• The City of Parker ramps up efforts for residents to take a survey to help with the city’s Community Development Block grants (CDBG). By participating residents help determine whether the municipality is eligible for citywide CDBG grants that improve public facilities and services.

• Emlenton’s police chief Justin O’Neil announces the National Night Out event to be held in Emlenton on August 3, 2021. This is a joint event with the Knox Police Department and first responders, designed to the youth in the area.

• The annual Memorial Day program/parade in Chicora was held on May 31st. Fred Callihan, one of the event organizers, said, “This year’s celebration may have been the best ever.” The Chicora Memorial Day event also serves as a time for reunions for military men and women. This year’s program gave special honors Gary Fennell, who earned the Bronze Star Medal, with Distinguishing Devices and the Navy Commendation Medal with Distinguishing Devices, in 1967 and 1968 while in Vietnam.

• A-CV H.S. Graduation was held announcing Brent Hetrick, Valedictorian and Andrea Meals, Salutatorian of the class of 2021.

• SPARK YOUR CREATIVITY was commissioned by Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts (ARCA) for its Educational ArtReach Program in the A-C Valley Schools in Foxburg, PA. The entertaining and stimulating video features the “Trio con Brio” as Monique Mead and her children, harpist Isabel Cardenes (17) and Tino Cardenes (16), pianist and video executive producer, explore the larger process of creativity – in any endeavor – with music performance as the metaphor. The video is now available to the public on YouTube: https://www.you tube.com/watch?v=4cx EusfqscY

• Jurassic Quest Drive Thru, the nation’s largest and most realistic dinosaur experience opened near Pittsburgh and due to popular demand has extended its showing at The Pavilion at Star Lake (Burgettstown, Penn.) through Sun., June 20.

• Clarion Hospital Foundation Awards Scholarships for 2021 to ACV’s Brooke Terwilliger; Union H.S’s Drew Davis; Keystone H.S.’s Madelyn Dunlap; and Keystone H.S.’s Kaylyn Fulmer.

• The A-C Valley team held its regional monthly meeting on May 27th at the A-C Valley Elementary School, with team leader, Mike Vereb introducing the team members and guests. Teresa Stout, President of the PA Canoe and Kayak Association presented ideas for a sanctioned canoe/kayak race.

• Petty Officer 2nd Class Cody Ballinger, a native of Sligo, Pennsylvania, joined the Navy for the opportunities the military offers. Ballinger serves as a master-at-arms at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport, located in Newport, Rhode Island.

• Emlenton announces that there will be a “Summer Festival” to be held on July 9, 10 and 11th.

• Six year old Kaverick Stewart of Petrolia, PA Wins Mid-East Regional Championship and Qualifies for Loretta Lynn’s AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship. Kaverick’s goal for Loretta Lynn’s wasn’t to win, but to go and enjoy the experience for the week with his friends and family of motorcycle racing.

• Emlenton Summer Festival featured the Dino-ROAR Show. The Dino-ROAR show had baby Dinos and a ferocious growing T-Rex., and dino fossils. It was exciting, funny, educational.

• Otto’s Outlaws claimed their first little league championship last year as they were crowned Clarion County Little League Champions. The Outlaws used their defense as their guide when they cruised to a 12-1 victory over Perry Twp.

• US Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson Tours the AC River Valley. Congressman Thompson toured several businesses in Emlenton, chatted with Borough officials. He also had brief tours of the Fuchs and Quaker State complex in Emlenton. Selina Pedi shared with him the progress of work on the sites and provided an overview of the Community-Wide Brownfield Assessment project thus far. The tour also included the many projects in Foxburg.

• East Brady’s announces its plan for the 2021 Riverfest that was held on Saturday, July 17th. Festivities l began at 11:00 AM.

• The Catholic bishops of Pennsylvania issued a joint statement indicating that the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass, which went into effect in March 2020 — just as the pandemic significantly impacted all facets of life in the United States — would soon be lifted. The bishops reinstated the obligation to attend Mass in person on Sundays and holy days beginning on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

• The Oil Region Alliance (ORA) unveils a vibrant contemporary waterfront restaurant and retail community.

• The Clarion County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) announced the promotion of Jarred Heuer to the role of Executive Director. Having served as the Economic Development Specialist for the CCEDC since 2019, Heuer brings experience, initiative, and vision to the top position of the organization.

• Next week August & September