(Photo taken in fall of 2021 by Keith Walsh, Beaver County Radio Staff Member)
Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 10:20 AM
(Center Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) Center Twp. Supervisors met Tuesday night, January 18, 2022  and approved the Planning Commission’s recommendation for the GetGo lot consolidation plan on the site of the former Toys R US location near the Beaver Valley Mall and The new Sheffield Café Land Development Plan on the site of the former Sheffield  chiropractic Clinic. Owners of the two businesses now have to go to the county planning commission for approval.

(File Photo)
Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 10:10 AM
(Center Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that a semi truck and a car collided West Bound on I-376  Wednesday near the Center Exit. Beaver County 911 said that the call for  the accident was reported at 7:10 AM. Troopers said there were  no injuries reported and there was no road closure due to the accident. Pa State Police did not provide any information on what caused accident or the names of the people involved.

ELLWOOD CITY, PA (Jan. 18, 2022) — Western Pennsylvania is experiencing a historic low blood supply amid the national blood shortage. The fast-spreading omicron variant is the latest COVID-19 complication forcing Vitalant’s community blood drives to cancel and lessening the number of healthy and available donors. Vitalant, formerly Central Blood Bank, is the exclusive blood provider to UPMC Jameson Hospital.

Riverside High School, located at 300 Country Club Dr, Ellwood City, PA 16117, traditionally hosts blood drives for their students and staff. However, in an effort to offer the community a convenient place to donate blood, the school is opening their facility to the public on Thursday, January 20, 2022 from 8am to 2pm. All eligible blood donors, especially those with the most transfused blood type O, are critically needed to make an appointment at this blood drive by calling Christie at 412-589-4570. Appointments can also be made on Vitalant.org and searching with Code HS010107.

As a special thank you during January, National Blood Donor Month, all those who give with Vitalant will be automatically entered into the $5,000 Big Game Giveaway to win one of four, $5,000 prepaid gift cards redeemable by email.*

People can give blood immediately after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or the seasonal flu vaccine if all other eligibility requirements are met.

(File Photo of Viking Car Wash in Hopewell Twp.)

Millions of Americans face expensive vehicle repairs from rust damage every year, and the chemicals used to de-ice roadways can be one of the main culprits. AAA East Central advises motorists to be proactive throughout the winter to prevent dangerous rust-related vehicle damage to brake lines, fuel tanks, exhaust systems, and other critical vehicle components.

“Regularly washing your vehicle in the winter is critical to avoiding costly repairs down the road,” says Mike Hoshaw, vice president of automotive services for AAA East Central. “Over time, rust can not only cause cosmetic issues, but serious safety issues if components on the underside of your vehicle become damaged.”

In recent years, many state and local transportation departments have shifted from using rock salt to liquid de-icers to combat ice and snow on the roadways. These newer alternatives are more effective than traditional salt because they can be applied before a snowstorm, have a lower freezing point and melt ice and snow faster. However, these same characteristics can be even more damaging to vehicles since the chemicals remain in liquid form longer, are more likely to coat components and seep into cracks and crevices where corrosion can accelerate.

While some rust damage is unavoidable, AAA East Central recommends motorists take the following preventative steps in order to reduce the possibility of vehicle damage:

• When possible, limit driving immediately before, during and after winter storms when salt and de-icing solutions are being applied and are at their highest concentrations.
• Frequently wash your vehicle, paying particular attention to the undercarriage. This will loosen, dissolve and neutralize road salts. Many drive-through car washes offer an undercarriage rinse as an option.
• Always use a high-quality car wash solution, not a household dish detergent that will strip the wax from your vehicle.
• Repair any body damage and touch up paint scratches and chips that expose bare metal which could lead to rust.
• Give the entire vehicle and undercarriage one last cleaning in the spring. Any deposits left over from winter can continue to cause corrosion year-round if not properly removed.

AAA strongly urges drivers who experience any of the following vehicle malfunctions to immediately move the vehicle off the road to a safe location and have it towed to a trusted AAA Approved repair facility:

• In-dash warning lights for brakes and other critical systems.
• A “spongey” or soft feeling when applying pressure to the brake pedal.
• An unusually loud exhaust sound or the smell of fumes in or around the vehicle.
• The prominent smell of gasoline or diesel fuel when the vehicle is running or parked.

The AAA Approved Auto Repair (AAR) network includes more than 7,000 facilities which have met AAA’s high standards, including certifications, technical training, cleanliness, insurance requirements, rigorous inspections and customer satisfaction.  AAA members are eligible for special benefits such as priority service, a 24-month/24,000-mile warranty, discounts, free inspections, dispute resolution assistance and more.  To locate an AAR shop in your area, visit AAA.com/AutoRepair.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 72 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

(AP Photo)
By MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writer
Microsoft is paying the enormous sum of nearly $70 billion for Activision Blizzard, the maker of Candy Crush and Call of Duty, a deal that would immediately make it a larger video-game company than Nintendo while raising questions about the deal’s possible anti-competitive effects. The all-cash $68.7 billion deal will turn the maker of the Xbox gaming system into one of the world’s largest video game companies. It will also help Microsoft compete with tech rivals such as Meta — formerly Facebook — in creating immersive virtual worlds for both work and play. It also could be one of the priciest tech acquisitions in history.

