Articles

5/14/10

A number of car parts were reported stolen in two separate incidents at an Ohio River Boulevard business. Vehicle transmissions and batteries were reported stolen from Economy Transmission on May 3, and on May 4 two engines were reported stolen from the business’s property.

A burglary was reported at a North Balph Avenue residence on April 26.

A Grant Avenue resident reported May 3 that property had been stolen from a storage shed in the yard.

Items were reported stolen from a vehicle on North Sprague Avenue on April 26.

5/14/10

Even as work begins Monday on the Lowries Run Bridge in Emsworth, weight limits will severely limit traffic across another bridge in the borough.

Borough officials were informed Wednesday that the Port Authority bridge along Center Avenue had been inspected recently and “structural deficiencies” discovered. As a result, a 5 ton weight limit will be posted on Friday, May 14.

That weight limit will affect not only Port Authority buses, but firetrucks, school buses and other large vehicles, none of which will be able to cross the bridge.

5/14/10

Emsworth's sewage and sewer surcharge fees will be changing with the next billing cycle after the borough council approved an ordinance amending its fee schedule during the Wednesday meeting of Emsworth Council.

Borough property owners currently pay a flat fee of $50 per quarter, which covers sewage service through ALCOSAN, and a borough surcharge to help pay for mandated sewer-related repairs.

The new fee structure could save some people money, while increasing the cost to those who use a lot of water.

5/14/10

With a garbage collection contract nearing its end, Emsworth Council has voted to have the borough rejoin the Quaker Valley Council of Governments (QVCOG)

The QVCOG, comprised of municipalities along the Ohio River in this area, performs a number of functions, primary among them the negotiation of joint contracts for municipal services and administration of federal grants. Emsworth opted not to join the COG last year, saying that the borough did not utilize its services.

Emsworth's dues for a year total $1,600, according to borough secretary Cathy Jones.

5/14/10

Even as two new fitness programs are set to be launched in Northgate schools, administrators fear that the nationwide effort to promote healthy lifestyles among children could take the form of unfunded educational mandates that will tax local staff and funding resources.

5/14/10

State lawmakers and business leaders joined representatives of the Bridge Educational Foundation at Assumption School in Bellevue Tuesday to announce the availability of $67,500 in scholarships to private school students in Allegheny County.

Funds were donated by CSX Transportation, AmeriChoice/Unison Health Plans and RBC Capital Markets, which participate the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Act Tax Credit Program.

5/14/10

Musical theater will continue in the Northgate School District for at least one more year.

Parents, staff and school board members spoke at the Monday board committee of the whole meeting in support of continuing arts programs that had been proposed for cuts in an effort to reduce spending and future budget deficits.

Musical director Karen Klicker said that the district would fund the high school musical for the coming year while everyone explored what board president Susan Nolan called "creative funding ideas."

5/14/10

Catherine Majestic Catherine J. Majestic of Bellevue and Avalon died Thursday, May 6, 2010. Ms. Majestic had been a volunteer at Suburban General Hospital and Lutheran Services in Bellevue. She is survived by six nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and two great-grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Julia Majestic; and five siblings, George J., Frank G., Joseph M., Albert H. and Margaret Majestic.

5/14/10

Ohio Township Police are investigating the theft of a purse at Christ Church at Grove Farm in Ohio Township. The theft was reported May 6.

A resident of Brighton Road in Ben Avon reported May 6 that a vehicle window had been broken.

Gregory Riggs, 45, of Emsworth, was charged with harassment following a domestic incident at his residence on May 6.

Paul Tamosauskas, 55, of Ben Avon, was charged with driving under the influence following a traffic accident on Ohio River Boulevard in Emsworth on May 10.

5/14/10

No charges will be filed against an Avonworth Middle School student who authored a note that caused concern in the district this week.

According to Ohio Township Police Chief Beaver Micklos, a school bus driver found a piece of stationary containing the “Death Note” logo. Death Note is a Japanese anime series about a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook -- the Death Note -- that gives him the power to fight evil by causing the death of anyone whose name is written in the notebook.

5/14/10

Bellevue Council may choose not to make any changes to its transient vendor ordinance, which means vendors at some events could be paying a fee this year.

Some vendors objected to paying a $50 fee to sell items at Bellevue events, but tax-paying business owners also objected to the vendors getting a "free ride."

Council member David Gillingham Jr. said at the council work session on Tuesday that he had researched what other municipalities charge transient vendors. The fees elsewhere are much higher than Bellevue's $50 per event charge, he said.

5/14/10

Work to install a gravity-fed sewer line to Emsworth's new sewage pump station was expected to resume this week after a delay caused by PennDOT objections to the work schedule.

