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Filed Under: Announcements || By Submitted Report

June 27, 2014 | Link to this story

Free Swimming Lessons at Boyce, South Parks

Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report

Allegheny County will hold free swimming lessons for children ages 5 and older at its pools in Boyce, North, Settlers Cabin and South parks from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on the first four Tuesdays and Thursdays in July.

Classes for individuals with last names A-K will be held on July 1, 8, 15 and 22. Classes for last names L-Z will take place on July 3, 10, 17 and 24.

Pre-registration is not required. All lessons are taught by Allegheny County lifeguards.

For questions or additional information, contact the park where your child will attend lessons: Boyce Park at (724) 327-0338; North Park at (724) 935-1766; Settlers Cabin Park at (412) 787-2750; or South Park at (412) 835-4809. Information is also available online atwww.alleghenycounty.us/parks/swim.aspx .



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June 24, 2014 | Link to this story

The More Things Change

Category: History || By T.L. (Tim) Tassone


(This is the third of three parts. Part 1 appeared Sunday. Part 2 appeared Monday.)

There's a common and familiar phrase that all of us have heard so often throughout our lives: The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Each one of us, the graduates of 1964, can be the judge of that.

Just think about and reflect upon a few of those basically simple things that so importantly affected our lives as graduating students of MSHS and then, in contrast, reflect upon the vastly more complex things which have affect our lives now as we celebrate our 50th reunion. How the very sense, scope, and scale of our priorities have changed!

From the joy of savoring an Isaly's Klondike or thick chocolate real ice cream milkshake to the fear of sudden danger from a Richter Scale 6.0 earthquake, and from looking forward to enjoying a summer evening and a tasty Dairy Queen soft-serve cone to dreading the endless obligation to repay our heirs' student loans.

From slowly searching for basic information buried within our sets of Encyclopedia to using a mere touch of our finger tips to instantly access all the world's data of information on the web through Wikipedia.

And from constant craving to finally own the McKeesport must have classic British style of men's golf jackets, the "Baracuta," to the continuous curiosity regarding the curious ideology of the international TV broadcast network Al Jazeera.

(more)

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Posted at 8:50 pm by T.L. (Tim) Tassone | Click here and put your ad on Tube City Almanac!
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June 23, 2014 | Link to this story

FBI, Local Police Target Child Sex Trafficking

Category: News || By Submitted Report

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allegheny County officials and local police last week launched a major effort to put an end to child sex trafficking in Western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia.

Called "Operation Cross Country VIII," the effort resulted in 30 arrests, including those of three accused "pimps" and two adults accused of attempting to have sex with minors, said Scott S. Smith, special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh Field Office.

Names of the people arrested as part of the sweep were not released.

"Operation Cross Country has shown us with clarity that sex trafficking and child prostitution continues to plague our communities," Smith said. "Those who exploit children should know they will be sought out and brought to justice."

Monroeville and Pittsburgh police participated in the sweep, along with agents from the state Attorney General's Office and West Virginia State Police, among other agencies.

"These arrests send a strong message that it is unacceptable for women and children to be used to facilitate a criminal enterprise," Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. said.

(more)

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June 23, 2014 | Link to this story

A Long Way Since 1964

Category: History || By T.L. (Tim) Tassone



(This is the second of three parts. Part 1 appeared Sunday.)

When we graduated from McKeesport Senior High School 50 years ago, many of us seized the challenge as a priority, and prepared for college or technical school to seek a career. Others went immediately into the workplace to start a job. Some of us worked for a while before seeking the career that was best suited for our individual lives. A number of us decided to accept the equally challenging career to manage a home in the traditional manner of our parents' generation. A few of us chose not to ever lock into any one steady job or career of any kind.

Many of us sensed that we would have to continue to be further educated in order to progress with our most ambitious careers and lives. Some of us moved on to advanced specialty education degrees or advanced vocational certifications in our fields of choice. A few of us went on to earn the highest educational degree within our fields of interest and specialization.

Many of us chose to pursue careers whether as medical providers or professional athletes, teachers or scholars, artists or entertainers, lawyers or businesspeople, engineers or entrepreneurs, military or clergy, and scientists or technologists. Some of us chose to pursue the more traditional, yet equally challenging, career choice of staying at home and managing and raising a family. A few of us took the que sera, sera approach in terms of a singular career choice.

But whether we went on to college or trade school, started working at a job, maintained a home, or never really became rooted in any one particular vocational or skilled task, every one of us had our future opportunities before us --- to model, manipulate, and manage as we saw fit.

