News N'at

05/05/2020

STRASBURG—Small business entrepreneur Brittany Allen owns Fashion Cents Consignment, which shut down under Gov. Tom Wolf's "non-essential" businesses order.
Allen protested the state government alongside hundreds of residents to at the "Take Back Control" rally on Apr. 20 outside the State Capitol in Harrisburg.

"I just really wanted the public to understand that it was having a huge impact on small businesses and people's livelihoods," said Allen. "I wanted to get out there and show support for other small businesses that were fighting to open up just as safely as some of the big box stores."

Mothers were messaging Five Cents Consignment, pleading for affordable children's clothing, she said.

"I was also protesting because kids' clothing was definitely essential," said Allen.

A month earlier on Mar. 16, Allen closed down completely with little time to prepare her staff, laying off all 37 employees. Payroll on top of the monthly operating expenses would cut into reserves or prompt loans, said Allen.

Allen filed for a waiver to do curbside pickup and small party shopping with social distancing practices given the large size of the store. She was denied the requests.

Recently, Allen implemented half-hour online shopping appointments and live merchandise display videos via Facebook to deliver directly to clients' doorsteps, but the shipping fee is deterring customers. Now, her monthly sales equal what she would have made in a day under normal operations.

"If these big stores can safely sell goods, I think every business—non-essential or essential—can do the same thing, and we can open this economy back up and we can get back to work," said Allen.

04/18/2020

EAST LIBERTY—Pittsburgh Soccer In The Community kicked off its semi-weekly food and toy drive yesterday evening at the Athletic Facility at The Neighborhood Academy to combat the economic effects of -19.

PSC provides "at-risk" youth in Pittsburgh's underserved communities with access to tuition-free programs. Especially during this crisis, its mission is to unite communities through the global game of soccer and friendship.

Many of PSC's lower income families have lost their primary sources of income and are fighting to secure basic necessities for their loved ones. PSC asks for non-perishable food, books, and children's games and that donations are sterilized and left in front of the office inside the facility.

PSC league director Haji Muya ( H-Mullah Best ) said that if his organization cannot provide soccer and other physical activities, PSC wants to deliver comfort in this time of need.

"We are Pittsburgh, and this is our community," said Muya. "If you want to do something and you want to help out somebody, make sure you start from home."

The item drive is continuing for the next two Mondays and Fridays. For questions, email PSC director of operations Mark Taylor at [email protected].

04/14/2020

HARRISBURG—Governor Tom Wolf entered a governor alliance yesterday afternoon to reopen the region in an introductory conference call hosted by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The multi-state council will have a health expert, an economic development expert, and respective Chiefs of Staff to integrate a framework that will gradually lift stay-at-home orders while minimizing the spread.

Other leaders include New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Delaware Gov. John Carney, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, and recently joined Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Wolf delivered a televised message to residents last evening on the state of the and ongoing efforts to restore the economy and get people back to work. “People are still dying, the economy is still tanking, and we know that the draconian steps we are now taking cannot go on forever," said Wolf.

With no specific timetable set, Wolf's three-stage plan entails testing for sickness and immunity, slowly reopening the state, and returning to business as usual while accepting the "new normal." ̇d19

04/14/2020

PITTSBURGH—The Allegheny County Health Department announced two new -19 related deaths along with 19 new cases today, totaling 876 cases in Allegheny County and 21 fatalities. 134 patients have been or currently hospitalized, and all deaths were aged over 65. Data is based on counts since Mar. 14, the first reported case in the county.

04/14/2020

AMBRIDGE—Chief of Ambridge Police Department Mark Romutis, was another officer down last evening at Allegheny General Hospital from complications related to -19, the Borough of Ambridge Council announced today in a press release.

The interim chief's passing marks Beaver County's second loss in leadership this weekend, just a day after the neighboring Aliquippa's Acting Police Chief, Robert Sealock, who died Saturday from heart and asthma complications.

Romutis, 64 of , first developed symptoms on Mar. 20, his last day of work before recovering at home. To date, Romutis remains the only officer of APD's 21-member force to have contracted symptoms, the Council stated.

"The Chief prided himself as an old beat cop, and his 41 years of decorated experience truly helped make Ambridge a better place,” Council President Michael Mikulich commented.

Romutis currently served as an adjunct criminal justice professor at the University of Pittsburgh and the Community College of Beaver County, extending his passion for public service upon future generations of law enforcement.

"Being highly dedicated, Chief Romutis brought many aspects of modern policing to that created lasting friendships and respected relationships with our citizens," Mayor David Drewnowski wrote in the press statement.

[📸 by Patterson Township Police | Facebook]

04/13/2020

ALIQUIPPA—The late Chief of the City of Aliquippa Bureau of Police Department, Robert Sealock, was honored today by a 2-mile vehicle procession along Franklin Avenue as community members stood in the morning downpour to pay their respects with American flags and signs.

A stretch of regional cruisers and emergency vehicles blared their sirens, escorting a hearse carrying the acting chief's body back home to .

49-year-old Sealock passed away Saturday afternoon, the first of Beaver County's fallen heroes this weekend, a day before Ambridge's Interim Police Chief, Mark Romutis, who died Sunday evening due to unrelated COVID-19 complications.

Sealock was in intensive care on a ventilator since Mar. 26 when he was rushed to Heritage Valley Beaver after he suffered a respiratory emergency on duty.

A of the United States Navy, Sealock served the APD for 23 years and was set to retire this summer.

[📸 by Andrew Rush | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

04/12/2020

04/12/2020

CANONSBURG—Sarris Candies is a beloved, privately owned candy shop continuing to distribute chocolate during the -19 crisis. Designated "essential" by Gov. Tom Wolf, the local business, a hometown hero of triumph over tragedy, is the steady beating heart of the community in statewide quarantine. What does chocolate, a comfort food, mean to people at a time like this as the holiday arrives?

Click on the link for the full scoop 🍧 https://spark.adobe.com/page/rfgvbIQNvhhWl/
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[Photo courtesy of Katie Allen | Sarris Candies]