September 17, 2023 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: Duquesne News, McKeesport and Region News
Community members recruited to be part of “The Village” recently greeted students as they arrived for the first day of school in Duquesne. (Submitted photo courtesy Allegheny Intermediate Unit)
Superintendents from the Clairton City, Duquesne City and McKeesport Area School Districts are spearheading efforts for greater communal support.
Through a newly formed program titled “The Village,” local school leaders are encouraging community members to help educate and mentor local children.
McKeesport Area Superintendent Tia Wanzo said she conceived of the idea in July. At the time, Wanzo was thinking about the African proverb, that it “takes a village to raise a child,” she said.
Wanzo reached out to Clairton City Superintendent Tamara Allen-Thomas and Duquesne City Superintendent Sue Mariani about gathering a group of villagers — business owners, clergy, school board members and retirees — to dedicate their time and wisdom to today’s youth.
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September 17, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, North Versailles Twp. News
A Monroeville woman died Saturday following a two-car crash on Route 30 in North Versailles Twp.
Darlene Fairfull, 78, was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital emergency room less than an hour after the accident, the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office said.
In a prepared statement, the Allegheny County police homicide unit said a Buick Verano collided with a Subaru Imprezza in the 1400 block of Lincoln Highway, near the intersection with Broad Street.
The driver of the Subaru, later identified as Fairfull, was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. The driver of the Buick, a woman whose name was not released, was treated at the scene, police said.
Accident reconstruction experts from the county police are investigating.
Route 30 was closed between Luehm Avenue and Broad Street for approximately three hours, North Versailles police announced on social media.
Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call the Allegheny County police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
September 16, 2023 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
All but 15 residents of McKeesport Towers have returned to their homes following a fire Sept. 8 that gutted a seventh-floor apartment and forced the evacation of the senior-citizen complex.
One resident remained hospitalized Friday in critical condition, authorities said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office, a spokeswoman said.
Diane Raible, deputy director of McKeesport Housing Authority, which owns the complex, said repairs have been estimated at up to $2.5 million, and repairing the damaged units will likely take up to 18 months.
The fire broke out just after 2:30 p.m. in an apartment on the Coursin Street side of McKeesport Towers, a 12-story complex consisting of two buildings, joined at the center.
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September 13, 2023 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
During a ceremony at a senior-citizen center in Philadelphia in August, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ceremonially signed legislation which expands the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program to nearly 175,000 more Pennsylvania seniors and doubles rebates for many of the 400,000 Pennsylvanians who already qualify. (Submitted photo courtesy office of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro)
Older Pennsylvanians will soon see some financial relief with their property taxes and rent.
Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed House Bill 1100 into law, expanding the state’s existing property tax and rent rebate program.
Bill Johnston-Walsh, state director for AARP Pennsylvania, said the expansion of the program will significantly boost property tax rebates for older adults, alleviating the financial burden for homeowners and renters. He said the yearly maximum standard will increase from $650 to $1,000 for individuals.
It is the first expansion of the program in nearly 20 years, Johnston-Walsh said. “Both property taxes across the state, and rents, have been increasing year after year. And that’s why AARP Pennsylvania fought so hard to expand the property tax rebate program.”
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September 13, 2023 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
From left, Nyjair Wilkerson hones his skills as Squidward Q. Tentacles, with Michael Stanley and Dylan Stramaski, who play dual roles in the show. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)
If you go...
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“The SpongeBob Musical”
Where: McKeesport Little Theater, 1614 Coursin St., www.mckeesportlittletheater.com
When: Sept. 15-17 and Sept. 22-24. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 2 p.m
Admission: $20 for adults, $12 for students. Tickets available through the MLT website or by calling the theater at (412) 673-1100
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The show that director Will Dixon calls “the hardest show I’ve ever done” is about a sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea.
“The SpongeBob Musical” opens Friday at McKeesport Little Theater and runs for two weekends. Rehearsals started in June. Dixon said the musical’s intense choreography, music and dancing makes it an ambitious show for a small community theater.
The beloved children’s cartoon show — which held plenty of humor for parents as well — was adapted to a musical for all ages that opened on Broadway in 2017. That’s when Dixon and a few others who eventually became part of the MLT cast decided to take a road trip and headed to New York City to see it.
“I had not slept for 36 hours,” he said. “Still, I was on the edge of my seat. After that, I knew I wanted to direct it.”
