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.

Virus still throwing theme park attendance for a loop
By JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — U.S. theme parks are still finding it tough to bring back guests this summer despite the wide number of safety measures they’ve put in place. Attendance has been less than expected across the industry. And now there are worries over what the virus will bring this fall. Some parks are reducing operating days, slashing ticket prices, and closing early for the year. Disney this week will begin cutting an hour or two from each day at its four Florida theme parks. California’s parks have been closed since mid-March and are pushing the state to tell them when they can reopen.

SOUTH BEAVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. —We have an update on The fire that happened on Aug. 25 at a house on old Blackhawk Road in South Beaver Township.

While there was no initial confirmation of injuries related to the fire Pa state police are now reporting via news release that a 17-year-old boy from Negley, Ohio, and a 17-year-old girl from Wellsville, Ohio, both died in the fire.

The fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. State police are calling their probe into the matter an accidental death investigation.