Filed Under: News || By Submitted Report
Category: News || By Submitted Report
Local residents and people using the hiking and biking trails in Versailles and Elizabeth Township are being warned not to use the Boston Bridge under any circumstances.
"Some pedestrians have been attempting to cross the bridge during the current closure," says Jim Struzzi, district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation. "This is unsafe and illegal during the posted pedestrian closure."
The bridge, which carries state Route 48 and connects Versailles and Elizabeth Township, is closed to pedestrians through Aug. 3, and to vehicles through Sept. 27.
Work on the bridge is progressing as planned with the closures expected at this time to end according to schedule, Struzzi says.
After the bridge reopens in September, daily single lane alternating use traffic (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and overnight and weekend closures may occur as needed through fall.
The $17.3 million project includes replacement of the concrete-filled steel grid deck, sidewalk and steel stringers; reinforcement of steel floor beams; new barriers and other work.
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Category: Events || By Submitted Reports
South Park Theatre presents "The Kitchen Witches" at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Winner of the 2005 Samuel French Canadian Play Contest, "Witches" is the story of two "mature" cable-access cooking show hostesses, who have hated each other for 30 years, forced to work together on a TV show.
Admission is $12. Discounted rates for groups of 15 people or more are available at $2 off per person. Reservations can be made by calling (412) 381-8552.
In addition, the South Park Children's Theatre has one more show scheduled for the 2011 season. "Roaring, Boring Alice" will play from August 1 through 10. Admission is $2 and shows are 6:30 p.m. Monday at 6:30 p.m., 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, and 10 a.m. Wednesday.
South Park Theatre is located at the intersection of Corrigan Drive and Brownsville Rd, South Park, across the street from the Children's Playground and next door to the county park police station. Visit the website for more information.
. . .
Butterflies at South Park: Also at South Park, the nature center presents a "search and enjoy" program on butterflies for children and adults at 10 a.m. Sunday. The nature center is located on Buffalo Drive. Call (412) 835-0143.
(Editor's note: The press release we received from the county about this event actually says "Sunday, July 30," so is the event on Saturday, July 30 or Sunday, July 31? We tried calling and couldn't reach anyone. Caveat lector.)
. . .
Dancing Queen at Renzie: The city's summer concert series continues with the funky disco stylings of "Dancing Queen" at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Lions Bandshell in Renziehausen Park.
Admission is free and refreshments will be on sale. All seating is "lawn seating," and attendees should bring a blanket or lawn chair.
McKeesport's summer concert series is sponsored by the city's Recreation Department and the McKeesport Lions Club. Visitors are encouraged to bring old, gently worn eyeglasses that can be fitted with new lenses for the needy.
. . .
To have your weekend event listed at Tube City Almanac, send your announcement at least two weeks in advance to P.O. Box 94, McKeesport 15134, or email tubecitytiger at gmail.com.
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Category: Announcements, Shameless Horn-Tooting || By Jason Togyer
Thank you to Chatham University's Global Focus Program, which is returning this year as a sponsor of our live coverage of International Village, Aug. 16, 17 and 18!
They join our other partners --- State Rep. Marc Gergely, White Oak Florist and McKeesport Housing Corp. --- in helping us cover our expenses for this broadcast and webcast.
Your donations are helping as well. Any additional money raised will support the ongoing operation of Tube City Online and Tube City Almanac.
(And I thank everyone who has chipped in via PayPal, especially folks who have taken out subscriptions at $1 or $5 per month.) I don't take a cent from the operation of the website, but I do pay our contributors.
. . .
By the way: Although I'm sure most of our listeners are online, some people do report listening to us over the radio.
However, many of them reported having trouble listening to the FM broadcast --- even within Renziehausen Park --- because of interference.
So we're changing FM frequencies this year in hopes of boosting our range.
This year, our broadcast will be on 92.3 FM.
Also, we are making some other technical improvements to make the FM radio signal easier to hear in Renzie and environs, but we are probably going to drop the AM broadcast, because so few people reported hearing it.
. . .
