High winds last night and this morning caused damage and power outages across Beaver County and southwestern Pennsylvania. West Penn Power reported thousands of customers lost power, including more than 80 in Beaver County. A West Penn Power spokesman says there was no single event that caused the large number of outages. Instead, he said it was the accumulation of several wind damage incidents. Duquesne Light reported around 100 customers without power in Robinson Township and Shaler in Allegheny County.
Category: News
Macy’s At Beaver Valley Mall To Close March 6; 83 Jobs To Be Lost
83 people will be out of jobs when the Macy’s at the Beaver Valley Mall closes on March 6, according to a document filed with the state Department of Labor and Industry. Called a WARN notice, the documents are required by law to be filed by any company that anticipates mass layoffs. The Ellwood City Ledger reports Macy’s officials previously said affected employees could be offered positions in nearby stores where possible. Macy’s has locations in Robinson and Ross townships in Allegheny County.
Police: Man Jumps Into River to Avoid Arrest After Beating Girlfriend
Police said a man who severely beat his girlfriend jumped into a river to avoid getting arrested. Officials said Joseph Boots jumped into the Connoquenessing River to avoid being arrested after he got into a fight with his girlfriend early Friday and beat her. According to a criminal complaint, Boots’ girlfriend said that “He held her down and punched the left side of the face” and she “lost consciousness during the assault.” Police said Boots ran when they tried to arrest him, and a police K-9 found him. Officers and firefighters had to work to get Boots out of the river because of how cold the water was. Boots was treated at a hospital, arrested and taken to the Beaver County Jail. His girlfriend was transferred to Allegheny General Hospital with multiple broken bones and a concussion.
Aliquippa Water Lines Break; Repairs Underway This Afternoon
Freezing conditions overnight caused old water pipes to break behind CVS on Brodhead Rd. in Aliquippa, according to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano. Robert Bible, water authority manager. Bible said crews are expected to have the lines repaired this afternoon.
CoGo’s Armed Robbery In Ambridge Under Investigation
An armed robbery took place at the CoGo’s in Ambridge at 11:40 p.m. According to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, who spoke with police,
2 males and a female whose race are unknown , one allegedly had a knife.
They stole cigarettes and an undetermined amount of cash.. As of a few minutes ago, the suspects have not been apprehended.
Beaver County Common Pleas Court Judges To Not Seek Retention; Candidate Would Be 2nd Female Judge
Beaver County President Judge John McBride and Common Please Court Judge Harry E. Knafelc will not seek retention in the May primary, according to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, who spoke with deputy court administrator Bill Hare. The judges commissions are up December 31, 2017,Hare said.
Center Township resident and Beaver lawyer Deborah Lancos Decostro announced Friday she is running for election for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. in the may primary. She is a 1978 graduate of Center High School, receive a bachelor of science degree in economics from Penn State University, and a graduate of the Duquesne University School of Law. She has been practicing law for 30 years.
Deborah Lancos Decostro, who announced her candidacy for judge of court of common pleas in Beaver County would be the second female judge if elected. Judge Debbie Kunselman is the first female judge elected in the county. Another lawyer is expected to announce his candidacy for one of the seats soon,
Hopewell Area School Board Rejects Fact-Finding
The Hopewell Area School Board rejected 2 fact finding reports from the PA Labor Relations Board regarding fact finders reports on contracts for the secretaries and aides, and the second one for the custodial and maintenance staff. According to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, the reports stemmed from the collective bargaining units of the secretaries and aides, and the custodial and maintenance staffs.
Pittsburgh Region Gas Prices Expected To Drop Soon
Gas prices could be soon going down in the Pittsburgh region , according to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano. She spoke with Tony Tammaro, director of police and communications for Senator Elder Voge, Jr. Our gas prices are 10-15 cents more here because odf the road and bridge conditions that had to be rehabilitated, and we are nearing the final line with the appropriate regulatory bodies in the process our region will soon see cheaper gas prices as a result.. Gas tax here in our region rose 8 cents on January 1, a total of 58 cents in tax is currently being paid, Tammaro said.
Quaker Valley Boys break 17 year losing streak against Doug Biega’s BF Boys
Beaver Falls Varsity Basketball coach Doug Biega has had an unblemished 23-0 record against the Quaker Valley Quakers for seventeen years. That winning streak came to an end Friday night at the Beaver Falls Middle School gym.
Quakers win 78 – 58 over the Tigers.
