The Evolution Of DuBoisLIVE: A Memoir Of Community And Connection

When my grandfather, Joseph S. Lesky (1922 - 2013), and I first envisioned DuBoisLIVE back in the spring of 2006, I had no idea just how big, how influential, or how deeply interwoven it would become with the very fabric of our community, and, later. . . our region. What started as a small digital initiative has evolved into a three-part mechanism that informs, connects, and occasionally, yes, shakes up greater DuBois and the surrounding counties.

At its core, DuBoisLIVE is a concentrated, interactive media engine focused on a region that is essentially DuBois, Pennsylvania plus or minus 40 miles in all directions. But it is not whatsoever traditional; it evolved from traditional and continues to evolve at each new height reached. It doesn’t just deliver news—it absorbs, processes, and redistributes the pulse of our community and the communities adjacent.

Our website, DuBoisLIVE.com, serves as our headquarters, the neatly packaged public-facing entity that houses polished information. Then, we have our Facebook page with over 26,000 followers, a space where curated content is shared and amplified to the outside. But the real beating heart of DuBoisLIVE? That’s our Facebook group—an interactive, sometimes chaotic, but always engaging hub of over 66,000 members. This is where the magic happens, where stories unfold in real-time, and where the digital town square comes to life.

Who Gets A Seat At The Table?

DuBoisLIVE isn’t just for anyone—it’s for those with real connections to our six-county geography—our reach: Clearfield, Jefferson, Elk, Clarion, Cameron, and Forest counties. Whether you live here now, used to, own property, or work within our boundaries (or did any of those historically), this space is yours to use (not abuse). But just like any well-run town, we have our sheriffs. Our team of moderators and administrators works tirelessly to keep things running smoothly, ensuring that discussions remain respectful, posts stay relevant, and that the occasional digital bar fight doesn’t turn into an all-out brawl. Then comes the team. . . and there’s some overlap. The team refines what is collected and organizes it, edits it, and helps craft the stories that become the public record.

The Marketplace Of Ideas (And Also Tangible Goods)

People come to our group for all sorts of reasons. Some are on the hunt for a new job, a new home, or a sweet deal on a gently used couch. One day it was referred to as the Pennsylvania capital of used yoga pants; and on that day, it probably deserved said title. Others who visit are local business owners looking to promote their services, entertainers announcing their next gig, or event organizers rallying the troops for the next big endeavor or entrepreneurial aspiration. Then there are those who simply come to stay informed, to chat about the latest community happenings, or, let’s be honest, to witness the occasional entertaining debate unfold in the comments hoping to witness a clash or crash. 

Of course, our group also serves as an organic news wire. Because we cover six counties, we often get stories shared to and from various local journalists and media outlets, but sometimes, we beat them to the punch. . . or regrettably, are the only entity who will step up and cover a particular storyline. We will forever publish that which is newsworthy. . . whether or not that affects potential ad dollars. News here doesn’t always arrive with a polished headline—it often begins as a simple post: “Why are there so many sirens on Main Street?” or “Anyone know why a helicopter just landed by the hospital?” Suddenly, what starts as a question turns into a crowdsourced news investigation, with residents sharing eyewitness accounts, speculation, and sometimes even video evidence before the official reports come rolling in. Some can handle the variety; it takes others to their wits end or breaking point.

The Digital Soapbox

Beyond news and commerce, DuBoisLIVE serves as a forum for opinions—some insightful, some incendiary, and some just downright hilarious. People air grievances about local businesses, sing praises about hidden gems, debate local politics, and sometimes just share a good old-fashioned small-town anecdote. Others are local historians and come to reminisce. The range of engagement is fascinating. We have the silent “lurkers” who absorb everything but never engage, the vocal debaters who could argue with a brick wall, and the storytellers who craft long, winding posts that read like a novel. . . or a "Billy Madison" rant void of. . . most of the necessary components to label it coherent thought.

And then, there’s my inbox. Ah, the inbox—a treasure trove of insider tips, wild rumors, and community concerns. I estimate more than 90% of what enters this inbox never leaves the inbox. Some messages lead to investigative stories, others request event coverage, and a select few are just bizarre or are unable to be deciphered. But that’s part of what makes DuBoisLIVE so unique—our group isn’t just consuming information, it’s actively shaping it and reshaping it. Our people are comprised of the doers and the watchers alike. . . and each draw both cheerleaders and naysayers.

From Chaos To Curation

While our group is the raw, mostly-unfiltered version of community engagement, our page serves as the refined version of it. Here, we take the most noteworthy discussions, the most significant announcements, and the most important community happenings and turn them into content that reaches beyond our immediate audience. Whether it’s promoting a low-cost spay-and-neuter clinic, rallying support for a local cause, or simply making sure people know about the latest road closure, the page extends our reach far beyond the group’s members. Given the group is private and the page is public, the step between the two is the equivalent of opening and closing window blinds. Now and then, content originating from the group will cross oceans (like when a raunchy hamburger patty made its way from a post on our group to being picked up by the Associated Press and then swimming the Atlantic to be a feature on the Daily Mail).

Our website, on the other hand, is the final (sort of) stage in this ever flowing information pipeline. Here, content is polished and archived, a digital record of our collective experiences. The website is where we house the big-picture stories, the ones that need permanence beyond the fast-moving world of social media. Even still, reactions can still happen even there. The lid is seldom sealed.

A Community Built One Click At A Time

Sometimes, people stumble upon DuBoisLIVE through our website. Other times, they enter through the Facebook group or the page. No matter which door they walk through, they all end up in the same house—a house built with the help of the people, for the people to make use of and enjoy. It’s a house that finds itself in a constant state of remodeling. This digital infrastructure is more than just a convenience; it’s a powerful tool for mobilization. Case in point: last summer, when a major community event was canceled, DuBoisLIVE became the epicenter of an alternative celebration (DuBois Days). Ideas were brainstormed in the group, refined and promoted on the page, and ultimately turned into a successful event that brought thousands together in the park after a subcommittee of sorts partnered with two other local organizations’ leadership and sprang into action and delivered.

This is what DuBoisLIVE is truly about: connection, collaboration, and community-driven progress. We don’t just report on what’s happening—we help make things happen.

The Future Of DuBoisLIVE

As DuBois itself evolves—through consolidation, leadership changes, and community-driven initiatives—so too does DuBoisLIVE. The discussions we facilitate today could shape the decisions of tomorrow. And while our platform has its fair share of challenges (some discussions can get, let’s say, “passionate”), we ultimately believe that open dialogue is the key to growth.

From the very beginning, DuBoisLIVE was designed to be more than just a news feed or a marketplace—it was meant to be a space where people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences could come together to share, debate, and, ultimately, find common ground and work together to build a foundation on it.

I don’t know what all of the future holds for DuBoisLIVE, but I do know this: as long as people have something to say, something to share, something they need help with, or something to build together, we’ll be here, evolving right along with them—mowing the grass in the virtual park we built for them to gather and share within. Want to buy it? It is not for sale; it will never be for sale so long as I live and for so long as I have my wits about me. Even if it was. . . you couldn't afford it.