January

• Despite concerns of restaurant owners, Allegheny County Council votes 10-4 in December 2007 to implement an additional 10 percent tax on all poured drinks containing alcohol. The tax took effect January 2008. In October 2008, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato announced his 2009 proposed budget will include a reduction in the drink tax from 10 percent to 7 percent effective Jan. 1, 2009

• Upper St. Clair Township officials approve contracts for architectural design on a public works storage building near the community recreation center. The 14,000-square-foot building added $1.6 million to township costs incurred in this area of Boyce-Mayview Park.

n Upper St. Clair School Directors voting 5-3 appoint resident and attorney Harry Kunselman to the vacancy created by David Bluey's resignation. He is the first Democrat appointed to the school board. A second Democrat, Frank Kerber, was named in September. Both terms end December 2009.

• Upper St. Clair Township and workers represented by AFL-CIO Teamsters Local 205 reached agreement with members of its unionized public works department. Township attorney Charles McCullough said the five-year agreement calls for employees to pay a portion of their health care benefits in the fourth and fifth year of the agreement.

• South Fayette School Board directs the administration to add back the middle school sports program into the 2008-2009 preliminary budget and raise millage more than the 1.18 mills allowable through Act 1 to pay for the program.

The board in May approves a tentative 2008-09 budget that increases taxes by 0.78 mills; however, by a vote of 6-2 the board approved its 2008-09 budget June 24, which includes an increase in millage of .90 mills.

February

• Upper St. Clair Commissioners approve the sale of $32.3 million in bonds to finance the new community recreation and outdoor aquatic center in Boyce-Mayview Park.

• Peters Township Council Feb. 11 approves a traffic management plan for a commercial development which will result in adding a traffic light on Route 19. Council agreed to contribute $800,000 toward a new intersection at Route 19 and Valley Brook Road. The agreement stipulates that PennDOT will "make every effort to" award the bid for the project at the beginning of 2009 with construction to begin spring 2009.

• Upper St. Clair School Board asked Ohio educational planner DeJong Inc. to return and work on specifications for the proposed middle school renovation project. Directors approved a measure to permit payment for planning, design and possibly some construction at Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools before bonds are sold to finance the project.

Complete renovation of Upper St. Clair's Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools will take three years and cost at least $62 million. Options including artificial turf at both schools and a new theater for Boyce would boost costs to over $65 million. In December the board agrees to continue moving forward on the project.

• Mt. Lebanon School Board approves $1.1 million in building improvement projects throughout the district schools. The project plan for 2008-09 came in over $10 million, but more than half was for repairs or improvements at the high school.

About 300 Mt. Lebanon residents, teachers, administrators and PTA members attend a high school renovation forum July 22. The architects reveal three options with construction estimates between $80 million and $132 million. On Sept. 8 the board plans to discuss options for the high school renovation in anticipation of action on a project alternative Sept. 15. However, school director Dan Remely suggests another option. The district pursues Remely's plan, but stonewalls board member James Fraasch's plan to pay for stop-gap repairs at the school and save money over the next decade to construct a new building.

• A 14-year-old male student at Upper St. Clair High School was charged Feb. 7 by Upper St. Clair Township police with five counts of rape involving two girls.

On Feb. 12, additional charges involving two more girls were filed by the police. Those charges include a single charge of rape, terroristic threats, aggravated assault and indecent assault on one victim and one count of aggravated indecent assault, two counts of simple assault and three counts of terroristic threats on a second. Unknown charges were filed allegedly involving two additional girls in early March.

By late June, the first lawsuit over the alleged string of sexual assaults and rapes at Upper St. Clair High School is filed in federal court against several school administrators and teachers. The male accused by the girls is no longer in the district and in early October pleads guilty to some of the charges. Multiple charges involving several girls at the high school were combined in the plea before Allegheny County Juvenile Court Oct. 6, said the sources. The male who was 14 when the crimes were committed, reportedly does not plead guilty to rape. The juvenile court has jurisdiction until he is age 21, regardless of the seriousness of the charge or sentence against him according to juvenile laws.

March

• Bethel Park School District announces plans to build a new high school. Cost of new construction is about $81,118,493 based on 287,000 square feet at $204 per square foot and includes architect and engineering fees of $3,518,517. The maximum state reimbursable costs is $14,868,800.

