May 30, 2023 |
By Elizabeth Laughlin | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak has honored one of the borough’s longest-tenured businesses on its 50th anniversary.
At the May borough council meeting, Mayor Ina Jean Marton presented Mark and Lois Novakovich, owners of Twin Oaks Lounge in Rainbow Village shopping center, with a proclamation recognizing its golden jubilee.
“Over the years, Twin Oaks Lounge has been a huge part of our community,” Marton said. “It has provided entertainment, dining, and dancing for our residents.” She also mentioned the ethnic events, political events, local organizations meetings, weddings, and funerals held by Twin Oaks Lounge.
Read More
May 27, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Commentary-Editorial
A bee gathers pollen from a dandelion plant. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Vickie Babyak of Dravosburg writes:
Every third bite of food that we eat depends on pollination, and bees — including honeybees — are among the most important pollinators for crops. But bee populations are declining worldwide, due to overuse of pesticides and environmental factors such as climate change.
Last Saturday (May 20) was celebrated by environmentalists as “World Bee Day.” World Bee Day commemorates the birthday of Anton Janša, born in 1734, who was a pioneer beekeeper from Slovenia. Janša learned bee-keeping from his father and made one of the first scientific studies of bees and their behavior. In 1770, Empress Maria Theresa appointed him head beekeeper for all of Austria.
World Bee Day shines a light on bees and their habitat so we can improve conditions for the survival of bees and other pollinators. This year’s theme was “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agriculture production.”
Read More
May 27, 2023 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School Board this week recognized pupils from United at Twin Rivers and Francis McClure schools who wrote winning essays for a contest sponsored by the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., program. Superintendent Tia Wanzo congratulated each of the students before encouraging attendees to applaud the group. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
An expeditious meeting of the McKeesport Area School Board this week featured an apology and recommitment to communal partnerships.
School Board President LaToya Wright told attendees she needed to share something “that’s been on my heart.”
The board recently enacted a policy that school directors would not respond directly to comments, complaints and accusations raised by the public during a meeting.
Wright said she has heard from the community that the board is opting to remain “ignorant” of serious concerns.
“I want to apologize to any community member if they felt ignored, or any ignorance from the board, because that was never the intention,” she said.
Read More
May 25, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, State & Region
(Tube City Almanac 2019 file photo for illustration only)
Allegheny County Economic Development is currently accepting applications for the 2023 round of the Blight Removal Program, a spokeswoman said.
Municipalities, public authorities, councils of government, land banks and private developers may apply for funding to remediate established blight conditions. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. June 16 and individual awards of up to $250,000 are available.
Approximately $1.5 million is available during this round of funding, county officials said.
Read More
May 24, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Minimally invasive surgical techniques have the potential to reduce recovery time and pain for people suffering from hernias.
Dr. Steven Ballesteros, a general surgeon at UPMC McKeesport hospital and UPMC East, will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of hernias using robotic-assisted technology during a free talk at 12 noon May 30. The discussion will be held online, a spokeswoman said.
This live, virtual presentation is free and open to the public. To register, visit UPMC.com/VirtualEvents. You must provide a valid email address in order to receive the registration link.
For more information, email communityoutreach@upmc.edu.
May 18, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News, North Versailles Twp. News
Allegheny County police are investigating a head-on collision Tuesday that killed a 65-year-old driver.
Police said the accident happened just before 3:30 p.m. under the George Westinghouse Bridge in North Versailles Twp.
Investigators said an SUV driven by a 19-year-old man was traveling west on East Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard, toward East Pittsburgh, when it crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound passenger van.
Read More
May 18, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Volunteers are needed this Saturday to help place American flags on veterans’ graves in McKeesport & Versailles Cemetery, a spokeswoman said. Please meet at the cannon near the mausoleum in the veterans’ section of the cemetery at 9 a.m. and bring a hammer with you, she said.
May 18, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Allegheny County Regional Asset Board has approved a $750,000 grant to the Carnegie Library of McKeesport to help transform a third-floor storage space into an area usable by the public.
The board voted Thursday to approve five grants totalling $3.8 million from a new Transformative Community Library Fund. Libraries in Braddock, Clairton, Homestead and Swissvale also will receive funding during this round of grants, a spokesman said.
The grant to the McKeesport library will enable the top floor of the 1902 building to be converted from a storage area into meeting space for public events.
Read More
May 17, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
(Additional reporting from Jason Togyer)
Incumbent McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko won Tuesday’s primary election, easily defeating two vastly different challengers for the Democratic nomination.
According to incomplete and unofficial returns from the Allegheny County Division of Elections, Cherepko is holding a 20-point lead over his nearest rival, Corry Sanders, 52. Joe Lopretto was in third place with approximately 17 percent of the vote.
However, an official tally may not be available until Friday. Two city precincts — Ward 8, District 4, and Ward 12, District 3 — have not yet reported complete results. Countywide, 29 out of 1,324 precincts have reported incomplete results, elections officials said.
Read More
May 14, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
The race for mayor of McKeesport has a great deal of intrigue, as voters will report to polling places in just a few days.
In many races throughout Allegheny County, including the race for mayor of McKeesport, there are no official Republican challengers. Barring a successful write-in campaign during November’s election, the winner of the primary will be sworn in as mayor.
McKeesport Mayor Mike Cherepko, 46, has been in office since 2012 and is hoping to secure the Democratic nomination on Tuesday. The Penn State University graduate was a fifth-grade teacher in the district before becoming an elected official. He touts his “Working Together for a Better McKeesport” as a successful motto.
In this year’s Democratic primary he faces two challengers who both emphasize their “outsider” status, Joe Lopretto, 58, a retired McKeesport police officer, and Corry Sanders, 52, a church deacon, barber and business owner.
All three candidates received an questionnaire with identical questions. In addition, reporter Tom Leturgey called Lopretto and Sanders on May 2 and May 12, and sent questionnaires to Sanders and Lopretto via their official Facebook pages.
Lopretto and Sanders did not respond to Leturgey’s phone messages or Facebook messages, though both have been using Facebook to share their campaign statements and positions.
McKeesport has about 17,700 residents as of the 2020 census.
Read More
TM
