Shon D. Owens Sr. was an institution in Aliquippa, a man with a giant heart and vision for a future where Beaver Countians of all ages, races, religious and ethnic backgrounds could live in harmony and appreciation for one another. His work - through the Franklin Center in Aliquippa, the Inclusion, Diversity and Awareness Council (IDAC), the Beaver County Community & Law Enforcement Coalition (BCCLEC), Undivided in Christ, and many more community-based efforts touched thousands of lives here in the county.

After his unexpected passing due to complications from pneumonia last year, his wife Jikkiko has bravely carried forward the mission of the organization they co-founded in 2014, SJO Outreach, which works to "see individuals, families, and communities transformed through healthy relationships." 

The Shon Owens Unity Week (formerly Beaver County Unity Week) takes place each year in July and offers an opportunity for neighbors to demonstrate their support for the values of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Activities include a Unity Walk, Vigil, and Games where neighbors and members of local law enforcement can build positive relationships.

See photos from this year's Walk in the Beaver County Times.

Article by Chrissy Suttles

Photo by the Associated Press

An unlikely cast of Pennsylvania politicians and nonprofit leaders stood at the base of a vast Beaver County solar farm in June with a shared objective — to laud the merits of building solar on abandoned mine lands by leveraging historic levels of federal funding to make it happen.

The Keystone State has the largest inventory of abandoned coal mines in the nation, and more than 7,000 streams statewide are affected by acid mine drainage from these former mining sites. 

Mine drainage can contaminate drinking water, corrode essential infrastructure like bridges, harm ecosystems and lead to dangerous erosion. 

Cleaning up toxic brownfields for solar development could be a "win-win," speakers said in June at a Greene Township solar facility.

The event, featuring Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley and two dozen state and local officials, came on the heels of a new DEP report that revealed nearly 169,000 acres of abandoned mine lands statewide could potentially host solar facilities, including 27,000 reclaimed and 142,000 unreclaimed acres.

"Our report shows that putting solar panels on just a small fraction of the suitable abandoned mine lands could produce enough electricity to power Pittsburgh," said Shirley.

"We can clean up these sites, put them back into use with solar energy and create jobs all at the same time."

Read the full story by Chrissy Suttles on RiverWise's website here.

The "good neighbor" rule, adopted by the EPA, aims to protect states that are downwind from other states where pollution occurs due to industrial activity and other similar sources, reports Steve Bohnel.

Patrick Campbell, executive director of Group Against Smog and Pollution, said it’s likely that without the rule, air quality in the Pittsburgh region and Pennsylvania will suffer.

Read the full story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"The face of Western Pennsylvania is changing," writes Anna Mares in a story on the growth of our Hispanic population in Western Pennsylvania.

According to the 2022 Allegheny County Latinx Needs Assessment Report, the overall population of Pittsburgh grew by less than 1% between 2010 and 2020, while the Latino population in Pittsburgh grew by 80% in that same timeframe."

Read more in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about how our Latino neighbors are creating jobs and finding community in our region.

This exciting new program - part of the Justice40 Navigator initiative - supports community leaders with a positive vision to create impactful environmental justice projects in federally-designated Environmental Justice Census Tracts in Allegheny or Beaver County.

Workshops for interested applicants were held in partnership with New Sun Rising in Millvale, Beaver Falls, and Clairton this spring to help define, test, and clarify ideas during the application period, which closed July 12. Selected applicants will embark on a transformative six-month journey July 29 when the program officially begins.

July 19 & 20: Discover Beaver County's botanical wonders with Penn State Master Gardeners! Tour nine demo gardens, learn gardening tips, and explore diverse horticultural delights.

This 2-day event is just $18 and is for anyone who wants to learn more about growing food and flowers, garden design and plant selection, troubleshooting pest and diseases issues and much more!

Details/RSVP: July 19, Tour (3:00 PM-8:00 PM) and July 20, 2024, Tour (8:00 AM-1:00 PM) and After-Party (12:00 PM-3:00 PM)

July 19: Get your summer shop-local fix on at two night markets!

Details: Falls Friday Market in Beaver Falls, 4-8 PM, Falls Park (by Carnegie Library) featuring local vendors, food trucks and live music and Friday Night Flea Market at Brady's Run Park, 4-8 PM, Ice Arena (parking lot) featuring a variety of local artisans, vendors and food trucks.

July 20: Christmas in July craft and vendor show benefitting the Patterson Twp. Fire Department

Details: 10 AM to 4 PM at 319 Darlington Rd, Beaver Falls, PA 15010

July 20: CCBC Community Day with games, prizes, resources, program demonstrations, escape rooms, food trucks and more!

Details: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at CCBC (1 Campus Dr, Monaca, PA 15061)

The United of Pennsylvania has created a comprehensive, up-to-date resource for everything from rental assistance to health care to help finding a job. Dial 211 or use the searchable tool here.

If you are or know of an agency that provides services to our neighbors that would like to be included as a resource, click here to be added.

Thanks to our friends at the Ohio River Trail Council for uncovering this fascinating story!

"Archaeologists believe that the Monongahela People created the Smith Ferry Petroglyphs between 1200-1750 A.D. Unfortunately, most of the site has been destroyed or submerged by water when the Ohio River Lock & Dams were constructed for navigation.

Before the dam was erected, the Ohio River was known to dry up at Smiths Ferry during the summer season and people traveled by horse and buggy from as far as Pittsburgh, crossing over the dry river bed, to view the historical Native American site.

The Petrogylphs (human-made markings carved into rock) were last viewed in the winter of 1960 when the water level was unusually low."

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