Voters’ rights reminder ahead of the 2024 presidential election in Pennsylvania

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt encouraged Pennsylvania voters on Monday, November 4th to educate themselves about their voting rights before voting in person on Nov. 5. The top priorities of the Shapiro Administration are ensuring that our elections are conducted freely, fairly, and securely and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard.

“It’s important that voters know their rights and are informed about how to cast their ballot and make their voice heard,” Schmidt said. “They can find a wealth of useful information at the Department of State’s voter information website, vote.pa.gov.”

Source for Photo: FILE – Chester County, Pa., election workers process mail-in and absentee ballots at West Chester University in West Chester, Pa., Nov. 4, 2020. Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, approved a bill long-sought by counties seeking help to manage huge influxes of mail-in ballots during elections in the presidential battleground state and to avoid a repeat of 2020’s drawn-out vote count. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Groundbreaking ceremony for new Monaca fre department is held

(Monaca, PA) Officials welcomed a new fire department in Monaca Borough on Saturday during a groundbreaking ceremony. Thanks to a grant of $1.5 million being given on Friday, the brand-new facility will turn three former stations into one collective building. $2.3 million went towards the project, and Rep. Rob Matzie, County Commissioner Tony Amadio and Monaca Borough Manger Dave Kramer joined on Pacific Avenue to celebrate the achievement of the project. The 27,000 square-foot fire department will be used to store emergency vehicles, as well as for police, fire, and administrative needs. According to the Monaca Newsletter, the time when the building can be expected to open is in the fall of 2025. 

Presidential candidates having opposing rallies in Pittsburgh on the final campaign day

(Pittsburgh, PA) Both presidential candidates will make their final cases this evening in the swing state of Pennsylvania as Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice President Donald Trump will stop in Pittsburgh for opposing rallies. The Carrie Blast Furnaces will host a rally for Harris starting at 5 p.m. The rally for Trump will be at PPG Paints Arena with the doors opening at 2 p.m., while the former president will start speaking at 6 p.m. 

Source for Photo: This combination of file photos shows Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, speaking during a campaign rally in Kalamazoo, Mich., Oct. 26, 2024, and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, right, speaking during a campaign rally Oct. 22, 2024, in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo)

Voters in Pennsylvania support labor laws and oppose cuts to teachers and public-sector workers

(Rpeorted by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)

Ahead of Election Day, a new survey shows voters across the country and in the battleground state of Pennsylvania overwhelmingly support labor-law protections and would oppose cuts that affect teachers and other public-sector workers. The survey focused in part on the Heritage Foundation’s conservative playbook known as Project 2025, quizzing voters about whether they’d approve of dismantling the U-S Department of Education. 57-percent said ‘no.’ Arthur G. Steinberg, who heads the American Federation of Teachers in Pennsylvania, thinks that would not only devastate public education, but affect the local economy. 

Hopewell road project in the works

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondant Sandy Giordano, Published on October 4th, 2024 at 9:19 A.M.)

Commissioner’s Chairman Rich Bufalini provided an update and clarification on information released by PennDOT  last week. He stated that the road has to be brought up to the township’s specifications in order for the township to take it over, not Penn DOT. 

The section coming off of Mill Street has been Aliquippa’s responsibility to maintain, and a section off to the left on the road is maintained by Center Township, the rest of the road up to Shadow Lakes Boulevard is the township’s portion. 

PennDOT  expects to have everything completed by the end of November, because residents living in the area of Shadow Lakes Boulevard say they aren’t happy about the wait times to enter and exit the road. It is also causing them delays.

Elk season begins in Pennsylvania and some advice for hunters

(Pennsylvania) According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, elk season begins on Monday, November 4th and goes through Saturday, November 9th. This is one of three elk seasons in Pennsylvania, and hunters can apply online for $11.97 on pgc.pa.gov (can be put on Beaver County Radio website) Hunters need to wear at least two-hundred and fifty square inches on their combined head, chest, and back of daylight fluorescent orange. These tips can also help you during elk season: keep one hundred yards between you and the elk, never feed elk, do not give names to elk, and if you see someone disrupting elk, ask them to stop kindly or report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission by calling 1-833 PGC WILD. 

Beaver County poll voting preparation and a local polling place changed before Election Day

(Beaver County, PA) Election Day is on Tuesday, November 5th, and Beaver County residents need to be patient if there happens to be a good amount of people at the polls. Beaver County has a total of 117,461 registered voters, and according to local election officials, 80% of those voters are anticipated to participate. The only change to the polling places for the primary election, according to the Beaver County Elections Office is for Economy’s second precinct, which moved to the Economy Fire Department Banquet Hall at 3308 Conway Walrose Road. Voters can call the Beaver County Elections office at 724-770-4440 or visit the Pennsylvania Voters’ Services website to confirm their polling locations. 

