PITTSBURGH [November 14, 2023] – Pittsburgh’s Thrill and Entertainment Destination – Kennywood – is serving up a one-of-kind experience next spring: The park’s classic bumper car ride will undergo a total transformation, themed to Kennywood’s iconic fresh-cut Potato Patch® fries. This mouth-watering makeover showcases two beloved Kennywood staples, the bumper cars and Potato Patch, coming together as the park staples both celebrate 50 years. 

 

The tasty transformation will be completed ahead of the 2024 season as Kennywood continues its multi-million-dollar park-wide improvement project. The bumper cars, located in the front of the park, will undergo a full makeover with 20 new cars modeled after the park’s signature snack. Each car will be fitted with fries, oozing cheese sauce and an oversized fork, completing an appetizing look for the most drool-worthy attraction around.   

“This classic ride showcases what Kennywood is known for, a perfect blend of modern thrills with a mix of the park’s beloved traditions,” says Kennywood Assistant General Manager, Rick Spicuzza. “The all-new Potato Patch themed bumper cars continue the massive multi-year park enhancement project, keeping Kennywood fun and unique for future generations to enjoy.”  

 

Kennywood announces the new Potato Patch® themed ride coming in 2024 to coincide with the start of the popular Holiday Lights, nominated for USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice award for the Best Theme Park Holiday Event. Beginning Saturday, November 18, this year’s event features more than two million twinkling lights and is highlighted by an all-new Santa experience in Thomas Town™. To celebrate the culmination of this momentous year, the park has expanded its calendar for the 2023 season, with an extra weekend added to the season and 3 p.m. openings for more time to enjoy the festive fun. 

 

Holiday Lights transforms Kennywood into a winter wonderland with 20 rides, new seasonal culinary delights and the nightly tree lighting at the tallest Christmas tree in Pennsylvania, standing at 100 feet. The enormous evergreen lights up the park with more than 125,000 sparkling lights strung across its nearly 2,500 branches. For the first time during Holiday Lights, Santa will make Thomas Town® his home leading up to Christmas Eve.   

Festive entertainment and seasonal treats add to the Kennywood experience including local celebrity readings of “The Night Before Christmas,” a massive model train display, strolling bands, a Christmas buffet with all the trimmings and much more. Guests can also feast on this year’s new Holiday Lights food offerings including freshly made donuts, turkey legs and cobblers. With classic rides like the Jack Rabbit and Kangaroo plus the first multi-action spin ride of its kind in the U.S., Spinvasion, Holiday Lights offers the most unique holiday outing in the region with something for everyone.  

 

The best way to experience Holiday Lights this year, and the “cheesiest” bumper cars around in the spring of 2024, is to take advantage of the blockbuster Black Friday Sale going on now. Guests can now save up to $40 now, and get unlimited visits to Holiday Lights for free in 2023, plus all of 2024 with a Gold Season Pass. For the best deal, visitors can upgrade to a Platinum Season Pass and get unlimited visits to Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild, Dutch Wonderland and more through 2024.

FILE – This photo provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Oct. 28, 2023, shows a WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouch. On Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, U.S. health officials are warning doctors to be on the lookout for possible cases of lead poisoning in children after at least 22 toddlers in 14 states were sickened by lead linked to tainted pouches of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce. Brands include WanaBana brand apple cinnamon fruit puree and Schnucks and Weis brand cinnamon applesauce pouches. The products were sold in stores and online. (FDA via AP, File)

U.S. health officials are warning doctors to be on the lookout for possible cases of lead poisoning in children. At least 22 toddlers in 14 states have sickened by lead that’s linked to tainted pouches of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce. Cases were reported in children ages 1 to 3 years old. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says at least one child showed a blood lead level eight times higher than the level that raises concern. The illnesses are linked to recalled WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis brand cinnamon applesauce pouches.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published November 14, 2023 11:11 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, Pa) In many areas of Hopewell township, there are still political signs that must be removed, according to Zoning officer John Bates. He said Friday is the deadline to remove all signs posted from the November 7, 2023 election.

(Chippewa Township, Pa) Chippewa Township Volunteer Fire Department reports on their Facebook Page that at approximately 6:45pm Monday evening, Station 22 was called to a motor vehicle crash on Rt. 51 in front of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
When units arrived, they found a Chevrolet pickup with heavy front end damage in the intersection and a BMW with moderate drivers side damage over the embankment.
No injuries were reported. Crews remained on scene for about half an hour while the vehicles were removed. The Chippewa Township Police Department is investigating the accident.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Lawmakers are advancing a bill that would keep students in school while officials and parents settle disputes about residency. That measure would prohibit school districts from withdrawing a student until a parent has exhausted all options to prove their residency or has declined to dispute the district’s decision. The bill unanimously passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Monday. Current state law lets districts remove a child from school if the district believes the student isn’t a resident of that district. The proposal has been sent to the Senate for its consideration.

