Author: Beaver County Radio

Avonworth Elementary School teacher wins one of the highest honors in education in Pennsylvania in 2025

(Photo Courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Education Association)

(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)

(Harrisburg, PA) An elementary school educator from Pennsylvania has been named this year’s Education Support Professional of the Year, one of the highest honors in the field. The Pennsylvania State Education Association’s Dolores McCracken Education Support Award goes to Becky Marszalek, a paraprofessional at Avonworth Elementary School in Pittsburgh. For eighteen years, Marszalek says she has dedicated herself to assisting teachers and students in the classroom, providing the support needed for everyone to succeed. Marszalek recently attended the PSEA annual meeting in Philadelphia, where she addressed more than 500 members and was presented with the state award. This achievement now qualifies her to compete at the national level. In March, she will join other state winners in Louisville, Kentucky, vying for the National Education Support Professional of the Year award.

Matzie announces secured grant to the Beaver County Career and Technical Center

(File Photo of Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) According to a release from Rep. Rob Matzie’s office, Matzie announced Tuesday that a grant of $85,000 was secured by the Beaver County Career and Technical Center for new training resources. Matzie stated that cutting edge training will be implemented at the center. The money comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Competitive Equipment Grant program.

Blackhawk High School hosting mobile Polar Plunge to support the Beaver County Special Olympics

(File Photo of Blackhawk School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa Township, PA) Blackhawk High School will be hosting an event on Friday in which donations in person or online benefit the Beaver County Special Olympics. According to Blackhawk School District staff, a mobile Polar Plunge Event will be hosted at Blackhawk High School from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. The event will have more activities, including a raffle, vendors, food trucks and diving into the Beaver River. You can also qualify to get a T-Shirt by raising $35 or more. Students and teachers from Blackhawk High School can go to the event after the time of dismissal. The organizers of the event will also give out prizes for the most raised money, the plunge outfit that is most creative and for the winners of the Unified Cornhole game. The website to donate online can be found in the link below:

2025 Bear Force One Cool Schools – Blackhawk – Campaign

Snow Watch: Cancellations and Delays 01/15/2025

Snow Watch logo

The following school districts and businesses have either delayed or canceled for today: 01/15/25 (We will continue to update the list throughout the morning)

Bethel Christian School in Raccoon Township: 2 hour delay Wednesday morning

Seneca Valley School District: 2 hour delay Wednesday morning with a modified kindergarten

St. Killian Parish School in Cranberry: 2 hour delay Wednesday morning 

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academy in Zelienople: 2 hour delay Wednesday morning

Sto-Rox School District: 2 hour delay Wednesday morning

Snow watch is sponsored by Munroe Auto Body, the Lisa Lathom Team at EXP Realty, the Cornerstone of Beaver County, and Beaver County Radio. 

James P. “Jim” McGinnis (1959-2025)

James P. “Jim” McGinnis, 65, of Beaver, passed away at home unexpectedly on January 9th, 2025. 
He was born in Pittsburgh on December 14th, 1959, the son of Mary and the late Michael L. McGinnis. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Keith DeVaughn. Jim was married in 1991 to his wife of 33 years, Jan, serving and traveling with her in their work in Covenant Players. In addition to his wife and his mother, he is survived by his brother, Tom (Laura) McGinnis, sisters, Mary DeVaughn, Eileen (Robert) Frankel and Rosemary McGinnis, three goddaughters and numerous nieces and nephews. 
James attended Quigley Catholic High School, graduating in 1978, and received degrees in speech communications and business administration from Geneva College in 1982. During his high school and college years he was involved in numerous school and community play productions, and created and performed magic shows in various venues. 
His career path took him to Covenant Players, a Christian drama ministry, where he served in a number of capacities for nearly 40 years. As an actor, he performed in small- and large-cast plays throughout the U.S. and Canada. As a graphic artist, he created, by hand, scores of posters for the ministry’s training productions. As a leader, he led individual touring teams and served for over three years as Regional Director for work in the UK and Ireland. After retirement from Covenant Players, James worked as a driver for two different organizations, delivering pharmacy orders and, later, delivering people to healthcare appointments. 
He was a notorious cinephile, loving films from a wide variety of eras and genres. With a keen memory, he could recall and share lines from favorite movies with ease. Additionally, he loved to read, was quick with all types of trivia, and in 2018 fulfilled a lifelong dream of being invited to compete on Jeopardy! 
 
Friends will be received from 4 p.m. until the time of a memorial service at 6 p.m. in the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, on Friday, January 17th. Gentlemen are invited to wear bow ties in in Jim’s honor. Online condolences may be shared at www.nollfuneral.com. 
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jim’s name to Beaver County Cancer and Heart Association, 3582 Brodhead Rd #201, Monaca, PA 15061, or Animal Friends Animal Shelter, 562 Camp Horne Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. 

