I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge Inspections Saturday Morning in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing inspection work on I-376 (Fort Pitt Bridge) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County will occur Saturday morning, November 2 weather permitting.

Bridge inspection activities requiring a single-lane restriction on the Fort Pitt Bridge upper and lower decks will occur from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday. Associated on and off ramps may have minor lane restrictions, however, will remain open at all times.

Crews from Gannett Fleming will conduct the routine bridge inspection activities.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Vitalent hosting Beaver County blood drives in November

(New Castle, PA) Donating blood is a simple but essential act that saves lives. This November, Vitalant encourages the community to give back by donating blood, with each donor entering the Make a Difference Giveaway for a chance to win one of three $10,000 gift cards.

“The season of giving is here, and an important reminder that illness and emergencies don’t pause for the holidays,” said Maya Santana, Vitalant Communications Manager. “As many of us prepare to gather for Thanksgiving, local patients still face critical health needs and depend on the generosity of donors. By giving blood, you can help ensure that someone’s parent, sibling, friend, or neighbor can share in those cherished moments with the people they love.”

All blood types are essential in preventing delays for patients in need of transfusions. Type O is the most commonly transfused. O-negative blood can be given to patients of any blood type, while O-positive can help most patients.

Most people are eligible to give blood. Review eligibility requirements and make an appointment to give at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

Upcoming Blood Drives

Aliquippa

Monday, Nov. 4

B F Jones Library

663 Franklin Ave.

1 PM – 5:30 PM

 

Baden

Sunday, Nov. 24

Wetzel James III Replenishment

2856 Conway Wallrose Rd.

9 AM – 2 PM

 

Beaver Falls

Thursday, Nov. 14

Concord UM Church – Bethany Hall

285 Concord Church Rd.

2 PM – 6:30 PM

 

Ellwood City

Saturday, Nov. 9

Hogue Richard Replenishment – Holy Redeemer Catholic Center, Lunchroom

300 Cresent Ave.

2 PM – 6 PM

 

New Castle

Friday, Nov. 22

Holy Spirit Parish – St. Mary’s Church, Parish Center

117 N. Beaver St.

11 AM – 4 PM

 

Wednesday, Nov. 27

Harley-Davidson – Customer Lounge

4655 Rte. 422

2 PM – 7 PM

 

Friday, Nov. 29

New Castle Fire Department – Multi-purpose Room

10 Margaret St.

1 PM – 6 PM

Theories that could be true or false going into this year’s election in Pennsylvania

(Pennsylvania-AP) Pennsylvania is often the subject of election-related misinformation. Social media users have falsely suggested that large numbers of migrants are illegally registered to vote in Pennsylvania, incorrectly asserted that the time it takes to count votes in the state is a smokescreen for fraud, and made baseless claims about foul play involving deceased voters.

A 1996 federal law allows fines and imprisonment for up to a year for noncitizens who vote in federal elections. Violators can also be deported. When people in the U.S. register to vote, they swear under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens.

Under Pennsylvania law, elections officials must wait until 7 a.m. Eastern Time on Election Day before they can begin to process ballots cast by mail and prepare them to be counted.

According to Geoff Morrow, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of State, Pennsylvania law allows counties to use information from the health department, published obituaries, and testamentary documents to confirm that a voter has died.

Eleven public bathrooms will be added to the city of Pittsburgh in the next couple of years

(Pittsburgh, PA) 11 more public bathrooms in the near future will be added to the city of Pittsburgh.

According to the Tribune-Review, some of the places the new bathrooms will be installed include Mellon Square, Allegheny Commons, and the South Side Color Park, among others.

City Council unanimously agree to approve for the new public bathrooms and will allocate $600,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funding. This will work with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership to have the bathrooms cleaned and maintained. 

Three trailer-like public restrooms were brought into Pittsburgh that have running water, heat, and air conditioning last year.

Beaver County 16th State District vote puts Democrat Rob Matzie against Republican Michael Perich

(Beaver County, PA) The vote for the candidate to occupy the position in the 16th House District of Pennsylvania is unlike the other state legislative district elections, in which candidates run for reelection without an opponent. The 16th House district vote has Rob Matzie, the Democratic nominee in Beaver County, against Republican nominee Michael Perich. Matzie has now become chair of the House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee. Matzie continues to assert that his advantage of being there for Beaver County will lead to bring both money and projects there, including the cracker plant. Perich, who was a one-time owner of Zippy’s Bar in Aliquippa, a former steelworker, and a former mailman, is running against Matzie to keep families in Beaver County. 

A comet breaks apart before Halloween on its way to the sun

(Pennsylvania) A recently discovered comet broke into pieces right before Halloween. Astronomers have been tracking the so-called Halloween comet, also known as C/2024 S1, since it was discovered in September by a telescope in Hawaii. 

NASA confirmed on Tuesday its sun-observing spacecraft captured the moment when the comet Atlas broke into chunks this week as it passed close to the sun. 

As it raced toward the sun, a space observatory operated by NASA and the European Space Agency spied its demise. 

The comet is thought to be part of a family of comets that pass incredibly close to the sun. 

Source for Photo: This image provided by NASA shows Comet Atlas, nicknamed the “Halloween comet”, approaching its closest to the sun, October 2024, as seen in this real-time image from NASA’s orbiting Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. (NASA via AP)

Pennsylvania Catholic voters could decide the 2024 presidential election winner

(Pennsylvania) Catholic voters here in Pennsylvania will make up a likely quarter of the electorate and could decide who wins the 2024 presidential election. According to AP VoteCast, in 2020, 27% of Pennsylvania voters identified as Catholic, and neighboring swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin also have ample Catholic populations. 

