Author: Beaver County Radio

Working families enlist grandparents to help with the kids

Working families enlist grandparents to help with the kids
By LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Gone, for now, are the days when retirees Bill and Mary Hill could do whatever they please. Since school started for their only grandchild, 8-year-old Will, they greet him at the gate of their residential community in suburban Phoenix. Sometimes, they roll up in their golf cart. As the school year gets under way for many kids with working parents, more grandparents have jumped into daily caregiver roles. Many are happily working without pay, for the love of family. Others have accepted offers of money from their frazzled, eternally grateful adult children.

Matzie participates in PIAA Oversight Committee hearing on fall youth sports

AMBRIDGE, Aug. 18 – State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, issued the following statement today after attending a hearing on high school athletics with Robert Lombardi, director of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

“Today, as a member of the PIAA Oversight Committee, I participated in a joint House and Senate hearing regarding high school athletics. PIAA Executive Director Robert Lombardi provided testimony and answered questions from committee members as to the planning and preparation for the upcoming fall sports season during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

McDonald’s Restaurants To Help Raise $1 Million For Children’s Charity

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 19, 2020)…Beginning Sunday, August 23 and running through Saturday, October 3, McDonald’s restaurants across the Greater Pittsburgh area will be raising money through the drive thru for Ronald McDonald House Charities
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This initiative is designed to offset the significant loss in funding and donations local RMHC chapters have suffered because of the pandemic. When customers order through the drive thru, McDonald’s crew members will encourage them to “Round Up for RMHC.” Customers can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar or choose to give $1, $3 or $5 for RMHC.
RMHC of Pittsburgh/Morgantown provides a supportive “home-away-from-home” for families and their children who are receiving medical treatment at area hospitals. They provide guest families with all the comforts of home – plus a local support network – so they can focus on their child’s healing.
“We are so fortunate to have the ongoing support of our friends at McDonald’s,” said Eleanor Reigel, Executive Director, RMHC Pittsburgh and Morgantown. “The pandemic has presented us with many new challenges and this program will ensure that we can continue to help our families during this difficult time.”
McDonald’s restaurants in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, Southwest Virginia and Eastern Tennessee will engage in a friendly competition to determine which location can raise the most donations toward the $1 million goal.
“All of us at McDonald’s are doing our part to help RMHC improve the health and well-being of kids across western Pennsylvania,” said local McDonald’s Owner/Operator Dan Delligatti. “We’re hoping customers will join us in Rounding Up For RMHC!”
About McDonald’s USA
McDonald’s serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Every McDonald’s restaurant in Western PA is owned and operated by independent business people who live in the local community. For more information, visit mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonaldsand Facebook at facebook.com/mcdonalds.

PennDOT Earns Regional America’s Transportation Awards for Operations Excellence and Best Use of Technology

PennDOT Earns Regional America’s Transportation Awards for Operations Excellence and Best Use of Technology

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) recently received regional America’s Transportation Awards for operational excellence and best use of technology.

The department’s operational excellence award was for the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Program and the best use of technology award was for the Shaler Street Bridge Replacement.

“Innovation is at the heart of PennDOT initiatives across the state,” said PennDOT Secretary of Transportation Yassmin Gramian.  “It is gratifying to have our efforts recognized by our transportation partners.”

The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Program works by deploying a mobile unit to an active work zone to detect any vehicles going at least 11 miles over the speed limit. When a vehicle goes over the limit, its license plate is captured, and a violation is mailed to the address on file. More info on the program can be found at workzonecameras.PennDOT.gov.

The Shaler Street Bridge Replacement project marks the first use of self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) in Pennsylvania. This technology allowed the department to replace the Shaler Street Bridge over busy Route 19 in Allegheny County over the course of two weekends. For more information about this project, visit PennDOT’s website.

The America’s Transportation Awards competition is sponsored by American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), American Automobile Association (AAA), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. State DOTs compete in three categories: Quality of Life/Community Development; Best Use of Technology and Innovation; and Operations Excellence. Each category is also designated by budget size. Projects are judged within their region. In the Northeastern region, seven states nominated 15 projects.

The Automated Work Zone Enforcement Program is a five-year pilot study to address work zone safety in the state. For the Shaler Street Bridge Replacement project, the department used SPMTs do the work of removing and replacing old bridge panels, helping speed up the construction process.

Learn more about America’s Transportation Awards at https://americastransportationawards.org/2020-nasto-projects/.

Commissioner Chairman Dan Camp speaks out about pre-printed ballots

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver, Pa.) Commissioners Chairman Dan Camp told the commissioners that the Board of Elections has been getting calls  from registered voters  regarding pre-printed ballots from a non-profit called Center for Voter Information.  .  The mailing lists the voter’s name and address and asks for personal information. He  said the county didn’t send the mailings to residents, and voter’s info was retrieved from a state database. The state made the Board of Elections   aware of the mailings by the state. She said the county is neither encouraging or discouraging voters to vote by mail.The county just wants voters to come out and vote however they choose.