Emsworth Council member David Heflin said that PennDOT stopped the project, which spans about 400 feet of Route 65 before turning onto Huntingdon Avenue. The state agency refused to allow work during daylight hours because the project abuts another repair project that involves traffic controls and limitations.

5/7/10

Avalon Police Officer Tom Kokoski has been hired as the borough's new police chief.

A search for a replacement for current Chief Robert Howie -- who will retire later this month after a dozen years in the position -- took months and involved a great deal of debate and conversation, according to council safety committee chairman Patrick Narcisi.

"It was a very difficult decision," Narcisi said at a special council meeting held Tuesday to hire a new chief.

5/7/10

Two people have been arrested and charged with breaking into a former church on Orchard Avenue in Avalon to steal copper.

Avalon Police have charged Michael Kaufman, 26, and Robin Gruber, 27, neither of whom have a permanent address, with burglary, theft and criminal conspiracy from the former church building. Both also were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia when police found syringes when the two were arrested at a Harrison Avenue home on May 4.

5/7/10

The Avonworth School Board is expected to vote Monday on whether to eliminate wrestling from the district’s cooperative sports agreement with Northgate, as recommended by the Avonworth board’s athletic committee.

The committee has proposed eliminating not only wrestling, but the ninth grade boys’ basketball program as well.

5/7/10

The Avonworth School Board is expected to vote Monday on a proposed 2010-11 budget that will increase the property tax millage rate by six-tenths of one mill.

The $22,381,375 spending plan will require a transfer from the district’s reserve fund of about $766,000, according to Avonworth director of finance Brad Waters, which will put the fund balance at 8 percent of the district’s operating budget.

5/7/10

By JIM RUMBLE

Still in search of their first win of the season, the last team the Northgate baseball team wanted to see was section leader South Fayette when the two teams met this past Tuesday.

The Lions, who were coming in undefeated at 10-0 in section play and the top dog in AA, limited the Flames to two hits on their way to a 12-0 victory.

South Fayette scored two runs in the first and two in the third off starting pitcher Justin Mayhugh to lead early, 4-0.

5/7/10

By JIM RUMBLE

The Avonworth softball team saw its three- game winning streak come to an end this past week with a disappointing 11-10 loss to Brentwood at home on Wednesday.

The same two teams were scheduled to play each other at Brentwood on Thursday, May 6, with the results not available at press time. The Lady ‘Lopes would need to win the rematch to secure third place in the section and qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

5/7/10

Editor:

I was very disappointed in the recent decision by the Avonworth School Board's Athletic Committee to cut wrestling from the co-op sports agreement. After attending the meeting, I left with the feeling that little is known about this wonderful character-building sport!

Much of the information being provided to board members appears to be incorrect. The cost for the 2009-2010 season was significant;y less than budgeted -- $15,000 ($7,500/school) -- due to fewer coaches. When participation is low, the need for multiple coaches should be considered, as well as volunteer coaches.

5/7/10

Mamie Golden Mamie A. Roman Golden of Brighton Heights, wife of the late John A. Golden Sr., died Thursday, April 29, 2010. Mrs. Golden was a secular in the Third Order of St. Francis. She is survived by three stepchildren, Rev. John A. Golden Jr., Henry Golden and Kathy Brown; four sisters, Lucille Sahd, Faye Platz, Dorothy Roman and Marion Angelini; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Anthony Roman.

5/7/10

Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agents were called to Ohio Township Wednesday afternoon when police discovered what appeared to be a hand grenade in the console of a car stopped in connection with a possible attempted burglary in Franklin Park.

5/7/10

By JIM RUMBLE

Having a tough time finding their offense again, the Avonworth baseball team was no match for section leader Vincentian when the teams played at home this past Wednesday.

The Royals, on the other hand, used a 17-hit attack in disposing of the Antelopes 15-2.

Vincentian got five of those hits in the top of the first against pitcher Frank Restelli to take an early 2-0 lead.

The Antelopes responded with a lead-off double by Coby Croft and an RBI hit to center by Carl Pietrusinski to put the score at 2-1.

4/30/10

By JIM RUMBLE

Not even the excitement of playing at PNC Park could evoke a win for the Avonworth baseball team when they met Our Lady Of Sacred Heart last Friday.

The Antelopes, who jumped out to an early lead, surrendered six runs in the fourth inning on their way to a 7-3 loss.

Starting pitcher Tom Turnbull seemed to have things under control, keeping OLSH off the scoreboard for the first three innings.

4/30/10

Bellevue officials are working to organize a "town hall" type of meeting to discuss changes at the Allegheny General Hospital - Suburban Campus.