Submit your member news to info@bcchamber.com.

Any opinion and other statement contained in Member News below in no way reflects the views and beliefs of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, its staff, or Board of Directors.

Major Expansion

The Beaver Area Heritage Foundation is moving forward with an ambitious project that will bring a vintage railroad caboose to the Beaver Area Heritage Museum while making possible a series of improvements to the Museum and its exhibits.

The Foundation recently purchased a vintage caboose in Ohio that trustees believe is an excellent fit for the project. Featuring a traditional cupola and a largely intact interior, the caboose is exceptionally well preserved — reducing the need for costly sandblasting and interior renovation.

The caboose will be installed alongside the Beaver Area Heritage Museum, a former P&LE Railroad freight station renovated by the Foundation on River Road, creating a natural setting for interpreting Beaver County’s rich rail history.

A new “History of Beaver County Rail” exhibit is planned in and near the caboose. Visitors will learn about the functions of a working caboose and its crew, along with the history of railroads and trolleys throughout Beaver County. Displays will feature route maps, dates, names of former lines and historic photographs. A replica model of Beaver County’s last passenger train is also planned to run on an overhead track.

The project will make possible other improvements inside the Museum. The existing loading dock will be enclosed to create an expanded Gift Shoppe, allowing the current Gift Shoppe space — the freight station’s former manager’s office — to become a dedicated Fort McIntosh Room.

The new Fort McIntosh Room will allow more of the fort’s archaeological artifacts to be displayed and interpreted in a visually engaging setting. Plans also incorporate technology, including a “digital twin” of Fort McIntosh and a 3-D talking hologram of Gen. Lachlan McIntosh. The new room will complement planned improvements at the Fort McIntosh site, with the two envisioned as a destination for military-history audiences from throughout the country.

The Foundation has already received more than $100,000 in lead gifts toward its $300,000 fundraising goal for the caboose project, Gift Shoppe relocation, and Fort McIntosh Room.

To learn more about the caboose project or support the campaign, visit beaverheritage.org/caboose.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Primary Health Network Continues to Increase Safety and Awareness Through Gun Locks Program

Sharon, PA – In recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month this September, Primary Health Network (PHN) is highlighting the continued growth of its gun lock program and its commitment to helping patients and families create safer homes. Since launching the initiative in 2005, PHN has distributed more than 7,000 free gun locks to patients across its service area.

The program was established to strengthen the connection between healthcare, suicide prevention, and firearm safety. Through the initiative, PHN provides free gun locks to patients, generously donated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which provides services to eligible veterans. The program is now available to all PHN patients across its service area.

The initiative promotes safe firearm storage and provides patients and families with a practice resource that can help prevent firearm-related suicides and unintentional firearm injuries.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide was the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States in 2024, when 48,824 Americans died by suicide and an estimated 2.2 million adults attempted suicide. Suicide was also the second leading cause of death among people ages 15-34. Firearms were the most common method of suicide, accounting for approximately 57% of suicide deaths.

From 2020 to 2024, the firearm suicide rate increased by nearly 13%, reaching an all-time high in 2024. Suicide also continues to disproportionately affect rural communities, with the highest overall suicide rates occurring in the nation’s most rural counties.

Firearm safety is also an important component of preventing unintentional injuries. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), firearm injuries were among the five leading causes of death for people ages 1-44 in 2022 and were the leading cause of death among children and adolescents ages 1-19.

“As a hunter and father with children in my home, I believe responsible firearm ownership includes secure storage,” said Matthew Holtsclaw, Senior Director of Behavioral Health at Primary Health Network. “Through PHN’s partnership with the VA, we’re helping make that responsibility easier for families across our communities. Every lock distributed is an opportunity to protect a child, create critical time and distance during a crisis, and potentially save a life.”

By encouraging open conversations and collaborating with community partners, PHN is working to increase awareness, reduce stigma, help individuals recognize warning signs, and connect people with behavioral health support when they need it most. During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and throughout the year, PHN remains committed to advancing suicide prevention through initiatives like its gun lock program, promoting responsible firearm safety, and helping create safer, healthier communities.

For more information or to request a free gun lock, contact your local Primary Health Network (PHN) health center or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) office.

For more information about Primary Health Network and its services, please visit primary-health.net.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. For free, confidential mental health support, call, text, or chat 988. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is confidential and available 24/7/365, from any land line, cell phone, or voice-over internet device in the United States. Call services are available in Spanish, with interpretation services in over 150 languages.

About Primary Health Network:

Primary Health Network, one of Pennsylvania’s largest community health centers, is dedicated to providing high-quality, patient-centered care across a broad range of services, including primary care, behavioral health, dental, pediatrics, podiatry, chiropractic, and more. With a team of compassionate providers and staff, Primary Health Network offers comprehensive care focused on promoting overall health and empowering patients to lead healthier lives.

Last year, Primary Health Network served over across 16 counties in Pennsylvania and one county in Ohio. The network participates in most managed care plans, accepts a wide variety of insurances, and offers a Sliding Fee Discount for eligible patients.

For more information about Primary Health Network and its services, please visit primary-health.net.

Media Contact: Rebecca Dean, Media and Public Relations Coordinator

Email: rdean@primary-health.net

Phone: 724-456-3038

###

Written comments regarding the proposed changes will be accepted until 12:00 pm on Monday, October 5, 2026 to be included in the public hearing. All written comments should be emailed to customerservice@bcta.com, mailed or delivered in person to BCTA, 200 West Washington Street, Rochester, PA 15074.

Proposed “Fixed Route” Fare Structure:

BASE CASH FARE (per boarding, without a transfer):

In-County (Routes 1, 2 & 3): $1.00

Out-of-County (Route 5): $2.00

Express (Route 4): $6.00

½ Fare (Children and Disabled)

 UNLIMITED DAY PASS:

 In-County (Routes 1, 2 & 3): $3.00

Out-of-County (Route 5): $4:00

Combo (Routes 1, 2, 3 & 5): $7:00

Express (Route 4): $12.00

UNLIMITED WEEKLY PASS:

In-County (Routes 1, 2 & 3): $15.00

Out-of-County (Route 5): $20.00

Combo (Routes 1, 2, 3 & 5): $35:00

Express: No longer available

Proposed changes: current day passes, weekly passes and single ride tickets will be invalid on the modified cash-only fareboxes; the transfer system will be discontinued and a fare will be collected each time a bus is boarded; day passes will no longer be available for purchase from the bus driver on the bus.

Following the public hearing, written comments shall be accepted by BCTA until 12:00 pm on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. All comments received in person or in writing will be reviewed by BCTA’s Board of Directors and taken into consideration when making any final decisions regarding the proposed changes to the fares.

Please Join the Heritage Foundation for a Very Special Charter Day Celebration!

Join us for Red, White & Caboose — a lively mix-and-mingle evening at Beaver Station with signature drinks, delectable heavy hors d’oeuvres from Eric’s Gourmet, live entertainment, silent auction and raffle baskets, a 50/50 drawing and plenty of time to mix, mingle and enjoy the evening.

And it’s all for a wonderful cause! This year’s celebration puts the spotlight on our Caboose & Museum Expansion Project, with proceeds and pledges helping bring this exciting addition to the Beaver Area Heritage Museum to life.

We’ll also celebrate the traditions of Charter Day, including this year’s Harry Phillips Historical Rehabilitation Award and a special Museum recognition.

Come hungry. Come thirsty.

Come ready to have a little fun with history.

In Need of a Product or Service?

Visit our full Membership Directory to find a trusted partner to do business with today.