Also: Are you interested in being a volunteer broadcaster? Contact me at tubecitytiger@gmail.com. And thanks!
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Category: History || By Jason Togyer
In preparation for next month's International Village (Aug. 16, 17 and 18), I've been doing some research about immigration in McKeesport, and thought folks might enjoy seeing some of the statistics.
. . .
McKeesport in 1930 had 54,632 residents, according to the U.S. Census, including 1,893 people who were classified as "Negro" (people of color and African-Americans).
But more than 38 percent of McKeesporters (21,032 people) were first-generation Americans --- they had at least one parent who was born in another country --- and about 20 percent of McKeesporters (more than 11,000) were immigrants themselves.
. . .
After English, the most common language spoken in McKeesport in 1930 was Hungarian (1,219 people), followed by Croatian (616 people) and Yiddish (548 people).
Other languages spoken at home in 1930 included Arabic, Ukranian, Russian, Albanian, Serbian, and Ruthenian, and one lonely person reported speaking Estonian (presumably to his or herself).
. . .
The trend toward immigration from overseas had slowed by 1930. Of people living in McKeesport that year, 3,350 had come to the United States before 1900. About 3,600 people reported coming to McKeesport from other countries between 1901-1910, and about 1,800 in the decades 1910-1919 and 1920-1930.
Of McKeesporters who were born overseas, about 2,300 were from Czechoslovakia, 1,100 were from Poland, 900 each were from Hungary and Italy, and about 800 each were from Sweden and Germany.
(By the way, note the racism of the time. The census only counted "foreign-born whites." If you were a foreign-born person of color --- African or Asian --- they didn't bother figuring out where you were from.)
. . .
By the 1950 census, McKeesport's population had dropped to 51,502. People were starting to move out to new housing plans in Port Vue, Liberty Borough, North Versailles Township and the newly created borough of White Oak (formerly Versailles Township).
The number of "foreign-born" residents had dropped drastically, as immigration slowed (World War II was undoubtedly a factor, as was the closing of the borders of the Eastern Bloc communist countries), and as immigrants who had come over between 1900 and 1930 passed away.
. . .
In the 1950 census, only 6,269 McKeesporters reported being "foreign-born." The census logged 2,661 "Negros" (about 5 percent, up from 3.5 percent back in 1930).
Again, the most popular native land of immigrants was Czechoslovakia (1,122 people), followed by Hungary (888), Italy (713), Poland (667), Yugoslavia (506), England and Wales (419) and Austria (372). Immigrants from "Asia" to McKeesport totaled 62 in the 1950 census, and 51 city residents reported being born in Mexico.
. . .
Ten years later, in the 1960 census, McKeesport's population was down again --- to 45,096 residents, a 12 percent drop.
About 8 percent of the population (3,459 people) was classified as "Negro" and 12,497 people reported that one or both of their parents were born in a foreign country.
The number of McKeesporters born overseas had dropped again, to 4,115 people.
. . .
The year 1960 was also, of course, the first year of "Old Home Week" --- the event that was renamed "International Village" a few years later. And the mix of nationalities celebrated at those early International Villages was largely determined by the mainly European heritage of the people who lived in the area.
OI McKeesporters who were first-generation Americans in 1960, the most common ethnicities reported were Czechoslovakian (2,452 people), Polish (2,142), Italian (1,923), Hungarian (1,891), English (1,732), German (1,414), Austrian (838), Swedish (793), Irish (537) and Russian (383).
In 1960, 143 McKeesporters reported being of Mexican heritage, and more than 2,200 people were classified as "other" non-European nationalities.
. . .
What about today? I'm still pulling data from the 2010 census. Everyone knows that McKeesport's population has dropped substantially (it's now 19,731 people) along with the population of the rest of the Mon Valley.
About 36 percent of McKeesporters report African-American heritage, 1 percent some Native American heritage and about one-half percent report Asian heritage (including Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Laotian and Vietnamese).
. . .
Stay tuned ... we're compiling more information for a booklet we plan to distribute during International Village celebrating McKeesport's ethnic diversity!