(AP Photo)
By EMMA H. TOBIN Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Health experts suggest stepping up protection against omicron with N95s, KN95s or similar masks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidance to recommend the kinds of masks used by health care workers, but also noted it’s important to pick a mask that fits well and that you’ll wear consistently. But be wary about where you buy your masks. Counterfeit KN95s are more common than real ones, and the fake ones won’t protect you as much. Purchase directly from verified mask stores to ensure quality control. And if you are worried about comfort, explore the different shapes and sizes to see what works best for you.

(Photo Courtesy of Audrey Johnson)
Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aldreonna  (Audrey) Johnson, a 2007 graduate of Aliquippa recently announced that her book: ‘CROWNED IN ROYALTY  is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.
She graduated from Lincoln University in 2011 where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology with an emphasis in early childhood education. When she graduated from Lincoln University in 2011 she moved to Charlotte, NC where she began attending The Empowerment Center Church with Senior Pastor Mercy Jones. This church lit a fire in her like never before. She said she was not only able to get closer to God, but was empowered to take her education further, and live a healthy life. She still attend’s virtual church. In 2014  she graduated from Grand Canyon University  where she earned a  master’s in elementary education. Currently, she  is pursuing  a doctorate degree at the same school in organizational leadership with emphasis on k-12. In her press release she said: “My passion  is educating, mentoring, and empowering youth.”

(File Photo)
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 6:44 AM
(Ambridge, Pa.) The Ambridge Area School District is reporting on their Facebook Page that due to the number of positive COVID-19 cases at Ambridge Area High School and Middle School, they were advised by The Pennsylvania Department of Health to close both schools starting today, Wednesday, January 19, 2022. In person classes will resume Wednesday, January 26, 2022. During the closure, all extra-curricular activities for both schools will be cancelled. The Mistletoe Dance will be rescheduled for January 29, 2022.
Also, during the closure, all students will log into their classes using Microsoft Teams remotely to receive their instruction. Economy, Highland, and State Street Elementary Schools will remain open and operate on their normal schedules.

(Washington, D.C.) Starting Today, the federal government will send up to four COVID-19 tests to any American household that wants them.
The plan, announced by the White House last week, will send 500 million at-home COVID-19 test kits to Americans for free.
The website https://special.usps.com/testkits has launched, and tests can be ordered online now. Tests will usually ship within 7-12 days of ordering.
No identification, credit card or health insurance information is required; you just need to include your name and a street address.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the website COVIDtests.gov is in the “beta phase right now,” and that the administration “can’t guarantee there won’t be a bug or two, but the best tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working hard to make this a success.”
If you want to track your request for the tests, you can add an email address to get updates on your tests
These tests will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to your mailbox. Tests will typically ship within seven to 12 days of ordering.

Keystone State News Connection

January 19, 2022
Emily Scott

As the omicron variant continues to surge, people are spending a lot of time on digital screens for remote work or entertainment. Eye health experts warn overexposure to blue light from screens can take a toll on vision, in both children and adults.

According to one study, screen time among U.S. children has doubled during the pandemic to almost eight hours per day. Dr. Christina Master, co-chair of the School Health Committee at the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said her organization has guidelines for parents on managing children’s screen time.

“We’ll talk a lot in the pediatrician’s office about how we don’t want to have screens in the kids’ bedrooms,” she said. “Bedrooms should be for sleeping, and having screens there can be really tough. We do want to have some screen-free times – like meals; family meals together should be screen-free.”

Researchers still are studying the health implications of excessive blue-light exposure, including potential damage to retina cells in the eyes of kids and teens. Optometrists also have said it’s important for kids to get comprehensive eye exams, and not solely rely on routine vision checks done at school.

Optometrist Scott Edmonds, chief eye-care officer for United Healthcare Vision, said blue light also can lead to digital eye strain, which contributes to dry eyes, headaches and neck pain. Edmonds recommended following the “20-20-20” rule: After 20 minutes of work, people take 20 seconds to look at something 20 feet away.

“So, that break takes you away from the blue light, lets your pupil go to its normal size, lets your muscles in your eye relax, lets your focusing muscle relax,” he said. “All that, every 20 minutes, will really help you be more comfortable with screen time.”

Other recommendations include keeping screens at least 30 inches from eyes when possible, and using blue-light-blocking technology. Some phones may already have a “night mode” that uses this, or people can purchase specialized screen protectors that block blue light at the source.