(more)

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Posted at 09:34 am by T.L. (Tim) Tassone | Click here and put your ad on Tube City Almanac!
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June 22, 2014 | Link to this story

Remembering the Class of '64

Category: History || By T.L. (Tim) Tassone


The evening was warm and pleasant --- it was Tuesday, June 2, 1964, about 6:15 p.m.

It was just about dusk, the sky tinged with that familiar orange glow and those muffled clanging sounds of the mills producing molten steel, every day. It was the important stuff from which the U.S.A. and the rest of the world built just about everything that mattered.

It was the same thing each and every day and night we never questioned as kids. That was a good and reliable thing. And it was quite a familiar thing to all of us as well as to our parents and grandparents before us.

It was as it always was.

There we were, sitting rather restlessly on the well-worn wooden and well-weathered metal bleachers of the eventually defunct and demolished World War Memorial Stadium at the foot of the original (and traditional) old "Tech High" building. That's now the site of Twin Rivers complex -- a community-centric educational combination of McKeesport Area School District Primary/ Intermediate Schools.

(more)

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Posted at 08:00 am by T.L. (Tim) Tassone | Click here and put your ad on Tube City Almanac!
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June 20, 2014 | Link to this story

Reader's Viewpoint: Kennedy vs. Obama

Category: Another Viewpoint || By Submitted Report

Opinions expressed in editorials and commentaries are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Tube City Community Media Inc. or its directors. Responsible replies are welcomed.

Reader David H. writes regarding President Kennedy's visit to McKeesport:

Thank you for putting the article and links online. In light of all that has happened in the past 52 years, it's good to know how things once were.

Then, our labor and industrial production might were valued by Washington politicos. This week, President Obama came to Pittsburgh and totally ignored the issue of steel tube dumping by foreign manufacturers.

Even if one chooses to do nothing, it is still a choice.

And when the issue is enforcing laws designed to protect American taxpaying companies and workers from predatory pricing strategies and foreign government subsidized products our so-called "leaders" have proven to be clueless, gutless wonders.

The article proves that the more things change, the more they stay the same. The history proves that when all is said and done, more will be said than done.

Western Pennsylvania has been on the short end of the government stick since the Whiskey Rebellion.

Opinions expressed in commentaries are those of individual authors, and are not necessarily those of Tube City Community Media Inc., its volunteers or directors.

Tube City Community Media is committed to printing viewpoints from residents of McKeesport and the surrounding area. To submit a commentary, email tube city tiger at gmail dot com, or write to Tube City Online, P.O. Box 94, McKeesport 15134.



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June 19, 2014 | Link to this story

A High-Handed Authority

Category: Commentary/Editorial || By

Opinions expressed in editorials and commentaries are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Tube City Community Media Inc. or its directors. Responsible replies are welcomed.

. . .

A lot has happened since we wrote an editorial June 9 about the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County's plans to demolish the remaining portion of the old water treatment plant near the 15th Avenue Bridge.

Our editorial, and the Daily News story on which it was based, sparked a movement on Facebook and Twitter (hashtag "#savemckeesporthistory") by White Oak artist Jenni Dangel to get the municipal authority to halt its demolition plans to see if the building could be reused.

A public meeting about the roundhouse (and historic preservation) will be held at 7 p.m. June 25 at McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center.

In the meantime, the MAWC, which provides water service to McKeesport, Port Vue and surrounding areas, has put on a clinic on "how not to respond to public concerns."

There has been a feeling over the years in McKeesport that the MAWC, which purchased the city's water system in the 1980s, treats the Mon-Yough area as an unwanted stepchild.

There also have been accusations over the years from the Post-Gazette --- see, for instance, Rich Lord's 2010 series of articles, "The Network" --- that the MAWC is run for the benefit of a clique of Greensburg and Mon Valley "insiders" with little outside input, and --- from the Tribune-Review, among others --- that it's tone-deaf to its customers.

I'm afraid that the MAWC's behavior over the past week has done little to dispel those suspicions.

(more)

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June 13, 2014 | Link to this story

Health Department Seeks Public Input

Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report

The Allegheny County Health Department is conducting a community health assessment and seeking input from the public to help identify the most important factors affecting the health of county residents.

"The health assessment is part of our effort to pursue national accreditation and a critical first step toward making Allegheny County the healthiest county in America," Health Director Dr. Karen Hacker said.

The public can provide its input on the selection of health indicators to be used in the health assessment by visiting the Health Department's web site, www.achd.net/survey.html, from now until June 30.

