Scattered Thunderstorms On This Last Day Of Heat Wave

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THURSDAY, JULY 5TH, 2018

 

TODAY – SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH – 85.

TONIGHT – MORE THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY. LOW – 66.

FRIDAY – PARTLY SUNNY SKIES. HIGH – 78.

SATURDAY – A MAINLY SUNNY SKY. HIGH NEAR 80.

SUNDAY – MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH – 82.

70th Anniversary Moments – Ted Ruscitti


This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of when Beaver County’s first radio station, WBVP, was heard over the airwaves for the the first time on May 25, 1948.  To mark the historical event, each week, another “70th Anniversary Moment” will be showcased on the airwaves and published on the station’s online feeds.

Last week, we profiled George Allen, a WBVP original staff member from 1948 and also one of four station employees through the years who later went on to own their own radio stations.  In this edition, we take a look at another WBVP-WMBA protege who started out and learned the business at one of the Beaver County radio stations and later on would find himself signing payroll checks, Ted Ruscitti.  A native of Hopewell Township, Ruscitti became fascinated with vacuum tubes and transmitters in an era when many of his high high school classmates were more likely to be chasing girls and cruising the local hang outs.   Ruscitti was a whiz kid, and very accomplished around electronics while yet a teenager.  The fact is, he built and put his own pirate radio station on the air headquartered in his parents house while still a student at Hopewell.  Ruscitti’s station was self named “WINO”, and occasionally local residents will recall listening to Ruscitti’s broadcasts, which began after he got home from school in the afternoons during the late 1960’s.

Ted Ruscitti (center) and Chris Shovlin (right) at a WBVP-WWKS car cruise at Safran’s in Ambridge in 1986. Photo courtesy of Chris Shovlin.

In 1970, John Bride had just bought WMBA from Miner’s Broadcasting Service.  One of the things that was different then was the fact that, by law, radio stations had to have a a staff member on site with a first class radiotelephone operator license at all times.  While the rule went by the way side in the mid 1980’s, back then, it created an opportunity for Ted Ruscitti, who already had a first class license, even though he was barely out of high school.   Bride needed to find and hire someone with the first class designation to fulfill legal requirements, so that made Ruscitti an easy hire.  It turns out that Ruscitti’s possession of a first class license was far from the only asset that he brought to the table.  He hosted a very popular evening music request show on WMBA.  The following is an excerpt about Ruscitti’s  first duties as an announcer at WMBA  from the recently published book, “Behind The Microphone, The History Of Radio In Beaver County, PA”:

“In the early seventies, while working for (General Manager of WMBA, Roy) Angst and (Station Owner, John) Bride at WMBA, Ruscitti hosted an evening music request show on WMBA, from five to six. According to (WMBA staffer during the 1970’s), Bill Fontana, the show was amazingly popular as listeners would regularly call in and sometimes wait on hold for great lengths of time to get an chance to talk to Ruscitti.”

Ruscitti’s technical skills also saw him overseeing engineering duties at WMBA not too long after being hired.  So accomplished was Ruscitti with all aspects of radio, but in particular, his ability to fix and maintain just about any piece of broadcast equipment, that he was recruited and accepted a position at Pittsburgh rock station, WDVE, after only a short while at WMBA.  Ruscitti became Chief Engineer and later on would be named Operations Director at the popular F.M. music radio station.

In 1985, Ted Ruscitti received a call from a  broker that WBVP and its sister F.M. radio station at the time, WWKS or Kiss 107 as it was known then,  were for sale. The notion of owning two radio stations in his hometown area was too hard to resist, so after a quick plane trip to Providence, Rhode Island, and some dialogue  with the owner of WBVP and WWKS at that point in time, Hall Communications,  Ted Ruscitti and his wife, Marilee, formed M.T. Communications, Inc. and bought the two Beaver Falls based radio stations.

WWKS studio around 1987 featuring two compact disc players located just above the console. Photo courtesy of Mark Radziewicz.

Ruscitti would own and operate WBVP and WWKS up through 1990 and made many significant advancements, including the return of live local radio from an automated system on the F.M. radio station, and the introduction of digital music played over the airwaves.  The fact is, WWKS, or Kiss 106.7 F.M., was the first station in the area, and perhaps the nation, to utilize newly available compact discs, or C.D.’s. as they are commonly known, to play the music in the studio, which was ultimately broadcast over the airwaves.

