Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published November 17, 2023 11:00 A.M.

(Ambridge, Pa) Ambridge Borough Manager Mario Leone reported that the council approved a grant application for $2.6 million for the 8th Street Gateway off of Route 65, and State Route 989. Discussions and negotiations are underway for a free digital community sign at 8th Street playground and the Route 65 gateway.
Council approved the hiring of part time firefighter/code enforcement officer Tyler Adams.
Council is advertising for the upcoming budget meetings beginning Tuesday, November 21 at 6 p.m. in the borough building.

Danielle Smith – Keystone State News Service

A new analysis of 2022 census data has uncovered a troubling trend: The uninsured rate for Pennsylvania children worsened during the final full year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2023 State of Children’s Health in Pennsylvania report found more than 145,000 children are without health insurance.

Becky Ludwick, vice president of public policy at Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, emphasized despite the Medicaid continuous coverage and other flexibilities in place during the public health emergency, Pennsylvania is among a few states observing a decline in the rate of children having access to health insurance.

“We did see the uninsured rate get worse for children; it went up to 5.2%,” Ludwick reported. “And that’s a pretty significant increase from the previous year, which was 4.4%. And we were surprised because we expected at least stable or improvements to the coverage, like many other states have seen during this latest census round.”

Ludwick pointed out children are facing greater barriers to accessing health insurance compared with adults. The exact reasons for the disparity are unclear, but data suggests some children may not be properly enrolled in Medicaid, despite being eligible.

Ludwick anticipated next year’s data may show an even more concerning decline in coverage, so they are urging the Department of Human Services to take a couple of actions they think could help better connect kids to coverage.

“First is to immediately restore coverage for children who lost coverage during the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous coverage provision, due to an error in how the state was determining eligibility,” Ludwick recommended.

Ludwick added they also recommend the Department of Human Services provide children from birth through kindergarten with continuous health insurance coverage for multiple years. She further urged policy changes to ensure seamless access to health insurance between Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Monaca, PA – The Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) has launched a Mechatronics program to prepare students for high-growth job opportunities in advanced and automated manufacturing sectors. The Mechatronics career pathway includes certificates from CCBC and the Manufacturing Skills  Institute, associate degree, journeyman, and ultimately a hands-on, high-tech, high paying career in  manufacturing. 

Mechatronics is a field of study focusing on the integration of mechanical, electronics, computers, and  control systems technologies of machines and processes. 

Mechatronics program graduates are vital in advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 because of their  hands-on training and expertise in integrating mechanical, electrical, and computer systems. Graduates  maintain and optimize equipment, troubleshoot complex setups, and analyze data for process and  quality improvement. They integrate cyber-physical systems, work with collaborative robots, and  embrace artificial intelligence (AI). Their adaptability and multidisciplinary skills make them  indispensable in transforming manufacturing into interconnected, efficient, and data-driven operations. 

“Primary metals, glass, construction materials, chemical processing, and material handling/inventory  control companies in southwestern PA are very excited about the program and have already enrolled  students in the first cohort,” according to John Goberish, Dean School of Industrial Technology and  Continuing Education. “The registered apprenticeship component of this program and available grant  funding were other keys that got companies interested.” 

High-demand manufacturing industries including semiconductors, food and beverage, aerospace, and  medical equipment need personnel to perform daily operations using the skills learned in the mechatronics program. 

Typical job titles of program graduates include Automation Technician, Robotics Technician, Machinery  Technician, Field Service Technician, Industrial Maintenance, and Electrical Assembler. Projected  employment growth for these roles in Pennsylvania is five percent and in the United States, growth is  projected at six percent per year through 2026.

Classes are being conducted in CCBC’s state-of-the-art, Shell Center for Process Technology Education. With a focus on hands-on learning, training equipment includes pneumatic and hydraulic systems,  electrical control systems, collaborative robots, a fully operational plant, and dedicated manufacturing  cells. 

Paul Alwin, Lead Faculty of Mechatronics and Process Technology said, “Students train on the actual  devices and equipment commonly found in real manufacturing environments, enabling them to have an  immediate positive impact in their work.” 

CCBC has received $405,050 under the Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better  Challenge to launch the Mechatronics pathway and integrate two additional programs, robotics and AI which are currently being developed. 

