Filed Under: Cartoons || By
Category: Cartoons || By
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
White Oak and New Kensington have been awarded performance grants to support their recycling programs, state Sen. Jim Brewster announced today.
"The grants will provide these communities with the incentive to recover more waste through recycling," Brewster said. "This program promotes better practices for the environment as well as economic growth by expanding the recycling industry."
A grant of more than $4,700 was awarded to White Oak based on the 623 tons of material recycled in the 2011 calendar year and the municipality's population.
A $7,600 grant was awarded to New Kensington, Westmoreland County, which recycled more than 1,300 tons of material in 2011.
"The recycling performance grant program has helped many communities around Pennsylvania expand their recycling efforts," Brewster said. "I'm pleased two more municipalities will benefit from this grant."
This grant is in addition to the regular funds distributed by the Department of Environmental Protection to municipalities to establish and maintain recycling programs.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
The Home Gardeners' Guild is planning its annual Salad Bar Fashion Show at 12 noon on Saturday, Sept. 28 at McKeesport Regional History and Heritage Center in Renziehausen Park.
Tickets are $18. Proceeds from this luncheon benefit local civic and garden therapy projects, a spokeswoman says. For more information, call (412) 655-3469.
Category: News || By Submitted Report
The chancellor of Penn State Greater Allegheny, Curtiss E. Porter, announced that he will retire in December after 14 years with Penn State.
"The campus has benefited from his leadership, especially from his unwavering commitment to student success," said Madlyn Hanes, vice president for Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses. "Most certainly, our next campus leader will have a solid foundation on which to build. I will be working closely with the campus community in the months ahead in preparation for the transition in leadership."
During his tenure, Porter was instrumental in strengthening the McKeesport campus' overall educational experience and outreach for students, alumni, and faculty and staff. In 1999, Porter secured the first four-year degree bearing program at the campus.
He changed the landscape of the campus by funding and overseeing construction of a state-of-the-art Student Community Center. This $4.5 million structure was built to reinforce the idea of the campus being a beacon for development to the surrounding region and signify the strength of the Penn State land-grant mission to provide access to education.
Porter headed two successful capital campaigns, with receipts of more than $10 million in total, and secured the largest single campaign gift in the history of the campus in the amount of $2.2 million. He also directed the creation of a scholarship development event, All That's Jazz, now in its 10th year, which has raised nearly $600,000 for student aid.
In 2004, he supported an enduring and highly successful faculty initiative titled Teaching International, designed to promote greater awareness of global trends and civic engagement, and to broaden students' understanding of intercultural and international issues. The campus has led in the creation of international initiatives, including the recruitment of students from across the globe and successful partnerships with universities in India, Chile and Vietnam.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
The McKeesport Area High School Tiger Marching Band is hosting its annual Tournament of Bands Competition beginning at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Weigle-Schaeffer Stadium, 1960 Eden Park Blvd.
The event features food, basket raffles, merchandising and 10 of the best marching bands in the area. The McKeesport Tiger Marching Band performs at approximately 8:30 p.m.
Gates open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for students and seniors 65 and over. Children under three are free.
The event is presented by the McKeesport High School Band, Orchestra and Guard Boosters and Progressive Music. For more information, visit the band's website.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
Donnie Iris, Joe Grushecky, Etta Cox, Scott Blasey and other Pittsburgh-area favorites will headline an Oct. 1 concert to benefit McKeesport-based Auberle.
Huntington Bank is presenting the ninth-annual Voices Carry rock concert from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Stage AE on Pittsburgh's North Side. The event features 20 well-known Pittsburgh musicians who will donate their talent to raise funds for Auberle, a spokeswoman said.
Auberle, located on Hartman Street, is a nationally award-winning human service organization serving at-risk children and families throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. It was named Agency of the Year in the United States by the Alliance for Children and Families, the largest network of human services organizations in the United States.
The concert will be emceed by WDVE-FM radio morning show host Randy Baumann. Event performers also include Chris Higbee and Jeff Jimerson, and each act will perform with a four-piece house band led by guitarist Rick Witkowski and the Pittsburgh All-Stars.
"Voices Carry is Auberle's biggest event of the year and one of the most exciting events in Pittsburgh," Auberle CEO John Lydon says. "We are so fortunate that Randy Baumann and Pittsburgh's music legends donate their time to raise awareness about the work that Auberle does to change lives. It's a great, fun opportunity to celebrate with our supporters and introduce new people to the life changing work that Auberle does."