These days, Ted Rusciiti continues to share his knowledge and talents as he is a very highly sought after nationwide consultant in the radio industry.

“70th Anniversary Moments” is presented by  Abbey Carpet and Floor,  Albert’s Heating, Cooling and Plumbing,  Aliquippa Giant Eagle, The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, Beaver Valley Auto Mall, Beaver Valley Sheet Metal, Castlebrook Development, The Community College Of Beaver County,  Farmers Building and Savings Bank, Freedom United Federal Credit Union, Hank’s Frozen Custard and Mexican food, The Health Huts, Kitchen City, Laughlin Insurance Agency,  Rochester Manor and Villa and Young’s Jewelry and Coins.

Reminder For Pet Owners: Keep Your Dogs Safe During Fireworks!

With fireworks going off all week long, we thought this reminder for dog owners would be a timely reminder of how to care for their stressed-out canines: Fireworks can be scary for dogs. More pets are lost on July 4th than any other day of the year. Keep your pets safe by following these steps:

  • Make sure your pets are wearing current ID tags.
  • Microchip your pets and keep information current.
  • Keep your dog indoors during fireworks.
  • Never leave pets unattended even in a “secure” yard.
  • Have current, clear photos of your pet on hand, just in case.
  • Play music or TV to help drown out the noise from the fireworks.
  • Coddling a frightened animal will reinforce their fear.
  • Instead, try playing games or exercising to distract them.
  • Animals typically run away in the opposite direction of the noise.
  • Always check with your local shelter if your pet is missing.

For more tips or further information, please visit the following website:

beavercountyhumanesociety.org

State Rep. Rob Matzie Proposing New Legislation On Nuclear Plants

State Representative Rob Matzie is proposing new legislation that would make coal plant operators repair their facilities and surrounding areas before receiving permission to close. Matzie says we need to consider our communities. If the bill is passed, it would create a commission that would review the impacts of coal and nuclear plants before those plants officially shut down.

Beaver County Detectives Spent 400 Hours Overtime On DelTondo Case

Through its investigation of the death of Rachel DelTondo on May 13th, the Beaver County Detectives’s Bureau has accumulated about 300 hours of overtime. There have been few details about the investigation released. Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier says there is a lot of physical evidence that requires forensic analysis. Investigators are still interviewing witnesses and checking alibis and verifying statements.

Pennsylvania Residents Now Able To Celebrate the 4th With Extra Flair!

Business is booming for local fireworks vendors….thanks to passage of a new Pennsylvania law last fall. House Bill 542 was signed into law on October 30th, 2017, officially repealing and entirely replacing the Fireworks act of 1939. Now, heading into the Fourth of July holiday – Pennsylvania residents are now able to buy the big stuff when they head to fireworks shops. Now they can purchase and use the consumer-grade, or Class C, aerial fireworks, which they previously had to go out of state to buy. State Representative Doyle Heffley is joining public safety officials statewide in encouraging consumers to exercise caution when using fireworks and reminding them that certain rules and safety regulations need to be observed…

One of the places where consumers can now buy legal fireworks in Pennsylvania is A-Rocket Fireworks, located on Route 51 in Aliquippa. You can give them a call for more information at 724-375-3333.

Here is a video of PA legal fireworks bought and set off in Beaver County:

Fireworks for sale to the public at A-Rocket Fireworks in Aliquippa.

Class C fireworks now available and legal in Pennsylvania, such as these mortars, which shoot up into the sky and then explode.

 

 

 

Beaver County Humane Society Is Over-populated With Kittens

Due to the over-population of kittens at the Beaver County Humane Society, the shelter is running specials all this week in an attempt to adopt them out. From now through July 7th, pet-lovers can take advantage of these star-spangled adoption prices: Kittens up to 6 months – $50.00…Cats – 6 months -7 years – $17.76…and Senior Cats – $7.04…and all dogs over 1 year – Half Off! All adopters must meet BCHS adoption criteria. For further information, visit their website at www.beavercountyhumanesociety.org/adopt