(Photo of Borough manager Mario Leone and Ambridge Council President Mike Mikulich)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Ambridge, Pa.) Mario Leone of Hopewell Township was hired recently as Ambridge’s new borough manager. Leone was introduced to resident’s at Tuesday night’s council meeting. Leone told those present, “I’m excited to be working here, “I’m looking forward to it.”  He spent 13 years in Monaca and said he thinks Monaca is in a better place  than it was when he started there. Ambridge has a lot of potential,  I hope I  can   be successful in obtaining grants here, like I did in Monaca.”

(Independence Twp., Pa.) Pa. State police are reporting that around 7pm  Sunday evening, September 6, 2020, a 42-year-old man in an Independence Twp. Trailer Park confronted a 23-year-old delivery driver over his speed during his deliveries in the trailer park. The incident led to an argument that came to a halt after the delivery driver tore down the man’s confederate flag. The man then later confronted the driver again in front of another residence. charges are pending against both men according to the State Police.

HARRISBURG – Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar today warned Pennsylvanians voting by mail-in ballot is safe and secure and information about voters will not be shared, despite false claims made in recent robocalls.

“These false, targeted robocalls are another desperate tactic to scare eligible Americans from participating in the election,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “Don’t listen to their lies – vote. We will protect every eligible ballot. All Pennsylvanians can be confident that voting by mail is safe, secure, and legal.”

Pennsylvania agencies and law enforcement have received complaints about robocalls falsely claiming that personal information about mail-in voters will be shared with law enforcement agencies seeking to arrest people on outstanding warrants, and with credit card companies seeking to collect outstanding debts.

“Unfortunately, every election season brings a wave of disinformation purveyed by dishonest sources hoping to mislead voters and influence the election outcome,” Secretary Boockvar said. “Pennsylvanians must be vigilant against such lies, which are nothing less than an attempt to suppress their vote, and should only rely on verified official sources of election information such as votespa.com.”

Law enforcement is investigating these blatant attempts to suppress mail-in voting in the Nov. 3 general election, and violations of the law will be prosecuted.

Attorney General Shapiro and Secretary Boockvar encourage all Pennsylvanians to be vigilant and check the reliability of information before believing it to be true or sharing it.  Additionally, voters should report any suspected election scams or disinformation campaigns to law enforcement or to the Department of State at 877.VOTESPA.

For trusted, reliable and accurate information on the election, visit votespa.com.

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The COVID pandemic is making this a challenging year for engaging voters, but help is available for the nonprofit groups that often play a critical role in encouraging civic participation.

Today at noon, the Keystone Progress Education Fund – a nonpartisan, statewide organization – holds the first in a series of webinars to give nonprofits new tools to reach out to potential voters, especially in hard-to-reach communities.

According to Patrick Clark, chair of the Education Fund’s board, the webinars will give groups new to voter engagement a chance to get their questions answered by those that have extensive experience.

Clark listed some expected questions: “What is the deal with vote-by-mail? What are other ways to vote safely if you don’t want to show up at the polls? How do we help the state and counties recruit poll workers?”

Today’s webinar will focus on tools, key dates and voter registration. Participation is free. Schedule and registration information is online at ‘tinyurl.com/everybodyvote.’

Topics of upcoming webinars include reaching out to young voters, seniors and other groups that often have low turnout or face extra difficulties in casting their ballots. And Clark noted the experience of the most recent statewide election will provide valuable insights.

“Lessons learned,” said Clark. “What happened in the primary election cycle that we all – and some of the election administrators in counties across Pennsylvania – could learn from and do better in the general election?”

The 90-minute webinars are being held at noon, each Wednesday this month.

Clark emphasized many groups and individuals are getting the message that this will be the most important election in our lifetimes.

“The organizations that are hearing that message from their constituencies, their membership, are the ones that we most want to reach,” said Clark. “So that they have the resources they need to support their mission and further voter participation in Pennsylvania.”

