Local Legislators Urge Busway, Highway Investment

March 30, 2021 |

By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

The Martin Luther King East Busway connects Pittsburgh to Rankin and Swissvale. Local lawmakers are urging the federal government to include funds for extending the busway in the Biden administration’s infrastructure plan, to be announced Wednesday in Pittsburgh. (National Association of City Transportation Officials photo via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC 2.0)


Ahead of President Biden’s visit to the Pittsburgh area to talk about infrastructure investment, area legislators are asking the federal government to make sure the Mon Valley is included.

According to published reports, Biden on Wednesday is expected to unveil a $3 trillion proposal to invest in roads, bridges, public transit, railroads and waterways, as well as the country’s electrical grid and other utilities.

The speech will be made at the Carpenters Pittsburgh Training Center in Collier Twp. and representatives of other Pittsburgh-area labor unions are expected to attend as well.

Last week, Mon-Yough area state legislators wrote to Pennsylvania’s federal congressional delegation, urging them to include funding for high-priority projects such as the extension of the East Busway and the completion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway.

 
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Federal COVID Funds Headed to Duquesne

March 30, 2021 |

By Nichole Faina | Posted in: Duquesne News

The city of Duquesne will receive an estimated $550,000 from the federal government as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

At March’s city council meeting, George Doherty, the city’s Act 47 Coordinator, said one of the main purposes of the legislation is to help municipalities recover from funds lost due to the pandemic.

Doherty recommended the city use the funds to backfill revenue that was lost from lower tax collections in 2020, and to reimburse the city for one-time capital purchases such as police cars, public works trucks and major computer systems, and improvements to streets and water systems.

 
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Partial Jerome Bridge Closure Begins Wednesday

March 30, 2021 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements

(Tube City Almanac file photo)


A partial closure of the Jerome Street Bridge begins Wednesday (March 31) and will continue through November.

Steve Cowan, district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said the westbound lanes (from Downtown toward Glassport) will close at 7 a.m. to allow the reconstruction of the bridge to proceed.

A single lane of traffic will be maintained eastbound, from 10th Ward to Downtown, Cowan said.

Additionally, barrier installation and line striping work will occur on Thursday, he said.

 
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County Parks Seeking Lifeguards for Pool Season

March 26, 2021 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

South Park wave pool. (Allegheny County photos)


The Allegheny County Parks Department is seeking qualified applicants, ages 16 and older, to fill lifeguard positions at its pools in Boyce, North, Settlers Cabin and South parks for the 2021 pool season.

A spokesperson said candidates must successfully pass an aquatics test and background check and be willing to work the entire season, including flexible hours, weekends and holidays. Returning lifeguards in good standing and applicants ages 18 and older will be given first preference.

Guards are paid between $11 and $13 per hour, depending on their level of experience.

 
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St. Sava Slates Good Friday Fish Fry

March 26, 2021 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (Facebook photo)


St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 901 Hartman St., will hold a Good Friday Fish Fry on April 2, a spokeswoman said.

The event will be pre-order, take-out only. Orders may be picked up in the church social hall from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Good Friday.

Pre-orders may be placed March 28-31 by calling (412) 469-2955. Payment by credit card only.

 
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Library Resumes Wise Walks in Renzie

March 26, 2021 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

The Carnegie Library of McKeesport has resumed its spring wise walks.

The wise walks meet at the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center, 1802 Arboretum Drive, Renziehausen Park, at 3 p.m. each Tuesday, weather permitting, for a 45-minute walk, said Mary Rose Bendel, coordinator of adult programs and community outreach.

Club members record their individual steps and then enjoy a healthy snack.

Everyone is welcome and registration is not required. The program is sponsored by the McKeesport Hospital Foundation.

 

Panelists: Black Women Not Getting
Enough Mental Health Support

March 25, 2021 |

By Siana Emery | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Johnathan White, assistant teaching professor at Greater Allegheny, moderated a panel discussion that also featured Kathi R. Elliot, chief executive officer at Gwen’s Girls; Dashawna J. Fussell-Ware, doctoral fellow, Steel Smiling; Raven Davis, supervisor, Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth & Families; and Dr. Stella Onuoha-Obilor, vice president for clinical quality, Highmark Health. (Photo courtesy Penn State)


At both the community and the national level, developing a deeper understanding of social, economic and political factors that create gaps in mental health care is imperative in caring for patients.

This was the overarching message of March 18’s Crossing Bridges Summit panel, which discussed the psychological perspectives on Black women’s health.

The panel, hosted by Penn State Greater Allegheny, featured a conversation between five Black female leaders in mental health and social work.

“People walk around saying ‘I’m fine’,” said Dashawna Fussell-Ware, a doctoral student and employee of Steel Smiling. “The reality is, if you are Black or of African descent, unfortunately that’s just not true. There’s so much going on in the world in terms of racism that you can’t help but feel that loss.”

 
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City Man Charged in 2020 Shooting

March 24, 2021 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News

A city man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a March 2020 shooting near the former site of George Washington school.

Kiesean Brown, 20, has been charged by Allegheny County police with attempted homicide and is being held in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond, court officials said.

Tony Griffith, spokesman for the Allegheny County sheriff’s office, said Brown was taken into custody without incident.

 
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Reader’s Viewpoint: Researcher Seeks Families
of WWII Vets Killed in Europe

March 24, 2021 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Letters to the Editor

(Bjarki Sigursveinsson photo via Wikimedia Commons)


Mike Thomas in Georgia writes:

I am writing a magazine article for a Memorial Day tribute and I need the community’s help. The article centers around the soldiers, sailors, merchant mariners and airmen buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in France. (There are no Marines in this cemetery.)

I grew up in McKeesport and graduated in 1970 from McKeesport Area High School. I attended Duquesne University, class of 1974, and entered the U.S. Air Force. I've been away every since, but my family still lives in the local area.

I'm a military historian and researcher and am asking if you would publish my note below or any other type of help would be appreciated.

 
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NV Twp. Slates Easter Event, Cleanup Day

March 24, 2021 |

By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: Announcements, North Versailles Twp. News

With the help of Fire Department of North Versailles and West Wilmerding volunteer fire department, the Easter Bunny will be touring North Versailles Twp. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday (March 28).

The routes are posted on the township website. The tour will end at 1 p.m. at the North Versailles Twp. municipal building on Greensburg Avenue, and there will be treats and a photo opportunity.

For more information or to RSVP, email nvtparks@verizon.net or call (412) 823-6602, ext. 104.

The spring township clean-up will be held on from 9 a.m. to 12 noon May 1.

Volunteers are asked to meet in the township building parking lot to get gloves and supplies. A large dumpster will be placed at Green Valley Fire Hall for big items.

Anyone who would like to help is asked to email Commissioner Tracy Yusko at bugaboo03@comcast.net. Pizza and refreshments will be served at the community center following the clean-up.

 

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