June 30, 2023 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Two critical-care beds have been eliminated at UPMC McKeesport hospital, but a spokesperson for the health system says the shift was done to better utilize resources, not as a prelude to downsizing.
Sarah Deist, a spokeswoman for UPMC Health System, said the critical care unit has been transitioned to what’s called a “high-acuity” unit to support patients who need additional care beyond a typical medical-surgical floor.
The National Institutes of Health define a “high-acuity” unit as a hospital unit that provides “more acute care and closer monitoring than a general hospital ward,” but not as resource-intensive as intensive-care or critical-care units.
No staff positions were eliminated, Deist said. An intensive-care unit is offered at UPMC East in Monroeville, she said.
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June 30, 2023 |
By Jason A. Mignanelli | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Submitted photo courtesy City of McKeesport Mayor’s Office via Facebook)
A new “festival-type atmosphere” is designed to attract visitors to the farmer’s market at Renziehausen Park this summer.
The relaunched Renzie Market is now being held on the first Thursday of each month through September from 5:30 to 8 p.m. behind Fire Station No. 2 on Eden Park Boulevard. The next market is Thursday (July 6).
“We wanted to try something different. It allows us to have food trucks, entertainment and it creates a festival-type atmosphere,” said Kelly Doyle, director of the Renzie Market and co-founder of the McKeesport Agape Center. “Each month there is different food, vendors, and entertainment. There’s even stuff for the kids.”
The new Thursday night market launched in June, replacing the previous market that operated on Saturday mornings. “Last month, Mayor Cherepko’s office provided free face painting for the kids,” Doyle said.
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June 30, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The McKeesport chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will meet at 6 p.m. July 5 in Room 122 of the Frable Building at Penn State Greater Allegheny, a spokeswoman said. The meeting is open to families and friends of loved ones living with mental illness.
NAMI McKeesport is a support group. Through a “care and share” session, members offer understanding and support unique to those who are affected by these conditions. NAMI McKeesport occasionally invites mental health professionals to speak about treatment and resources.
For more information about the McKeesport meeting call (412) 527-6600. For the NAMI Helpline call (412) 366-3788 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
June 27, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
*Correction: This story misstated the number. We regret the error.
Beau Yauch and Jesse Whitt of Tri-State Signs position the LaRosa Youth Club’s new sign over the main entrance on Ravine Street. (Tube City Almanac photo)
Almost two years to the day since taking ownership of its Ravine Street facility, the LaRosa Youth Club has new signage.
Workers from Tri-State Signs & Reprographics of Pittsburgh’s Strip District recently installed new signs over the main clubhouse as well as the adjacent gymnasium.
“This is a big day for us,” said Jim Barry Jr., a member of the board of the LaRosa Youth Development Foundation, the club’s parent organization. “We finally have our name on the building. That makes it permanent.”
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June 26, 2023 |
By Elizabeth Laughlin | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Joey Young, 21, of McKeesport, shown here with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, is attracting a national following for his dynamic mix of soul and pop. “Watch out for Joey Young,” a family friend says. (Submitted photo courtesy Joey Young, via Instagram)
A city native has been grabbing the national spotlight as an in-demand entertainer at events around the country.
Joey Young's newest single, "Spectacle," dropped June 2, one day before he was introduced by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at the three-day Pittsburgh Pride celebration on the North Side.
One week later, Young was a featured soloist during two concerts with the Renaissance City Choir at East Liberty Presbyterian Church.
That’s after a run of performances during which Young, 21, also headlined Pride Month events in Miami Beach and Hollywood, Fla.
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June 16, 2023 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
From back to front, AnnaLisa Haughwout of McKeesport, Sarah Koenig, ASWP conservation director, and Brian Shema, ASWP operations director, discuss the benefits of bird-watching. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania recently celebrated its launch of an environmental collaborative initiative with municipalities, community partners, local organizations, schools and residents throughout the region of the McKeesport Area School District.
City and borough officials, organization leaders, Mon Valley residents and bird lovers gathered in Renziehausen Park recently for the Mon Valley Bird-Friendly Community Project Kickoff and certified backyard habitat enrollment.
Community programming will include a master birder program, birdwatching walks and habitat gardening classes. ASWP will collaborate with area plant nurseries to reduce invasive plant sales while expanding the offer of pollinator and bird-friendly plants to customers. A transformation of a vacant lot into a bird and pollinator-friendly habitat will be established in partnership with Tri-COG Land Bank.
ASWP executive director Jim Bonner is originally from the Mon Valley and has a special bond with the area. Bonner said, “Creating bird-friendly communities is at the heart of what we do,” he said.
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June 05, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The vacant Frank Mikell barber shop on Walnut Street is being demolished under a contract awarded to West Mifflin-based Minniefield Demolition Services. (Tube City Almanac photo)
Four contractors are simultaneously working together to demolish approximately 300 vacant and abandoned buildings in the city this spring and summer, officials said.
A.J. Tedesco, city community development director, said some of the buildings currently being targeted are under contracts that were awarded in 2022.
Among the buildings currently being demolished is the former Frank Mikell’s Barber Shop on Walnut Street in the Third Ward. Contrary to rumors, the building did not collapse, but it is being demolished by hand, slowly, to avoid damage to neighboring structures, Tedesco said.
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May 27, 2023 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School Board this week recognized pupils from United at Twin Rivers and Francis McClure schools who wrote winning essays for a contest sponsored by the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., program. Superintendent Tia Wanzo congratulated each of the students before encouraging attendees to applaud the group. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
An expeditious meeting of the McKeesport Area School Board this week featured an apology and recommitment to communal partnerships.
School Board President LaToya Wright told attendees she needed to share something “that’s been on my heart.”
The board recently enacted a policy that school directors would not respond directly to comments, complaints and accusations raised by the public during a meeting.
Wright said she has heard from the community that the board is opting to remain “ignorant” of serious concerns.
“I want to apologize to any community member if they felt ignored, or any ignorance from the board, because that was never the intention,” she said.
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May 18, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Allegheny County Regional Asset Board has approved a $750,000 grant to the Carnegie Library of McKeesport to help transform a third-floor storage space into an area usable by the public.
The board voted Thursday to approve five grants totalling $3.8 million from a new Transformative Community Library Fund. Libraries in Braddock, Clairton, Homestead and Swissvale also will receive funding during this round of grants, a spokesman said.
The grant to the McKeesport library will enable the top floor of the 1902 building to be converted from a storage area into meeting space for public events.
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May 17, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
(Additional reporting from Jason Togyer)
Incumbent McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko won Tuesday’s primary election, easily defeating two vastly different challengers for the Democratic nomination.
According to incomplete and unofficial returns from the Allegheny County Division of Elections, Cherepko is holding a 20-point lead over his nearest rival, Corry Sanders, 52. Joe Lopretto was in third place with approximately 17 percent of the vote.
However, an official tally may not be available until Friday. Two city precincts — Ward 8, District 4, and Ward 12, District 3 — have not yet reported complete results. Countywide, 29 out of 1,324 precincts have reported incomplete results, elections officials said.
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