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3/17/18
Calendar update

The Avonworth School Board updated the 2017-18 school calendar to show the modified snow make-up day schedule.

School will now be in session Monday, April 2 and Friday, April 27.

3/17/18
Farmers market return

Volunteers are gearing up for a second year of weekly farmers markets in Bayne Park this summer and fall, and Bellevue Council is expected to give its approval later this month.

3/17/18
No lunch shaming

The Northgate School Board is amending the district’s food service policy to make sure that children are not subjected to “lunch shaming” because their parents have not kept up with payments to their school lunch accounts.

The issue has received national attention because some schools choose to deny students lunches, or provide them with a clearly identifiable alternate meal, when their lunch accounts are in arrears.

3/17/18
Pre-K change

The Northgate School Board will consider a change to the district’s pre-kindergarten program.

According to superintendent Dr. Caroline Johns, there are currently three preschool classrooms at Bellevue Elementary. Two of them are operated by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU), which rents the classroom space from the district. The third class has been funded by a Pre-K Counts grant, which covers the lion’s share of the $197,000 cost. Northgate contributes $36,000 to that class.

3/10/18
2 Arrested in Bellevue shooting

Bellevue Police are continuing to investigate a shooting incident that occurred Thursday afternoon, Feb. 22, that had officers from multiple law enforcement agencies chasing down an active shooting situation that traveled along Bellevue’s southernmost streets.

Amidst the confusion, police were able to apprehend two men believed responsible for firing shots that struck vehicles and homes. They also took into custody a 16-year old juvenile who has yet to be charged.No people were shot, police say, although one police officer was assaulted by a suspect.

3/10/18
Driver escapes creek plunge

A young woman who lost control of her vehicle on Camp Horne Road Feb. 16 was helped to safety by a passerby.

According to Ohio Township Police Chief Beaver Micklos, the driver, an employee at Animal Friends, had just pulled out of the facility’s driveway when she lost control of the steering, then panicked and was unable to stop the car from going over an adjacent embankment and into the rapidly moving creek waters.

3/10/18
Landslide threatens homes

Kilbuck Township officials and property owners in the area of Old Camp Horne Road are continuing to monitor a landslide that has already damaged several homes and remains a threat to other homes and nearby businesses.

3/10/18
New district map will have local impact

The new United States Congressional Redistricting Map issued in February by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will have a big -- and possibly very confusing -- impact on the North Boroughs.

3/10/18
New officer

Avalon Mayor Tom Lloyd swore in the borough’s newest full-time police officer shortly after the hiring of Christopher Rossetti was approved by council at February's regular meeting.Rossetti has worked as a part time officer for both Avalon and Ohio Township for the last four years.

Photo by Connie Rankin for The Citizen

2/10/18
Bellevue gets $315,000 roads grant

Bellevue received a late Christmas present when it was announced Thursday that the borough had been awarded a state transportation grant of $315,000 that will completely pay for the West Riverview retaining wall project.

State Rep. Adam Ravenstahl, who had worked with borough officials to secure the grant, informed Bellevue shortly after the announcement was made by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

1/27/18
Bellevue considers pet funeral home

Bellevue Council is being asked to approve a zoning permit that would allow the opening of a pet funeral home and crematory on Ohio River Boulevard.

The property at 4325 Ohio River Blvd., currently a used car sales lot, lies within the joint zoning code’s highway commercial district. In this zone, a crematory is an accepted conditional use, meaning that its use as such must be approved by the borough council, which also may impose additional conditions, according to Bellevue solicitor Matt Racunas.

1/20/18
College credit

At Monday night's meeting, the Avonworth School Board approved motions that will will allow Avonworth High School students, beginning in the 2018-19 school year, the opportunity to take a wide variety of “College in High School” classes.

The school board approved removing the following courses from the Avonworth course book and replacing the traditional classes with courses from several local institutions of higher learning.

1/20/18
Salary increases

Some Emsworth Borough employees will be seeing a wage increase in 2018.

At the Jan. 10 meeting, Emsworth Borough Council voted unanimously to increase wages 3 percent, retroactive to Jan. 2. Secretary Cathy Jones, treasurer Rebecca McNeil, sewage fee administrator Kathy Taschner and Department of Public Works employees will receive the raise. Employees on snow removal were not included.

According to vice president Brian Fashian, it has been three years since DPW employees received a raise.

1/20/18
State business roundtable

State Rep. Adam Ravenstahl hosted a House Democratic Policy Committee roundtable discussion Tuesday at the Bellevue Borough Building on small-business development and jobs, part of the House Democrats’ “Plan4PA.”

