NEWS AND VIEWS ~ October 1, 2026

Old and Up the River...

The 1956 Turkeyfoot Valley Joint High School homecoming cheer was as follows…

“Open the barn door
Kick out of hay—
We’re from Turkeyfoot
Hip Hip Hooray!!”

Photo: 1957 Turkeyougha.

Good Morning,

It’s a Big Weekend in Confluence: PumpkinFest Is Here

September 30, 2026 - News & Views Staff

Confluence PumpkinFest runs Oct. 2 to 4 with lamb burgers, pumpkin carving, the quilt show, dancing tractors, Sunday's duck race and the Grand Feature Parade.

USA Today Names the Laurel Highlands a Top Fall Foliage Destination, Again

September 29, 2026 - News & Views Staff

USA Today ranked the Laurel Highlands sixth in the country for fall colors, the seventh straight year the region has cracked the top 10.

House Passes Chatbot Safety Bill for Kids; Metzgar Votes No

September 29, 2026 - News & Views Staff

The Pennsylvania House passed House Bill 2006, requiring age checks, parental consent and safeguards on AI chatbots. Local Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar voted no.

Cultural Reclamation Works Opens at Tissue Farm in Time for PumpkinFest

September 29, 2026 - News & Views Staff

A new exhibition of digital art by Jeffrey "Pope" Pankey opens Oct. 1 at Tissue Farm, just in time for Confluence PumpkinFest, and runs through Nov. 22.

Babies born on drugs to Somerset moms ranks second highest in Pa.

September 28, 2026 - Kris Mamula

The number of babies born to Somerset County moms who were using drugs was the second highest among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties and four times the statewide average, according to a new report from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, an independent state agency based…

Somerset County Writes Its Data Center Rules, Hearing Set for Tuesday

September 26, 2026 - News & Views Staff

Somerset County commissioners hold a public hearing Sept. 29 on a proposed data center ordinance, with a vote planned Oct. 6. Here is what the rules would require.

Don’t Blame the Goldenrod

September 24, 2026 - Paul g Wiegman

Every September, your eyes itch, your nose runs, and you glance at that roadside along Sugarloaf Road blazing with yellow and declare, “There it is. The culprit!” It’s an understandable mistake, and an unfair one. The real offenders are growing nearby, unnoticed and unadorned. Goldenrod…

The Common Sense Case on Data Centers

September 23, 2026 - Jeffrey "Pope" Pankey

A fact-based look at the data center debate: real EPRI data on electricity costs, real PJM price increases, and what Homer City's own power plant could mean for both.

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

Taco Salad Lunch

Thursday, October 15

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

OCT

Trauma & Falls Prevention

Thursday, October 15

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

OCT

Painting class- Confluence Senior Center

Friday, October 16

7 p.m. | Confluence Senior Center- 700 Reynolds Street Confluence | $15.00

OCT

24–25

Stained Glass Workshops with Isaac Beachy

Saturday, October 24 – Sunday, October 25

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Confluence Creative Arts Center, 533 Williams Street | $35

OCT

Michael Gerholdt: Guitar Workshop, Potluck and Show

Saturday, October 24

5 p.m. workshop, 6:30 p.m. potluck, 7 p.m. show | Confluence Creative Arts Center, 533 Williams Street | Workshop $20, show by donation

VIEW ALL EVENTS →

That's all for now...

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Larry Would

♥

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