Marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution, federally-designated Environmental Justice communities have experienced the consequences of injustice affecting nearly every aspect of quality of life. How are people living in these communities - like our neighbors in Aliquippa, Ambridge, Beaver Falls, Freedom, Monaca, Midland, and New Brighton - affected by their surroundings compared to others in Allegheny and Beaver Counties? Find out.
As a nonprofit law firm, Fair Shake ELS has supported residents by providing advice to responding organizations and general legal education about the accident. In a new blog, they provide a comprehensive update about where things stand at this distance from the disaster. Read more.
A bizarre local story has captured national interest with a recent feature in the popular TV series, Unsolved Mysteries. The show's executive longtime producer says this case - of an embalmed head of a woman separated from her body - is "one of her all-time favorite." Find out why.
Neighbors from across the county gathered in Aliquippa and Center Twp. this weekend to celebrate a tradition brought to our area nearly a century ago by Italian immigrants from the Patrica region of Italy, where Rocco is the patron saint, a protector against contagious disease and of dogs!
According to the San Rocco Cultural Committee, these immigrants settled primarily in the Plan 11 section of Aliquippa, where the original Festa began in 1925.
Photos by Erin Ninehouser
Since 2022, two festivals - one, the Festa, and the other, a celebration by the San Rocco Foundation - are held, with both groups participating in the annual Mass at St. Titus and procession through Aliquippa. Visit each to learn about their mission and impact!
"At a time of heightened political divisiveness with negative energy in abundance, the new Seventh Avenue mural, nicknamed LAW for 'love always wins,' takes on extra relevance," writes Scott Tady in the Beaver County Times.
Thanks to our friends at The Genesis Collective for being a catalyst for this life-giving work!
The circus is coming to town... no, really! And it's floating here on its way to Pittsburgh. FLOTSAM! is a troupe of musicians, circus performers and puppeteers traveling on a handmade ramshackle raft, performing in towns along the way.
Details: Bring a blanket or some chairs to Monaca Riverfront Park at 6 PM on Monday, August 19! Free!
Aug. 15: Always wanted to learn how to dance? Ballroom dance, that is? Free classes are happening Thursday evenings this summer at The Well in Beaver Falls. No partner and no prior experience needed!
Details: 7 to 8 PM at 1401 6th Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010. Free!
Aug. 27-31: It's time for the Big Knob Grange Fair! The 82nd annual fair will feature a demolition derby, a scarecrow contest, a rodeo, and exhibits featuring the works and goods of local artists, farmers, bakers and more!
New this season - the result of an ongoing partnership between RiverWise, Beaver County Farmers Markets, and the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank - is the opportunity for our neighbors who are eligible for assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program to use those benefits at the Ambridge Farmers Market!
Residents who are already enrolled can bring their card to our table (staffed by Carmita "CJ" McGeary Padgett and Dani Brown) to make a withdraw from it and receive tokens that can then be used to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from most of the market's vendors. Hear more about how it works!
Founded in Ebensburg, PA, the Sisters of St. Joseph relocated to Baden in 1901. Today, the Sisters’ outreach has expanded to include fields such as prison chaplaincy, ecological sustainability, justice movements, and spiritual development.
On Sunday, Sept. 8 at 2PM, an official State Historical Marker will be dedicated on their grounds to commemorate the Sisters' legacy in education, health care, social services, and missionary work abroad. The free event will be followed by light refreshments. All are welcome!
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Owen Rossi-Keen
Owen Rossi-Keen is the Founder and Principal Software Engineer at Iliad.dev, LLC, a web development agency focused on delivering enterprise-grade customization without the enterprise price-tag.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania