Did you ever take a logic class in college? Do high schools even offer logic classes? They should. The skills that come from a logic class are life-changing.

I loved my college logic class. It was one of the first signs that my future included law school. Right after debating everyone in my high school, regardless of position, and organizing a variety of protests. It was the '70s, after all.

But logic stuck with me even after I became a much mellower person, not inclined to frequent debate or protest.

By LOIS THOMSON

At their Nov. 15 meeting, members of Ben Avon Council presented a proposed budget of $1,056,015 for 2012. The budget lists total tax revenue income of $836,504, the majority coming from $520,754 in current real estate tax collections.

Other income includes $26,000 from prior year real estate tax; $25,000 real estate transfer tax; $235,000 current earned income tax; $29,000 noncurrent EIT; and $750 occupational privilege tax.

Helen Schmalzl Helen Herzlieb Schmalzl, 90, of Avalon, wife of the late Albert Schmalzl, died Wednesday, August 17, 2011. Mrs. Schmalzl was a member of the Church of the Assumption Christian Mothers and an active member of the Sewickley YMCA. She is survived by three children, Helen Schmalzl, William Schmalzl and his wife Patricia and Richard Schmalzl and his wife Mary; and six grandchildren, Greg, Max, Alex, Evelyn, Will and Ellie. She was preceded in death by her sister, Marie Herzlieb.

The Avonworth and Northgate Classes of 2011 received their diplomas within the past week, with Avonworth holding commencement ceremonies on Friday, June 3, and Northgate on Monday, June 6.

The Avonworth Class of 2011 was led by valedictorian Amy Templin and salutatorian Travis Kohler.

Amy, the daughter of Diane and Eric Templin of Ohio Township, will attend Wake Forest University, where she plans to major in mathematics.

Travis, the son of Beth and Michael Kohler of Ohio Township, will attend the University of Rochester, where he plans to major in physics.

Bellevue will take its proposed 2011 budget down to the wire, with the major points of contention left unresolved despite extensive debate at a special meeting on Tuesday.

Council reached a consensus on only one of three sticking points, that of next year’s garbage fee increase. Major points that could sway a final vote on the budget on Dec. 28 are the sewer surcharge and a raise for the public works supervisor.

By LOIS THOMSON

At their Nov. 16 meeting, members of Ben Avon Council presented a proposed budget of $1,050,762 for 2011.

The budget lists tax revenue income of $832,520, the majority coming from $520,754 in current real estate tax collections. Other income includes $22,815 from prior year real estate taxes; $25,000 in real estate transfer tax; $232,577 in current earned income tax; $30,694 in noncurrent EIT; and $680 in occupational privilege tax.

It could have been much worse, but the combination of an effective emergency response plan and what can only be called acts of God prevented an environmental nightmare when a tanker truck carrying a toxic chemical overturned on Union Avenue Wednesday afternoon.

The tanker was traveling down Union Avenue toward the North Boroughs about 3 p.m. when the driver attempted to turn onto the I-279 southbound on-ramp. Officials believe several tires hit a rut beside the ramp, the driver overcompensated, and the tanker flipped.

Northgate High School’s 119 members of the Class of 2010 were led by valedictorian Jimmy Silay (pictured at far right), salutatorian Megan Coleman and Beattie Tech salutatorian Dylan Winters. The son of Bill and Nancy Silay of Avalon, Jimmy will major in engineering at Case Western University. Megan, the daughter of Mark and Alice Coleman of Bellevue, will study actuarial science at Robert Morris University. Dylan will continue his study of advertising and design at California University. He is the son of Tim and Cyndi Winters of Avalon. See

A major Avalon thoroughfare will be closed to traffic for at least a week to repair major damage below the road surface caused by an accident last fall.

Motorists can expect delays due to traffic restrictions on a couple different state highways.

I-279 (the Parkway North) will be reduced to a single lane southbound this weekend, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday and continuing thgrough 4 p.m. on Sun-day.

The state will be patching concrete between the Bellevue/West View and I-79 interchanges. No northbound lane restrictions are planned for this weekend.