Category: News

ROUND ONE SINGLE A PLAYOFFS THE ROCHESTER RAMS ADVANCE TO ROUND 2!!!

The Rochester Rams  defeat a very sound Summit Academy Knights team in the first round of the single A playoff game at their home gym in front of a happy Rochester crowd. The first quarter wasn’t looking terrific as the Rams had some reason for concern with their player of the game Duke Mullins was sat down with 2 fouls and they were trailing 14 11 after one. Things remained  the same in the second quarter down to the last two minutes when the Rams had a 9 point swing that started with a missed layup from Summit and a quick toss to the other end for a bucket then a steal and a three point shot from the rams and they got four more points after that to make the second quarter the onslaught that the Rams needed. At the half the Rams who were trailing most of all the second quarter went into their locker room with a 6 point lead. Rochester remained in charge of the game through the third quarter and were ahead 46 to 37. The fourth quarter the Rams had the Knights charging all around playing with a lot of intensity, but the Rams kept the game under control to close the game out with a 57-52 effort that takes them to the next round . The game was broadcast here on 95.7 99.3 and 1230 WBVP/ 1460 WMBA and world wide on Beaver County Radio by Bruce Frey on the call and Joe Sager on color.

BHIVE In Beaver Falls Holds “Wallbreaking” Ceremony

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“It’s time to create some ‘buzz’ in Beaver County.”

Those words from chairperson John Hertneky defined the mood in the room as the BHIVE (Beaver Valley Hub for Innovation, Venture, and Entrepreneurship) had a “wallbreaking” ceremony at their location at 1317 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls on February 17. The former site of Adagio Health and WIC offices downtown will now be a space for those who want to start a business to gather, conversate, and use resources that are meant to help them get started and keep going.

The current front of the BHIVE, located at 1317 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls.

Beaver County’s Corporation for Economic Development (CED) owns the BHIVE, and hosted the event on Friday, joining representatives from several groups who are also assisting with the new hub: Geneva College, Penn State Beaver, the Community College of Beaver County, the City of Beaver Falls, the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, the Beaver County Commissioners, and Job Training of Beaver County. State Senator Elder Vogel and State Representative Jim Marshall were also in attendance.

CED president Lew Villotti presided over the ceremony, praising the progress and support that has made the BHIVE approach closer to its full reality. “This is different and important for Beaver County,” he stated. “The many businesses that will spin out of here will need a place to go, and we want to make sure that place is Beaver County.”

It was a packed room for the wallbreaking ceremony, with Beaver County CED President Lew Villotti (center, nearest to the helmets) presiding.

One major component of the BHIVE will be the “Beaver Valley LaunchBox” program, provided in conjunction with Penn State University’s Beaver County branch. The resources for young entrepreneurs and business owners will be free to use through Penn State Beaver and several local donors to the program. “We expect the BHIVE to diversify businesses, and attract and retain young people,” spoke PSB chancellor Jen Cushman. “We’re doing more than just swinging a sledgehammer at a wall…I’d like to think we’re also on our way to breaking down some of the walls that stand in the way of inclusive prosperity in Beaver County.

The renovation of the building comes at a cost of $1,468,050, with 50% of the cost provided through a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant which matches the other 50% provided by the CED. “All of this excitement can’t go away,” Villotti stated. “This will require additional funding.”

The eight honorary “wallbreakers” included Cushman, Marshall, Vogel, Hertneky, Beaver Falls mayor Dr. Kenya Johns, County Commissioners Jack Manning and Tony Amadio, and Geneva College entrepreneurship professor Dr. Curtis Songer.

To see pictures from the ceremony, check out the gallery below.

Dr. Andrea Synowiec featured on “Heroes” this week

In this weeks episode of Highmark Heroes, Jim Roddey speaks to Dr. Synowiec, System Vice Chair for the Department of Neurology.  Later in the show Roddey is joined by Eric Zahren, the President of the Andrew Carnegie Hero Fund.

“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.

Aliquippa Students Attend Black History Summit

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published February 17, 2023 11:30 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa High School students attended the Black History Summit at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland on Wednesday. The students wrote essays on the topic Juneteenth. AHS students submitted the most essays, and had a 1st  place winner Jahnaya Lay-Harvey, who won an additional $300, and a trophy.  2nd place Melissa Taperncati-Chavero won $50, and 3rd place winner was Myracle Perkimns receiving $25.

REMINDER: Southbound I-79 Crossover Begins Saturday in Allegheny County

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is reminding motorists a traffic crossover on southbound Interstate 79 in Glenfield, Sewickley Hills, and Franklin Park boroughs and Ohio and Aleppo townships, Allegheny County, will begin Saturday, February 18.

