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.

James R. Davis James R. Davis, 68, of McCandless, husband of the late Carol S. Davis, died Nov. 4, 2011. Mr. Davis had been the owner of Jim Davis Auto Body in Emsworth. He leaves a son, James S. Davis and his fiancé Sharon Welfer; a sister, Linda (John) Provich; a niece, Melissa (Mike) Taylor; nephews, Joseph Weiss Jr. and James (Jamie) Weiss. Friends were received Tuesday at Simons Funeral Home and a service was held Wednesday in St. John's Lutheran Church of Highland. Contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, Southwest Region 320 Bilmar Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15205.

Northgate is looking at using its final stimulus funds on a program that will “retrain” students’ brains so that they are better able to learn and process information.

Assistant to the superintendent Kathleen Gallagher said that the district has until June 30 to spend the remaining funds, which cannot be used to pay for current programs.

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Editor:

Ben Avon will be keeping the Carnegie Library Bookmobile service for 2011.

Finance chair Judy Konitsney has been opposed to the idea because, she has said, the cost of the ser-vice -- $10,000 -- could be better used elsewhere. However, when the subject came up at Tuesday's meeting, she said she was also against it because people other than borough residents use it, and those communities don't contribute to the cost.

Consultants will be working with Northgate educators to increase state test scores for students with learning disabilities in the middle/senior high school.

Assistant to the superintendent Kathy Gallagher told the Northgate School Board at its meeting Monday that the district had met 45 of 46 target goals set by the state for performance on the past school year’s Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) test scores.

Editor:

I hope someone can explain to me how politics work in Emsworth, because I am not sure I follow right now. Council says they are voted there to serve the tax payers of the community, but are they?

Editor:

What an amazing evening it was on Friday, March 5, at the annual Arts Odyssey! An evening of music, performance and appreciation of all things art (including culinary arts!), an often overlooked and undervalued element of children's education. I want to applaud the work of Shirley Reinhart, Arts Odyssey Committee chair and Northgate Board member, along with the entire Northgate school faculty, staff and administrators who each year embark on celebrating the joys of the arts and for nurturing the arts within the hearts and imaginations of our school children and community members.

In an effort to promote cultural diversity and a global perspective within the community, Avonworth High School will hold its second annual multicultural dinner festival on Feb. 6, starting at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

The opening attraction of the evening -- food -- will feature cuisine prepared by parents, teachers and students, as well as by restaurants.

Edna Bernauer Edna C. Bernauer, 90, of Avalon, died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. Ms. Bernauer was a past matron of O.E.S. Norwood-Herrington Chapter #356. She is survived by two brothers, Kenneth W. Bernauer and his wife Wilma of Avalon and Leonard L. Bernauer and his wife Barbara of Yardley, PA; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Elenora Schweitzer Bernauer; and four siblings, Frederick Jr., Glenn H., Clara A. and Velma M. "Sue" Bernauer.

Alice Koenig Alice Faulkner Koenig, 64, of Emsworth, died Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. She is survived by her husband, Mark W. Koenig; six children, Laura Arcan and her husband Metin, Bob Faulkner, Tom Faulkner and his wife Debbie, Brian Faulkner and his wife Jill, Eric Faulkner and his wife Stacy and Alice Mack and her husband Ken; two siblings, Ralph Earl and Audrey Karr; 12 grandchildren, Bobby, Brandi, Ben, Amanda, Jeremiah, Brian Jr., Connor, Trevor, Peyton, Katelyn, Jeremy and Kenny; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Faulkner.