Rochester, Pa.—The Beaver County Democratic Committee is partnering with prospective candidates as well as area food pantries in a one-stop collection event. To help candidates gather ballot signatures, registered Democrats are invited to visit the Committee’s headquarters at 426 Adams Street in Rochester, Pa., from 10 am until 4 pm Saturday, February 25, 2023. At the same time, voters who are able, are asked to drop off canned goods to benefit the Little Free Pantries of Beaver County.

“In 2023, Democrats are dedicated to building a more perfect Beaver County,” said Committee Chair Erin Gabriel. “We are proud to find ways to pair our political work with service to our communities.”

With this event, voters can enjoy an easy way to ensure Democratic candidates get on the ballot — an essential step in the Pennsylvania election process — while also lending a helping hand to neighbors in need.

This year marks the third anniversary of the Beaver County donation/petition combination event. Prior events were so successful that the Committee has decided to make it a tradition.

In 2022, through this effort, the Beaver County Democratic Committee provided over 200 items to each of the 11 pantries, and they are hoping to exceed that donation amount this year.

All non-perishable foods, except for glass jars, will be accepted. Especially requested:

Pasta

Pasta sauce in plastic jars

Mac and Cheese

Ramen Noodles

Canned or pouched meat or fish

Peanut butter and jelly

Canned soup, chili, and stews

Shampoo/conditioner

Toothpaste

Bars of soap

Deodorant

Donations can be brought to the Committee office beginning at 10 am February 25th. Petitions can only be signed by registered Democrats.

One in 7 patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion. At the same time, only about 3% of Americans give blood. The American Red Cross needs more people to give this month to meet the needs of hospitals and their patients.

In thanks for helping, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in February will get a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, thanks to Amazon. Those who come to donate this month will also automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Clearwater Beach, Florida. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/heart.

Governor Shapiro meets with State Senator Camera Bartolotta, State Rep. Josh Kail, State Rep. Jim Marshall, State Rep. Robert Matzie, Beaver County Commissioners Dan Camp, Jack Manning, and Tony Amadio, and Beaver County Emergency Services Deputy Director Kevin Whipple.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, following a meeting with Beaver County Commissioners, local elected officials, and emergency management leaders, Governor Shapiro sent a letter to Norfolk Southern Corporation CEO Alan Shaw, expressing serious concerns regarding the company’s management of the February 3 train derailment. Local and state leaders are frustrated and concerned by Norfolk Southern’s disregard for crisis management best practices and agree Norfolk Southern could have put Pennsylvanians’ health and well-being at risk. Pennsylvania continues to see no concerning air or water quality readings following this incident. The Department of Environmental Protection will continue to work with its partners to monitor the air and water quality closely in the weeks and months ahead.

 

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The city of Beaver Falls’ council spent a small part of their Valentines’ Day–roughly 45 minutes–showing love to their city at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday night.

The feeling was less romantic out of the gate, however. An ordinance that would officially establish the city’s administrative code as to that of a home rule charter was tabled due to the extensive contents of the code not being fully read by council staff. Mayor Kenya Johns insisted that the resolution be tabled until the February 28 meeting, despite the additional advertising fees making the announcement official.

Councilmember John “Chuckie” Kirkland was set to table the resolution, but momentarily rescinded once he realized about the additional fees. Other members were less sanguine: “I get more and more confused…it makes me feel stupid,” lamented councilmember Leonard Chiappetta in regards to the extensive code. “It’s like throwing a stone at a beehive…everything comes at you.” After the discussion, the council approved the tabling of the ordinance until the following meeting, and Mayor Johns said that she would pay the advertising fees for the announcement.

Following that, the remainder of the agenda was approved rather hastily. Two property sales to Darrin Cole were approved unanimously by council, located on 14th Avenue as well as 19th Street. The council also approved the demolition of seven properties in agreement with the Redevelopment Authority of Beaver County in conjunction with the Reclaim Project. The seven properties are located at the following addresses (all in Beaver Falls):

• 13 Bridge Street
• 15 Bridge Street
• 817 3rd Avenue
• 1514 3rd Avenue
• 1824 6th Avenue Rear
• 1931 6th Avenue
• 1312-1314 10th Avenue

General fund and Payroll expenditures totaling $563,604.67 (including two payrolls) were unanimously approved by council. A repository purchase for a property on 9th Avenue was tabled due to the purchaser not being in attendance, putting the Beaver Falls City Council in the rarified company of persons managing to obtain multiple tables on Valentines’ Day.

On a more sobering note, Fire Chief Mark Stowe spoke about the experiences of him and his staff at the Beaver Falls Fire Department in assisting in the train derailment that occurred in East Palestine on February 5. Stowe described a “chaotic scene” where the blazes were unlike any the department had ever seen, while also noting that the equipment had been contaminated with the chemicals that were released into the atmosphere during the assistance. He noted that Norfolk Southern, whose train it was that derailed, would financially reimburse the department for man hours.

Stowe said that no firefighters were immediately injured, but that concerns lie in the aftermath of breathing in the vinyl chloride chemicals for multiple days. “I will say that all of our firefighters were out there for days…had a cough, sore throat, and things because of the chemicals that were in the air,” Stowe added. “We pray that there’s not going to be any long-term effects.” Stowe commended his staff for their hard work, and Mayor Johns returned the words in kind to the fire chief and his staff.

