HARRISBURG – Several communities in Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties will soon benefit from the $3.3 million in grant funding for park and recreation projects awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) Community Conservation Partnerships Program, according to Sen. Elder Vogel Jr. (R-47).

“Our local parks serve as a central place in our communities to bring together residents and visitors alike,” said Vogel. “Investing these critical funds in their upkeep and rehabilitation is a way we can continue to boost tourism in our area, stimulate our local economy, and help revitalize our communities for a better, brighter future.”

The following grants were approved by DCNR:

Beaver County

Ambridge Borough will receive $280,400 for the rehabilitation of P.J. Caul Memorial Park. The work will include renovation of plaza; installation of lighting and utilities; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

Brighton Township will receive $160,900 for payment toward the acquisition of approximately 13 acres along Brighton Road for an addition to the Two Mile Run Park Extension.

Butler County

Cranberry Township will receive $2,789,700 for further development of Cranberry Township Community Park. The work will include construction of pedestrian walkways, pavilion, comfort facility, multipurpose fields, access drive, parking area and stormwater management measures; installation of lighting and utilities; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

Harmony Borough will receive $55,600 for the rehabilitation of Harmony Borough Park. The work will include construction of pedestrian walkway; installation of play equipment with required safety surfacing; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

Lawrence County

Wampum Borough will receive $73,000 for the rehabilitation of Wampum Park. The work will include renovation of the baseball field and dugouts; construction of pedestrian walkway; installation of fencing; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

The DCNR Community Conservation Partnerships Program is funded with a variety of state and federal funding sources including: the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund; the Environmental Stewardship Fund; the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, subject to National Park Service approval; the federal Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Program, and the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program.

Story and photo by Frank Sparks, Beaver County Radio 

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) On Saturday, June 17, 2023 Beaver County Radio moved from our 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls location to all new studios on on Dutch Ridge Road in Brighton Township. St. Barnabas Broadcasting wanted to thank Beaver Falls for the 75 years that WBVP broadcasted from the city. On Friday morning a sign was installed on the former studio building saying “Beaver Falls, Pa.” with “Go Tigers” underneath of it.

Beaver County Radio General Manager Frank Sparks said that “St. Barnabas Broadcasting wanted to thank the City of Beaver Falls for the last 75 years and felt this was the appropriate way to do it.” “While we enjoy our new state of the art facility in Brighton Township we will truly miss Beaver Falls.”

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Pubslished October 5, 2023 10:36 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Rayetta Lee announced at Wednesday night’s council meeting that an organization, DeeWalk Promise Hands, is an organization that wants to help homeless women. The focus is getting funding to open the former Hunter Personal Care Home at 1916 Main Street in the city.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 5, 2023 10:31 A.M.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published October 5, 2023 10:23 A.M.

(Gibsonia, Pa) The St. Barnabas Nursing Center in Gibsonia has been recognized in a recent study published by Newsweek. The center was ranked one of the top 30 in Pennsylvania on the list of America’s best nursing homes, coming in at 13th. The nursing homes were ranked based on multiple data sources, including performance data, peer recommendations, and resident satisfaction. The St. Barnabas Nursing Center in Gibsonia houses over 150 beds and provides 24/7 care to residents.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 4, 2023 1:50 P.M.

(Midland, Pa) Midland Fire Chief Joe D’Itri reported Wednesday morning that a 2 story brick duplex home was destroyed  by fire early Tuesday morning. Firefighters  were dispatched at 1 a.m. and were assisted by Industry, Ohioville, Shippingport and Vanport Fire Departments.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 4, 2023 1:45 P.M.

(Conway, Pa) Beaver County Regional Police reported Wednesday morning that an accident Tuesday on Route 65 in the area of Crow’s Run Road is still under investigation. A police official will notify Beaver County Radio when the investigation is complete.

WASHINGTON (AP) — “THIS IS A TEST”: If you have a cellphone or are watching television Wednesday, that message will flash across your screen as the federal government tests its emergency alert system used to tell people about emergencies.

The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System sends out messages via the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts.

The Emergency Alert System is a national public warning system that’s designed to allow the president to speak to the American people within 10 minutes during a national emergency via specific outlets such as radio and television. And Wireless Emergency Alerts are short messages — 360 characters or less — that go to mobile phones to alert their owner to important information.

While these types of alerts are frequently used in targeted areas to alert people in the area to thing like tornadoes, Wednesday’s test is being done across the country.

The test is slated to start at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday. Wireless phone customers in the United States whose phones are on will get a message saying: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The incoming message will also make a noise and the phone should vibrate.

Customers whose phones are set to the Spanish language will get the message in Spanish.

The test will be conducted over a 30-minute window started at 2:20 p.m., although mobile phone owners would only get the message once. If their phones are turned off at 2:20 p.m. and then turned on in the next 30 minutes, they’ll get the message when they turn their phones back on. If they turn their phones on after the 30 minutes have expired they will not get the message.

People watching broadcast or cable television or listening to the radio will hear and see a message lasting one minute that says: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”

Federal law requires the systems be tested at least once every three years. The last nationwide test was Aug. 11, 2021.

The test has spurred falsehoods on social media that it’s part of a plot to send a signal to cellphones nationwide in order to activate nanoparticles such as graphene oxide that have been introduced into people’s bodies. Experts and FEMA officials have dismissed those claims but some social media say they’ll shut off their cellphones Wednesday.