IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Our 30th Anniversary Fall Fundraiser is THIS WEEKEND!
We’re just a few days away from our 30th anniversary celebration on Saturday, October 5th from 5 – 9 PM! We’re so excited to see friendly faces from across three decades of community building. Come celebrate with dinner, drinks, music by Aristotle Jones: The Appalachian Soul Man, and a silent auction and raffle featuring prizes from amazing local shops, restaurants, and artists! Plus, hear stories about CCJ’s legacy and future from some past and present staff members!
Come celebrate with us at our 30th Anniversary Fall Fundraiser at the Stone Pavilion in Washington Park on Saturday, October 5th from 5 – 9 PM!
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!
🎟️ Tickets: $30 Adults | + $10 All-You-Can-Safely-Drink Option (21+) | $15 Kids 6-18 | FREE Kids Under 5
This is going to be a great event that’s only possible thanks to the generosity of dozens of local donors and sponsors. We’d like to especially thank Yoli’s Cucina and Crafthouse, Olive Garden, and Breadworks for providing dinner, Rusty Gold Brewing for serving up craft beer, and Hughes Corporation and McCracken Pharmacy for their generous financial sponsorships. Can’t make it on Saturday but want to help ring in another 30+ years of CCJ? Send us a donation or become a member here.
Buy your tickets now; this evening will be a celebration of empowerment and positive change in Southwestern Pennsylvania as we reflect on all we have accomplished over 30 years of advocacy and organizing!
A Year After the Pitt Study, CCJ and Ally Organizations Called on the Shapiro Administration to Act — Sign the Petition Now!
This month, CCJ joined Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, Environmental Health Project, Fractracker, and Mountain Watershed Association to recognize the one year anniversary of the Department of Health and University of Pittsburgh’s Health and Environment Studies. The studies found that people living close to fracking infrastructure are more likely to be diagnosed with lymphoma, have asthma attacks, and give birth to infants with low birth weight.
On September 17th, our groups held a joint press conference from locations across the region in which we called on the Shapiro administration to acknowledge the results of the study and direct the Department of Health to take action addressing known health risks of fracking. We also held a webinar on September 19th to discuss the history of the study, its findings, the state government’s response (or lack thereof) in the past year, and what measures we’d like to see implemented. You can watch a recording of the webinar here: On the same day, our organizations launched a new petition demanding answers about the administration’s lack of substantial measures on this issue and calling on Governor Shapiro and Department of Health Secretary Bogen to take action to protect our communities and our kids.
BLOGS & NEWS THIS MONTH
Solar for Schools: The Push for Energy Equity
By Jason Capello | Sep. 6, 2024
Over the last decade, the amount of solar installed at Pennsylvania schools nearly tripled and the number of schools with solar nearly doubled. These initiatives are beneficial both for the institutions and communities they serve. With the passage of Solar for Schools and recent federal investments into infrastructure development, now is the most profitable time for school districts to embrace solar. Read More.
Third-party permitting is Coming to Pennsylvania. What Does that Mean for Energy Projects and Impacted Communities?
By Nina Victoria | Sep. 10, 2024
CCJ was surprised to find a proposal that has been around for three legislative sessions (six years!) without passing included in the final state budget this summer – Third-Party Permitting. In short, this program allows permit applicants to choose a favorable third-party permit reviewer and then encourages the DEP to rubber-stamp an application through penalties for late decisions. Read More.
Former Executive Director Veronica Coptis on 30 Years of CCJ’s Evolution
The Center for Coalfield Justice is celebrating 30 years as an organization working to protect our environment, invest in rural and small-town communities, and advocate for justice. Our former Executive Director, Veronica Coptis, discussed some of her thoughts about the milestone and what CCJ has meant for her. Read More.
TAKE ACTION
NEW: Cancer Study Anniversary Petition
Over a year ago, the University of Pittsburgh, in support of the PA Department of Health, released long-awaited results of the PA Health and Environment Studies. Those results showed an alarming correlation between negative health outcomes for kids in Southwestern PA and their proximity to fracking infrastructure. While presenting this data to impacted community members — including parents and children impacted by rare cancers — state officials made several promises to communities affected by the pollution from fracking infrastructure. Yet the Pennsylvania Department of Health has failed to take substantial measures to properly execute the crucial action items outlined above.
We’re demanding answers as to why Governor Shapiro’s Department of Health has failed to fulfill the essential promises made to residents in the shale gas field who fear that living near fracking may be harming their children’s health. Sign the petition to ask Governor Shapiro and PA DOH secretary Dr. Debra Bogen to take action to protect our communities and kids!
Limit Corporate Money in our Democracy — End Unlimited Campaign Donations in Pennsylvania!
Do you think corporations should be able to donate unlimited amounts to campaigns, drowning out our voices? Pennsylvania is one of the only states with no limits on political campaign contributions. Corporations in our region use their donations and Political Action Committees to influence who represents us at the state and local level — and ultimately, the agencies that hold them responsible for violations. In fact, since 2018, fossil fuel companies and utilities alone have contributed over $1 million to political candidates in Washington and Greene Counties! Sign our petition calling for a limit on campaign donations to our elected officials. Together, we can build a government where everyone’s voice is heard, not just the wealthy few, and where liberty and justice is for all, no exceptions!
Tell your PA State Senator to Protect Our Freedom to Information by Voting NO on SB 525!
The PA Senate is about to vote on SB 525, a bill that allows agencies to label citizens who utilize Right-To-Know requests as “Vexatious Requesters” and deny them access to records for up to a year. Local governments have claimed this is necessary because they have a hard time responding to the volume of Right-to-Know requests they receive. However, if this were the case, our state government could and should provide local governments with resources to increase their capacity to respond to all requests. This bill is simply a way to limit the amount of information that citizens can access and punish those who request it. Take action to tell your Senator to vote against SB 525 and protect our right to information!
Tell the PA Senate to Support Substance Use Disorder Recovery by Voting YES on HB 1783!
House Bill 1783 recently passed by an overwhelming majority: 187-14! It would create a Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program aimed at developing, expanding, and improving recovery services in the communities most affected by the opioid crisis. The bill emphasizes engaging with individuals in recovery and directing funds to nonprofits and support providers in areas with high instances of substance use and overdose deaths. This is a popular, common sense, bipartisan bill that will provide real relief to people and communities facing the harshest impacts of the opioid crisis. Help make sure it passes the Senate by sending a letter to your Senator at the link below.
PUBLIC NOTICES
Read all of the latest relevant public notices from the past month for Washington and Greene Counties as of September 23rd here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
MAD-FACTS Monthly Meeting — October 16 | 6:30 PM
Join your neighbors who have been impacted by pollution from oil and gas operations and other residents concerned with fracking health harms at the next monthly meeting for MAD-FACTS: Moms and Dads – Family Awareness of Cancer Threat Spike. Our next meeting is scheduled for October 16 at Corner Cupboard Food Bank (881 Rolling Meadows Rd, Waynesburg, PA) and will feature Aaron Makatura, Project Coordinator at Environmental Health Project. He’ll discuss protecting your health on the frontlines of shale gas development and provide resources for residents.
SAVE THE DATE: Get Out The Vote Event
Mark your calendar for October 19th at 1:00 PM for a voter information event at the Lemoyne Center in Washington with CCJ, NAACP Washington Branch, and Take Action Advocacy Group (TAAG). We’ll help you make sure you’re registered to vote in the upcoming November 5th election, help you find your polling place or request a mail-in ballot, discuss some of the recent lawsuits around voting access and what they mean for you, and more. We look forward to seeing you there and making sure everyone has a chance to make their voices heard on Election Day!
ALLY & COMMUNITY EVENTS
October Community Trunk-Or-Treats:
- 10/13: Washington Fair Grounds – 5-7 PM
- 10/13: Bubba’s Trunk or Treat (Canonsburg) – 12-2 PM
- 10/17: Monongahela Trunk or Treat – 5-7 PM
- 10/19: Cecil Trail of Treats – 11-1 PM
- 10/26: Wild Things Trunk or Treat – 2-5 PM
- 10/27: Carmichaels Trunk-Or-Treat – 3-5 PM
10/5 & 10/6 — 53rd Annual Greene County Harvest Festival
10 AM – 5 PM at Greene County Historical Society & Museum (Waynesburg, PA)
Join the Greene County Historical Society for their annual Harvest Festival and enjoy demonstrations, reenactments, encampments, kids activities and more celebrating the history of our region and beginning of the fall harvest season.
Learn More
10/14 — Live Music at Firefly Gardens
See the Facebook Event Here
12 PM at Uptown Firefly Gardens (Washington, PA)
Join Firefly Garden and friends for good tunes and fresh air as they recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day and enjoy a musical performance by Tom Breiding. Tom is a workers’ rights advocate and Americana musician who narrates our region’s history through song.
10/23 — Plastic-Free President: The Future of U.S. Policy on Plastics
RSVP Here
5 PM on Zoom
The next U.S. President will take office in January 2025, and the policies they implement over the next four years could help stop plastic pollution—or allow this urgent global crisis to worsen. So, what role should the U.S. President and the federal government play in eliminating plastic pollution? Find out at this webinar hosted by Plastic Pollution Coalition
11/2 — Drink Your Watershed: Annual Fundraiser for Clean Water
Buy Your Tickets Here
5 – 9 PM at Pittsburgh Brewing Company
Support Three Rivers Waterkeper’s efforts to protect the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers by attending their annual fundraiser. Enjoy dinner, drinks, a tour of Pittsburgh Brewing Company, and more.
WEEKLY & MONTHLY EVENTS
Tuesdays & Saturdays — Greene County Flea Market
7 AM – 2 PM at Greene County Fairgrounds
Wednesdays — Waynesburg Farmers Market
10 AM – 2 PM at 145 W High Street, Waynesburg, PA
Thursdays — Main Street Farmers Market (Washington)
3 – 6 PM at Main Street Pavilion, Washington PA
Second Saturday Monthly — Free Food Pantry
9 AM – 12 PM at Lemoyne Center
Second Saturday Monthly — Market in the Park (Washington)
9 AM – 1 PM at Washington Park Main Pavilion
You can find more community events in Washington County here and Greene County here.
SUPPORT OUR WORK
We could not do this work without the continued support of our members and supporters. Please help us to continue our work to fight for environmental justice in Southwestern Pennsylvania by becoming a member of CCJ. Recurring monthly donations help to best support our work. Any gift made to the Center for Coalfield Justice is 100% tax-deductible.