Participants will be asked to select the 10 most important health indicators and rank them from one to ten. There are 43 health indicators to choose from and a section for specifying health concerns not listed.

(more)

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June 13, 2014 | Link to this story

Local Book Tells 'Forgotten' Civil War Tales

Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report

This morning on WEDO (810), we talked to Ernie Spisak of Chalfant, who has written a book called "Pittsburgh's Forgotten Civil War Regiment," the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, comprised of men from Pittsburgh, the Mon Valley, Clarion County and the Altoona area.

You can order Spisak's book here: Pittsburgh's Forgotten Civil War Regiment: A History of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry



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June 12, 2014 | Link to this story

Good Neighbor Day Moved to June 19

Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report

Due to inclement weather, McKeesport's Good Neighbor Day is being moved to next Thursday, June 19, a spokeswoman said.



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June 09, 2014 | Link to this story

A Postscript to the Previous Editorial

Category: Commentary/Editorial || By

Opinions expressed in editorials and commentaries are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Tube City Community Media Inc. or its directors. Responsible replies are welcomed.

. . .

I know I'm going to catch some flak for the previous editorial: "Why should we want to preserve this old stuff? Just to look at it? Who cares! Move on, already."

Well, you don't preserve historic landmarks because they're "nice to look at." In fact, some of them aren't nice to look at. Instead, you preserve them because you want people to learn from them.

Americans just marked Memorial Day. Is Memorial Day simply to note the fact that people died in wars? No. It's to learn about why they sacrificed their lives for fundamental principles such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

What does a building like the water treatment plant teach us? According to Matt Bauman's excellent report, in 1908, McKeesport had a serious problem. Its water was so unhealthy that people were dying. But McKeesport-area residents got together and solved the problem.

(more)

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June 09, 2014 | Link to this story

In McKeesport, More History Bites the Dust

Category: Commentary/Editorial || By

Opinions expressed in editorials and commentaries are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Tube City Community Media Inc. or its directors. Responsible replies are welcomed.



Matt Bauman has been writing a history of McKeesport's old water treatment plant, a historic landmark that in the early 1900s eliminated the danger of typhoid fever as well as water so bad that it rotted through plumbing.

Now, he says, he might as well stop. McKeesport's passion for demolishing its history is about to claim another victim.

According to a Pat Cloonan story in the Daily News, the unusual round building under the 15th Avenue Bridge --- which in 1982 was designated a local historic landmark by Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation --- will be torn down this week by its current owner, the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.

Technically, the building about to be demolished was a "water softening plant." The other treatment buildings have already been torn down.

Bauman, a Liberty Borough native and a teacher in the McKeesport Area School District, was hoping to nominate the 1908 building to the National Register of Historic Places. "It has everything they're looking for in terms of significance," he says.

(more)

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June 08, 2014 | Link to this story

Train Derailment Closes River Road

Category: News || By

© 2014 Tube City Community Media Inc.



Crews from CSX Railroad and R.J. Corman are working to re-open the railroad's eastbound tracks through McKeesport after a train derailment at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

Several cars carrying scrap metal, steel and other freight jumped the rails as the train crossed the Youghiogheny River. River Road is currently closed between Port Vue and the city's Lower 10th Ward.

Two cars used for carrying coiled steel were left hanging from the side of the railroad bridge above the river. A crane was being moved into position Sunday afternoon to salvage the cars.

© 2014 Tube City Community Media Inc.

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June 05, 2014 | Link to this story

One Man's Poison is Another Man's Punchline

Category: Commentary/Editorial || By

Opinions expressed in commentaries are those of individual authors, not those of Tube City Community Media Inc.

So yeah, this Jonah Hill controversy/shenanigans. One word: CONTEXT. The movie-going public lines up to throw money at Mr. Hill precisely for his delivery of immature, vulgar, profane and rude comments. In fact, I'm pretty sure the same "slur" was used in a popular film, probably more than once. There's a reason it's called 'making fun of somebody'; because whoever isn't the target (and in the best circumstances, the target themselves) of the comment, generally find it amusing.

A second common use of 'slurs' is as a sort of jargon amongst groups of people, usually to imply an intimacy or bond between folks that share certain characteristics. It can be argued that the more 'offensive' the jargon is, the more it proves acceptance of the individual using/receiving it. Ironically, the use of the same word suddenly gains (retains?) a supreme level of insult when it's directed towards a 'non-member', or directed towards the group by a 'non-member'.

