September 13, 2024 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Celebrating the construction of a new studio for Tube City Online Radio on Tuesday were McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko, McKeesport City Council Member Amber Webb, State Rep. Matt Gergely, State Rep. Nick Pisciotanno, Tube City Community Media Executive Director Jason Togyer, and State Sen. Jim Brewster (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Local elected officials and leaders joined volunteers from Tube City Community Media Inc. today to celebrate the opening of a new digital media and podcasting studio inside the former Daily News Building.
The studio — which also includes an extensive music archive as well as a library of books about local journalism, radio and TV broadcasting, and media — is designed to spur interest in media careers for local high school and university students, says Jason Togyer, executive director of Tube City Community Media, which operates the Tube City Almanac website and Tube City Online Radio.
Funding for the studio equipment was provided by a grant from a Pennsylvania Department of Education job training program with assistance from state Sen. James R. Brewster and his staff. Labor to construct the new studio — in a room that was formerly a storage closet — was donated.
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September 13, 2024 |
By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Chris Cornelius practices his Rocky victory pose before their performance last Saturday at Penn-Trafford. (Photo courtesy Jillian Miller)
A new generation of fans is delivering up the beloved saga of the Rocky movies with their 2024 field show.
The East Allegheny High School Marching Band will perform this exciting soundtrack in front of a local crowd at their home competition this Saturday (Sept. 14) at Churchman Stadium in North Versailles.
EA Band Director Justin Rosco says, "This has been on my bucket list for a long time. I was a big Rocky fan when I was young. This has always been in the back of my mind."
There isn’t a lot in the vault to choose from in terms of arrangements or blueprints for a show of this type. Rosco says they borrowed some ideas from a Drum Corps International show from the early 2000s called “The Contender” but everything else has been a creative effort by staff to bring the story of a small-time boxer from Philly who gets knocked down in life, but with the help of his scrappy manager, always finds a way to get back up.
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September 13, 2024 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Walkers set off from Kane McKeesport during a Joan Burns Fun Walk 4 Kane several years ago. (Photo courtesy Janet Kulis)
Family members and friends of residents at McKeesport’s Kane Regional Center will hold their 13th annual walk on Saturday to benefit programs at the assisted-living facility.
Registration for the 13th Annual Joan Burns Kane Foundation Fun Walk 4 Kane begins at 8 a.m. Sept. 14 at Kane McKeesport, 100 Ninth Ave., a spokesperson said. The walk begins at 9:30 a.m. with a picnic immediately following the event.
The registration fee is $25 and the first 100 people receive a free T-shirt. Prizes will be distributed and the picnic will include grilled picnic food, snacks, dessert, music and karaoke. For more information, visit the website.
Participants are encouraged to ask friends, family, neighbors or co-workers to sponsor walkers so that Kane residents may benefit, the spokesperson added.
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September 13, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
(Photo courtesy Mon-Yough Trail Council)
The Mon-Yough Trail Council plans a day of music, games, food trucks and prizes along the Great Allegheny Passage when the 30th annual “Yough ‘n Roll” festival gets underway on Saturday.
“We have a bicycle ride in the morning, and then a party on the trail from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” said Ken Medved, event coordinator for the MYTC, which serves as a steward of 15 miles of the bicycle trail that connects Pittsburgh with Cumberland, Md.
The trail council has been one of the original, all-volunteer, nonprofit “rails-to-trails” organizations in Western Pennsylvania since 1991, he said.
The focus point for tomorrow’s events is the Boston access point to the trail in Elizabeth Twp., under the Boston Bridge off of Route 48. Although participants don’t have to ride their bicycle — or bring it to the event — many participants do, Medved said.
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September 12, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, North Versailles Twp. News
An 18-year-old from Wall Borough died Wednesday evening after a two-car collision on Route 30 in North Versailles Twp.
Emergency personnel said the wreck happened at around 5:30 p.m. near the Dunkin location and Dairy Queen at the corner of Lincoln Highway and Isaac Street.
Xander Wehrhan, also known as Xander Maxwell, was pronounced dead at the scene. Friends said he was a recent graduate of East Allegheny High School.