Some gardeners in a pickle over scarce canning supplies
By LISA RATHKE Associated Press
MARSHFIELD, Vt. (AP) — It’s the time of year when gardeners are turning their ripe tomatoes into sauces and salsas and cucumbers into pickles but a boom in gardening and preparing food at home during the coronavirus pandemic has led to a scarcity of certain supplies with which to preserve them. From Maine and Vermont to Louisiana and West Virginia gardeners have reported being in a pickle finding certain sized glass jars or the special lids used to safely seal them. A spokesperson for Newell Brands, owner of Ball, which produces Mason jars and lids, says it’s increased glass production, found additional lid manufacturers and expanded its pack out locations to replenish the stock as quickly as possible.

By The Associated Press undefined
When picking a hand sanitizer, opt for one that contains mostly alcohol and has few other ingredients. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says hand sanitizers should be at least 60% alcohol. Health officials also say to watch out for hand sanitizers packaged in food and drink containers, since accidentally ingesting them could be dangerous. Making your own sanitizers isn’t encouraged either, since the wrong mix of chemicals can be ineffective or cause skin burns. And experts say to use hand sanitizer only when you can’t wash your hands with soap and water.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that applications will be accepted to fund new transportation improvement projects under the Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) through November 6, 2020.

“The Multimodal Transportation Fund enhances connectivity in our state and allows local projects to benefit all regions,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “Projects are selected based on safety benefits, regional economic conditions, technical and financial feasibility, job creation, energy efficiency, and operational sustainability.”

Eligible applicants include municipalities, council of governments, business/non-profit organizations, economic development organizations, public transportation agencies, public airports, airport authorities, and ports and rail entities.

Projects that will be considered should coordinate local land use with transportation assets to enhance existing communities; improve streetscape, lighting, sidewalk facilities, and pedestrian safety; improve connectivity or utilization of existing transportation assets; or advance transit-oriented-development.

In FY 2020-21, 27 projects were awarded more than $30 million in MTF funding throughout 23 counties, including construction of trail and road access to the new 10-acre Bridesburg Riverfront Park in southeast region of the state, the installation of 4,100 feet of curb and 2,100 feet of sidewalks/related streetscape work in the northeast region of state, and converting two traditional intersections into modern roundabouts to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and enhance pedestrian mobility in the southeast.

PennDOT expects to announce grant recipients next year, and funding will become available in July 2021.

Act 89 of 2013 established a dedicated Multimodal Transportation Fund that stabilizes funding for ports and rail freight, increases aviation investments, establishes dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and allows targeted funding for priority investments in any mode.

For more information about the program and previous years’ applications and awards, visit www.penndot.gov and click on Multimodal Program under the “Projects & Programs” menu.

(Harrisburg, Pa.) Restaurants in Pennsylvania will be able to increase their indoor capacity from 25% to 50% starting Sept. 21, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday. Restaurants will have to strictly follow all public health safety guidelines and orders through a self-certification process.

Restaurants that self-certify will appear in the Open & Certified Pennsylvania searchable online database, which people will have access to so they can find certified businesses in their area. Gov. Wolf also announced that starting Sept. 21 restaurants will not be allowed to sell alcohol past 10 p.m.

The self-certification documents and information about the Open & Certified Pennsylvania program can be found online starting September 21 and will contain the following:

• A list of requirements contained in the current restaurant industry guidanceand enforcement efforts
• A statement that the owner has reviewed and agrees to follow these requirements
• The business’ maximum indoor occupancy number based on the fire code
• A statement that the owner understands that the certification is subject to penalties for unsworn falsification to authorities

Any restaurant that wishes to increase to 50% indoor capacity on Sept. 21 must complete the online self-certification process by Oct. 5.

(New Sewickley Twp., Pa.) Vice President Mike Pence will be back in Beaver County tomorrow, Wednesday September 10, 2020, attending a “Workers for Trump” rally at a Penn Energy Resources producing natural gas well site near the intersection of Lovi Road and Route 989 in New Sewickley Township.