The board votes 7-2 to construct a new high school on the current practice field site on Church Road. However, Bethel Park Zoning Hearing Board voted 3-1 on May 5 to reject the district's request for a zoning use variance to build a new high school along Bethel Church Road. By December, the district plans to return to court to fight the zoning issues.

• Scott Township's new police chief, James P. Secreet, is sworn in by Scott Township Commissioners Feb. 26. He replaces former Chief Stanley Butkus, who retired.

• A $5 million investment by Pennsylvania will help transform a vacant industrial property in South Fayette into a mixed-use retail, commercial and residential development that will create thousands of new jobs. The $160 million mixed use brownfield redevelopment project will be known as Newbury Market off the Interstate-79 and Route 50 interchange.

April

• Democratic Party presidential hopeful Barack Obama kicks off his bus tour of Pennsylvania after receiving an endorsement from Bob Casey, the state's U.S. Congressman, at a rally at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland. Obama's rival for the nomination, Hillary Clinton, a U.S. Senator from New York, visits Pittsburgh April 2. Clinton wins the Pennsylvania primary April 22 but loses the Democratic nomination. Just prior to the Nov. 4 election, she visits Obama campaign workers in Mt. Lebanon. Obama is the first African-American elected to be President of the United States

•  The merger of South Park's Nativity and Bethel Park's St. Germaine parish schools formed the new school in Bethel, named St. Katharine Drexel Elementary School, which opens in late August for the 2008 - 2009 school year, for students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

• Canonsburg Lake Restoration and Improvement Committee holds tent sales to fuel a renewed awareness of the lake's problems. Joan Jessen, a committee member, said the Army Corps of Engineers is considering options for Canonsburg Lake's restoration, but feels that the most feasible is dredging the lake. Oct. 26 is set as the date of the final public meeting on plans to restore Canonsburg Lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has nearly completed its feasibility study and presents its proposals to the public.

• Mt. Lebanon School Board approves a preliminary budget with a .59 mill tax increase, Board president Mark Hart says April 14 the district will receive about $1.1 million in new revenue from two outstanding tax appeals and another $1 million-plus will be carried from this year's budget. On May 19, however, board members vote to increase the millage rate to 23.81, reflecting a .25-mill tax increase.

• The Department of Defense Commissary Operating Board (COD) approves planning for a permanent commissary near the 911th Airlift Wing and U.S. Army 316th Sustainment Command April 28. The new PX will be more accessible from Route 60 and Interstate 79 and constructed on property owned by the Allegheny County Airport Authority. The existing PX, the Charles E. Kelly Support Facility, will remain open though 2011.

• By a 5-2 vote, Upper St. Clair Commissioners approve a contract with an Ohio-based firm to assist township volunteers in raising $2 million toward costs for the community recreation and outdoor aquatic center on Mayview Road. The contract is approved with Goettler Associates of Columbus April 30 but by October, officials suspend a $2 million fund-raising drive for the community recreation and outdoor aquatic center

The $2 million shortfall won't hurt the project, said commission president Ched Mertz, adding the township's finance officer said they could get through it. When the $27.5 million project was approved in November 2007, officials said funding calculations were based on $2 million coming off the top due to fund raising and/or selling of naming rights for the center. Also, $2.8 million worth for site work was borrowed in March 2007 via a separate $10 million bank qualified rate bond.

• Dr. Timm Mackley vacates his post as Peters Township School District Superintendent in April in the middle of his four-year contract. The board agrees to pay him $170,000, which includes his full salary until the end of July and reimbursement for up to $5,000 in legal fees. It also allows him to expunge any negative references from his personnel file. The board hires assistant superintendent Nina Zetty Aug. 4 in an 8-0 vote to replace Mackley.

May

• Tracing its origins to the family which opened the first U. S. movie house in 1905, Mt. Lebanon's Denis Theater gets a second chance by a non-profit foundation that aims to restore and reopen the facility as an independent film house. Facing destruction, Mt. Lebanon's newly elected commissioner Raja steps in and snaps up the old-time movie house for $650,000. Mt. Lebanon resident Anne Kemerer forms a non-profit organization to raise $3 million needed to restore the Denis.

• Upper St. Clair School Board hires Matthews Bus Co. to transport 264 private and parochial students to various schools in the region. School finance director Frosina Cordisco said the district will save $40,000 by going with Matthews instead of using district buses and drivers.

