Beaver Falls Area School District earns national recognition for Music Education support

BEAVER FALLS — For a second consecutive year, Beaver Falls Area School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation
from the NAMM Foundation.

Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students.

Two awards are given each year: Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) for school districts and the Support Music Merit Award (SMMA) for individual school sites. Both reach K-12 schools and districts throughout the U.S. and offer opportunities to increase awareness and support for music programs.

Over 900 districts and individual school sites (public, private, charter, parochial) were recognized for having the highest commitment to producing exceptional music programs.

“It is an honor to have been named a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation for the second consecutive year,” Robbie Goode, director of bands at Beaver Falls Middle and High School, said. “Music education plays a vital role in shaping well-rounded individuals. It not only cultivates artistic expression but also enhances cognitive skills, boosts self-confidence, and promotes cultural appreciation. It is crucial to advocate for the preservation and expansion of music programs to ensure that every child has access to the transformative power of music. We are unbelievably proud of the accomplishments of our music students here at Beaver Falls and the strong, growing music education program that we have.” –

Aliquippa City Council announces a public meeting about the East End Project

(File Photo of an Area in Aliquippa with a Welcome to Aliquippa Sign)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Aliquippa, PA) The Aliquippa City Council will hold a public meeting regarding the East End Project on Wednesday, August 5th at 6 p.m. It was announced at the meeting last Wednesday that state and county officials will meet with the council to talk about the project happening at the 51 Corridor Exit. Other topics were a motion addressing the Beaver County Council of Governments as well as concerns by the Beaver County Commissioners for the Franklin Avenue Park Project.  

 

Ambridge City Council holds meeting this week and makes several motions including accepting some projects in Ambridge

(File Photo of the Borough of Ambridge Logo)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Ambridge, PA) Several motions were made at the Ambridge Council meeting this week. Tina O’Brien Jones resigned as a full-time police officer and Mandy Mudrick was hired for that position. There was also a motion to accept the contract proposal to install cameras at 8th Street Park in Ambridge. A consulting contract was also accepted for a Historic District Design Guideline update project in the Ambridge area. The project is through the Certified Local Government CLG and the PA Historical and Museum Commission grant of $25,000 to Stromberg/Garrigan and Associates, Inc. The borough has a $2,500 match of 10% for the project. The Ambridge Council’s next meeting is on Tuesday, June 10th, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

Aliquippa School Board adopts its tentative budget and approves a 2025-2026 preliminary budget at their recent meeting

(File Photo of the Aliquippa Quips Logo and the Aliquippa School Board Logo)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Aliquippa, PA) The Aliquippa School Board adopted its tentative budget at their meeting Wednesday night. The board approved the 2025-2026 preliminary budget of $33,284,307. The millage rate will be announced when the final adoption takes place at the Aliquippa School Board meeting in June. The budget will be available to residents for 30 days in the Aliquippa school district office.

Damar Hamlin announced as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in health

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin speaks in front of University of Cincinnati Medical Center staff during the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 57 football game, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in Phoenix. Damar Hamlin will put the $9.1 million given to a GoFundMe campaign by well-wishers after his on-field collapse into his own nonprofit, the Chasing M’s Foundation.
The decision, first shared with The Associated Press Monday, May 8, 2023, is a first step in the 25-year-old’s plan for the unprecedented outpouring of support that he received after his heart stopped following a tackle during a Monday night football game in January. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New York City, NY) Damar Hamlin, a Pittsburgh native and NFL football player, was named one of the top 100 people that are the most influential in health this week, according to TIME magazine. Hamlin got a cardiac arrest during an NFL football game in 2022. Hamlin was someone who supported the Access to AEDs Act. This act makes sure that secondary and elementary schools have automated external defibrillators through government funding. 

 

Hershey Kiss Bill sets to make Hershey’s Kisses Pennsylvania’s official state candy if approved

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A mixture of Hershey’s chocolates is displayed in the company’s Times Square store, March 1, 2017, in New York. Hershey is cautioning on its 2024 profit growth as the company contends with rising cocoa costs that are leading to higher prices for chocolate. Cocoa futures prices have doubled over the past year and hit an unprecedented $5,874 per metric ton Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in intraday trading. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Dauphin County, PA) The Hershey Kiss Bill was passed earlier this week in Pennsylvania, which would make Hershey’s Kisses the official state candy of Pennsylvania. Representative Tom Mehaffie is the sponsor of the bill. Mehaffie also said to media outlets that the bill would be made official by Governor Josh Shapiro if it goes to him. Pennsylvania will become the first state in the United States to have an official state candy when the Hershey Kiss Bill becomes official. 

Rapid DNA program starting to go to police troops in Pennsylvania

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) A rapid DNA program with fifteen fully automated genetic analyzers going to troops across Pennsylvania has started, according to an announcement from the Pennsylvania State Police. The recent announcement comes after the Monaca Police Department used this tool to identify the man who robbed the Monaca Market in April. This technology is now secured in Beaver County thanks to a grant from the budget proposal of Governor Josh Shapiro. 

Congressman Chris Deluzio is advocating for employees getting reinstated

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Congressman Chris Deluzio is one of those working to go against the administration of President Donald Trump regarding the layoffs of federal employees. Some respirator certification workers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health facility of Pleasant Hills got reinstated this week. Deluzio commented that first responders and those who work in trades for building are those that benefit from the respirators that come from the work of these employees. 

One group in Beaver wants to address taxes and budget as the Beaver Borough conucil makes decisions in their community before the primary elections in Beaver County

(File Photo of a Dollar Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) As the primary elections in Pennsylvania are approaching, one group of candidates under the “Better for Beaver” banner wants to address their community regarding budget and taxes. The Beaver Borough council made an approval for an increase of 56% in the taxes of community property and the expected budget of their community increased in 2024 by $1 million. Since 2023, the budget for the police of Beaver has seen an increase of $540,000. 

Independent investigation confirms “Bucco Bricks” were removed from the Pittsburgh Pirates even though they had two options, to either keep them or return them to fans

(File Photo of PNC Park)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Pirates got rid of the “Bucco Bricks” after being given options to save them, according to an independent investigation from the Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority. The findings from that authority were released Thursday stating that the Pirates refused the choices of both returning the bricks to fans and the team keeping them. A spokesperson for the team said it was “flat-out wrong” to remove the bricks that Pirates fans can customize to honor someone.