Jul 7, 2018 3 min read

HIT: People who inspire us can have a wide disparity of backgrounds. Shawn English, featured in a story by our Natalie Reid Miller last weekend, struggled with addiction for decades, off and on. But unlike so many addicts’ stories that end in tragedy, English is a success story. With pure personal dedication to recovery and support from 12-step programs and his employers at Meadows Racetrack and Casino, English has maintained his sobriety for the past three years. Said English, “Some of us need outside help. We’ve got to go talk to people. … You gotta talk about it.” We’re glad English talked to us about it, and provided valuable guidance to others seeking to climb out of the pit of drug addiction.

HIT: Those who resurrected North Belle Vernon Community Bank Park could have rested on their laurels when the park reopened in 2016, but they didn’t. RJ Sokol, who chairs the community’s parks and recreation board, and borough secretary/treasurer Lisa Pollock were among those who recognized that the park didn’t offer sufficient recreational opportunities for those living with handicaps. Pollock, who has twin 15-year-old boys with developmental delays, scoured the internet to find wheelchair-accessible equipment that could be installed in the park, and $89,000 and a lot of hard work later, it has become a reality. Kudos to all of those involved in making this happen.

HIT: What began nearly a decade ago as a small street festival to celebrate the City of Washington’s bicentennial has turned into a raucous four-day block party that attracts thousands from across the region. We’re talking about the annual Whiskey Rebellion Festival, which reaches its crescendo today with a parade, re-enactments, live music, fireworks and, of course, the tarring and feathering of the infamous tax collector. The festival seems to get bigger each year as word spreads about the unusual history of a band of rural farmers who rebelled against the young federal government’s unpopular decision to tax grain alcohol to pay for the Revolutionary War. The success of the festival is a testament to all of the organizers and volunteers who make it possible. Now, we’re ready to rebel.

HIT: Transitioning from a military lifestyle back to a civilian existence is difficult for many men and women. “It’s very tough to go from one structure to another,” Basil Horn, a longtime Greene County resident, said Tuesday during the grand opening of the Patriot House, a transitional housing facility at City Mission’s campus in Washington. Patriot House opened its doors to Horn and five other veterans last month, enabling them to live, heal and work together. “All of that seems to be the most effective program,” City Mission spokesman Gary Porter said. Homelessness is a major issue for veterans, and the residential quarters provided by the 77-year-old nonprofit is the latest of in a number of commendable programs it has provided to people in need.