In this weeks episode of Highmark Heroes, Jim Roddey speaks to Dr. George Eid,  Chair of Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at Allegheny Health Network. Later in the show Roddey is joined by Michelle Wilcox of Daugherty Township in New Brighton who served as a Navy Corpsman.

“Heroes” is presented by Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the Allegheny Health Network, airing Saturdays at 10:00 AM and Sundays at 12:30 PM on Beaver County Radio. Archived editions of “Heroes” can be heard at the Beaver County Radio Podcast Library.

Jeff Bost and Dr. Maroon talk about hard end of life decisions and hospice care this week on “Living Well”

Dr. Joseph Maroon is a world renown neurosurgeon with extensive experience in neurosurgery. He specializes in minimally invasive surgery to speed recovery for his patients. He is a sports medicine expert and innovator in concussion management, personal fitness and nutrition. Dr. Maroon is also the Pittsburgh Steelers team doctor.

Jeff Bost is a consultant to the St. Barnabas Health System. Bost is also a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Neurosurgery at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a consultant to the WWE, and Clinical Assistant Professor at Chatham University. He has a special interest in minimally invasive spine and brain surgery and have collaborated on scores of scientific medical papers and books in these areas. Over the last 15 years he has researched, lectured and written on the use of alternative treatment for pain control.

Bost, along with Dr. Joseph Maroon have authored two books on the use of omega-3 fish oil, including: Fish Oil: The Natural Anti-Inflammatory, currently in its forth printing with over 75,000 copies sold and recently, Why You Need Fish Oil. He has given over 100 invited lectures, 24 national posters and oral presentations, 29 coordinated research projects, five workshops presentations, 35 scientific articles and 10 book chapters.

You can rune into “Living Well” every Saturday morning at 8:30 on 95.7 and 99.3 FM, 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, and beavercountyradio.com.

You can also listen to all previous episodes of “Living Well” by going to beavercountyradio.com clicking on the Listen Live Button, Then chose Beaver County Radio and click on Podcasts in the upper right hand corner.

You can also download our free apps by clicking on the proper store icon for your platform of a device:

Pastor David Grove of the Church of the Redeemed of Beaver Valley provides a message on the importance of the word of God this Saturday on “Wake Up Beaver Valley”.

“Wake Up Beaver Valley” airs every Saturday morning from 9 AM to 10 AM on Beaver County Radio and is presented by the Church of The Redeemed of Beaver Valley. Archived editions of “Wake Up Beaver Valley” can be heard at the Beaver County Radio Podcast Library.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 10, 2023 10:17 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, PA) Community Outreach Coordinator Nora Janicki  announced last week that 18 inch by 12 inch wooden Easter eggs are available in the township office to be decorated.  In a statement she said, “Work your magic to make your egg one of a kind. Take a photo of your egg and forward it to Nora at njanicki@hopewelltwp.com by March 20, 2023. The hunt begins on Friday, March 24, 2023. Eggs are to be displayed before kickoff. Nora will let you know where to display it.

File – A help-wanted sign hangs in the front window of the Bar Harbor Tea Room, Saturday, June 11, 2022, in Bar Harbor, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for January 2023.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was unchanged over the month at 4.3% in January. The U.S. unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point from December to 3.4%. The commonwealth’s unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points below its January 2022 level and the national rate was down 0.6 percentage points over the year.

At the start of each year, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses additional or revised information to adjust prior years’ monthly sample-based estimates. Additionally, seasonal adjustment factors for historical labor force and nonfarm jobs data are updated. That process for Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force and nonfarm jobs data through 2022 has been completed and is reflected in the analysis of January’s preliminary data.

“The January data shows stability in Pennsylvania’s economy. Throughout 2022 and into January of this year, the unemployment rate remained steady between 4.3 and 4.4 percent and jobs are near record high levels,” L&I Acting Secretary Nancy Walker said.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – was up 11,000 over the month. The employment count rose by 11,000 and resident unemployment was unchanged from December.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 14,800 over the month to 6,085,800 in January. Jobs increased from December in six of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest gain was in education & health services (+8,000), while trade, transportation & utilities jobs rose to a record high level. Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 190,200 with gains in all 11 supersectors.

As of January 2023, total nonfarm jobs were only 2,100 below the February 2020 record high. Four supersectors – trade, transportation & utilities; information; financial activities; and professional & business services – were above their pre-pandemic job levels in January 2023.

Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 12, when the clocks in most U.S. states will “spring forward.” AAA East Central advises motorists and pedestrians to make the proper adjustments for safer travel.

“Many will find on Monday that their normal morning commutes will be darker than they’re used to, which can be especially dangerous for pedestrians and children waiting at bus stops,” says Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs, AAA East Central. “Moreover, less sleep can lead to an increase in the number of drowsy drivers, so motorists should prepare themselves to adjust to losing an hour of sleep and then driving in darker conditions.”

Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that drivers who don’t get enough sleep put everyone on the road at risk, and that drowsy driving crashes are nearly eight times more prominent than indicated by federal estimates due to the difficulty in detecting drowsiness following a crash.  Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 35 percent of U.S. motorists sleep less than the recommended minimum of seven hours daily – which could be exacerbated by this weekend’s time change.

The most common symptoms of drowsy driving include:

• Having trouble keeping your eyes open.
• Drifting from your lane.
• Not remembering the last few miles driven.

Given that drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving, AAA East Central advises motorists to take the following steps:

• Plan for an extra hour of sleep to offset the time change.
• Avoid heavy foods before driving.
• Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment.
• For longer trips, schedule a break every two hours or 100 miles.

Additionally, pedestrians should take the following steps to increase their safety:

• Pay attention while walking, especially near crosswalks.
• Wear bright colors or reflective clothing at dusk and at night.
• Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark.
• Make eye contact with drivers when crossing streets.
• Walk on the sidewalk, or walk facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.
• Cross at intersections, and never run out from in between parked cars on the side of the road.

Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 12, and the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania reminds everyone to TURN your clocks forward one hour and TEST your smoke alarms.

Did you know working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half? That’s why it’s critical to “Turn and Test” and take these lifesaving steps to stay safe from home fires — the nation’s most frequent disaster:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it.
• Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. That’s because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Check the date of your smoke alarms and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Practice your two-minute escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. Include at least two ways to get out from every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows where to meet.
• Teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

“As many as seven people die in this country every day from a home fire, but smoke alarms cut your risk in half,” said Jorge Martinez, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. “Protect your household this weekend. Turn your clocks forward and test your smoke alarms.”

Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family. You can also download our free Emergency app by searching for “American Red Cross” in app stores.

PITTSBURGH, Pa.– Allegheny Health Network’s Director of Sports Performance, Frank Velasquez Jr., ATC, CSCS, has been selected the strength and conditioning coach for Team Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic. Velasquez will oversee the strength training, conditioning, and overall wellness program for the team.

Velasquez is a certified athletic trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist who worked in professional baseball for 16 years, including nine years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2015, he joined Allegheny Health Network (AHN) to serve as Director of the Sports Performance program with locations at the AHN Sports Complex at Cool Springs in Bethel Park, Pa., AHN Sports Performance at Wexford Plaza in Wexford, Pa., and the AHN Montour Health & Sports Medicine Center in Coraopolis, Pa.

The World Baseball Classic is the premier global baseball competition in which 20 teams from countries around the world participate. After three rounds over the course of two weeks, the winning team is named the world champion.

With the Classic taking place just weeks away from the start of the MLB regular season, Velasquez says he will also assist the players in their preparation for the upcoming season.

“I want to support Team Nicaragua’s athletes to compete at a high level throughout the World Baseball Classic, but I’ll also be there to help each of the players in the continuation of their spring training regimens,” said Velasquez. “I have long been dedicated to helping athletes reach their highest level of performance and am appreciative for this opportunity.”

Under Velasquez’s leadership, the AHN sports performance team offers advanced, individualized strength training, physical therapy, sports nutrition, massage therapy and sports medicine services for developing youths, performing athletes and active adults. Specialty programs and clinics available include strength training for endurance athletes, in-season arm care, summer/winter athletic development and the ACL integrity program.

These programs follow scientifically proven, industry-leading protocols and are supported by highly advanced technologies, including an Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill, VO2 Max Testing, the Dynavision Reaction Board visumotor-training device (designed to improve reaction times), and the Makoto Functional Arena (a 360-degree, multi-planar simulator that provides a close approximation to real-time sports).

