UPMC: Kelly Center Demolition Begins Soon

March 04, 2024 |

By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Announcements

Built in the early 1960s to house the hospital’s School of Nursing, the Kelly Center at UPMC McKeesport is being demolished this month. (Tube City Almanac photo)

Demolition of the J. Clarence Kelly Center at UPMC McKeesport will free up space on the hospital campus for future reuse, a spokeswoman for the health system said.

The six-story building, constructed in 1963-64 as a dormitory and classroom building for the former McKeesport Hospital School of Nursing has been completely vacant since 2017 and was used only for meeting space prior to its closure, said Sarah Deist, senior manager of public relations for UPMC McKeesport, UPMC East and other hospitals.

The windows were removed last week. Deist said the demolition is expected to be complete by the end of summer.

No disruption to hospital operations is expected and while there will be temporary parking restrictions near the construction area, no long-term inconveniences are expected, Deist said.

 
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League: Voters Will See New Mail-In Ballots

March 01, 2024 |

By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: Politics & Elections

This photo from the Bucks County, Pa., elections division shows the new yellow secrecy ballot that will be supplied to all Pennsylvania voters for the April primary. (Bucks County, Pa., official photo)

Learn more about mail-in and absentee ballots in Pennsylvania

With Pennsylvania’s primary election less than 60 days away, a nonpartisan group is stepping up the pace to educate people on voting by mail and by absentee ballot.

A redesigned mail-in ballot will debut statewide in April for more than 8 million registered voters.

The ballot materials are barcoded, so no individual voter can be identified, said Jessica Myers, who co-chairs the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania’s voter services. The new ballot also has graphics and updated instructions to help voters understand the mail-in process.

“The secrecy envelope has a yellow background with sort of a blue-gray colored watermark that says ‘Official Secrecy Ballot,’” Myers said. “There are some additional color coding and instructions on the outside of the envelope, including where the voters declaration is. It’s prefilled with a ‘2-0’ so that we have fewer people writing in their birthdates.”

 
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Renzie’s Main Pavilion Gets Major Makeover

March 01, 2024 |

By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

McKeesport city electrician Tom Rosso and Nate Graboski of the public works department replace lighting and wiring in a ceiling at Jacob Woll Pavilion. The heavily used facility is receiving a makeover with the help of Allegheny Regional Asset Funds. (Tube City Almanac photo)

There are no events scheduled at Renziehausen Park’s main pavilion this spring — but it's not for a lack of interest.

The heavily used Jacob Woll Pavilion is closed for a makeover that will include new windows, flooring, lighting, ceiling fans, sidewalks and other improvements. Funding for the $373,300 project is being provided by the Allegheny Regional Asset District, which is supported by the county’s 1 percent sales tax.

Work is expected to be complete before the summer, said Tom Rosso, McKeesport city electrician, who is serving as project coordinator.

 
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Advocates: State’s Pipeline Rules Need Update

February 28, 2024 |

By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region

Pennsylvania environmental groups want to see a new rule implemented to improve the detection and repair of leaks from gas pipelines.

The Keystone State has over 94,000 miles of pipelines used to transport natural gas.

Rachel Meyer  — Ohio River Valley field organizer with the group Moms Clean Air Force — said it’s important that the rule be finalized, to improve safety, and reduce climate-harming methane emissions.

She added that these pipelines can leak and pose a safety risk to nearby communities.

 
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NV Twp. Workers Thanked for Water Rescue

February 28, 2024 |

By T.J. Martin | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News

Three North Versailles Twp. employees participated in the rescue of an elderly woman who fell into Turtle Creek earlier this month and one was on hand at the township commissioners monthly meeting to receive their thanks. Afterwards, he thanked them for allowing him and his colleagues the opportunity to do so.

Merle “Bud” Pusey serves as a Code Enforcement Officer for North Versailles and is also the Assistant Fire Chief of the West Wilmerding Volunteer Fire Department.

On Feb. 15, Pusey said, he was in the code enforcement office in the township municipal building when a call went out shortly after 9 a.m. for first responders to assist a 75-year-old woman who had fallen into Turtle Creek near the 400 block of Airbrake Avenue in Wilmerding while she was taking a walk.

 
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Duquesne Comes Together to Support VFD

February 26, 2024 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News

A large crowd of Duquesne residents came out Saturday for a fundraiser to support the fire department. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)

Duquesne residents filled the Croatian Club on Saturday for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to benefit the city’s Volunteer Fire Department.

On the sunny cold afternoon, trucks from the fire department lined Grant Street and volunteer fire fighters welcomed patrons to the club. Duquesne fire Chief Frank Cobb said that he was enthused with the response from the community.

“Last year we sold out with 250 dinners, and we have prepared 350 this year. We hope to sell out again,” he said, perched in the corner of the dining hall.

 
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Stadium Closed to Public, Open for Activities

February 26, 2024 |

By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

(McKeesport Area School District official photo)

McKeesport Area High School stadium is temporarily closed to the public after a fight last week and several acts of vandalism.

Weigle-Schaeffer Memorial Stadium is still available for official school activities but the walking track and grounds are off-limits for now, said Charley Kiss, district athletic director.

An announcement on the district’s Facebook page Sunday night caused concern for residents who were worried that some serious incident had taken place.

 
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PA Still Lags Nation in Post-H.S. College, Training

February 21, 2024 |

By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region

(Source: Lumina Foundation)

Pennsylvania lags slightly behind national figures for the number of working-age adults who have earned college degrees or other professional certifications after high school.

New data from the Indianapolis-based Lumina Foundation tracks degree attainment, including professional training and university degrees. The foundation says that more than 54 percent of Americans have attained some kind of post-high school education. In Pennsylvania, the number is 53 percent.

The foundation’s research also said more can be done to close the equity gap, in the Keystone State and across the country. The report showed that although more than 50 percent of white Pennsylvanians have college degrees, the same is true of only 32 percent of Black residents and 30 percent of Hispanic residents.

 
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W.O. Welcomes Two New Police Officers

February 21, 2024 |

By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News

White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton (center) is flanked by the borough’s newest police officers, Gerry Athans (left) and Matt Cerasuolo, after administering the oath of office to the pair at White Oak Borough Council’s February monthly meeting. Both had previously been police officers in McKeesport.

Including the chief of police, White Oak now has 14 full-time police officers.

 

Students’ Mural Brightens Hallway at Hospital

February 21, 2024 |

By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Students pose for a portrait in front of the mural they designed and constructed for the oncology department in UPMC McKeesport. Left to right, Tyler Reigh, 16, of White Oak; Victoria Fast, 17, of White Oak; Christina Wos, 17, of White Oak; Ryenn Thomas, 15, of McKeesport; and Matthew Miller, 17, of McKeesport. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)

Students from McKeesport Area High School recently completed a 4-foot by 16-foot mural to beautify the hall in the Oncology Wing of UPMC McKeesport hospital.

Not only is the mural colorful, but it displays uplifting messages like “grow positive thoughts” and other encouraging phrases.

Mark Winowitch, director of facilities and environmental services for UPMC McKeesport, contacted art teacher Denise Bollman, and asked if her students would be interested in creating a mural; she accepted the offer.

The students’ mural project was under the direction of Bollman and commercial art teacher Lyndsay Brown. The students are taking classes in the MAHS Art Department and Technology Center Commercial & Advertising Shop.

 
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