News, Notes and Nits

Category: And Now, The News, Events || By

First things first. Alert Reader Mr. B, McKeesport High class of '60, sends along the following announcement:

One of our McKeesport alumni, Kula Manolakis-Goughnour (class of '72), is a heart transplant recipient. She received the heart from a donor in Atlanta, GA. She is now dedicating her participation in a team event in honor of her sister Ali Manolakis. Ali fought pain on a daily basis from the age of 13 from Systemic Lupus and end-stage Renal failure. Ali's battle ended on February 24, 2007.

Kula says, "I'm taking part in the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games (Team Pittsburgh) to raise money for National Kidney Foundation of the Alleghenies: please make a donation by visiting my Firstgiving page.

"You can donate online with a credit card. All donations are secure and sent directly to National Kidney Foundation of the Alleghenies by Firstgiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation.

"Please send my page on to anyone who might like to donate!"

When you click on the above link you will see a picture of Kula's sister Ali in the upper left corner.

The transplant games will be held in Pittsburgh from July 11 to 16, and will include a 5K foot race on July 13.

I don't know Kula, but she's been a reader and occasional contributor to Tube City Online for more than 10 years, and I believe she also used to maintain her own website of McKeesport-area history and information. (I can't find a link right now.)

But I know this. Earlier this year, someone who works in our department went into the hospital complaining of chest pains. Doctors quickly determined that she had congestive heart failure, and that a transplant was her only hope.

In the meantime, other major organ systems began shutting down. She died Monday, only 50 years old, still awaiting a transplant that never came. Three months ago, she was helping us move offices during a renovation project and was from all external signs healthy.

The need may be nearer than you think.

. . .

Slow Down, You Move Too Fast: Betty Boatshoe and Louie Leadfoot, pay attention. If you drive through the city, your number is up next week.

Assistant Police Chief Alfred Tedesco said Wednesday that city officers, in cooperation with PennDOT and the national "Smooth Operator" program, will target so-called aggressive driving next week.

That means they're looking out for tailgaters, speeders, and people who pass unsafely and commit a host of other violations.

So, let's stop running the red lights on Lysle Boulevard. I guess I should quit practicing my "Rockford 180s" on Walnut Street, too.

Also, Tedesco reports that with the arrival of warmer weather, police will be going through neighborhoods, citing vehicles parked on public streets that don't have valid license plates or inspection stickers.

. . .

Field of Dreams: Contractors have finished leveling the infield at Helen Richey Field in Renziehausen Park and making improvements to the drainage, according to city public works director Nick Shermenti. The outfield will be upgraded in the fall, and the city is also investigating replacement of the bleachers. The improvements are funded in part by the 1 percent Regional Asset District sales tax.

Mayor Jim Brewster notes the improvements should leave the venerable ballyard "a premium field" but there's a price for progress: After everything is complete, it's likely that cars will no longer be allowed to park on the field during International Village.

But will we be allowed to square dance?

. . .

In Other Business: McKeesport Area school directors are looking for a site for a new elementary school, probably in the Myer Park area, which would replace the present George Washington school, reports Norm Vargo in the Post-Gazette. There's also a chance that Cornell Intermediate School (the old high school) might be salvaged instead of replaced.

A North Huntingdon Township woman is a semifinalist in a national quilting competition, notes Leann Junker in the Tribune-Review. Ona Mark and her quilt, "Ladies in Red," are headed to the 24th annual American Quilter's Society Quilt Show in Paducah, Ky., later this month. (Don't wait until the last minute to book your plane tickets, folks.)

Carnegie Free Library of Homestead's music hall is becoming a regional destination for concerts, notes Tom McGee of the Woodland Area Progress. The Valley Mirror and Daily News have also reported recently that the library owns a fairly rare model of Steinway grand piano, and that it's raising money for the instrument's restoration.

. . .

To Do This Weekend: On that note, it's a good time to mention that the music hall will host a concert by Spoon, The Walkmen and the White Rabbits at 8 p.m. Monday. Tickets are $25 ... Penn-Trafford High School presents Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" at 7:30 p.m. today and tomorrow in the auditorium, Route 130, Harrison City. The musical, set aboard a trans-Atlantic ocean liner, features classic songs like "Anything Goes" and "I Get a Kick Out of You." Call (724) 744-4471.

Your Comments are Welcome!

I am all for not running red lights, but can the city, for Pete’s sake, PLEASE synchonize the lights on Lysle? Would be nice to have the lights on Walnut through Christy Park to blink after 10 PM, too! :)
The Dude from West Mifflin - April 04, 2008

Believe it or not, this exact issue came up at city council on Wednesday.

Apparently, the traffic light controllers on Walnut are —- to use a technical phrase —- “older than dirt.” They don’t have that capability.

You’re right, though. Waiting for a traffic light at 28th Avenue for non-existent G.C. Murphy Co. warehouse workers is annoying.