Chatham University's Global Focus Program, which last year sponsored our local history map, will again be sponsoring both this booklet and a portion of our live webcast of International Village.
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Category: Events || By Submitted Reports
Mon Valley Citizens Against Violence will hold the annual "Rally in the Valley" on Saturday, Aug. 6 at Crawford Village housing complex, off of Brownlee Street.
A spokesperson says the rally will be "a day of old-fashioned fun and fellowship," including food, games and singing. Donations of food and prizes are still needed; to contribute or volunteer, call Alease Paige at (412) 673-2206.
. . .
Relay for Life Aug. 13-14: The 24-hour McKeesport Relay for Life will be held Aug. 13 and 14 at Weigle-Schaeffer Tiger Stadium, McKeesport Area High School, 1960 Eden Park Blvd.
Meetings for team captains and the organizing committee are slated for 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 8 at Dravosburg Volunteer Fire Department No. 1, 598 Ravine St.
To donate, visit the American Cancer Society's website, or for more information, contact coordinator Jenn Jones.
. . .
Flea Market Aug. 20: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 220 Eighth Ave. at Walnut Street, Downtown, will hold a flea market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. Tables cost $10 and proceeds benefit the church.
To reserve a table, call Pat at (412) 673-0504 or Kerry at (724) 515-7835.
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Category: News || By Submitted Reports
Temporary lane closures will occur Tuesday on the Mansfield Bridge as crews prepare for a major reconstruction project.
A county spokeswoman says the bridge, which spans the Monongahela River between Dravosburg and McKeesport, will remain open at all times, but traffic may be restricted to one lane in each direction. The closures are scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. and end by 4 p.m., she says.
. . .
PennDOT Slates Elizabeth, Forward Paving: State Department of Transportation crews will be working in Elizabeth and Forward townships this week, district spokesman Jim Struzzi announced.
Weather permitting, paving crews will be working on Church Hollow Road, Bunola Hollow Road, Raccoon Run Road and Kelly Run Road in Forward, Struzzi said.
Church Hollow Road is scheduled to be closed during daylight hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, while Raccoon Run Road will be closed weekdays beginning this Thursday and continuing through Monday, Aug. 8.
Crews are also patching Finney Road between Route 48 and West Smithfield Street, Struzzi said.
In addition, Route 136 in Forward will be coated with "tar and chips" between Route 906 and Bunola Road, while Route 48 will be coated with tar and chips from Peairs Road to Enterprise Street. Also scheduled for "tar and chips" treatment are River Hill Road and Sunnyside Hollow Road, both in Forward.
Tar and chips, also known as seal-coating, helps prolong the life of pavement and reduces the number and size of potholes, Struzzi says. The process includes a layer of a latex-based coating with "chips" or small stones on top.
PennDOT crews sweep the road's surface after seal-coating, but motorists should drive slowly and cautiously until the treatment cures, Struzzi says.
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Category: General Nonsense || By Jason Togyer
Whenever he's too busy to write, Mark Evanier posts a picture of a can of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup. It's an old Internet tradition that he apparently made up.
Since I'm half-Hungarian, I post a photo of Scandia's delicious canned goulash instead. At least I assume it's delicious. I've never had any --- but why wouldn't greasy globs of canned pork be delicious, right? It even sounds delicious.
I still think you should be able to buy instant chicken paprikas in McKeesport. Maybe the new grocery store on Walnut Street will carry it, but some how, I doubt that.
We'll be back on track next week, I promise.
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Category: Announcements || By Jason Togyer
(This is a personal message. Opinions do not represent those of McKeesport Heritage Center or Tube City Community Media Inc.)
There needs to be a clarification issued on the article that appeared July 19, 2011 in the Daily News, and I have asked the newspaper for a clarification.
The McKeesport Heritage Center at no time has asked for ownership or control of the Penn-McKee or any other historic building.
I am not authorized to speak on behalf of the Heritage Center's board of directors, but I can say this unequivocally: I have been told in no uncertain terms that we do not want ownership of the Penn-McKee Hotel.
