Dolores (Gerner) Burlett (1937-2024)

Dolores (Gerner) Burlett, 87, passed away on October 19, 2024, in Villa St. Joseph of Baden, after fighting a prolonged battle with Multiple Myeloma & Myasthenia Gravis. She was born on February 13, 1937, in Bruin, Pennsylvania, a daughter of the late Ernest & Margaret Gerner. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, brother and sister-in-law, Charles & Ruth Gerner, brother, LeRoy Gerner, and sister, Loretta Slater. She is survived by her daughter, Teresa, with whom she resided, son, John (Bonny) Burlett of Economy, grandson Andrew (Casey) Burlett of Cranberry, great-grandson, Garrett, brother in-law, Russell Slater, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Dolores was a 1955 graduate of Karns City High School. In 1957, she married Edward Burlett and the couple chose to reside and raise their family in Bell Acres, where they remained until Dolores’s move to Beaver last year. She spent 31 happy years as the cafeteria manager for the Quaker Valley School District before her retirement, as well as 27 years as a baker for the Allegheny Country Club. A member of Good Samaritan Parish and Christian Mothers/Ladies Guild of Ambridge, Dolores enjoyed serving her church and community. Most of all, Dolores loved being with her family and was a proud mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Dolores will rest in peace with her faithful companion Buddy. The family would like to send special thanks to Dr. Richard Hogan, Dr. Remtulla, Dr. Sherry & Moon Oncology, and the staff of Villa St. Joseph for the exceptional care they provided to Dolores over the years. Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, October 23rd, from 2-6 P.M., in the John Syka Funeral Home, 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge. A funeral mass will take place on Thursday, October 24th at 10 A.M. to meet at the church, which is Good Samaritan Catholic Church, 725 Glenwood Avenue, Ambridge. Interment will follow in Good Samaritan Catholic Cemetery.

Anita J. Reese (1947-2024)

Anita Jane Reese, 77, more affectionately known as “Nunni” to many, passed away in her home on October 20, 2024 with her loving husband by her side.

She was born on August 6, 1947, in Beaver Falls, a daughter of the late Victor and Jane (Brocius) Mannerino. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Thelma Mannerino and brother, Vince Mannerino. She is survived by her husband, Dennis Reese, sister, Jean (Bob) Hessenauer, brothers, Fred (Barb) Mannerino, and Danny (Ginger) Mannerino; grandchildren, Corinne (Rebecca) Weaver, Joey Yarosz, and Seneca Fuze, great-grandchildren, Jacen, Zoey, Damaree, and Demarco, as well as many nieces and nephews, which include Colleen (Brian) LaNeve, who showed love and support through this difficult time.

Anita lived her childhood years in her loving family home in Beaver Falls.  She proceeded to graduate from Beaver Falls High School and attended Garfield Secretarial School.  She started her career at Century Bank and finished with Huntington Bank after 44 years.  At the young age of 28, she met the love of her life, Dennis, who continuously showed her unconditional love and support.  They would go on to live a life that many dreamed of.  Throughout her life, Anita showed her love for the Lord and her unwavering devotion to her family.  She was a beautiful person who spread joy and happiness wherever she went.

In accordance with Anita’s wishes, there will be no viewing or funeral services.

The GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, was honored to assist Anita’s family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Anita’s name to McGuire Memorial, 2119 Mercer Road, New Brighton, PA 15066.

June E. Stalnecker (Passed on October 20th, 2024)

June E. Stalnecker, 93, of Monaca, passed away on October 20, 2024, at the Providence Health Care Center of Beaver Falls. She was born in Monaca, a daughter of the late Harriet and Lewis Smith.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Robert ‘Bill’ Stalnecker, Sr., and her siblings, Evelyn Wojnarowski, George, Charles, James, and Donald ‘Buck’ Smith. She is survived by her devoted children, Barbara (Ron) Sciarro, Susan (Rob) Dobo, and Robert W. (Karen) Stalnecker, Jr., as well as her adoring sister, Hattie Gitts. June’s joy was multiplied by her five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. June was the matriarch of her family.

Professionally, June was a dedicated employee at Johnson’s Flowers in Monaca. Her commitment to service extended beyond her professional life, as she was a life member of the American Legion Post #580 Auxiliary. In her role as Secretary/Treasurer, June demonstrated her organizational skills and dedication to the veteran community.

