By NANCY WHYTE

Extra chairs needed to be added to the standard audience area of the Emsworth Borough Council room to seat all the Emsworth residents who attended the Nov. 14 council meeting to complain about North Avenue.

North Avenue has been closed to vehicular traffic for weeks due to problems that arose during the road rehabilitation project that was supposed to have been finished in September. With deep ditches gouged on each side and with no gravel covering the slippery mostly-clay and dirt bottom, the road is essentially closed to foot traffic, as well.

Although the first quarter of the 2018-19 school year has just been completed, the Avonworth School Board has passed the district calendar for the next school year.

At Monday night’s regular meeting, the board unanimously passed the 2019-20 school calendar. The first day of school for students in grades 1 through 12 will be Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 and the last day and graduation are scheduled for Friday, June 5.

On a second pass-through of the Ben Avon budget, council member Ken Opipery said he was able to make some adjustments and bring it into balance without raising taxes. He said he noticed some extra money that was no longer needed for salaries, and even though he bolstered the cost for some of the utilities, he was able to set it at $1,221,168 -- more than $12,000 lower than last year's.

Bellevue Council plans to amend the borough's traffic ordinance to allow for permit parking on one side of North Fremont Avenue.

Homeowners who live in the four houses closest to the Lincoln Avenue business district have found it increasingly difficult to park anywhere near their homes due to drivers using the available spots to access businesses. They asked council to designate eight spots for residential permit parking.

Council voted unanimously at Tuesday's pre-council meeting to advertise an ordinance that will designate the spaces for permit parking only.

Bellevue Police Chief Matt Sentner is asking the borough council to fund changes in the entrance to the department that will keep visitors even further away from personnel and access to the rest of the borough hall.

Sentner told council during Tuesday's meeting that an employee had been attacked by a visitor who was able to move past the vestibule where the elevator is located, into an area that now features personnel behind glass and a window/door, as well as stairs to the administrative offices on the second floor.

Harold Gearhart, 32, of Avalon, was arrested for a state parole violation warrant following a traffic stop on Oct. 31.

Robert Brown, 70, of Avalon, was charged on Nov. 1 with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

On Nov. 1, a 63-year-old Avalon resident reported identity theft.

A resident of Duff Road in Ohio Township reported fraud on Nov. 1.

A resident of Crawford Road in Ohio Township reported a civil dispute on Nov. 1.

On Nov. 5, a resident of Rostrevor Place in Ben Avon reported a disturbance.

On Nov. 5, a business on Mt. Nebo Pointe Drive in Ohio Township reported a disturbance.

A resident of Heritage Drive in Ohio Township reported a theft on Nov. 6.

On Nov. 6, a resident of Flaccus Road in Ben Avon reported a threat.

On Oct. 16, an Avalon resident reported a lost passport.

On Oct. 18. Avalon Police were called to Cleveland Avenue concerning a vehicle into a retaining wall. Police say no one was injured.

A hit-and-run occurred at the intersection of Florence Avenue and Locust Street on Oct. 18.

A Harrison Avenue resident reported a stolen bicycle on Oct. 21.

On Oct. 21, a taxi cab driver reported that a passenger he had transported did not pay his fare.

In hopes of creating a safety net for Pennsylvania residents affected by and prone to landslides, state Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik, who represents part of the North Boroughs, currently has a bill in the House of Representatives geared toward creating a Landslide Insurance and Assistance Program.

Kulik’s measure is a companion bill to S.B. 1131, which was introduced by state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny.

Five people charged with the July 7 racially-motivated attack on a black man in Avalon were ordered held for court following a preliminary hearing Oct. 19 before District Judge Tara Smith.

Although defense attorneys for the five defendants argued that charges of ethnic intimidation should be dismissed, Smith ruled that assistant district attorney John Fodi had presented sufficient evidence to send the defendants to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas for further legal proceedings.

Bellevue Police recently reported that the susects involved in the Shiloh Avenue drive-by shooting on Feb. 22, 2018 were convicted for their involvement in the incident.

Suede Goodwin and Brandon Humphrey both pled guilty to aggravated assault, conspiracy, and firearms charges. Goodwin was immediately sentenced to two to four years in prison and three years probation. Humphrey deferred sentencing and will be sentenced in January.

Avalon Council voted unanimously at its regular meeting Tuesday to approve resolution authorizing the borough to apply for a number of Community Development Block Grants for a variety of projects around the borough.

Avalon hopes to continue its program of eliminating condemned and abandoned properties. The borough is seeking grants for the demolition of 23, 211 and 319 Marie Ave., and 529 Taylor Ave.

Additional applications ask for funds to pave the 300 blocks of Alley B and Alley C, and to continue the borough’s ADA sidewalk ramp program.