Category: Cartoons, Commentary/Editorial || By
A federal grand jury in December subpoenaed information from McKeesport about municipal garbage collection and the sale of scrap items following concerns raised publicly by local officials and a complaint referred to the FBI by the Allegheny County district attorney's office, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has learned.
The disclosure of the subpoena follows the announcement last week by the state attorney general's office that 16 people were charged in connection with what is believed to be a million-dollar Mon Valley gambling ring concentrated in McKeesport. --- Jonathan D. Silver, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
A popular highway connection between McKeesport and Pittsburgh will face some traffic restrictions as crews perform utility work.
A spokesman said workers from Underground Services Inc. are working on communication lines at the intersection of Mifflin Road and Lebanon Road weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sept. 19, weather permitting. Flaggers will be used to maintain right turns. Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling through the area.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
Allegheny County and the University of Pittsburgh will host a town-hall-style forum Oct. 2 where the public can hear experts discuss the implementation of federal health care reform.
"The Impact of the Affordable Health Care Act" will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Pitt's University Club, 123 University Place, in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood.
Seating is limited. Those wishing to attend should RSVP by Sept. 30 via email to William McKendree, or call (412) 661-1438.
A slate of experts will help untangle the complicated subject of online health insurance marketplaces, which will begin taking registrations Oct. 1. The marketplaces --- originally called "health insurance exchanges" --- will allow eligible uninsured individuals to select from among health insurance packages to meet the requirements of the Affordable Health Care Act.
"We are sponsoring the town hall forum because many people and employers have questions about the Affordable Care Act," said Joe Elliott, community programs manager for Allegheny Link to Aging and Disability Resources.
"It's a complex piece of legislation and the experts at the forum can answer many initial questions, including 'What do we do if our employer does not provide health insurance? Are we eligible for the marketplace? Will there be subsidies to make health insurance more affordable?'"
The panel discussion by experts and a question-and-answer session will offer the public one of its best opportunities locally to get answers to questions about the legislation, a county spokeswoman said.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
The ramp connecting Route 51 with Route 837 in West Elizabeth will be repaved Saturday (Sept. 14), weather-permitting.
In addition, crews will be working on Route 837 in West Elizabeth beginning Monday (Sept. 16) and continuing during daylight hours through mid-October.
According to Jim Struzzi, district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, to allow the work to occur, northbound Route 51 will be reduced to a single lane in the interchange area from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The work that begins next week on Route 837 will include patching and overlay of existing concrete pavement, concrete reconstruction, and updating guiderail, drainage, signage and pavement markings from Burnett Street in West Elizabeth to Mendelssohn Street in Clairton.
At times, traffic will be detoured, Struzzi said, and signs will guide motorists.
The northbound closure will occur between the Route 837 on-ramp to southbound Route 51 and the Route 51 off-ramp to northbound Route 837. The southbound closure will occur between the Route 837 on-ramp to northbound Route 51 and the Route 51 off-ramp to southbound Route 837.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
The Allegheny County Health Department is reminding WIC families that checks for the Pennsylvania Farmers Market Nutrition Program must be used by Nov. 30, or they will expire.
Pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and children 2 to 4 enrolled in WIC are eligible to receive $20 each in checks redeemable at participating farmers' markets for Pennsylvania-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. If they haven't already done so, eligible families should contact their WIC office or (412) 350-5801 to arrange pickup of their checks and get a list of farmers' markets where they can be redeemed.
Checks are still available for qualified families until Sept. 30, while supplies last.
Officials suggest using the checks before Thanksgiving, since most farmers' markets close for the season before the holiday.
Category: Sports || By Submitted Report
Athletics at Penn State Greater Allegheny are off to a strong start for the 2013-14 year.
The McKeesport campus' men's soccer team scored five goals against Penn State Schuylkill on Sunday to take their first conference win of the season.
Two of the goals were scored by sophomore forward Ghana Phuyel. First-year student goaltender Michael Anderson faced 12 shots on goal, stopping nine of them.
The Greater Allegheny Lions were able to take 31 shots on Schuylkill's defense, contributing to the win. Greater Allegheny's next match will be at Westmoreland County Community College at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Category: Events || By Submitted Report
Penn State Greater Allegheny is looking north this academic year.
