To say that I am disappointed in the proposed 2012 budget for the Borough of Bellevue is putting it mildly.

It's not so much the tax increase. It's not even the sewer surcharge increase.

It's the fact that this town obviously is governed by a whole bunch of people who just don't get it.

Pat Dragowski admits that she feels honored by being named the North Boroughs YMCA's “Volunteer of the Year,” but she is quick to add that the honor should be shared by an enthusiactic board of directors.

Pat grew up in Point Breeze, lived in Bellevue in the mid-1970s, and then moved to Kilbuck after marrying her husband, Robert. She said that the Y has been important to her through all of her years in the North Boroughs.

"I exercised there for years, and my daughter, Laura, was in many of the classes while she was growing up."

The Borough of Bellevue will hold its annual July 4th picnic at Memorial Park next Monday from noon until 4 p.m.

Free hotdogs and other food and refreshments will be served, while Giggles the Clown entertains the children. Admission to the swimming pool is free from noon until 6 p.m.

Holiday celebrations around the North Boroughs kicked off last Friday when Bellevue welcomed Santa Claus and friends. Pictured here, 4-year-old Troy Arluf of Bellevue gives Santa a list of what he hopes to find under his tree on Christmas morning. Sponsored by the North Suburban Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Borough of Bellevue, the celebration featured a variety of entertainment and business-related events for those willing to brave the cold. Emsworth will host its annual tree lighting tonight, while Avalon has an entire day of festivities planned for Dec. 11.

A celebration of the holidays in Bellevue will be held Friday, Nov. 26, beginning with the lighting of the Christmas tree on the Central Methodist Church patio at 6:45 p.m.

Santa Claus will arrive at the patio by firetruck at 7 p.m.. There will be a number of activities, entertainment and refreshments along Lincoln Avenue.

The event is sponsored by the North Suburban Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Borough of Bellevue.

As an editor, I often struggle with issues surrounding what the public NEEDS to know, versus what they WANT to know.

If we print what people WANT to know, they'll buy papers. But at some point what people want to know drops perilously close to the level of gossip, in which I prefer not to indulge. Obviously gossip is big business, as evidenced by the number of celebrity gossip magazines, tabloids and Web sites. I am not at all convinced that the world needs to know what Mel Gibson said to his girlfriend, or who Miley Cyrus is dating. I'm not even sure why the world WANTS to know.

For the first time since March, the Borough of Bellevue has a director of administrative services on the job in the borough hall. Former Crafton manager Doug Sample began work Monday. The position has remained vacant since Connie Flasher resigned last spring.

Even as local politicians were gearing up to run for state legislative seats in new districts, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Wednesday struck down the reapportionment plan, completely rearranging the proposed political landscape in areas such as the North Boroughs.

Sophia Regas Sophia Fakles Regas, 89, wife of the late John Fakles and John Regas, died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. Mrs. Regas was the owner of the River Road Inn in Avalon for 39 years. She is survived by two daughters, Theodora Fakles and Pandora Bossick and her husband Dennis; her sister-in-law, Shea Banus; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Panagula Danus; and two siblings, Demetrios Danus and Maria Giannakos.

The owners of commercial property located in the area of Bellevue’s main street business district will be able to get a break on property taxes attributable to building improvements. Bellevue Council took advantage of the state Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act (LERTA) to enact an ordinance that will provide tax abatement for a period of 10 years.

Editor:

I wanted to take the time to say thank you to someone whose name I do not know. There are many others who want to say thank you to him/her also. They are the folks who have participated in the design, continuing development and construction of the Bellevue Dog Woods dog park.

An indoor flea market will be held at the Knights of Columbus, 450 Lincoln Ave. in Bellevue on Saturday, Oct. 8, 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Vendor tables are still available: a six foot table for $10, or an eight foot table for $15.

For more information call Bill at (412)761-6663 or (412)364-0134.