in-mckeesport-summer

Congratulations Graduating Class!INSIDE:McKeesport Summer Concert Series SchedulesMcKeesport School District Information

SUMMER 2011 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Hello. I’m Monica Haynes, the new Eastern Regional Editor for Community Magazines. I’m quite at home in the eastern

suburbs because, well, that’s where I live, too. I also havequite a bit of experience with suburban news coverage,having done it for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. I also was amagazine writer and entertainment columnist for the PG.

Some of you I’ve had the opportunity to meet out and aboutas we’ve been working on stories for this edition of McKeesport Area. I look forward to getting out in the communityeven more, to meet the people, attend the events and see the sights and sounds that helpmake your community what it is.

Community Magazines is about community, YOUR community. We really can’t do this without your input. We want to know what’s going on in your municipalgovernments, your schools, churches, libraries, civic organizations. We want to honorthose members of your community who are serving in the armed forces; those who are serving others in the community, those who have fascinating hobbies or who have done something extraordinary. If there are things going on in your community or people in your community that we should know about, please email me [email protected].

As you enjoy the warmth of the summer sun, I hope you enjoy this edition of McKeesport Area Magazine!

Monica L. Haynes Eastern Regional Editor

Welcome to the Summer issue of McKeesport Area Magazine.

Summer is so ripe with opportunities for communities to come together. There are Community Days, Fourth of Julyfireworks, church picnics, Little League baseball games,swimming at the local pool, summer reading activities at the local library, Farmers Markets. The list goes on and on.And some of those activities are listed in this edition.

Summer’s also a great time for traveling, although, with gas pricesthe way they are, many of us won’t be going too far from home. That’sokay because there are some wonderful sights right in your own backyard. For example,we visited the McKeesport Garden Club’s glorious Rose Garden and Arboretum in Renzie Park. The roses are in full bloom! Right next door to the garden is theMcKeesport Heritage Center. We talk about the center’s upcoming book of vintagepostcards. In this edition, we also talk to McKeesport Police Officer Mike Mihalko, who tackles high tech crimes. McKeesport Area School District held commencementceremonies recently for its Class of 2011. Congratulations to all the new graduates.

Yes, it’s finally summer! So let’s throw some burgers on the grill, find a shady tree, a lounge chair and a cold glass of lemonade and enjoy the sunshine!

Wayne Dollard Publisher

SUMMER 2011IN McKeesport Area is a community publicationdedicated to representing, encouraging andpromoting the McKeesport area and itscomprising municipalities by focusing on thetalents and gifts of the people who live and workhere. Our goal is to provide readers with the mostinformative and professional regional publicationin the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

PUBLISHER Wayne Dollard

MANAGING EDITOR

Marybeth [email protected]

REGIONAL EDITOR

Monica L. Haynes [email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER

Leo [email protected]

WRITER

Pamela Palongue

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Anna Buzzelli Jan McEvoyCassie Brkich Joe MilneSharon Cobb Gail MurraySusie Doak Tamara Tylenda

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brad Lauer Jack Megaw

ADVERTISING SALES

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This magazine is carrier route mailed to all district households and businesses.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part withoutwritten permission is prohibited. Copyright 2011.

CORRESPONDENCEAll inquiries, comments and press releases should be directed to:

IN Community MagazinesAttn: Editorial603 East McMurray RoadMcMurray, PA 15317Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968

Fall content deadline: 7/20www.incommunitymagazines.com

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

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McKeesport newsSCHOOL DISTRICTAREA

Dear MASD Community Members,

The culmination of an entire districtcommunity’s efforts was on display June 8at McKeesport Area’s Weiggle-ShafferMemorial Stadium with the graduation of

256 students from the class of 2011. The problem solving andcritical thinking skills developed throughout their scholasticcareer has prepared our graduates for many of the challengesthat lie ahead. It is with great pride that we welcome thesegraduates into the illustrious group of MAHS alumni as theyfollow their chosen paths to a successful and fulfilling life.

The commencement exercises signified the conclusion of anexciting and eventful 2010-2011 school year. Among thosetopics dominating the headlines throughout the state ofPennsylvania has been the governor’s proposed cuts to publiceducation. The initial proposal indicated that the McKeesportArea School District would have to operate with nearly $4.4million less in state subsidy. Only through teamwork andcollaboration with district staff has the school board and

administrative team been able to effectively address thisfinancial crisis. The teachers and administrators agreed to take apay freeze for the first half of next school year and the Board ofDirectors offered an Early Retirement Incentive that was takenadvantage of by 35 members of our teaching staff, enablingsignificant savings to help “bridge” the financial gap to abalanced budget. I applaud these efforts by the staff and schoolboard as they are atypical and not evidenced in many districtsthroughout the state of Pennsylvania. These, along with multipleother cost saving measures, have enabled us to preserve theoutstanding programming that has always been offered as a partof McKeesport Area.

Please share our pride in the many examples of what ishappening throughout your community’s school system in thisissue of IN McKeesport Area. Enjoy the following MASD pagesand we encourage everyone to visit www.mckasd.net to keep up with your schools. Thank you for everything you do for thechildren of our district.

Congratulations and good luck to the graduating class of 2011!

Sincerely,Timothy M. Gabauer, Ed.DSuperintendent


AMessage from theDistinguishedEducator for the McKeesport Area


S C H O O LDISTRICT

Dear McKeesport Area Community Members,

For three years, it has been myprivilege to represent the Department of Education serving in the capacity of Distinguished Educator for theMcKeesport Area School District. TheDistinguished Educator (DE) Initiative isa program developed by the Department

of Education to assign experiencededucators to assist schools and districtswho are in Corrective Action. AsMcKeesport’s Distinguished Educator, I have worked collaboratively withadministrators and educators focusing

upon data-informed decision making andassisting with the implementation of theState’s Standards Aligned System.

The State’s Standards Aligned Systememphasizes the importance of increasingstudent achievement through theimplementation of clear standards, fairassessments, a standards-alignedcurriculum, proven effectiveinstructional strategies, appropriatematerials and resources, and researchbased interventions.

During the past three years, it has been a pleasure to have workedclosely with your Superintendent,curriculum coordinators, principals and instructional coaches to improvethe quality of education for yourstudents. McKeesport’s administratorsand teachers are constantly striving to increase student achievement and to assist students in developing the skills they will need for success in the workforce or higher educationfollowing graduation.

It has been refreshing to observe the collaboration of teacher teams,facilitated by curriculum coordinatorsand instructional coaches, as they met in small collaborative groups to writeLanguage Arts and math curriculum and create common benchmark and

formative assessments. Teacher teamsalso met with Instructional Coaches toanalyze student achievement data toidentify what their students knew andwere able to do and to determine goalsfor helping all students to master theState’s Academic Standards and achieveproficiency on the PSSA.

I have observed an improvement in the quality of classroom instruction in buildings where the curriculumcoordinator and building principals usedthe district’s Instructional Roundwalkthrough tool to provide teacherspositive feedback and mentoringassistance. Instruction improved withinthese classrooms as students becameactively engaged, instructional rigorincreased, formative assessments guidedinstruction, and teachers implementedproven effective educational practices.

Although your school administrationand teachers are working hard to providequality educational experiences for allstudents, they need community andparental support. Decades of researchshows that when parents are involvedstudents earn higher grades, attendancerates are higher, suspension rates arelower, the use of drugs and alcoholdecreases, and there are fewer instancesof violent behavior. Examples of waysparents may support education include:

“Although your schooladministration and teachersare working hard to provide

quality educationalexperiences for all students,they need community and

parental support.”

