August 17, 2020 |
By Nick Zurawsky | Posted in: Duquesne News
Fourteen vacant properties in Duquesne are scheduled for demolition next year with the help of an Allegheny County Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund grant.
Six of the properties are on a single block of North Second Street.
At a special hearing Aug. 11, 16 properties were listed for possible demolition by city officials for being either a public nuisance or a danger to other people.
July 29, 2020 |
By Nick Zurawsky | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne officials issued two proclamations honoring local residents during last week’s city council meeting.
The first proclamation was posthumously awarded to resident Kirvy Johnson, who died Jan. 31 at age 66.
Raised in Duquesne, Johnson was a fixture in the community. After attending Mon Valley School, he made his living selling handcrafted potholders and slippers.
Among other achievements, Johnson was known as an accomplished hitchhiker. According to the proclamation, at one point in Johnson’s life, his family moved him to New Jersey. Johnson was unhappy and successfully hitchhiked his way back to Duquesne.
July 10, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News, North Versailles Twp. News
Calvonte Moore, 20, of Duquesne has been charged in connection with a shooting Wednesday in North Versailles Twp. (Photo courtesy Allegheny County police)
A Duquesne man is wanted by Allegheny County police in connection with a fatal shooting Wednesday morning in North Versailles Twp.
Calvonte Moore, 20, shown above, is charged by Allegheny County police with criminal homicide and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the death of Jamey Green, 29, of West Mifflin, at the Green Valley Flats Apartments.
County police Lt. Venerando Costa said Friday that township police and paramedics were dispatched at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday to the apartment complex after a caller reported a man had been shot.
July 10, 2020 |
By Nick Zurawsky | Posted in: Duquesne News, McKeesport and Region News
Participants in the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys & Girls Club stand outside the now-closed Third Street location. Programming is moving to the nearby Duquesne Education Center. (Submitted photo via change.org)
Some residents are upset over a new partnership between the Duquesne City School District and the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys & Girls Club that would see programs moving to the Duquesne Education Center.
An online petition to save the club has attracted more than 5,000 signatures.
The petition claims the move will negatively impact out-of-school programming for Duquesne children. It also alleges the change will increase costs for families and reduce the number of children participating in activities provided by the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys & Girls Club.
“If the 3rd Street DWM Boys & Girls Club closes, there will not be free in-person programming this summer,” according to the petition. “The partnership with the Duquesne City School will only be offering summer online programming for Duquesne students who are in kindergarten through second grade.”
June 14, 2020 |
By Nick Zurawsky | Posted in: Duquesne News
The Boys & Girls Club of Duquesne-West Mifflin will move from its current location on North Third Street to a larger location in the Duquesne Education Center.
The move is part of a new partnership between the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania and the Duquesne City School District, officials said.
Lisa Abel-Palmieri, chief executive officer of BGCWPA, said the location change was scheduled to happen at the end of 2020, but due to budget concerns and lack of visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift has been moved up six months.
The new facility and partnership will expand the scope of BGCWPA services, with twice as many students being able to take part, she said.
June 04, 2020 |
By Nick Zurawsky | Posted in: Duquesne News
From concerns about student health and education to a looming municipal financial crisis, Duquesne officials are reaching out to local non-profit groups and governmental agencies in preparation for the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Allegheny Health Network, in partnership with the Duquesne City School District, will administer free COVID-19 tests to Duquesne’s schoolchildren from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday (June 5) at Duquesne Education Center, 300 Kennedy Ave.
The Squirrel Hill Health Council has also worked with Duquesne to administer the tests and is currently scheduling a return, city officials said.
May 29, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News, McKeesport and Region News, North Versailles Twp. News
Roman Catholic churches in Duquesne and Wilmerding are among more than 60 in Western Pennsylvania that will merge into new parishes on July 1, Bishop David Zubik announced this week.
The mergers, which affect every part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, will create 15 new parishes, the diocese said in a press release.
They are among the latest changes that began in 2015 under the program the diocese calls “On Mission for The Church Alive.”
In a letter to parishioners released Wednesday, Zubik said the parishes to be merged had already been working closely together since October 2018 in regional church groupings to share clergy and resources.
May 18, 2020 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: Duquesne News, McKeesport and Region News, North Versailles Twp. News
McKeesport Area School District and six others will benefit from $350,000 in grants awarded to Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
The money includes a $200,000 grant from the Heinz Endowments to be used to purchase Chromebooks and Google licenses and an additional $150,000 from the Grable Foundation for electronic devices, as well as professional development for teachers and administrative professionals.
More than 1,700 devices will be distributed between McKeesport, Duquesne City, Penn Hills, East Allegheny, Highlands, Cornell and Wilkinsburg school districts, AIU said.
May 18, 2020 |
By Nick Zurawsky | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne is looking for a new public-works director in preparation for the summer and will consider revising its job description in an effort to attract more candidates.
The city has advertised twice recently for a new public-works director with no success, officials said at the most recent council meeting. City Manager Douglas Sample said that right now he is “wearing both hats,” as he also serves part-time as the public-works director.
The new job ad emphasizes relevant background in civic education or a related field.
May 06, 2020 |
By Nick Zurawsky | Posted in: Duquesne News, McKeesport and Region News
Rainbow Kitchen is falling into a comfortable routine, despite the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Executive Director Donna Little.
The iconic Homestead community food service was affected on all fronts by the quarantine measures put into effect after the national emergency declaration on March 13.
Almost every aspect of Rainbow Kitchen’s operation has changed. For example, it went from serving people daily in their cafeteria to packaging and handing out meals from the curbside.