This year, CCBC initiated a new partnership with Eaton Corporation in Beaver, Pennsylvania. Eaton  Corporation is a power management company that conducts business in more than 175 countries. This  year, the Eaton Charitable Foundation provided a $150,000 donation to the College to purchase state of-the-art robotics and mechatronics training equipment and technology essential to the expansion of  CCBC’s advanced manufacturing training programs. The company will collaborate with CCBC to upskill  its manufacturing team around automation.  

HARRISBURG, Nov. 16 – The PA House on Wednesday adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer – a disease expected to kill more than 50,000 people in the United States this year.

Matzie, D-Beaver, said he introduced H.R. 227 – which designates November 2023 as “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania – to keep the focus on a fast-spreading, difficult-to-detect disease that is the nation’s third-leading cause of cancer death.

“This issue is deeply personal for so many of us who have seen a loved one battle pancreatic cancer,” Matzie said. “New strategies like immunotherapy and testing to identify and target genetic mutations are promising, but so much more is needed. One thing is clear: we need to keep the spotlight on this insidious disease until research brings the breakthrough we need to change the numbers.”

Some of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are jaundice, which may include dark urine and stool changes; back or abdominal pain; weight loss and poor appetite; nausea and vomiting; and pancreatitis and recent-onset diabetes. Risk factors include smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, age, race, family history and certain inherited genetic syndromes.

Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) today conditionally approved 22 grants, pending full execution of grant agreements, totaling $2,178,215 for projects to enhance Pennsylvania’s beer and wine industries through promotion, marketing, research, and increased production of Pennsylvania-made malt and brewed beverages and wines.

Act 39 of 2016 created the Pennsylvania Malt and Brewed Beverages Industry Promotion Board within the department of Agriculture and authorized the PLCB to approve up to $1 million annually for development and marketing of the Pennsylvania beer industry. The Pennsylvania Fiscal Code also allows for unallocated beer grant funds to be made available in subsequent years.

The following 14 beer projects totaling $1,178,771 were recommended to the PLCB by the Pennsylvania Malt and Brewed Beverages Industry Promotion Board and subsequently approved by the PLCB for funding:

GRANT PROJECT	GRANTEE	GRANT AMOUNT
Cheers PA, Season 2: Penn Studios at PA Media Group will produce a second season of award-winning content for the Cheers PA brand, as well as produce individualized commercials for 150 PA craft breweries. This content includes Cheers PA Beer Tours, a web-series showcasing breweries, malters and nearby tourism stops across the commonwealth, and Cheers PA Beer Talks, a podcast interviewing industry leaders and innovators.	PA Media Group	$459,450
Developing Low-Alcohol Beers with Non-Saccharomyces Yeast and High-Glucose Worts: Using alterations to mashing procedures to produce worts that have glucose as the dominant sugar rather than maltose will allow for fermentation of the worts with non-maltose utilizing yeast that produce low alcohol beers.	Pennsylvania State University	$85,543
Barrel & Flow 2024: A project to build sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships and events among Pennsylvania-based beer, wine and cider makers and black artists, performers and small business owners, which promotes, highlights and supports black talent and entrepreneurs.	Drinking Partners, LLC	$80,000
Visit Bucks County Ale Trail Marketing: Bucks County’s officially designated tourism marketing agency will create new and enhanced marketing for the 26 breweries on the Bucks County Ale Trail in 2024. New content and increased advertising, including digital billboards and digital promotions, will drive traffic and increase sales by offering new and additional reasons to visit Bucks County breweries.	Bucks County Conference & Visitor Bureau	$75,000
Generation of Desirable Polyfunctional Thiols in Hop-Forward Pennsylvania Beers with Exogenous Six Carbon Alkenes: Polyfunctional thiols are highly desirable aroma compounds that are important to the flavor quality of many modern styles of beer, and hops (the most expensive ingredient in brewing) are almost exclusively the sole source of these compounds. This project will explore novel ways for generating desirable polyfunctional thiols in beer without the traditional use of hops.	Pennsylvania State University	$69,918
Boosting Beer Flavor Through Yeast Biotransformation of Hop Aroma Precursors: Hops, a key brewing ingredient, contain extremely potent aroma active compounds called polyfunctional thiols that are highly desirable because they contribute pleasant flavors to beer. This project will explore how yeast can be used during dry hopping as a strategy for increasing the concentrations of desirable polyfunctional thiols in beer.	Pennsylvania State University	$67,551
Beer Analysis Lab: Point Park University is expanding the measurement capabilities of its beer analysis lab service by adding industry-standard instrumentation in areas including dissolved gas detection and percent alcohol by volume. This adds to existing beer-spoilage detection capabilities and provides area craft brewers easy and cost-effective access to third-party testing that can help ensure product quality and labeling accuracy without making large investments in equipment and space, simultaneously providing opportunities for undergraduate students to gain meaningful laboratory experience.	Point Park University	$65,349
Montco Makers Passport: The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board will launch a year-long, multimedia campaign to drive visits to Montgomery County breweries. Usage of the Montco Makers Passport will grow and promote the malt and brewed beverage industry in Montgomery County and integrate brewers into the larger tourism economy.	Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board	$60,000
The Pennsylvania Greater Alleghenies Ridge and Valley Fermentation Trails: The Pennsylvania Greater Alleghenies Ridge and Valley Fermentation Trails will promote the breweries, wineries and distilleries of Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, and Mifflin counties to increase tourism, vibrancy and revenue.	Altoona Blair County Development Corporation	$52,500
Pittsburgh Brewery Guide: Creation of an interactive digital version of the popular printed Pittsburgh Brewery Guide, which rewards beer lovers for visiting Allegheny County breweries. Project will also offer training programs for Pittsburgh Brewers Guild members and support periodic traveling beer markets that feature local breweries.	Pittsburgh Brewers Guild	$49,500
Brew Barons Beer Trail Marketing: Visit Hershey & Harrisburg will introduce the Brew Barons Beer Trail and free mobile passport to a broader regional audience by expanding its digital, social, and search marketing campaign into Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. With more than 30 craft breweries within 20 minutes of Hershey and Harrisburg, the Hershey/Harrisburg Region is in position to be recognized as a premiere craft beer tour and tasting destination.	Visit Hershey & Harrisburg	$45,000
Alcoholic Beverage Analysis Lab: With the purchase of a 15-gallon pilot brewing system, a 15-gallon fermenter, and a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Saint Francis University will train students and serve the local brewing community with equipment and expertise.	Saint Francis University	$31,460
Establishing a Set of Online Brewing Certificates: Saint Francis University is launching an online brewing micro-credential and starting an online certificate program to train entry level brewhouse workers.	Saint Francis University	$27,500
Lancaster County Ale Trail and Passport: Through direct marketing of its ale trail and expanded social media advertising and website development, the Lancaster County Brewers Guild aims to increase revenue for its members in 2024 and establish a network of brewers and industry peers.	Lancaster County Brewers Guild	$10,000

