August 23, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Borough Community Day was a successful, well-attended event, Councilman Lou Bender said at Monday’s borough council meeting.
The annual event, which included an exotic animal show, performance by a local dance group, several musical sets and fireworks, drew many residents from White Oak and neighboring communities.
“Council sends a big thank you to Michelle Gessner and the White Oak Recreation Board for organizing the event,” Council President David Pasternak said.
A community–wide yard sale is slated for Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout the borough. A rain date is set for Aug. 26.
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August 22, 2018 |
By Josh Rizzo | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News, Sports
Easing into the 2018 football season won’t be an option for East Allegheny.
In what promises to be a schedule with plenty of obstacles, the Wildcats may face their two toughest tests before Labor Day.
East Allegheny opens the season at 7 p.m. Friday by taking on defending Class 1A PIAA champion Jeannette. The following week the Wildcats will go on the road to Steel Valley -- which is ranked in the top five in the PIAA in Class 2A -- for their Allegheny Conference opener.
“You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone in the state that has a tougher first two games of the season than us,” East Allegheny coach Dom Pecora said. “But we’ll show up every Friday ready to play.”
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August 22, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
Several structures targeted for demolition in White Oak as blighted and unsafe are receiving 120 day reprieves before council takes further action.
Of the six properties discussed at a hearing this week, five owners came forward and asked council for an extension.
Councilman Ken Robb said the owners of the following properties were granted the extension to bring their structures up to code: 606 New Jersey St., 738 O’Neil Blvd., 2420 O’Neil Blvd., 608 Osborne St., and 1828 California Ave.
Another property at 700 New Jersey St. was approved for demolition, but Borough Manager John Palyo said he believes council will hold off until the 120 days pass for the other properties.
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August 21, 2018 |
By Josh Rizzo | Posted in: Sports
Dylan Vaniel wants the fresh faces on McKeesport’s football team to settle comfortably into their new roles.
Seeing an across-the-board transition at the skill positions on offense has the 6-foot-2, 246-pound senior motivated to keep the new Tigers off their backs.
Helping McKeesport’s option attack move in the right direction -- and protecting quarterback Konota Gaskins -- isn’t something Vaniel will have to go at alone.
When the Tigers open the season Saturday afternoon against Erie High School at the Wolvarena in Turtle Creek, Vaniel will be flanked by center Brandon Brooks, a first-team all-conference selection, and junior guard Andy Mellinger, who was chosen for the second team.
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August 21, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr. is excited about the school year and said the McKeesport Area School District will hit the ground running when classes begin Wednesday.
Among new initiatives this year is a pilot program where all third graders will have one-on-one access to an iPad electronic tablet in their classrooms.
Besides enhancing the classroom experience, Holtzman said, the pilot program will help the district decide whether experiments with electronic tablets should be expanded.
“It will be costly,” he said. Because of the expense, deciding when and where to expand access to technology “is not always easy,” Holtzman said.
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August 20, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District has approved a dual-enrollment agreement with Mount Aloysius College to provide advanced placement courses for high school students.
The agreement with the four-year liberal arts school, based in Cambria County near Johnstown and Altoona, was OK'd by the school board last week.
While the district has AP college credit agreements with other schools as well, Superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr. said the Mount Aloysius agreement is an opportunity for students to earn college credits at a lower cost.
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August 20, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Local legislators will team up to offer free flu vaccinations, safety and health information, and outreach for veterans at an event Sept. 27 at the Palisades ballroom, Fifth Avenue at Water Street, Downtown.
The Senior Wellness & Safety Expo is sponsored by state Sen. Jim Brewster and state Rep. Austin Davis, both of McKeesport.
A spokeswoman said the free event begins at 10:30 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m., and will include door prizes and refreshments. A Mobile Veteran Outreach Van is scheduled to be onsite.
For more information, call Brewster's office at (412) 664-5200 or Davis' office at (412) 664-0035.
August 20, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Planning is underway for next year’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of North Versailles Twp.
At their monthly meeting, township commissioners announced that the event will be a week-long celebration beginning in late July 2019.
“We're looking for people to come and help us form a committee so we can start planning, so spread the word,” Commissioner Tracy Yusko said. “We’re hoping to get the community involved because it’s a pretty big deal --- it will be like a carnival.”
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August 19, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Ending weeks of rumors and speculation, McKeesport firefighter Kevin Kovach has been named the coach of the boys' varsity basketball team at McKeesport Area High School.
The appointment of Kovach, 39, came at Wednesday's school board meeting by a 7-1-1 vote.
“I had some sweaty-palm moments,” Kovach said after the meeting. “I didn’t know anything coming into the meeting today. I don’t know what happened behind closed doors.”
Board member Ivan Hampton voted against hiring Kovach, with Steve Kondrosky abstaining. Kovach will be paid an annual salary of $7,100 for the 2018-19 school year, replacing Gerald "Puddin" Grayson, who retired in June.
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August 18, 2018 |
By Charlotte Hopkins | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Above: Chuck Bray was born and raised in McKeesport and said he's never missed attending International Village. (Charlotte Hopkins photo special to Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport's 59th International Village got off to a rocky start this year due to a string of rain showers on the first day.
The muddy grounds at Renziehausen Park's Stephen Barry Field showed the aftereffects of the storm, but it didn't stop fans of the annual festival from joining in the festivities on days two and three.
The three-day event, which began in 1960, is run completely by volunteers, the majority of which are the array of churches playing tribute to the rich history of ethnic groups in America.
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