Serra’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ is a Family Affair

April 03, 2019 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

Dancers rehearse a tap number, under the direction of Serra graduate Cassie Fedor, who returned to her alma mater to choreograph the show. (David P. Adams photo, special to Tube City Almanac)

If you go...

“The Wizard of Oz”
Serra Catholic High School
200 Hershey Drive (Haler Heights)
McKeesport
7 p.m. April 3-6

Tickets: $8 for adults, $5 for students, available by calling the school office at 412-751-2020, or at the door.


If Dorothy Gale had as many family connections as the cast, crew -- and even the director -- have called upon to help produce Serra Catholic High School’s spring musical, she may never have left Kansas.

In “The Wizard of Oz,” which opens today and runs through April 6, siblings are cast as leads, a Serra grad returns as choreographer and gets to work with her brother, while Ryan Gedman’s brother creates his Tinman costume and paints sets.

Although Alani and Abby DiLonardo have performed in previous Serra musicals, this is the first time they have shared some serious stage time.

Alani is Dorothy, while Abby is the Cowardly Lion. Savino DiLonardo is part of the elementary ensemble.

 
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Board ‘Taking Steps’ Toward Possible Black Student Union

April 03, 2019 |

By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

A soft-spoken seventh grader and a respected community leader last week told the McKeesport Area School Board they support the creation of a black student union.

The concept was first discussed in detail at the Feb. 27 board meeting.

During the public comment portion of the board's monthly meeting, Stephanie, a seventh-grade student, told the board that a black student union would help provide kids with skills in dealing with the consequences of their actions.

“You may ask why we want it,” she said. “It's not that we want it, we need it. It teaches kids right from wrong. If you take that away from us, we have nothing.”

 
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CMU Students Tour Mon Valley, Tube City Center

April 03, 2019 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Graduate students from the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University toured the Mon Valley on Saturday as part of a project to study technological challenges to redeveloping the region.

Led by Rick Stafford, distinguished service professor of public policy, the students in the course titled "Societal Consequences of Technological Change" visited sites in Braddock, Duquesne and McKeesport, stopping for lunch at the Tube City Center for Business & Innovation (the former McKeesport Daily News Building).

 
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Area Man Charged With Soliciting Minors Online

April 02, 2019 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News

A former school bus driver has been jailed after state investigators alleged that he tried to solicit a juvenile for sexual activity.

Todd M. Murray, 55, who investigators said has addresses in Port Vue and Elizabeth Twp., is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing April 10 before Magisterial District Judge Beth S. Mills in Forward Twp.

Murray was charged with dissemination of pornography to minors, corruption of minors, unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a communication facility.

The bus company for which Murray worked, Pennsylvania Coach Lines, has cooperated fully with investigators, said a spokesman for state Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

 
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Work Begins on Homestead-Duquesne Road Paving Project

April 02, 2019 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News

Crews from A. Folino Construction of Oakmont began work Tuesday to repair and repave Homestead-Duquesne Road in West Mifflin.

The $2 million project is expected to continue through August, a county spokesman said.

The work will include repairs to concrete and drainage systems to approximately 1.1 miles of road between Homeville Road in West Mifflin and Grant Avenue in Duquesne.

 
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Reader's Viewpoint: Article on Church's Demolition Was a 'Scam'

April 02, 2019 |

By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Commentary-Editorial, Letters to the Editor

Reader Glen Jackson of McKeesport took issue with the March 21 article, "Wrestling Program Plans to Grow; Abandoned Church to Be Demolished," about plans to demolish the former St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church on Beacon Street.

In comments Jackson posted on Facebook and then emailed to Tube City Almanac, Jackson wrote:

"Is this [article] funded by [McKeesport Mayor Michael] Cherepko? It’s a scam article.

"Part of the deal of [Jim Miller of PWX] buying the lot so cheap was the fact of the church inclusion!

 
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Easter Bunny Breakfast Planned in NV Twp.

April 02, 2019 |

By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: Announcements, North Versailles Twp. News

North Versailles Twp. will host an Easter Bunny Breakfast for children, including an egg-decorating contest, on April 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the community center, 1401 Greensburg Ave.

Pre-registration is requested. RSVP to the Parks and Recreation department at (412) 823-6602, extension 104.

 

MASD Board Supports Changes to Cyber School Funding

April 02, 2019 |

By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

The McKeesport Area School Board has lent its support to proposed legislation that would change the way cyber-charter school tuition is collected.

At the board's March 27 meeting, the board approved a resolution in support of state House Bill 526 and state Senate Bill 34. If passed, the bills would require families to pay out-of-pocket tuition for their children to attend a cyber-charter school if a similar program was offered by their home district.

Paying cyber-charter school tuition can cost the McKeesport Area School District “possibly over a million dollars (for) some of the students who are out of the district, in other cyber-charter school systems,” Superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr. said.

 
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WO Mayor Praises Police, EMS for Response to January Incident

April 02, 2019 |

By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News

White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton praised the borough's emergency responders for their handling of a Jan. 2 incident.

At council's March meeting, Marton thanked White Oak Police Sgt. Dan Opferman and Officer Greg Smith, the McKeesport Police Department, Allegheny County police SWAT and their negotiator, and White Oak EMS's WOTAC team for working together to negotiate with an armed, suicidal man barricaded in a home in the borough.

 
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White Oak Preparing Pool for Upcoming Season

March 28, 2019 |

By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News

The bathhouse and pool roof replacement project at Heritage Hill Pool has been completed, White Oak Borough Engineer Ken Hillman reported at the March 18 council meeting. 

As expected, the project is finished in time for the pool's 2019 season.

Hillman’s report included a recommendation for council to authorize payments in the amount of $31,808.70 and $14,131.90 to Tennis Roofing, Inc. for completion of the project. Council approved the recommendation.

“This is the first roof replacement purchased,” Councilman George Dillinger said. “The original one on the building was from 1975. Things have to be repaired and (kept up).”

 
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