February 21, 2024 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton (center) is flanked by the borough’s newest police officers, Gerry Athans (left) and Matt Cerasuolo, after administering the oath of office to the pair at White Oak Borough Council’s February monthly meeting. Both had previously been police officers in McKeesport.
Including the chief of police, White Oak now has 14 full-time police officers.
February 03, 2024 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Borough Council made it official Thursday night, unanimously passing a 2024 budget with a 1-mill tax increase after previously passing a no-tax-increase 2024 budget.
In December, council passed a $6.48 million budget which contained no tax increase using approximately $892,000 from the borough fund balance. That left about $723,000 in the fund balance.
But in January, council voted to reopen the budget and consider a 1-mill real estate tax increase.
January 17, 2024 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
Late last month, White Oak Borough Council passed a 2024 budget with no tax increase. But now it looks as though they’ll change their collective minds.
At a special meeting Dec. 28, council passed a budget of $6.48 million which included using approximately $892,000 from the borough fund balance and no tax increase. That left about $723,000 in the fund balance.
But at its regular January meeting, council voted unanimously to reopen the budget and hold a special meeting Feb. 1 to consider a new 2024 budget which contains a 1-mill real estate tax increase.
“Revenues are decreasing and expenses are increasing,” Finance Committee Chairman Jason Russell said in explaining the proposed change to his fellow councilpersons.
January 03, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: White Oak News
(This story originally appeared in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, © 2024. Reprinted with permission.)
(Submitted photo via Facebook)
After more than a century in operation, Temple B’nai Israel is closing.
The White Oak-based congregation will halt operations in May 2025, according to its president, Lou Anstandig.
Finances aren’t the issue. “We are running out of people,” he said, noting that most of TBI’s members “aren’t young.”
“The people who are in leadership are in their 80s,” Anstandig said. “There just doesn’t appear to be a future without young people to continue making the congregation active.”
November 23, 2023 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
Children in White Oak now have some new playground equipment they can use at Heritage Hill Park and, if all goes as planned, next spring, adults in the borough will have some new recreational opportunities as well.
At Monday’s meeting, Borough Engineer Kenneth Hillman told council that Snider Recreation Inc. has completed the installation of playground equipment as Phase One of the renovation of the park’s playground. Beneath the equipment for two- through five-year-olds, the company installed pour-in-place rubber and beneath the equipment for five- to 12-year-olds, it installed ground-up mulch, Hillman said.
The designs for a parking lot and a walking trail which are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant and two pickleball courts are complete and ready to go out for bid, Hillman said. He said the pickleball courts will be adjacent to the playground in a space which now has a basketball court and racquetball court.
October 24, 2023 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak council held a brief October meeting that was more treats than tricks as borough officials set hours for Halloween events.
Council voted to set official trick-or-treat hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. The vote was unanimous, with councilpersons Joelle Harbert and Louis Bender absent.
Council also voted unanimously to have the White Oak Borough Halloween Parade followed by a Truck-and-Treat and Trunk-and-Treat event on Oct. 28 from noon to 2 p.m. at Sampson’s Mills Presbyterian Church. The parade line-up will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the church at 1665 Lincoln Way.
October 16, 2023 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
Patti’s Pasticceria, a fixture on Lincoln Way since 2012, has relocated directly across the street to 1501 Lincoln Way, into a space once occupied by Feig’s Bakery. (Submitted photo via Facebook)
A White Oak bakery has relocated, but patrons don’t have to worry about finding it: it simply moved across the street.
Patti’s Pasticceria, which had been at 1502 Lincoln Way since 2012, has relocated directly across the street to 1501 Lincoln Way, which years ago was the site of Feig’s Bakery.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for Patti Fiasco, founder and namesake of Patti’s Pasticceria. She worked at Feig’s, starting at the counter as a teenager, before moving to the back room to learn more of the trade.
“I always loved to bake,” Fiasco said. “They taught me how to decorate (cakes) here.”
Fiasco remained at Feig’s until she became pregnant with her son, Andrew Macey, then, as she raised her family, continued to bake and sell her baked goods from her home for the next 20 to 25 years.
September 26, 2023 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Borough is making final preparations for this weekend’s Oktoberfest to celebrate the community’s 75th anniversary.
At this month’s council meeting, fun was on the agenda — in the short-term, with plans for this Friday’s event at the White Oak Athletic Association, and in the long term with a project designed to provide residents with new recreational opportunities.
Councilor Julie Opferman, who chairs the borough’s Parks and Recreation committee, said the Oktoberfest begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at the WOAA, 1798 Lower Hickman Rd.
September 06, 2023 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
White Oak Borough will celebrate its 75th anniversary during an Oktoberfest on Sept. 29 at the White Oak Athletic Association, 1798 Lower Heckman Road, a spokeswoman said.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. Adult tickets are $30 and tickets for children 12 years old and under, are $15. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 22.
Oktoberfest is a German folk festival that originated from the southeastern state of Germany called Bavaria and is celebrated annually. A number of U.S. cities celebrate with beer and German food.
August 30, 2023 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: White Oak News
Zach Werner of McKeesport proudly stands next to one of three The Little Free Growers Exchange stands he built for community residents to share plants and seeds. (Vickie Babyak photos for Tube City Almanac)
Zach Werner of McKeesport was ready for a challenge when White Oak Councilwoman Julie Opferman contacted leaders of Boy Scout Troop 1640 and made a request for the troop to be more involved with the community.
Troop 1640 is attached to Saint Angela Merici Church in White Oak. Werner was getting ready to try to reach Eagle Scout — something only 6 percent of all Boy Scouts achieve — and he began to brainstorm ideas to help the borough.
“Zach joined the Cub Scouts when he was 5 years old and transitioned into Boy Scouts when he was 11,” his mother Danielle Werner said. “He’s been a member ever since.”
