August 11, 2021 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Entertainment
Some afternoon thunderstorms didn’t dampen enthusiasm on Tuesday as McKeesport residents celebrated the return of International Village following a one-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coverage of International Village by Tube City Online is being supported this year by donations from the public, as well as the following individuals and organizations:
Carriage Inn Restaurant & Catering
August 11, 2021 |
By Sarah Turnbull | Posted in: White Oak News
Train rides, live music and a dip into the Heritage Hill Pool were all part of the fun at this year’s White Oak Community Day.
Held Saturday at Heritage Hill Park, featured vendors included Paint Parties & More, the White Oak Rotary Club, the Rainbow Volunteer Fire Co. and the FIRST Robotics team from McKeesport Area High School.
For Debbie Washowich, co-owner of Paint Parties & More, participating in community day was a natural fit.
August 06, 2021 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A fire in a pile of construction debris on Thursday afternoon was likely started by a lit cigarette, McKeesport firefighters said.
Crews were dispatched to the 500 block of Fifth Avenue, Downtown, when callers reported that debris in a large metal dumpster was on fire.
The blaze was quickly extinguished. Firefighters and McKeesport police reviewed surveillance video and determined that a cigarette probably ignited construction material that had been discarded, said Gene Esken Jr., deputy fire chief.
August 06, 2021 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Two city firefighters sustained burns battling what a McKeesport deputy fire chief called an “aggressive” and “very, very hot” blaze at a vacant home on Versailles Avenue.
McKeesport police and the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office are investigating the fire at 3004 Versailles Ave., which Gene Esken Jr., deputy fire chief, said is suspicious in nature.
“The home has been unoccupied for several years,” he said. “There is no gas service to the house and although the electric meter was attached, there was no one living in the house.”
August 04, 2021 |
By Siana Emery | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
About 80,000 workers have left the local labor force since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the area’s largest employers are finding it harder to fill vacancies.
According to a recent study by the Pennsylvania Economy League of Greater Pittsburgh, employment in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area in May 2021 was only 93.5 percent of what it was in May 2019. Of major American metro areas, only Cleveland, Boston and Detroit saw larger declines.
Experts blame a variety of factors, including health care workers who are burned out after 18 months of the pandemic and a lack of college students in the local job-training pipeline.
The problem in Pittsburgh is aggravated by two factors — a high percentage of older workers who were already near retirement age, and a stagnant and declining population base.
“There is evidence nationally that older workers have disproportionately dropped out of the labor force due to COVID,” said Chris Briem, a regional economist at the University Center for Social and Urban Research at the University of Pittsburgh. “The Pittsburgh region has a relatively older workforce, so if older workers were more impacted by COVID, it would make sense we are seeing concentrated impacts here.”
August 03, 2021 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Participants in the 2019 “A Village for Kids” enjoy a game at Renziehausen Park. Along with the return of McKeesport International Village, the kids’ theme event is also returning on Aug. 9. (Submitted photo courtesy State Sen. Jim Brewster)
If you go... |
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“A Village for Kids”Where: Renzie Park Band Shell When: Monday, Aug. 9 from noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine Tickets: Free Also available: Free Covid-19 Vaccines for ages 12 & up, administered by Allegheny County Health Department. Pfizer and J&J vaccines will be offered. County health department will return on Aug. 30 at the same time for people to get their second dose, where applicable. Walk-ups welcome, or pre-register at https://vax4.alleghenycounty.us/patient/s/ More information: Alison Piccolino, (412) 380-2242 |
An outpouring of support from community groups and the partnership with International Village has made it possible for A Village For Kids to continue on Monday (Aug. 9) for the 12th year.
Both it and International Village were among McKeesport events canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“This event began as a celebration of International Village’s 50th anniversary and we’re still here,” said chair Alison Piccolino, who has been involved with the planning since the first year.
“We are partners with International Village and, after speaking with their committee and they were going with their amazing event, I got the go-ahead for Village for Kids,” she said.
August 03, 2021 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
International Village, a three-day festival of traditional ethnic food, music and dancing, returns to McKeesport’s Renziehausen Park Aug. 10–12 after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some ethnic groups have elected not to participate after being unable to practice for health and safety reasons. (Tube City Almanac file photo by Denise L. Ritter)
When it’s 3:01 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10, longtime International Village emcee Mikey Dee knows where he’ll be — Renziehausen Park in McKeesport — and how he expects to feel.
“That’s when I’ll feel like we’re getting back to some kind of normal,” he said –- the minute after the ethnic celebration of traditional food, music and entertainment kicks off after a year’s hiatus because of COVID-19.
“I love the crowds. I love the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of the Village. I’m a big, traditional guy,” he said.
Dee said he’s been involved with International Village since 1990. In addition to his emcee duties, which he’s splitting with stage manager Patrick Fisher so he can perform with his own group Wednesday, Aug. 12 in the Jakomas Blue Top Pavilion, he’s the entertainment coordinator.
August 02, 2021 |
By Matt Germaine | Posted in: Duquesne News
The Duquesne City School District will kick off the 2021-2022 school year with a new STEM Center, thanks in part to the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation.
Geared towards older students, the facility will join the similar “makerspaces” utilized by the district’s younger students. But teachers can reserve any facility if they feel it will enhance lessons related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, according to Jamie Schmidt, Ed.D., the district’s director of curriculum and instruction.
“We've found since we have implemented the elementary makerspaces, our students do well. They're most engaged in these spaces,” said Schmidt. “So teachers are looking for any opportunity to take their kids and really engage them in learning because the students love it.”
August 02, 2021 |
By Sarah Turnbull | Posted in: Entertainment
Cast and crew of “Massacre Academy” celebrate the film’s premiere at the Lamp Theater in Irwin. (Sarah Turnbull photo for Tube City Almanac)
When director Mark Cantu was deciding on a topic for his next movie, horror seemed like the perfect choice.
“I’m a child of the ‘80s. I made my own horror movies as a kid, and the slasher films of that era have everything I loved as a kid, like practical special effects and strong female characters,” Cantu said. “It’s easy to do when you have classics like “Halloween”, “Jaws”, and “Alien” to go off of.”
Cantu’s latest film, horror-comedy “Massacre Academy,” made its world premiere at the Lamp Theatre in Irwin on Saturday. Filmed in and around McKeesport, the cast and crew consist mostly of locals.
July 29, 2021 |
By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
East Allegheny School Board has approved an update to the district’s health and safety plan for the upcoming school year.
The district will be returning to a five-day-per-week regular school schedule when classes resume on Aug. 24.
“I now think we have a revised health and safety plan that I think reflects the best thinking that is present on how schools should go about entering this new school year,” Superintendent Alan Johnson said at a special meeting July 22.
At the end of the previous school year, EA was operating on a four-day-per-week schedule with an early dismissal at Logan Elementary School. Wednesdays were remote instruction days for cleaning purposes.
