March 11, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Charlene Salvi Gergely, wife of the late Richard J. Gergely, speaks Saturday during a rededication of Gergely Riverfront Park in McKeesport as her children, Ericka, Jason and Chris Gergely, look on. Also shown are Mayor Mike Cherepko (left) and nephew, state Rep. Matt Gergely (rear). (Tube City Almanac photo)
Despite a steady, cold rain, there were many smiles — and a few tears — on Saturday when friends and family of the late Richard J. Gergely gathered to rededicate the city’s Riverfront Park in his memory.
The ceremony was held 40 years to the date of the death of Gergely, a teacher, city council member, youth football coach and father of three who died of cancer March 9, 1984 at the age of 43.
An obituary at the time of his death called him “probably the most popular person in the city.”
Speakers included Gergely’s widow, Charlene Salvi Gergely, and his now-grown children, Jason, Christopher and Ericka Gergely, as well as his nephews, state Rep. Matt Gergely and former state Rep. Mark Gergely, and state Sen. Jim Brewster.
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March 08, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Auditor Peter Vancheri delivers his report on the McKeesport Area School District’s finances during a Thursday agenda meeting. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
An independent auditor’s report during Thursday’s open agenda meeting provided a source of optimism for the McKeesport Area School District.
For nearly 15 minutes, Peter Vancheri, of Hosack, Specht, Muetzel & Wood LLP, a certified public accounting firm, updated listeners on district finances ending June 30, 2023.
The district’s fund balance is broken into two categories: assigned and unassigned, he said: whereas the former is $7 million, the latter is $9.5 million.
“The unassigned balance is about 11.9 percent of your total budget and expenditures for the year. The assigned has been assigned for future capital purposes and future expenditures provided shortfalls in future budget years,” he said.
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March 08, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(McKeesport Area School District official photo)
McKeesport Area School District hopes that the general public can resume using the high school stadium within a few months.
The district is working with a private security company to address concerns at Weigle-Schaeffer Memorial Stadium on Eden Park Boulevard, Superintendent Tia Wanzo said this week.
A message posted to the district’s Facebook page on Feb. 25 stated, “Due to acts of vandalism and misconduct that compromise safety, the stadium will be temporarily closed as we explore ways to ensure safety for the community.”
Police officers have said that groups of kids — some of whom had been dropped off by the parents from neighboring school districts, including Clairton and Duquesne — were gathering at the stadium after hours.
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March 01, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport city electrician Tom Rosso and Nate Graboski of the public works department replace lighting and wiring in a ceiling at Jacob Woll Pavilion. The heavily used facility is receiving a makeover with the help of Allegheny Regional Asset Funds. (Tube City Almanac photo)
There are no events scheduled at Renziehausen Park’s main pavilion this spring — but it's not for a lack of interest.
The heavily used Jacob Woll Pavilion is closed for a makeover that will include new windows, flooring, lighting, ceiling fans, sidewalks and other improvements. Funding for the $373,300 project is being provided by the Allegheny Regional Asset District, which is supported by the county’s 1 percent sales tax.
Work is expected to be complete before the summer, said Tom Rosso, McKeesport city electrician, who is serving as project coordinator.
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February 26, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(McKeesport Area School District official photo)
McKeesport Area High School stadium is temporarily closed to the public after a fight last week and several acts of vandalism.
Weigle-Schaeffer Memorial Stadium is still available for official school activities but the walking track and grounds are off-limits for now, said Charley Kiss, district athletic director.
An announcement on the district’s Facebook page Sunday night caused concern for residents who were worried that some serious incident had taken place.
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February 21, 2024 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Students pose for a portrait in front of the mural they designed and constructed for the oncology department in UPMC McKeesport. Left to right, Tyler Reigh, 16, of White Oak; Victoria Fast, 17, of White Oak; Christina Wos, 17, of White Oak; Ryenn Thomas, 15, of McKeesport; and Matthew Miller, 17, of McKeesport. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Students from McKeesport Area High School recently completed a 4-foot by 16-foot mural to beautify the hall in the Oncology Wing of UPMC McKeesport hospital.
Not only is the mural colorful, but it displays uplifting messages like “grow positive thoughts” and other encouraging phrases.
Mark Winowitch, director of facilities and environmental services for UPMC McKeesport, contacted art teacher Denise Bollman, and asked if her students would be interested in creating a mural; she accepted the offer.
The students’ mural project was under the direction of Bollman and commercial art teacher Lyndsay Brown. The students are taking classes in the MAHS Art Department and Technology Center Commercial & Advertising Shop.
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February 12, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Students from the arts enrichment class at Founders’ Hall Middle School show their work to school directors during Thursday’s meeting. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
After a nearly-seven month dispute between the McKeesport Area School District and the McKeesport Area Education Association, both sides have agreed to a new five-year contract.
District board members announced the agreement during Thursday’s meeting.
“Thank you to all those who were involved,” board president Mark Holtzman said. “I believe it was a pretty fair and equitable contract for the teachers and I’m very pleased to see that.”
Board member Dave Seropian, who previously served as the district’s business manager for more than 20 years, led MASD’s negotiating team.
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February 12, 2024 |
By Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Zachary Beauchamp and Adam Blank have one last drink at The Elbow Room as part of the restaurant’s last day celebration. (Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim photo for Tube City Almanac)
Sometime Sunday afternoon, the last bite of The Elbow Room's famous square pizza was eaten.
Frequent customer Adam Blank, who had been coming to the restaurant since childhood, had no shortage of compliments for the signature dish. “One of my favorite memories is just walking in and just… having that square pizza,” he said.
Now, the pizza will only be a memory for generations of McKeesporters, some of whom moved away and ordered it to be shipped across the country, sometimes multiple times per year.
The Elbow Room’s farewell celebration began at 3 p.m. with a considerably long line of people waiting for their tables upon opening. One customer said she waited for two hours, though it didn’t sound like she was complaining.
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February 10, 2024 |
By Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Tube City Almanac photo)
The sun will set permanently on a McKeesport landmark this weekend with one final party at The Elbow Room.
After opening for limited hours for several months, the beloved 10th Ward restaurant and bar announced via Facebook this week that it is closing for good Sunday.
A farewell event will begin at 3 p.m. and continue “until the last person leaves,” according to the post.
Calls and messages to the Elbow Room were not returned as of presstime.
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February 06, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Rev. Bill Meekins Jr., lead pastor of the McKeesport Area Shared Ministry of the United Methodist Church, delivers the invocation Tuesday evening at the rededication of the city’s dek-hockey rink in memory of murdered police officer Sean Sluganski. Mayor Michael Cherepko and Sluganski’s family look on. (Tube City Almanac photo)
More than 300 people gathered at sunset Tuesday to remember murdered McKeesport police Officer Sean Sluganski.
At a ceremony attended by many current and retired law-enforcement officers, city officials and clergy re-dedicated the dek-hockey rink at Renziehausen Park in memory of Sluganski, who was fatally shot by a suspect on Feb. 6, 2023, as he and his partner, McKeesport police Officer Chuck Thomas Jr., responded to a domestic dispute in the Grandview neighborhood.
A former city man is awaiting trial on homicide charges in connection with Sluganski’s death.
A bench bearing Sluganski’s name and image also was unveiled by Thomas and McKeesport police Lt. Bob Eastman, who responded to the same call.
McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said the city wanted to honor Sluganski with an appropriate, permanent memorial, and felt renaming the dek-hockey would be appropriate, because of his love of hockey.
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