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September 13, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
Penn State’s “McKeesport Center” — predecessor of today’s Greater Allegheny Campus — opened in 1948. The campus will host a community party this Saturday. (Photo courtesy Penn State Greater Allegheny)
Penn State University will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its McKeesport campus with a community party this Saturday on the lawn of the student union.
Spokeswoman Victoria Garwood said the “Blue & White Watch Party” will begin at 12 noon outside of the Student Community Center and will include both a free play area for families and a special ticketed event for guests 21 and over.
Visitors will be able to see the Penn State Nittany Lions football team take on the University of Illinois on either indoor or outdoor big-screen TVs, Garwood said.
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September 13, 2023 |
By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Brennen Runt, Aiden Geary, Landon Kieler and Zachary Meredith belt out the ’60s juke box hits during practice for East Allegheny High School’s new band show. (Kristen Keleschenyi photo for Tube City Almanac)
If you go...
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East Allegheny Marching Band home show competition
Also featuring Serra, Penn Trafford and Woodland Hills high school bands
Where: Churchman Stadium, East Allegheny High School, 1150 Jacks Run Road, North Versailles Twp.
When: 6 p.m. Sept. 16
Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors
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The East Allegheny Marching Band is taking audiences back in time this year with its 2023 field show featuring the music of “Jersey Boys.”
The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2005 and ran for 12 years, is inspired by the 1960s rock group The Four Seasons.
Senior band member and co-drum major Daniel Cipcic says the show is certainly something to see. “They may be older songs, but you’ll still know them,” he says. “They’re very recognizable and we put on a good show.”
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September 09, 2023 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Damage to the east wing of McKeesport Towers may affect 26 to 30 units, MHA says. (Tube City Almanac photo)
• Related story: Officials praise response, evacuation efforts at high-rise
Residents of McKeesport Towers should begin to know by Sunday afternoon when they can return to their apartments.
On Friday, 180 people were forced to evacuate after fire broke out in a seventh-floor apartment on the Coursin Street side of the 12-story high-rise complex. Although the fire was extinguished in less than 30 minutes, damage to that portion of the building was extensive, said Diane Raible, deputy director of the McKeesport Housing Authority.
“I’ve seen a lot of fires and I’ve never seen anything of this magnitude,” she said.
Raible spent all night at the scene along with other MHA employees. She said her thoughts — and theirs — were with two residents who remained hospitalized in critical condition on Saturday. “Property is nothing compared to life,” Raible said.
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September 09, 2023 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
• Related Story: Residents should learn soon when they can return to their homes
Four people were injured during a fire at a McKeesport high-rise that involved the rescue and evacuation of nearly 200 elderly residents on Friday afternoon.
At least two people remained hospitalized, reportedly in critical condition, on Saturday.
The blaze broke out in a seventh-floor apartment on the Coursin Street side of the McKeesport Towers, a 12-story apartment building owned and operated by McKeesport Housing Authority.
McKeesport Deputy Fire Chief Gene Esken said the resident of the unit where the fire was first reported was home at the time of the fire and was in a wheelchair. The resident, whose name is not being released, was able to escape into the hallway and was evacuated by fire crews, Esken said.
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September 08, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY AND DETAILS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
The Allegheny County fire marshal's office and multiple fire departments were on the scene of a blaze at the McKeesport Towers high-rise on Friday afternoon that forced the evacuation of its senior-citizen residents.
The fire was reported just after 2:30 p.m. and quickly raised to three alarms, emergency personnel said. Flames could be seen pouring from the windows of a seventh-floor unit, and smoke was visible throughout the city.
The 192-unit building is a senior-citizen apartment building along Sixth Avenue at Huey Street and is owned and operated by McKeesport Housing Authority.
Emergency personnel were evacuating the building and several ambulances were on the scene. There were unconfirmed reports that three people were injured.
Due to the number of ambulances required to evacuate residents, a mass-casualty incident was declared, emergency personnel said. Rescue crews from as far away as Robinson Twp. and McCandless were sent to the scene. Motorists and onlookers were being asked to avoid the area.
Residents were temporarily taken to an emergency shelter at the McKees Point Palisades. Preliminary reports indicated that the fire may have begun in a mattress.
In addition to McKeesport fire department, crews from Allegheny County Airport, Dravosburg, Glassport, Homestead, Liberty Borough, Munhall No. 1, Port Vue, Swissvale No. 1, Homeville, Duquesne Annex, West Mifflin No. 3, White Oak No. 1, Rainbow and Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory were on the scene Friday afternoon.
