McKeesport hopes this year’s Rib Fest can still be salvaged

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Mayor Michael Cherepko talked briefly during Wednesday’s council meeting about how annual summer events in the city will be impacted as the state, county and country grapple with coronavirus pandemic restrictions and mitigation efforts.

Cherepko reminded residents that International Village, a three-day ethnic food, dance and music festival held each August at Renziehausen Park, has been canceled for 2020.

Cherepko said the city plans to have the Village make a triumphant return in 2021.

The mayor said the city is hopeful McKeesport Rib Fest, which is typically held on Memorial Day weekend, will take place this year, but added the city isn’t ready to make an official decision on the festivities.

“We’re still hoping to do the rib fest,” Cherepko said. “A lot of the vendors there are professional companies. I think they would still be willing to come and cook and serve as long as the governor doesn’t change his guidelines about having less than 250 people at an event and about social distancing guidelines.”

He said the city has postponed the Renzie Park summer concert series, but isn’t ready to say the concerts are totally canceled.

In an unrelated matter, councilmen James Barry, Tim Brown, Rich Dellapenna and Brian Evans and Councilwoman Jill Lape voted in favor of reallocating $153,127 in 2016 Allegheny County HOME Investment Partnerships Program grant funds to ACTION Housing. 

Councilwoman LuEthel Nesbit abstained from the vote because she works for ACTION Housing, as did Councilman Keith Soles, who is a member of the McKeesport Housing Authority board, which works closely with ACTION Housing.

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