I have made that very clear to city officials and to the city Redevelopment Authority in every meeting that we've had, and in every piece of correspondence that we've sent.
I have decided to post all of the correspondence --- dating back to 2009 --- regarding this project. Read it for yourself and see what's been going on:
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Category: News || By Jason Togyer
Two environmental groups have gone ahead with their threat to sue the city's sewage treatment authority over its acceptance of wastewater from so-called "fracking" operations.
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Pittsburgh, Clean Water Action and Three Rivers Waterkeeper demand an immediate injunction to force the Municipal Authority of the City of McKeesport to stop accepting water from natural gas drilling companies.
But Mayor Regis McLaughlin, who chairs the sewerage authority board, says the plant hasn't taken any fracking water since the state on April 19 asked McKeesport's authority and 14 others to stop the practice.
McLaughlin said a request for an injunction is "unnecessary."
"I think they're just trying to get us to say on the record that we're not taking any more fracking water --- and we're not," he told the Almanac.
. . .
Filed on behalf of three Western Pennsylvania residents, the lawsuit alleges that the authority's plant in lower 10th Ward can't adequately remove hazardous chemicals and heavy metals from "fracking" water.
Instead, the lawsuit claims, those chemicals and other so-called "total dissolved solids" from fracking water are being discharged, along with treated sewage, into the Monongahela River in violation of the federal Clean Water Act and the state's Clean Streams Law.
"Some sewage plants have formally decided to stop taking any oil and gas wastewater," said Myron Arnowitt, state director for Clean Water Action, a national non-profit based in Washington, D.C. "However, McKeesport has taken no such action. With the state failing to take any mandatory action to address this threat to our rivers, we can no longer wait."
In March, Clean Water Action and Three Rivers Waterkeeper warned two sewerage authorities --- McKeesport's and one in Greene County --- that they were considering a federal lawsuit over what they called "significant and ongoing violations" of environmental laws.
. . .
Companies that drill for natural gas in the Marcellus shale layer deep underground use a process called "hydraulic fracturing," or "fracking," to release the gas trapped in the rock. The fracking process requires a mix of water and chemicals to be forced under high pressure into the rock layer. The contaminated water is then pumped out of the wells.
To generate additional income, McKeesport's sewage treatment plant and others have been charging drilling companies to treat used fracking water.
The letter sent to the sewerage authority on March 10 alleges that the authority's operating permits do not give permission for the treatment plant to accept fracking water, which can be contaminated by hazardous chemicals, metals and salts.
"The authority does not have the treatment capabilities to treat for the high levels of total dissolved solids, bromides and many other constituents ... and is relying on mere dilution to 'treat' the industrial wastewater from shale gas development," said the letter, signed by Emily Collins of Pitt's Environmental Law Center and by Ned Mulcahy and Patrick Grenter of Three Rivers Waterkeeper, based in Homestead.
. . .
Although the state passed stricter water quality standards in 2010, McKeesport's plant and others statewide, including one in Clairton, were "grandfathered" and allowed to keep accepting fracking water.
On April 19, the state Department of Environmental Protection asked those plants to voluntarily stop the practice, and McLaughlin said McKeesport has complied.
The sewerage authority is about to begin a two-year, $60 million expansion program at the 10th Ward plant.
Although the current expansion program does not include facilities to treat fracking water, McLaughlin said the authority has met with vendors who sell equipment that removes chemicals from fracking water.
The authority will consider installing the equipment if it's approved by state regulators, McLaughlin said, "but until the DEP OK's it, we're not taking any other actions."
. . .
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three customers of Pennsylvania-American Water Company who get their drinking water from a plant along Carson Street in Pittsburgh, downstream from McKeesport. The suit alleges that water samples taken in the Monongahela downstream from McKeesport on four different days in October 2010 found high levels of heavy metals, radioactive materials and other pollutants.
Clean Water Action and Three Rivers Waterkeeper allege that the chemicals can damage residential plumbing, foul the taste of drinking water and cause unknown future health problems. In addition to an injunction, the lawsuit demands reimbursement for attorneys fees and costs.
