(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

With the temperatures and heat indexes in recent days reaching into the triple digits, it’s not just the humans that are sweating outside…but the fur-laden friends as well.

Laws and regulations are in place to regulate pets who may be suffering from heat stroke, and Officer Tristan Wenzig joined Matt Drzik on the June 22 edition of A.M. Beaver County to talk about Libre’s Law and all of the actions that take place in case of a violation–as well as how to avoid such a situation. Wenzig is one of two Humane Officers with the Beaver County Humane Society.

To watch the full interview with Officer Wenzig, click on the Facebook feed below.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The smallest of technology can produce the biggest of platforms.

Such is the case with the Beaver Valley Amateur Radio Association, who will be hosting their annual 24-hour “Field Day” starting on Saturday, June 25 at Old Economy Park. Rich Soltez (K3SOM) & Director Tony Pavilonis (K3AHP) joined Matt Drzik on the June 21 edition of A.M. Beaver County to discuss the ins and outs of what is most commonly known as “ham radio”.

According to Soltez, the origins of Field Day harken back to the 1930s, when the importance for amateur radio technology was realized. “The purpose of it was really to get ambulances ready for emergencies,” he said. “In other words, the purpose was to take your equipment at a moment’s notice, out into a remote location–perhaps a park, perhaps a top of a hill somewhere–bring your own pieces of wire and whatever you could for antennas, and also a source of power like a gasoline generator.”

The power it takes to operate a ham radio can be used to contact the world, as well. Pavilonis told a story about one contact Soltez made where “he had a low powered radio of five watts–imagine a five-watt light bulb–set up a temporary antenna out in the field, and next thing you know…Rich, who were you talking to?” Soltez confirmed that his first two contacts on a five-watt radio reached all the way to Germany.

For more information on Field Day and the Beaver Valley Amateur Radio Association, check out their website by clicking here.

To watch the full interview regarding Field Day, click on the Facebook feed below!

On Tuesday’s A.M. Beaver County, Matt Drzik will be speaking to members of the Beaver Valley Amateur Radio Association about their upcoming Field Day; the interview follows news at 8:30.

Frank Sparks starts the show with local news at 6:30 on Beaver County Radio.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“This is an opportunity for people who don’t live directly in New Brighton just to come together, see a great little town, and support our library.”

Nadia Engel, who is on the board for the New Brighton Public Library, joined Matt Drzik on the June 20 edition of A.M. Beaver County to discuss “Read Between The Wines” taking place on Friday, June 24 beginning at 6:00 PM. The event will feature several different wines to sample from, and will also feature a food truck, dessert food truck, and live music from Casanova.

“We kind of close down part of Third Avenue from 9th to 11th Street,” Engel said, “[we] bring in wineries and a distillery, local businesses remain open and we ask everyone to support them.” According to Engel, this event is the largest yearly fundraiser for the New Brighton Public Library.

For the full details regarding “Read Between The Wines“, click on the Facebook feed below!

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“The more people we can have, the more fun we can have. It’s better to have a party when there’s a lot of people.”

Returning this year to the borough of Midland is “Midland Music Mondays”, a series of concerts featuring local music groups at the Alumni Hall outdoor amphitheater on the campus of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School. Dr. Todd Graham–who is the Chief Academic Officer at Lincoln Park and the man behind the quote up top–joined Matt Drzik on the June 20 edition of A.M. Beaver County to talk about “Midland Music Mondays” on the morning of the first concert in the series.

Jukebox will be the first band performing on a Monday–June 20th–and Annie Lee’s Southern Kitchen will have their food truck open during the show. All concerts are free to the public and will have local food trucks on site, along with a 50/50 drawing during each show to benefit local organizations. The concerts will be held rain or shine; in case of rain the shows will be moved indoors to the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. Shows are presented in partnership with Lincoln Park and Beaver County Radio.