City Manager Charles Jones announced that there will be a traffic study by PennDOT in Eastvale following an accident that occurred in January involving a car colliding into a residence, with the hope and intent to establish safety boundaries in that area. Jones also announced that there will be a “wallbreaking” ceremony for the BHIVE on 7th Avenue on Friday, February 17 at 11:00 AM, and that nearby Library Park is planning to complete construction in early April.

The next Beaver Falls City Council meeting is scheduled for February 28 at 7:00 PM at the city building.

(File Photo of Dale Reckless from MRS Physical Therapy during a recent appearance on Beaver County Radio) 

(Beaver Falls, Pa.)  Dale Reckless from MRS Physical Therapy in Bridgewater will discuss the new craze of Pickle Ball. What does pickle ball have to do with physical therapy? You’ll have to tune into Dale Reckless’  monthly appearance on Teleforum with Eddy Crow at 9:10 AM Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

The phone lines will be open throughout the show to answer your questions about knee pain or any other ailment you made need advice about at 724-843-1888 and 724-774-1888.

The show is presented on all platforms of Beaver County Radio, on-air at 95.7 FM and 99.3 FM along with 1230 WBVP and1460 WMBA and on-line at beavercountyradio.com.

You can also click on the Facebook Logo below at show time to watch the show streaming live on the Beaver County Radio Facebook Page.

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

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Regis Collins and Georgia Miller the Co-Chairs of the Beaver County Maple Syrup and Music festival joined Eddy Crow on a Valentine’s Day edition of Teleforum to announce that after a three year absence the Beaver County Maple Syrup and Music Festival will make a return to Brady’s Run Park for 2023. The festival will be held the weekend of April 22 and 23 at the park.  Along with the exciting news of the festival’s return a new logo was also unveiled.

The Maple Syrup festival was last held in 2019 under the management of the Beaver County Conservation District. PUSH Beaver County took over the festival in 2020 in the peak of the pandemic and after having to cancel the 2020 and 2021 festivals planned on holding it in 2022 even announcing dates but they eventually canceled it due to a resurgence in the COVID-19.

You can see the entire interview below as it streamed Live on our Facebook Page.

Cashiers process purchases at a Walmart Supercenter in North Bergen, N.J., on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. On Tuesday, the Labor Department reports on U.S. consumer prices for January. The consumer price index is closely watched by the Federal Reserve, which has raised interest rates eight times in the past year in an attempt to cool the economy and bring down inflation. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The pace of consumer price increases eased again in January compared with a year earlier, the latest sign that the high inflation that has gripped Americans for nearly two years is slowing. At the same time, Tuesday’s consumer price report showed that inflationary pressures in the U.S. economy remain stubborn and are likely to fuel price spikes well into this year. Consumer prices rose 6.4% in January from 12 months earlier, down from 6.5% in December. It was the seventh straight year-over-year slowdown and well below a recent peak of 9.1% in June. On a monthly basis, though, consumer prices increased 0.5% from December to January, much higher than the 0.1% rise from November to December.

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 14, 2023) – Craig Smith, a recipient of a life-saving heart transplant at Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), will celebrate National Donor Day, February 14, by delivering gift bags and spending time with recent transplant recipients and those hospitalized at AGH with other cardiovascular health issues. National Donor Day is the national holiday that recognizes organ, tissue and cornea donors.

Smith will be joined by “Pumper,” a heart-shaped mascot whose mission is to raise awareness about the importance of registering to become an organ donor. A fierce advocate within the organ donation community, Smith works closely with the AHN Cardiovascular Institute and the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) to reach communities throughout western Pennsylvania.

Smith says that registering as an organ donor is the most heartfelt gift for Valentine’s Day. He encourages everyone to honor his donor, and all donors, by signing up to become a donor at RegisterMe.org/AHN.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 14 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:
Allegheny General Hospital

320 East North Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15212

WHO:

• Craig Smith, AGH heart transplant recipient
• Physicians and nursing staff comprising the AGH heart transplant team
• Patients hospitalized for transplant-related procedures and/or cardiovascular complications
• Team members of CORE

CRAIG’S STORY:
After experiencing shortness of breath and extreme fatigue after graduating from Penn State University, Craig Smith of Johnstown was later diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy at AHN Cardiovascular Institute. In 2015, while in his early 20s, Smith underwent a successful heart transplant procedure, performed by Stephen Bailey, MD, heart transplant surgeon at AGH and chair of the AHN Cardiovascular Institute. Today, Smith is the founder and executive director of “Second Chance Fundraising,” a non-profit dedicated to increasing awareness around organ and tissue donation, and raising financial support for those who need a “second chance” at life through organ donation.

WHY:
National Donor Day is observed across the United States as a day to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation, and to celebrate those who have given the gift of life. According to CORE, more than 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for a transplant that will save their lives. In Pennsylvania alone, there are more than 7,000 people on the waiting list. AGH, the Network’s flagship academic medical center, is routinely ranked among the state’s top medical centers for three-year survival rates among heart transplant patients.

FILE – A Kia which was damaged after being stolen is seen at an auto repair shop in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Automakers Hyundai and Kia are offering software updates for millions of their vehicles that are missing a “key” anti-theft device, an issue that was exploited on social media and led to rampant theft of the cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 that the software updates the theft alarm software logic to extend the length of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to one minute and requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the vehicle on. (Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP)

Hyundai and Kia are rolling out software updates to stem a raft of auto thefts related to a TikTok challenge that authorities believe has led to at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities. The updates are free for millions of vehicles that are missing a key anti-theft device, an issue that was exploited on social media and led to rampant theft of the cars. About 3.8 million Hyundais and 4.5 million Kias are eligible for the software update, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday.