Author: Beaver County Radio

Ronald J. Tarquinio (1955-2024)

Ronald J. Tarquinio, 68, of Moon Township, died on March 11, 2024, at his home.  He was born in Pittsburgh on September 19, 1955, the son of the late Arthur & Rose (Venneri) Tarquinio.

In addition to his parents, Ronald was preceded in death by his brother, Arthur Richard Tarquinio, a sister Anita Tarquinio-Marcocci, and a brother-in-law, Jeffrey Alborn.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer (Alborn) Tarquinio and his daughter, Olivia Tarquinio.  Two brothers, Joseph Tarquinio (Mary Ann), Edward Tarquinio (Deborah) and a sister, Rosemary Tarquinio.  Mother-in-law, Kathy Abramovich, father-in-law, Charles Alborn, brother-in-law Jeremy Alborn.

Ron is a 1973 graduate of Moon Area High School. He obtained a BS in finance from Penn State University. Ron’s career in real estate began in 1974 while working for his family’s real estate company, Tarquinio Real Estate.  He worked at various firms, then created Tarquin Real Estate which later merged with CoRE Associates to form the present-day company, TARQUINCoRE.  Also, Ron was a partner in River Park Commons where he managed day-to-day operations of the facility.

Ron was a passionate family man with a generous heart. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend.  Always joking, he brought laughter wherever he went.  Ron was an avid gardener and landscaper. Ron enjoyed making and gifting, “Olivia’s Homemade Pasta Sauce.” His daughter, Olivia, was his proudest accomplishment and the light of his life.

Friends will be received on Friday, March 15 from 2-4 & 6-8 PM in The Huntsman Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Moon Township, 1522 Coraopolis Heights. Road. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Philip’s Church of Moon Township.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Rhema Christian School or Eden Christian Academy.

Joann Zurga (1936-2024)

Joann Zurga, 87, of Chippewa Township, passed away Monday, March 11, 2024.
Joann was born on May 22, 1936 in Homewood to the late William and Verna (Jarrett) McKim.
Joann was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Joseph Zurga and a sister, Mary Urista.
Surviving are her four children, Matthew Zurga of Virginia Beach, VA, Karen (Don) Reeher of Big Beaver Borough, Michelle (Brian) Smith of Ridgefield, WA and Michael Zurga of College Hill; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and a sister, Janet Detka of Beaver Falls. She was a member of St. Augustine Parish.
The family would also like to thank Celebration Villa for the care Joann received while there.
Friends will be received Monday, March 18th from 11:00 am until the time of a Blessing Service at 1:00 p.m. in the HILL AND KUNSELMAN FUNERAL HOME, 3801 Fourth Avenue, Beaver Falls. Burial will be in Rocky Springs Cemetery, New Galilee.

Dennis F. Hacker (1947-2024)

Dennis F. Hacker, 76, of Enon Valley, passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at AdventHealth Waterman, Tavares, FL.

Born on October 31, 1947, in New Brighton, he was the son of the late Frederick and June (Smith) Hacker.

In addition to his parents, Dennis was preceded in death by his wife, Patsie A. (Conti) Hacker; a daughter-in-law, Gabralee Hacker; and a brother, Richard Hacker.

He is survived by his children, Tracie Kio, Shaun Hacker, and Tara Hacker; grandchildren, Austin Zalin, Kolten Cope, Jacob Kio, Garret Kio, Storm Phillips, and Sibyl Phillips; great-granddaughter, Onavella Rodriguez; his siblings, Robert (Marlea) Hacker, Peggy Taylor, and Frances Morgan; a sister-in-law, Patricia Hacker; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Dennis had retired as a Chemical Technician from NOVA Chemical following many years of service.  He was a proud Veteran, having served in the United States Army and was an avid Pittsburgh Steeler fan.

Friends will be received on Friday, March 15th from 2-4PM 7 6-8PM in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., Chippewa Twp., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls.

A Blessing Service will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, March 16th at 11AM.

Private interment will be in Grandview Cemetery.

Willard M. “Tex” Harsh (1923-2024)

Willard M. “Tex” Harsh, 100, of Patterson Heights, passed away on March 7, 2024. He was born November 11, 1923 in Morning Sun, Iowa to Russell and Arminta (Allen) Harsh.

Willard was preceded in death by his siblings: Eleanor (Everett) Cummings, Grace (Larry) Coon, Robert (Betty) Harsh and Alice (Ray) Pilling.

Willard is survived by his wife of nearly 73 years, Marjorie (Hill) Harsh, his sons, Mark and wife Sandy Hienz, Russ and wife Sheila, Brian and wife Linda and Brad Harsh, and daughter Janet Harsh; grandchildren; Eric (Laura) Harsh, Kelly (Jeff) Manning, Allison (Andy) Dixon and Alex Harsh; great-grandchildren; Charlotte Manning, Peyton, Channing and Harper Harsh and Luke and Colby Dixon. Step-granddaughters; Rachel Hienz (Marty Goffenhofen) and Erin (Hayden) Lutz; Step-great-grandchildren; Bishop and Ryan Lutz. He also had one cousin, Paul Mathews and many nephews and nieces.

He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII as a tail -gunner on a B-24 Liberator, flying 30 missions in China, Burma and India, and received 4 medals, while in the service. He graduated from Geneva College and retired from B&W. Willard had been an active member of First Reformed Presbyterian Church in Patterson Township. He was known in Patterson Heights as “ the man who walked and picked-up litter”.