She relished the thrill of playing Bingo, the excitement of a day at the casinos, and the camaraderie of watching sports.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Grane Hospice for their exceptional care, with special thanks to RN Alexis and aide Don for their compassionate attention. The nursing staff at Providence Health Care Center, especially Becky RN, Tammy, Dawn M., Heidi, Kelly, Toni, Dawn, Ariel, and Christine, provided comfort and support that will always be remembered and appreciated.

Friends will be received on Tuesday, October 22nd from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, where services will be held on Wednesday, October 23rd at 10 a.m. with Reverend Robert Saul officiating. Interment will follow in Beaver Cemetery next to her late husband.

To share online condolences, add photos, get directions, please www.simpsonfuneralhome.com.

Cheryl Ann Hogue (1958-2024)

Cheryl Ann Hogue, 66, passed away on October 19th, 2024 surrounded by loved ones.

She was born in Beaver Falls on September 28th, 1958, the daughter of the late Thelma and Pete Hurbanek. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepfather George Modro and sister Dorothy Davis.

She is survived by her loving family, husband Charles Hogue, children, Chelsea Obenauf (Hogue) and Ryan Hogue, son-in-law Andrew Obenauf, beloved granddaughter Lenna Obenauf, brother and sister-in-law, George and Mary Hurbanek, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Donald and Lucy Hogue, nieces and nephews: Crystal Tomaino (Hogue) and family, Charli Davis and family, Tara Hurbanek and family, Heidi Monata (Davis) and family, George Robert Hurbanek II and family, Darcy Koach (Davis) and family, and special friends Brittany Lamey and family, and Sandra Edwards.

She was most proud of becoming a Gigi, a gift that was taken from her too soon.

Cheryl will be remembered for her kind, loving, and genuine heart. She always knew how to bring laughter to a room. She will be deeply missed and forever loved and remembered.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 26, from 1-3 p.m. at Center Township Volunteer Fire Department, Station 3, 110 Van Kirk Road, Monaca. Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpson Funeral and Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/33f4cf39.

Condolences for the family may be offered online at www.simpsonfuneralhome.com.

Donato J. “Dino” Mazreku (1945-2024)

Donato J. “Dino” Mazreku, 79, of Moon Township, passed away on October 17, 2024 at home with his wife by his side. He was born in Monopoli, Italy on March 10, 1945. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, and sister. He is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Peggy Mazreku, a son, Matthew Mazreku (Glenna) of Moon Township, daughter in law, Colleen Mazreku, 5 grandchildren: Matthew Mazreku (Emily), Allyssa Mazreku (Jack Martinez), Hayley Mazreku, Aidan Mazreku, Connor Mazreku; and 3 great-grandchildren, Jaxon, Elizabeth, and Ally Rai.

Donato retired from U.S. Airways after 34 years. He was a veteran of the US Navy. 

Family and friends will be received on Sunday, October 27th, from 1-5 P.M. in the Huntsman Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Moon Township where a blessing service will be held on Monday, October 28th at 10:30 A.M. A celebration of life luncheon will be held after the service. 

Thomas Michael Poulos (Passed on October 16th, 2024)

Thomas Michael Poulos, 68, a longtime resident of Beaver, passed away on October 16, 2024 at his residence. He was born in Pittsburgh, a son of the late Nicholas and Dorothy Poulos. He is survived by his cherished daughter Nicole and her husband Doug, who brought joy and pride to his life, especially through his grandsons, Douglas Sutter III and Garrett Sutter. He is also survived by his siblings: James (Janet) Poulos, Steve (Michelle) Poulos, Kathy Poulos, Teresa (Rich) Roy, and Carolyn Poulos, his nieces, nephews, and his three feline companions, Molly, Andy, and Buddy, who were the recipients of his affection and playful spirit.

Thomas’ formative years were spent in Beaver, where he graduated from Beaver Area High School. He devoted many years as a manager of several area restaurants. His leadership and work ethic were matched only by his ability to connect with people. 

In his later years, he had many friends from the Corner Grill in New Brighton, who became family.  He was an ardent supporter of Pittsburgh sports, who had a special place in his heart for the Pittsburgh Pirates. His loyalty to his teams was steadfast. Tom’s love for politics was matched by none. He thoroughly enjoyed and respected a good argument from anyone willing to debate him. Tom was a man who lived by his own set of rules, never afraid to break the mold. His authenticity and courage to be true to himself endeared him to many and served as an inspiration for those who aspire to live life on their own terms.

A blessing service will be held on Wednesday, Oct 23rd at 3 p.m. at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca.  

Visitation will follow until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. 

To share online condolences, add photos, get directions, please visit www.simpsonfuneralhome.com. 

