Category: default || By jt3y

City officials voted last week to pass a resolution condemning Penn State McKeesport's proposal to change its name to "Penn State Allegheny."

According to a story by Pat Cloonan in the Daily News (subscribers only), council voted 6-0, with one member absent, to voice the city's displeasure.

Cloonan's story also reports that Mayor Jim Brewster, who sits on the advisory board to the McKeesport Campus, was one of only two members of that panel to vote against the name change. The story doesn't say who cast the other negative vote.

However, a complete list of the advisory board members is available on the PSM website.

I found the names interesting, in part because of the wide variety of people who have ties to the Mon-Yough area.

They include some names you'd expect to see, like state Supreme Court Justice Cynthia Baldwin, who lives in White Oak; Linda Croushore of the Mon Valley Education Consortium; D. James Heatherington, longtime city businessman and funeral director; Joe Hohman, a former county official and local municipal consultant; Ron Ott, president of UPMC McKeesport hospital; and Chris Miles, publisher of the News.

But clergy are represented as well, like Rev. Earlene Coleman, pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church, as well as several less well-known local citizens.

And guess who else is on Penn State McKeesport's advisory board?

U.S. Senator Rick Santorum.

Well! How do you like them apples?

If you haven't already written Penn State to voice your opinion (please be respectful) either pro or con, then please do. Cloonan reports that a decision could be made as early as this week.

(Personally, I'd like to hear from any readers of the Almanac who would support such a change, especially if they live in the city or attended Penn State McKeesport.)

Also, you might want to drop a copy of your letter to U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, 100 West Station Square Drive, Landmarks Building, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

After all, he is running for office --- and I'd hate to see Rick lose votes in the McKeesport area because of this issue.

(It goes without saying that opinions expressed at Tube City Almanac are those of the editor and do not represent those of the staff or management of anything.)

. . .

Last week, I wrote about the Interfaith Hospitality Network's plans to open an office in Pleasant Hills --- and particularly, what the managing editor of the Observer-Reporter had to say about one of the people involved. (He said she has "cement between her ears.")

Well, the Tribune-Review was on the story Thursday.

The network wants to use a house presently owned by Pleasant Hills Community Presbyterian Church as a office (not a "halfway house" or "homeless shelter," as opponents are claiming) and has asked the planning commission for a variance to change the property from "residential" to "public use."

(The house is on Audrey Drive, and I think the Trib story has the house number wrong. County tax records indicate that Pleasant Hills Presbyterian owns houses at 15, 36, 41, 49 and 53 Audrey Drive, but not "136." I have a feeling the house in question is at 36 Audrey Drive.)

The planning commission meets again on Sept. 19 at the Pleasant Hills borough building. Want to bet there will be fireworks?

. . .

Correction, Not Perfection: Kevin G. Barkes, editor of KGB (motto: "no, not that one") would like to note that I spelled his name wrong last week. (I called him "Barnes.")

I apologize for the error, and I am duly chastened, and I'm also glad that Kevin's Bark is worse than his ... aw, I can't even finish that.