Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Center, Twp. Pa.) Center Twp. Supervisors met via ZOOM but that didn’t stop a group of citizens living near Union Cemetery from airing  their opinion about a request for a crematory to be built by  Calvin Sheffield. Some of the comments referred to the effect on the health and safety of residents, and the environment in the low density residential area which is also in close proximity to Penn State Beaver..

(Burgettstown, Pa. ) A familiar name in the music world will be returning next summer.  The owners of the popular concert venue in Burgettstown are reverting back to their roots at least for now. The venue will pay homage to when it first opened in 1990 by being newly renamed the Pavilion at Star Lake.

The facility has undergone many name changes over the years. When Star Lake first opened in 1990 it was known as the Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheater. In 2001 it became known as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pavilion until 2010. As banks merged over the last 10 years the naming rights of the facility changed from First Niagara to Key Bank Pavilion and most recently the S&T Bank Pavilion. The first ever concert

The first ever national concert at Star Lake Pavilion was Billy Joel on June 17, 1990. The response to the concert was so overwhelming that they added a second date of June 18.

Keystone State News Connection

New Health Rankings Show Progress, Problems in PA

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Pa. — More Pennsylvanians got a flu vaccination in 2019 and the state’s uninsured rate stayed low; those are some positive findings in the 2020 America’s Health Rankings report.

The annual report found fewer than 6% of Pennsylvanians lacked health insurance last year, putting the state in the top ten for health coverage. The Keystone State is also among the top ten for flu vaccinations, up 19% since 2018.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, senior medical advisor for the United Health Foundation, said the Commonwealth has one of the highest immunization rates for children.

“They’re ranked third in the nation for that measure,” Randall noted. “And I think a lot of that is because you are more likely, if you live in Pennsylvania, to have a dedicated health-care provider.”

She added Pennsylvania also has made progress on ending smoking, but still ranks 32nd among states for that measure, and the racial gap in low infant birth weight increased in 2019.

Obesity continues to be an issue. Randall noted between 2011 and 2019, the number of adult Pennsylvanians self-reporting that they’re obese rose from 28.6% to more than 33%.

“That’s very concerning,” Randall remarked. “Because we know that’s a leading indicator for the development of preventable diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer among other diagnoses.”

Nationally, obesity numbers in the report reached an all-time high, affecting more than 70 million adults.

The figures in this year’s report are from before the COVID pandemic hit. Randall projected the full impact of the health and economic crisis will become evident in future reports.

“For the next two years, I think we’ll see that it’s going to have an effect, nationally and in the state level,” Randall predicted. “And we’ll be able to see those variations, particularly in subpopulations. We know the pandemic hurt certain populations more than others.”

SILVERDALE, Wash. (Dec. 11, 2020) – The blue crew of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741) conducted a change of command, Dec. 11.

Cmdr. Darren Gerhardt, from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, relieved Cmdr. Mike Tomon, from New Castle, Pennsylvania, to assume the duties and responsibilities as Maine Blue’s commanding officer.

“I owe many people a debt of gratitude for reaching this point, for my story is really a story about all of you… the Sailors who show up every day and do what you need to do to get the ship underway, and despite the hurdles… press on,” said Tomon.

Tomon assumed command of Maine in April 2018 during the final stretch of a 32-month engineered refueling overhaul (ERO), executed to extend the life of the ship by approximately 20 years. Following several exercises and inspections, in February 2020 Tomon and his crew successfully completed a test missile launch, known as Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) 30, which was followed by Maine’s official return to the fleet with the gold crew in May 2020.

“I can talk about ERO or DASO, or the tough schedule that we executed, but everybody knows about those things already,” said Tomon. “What I think they may not know enough about is how we’ve taken care of each other and how the crew never quit. Even when it meant no holidays or no stand-down, Maine was never out of a fight – never once.

Commander, Submarine Group 9 Rear Adm. Doug Perry spoke at the small ceremony about the lasting impact Tomon and his crew have had on the nation’s security during his time in command.

“I can’t stress enough how big and important this job is – Tomon trained a crew, many of whom had never taken their ship out to sea, for operations underway with the added bonus of recertifying the weapons systems and returning their ship to strategic service,” said Perry. “Any issues with recertifying Maine could have affected every SSBN on the waterfront, and on the east and west coast, so we simply had to get this right. Lucky for us, we had Mike Tomon in charge. I’m honored to be here to celebrate Mike’s contributions and heartily welcome, Darren, as the newest member of Team Bangor.”

Gerhardt most recently served as the deputy to the commodore at Submarine Squadron 17.

“I am humbled and honored to be your next commanding officer,” said Gerhardt. “This year has brought many challenges and upset many traditions, but our strong commitment to the strategic mission has never failed. Together, we will continue to defend our nation and its people while forging submariners of the highest quality. I look forward to serving with you and continuing the great work of Cmdr. Tomon.”

Maine is the 16th submarine of the Ohio-class of SSBNs, and the third U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Maine’s keel was laid July 3, 1990 and the ship was commissioned in Groton, Connecticut, July 25, 1995.

For more news about USS Maine and other Commander, Submarine Group 9 units, visit www.facebook.com/SubGru9 or www.navy.mil/local/csg9/.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (December 9, 2020) – Brian Johnson, MD, a longtime physician leader and primary care physician at Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Hospital, has been named as the hospital’s new president, effective immediately.  He has been serving in the role on an interim basis since September.

