Welcome to our fourth thematic edition of The Bridge.

As the seasons change and autumn slowly turns to winter, the editors of The Bridge wanted to create an edition that asks you to pause. The increased darkness, approaching holidays and the many local and national crises can uncover complex thoughts and emotions. How are you caring for your body and mind during this time?

In this edition, we feature several local residents who share what caring for mind and body looks like for them.

The title of this edition, "a quiet hollow," comes from a phrase in a poem by the late Andrea Gibson, which you can find below. May this edition be a space for you to gather resources, pause and reflect, and perhaps find your own version of a quiet hollow where you can take time — whether that's a few moments or a regular rhythm — to be nurtured by whatever it is that you need in order to carry on.

Last note: be sure to hit "view entire message'" or "view in browser" once you've scrolled as far as your email will let you (there's plenty more to see 😊).

"A QUIET HOLLOW"

The following short video clips feature six local residents who talk about self-care, the benefits of being in nature, taking time to pause and reflect, and so much more. Be sure to click each one to listen to their video via YouTube Shorts.

Joanne Martin: Environmentalism and Self-Care

Joanne Martin is the executive director of Re-Imagine Beaver County, which is a group dedicated to reimagining a future for Beaver County that makes wise long-term economic, cultural and social development choices for a vibrant and healthy community. In this short clip, Joanne discusses why environmentalists need self-care. Watch here.

Seth Whitted: Separating Fact from Fiction

Seth Whitted is the founder and owner of Whitted Media Content House, which uses art, creative content, and community engagement to inspire underserved communities to address their toughest issues. In this short clip, Seth talks about a practice of separating fact from fiction in order to find peace and understand yourself better. Watch here.

Jim Skal: The Sound of Water

Jim Skal is the founder of Outdoor Immersion, which uses outdoor recreation to guide veterans toward physical, mental, spiritual, and social resilience. In this short clip, Jim talks about how the sound of water provides peace. Watch here.

Chaney's Story: Community Crisis and Self-Care

Chaney Nezbeth is the executive director of The Way Station, which provides resources for residents throughout the region, but especially those impacted by the East Palestine train derailment. Watch here.

Hilary Flint: Allowing Yourself to Feel

Hilary Flint is the director of communications and community engagement with Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC). In this clip, she shares why being vulnerable with yourself is so important in order for you to continue doing good work. Watch here.

Sister Kari Pohl: Spending Time in Nature

Kari Pohl is a Sister of St. Joseph of Baden. She is the Sisters' coordinator of justice and peace. In this short clip, Kari talks about why she enjoys taking time to notice the beauty in nature. Watch here.

Exploring Your Childhood: Dan Williams shares his hope for "Misbehaving in Maine"

Dan Williams is an author and English professor who recently wrote a book about his childhood. Titled "Misbehaving in Maine: 30 Half-Learned Lessons," the book is part memoir, part creative nonfiction, and uses humor to dive deeper into some of Williams' childhood — the light and dark moments.

"I know in therapy there's this technique of taking your imagination and sending it back to hang out with your childhood self, and to tell the child you were the things that should have been told to you at that time. And so you show up as sort of like the big brother to your younger self and you tell all the bullies, and you tell what the little kid you is believing — the lie that he's believing — 'dude, that is not true. You are good,'" Williams said. "And so I feel like reaching into your past through writing you can be that big brother that helps when you didn't have help. And it does work. You can go back and visit sites of trauma and talk to that kid."

Purchase Williams' book here and read his other work on Medium here.

"Pause is Power" event hosted by the Sisters of St. Joseph

By Sister Sarah Crotty, Community Outreach Coordinator of Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden

The Sisters of St. Joseph offered "Pause Is Power" to staff members of area non-profits serving in Beaver County. The day was curated to fill their cups and offer an expression of gratitude for the hard work and dedication of those who serve in the non-profit world every day.

As we said during our planning process, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Serving others doesn’t just take skill, but heart and compassion. In offering this day, a day of rest, relaxation and renewal, we hoped to pour some love, newness, and resolve back into that cup. We offered varied activities to choose from so there might be something for everyone who attended. Hopefully, we also offered a slowly paced day where people were welcome to do several activities, or nothing at all.

One participant shared they appreciated "the variety of therapies and healing experiences" and left feeling "so cared for and loved on." We have received positive feedback from the attendees and hope to expand this offering to more non-profits and to different service sectors in the future.

Those interested in visiting for lunch, meeting the Sisters, or touring the grounds can contact Erin Ninehouser, storytelling and engagement manager, by emailing [email protected].

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Check out some photos from the day below. Photo credit: Joline Atkins and the Cornerstone of Beaver County.

NPR: How to make your nature walks even more restorative

Studies have shown that "forest bathing," or spending time in the forest, can significantly improve mood and reduce stress. Here's how to reap these benefits on your next hike. Read more.

Self-care as a practice

By Joline Atkins, Artistic Director at the Portobello Cultural Life & Art Center

My biggest issue with “self-care” talk is that most don’t engage in it until they’re at their absolute lowest. It’s not a practice. It’s a safety net.

And then, similar to binge-eating, when one is coming off of overly restricting one’s calories, they tend to swing full force in the other direction.

There is a never an adoption of a practice.

Self-care remains a haphazard reaction.

It’s why my day always starts with movement. I know my body responds favorably. My anxiety settles down. My brain brains better, and my creativity gets a “whoosh!” So I, with my privileged schedule, schedule nothing until I’ve had my morning movement. It’s a boundary I hold sacred. And I tell people this boundary.

