Hello and thank you for this wonderful site. I have been away from McKeesport for 40 years. I was born in the first ward in what was called "strawberry alley" just below the police station. I grew up just across the bridge in 10thward.I attended West Side School until the 5th grade and then Saint Peters Grade and High School.I graduated from High School in 1953.Between 10th ward and Ohio I lived in the old White Street Apartments across from Balsamos and then on Scott Drive in Dravosburg.Later my parents moved to Port Vue. For as long as my parents lived I traveled back several times a year with my children,I watched with great sadness the changes that took place ,but never saw these areas with less love than when i was growing up. After I retired from nursing i began a second career as a full time storyteller.Along with several other tellers we do handicap awareness programs in the schools on behalf of the Easter Seal Society.I teach storytelling at Lorain County Community College ,am a member of The Western Reserve Association for the Preservation of Storytelling, Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers,Florida Storytelling Association and The National Association of Storytelling.I produce 4 -30 min T.V.programs each month(Stories,Who Tells!!! Who Listens?)on public access out of Amherst Ohio and do workshops and in service programs for health care and teaching groups .Last year I presented at the American School in Campinas Brazil. I work to promote the appreciation of our elders and there stories. My Husband is retired from the FAA and was a native of the Lawrenceville area of Pittsburgh. We have 3 adult children .All three have teaching certification but only one has remained in the profession and he has made his home in Brazil.Our oldest lives in Chicago and the youngest (our daughter)lives in Cleveland Ohio When I first began doing programs with the dementia and Alzheimer patients in the nursing homes I met a delight full senior by the name of Leona Stevenson(nee Wadsworth)she was 88 years old at the time of her death in 1993. I mention this because of all the comments on teachers.Mrs Stevenson worked in the McKeesport district, as an elementary school teacher for 35 years and a sub,for 6 years retiring in 1976.She was a member of the First United methodist Church in Versailles Boro. She was always happy to have me spend extra time with her so we could talk about Mckeesport.She truly loved and missed her home there. She had no family left and so she was here with a nephew.I wonder if any one on this site ever had her for a teacher and would like to know that even under her unhappy circumstances she was still warm and gracious and a pure delight. dmk