August 04, 2025 |
By Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Miracle Kelley, Jurnee Murphy and Safiyah Allen-Crane are recipients of this year’s scholarships from McKeesport HBCU Vision. The non-profit supports local students who attend historically Black colleges and universities. (Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim photo for Tube City Almanac)
Three local students with plans to attend historically Black colleges and universities got a little boost on Saturday with help of a McKeesport-based non-profit.
During a ceremony in Wilkins Twp., McKeesport HBCU Vision presented $700 scholarships to McKeesport Area High School graduates Safiyah Allen-Crane, Miracle Kelley and Jurnee Murphy.
McKeesport HBCU founder and chief executive officer Denise Sinkler, an alumni of Clark Atlanta University, awarded a $700 scholarship to Allen-Crane, who will be a sophomore at the same school in the fall.
Kelley is a senior at Coppin State University in Baltimore and Jurnee Murphy will be a freshman at Xavier University in New Orleans.
Read More
July 31, 2025 |
By Stacy Alderman | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
New displays at the museum in Renziehausen Park place historic McKeesport items in their original settings, such as this area representing a typical 1930s home. (Submitted photo courtesy McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center)
If you go...
|
|
“History is Here” Grand Reopening
Where: McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center, 1832 Arboretum Drive, Renziehausen Park, https://mckeesportheritage.org/
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 2)
“Boom, Bust and Beyond” Program
When: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 3)
|
Tim Kunes has only been the executive director of the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center since March, but his first few months have been a whirlwind of activity.
A McKeesport native, Kunes retired from teaching in 2023 but soon grew restless. The urge to go back to work led him to the History & Heritage Center where his goal is to get the organization back in the forefront of the community’s mind.
Since taking his new role, Kunes has worked alongside board members and volunteers to prepare the museum in Renziehausen Park for its grand re-opening — including a new 3,500-square-foot exhibit space putting many of its treasures on public display for the first time.
“This reopening is a big step forward for us,” Kunes said. “So we want to put together presentations of all kinds.”
Read More
July 08, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport City Council has approved a contract to demolish another 20 blighted structures.
At this month’s meeting, council awarded a $319,500 bid for demolition/construction to Betters Company Inc. City officials said the list original had 35 buildings, but had to be trimmed down.
The contract includes demolition of houses on Abraham and Atcheson streets, one on Atlantic Avenue, four on Bailie Avenue, and properties on Butler, Craig, Erie, Freeland, Garbett, Huey and Jenny Lind streets; as well as units on Madison Avenue and two on Manor Avenue.
Also included are two on Maple Street, one on Shaw and two on Spring Street, and others on Stewart and Versailles Avenue, as well as Washington and three on Willow Street.
Read More
July 06, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
New McKeesport police Chief Josh Alfer shares a laugh with Senior Magisterial District Judge Thomas Brletic, a former police chief. (Thomas Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)
Four former McKeesport police chiefs were in attendance Wednesday night when Josh Alfer officially sworn into office as the newest.
Alfer, a city native who has been with the department since 2006, had been serving as acting police chief since former chief Mark Steele retired in January. He had previously served as assistant police chief and as a lieutenant.
The new chief was sworn in by his father-in-law, Senior Magisterial District Judge Thomas S. Brletic. Brletic — himself a former McKeesport police chief — gave Alfer his badge with instructions, “Don’t tarnish it.”
The badge promptly fell to the floor. “I meant ‘don’t bring shame to it’,” Brletic added, to laughter.
Read More
July 03, 2025 |
By Leslie Savisky | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A two-alarm fire caused heavy damage June 15 to Cal’s Cantina on Eden Park Boulevard. (Leslie Savisky photo for Tube City Almanac)
Two weeks after a devastating fire at a popular city restaurant, there is no word yet on whether it will reopen.
Cal’s Cantina on Eden Park Boulevard was damaged by a two-alarm fire in the early morning hours of June 15.
According to McKeesport fire Chief Jeff Tomovcsik, the blaze was called in at 3:21 a.m. and extinguished 44 minutes later, at 4:05 a.m. Fortunately, the building was not occupied at the time and no injuries were reported.
The fire is under investigation by the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office, said Kasey Reigner, public information officer for Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services.
Read More
July 01, 2025 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Semper Fidelis Club members and officers pose with the scholarship recipients and retired state Supreme Court Justice Cynthia Baldwin. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Three outstanding local students received scholarships from McKeesport’s Semper Fidelis club.
At its annual “Salute to the Graduates” program, held at the Healthy Village Learning Institute on Freemont Street, Saniya Rivers, Santana Kennedy and Treyvon Bowling were recognized by Semper Fi. Established in 1919, it is one of Pennsylvania’s long-standing clubs and has a commitment to community service and scholarship awards.
Along with awarding scholarships, the club also makes donations to various organizations in the Mon Valley, contributed to the African American room at the University of Pittsburgh, and helped raise money for the Carnegie Library of McKeesport, chairperson Fawn Walker Montgomery said.
Read More
June 24, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School Board has approved a 2025-26 budget that holds the line on taxes.
At the June meeting, directors gave their OK to an $86.6 million spending plan that fixes property taxes at 20.96 mills. The vote came after nearly an hour of remarks concerning the end of a three-year financial partnership between the district and the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation.
Conversation preceding the vote was brief. School Director Josh Lefcowitz praised the efforts of district business manager Joseph Villella and fellow School Director David Seropian in preparing and reviewing the document.
The annual task of passing and approving a budget is a “significant component of the board's responsibilities,” Lefcowitz said before remarking, “I think there should probably be a little bit more discussion around the budget.”
June 24, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
District Solicitor Gary Matta Jr., center, addresses questions from residents as School Board President Mark Holtzman Sr. and School Director Diane Elias look on. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
Parents and community leaders this month continued to press McKeesport Area School District officials on the end of a partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation.
At the June school board meeting, several residents asked pointed questions of board members as well as District Solicitor Gary Matta Jr., sometimes shouting them from the audience.
The conversation — lasting more than an hour — dominated the meeting.
Some residents asked whether Matta — whose firm Dodaro, Dalfonso, Matta & Cambest has worked with the McKeesport Area School District, on and off, for three decades — properly advised previous school directors in their dealings with the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation.
Read More
June 20, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Four county pools will be open seven days a week, weather permitting. There is also a spray pad facility in Round Hill Park, Elizabeth Twp., shown here. (Allegheny County photo)
Allegheny County officials are warning residents to be prepared for dangerous conditions beginning Sunday and are opening cooling centers for people without air-conditioning.
The National Weather Service in Moon Twp. has issued an extreme heat watch beginning Sunday and continuining through Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid to upper 90s each day, but the humidity will make it feel more like 100 to 105 degrees, forecasters said.
The county has declared its first-ever Code Red Heat Advisory as a result.
Read More
June 18, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
New McKeesport police cadets currently attending the Allegheny County police academy include Ronnell Hunt, Devin Webb, Jaison Mikelonis, Francis Aguirre, Dontae McCarthy and Matthew Hurst, shown with interim police Chief Josh Alfer and McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko. (Tube City Almanac photo)
McKeesport has promoted a longtime police officer to the department’s command staff and added two new officers from other departments.
In addition, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said six people interested in attending the Allegheny County police academy have been named as cadets and will join the department following the successful completion of their education.
At this month’s meeting, Cherepko asked council to approve the elevation of Sgt. Josh Byers to lieutenant. Byers became a full-time McKeesport police officer following nine years with the Liberty Borough police department.
Read More
TM
