NEWS AND VIEWS ~ September 17, 2026

Old and Up the River...

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Ligonier group gets $95,000 to build, maintain snowmobile trails

September 16, 2026 - Kris Mamula

Ligonier-based Rolling Ridge Motorsports Club was among seven organizations to receive state grant funding to expand and improve off-road trails across Pennsylvania. Rolling Ridge Motorsports, which serves Somerset, Cambria and Westmoreland counties, received a $95,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation of Natural Resources…

Confluence PumpkinFest Is Two Weeks Out. Here Is Everything on the Schedule.

September 15, 2026 - News & Views Staff

Confluence PumpkinFest runs October 2 to 4 in the town square, with a parade, a 5K, the Queen Pageant, a tractor pull and Square Dancing Tractors

Pennsylvania Will Pay Up to $15,000 Toward Planning the Future of Your Farm

September 15, 2026 - News & Views Staff

PA Farm Vitality Planning Grants cover up to 75 percent of the cost of business, succession, or transition planning for Pennsylvania farms. Applications are open until the money runs out.

SNAP, WIC and Food Pantry Boxes Keep Running Until December 11

September 13, 2026 - News & Views Staff

A short-term funding law signed September 2 keeps food assistance, farm loans and flood insurance at current levels until December 11.

Amtrak Pulls the Pittsburgh to DC Trains for Nine Days in October

September 13, 2026 - News & Views Staff

Amtrak will run no trains between Pittsburgh and Washington from October 16 to 26, right in the middle of peak foliage season on the GAP.

A New Federal Tax Break for Disaster Victims, and Why Confluence Cannot Use It Yet

September 13, 2026 - News & Views Staff

A new law lets disaster victims deduct casualty losses without itemizing. Somerset County still lacks the federal declaration that would unlock it.

Blue Hole Creek: Lead Found, State Issues a Warning but No Required Cleanup

September 13, 2026 - News & Views Staff

MWA monitoring found lead in Blue Hole Creek's headwaters at 25 times the federal action level. DEP has issued a warning, not a binding cleanup order.

Turkeyfoot Valley Students Sing at the Flight 93 25th Anniversary

September 11, 2026 - News & Views Staff

Turkeyfoot Valley students joined 42 Somerset County students performing at the 25th anniversary ceremony of September 11 at the Flight 93 Memorial.

Amazon Details Emerge: 2,200 Acres, 39 Data Centers at Homer City

September 11, 2026 - News & Views Staff

New county documents show Amazon proposing 2,200 acres and 39 data centers at Homer City, with residents raising concerns over water and property.

Riding for a Fall: Foliage That Is: When to Go and Where to Stop

September 11, 2026 - Paul g Wiegman

The Oxford English Dictionary has over 200 meanings for the word “fall.” As a verb, it broadly means dropping from a higher place to a lower. That definition is superbly illustrated along the GAP in the Allegheny Mountains. Leaves fall from branches to the ground;…

Upcoming Events

SEP

2–21

Weekly Movement with Sara Conley: Gentle Yoga and Pilates/Barre

Wednesday, September 2 – Wednesday, October 21

6 to 7 p.m. | Confluence Creative Arts Center, 533 Williams Street, Confluence, PA | By donation

SEP

21–31

Weekly: Silent Meditation with Judd Evans, Mondays

Monday, September 21 – Thursday, December 31

6 to 7 p.m. | Confluence Creative Arts Center, 533 Williams Street, Confluence, PA | By donation

SEP

25–7

Crawford School of Terror in Connellsville

Friday, September 25 – Saturday, November 7

Fridays and Saturdays | Crawford School, 125 N. 7th Street, Connellsville, PA 15425

OCT

2–31

Haunted Hollow Opens for Ten Nights in Rockwood

Friday, October 2 – Saturday, October 31

Fridays and Saturdays, box office 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. | 126 Woodland Road, Rockwood, PA 15557

OCT

3–18

Autumnfest Runs Three Weekends at Seven Springs

Saturday, October 3 – Sunday, October 18

Saturdays and Sundays | Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 777 Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs, PA 15622

OCT

8–11

Sketchy Characters: Monthly Drawing Club

Thursday, October 8 – Thursday, February 11

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Confluence Creative Arts Center, 533 Williams Street | by donation

OCT

9–11

Buckwheat Festival

Friday, October 9 – Sunday, October 11

OCT

Zentangles: Mindfulness Art

Sunday, October 11

noon to 2 p.m. | Confluence Creative Arts Center, 533 Williams Street | $20

OCT

Trauma & Falls Prevention

Thursday, October 15

10:30 am. | Confluence Senior Center 700 Reynolds Street Confluence Pa. | O

OCT

Taco Salad Lunch

Thursday, October 15

11:15 | Confluence Senior Center 700 Reynolds street Confluence Pa 15424 | $5.00

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Larry Would

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