electronic devices have been stolen from vehicles during the night. Police remind residents to lock their vehicles.

On July 15, Robert Becker, 55, of Ben Avon, was arrested and is being charged with disorderly conduct and terroristic threats after making vulgar and threatening comments to neighbors.

Ryan Adams, 33, of Emsworth, was arrested for violating a protection from abuse order on July 18.

The Avalon Borough Quality of Life Committee has opened a “Property Concerns Hotline” for citizens of the borough.

Citizens can call (412)447-1356 to report concerns about properties in violation of maintenance ordinances such as overgrown grass/weeds and garbage, or to voice concerns about properties or borough conditions that are a health or safety risk, such as vacant properties, sidewalks in disrepair, or potholes.

The hotline is a message-only phone line. All messages will be forwarded to the appropriate borough official for further investigation and action.