A formal response from the authority will come from its solicitor, Kenneth Kohl, in a few days, McLaughlin said.
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Category: News || By Submitted Report
The new CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is a South Carolina man with more than a decade of experience at a similar organization.
D. Jermaine Husser takes over as chief executive officer of the Duquesne-based food bank on Aug. 1. He replaces longtime Greater Pittsburgh food bank executive Joyce Rothermel, who is retiring.
Husser is an Army veteran and native of the Charleston, S.C., suburb of Goose Creek. A graduate of Trident Technical College, Husser worked for the Lowcountry Food Bank in Charleston for 14 years, including six years as executive director, overseeing its annual $4.2 million budget and a $5.4 million building campaign. Lowcountry serves 385 partner agencies and distributes 17 million pounds of food to needy families in 10 counties.
Vice-chair of the South Carolina Food Bank Association and a member of the national action committee of Feeding America, Husser is a past president of the Rotary Club of Charleston, as well as its first African-American president. He and his wife Thetyka have a 3-year-old daughter, London Jade.
A spokeswoman for the Greater Pittsburgh food bank says that Husser was chosen after a seven-month nationwide search.
. . .
The food bank's board was "especially impressed by (Husser's) passionate commitment to the mission of fighting hunger," says Rothermel, who is retiring after 24 years with the organization, formerly located in the old Potter-McCune warehouse in McKeesport. Husser's "energy is infectious," she says.
Rothermel, who will work alongside Husser for several weeks during the management transition, says that although a change in leadership may cause some people to worry, the food bank's management is "in good hands" with its new CEO and the existing staff.
"A new person at the helm will bring new productive opportunities," Rothermel says.
Founded in June 1980, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank currently serves more than 380 agencies in 11 counties, distributing 21 million pounds of food to needy families through soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, schools and community centers, and senior-citizen activities such as Meals on Wheels.
. . .
Meanwhile, tickets are still available for the Pittsburgh Blues Festival, which runs July 22 to 24 at Hartwood Acres, north of Pittsburgh. Proceeds benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
A spokeswoman says that in addition to more than a dozen acts, this year's Blues Festival features new merchandise vendors and new food vendors.
For tickets and more information, visit the food bank's website or call 412) 460-BLUE.
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Category: Shameless Horn-Tooting || By Jason Togyer
The newest sponsor of our International Village webcast is McKeesport Housing Corp.! They're new to our broadcast this year, and they join our returning sponsors, State Rep. Marc Gergely and White Oak Florist. Thank you for your support!
For what it's worth, Gergely's challenge grant of $250 hasn't yet been matched. We've received $50 since announcing Gergely's contribution (thank you to Susan, Eric and Kelli!) but we're still $200 short.
. . .
Also: Are you interested in being a volunteer broadcaster? Contact me at tubecitytiger@gmail.com. And thanks!
. . .
By the Way: The Daily News carried a very nice mention of this project recently, but I need to issue a slight clarification. In case anyone cares, I no longer represent Lightning Community Broadcasting Inc., and haven't since last July, when I resigned from that group.
Lightning is a separate organization, and several of its volunteers will be helping us with this webcast, but this effort is officially being run under the Tube City Online banner.
. . .
(P.S.: We continue to solicit advertising support from businesses and organizations. Details below.)
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Category: News || By Jason Togyer
McKeesport officials and a federal agency are at odds over more than a million dollars in community development money that's been promised to the city.
Hanging in the balance --- besides the activities for which the money was meant to pay --- could be McKeesport's ability to meet its payroll this month.
At issue is whether the city is adequately explaining its activities to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD has told McKeesport officials that the city isn't reaching out to low-income families, the disabled and ethnic minorities --- claims that City Administrator Dennis Pittman calls "ludicrous" on their face.
. . .
HUD "told us that there are 'concentrations of low-income people' in some census tracts," Pittman says. "They want us to offer housing counseling to encourage people in those areas to move to different neighborhoods."
According to Pittman, the census tracts HUD is targeting include Crawford Village and Harrison Village --- public housing complexes.