• Chartiers-Houston School District officials mull over a $15 million high school renovation project, but several residents object to an option that calls for construction of a new athletic facility. The school board reconvenes its meeting May 20 to discuss renovation options with architect Andreas Dometakis of HHSDR Architects in Pittsburgh.

• Elementary teachers represented by the Federation of Pittsburgh Diocesan Teachers (FPDT) in the Catholic Schools of the diocese approve a new six-year contract, effective Sept.1 through Aug. 31, 2014. The contract, approved by pastors and school principals, covers 500 federation members. Salary increases average 3.2 percent annually over the life of the contract. Starting salary for new teachers in 2008- 2009 will be $27,100.

• Bethel Park School Director Charles Koch resigns May 29. He attributes his decision to resign on fiscal disagreement with the board. Bethel Park School Board appoints Russ Spicuzza to fill Koch's unexpired term. Spicuzza, 54, previously served on the district's curriculum and budget committees plus tax study board.

June

• Bethel Park School Board approves a $67,762,837 budget for the 2008-2009 school year. The budget requires a .43 mill increase raising millage from 22.75 to 23.18. The board approves the sale of a $9.4 million bond issue. The district will pay interest rates ranging from 2.625 to 4.05 for the 15-year bonds. The money will pay for recent facility renovations at the stadium and elementary schools.

• With average prices topping $4 per gallon and no end in sight, fears of world-wide economic collapse led to Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi calling for a meeting among leadership of OPEC oil-producing countries to talk about remedies to the problem.

• On June 9, President George W. Bush calls for the U.S. to begin drilling at home to create an alternative to Saudi oil. About 80 percent of the oil comes from outside the U.S., Congressman Tim Murphy (R.Upper St. Clair) said at a hastily called press event. Murphy said the U.S. needs to "begin drilling immediately in the near term," in addition to vigorously pursuing research and development into alternative fuels, more fuel-efficient automobiles and energy conservation here at home.

• Peters Township School Board adopts the 2008 - 09 general fund budget of $45,376,556. Taxes will hold steady at 89.5 mills. For the third consecutive year, there will not be a tax increase for property owners. The final budget is $218,717 less than the tentative and includes a transfer of $300,000 to the capital reserve fund.

July

• Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development awards $8.2 million for 26 projects in Washington County, the county's share of slots revenues from The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in North Strabane. The department awards the funds for projects submitted for evaluation by Washington County Commissioners, including the three largest recommended allocations: $1.2 million each for construction and expansion of Alta Vista and Starpointe business parks and $1.3 million for Southpointe II infrastructure improvements.

• While most South Hills residents enjoy the Independence Day holiday, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) signs into law a $28.2 billion state spending plan that holds the line on taxes. Due to reallocated funding, budget surplus, higher revenues and some spending cuts, the new budget is $1.1 billion higher than last year's without any tax hikes. By year's end, the deficit is $600 million.

• More than 80 people crowd into a conference room at Mayview State Hospital July 16 to show support for having the money made from the sale of Mayview continue to serve people with mental illness. Sen. John Pippy (R-Moon) co-chair of the Mayview State Hospital Land Reuse Task Force with Rep. Nick Kotik (D-Robinson) assure the attendees that all interested parties would be heard so the best future use of the property becomes a positive plan for all concerned.

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare expects to close Mayview by the end of 2008. The 335-acres of land and buildings are estimated to be worth $2 million.

• A court settlement between a developer and Mt. Lebanon's zoning board paves the way for construction of a hotel in the 600 block of Washington Road. The resolution gives the developer variances he sought. The developer wants exemptions from the maximum building and maximum lot coverage outlined in the municipal zoning code. The zoning hearing board denied those exemptions on April 10 but didn't contest the subsequent appeal to Common Pleas Court.

August

• The Boscov's store in South Hills Village closes as part of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection the company filed Aug. 4. The department store chain based in Reading closes the Bethel Park location and nine others. The company blamed the downturn in the overall economy.

• Upper St. Clair Commissioners approve a five-year, $71 million capital improvement program which features sanitary sewer projects as the largest projected expense at $33.3 million. The capital improvement program serves as a guide for officials. Township finance director August Stache said $50 million worth of projects in the capital plan aren't funded.

