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.

Whether it was an attempted robbery or a drug deal gone wrong, one man at least faces weapons charges following an incident in Avalon on Jan. 25.

Police were called to Orchard and Cleveland avenues for a fight between two males that involved a gun. They arrived to find one man running down Alley C, while the other claimed to have been the victim of an attempted armed robbery.

While winter may curtail pool time for many, it is the busy season for high school swim teams. The combined Northgate-Avonworth boys’ and girls’ teams hosted Knoch Tuesday evening at Northgate’s swimming pool. Knoch won the meet, but local swimmers picked up some first place finishes. Annie Gould -- pictured here -- took firsts in the 200 and 500 freestyle, building on a season that already has qualified her for WPIAL competition next month. Also taking firsts were Claire Danylo, breaststroke and Amanda Stone, 50 freestyle.

The use of a stolen gift card led area police to a Bellevue man, and the discovery of a lot more stolen goods.

The case began on Dec. 27, when two Ben Avon residents reported thefts from their vehicles. One owner reported that a gun had been stolen, along with several gift cards. Ohio Township Police were able to obtain video of the man who used the card at Giant Eagle, and worked with Avalon and Bellevue police to identify that man as Keith Dengler, 23, of Bellevue.

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.

A Pittsburgh man faces an extensive list of criminal charges after reportedly stealing 24 cents worth of gas from a Bellevue gas station and being pursued by police for about 500 feet.

David Marks, 52, of 25 Lanark St., Pittsburgh 15214, was caught after what police say was the latest in a series of gas station drive-offs.

Bellevue Police investigated a burglary at a South Balph Avenue residence on Dec. 21.

Several thefts from vehicles were reported to police. Thefts were reported from vehicles on Forest Avenue on Dec. 21, Highland Place on Dec. 27, Summit Avenue on Dec. 27, two vehicles on Shade Avenue on Dec. 29, and another on North Jackson Avenue on Dec. 29.

Packages delivered by the post office were reported stolen from the front porch of a residence in the 400 block of Teece Avenue on Dec. 21.

Robert Kitchen, 44, of Bellevue, was charged with robbery on Dec. 21.

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.

Gladys Weinzierl Gladys B. Pigoni Weinzierl, 90, of Ohio Township, wife of the late Joseph W. Weinzierl Jr., died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. She is survived by two sons, J. Buster Weinzierl and his wife Sally and Michael J. Weinzierl and his wife Susan; her sister, Eva Stankunas; and four grandchildren, Mary H. Rolser and her husband David, Joseph, Andrea and Melinda Weinzierl. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Philomena Pigoni; and five siblings, Joseph Pigoni, Charles Pigoni, Vi Giovenelli, Betty Andrade and Mitzi Lasp.

A 21-year-old man told Bellevue Police Nov. 23 that he had been robbed at gunpoint in the area of Orchard and North Balph avenues. Police say $300 was reported stolen by a known male.

A vehicle on South Euclid Avenue was reported vandalized on Nov. 25.

A Dawson Avenue resident reported vandalism in the form of a broken window on Nov. 26.

Daniel Paul Miller, 25, of Dawson Avenue, was charged with driving under the influence on Nov. 24.

Brian P. Klink, 40, was charged with making terroristic threats following an incident at a Forest Avenue home on Nov. 29.

An Avalon police officer escaped without injury, although he was dragged some 20 feet by a vehicle he was attempting to stop last Saturday night.

The man behind the wheel of that car led officers from multiple jurisdictions on a chase through the City of Pittsburgh and North Hills before being stopped and taken into custody.

The incident began just before 1 a.m. when Avalon officers were dispatched to Center Avenue for a reported burglary in progress. Police say they were told that a man had entered the residence and begun moving items outside.