In April, 2008, Andy Tempalski of Bellevue answered a classified ad for a watch repair technician, a position that did not call so much for knowledge of timepieces as it required work experience with intricate hand tools.

"I had been using small screwdrivers for computer repairs," Andy said. And based upon skills learned with computers, he was hired by Fast-Fix, a jewelry and watch repair shop located in an area shopping mall.

It was a job, but not much of a challenge. "I changed batteries, and I changed watch bands."

As an editor, I often struggle with issues surrounding what the public NEEDS to know, versus what they WANT to know.

If we print what people WANT to know, they'll buy papers. But at some point what people want to know drops perilously close to the level of gossip, in which I prefer not to indulge. Obviously gossip is big business, as evidenced by the number of celebrity gossip magazines, tabloids and Web sites. I am not at all convinced that the world needs to know what Mel Gibson said to his girlfriend, or who Miley Cyrus is dating. I'm not even sure why the world WANTS to know.

I don't know who developed the idea of holding school homecomings -- probably some college fund-raising officer -- but it's a great idea that probably needs to broaden its application.

We live in an area where it is common to find several generations of a single family living within walking distance of each other; where grandparents help raise their children's children, and grandchildren return the favor. It makes for a strong foundation.

Reports of vehicle break-ins in the area continue, as two more incidents were investigated by Ohio Township Police this week.

A cell phone and a back pack containing personal items were reported stolen from a vehicle on Laurel Avenue in Ben Avon last weekend. The theft was reported Aug. 10.

Also on Aug. 10, a resident of Berringer Place reported money and a GPS system stolen from a vehicle there, also over the weekend.

In other news from Ohio Township Police, a window in a Manchester Circle, Ohio Township, home was believed to have been shot with a BB on Aug. 5.

The question of open burning was addressed at Tuesday's Ben Avon Council meeting when Council member Judy Konitsney said that she had been receiving complaints about it.

When pressed for details, Konitsney said she didn't have any, but said someone told her they had seen embers going up. She added that she knows "the county doesn't allow it." However, council member Dan Herchenroether said, "We have to know what it is about (before we can do anything)."

After receiving positive feedback from Allegheny County, Bellevue will move ahead with a grant application that could produce much of the funding necessary to construct a skate board plaza in Bayne Park.

Council president Kathy Coder and administrative assistant Katie Hale said that the borough had submitted a pre-application for a Community Development Block Grant that sought funding for a $360,000 project in Bayne Park that also included an amphitheater, dog park and boccie court. Hale said that county officials quickly zeroed in on the skate plaza aspect.

Bellevue's new director of administrative services got to watch his new bosses in action as a member of the audience at the June 22 council meeting.

Douglas Sample will not begin work as Bellevue's DAS until July 19, but took the opportunity to get a leg up on the job by attending the recent council meeting.

The Ross Township resident has a master's degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh, where he also earned his undergraduate degree in political science and history.

A variety of day camps for children will be held at the Ohio Township Community Park on Nicholson Road this summer.

Among the camp themes are: how to draw, survival/nature, games, teen weight loss, Carnegie Science Center Insect Investigators, CSI: Pittsburgh, herb garden/nature, bugs, “learn to make stuff,” sock puppets, photography/modeling, “BFF”s, garden art and “Abrakadoodle Beach Party.”

The camps will be held during June and July.

For information on the camps, visit the Web site at www.ohiotwp.org.

Bellevue officials are working to organize a "town hall" type of meeting to discuss changes at the Allegheny General Hospital - Suburban Campus.

After years of property maintenance problems at properties on Fisk Avenue in Avalon, residents have been told the buildings will be demolished as soon as a contract can be awarded for the work.

Those doing business with the Borough of Avalon soon will be able to make tax and other administrative payments on-line with a credit or debit card.

A resolution authorizing the on-line payment system was approved unanimously by Avalon Council at its meeting on Tuesday.

Among the payments that will be accepted are those for earned income, real estate and local services taxes, as well as fees for garbage collection, sewage and parks.

Broadway arrives in the North Boroughs this week, with the staging of two standards of American musical theater at local high schools.

Northgate students will take audiences back to the era of Elvis and the earliest days of rock 'n roll with its production of "Bye Bye Birdie," while Avonworth students will drop back a few years more, to the Roaring ‘20s, with its presentation of "Mame."