The McKeesport campus' "Teaching International" program will focus its 2013-14 world programming on Canada, with an accompanying theme of global health, a spokeswoman announced.
The first speaker in the fall will be anthropologist Greg Bondar, who will present "Vikings in Canada: The Failed Vinland Colony," from noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 17, in the Ostermayer Room in the Student Community Center.
Bondar has been teaching at Penn State for 20 years in anthropology, archaeology and related disciplines. In archaeology, his research in geochemically tracing stone tools has taken him around the north Atlantic from Georgia to Newfoundland and Britain, and to Iceland and Scandinavia.
Starting with Teaching Haiti in 2004, Penn State Greater Allegheny each year adopts a country or region of the world through its Teaching International program as a common focus to inspire teaching and scholarship.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
Homestead-Duquesne Road in Munhall will be closed for more than three months so that crews can stabilize a slope that has collapsed part of the roadway.
Allegheny County Public Works announced the closure of the road between Franklin Street and Duquesne Avenue. A landslide has damaged a stormwater inlet and part of the road. The project to stabilize the slope along Homestead-Duquesne Road will begin with the construction of a retaining wall extension and is expected to be completed in early December.
The posted two-mile detour will take drivers over Main Street and Brierly Lane, a spokeswoman said.
Category: General Nonsense || By
I was told that I should be doing more promotion of our store. So, here's our store.
We have shirts, coffee mugs, stickers, a license plate frame and other stuff. We don't have much control over the prices set by CafePress, but we do receive 50 cents to $1 from any item sold.
I have to admit, some of the designs are pretty stale and out of date. What new items or designs would you like to see?
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By
Commentaries reflect the viewpoints of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Tube City Community Media Inc., its directors, contributors or volunteers. Responsible replies are welcome.
. . .
It's no big deal, they tell me: The indictment by a state grand jury of 16 McKeesport-area residents --- including a city councilman, a police chief and a retired police lieutenant --- on charges of running video poker machines.
Some of my friends and family members are telling me that the video-poker machine laws are antiquated at best, and hypocritical at worst. After all, the state runs two lottery drawings a day. The casinos in Pittsburgh and Washington County run slot machines. Off-track horse betting is legal in Pennsylvania, too.
But when a private business owner runs the same kind of a machine --- on which they pay an amusement license fee to their local city, borough or township --- it's against the law. Why?
. . .
Besides, who amongst us hasn't bought a raffle ticket, or a strip ticket, or put a couple of bucks into a football pool? After all: Everybody does it. It's no big deal.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
The McKeesport Little Theater Second Stage Players will start their new year of classes at 7 p.m. Sept. 12. A parent must attend the first meeting.
The MLT Second Stage Players is open to students from 5th grade through 12th grade. Entering 5th graders MUST be able to read at the 5th grade level. If you are new to the group, please call Dorothy Fallows at (412) 583-6737 to make an appointment to meet with her prior to your first class.
The group will be presenting "Shrek, The Musical" in January.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
McKeesport Art Group hosts artist Sue Levy at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16.
Levy was born and raised in Ohio. She always had an interest and love for art from the time her mother, an artist herself, taught her to draw.
She moved to Pittsburgh in 1960 to continue her art education at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, specializing in fashion illustration. After graduation she did illustrations for several small local publications.
After working in oil, pen and ink and acrylic medium for many years, she decided to try watercolor in 1984. Although she does still work in the mentioned mediums, watercolor seemed most rewarding to her. "I love to paint, especially historical buildings and locations," Levy says. "I strive to invite the viewer into my paintings, and hopefully I am able capture a memory of a place or time for the viewer. I also love to do house and animal portraits."
Levy's paintings have been shown in various area galleries and in group shows. She has had solo shows at the Westminster Gallery, Gallery on the Square & Framers Gallery. Sue is a member of the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, Upper St. Clair League for the Arts, and McMurray Art League, where her work can also been seen during their shows.
Most recently Levy has begun teaching watercolor and loves to help those who also have a great love for art.
The meeting is in the art room of McKeesport Area High School and is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, visit the art group's website.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
McKeesport Area High School will honor its hall-of-fame alumni and its 1994 and 2005 state championship teams at tomorrow's homecoming festivities.
