June 06, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Three new commercial spaces --- including a new restaurant in the city's East End --- have been given the go-ahead by McKeesport City Council.
At Wednesday's meeting, council by 6-0 vote approved recommendations from the city planning commission to approve the new restaurant on East Fifth Avenue and a site plan for a new office building on Walnut Street in the Third Ward, as well as a request to consolidate several lots at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Market Street, Downtown.
The identity of the new fast food restaurant's operator is a mystery.
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June 06, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The family of a McKeesport veteran whose name and U.S. Army service number are being used as decorations on a series of purses and handbags are considering legal action against the companies importing them.
Jennifer Sopko, granddaughter of Thomas Piotrowski Sr., 90, said her family has consulted an attorney specializing in intellectual property law and will decide what action to take.
Separately, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army in Arlington, Va., said government lawyers are investigating whether the use of the Army's trademarked name and seal, along with a veteran's service number, violated federal law.
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June 06, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Commentary-Editorial, Editorial Cartoons
* --- this cartoon was edited after publication to correct the quote attributed to William M. "Boss" Tweed (1823–1878), who supposedly told the editor of Harper's Weekly, "I don't care a straw for your newspaper articles; my constituents don't know how to read, but they can't help seeing them damned pictures!"
"For the past week, there’s been a feature noticeably absent from the editorial pages of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette — the political cartoons of award-winning cartoonist Rob Rogers.
"Rogers, who has drawn cartoons for the Post-Gazette since 1993, has seen six cartoons killed in a row by Keith Burris, who took over as the newspaper’s editorial director in March when the paper’s editorial board merged with its sister newspaper, the Toledo Blade. The cartoons included criticism of President Trump and of the NFL’s decision to prohibit players from protesting racial injustice during the national anthem."
-- The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 4, 2018
"I can't get into specifics here, but I felt that it was best under the circumstances to take some vacation days until issues with the Post-Gazette are resolved. I can't thank you enough for your support."
--- Rob Rogers, June 6, 2018
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June 05, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
The man who arguably made Andrew Carnegie a titan of the steel industry will be remembered during a free talk and book signing Thursday in Munhall.
Author Tom Gage (above) will sign copies of his book, "American Prometheus: Carnegie's Captain, Bill Jones" during the event at 7 p.m. at the Pump House, 880 E. Waterfront Drive.
The event is sponsored by Rivers of Steel.
Gage is a great-grandson of William R. Jones, the first superintendent of Carnegie's Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock and the man credited, at the time, with perfecting and refining the techniques of steel manufacturing.
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June 05, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Carnegie Library of McKeesport photo via Facebook)
Carnegie Library of McKeesport, 1507 Library Ave., will again serve as one of the sites for the 14th annual World Wide Knit in Public Day, a spokeswoman said.
Knitters, stitchers and crocheters of any skill level are invited to join with other crafters on the library lawn from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (June 9). A picnic lunch will be served. The event is free and open to everyone. For more information, call (412) 672-0625 or visit mckeesportlibrary.org.
In other upcoming events:
The library will mark National Gardening Week with a visit by Carol Korinko of the Garden Club of McKeesport at 4 p.m. Wednesday (June 6). Participants will learn to plant flowers, herbs and vegetables.
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May 31, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Above: A handbag with Tom Piotrowski Sr.'s name and Army discharge papers is being sold around the world by two companies. His family says the companies never got permission to use the image or his name.
The family of a McKeesport-area veteran was shocked to learn that two companies have reproduced his Army discharge papers --- and his name --- on purses and handbags made in India and sold around the world.
Thomas Piotrowski Sr., 90, currently resides in an assisted living facility in North Huntingdon Twp. His family hasn't yet told him what happened, but they want answers from Myra Bags, an Indian firm, and Chloe & Lex, based in Gig Harbor, Wash., which are selling the handbags decorated with Piotrowski's name and discharge papers.
The image was apparently taken, without permission, from an article written by Piotrowski's granddaughter, Jennifer Sopko.
"When did this start?" asked Piotroswki's son, Tom Jr. "How long have they been doing this? Did they manufacture 10,000 of these? 500? I don't know. And is he the only veteran they've done this to?"
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May 30, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Crews from Lutterman Excavating are tearing down a vacant building at the intersection of Sinclair and Ringgold streets in McKeesport after officials said that runoff and debris were falling onto the roof of city hall.
A.J. Tedesco, the city's community development director, said Wednesday the three-story office building is being torn down under an emergency demolition order.
A one-story portion of city hall abuts the building, which once housed doctors' offices.
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May 30, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
A water main break along Beech Street in McKeesport cut off service for an unknown number of customers Tuesday night.
But reports that a gas line was severed turned out to be exaggerated.
Matt Junker, spokesman for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, said water service was restored just after 12 noon Wednesday.
Crews repairing the water line did break a gas pipe at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, said Barry Kukovich, spokesman for Peoples Natural Gas in Pittsburgh, but it was not in service.
https://twitter.com/MMFlint/status/1001917369365692422
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May 30, 2018 |
By Josh Rizzo | Posted in: Sports
WASHINGTON, Pa. – If Serra Catholic’s baseball team could keep things close, Eagles coach Brian Dzurenda believed the offense would come eventually.
Surely it had to. All season, the Eagles’ offensive juggernaut bowled through opponents, pounding out 11.63 runs per contest en route to an appearance in the WPIAL Class AA final Tuesday night at Wild Things Park.
Solving Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic pitcher Ryan Feczko proved to be a different problem entirely.
In the end, Serra was denied winning its second WPIAL title in three seasons, falling to North Catholic, 5-2.
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May 24, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A McKeesport man led city police on a brief car chase Wednesday afternoon before being arrested at the home of his girlfriend.
Harry Hobson, 55, is charged by McKeesport police with fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless driving, careless driving, driving with a suspended license and failing to stop at a stop sign. A preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.
City police said an officer was monitoring traffic just after 12 noon in Myer Park when a car headed eastbound on Myer Boulevard failed to stop for a stop sign.
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