April 17, 2018 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
Paige Thatcher as Cinderella (right), tries to meet all the demands placed upon her. From left are Madette Kusic as Stepmother, Sarah Brammell as Stepsister Portia and Abby DiLonardo as Stepsister Joy.
Although the ladies are thrilled that the prince is giving a ball, the king’s really the one paying for it and has some financial concerns when Serra Catholic High School presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical version of “Cinderella.”
The musical opens Wednesday (April 18) and continues nightly at 7 p.m. through Saturday (April 21).
“‘Cinderella’ was a good choice for us because Serra Catholic has never performed this musical,” director Jesse Bush said. “Since I’m new here, I decided to pick a show I’m familiar with to help me get to know the students.”
Bush said Serra’s “Cinderella” is the fourth high school musical he has directed. In addition to his director duties, he teaches music, music appreciation, and is the band and choir director.
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April 17, 2018 |
By Tyler Pack | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Photo courtesy Healthy Village Learning Institute)
History tells us much. But the past is just one part of the story. The present and future are equally important. Organizations that understand this and build upon it are able to most successfully serve their communities.
The Healthy Village Learning Institute in McKeesport is an example of an organization that takes a holistic approach to lifting up its members and the entire community.
Located in the former St. Pius V. Catholic School on Versailles Avenue, the building overlooks much of the community. It also shares the lower level with a fitness organization called Akwaaba Fitness. Akwaaba is the Ghanaian word for “welcome.”
The Healthy Village Learning Institute has just celebrated a milestone fifth anniversary. But the concept and the work to create it began long ago. The founder, Keith Murphy, has made it a nearly two-decade labor of love.
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April 16, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
Residents of Duquesne are being invited to attend a town hall meeting to learn about happenings in the city.
The special meeting is slated for 6 to 8 p.m. April 25 in the Duquesne School District Auditorium on Kennedy Avenue.
Mayor Nickole Nesby will be there to answer questions, listen to ideas and hear comments about the city, programs, developments, service priorities and infrastructure needs.
Residents are encouraged to attend, join the discussion and get involved.
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April 16, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Council has appointed John Rushford as the municipality's new solicitor.
A senior attorney at Cafardi, Ferguson, Wyrick, Weis & Stotler, Rushford has more than 20 years' experience representing municipal governments.
The appointment was made at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Mayor Nickole Nesby said she was happy council made the appointment. “John has represented public and private entities in all areas related to governmental affairs including contract negotiations, grievance arbitration, personnel matters, constructions issues, tax assessment appeals, zoning (and) planning and development issues,” she said.
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April 13, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A state agency has awarded $300,000 to construct two new homes in the city's Library and Cultural District, and make improvements to 10 existing owner-occupied homes.
The award was one of 137, totalling $26.6 million statewide, announced Thursday by the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund.
"PHARE" money comes from a variety of sources, including real estate transfer taxes and marcellus shale gas drilling fees, and supports housing and community development initiatives in low and moderate income communities.
In addition to the Carnegie Library of McKeesport, the Seventh Ward neighborhood is also home to several churches, Twin Rivers Elementary School, the McKeesport Little Theater and other assets.
“Providing affordable homes is essential in helping our families and communities thrive,” state Rep. Austin Davis said. “Not only will this grant truly help those in need, but it will also sustain the pride of our artistic corridor.”
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April 13, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
(UPDATED with additional information from arrest warrant and indictment.)
Two local men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges they tampered with railroad signals.
The indictment, unsealed Wednesday, accuses William C. Brown, 24, of Elizabeth and Brandon E. Peck, 24, of Glassport of damaging railroad signals and equipment, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said in a prepared release.
According to the indictment, federal prosecutors claim that Brown cut cables on railroad signal antennas on a CSX equipment shack on Nov. 1. Prosecutors further claim that Brown and Peck returned the following day to remove the antennas.
Federal officials did not say where the incident occurred, but that it happened on a CSX Railroad line that is also used by Amtrak, within Allegheny County.
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April 13, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News
Duquesne area youth are invited to participate in a spring egg hunt Saturday at Memorial Park on Polish Hill.
Preparations for the activities will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. The hunt for eggs will be from 12 to 1 p.m.
The event is sponsored by the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys and Girls Club and PRIDE (People Residing in Duquesne Equally).
“The annual Easter egg hunt has been an activity in our city for the past 20 years,” said Patricia Bluett, director of the Boys and Girls Club. “This year it will be referred to as the spring egg hunt.”
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April 13, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
An employee of the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County is meeting today with property owners who were affected by a water main leak near Renziehausen Park.
Matt Junker, authority spokesman, said most of the damage seemed to be to external landscaping.
"We will have a contractor out there to clean up the yards and make landscape repairs as the weather permits," Junker said Friday.
MAWC crews were replacing a valve on a 16-inch water main on Palm Street Thursday morning when a nearby 12-inch line began to leak, the authority said.
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April 12, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A water main near Renziehausen Park began leaking Thursday morning, flooding several homes and leaving parts of Haler Heights, the 11th Ward and Versailles Borough with low or no water pressure.
The incident happened just before 10:30 a.m. in the 700 block of Palm Street as crews from Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County worked to install a new valve on a 16-inch water main, said Matt Junker, authority spokesman.
"When the new valve was installed, a sleeve that holds it to the pipe shifted, causing a leak" in a nearby 12-inch pipe, Junker said.
The leak was isolated at about 2 p.m. Thursday, he said.
Homes in the area of Palm and King streets were flooded by the initial leak, and debris washed down onto Eden Park Boulevard, said Steve Kondrosky, McKeesport public works director.
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April 11, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
McKeesport and Allegheny County police are investigating a shooting Wednesday night that sent a 38-year-old man to the hospital.
A spokeswoman for Allegheny County police said that city police and paramedics were dispatched at 9:30 p.m. to the 2900 block of Palmgreen Street after callers reported that someone had been shot. The victim was wounded in the stomach, police said, and taken to a trauma center for treatment.
No details on his condition were available Wednesday night.
Homicide detectives were investigating, the spokeswoman said.
