Category: A.M. Beaver County

Joe Greco Looks Back On Three Decades Of Coaching Football

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“I feel that we definitely left something better than when we found it.”

The “something” is the culture of New Brighton Football, and the “we” is Joe Greco and his staff and players throughout the years. Greco officially retired from his post as head coach of the Lions last week, and he joined Matt Drzik on the March 22 edition of A.M. Beaver County to reflect on the three-plus decades of work he committed to the sidelines of Oak Hill Field.

Coach Greco had two stints as New Brighton’s head coach during his career, once in 1995 and again in 2010. “The first time I became the head coach at New Brighton, we were coming off a WPIAL championship…and then the next time I came back to New Brighton, they were coming off of an 0-10 season,” Greco said. “It was like starting from ground zero, from scratch…we took a lot of pride in the effort we put back in rebuilding the New Brighton program.”

From 1995 to 2021, Greco was the man in charge of New Brighton’s ups and downs–except for a three-year spell in which he was on the staff at Westminster College. “Those three years were really a great experience for me,” he said. “It helped me grow as a coach just in knowledge and experience, and so it was very rewarding. There’s relationships from those three years that I’ve cherished.”

To hear the full interview with Joe Greco, click on the player below!

Tuesday’s AMBC: Retiring The Whiteboard

Recently retired New Brighton head football coach Joe Greco will join Matt Drzik on tomorrow’s edition of A.M. Beaver County at 7:35 to speak about his three-plus decades in coaching.

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

VIDEO: Beaver County Association For The Blind Seeks To Create Adaptive Living For Those With Vision Loss

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“That’s one of the plusses about Beaver County that’s different than a lot of other counties; it’s that all of the human services organizations really work together.”

Teresa Lukes said those words to Matt Drzik on the March 21 edition of A.M. Beaver County, and she has first-hand experience on working with Beaver County’s system of human services organizations. She is the leader of the Beaver County Association For The Blind, whose offices and staff set to create independent living for those dealing with vision loss.

“Our mission is to help the blind and visually impaired in Beaver County lead independent lives,” Lukes said. She spoke of the life skills classes being provided by the BCAB to help create normal everyday living for the visually impaired and those who live with them, along with the eye care programs that are available for those of all ages and degrees of vision. Much of the funding is handled through the “umbrella” system as BCAB is part of the United Way of Beaver County, but Lukes hopes that events will continued to be held to benefit the BCAB, including their annual golf scramble (which will take place in August).

To contact the BC Association For The Blind, you can visit their website, check them out on Facebook, or call them at 724-843-1111. Their offices are located at 616 Fourth Street in Beaver Falls.

To watch the full interview with Teresa Lukes, click on the Facebook feed below!

VIDEO: Center At The Mall Looks Forward To Regular Activity Once Again

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

After a year of closure and another year proceeding with caution, the Center at The Mall in the Beaver Valley Mall is looking to have fun just like old times–and new times as well.

Lori Kennedy, the Assistant Program Manager for the Center, joined Matt Drzik on the March 16 edition of A.M. Beaver County to talk about the upcoming events taking place at the Center, which come amidst a one-year anniversary of re-opening and one day after the masking guidelines at the Center were lifted. Kennedy spoke of the possibilities for members, staff, and volunteers to come together for upcoming holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day.

The Center at The Mall is located in the Rural King corridor of the Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca. Their hours are 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Thursday, and from 8 AM to 4 PM on Friday. They can be reached by calling (724) 774-5654, and can also be found on Facebook.

Speaking of Facebook–check out the BCR Facebook feed below to watch Matt’s interview with Lori Kennedy!

Wednesday’s AMBC: Malls & Steel Mills

On tomorrow’s edition of A.M. Beaver County, Matt Drzik will be joined by Lori Kennedy from the Center At The Mall at 8:10 to discuss the upcoming events happening at the senior center. Then at 8:35, Wendy Whelpley from the Beaver Falls CDC will join Matt to talk about the upcoming “Stories Of The Steel Mills” lecture series.

VIDEO: Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker Sees Change, Wants Change

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“This is not gonna be your mom and pop’s Aliquippa.”

Those words, from Aliquippa mayor Dwan B. Walker, exemplified the vision of the town as he wants to see it over the next several years…a stark contrast to previous iterations of Aliquippa. He shared these thoughts with Matt Drzik on the March 11 edition of A.M. Beaver County, his first visit to the Beaver County Radio studios.