The full list of shows, food trucks, and 50/50 beneficiaries are listed here:

For further details about the upcoming “Midland Music Mondays” concerts, click on the player below to hear the full interview with Dr. Todd Goodman:

On Monday’s edition of A.M. Beaver County, Matt Drzik will talk at 8:10 with Dr. Todd Goodman about an upcoming series of concerts taking place in Midland over the summer, and at 8:35 he’ll talk with Nadia Engle from the New Brighton Library about the upcoming “Read Between The Wines” event on June 24.

Frank Sparks kicks off your work week with news at 6:30 on Beaver County Radio.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“If you’re coming to this event as a non-veteran, just to be able to look around and see that bond…you’re gonna be impressed.”

The “bond”, as mentioned by Kevin Broderick in that quote, is the bond between veterans from past wars from different decades being brought together at gatherings throughout the country. Such an event is taking place in Beaver on Sunday, June 26 at Irvine Park, as the Vietnam Veterans Of America Chapter 862 will be hosting a Support The Troops rally. Broderick, along with veterans Larry Googins (President of VVA Chapter 862) and Rudy Zetz, joined Matt Drzik on the June 17 edition of A.M. Beaver County to preview the event.

“One of the missions of the Vietnam Veterans of America is that never again will one generation of veterans abandon another,” Googins said about the free event. He also encouraged that anyone who attends–veteran or non-veteran–bring lawn chairs and personal items to Irvine Park to enjoy the event. Zetz will be one of several musical acts performing during the rally as well, along with Hat Trick Band and the Farron Brothers. “Show them–physically show them your support,” Zetz reiterated in regards to the support of those who have served.

(Disclaimer: During the interview the date of June 26 was mistakenly labeled as a Saturday; the event will be taking place on Sunday, June 26 at Irvine Park beginning at 3:00 PM. Thank you to Bob Gwin–who was instrumental in putting this interview together–for pointing out this error so that we could correct it.)

To watch the full interview with Larry, Rudy, Kevin & Matt–click on the Facebook feed below!

The upcoming “Support The Troops” rally in Beaver will be the focus of an interview on A.M. Beaver County beginning at 8:35 following the news.

Frank Sparks starts the morning with news at 6:30 on Beaver County Radio.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“Anyone who is looking for a fun, academic experience during the summer can usually find a camp that works for them.”

Thus spoke Jill Valentine of Penn State Beaver, who joined Matt Drzik on the June 16 edition of A.M. Beaver County about the upcoming summer camps for kids ages 6-18 with focuses in both athletics and academics. The camps run from June until August, featuring sports such as baseball, basketball, and volleyball–plus academics such as musical theater, robotics, and even wizardry.

A full list for the academic/STEAM camps available can be seen here, while the athletic camps still available can be seen here. Those interested in more information about the camps can call Penn State Beaver at 724-773-3700 or visit their campus located in Monaca.

To watch the full interview with Jill Valentine, click on the Facebook feed below!

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
(Photo by Frank Sparks)

“You need to put stiff penalties in place so that people pay attention.”

And stiff penalties are precisely the order of Senate Bill 614, dubbed the “Work Zone Safety Bill”, which was introduced by Pennsylvania State Senator Elder Vogel (R/47th) earlier this year. Vogel talked with Matt Drzik on the June 15 edition of A.M. Beaver County to talk about this bill currently in process mode within Harrisburg.

Under SB 614, any Pennsylvania driver who commits a violation within a work zone (speeding, collision, etc.) would be fined $400, lose two points on their driving record, and take part in a mandatory PennDOT safety course on the first offense. Vogel said that the penalties are stiff for a good reason: “We wanted to basically send a message to people that we take this very seriously; we take work zone safeties very serious, and we take the safety of the workers in the work zones very seriously,” he stated. “Thirty or forty people get killed in work zones every year in the state of Pennsylvania.”

The bill is currently under consideration by the Transportation committee, but Vogel says that it has already received considerable support. “It’s got bipartisan support on it,” Vogel said, “because everybody across the state–especially in the central part of the state and the northern tier–they have a lot of road issues like this as well, and they understand the concerns of PennDOT and their local road crews.” Vogel believes that the earliest that the bill could be passed through Harrisburg is by early fall of 2022.

To listen to the full interview with Senator Vogel, click on the player below.