A healthy carry-over from 2011 helped convince Bellevue Council members that no property tax increase is necessary for 2012.

Council voted unanimously at its Dec. 30 meeting not to enact a proposed .25 mill tax increase, although members reversed themselves and voted for a 25 cent increase in the sewer surcharge per 1,000 gallons of water used. Council member Lisa Blaney-Stewart was absent from her final meeting.

Following last year's winning record, Avon-worth boys' soccer took to a full two weeks of two-a-day practices to prepare for the upcoming season, with the goal being to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs from which they are four years removed.

Last Friday the 'Lopes opened their regular season against host Eden Academy, with it becoming apparent that the 95-plus degree heat would be a factor.

The process to begin construction of Avonworth's proposed primary center continued to move forward at the school board's meeting on Monday. The board unanimously approved a resolution to hold a public meeting on the project on Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

The public hearing is required by state law.

By JIM RUMBLE

While the Avonworth girls basketball team added three more wins to their season over the past week, the game that was of interest to most local fans was when they hosted the Northgate Flames on Monday, Jan. 17.

Led by Lauren Mayernik's 22 points, the Lady ‘Lopes cruised to an easy win over the Flames 59-22.

What was also noteworthy was the play of forward Natalie Zivic, who stepped up big with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists.

Despite an early start to this year’s budget process and every intention of actually getting a bud-get adopted before the end of the year, Bellevue officials hit a snag when it came time to vote on the first reading of the budget ordinance at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Lingering concerns over a hefty increase in the sewer surcharge and salary increases were complicated by a change in adoption procedure introduced by the borough’s solicitor to send officials back to the drawing board before a substantive vote on the bud-get is taken, probably on Dec. 14.

At least part of the Birmingham Avenue steps in Avalon will be repaired.

The steps and sidewalk were closed by the borough due to advanced deterioration. The cost and engineering challenge presented by any proposal to replace the steps has kept the borough from moving forward in that direction. Recently, however, the owner of rental property adjacent to the top part of the steps and sidewalk said that her tenants have no access to their home because of the closure.

Despite 23 turnovers, the Northgate boys' varsity basketball ball team opened up its season with a win against Avonworth last Friday, at the 'Lopes tip-off tournament.

The Flames followed that win, however, with a loss to Quaker Valley in the championship game on Dec. 12, a game that featured a head coaching match-up between a former master and apprentice.

Northgate head coach Perry Harrop said that the Flames shot the ball well during the Avonworth game, sinking 70 percent of their shots. He noted that the boys ran the floor well and were taking good shots.

Despite a recommendation to the contrary by county health officials, the Kilbuck Township Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to release sewer easements on Newgate Road.

Board chairman Russ Hardiman and supervisor John Fader overruled objections by supervisor Susan Merkner and advice from the chief of the Allegheny County Health Department's public drinking water and waste management divisions in voting to adopt an ordinance that will eliminate a dozen easements the township obtained in 2002 in anticipation of installing sewers along Newgate.