“With Frank’s wealth of knowledge and drive to develop athletes at all levels, it is no surprise that he has been asked to help lead Team Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic,” said Patrick J. DeMeo, MD, Chair of the AHN Orthopaedic Institute and Medical Director of the Pittsburgh Pirates. “We are proud to have Frank represent AHN on this global platform and wish him and the team the best of luck.”

AHN is the official medical provider of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Gannon University, the Community College of Allegheny County and more than 30 Pittsburgh-area high school athletic programs.

Harrisburg, PA. March 9th – This morning standing in front of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for Auditor General and challenge Republican Tim DeFoor for the powerful oversight role in 2024. At launch, he boasted the support of a majority of Pennsylvania’s Democratic congressional delegation (full list below), PA House and Senate leaders, Mayor Ed Gainey, and organized labor.

In his announcement, he discussed the critical nature of the role and his belief that “we need an underdog to be the watchdog for working families.”

He talked about his work in Harrisburg and how it prepares him to do this job. “As a State Representative for nearly five years, I have worked to protect workers’ rights, pass common-sense gun safety policies, and root out government corruption and waste. I’ve held multiple legislative leadership roles: as a member of the powerful State Government Committee with oversight on state agencies and elections, minority Chair of the Subcommittee on Campaign Finance and Elections, minority Chair of Automation and Technology in the Committee on Commerce, and a member of the Finance Committee.”

He also discussed his personal story growing up in a working poor family and outlined a bold agenda to reform the office and use it as a tool to “keep Pennsylvania families from being screwed.”

He highlighted a three-point agenda for the office that includes: Rebuilding the department of school audits (which was closed under Tim DeFoor), Creating a worker liaison and using the power of the office to take on wage theft, employee misclassification, and union busting, and Using the office to measure and support efforts to make communities healthier and safer.

Some of his day one endorsers released the following statements:

Speaker Joanna McClinton:
Malcolm is exactly what we need in the next Auditor General: tenacious, honest, and mission driven. I’ve watched him throughout his life and career center the needs of working Pennsylvanians. I know he will continue that work in this critical statewide role. I’m proud to endorse him.

Congressman Dwight Evans:
I’m proud to endorse Rep. Kenyatta to be our next Auditor General. I’ve served in Harrisburg and Washington. I know what it takes to deliver for people and so does Malcolm. As Auditor General I’m confident he will be a powerful and independent voice for common sense, good government, and fairness. He has worked hard around our commonwealth for years now — he can win and he will win.

Congressman Matt Cartwright:
Malcolm Kenyatta is unmovable in his support for working families and implacable in standing up to special interests. I’m supporting Kenyatta for Auditor General because I know he’ll be an independent voice for a government that works for us. He has the intellect, experience, and character to do this job. Malcolm is the Auditor General we need.
Mayor Ed Gainey:
I had the opportunity to serve with Malcolm and I’ve seen firsthand his commitment to working people. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walks. We need an Auditor General that is fearless and focused on making government work better. I have his back and I urge folks to join me.

Arthur Steinberg, President AFT Pennsylvania:
Malcolm believes deeply in the power of education and our public schools. He doesn’t just say it, he fights for it everyday in Harrisburg. The current Auditor General simply disbanded the entire school audits division to the detriment of students, families, and communities. When Rep. Kenyatta becomes Auditor General Kenyatta he will rebuild that office and hold all our schools accountable including cyber charter schools. We at AFT Pennsylvania are proud to have his back.

UFCW: We are proud to be amongst the first to endorse Malcolm Kenyatta for auditor general. Malcolm has been a steadfast supporter of our members and has always shown up when it mattered most. We know Malcolm has what it takes to ensure your taxpayer dollars are being put to good use, and we look forward to electing him as Pennsylvania’s next Auditor General.

Full list of endorsements:
Dwight Evans, Congressmember

Matt Cartwright, Congressmember

Madeleine Dean, Congressmember

Susan Wild, Congressmember

Summer Lee, Congressmember

Joanna McClinton, Speaker of the PA House

Jay Costa, PA State Senate Democratic Leader

Ed Gainey, Mayor of Pittsburgh

UFCW 1776
AFT Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Time will jump forward this weekend as the annual Daylight Savings Time period begins at 2 a-m Sunday morning. Residents should turn their clocks ahead one hour before they go to bed Saturday night. Daylight Saving Time will run until November 5th. Safety experts recommend that people use this clock shift as a reminder to also check batteries in their smoke detectors.