Tiny Mia, the grand-dog of Jane and Mike (pictured) Braunlich of Bellevue, makes a new friend while waiting for the start of the Pampered Pooch Promenade in Bellevue last Thursday evening. The annual event was part of the Summer Solstice Spectacular sponsored by Enjoy Bellevue. Proceeds of the walk will go to the Bellevue Dog Woods, an off-leash dog park being built by volunteers and private funds in Memorial Park.

Bellevue Elementary second graders in teacher Lynn Tennant Heffley’s class led the way in a school-wide coin collection to benefit the Bellevue Dog Woods, an off-leash dog park being built with private funds in Bellevue’s Memorial Park. In one week, the school raised nearly $800, with the second graders pictured here bringing in a heavy 30.8 lbs. of coins to lead the primary grades and the entire school. In the upper grades, two fourth grade classrooms -- taught by Gail Bernauer and Wendy Santelli -- tied with 17.8 lbs. collected by each.

There’s no season quite as fun as summer, you have to admit, and you don’t have to travel far to have a great time.

It was standing room only at Avalon Field for the annual North Boroughs Independence Day fireworks. Pyrotechnico promised us lots of "oohs" and "aahs," and that's exactly what they delivered. Unfortunately there was a slight problem getting the CD to work, so the fireworks went up without musical accompaniment. We'll try that again next year!

Theresa Balestrieri Theresa Balestrieri, 87, wife of the late Charles Balestrieri, died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012.

Kenneth Todoverto Sr. Kenneth M. Todoverto Sr., 81, of Bellevue died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Loretta Todoverto; four children, Kenneth Todoverto Jr. and his wife Sandy, Janice Barry and her husband Mike, Carla Pritchard and her husband Glenn and Donna Boyer; his sister, Louise Killian; and five grandchildren, Brian Verlihay and his wife Steph, Steven Verlihay, Glenn Pritchard Jr., Becky Pritchard and Ally Boyer.

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.

Elizabeth McFarlane Elizabeth A. "Betty" McFarlane, 84, of Bellevue, died Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011. Mrs. McFarlane was a school crossing guard in Bellevue for many years. She is survived by her husband, Richard J. McFarlane; three children, Richard J. McFarlane Jr. and his wife Chris, Patricia Brelloch and her husband Rick and Kathy Weifenbach and her husband Lee; three granddaughters, Kelly Harshman and her husband James, Colleen McFarlane and Megan Brelloch; and two great-grandsons, Elija and Isaiah Harshman.

Barely a month after voters rejected allowing liquor licenses in Bellevue, the borough is dealing with a proposal to sell beer in Bayne Park -- a proposal from the borough's own employees.

The idea for a "beer corral" in the park developed from plans to hold an arts festival to raise money for the borough's matching share of a grant to build a skate plaza in Bayne Park.

Joan Bechtel Joan Marie Bechtel, 75, of Clarks Summit, PA, formerly of Bellevue, died Tuesday, May 10, 2011 in Hospice Community Care, Dunmore, PA. Ms. Bechtel was a Bellevue High School graduate. She was a retired executive secretary of Harbison-Walker in Pittsburgh. She was an active volunteer at Meals On Wheels and at Allegheny General Hospital. She was an avid traveler.

Audrey Lomb Audrey A. Lomb died Monday, April 4, 2011. She is survived by two brothers, Edward F. Lomb and his wife Patricia and Harry Lomb and his wife Irene; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by four siblings, Marie, Mildred, Francis and Raymond. Friends were received at Thomas P. Kunsak Funeral Home, North Side. A funeral mass was held in St. Cyril of Alexandria Church on Saturday.

Alfred Woods Alfred Gene "Woody" Woods, 68, of Sewickley Heights, died Wednesday, April 6, 2011.

Phillip Hahn Phillip C. Hahn, 64, of Aliquippa, died Wednesday, March 16, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Claudia Hahn; two daughters, Lori Frocek and her husband John of Wilmington, DE and Kristin Bennett and her husband Brian of Emsworth; his mother, Marion Hahn of Ohio Township; two siblings, Robert and his wife Cheryl of Evans City and Gloria of Ohio Township; three grandchildren, Zane, Luke and Anna; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward W. Hahn; and his brother, Edward C. Hahn.

The Glaser Avenue "Safe Routes to School" project will officially come to an end. Bellevue Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to notify the state that it will terminate the project.

Complications over attempting to construct sidewalks on private property and, finally, obtaining rights-of-way contributed to an escalating cost that would not be covered by the grant obtained several years ago.