• Bethel Park Council Aug. 11 approves construction plans for a $14 million YMCA at Limestone and McMurray roads. The facility to sit on 10.5 acres near the Montour Trail, may open in 2010. It will replace the existing facility three miles away on McMurray Road in Upper St. Clair.

• Peters Township Council considers adopting permanent traffic impact fees on new development at its Aug. 11 meeting. Council adopts a Transportation Capital Improvement Program July 28. The 20-year plan covers 28 roadway projects with costs of $71,693,000.

• After 28 years in Mt. Lebanon, Chief of Police Tom Ogden Jr. turns in his badge, accepting a job at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) as director of university security. Commissioners name Coleman McDonough to replace Ogden Dec. 15.

• Mt. Lebanon officials wonder how to pay for capital projects, nearly $20 million worth, outlined for 2009 as part of the proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

Commissioners hope to avoid a tax increase. But revenues in the mature community are not growing by more than a percentage point or two. The municipality at one time had upper limits on borrowing. Now with options for bank qualified bonds and a higher borrowing base, the municipality can make several bond sales each year with each approaching $10 million. The municipality has about $26 million in outstanding debt or about $800 per capita.

• Tanger Outlet Center opened in South Strabane Aug. 29. The $105 million center houses 75 brand name and designer stores in colonial-style carriage house storefronts. The company projects the outlet will draw 4.5 million people a year.

September

• Environmental clearance is issued for the 13.3-mile project that would extend the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's Southern Beltway system south and east from the Turnpike 576 terminus at U.S. Route 22 in Robinson Township to a new interchange with Interstate 79 at the Allegheny-Washington County line near the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) signs the Record of Decision for the estimated $660 million project Sept. 3.

• Pennsylvania's new Clean Indoor Air law takes effect Sept. 11. The law prohibits smoking in a public place or a workplace but allows for some exceptions, including a private residence (except those licensed as a child-care facility), a private social function where the site involved is under the control of the sponsor (except where the site is owned, leased or operated by a state or local government agency) and a wholesale or retail tobacco shop.

• Upper St. Clair School Board names former U.S. state department official Frank Kerber to the unexpired term of Dr. Daniel Iracki, who resigns Aug. 11. Kerber, who retired in 2006, briefed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and former Attorneys Generals John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales on counterterrorism.

• Keystone Oaks School Board unanimously approves Kimball Architecture to conduct a building utilization study to look into usage of the district's five schools.

The firm is to examin he age and condition of each building, mechanical infrastructure and energy efficiency.

• Despite a troubling national economy that has delayed the construction and expansion of several casinos across the country, officials of The Meadows Racetrack & Casino said Sept. 25 that construction of a $175 million permanent casino is on schedule to open in spring 2009. The Meadows is owned by Las Vegas-based Cannery Casino Resorts, which recently opened the Eastside Cannery Casino in Las Vegas.

• Bethel Park School Board is under new leadership. Citing commitments at home and at her job, board president Susan Gout resigns as president. By a vote of 8 to 1, the board elects vice president Diane Cook to serve as president. The board votes 7 to 1 to appoint Richard Rose vice president.

• Horizon Properties breaks ground Sept. 24 for a 113-room Homewood Suites hotel at Southpointe II that principals said will be an anchor for a town center. Rod Piatt, president of Horizon, the lead developer for Southpointe II, said the extended-stay hotel, which is part of the Hilton Hotel chain, will open in July 2009. 

• Castle Shannon Council awards a $756,930 contract Sept. 22 for its next phase of sewer repairs related to the Allegheny County Administrative Consent Order (ACO). The ACO requires that all 83 municipalities within Allegheny County investigate and repair any faulty sewer lines by 2010.

• The region joins Pittsburgh to culminate its 250th anniversary celebrates with events throughout the year. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato commemorates the 220th anniversary of the creation of Allegheny County on at the Courthouse Courtyard. Allegheny County was formed Sept. 24, 1788 from parts of Washington and Westmoreland counties after settlers living around Pittsburgh pressured the commonwealth government to create a new county.

October

• A South Fayette teen is charged with trying to kill his family by placing homemade bombs in their beds Oct 3.

Police reported six bottles containing chlorine were built as compression bombs. At least one bottle had been placed near the heads of five family members police said.

Later, two others are arrested made including an Upper St. Clair teen and a South Park man.