School Board of DirectorsJames L. BrownJoseph L. ChiaveriniChristopher A. HalaszynskiMark P. HoltzmanVice PresidentSteven E. Kondrosky Dennis J. ( Joe) Lopretto Thomas P. Maglicco Patricia A. Maksin PresidentWayne N. Washowich

Central AdministrationSuperintendentDr. Timothy M. Gabauer412.664.3612

Assistant SuperintendentDr. Rula S. Skezas412.664.3613

Business Manager/Board SecretaryMr. David M. Seropian412.664.3600

Director of Human Resources/Administration ServicesMr. James G. Humanic412.664.3608

McKeesport Area ContactInformation Director of Federal/State Programs (Homeless Liaison)Mr. Michael V. Matta412.664.3627

Director of Special EducationMrs. Patricia M. Tkacik412.664.3622

Director Food ServiceMs. Tammi T. Davis412.664.3685

Administrative TeamSpecial Education SupervisorMr. David L. Listorti412.664.3625

Special Education Administrative AssistantMr. Menas E. Zannikos412.664.3624

Director of Career andTechnology Education/District Grants and SpecialProject CoordinatorMrs. Patricia J. Scales412.948.1363

Director of Early ChildhoodEducation and ElementaryCurriculumDr. Catherine S. Lobaugh412.948.1386

Secondary Curriculum andTransformation CoordinatorMr. Harry A. Bauman412.948.1310

Principal of Cyber School/District Technology IntegrationDr. Jane L. Coughenour412.948.1317

Communications/Public Relations SpecialistMs. Kristen M. Davis412.664.3645

Director of Buildings and GroundsMr. Edward F. Fagan412.664.3631

Technology CoordinatorMr. H. Ben South412.664.3764


Sincerely,Mona E. Eckley, Ph.DDistinguished EducatorPA Department of Education

provide time and a quiet place for yourchild to study; discuss the value ofeducation and the importance of hardwork; encourage reading activities; and set high but realistic goals andexpectations for your child’s academicachievement.

The best curriculum and instructionwill not be effective unless students aremotivated and have a desire to learn.Students who drop out of school are more likely to be condemned to a lowerstandard of living. Students who workhard and take advantage of the educationalopportunities provided by the schooldistrict are more likely to enjoy apromising future following graduation.

I would like to close by expressing mydeep appreciation to all the administratorsand educators who made me feel sowelcome and who have worked diligentlywith me for the past three years toimprove the quality of education for McKeesport’s students.

Thanks and best wishes for continuedacademic success to McKeesport SchoolDistrict’s students, administrators,educators, staff, board members, parentsand community members.

For 18 years, Trib Total Media has recognized the achievements of local,middle and high school students with the Outstanding Young Citizen Award.Family, friends, teachers and school officials can nominate students based ontheir character, academic achievements and community service.

From all nominated students, 100 from each of five (5) defined regions areselected to receive the Outstanding Young Citizen Award and are invited toattend an awards banquet with their families. At the banquet, each student isindividually recognized and presented with a certificate, and they receive asmall gift. In addition, an independent panel of judges selects 10 students fromeach region to receive the Outstanding Young Citizen Gold Medal, signifyingthat they are among the very best of the best.

Thirteen MASD students have been nominated this year.

OUTSTANDING YOUNG CITIZENS NOMINEES

MCKEESPORTAREA SCHOOL

DISTRICT

� Jayme Andrekanic � Noelle Novakovich � Zachary DiBeradin � Lauren Palmquist

� Melissa Druskin � Matt Pucalik � Ethan Kisan

� Eleni Skezas � Alexis Kost � Brandi Stalter

� Jessica Mols � Brianna Toth � Josh Walls

Sixty-one percent of the faculty and staff of McKeesport Area School District are alumni!


S C H O O LDISTRICT


Army

Dana HallMichael MoffittEric MoodyAntoine SimmonsTyle HrableyParisia HughesEvander Williams

Air Force

Steve McQueen

Marines

Keith BerbachJustin Kellerman

McKeesport Students Enlisted in Military

AMessage from thePresident of the McKeesport Area School District Board of Directors

As we close the book on the 2010-2011 school year and open a newchapter at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, there is a senseof excitement in the air. Our building projects are moving along withFrancis McClure being expected to open at the end of this summer andfor the beginning of the new school year. We finished the last schoolyear strong and on a positive note with a gorgeous day for a graduationceremony outdoors. In the following pages you will see some of thehighlights from the graduation ceremony, the promenade and also alist of our graduating seniors who have selflessly joined our UnitedStates Armed Forces. Also, in this edition, our readers will get aglimpse into some activities held in our schools, some of which includethe penny drive and collaborative work done in an elementary school.Additionally, you will get a first hand perspective on what ourDistinguished Educator has to say about our district in a letter that she wrote upon her departure from the district.

On behalf of the board of directors, I would also like tocongratulate the class of 2011 and welcome them into a large and

successful group of alumni spanning world wide. Additionalcongratulations, for a job well done, should be extended to the fiftyfive retirees that we had from our district this year.

One of the biggest factors in the overall success of our students andour district will always be our ability to work in partnership with ourparents and the community. We hope that you feel welcome in ourschools and that you will take advantage of opportunities to becomeinvolved, to learn more about your school district and to be a part ofthe many things that are taking place.

Members of the school board of directors encourage parents andguardians to be actively involved, in all areas if the district, by attendingboard and building level meetings. Board Meetings are held on thefourth Wednesday of every month. Sessions begin at 7:30 p.m. in theboard room at the district administration building, located at 3590O’Neil Boulevard in McKeesport.

On behalf of the board, enjoy a safe and healthy summer!

Sincerely,

Wayne N. WashowichPresident, McKeesport Area School District Board of Directors


S C H O O LDISTRICT

Thomas Neri,Class Salutatorian Commencement Speech – June8, 2011

It is an honor to be here, and to have the privilege ofaddressing school boardmembers, administrators,teachers, parents, and mostimportantly, my fellowclassmates. Most of us havespent the past 12 years together,and we are assembled here forthe last time. Today marks thebeginning of each of ourseparate journeys into the world,but we take with us into ourfutures all the lessons we havelearned in academics and life,during our time at hereMcKeesport High School.

In the time we have spent here, we have all foundteachers that we favor, and who have inspired us. One of my favorite people in this building has to be Mr.Hegedus. Along the way he has influenced me throughhis words of advice. Last year he told me something verymeaningful concerning my future. He said, “Be true toyourself, do whatever makes you happy, but be the best atwhatever that is.” I think if we can all apply this towardsour own future we can find true success in our lives.

This class of 2011 is full of diverse personalities, butone thing you can say about us as individuals, is that wecertainly stay true to ourselves. Despite the differencesbetween us, we have grown together to achieve thismilestone in our academic career. Through ourdifferences we have seen success and failure, but inovercoming each obstacle, we have learned along the way.

Tonight, our class of 2011 joins a proud institution of esteemed alumni. To graduate from McKeesport is to become part of afamily of a broad tradition that extends over a century. In our close knitcommunity we can always find support and comfort during times of successand failure. The pride found in being a tiger is something that will alwaysbind us together. This bond that we share connects us to our home, wherewe have lived, learned, and grown together.

Though our roots here are strong, as we go out into the world, we willlearn that success is determined neither by economic nor social status but byour willingness to follow our dreams and to never be afraid to do what makesus happy. We will eventually all learn the lesson that money does not buyhappiness, although it may sometimes seem that way. My wish for all of youis that you find your happiness in whatever you do. And, echoing thesediment of Mr. Hegedus, when you find that happiness, do whatever that is,to the best of your ability. If we can do this, then our time here will not havebeen wasted. We will find the success that brings meaning to each of ourlives and in our hearts we can truly be proud to say we are tigers. Thank youand good luck.

Rah-mel Neal-Means, Senior Class PresidentCommencement Speech – June 8, 2011Graduation. . . A moment that we never thought would come so fast.

As Senior Class President, I am honored to represent the Class of 2011,who has at times, had a good and bad reputation. We began this journey12 years ago, a journey that has made us who we are today. We have allbeen through so much together. We will never forget those silly timeslike our 6th grade food fight at Cornell, to our 8th grade pool party.Remember that? We have had historic high school moments as well,from Zach DiBeridan’s field goal win against Penn Trafford and DelvonSimmons’ Army bowl draft, to Andre Forte and I being the first boysever in Mckeesport history to join the dance team. We have all createdmemories that will last a lifetime!

Today we should be proud of ourselves. Some may have doubted us,but believe it or not we made it. All ofthose hard and stressful times we’remeant for this moment, right here, rightnow. None of us could have made it tothis point if it hadn’t been for the loveand support of our parents and family. Istand before you, proud and blessed tosay Mom, I know it’s been rough butbecause of you, I made it and I love you.As many of you know I suffered aterrible tragedy this year in the loss ofmy father. As difficult a time as this was,I was astonished at the outpouring oflove and support I received from myclassmates and from the faculty here atMckeesport High School. I realized thatyou are all more than classmates,teachers, and principals. You are family,and family sticks together in good timesand in bad.

And now I would like to recognizea few specific people. My fellowgraduates – thank you for alwayssupporting each other. Mr. Jenny, thank

you for cutting our senior debts in half. Dr. Skezas and Mrs. Wanzo, thankyou for your love and support, and last but not least, thank you Mrs. Moore,Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Tomich for helping me to believe in myself andinspiring me to reach new heights. I’m sure that each graduate out there hasspecial friends, family, inspirational teachers and administrators that havehelped and supported you along your journey. We owe them all a debt ofgratitude. Thank you for pushing us and for believing in us.

Mrs. Kirby once said, “Never give up on trying to do what you reallywant to do. Where there is love and inspiration you can not go wrong.” It istime for us to pass the torch of leadership to the underclassmen. This is thebeginning of the beginning. The time has come to take control of our ownlives, to be self-motivated and to achieve our dreams. We’re adults now, andentering the real world isn’t going to be easy. To accomplish great things, wemust not only dream, but act – not only believe but also plan. Tough timeswill never break Mckeesport. We are Tigers – we’re tough, we’re strong, we’resurvivors. Thank you, and I love you.


Melissa Druskin,ValedictorianCommencement Speech – June 8,2011Class of 2011,

congratulations on your years ofhard work that have gotten you tothis point today.

Four years ago, at oureighth grade graduation, I stoodbefore you and delivered aspeech that attempted to bidfarewell, while instilling yourminds with inspiration forsuccess in the years of highschool that were ahead of us.Now, four years later, I amattempting to deliver words withthe same motive in mind: Toclose a chapter of life, and toinspire and motivate you toachieve success in all your future endeavors.

Despite the fact that we all must wear identicalcaps and gowns, there is no doubt that it is ourindividuality that has made us the people we aretoday. From the first day of ninth grade, ourcharacter and determination have molded us intothe young adults who can now be referred to as“high school graduates”, a title that seems to create abittersweet feeling. It makes us realize that many ofthe simple joys experienced everyday in school arenever going to exist again. Whether it wasperforming at the school musical, playing under theFriday night lights, or simply spending class timewith someone who has had the same schedule as

you every year, it is evident that these lifestyles end with the end of highschool. We have all heard the saying, “high school is the best time of yourlife.” Looking back at the past four years, it seems like that now, but wemust realize we have many years ahead of us to experience new things,meet new people, and create new memories.

An anonymous author once said, “There are things that we never wantto let go of and people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind thatletting go isn’t the end of the world, it’s the beginning of a new life.” It isimportant to remember that school has been just one aspect of our lives. Wemust continue on and set new goals. Author Henry David Thoreau wrote,“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is wherethey should be. Now put foundations under them.” The goals we have set in

high school symbolize our castles. It is ourjob to now build upon them in order toachieve the success for which we yearn.Whether this entails going to college orworking at a family business, effort must beput forth to add foundation to our castles inthe sky. I am confident that each and everyone of you possesses the potential to buildlegendary castles.

At this time, I would like to thank theadministrators, faculty, friends, and mostimportantly family for providing us with theknowledge and motivation to acquire theopportunity to close this chapter of our livesand move forward to the next. And to myfellow graduates, I would like to once againsay congratulations. I am sincerely proud andhonored to be among you, an amazing groupof people, that make up the McKeesportHigh School graduating class of 2011.

Ethan KisanCommencement Statement – June 8, 2011In a few moments we will be graduating and our lives will change forever.

This is the time where we will transition from pupil to graduate, fromstudent to alumni. No longer will we be protected by these four walls, butthe spirits of what we gained here will always remain. Friends lets not lie toourselves the future will not come easy, but never give up on your dreams oryour ambitions. These last four years have prepared us for this moment,whether it be because of a special teacher or coach, our hard work anddedication, or because of the friendships we have formed. No matter where

our lives take us, we will always remember our high school years fondly and cherish them with pride. Here we stand at the top of a mountain. Amountain of hard work, dedication and bounties creativity. And now that we are here we must ask ourselves what is next. Nelson Mandela once said“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” So as we begin our journey up the next hill let us always hold trueto our roots. MAHS Class of 2011 forever! Good luck seniors andCongratulations!

Cla� � 2011mckeesport area high school

Good luck seniors and Congratulations!

S C H O O LDISTRICT

On the afternoon of April 7, the preschool’s 4- and 5-year-olds “rode their little hearts out until they were sweaty andcould ride no more,” Flannery explained. When they werethrough, the tiny bikers had raised an amazing $684 for St.Jude’s Children’s Hospital in a Trike-A-Thon. Thepreschoolers received pledges for each lap they made on theirbikes or scooters.

Flannery, a teacher at the highschool, is director of the child careprogram which trains high schoolstudents for a career in child care.The preschool is used as a learninglaboratory. She had participated in aTrike-A-Thon about 10 years ago,she said, and was contacted by St.Jude’s to see if she’d be willing to doso again this year. Parents received apacket of information about theevent and to familiarize them withSt. Jude’s mission. There were alsostories they could read to theirchildren.

In addition to raising fundsthrough the Trike-A-Thon, thepreschoolers learned about bicycle

safety, the importance of wearing helmets and ridingon the sidewalk. On the morning of the event,parents brought their children’s “wheels” to school,and the students went up the hall and out the backdoor to the school’s courtyard. The preschool class’stheme for the week of the Trike-A-Thon was“Community Helpers.” Flannery said during thisweek the children learned the importance of being agood helper. Trike-A-Thon participants were assistedby high school students who are part of the child careprogram. The preschoolers rode about a half-hour,taking breaks in between laps. “They’d do so manylaps and take a break and get some water and get rightback on their little bicycles,” Flannery said.

Trike-A-Thon


You’re never too young to help someone in need, and certainly Jonna Flannery’spreschool class at McKeesport Senior

High School is proof of that.

HappeningsMcKeesport AreaSchool District


S C H O O LDISTRICT

At the beginning of the school year atCentennial Elementary, fifth grade teacher BethGumbert and kindergarten teacher Trina Kingknew they wanted to do a joint project involvingtheir respective classrooms. They just didn’tknow what.

Eventually, they found the perfect vehicleusing a Dr. Seuss book, “The Cat in the HatComes Back,” and teaching strategies Gumbertwas learning via the Penn Literacy Network(although King had done the project before).“I wanted to share these strategies with thedistrict,” Gumbert said.

Both teachers prepared their studentsfor the project which paired two fifth gradestudents with three kindergarten studentsfor a week of interactive education that

included reading, thinking, and writingessays. “We taught the fifth graders how tohandle the kindergarten students,” King said.That included teaching the older studentshow to stifle their natural desire to want togive the younger students answers instead ofhelping them to discern the answers forthemselves. The fifth graders also prepared byreading the story and becoming familiar with itso they could read it aloud to their youngercounterparts.

“They were all engaged and all focused,”King said of the time the students spent

F if th G raders and K indergarten S tu dents

W ork T ogether U s ing

D r. S eu s s


working together. During the week of theproject, there were about 50 students in King’skindergarten classroom. She said her kindergartenstudents “felt so special, they were on their bestbehavior.” And so were the fifth graders, she added. Theproject created an opportunity for students in both grades tobond with each other. “When they see each other in the halls,they smile or wave,” King said.

During the week, fifth grade students worked on generatingquestions using higher order thinking and discussing detailsusing visual imagery, while kindergarten students learned torecap the story in their minds, preparing rough and final essaydrafts.

On the fourth day of the project, students read theiressays from an “author’s chair” designed by the teachers.“The whole room was so patient,” Gumbert said. On thelast day of the project, the superintendent and assistantsuperintendent visited the classroom for an ice creamsocial. But not before the kindergarten students had onelast work-related task. They were given a sheet thatcontained directions for making an ice cream conefigure. However, the directions were out of sequenceand it was the students’ job to put them in the rightorder to make a “Cat in the Hat” snack.

“I think one of the main goals for us was thecollaboration with younger students,” Gumbert said.“They learned more than I thought. It was like a lifelesson, too. I think helping out other people, buildinga sense of community was a key part of it.”


S C H O O LDISTRICT

P atientsPENNIESFOR


You’ll probably haveeven better luck if you gather

up those pennies and donate them to aworthy cause just like the students at GeorgeWashington Elementary in McKeesport.Students there participated in “Pennies for Patients” with a two-week penny drive in February to benefit the Leukemia &Lymphoma Society. The money collected is spent toward patient and communityservices, public health and professionaleducation.

In 2002, the students at the school wereinvolved in a drive that raised $800. Whencontacted by the Leukemia & LymphomaSociety this year, the school decided toundertake that effort again, said schoolcounselor Cory Kunicky.

The classroom that brought in the most money would win a party from the Olive Garden.

“We had a kickoff assemblywith representatives from the

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. One firstgrader brought in her piggy bank,” Kunickyrecalled. A letter was sent home to parentsexplaining the drive and asking students tocheck the couches, chairs and the ground forloose change.

During the second week of the drive,there were special days such as red and blue


day during which students could donate a penny to wear red and blue, the schooldistrict colors. On jersey day they coulddonate a nickel to wear their favorite jersey.Students could ante up a dime on pajamaday, a quarter on hat day, and $1 to chewgum in school on a designated day.

The two-week drive raised a total of $1,109, with Karen Kittle’s classbringing the top donation of $117.34.Her students enjoyed their party ofbreadsticks, salads and three differentvarieties of pasta. “The waitresses cameand served them; it was really, really sweet,” Kunicky said.

She believes one of the biggest strengthsof the elementary school students atGeorge Washington is their willingness

to help others when given the chance. She cited a recent visit by WPXI-TV ChiefMeteorologist Julie Bologna, who collectscanned goods during her visits to schools.Kunicky said her students had the secondhighest amount of canned goods collected.

“It’s just impressive how they give to others,” Kunicky said. “I think theyempathize with people in need.”

“See a penny, pick it up;all day long you’ll havegood luck.”


S C H O O LDISTRICT

McKeesport Area High SchoolProm was held Thursday, May26, 2011 beginning with thepromenade at 5:30 pm in frontof the high school.

Prom guests posed for pictureson a stage at the high school'smain entrance. They thenproceeded in the direction of thestadium and around the circle.

Students embarked fromMcKeesport Area High Schooland traveled to the SheratonStation Square. The After-Promwas hosted on the GatewayClipper Majestic.


Promenade

White Oak Elementary1415 California AvenueWhite Oak, PA 15131Office: 412.664.3790Fax: 412.664.3794Principal: Dr. Tamara Sanders-Woods

George Washington1818 Sumac StreetMcKeesport, PA 15132Office: 412.664.3770Fax: 412.664.3777Principal: Mr. Paul Sweda

Founders’ Hall3600 O’Neil BoulevardMcKeesport, PA 15132Office: 412.664.3690Fax: 412.664.3768Principal: Dr. Karen Chapman

Francis McClureIntermediate School500 Longvue DriveWhite Oak, PA 15131Office: 412.664.3740Fax: 412.664.3747Principals: Mr. Anthony DeMaroMs. Pamela GordonPrincipal of Cyber School/District Technology Integration: Dr. Jane Coughenour

Centennial1601 Beaver StreetMcKeesport, PA 15132Office: 412.664.3750Fax: 412.664.3756Principal: Ms. Staci Fitzpatrick

McKeesport Area High School andTechnology Center1960 Eden Park BoulevardMcKeesport, PA 15132Office: 412.664.3650Fax: 412.664.3787Head Principal of Academics: Mr. Mark HoltzmanDirector of Career and Technology Center:Mrs. Patricia Scales

Administration Office3590 O’Neil BoulevardMcKeesport, PA 15132Office: 412.664.3600Fax: 412.664.3638Superintendent:Dr. Timothy Gabauer

BUILDING UPDATES

Francis McClure Elementary/Intermediate SiteFrancis McClure is underway and is on schedule. The district meetsevery week to get updates on the project and expects the building to be open in August of 2011. The building will additionally serve theentire district’s fifth and sixth grade temporarily.

Cornell Elementary/Intermediate SiteCornell is currently in the property acquisition stage for some of thelast properties that border the new school. The district is out to bid on the project and construction should start within the next fewmonths. If everything stays on schedule, the building is expected to be open in January 2013.

New McKeesport Elementary/Intermediate SiteThe property is currently in the acquisition stages. The district islooking at the terrain and discussing placement at the building.According to schedule, the building should be open in January of 2014.


S C H O O LDISTRICT

Do youknow

someonewho is

serving inthe armed

forcesfrom the

McKeesportarea?

We would like to honor their commitment by featuringthem in this magazine.

Please forward your name,the soldier’s name and wherethe/she is are serving, along with a phototo [email protected].

Help us recognize these fine men and women!

My husband is CTR1 (AW/SW)Patrick Sherlock of the UnitedStates Navy. He is attached to theforward deployed amphibiousassault ship USS Essex LHD 2stationed in Sasebo, Japan.

He is the son of Cheryl and Pat Sherlock, step father TonyFonzi and son-in-law of MiraBascovsky and Carl Moller. CTR1 Sherlock has two sons,Tyson (age 5) and Emmitt (age 4).

He has been in the Navy for five years. Last year he reenlisted for another tour.He has completed in the Cobra Goldexercise outside of Thailand. ExerciseBaliktan with the Philippines. Duringsummer 2009 participated withAustralia during the Talisman SaberExercise. In 2011 has conductedmissions in Malaysia and Cambodia.His ship is currently participating inthe Operation Tomodachi providingaid and relief to Japan after thetsunami and earthquake happeningMarch 2011.

While out to sea in a matter of a year’s time hereceived both pins available to one when stationed to aship. Those pins are in (AW) Air Warfare and (SW) SurfaceWarfare. He has advanced in rank and is an exceptionalrole model to the Sailors he leads. Along with hisprofessional accomplishments while deployed he hascompleted an associate's degree in Political Science.

We are very proud of him and wish him the best of luckwhile helping to aid Japan. Go Iron Gator, Go Navy!

With love, your wife, Laura Sherlock

A promotion ceremony took place forMaster Sgt. Sandra Adams-Jones, 372ndMilitary Police Battalion on the D.C.National Guard Armory drill floor.

Adams-Jones joined the U.S. ArmyReserves in 1982 and the D.C. ArmyNational Guard in 1988. She has had many assignmentsthrough the DCANG as well as being deployed in supportof operation Noble Eagle at the Pentagon, 2002-03, andGuantanamo Bay, Cuba, 2003-04. Adams-Jones has alsoreceived many awards including the Army CommendationMedal and Army Achievement Medal.

Adams-Jones is attaining her second master’s degree in the master of public administration program at Walden University.

She is the daughter of Katherine C. Adams of McKeesportand Thomas L. Adams of Rankin.

Submitted by Deanna Lee Adams, sister, Katherine C. Adams, mother, and Thomas L. Adams, father.

Mckeesport Military Heroes


“It was the best of times . . . . it was the worst of times”A TALE OF TWO CITIES - CHARLES DICKENS

“The privatization of State Liquor Stores,” . . . “Education cuts,”. . . “continuing budgetresolutions”, . . . “President Obama forms Commission on Medicare reform,”. . .

– THE MEDIA HAS BEEN REPLETE WITH HEADLINES AND STORIES ON THE MANAGEMENTOF THE PUBLIC SECTOR FROMHARRISBURG TOWASHINGTON D C.

As your Mayor, I think it is important to report on the factors that directly impact upon your day-to-day government in McKeesport. First, I need to tell you that these State and Federal budgetingdecisions directly affect our City, as well. Nevertheless, as Mayor I will continue to work with theDepartment Heads and the Administration to manage the city’s finances while providing opendialogue to City Council and the citizens so that there will be NO increase in real estate taxes proposedfor 2012. Secondly, the City will be business friendly working as a catalyst for new business formationand jobs for the Valley - i.e. the new grocery store being developed at Eden Park/Walnut Street - as wellas for business expansion like the re-purchase of Camp Hill by USS, the location of EQT (EquitableGas) on the former mill site and the renovations to Eat ‘n Park Restaurant. Third, albeit state/federalmonies are “at risk”, as a result of creative funding solutions by Community Development DirectorBethany Bauer, McKeesport will continue to eradicate blighted structures and be a conduit in theneighborhoods for new residential opportunities and continued reinvestment by existing homeowners.

In order to help you appreciate the challenge(s) facing McKeesportfor 2011 and beyond, let’s take a moment to revisit some statistics. TheCity of McKeesport budget for calendar 2011 is approximately $ 20million. Of that amount nearly 25% - over $4.25 million - is dedicated topolice services and another 10% - $2 million - to the fire department.What does this mean? If the City collects all of its real estate taxes(commercial/industrial/residential) it would “only” pay for theoperation of the fire department. If the City collected all its earnedincome taxes and all of its municipalservice fees (the latter helps payfor garbage collection, streetlights, snow removal, as well asunderwrite police and fire)that amount would “only” payfor the police budget. The

street light bill alone, is over $500,000/year. The refuse collection is another $1 million per year. Thefollowing pie chart may better graphically depict the relationship of these sources and uses which theymust support.

These issues notwithstanding, our City continues to provide a plethora of services to the residentsand performs a leadership role in the Mon Valley. As such, those amenities to which you have becomeaccustomed like Renziehausen Park - it’s summer concert series, 4th of July, etc. (please see the articlein this issue of IN MCKEESPORT), International Village; professional public safety:ambulance/fire/police, will continue to be a staple of our City’s environment.

I look forward in the weeks and months ahead to working with you to articulate these issues thattest our fiscal resolve, and subsequently develop implementation plans for the balance of 2011 andbeyond that will judiciously utilize our most precious resource - the American tax payer! Together,“It will be a far, far better thing we do now than we have ever done before.”

“There will beno real estatetax increase in 2012”

Mayor’s CornerREGIS T. MCLAUGHLIN


Odds are if you know these words, you are among thethousands of folks in the region who enjoy piloting your owncraft along one of the area’s many waterways.

If you’re one of the people who dock your boat at McKeesPoint, the marina in McKeesport then perhaps you’ve seen a fewof its newest editions, Pittsburgh Boat Sales and Miller’s Marine,which sells their own boat brand, Bayliner. The dealership is located at 500 Water Street, McKeesport, PA 15132.

“It’s pretty much a family run business,” said Coleen Barney,one of the owners of the two boat dealerships. “We enjoy theboat community and the boating industry.”

Pittsburgh Boat Sales, which opened in McKeesport last fallalong with Miller’s Marine, sells new and used boats and boatson consignment. They also sell boat parts and accessories andservice boats, too. The company had been servicing boats at the marina even before moving its dealerships there.”We had arelationship with the McKeesport Marina, where we were doingservice and spoke with Ray Daugherty, marina manager, and he invited us to be on the premises with a dealership,” Barneyexplained. “This is a nice opportunity. They have the mostbeautiful, state of the art docks and we like working with Ray and his staff. We're happy to be near Pittsburgh.”

Barney said Pittsburgh Boat Sales and Miller’s Marine had a big presence at this year’s Pittsburgh Boat Show. “Our boatswere very popular,” she added. “We're looking forward to takinga prominent position in the boating market with our newdealership locations and McKeesport is a good place to do it.”

Contact Pittsburgh Boat Sales: 412.896.6475

BAYLINERS, MONTEREYS,

FOUR WINNS, SWEETWATER PONTOONS!



The McKeesport Fire department has a brand new fire rescue boat.The addition of the 26-foot-long, 8 1/2-foot-wide boat will allow thedepartment to patrol the rivers more easily.

The former boat was purchased when the River Rescue Team wasstarted in 1996 and was now obsolete.

“Former Mayor Jim Brewster toldus we could get a new rescue boatbecause our old one was in such badshape” says Deputy Chief ChuckMargliotti, who had a hand indesigning the new boat. “Once wefigured out what our needs were, wewere able to start looking around”.

Margliotti says the department did a national search and found theCalifornia based company, HarborGuard Boats, Inc. from whom they chose to buy the boat.

Margliotti says the boat took about seven months to build because the company manufactures each boat individually as a customized order.

The new boat is a state of the art water craft designed to mitigateboth change in river depth and unpredictable currents. Instead ofhaving propellers, it’s jet driven. It has twin engines and is capable

of converting this power source into pumping 2000 gallons of waterper minute for both river emergencies as well as water based supportfor shoreline fire fighting calls. In the case of river rescue, this multi-disciplined asset is equipped with sides of the boat that fold down evenwith the water line so that victims and divers can easily slide into theboat Margliotti said.

The boat also boasts an impressiveelectronic system. “The new lights andradios were not things we had in the oldboat,“ he says. “The company specializesin making just these kinds of boats.”

According to Margliotti, a learningcurve is necessary with boats as highlyunique as this one. “It will take substantialtraining,” he says.

The boat will patrol the area from theBraddock Lock up to the Elizabeth Lock and on the YoughioghenyRiver from McKeesport up to Little Boston.

“We do anticipate doing something special, once we get the boat in the water, to give people an opportunity to see what it does,” saysMargliotti. “Once the public observes the boat in operation they willreally be able to appreciate how special it is.”

McKeesport Gains New Fire Rescue

Boat

“The boat took about seven months to buildbecause the company

Manufactures Each BoatAs A Customized Order.”

Looking to the future by going back to the past, the Regional Chamber Alliance haschanged its name back to the Mon Yough AreaChamber of Commerce.

“We decided that we wanted to renameourselves to clearly demark where our region is and what we do,” said the chamber’s presidentMaury Burgwin. The organization announced

the moniker change at an event held May 19 at the Courtyard Marriott at the Waterfront in West Homestead. Those in attendanceincluded Richard Lattanzi, City of Clairtonmayor; Betty Esper, Homestead mayor; BobMacey, Allegheny County Council member;and Chris Kelly, West Mifflin mayor.

Speaking before the big unveiling of thenew logo were Michele Matuch, president of the Mon Yough Chamber Foundation(unrelated to the Chamber of Commerce),which presented the Chamber with a $2,500check; Mark Urbassik, chairman of the MonYough Area Chamber of Commerce board ofdirectors; and special guest Jim Lokay, trafficand transportation reporter for KDKA-TV/Pittsburgh’s CW and Mon Valley native.

Matuch said the money was to help defraythe cost of the Chamber’s business developmentinitiative and commended the Chamber and Burgwin for taking the first step forward in bringing the Mon Yough Area businesscommunity together. Urbassik thanked Burgwinfor “his enthusiasm and tireless promotion

of Mon Yough Area community businesses and individuals.”

The Mon Yough Area Chamber ofCommerce, which encompasses approximately30 communities, has 370 companies asmembers with a membership database of about482 names. That’s because some companieshave several employees as members of theChamber, Burgwin explained. “Ninety percentof our businesses are small, sort of mom andpop type businesses with five employees or less.Our marquee sponsors are UPMC, with 50,000some employees, and Best Buy.”

Burgwin, who took over as director of theChamber last year, was given the task ofgrowing the membership. He has 30 years ofmarketing experience, he said, six of those yearsworking with the late John Connelly, owner ofthe Gateway Clipper Fleet and godfather ofincentive marketing. Burgwin has been able to,within his brief time, increase the Chambermembership from 220 to 370, he said. Part of that growth is attributed to the Chamber’sacquisition of the Steel Valley Chamber ofCommerce, a small chamber that basicallycovered Homestead, West Homestead andMunhall. “We’re thrilled to have them onboard,” Burgwin said. “There are a lot ofchallenges going on in the Mon Valley withrespect to a downturn in the general economyin 2008.” However, things are slowly starting to come back, he said, and the area is beginning

Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce PresidentMaury Burgwin and Chairman of the Board MarkUrbassik unveil new logo.

Robert Baum, a member of the Mon Yough AreaChamber of Commerce Board of Directors, greetsAllegheny County Council Member Bob Macey


to see some new businesses crop up. “Forbusinesses within our membership base, some ofthem are starting to see some growth,” he added.

One good economic indicator Burgwin seesis USX’s purchase of the Camp Hill TubeCompany. “As to the specific reason why they’redoing that, I can only speculate, but I have afeeling it’s probably related to the potential withMarcellus Shale,” he said. Burgwin believes

Marcellus Shale presents a very big opportunityfor the Mon Valley and beyond. He would like tobring together the various political and economicdevelopment leaders from the local, state andfederal levels to develop ways to market the MonValley and those companies that could be naturalsuppliers to Marcellus Shale.

“Obviously, these are issues that need teamsupport and team cooperation, and I’ve been

working with various leaders in the area, City ofMcKeesport manager, Dennis Pittman beingone of them,” Burgwin said. While he hasn’t metall the mayors and representatives of all thetowns within the Chamber, it is something he plans to do.

Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce islocated at 201 Lysle Boulevard, McKeesport, PA15132; 412-678-2450.

Mon Yough Chamber Foundation President Michele Matuch

Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce President Maury Burgwin with Executive Boardmembers Howard Murphy, Lori Moffeo, Mark Urbassik, Robin Khorey and Marti Gastel.

KDKA TV/CW Traffic and Transportation Reporter Jim Lokay

Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce BoardChairman Mark Urbassik


All start times are 8:00 p.m.

Please call for information on all events.

Schedule is subject to change.

McKees Point MarinaCafé & Pizzeria

100 5th AveMcKeesport, PA 15132

412-678-6979

MCKEES POINT MARINA

2011 Free Concert Series

July 2nd Long Run Rd Band

July 3rd Mudsharks

July 23rd Tim Scott Band

July 30th Friends of Elvis

August 6th Legacy Band

August 13th Top Cats

August 27th The Igniters


McKeesport Recreation Department, headed by director Jim Brown in concert withThe Allegheny County Regional Asset District (ARAD), works diligently to developprograms and events held throughout the year. The following is the Summer 2011lineup of events, all of which will be held at Renziehausen Park.

7/4 THE VAGRANTS – 4 PM, TIM SCOTT – 6 PM, LEGACY – 8 PM, FIREWORKSAFTER DARK Lions Bandshell

7/10 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: BEATLEMANIA MAGIC – 7 PM Lions Bandshell

7/17 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: SCOTT BLASEY OF “THE CLARKS” – 7 PMLions Bandshell

7/24 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: THE LAURELS – 7 PM Lions Bandshell

7/31 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: DANCING QUEEN – 7 PMLions Bandshell

8/7 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: ZOOT ISLAND BEACH PARTY –7 PM Lions Bandshell

8/14 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: BIG BAND MEMORIES – 7 PM Lions Bandshell

8/16, INTERNATIONAL VILLAGE – 3 PM8/17, to 11 PM Stephen Barry Field8/18

8/21 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: THE JAGGERZ – 7 PMLions Bandshell

8/28 SUMMERCONCERTSERIES: LIONSCAR CRUISE –5 PM , PURE GOLD – 7PM


Computers, cellphones, the Internet – all technological achievementsthat have changed how we work and play. Unfortunately, for the criminal-minded, it also has changed the way crimes are committed.

Police departments, large and small, have to keep up with thevarious ways criminals are using high technology to carry out ill deeds.

In the McKeesport Police Department, Officer Mike Mihalko is the man who helps solve these kinds of cases. And here’s a clue – it can’t really be done in an hour as it is on CSI. “My primary duty is investigating high-tech and computer crimes,” said Mihalko, a 40-year-old plainclothes officer assigned to theDetective Bureau. He’s also on the PennsylvaniaState Police Task Force. While the majority ofMihalko’s cases are in McKeesport, his affiliationwith the task force allows him to assist the state in investigations and vice versa.

People use technology for all kinds of nefariouspurposes and while much media attention is paid tothe use of the Internet by child predators, Mihalkoalso looks into other kinds of crimes includingInternet fraud, assaults and arsons, etc. The lasttwo may sound like old-school offenses, butfactor in the use of technology and they fallinto Mihalko’s territory. For example, ifsomeone committed arson and a cellphone was used to record video ofthe crime, that’s a case he would investigate because it would call for thephone to be examined and for the video to be extracted from the phone.The user of the phone would have to be determined in addition to whatphone calls were made before and after the crime.

“Police work is gearing up toward the technology aspect of crime,”Mihalko said. Technology can be used to commit crime, to plancrime…you have to be able to look at and have that evidence.”

In addition to being trained by the state police, Mihalko has alsoreceived training from the National White Collar Crimes Center in nearby Morgantown, WV. “People all across the country come totrain there,” he said. He is also scheduled to undergo training at theNational Computer Forensic Institute in Birmingham, Ala. “It’s justconfirming and updating and expanding my skill set as far ascomputer investigation,” Mihalko said.

Police work is part of Mihalko’s heritage. Hisfather and grandfather were police officers in PortVue. His uncle, Charles “Tomo” Tomovcsik, was apolice officer in McKeesport. Mihalko served in theMarines for four years. Afterwards, he did variousjobs until he enrolled in the police academy. Workingfull time and attending the academy, he graduated in November 2004. By April 2005, he was hired bythe McKeesport Police Department.

Initially, there was a civilian employee handlingthe computer department. Mihalko, who hadsome technology background already, wouldhelp out occasionally. When that employee

left, he was asked to take over the department. He is consideringgoing back to school at Duquesne University. “The technologicalaspects of criminal activity are really just coming to light, as time goeson,” Mihalko said.

Officer



Equitable Gas Co. held an open housefor its new McKeesport Regional Bheadquarters on May 3.

Company representatives, includingEquitable’s executive vice president,William Lucas, and representatives ofMcKeesport, including Mayor Regis T.McLaughlin and city administrator Dennis Pittman, and Mon Yough Area Chamber president Maury Burgwinwere on hand.

“We have a long rich history with McKeesport,” Lucas said. “We’re thrilled to be here and plan to be here for a very long time.”

The facility, located at 261 Center Street in the city’sindustrial park, is 32,500 square feet, 10,000 of which is office space and the remaining 22,500 square feet iswarehouse space. It houses the regional operation forMcKeesport and the surrounding area. Employees who

work out of this facility are involved in maintaining the gassystem and general distribution.

Equitable purchased the building from HuckesteinMechanical Services.

As part of the open house, a meeting room in thebuilding was dedicated to Paul J. Ei, III, an Equitable Gasemployee who passed away in May 2010. “Never a negativeor unkind word came out of his mouth and he would doanything for anybody,” said Karen Skovran, director of

operations field customerservice. “Unless possibly duringMarch Madness,” she jokedabout her co-worker, who was a huge University of Pittsburgh

basketball fan. Present for the dedication were Mr. Ei’smother, Lorraine Hays; her friend, Jack Wolfe; uncle andgodfather Ron Hays; aunt Delores O’Hara, and fiancée Lynn Sofranko.

Equitable GasOpen House

City of McKeesport

500 Fifth AvenueMcKeesport, PA 15132412.675.5020Fax: 412.675.5049www.mckeesport.orgMayor: Regis McLaughlin

Council:Michael CherepkoRichard J. DellapennaLorretta DiggsDale McCallDarryl SeginaAlfred Tedesco Jr.V. Fawn Walker

PoliceNon Emergency Phone: 412.675.5050

Fire DepartmentMcKeesport Fire FightersP.O. Box 15134412.675.5021 or 412.675.5070

McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service (MARS)

Edwin Coulter, Chairman, McKeesportAmbulance Authority & EmergencyManagement CoordinatorEmergency Phone: 911Non Emergency Phone: 412.675.5076

White Oak Borough

2280 Lincoln WayWhite Oak, PA 15131412.672.9727Fax: 412.672.0760www.woboro.comMayor: Ina Jean MartonBorough Manager: John W. Petro, Jr.412.672.9727

Council:Edward BabyakCharles DavisGeorge DillingerRonald MassungDavid PasternakKenneth RobbCarrie Verbanick

PoliceNon Emergency Phone: 412.672.9727

Fire DepartmentsRainbow Volunteer Fire Company2916 Jacks Run RoadWhite Oak, PA 15131412.664.9523

White Oak No. 1 Fire Company1130 California Ave.White Oak, PA 15131412.664.4822

White Oak EMS2800 State StreetWhite Oak, PA 15131Emergency Phone: 911Non-Emergency Phone: 412.672.3055

Borough of Dravosburg

226 Maple AvenueDravosburg, PA 15034412.466.5200Fax: 412.466.6027Mayor: John Powell

Council:Jay McKelveyMichelle VezzaniWilliam Snodgrass, Jr.Barbara StevensonGreg Wilson

South Versailles Township

P.O. Box 66Coulter, PA 15028

Township Secretary: Carla BarronTreasurer: Carol HainesBoard of Commissioners:John WarabakWilliam HaywoodEdward Kulasa, Jr.Terry PayneDavid Stockett

Versailles Borough

5100 Walnut StreetMcKeesport, PA 15132412.751.3922Fax: 412.751.4430Mayor James FleckensteinJoel YeckelJames SheedyCheryl D’AntonioFrank BundaAnita Gricar

Serving The Mon Valley

Serving the Mon



Reach over 36,567 potential customers in McKeesport Area

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The McKeesport Heritage Centerhas been in existence for 30 years, 20of them in its Renzie Park location,which houses the first one-room school house inMcKeesport, built in 1832.

“We hold a number ofprograms throughout the yearand they’re always open tothe public,” said the center’sdirector Michelle Wardle.“We participate in the

International village and the Festival of Trees, so we’reout there, but people are still just learning about us.”

A native of Schenectady, NY, Wardle said she’slearned lot since taking a post with the HeritageCenter. Among the things she learned is that the firstpublic debate held between John F. Kennedy and

Richard Nixon was held in McKeesport at the Penn McKeeHotel on April 22, 1947, when both were freshmen members of Congress, and that George Washington was the first personto document traveling through the area that would laterbecome the City of McKeesport, while on a diplomatic trip in 1753.

In 2007, volunteers from the Heritage Center did an“Images of America” book for McKeesport, published byArcadia Publishing. It must have been a hit because theywere asked to do another book. “We said, ‘Yes we have allthese postcards; we’d like to do a postcard book,’” Wardlesaid, recalling the exchange. So, Wardle and Heritage Centerboard member John Barna, a former photographer forMcKeesport Daily News and historian, co-authored a bookof postcards from McKeesport, as part of Arcadia’s vintagepostcard history series.

“We started working on it back in September of 2010, and wecompleted our draft in March 2011,” Wardle said. “At the momentwe’re waiting for proofs to come back.” The focus of the book isMcKeesport from about 1890 to the late 1930s. “It’s reprints of216 postcards of either the City of McKeesport or some of the

surrounding parks, like Olympia Park andRainbow Gardens.”



While the parks are not inMcKeesport, the city’s residents visited theseparks and that’s why they were included, Wardle explained. Halfof the postcards were ones that had been donated to the HeritageCenter over the years and the other half are on loan from people’sprivate collections. Only the fronts of the cards are reprinted.

The Heritage Center holds various program throughout theyear. On June 18, there was a program on how trolleys were usedduring WWII featuring speaker George Gula of the Western

Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Local folklore, includinginformation on Dead Man’s Hollow, will be the subject of theJuly 16 program with speaker Thomas White. On August 13, thetopic will be local historic amateur baseball and football teamswith speaker Walter Patton, and on October 13, Wardle andBarna will do a founder’s program on McKeesport vintagepostcards in connection with the book. All programs take placeat the Heritage Center. For more information on the center, visit www.mckeesportheritage.org.

Reach over 36,567 potential customers in McKeesport Area

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It is difficult to imagine that a place as peaceful as the park-environsof The Muse House, with its lush trees and colorful flowers, could haveonce been the scene of a historic attack. But it was.

The tranquil, two-story 19th century farmhouse on Muse Lane, now part of AngoraGardens, a program that provides mental health therapy and services, sits on property thatwas once the location of a blockhouse built by the U.S. Government in 1783 to protectsettlers from attack by Native Americans. Adam Reburn was put in charge of the station andfive years later, he purchased the property, which included 200 acres of land. It was named“Galilee” by the patent office. As the story goes, in 1792, two of Reburn’s daughters and ahired hand, Robert Couzins, were out in the cornfields cutting corn when a group of Indiansattacked. The daughters were closer to the blockhouse and escaped, but Couzins was killed,and according to the history of the place, he was the last white man killed in this part of thecountry. The Native Americans retreated after Reburn sounded a conch shell alarm, whichbrought scores of neighbors.

Anthony Rollins, who purchased the property after Reburn, built a barn and a cabin on it.The road now called Muse Lane, was previously Rollins Road, which was traveled by GeorgeWashington and General Braddock on their way to Braddock’s Field.

Loretta Clark, a former employee of Angora Gardens, used to conduct tours of the historicproperty, citing stories about the place that was eventually purchased by John J. Muse andcame to be known as “Galilee Farm.” Muse’s father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War andhis grandfather was a friend of George Washington’s. Muse, who was active in politics, servedas the treasurer for Allegheny County. He built the house that sits on the property today,calling it “Colonial Mansion With White Shutters.” John J. Muse planted all kinds of fruittrees, including apple, peach, pear and plum. Pine trees were planted, also.

Muse The

House

Loretta Clark in gazebo at Angora Gardens

Fort Reburn Sign at Muse House, Angora


“The Muses bought the property and lived in the house, andthere was known to be an Underground Railroad Station here,” Clarksaid. She explained that in some instances, a quilt would be hung infront of a house indicating whether it was safe for escaping slaves tostop there. Clark said someone had come to examine the home to tryto verify its use as part of the Underground Railroad. “He said theway the ground is and the way the house is, there’s an opening.” The opening might indicate a place where slaves would be hidden.

John J. Muse’s son, John Muse, lived on the property most of his life, having moved there at the age of five when his father bought it in 1832. John Muse became known as one of the best farmers in Western Pennsylvania. He passed away in 1910 at the age of 77. In 1972, the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a markeron the property to commemorate its one-time use as a block housealso known as Fort Reburn. In 1968, the property became part of theAllegheny County Parks System. It is located in White Oak Park.

Angora Gardens got its name because when the mental healthprogram began in 1988, it involved raising Angora rabbits. Today, the rabbits are gone, but participants in the program tend to thegardens and the plants and flowers in the greenhouse. The propertyalso has a pond.

The Muse House is on the Pittsburgh History and LandmarkFoundations list of historic places.

Greenhouse at Angora Gardens

“The Muses bought the property

and lived in the house, and there

was known to be an Underground

Railroad Station here,” Clark said.


The organization, which is an offshoot of the now-defunctHousing Opportunity, Inc., received a $1.4 million grant fromPennsylvania Housing Finance to do several projects. The firstwas to renovate an old house at 1608 Jenny Lind Street, turningit into three large, two-bedroom apartments. The second projectwas building 10 new homes; three of the homes are located onthe corners of Jenny Lind and Union streets, four more newhomes are on Coursin Street and three on Grant Street.

To bring the dream of home ownership to fruition, theorganization has teamed up with other groups including theMcKeesport Housing Corporation, Pennsylvania HousingFinance, Community Housing Development Organization(CHDO) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.

“We built a neighborhood is what we did,” said Lani Temple,executive director of the McKeesport Neighborhood Initiative.“This is a very exciting program because MNI didn’t just buildany home. All of these houses have been built with buyers. We don’t build on speculation. We only build with buyers.”

The buyers are low-to-moderate income families andTemple is quick to point out that her organization is not a give away program. “Everyone has a mortgage,” she said. And everyone must have a job, unless they receive disabilitybenefits. Buyers are able to receive $50,000 in grants fromPennsylvania Housing Finance; $25,000 from CHDO and$10,000 through the Federal Home Loan Bank toward the cost of the home. They must make a down payment of $500 and sign a 30-year mortgage.

All of the prospective buyers receive credit counseling throughthe McKeesport Neighborhood Initiative’s partnership withAdvantage Consumer Credit. Cost for participants is $40. “Wehave had zero failure rates,” Temple said. “None of our buyershave had foreclosure problems. They did credit counseling andhome buyers classes so they were very aware of what homeownership requires, so they never felt they were set up to fail.”

McKeesport

Neighborhood Initiative

Home ownership has always been a part ofthe American Dream and the McKeesportNeighborhood Initiative (MNI) is anorganization that is helping to make that dream come true for some fortunatefamilies in McKeesport.


