July 17, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center, via Facebook)
McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center is paying tribute to the city’s annual International Village with a special exhibit as well as a cooking lesson.
The three-day ethnic food and music festival, which has been held every year since 1960, was scheduled to be held in August. It has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“International Village is a long standing staple in our community,” said Teresa Trich, the museum’s community outreach director. “We at the Heritage Center have been proud to be involved with this yearly event. This year, with the cancellation of International Village, we have a new exhibit that will transport you to the Old World.”
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July 14, 2020 |
By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
East Allegheny school directors have delayed action on a proposed health and safety plan for reopening the district.
At a special meeting held Monday, the board voted to table the first draft of the plan, which was posted for public review on the district’s website July 9. The meeting was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
New school superintendent Alan Johnson cautioned that the plan would probably need to be modified as the school year approaches because of the way things are changing so rapidly.
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July 10, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News, North Versailles Twp. News
Calvonte Moore, 20, of Duquesne has been charged in connection with a shooting Wednesday in North Versailles Twp. (Photo courtesy Allegheny County police)
A Duquesne man is wanted by Allegheny County police in connection with a fatal shooting Wednesday morning in North Versailles Twp.
Calvonte Moore, 20, shown above, is charged by Allegheny County police with criminal homicide and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the death of Jamey Green, 29, of West Mifflin, at the Green Valley Flats Apartments.
County police Lt. Venerando Costa said Friday that township police and paramedics were dispatched at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday to the apartment complex after a caller reported a man had been shot.
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July 10, 2020 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Renzie Road in Elizabeth Twp. has been closed for most of July so that crews can repair a landslide.
Steve Cowan, district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said the closure affects the stretch of Renzie Road between Route 48 and Greenock Buena Vista Road.
The posted detour uses Zimmer Hill Road, Moray Lane and East Smithfield Street.
Weather-permitting, work will be completed later this month, Cowan said.
July 10, 2020 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Letters to the Editor
Portion of a December 1932 airplane navigation chart. (Library of Congress collection)
Curious about airport near Tinplate Hil
As a member of the “sport” aviation community, I was having a discussion with like-minded individuals about an aerial picture of the Duquesne bridge area of McKeesport that I saw years ago.
In the picture was a small airport (a grass field) along the shore of the Monongahela River just downstream from the bridge on the McKeesport side.
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July 10, 2020 |
By Nick Zurawsky | Posted in: Duquesne News, McKeesport and Region News
Participants in the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys & Girls Club stand outside the now-closed Third Street location. Programming is moving to the nearby Duquesne Education Center. (Submitted photo via change.org)
Some residents are upset over a new partnership between the Duquesne City School District and the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys & Girls Club that would see programs moving to the Duquesne Education Center.
An online petition to save the club has attracted more than 5,000 signatures.
The petition claims the move will negatively impact out-of-school programming for Duquesne children. It also alleges the change will increase costs for families and reduce the number of children participating in activities provided by the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys & Girls Club.
“If the 3rd Street DWM Boys & Girls Club closes, there will not be free in-person programming this summer,” according to the petition. “The partnership with the Duquesne City School will only be offering summer online programming for Duquesne students who are in kindergarten through second grade.”
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July 09, 2020 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Kennywood and Sandcastle will open to season passholders this weekend.
A spokesman announced Wednesday the opening of the two local attractions, which was delayed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Season passholders may visit the parks Friday (July 10) while the general public may begin visiting on Monday (July 13). Reservations are required and the capacity of each park is being strictly limited.
“We believe strongly in the plan developed by our teams at Kennywood and Sandcastle to best protect the health and safety of all those visiting and working at our parks,” the spokesman said. “We look forward to providing the clean, safe and fun experience we have been proud to offer since 1898.”
For details on changes at Kennywood this year, read our June 30 story, “Kennywood, Other Attractions Reopening.”
July 07, 2020 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
ACTION-Housing constructed this new home in 2019 at the corner of Bailie and Cornell avenues. The agency is partnering with the city to build another, similar home nearby. (Tube City Almanac file photo)
McKeesport officials have shifted the city’s housing rehabilitation funds to two different agencies in hopes of breathing new life into projects that had stagnated.
City council this month voted to transfer more than $628,000 in federal Home Investment Partnerships Program grant money from the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 to Allegheny County in exchange for the same amount of money from the county’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
The city’s vision for its residential neighborhoods is about “more than just demolition,” Mayor Michael Cherepko said. McKeesport officials also want to see new housing constructed and existing homes preserved, he said.
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July 07, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
Kennywood has delayed its planned 2020 opening again, due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County.
In an announcement posted on the park’s website, Kennywood said that both the West Mifflin attraction and its sister water park, Sandcastle in West Homestead, would postpone their planned July 11 re-openings.
The parks were scheduled to welcome season pass holders beginning July 6 and the general public a few days later.
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June 30, 2020 |
By Jason A. Mignanelli | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
UPDATE: Kennywood announced July 2 that they would not open on July 11 due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County. “Our top priority at Kennywood and Sandcastle is the health and safety of our guests and team members, and the community at large,” the park announced.
Kennywood employees standing six feet apart demonstrate social distancing. Guests will need to make a reservation to visit the park, which opens July 11. Masks also will be required for most patrons age 3 and older, except on water rides. (Submitted photo courtesy Kennywood)
Just in time for the start of summer — and the arrival of hot and sunny weather in Western Pennsylvania — local attractions are welcoming visitors after many were closed, or delayed their opening days, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, which usually welcomes guests in early May, will open to the public beginning on July 11 — but at the 121-year-old amusement park and elsewhere, things will look and be quite different this year.
For one thing, advance registration will be required, said Nick Paradise, director of public relations at Kennywood. Guests who want to visit Kennywood must RSVP at the park’s website, kennywood.com. The park also suggests having alternate dates in mind, in case the preferred date is already booked to capacity.
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