Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 21, 2024 10:00 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa)  Eric Rozanski was hired by the Aliquippa School Board as an interim Elementary Assistant Principal and will earn $75,000.00 for the rest of the 2023-24 school year. He replaces Sam Giordano who served in that position since October 2022. Giordano was hired in 2003 and taught math for 20 years at the junior senior high school.

FILE – (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA) held a hearing entitled, “Keeping Our Promise to Older Adults and People with Disabilities: The Status of Social Security Today.” The hearing examined the importance of preserving Social Security and the critical support the program provides for millions of seniors across Pennsylvania and the Nation. At the hearing, Chairman Casey heard testimony from newly appointed Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Martin O’Malley about the agency’s plans to protect the critical benefits that Social Security provides and ensure SSA workers receive the support they need. This was Commissioner O’Malley’s first appearance in the Senate since his confirmation in December.

During the hearing, Chairman Casey emphasized his support for preserving Social Security benefits and protecting it from attacks. He denounced plans by some Republican politicians to cut Social Security, saying, “Social Security is the most successful antipoverty program to date, allowing tens of millions of Americans, including older adults, people with disabilities, and children to live with dignity. Despite this, we have heard outlandish proposals from some that Congress should consider cutting Social Security. Let me be clear—I will never support cuts to Social Security. Social Security is a lifeline for Americans of all walks of life—we have made a promise to deliver benefits to Americans, and I will not go back on that promise.”

Chairman Casey has long been one of the Senate’s strongest champions for protecting Social Security and ensuring the program’s promise to every American is fulfilled. This week, he introduced the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act, which would change how Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Social Security benefits are calculated—ensuring benefit adjustments are robust and reflective of the true costs incurred by older adults. He also introduced the SWIFT Act in September, which would fix outdated and arbitrary restrictions on Social Security benefits for widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses who often face unnecessary and burdensome hurdles to access Social Security benefits despite disproportionately experiencing poverty.

(Hopewell Township, Pa)  With the help of a Great Ideas Mini-Grant, made possible by Lincoln Learning Solutions and Beaver County Educational Trust, fourth-grade science and social studies teacher Kim Petrina is bringing her dream of reconstructing her school’s garden to life.

Fourth graders at Hopewell Elementary School in Hopewell Township are now getting their hands dirty as they dig into learning about plants and gardening. 

An avid gardener for 14 years, Petrina saw the connection between the educational standards she teaches and her passion for planting. Lincoln Learning and BCET allowed her to act on it.

“We cover agriculture standards, so the students need to learn where their food comes from and about the transportation of food into the economy,” Petrina said. “Planting and gardening help to make these concepts less abstract for fourth graders.”

Petrina said students began the garden project by learning about winter sowing. The 60 students split into four groups to plant seeds indoors in different ways. Some used traditional peat moss and gardening flats. Others recycled paper towel rolls to create pots they filled with seeds and garden soil. A third group wrapped seeds in wet paper towels, while the final group created a makeshift greenhouse from a milk carton.

Over the next few months, the students will use heat lamps to promote growth and study which methods work best. 

Petrina’s long-term goals for her students include partnering with the school’s third-grade class to reconstruct the outdoor gardens so that all Hopewell Elementary students can use the space. 

According to BCET Executive Director Jamie Connelly, over its 33-year history, the mini-grant program has funded 755 grant requests totaling $450,000 and reached more than 97,000 K–12 students in Beaver County. Of those funds, Lincoln Learning Solutions has donated $110,000 since its involvement in the program in December 2014.

Lincoln Learning Solutions CEO Bob Clements said that, for the 2023–2024 school year, his organization has contributed $30,000, which has funded 33 K–12 mini-grants. 

“Lincoln Learning Solutions has a strong commitment to giving back to our local communities,” he said, “and these grants, supporting everything from language arts and technology to science and the arts, are meaningful ways for us to invest.”

Petrina is no stranger to the mini grant funds. Their flexibility, she said, has enabled her to provide her students with opportunities that would not have been possible with traditional grants.  

“I love that these grants fund so many things,” Petrina said. 

Her students love the project as well. 

“This project is really fun,” said Sophia Tiller, one of Petrina’s students. “I love gardening. I’ve done it with my grandma, and I like sharing it with my friends.”

Fourth grader Caleb Myers said, “I like that it is a challenge to keep the plants alive. I like watching them grow.” 

Petrina said she is looking forward to watching the project unfold over the next few months. “I can’t wait to see what we end up with,” she said.

Great Ideas Mini-Grant applications are open to all Beaver County teachers in September, and the mini-grants are awarded in October. All recipients receive funding in December. For more details, visit the BCET Great Ideas Mini-Grant site. 

PITTSBURGH — Duquesne Light Company (DLC) announced they are investing in the future to continue providing safe, reliable and resilient service to more than 600,000 customers in Allegheny and Beaver counties while also enabling the region’s clean energy transition. In a filing submitted today to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), the company requested a regulatory review of its distribution base rates to support essential investments required to modernize the electrical grid and secure the vibrancy, prosperity and competitiveness of the region that DLC serves.