Robert (Bob) J. Artim (1955-2024)

Robert (Bob) J. Artim, 68, of Beaver, passed away on October 17, 2024 with his loving family by his side.
He was born on November 19, 1955 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, the son of the late John and Marlene Artim.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a step-son Adam Galletta. He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Kerri Ann, daughter, Shawn Artim of New Brighton, step-son, Aaron Galletta of San Diego, brothers, Gary (Marites) Artim of Pittsburgh and Greg (Tracy) Artim of Pittsburgh, aunt, Carlie Parke of The Villages, Florida, as well as many close friends and coworkers.

Robert was a proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp and had been a plant superintendent with Rome Monument, for over 40 years, where he referred to himself as the second-best stone cutter on the East Coast. He also loved his cats.

Friends will be received on Tuesday, October 22, in the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, from 3 p.m. until the time of a blessing service at 6 p.m. Interment will take place at a later date at Beaver Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.
Memorial contributions may be made in Bob’s name to the Beaver County Human Society, 3394 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa, PA 15001. 

Dean C. Miller, Sr. (1935-2024)

Dean C Miller, Sr., 89, of Chicago, Illinois, formerly of North Sewickley Township, passed away on Oct 13, 2024. He was born on June 14, 1935, the son of the late William Miller and Verna Miller Booher. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister & brother-in-law, Joanne & Bill Boots, brother-in-law, Charles Herrmann, his grandson, Daniel Miller and former wife, Nancy McNitt.

Dean is survived by his 5 children: Dean (Kathy) Miller, Scott (JoAnne) Miller, Jeff Miller, Janet (Tom) Postupac, and Melissa (Ken) Doot; 7 grandchildren: Ashley (Matt) Welch, Eryn (James) Wall, Valerie Miller, Cody (Sarah) Postupac, Karen Postupac, and McKenzie & Preston Doot; 6 great-grandchildren: Brady & Blake Welch, Miller & James Wall and Aiden & Carter Postupac, his 2 sisters, Nancy Herrmann and Carolyn (Keith) Brewer, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dean was a retired truck driver.  Upon his retirement, he fulfilled his life-long dream of owning a bar. For the past 30 years, he owned The Beacon Tap of Chicago, Illinois. He also proudly served his country in the US Air Force. Dean enjoyed the many friends and customers that he saw every day.

Friends will be received on Friday, October 25th from 11 A.M. until the time of service at 1 P.M. at CORLESS-KUNSELMAN FUNERAL SERVICES, LLC, 3801 4th Avenue, Beaver Falls.

Interment will be private at Concord Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Lung Association.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame turns up starpower to induct Cher, Foreigner, Mary J. Blige, Ozzy and more

Cher, left, and Dua Lipa perform during the 39th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Hollywood stars Julia Roberts and Zendaya bookended Saturday’s inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, giving a little stardust to an eclectic lineup that included pop icon Cher, heavy metal’s Ozzy Osbourne, hip-hop soul queen Mary J. Blige, soft rockers Foreigner and 83-year-old soul icon Dionne Warwick.

It was a five-hour-plus show that also honored hip-hop trailblazers A Tribe Called Quest, punk pioneers the MC5, the effortless dance music of Kool & the Gang, the soft rock of Foreigner, the beach bum tunes of Jimmy Buffett and the jam band fusion of Dave Matthews Band.

Dua Lipa opened the show singing Cher’s “Believe” before the 78-year-old icon joined her onstage, giving way to Zendaya who noted that Cher is the only woman to have a No. 1 hit on a Billboard chart in each of the past seven decades. “Cher has got the goods,” Zendaya said before Cher performed a rocking version of “If I Could Turn Back Time.”

In her speech, Cher thanked her mother for instilling in her to always get back up after defeat. “I never give up,” she said. “I’m talking to the women — down and out, we keep going.”

Roberts helped induct Dave Matthews Band — she’s a self-avowed superfan and she appeared in the band’s video for the 2005 single, “Dreamgirl.” Roberts, wearing a band T-shirt, said the appeal of the group is “spontaneous abandon,” adding the first time she danced with her husband was to one ofn their songs.

The jam band, with their mix of funk, folk-rock, jazz, blues and pop, then played “Ants Marching” — asking the crowd to sing the chorus — “Crash” and “So Much to Say.” The arena was still full when they hit the stage after midnight, with the crowd singing along and swaying.

