August 06, 2021 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Two city firefighters sustained burns battling what a McKeesport deputy fire chief called an “aggressive” and “very, very hot” blaze at a vacant home on Versailles Avenue.
McKeesport police and the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office are investigating the fire at 3004 Versailles Ave., which Gene Esken Jr., deputy fire chief, said is suspicious in nature.
“The home has been unoccupied for several years,” he said. “There is no gas service to the house and although the electric meter was attached, there was no one living in the house.”
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August 04, 2021 |
By Siana Emery | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
About 80,000 workers have left the local labor force since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the area’s largest employers are finding it harder to fill vacancies.
According to a recent study by the Pennsylvania Economy League of Greater Pittsburgh, employment in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area in May 2021 was only 93.5 percent of what it was in May 2019. Of major American metro areas, only Cleveland, Boston and Detroit saw larger declines.
Experts blame a variety of factors, including health care workers who are burned out after 18 months of the pandemic and a lack of college students in the local job-training pipeline.
The problem in Pittsburgh is aggravated by two factors — a high percentage of older workers who were already near retirement age, and a stagnant and declining population base.
“There is evidence nationally that older workers have disproportionately dropped out of the labor force due to COVID,” said Chris Briem, a regional economist at the University Center for Social and Urban Research at the University of Pittsburgh. “The Pittsburgh region has a relatively older workforce, so if older workers were more impacted by COVID, it would make sense we are seeing concentrated impacts here.”
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August 03, 2021 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Participants in the 2019 “A Village for Kids” enjoy a game at Renziehausen Park. Along with the return of McKeesport International Village, the kids’ theme event is also returning on Aug. 9. (Submitted photo courtesy State Sen. Jim Brewster)
If you go...
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“A Village for Kids”
Where: Renzie Park Band Shell
When: Monday, Aug. 9 from noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine
Tickets: Free
Also available: Free Covid-19 Vaccines for ages 12 & up, administered by Allegheny County Health Department. Pfizer and J&J vaccines will be offered. County health department will return on Aug. 30 at the same time for people to get their second dose, where applicable. Walk-ups welcome, or pre-register at https://vax4.alleghenycounty.us/patient/s/
More information: Alison Piccolino, (412) 380-2242
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An outpouring of support from community groups and the partnership with International Village has made it possible for A Village For Kids to continue on Monday (Aug. 9) for the 12th year.
Both it and International Village were among McKeesport events canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“This event began as a celebration of International Village’s 50th anniversary and we’re still here,” said chair Alison Piccolino, who has been involved with the planning since the first year.
“We are partners with International Village and, after speaking with their committee and they were going with their amazing event, I got the go-ahead for Village for Kids,” she said.
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August 03, 2021 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Weather permitting, Tube City Online will broadcast live entertainment from International Village on Facebook and YouTube, and at our home page, www.tubecityonline.com. Coverage will begin each day at 5 p.m.
International Village, a three-day festival of traditional ethnic food, music and dancing, returns to McKeesport’s Renziehausen Park Aug. 10–12 after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some ethnic groups have elected not to participate after being unable to practice for health and safety reasons. (Tube City Almanac file photo by Denise L. Ritter)
When it’s 3:01 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10, longtime International Village emcee Mikey Dee knows where he’ll be — Renziehausen Park in McKeesport — and how he expects to feel.
“That’s when I’ll feel like we’re getting back to some kind of normal,” he said –- the minute after the ethnic celebration of traditional food, music and entertainment kicks off after a year’s hiatus because of COVID-19.
“I love the crowds. I love the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of the Village. I’m a big, traditional guy,” he said.
Dee said he’s been involved with International Village since 1990. In addition to his emcee duties, which he’s splitting with stage manager Patrick Fisher so he can perform with his own group Wednesday, Aug. 12 in the Jakomas Blue Top Pavilion, he’s the entertainment coordinator.
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August 02, 2021 |
By Matt Germaine | Posted in: Duquesne News
The Duquesne City School District will kick off the 2021-2022 school year with a new STEM Center, thanks in part to the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation.