 

Act 39 of 2016 also expanded the Pennsylvania Wine Marketing and Research Board and authorized the PLCB to approve up to $1 million annually for wine research and promotion.

 

The eight wine projects totaling $999,444, summarized below, were recommended by the Pennsylvania Wine Marketing and Research Board and subsequently approved for funding by the PLCB:

 

GRANT PROJECT	GRANTEE	GRANT AMOUNT
Regional Marketing Strategy for Pennsylvania Wines: Promoting and marketing to wine enthusiasts, through various marketing strategies, to create positive impressions and educate consumers about the diversity of the PA wine industry.	Pennsylvania Winery Association	$544,489
Evaluating bird deterrent measures in a vineyard setting: Bird depredation of grapes is a widespread and recurrent problem in vineyards across Pennsylvania and can lead to significant crop losses. This project will optimize the use of an alternative bird deterrent product by assessing its efficacy in protecting grapes from bird damage and understanding if and how its applications affect grape and wine chemistry.	Pennsylvania State University	$86,321
Sensory Analysis of Exogenous Acetaldehyde Mediated Tannin Elongation in Red Wine: During wine aging, the mouthfeel softens and changes due in part to reactions with acetaldehyde. This work will build on previous success directly enhancing this process, and evaluate the sensory impacts of acetaldehyde mediated accelerated aging.	Pennsylvania State University	$77,932
Evaluation of grapevine nutrient levels and development of grapevine nutrient sufficiency ranges in Pennsylvania: The aim of this project is to develop a better understanding of grapevine nutrient concentration ranges in leaf blades and petioles across Pennsylvania vineyards.	Pennsylvania State University	$77,849
Investigating Novel Approaches for Remediating Hydrogen Sulfide Formation in Pennsylvania Wines: Hydrogen sulfide is a common technical fault that imparts a rotten egg character to wines and is exceedingly difficult to fully remove. This project will explore how a simple, inexpensive, food-grade additive prepared from grape leaves can be used to remediate hydrogen sulfide issues in Pennsylvania wines.	Pennsylvania State University	$69,558
Understanding Vine Deacclimation to Mitigate Spring Frost Damage across Pennsylvania: Frost damage is a recurrent economic issue limiting the amount of grapes produced in the eastern US. This project will help growers predict loss of cold hardiness and the timing of budbreak for grape cultivars widely grown across Pennsylvania and provide them with tools to reduce the risk of spring frost damage.	Pennsylvania State University	$60,246
Testing the Effect of Trichoderma to Control Powdery Mildew and Promote Vine Health in Pennsylvania Wine Grapes: Mildew pathogens cause severe damage on wine grapes in Pennsylvania and there is an urgent need to research how biopesticides in combination with fungicides can suppress disease in susceptible varietals.	Pennsylvania State University	$55,069
Increasing Purchases of Pennsylvania Wine – A Mixed Methods Investigation and Experiment of the Millennial and Generation Z Consumer: A research team at East Stroudsburg University will investigate Millennial and Generation Z wine drinkers to understand how Pennsylvania wineries can attract and retain those customers.	East Stroudsburg University	$27,980