Matthews hugged Roberts, handed out the trophies to his bandmates, and called the class of 2024 impressive. “We’re swimming in very deep water here,” he said. He thanked the current and former band members and the bar owner who gave them a home in Charlottesville, Virginia. When he thanked the fans, they roared back.

Dr Dre inducted Blige, who is credited with creating a completely new category of music — hip-hop soul. The nine-time Grammy-winner’s best-known song is ”Family Affair″ from her triple-platinum 2001 album “No More Drama.” “When you listen to Mary, you understand you’re not alone in heartbreak,” Dre said.

Blige, wearing shiny black hat, a sparkly dress and long black gloves and boots, sang a mix of her hits, including “Love No Limit,” “Be Happy” and “Family Affair.” At the end of her set, a dancer brought up a cloak to wrap around her, in an echo of James Brown. “Move with grace. Trust the journey,” she advised. “You are worthy.”

Chuck D inducted Kool & the Gang, saying “This is a long-due celebration.” The band had 12 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 including the 1980 chart-topper “Celebration” as well as “Cherish,” “Get Down On It,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Ladies Night” and “Joanna.” They’ve been eligible for the hall since 1994.

The Roots helped the band do a medley of hits that got the crowd grooving led by Robert “Kool” Bell — bass guitarist, co-founder and last original member — and longtime singer James “JT” Taylor. Confetti shot into the arena and Taylor asked the crowd to use their cellphone lights as he read off the names of 10 members who were critical to the band’s success.

Warwick arrived at the ceremony only a few days after attending a memorial to her longtime friend and collaborator, Cissy Houston. Teyana Taylor called her “truly one of a kind” as well as telling off the teleprompter operator for not putting “Ms.” before her name. Jennifer Hudson sang “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” and was joined by Warwick, who also sang “Walk On By.”

Warwick said this year was the third time she was nominated for the Hall. “I am so pleased to be here,” she said. “I’m just going to say this and get off the stage: Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Dave Chappelle helped induct A Tribe Called Quest — Q-Tip, Jarobi, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and the late Phife Dawg — the lone hip-hop group to make the cut this year. Chappelle said the group incorporated “jazz and soul in a way hip-hop had never seen.” Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes, Common, The Roots and De La Soul were on hand to perform a medley of Tribe hits, including “Bonita Applebum,” “Scenario” and “Can I Kick It?”

Sammy Hagar introduced Foreigner, and thanked their fans for their tenacity to demand inclusion. The English-American rockers — with hits like “Cold as Ice,” and “Waiting for a Girl Like You” — topped the charts in the 1970s and ’80s but never made it into the Hall — much less a ballot — until last year, despite being eligible for more than 20 years.

Hagar noted that Foreigner currently tours without any original members. “That’s how good the songs are,” he said. “Who deserves this more than Foreigner?” Demi Lovato and Slash joined the touring Foreigner for “Feels Like the First Time” and Hagar then took lead for “Hot Blooded.” Kelly Clarkson thrilled with a powerful “I Want to Know What Love Is” but the arena erupted when original singer Lou Gramm joined her.

Saturday’s induction ceremony was at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, where the Hall has promised to return to every few years. A TV special with performance highlights will air on ABC on Jan. 1.

Roger Daltrey of The Who inducted Frampton. “It’s about bloody time!” he said. “Peter has had the most amazing career of all time. It’s probably easier to name the people he hasn’t worked with than the people he has,” Daltrey said.

Frampton earned his way into the Hall in large part on the strength of his 1976 live double album “Frampton Comes Alive!,” buoyed by the hit songs “Show Me the Way” and ″Baby, I Love Your Way.” Daltrey noted Frampton has always played with a wide smile.

A fittingly grinning Frampton — who played at last year’s ceremony to honor Sheryl Crow — brought on Keith Urban to trade licks on “Do You Feel Like I Do” and showed why he is considered one of rock’s great guitarists. He hooked up his famous talk box effect and the crowd roared.

Dave Matthews — before his band’s inducement — helped honor Buffett with an acoustic version of the late singer-songwriter’s “A Pirate Looks at Forty.” James Taylor then came out to call Buffett — who popularized beach bum soft rock with the escapist song “Margaritaville” — “larger-than-life but at the same time right-sized and always authentic.” Taylor, Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally then performed Buffett’s “Come Monday.”

Musician-actor Jack Black toasted Osbourne, saying that “heaven opened up above me” when he first listened to the album “Blizzard of Ozz.” Black called Osbourne “the Jack Nicholson of rock” and joked that his reality TV show “The Osbournes“ was possibly “the most evil thing he ever did.”

