For far too many of us, Monday, Jan. 16, will be, at best, just another day off work or school. Few of us will stop to really think about the man who is honored on that day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In reality, this world would be a far better place if all of us stopped for a bit and really thought about Dr. King, about the role race plays in the way we think and respond, about the horrifying events that unfolded not centuries ago, but in our lifetimes.

Three young men from the North Boroughs will be remembered forever for their sacrifice in Iraq, as a memorial honoring their military service was dedicated on Veterans Day in Bellevue. Pictured here, Midge Hall and Patricia Kenny place a wreath beside the monument that bears the names of their sons, Robert Hall of Bellevue and Patrick Kenny of Emsworth, along with that of Thomas Vandling Jr. of Bellevue. All three were killed while serving with the military in Iraq. The memorial was constructed by Bellevue Boy Scout Brian Halligan for his Eagle Scout project.

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 Avalon Library Saturday Movie Matinee on Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., will feature “The Takers,” starring Paul Walker and Hayden Christensen.

Hopefully all of you have survived the weekend blizzard without incident. A few North Boroughs residents remained without power as late as Monday morning, but for the most part there was no serious damage to report.

Which is not to say that the storm did not require a massive community effort on all levels.

By JIM RUMBLE

Having to play a pivotal section game on the road was tough enough for the Avonworth girls’ basketball team, but the Lady ‘Lopes also had to take on Quaker Valley Monday night without head coach Bob Schulz,who had a bout with the flu.

All seemed fine for the Lady ‘Lopes until a 16-point lead in the third quarter disintegrated on the way to a 48-45 loss to the Quakers.

We're young and we're still trying to learn how to keep our composure in tight situations," said assistant coach Leah Uhernik

Ohio Township Police have identified the man who robbed an Emsworth resident on Jan. 10 as the same man arrested Thursday morning for the rapes of two women in Ross Township.

Ohio Township Police Chief Beaver Micklos said that his officers planned to file charges Thursday against Arthur Henderson, 38, of Ross, for the Jan. 10 robbery of Paul Leung in the parking lot of the House of Lee restaurant in Emsworth. Leung was seriously injured and robbed of $4,000 - $5,000 after returning to his residence above the restaurant after gambling at the North Side casino.

The Avonworth School Board held its annual reorganization meeting on Dec. 5. At that meeting, the five recently elected school board members - David Oberdick, Robert Wible, Jeff Carraway, Peter McKay, and Brenda Barlek, were sworn in.

In addition, the board voted to return David Oberdick to his former position as president. Brenda Barlek, the president during 2011, resumed her prior position of vice president.

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.

It was just a matter of time until the Avonworth football team put it all together, and that time arrived last Friday when the Antelopes hosted the Wilkins-burg Tigers.

With an offense that was led by Ricky Lawniczak, who rushed for 101 yards and 3 TDs in the first half, and a defense that constantly harassed the Tigers while recording six sacks, the Antelopes rolled to a 38-14 victory.

"We set the tone early and made the plays that we needed to make," said head coach Duke Johncour. "We put some pressure on them, and it worked out well for us."

There are no clocks, no mirrors, no pictures, no plants, and no cell phones ringing in the Yoga on Fremont studios. And the only furniture is the instructor's desk, along with some "cubbies" where students can place coats and personal items before lessons start.

Once the sessions, which last approximately 75 minutes, begin, sounds are limited to the voice of the instructor leading students through their routine, with music playing whisper-soft in the background.

By MEL PERKINS

The Northgate Flames battled to the end, and pulled out a 32 - 27 victory against the Our Lady of Sacred Heart (OLSH) Chargers Saturday night. In T.J. Wiley's debut game as head coach of the Flames, his Northgate team showed a combination of speed, power and "quick strike" potential.

OLSH won the coin toss to start the game, and elected to receive. The Flames' Brett Howell kicked off, and Northgate's 2011 season was underway on a hot and humid night at Robert Morris' Joe Walton Stadium.