April 05, 2021 |
By Sarah Turnbull | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton enjoys the company of Luke and Chewie during a 2019 fundraiser for the White Oak Animal Safe Haven. Marton has retired as director of the shelter after 18 years. (Tube City Almanac file photo by Cami DiBattista)
After 18 years and 16,000 dogs and cats rescued, Ina Jean Marton has retired from her role as director of the White Oak Animal Safe Haven.
“I’d been planning it for six to eight months. After 18 years, I felt like it was time to enjoy my life,” said Marton, who also serves as White Oak borough mayor.
Shelter vice president Laura Massie has taken over as director. She expressed optimism about the shelter’s future.
“We’re building a catio (cat exercise area) and renovating our office,” she said. “We’re also bringing in new volunteers and brainstorming ideas for fundraisers. I just want to do whatever I can to make the shelter successful — especially with kitten season coming up.”
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April 05, 2021 |
By Jennifer Sopko | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Editor’s Note: The writer has a conflict of interest. Branden Kucich is the writer’s second cousin. This article was written after initial interviews with Branden and Heather Kucich in April 2018 and follow-ups in March and April 2021 once the Centennial School project broke ground.
The former Centennial School opened for the 1921-22 term at the corner of Beaver Street and Union Avenue. The building is being turned into senior citizen apartments. (Submitted photo courtesy Kucich Construction)
Nearly a century after the new Centennial School in McKeesport opened its doors to local students in the fall of 1921, the historic building will soon welcome a new class of seniors.
Branden Kucich, 38, and his wife Heather, 37, of North Huntingdon Twp., have added to their growing portfolio of rental properties in McKeesport and White Oak by purchasing the defunct elementary school and transforming its empty classrooms into senior living apartments.
The Kuciches’ project will not only return a longtime tax-exempt property to the city’s tax rolls but also add to a recent trend of building restorations in McKeesport.
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April 01, 2021 |
By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: Entertainment, North Versailles Twp. News
If you go...
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“The Awesome ’80s Prom”
Where: East Allegheny High School courtyard, 1150 Jacks Run Road, North Versailles Twp.
When: 8 p.m. April 15 and 16, 2 p.m. April 17
Tickets: Must be purchased in advance at easd.booktix.com. No tickets will be sold at the door.
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Nate Perez, Bryce Schmeltz, Kalei Getsy, Passion Paillett and Madison Rucker are “Walking Like An Egyptian” in “The Awesome ’80s Prom.” (Kristen Keleschenyi photo for Tube City Almanac)
Crimp that hair and grab some pink eyeshadow.
East Allegheny High School is going back to the ’80s with its spring musical, “The Awesome ’80s Prom.” The show aims to give audiences the experience of living in a classic John Hughes style movie.
"Take some ‘Ferris Bueller,’ and some ‘Breakfast Club,’ some ‘16 Candles’ and ‘Pretty in Pink’ with little bits of ‘The Wedding Singer,’ in a high school kind of way, and throw it all together. There are lots of stereotypical 80s characters. I think everybody is going to find something they recognize especially if you are familiar with that era," says director Amanda Rosco.
The audience are supposed to be guests at a prom. The storyline revolves around the nominees for prom king and prom queen and who is going to end up winning.
The audience will actually get to vote when they are at the show. "We will not know who wins,” says Rosco. "It could be a different winner every single time. We are preparing multiple endings."
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April 01, 2021 |
By Siana Emery | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
In spite of climbing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the region, McKeesport Area School District officials are hoping to ensure that major spring events — including prom and commencement — will occur this year, if possible.
At the school board meeting, district officials discussed plans for remainder of the year and began looking ahead to fall.
Board President Joseph Lopretto and District Superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr. said they are keeping an eye on virus cases, and will move forward with plans as possible.
Prom and commencement were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
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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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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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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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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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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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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.