A southbound crossover on I-79 will be implemented at approximately noon on Saturday to allow crews to begin bridge deck replacement work. To accommodate this work, the following traffic configuration and restrictions will occur:

  • The left lane of southbound I-79 will be crossed over into the northbound lanes between the I-279 and the Red Mud Hollow Road overpass. This is the EXPRESS lane. All traffic using this lane will not have access to the Mt. Nebo Road (Exit 68) or Emsworth/Sewickley Route 65 (Exit 66) interchanges. Southbound express lane traffic will be crossed back over between the Emsworth/Sewickley Route 65 (Exit 66) interchange and the Neville Island Bridge.
  • The right lane of southbound I-79 will remain in place. This is the LOCAL lane. Access to the Mt. Nebo Road (Exit 68) and Emsworth/Sewickley Route 65 (Exit 66) interchanges must be made from the local lane. Traffic will be shifted slightly at the Red Mud Hollow Road and Glenfield Road bridges to allow crews to conduct half width deck replacement work.
  • Two lanes of traffic will be maintained on northbound I-79. A barrier will separate the northbound lanes and the crossed over southbound lane.
  • Emergency pull-off areas will be implemented in various locations through the work zone. Three pull-off areas will be implemented in the northbound lanes, three in the southbound express lane, and three in the southbound local lane.
  • The southbound crossover will remain in place continuously through late-November.

To prepare for the crossover, single-lane restrictions and traffic stoppages will occur on northbound and southbound I-79 from 9 a.m. Friday until approximately noon Saturday. The crossover is anticipated to be in place shortly after noon on Saturday.

While the crossover is in place, crews will conduct bridge rehabilitation work on the southbound structures over Glenfield Road and Red Mud Hollow Road in half-widths. This work includes bridge deck replacement, approach slab work, bearing pad and expansion dam replacement, substructure concrete repairs, and downspout upgrades.

The work is part of the $26.49 million I-79 improvement project. Improvements include four bridge deck replacements, one bridge preservation, milling and resurfacing, preservation work on seven sign structures, installation of five new ITS signs, guide rail improvements, signage updates, and pavement marking installation. Crossovers will occur on I-79 in 2023 for bridge deck replacement work. The majority of the project will conclude in the spring of 2024.

The prime contractor is the Joseph B. Fay Company. Work on this project will be coordinated with other projects in the area.

To help keep motorists informed as work progresses, PennDOT has created an email distribution list for the I-79 Neville Island Bridge rehabilitation including traffic advisories and construction updates. Enroll by sending email addresses to stcowan@pa.gov. Please write “Subscribe – I-79” in the subject line.

BEAVER COUNTY CHAMBER NOMINATING COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES BOARD NOMINEES

Pursuant to Section 4.05(2) of the Chamber’s Bylaws, the Nominating Committee nominated the following individuals to be elected to the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Board approved the nominations at its February 9th, 2023 meeting.

Pursuant to Section 4.05(3) and 4.06 of the Chamber’s Bylaws, if no additional nominations are received from the membership, the Board of Directors will confirm their election at the March 9th, 2023 Board meeting.

Nominated for new three-year terms, which would commence on April 1, 2023, are:

1. Linda Homyk – VP/Chief Nursing Officer, Heritage Valley Health System

2. Dr. Kenya Johns – Mayor, City of Beaver Falls

3. Scott Monit – President, The Brown Dog Sign Company

4. Tracy Plevel – VP, Development & Community Relations, Gateway Rehab

Pursuant to Section 4.05(3) of the Chamber’s Bylaws, not later than ten (10) days following the date of this Notice, any ten (10) members of the Chamber may propose the nomination of an additional Member (i.e., not named above) for election to the Board of Directors, provided the name of the additional nominee is submitted to the Chair of the Chamber (Brittney Golden) by written communication or electronic communication duly signed by the ten (10) Members proposing the additional nomination. The typewritten “signatures” in an electronic communication of the Members making the nomination shall satisfy the signature requirement, provided the person sending the electronic communication certifies in the communication that the persons whose names appear have consented to their electronic signatures being affixed to the electronic communication. Pursuant to Section 4.06 of the Chamber’s Bylaws, if one or more additional nominations are made by the Members within the 10-day deadline, an election would take place in accordance with the election procedures of the Chamber’s Bylaws. If an additional nomination is made pursuant to Section 4.05(3), it should either (a) be e-mailed to Brittney Golden at info@bcchamber.com (effective upon receipt by Ms. Golden); (b) sent via U.S. Mail addressed to Ms. Brittney Golden, Chair, Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, 525 Third St., 2nd Floor, Beaver, PA 15009 (effective as of the date of post mark); or (c) hand delivered or sent via private courier (effective on the date of delivery).

To see the full roster of the Chamber Board and Executive Committee members or to learn more about the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce and its membership services, please visit our website or contact us at 724-775-3944.

Outbound I-376 Parkway West Overnight Lane Closure Tonight in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing an overnight lane closure on westbound (outbound) I-376 (Parkway West) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County will occur tonight, Friday night, February 17 weather permitting.

A single-lane restriction will occur in the outbound (westbound) direction of I-376 near the PennDOT Maintenance Facility near the Fort Pitt Tunnel from 9 p.m. Friday night to 5 a.m. Saturday morning. Crews from SAK Construction, LLC will conduct utility work.

PennDOT is not involved in this work and is providing this information as a public service announcement only.

Raccoon Township woman charged

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published February 17, 2023 11:25 A.M.

(Racoon Township, PA) PA State police reported on Thursday that a Raccoon Township woman was taken into custody and charged with simple assault.  According to the report there was an altercation between a 37 year old, and her 13 year old daughter. State Police are still investigating, according to the report. The incident was reported on Wednesday, February 14, 2023.