Ravenstahl was joined by Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, legislators from across the state and local stakeholders.

1/14/18
Arrests made in home invasion

On January 5, Bellevue Police were dispatched to Carson Street (off Spring Avenue) concerning a home invasion / burglary in progress. The homeowner, checking inside the residence encountered four individuals.

Learning the several individuals were inside the residence without permission, additional back-up was requested. Personnel from the Avalon Police, Allegheny County Sheriff, and Ross Township K-9 responded.

1/14/18
Bellevue tax cut questioned

A proposal by new Bellevue Council president Tom Fodi to re-open the borough’s 2018 budget and decrease the property tax millage rate received a lukewarm response from many of his colleagues on council during Tuesday’s pre-council meeting.

Fodi noted that the borough has had a year-end surplus of around $250,000 each year for the past few years. He suggested eliminating that by decreasing the property tax millage rate by a half mill, from 4,89 to 4.39.

1/14/18
Zoning appointment

It took some time and a little conflict, but Bellevue Council was able to fill a vacancy on the borough’s zoning hearing board at Tuesday evening’s pre-council meeting.

There were five candidates for the position. The first two nominated -- by council members Linda Woshner and Val Pennington -- were rejected in 5-4 votes that reflect the current political divide on council: Opposed were Tom Fodi, Grant Saylor, Glenn Pritchard, Anya Pikul and Jodi Hause. Voting in favor were Woshner, Pennington, Tom Hrynda and Anthony DiTullio.

1/7/18
Avalon reorganization

Avalon’s recently elected council members were sworn in to office Tuesday evening by new Mayor Tom Lloyd, at far right, who took his oath of office earlier. Pictured from left are William Pascale, Shaun McWilliams, J.P. McFeely, Ruth Lloyd, Lee Nelson and John Crawford. Lloyd also administered the oath of office to new tax collector Dennis Narcisi.

1/7/18
Bellevue reorganization

Bellevue’s new officials are: seated, from left, new council member Val Pennington, new council president Tom Fodi, new council member Anya Pikul; Standing, from left, new council members Anthony DiTullio and Jodi Hause, Mayor Emily Marburger, new council member Glenn Pritchard, and new vice president Grant Saylor.

1/7/18
Emsworth reorganization

Emsworth Council members Jolene Bennett, Dan Lenz and Kevin Yurkovich take the oath of office from District Judge Tara Smith as Mayor Sue Ann Lillie, at far left, and tax collector Laura West, at far right, look on. Both were sworn in separately, as was new council member Carolyn Galante, who was appointed to fill a two-year seat on council.

1/6/18
Center Avenue Bridge opens

Emsworth Council held a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Thursday, Dec. 21, in anticipation of the Center Avenue Bridge opening on Friday, Dec. 22, well ahead of the construction deadline of April 2018.

The bridge is owned by Port Authority of Allegheny County. It was closed in February 2017 to make major repairs to improve the safety of the bridge and to enable the removal of weight restrictions.

1/6/18
It’s a new day

Significant changes in composition, experience and leadership in the governments of two local boroughs are sure to bring a new day in this new year, although for better or worse remains to be seen.

Reorganization meetings were held in four North Boroughs municipalities Tuesday night.

12/23/17
Avalon Police News

On Dec. 13, a student at the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School on Ohio River Boulevard was struck by a vehicle. The student had a sprained ankle and some bruising. Police say that no charges were filed against the driver.

Mark Nicholas, of Pittsburgh, was arrested for public drunkenness on Elizabeth Avenue on Dec. 16.

Following an incident at an Ohio River Boulevard fast food restaurant, Geoffrey Burkhardt, of Bellevue, was charged with criminal mischief on Dec. 16.

12/23/17
Ben Avon approves budget

The 2018 Ben Avon budget as presented in November was brought before council on Tuesday, Dec. 12, with a few revisions.

According to council member R.J. White, a minor adjustment was made to increase some of the insurance figures, with an off-setting decrease in the road paving budget. As a result, the budget still stands at $1,233,900.

Council voted unanimously to pass the revised budget. Earl Bohn, Ken Opipery and Brad Cole were absent.

12/23/17
Design contract approved

Bellevue will not seek new proposals for the Lincoln Avenue streetscape design, and instead voted Tuesday to approve payment to the current firm, CEC, to submit a preliminary design at a cost of $28,375.

The much debated contract was approved without discussion at council’s meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 19. With council member Linda Woshner absent, the 5-3 vote featured negative votes from Henry Lenard, Lynn Tennant Heffley and Tom Hrynda.