Rev. Matt Filbert and Rev. Bruce Backensto officiated at the private funeral service.

A favorite Bible verse was, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me”.  Philippians 4:13

Fundraiser to be held for dog attacked with a hatchet in Aliquippa

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 13, 2024 2:14 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) A Pitt student has organized a fundraiser for Juan Hall’s dog Mazie  who was attacked with a hatchet causing injury to the dog’s ear and other injuries last month. The incident occurred at the corner of Main Street and Maratta Road at a school bus stop in February. David Askew, of Aliquippa is in the Beaver County Jail on felony and misdemeanor charges connected with the attack. The fundraiser will be held at the Marathon Gas Station on Brodhead Road in Aliquippa from noon to 6 pm on Saturday, March 16.

Pennsylvania governor backs a new plan to make power plants pay for greenhouse gases

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro is unveiling a plan to fight climate change. Shapiro says he’ll back legislation to make power plant owners in Pennsylvania pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. The plan would also require utilities to buy more electricity from renewable sources. Shapiro made the announcement Wednesday in Scranton. Such legislation would make Pennsylvania the first major fossil fuel-producing state to adopt a carbon-pricing program. However, it is likely to draw fierce opposition from business interests wary of paying more for power and will face long odds in a Legislature that is protective of the natural gas industry. Shapiro’s proposal comes as environmentalists are pressuring him to do more to fight climate change.

Buttigieg scolds railroads for not doing more to improve safety since Ohio derailment

Smoke fills the sky after an empty CSX coal train hit a rockslide along tracks causing a fiery derailment, March 8, 2023, in a remote area just south of Sandstone, W.Va. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has reiterated his concerns about railroad safety and scolded the industry for not doing more to improve since last year’s fiery Ohio derailment. (Jenny Harnish/The Register-Herald via AP, file)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has reiterated his concerns about railroad safety and scolded the industry for not doing more to improve since last year’s fiery Ohio derailment. In a new letter to the freight railroads’ main trade group, Buttigieg acknowledged that the railroads say they are committed to safety. He also gave them credit for providing sick time to nearly 90% of their workers, and for investing in an extensive network of detectors to help prevent derailments. But he said that too often regulators encounter resistance when they try to get the industry to do more to improve safety, and the latest statistics show the industry’s track record hasn’t improved significantly despite the railroads’ efforts.

Kennywood unveils name for new name for potato patch bumper cars

The results are in for Kennywood’s Vote for the Most A-peel-ing New Ride Name Sweepstakes to name the all-new Potato Patch® fries themed bumper cars.  Potato Smash comes out as the clear winner claiming half of the total votes submitted. With deep-fried determination, Kennywood fans cast almost 20,000 votes during the week long spud-tacular sweepstakes with one lucky winner receiving a 2024 Gold Season Pass and a year supply of Potato Patch® fries.

Potato Smash is well on its way to welcoming guests for this one-of-kind experience this upcoming season. The most appetizing attraction around is getting the total ‘tuber’ treatment during this off-season. Park teams have painted the Potato Smash marquee an eye-catching red and yellow with the iconic symbol of the Potato Patch® eatery. Brand new artwork now covers the walls around the bumper car track with imaginative Potato Smash designs that perfectly showcase the mash up of both beloved brands. Even better, more families can enjoy Kennywood’s cheesiest ride together – with the new experience comes a lower height requirement, too. Potato Smash permits riders at 42 inches tall and drivers at 48 inches tall. The logo for the new ride can be found here.

There’s even more newness in store in 2024 as the park gears up for Opening Day on Saturday, April 20. Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of all that’s new and improved for Kennywood’s upcoming season on April 3. RSVP through this link to secure your spot today.

Casey, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Stop Mexican Steel Surge, Protect PA Steel Jobs

FILE – U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., speaks before President Joe Biden about his infrastructure agenda while announcing funding to upgrade Philadelphia’s water facilities and replace lead pipes, Feb. 3, 2023, at Belmont Water Treatment Center in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) joined U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce the Stop Mexico’s Steel Surge Act to curb the unsustainable levels of Mexican steel imports into the United States. The Mexican government is violating a 2019 agreement with the U.S. and threatening the jobs of steelworkers in Pennsylvania and across the Nation.

“When foreign governments cheat on trade, Pennsylvanians lose their jobs,” said Senator Casey. “It’s past time to make Mexico play by the rules. Just as I pushed the previous administration, I am going to keep pushing the Biden Administration to hold trade cheats accountable and level the playing field for American workers.”

In December 2023, Casey joined a bipartisan group of senators to call on the Biden Administration to take action to stop an unsustainable increase in Mexican steel imports. In the letter, Senators demanded the Administration set a clear deadline to enforce its 2019 agreement with Mexico and urged the Administration to take aggressive action to counter the increase in Mexican steel imports if the country refuses to comply. Casey previously pushed the Trump Administration to protect the American steel industry from trade cheats.

The Stop Mexico’s Steel Surge Act would reinstate 25 percent Section 232 tariffs on Mexican steel imports for no less than one year and empower the president to impose quotas or tariff rate quotas on specific goods where there have been major surges. The administration may only lift these tariffs once the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative certify that Mexico has adopted policies bringing it into compliance with the 2019 agreement and are confident that Mexico will maintain these policies.

In addition to Casey, Brown, and Cotton, the Stop Mexico’s Steel Surge Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mike Braun (R-IN), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Boozman (R-AR), and J.D. Vance (R-OH).