[PITTSBURGH, MARCH 1, 2023] — As climate disasters, blood donation needs and other emergencies upend lives, local community heroes are stepping up to care for one another.

This March, the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania is honoring those who make its mission possible during the 80th annual American Red Cross Month celebration — a national tradition that began in 1943 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation.

“When help can’t wait during emergencies, people in Pennsylvania rally together to provide relief and hope for neighbors in need,” said Jorge Martinez, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. “This humanitarian spirit is at the heart of our community, and we are proud to honor all those who make our mission possible during this year’s Red Cross Month celebration. You can join in their commitment by donating, volunteering, giving blood or platelets, or taking a lifesaving skills course.”

Participate in Red Cross Month by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation, give blood or platelets, become a volunteer or take a class in lifesaving skills, such as first aid, CPR and how to use an AED. On March 22, you can also join our annual Red Cross Giving Day campaign by donating at redcross.org/givingday to help provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance for people affected by disasters big and small.

JOIN A REWARDING DAY OF GIVING BACK Home fires are the most frequent disaster response for the Red Cross, which is also working to help families stay safe by installing free smoke alarms during its Sound the Alarm home fire safety events in at-risk communities. Volunteers are needed for an event on May 13 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Ambridge — register and learn more at soundthealarm.org/greaterpa.

PREVENT A BLOOD SHORTAGE When volunteer blood and platelet donors lend an arm this March, they’ll help keep the blood supply from dropping this spring. All who come to give blood, platelets or plasma March 1-31, 2023, will receive a $10 Visa® Prepaid Card by email.* Plus, they’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a $3,000 Visa Prepaid Card – which could help toward expenses like gas or groceries. There will be five lucky winners.*

Annville, PA – As the nation celebrates Women’s History Month in March, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) reminds drivers that purchasing an Honoring Our Women Veterans License Plate both recognizes the importance of women who served and supports programs assisting women veterans in Pennsylvania.

Each plate costs $37, with $15 going directly to the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF). The VTF regularly issues grants to statewide charitable organizations assisting veterans service organizations and county directors of veterans affairs. The grants are used to aid veterans in need of shelter, essential goods and other services.

“Pennsylvania’s nearly 64,000 women veterans have made significant contributions to our military, nation, and communities. It is with great pride that we recognize their commitment to our country with a special license plate created in their honor,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s acting adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “Purchasing one of these special plates not only pays tribute to women veterans and their contributions, but a portion of the proceeds helps to fund the Veterans’ Trust Fund grants that support all veterans across the commonwealth.”

“PennDOT is proud to recognize the accomplishments of women veterans by offering this special license plate created in their honor,” said Mike Carroll, acting PennDOT secretary. “With this plate attached to cars traveling throughout the Commonwealth, Pennsylvanians everywhere are reminded that we owe a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices of women veterans who served to preserve our freedom.”

The Honoring Our Women Veterans license plate is available for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds.

Additionally, Honoring Our Veterans license plates for passenger cars, trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds, and motorcycles are available for $38 each, with $15 from each plate also going to the VTF.

In addition to the sales of these license plates, there are a variety of programs designed to help fund the VTF in support of Pennsylvania’s more than 700,000 veterans. To learn more about how to purchase these plates and support the VTF, visit www.vtf.pa.gov or follow DMVA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/padmva.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 1, 2023 10:27 A.M.  

(Ambridge, PA) Ambridge Police were called to the middle school Tuesday morning at approximately 11 a.m. for an incident involving a student and a teacher.  Lt. John Chickos said Wednesday morning that the incident is under investigation.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 1, 2023 10:25 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, PA) Hopewell School Board met Tuesday night and approved the retirement of junior high school secretary Dixie Loverede effective August 18, 2023 and Soccer coach Chet Papczynski effective 3/1/2023. Brenna Wandel was hired as the girls tennis coach. She will be paid a $5,100.00 stipend. Madison Martin was hired as a day to day substitute teacher effective 2/21/2023.
The district’s 2023-24 school calendar was approved. Shauna Howard and Nicole Ozimok were hired for the after-school learning program that runs from 2/28/2023 to 3/30/2023. The program is funded by ESSER III 7% set aside monies by the district.