DLC is requesting an overall rate increase of $101 million to enhance grid capabilities and reliability. As increased severe weather has created a greater need for resiliency, DLC’s proposal aims to strengthen the grid with more durable equipment and advanced technologies. The proposed rate changes would take effect on or before Jan. 1, 2025, and would be the first increases in DLC’s distribution base rates in three years. DLC is also seeking to transfer $32 million in surcharges, currently paid by customers for equipment upgrades, to base rates.

“Our customers have greater expectations of the grid than ever before. Continuing to provide safe, reliable and resilient electric service in the face of changing climate dynamics is a critical responsibility that we take very seriously,” said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of DLC. “Beyond these basics, we must also invest to ensure that the grid is nimble, intelligent and responsive enough to support the evolving expectations placed upon it as we progress through our region’s clean energy transition. Doing this well will give our customers, friends and neighbors a competitive advantage and contribute to a bright, equitable future for all.”

Some investments included in DLC’s proposal are:

• Constructing a new substation in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood that will provide additional capacity, increased reliability, resiliency gains and electrical flexibility in how DLC serves the community.
• Enhancing DLC’s outage management system by adding customer-facing tools such as a new outage map, proactive notifications and an upgraded automated phone system.
• Continuing the installation of modern streetlights that have advanced capabilities, including providing notifications that enable more efficient maintenance and repair.
• Supporting DLC’s comprehensive vegetation management program, which aims to prevent service interruptions by keeping vegetation away from electrical circuits and removing trees that are at risk of falling onto distribution lines.
• Helping customers make informed decisions about electric vehicles and empowering them to experience the benefits of electric mobility through increased charging infrastructure as well as new incentives and rate structures.

If the PUC approves the current requested rates:

• Residential customers using 600 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month could see their bill increase from $130.67 to $139.19 per month, or 6.52%.
• Commercial customers using 10,000 kWh per month could expect to see an increase from $1,207.43 to $1,283.46 per month, or 6.30%.
• Industrial customers using 200,000 kWh per month could see an increase from $19,421.64 to $20,610.56 per month, or 6.12%.

Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published March 21, 2024 9:56 A.M.

(New Brighton, Pa) Street sweeping in New Brighton Borough will resume on Monday, April 1. The borough issued a release asking residents to please observe the parking restrictions listed on the street sweeping signs posted in each neighborhood. Reminders for parking on the street during posted street sweeping hours will begin on March 25 for a period of two weeks. Street sweeping will continue through December 1, 2024.

Additionally, residents and merchants are reminded to not place leaves and yard debris into the street for collection by the street sweeper. Leaves and yard debris are to be placed in bags and placed by the curb for collection. Curbside leaf collection will begin in mid-October.

Harrisburg, PA – In keeping with Governor Shapiro’s commitment to ensure safe and secure elections in Pennsylvania, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt launched the Department of State’s new Election Directors Training Team, providing election administration education and support to Pennsylvania’s county election directors.

“The Department of State is working closely with counties to ensure they are prepared for the 2024 presidential primary and general elections, and we believe this team will give our county election officials additional tools to help them administer free, fair, and safe elections,” Schmidt said. “Because the election administration landscape has changed so much since the last presidential election in 2020, and counties have seen an unprecedented amount of turnover among their top election officials during that time, the Department made it a priority this year to offer this additional training and support.”

The Department began building a new Election Directors Training Team in 2023. The team’s goal is to provide county election directors and their teams with the tools and training they need to ensure elections in Pennsylvania – including the 2024 presidential primary and general election – run smoothly and are administered fairly and securely.

So far, the team has conducted 20 trainings on nine different topics, with two additional sessions planned before the April 23 primary election.

“We are committed to reaching out to all county election administrators to help them better understand what the state’s Election Code requires them to do to ensure free, fair, safe and secure elections for Pennsylvania voters,” Schmidt said. “This team is providing training on everything from ballot completion deadlines to managing hundreds of polling places.”

The team includes professionals with hands-on experience overseeing elections in Pennsylvania counties. In addition to providing group trainings, the team provides one-on-one assistance for election administrators as needed.

“I greatly appreciate Secretary Schmidt and the Department developing a comprehensive training program for elections offices across the Commonwealth,” Mercer County Elections Director Thad Hall said. “The trainings have been especially effective because a former county elections director has been leading the effort. Having people who have run county elections leading the training effort makes all the difference.”

Last month, the Shapiro Administration announced the establishment of the Pennsylvania Election Threats Task Force, led by Schmidt. The task force is composed of federal, state, and local security, law enforcement, and election administration partners who are working together to share information and coordinate plans to mitigate threats to the election process, protect voters from intimidation, and provide voters with accurate, trusted election information.

For more information on voting and elections in Pennsylvania, including how to contact your county elections office, visit the Department of State’s voter education website, vote.pa.gov.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA), alongside Congressmen Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Dan Meuser (R-PA), and G.T. Thompson (R-PA) introduced the Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act. This bipartisan legislation would provide a memorial headstone or marker through the Department of Veterans Affairs to an eligible spouse or dependent child of a veteran in a national cemetery or state or tribal Veterans cemetery regardless of the date of death. Under current law, eligible spouses and dependent children who passed before November 11, 1998, or after October 1, 2024, are ineligible to be added to a memorial headstone or marker. Additionally, this legislation would update federal law to extend this important veteran benefit beyond 2024 for an additional 10 years.

