May 01, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Photo special to Tube City Almanac)
Several lots that have been vacant since a disastrous Downtown fire more than 40 years ago could be the site of a new retail development.
The five lots at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Market Street, owned by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of McKeesport, have been purchased by area businessman Jon Stark, said A.J. Tedesco, the city's community development director.
Terms have not yet been made public, but Stark will ask the city's planning commission on May 16 to approve a proposal to consolidate the five lots into one.
Stark is a partner or owner of several nearby businesses, including Compulsive Paintball; a custom countertop company, Lexmar USA; and Legion Arms, all located on Market Street, less than a block away.
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May 01, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
(*CORRECTION -- This story was corrected on May 9, 2018.)
White Oak officials and managers of Heritage Hill Pool are preparing for the 2018 season.
At April's meeting, council established a rate of $60 per resident for a season pass or $100 for a nonresident.
The pool is scheduled to open May 28 (Memorial Day), and will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days per week, weather permitting.
Council is considering a request from the White Oak Swim Team Board requesting permission to place a storage shed on the pool grounds and to sell and hang fundraising banners on the fence of the complex. A decision will be reached at a later date, officials said.
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May 01, 2018 |
By Charlotte Hopkins | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Above: John Fischetti and Diane Brown are two volunteers at the Blessing Board. (Photo courtesy The Blessing Board)
A demonstrated need drew an Oakmont-based charity into the McKeesport area.
Now, after several moves within the city, The Blessing Board is open two Saturdays per month at 820 Market St., in a former auto parts store shared with First Step Recovery Homes.
The Blessing Board was established to help people who are struggling to furnish their homes. People who want to use it need only two things --- an appointment and access to a truck, said Amy Hehn, who sits on the board of directors and is a member of the Day of Blessings Team.
“We know they are here because they have a need, they do not have to prove that,” she said. “Here people can furnish their home with love and that's Gods love.”
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April 26, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
The annual White Oak Borough spring clean-up is slated for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (April 28) at the Heritage Hill Pavilion. Volunteers are welcome to participate and are encouraged to come at 9:30 a.m. to prepare for the event.
The purpose of the event is to remove litter and debris from roadside and to increase public awareness of litter problems in the borough, Councilman Lou Bender said.
Volunteers will be issued safety clothing and rescue and police vehicles will travel with groups to ensure safety.
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April 25, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
McKeesport native Brandon Short will deliver the keynote remarks at Penn State Greater Allegheny's second-annual Crossing Bridges Summit.
The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 2 at the Wunderley Gymnasium on the McKeesport campus. General admission tickets are free, but an RSVP is required. VIP tickets are $15. For more information, visit the university's website.
Short is a 1995 graduate of McKeesport Area High School, where he was a standout athlete, lettering in both basketball and football. He was part of the team that won a state football championship in 1994, and was named Associated Press Pennsylvania Big School Player-of-the-Year during his senior year.
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April 23, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Image courtesy Wrecksite.EU, the Internet's largest database of shipwreck information)
A ceremony and luncheon this Sunday will mark the 75th anniversary of the sinking during World War II of the S.S. McKeesport.
The event begins at 1 p.m. April 29 at Jacob Woll Pavilion in Renziehausen Park, a spokeswoman said.
The S.S. McKeesport, a merchant marine vessel, was one of 30 supply ships named for cities where U.S. Steel had large operations.
Built by U.S. Steel's Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. in Kearney, N.J., it was completed in 1919 and christened by Eleanor Cornelius, daughter of the general manager of McKeesport's National Tube Co. pipe mill.
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April 23, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton and borough council recently recognized the Carnegie Library of McKeesport with a proclamation in honor of National Library Week, April 8 to 14.
At council's meeting, Marton also introduced Colleen Denne, the recently appointed library director.
The White Oak branch of the Carnegie Library of McKeesport, located at 169 Victoria Dr., is open to the public 2 to 10 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
In other business, outgoing Councilman Sean Robb discussed preparations for the 2018 season at Heritage Hill Pool, and said the Parks and Recreation Committee recently met with the pool's management team.
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April 23, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Above: State Rep. Austin Davis, left, makes a point as state Rep. Paul Costa and U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle listen during Friday's legislative breakfast, sponsored by the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce. (Photo special to Tube City Almanac)
Although the Mon Valley is finally turning an economic corner, lack of good transportation to and from the region's "job centers" remains a obstacle.
That was the message delivered by elected officials and business leaders Friday during the annual legislative breakfast of the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce.
Several panelists mentioned the need for the long-delayed extension of the Mon-Fayette Expressway through West Mifflin and Duquesne, to provide major highway access to brownfields in the McKeesport area.
But transportation progress can't begin and end with the expressway, state Rep. Austin Davis said. "If you've seen some of the growth that has taken place in the city of Pittsburgh, in places like East Liberty, it's because of access to public transportation," Davis said. "It's been transit-oriented development."
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April 21, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
(All photos: Vickie Babyak, special to Tube City Almanac)
Teachers and staff at McKeesport Area School District are learning how to provide emergency help until first responders arrive at four "Stop the Bleed" sessions.
The third session was presented for employees at McKeesport Area High School on Thursday. Techniques were taught by representatives of UPMC Pre-Hospital Care and Trauma Care, as well as McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service and White Oak EMS.
"It's part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of our students," said Tom Bauman, associate principal at the high school.
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April 21, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Above: Matt McCracken of White Oak and James Williams Jr. of Duquesne help load discarded tires onto a truck for recycling Saturday in Renziehausen Park.
Volunteers, students and city employees collected hard-to-recycle items --- including TVs, computer monitors, tires and cell phones --- during an Earth Day event Saturday in Renziehausen Park.
"Respect Our City, Respect Our Earth" was open to all residents of McKeesport Area School District and was supported in part by the Angora Gardens Junior Gardeners, the McKeesport Lions Club and the school district.
"This was a great opportunity for residents to safely dispose of materials that would otherwise end up in alleys or over hillsides," McKeesport Mayor Mike Cherepko said. "We want to give people as many opportunities as we can to keep their neighborhoods looking good and their homes uncluttered."
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