At 1 p.m., the McKeesport Tigers football team will face off against their longtime rivals from Woodland Hills High School.
Prior to the game, there will be tailgating in the parking lot from 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon. Tickets for the tailgate event are sold out, said spokeswoman Kristen Giran.
Events also will celebrate this season's return of George Smith as head football coach. There also will be a half-time parade and activities for kids.
For more information, visit the district's website.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
Carnegie Library of McKeesport offers afterschool activities for school-age children every second Wednesday at 4:15 p.m.
A spokesperson said next week's activity (Sept. 11) will be making no-bake cookies and a library scavenger hunt. Parents or guardians should register with the library no later than Sept. 9, so that the library will have enough supplies.
The recipe includes peanut butter, and if your child has a peanut allergy, please alert the library in advance.
Registration is done online at EventKeeper.com. The event will be held in the children's department at the main library, 1507 Library Ave. For more information, call (412) 672-0625.
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By
Commentaries reflect the viewpoints of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Tube City Community Media Inc. Responsible replies are welcome.
. . .
OK, show of hands. Who out there right now wants to "work together for a better McKeesport"?
Actually, a lot of people do. Ordinary people, church leaders, business owners, teachers, volunteers, cops, firefighters, and yes, elected officials. But at some point, we all start to feel like we're being played for fools.
We go to prayer vigils and town rallies, we line up dutifully and try to make the best of things. We make excuses for people. We apologize for the way things look.
And for what? So that we can be embarrassed time and again? What are we, jagoffs?
Yeah, we may be jagoffs, but I know what else we are: Disappointed. Angry. Disgusted. Worn-out.
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me every damn time ... well, it becomes easier to just walk away. Over the past few decades, tens of thousands of people have done just that.
It sure would be nice to see some ray of hope. But little birdies are singing, everywhere, that the bad news isn't over yet.
I'm reminded of the Tracy Chapman song: "Gimme one reason to stay here, and I'll turn right back around." A good reason to stay would be a general, top-to-bottom housecleaning, and a healthy dose of sunshine, and an admission that things are dysfunctional.
And the answer is not: "Everything's fine, it's just the media focusing on the negatives." Those of us who over the years have busted our asses, "working together," don't need the media to tell us where things are going wrong. Because slogans and signs aren't cutting it at this point.
. . .
Opinions expressed in commentaries are those of individual authors, and do not represent those of Tube City Community Media Inc., its directors, contributors or volunteers.
Tube City Community Media is committed to printing viewpoints from residents of the McKeesport area and surrounding municipalities. Commentaries are accepted at the discretion of the editor and may be edited for content or length.
To submit a commentary for consideration, please write to P.O. Box 94, McKeesport 15134, or email tubecitytiger -at - gmail -dot- com. Include contact information and your real name. A pen name may be substituted with approval of the editor.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
The 13th annual Inspire Christian Music Festival will be held from 12 noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Lions Club bandshell in Renziehausen Park.
Formerly known as the "All Day Gospel Sing," the festival is produced by city-based Well Ministries, spokeswoman Kris Rhoades said.
Featured acts will include Chalice, Gary and Stephanie Coddington, Gospel Illusions, Cross Vision, Abraham's Promise, Bob Fagin and God's Grace, the Scott Schmitt Band, Ed Lutheran, Thy Will Be Done, Heart-Beat and Daughters of His Grace.
Admission is free and refreshments will be available. Door prizes will be given away and there will be activities for kids.
In addition, entertainment will be streamed live, online at the event's website.
Category: News || By Submitted Report
State Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced charges against 16 people in connection with an alleged illegal gambling operation in and around the city.
Evidence was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the charges being filed today.
According to a press release provided to Tube City Almanac by the Attorney General's Office, those charged include city Councilman Dan Carr, McKeesport Area school director Mark Holtzman, and Ron Melocchi of the city recreation board, Kane's office said. Former city police Lt. Art Pero is also charged, Kane's office said.
A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Kane's office said.
Kane said the investigation began in October 2012, when the organized crime section of the AG's office obtained a wiretap on a phone being used by Melocchi. Through his company, Back Alley Vending of Glassport, the attorney general's office claims that Melocchi was installing, servicing and maintaining video gambling devices in bars, restaurants and other businesses in the Mon-Yough area.
The investigation eventually grew to include alleged illegal lotteries and sports betting, Kane said.
Category: History || By
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