As America approaches its 250th birthday, we're taking a closer look at the people, industries, and communities that helped shape Butler County and, in turn, helped shape America.

In this special America 250 episode, Laura Crago sits down with Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche to discuss Steeples & Stacks, a heritage weekend taking place July 10th-11th through the Butler Cultural District.

Their conversation explores the immigrants who built Butler County, the industries that fueled its growth, from oil and steel to glass and Jeep manufacturing and the stories that continue to define the region today. They discuss Butler County's role in the Underground Railroad, the history of the area's faith communities, the significance of Moses Jewelers and the region's historic synagogue, and the legacy of Charles Waters, the first African American member of the National Guard, who is buried in Butler's North Cemetery.

At its heart, this episode is about community, family, and the stories passed from one generation to the next.

Learn more about Steeples & Stacks and upcoming America 250 events at ButlerCulturalDistrict.org

Special thanks to photographer Ben Hughes for the stunning panoramic image featured on the Steeples & Stacks webpage, and to Shawn Hernandez for the beautiful drone image featured in the video version of this interview.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

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Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

Strong communities are built by people willing to lead, serve, and invest in others.

On this episode of the Alter Eagle podcast, Mark Buchek joins me to discuss community leadership, the mission of Leadership Butler County, and how financial planning and retirement conversations connect to building a stronger future for individuals and families alike.

Support Dancing For A Cause:

https://www.butlercountychamber.com/events-1/dancing-for-a-cause-2026

Link from Episode:

https://www.armcocu.com/

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #LeadershipButlerCounty #DancingForACause #SweatEquity #HumaneSociety #altereaglepodcast #ButlerCountyPA #CommunityMatters #Leadership #ARMCO #FinancialFuture #Retirement

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

In this episode of Alter Eagle, we sit down with members of Leadership Butler County to talk about how the program helps participants connect more deeply with the community while developing leadership skills. We also explore this year's class project, Dancing for a Cause, a fundraiser benefiting the Butler County Humane Society, and how the experience is inspiring local leaders to create lasting impact across Butler County.

Support Dancing For A Cause:

https://www.butlercountychamber.com/events-1/dancing-for-a-cause-2026

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #LeadershipButlerCounty #DancingForACause #SweatEquity #HumaneSociety

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

In this brief update, Laura reflects on the growth of Alter Eagle and The Eye on Sports Podcast, marking 100+ episodes for both shows. She shares recent honors—including Keystone Media Awards recognition, multiple Golden Quill finalist nods, and national acknowledgment from APSE and offers a preview of upcoming spring projects, including a collaboration with the symphony and new developments in sports coverage.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #100episodes #Sports #sportspodcast

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

This episode contains discussion of medical complexity, end-of-life care, and child loss. Listener discretion is advised.

When Judy Wright received the call, the request was not to save a life, but to care for one.

In this episode, Wright discusses her memoir Just Hold Her, which documents her experience fostering a medically fragile infant with complex and life-limiting conditions. The child, Jayden, was two months old and weighed four pounds at placement, with 27 medical diagnoses and no clear treatment path.

Drawing from detailed notes kept during a two-year period of care, Wright outlines the day-to-day realities of managing intensive medical needs inside a home setting. The conversation examines the intersection of foster care, healthcare systems, and the emotional demands placed on caregivers working without certainty of outcome.

Wright, along with her late husband, fostered 55 children over 12 years, many with significant medical challenges. She reflects on the structure and gaps within the foster system, the role of faith in long-term caregiving, and what it means to provide stability in cases where recovery is unlikely.

This episode contains discussion of medical complexity, end-of-life care, and child loss. Listener discretion is advised.

For more on Judy and her book go to: https://justholdher.com/

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #fosterparent #endoflifecare #fosteringsaveslives

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of child loss, depression and deep grief. There is also conversation surrounding child loss through stillbirth. Listener discretion is advised.

What does it mean to remember a life that was gone too soon?

In this episode, we share the story behind Evan's Monumental Gifts, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to honoring children who have passed by ensuring their names are never forgotten. Funded primarily through donations and fundraising, the organization provides families with a personalized memorial stone, or support toward a custom design, offering something lasting in the midst of unimaginable loss.

Through conversation and reflection, Kiara and I explore the reality of child loss, the weight of grief that never fully fades, and the ways love continues, even after goodbye.

If you are listening because you've experienced this kind of loss, I am so deeply sorry. This episode holds space for you.

This is a story of grief… but also of remembrance, legacy, and the quiet, powerful impact of making sure every child's name lives on.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #evansmonumentalgifts #childloss #motherslove #grief #therapy

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

In Part Two, we step inside All About Reclaimed and it's every bit as inspiring as you'd imagine.

Surrounded by beautiful décor and creative energy, Jeff Double walks us through the process of building one of his signature arrangements, sharing the thought, detail, and vision behind each piece. From lush greenery to elegant lilies, it all comes together in a way that feels both intentional and effortless.

This episode is relaxed, fun, and full of personality as we spend time in the shop talking, laughing, and creating. And if you're listening, you may want to check out the video for this one, because this is something you truly have to see to fully experience.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #allaboutreclaimed #Weddings #floral #unique

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

In Part One of this two-part conversation, we sit down with Jeff Double of All About Reclaimed, a creator, storyteller, and community member whose energy is as genuine as it is inspiring.

Jeff shares how his upbringing and the lessons he learned from his parents shaped not only his craft, but the way he approaches life, family, and business. From early memories to present-day purpose, this conversation dives into the heart behind his work and the values that guide him.

More than just reclaimed materials, Jeff is creating connection, meaning, and something truly personal in everything he touches and it all starts with where he came from.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #allaboutreclaimed #Weddings #floral #unique

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago