Washington County PA Declares State of Emergency Due to Covid-19

Washington County Courthouse, photo by Generic1139 Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

According to the Observer Reporter:

Washington County declared a disaster emergency Tuesday after a second case of coronavirus was made public earlier in the day.

The second case was announced as another 20 positive cases of the virus were reported Tuesday afternoon in Pennsylvania, the state Heath Department secretary said.

The increase takes the statewide total to 96, with Allegheny County rising by two, bringing its number to eight, Secretary Rachel Levine said.

also:

The three new presumptive positive cases are all young adults over the age of 18 who are in isolation at home, Downs said. Two of the patients acquired COVID-19 through recent international travel and one through recent domestic travel.

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

The Washington County Board of Commissioners officially has declared a disaster emergency to allow coordination of its emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with two cases now reported in the county and 13 in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The declaration allows commissioners to suspend certain governmental procedures and formalities in monitoring and reacting to situations, all while working with community partners, hospitals, municipalities, and county, state and federal officials.

Here is a link to the WTAE Facebook video with Washington County officials as of Monday March 16, 2020. This video is one day old and was recorded before the state of emergency was declared.

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In related news

The Trib Live is reporting that:

Pittsburgh-based health giant UPMC on Tuesday rejected calls from county and state health experts to stop doing elective surgeries at its hospitals.

I don’t expect UPMC to perform elective surgeries much longer though. Experts say the number of Covid-19 cases grows exponentially once it is circulating among the public.

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It looks like the Chinese government wants greater control of information about Covid-19 coming out of China by expelling western journalists according to this tweet by the New York Times:

Screen capture of NYT tweet about expulsion of American Journalists.

Officials announce Covid-19 Case in Clairton

“Clairton” by Joseph A. is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Tube City Media (out of McKeesport) is reporting:

Clairton officials announced Sunday afternoon that a city resident who may be suffering symptoms of COVID-19 has been treated at AHN Jefferson Hospital.

Clairton Councilwoman Denise L. Johnson-Clemmons and Councilman Tony Kurta said via Facebook the city was notified and is working with Allegheny County Health Department to get additional information.

At a joint news conference Saturday, health officials from the county, AHN and UPMC reported Allegheny County’s first two confirmed cases of COVID-19. The patients were both adults, one in their 70s and one in their 60s, who were exposed to the virus during travel out of state.

Click here to read the rest of the story over at Tube City Media.

Mid-Mon Valley towns of Charleroi, Monongahela and Donora featured in a national publication.

At Perked Up Cafe, looking onto McKean Ave., Charleroi PA

A professor at the University of Pittsburgh posted a link to his Twitter feed Thursday that caught me by surprise. It’s a relatively positive story about the Mid Mon Valley by Laurent Belsie of the Christian Science Monitor. The article mainly focuses on Charleroi but also mentioned are Donora, the City of Monongahela and Washington County. A few people and businesses you might recognize are:

• Casey and Eric Clark, Perked Up Cafe, Charleroi, Pa.
• Corelle Brands (formerly World Kitchen), Charleroi, Pa.
• Mark Alterici, Dee’s Wireless., Charleroi, Rostraver and Washington, Pa.
• Michael Coury, River House Cafe, Charleroi, Pa.
• Tony Bottino, Allstate Insurance, former president of the Monongahela Area Chamber of Commerce, Monongahela, Pa.
• Edward Zelich, Superintendant, Charleroi Area School District
• Louis Panza, Ceo, Monongahela Valley Hospital, Carroll Township, Pa.
• Jamie Protin, economic development consultant

I have an issue with the title: “In Steel Country’s River Towns, a Rising Spirit of Recovery“. Wouldn’t you say that’s about 30 years out of date? “Fracking Country” might be more like it now a days.

I’m so happy for Casey and Eric at Perked Up Cafe. They have a beautiful, thriving business and they certainly deserve the recognition!

note: Regular followers will notice that I haven’t posted much on Lost Monongahela recently. Well, I want to let you in on a secret. I’m starting a new blog and I’m calling it the Monongahela Times! Don’t worry, I’ll never give up on Lost Monongahela. I just felt a need to create a second site where I can talk about current events. I’ll keep posting historical stuff here at Lost Monongahela while you can find current events and news over at Monongahela Times which will be launching later this week!

 

 

WPXI Story About Monongahela African American Soldiers Who Served In The Civil War

Capt. William Catlin

Several folks asked how can view the story WPXI produced about the Ravioli sale sponsored by the Monongahela Main Street Program and Bethel AME church. Proceeds will pay for a historical marker to honor African American soldiers from Monongahela who fought for the United States in the civil war. What makes story unique is that this may be the first time in US history that African American soldiers went into battle under African American officers. Click here to read the story watch the video.

Regarding Snow Removal On Main Street Sidewalks

Sidewalk at 222 West Main St., Monongahela PA remains uncleared as of Monday afternoon while a man in a suit and tie works on an icy spot at another property up the street. (click image to enlarge)

The Monongahela street department did a great job clearing the streets during snowstorm Jonas this past Friday night and Saturday morning. Property owners also

Monongahela Chess Park Greeting Cards Now Available

Chess Park greeting cards are now available!

Front

Back

Each card is 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ with a winter scene of Chess Park in Monongahela Pennsylvania on the front. The reverse includes a short history of Chess Park and the two churches in the background. The interior of the card is blank so it can serve year round as a thank you card, a sympathy card, a Christmas card or a general note card that you can use to show your pride in our home town.

Each package of 10 cards and envelopes costs $10 and comes attractively packaged in a clear plastic box with a decorative gold cord making it ready to go as the perfect stocking stuffer or gift! Cards are now on sale at:

Autumn Antiquities And Curiosities – 234 West Main Street, Monongahela PA. Open Wednesdays, Thursdays  and Fridays 11:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m and Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Phone 724-292-8222. Both cash and credit cards accepted.

Little City Coffee – 418 West Main Street, Monongahela PA. Phone 724-258-6285. Open Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to  7:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Closed Sunday. Both cash and credit cards accepted.

**UPDATE 12/17/2015**

Chess Park cards are now available at Joe Fida’s Auto Plate service!

We can also ship the cards to you via mail. Shipping cost is a flat $3.50 no matter how many cards you order. For more information about having your order shipped just send an email to Dan at lostmonongahela@gmail.com with your name, address and phone number and the number of boxes you want.

All proceeds go to the Monongahela Main Street Program which is being formed to revitalize main street Monongahela through historic preservation.

Roundtable Discussion Will Focus on Neighborhood Revitalization, Blight In Monongahela

A very important (open to the public) meeting about neighborhood revitalization and blight in Monongahela will be held 7 p.m Tuesday August 11, 2015 at the Carroll Township Fire Hall. The following information was copied from Sen. Scott Wagner’s website:

Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee

Bus Tour & Roundtable on Neighborhood Blight & Revitalization

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

The bus tour will meet in the parking lot of the Social Center of the Carrol Township Building (130 Baird Street, Monongahela, PA 15063) at 2:00pm. The bus will then take the group to Donora to visit multiple sites and will be followed by dinner at Lucchesi’s Restaurant (372 Donner Ave, Monessen, PA 15062) at 4:00pm. After dinner, the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee will hold a roundtable discussion at 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of theCarrol Township Building (130 Baird Street, Monongahela, PA 15063) to discuss Neighborhood Blight & Revitalization. The following local officials and organizations invited to join the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee are:

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives (46th Senatorial District Delegation)

• Representative Jim Christiana
• Representative Brandon Neuman
• Representative Peter Daley III
• Representative Jason Ortitay
• Representative Robert Matzie
• Representative Rick Saccone
• Representative Pam Snyder

The Washington County Commissioners v The Mon Valley Mayors Association

• Commissioner Lawrence O. Maggi
• Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan
• Commissioner Harlan G. Shober Jr.
• Mayor Lou Mavrakis of Monessen
• Mayor Bob Kepics of Monongahela
• Mayor Don Pavelko of Donora
• Mayor Dwan B. Walker of Aliquippa

Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania v Mon Valley Progress Council

• Cindy Daley, Policy Director
• Joe Kirk, Executive Director

Washington County Redevelopment Authority

• Bill McGowen, Executive Director

Here is some more information from Camera Bartolotta’s website:

HARRISBURG – The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee will host a roundtable discussion on blight and neighborhood revitalization in Monongahela on August 11, according to Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46).

The roundtable discussion will be held at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Carroll Township Municipal Building at 130 Baird Street. Local elected officials, housing and redevelopment officials and statewide housing organizations have been invited to participate.

“Abandoned and blighted properties create a serious eyesore and can reduce property values for neighboring homeowners and businesses,” Bartolotta said. “This discussion allows policymakers and housing experts to explore all of the options currently available to local communities and determine what additional steps are necessary to return blighted properties to productive use.”

The conversation will focus on state and local efforts to prevent blight and remediate properties that have fallen into a state of disrepair. The roundtable discussion is a public event, and community residents are invited and encouraged to attend.
CONTACT: Colleen Greer (717) 787-1463

Here is the story relating to this on the WESA 90.5 FM website.

There is no coverage that I could find on the Tribune Review (Valley Independent) nor the Observer Reporter websites so it is very important to tell your friends and neighbors about the meeting if you are concerned about blight in the Mid-Mon Valley. Please also consider spreading the news via Facebook and other social media.

Check back here on Wednesday for coverage of this meeting along with an update about local Monongahela residents who are trying start a program designed by the National Main Street Center to help improve the appearance of our downtown and bring economic opportunity. You can read more about it here.