McKeesport celebrates Good Neighbor Day

The 62nd annual event featured activities for children and information on resources for adults.

The sun shone brightly on McKeesport Wednesday morning for its 62nd annual Good Neighbor Day, which featured dozens of vendors and organizations.

McKeesport Area High School Interact Club member Auvionne Dutrieuille helps children enter an inflatable bounce house during Good Neighbor Day. Jeff Helsel / Mon Valley Independent

The event drew hundreds to McKeesport’s Fifth Avenue, which featured more than 80 vendors, organizations, rides and even a petting zoo. City Administrator Jennifer Vertullo said the annual event marks the beginning of the summer for the city.

“It’s just kind of a nice break in the middle of the week to get out and see what organizations are working in our community, what businesses are in our community,” Vertullo said. “Everybody just comes out and enjoys their summer day outside.”

One of the main attractions of the annual event

Jason Togyer of Tube City Online Radio, plays music while hosting a live broadcast during Good Neighbor Day in downtown McKeesport on Wednesday afternoon. Jeff Helsel / MVI

is the Pony Time Ranch mobile petting zoo, which is owned and managed by Keith Timmins. He started the petting zoo 15 years ago and has been attending McKeesport Good Neighbor Day for around five years.

The Pony Time Ranch petting zoo has ponies, chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep, pigs and even turkeys.

“Kids always enjoy the animals,” Timmins said. “A lot of times, they don’t get to see animals like that, especially if they live near a city.”

Timmins noted that this year’s weather was perfect for the event. In the past, temperatures have soared above 90 degrees.

Activities for children included rides, bouncy houses and sand art. Susan Cohen of White Oak who was in line for one of the bouncy houses with her granddaughter Charlotte, 4, said the event has a lot of offer.

“There are so many available resources for families and children; it’s so important,” Cohen said.

UPMC was offering free screenings for anyone interested, while also providing resources for breast cancer, behavioral health and other medical services. Representatives from local elected officials like state Rep. Dan Goughnour and state Sen. Nick Pisciotanno were also present to help provide resources.

Taylor Webb of Homestead and her daughter Noala, 3, said that they came to Good Neighbor Day to enjoy the activities for children.

“I think it (Good Neighbor Day) brings everybody out,” Webb said. “It’s a nice, safe place to bring the kids, see what’s out there, see what’s still open and bring income to the city.”

McKeesport Fire Chief Kevin Kovach was with McKeesport Firefighters IAFF Local 10, who helped give out snow cones to children and adults. He’s attended around 25 different Good Neighbor Day events.

“The weather’s perfect, everyone’s in good spirits,” Kovach said. “The kids are why we come here. They love the snow cones. And the union, the McKeesport Firefighters Local 10 union, purchases all this. So this is all the union guys that do this type of stuff. But it’s one of my favorite days down here, it really is.”

Kovach emphasized that it’s been important for McKeesport’s first responders to have opportunities to engage with residents outside of unfortunate situations.

“As far as first responders go, it’s good for us, and the police are doing it too,” Kovach said. “As kids come up, you’ll hear firemen saying stuff today. Maybe ‘stop, drop, and roll.’ We’ll talk to the kids that we talk to at their school, and they’ll say, ‘Hey, remember you coming?’” McKeesport Police Chief Josh Alfer also offered a similar message.

“It’s a beautiful event where the community comes together, interacts with each other, and everybody gets to interact with the police outside of a call response,” Alfer said. “It’s nice to interact with the public so the public has an opinion of us outside of us just responding to calls, so that they get to learn about officers, and officers get to learn the community on an individual basis, versus a call mentality.”