Pennsylvania Catholics, who are overwhelmingly white and non-Hispanic, supported Trump over Biden by a 55%-44% margin in 2020, whereas the national Catholic vote, with a much larger Hispanic share, was about evenly split. 

The only Catholic among the candidates for both the President and Vice President of the United States is Republican Vice-Presidential Nominee, Senator J.D. Vance, who has been strongly influenced by conservative Catholics. 

Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris have also urged her campaign to pay more heed to Pennsylvania’s Catholics. 

Abortion is one of the main issues during election time, and U.S. Catholic bishops, in their guide to Catholic voters, declared opposing abortion, “our pre-eminent priority because it directly attacks our most vulnerable and voiceless brothers and sisters.” 

Source for Photo: FILE – A parishioner prays at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Reading, Pa., on June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Raymond F. Ulizio (1962-2024)

Raymond F. Ulizio, 62, of Harmony Township, passed away on October 27, 2024. He was born on October 12th, 1962, the son of the late Raymond J. and Lillian Ulizio. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his dog, “Little Man.” 

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Linda Ulizio, his daughter, Christina Ulizio, his 2 siblings,  Mary Lee Ulizio and Darlene Hodge, a niece, and his furry companion, David. 

Raymond worked for Heritage Valley Hospital of Sewickley for forty-two years as a radiology aide, diagnostic imager, and hospital escort. He was an avide musician who enjoyed bicycling, woodworking, supporting all Pittsburgh sports teams, and being a fan of the band KISS. 

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, November 3, from 2-4 P.M. at Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge. 

Trick-or-treat times in Beaver County communities lasting one and a half or two hours for Halloween

(Beaver County, PA) Tomorrow is Halloween, and as trick-or-treating starts in Beaver County on Thursday, October 31st, most of the county’s communities have either one and a half or two hours of trick-or-treat time. However, Ellwood City is starting its time for trick-or-treat at 5:30 P.M. instead of the 6 P.M. start time for the other communities. Ellwood City mayor Anthony Court is making the adjustment to try to help those involved in the activities of Halloween. Court also addresses those going out for Halloween to both stay safe and enjoy that evening. The full list of the Beaver County trick-or-treat times are as follows:

Aliquippa – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Ambridge – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Baden – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Beaver – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Beaver Falls – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Big Beaver – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Bridgewater – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Brighton Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Center Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Chippewa Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Conway – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Darlington – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 

Darlington Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 

Economy – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Ellwood City – Saturday, Oct. 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Franklin Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Freedom – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Hanover Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Harmony Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Hopewell Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Independence Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Monaca – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Moon Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 

New Brighton (Daugherty Twp., and Pulaski Twp.) – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 

New Sewickley Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

North Sewickley Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Patterson Heights – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Patterson Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Potter Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Raccoon Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Rochester – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Rochester Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Shippingport – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Vanport Township – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Peoples Provides Advice for a Safer and More Efficient Heating Season

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (October 28, 2024) – With fall well underway and winter soon to come, Peoples Natural Gas wants its customers to take simple yet effective steps to save money, improve efficiency, and make their residences safer.

 

Western Pennsylvania’s furnaces may not be working around the clock yet, meaning now is the perfect time for preventive maintenance. Hiring a qualified professional for an inspection can help avoid larger, costly repairs and safety issues, and there are also simple steps anyone can take:

 

  • Replace your furnace filter regularly. Peoples recommends at least three times during the heating season;
  • Keep the space around your furnace clear of obstructions, and avoid storing or using flammable products near any gas or heat-producing appliances;
  • Ensure your indoor and outdoor vents are clear from obstructions such as furniture, lint, dust, snow, ice and even bird nests; and
  • Consult the Safety section of Peoples website for more appliance safety tips.

 

Fall and winter also bring a higher likelihood of exposure to Carbon Monoxide (CO). This odorless, colorless and potentially dangerous gas is produced when fuel is burned without enough air for complete combustion. Many CO poisoning cases are caused by faulty, improperly used, or incorrectly vented appliances such as furnaces, stoves, generators, water heaters and fireplaces. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), more than 400 people die annually from CO poisoning, making it the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the country. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, drowsiness or fatigue, nausea, dizziness, confusion, shortness of breath, loss of color or coordination, and blurred vision.

 

Preventing CO poisoning starts with installing CO detectors throughout your living space. If you already have CO detectors positioned outside bedrooms and in the basement, now is the time to ensure they’re still working properly and replace batteries if needed. In addition to regular inspections of your heating system, vents and chimneys, CO poisoning can be prevented by proper use of gas-powered equipment ranging from grills and ranges to generators and automobiles.

 

“Anyone can take small steps that make a big difference, such as putting a new filter in the furnace or testing CO detectors this fall,” said Ron King, Peoples Vice President of Operations & Maintenance. “We encourage everyone in our community to take the time to ensure their appliances are operating safely and efficiently.”

 

Additionally, Peoples offers numerous resources for customers in need of assistance, such as its Usage Reduction Program and Emergency Repair Fund. These programs focus on assisting qualifying customers to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes, or with urgently needed repairs to furnaces or the customer-owned portion of a gas service line. If you or someone you know needs assistance, call 1-800-400-WARM (9276) or visit peoples-gas.com/help to learn more.