(New Brighton, PA) The Schaedler Yesco location in New Brighton has announced they will be operating under new business hours.  The location will now operate Monday through Friday from 7am to 5pm and the store will stop operating on Saturdays after March 25th.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing drilling operations on Reno Street (Route 1037) in Rochester Township, Beaver County will begin Wednesday, March 1 weather permitting.

Single-lane alternating traffic on Reno Street will occur between Unionville Road and Noonen Street weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, March 3.  Crews from Armstrong Drilling will conduct drilling work.

Please use caution if traveling in the area.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing inspection activities on the bridge that carries Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) over Eckert Street in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County will occur Wednesday through Friday, March 1-3 weather permitting.

Single-lane restrictions will occur in each direction on Route 65 for bridge inspection activities.  Restrictions will occur weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, March 3.

Crews from the Larson Design Group will conduct the routine inspection activities.

Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns. Please use caution when driving through the area.  Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Austin Davis (Credit: Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus)

HARRISBURG, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced he is appointing Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). The Shapiro-Davis Administration has made public safety a top priority, working to invest in the safety of our children, families, and neighbors.

Then-Montgomery County Commissioner Shapiro served as Chairman of the PCCD from 2015 to 2017 and served on the Commission from 2011 to 2017. Governor Shapiro believes that all Pennsylvanians, no matter their background, want and deserve a criminal justice system that keeps our communities safe and enforces the laws in a fair and consistent manner.

“I am proud to appoint Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis to lead the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency,” said Governor Shapiro. “For far too long, too many communities have been forgotten and left out of the conversation in Harrisburg. Every Pennsylvanian deserves to be safe and feel safe in their communities and together, Lieutenant Governor Davis and I will work to support the work of law enforcement, invest in our communities, promote anti-violence initiatives and youth programming, and pursue smart reforms to keep people safe across the Commonwealth.”

“A shooting in my neighborhood in McKeesport is what first spurred me to action and called me to public service, back when I was still in high school,” said Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis. “Now it’s 18 years later, and this work is more important than ever. As Lieutenant Governor, I will not allow politics to stand in the way of progress on this issue. Our children are counting on us to get this done. I’m honored that the Governor has put his trust in me to lead the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. We will bring together the top experts, use the latest research, and study best practices from across the country with the goal of preventing gun violence.”

As Chairman, Lieutenant Governor Davis will work to invest in services for Pennsylvania’s youth and violence prevention initiatives and will help drive investment into communities that have been left behind for far too long.

The PCCD serves as the justice planning and policymaking agency for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. By bringing together a wide range of experts in the fields of criminal and juvenile justice, victim services, and related professions, PCCD finds and implements violence prevention solutions.

FILE – Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro speaks at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., on Jan. 11, 2023.  (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today awarded $1.5 million in 2022 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant funding to help municipalities, schools, and businesses around the state switch to clean transportation and improve air quality in their communities. The DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program helps municipalities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations replace older gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles with clean fuel transportation. This funding builds on Governor Shapiro’s agenda to create a bold, comprehensive climate and energy plan that will grow Pennsylvania’s economy, protect and create jobs, and address climate change.

The grant recipients, ranging from a small borough to rental car, garbage truck, and school bus companies, will replace 88 old gasoline or diesel vehicles with 78 electric and 10 renewable natural gas vehicles and install 36 chargers for electric vehicles.

“The Shapiro Administration is committed to growing the Commonwealth’s economy while protecting Pennsylvanians’ constitutional right to clean air and pure water,” said DEP Acting Secretary Rich Negrin. “A growing number of organizations and businesses in Pennsylvania want to lower their transportation emissions. Today’s announcement demonstrates a shared commitment between the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and our local communities and businesses to improve air quality, address climate change, and increase the use of renewable energy across the Commonwealth.”

The funded projects are as follows:

Allegheny County

• City of Pittsburgh: $272,152 for 30 electric cars, 15 electric transit vans, and 10 dual-plug level 2 chargers for use by staff in the Departments of Public Works and Permits, Licenses and Inspections.

