 Lonnie Miller cries as she watches a model train travel a track around the living room of her family’s home on East Clark Street in East Palestine, Ohio, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Union Progress) Change — fiery, loud and abrupt — arrived on a frigid Friday evening one year ago. In the following days, people who’d never heard of East Palestine viewed their first images of the village. Here’s what they saw: colossal towers of smoke, roiling flames and blackened rail cars — the things that soon came to symbolize a place once known for its production of rubber and pottery and where Bob Hope earned his first paycheck as an entertainer.
 photo credit: Ambridge Connection/Alan Freed Photography Colin Williams, The Incline
Publishing note: This article was supported by funding from the Pittsburgh Media Partnership. It is the second in a series on pollution and misinformation in Greater Pittsburgh from a consortium of outlets including Allegheny Front, Ambridge Connection, The Incline, Mon Valley Independent, Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh Independent and Pittsburgh Union Progress. Read the first in the series in the Pittsburgh Independent and stay tuned for more. As Greater Pittsburgh residents fume over ongoing poor air quality, locals documenting their lived experiences with pollution have propelled demands for answers. These grassroots scientists are filling in gaps in the media landscape and compiling a growing body of evidence for the benefit of regulators who keep tabs on high-emissions facilities, among them Shell’s Potter Township chemical plant. Pollution events such as the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, OH have newly alerted some Beaver County residents to the inherent dangers of local industries, but residents including South Heights local Bob Schmetzer were already wary. Recent flaring events at Shell added to his fear of catastrophic health impacts. Schmetzer, a volunteer with the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community, says the combination of combustible rail shipments and vulnerable petrochemical infrastructure could prove deadly, as it nearly did in 2018. “People need to get a grip on this,” he says. “We’re living in a dangerous area.”  Ambridge Connection is hosting a series of conversations to help facilitate discussions exploring the area's experience with COVID-19, recent protests, and any other important issues.
Felicia Mycyk, community advocate, said, "I believe this is the time to listen to the community on what they are currently experiencing." The wave of changes in the world with COVID-19 and the recent protest has our coverage area trying to adjust to new protocols and understanding. Some of the citizens and leaders have first-hand experience with COVID-19 and/or a form of racism, while others have none. These conversations would be between people to explore the current world they live in, how it is affecting them, and what they believe will happen next. "Change must come to the community by its leaders and citizens, and it starts with identifying where we fall short, and at times it may be uncomfortable. But through healthy and productive dialogue, we can move forward as a community", added Mycyk. Ambridge Connection with the help of the Pittsburgh Media Partnership will hold the community discussions on Zoom and broadcasted live over Facebook. Discussions will include members of the community along with business owners, elected officials, and community leadership. The first Ambridge Connection's Community Discussion will be on Sat. June 13 at 9:30 am. Want to be a part of the conversation? Submit your inquiry at: https://forms.gle/gfdL1PmHZG692W4j9 Register to for the Zoom Call: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/register/WN_qlydV80vSgO8mgTVJWOwxw Ambridge Mayor and Chamber Alert Businesses to Potential Protest In Wake of George Floyd Death5/31/2020  Protesters in Ambridge. Photo Credit Alan Freed Photography/ Ambridge Connection Sunday afternoon a handful of protesters walked around Ambridge. Damien Lincoln, Ambridge resident said he wanted to bring awareness to the lack of government officials doing their job. “We elected them and they are out for their own self-interest.” “This protest is in memory of George Floyd” added Lincoln. “I want people to know, and believe if the correct charges would have been brought against the officer immediately none of the protests would have happened.” Jaiden Cook, 16 said she wanted to protest on behalf of her friends of color at school who fear the police. Jarod Smith, Ambridge resident shared “I protested because a change is needed and it starts with those affected. The mistreatment of African Americans needs to be addressed.” In the wake of the protest that took place in Pittsburgh, the Ambridge Regional Chamber of Commerce ( ARCC) President Kim Villella shared “It was rumored that a family friendly protest was scheduled to begin in Aliquippa at 10am this morning moving to Ambridge at noon then to Beaver Falls. I notified board and ARCC sent an email to our members as a courtesy alert.” Alert read: Tonight ARCC was notified by the Mayor’s office of a possible protest entering Ambridge this afternoon, Sunday May 31st. Protesters are rumored to intend to cross the Ambridge – Aliquppa Bridge and e enter Ambridge at approximately 12:00 pm. Business Owners are advised to secure their buildings if possible. Please be safe and smart. Let us know if you have any questions. Mayor Dave Drewnowski stated, “We had no information about who was organizing the protest and I stated that hopefully it would be a peaceful protest. I knew that if it just involved local people it would be peaceful, it's just that you hear on the news that people have come from other states and incited violence to get their point across. I just wanted the business owners to be aware.” The email sent to the businesses by the AARC was posted on social media. “I was not happy to see the message from the Ambridge Regional Chamber of Commerce” said Lincoln “I'm disappointed on the scare tactics. There is nothing in Ambridge to loot. Ambridge has been running the businesses out for years. “ Erin Ninehouser, Ambridge resident and Ambridge Connection contributor attended and shared that the family protest event that was held in Aliquippa and shared that it was peaceful . Autumn Ivey, organizer, spoke at the event before people locked arms in a circle as Rev. Herb Bailey closed the peaceful gathering with prayer. Ivey shared "This is how it should be. I am so proud to be from Aliquippa. We're a family."  ARCC was notified by the Mayor’s office of a possible protest entering Ambridge this afternoon, Sunday May 31st. Protesters are rumored to intend to cross the Ambridge – Aliquppa Bridge and e enter Ambridge at approximately 12:00 pm. Picture by Alan Freed Photography/ Ambridge Connection  Erin Ninehouser, Ambridge resident and Ambridge Connection contributor attended and shared that the family protest event that was held in Aliquippa and shared that it was peaceful . Photo by Rust Belt Mary Photograghy/ Ambridge Connection  Protesters take a picture with an armed guard brought in to protect a local business according to source. Photo submitted.  Protesters in Ambridge. Photo Credit Alan Freed Photography/ Ambridge Connection FOR THE MOST UP to Date information on COVID-19 COVERAGE
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