Mayor Walker feels that the best changes are yet to come for the city, but that significant progress has been made: “We are moving the city forward, and I’m grateful for that. It’s time to move the city forward. It’s time for it not to be always talked about in the news about different things…yes, different things happen in Aliquippa, but not to the rate that when we do something wrong it’s always ‘everyone is set back it happened in Aliquippa.’ Get out of that mentality.”

Walker, who has been mayor of the city since 2012, touted the improvements that have been made during his decade in office: “Downtown is getting better. We’ve got more entrepreneurs investing in Aliquippa downtown…we need more entrepreneurs, and we need more people with that spirit of ‘want to’ rather than ‘gimme’ to come in and help us out.”

To watch the full interview with Mayor Walker, click on the Facebook feed below!

Friday’s AMBC: Mayor-Mania

Two Beaver County mayors join Matt Drzik on the Friday show, as Beaver Falls mayor Kenya Johns comes on A.M. Beaver County at 8:10, followed by Aliquippa mayor Dwan Walker at 8:35. Both interviews can be heard on Beaver County Radio, as well as seen on Facebook Live.

Frank Sparks starts your morning with news at 6:30 on BCR.

VIDEO: Beaver County BOOM Returns On June 25

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Though there may yet still be snow to fall from the sky, it’s never a bad time to discuss summer weather and fireworks.

And that was the topic of conversation on the March 10 edition of A.M. Beaver County, as Matt Drzik welcomed back Mark Kopsack and Nate Kopsack of PUSH Beaver County to discuss the 2022 Beaver County BOOM. The event will be heading into its 13th year in 2022, and the excitement has not ceased for the next one.

“We’re real excited to be back for year thirteen,” Nate said, “getting to the rivers, having a good time, and seeing what Zambelli has in store for us.” Zambelli, of course, refers to Zambelli Fireworks, who has provided the ongoing audiovisual explosion of lights and sound over the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers for over a decade. The Kopsacks also showcased their gratitude to all of the local sponsors for their continued support and efforts to make Beaver County BOOM possible.

As to what the theme of this year’s event will be, that was still being decided upon. “We have it narrowed down to two or three,” Mark said, “and eventually we’ll be discussing that in a meeting later today with Zambelli Firework Company about what that theme will actually be.” Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio for the revelation of the theme later this spring.

For the full interview with the Kopsacks, click on the Facebook feed below!

VIDEO: Twelve Loaves Soup Kitchen Thrives From Grassroots Support In Beaver County

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“We cannot say enough good about the people in Beaver County. You guys are incredible, and thank you so much for supporting us…because you do it with style.”

Karey McIntyre, who is a co-founder of Twelve Loaves Soup Kitchen in New Brighton, spoke those words in regard to the overwhelming gratitude that has made the operation so successful in its first two-plus years of existence. McIntyre joined Matt Drzik on the March 10 edition of A.M. Beaver County to talk about the venture that started back in December of 2019.

“It sounds kind of strange, but it was God,” McIntyre said in regards to the origin of Twelve Loaves. “My boss, Dr. [Jason] Rodriguez, was working up in Chippewa, and was told that he needed to come down to New Brighton and set up a soup kitchen.” He reached out to McIntyre, who at the time was running the New Brighton Soup Kitchen, and since then the whole crew at Twelve Loaves have overcome the wrought of the coronavirus pandemic to thrive in helping the needy citizens of Beaver County.

McIntyre also mentioned that Twelve Loaves also accepts and donates clothing to those who are in need, on top of the many meals they serve a day. Their location is at 1031 Second Avenue in New Brighton, and can be contacted for donations at (724) 561-6491, and for volunteer opportunities at (724) 678-1287.

To watch the FULL interview with Matt and Karey, click on the Facebook feed below!

VIDEO: Rochester Mayor Keith Jackson Emphasizes Communication Between People & Personnel

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“What direction do you think these communities are going to be [going in], if there’s not no rules and regulations that start from the top down?”

Those words, from Rochester Mayor Keith Jackson, summarized the concerned and ambivalent tone regarding the lack of progress in Rochester–insofar as establishing a connection between the desires of the public and the efforts of its leaders. Jackson made those thoughts clear during his monthly appearance with Matt Drzik on the March 9 edition of A.M. Beaver County.

“We have kids running around in Beaver County that are labeling ‘bad’,” Jackson said, “but what are we doing for them?” Jackson fears that the kids being raised in Rochester currently will be led in a direction that will drive them out of the area once they become young adults, thus creating missed opportunities where the younger citizens can stay and support Rochester’s growth.

“With these steel mills shutting down around here,” he added, “these towns aren’t like they used to be…but do something for these kids.”

To see the full interview with Mayor Jackson, click on the Facebook feed below!