November 06, 2023 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
City officials are excited about a $1 million grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency that will enable McKeesport to address stormwater runoff along the Youghiogheny River, add native shade trees to several neighborhoods, and engage young people in conservation work.
The grant includes partnerships with groups such as Allegheny CleanWays and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the city announced last week.
“We are thankful for this opportunity to improve environmental conditions within the City of McKeesport,” Mayor Michael Cherepko said. “This, like many other endeavors here, will be a whole-community effort. I can’t say often enough that I believe in ‘working together for a better McKeesport,’ and our community is full of organizations and volunteers who are committed to our city’s health and environmental wellbeing.”
The EPA in late October announced nearly $5.3 million for projects in Pennsylvania designed to address environmental problems in low-income communities. McKeesport was one of eight communities statewide that received grants, according to Virginia Nurk, EPA spokesperson in Philadelphia.
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October 30, 2023 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Mon Valley community leaders who participated in Friday’s “Vote Art” event included Judith Moore, founder of Saving Our Sisters Now; Luther Sewell, founder and publisher of Talk Magazine; Roxanne Sewell, president and editor of Talk Magazine; Demetrius Baldwin, community activist; at Fawn Walker-Montgomery of Take Action Advocacy Group, and, kneeling, Rikell Ford of Kindred C.U.L.T.U.R.E. (Submitted photo courtesy Take Action Advocacy Group)
A group of Mon Valley community leaders on Friday urged residents to get out and vote in the Nov. 7 municipal elections.
The program, called “Vote Art,” was held at The Spot on 8th, an event center in Homestead.
Partners included Fawn Walker-Montgomery, chief executive officer and co-founder of Take Action Mon Valley/Take Action Advocacy Group; Demetrius Baldwin of Mon Valley Peoples Action; Rikell Ford of Kindred C.U.L.T.U.R.E; Judith Moore, chief executive officer and founder of Sisters Saving Ourselves; and Luther and Roxanne Sewell, founders of Talk Magazine, Pennsylvania’s only statewide publication focused on Black and African American news and culture.
“I feel like there’s a lot of power in this room (and) knowledge in this room, and I was moved by the things I heard,” Baldwin said.
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October 27, 2023 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
Kat Grosso as Frank-N-Furter's golden creation Rocky, far right, and cast rehearse a scene from the cult favorite “Rocky Horror Show,” returning to McKeesport Little Theater for one weekend only. (Photo courtesy MLT)
If you go...
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“Rocky Horror Show”
Where: McKeesport Little Theater, 1614 Coursin St.,
www.mckeesportlittletheater.com
When: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Pre-show activities begin at 6:45 p.m.
Tickets: $20 for adults, $12 for students, available by calling the theater at (412) 673-1100 or online.
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When patrons of McKeesport Little Theater’s 2022 debut of “Rocky Horror Show” made it clear they’d like to see it become an annual event, director Heather Atkinson took it to heart.
“We got a lot of response last year that people wanted us to do this every year, so we put in for the rights again the day after ‘Rocky Horror’ closed, and found out we were approved again the day before Thanksgiving,” she said.
With show rights acquired and Atkinson on board to return to direct, she said she started thinking about things that would carry over from the 2022 production and others she wanted to change.
The 2023 MLT edition of “Rocky Horror Show” opens today (Oct. 27), and continues for one weekend only on Saturday (Oct. 28) and Sunday (Oct. 29). All shows are at 7:30 p.m., with pre-show activities starting at 6:45 p.m.
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October 27, 2023 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
School directors and the public listen on Wednesday as Erika Kestenberg, a diversity, equity and inclusion consultant, addresses the McKeesport Area school board. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
A consultant working with the McKeesport Area School District said this week that school directors did the right thing by apologizing following an outburst at the last board meeting.
Erika Kestenberg, an expert on diversity, equity and inclusion who has worked with the district in the past, said Wednesday that in the wake of the September incident, a statement issued by six of the nine board members was the correct move.
At the end of a sometimes raucous board meeting on Sept. 26, a member of the audience confronted School Director James Brown over his remarks that the session had been a “sh-t show.”