"We have 1,100 public housing units in the City of McKeesport, and 485 'Section 8' units," he says. "There are only 11,000 housing units total in McKeesport. Of course there are concentrations of low-income people. But if you took everything and split it among McKeesport's 12 wards, I don't know how you wouldn't have concentrations."
HUD officials have told McKeesport officials that the city's progress installing handicapped access ramps has been too slow, and that the city isn't doing enough to reach out to Hispanics. "We hardly have any Hispanics," Pittman says. "I don't know what they want us to do."
. . .
But Brian Sullivan, a HUD public affairs officer in Washington, told the Almanac this week that the biggest problem is that McKeesport simply isn't explaining itself --- or justifying its use of federal money.
"Truthfully, we've been a little frustrated," Sullivan says. "We've made repeated requests to McKeesport for information, and frankly, it's been like pulling teeth."
Every so-called "entitlement" community that receives federal community development block grants must prove that it's using that money to provide "fair housing choices" to all residents, including minorities and the physically handicapped, Sullivan says.
. . .
McKeesport may indeed be providing those choices --- but it's not telling HUD, Sullivan says. "Communities have to certify that they're taking active measures," he says. "If they are, we want to see the meat on the bones."
Sullivan says that repeated requests for information have gone unanswered by the city's community development director, Bethany Budd Bauer --- a charge that Bauer and Pittman both strongly deny.
The first HUD complaint received at city hall was in April, says Pittman, who called it a "very personal attack" on Bauer. "We were shocked," he says. "We never had a clue that they weren't happy with what happened."
. . .
On some issues, the city and HUD agree that McKeesport needs to do better. The city's zoning ordinance is 15 years old, Pittman says, and is due for a comprehensive rewrite. City officials have just interviewed an expert in zoning regulations who will be advising them on a complete revision.
The lack of handicapped access ramps has long been a sore point. Since 2004, McKeesport has been under a court-mandated consent decree to install new curb ramps at all major intersections by 2012, or risk fines.
Installation of new curb-cuts is ongoing and continuing, Pittman says --- city council last week awarded a $28,000 contract to Joe Palmieri Construction of Ross Township for 24 new wheelchair ramps.
. . .
Poor communications may have occurred because the federal official who acted as the agency's liaison to McKeesport was reassigned, Pittman says. "I think the new person didn't pick up on the fact that there was a problem," he says.
Mayor Regis McLaughlin recently sent two letters to HUD detailing those projects and others that are designed to improve housing conditions, including new homes and housing rehab programs run by McKeesport Housing Corp., McKeesport Housing Authority and other agencies.
City officials have also appealed to U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, Forest Hills Democrat, to help mediate the dispute, Pittman says. "We agree with HUD on some of these issues, and we're already working to implement the programs," he says.
HUD is working with McKeesport to answer the agency's questions in a way that's "practical and measurable," Sullivan says. "We're in active discussions to reach a consensus ... talks are ongoing and we're anxious to proceed."
. . .
Sullivan adds that HUD isn't really holding back McKeesport's promised $1.2 million in community development grants --- at least not yet. One reason that McKeesport hasn't received its money has been the ongoing wrangling over the budget between the Obama administration and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
There are 1,200 communities across the nation that qualify for community development money, and many haven't received their funding yet, Sullivan says: "It's only recently that the funds became available at all."
But for McKeesport to maintain its certification as a city entitled to community development money, it needs to be more pro-active about providing information, he says. "At this point, we're waiting on McKeesport," Sullivan says.
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Category: News || By Jason Togyer
Council President Mike Cherepko and City Controller Ray Malinchak squared off again Wednesday night over an investigation into McKeesport's trash-hauling contract.
The fireworks at last night's city council meeting came hours after the Daily News reported that Malinchak is going ahead with his long-rumored plans to run for mayor this fall against Cherepko, the Democratic candidate.
Council for months has been arguing over the city's trash collection bills, which are about 20 percent higher than expected since the contract was switched from Allied Waste Services to Clairton-based Nickolich Sanitation. The increase in tonnage from 10,000 to 12,000 tons per year has virtually wiped out the $800,000 that officials hoped to save by switching from Allied to Nickolich.
