Category: Events, News || By Staff and Submitted Reports

McKeesport firefighters responded to 61 calls in February, fire Chief Kevin Lust told city council earlier this month.

A civil-service examination was held March 5 for 21 applicants for part-time firefighting positions. The department's biggest need is for part-time firefighters who can fill weekday positions, the chief said.

Federal grants have paid for new equipment, including 5-inch hoses and thermal imaging cameras, Lust said.

McKeesport police Chief Bryan Washowich reported that officers received 1,559 calls in February, making 129 arrests and issuing 157 traffic citations. Officers tagged 21 abandoned vehicles on city streets and were forced to tow five.

More than 600 parking citations were issued in February.

Officers held community outreach events at Centennial and George Washington elementary schools, TenderCare day care and the LaRosa Boys and Girls Club; a "junior police academy" at Founder's Hall Middle School on Feb. 9; and a crime watch meeting in Myer Park on Feb. 28.

On Feb. 24, in cooperation with Allegheny County Juvenile Probation, McKeesport police participated in the second of four planned call-in sessions for troubled youth, Washowich said.

In addition, police are increasing their patrols of the areas around Founder's Hall and McKeesport Area High School during dismissals to curb rowdy behavior, Washowich said. McKeesport Area School District officials have been "extremely cooperative" in helping police identify unruly students, he said.

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Cassatt Talk at Library: Carnegie Library of McKeesport will hold a discussion of the life and works of painter Mary Cassatt on March 24. The discussion will be led by Amanda Zehnder, associate curator of the Fine Arts Department at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.

Born in 1844 in Allegheny City, now part Pittsburgh's North Side, Mary Stevenson Cassatt lived much of her adult life in France. In an era when few women were allowed to pursue professional careers, Cassatt became one of the most important "impressionists" and her work was shown alongside those of Degas and other prominent French artists.

Many of Cassatt's paintings depict the everyday lives of women and children. Zehnder's talk will explore Cassatt's links to Pittsburgh, her role in the Impressionist movement and her works.

The talk begins at 6:45 p.m. and will last approximately an hour. Refreshments will be served, but registration is requested. For more information, go to the library's website or call (412) 672-0625. The library is located at 1507 Library Ave.

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'Run and Fun' April 16: The American Cancer Society will hold its 10th annual Renziehausen Park five-kilometer run and one-mile walk on April 16.

Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. at the "blue top" Jakomas Pavilion and the race begins at 9 a.m. Advance registration is $15 and includes a T-shirt. Race day registration is $18. Checks should be made payable to "American Cancer Society."

Awards will be given to the top three runners (male and female) in each age bracket and the first walkers (male and female) to complete the 5K. All fun-mile participants will receive ribbons for completing the course.

For more information, call Janice Boyko at (412) 885-2537.

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