Janet M. Primo (Passed on October 31st, 2024)

Janet M. (LoFaso) Primo, 77, a lifelong resident of Monaca, passed away unexpectedly on October 31, 2024, at her residence. She was born in Rochester, the daughter of the late Samuel and Lena (Bonanno) LoFaso. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Nicholas. She is survived by her husband of fifty-eight years, Frank Primo, three children, Michelle (Daniel) Cronin, Anthony (Christine) Primo, and Angela Benson, her grandchildren: Emily (Alec) Ingros, Madelyn, Benjamin, and Grace Cronin, Conner and Matthew Benson, Madison, Abigail, and Jacob Primo, two brothers, Sam (Linda) LoFaso and Tom (Anna) LoFaso, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Janet was a wonderful mother who was always there when she was needed the most, offering support, wisdom, and love in abundance. Professionally, Janet held various roles in catering, food services management, and furniture sales. Janet’s love for her Savior and Lord Jesus was a major influence in how she lived out her life. As a long-time member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Monaca, she found solace and strength in her community of faith. Her commitment to her church extended beyond attendance. She served as a CCD teacher, lector, Eucharistic minister and after the death of her grandson, Janet became a guiding force in the Grief Share program at both St. John’s and later at St Francis Cabrini Catholic Churches. Janet’s understanding and empathy provided a source of comfort, healing, and friendship for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Her ability to listen and her willingness to share her own experiences made Janet a saving grace to many. Her legacy of care and support will be remembered by those she helped during their most challenging times.

Janet’s influence will continue to be felt. Her love for her family, her passion for helping others, and her deep faith have left an indelible mark on the world. The family will now commence to fighting over her recipes for her homemade sauce, meatballs, noodles, and pizzelles.

In accordance with Janet’s wishes, all services will be private. Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpson Funeral and Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca.

Hilliary Z. (Lawson) Coe (1974-2024)

Hilliary Z. (Lawson) Coe, 50, passed away on October 30, 2024, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania on January 5, 1974, a daughter of Richard Lawson of Monaca and Deborah Lawson of Zelienople. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her sons Jackson (Sonny) and Samuel Coe, her sisters, Shannon (Steve) Pfeuffer of New Sewickley Township and Summer (Chad) Kirkpatrick of Ellwood City, her lifelong best friend, Joanna Creegan, along with numerous nieces and nephews. 

When she was 6 years old, Hilliary’s family moved to New Sewickley, Pennsylvania where she lived a majority of her life. She graduated from Freedom Area High School in 1992, then pursued her Associate degree from Robert Morris University. Hilliary worked as a realtor, she enjoyed flipping houses and she was also a bookkeeper for Rock Concrete and O’Connor & Co. Above all else, she was a devoted and loving Mother to her two sons. They were her pride and joy. She was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend to many.

Hilliary was always up for an adventure. From camping, attending rock concerts, to many road trips, she was always on the go, making new friends, connecting with old ones, and gathering with family along the way. She had a strong, determined will and never backed down from any challenges she faced. She loved her family, both near and far, fiercely. Hilliary will lovingly and forever be remembered by all those whose lives she touched with her kind, courageous, adventurous spirit.  

Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life at a viewing on Wednesday, November 6th from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. and Thursday, November 7th from 10 a.m. until the time of funeral service at 11 a.m. at J&J Spratt Funeral Home, 1612 3rd Avenue, New Brighton. 

Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery of Freedom. 

Cora Frances Campbell (Passed on November 1st, 2024)

Cora Frances Campbell, 92, of Center Township passed away on November 1, 2024 at her Center Township home. She was born in Bald Hill of Greene County, Cora was a daughter of the late Walter Leslie and Goldie Mae (Lang) King. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Campbell, Sr., a grandson, Donald Campbell Jr., and three siblings, Betty Garrett, Evelyn Seery, and Sonny King.  

She is survived by her brother, Tom King, her daughter Delores (Terry) Malekovic of Center Township and three sons, James (Diane) Campbell of Florida, Richard (Joyce) Campbell of Florida, and Donald (Margaret) Campbell of Potter Township, her eight grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. 

Cora worked for many years of dedicated service at the dietary department at Aliquippa Hospital. She was a woman of faith and a member of the Methodist community. A sports enthusiast, Cora’s passion for athletics was evident to all who knew her. She reveled in the excitement of baseball seasons and was an ardent supporter of football, cheering on her favorite teams with vigor, and her admiration for Tiger Woods and his skill of golf was evident. 

Friends will be received on Wednesday, November 6th from 5 p.m. until the time of service 7 p.m. at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue , Monaca. Reverend Donald Scandrol will officiate. Private interment will take place on Thursday, November 7th at Woodlawn Cemetery. 

The family has suggested memorial contributions made, if desired to UPMC Children’s Hospital or Special Olympics. 

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