Living the Message
Honoring those who show Respect, Dignity, Hope and Love
Respect
Dignity cKeesport CITY OF MCKEESPORT NEWS
George Mushalko exemplifies what it means to be a neighbor. At 86, he’ s out and about on a daily basis looking for new ways to make his friends and neighbors smile.
A lifelong McKeesporter, George grew up in the city’ s second and third wards, and has lived in the Hall Park neighborhood for 60 years. With an artistic eye and an exceptional green thumb, George has been helping his neighbors on Gordon and Barnsdale streets with their home gardens for years. In recent years, with the passing of a close friend, he has been working with extended family to maintain the property until the house can be sold.
George considers his talents to be a blessing, and he embraces every opportunity to share them with others. From tending to live flower gardens to creating silk arrangements as special gifts, he wants to bring joy to his friends and neighbors.
“ I think kindness and being neighborly is a goal everyone should have,” he said.“ I hope other people will read this and start thinking more about their neighbors.”
George is a member of Holy Family Polish National Catholic Church, where he grew up helping his mother with charitable work and today says it’ s“ second nature.”
George attributes his long life to keeping his mind and body active. He is an avid crossword puzzle worker, and he spends hours walking 5 to 7 miles every day, earning him the nickname“ George the Walker” by many folks around town.
“ We have such a nice community,” he said.“ We have a beautiful park. We have Penn State. We have nine churches just in this part of town. McKeesport is a cultural area with a library and theater. Our community is undersold, and this is the McKeesport people need to hear more about.”
Living the Message
The McKeesport Message Committee, a subgroup of McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko’ s Select Committee on Crime and Violence, invites the public to nominate community members who exemplify the words,“ Respect, Dignity, Hope and Love.”
26 McKeesport Area
Not knowing much about Southwestern Pennsylvania,
Melissa Staley moved her family to McKeesport nearly five
years ago. They needed to be closer to a first-class educational program offered in Pittsburgh for her youngest son, who is hearing impaired.
She happened upon McKeesport while in search for affordable, accessible housing, and she’ s been active in the community ever since. Melissa heard the stories of McKeesport as a thriving mill town with a bustling downtown and picturesque neighborhoods, and she saw a community in disrepair. She wanted to do her part to bring back the image her neighbors described.
In the area of Ross and Dinsmore streets, Melissa and her family have been clearing trash from vacant lots, mowing lawns, and trimming trees for years. They tend to vacant properties as well as those of elderly neighbors.
“ It’ s a lot of work, but when it’ s done, it’ s the best feeling in the world,” she said.“ We’ ve had people stop and ask us if we were buying a property, and they’ re surprised when they find out we’ re not. We get so many compliments, prayers, and blessings.”
Melissa said it’ s nice when people notice her family’ s work, but she’ s not doing it for recognition. She is hopeful others will see what she’ s done, and they’ ll try to make a difference as well.
“ It only takes a few minutes to clean up the lot next to you,” she said.“ Anyone can make a difference, and hopefully they will inspire another person to do their part.”
Melissa thanked her neighbors for doing their part and the city’ s public works department for providing dumpsters for largescale clean-up efforts.
McKeesporters of all ages – from youth volunteers to senior citizens – display characteristics of Respect, Dignity, Hope and Love on a daily basis in our community. Whether through organizing community activities or offering a helping hand to those in need, everyday people are doing their part to make our city a better place. If we look within our schools, our neighborhoods, our churches and our service