70 Residents Displaced After Early Thursday Morning Fire At Valley Terrace Apartments in Aliquippa

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa Fire Chief Dave Foringer reported that his department was dispatched to Valley Terrace Apartments Building D  at 2:05 a.m. Thursday morning for a couch on fire.  The chief said  they were  assisted by 7 neighboring departments to put out the fire that  started  on a couch.

The Salvation Army and Red Cross are assisting the  residents displaced by the fire. Chief Foringer said that the  fire is under investigation by the state fire marshal.

VIDEO: New Brighton Rotary To Hold 75th Anniversary Celebration On May 14

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The pavilion at Big Rock Park, the eradication of polio, the clock on main street, assisting with everything from soup kitchens to art galleries…the New Brighton Rotary Club has been part of building and supporting the borough of New Brighton for the last 75 years, and on May 14 they’ll be celebrating.

Matt Drzik spoke with John Proano and Arthur Thompson from the New Brighton Rotary Club on the May 5 edition of A.M. Beaver County about the upcoming 75th Anniversary Celebration to be held on Saturday, May 14 at the Beaver Valley Golf Club in Patterson Township. The event is open to the public and begins at 5:30; dinner takes place at 6:30. More details can be found on the Rotary Club’s Facebook page.

“I think it’s a sense of pride,” Proano said, “the fact that we’ve been able to help the community of New Brighton for 75 years.” Thompson has been with the Rotary Club for 57 of those 75 years, and says that the biggest shift in participation over time with the Rotary Club is because of time: “When I came there, we had the superintendent of schools, a doctor, a dentist, people from Duquesne Light, people from Bell Telephone, a couple of lawyers, an architect…you don’t get this breed of people anymore. People just don’t have the time.” Both Thompson and Proano are hoping, though, that the NB Rotary Club will have at least another 75 years of operation to match the first 75.

To watch the full interview with Matt, Art, and John, click on the Facebook feed below!

Aliquippa City Building Now Open For Business

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Representatives from Waste management were on hand at Wednesday night’s meeting to answer trash pickup questions the council and the residents had. . This was the city’s first in-house meeting since the pandemic..

City Council approved a Financial Assistance Resolution  that would aid in the tearing down of blighted structures , and usable wood and other materials would be used   by those needing jobs and having the necessary  tools to tear down  to rebuild structures.  The program would start in West Aliquippa, according to Mayor Dwan  b. Walker.  He said it is a Pilot program . Midland and Beaver Falls were also approved and it would start in August 2022..
Samuel Holden was hired as a part time police officer based on the recommendation of Police Chief John Lane.
Council  promoted Earl Dorsey to full time on the road department, based on Superintendent Alex Scott’s recommendation.

PA Communities Gearing Up for Public Pool Season

(Photo provided with release) 

Keystone State News Connection

May 5, 2022

Emily Scott

Recreation departments across Pennsylvania are preparing to kick off their outdoor public pool seasons starting Memorial Day Weekend, marking for many the first full-capacity summer since the pandemic began.

The Township of Upper St. Clair in western Pennsylvania offers an outdoor, four-lane pool in the summer to its 20,000 residents. They provide swim classes from ages six months to 13 years old.

Chris Biswick, aquatics supervisor for the Township, said the biggest challenge is the ongoing lifeguard shortage, which was exacerbated by COVID-19 as many in-person certifications were delayed.

“We are about a month behind than we normally are with our staffing levels,” Biswick noted. “What we have done to curb that, we have been doing a reimbursement program for our lifeguards, so if they take the life guarding class, after 13 weeks of employment, we’ll reimburse the cost of the life guarding program.”

The cost of lifeguard certification is typically around $300. Biswick added they have also increased their wages to $13 per hour. To become a lifeguard certified by the American Red Cross, applicants must be at least 15 years old and complete a swimming test.

Todd Roth, aquatics supervisor for the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority, said it has been difficult filling leadership positions for their summer program, which includes two outdoor pools with waterslides and spray features.

He pointed out access to the pool program goes beyond educational and public-safety purposes.

“In addition to that, having the recreation amenities available in aquatics is a huge part of the daily quality of life for many families in our region,” Roth explained. “They see the swimming pools as a destination. That’s part of their summer routine.”

