VIDEO: Mayor Keith Jackson Talks About Relationship With Rochester And Its Council

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“We need help. Not just Rochester, but Beaver County in general.”

Those words, coming from Rochester mayor Keith Jackson, summarized the feeling of frustration surrounding the path towards his vision for the city that he’s lived in for 69 years. Mayor Jackson sat down with Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to discuss these issues that center around his power as mayor–a position he was elected to in 2018–and the pushback from the Council whom Jackson feels has been less than cooperative.

“It all started before I became mayor,” Jackson stated. “When they found out I was running for mayor–certain people–they started harassing me, they started following me around, they started making up stories that I had done this or done that…I believe I might have been a threat to them, but how? I don’t have a clue.”

“As of today, they still don’t accept me as their mayor…but I’m here, and I’m not going nowhere.”

Jackson said that he feels that selfish intentions are the key blockade in success for Rochester and for Beaver County itself, and that public input will be a major factor in turning things around. “I speak with a lot of people, and they complain to me about things that are going on that they wish would change,” Jackson said. “People are tired of hearing and seeing negative things and things being repeated over and over and over again…’we don’t have this, we don’t have that’…but it seems like as soon as they [those in charge] want something, they can get it. These are what the people are complaining about.”

To watch the full interview with Mayor Keith Jackson, click on the Facebook feed below.

BVCS & Rochester Team Up For 2022 Summer Choral & Instrumental Academy Set For June

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Classical music, jazz, showtunes…and even sea shanties.

The musical arts will once again take the stage as the Rochester Area School District & Beaver Valley Choral Society will be presenting the 4th Annual Summer Choral & Instrumental Academy taking place at the Rochester High School from June 13 through June 18 of 2022. The Summer Academy is for high school students in the tri-state area from incoming Grade 8 to just recently graduating Grade 12 looking to improve their music skills for future collegiate aspirations, employment opportunities, skill enhancement, and just plain fun.

2022 Summer Academy flyer (Courtesy RASD & BVCS)

Sharon Burchill (principal conductor & artistic director of the BVCS) and Dr. Jane Bovalino (Rochester superintendent) joined Matt Drzik on the February 9 edition of A.M. Beaver County to discuss the Summer Academy, as registration for the event is open now. The event is being presented with assistance from the Pittsburgh Opera Education group, who will be presenting classes providing behind-the-scenes looks into the production of an on-stage musical/opera. Other classes include ukulele classes, music production, careers in music, and mock auditions for students planning to undergo a music major or minor in college.

The grand finale of the 2022 Summer Academy will be a concert held Saturday, June 18 at Rochester High School showcasing all of the knowledge and work that the students have accumulated during the week in their selected studies. There will also be a performance by the Adult Civic Band, who will have their own sessions throughout the week to rejuvenate their musical chops.

All details for the Summer Choral & Instrumental Academy can be seen by clicking here, and the full preview on A.M. Beaver County can be seen by clicking on the Facebook feed below!

Beaver County Preparing For Next Phase Of ARPA Allocation

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

After the initial allocation to municipalities to start 2022, the next phase of distribution of American Rescue Plan Act money in Beaver County will begin sometime soon. The second phase, which will be focused on non-profit organizations and small businesses, was discussed at the Commissioners’ work session on February 9.

“The intention is to do something similar to what we did with the CARES Act,” county solicitor Garen Fedeles stated. “There’ll be an application for non-profits and small businesses to submit applications; we expect that to probably be on the county website within the next week or two.”

Fedeles noted that those who qualify for this phase will have until the end of March to submit an application for further review. “We’ll have Zelenofsky & Axelrod review the applications just to ensure that they qualify, and from there go about awarding grants.”

The next Commissioners’ work session is scheduled for February 16 at 10:00 AM.

Wednesday’s AMBC: Sing A Song Of Summer

Beaver Valley Choral Society artistic director Sharon Burchill and Rochester School District superintendent Dr. Jane Bovalino (seen here alongside BVCS president Lee Pfiefer) join Matt Drzik on Wednesday’s show to discuss the 2022 Summer Choral and Instrumental Music Academy, taking place from June 13 until June 18. The interview will follow the 8:30 news on A.M. Beaver County.

Frank Sparks kicks things off with news tomorrow at 6:30 on Beaver County Radio.

Tuesday’s AMBC: Yay For Tuesday?