• It has taken five years of planning, $1.5 million from state and federal sources, in-kind donations worth tens of thousands of dollars and 2,500 volunteer hours to complete the largest gap in the Montour Trail. The result--a two-mile section of the trail in western Peters Township--opened Oct. 18. The new trail section extends west from Route 19 near the Arrowhead Trail, through Greer Tunnel and over Chartiers Creek to connect with previously completed trail in Cecil Township.

• Upper St. Clair citizens who filed suit over a 350-foot cellular communications tower appeal a 2007 county court ruling to state court, saying the township and Crown conspired to push the deal through before homeowners could react and file suit. Legal wrangling over the tower in Boyce-Mayview Park dates to 1996.

• Allegheny County Medical Examiner Dr. Karl Williams determines Christian Lanese, 9, died Oct. 18 due to a gunshot wound to the head. As of Oct. 21, the coroner has not ruled on whether the shooting was accidental. In early December, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. said the investigation was ongoing.

Upper St. Clair school officials and community react quickly to the fatal shooting of third grader Christian Lanese, possibly by his twin brother in their Eton Road home. Christian's funeral is Oct. 25 at St. Louise de Marillac Church in Upper St. Clair.

• Bethel Park Council considers three options for the proposed $30 million 2009 budget, including raising the real estate property tax from 1.93 to 2.18 mills and earned income tax from 0.8 to 0.9, raising only the property tax to 2.46 mills or raising only the earned income tax to 1.0 percent. Finance director Mark Romito explains Oct. 27 that the options include raising the annual emergency services tax from $10 to $52.

n South Fayette School Board continues to study options to handle growing enrollment of elementary students. No decision was made Oct. 27 to finance new construction in 2009. Options include: proceed with planning to borrow for construction in March 2010; delay construction and utilize trailers, lease space, purchase metal buildings, utilize former Army barracks, renovate former administration building and consider other options not yet identified.

November

• Democrat Barack Obama is elected President of the United States Nov. 5. Other winners include U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Upper St. Clair), PA Sen. John Pippy (R-Moon) and PA Rep. Matt Smith (D-Mt. Lebanon). Obama appoints formal rival Hillary Clinton secretary of state. He will be sworn in Jan. 20, 2009

•  Mt. Lebanon gives developers its third 180-day extension for a proposal to construct a hotel on Washington Road. Officials say the delays were requested due to slowing of the economy. Another plan for condominiums at Washington and Bower Hill roads also stalls through 2008. Pre-sales for the units are poor.

• No one is happy as budgets are approved for 2008. Bethel Park residents aren't happy with multiple tax increases, while Mt. Lebanon residents aren't happy with the budget cuts recommended to get to a zero-tax increase budget. In the end, Bethel Park imposes increases in the millage rate, earned income tax and emergency services tax. Mt. Lebanon residents fare better: commissioners find a way to restore all the civic programs recommended for cuts and pass a budget with a slight tax cut.

• Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll dies Nov. 12 after a four-month battle with cancer. The funeral for the McKees Rocks native is held at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oakland.

n Scott Township's treasurer Don Diebold resigns. After accepting Diebold's resignation, commissioners appointed Lisa M. Riley as treasurer to serve the remaining term, which expires Dec. 31, 2009. Diebold had been involved with the township for over 20 years, including serving as township commissioner. Diebold dies Dec. 1.

December

• Due to a rash of thefts in the South Hills, police say residents should remember to lock their doors and remove valuables from their cars. Mt. Lebanon Deputy Chief of Police Ken Truver says multiple incidents in Mt. Lebanon occur because valuables are left in unlocked cars. In one case, the owner left the doors open with the keys inside. Thieves stole the car.

• Peters Township, Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair high schools are given "silver" status by U.S. News & World Report in its America's Best High Schools rankings. The three were among 20 in the state to earn a silver rating. The only school in the state to garner a "gold" rating was the Philadelphia school system.

• Port Authority directors approve a contract with unionized bus and trolley drivers which gives a total 11 percent pay increase over four years. The union's 2,300 bus and rail operators approved the agreement Dec. 7. The union agrees to higher health care withholding, increases in their retirement withholding and possible delay of retirement until age 60, which would help lower retiree health care costs.

• Taxpayers in Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon begin asking school boards to curb building plans given uncertainty in the national economy. Neither district moves to delay construction plans, which could total a quarter-billion for three aging buildings: Mt. Lebanon's high school and two middle schools in Upper St. Clair.