• Flyspace Productions LLC: $13,500 for an electric pickup truck and electric cargo van to make deliveries and tow event equipment.

Beaver County

• Borough of Ambridge: $15,000 for two electric pickup trucks for the police department.

Cambria County

• Pro Disposal, Inc.: $300,000 for three electric garbage trucks to be used in the City of Johnstown.

Dauphin County

• Aero Corp.: $300,000 for six DC fast chargers at Harrisburg International Airport for Aero’s fleet of rental electric vehicles. The chargers will also be available to other car rental companies.

Lackawanna and Westmoreland Counties

• Waste Management of Pennsylvania, Inc.: $200,000 for 10 renewable natural gas garbage trucks to be used in North Huntingdon Township and Dunmore Borough.

Northampton County

• Bethlehem Parking Authority: $15,000 for two electric cars for parking enforcement.

Potter County

• Protektor Model Company: $15,000 for two electric pickup trucks for deliveries and travel to trade shows and competitions for this manufacturer of rifle shooting accessories.

Philadelphia County

• Philadelphia Gas Works: $28,125 for three electric cars and two electric pickup trucks for customer service and field work, as part of the utility’s Green Fleet project.

• University of Pennsylvania: $52,500 for seven electric transit vans for student transport, as part of the university’s Fleet Electrification Initiative.

State

• Highland Electric Fleets: $75,000 for 10 electric vans and $225,000 for 20 DC fast chargers for a school district in Pennsylvania.

“We greatly appreciate this AFIG funding from DEP,” said Michael Bellvia, president of Pro Disposal, Inc. “We’re a family-owned local business, and committed to providing the best services for our customers. This investment will enable us to begin transitioning our fleet from burning fossil fuels to using renewable resources to reduce our carbon footprint, which will benefit both our company and our community.”

“Aero Corporation is committed to the adoption of electric vehicles,” said Tom Troxell, Director of Electrification. “This DEP grant will allow us to expand access to convenient and reliable fast charging for both our community and visitors to the keystone state.”

Getting more zero- and low-emission vehicles on the road in Pennsylvania helps reduce harmful air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. It also helps lower the level of carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases heating up the climate, in the air.

Gasoline and diesel vehicles generate 47 percent of nitrogen oxides emissions in Pennsylvania, contributing to ground-level ozone. This affects the health of children, older people, people who work or are active outdoors, and people with asthma, emphysema, or other lung conditions.

The transportation sector makes up 22 percent of Pennsylvania’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

It was a succinct and somewhat short meeting for the Beaver Falls City Council to close the month of February, but it wasn’t without major announcements regarding the future.

During the meeting, the council approved for a tournament to be held by the Beaver Valley Youth Basketball Association from March 10-12 at Beaver County Christian School, with police protection for the event provided by the city’s police department. The policed department also received approval for a three-year agreement with PlateSmart for software services (PlateSmart had acquired the company from which the department had been previously using software). General Fund expenditures were approved at an amount of $331,952.80.

The Farmer’s Market was approved for return by the city council, as the market will be held behind the Brodhead Apartments beginning May 1 until November 20. The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority Board had the five-year term of Anthony Comer approved by the board, along with the purchase of the property at 108 14th Street by Devay Owens.

13th Street will be closed from 3 PM until 9 PM on April 29 for the launch event for the new group Beaver Falls Core at March Park, while another park has received name suggestions. Community Development director Rochelle Burks announced that she had a list of 18 names that were submitted for the new park by the Carnegie Free Library, which is set to be open in the summer.

The biggest reveal of the evening, however, came near the very end as councilmembers provided their updates…and longtime councilman Leonard Chiappetta had a major one.

“After prayerful thought, I will finish my term now, I will not seek re-election in January,” Chiappetta announced. “It’s hard for me to step down, but now is the time to do it.”

“We’re really sad to hear that, but we’re thankful for all the years that you’ve invested in our city,” Mayor Kenya Johns stated. The rest of the council concurred in thanking Chiappetta for his many years of servitude on the Beaver Falls City Council.

The next Beaver Falls City Council meeting is scheduled for March 14 at 7:00 PM.