{table of contents}
6PUTTING THE ‘DO’ IN DOWNTOWN
10 FIELDS OF GOLD turns grief into goodness
14 ALTA VISTA BUSINESS PARK
20 INCREASING BROADBAND ACCESS
NEARS FULL OCCUPANCY
as Mon Valley Alliance continues to support area’s growth
remains key for Washington County Authority
26 DESTINATION CANDY:
30 CHAMBER SPOTLIGHT:
Washington’s newest go-to sweet spot
Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
{from the editor}
TAKE ME TO THE CANDY SHOP Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Business Journal! By the time this lands in your hands, fall will officially begin. Fall has always been my favorite season, so I’m looking forward to cooler days, crunchy leaves and all the other accouterments of this time of year. Fall means Halloween is right around the corner, and Halloween means candy. As you can see on the cover, we’ve got a tasty new stop in downtown Washington: Destination Candy. Chris Adkins and Phil Agostinelli have partnered to highlight all sorts of treats focused on local favorites. Check them out if you want to pass out some unique goodies to the costumed kiddos this season. Or, if you’re looking for a gift basket for a loved one who used to live here and has since moved away, they can prepare a wonderful gift. Also inside, Michele Gillis talked with Adrienne Guerke, who opened a holistic shop in Chalk Hill earlier this year. Guerke turned to yoga, meditation and other natural healing methods after a traumatic loss in her life. She’s used that experience to fuel her newfound passion and share what she’s learned with others. Her shop is warm and inviting, with peaceful music, essential oils and a welcoming atmosphere that begs customers to stay for a little while. Products are carefully curated, with many regional goods. “I knew I had to share this with other people,” she said. “I have to let people know there is hope.” Guerke plans to grow her shop to provide workshops, massages, meditation and other similar offerings. Store hours vary, so check online before visiting. One significant story in Washington County this year has been increasing access to broadband internet, especially in more rural areas like the western half of the county. Looking through our archive, we’ve written about a dozen different articles on the topic this year alone. Spearheading this endeavor has been John Timney, the Washington County Authority’s executive director, to improve residents’ lives and grow business access. Timney is also working on other projects, but for now, internet connectivity is a significant priority. Find these stories and more inside. If you have suggestions for future potential stories, please let me know. Reach out with questions, comments or concerns to tthurston@observer-reporter.com or 724-222-2200 ext. 2421. As always, I would love to hear from you. Until next time, take care and be safe.
Editor 4 • Southwestern PA Business Journal • September 29, 2023
Photo courtesy of True Fit Marketing Destination Candy features local goodies like the Toffee House and Popcorn Willy.
An Niche Publication 122 South Main Street, Washington, PA 15301 724.222.2200
Editor Trista Thurston Advertising Director Carole DeAngelo Graphic Designer Megan Morris Contributors Kristin Emery Michele Gillis Beth Seabright Rick Shrum Leanna Spada