Orthodox Christmas Celebrations Underway In Beaver County
Today begins the celebration of Orthodox Christmas. According to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Father Branislav Golic ,pastor of St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa announced that Badnjdan service begins at 9 a.m. with confessions, 9:30a.m divine. liturgy, 4 p.m.is cutting of the Yule Log at the Serbian picnic grounds. A children’s program reenacting the Birth of Christ is at 4:30 p.m. At 10 p.m. tonight the Christmas Eve service will be held, and the Feast of the Nativity service is at 10 a.m., Sunday, the second day of Christmas service is at 10 a.m. The Feast of St. Stephen divine liturgy is at 10 a.m. Father Golic his brother Father Vladislav, who has a parish in Lackawanna, N.Y., the sons of a Serbian priest who lived in Bosnia shared his memories about going out before sunrise to the woods in search of a young oak tree. The young oak tree is used as a yule log , and there is no Christmas tree he explained. They brought the yule log to church.
They had to walk to church 3 miles away with the badnjak in frigid temperatures , he explained Badnjivece meal consists of the warm pogaca(fasting bread), baked, sauerkraut, and other fasting foods.” Father Golic said the parishioners had to walk about 5 miles and the spirit of Christmas warmed the church. He said, “It truly felt like we were in a cave”We would truly enjoy the Birth of the Newborn King.” .After church, they walked home , the straw under the table contained candy or nuts and he and his brother were in search of the treats. The celebration was only with immediate family, he said. On the family table was the traditional lighted candle, the wheat which was planted on St. Nicholas Day, and the icon depicting Christ’s birth.
Father Robert Perpelka, pastor of St. John’s Orthodox Church in Ambridge said that the Christmas Eve Service, known as the Holy Supper begins at 8 p.m. tonight and on Christmas Divine Liturgy is at 9:30 a.m. Christos Razahdajetsja (Christ is Born)Slavite Jeho! Glorify Him!! (Russian) In Serbian the greeting is Mir Bozi, Hristos se Rodi, Voistinu se Rodi!!. Father Perpelka has a multi ethnic parish , he explained, not just Russian, Carpatho Russian, or Ukrainian .He has been busy baking , and one of his traditional favorites are medovniki (honey cakes). Joe Kauer, Ambridge boro manager shared his story about Orthodox Christmas his family attends St Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Carnegie . The family and friends joining them will have a traditional ham dinner and many pastries . They attend the church’s midnight service., he said.
I (Sandy Giordano) GREW UP IN ALL ALIQUIPPA AND I ATTEND ST.ELIJAH SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, AND STILL DO,SERBIAN CHRISTMAS MEMORIES ARE PLENTY. THE PREPARATION FOR THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IS NOT COMMERCIALIZED LIKE DECEMBER 25. On St. Nicholas Day psenica (wheat seeds) are planted in special soil and watered daily. The wheat represents the ‘NEW LIFE” After Christmas the wheat is fed to the birds. The wheat is sold as a fundraiser for our choir. WHILE THE WOMEN OF THE HOUSE ARE BUSY PREPARING FOR BADNIJDAN (CHRISTMAS EVE) the men of the house set out before dawn in search of a young oak tree that they will cut down for the badnjak (yule log) that will burn throughout the Christmas season. Straw is strewn under the family table commemorating the manger where the Christ Child was born. The women prepare the pogaca(fasting bread), grai crumpir(bean soup), the pastries for the Christmas feast which includes the chesnica (coin bread). Attending badnjak services at church at 4 p.m., matins at 10 p.m. with responses by the St. Elijah Choir , and on Bozic (Christmas Day) The women of the house continue preparing the chicken noodle soup, Serbian potato salad, sarma, ham, and preparing the table that is never empty during the feast , just replenished. The men of the house roast the pig on a spit specially made to hold a whole pig. Many Serbs just order the delicacy from those that specialize in roasting the pig. The pig’s head has the traditional apple in its mouth and is placed in the center of the Christmas table. At the beginning of the feast my grandfather would propose a toast to Christmas . As a child I went to Sunday School, belonged to the youth group, sang in the junior choir, and later the St. Elijah Choir which was directed by the late Veda Milanovich and my kuma (godmother) Natalie Rebich. Being in the choir offered a lot of activities such as caroling which is no longer done . The one memory that I cherish is my kum ( godfather) the late Eli Rebich coming to our house Christmas Eve with the gifts he had for my brother, sister, and I. He usually came after matins, and sometimes we crept down the steps wishing him :Mir Bozi, “Hristos se Rodi” Many times we visited on Christmas at their home. When I was small, my great grandfather presented us with an apple or orange on Christmas, which is a Serbian tradition to have children receive fruit , nuts or candy . This is a special time of year for me with the memories, my dad loved Christmas, it was his favorite holiday My mom always was busy in the kitchen if we had guests. My dad’s parents hosted a dinner for family and kumovi which made it extra special. I look forward to more Christmas memories being made this year I was unable to be home last year because of an auto accident I was in the hospital and unable to celebrate Christmas, my granddaughter’s birthday, and my son’s birthday. I hope Christmas 2017 is a happy safe one for all.