Northgate’s ninth and tenth grade mock trial team was the big winner in a recent competition, defeating teams from both North Allegheny and Shaler high schools in a competition at Duquesne University on Jan. 6. Pictured above from left are: front row -- Leah Weingartner, Sarah Denes, Caroline Kenyon, Baige Baierl and Madison Conley; center -- Amanda Woollard, Kelsey Sozanski and Peggy Wessel; standing -- Chase Dermond, Jesse Miller, Jacob DeWalt, Alexa Gray, Sam Sesti and Jessica Obriot.

Willard Mecklenburg Willard M. Mecklenburg, 86, of Avalon, husband of the late Barbara Gavin Mecklenburg, died Thursday, June 16, 2011. Mr. Mecklenburg was retired from Duquesne University where he was an associate professor of journalism. He served on Avalon Council 1976-79. He was a member of Avalon-Bellevue Kiwanis Club.

Betty Jane Titler Betty Jane Sharpnack Stevenson Titler, 86, of Avalon, formerly of Brownsville and Youngstown and wife of the late Eugene Stevenson and Guy Titler, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010. Mrs. Titler was a registered nurse, taking care of veterans of World War II. She then worked in Ohio and at Bellevue Suburban General Hospital in the neonatal unit. She enjoyed reading, playing the slot machines and watching soap operas.

Kim Zylinski admits that her debut novel was not the result of some burst of inspiration from the literary gods.

In fact, she'll be the first to tell you that her book, published just last month, was born out of boredom.

"I was working as a switchboard operator at Duquesne University. In between directing calls, I often would watch TV, something that the boss didn't like. I needed the job for another year, so I asked her what I should do with the gaps of time that could become boring."

Avalon Council member Tom Michalow is challenging Republican incumbent Matt Drozd for the District I seat on Allegheny County Council.

Michalow, a Democrat, was born and raised in McCandless and is a 1989 North Allegheny High School graduate. He is a 1993 distinguished graduate of Virginia Military Institute.

Michalow received a master’s of education degree from Duquesne University in 1998, along with teaching certificates for social studies and German. He teaches history and German at Northgate High School.

Emily Keener touched up a grape leaf on the mural being painted on two walls of the Pennsylvania Macaroni building in the Strip District. Appropriately, the sun was blazing on this late afternoon scene of sunny Italy: grapes, peppers, pasta, tomatoes and the Italian flag.

Emily is part of the Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project, which features portraits of people, events and structures that have shaped the region's history.