A Penguin in protocol, the bounce-back of basketball, and much more comes your way on the Tuesday, February 8 edition of A.M. Beaver County.

Matt Drzik and Frank Sparks will get your morning started at 6:30 on Beaver County Radio.

2nd Annual “Pro Bowl Chili Walk-Off” To Be Held By BF Business District Authority On February 12

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

If you smell the scents of beef, tomatoes, and several spices throughout 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls this Saturday, there’s a mighty fine reason for that.

The Beaver Falls Business District Authority, in conjunction with 21 local businesses that are participating (at last count) will be holding their 2nd Annual Pro Bowl Chili Walk-Off on Saturday, February 12. The event is free to the public, who can try and rate all of the different chili being whipped up and served by businesses old and new throughout the main street of Beaver Falls.

Denise Donnelly (Carnegie Free Library & Clear Choice Enterprises), Bill Antonacceo (Antique Emporium) and Tammy Clark (This & That Consignments) joined Matt Drzik on the February 7 edition of A.M. Beaver County to talk about the Chili Walk-Off, which will be held from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday. They spoke about the importance of bringing these businesses together, whether new or traditional, to inspire city citizens and those just stopping by to embrace the increasing number of businesses in Beaver Falls that are also increasing in variety and style (fashion, gaming, real estate, etc.).

There was also a wee bit of trash talk amongst host and guests–all in good fun, of course–as Beaver County Radio will also be among the businesses making chili for participants on Saturday. All businesses will be going after the top prize of Golden Ladle (currently in possession by McMahon’s Cycle Sales).

To hear the full preview, click on the player below!

Steve Higgins Talks About The Impact Of Alvin Gibson & Dwight Collins For BF Basketball

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio, photo by Mark Peterson)

Beaver Falls has had a long tradition of success on the high school hardwood, winning four state championships in boys’ basketball (1970, 1994, 2005, 2013) and a fifth in girls’ basketball (1985). But the tradition can be traced back to the late 1970s, where a pair of men who will be honored this weekend made Tiger Basketball a formidable program.

Those two men were Alvin Gibson from the Class of 1977, and Dwight Collins from the Class of 1979; both of whom will be inducted into the Pittsburgh Basketball Club in 2022. Steve Higgins from the Larry Bruno Foundation joined Matt Drzik to talk about the induction of Gibson and Collins on the February 4 edition of A.M. Beaver County, citing these men as anchors for solidifying the Beaver Falls name in the WPIAL.

Higgins pinpointed a game in the 1977 season where Gibson scored 33 points against Brashear, and the Tigers would continue on to a 26-3 season and a silver medal in the WPIAL (losing the championship to Fox Chapel). Collins, in his senior year of 1979, would lead the Tigers to the Class AAA basketball title. Beaver Falls would be champions again in 1980; their third under legendary coach Frank Chan, whom Gibson and Collins will join in the PBC.

To hear the full interview with Steve Higgins, click on the player below!

VIDEO: Controller Longo Talks About Money Saving Within Beaver County

(Published by Matt Drzik)

“I’ve always been a numbers person.”

Maria Longo, the Controller for Beaver County, made that remark to Matt Drzik on the February 3 edition of A.M. Beaver County. The discussion at hand did indeed revolve around numbers–certain numbers, in fact, that were discovered regarding the money being spent on the county’s stop loss insurance plan and brought to the Commissioners’ attention at the January 27 work session.

According to Longo, this is not the first time that she had brought this to the Commissioners for consideration: “The reason I keep giving the Commissioners a yearly report is because I feel like this is somewhere where the county needs to save money, so that down the road we’re not raising taxes for our taxpayers and residents.”

The good news, for now at least, is that Longo doesn’t see the stop loss insurance situation adversely affecting the citizens of Beaver County. In fact, Longo sees the school taxes being implemented by local schools as an area of larger concern for county citizens down the road.

To watch the full interview with Matt and Maria, click on the Facebook feed below!

Thursday’s AMBC: Talkin’ Money With Maria

Beaver County Controller Maria Longo joins Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County Thursday morning to talk about the recent numbers brought to light involving stop loss insurance in Beaver County. The interview will be on Facebook Live following the 8:30 news.

Also: more bus stuff and sports updates. Frank Sparks gets things rolling with news at 6:30 AM.