BUDGET SCHEDULE The 2013 Manager’s Recommended Budget, submitted on November 1 to the Mt. Lebanon Commission, is now online at www.mtlebanon.org. It also is available for viewing at the library, 16 Castle Shannon Boulevard, and at the customer service desk in the municipal building, 710 Washington Road. Budget review sessions are scheduled for Monday, November 5, Thursday, November 8 and Wednesday, November 14, all at 6 p.m. There will be two public hearings on the budget, at the regular commission meetings at 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 13, and Monday, December 11. The commission will vote on adopting the 2013 budget at the Tuesday, December 11, public meeting. If you cannot attend the hearings but would still like to weigh in, you can find contact information for your commissioner at www.mtlebanon.org.

WATER AND SEWAGE BILL REMINDER For more than a decade, Mt. Lebanon residents have been paying for their water and sanitary sewer usage together in one bill sent from Pennsylvania American Water Company. But starting this fall, the water company has discontinued billing for sewage. The sewage portion of your water bill has been separated out and is being collected by Jordan Tax Service. Sewage use rates are unchanged. You will just be getting two smaller bills—for water and sewage—that total the same amount as your previous water bill. If you would like to pay your bill in person, you may bring your payment in the Jordan Tax Service envelope to the customer service center in the municipal building during normal business hours. Do not confuse your monthly sewage bill with the storm water bill sent quarterly from Jordan. That fee also will be unchanged.

30 YEARS OF HOMEMADE FOOD Carolyn Christian, better known as CC, will celebrate her 30th anniversary as owner of CC’s Homemade Food at 698 Washington Road. Originally, the diner opened as a hot dog and burger shop, where Christian worked to learn the business. She took over sole ownership on December 1, 1982.

“After 30 years, my customers have become more like family,” she says. “I have a scrapbook filled with notes, letters and thanks, and I love to look through it.”

During the anniversary month of December, CC’s customers can get 10 percent off their bill. CC’s is open Tuesday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

EMPIRE ROCKS Congratulations to owner Joe Ravita and the staff of Empire Music, 719 Washington Road, on the 10th anniversary of the store, which carries a wide variety of guitars and other instruments from brands like Taylor, Eastman, Martin and ESP. The store has a staff of 17 instructors who teach everything from guitar to bass to drums. Empire sponsors open mic nights as well as performances for kids who take lessons there during the well-known “Rock U.” www.empiremusiconline.com.

NEW ON WASHINGTON ROAD Ashland Avenue resident Jamie Hankins, managing director of Criterion Valuation Group, a business evaluation firm, moved his company from Oxford Center, Downtown, to the Executive Building, 615 Washington Road. Criterion Valuation does business appraisals, including intellectual property evaluations, patents, trademarks, software and copyrights. Hankins is a founding member of the Mt. Lebanon Community Endowment, a member of the Mt. Lebanon Soccer Association board of directors and president of the Mt. Lebanon Soccer Foundation.

ICE CREAM CREAM AND CARING Betsy’s Ice Cream, 664 Washington Road, is rewarding customers who give to others this holiday season. Betsy’s, which often supports local charities, is sponsoring an “Angel Tree” for the Salvation Army’s “Treasures for Children” program. The tree, which will go up in the store on Lebo Light Night, November 15, will have tags on it representing a needy child. Simply take a tag, purchase a gift and bring it (new and unwrapped) to the store by December 10. The suggested value of each gift is $15 to $25, but if you spend at least $20, Betsy’s will give you a $5 gift card to the store.

Details at: www.betsysicecream.com or Salvation Army’s Treasures: tinyurl.com/bspgymu.