As president of West Penn, Dr. Johnson will work with network leaders, Institute chairs, and on-site clinical leaders to ensure that West Penn provides the highest quality of care and best experience possible to the many patients and communities served by the hospital. He will also help to develop and implement West Penn’s operating, clinical, and community-care strategies going forward.

“We are extremely excited to have Dr. Johnson join our team of outstanding hospital physician presidents at AHN as the new leader of West Penn,” said Cynthia Hundorfean, President and CEO, Allegheny Health Network (AHN.) “Dr. Johnson has spent most of his professional career at West Penn and is a highly skilled and respected clinician and physician leader.  He fully understands the vital role that West Penn plays in promoting the health and well-being of communities throughout the Pittsburgh region, and we look forward to the hospital’s continued growth and success under his direction.”

Dr. Johnson has served as West Penn’s chief medical officer since 2017, and he has been a part of the Allegheny Health Network family since 2006.  Since then, he has served in several clinical leadership positions, including medical director of West Penn’s Clinical Decision Unit and site director of the hospital’s Internal Medicine Residency Program.

A lifelong Western Pennsylvania resident, Dr. Johnson completed his undergraduate studies at Washington & Jefferson College and received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine. After medical school, he completed an internal medicine residency, including a chief resident year, and participated in the cardiology fellowship program at Allegheny General Hospital.

“West Penn Hospital has a long and distinguished legacy of providing high quality care and service to our region, and it is an incredible honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to help lead and carry that tradition on for current and future generations,” Dr. Johnson said. “I’ve worked alongside the exceptional physicians, nurses and other employees at West Penn for many years, and I could not ask for more talented, committed and compassionate team.”

Located in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, West Penn is AHN’s flagship hospital for women’s and infants’ care, and is well-known for many other advanced specialties, including orthopedics, autoimmune disease, neurosurgery, cancer care, bone marrow transplantation, burn care and bariatric surgery, among others. The first hospital in western Pennsylvania to earn three consecutive Magnet recognitions for nursing excellence, West Penn also has been named to the IBM Watson Top 100 Hospital list for two consecutive years, in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

(Potter, Twp.)  A fire broke out just before 5:30 p.m. in a storage container Saturday evening at the Shell cracker plant in Potter Twp..

The fire was contained to the storage container. Shells on-site fire department was assisted by other local departments and there were no injuries reported.

(Monaca, Pa.) Three people were shot early Saturday morning outside the Whiskey Rhythm Bar on Pennsylvania Avenue in Monaca. The shooting happened around 1:30 a.m., according to Monaca police via report.

Two of the shooting victims were taken by private vehicle to a local hospital and a third was flown to a hospital in Pittsburgh. Their names and conditions have not been released. Police do not have a suspect in custody.

This is the second shooting outside the same bar. PA State Troopers arrested  Kelin J. Coleman of Beaver Falls on November 2,  2020  in connection  with the July 11, 2020  shooting that also took place outside the bar.

Monaca Police are asking anyone with information to call them at 724- 775-9614

Medical Marijuana Program Operationalizes 100^th Dispensary

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today announced that as of late last week, the Medical Marijuana Program has operationalized its 100^th dispensary, PharmaCann Penn, LLC (Verilife) in Chester.

“Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program continues to be a leader for the country in terms of program growth and its first in the nation research program,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Reaching 100 operational dispensaries is a milestone for the program, but we know there is much work to do. Our clinically-based, patient-focused program is committed to assisting those suffering with cancer, PTSD and other serious medical conditions.”

Of the 101 operational dispensaries, 99 of them are open and dispensing products to patients. 27 grower/processors are operational, with 22 shipping product to dispensaries. Many of these grower/processors are either expanding their locations, or already have.

The clinical research program, guided by Act 43 of 2018, allows for eight clinical registrants who each must hold both a grower/processor and a dispensary permit. Clinical registrants must have a research contract with one of eight approved academic clinical research centers.

There are close to 281,000 active certifications as part of the medical marijuana program. Close to 504,000 patients and caregivers are registered for the program in order to obtain medical marijuana for one of 23 serious medical conditions.

Active cardholders are continuing to visit dispensaries more than once a month to get treatment for a serious medical condition. More than 23 million products have been sold since the start of the program, and total sales within the program are more than $1.8 billion, which includes sales by the grower/processors to the dispensaries, and sales by the dispensaries to patients and caregivers. More than $1.1 billion in sales has been from the dispensaries to patients.

More than 2,060 physicians have registered for the program, close to 1,500 of whom have been approved as practitioners.

The medical marijuana program offers medical marijuana to patients who are residents of Pennsylvania and have been certified as having a serious medical condition as defined by the Medical Marijuana Act.

As of March 20, 2020, certain statutory and regulatory provisions have been temporarily suspended in order to implement the following changes in response to the COVID-19 emergency:

• Allow dispensary employees to provide medical marijuana to cardholders in their vehicles on the facility’s property;
• Remove the current cap that limits the number of patients assigned to one caregiver, to allow for more caregivers to patients in need;
• Eliminate background checks for caregiver applications, limited to renewal applications only, in order to expedite the caregiver renewal process;
• Waive in-person consultations and allow for remote consultations between approved practitioners and medical marijuana patients; and
• Waive limits that allow for medical marijuana to only be dispensed for 30 days by requiring approved practitioners to notate on the patient’s certification to dispense a 90-day supply.

The statutory and regulatory suspensions will remain in place for as long as the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency is in effect.

For more information about the medical marijuana program, visit www.medicalmarijuana.pa.gov or follow the Department of Health on Facebook and Twitter