Both Walnut and Lysle are state highways, and I suspect that replacing those signals opens a can of worms at PennDOT, and that it would quickly run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

On the other hand, the traffic lights on Lysle used to be synchronized. When the road was rebuilt a few (10? 15?) years ago, if you started at one end of town and drove the speed limit, you could clear all of the lights. I don’t know what happened.
Webmaster - April 04, 2008

Two proposed locations for a new school. 1)Old Ford dealership on Eden Park. Large enough, centrally located, yet isolated, close to the park, close to other schools. OR 2) How about that tract of land between Founders Hall and O’Neill that technically belongs to Greater Allegheny..oops I mean White Oak… where that big house caught fire and is now being gutted. I bet the White Oak council would love it. We could call it “Greater Allegheny Elementary”...just a thought. Why build one in Myer Park? It would be a block from the old school. And it would obviously mean removing houses that are probably inhabited. We don’t need more people to leave McKeesport. In fact, I hope George Washington becomes some type of housing or something.
Adam Spate - April 04, 2008

Hmm…Might be cheaper to hire some kids to hold “STOP” and “GO” signs…Heck, I bet I’d get paid better than I do at my current job!
The Dude from West Mifflin - April 04, 2008

Jason,

Thanks for covering this issue. This is the biggest decision facing the district in my lifetime, some odd 44+ years….

Adam Spate discusses an idea I’ve heard once before. Building on the former Babe Charapp/Tri Star site.

Though I know Adam is a bright young guy, I must disagree with that site choice. On must think of it as a taxpayer and from a safety standpoint for a minute to see the flaws in that site.

1) There are NO sidewalks on EDEN Pard at that end. Therefore, students could not walk to school at all.

2) Why not centrally located the school with Mckeesport’s student population base (somewhere on Versailles Ave.) so the LARGEST number of students could walk safely and easily. Reduced money spend on busing could be sed to attact, hire and pay a beter caliber of educator.

Would you go to work at Gateway for $40K plus or star at Mckeesport for $30K or less?

I suggest two possible sites. The St. Pius site, which the dioscese is closing anyway soon or an extension to Cornell where there is plenty of ground already owned by the district.

Bith sites have pros and cons. St. Pius site would enable the most walkers, Cornel would entail least emminent domain.

I suspect one of these sites (or somewhere close) best sserves the kids, the taxpayers and the community.

I’ve heard of no other site that is remotely as attractive.

For your readers benefit, the district plans on closing GW, Centenniel and White Oak Middle. McKeesport kids, for the most part at least will be served at the new “Super” School and W.O. Kids placed in an addition to McClure.

Th next issue will be whether Harrison Village kids should continue to be bused to W.O. (McClure site). I believe that the parents of those kids should be given a choice. My suspicion is that most would select the McKeesport building.

We’ll see I guess.

~COuncilman Shelly
Paul "Sluggo" Shellly (URL) - April 05, 2008

Well, Paul. Though I respect your opinion an I am sure you have more knowledge about the issues that I do not, I would like to state a couple points. First, being the parent of a Grade school student at George Washington(which I know you are too), I honestly in this day and age would NEVER let my 5 yr old daughter walk to school even if it was 1 block away. Maybe it would be SAFER for ALL students if they WERE bused to/from school. I certainly would not let her step out of the school building if it were located on Versailles Avenue, let alone by Cornell unless it was completely gated and patrolled by competant Security Officers. Nevermind the Cornell Security Guard story.. Until we can clear the city of its unfortunate problems, which will not happen overnight(I have called 911 to my area at least 5 times in the past year), we need to make it safer for the students to attend. Also, if the students are bused to/from, there will be no shenanigans on the walk home, less litter in the surrounding area, and the absence of sidewalks would cut down on unwanted foot traffic around the school from undesireables.
As far as attracting teachers, I’m sure, new state-of the-art buildings would be a big step. Adding onto Cornell, (which has been renovated more times then…well. y’know)IT IS OLD. The roads leading to it are not clean and friendly.
If you were an outsider coming to visit our grade school on Versailles Avenue or over at old Cornell, what would your impressions be as you travelled there? Now, what if it were in a nice, park-like setting like Renzie?
Adam Spate - April 05, 2008

P.S.- Paul, not that I think you are devaluating our McKeesport educators, but I also believe the caliber of our teachers to be higher than many districts that pay much more. Many of our teachers (including my sister) are McKeesport Garduates who have opted to come back to McKeesport to teach rather than take positions elsewere to make a difference in the community they were raised. Sometimes the best person for the job, is not the one who gets paid the most
Adam Spate - April 05, 2008

An aside to the story about Kula is she was the proud owner of (now closed) Michael’s Diner on 8th Ave. in Homestead. I remember Kula from back in the day and as a very hard working small business owner. To use the “overused” cliche “she personifies GRIT” and I say that in a good way. I will support her efforts in the games this July and hope to see her big smile again ! She is a winner and McKeesport should be proud of her and her hard work.
Donn Nemchick - April 09, 2008

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