Allegheny County police said in a prepared release that a car driven by Maxwell was traveling east on Route 30 when it crossed the center line and collided head-on with a box truck.
The driver of the second vehicle, whose name was not release by police, remained on scene, police said. Allegheny County detectives are initiating the investigation.
Route 30 was closed for about two hours on Wednesday evening as emergency crews worked in the area.
Maxwell’s friends have created a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral expenses.
Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the county police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
September 12, 2024 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
McKeesport Sportsmen’s Association will host its annual holiday harvest vendor and craft show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 6 on the club’s grounds, 3300 Jacks Run Road (Route 48) in White Oak.
A spokeswoman said the event will include a “wide variety” of independent vendors, crafters and consultants, as well as the Hermes Food Truck featuring gyros and pitas, rice platters, French fries, chicken tenders, hot dogs, corn dogs and other refreshments; as well as the 412 Ice Cream truck.
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September 10, 2024 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Sept. 8-13 is Disability Voting Rights Week. The event is a nonpartisan movement hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities and REV UP. (Photo courtesy American Association of People with Disabilities)
Disability Voting Rights Week is an annual call to action that occurs during the second week of September. It focuses on advocacy, celebrating community and building empowerment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of July 2024 more than 2.9 million adults in Pennsylvania are living with a disability.
Mallory Hudson, disability justice program director with the Keystone Progress Education Fund, said Pennsylvanians are encouraged to take time to host voter registration and education events, organize candidate forums on disability issues, and engage with elected officials.
“We at Keystone Progress Education Fund are using this week to kick off our first of many voter-registration drives, at skilled nursing facilities and personal care homes across Allegheny County,” Hudson said. “More than 125,000 people live in all the skilled nursing facilities and personal care homes across Pennsylvania.”
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September 09, 2024 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Musicians and color guard are all decked out for competition season with a “Robin Hood” theme. (Photo courtesy of Serra Catholic Marching Band)
There’s a lot of excitement and enthusiasm in the air from Serra Catholic Marching Band members about the theme of their 2024 show – “Robin Hood.”
“When the band show was first announced to be ‘Robin Hood,’ I was beyond ecstatic,” said Emilia Capasso, a senior and one of three drum majors.
“I've always loved the story and all the different adaptations of it, so I was excited to see where our show would take it,” she said.
Junior Drum Major Lyndsay Chirdon not only was excited about the theme, but for her role as Maid Marian.
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September 09, 2024 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Residents filled the North Versailles Township meeting room before the township commissioners’ latest meeting to voice their opposition to a proposed sale of the township’s sanitary authority to a for-profit company. (T.J. Martin photo for Tube City Almanac)
After two votes before two standing-room-only gatherings of residents, a proposal which would have seen the operations of the North Versailles Twp. Sanitary Authority taken over by a for-profit company has been officially rejected.
In December, the sanitary authority board voted 5-0 to move forward with an asset purchase agreement with Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Inc. Aqua is owned by Essential Utilities Inc. of Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, the parent company of People’s Gas. It operates in nine states and has more than 3,100 employees.
Under the agreement, Aqua would pay between $25 million and $30 million for the township sewer system, including the pipes and three pumping stations. To take effect, any agreement would need the approval of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and it was hoped an agreement could be closed by the end of 2024.
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September 06, 2024 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News
CORRECTION, NOT PERFECTION: Two students, Deshea Davis and Marek Krol, were incorrectly identified. We apologize for the error.
McKeesport Area High School’s Tiger Band opens tournament competition for the season on Saturday at Penn-Trafford. This year’s show, titled “Recess,” includes use of a swing set as part of the show. (All photos: Bonnijean Adams for Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport Area High School Marching Band’s 2024 show is designed to bring smiles to faces of all ages during “Recess.”
“It was a fun and upbeat concept,” Band Director Drew DeCarlo said, “and most likely was the best time for students when they were in elementary school. We wanted a show this year that everyone would understand.”
He and his staff started their yearly brainstorming sessions in January, DeCarlo said.
“We talked about our strengths and weaknesses for this season, and had many ideas. We didn’t have a nailed-down concept until about March. We all settled on ‘Recess,’” he said.
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