October 09, 2025 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton (at podium) introduces new White Oak Chief of Police Jason Binder at the September borough council meeting. (T.J. Martin photo for Tube City Almanac)
After a months-long selection process, White Oak Borough has appointed a new police chief.
Jason Binder was introduced as the new chief of police at the borough’s September meeting after being sworn in earlier in the month. He replaces Mark Sargent, who resigned in March.
In July, Public Safety Committee Chairwoman Loree Scharritter told her fellow commissioners that, after accepting applications for the Chief of Police position for a month, she and the other members of the Public Safety Committee were joined by Mayor Ina Jean Marton, Borough Manager John Palyo and chiefs of police from neighboring communities to conduct the first round of interviews.
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October 07, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
Pros of Wrestling will present a “family friendly” event at White Oak Athletic Association on Oct. 25 featuring eight matches, a spokesman said.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and wrestling begins at 7:30 p.m.
The main event will feature AAA Lucha Libra star Sam Adonis, a Pennsylvania native and a graduate of Gateway High School who has been wrestling professionally for 20 years. Adonis, who has wrestled in Mexico, Japan, Italy, England and Canada, will be pitted against Bryant Starr of New York City.
Tickets are available from Eventbrite.com and at the door.
Merchandise and refreshments will be available, as well as prizes. WOAA is located at 1798 Lower Heckman Road in White Oak. For more information, call (412) 335-1622 or visit Pros of Wrestling on Facebook or X.
September 29, 2025 |
By Stacy Alderman | Posted in: White Oak News
Ariel Jenkins turned her love of party-planning into a full-time career. Her new store, Party Rockers Pittsburgh, recently celebrated a grand opening on Route 48 in White Oak. (Submitted photo)
When Ariel Jenkins became a mom at 19, she didn’t have a lot of help. So when special occasions like birthday parties came around, she ended up planning the events by herself.
Turning to the Pinterest social media app for inspiration, Jenkins began constructing balloon arches that soon caught everyone’s attention.
“People were always asking—‘who did that?’” she said. “And the answer was always me. Soon I was creating things for other people for free, but then I realized I could start charging for this kind of service. It helped pay for college and childcare while I was working retail.”
Fast-forward several years. With hard-earned experience behind her, Jenkins now has her own business — Party Rockers Pittsburgh — with a brand-new storefront on Jacks Run Road in White Oak. The store opened last month.
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June 26, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, White Oak News
A Port Vue man was killed Wednesday in a motorcycle accident in White Oak, emergency personnel said.
Jake Wilson, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in the 1200 block of Long Run Road (Route 48) just after 1 a.m. Wednesday, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said.
Allegheny County police said 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call at 1:18 a.m. that a man was lying in the road just south of Lincoln Way. First responders found the victim, later identified as Wilson, dead at the scene.
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April 28, 2025 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton (right) swears in new White Oak Police Officer Jeremy Zuber. (T.J. Martin photo for Tube City Almanac)
White Oak Borough Council welcomed a new police officer at its April meeting and announced that it will begin interviewing candidates for its Chief of Police position.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Ina Jean Marton began the meeting by swearing-in newly hired police officer Jeremy Zuber. With the addition of Zuber, the department now has 12 officers.
Later in the meeting, Public Safety Committee Chair Loree Scharritter said the borough has completed the month-long period of accepting applications for its vacant Chief of Police position and will now begin conducting interviews with the qualified applicants. Scharritter declined to disclose how many applications the borough received.
In March, Chief of Police Mark Sargent resigned. He joined the department in January 1994 as an officer and was promoted to Chief of Police in February 2018.
April 02, 2025 |
By Stacy Alderman | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
Correction: All children age 10 and under are allowed to participate in the Easter egg hunt. This story was corrected after publication. We apologize for the error.
(File Photo, “Tulips Jubilee,” by Cam Miller, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons By-NC-ND.)
The White Oak community is gearing up for warmer weather with events and activities that will appeal to everyone from kids and craft enthusiasts to athletes and animal lovers.
White Oak Athletic Association
WOAA will host its first youth basketball tournaments starting April 17-19 and again from April 24-27. Softball and baseball are ongoing, and the association’s calendar has several fundraisers, cash bashes, and bingos listed well into May. Their calendar can be found online.
Easter Egg Hunt
For children 10 and under, the borough will host an Easter Egg hunt on April 19 starting at 10 a.m. at Heritage Hill Park.
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March 20, 2025 |
By Stacy Alderman | Posted in: White Oak News
Gala Jewelers owner Chuck Gala is saying farewell to longtime customers after more than 40 years in the jewelry business. With an eye toward retirement, his store in Oak Park Mall is for sale. (Photo special to Tube City Almanac)
When Gala Jewelers announced via social media that the store would soon be closing, calls, emails and texts from customers and well-wishers started pouring in almost immediately.
Owner Chuck Gala couldn’t be more grateful. “I am so thankful and blessed to be a part of peoples’ happy moments,” he said, remembering gifts that were purchased for engagements, weddings and holidays. “The community has been so good to us.”
His father opened Gala Jewelers in McKeesport in 1948 and spent decades at various locations on Fifth Avenue.
Multiple family members worked for the business over the years, and Chuck began attending trade shows when he was just fourteen. In 1994, the store moved to its Oak Park Mall location in White Oak and it’s been a staple for the community ever since.
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January 07, 2025 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
Residents of White Oak Borough will face no real estate tax increase under the 2025 budget approved as 2024 closed. They will, however, pay more to have their garbage collected, and those who work in the borough will pay more to do so.
At a special meeting last week, the White Oak Borough Council voted 5-2 to approve the budget, which calls for expenditures of $6.67 million and projected revenues of $6.13 million. The difference of approximately $541,000 will be made up for from the borough’s reserve fund.
The votes against the budget were cast by George Pambacas and Amanda DePaulis.
Pambacas had an issue with the portion of the budget which allows for 13 police officers plus a chief of police.
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December 03, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: White Oak News
A White Oak area resident $3 million richer after purchasing a winning scratch-off ticket from a local business, the Pennsylvania Lottery has announced.
The identity of the winner was not revealed.
A lottery spokesperson said the winning ticket was sold at Nic’s Tobacco, 1620 Lincoln Way. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket.
The ticket sold was part of the $3 million Golden Ticket game and had a $30 face value. The game includes four $3 million prizes. According to the lottery’s posted odds, the chances of winning the top prize is 1 in 1.08 million.
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November 29, 2024 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: White Oak News
(Vickie Babyak photo)
Mission: Agape is searching for a few angels to help make its annual toy drive a success and spread Christmas joy to children in need from the McKeesport Area School District.
“We believe in serving our communities with unconditional, selfless and sacrificial love,” said Kelly Doyle, co-founder. The charity is known for assisting local families that experience food insecurity and hardship, while providing self-sustaining solutions.
According to the state Department of Education, about 62.5 percent of school-age children in McKeesport Area School District are classified as “economically disadvantaged” and about 35 percent are below the poverty line.
Last year, Doyle said, Mission Agape distributed 5,000 gifts to 1,200 children.
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