Patricia A. Nardick (1956-2024)

Patricia A. Nardick (Wilson), 68, of Aliquippa, passed away unexpectedly at Hermitage Valley Medical Center on December 10th, 2024. She was born on May 29th, 1956, a daughter of the late Bill and Rose Nardick. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, David “Cowboy” Nardick, two grandsons, Jacob Pack and Michael Hoover, and her long-time best friend (sister) Shirley Deluigi. She is survived by her three daughers, Jennifer (Jay) Wilson of Erie, Heather Wilson of Springfield, Tennessee and Natalie Wilson of Ellwood City, six grandchildren, Corey (Sydney) Pack, Joshua (Harlee) Pack of Springfield, Tennessee, Jared Lee of Ellwood City, Jocelyn Hoover, Caleb Hoover of Erie and Hayden Tesnovich of Ellwood City, a step grandson Daniel Podskalny, two great-grandchildren, Maelynn Pack and Gabriel Pack of Springfield, Tennessee, a sister, Norma Stanhope, a long friend and companion, Joseph Roma, two amazing friends (sisters), Leah Piroli and Lesia Razzano Dobo, with whom her family will be forever grateful for all of their care and support over the years, along with many nieces and nephews, that she loved and adored, as well as many family members and friends that she missed with all her heart. 

Patricia was known for her strong love for others, her giving heart, her strong will, her love for family and friends and her amazing love for the Lord. She graduated from Aliquippa Senior High School in 1974 to be employed in careers that served the public.

Patricia’s pride and joy was her children’s successes in life and watching her grandchildren grow. She wanted everyone to be happy and loved. She loved to make sure everyone was fed. No matter the table size, there was always enough food for everyone.
Family and friends are welcome to attend visitation on Saturday, January 18th from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at 11:00 A.M. at Wildwood Chapel of Aliquippa. Arrangements have beene entrusted to the Anthony Mastrofransesco Funeral Home Inc, 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa.

Eleanor Roberta Cater (1945-2025)

Eleanor Roberta (Marocco) Cater, 79, formerly of Aliquippa, passed away January 14th, 2025, after a brief illness.
She was born in Rochester on December 8th, 1945, a daughter of the late Eleuterio and Maria Marocco. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Charles E. Cater and her siblings: Dominic, Bobby, Danny, James, Elmer, Christina, Margaret, Dora, Gloria, Maria, and Eleanor. She is survived by her devoted son and daughter: Eliot E. Cater (Bobbi Jo) and Maria Carpenter (Antwan Burton), five grandchildren who Eleanor adored: Demetri, Cole Olivia, Joseph and Mila, her brother Frank Marocco and numerous nieces and nephews.
Eleanor was a former member of St. Titus Church, part of Mary Queen of Saints Parish.
One may remember Eleanor as a cashier at various local grocery stores. She later became employed with Aliquippa Schools District as a lunch lady at the elementary school.
In her later years, Eleanor enjoyed watching TV and shopping online. Her greatest joy was spending time with her treasured grandchildren.
Visitation will be on Friday, January 17th from 11:00 a.m. until the time of a blessing service at 12 noon in the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Kozak Announces Nearly $150,000 awarded to Beaver Falls CDC

(File photo of Pa. Rep Kozak)

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Roman Kozak (R-Beaver) announced the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development awarded $148,500 to the Beaver Falls Community Development Corporation (CDC). This funding was awarded through the Neighborhood Assistance Program, which provides tax credits to businesses that contribute to nonprofit organizations’ efforts to revitalize communities.

This money will fund a project aimed to combat the decline of homeownership in Beaver Falls. The CDC plans to provide financial literacy seminars and ongoing support to homebuyers, as well as rehabilitate a home at 219 18th St.

TriState Capital Bank, McDanel Advanced Ceramics Technology, First National Bank of PA and Chester C. & Sherry L. Whelpley Inc. contributed to the project.

 

“The Neighborhood Assistance Program is a great example of efficient state governance,” Kozak said. “Rather than using taxpayer money to fund projects that don’t necessarily benefit each taxpayer, this initiative offers our businesses the chance to help our nonprofits and receive tax credits in return. It’s more direct, more transparent, and, in my opinion, more effective.”

University Boulevard Restrictions Begin Wednesday in Moon Township

(file photo)

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane restrictions on University Boulevard (Route 3109) in Moon Township, Allegheny County will begin on Wednesday, January 15 weather permitting.

Gas line installation work will occur on Rosemont Drive at the intersection with University Boulevard weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through late June. Minor restrictions will occur on University Boulevard at the intersection as needed as the bulk of the work will occur on Rosemont Drive. Both roadways will remain open during the work.

Please use caution if traveling on this roadway. Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility.

PennDOT is not involved in this work and is providing this information as a public service announcement only. For additional information contact Rick Cater at 412-552-0588.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways 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 X alerts.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District11.

Information about infrastructure in District 11, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D11Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

Aliquippa man jailed for assaulting a one-year-old female juvenile

(Photo Courtesy of the City of Aliquippa Police Department)

Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) An Aliquippa man was jailed after hitting and choking a one-year-old female juvenile on Monday. Police went to the Eleanor Roosevelt Apartments on 740 Sheffield Avenue at 10:18 a.m. where sixty-year-old Darrell Watkins of Aliquippa assaulted the child. The guardian of the child called the police. Watkins tried to fight officers at the police station after refusing their orders. Watkins also caused damage to both a computer and a wall when he was in the Aliquippa police station. There was also a hole in the wall of the same police station. Watkins is in the Beaver County Jail and faces seven charges, including simple assault.