In April, council voted to conduct an investigation into why the amount of trash being picked up has increased, and in May invited the company's president, Nickolas Nickolich, to answer questions from officials and the public.
But one week later, Malinchak announced that he was launching his own investigation, and that he had hired Corporate Security and Investigations of Monaca, Beaver County, to conduct a probe.
. . .
Last night, Malinchak attacked Cherepko for saying that council would not reimburse him for hiring CSI. "You made a statement, mister council president, saying that you would 'see me in court,'" Malinchak said. "Why would you say that? You must already know how people are going to vote."
Cherepko retorted: "Mr. Malinchak, anyone up here who can read the Home Rule Charter knows that you had no authority to go out and begin this investigation."
Malinchak has frequently been at odds with Cherepko and other allies of former Mayor James Brewster. On Wednesday, Patrick Cloonan of the Daily News reported that Malinchak is gathering signatures to run against Cherepko this fall as an independent. There is no Republican candidate filed.
. . .
Malinchak's investigation has been disruptive and intrusive, claimed Councilman Dale McCall, with some city employees being questioned at home. McCall asked why CSI is targeting city workers, when trash hauling is done by an outside contractor. "Our employees are getting caught up in something that they shouldn't have been caught up in," he said.
But Councilman Darryl Segina --- who ran for mayor against Cherepko in the May Democratic primary --- criticized Cherepko for not taking swifter action. "You had the opportunity to take control of this investigation, and instead, you tried to bury it," Segina said.
. . .
Requests for proposals have been sent twice to at least six private investigation firms, Cherepko said, and none of them would bid on the job. He added that Nickolich's testimony at the May meeting had cleared up many of the questions.
Nickolich and his attorney, John Linkosky, said that trash collection has increased because of the high percentage of rental properties in McKeesport, dumping at McKee's Point Marina and other locations, and because Nickolich crews remove rubbish, including construction debris, that previous haulers wouldn't take.
CSI expects to complete its probe by September, Malinchak said.
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Category: History, News || By Jason Togyer
Here at Tube City Omnimedia World Headquarters, high above Our Fair City, there are few things we enjoy more than your letters. (Well, maybe an ice cold beer and a piping hot pizza, but we skipped dinner, so that could be hunger pains talking.)
. . .
Like this letter from Karl L. of White Oak, who wrote to make a correction to the map we distributed last year at International Village:
Congratulations on your interesting and informative "Tube City Online Map of McKeesport and Vicinity." I have a historical interest in Braddock's Trail and also like to bring up-to-date ideas about the trail as new findings arise.
Within the last 10 years, scholars have revised their ideas about the location of Braddock's (campsites) and also some of the routing --- for instance, through White Oak.
Enclosed find an excerpt (of a diary) from Harry Gordon, captain of the military engineers who built the road, and a corrected copy of your map. Following military procedure, (the trail would likely have) taken the high ground, and gone as direct as possible.
Braddock's Spring, celebrated in the 1920s, still runs under the alley behind Mama Pepino's Pizza on O'Neil Boulevard. As was the custom, the livestock (would have been kept) below in what is now a ballfield near the water, and the camp would have been above on what is now Fawcett Plan.
I have a Tube City Pretzels bowl, so I have been on the Internet trying to find any information that you may have regarding the company that made the pretzels or any information that would help me find someone interested in having this bowl. I would appreciate any light you could shed on this subject.
The collection of info, facts, history and photos on the website puts a lump in my throat. I lived in Clairton and White Oak as a boy and only recently have I come to appreciate why the Mon Valley is so important historically.
I remember hearing the bell-like sound of big pipes coming off the line in McKeesport and touring the National Works during open house in the early '70s. It's just unbelievable that it's all gone. I live in Massachusetts now because I needed the job, but I miss and love the Pittsburgh area so much.
Thank you for all the work put into this, it's a wonderful tribute to McKeesport and the Pittsburgh area, truly "the city that built America."
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Category: Cartoons, Events || By Jason Togyer
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