Above: McKeesport Area High School principal Tom Bauman; band director Drew DeCarlo; orchestra director Sarah Persin; and Mark Despotakis, director of market development for Progressive Music. The National Association of Music Merchants last week recognized McKeesport Area School District as one of the best communities in the country for music education; Despotakis helped to present the award. (Photo courtesy Progressive Music)
McKeesport-based Progressive Music Company has been named one of the Top 100 musical instrument dealers in the world by the National Association of Music Merchants, a spokesman said.
NAMM, the worldwide association of stores that sell music and related products, will formally present the award to Progressive Music on July 14 at the Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, Tenn.
It's the fifth time that Progressive Music, which recently celebrated its 70th anniversary, has been named to the Top 100 list. The company is located on Fifth Avenue, Downtown.
The company is "honored" to make the list during its anniversary year, said Mark Despotakis, director of market development for Progressive.
Members of the knitting club at the Carnegie Library of McKeesport "bombed" the facility on Saturday morning with a massive, colorful project. (No one was injured, though reports indicate a few stitches were dropped.)
The group, called the "Mad Hatters," decorated one of the trees on the library grounds with its knitting.
The Mad Hatters are one of hundreds of groups from around the world that will be participating in "World Wide Knit in Public Day" on June 10. World Wide Knit in Public Day began in 2005 and the McKeesport group participated for the first time in 2016.
The event at Carnegie Library will begin at 10 a.m. and is open to knitters of any skill level. For more information, visit the website or call Mary Rose Bendel at the library at (412) 672-0625.
A monument honoring 23 McKeesport residents killed while serving in the military during the Vietnam War will be unveiled at 12 noon Saturday.
The ceremony in the auditorium of McKeesport Senior High School, 1960 Eden Park Blvd., is open to the public and also will be streamed live on the district's website at www.mckasd.net, said spokeswoman Kristen James.
Volunteers, including former White Oak police Chief Joe Hoffman, raised more than $6,400 to complete the monument to the "McKeesport 23." Families of several of the fallen service members are expected to attend and tell their stories, James said.
A portion of Bunola River Road in Forward Twp. has been closed due to a landslide, said a district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
The state-owned road is closed between Elkhorn Road and River Hill Road and traffic is being detoured as geotechnical engineers evaluate the roadway.
The posted detour includes River Hill Road and Raccoon Run Road. The roadway will remain closed until further notice as a precaution, the PennDOT spokesman said. Approximately 856 vehicles use the roadway on a daily basis.
(Above: Members of the McKeesport Lions Club and letter carriers help collect food donations during the 2016 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Photo courtesy Lions Clubs International.)
For the past few days, McKeesport-area postal workers have been delivering paper bags for this weekend's food drive.
Retired letter carrier Chuck Jarrell hopes Mon-Yough residents respond this Saturday (May 13) like they did last year, when people served by the McKeesport post office donated enough canned, dry and non-perishable foods --- 24,421 pounds worth --- to fill three trucks.
"We had fantastic support last year," says Jarrell, who retired five years ago after more than 35 years of service with the United States Postal Service. "People in McKeesport are very generous."
"But the need is more than ever," he says. "There are so many people who need this help through no fault of their own --- whether they've been laid off, or they're working a job that's minimum wage."
LISTEN: What does "fair housing" mean? How does it affect tenants? How does it affect landlords? What sorts of discrimination are forbidden under fair housing laws? How can someone protect themselves? Jim Haughey and Angelia Christina of McKeesport Housing Corp. explain. (Duration: 29:51 minutes)
In celebration of Fair Housing Month, the City of McKeesport hosted its second annual Fair Housing Workshop on April 26 at the Palisades. This year’s event welcomed representatives of the Fair Housing Law Center to define the Fair Housing Act, describe who it protects, and share guidelines on how landlords can successfully abide by the law.
The McKeesport Community Development Department and the Fair Housing Law Center distributed informational pamphlets and quick-reference guides on individuals’ rights to fair housing, additional resources for those with disabilities, and tips to recognize discrimination.
“In the City of McKeesport, where more than 50 percent of our housing stock is made up of rental properties, it’s is important that our tenants understand their rights and that our landlords understand their responsibilities,” said A.J. Tedesco, McKeesport’s community development director.
“We want to be sure that everyone in McKeesport is linked to the appropriate resources associated with fair housing concerns," he said.
Partial lane restrictions are likely for the remainder of the week on the ramp that takes motorists from the Duquesne-McKeesport Bridge to southbound Route 837, said a district official for the state Department of Transportation.
In addition, the shoulder of the ramp also will be closed for motorists who exit the bridge and head to Dravosburg and Clairton, the PennDOT spokesman said.
Weather permitting, restrictions will be in place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today (May 3) through Friday. All ramps and the bridge will remain open. Crews from Pittsburgh Rigging Company and AECOM are doing work on the bridge's concrete piers, PennDOT said.
McKeesport Art Group's 59th annual Spring Art Show will be held from May 19 to 21 at Jacob Woll Pavilion, Renziehausen Park.
Group president Jan Catalogna said artists of all types and skill levels --- including pen and ink artists, painters, watercolorists, sculptors and photographers --- are encouraged to participate. The show also has a special category for student artists.
To enter, visit the McKeesport Art Group website and download the entry form, or call (412) 469-2710, Catalogna said.
In addition, this year's show will include an instructional painting class at 1 p.m. May 20. No previous art classes or training are necessary, she said, and participants of all skill levels are invited.
After little more than a year, Andrew Egan has resigned as chancellor and chief academic officer at Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus in McKeesport.
Penn State on Thursday announced Egan's resignation and the appointment of Jacqueline Edmondson, Penn State associate vice president and associate dean for undergraduate education, as the new chancellor and chief academic officer for the 600 student undergraduate campus.
Edmondson has been appointed for a three-year term and will lead a national search for her own permanent replacement, the university said in a statement.
“Jackie brings tremendous knowledge of the university to this position, along with her experience as an accomplished leader in program and curriculum development, and general education," said Madlyn Hanes, Penn State vice president for commonwealth campuses and executive chancellor.
"She will provide excellent guidance and directions, with deep understanding of enrollment trends, the teaching-learning enterprise, and faculty development across the University,” Hanes said. “Jackie also appreciates the importance of our campuses to their respective communities, and the good that comes from collaborative ventures.”