I suggest people examine and discover that “one thing” (like what movement does for me) and lock down the ability to do that one thing DAILY. Even if that’s, say, reading for 10 minutes max. Rather than voicing “Ugh. I’ve not been able to read for a week,” you’ve at least gifted yourself 10 minutes a day. Little wins are great fuel to move you forward.

COMMUNITY MATTERS: Identity, imagination and energy innovation

Self-care often involves reflection about our roots, our background and the places we came from. This month's Community Matters is a transcript from a talk delivered by RiverWise Executive Director Daniel Rossi-Keen at the national convening of the Just Transition Fund. The piece reflects on how growing up in an energy community shaped Rossi-Keen's future in ways he never anticipated.

By Daniel Rossi-Keen, PhD

Below is an excerpt from Daniel Rossi-Keen's recent Community Matters piece, now published on RiverWise's website and in each edition of The Bridge. Click here to read the full article.

I don’t think I understood it very well at the time. But as I grow older, I am now able to recognize a sense of pride and dignity in the work my dad did. It was hard, punishing work. It aged him prematurely and left his body in perpetual pain. During an outage, he regularly worked more in 6 months than many men worked in a year. The stress of work undoubtedly contributed to a massive heart attack at the age of 44. Beyond all odds, he miraculously survived thanks to divine favor, a helicopter ride to Allegheny General Hospital, and the wonders of modern medicine.

And then, within a few short months, he returned to work at the power plant.

Reflecting on this core childhood memory, I can now understand that the complex machine of the power plant wasn’t just a series of complicated gadgets strung together. Yes, these plants were a marvel of human ingenuity and American industry. But, more fundamentally, I have come to recognize that the power plants my father dutifully maintained stood as a tangible manifestation — and industrial monument of sorts — to an entire way of life.

In my early 20s I moved away from Clearfield County, never imagining that I would one day work to help bring about a just energy transition. Yet somehow, nearly four decades removed from my first impromptu power plant tour, I find myself working to prepare communities to participate in the future of energy production and innovation.

Daniel Rossi-Keen, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and community development advocate. He is the executive director of RiverWise, a nonprofit focused on organizing community voice and power so that residents can reclaim agency over the future of Beaver County. Daniel’s writing is featured regularly in "The Bridge," a publication containing curated news and original stories for, by, and about residents of Beaver County. You can reach Daniel at [email protected].

RESOURCES

For the listeners...

For the tactile folks...

Slow Drawing Workshops | Mindful Art Studio®

Slow Drawing is a way to slow down and tune into the moment through art. Each week, Amy emails a link for a free Slow Drawing workshop that uses a nature-inspired pattern.

Sign up here.

Bustle: 'Scribble journaling' is the best way to release stress

“Scribble journaling removes the pressure of formality — there’s no right way to do it, no need for full sentences, and no expectation that it will be read later,” said Dr. Caroline Fenkel, LCSW, a therapist and chief clinical officer at Charlie Health. “It’s a great way to bypass overthinking.”

The act of writing by hand also plays a role. “[It] engages the brain differently than typing, activating motor skills and emotional processing,” she says. “It can also provide a physical release, similar to movement-based grounding techniques.” Read more.

For the readers...

LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES

Thursdays

Knitting Class (free): every week from 6 to 7:30 PM at the Beaver Area Memorial Library, 100 College Ave.

Silent Book Club: every week from 6:30 to 8 PM at the New Brighton Public Library, 1021 3rd Ave. Join others as you each silently read your individual books.

Saturday, Nov. 8

Veterans Trail Festival organized by Outdoor Immersion. Participate in the 50K, 20 Miler, or the 5K at Raccoon Creek State Park. Races start at 8 and 9 AM. Sign up here.

Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM AND Saturday, Nov. 15 from 10 AM to noon (waitlist!)

Exploring Your Inner Wisdom: A Gentle Introduction to SoulCollage. Hosted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. There is currently a waitlist for both days, however visit the Sisters website to be informed about future sessions. (Here)

Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 PM (registration required!)

Storyteller's Collective: Work with journal prompts and meditation techniques to allow your personal story to break through. Hosted by Meko Yoga and Wellness, 1702 7th Ave., Beaver Falls. Register on the Meko Yoga and Wellness app. (Here)

Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21–22

The Speak Easy, Speak Free People's Hearing is a two-day public expression of testimonies, solutions and cultural celebration. This event encourages communities to come forward to keep their aspirations alive, setting in motion what comes next even in the midst of the chaos, harm, and silence of the year 2025. Deadline to register is Nov. 15. Register here.

Throughout the month of November

Ask an Advocate: hosted by BCMAC and other area environmental nonprofits, Ask an Advocate sessions will take place across the county at a variety of times and locations. Residents are invited to join to chat with local advocates about pollution, health, clean air and water, and more. RSVP here:

• Nov. 5: 1 to 4 PM, Carnegie Library Midland
• Nov. 7: 5 to 7 PM, Altered Genius Brewing in Ambridge
• Nov. 10: 11 AM to 4 PM, Beaver Falls Coffee and Tea
• Nov 12: 12:30 to 3 PM, Monaca Library
• Nov. 18: 10 AM to 3 M, Uncommon Grounds Cafe in Aliquippa
• Nov. 19: 10 AM to 1 PM, Beaver Bagel in Bridgewater
• Nov. 20: 6 to 9 PM, Big Sewickley Creek Brewery in Sewickley
• Nov. 24: 10 AM to 12 PM, Chippewa Library

The Bridge is a project of

The Bridge is a prototype for what RiverWise envisions as a growing center for relevant community news and resources for Beaver County residents.