Or, as is more often the case, WHEN THE 'TARGET' HAS SOMETHING TO GAIN FROM TAKING OFFENSE. I'd be willing to wager that the person hounding Mr. Hill was overjoyed to get such a contentious sound bite --- think of the publicity (money)! Would any of us even know about the clip if all it contained was footage of questionable fashion choices? Of course not. If the Hound got the same comment from a non-celebrity I doubt they would have even noticed. Perhaps they would have muttered a profanity, scolded, shook their head, or maybe even smiled, but more than likely that would have been the end of it.

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June 04, 2014 | Link to this story

N. Braddock Police Seek Missing Man

Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report

North Braddock police are seeking the public's help in locating a missing person.

Donald Champion, 77, was last seen Monday morning on Lobinger Avenue in that borough.

Police said Champion is suffering from dementia and may have boarded a bus and gotten lost. He is African-American, 5-foot-6 and weights 130 pounds. He may be in Braddock, Wilkinsburg or McKeesport.

Anyone who may have information is asked to call 9-1-1 or North Braddock police at (412) 351-4900.



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June 02, 2014 | Link to this story

Doyle Angered By News of McKeesport Layoffs

Category: News || By Submitted Report

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle reacted angrily today to the announcement that U.S. Steel will stop production at its McKeesport Tubular Operations facility.

"This is devastating news for our community, especially the workers who are being laid off," said Doyle, Forest Hills Democrat, whose district includes the Mon-Yough area.

Doyle said his office, along with U.S. Steel and the United Steelworkers union, has been urging U.S. trade agencies to fight back against illegal dumping of foreign-made pipe and tube "for a year now." But, he said,the Obama administration's response has been "completely inadequate."

"My heart goes out to those workers and their families, and I promise them that I will do everything in my power to get the McKeesport facility back up and running," he said. "This is just the latest example of foreign trade practices hurting American manufacturers and destroying American jobs."

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June 02, 2014 | Link to this story

Reader Viewpoints: U.S. Steel layoffs in McKeesport

Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Submitted Reports

Readers react to news that U.S. Steel will layoff workers at McKeesport Tubular Operations and idle the plant "indefinitely." More reaction is available on our Facebook and Twitter feeds.

. . .

I am an employee of the mill since 2008. My father worked here for a long time and I was proud to continue on his path.

I am a single mom who counted on having a future here with U.S. Steel and was proving a great future for my son. With this news today it breaks my heart not only that I can't follow my fathers path he led me to, but this leaves me in a bind with being the only support for my son.

Unfair trade is the reason. Sad day for the U.S. Steel families!

(Name withheld)

. . .

I am sending this email on behalf of the employees that work for U.S. Steel Tubular Products.

How on Earth did this happen? I thought Reaganomics was over. We live in America, one of the richest countries in the world with some of the brightest people in the world and we are depending on foreign trade!

For what? To save a penny. If we make American products with American materials, we wouldn't need foreign trade now would we? How much fight did our government have? Why did they give up on the working class people of America? Why are we funding foreign companies to give us what we already know how to make?

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June 02, 2014 | Link to this story

Pipe Mill 'Idled'; U.S.S., Workers Blast 'Unfair Trade'

Category: News || By


(Photo by "Joseph A" via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons.)

. . .

UPDATES:
  • Doyle blasts Obama administration, trade officials; calls their actions "completely inadequate": MORE

  • Readers dismayed, angry about U.S. Steel layoffs in McKeesport: MORE

The city's iconic pipe mill --- one of the last remnants of McKeesport's legacy as the world's largest producer of steel pipes and tubes --- will be closed indefinitely, U.S. Steel announced today.

A U.S. Steel spokesman said McKeesport Tubular Operations and a plant in Bellville, Texas, will close in early August. Altogether, a combined 260 people will be laid off at both plants, including 45 management employees and more than 200 unionized steelworkers.

The company blamed "unfairly traded tubular products imported into the United States" for the shutdowns.

. . .

U.S. Steel is calling the shutdowns "an idling," indicating that the plants can reopen if conditions improve.

"U.S. Steel remains fully committed to the tubular products business and to serving our tubular customers," said Mario Longhi, president and CEO. "While these are difficult decisions, they are necessary in order to return our company to sustainable profitability and position us for future growth.

"We will continue to fight unfair trade by foreign competitors who are creating a detrimental impact and threat to middle-class paying manufacturing jobs," Longhi said.

. . .

The company and members of the United Steelworkers union held a rally in Munhall on May 18 asking for help from the federal government in blocking foreign companies from "dumping" their products on the U.S. market --- selling them below their production cost in order to hurt U.S. steel companies. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle and state Sen. Jim Brewster were among the speakers at the rally.

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