By NANCY WHYTE

On Sunday, March 24, longtime Emsworth resident Richard R. Waldron was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Valor at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh. More than 15 family members and friends attended the formal, military presentation. Adam Armendariz, the oldest of Waldron's seven grandchildren, accepted the plaque on Waldron's behalf.

"It was an honor to represent my granddad today." Armendariz later posted on his Facebook page. He was "a quiet hero who loved his family, his country, and his community selflessly."

Most Pittsburghers of an age have memories of Porky Chedwick, the iconic Pittsburgh deejay who passed away last Sunday. Porky, a.k.a. the "Daddio of the Raddio," "The Platter Pushin' Papa," "The Boss Man," and "Pork the Tork" introduced teens (mostly) to music to grow up to, music to rebel to, and for Bill Dell of Brighton Heights, to music that influenced his entire life.

"Black records were not being played on the radio back then, but Porky loved the deep rhythm 'n' blues, the black sound," Dell recalled. "He completely integrated music."

So which Olympic sport might you consider to be the most exciting to watch? Hockey? Skiing? Luge?

Ask Mark Robinson of Bellevue, and he won't hesitate for a second to answer, "Curling!" and then for as much time as you might have to spare and with just a little persuasion, he might be prevailed upon to discuss some of the finer points of the sport.

"As I sat at my high school graduation, listening to our class valedictorian speak about the lines on the wall, I looked around and wondered how the 69 of us would turn out. Truly a magical number for a public high school graduating class those days, a public high school in the suburbs of a major city, at that. Christina, the valedictorian, was obviously speaking metaphorically about the mortar lines that ran through the bricks of our high school walls. As we choose different paths in our lives, she said, our choices dictate how we end up.

By NANCY WHYTE

Psychologists call it a “flashbulb memory,” that special, autobiographical memory that is seared into one’s mind upon seeing or hearing something emotionally traumatic. For many individuals aged 55 or older, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy often evokes such a carefully-preserved memory. A lot of people can provide a detailed description of where they were when they heard that tragic news.

By NANCY WHYTE

The special date 11-12-13 only occurs once in a century, but long-time Bellevue resident Myrtle Brooks has had the opportunity to observe it twice: once on the day she was born and this week as she celebrated her 100th birthday.

By NANCY WHYTE

My father was a member of what Tom Brokaw termed -- rightly so, I believe -- “The Greatest Generation.” Robert Francis Fellows was born shortly after World War One ended, was a child during the Roaring Twenties, a teenager during the worst of the Great Depression and graduated high school shortly before World War II began.

Family and friends of the late U. S. Army Staff Sergeant Eric S. Holman joined with Ohio Township supervisors last Saturday morning to dedicate a memorial commemorating Eric's service and ultimate sacrifice to his country when he was killed in action on Aug.15, 2012.

Growing up in Ohio Township, Eric graduated in 1990 from Avonworth High School. He then attended Penn State, graduating in 1995 with degrees in criminal justice and mechanical engineering. He died in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he encountered an enemy improvised explosive device.

[The Avalon Motel is well known to most area residents, and not always for the best reasons. Few people, however, know the history of the motel. Here, we take a look back with an Avalon man who had a unique role in the creation of what once was a flourishing local business.]

By Denny Brown

Sometimes when I'm working on the property across from the Avalon Motel, I stop and reminisce about how we use to play “one hand below” in the parking lot every Sunday night.

Perhaps the key to successful longevity for any business is recognizing the changing needs of its customers and moving to meet them. And understanding that concept could be why the Whelpley family is celebrating two momentous business events this year: the 25th anniversary of its original Agway store in Beaver, and the opening of its sixth store in Ohio Township.

With North Korea threatening nuclear war and with lawmakers battling over gun legislation, prospects for peace seem to be more elusive than ever. One man, though, in his own quiet way, has not abandoned the quest for a better future, taking his message to the streets as he walks from his home in North Manchester, IN to Elizabethtown in eastern Pennsylvania.

That walker, Bob Gross, stopped in Avalon last Thursday, spending the night with Rick and Jane Miller and family.