Geared towards older students, the facility will join the similar “makerspaces” utilized by the district’s younger students. But teachers can reserve any facility if they feel it will enhance lessons related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, according to Jamie Schmidt, Ed.D., the district’s director of curriculum and instruction.
“We've found since we have implemented the elementary makerspaces, our students do well. They're most engaged in these spaces,” said Schmidt. “So teachers are looking for any opportunity to take their kids and really engage them in learning because the students love it.”
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August 02, 2021 |
By Sarah Turnbull | Posted in: Entertainment
Cast and crew of “Massacre Academy” celebrate the film’s premiere at the Lamp Theater in Irwin. (Sarah Turnbull photo for Tube City Almanac)
When director Mark Cantu was deciding on a topic for his next movie, horror seemed like the perfect choice.
“I’m a child of the ‘80s. I made my own horror movies as a kid, and the slasher films of that era have everything I loved as a kid, like practical special effects and strong female characters,” Cantu said. “It’s easy to do when you have classics like “Halloween”, “Jaws”, and “Alien” to go off of.”
Cantu’s latest film, horror-comedy “Massacre Academy,” made its world premiere at the Lamp Theatre in Irwin on Saturday. Filmed in and around McKeesport, the cast and crew consist mostly of locals.
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July 29, 2021 |
By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
East Allegheny School Board has approved an update to the district’s health and safety plan for the upcoming school year.
The district will be returning to a five-day-per-week regular school schedule when classes resume on Aug. 24.
“I now think we have a revised health and safety plan that I think reflects the best thinking that is present on how schools should go about entering this new school year,” Superintendent Alan Johnson said at a special meeting July 22.
At the end of the previous school year, EA was operating on a four-day-per-week schedule with an early dismissal at Logan Elementary School. Wednesdays were remote instruction days for cleaning purposes.
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July 28, 2021 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Announcements, McKeesport and Region News
A “do not use” order has been lifted in 10th Ward, but some homes and businesses — in the area shown in red — remain under a “do not drink” order. (Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County map)
An order preventing residents of the 10th Ward from using their tap water for anything except flushing toilets has now been lifted, a water authority spokesman said.
However, about 20 homes and businesses along Romine Avenue, Rebecca Street and West Fifth Avenue have been told they should not drink or cook with the water, said Matthew Junker, spokesman for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.
A “do not use” order for residents of lower 10th Ward was issued July 17 after emergency personnel reported that firefighting chemicals may have been sucked into an open fire hydrant as crews battled a multiple-alarm blaze at McKeesport Auto Body on Rebecca Street.
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July 28, 2021 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Crime and Police News
McKeesport and Elizabeth Twp. police joined local elected officials on Wednesday morning as state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, center, announced a major new task force aimed at drug and gun trafficking. (Tube City Almanac photo)
Local and state officials will not accept that McKeesport area residents must put up with drug trafficking and gun violence, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Wednesday morning.
“I am done — done — hearing about how McKeesport is one of ‘the most dangerous cities in America,’” Shapiro said at a news conference to announce the creation of tje Region V Strategic Response Team in the attorney general’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation. “I refuse to accept that, and no one up here is willing to accept that.”
Shapiro was flanked by McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko, police Chief Adam Alfer, Assistant Chief Mark Steele, state Sen. Jim Brewster, state Rep. Austin Davis, acting Elizabeth Twp. police Chief Adam Blake and Brenda Sawyer, a former McKeesport police officer who now serves as regional director of the state Bureau of Narcotics Investigation.
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July 28, 2021 |
By Sarah Turnbull | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Borough’s ongoing paving project has posed challenges for residents. Deborah Kidd of Ohio Avenue reported marks on her driveway.
“I’ve tried pressure washing, and I cannot get them off,” Kidd said. “It’s only four years old.”
Borough Manager John Palyo agreed that the paving company should take responsibility for removing the marks. Residents should contact the paving company to have damages repaired.
In related news, council voted unanimously to reimburse residents whose vehicles were towed due to roadwork. Residents whose cars were towed should contact council for reimbursement.
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