(File photo of Rochester Giant Eagle taken by Frank Sparks) 

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff, 11/14/23

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Giant Eagle announced on Monday that it is ending  the Fuels Perks + program in January of next year.  Fuel Perks + allows shoppers to earn perks on gas and groceries.

Giant Eagle said in a statement that those who use the program will be moved into an enhanced myPerks Loyalty Program and existing fuelperks will be converted into myPerks..

Giant Eagle told Beaver County Radio via release that ” We’re pleased to announce that we will be launching an enhanced myPerks loyalty program to all customers in January. The enhanced program will combine the best benefits of both fuelperks+ and myPerks into a single loyalty program so we can continue to deliver great savings to all our customers at a time when they need it most. We’ve listened to the feedback we’ve received from our customers and will be evolving the myPerks program to include the most popular perk redemption opportunities like free gas, up to 20 percent off groceries, and the choice of dollar rewards.” 

On January 25, 2024, the fuelperks+ program will end, and all customers will be moved into the enhanced myPerks program. No customer action is needed, and any unused perks will be automatically converted into myPerks and available to redeem.  

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published November 13, 2023 5:55 P.M.

(New Brighton, Pa) The Family Dollar store on 5th Avenue in New Brighton re-opened Monday after being closed since last year. The store underwent a complete renovation.
Signage leading up to the opening described the store as a Family Dollar and Dollar Tree combo, however the store will remain solely Family Dollar. A store employee told Beaver County Radio the company originally planned for the combination store, but the decision was reversed last minute.
Signage prior to opening:

(Photo provide by Roman Kozak)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Roman Kozak, the current RCBC Chairman announced Monday morning that he will officially seek the 14th Pennsylvania state House seat which includes parts of Beaver County in next year’s election.

Kozak’s will be making a bid to replace current 14th District State Rep.  Jim Marshall after he announced on Beaver County Radio las Thursday that he would not seek re-election next November during his monthly appearance on “Rappin with the Reps”, Kozak said via release :“Today I am excited to announce my campaign for state Representative.” “For two decades, Representative Marshall has successfully worked to improve opportunities for our families, seniors, and communities. kozak went on to say that he will continue the leadership our region needs by working to create and retain family sustaining jobs, expand educational choices for our children, and increase investment in our community.”

Kozak, a 2011 Geneva College graduate, spent the early years of his career in the transportation and freight industry working with steel, concrete, and dairy machinery manufacturers throughout the country. He feels that experience in manufacturing and transportation gave him a front row seat to the challenges our job creators and working families face as they fight to keep food on the table and our community moving forward. Kozak said:  “As state Representative, I will fight to reduce red tape, hold the line on taxes, and create good paying jobs to ensure real economic opportunity for all our working families.”

For the past decade, Kozak has worked in education and currently serves as a high school history and social studies teacher.“As an educator, father and youth coach, our children’s future will always be a top priority, and improving our schools and expanding education opportunities will be a key focus of my service,” said Kozak. “Every child is different, and every parent knows this. While many children excel and succeed in a traditional school setting, it is clear that expanded choices are opening up amazing opportunities for our children and the communities around us.”

Roman is the grandson of Ukrainian immigrants who survived the Holodomor or the “Great Starvation” under Soviet despot Joseph Stalin. All four of his grandparents were held captive in Adolf Hitler’s labor camps in World War II but ultimately survived. After the war, his grandparents fled the oppression of Soviet-occupied Ukraine and settled into a thriving Ukrainian church community in western Pennsylvania.His family’s experience under the oppression and brutality of Europe’s socialist regimes has only served to strengthen his commitment to personal freedom, our constitutional right to bear arms, limited government, and the sanctity of life.“We are being told from every direction that this country and our history is a failure and that the only way to fix the problems we face is bigger government, revolution, and radical social experimentation,” said Kozak. “As survivors of both Nazi fascism and Soviet Communism, my family experienced exactly where more government, revolution, and radical social experimentation leads.” “My grandparents taught me through their faith and action what it means to have a backbone. As your state Representative, I will always fight for your individual rights and the ability to pursue the American Dream.” Kozak also served as a member of the Beaver Falls City Planning Commission for six years and was a founding board member of the Beaver Falls Community Development Corporation. Roman and his wife, Lauren (Pasquale), reside and attend church in the Beaver Falls area with their four sons.

Kozak will also be joining Frank Sparks on “Live Mic” With Mike Romigh on Friday morning at 7:40 AM.

For more information on Roman Kozak and his campaign to represent the 14th PA State House district in the General Assembly please visit www.kozakforpa.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/kozak4pa.