County Solicitor Garren Fedelles reported that  reassessment of properties  in Ambridge, Baden, Harmony Twp., and South Heights is to begin in early September.
As of 10 a.m. Wednesday 82 CARES Act applications were submitted to the county . Small businesses and nonprofits have until Friday, August 21, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. to apply

Aliquippa School Board approves Virtual Learning for the first 9 weeks

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Students in grades k-12 will  be taught virtually when classes begin on September 8, according to Aliquippa School District Superintendent Dr. Peter M. Carbone. The  board approved the program at last night’s meeting.The program is for the  first nine weeks until November 9. The plan is subject to review and change as needed.

Fifth grade teacher Lori  Mills, who is Google certified presented a detailed overview for the board, staff and public last night. She said Goggle meet is like ZOOM  and teachers can connect with up to 100 students at a time, teachers can share screen  and talk to the students at the same time. .T
Curriculum coordinator Beth Smith  said there will be a lot of training for teachers next week. She said elementary teachers have done  a lot of preparation for the program. She said, “we’re trying to accommodate families.” She said a cyber that’s available at the high school is also available at the elementary school  through Seneca Valley School  District.
Dr. Jason Guzie, director of special education (photo) said 7 students will be brought to school due to their special education requirements. They will be in 2 rooms, he said
A 2020-2021 Aliquippa School District Parent Guide for Remote Learning is available at the schools.

Aliquippa School Board approves contracts for girls and boys Basketball Coaches

Story by Beaver County News Correspondent Sandy Giordano


(Aliquippa, Pa.) Girls basketball coach, Dwight “BO’  Lindsey’s  3 year contract was approved at last night’s meeting.  His salary is set at $4,500 per season.  Any season is subject to completion and further subject to pro-rated  of salary in the event of a shortened season.

Nick Lackovich head, boys basketball coach  will  earn $8,500 per season  and has the same stipulations in his contract as Lindsey’s . The 2 men   said they were very happy to receive the opportunity to coach  in their home district.

Ambridge Area School District Pre-K Counts signups

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Ambridge, Pa.) JoAnn Hoover, principal at State Street Elementary School in Baden announced that the Pre-K Counts signups  for 3 and 4 year old children  is  under way.  Classes start on Monday, August 31, 2020.

There are 4 Pre-k classrooms in 3 of the  elementary buildings, according to Mrs. Hoover, Economy Elementary has 1, Highland Elementary has 2 , and State Street has 1.  Each class has 1 teacher who is Pre-K certified along with a teaching assistant  who has an associate degree or higher. The district serves a total of students, it is free to the students.  Breakfast and lunches are free and transportation  is provided. The students will receive  a District issued iPad, and Free Grab and Go School Supplies..
PreK applications are on the district website or parents may contact Cathy Hopkins at 724-266-2833 ext. 1273 or email chopkins@ambridge.k12.pa.us.

AG Shapiro Sues Amazon Seller, Seeking $825k for Price Gouging On Hand Sanitizer

HARRISBURG―Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that his office sued a Philadelphia company called M & B Multi Services Inc (“M&B”) for illegal price gouging on Amazon.com marketplace. After the Governor’s March 6, 2020 Disaster Declaration, M&B sold at least 83 bottles of 8-ounce Purell hand sanitizer for as much as $75.80 each.

“It’s illegal to rip off Pennsylvanians during a pandemic, and we’re holding price gougers accountable,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “During a time when millions are out of work and millions more are struggling to pay for food and medicine, playing off people’s fears to rip them off is wrong, and illegal. M&B charged outrageous markups for hand sanitizer at the height of public anxiety, was asked to provide refunds, and refused. We are seeking nearly $1 million in penalties for their actions.”

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General sued M&B after the Office received information from Amazon alleging that the online seller was selling Purell Advanced Formula Green Certified Hand Sanitizer, Gel 8 oz Pump Bottle for unlawful prices. The Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and Amazon had previously announced they would coordinate to crack down on price gouging earlier in the year. The Office learned that M&B charged $75.80 per bottle for 49 of the bottles. M&B charged $65.80 per bottle for 34 of the bottles. M&B may have sold many more bottles of Purell at these illegally inflated prices through other outlets, including its own store and website.

Under the Price Gouging Act, a price increase of more than 20 percent during a declared state of emergency is considered price gouging. The Complaint asks the Court to order M&B to pay restitution to consumers and civil penalties of $10,000 per violation to the Commonwealth. The Complaint also requests an injunction to prevent M&B from violating the Pennsylvania Price Gouging Act and Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law moving forward.

Consumers who purchased hand sanitizer from M&B on or after March 6, 2020 are encouraged to file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection, email at scams@attorneygeneral.gov or call at 1-800-441-2555.

Chief: 5 fires in Pennsylvania’s capital ‘intentionally set’

Chief: 5 fires in Pennsylvania’s capital ‘intentionally set’
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Officials say five fires in Pennsylvania’s capital city were “intentionally set.” The fires broke out in Harrisburg’s South Allison Hill section early Wednesday. Firefighters first responded to a small trash fire. Fires also broke out in an abandoned home, an abandoned building and an abandoned garage. Firefighters then had to extinguish flames from the upper floors of a home on Market Street. A woman was taken to a hospital. The extent of her injuries is not known. A police officer was treated for smoke inhalation. Investigators are combing the scenes for clues.