Brown responded with what witnesses described as profanity and a homophobic slur.
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October 27, 2023 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Musicians, color guard, props and flags are in constant motion in this action-packed show highlighting things — manmade and from nature — that go “Up in the Air.” (Photo courtesy Tournament of Bands Region 8)
If you go...
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Tournament of Bands
Pennsylvania State Championships
Where: McKeesport Area High School, 1960 Eden Park Blvd.
When: 3:15 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 28)
Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for students and senior citizens.
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When the opportunity arose for a high school in Region 8 to host the Tournament of Bands state competition this year, McKeesport Area’s band director Drew DeCarlo immediately was interested.
“Last year, it was up to a band in Region 11 to host, so we went to Altoona for the first states competition,” DeCarlo said. “This is just only the second year for States.”
With McKeesport Area’s experience in hosting competitions through its annual home show, held this year on Oct. 14, the band director let TOB know they would be glad to be considered.
A total of 15 high school bands plus Seton Hill University will be represented at states, which kicks off shortly after 3 p.m. this Saturday (Oct. 28).
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October 27, 2023 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: State & Region
Lots of clouds are fitting for the “Up in the Air” theme of McKeesport Area High School Tiger Band’s 2023 show. After taking first place in its category at regionals on Oct. 21 at Penn-Trafford High School, the band is looking forward to performing on their home field for the state competition on Saturday (Oct. 28). (Alll photos courtesy of Tournament of Bands Region 8)
Related Story: MAHS Hosting State Band Competition
Three local high school marching bands were named regional champions in their respective categories at the Tournament of Bands Region 8 competition Oct. 21 at Penn-Trafford High School Warrior Stadium.
East Allegheny, McKeesport Area and Serra Catholic received top scores for their performances, as reported by Tournament of Bands Region 8.
East Allegheny
East Allegheny performed a selection of songs by the Four Seasons in their “Jersey Boys” show, which scored 90.08 in Group 2-A. That score included high auxiliary, percussion, plus music and visuals.
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October 26, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: State & Region
Finished coils await shipment at U.S. Steel’s Irvin Plant in West Mifflin. (File photo courtesy U.S. Steel Corp.)
U.S. Steel and its possible suitors are remaining quiet on two competing proposals to sell the corporation.
During a call Thursday with investors and reporters, the company reported third-quarter net earnings of $299 million, or $1.20 per share, and declared a five-cent-per-share dividend.
But corporation officials stayed mum about the possible sale of the Pittsburgh-based company, which operates the Mon Valley’s last integrated steel-making facilities, the Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock and North Braddock, as well as the Clairton coke and by-products plant and Irvin Plant in West Mifflin.
In August, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., a steel-making and iron-ore mining conglomerate in Ohio, and Sewickley-based Esmark Inc. announced they had both tendered offers to take over U.S. Steel. The Cleveland-Cliffs deal has the support of the United Steelworkers union.
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October 26, 2023 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School Board has OK’d a one-year tentative agreement with the teacher’s union to avert a strike.
The deal, pending approval from the McKeesport Area Education Association, would be retroactive from Sept. 1, 2023, through Aug. 31, 2024. The deal would give a new school board time to negotiate a more lengthy contract following November’s election.
The vote was 8-0, with School Director Steven Kondrosky absent.
District Superintendent Tia Wanzo called the agreement “step one” in resolving the months-long contract dispute. District educators have gone without a contract since Aug. 31.
Wanzo said she expects the union to act quickly, probably by Nov. 1: “They’re going to move quickly through the channels.”
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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.
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October 24, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A student at McKeesport Area High School was taken into custody Tuesday morning after district officials said a handgun was discovered in his bookbag during a security screening.
A district spokesperson said that McKeesport police are investigating the incident and that the student would be subject to school disciplinary policy and procedures.
In a release, McKeesport Area officials said a security guard discovered the weapon during a routine screening at the high school entrance at approximately 8:15 a.m.
All students are required to enter the school building through metal detectors.
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