This bill was named in honor of Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy, a veteran and his spouse who were killed in a Mexico earthquake in 1985. In 2023, Dennis was given a memorial marker at the Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Washington County, Pennsylvania. His wife, Lois, is currently ineligible.

“I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill and make sure that eligible spouses and children can be included on veterans’ memorial headstones or markers,” said Rep. Deluzio. “This bill is a powerful way to honor how important family is to our nation’s veterans, and to offer comfort to the family members they leave behind.”

“Our veterans and their families dedicate their lives to our country. As a veteran myself, I understand the important role our loved ones play in the lives of our nation’s heroes,” said Rep. Reschenthaler. “I am honored to introduce this commonsense legislation that cuts bureaucratic red tape for families like the Krisfalusys and ensures we provide the utmost support for those who have sacrificed so much for our nation.”

“Ensuring that military spouses can be buried with their loved ones is a vital part of honoring our commitment to the men and women who served our nation in uniform,” said Rep. Joyce.

“1.5 million Americans have died for this great country. This legislation allows us to not only honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, but also to honor their loved ones who made sacrifices of their own,” said Rep. Kelly. “I’m proud to join Rep. Reschenthaler and our colleagues on this important legislation. This is a significant step toward honoring military families.”

“The great sacrifices veterans and their families make cannot be overstated,” said Rep. Meuser. “Congress must ensure that arbitrary deadlines do not hinder a military family’s ability to properly honor their loved ones. I appreciate Congressman Reschenthaler’s efforts to support the Krisfalusys and our entire veteran community.”

“Our veterans and their families sacrifice so much for our country, and they too should have the opportunity to be honored with their loved ones,” said Rep. Thompson. “As an Army dad, I am proud to support bipartisan legislation that will correct an outdated law and allow all members of military families to receive the honors they deserve.”

“I would like to thank Congressmen Guy Reschenthaler, Chris Deluzio, John Joyce, Mike Kelly, Dan Meuser, and G.T. Thompson for their efforts towards introducing legislation for my brother, Dennis Krisfalusy, and his beloved wife, Lois Krisfalusy,” said Pat Maxon, sister of Dennis Krisfalusy. “Not only will Lois’s name be engraved on the memorial stone with Denny, but spouses and children of veterans will be entitled to the military rights they justly deserve. Our brother, who served over 20 years in the military, and his wife, who was by his side, should both be recognized for their patriotic duty. We are forever grateful to all who brought this bill to fruition and look forward to its passage for all veterans and their families.”

Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy’s story was previously covered in the Observer-Reporter here.

HARRISBURG, PA:  The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) reported today that the combined total revenue generated from all forms of gaming, along with fantasy contests, during February 2024 was $499,093,210, an increase of 9.25% compared to revenue generated in February 2023.

Sources of gaming revenue regulated by the PGCB include slot machines, table games, internet gaming, sports wagering, fantasy contests and video gaming terminals (VGTs). The PGCB has posted separate reports for these types of gaming on its website, https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/.

Total tax revenue generated collectively through all forms of gaming and fantasy contests was $204,961,221* during February 2024.

(New Brighton, Pa) Artist William Kofmehl will judge the 47th ANNUAL ART EXHIBIT for the Beaver Valley Artists. The show will be at the Merrick Art Gallery, 1100 5th Avenue New Brighton, April 16 – May 9. Hours are Tues., Wed., Thurs. 10 – 2, Sunday 1 – 4. 

William Earl Kofmehl, III, is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on sculpture. A native of Pittsburgh, Kofmehl studied fine arts and civil engineering at Carnegie Mellon University before earning his MFA from Yale University. Kofmehl has exhibited work around the United States and internationally and has taught at Carnegie Mellon University, the Pont-Aven School of Contemporary Art (France), University of Pittsburgh, Geneva College, and Robert Morris University. Kofmehl’s recent sculpture is composed of reclaimed cast bronze and aluminum alloys harvested from Pittsburgh’s industrial history.

Artists in BVA meet once a month to learn Art techniques, to practice drawing, and to critique one another’s work.

Each year a juror selects awards at the annual member’s show .

The show opening celebration is on April 28, 2024 from 1 – 4.  It will be on display at the Merrick till May 9 at 7:00 pm. when William Kofmehl will critique art work in the show. The public is invited to the opening and the critique.  Refreshments will be served.

Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published March 20, 2024 10:47 A.M.

(Crescent Township, Pa) The Department of Environmental protection says they’re investigation is ongoing in regards to the house that exploded in Crescent Township earlier this month claiming the lives of a couple inside the home. DEP inspectors have established a soil gas monitoring network around the property and are conducting an extensive search for all potential gas sources, whether they are documented or not. DEP also screened the nearest residence as a precaution. DEP will continue to have a regular presence on site and assist the Allegheny County Fire Marshall’s Office.