The starting wage for lifeguards at the Centre Region pools is $12.50 an hour, and leadership positions start at $13.50 an hour. Roth confirmed Centre Region averages 100,000 to 120,000 summer visits to the pools.

PA Officials, Advocates Rally for Abortion Access After Leaked SCOTUS Draft

(Photo provided with release) 

Keystone State News Connection

May 5, 2022

Emily Scott

Advocates from Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania and state officials gathered in Philadelphia Wednesday to stand firm on protecting abortion access, after a leaked draft indicated the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn its 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade.

Pennsylvania has no laws protecting abortion access on the books and Gov. Tom Wolf has said he would veto any bill restricting it.

Dayle Steinberg, president of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, said it is important to remind people abortions are still safe and legal right now.

“We are fighting to ensure that everyone has the power to control their own bodies,” Steinberg asserted. “We deserve elected officials at all levels of government who believe that as well. No judge and no politician should ever block your personal medical decisions or set the course for your life.”

The Supreme Court decision will not be finalized until it is officially published, most likely in the next two months. A report found if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the high court, the number of people who may drive to Pennsylvania for an abortion would skyrocket by 1,000%.

Some state lawmakers have introduced anti-abortion legislation including Senate Bill 956, which proposes a constitutional amendment to deny the right to abortion care.

Sen. Amanda Cappelletti, D-Montgomery/Delaware, co-chair of the Women’s Health Caucus, said the draft decision is dangerous.

“States that have restrictive abortion legislation have the highest rates of maternal mortality and morbidity,” Cappelletti pointed out. “Here in Pennsylvania, we have high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. If the Legislature ever gets through more legislation that would restrict access, those numbers would go up.”

Among Pennsylvania counties, 86% do not have an abortion provider. Wolf joined 16 other governors calling for immediate passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would protect access to abortion across the country. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in September and awaits a vote in the Senate.

Marshall and Kail to Hold Concealed Carry Seminar at Midland Sportsman Club

(Photo of State Reps Jim Marshall, Josh Kail, and Aaron Bernstine during a 2019 appearance of Rapping with the Reps on Beaver County Radio) 

(Industry, Pa.) Pa State Reps. Jim Marshall and Josh Kail will host a concealed carry seminar on Thursday, May 26, from 6-8 p.m. at the Midland Sportsman Club, 142 Eastwood Drive, Industry.
Marshall said in a release that “Anyone who is new to exercising his or her Second Amendment rights, and even those who have been carrying for years, can benefit from the information that will be shared at the seminar. It’s designed to give law-abiding citizens information about how they can protect people they love and themselves.”

Kail said in the release that “As gun owners, it is our responsibility to know how to safely operate our firearms,” Kail said. “This seminar is a convenient opportunity to become more informed.”

This seminar will include presentations focusing on the Second Amendment and gun owner rights. Concealed carry permit holders, or those looking to obtain a concealed carry permit, are encouraged to attend.
Presenters include Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy and Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentations.
There is no charge for this seminar, and space is limited. Please RSVP to Marshall’s district office at 724-847-1352 or online at RepMarshall.com to reserve a spot.

McCormick Feels He Won Last Night’s Debate in Grove City

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

(Grove City, Pa.) What could be the final primary debate between Republicans running for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat devolved into a string of attacks. The candidates stretched for any perceived advantage in a wide-open race. In many cases, candidates blew off questions during Wednesday night’s hour-long debate. Abortion made one question, despite it dominating headlines after a leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion suggesting the court’s conservative majority is poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide. The candidates applauded the overturning of Roe v. Wade, but didn’t respond directly to whether they support any exceptions for abortion. In a release sent out by McCormick’s Campaign after the debate they feel they he undoubtedly won the debate. In the statement McCormick said that “Tonight it was made clear to Pennsylvanians that I am the true conservative candidate who will stand up for them and take on Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer and the extreme left, while Mehmet Oz once again showed he’s a Hollywood liberal phony who will read whatever script is put in front of him.” The primary is May 17.

Radio Just Got Healthier. New Weekly Show On Beaver County Radio Will Help People Live Well.

Story by Mark Peterson. Featured Photo of Dr. Joseph Maroon and Jeff Bost PAC courtesy of Frank Sparks. Published 6:15 A.M. May 5, 2022.

