In Thursday's Pittsburgh Trib, Moon residents talked about their fears of a big box developer moving into the decades old West Hills Shopping Center, a strip mall in the center of the township that's been an eye sore for years but holds memories of days gone by.

I'm too young to remember the "hey" days of the shopping center at the intersection of Beaver Grade and Brodhead roads and University Boulevard when a bowling alley, Kresge's and the Orbit Lounge gave locals a place to shop and unwind.

But I do have memories of the shopping center as it served as the first place I ever learned to roller skate. Pleasant View Elementary School regularly held skate times for its students. I remember the boys-only, girls-only and the Hokey Pokey skates, among others.

As we were untying our skates and slipping our shoes back on, we were sometimes able to watch the remote-controlled car operators set up their course and prepare to race around the wooden surface.

The roller rink eventually closed and became a banquet hall that was home to plenty of graduation parties and wedding receptions for locals.

And who can forget the Pizza Joe's and Angelia's Pizza both having called the shopping center home? We used to take our dogs for grooming at West Hills Pet Center that once called the shopping center home before moving to North Fayette.

For a time, Moon's fire department had a bingo hall in the center and, at least each time I was there, very few seats remained.

Like many local Baby Boomers, my mother remembers the days of Kresge's and the Orbit Lounge. She also recalls carnivals in the parking lot of the center.

Whatever the shopping center becomes, those memories will always be part of Moon Township and those who made them happen.