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Just like any other home buyer, buyers who purchase theirhomes through MNI’s program, have a say in what’s included inthe home, albeit with some restrictions. Buyers in this programhave a budget and are advised that if they select something thatgoes over the budget, they will have to pay the increase in the costof the house. “The other thing I love about this program is thatthey have a choice of homes,” Temple said. “They, actually, areable to choose their style of house and then they get to choosewhat’s inside their house. It’s not something that someone builtfor you and you had to take it, it’s your home.”

It has not been an easy task to bring all this about and Templecredits the organization’s all-volunteer 10-member board for itstenacity in getting things accomplished. “It’s been tough but myboard has just stuck through it,” Temple said. “I think there’s afallacy that everybody should have a house. Not everybodyshould have a house, some people should rent because somepeople don’t want the responsibility of home ownership.”

When she became executive director six years ago, Templesaid she had her share of naysayers. “I had people that said, ‘Whydon’t you give the money back because you’re not going to do it.’”

However, the neighborhood that McKeesport NeighborhoodInitiative has helped to create has been well worth the efforts,she said. “Everybody watches out for each other, crime hasdecreased. It’s been wonderful to see. The area looks nice and the kids are happy.”

Even after families have moved in, Temple stays in touch,calling to see how things are going or if they need any help. Shesaid she has gotten invited to family cookouts and neighborhoodfunctions. “It’s fun to see when you give people a chance, whatthey do and what they can become,” she said.


The Garden Clubof McKeesportbegan in 1936 as away for the wives ofwell-off professionalmen to get together.

“It started as hat and white gloveladies,” explained club president Fran Zalac. “You had to be voted in.” Since that time, however, “it has evolvedinto something very different and very, very rewarding,” she added.

While members still sport gloves, they are definitelynot white. They are more of the garden variety—as ingardening gloves, stained by dirt and grass. But youcan’t have the exquisite roses and the heavenly smellthat emanates from the club’s award-winning rosegarden and arboretum on Pin Oak Drive in Renzie Parkwithout a little dirt and a lot of backbreaking work.

On a recent scorcher of a Wednesday morning,garden club members (average age: 75) were pruning,weeding away among the rows of white, pink, red,and yellow roses planted on three of the six acres of land the club leases from the City of McKeesport.One of those working on that day was Grace Krepps,a former club president who’s been a member for

more than 20 years. “I enjoy the gardens and thecamaraderie,” she said. Also out in the garden was Frank DelDuca. “I like all the people down here,” he said. “I enjoy being outside.” Club member Bill Mays, who hasabout 100 roses at home, still finds time to prune the GoldMedal roses in the club’s garden. “People go to spas andsweat; they should come out here. It’s better than going on a treadmill,” he said.

Zalac, who is in her first year as president, has been a member of the club since 2006. “I used to ride past hereevery day and see all these beautiful flowers. I thought,‘When I retire this is what I’ll do,’” she recalled.

The property also boasts a lovely gazebo, often used for weddings, a pond and an herb garden.

It may be called the McKeesport Garden Club, butmembers are from a variety of communities including GreenTree, Elizabeth Township, North Huntingdon, West Mifflin,White Oak, Whitehall, Pittsburgh and Sutersville, to name a few. Members meet 10 months out of the year. The clubhas a two-story building on the grounds with a nice porch to escape to when the sun is beating down.

“In December wework with McKeesportFestival of Trees. Wehave a sale here inconjunction with the

festival,” said

McKeesportGarden Club


club member JaneMiller. The Festivalof Trees is a contestin which differentorganizationsdecorate Christmastrees. The gardenclub sells wreaths and othercrafts made by the members. “We press our own mini rosesand put them in arrangements,” Miller said.

On the second floor of club headquarters, membersmake framed pressed flowers, floral arrangements andsundry other crafts to sell, with the proceeds going to theclub – which also holds four teas a year. Club facilities areavailable to rent for small gatherings such as weddings andbaby showers. The McKeesport Symphony meets there aswell. There are currently 43 members in the garden club,and while they’d be glad to have more, what they reallyneed is volunteers, Zalac said, adding that members canshow volunteers how to grow roses and how to make allthe wonderful crafts.

In 2010, the Garden Club of McKeesport was selected asone of the top 10 gardens in the country in America’s BestRose Garden Contest held by the All-American RoseSelection Organization. The club, with more than 2,000roses, has the second largest rose garden in Pennsylvania

(second only to the one inHershey, Pa.). The club isaffiliated with the NationalGarden Club, Inc., thePittsburgh Rose Society, and the Confederation of

McKeesport District Women’s Club, and is celebratingits 75th year as an affiliate of the Garden ClubFederation of Pennsylvania.

The Garden Club of McKeesport Rose Garden andArboretum is open to the public daily from 7 a.m. to 9p.m., April through October. Club members meet at thegarden every Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. to around2 p.m. On August 27, the club will hold its annual FlowerShow at the McKeesport Heritage Center, next to theclub’s rose garden.

For more information about the McKeesport GardenClub, visit www.gardenclubofmckeesport.org.

McKeesport’s International Village is in its52nd year and for more than 40 of those years,the Free Hungarian Reformed Church of McKeesport has been a part of it.

It doesn’t hurt that the church is located at 101 University Drive, across the street fromthe festival’s Renzie Park location.“Our churchhas been participating for 47 years, so this is something we consider a fixture on ourcalendar,” said the church’s pastor Rev. Dr.Daniel J. Borsay. “We always look forward to participating. We have many people thatexpect us to be there.”

After so many years, what would the festivalbe without the contributions of this churchwhich was established in McKeesport in 1922 asa kind of mission to the Hungarian community,Pastor Borsay said. “But it has grown beyond itsbeginnings and we are open to all people.” Thefestival, however, gives the church and festivalgoers an opportunity to celebrate its roots withtraditional Hungarian foods such as KolbászSzendvics: Hungarian sausage on rye breadserved with or without sauerkraut; TöltöttKáposzta: Stuffed cabbage (ground beef and rice mixture) served with rye bread;Káposztás Kocka: Cabbage and noodles (can be topped with salt or sugar, never both);Zsiroskenyér: Greasy bread/bacon fry (we roast

high-quality pork fat rubbed withHungarian paprika on a wood-firethen press the pork onto rye breadand cover it with fresh vegetables like cucumbers, green peppers, redonions, tomatoes. Sometimes called a “szalona sütés,” Paprikás CsirkeNokedlivel: Chicken paprikash withdumplings.

Pastries include:Palascinta: Hungarian crepes with sweetenedcottage cheese or apricot filling, served with orwithout powdered sugar; Csöröge: Fried bread-like dough in diamond shapes served withpowdered sugar; Beigli (Mákos, Diós És BarackLekváros): Long rolls (poppyseed, walnut, orapricot filling); Rácsos Tészta (Ananász ÉsBarack Lekváros): Triple deckers (in pineapplewith walnut or apricot with walnut); Kifli(Diós És Barack Lekváros): Kiffles or colddough cookies in walnut or apricot. There arealso Thumbprints with various color frostingand Tassies (made with brown sugar syrup,walnut, and coconut), Butter-cream or apricotfluff pastries (made with light-as-air filodough), and home-made apple squares.

The church sells all this deliciousness in itsair-conditioned social hall and from a booth inthe village. “It’s the Women’s Guild, the womenof the church, who work so hard to prepare all

these foods. It’s a lot of work, but a lot of funbecause everybody comes and everybodycooperates together,” Pastor Borsay said.Baking begins in late June, early July, but the other foods are prepared fresh that week.“We have a very nice social hall and we’reable to have the ladies here and they are able to work basically around the clock,”

Pastor Borsay said.

Food is not the only Hungarian offering at the festival; the William Penn AssociationMagyar Folk Dancers perform on Tuesday and Thursday nights during the event. For those who don’t know the language, Magyarmeans Hungarian in Hungarian, explainedPastor Borsay.

He said the festival is “something thatreminds us of our heritage and reminds us all ofour roots and where we came from,” the pastorsaid. “But it’s also a very special opportunity forthe church to come together and to share in thefact that we enjoy the bounty of this great land.”

This year’s McKeesport International Village takes places August 16 through August18, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information about the FreeHungarian Reformed Church of McKeesport,visit www.freewebs.com/fhrcmckeesport/

International VillageMCKEESPORT’S


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