(Beaver County, PA)  Living Well begins by turning on your radio!  Renown neurosurgeon, Dr. Joseph Maroon along with Physician Assistant, Jeff Bost PAC, will have a special messages for the Beaver County Radio audience that’s as close as the car radio, the phone, the computer, or even smart speakers. That’s because beginning this Friday, May 6, 2022, people all over Beaver County will have unprecedented weekly visits from two of the areas most respected names in the medical field. The weekly forum, entitled “Living Well”, will air on Beaver County Radio every Friday from 12:30 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. Listeners will be able to get access to health experts simply by tuning in to “Living Well” on 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, 99.3 F.M., 95.7 F.M. and the St. Barnabas Radio Network online stream.

From answers to simple health and wellness questions to how to take steps toward building resilience and many other topics, Dr. Joseph Maroon and Jeff Bost PAC will provide unequaled access to information that can change lives during their weekly half hour radio segment.

Dr. Joseph Maroon and Jeff Bost PAC, are no strangers to talking about medical and wellness issues in front of an audience. They have appeared on many radio and television programs and at area public events throughout the years. So much so, that they have garnered almost “celebrity” status. Dr. Maroon is considered an expert on the recognition and treatment of concussion and other nervous system injuries and disorders. This has landed him in very prominent roles, included serving on National Football League’s mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee and being a neurosurgical consultant to the Pittsburgh Steeler’s Football Club and Medical Director of World Wrestling Entertainment.  For his part, Jeff Bost PAC is also a researcher and author of over 40 articles published in medical journals.  Both Maroon and Bost have co-authored on numerous books, including in 2006, a book entitled  “Fish Oil: The Natural Anti-Inflammatory.” Both men currently serve as advisory consultants for St. Barnabas Health System.

“Living Well” is a special outreach program presented by St. Barnabas.

Man Dies After Tree Strikes Vehicle during Tuesday’s Storms in Upper St. Clair

(Upper St. Clair, Pa.) In a story we first told you about on the air yesterday in Upper St. Clair where a tree fell on a man’s vehicle during Tuesday’s storm while he and his wife were sitting at a red light has died.
The man who was driving the white SUV Stephen Stasenko Jr died around midnight Tuesday just hours after the incident.
The accident occurred at the intersection of McMurray Road and Bethel Church Road. Stasenko and his wife who was a passenger in his vehicle were waiting at the light in the left lane and another vehicle with a family of six Whose vehicle was also struck by the tree was right behind Stasenko’s in.
The 64-year-old father of two was the only person injured in the accident was a long term Pittsburgh Post Gazette employee who was preparing to retire.

VIDEO: Beaver County Behavioral Health Services Providing Magisterial Diversion Program

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Kate Lowery is the Single County Authority Administrator for Beaver County Behavioral Health, and she joined Matt Drzik on the May 4 edition of A.M. Beaver County to discuss the work that BCBH does for those struggling with drug and substance abuse.

“In each of the 67 counties across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there’s a single county authority program which is the recipient of federal and state block grant funding,” Lowery said. “We’re tasked with the responsibility of setting up a full continuum of care for persons with substance abuse disorders.” Lowery said that her job is to connect many different outlets and services to help those with those disorders, which consists of 600 citizens per year in Beaver County.

One of the newer initiatives with BCBH is the Magisterial Diversion Program, initially started in Beaver Falls. The initiative allows those with minor or first-time drug offenses–those who BCBH deem to be dealing with a substance abuse issue–to enter a “very rigorous” rehabilitation program to help combat the issue. “If they’re demonstrating that they’re substance-free, and they’re moving toward the goals of their treatment program at the finale of 150 days,” Lowery added, “the magistrate would waive those charges and the person would graduate from the program.”

“I think the community of Beaver Falls has a lot to be very proud of,” Lowery exclaimed in regards to the Diversion Program, which she mentioned has similar models in Aliquippa, Hopewell Township, and New Sewickley Township.

For more information, you can contact the BCBH administrative hotline at 724-847-6225 or call 724-847-6620 for direct behavioral health evaluations. They can also be found at the Behavioral Health or System of Care websites.

To watch the full interview with Kate Lowery, click on the Facebook feed below!