March 12, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School Board members will meet with people who have pressed the district to create a Black Student Union.
The decision came after former city councilwoman Fawn Walker-Montgomery and others urged the district during the school board's Feb. 27 meeting to create the group as a safe space for students to talk about racial issues, including a lack of African-American representation on the faculty.
“This is something I feel like I've been advocating for since I was in ninth grade at McKeesport High School,” Walker-Montgomery said, adding that “every time we want something for the black community it has to be a struggle.”
“We don’t want that this time, so that's why we came to you all with this,” she said. “Let's work together.”
School Superintendent Mark P. Holtzman Jr. defended the district's record and asked for examples of how minority students are being mistreated.
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March 12, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Letters to the Editor
(Tube City Almanac photo)
Reader Patty Wolfe writes regarding the March 7 story, "Residents Worried About Future Landslides on Haler Heights Street":
This is an outrage! The mayor said he finds a resident's comments "offensive" and also stated work began in November! I find his callous attitude offensive!
Why didn't work begin on June 12 --- the day after half of the road slid away?
This road houses two retired McKeesport firemen, the family of a deceased fireman, a retired McKeesport City Deputy Treasurer and a retired school bus driver (along with many others) who have lived there and paid taxes for 50-plus years!
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March 07, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Almanac photo)
Repairs to McIntosh Drive in McKeesport's Haler Heights neighborhood are expected to begin within 30 days, city officials said.
At Wednesday's meeting, council by 7-0 vote awarded a $316,125 contract to Geobuild LLC of Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, to stablize and rebuild about 122 feet of the street, part of which is down to one lane following a landslide in the 900 block last year.
But residents are worried that other parts of the dead-end street, located just above old Route 48, are also beginning to collapse. On Wednesday, one homeowner criticized city council and Mayor Michael Cherepko, saying they didn't act fast enough.
Harriet Siegmund said the McKeesport post office has temporarily stopped mail delivery to her and her neighbors, and, she said, she was told that city fire trucks can no longer navigate the partially closed street.
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March 06, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District will partner with the University of Pittsburgh on a research project about how to prevent violence among pre-teens, teens and young adults.
At their Feb. 28 meeting, school directors approved the district's participation in "Expect Respect Middle School: Preventing Severe and Lethal Violence Among Youth with Prior Violence Exposure."
The violence prevention program is part of a study being conducted at the University of Pittsburgh, said Mark Holtzman Jr., district superintendent.
“The university is doing great work in studying violence in Allegheny County, looking at violence as a disease, violence prevention, dating violence and criminal activity,” Holtzman said.
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March 06, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area school directors and staff took time during the February school board meeting to remember the late Debra Bertoty.
Bertoty, 46, of White Oak was employed in the district for 23 years as a learning support teacher at George Washington, Cornell and Centennial Elementary Schools and, most recently, at Francis McClure Intermediate School, where she was a life-skills teacher for third, fourth and fifth graders. She died Feb. 16 following a brief illness.
“Students and staff are struggling with the unfortunate and untimely passing of Ms. Bertoty,” said Mark Holtzman Jr., district superintendent. “She was a very important member of the McKeesport school district family.”
In other business, the board accepted a bid of $142,920 from Skyward Inc. for student management software. The package will replace the district's existing GoEdustar and ProSoft record-keeping system.
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March 06, 2019 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
(Photo courtesy Jeff Stitt/Mon Valley Independent)
Alazae, a 17-year-old pit mix who is currently residing at the White Oak Animal Safe Haven, Inc. was in attendance last week when the shelter was awarded a generous donation of over $28,000 from #1 Cochran Toyota in North Huntingdon.
“We are so thankful for the generous donation,” said White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton, who founded the no-kill shelter in September 2003. “This money will allow us to continue with our efforts in finding loving homes for many stray, surrendered or abandoned animals.”
More than 13,000 cats and dogs have been saved through adoptions and foster programs at the shelter since its inception.
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March 01, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
DJs Candy and Mike will spin the tunes on March 9 and 30 when American Legion Gen. Smedley D. Butler Post 701 in White Oak holds its next oldies dances.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and music continues until 11 p.m., a spokesman said. Admission is $5 and all proceeds benefit veterans' programs.
The legion is located at 2813 Capital St. For more information, call (724) 984-6611.
February 28, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Weekly meetings are now underway at 6 p.m. Tuesdays for North Versailles residents interested in planning the township's 150th anniversary celebration.
At the February meeting, Commissioner Tracey Yusko reported that the two-day celebration will include a parade on Aug. 1, followed by an event at the Pitcairn-Monroeville Sportsmen's Club on Route 48, including bands, fireworks, rides and activities for children, as well as food trucks and community tables.
Yusko said she expects the event will have “the feel of a community picnic.”
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February 28, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Jessica Adams, a Marine Corps veteran, is junior vice commander of VFW Post 8430 in East McKeesport. (Submitted photo by Michael P. Mauer, public affairs officer for VFW District 29.)
Veterans of any branch of the armed services are encouraged to learn about benefits for which they may be eligible, including housing, healthcare and home loans.
A veterans resource fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 30 at the East McKeesport Community Center, 539 Chicora Ave. The event is being sponsored by VFW "Hilltoppers" Post 8430 in East McKeesport and the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, and is open to any veterans from the Pittsburgh area.
According to VFW Post 8430 Junior Vice Commander Jessica Adams, the event is designed to be a one-stop shop for those who’ve served in uniform.
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February 27, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Water damage from sump pumps is causing concern for residents in North Versailles Twp.
During the public comment portion of the February meeting, resident Michael Frawley told township commissioners that he's never had a problem until a neighbor's sump pump was installed last summer, creating hazardous conditions.
“Five inches of water froze on the driveway causing my tenant to fall, requiring medical attention,” he said. “The water is running down my driveway, 24 hours a day --- it never stops.”
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