Osbourne, seated in a throne, credited the late guitarist Randy Rhoads and his wife, Sharon, for his career and life. This is the second time Ozzy has entered the Hall, the first time being in 2006 with the seminal metal band Black Sabbath. A tribute band to the Prince of Darkness — including Jelly Roll, Billy Idol, Maynard James Keenan, Wolfgang Van Halen, Steve Stevens and Robert Trujillo — played “Crazy Train,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and “No More Tears.”

The In Memoriam section included tributes, among others, to Kris Kristofferson, Cissy Houston, David Sanborn and Liam Payne. Dave Matthews Band performed “Burning Down the House” from the Talking Heads as fans filled out.

La Nina could soon arrive. Here’s what that means for winter weather

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center says there is a 60% chance that a weak La Nina event will develop this autumn and could last until March.

La Nina is part of a natural climate cycle that can cause extreme weather across the planet — and its effects vary from place to place.

Although there is no guarantee how this La Nina will play out, there are some general trends. Experts say northern parts of South America could see more rain than usual. Southern regions of the U.S. and parts of Mexico could be drier than average. The northern tier of the U.S. and southern Canada could be wetter than average.

La Nina is the cool phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, a naturally occurring global climate pattern that involves changes in wind and ocean temperatures in the Pacific and can cause extreme weather across the planet.

El Nino is the warm phase and happens when trade winds that typically blow across the Pacific toward Asia weaken, allowing warm ocean waters to pile up along the western edge of South America. But during La Nina, the trade winds intensify and cold water from the depths of the sea rises up, resulting in cooler than average ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific.

These cold ocean temperatures and changes in the atmosphere affect the position of the jet stream — a narrow band of fast moving air flowing from west to east around the planet — by bumping it northward. The jet stream sits over the ocean and can tap into its moisture, influence the path storms take and boost precipitation.

Just recently Earth experienced a “triple-dip” La Nina event from 2020 to 2023. “We had three back to back winters where we had La Nina conditions, which was unusual because the only other case of that happening was back in 1973 to 1976,” said Michelle L’Heureux, a climate scientist at NOAA. L’Heureux said that La Nina’s tend to last longer and be more recurrent than El Nino events.

“It’s unusual although it’s not unprecedented,” said Ben Cook, climate scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies affiliated with Columbia University, about the forecast for a possible La Nina this year.

Cook noted that the frequency of La Nina events can be stressful for regions that have been dealing with drought lately, such as East Africa. “If we’re moving into another La Nina event, it means kind of a continuation of those really bad conditions.”

La Nina weather impacts

The influence La Nina has on the weather varies based on location and the season, said L’Heureux. Parts of South America, such as eastern Argentina, can be drier than average while Colombia, Venezuela and northern parts of Brazil can be wetter than normal.

“It depends exactly where you are. Part of that is because there’s a monsoon cycle, wet and dry season, that goes through Central America and South America, so La Nina is basically modifying the intensity and placement of those monsoon cycles,” explained L’Heureux.

In the U.S., the Northeast and Ohio Valley typically see wetter than normal conditions with an active storm track due to the position of the jet stream, said Samantha Borisoff, climate scientist at NOAA’s Northeast Regional Climate Center based at Cornell University.

The waviness of the jet stream can also cause more frequent cold outbreaks, particularly in the central U.S. Borisoff said snowfall is difficult to predict and highly dependent on the storm and path it takes, but noted that New England, New York and the Great Lakes region tend to be snowier during La Nina winters, but that is never a guarantee. The southern and southeastern regions of the U.S. are farther away from the active storm track and tend to be drier and warmer than normal.

La Nina, El Nino and climate change

Scientists say the link between climate change and La Nina and El Nino is not entirely clear.

Paul Roundy, climate scientist at the University at Albany, said climate models tend to indicate more frequent El Ninos and less frequent La Ninas, but not all models agree. Computer models also struggle to separate normal variation in the El Nino and La Nina phases from climate change’s warming influence on the oceans and atmosphere.

“I would not infer from that that climate change isn’t actually causing more El Nino emergence,” Roundy said. “It’s just that nature itself has such strong swings on its own. So we can get multiple La Nina events, and maybe in 40 or 50 years we’ll be seeing the opposite.”

___

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

——

This story was first published on Oct. 16, 2024. It was updated on Oct. 17, 2024 to correct a scientist’s name. It is L’Heureux. The AP also misinterpreted a scientist’s comments about cold outbreaks. These are expected in the central United States, not the southern. The name of the University at Albany, State University of New York was also misstated.