November 22, 2017 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
As cold weather returns to Western Pennsylvania, White Oak officials are reminding residents of their responsibility to keep any public sidewalks adjoining their property clear of snow and ice.
At Monday's council meeting, borough solicitor Krisha DiMascio said a letter about snow removal will be sent to residents and property owners soon.
Many sections of Lincoln Way didn't have sidewalks until the road was widened and reconstructed by the state Department of Transportation.
Under borough ordinance and an agreement with PennDOT, White Oak owns the sidewalks, but owners of adjoining properties need to remove snow and ice from them, DiMascio said.
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November 19, 2017 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
(Brooke Doerfler photo courtesy Penn State Greater Allegheny)
A new store opened on the McKeesport-White Oak border last week and attracted nearly 40 customers on its first day. And yet it didn't bring in a dime in sales.
Of course, it wasn't supposed to.
The new "Free Store" on the campus of Penn State Greater Allegheny is an outgrowth of the five-year-old Free Store 15104 in Braddock, which takes surplus and donated items and redistributes them to people in need. In 2015, a similar "Free Store" opened in Wilkinsburg.
The Greater Allegheny store, located at the rear of the Frable Building, is totally student-run and is the first on a college campus, says Erin O'Malley, interim director of student affairs.
O'Malley is from North Braddock and is involved with Braddock's Partnership for a Better Community, so she's seen that borough's Free Store up-close and personal.
Shortly after new Chancellor Jacqueline Edmondson arrived in McKeesport, O'Malley introduced her to Giselle Fetterman, founder of the Free Store 15104.
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November 17, 2017 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
Helen Stratigos, treasurer for McKeesport Meals-on-Wheels, talks with longtime volunteer Lou Zell before a tribute luncheon on Friday as fellow volunteer Chuck Jarrell looks on. (Photo special to Tube City Almanac)
For 34 years, neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor gloom of night stayed Lou Zell from his appointed rounds as a letter carrier in McKeesport and White Oak.
And when he retired in 1983, he just kept on delivering --- "Meals-on-Wheels" to elderly residents of McKeesport, White Oak, Port Vue and the surrounding area, every day, five days a week, for another 33 years.
On Friday, White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton and Zell's fellow Meals-on-Wheels volunteers saluted his dedication during a luncheon at the Point Pleasant Retirement Community in North Versailles Twp.
"We do meals on wheels so people like you don't have to live here!" Zell, now 91, joked with residents, before sheepishly apologizing to the retirement community's staff, standing nearby.
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November 14, 2017 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News, White Oak News
The countdown to Christmas has begun and Mon Valley communities --- including McKeesport, White Oak and Duquesne --- are getting ready.
Events begin Saturday (Nov. 18) with McKeesport's 53rd annual Salute to Santa Parade and White Oak's Season of Lights Celebration.
- Editor's Note: Weather permitting, our Internet radio station, WMCK.FM, will broadcast the Salute to Santa Parade beginning at 11 a.m.
Thousands of spectators are expected to line Fifth Avenue to collect candy while watching local bands, emergency vehicles, businesses, nonprofit organizations and student groups parade up the street from McKees Point Marina to City Hall.
Lineup for parade units begins at 10 a.m. at the Palisades, Fifth Avenue at Water Street, with the parade kicking off promptly at 11 a.m.
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October 23, 2017 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News, White Oak News
(Compiled by Cami DiBattista and Jason Togyer)
Local communities, including McKeesport, Duquesne and White Oak, have posted their Halloween activity schedules.
McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko invites children 12 and younger to take part in the city’s annual Halloween Parade and Party in Renziehausen Park on Saturday (Oct. 28). Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Tennis Courts and the parade travels to the Jacob Woll Pavilion for an indoor party featuring seasonal crafts, storytime and hot dog lunch. This event is co-sponsored by the Carnegie Library of McKeesport.
Trick or treat hours in the city are 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
White Oak also will have trick or treat from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
In addition, White Oak's "Truck-or-Treat" will take place on Saturday (Oct. 28) at the White Oak American Legion,, 2813 Capitol St. The event will include a parade and after party, where attendees are invited to explore a variety of service vehicles such as fire trucks, tow trucks, garbage trucks and ambulances.
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October 18, 2017 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
Another step has been taken toward the opening of the White Oak Community Center.
At Monday's council meeting, borough Council President Ron Massung said the center has received its official occupancy permit and the building is being cleaned and prepared with supplies.
The official public opening will hopefully happen in December, Massung said, but a so-called "soft opening" will happen next month when White Oak hosts a Steel Rivers Council of Governments meeting at the facility.
In other business:
- Council approved the borough's application for a community-development block grant in the amount of $49,000 to demolish houses at 736 O’Neil Blvd., 608 Osborne St., 606 New Jersey St., 700 New Jersey St., 907 Coulter Road, 2420 O’Neil Blvd. and 1828 California St.
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October 18, 2017 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
Boy Scout Troop 1640 attended Monday's White Oak borough council meeting to observe the actions of local government.
The visit was a requirement for the Boy Scouts' "Citizenship in the Community" merit badge, according to Scout Master Bill Klimek.
(Photo by Cami DiBattista, special to Tube City Almanac)
September 21, 2017 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
White Oak officials have identified two properties in the borough for possible acquisition by the Tri-COG Land Bank.
At this week's council meeting, Councilman Dave Pasternak discussed the borough’s participation in the land bank, which allows Allegheny County communities more control over the pace of revitalization within their borders.
Operated by the Steel Rivers and Turtle Creek Valley councils of government, the land bank enables municipalities to acquire tax-delinquent properties, eliminate the back property taxes, and then re-sell the properties to new owners.
“The main purpose of the land bank is to take properties in disrepair that can be (put) back on the tax rolls,” Pasternak said. “The land bank will get a percentage of taxes for the first five years, then after that the school district and municipality receive 100 percent of the taxes.”
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September 20, 2017 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
White Oak council is considering changes to the borough’s zoning rules to govern how it would handle medical marijuana clinics as well as future oil and gas drilling operations.
At a public hearing Monday at the municipal building, Mike Hammond, filling in for borough Solicitor Krisha DiMascio, gave a brief overview of the purpose of each proposed change.
The borough currently has no zoning regulations governing either medical marijuana or oil and gas drilling.
The proposed medical marijuana zoning ordinance, similar to other ordinances passed across state, outlines where a dispensary could be located and provides penalties for violations.
Under the proposed White Oak ordinance, “the dispensaries (could be) zoned only in commercial and light industrial zones, meaning they (could) not be located near any schools,” Council President Ron Massung said.
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August 21, 2017 |
By Advertising | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News, White Oak News
We are still looking for writers to cover White Oak and the City of Duquesne. Writers are paid for assignments on a per-assignment basis.
The positions currently to be filled are:
- Duquesne City correspondent
- White Oak borough correspondent
Writers will be expected to, at minimum, attend the monthly council meetings in either Duquesne or White Oak and write a story for Tube City Almanac within 24 hours. Other topics may, from time to time, be assigned.
High school and college students seeking work experience are encouraged to apply! Tube City Community Media is willing to work with students who need credit toward class assignments.
Previous experience as a writer on a high school or college newspaper, or non-fiction blog, is helpful.
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