 

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates about 600 wine and spirits stores statewide, and licenses 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. Taxes and store profits – totaling nearly $20.3 billion since the agency’s inception – are returned to Pennsylvania’s General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania’s schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies, and local municipalities across the state. For more information about the PLCB, visit lcb.pa.gov.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that line painting operations on various roadways in Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence counties will occur today, Thursday, November 11 weather permitting.

Work to repaint lines will occur from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day in the following locations:

Allegheny County

• Route 2110 Penn Avenue in Churchill Borough

Beaver County

• Route 30 from Allegheny County to Ohio

Lawrence County

• Route 18/Route 108 intersection in the City of New Castle

Roadway line painting is an important part of PennDOT’s highway safety initiatives. Paint lines provide direction, delineation, and guidance to motorists.

Generally, PennDOT is not responsible for paint on vehicles.

Motorists should use caution and be aware of changing traffic patterns when driving through the area.

(New Sewickley, Pa) A new holiday lights destination has come to Beaver County. Enchanted Lights begins operating a walk-through light show in New Sewickley November 24th and running weekends through January 5th!

This outdoor event features a dazzling display of twinkling lights, festive decorations, and delightful surprises that’s sure to fill you with holiday cheer! Enjoy hot chocolate and roast s’mores around the campfires with friends and family, all while being ensconced in a tapestry of shimmering lights.

The owners of Three Rivers Paintball will be utilizing their 70-acre wooded property located just outside of Cranberry to premier this holiday event.

“We are so excited to launch Enchanted Lights!   We’ve been planning and building for over a year, so finally sharing it with our guests will mean a lot,” says Alex Krischke. “I’ve grown up helping produce events with my parents, and I’ve learned so much from them. This is a dream I’ve had for years, and I’m hopeful that it will become my stamp on the family legacy.”

All parking proceeds will go toward supporting people and pets through The Lighthouse Foundation in Butler County and Cross Your Paws Dog Rescue.

Ticket purchases can be made at www.EnchantedLightsPittsburgh.com

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Legislature is approving aid for universities after a fight that has dragged on five months into the fiscal year. However, the politically divided body continued Wednesday to feud over school funding. Legislation to send $600 million to several universities passed both the House and Senate. But the bill lacks the increase in aid for Temple, Pitt and Penn State that Democrats had sought. Gov. Josh Shapiro was expected to sign it. Meanwhile, the House’s Democratic majority stripped from a separate schools bill a GOP-backed tax credit that largely benefits private schools. That’s because Republicans have blocked an extra $100 million that Democrats want for the poorest public schools.

FILE – Starbucks employees and supporters link arms during a union election watch party Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. Thousands of U.S. Starbucks workers plan to walk off the job Thursday — one of the chain’s busiest days of the year — to protest the company’s anti-union stance. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex, File)

Workers at more than 200 U.S. Starbucks stores plan to walk off the job Thursday. Organizers say it’s the largest strike yet in the two-year-old effort to unionize the company’s stores. The Workers United union chose Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day to stage the walkout since it’s usually one of the busiest days of the year. Starbucks expects to give away thousands of reusable cups Thursday to customers who order holiday drinks. The union says it’s expecting more than 5,000 workers to take part in its “Red Cup Rebellion.” Around 30 stores also staged walkouts on Wednesday.