laurel mountain post - spring 2013

The Great Pennsylvania Sugar Scheme

Stepping Out of the Routine Never Tasted So Good!

An Interview with “Glee” Star Trisha Rae StahlAn Interview with “Glee” Star Trisha Rae Stahl

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

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FREE – Spring 2013

How A Rose E’re BloomHow A Rose E’re Bloom

Today’s Education:Is it the Right Path to Tomorrow’s Career?Today’s Education:Is it the Right Path to Tomorrow’s Career?

Stepping Out of the Routine Never Tasted So Good!

The Great Pennsylvania Sugar Scheme

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Saddle upand see

what’s newbefore thesun sets!

Every Story Begins At Home. Spring 2013 - 1

Welcome to another issue of the Laurel Mountain Post! It’s anew year, and spring will be coming soon – although as wehead to print, there are several inches of snow on the groundand more to follow.

I don’t mind the weather – I can get most of my work doneat home, whether we have electricity or not. Truly, all I needis some paper, pens and a few candles. I am really THAT “oldschool.” (Publishing deadlines are another thing altogether).

I love getting back to the basics of my business – especiallywhen it comes to meeting new people, which can be a bit of achallenge for a homebody hobbit like me. But when I finallyget myself dressed and head out into the streets, it’s so muchfun to discover interesting personalities and make morefriends. Finding new stories to write is really that simple!

Friendships come and go through our lives – some whitherand die, others bloom and grow. It’s up to us to cultivate ourrelationships, browse the seed catalogs, and even start overwith fresh ground. So here’s to spring, and its basket full offresh beginnings!

2 - Spring 2013 LAUREL MOUNTAIN POSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOST

How A Rose E’re BloomAn Interview with “Glee” Star Trisha Rae Stahl

by Cathi Gerhard

My son introduced me to the FOX televisionshow “Glee.” He had been begging me towatch it with him after the first twoseasons, and through the magic of Netflix,I finally caught up. It had been a long timesince a TV show entertained me in so manyways. Not only was it hysterical, it wastouching and heartfelt at the same time.The musical performances were incredible,often better than the original songs.Suddenly, I was a “Gleek,” an avid fan ofand kindred spirit to underdog high-schoolers everywhere who either don’t fit

in or struggle to straddle the boundariesamong several social cliques in a small town.

In season 4, episode 1, audiences wereintroduced to several new characters. Oneplotline focuses on shy newcomer MarleyRose, and her mother, Millie – the overweightand poor lunch lady who is teased by the kidsat McKinley High. That is, until the Glee Clubwelcomes the pair into their protective fold.

To my surprise and editorial delight, thecharacter of Millie Rose is played by anactress from Pennsylvania, and fellow IUPalumni: Trisha Rae Stahl. Over the Christmas

holidays and a break in filming, she took sometime to talk with the Laurel Mountain Postand share some of her personal photos.

As a native of Pennsylvania, you are ahometown girl. Tell me about yourbackground, – growing up, edu-cation, IUP, hobbies, activities, etc.

I grew up in Williamsport, PA where I atten-ded Loyalsock high school. Acting was ahobby. At the time I wanted to study para-psychology (the study of strange phenome-

Trisha Rae Stahl photos, pictured clockwise from top left: Growing up hunting in Pennsylvania;As a student at Loyalsock Township High School; Trisha Rae Stahl; My adopted son, Michael, and me; Baby picture; With IUP theater alum Biz Jaust and Jim Nash

(now an instructor at IUP) at an IUP theater reunion around 2001; On set with Lauren Potter; On set with Jane Lynch (our cover photo).


non) but was having trouble finding outhow to pursue that interest professionally.My drama teacher and choir teacher askedif I had ever considered studying acting. Isaid it was a hobby and did not ever con-sider it as a career. They encouraged me toconsider it and told me I should exploreMansfield U, and IUP if I planned on goingto school in-state. I chose IUP, but I took twoyears off before attending. My time at IUP wasamazing, and I graduated with a BA in theaterwith a focus on theatrical performance.

What was it like attending IUP(Indiana University of Pennsylvania)in the 1990s? What were a few ofyour favorite things?

Our theater professors were like family. Weworked with them, partied with them andate meals at their homes. They were therefor us academically and personally. BarbBlackledge is solely responsible for mydiscipline as an actress, as she demandedprofessionalism. Patrick McCreary and hiswife Mary were amazing mentors andfriends to all of us theater students, andPatrick also demanded professionalism.The entire department did. Ed Simpson,who taught me stage movement and playwriting, has since had his own successes inLA and I have had the pleasure of spendingtime with him when he visits town. BrianJones was a new addition to the theaterdepartment when I was there and hebrought a fresh creativity and energy to thedepartment and quickly became family:)Tom Ault and the late Mal Bowes weregeniuses, and I am grateful to have workedand studied with them.

We ate hot wings at the Coney IslandPub! We spent every St. Patricks Day therefrom noon-2am celebrating with Colin andKelly, the crazy Irish musical duo. We hadcheap burger and fries for “breakfast” mostSundays at Culpeppers. We drank 35 centdrafts at G-man:). I loved every minute ofmy time at IUP and have since encourageda friend’s son to attend there all the wayfrom Los Angeles. He wanted to attendschool where there were seasons:) Hegraduated from IUP and never regrettedleaving sunny southern California to do so.

What do you miss most aboutPennsylvania?

I miss my friends the most.

How did you get from IUP to theFOX hit television show “Glee”?

I moved to LA in ’98 after doing summer stocktheater at IUP with Keystone Repertory. Therewere like 6-8 of us that moved out theretogether. We got apartments side by side and

started our LA adventure! We got paid tosit in audiences, do stand in work, performin haunted houses and worked as personalassistants. Our bills (and responsibilities)were minimal and we had a blast.

I had a dry spell where I needed moneyand had to look for a real job (sigh). I sawan ad in the paper to work with kids withbehavioral problems and was interested, asI had once considered work as a probationofficer. I ended up working with kids withAutism the most: that’s where the need was.I fell in love with it, [and] was torn betweenteaching and acting. Barb Blackledge hadalways said if you can tolerate a real job, forGod’s sake do it! I had a hippie friend stayingwith us, and she read the Tarot cards for me.The reading seemed to encourage me toteach; so I did, for nine years at that school.

My only involvement with acting wasteaching theater during the summers to thestudents, and attending live theater when Icould. I met a special student there whom Ilater adopted ... and then I knew my realreason for moving to LA ... to find my son!He is now 23 years old, and he has severeautism. His name is Michael.

While in the process of adopting Michael,I left my job to help start a school for autism inNorthridge, Ca. I met another, older teacherthere. She told me I needed to be acting andintroduced me to her agent. We had a two-hour meeting and really hit it off. I quit my jobto do the B horror movie “Trailer Park ofTerror” a couple of months later.

After the movie I struggled betweensmall acting jobs and ended up back ineducation, working as a behaviorist and aschool administrator. I had since gotten aMaster’s Degree in Teaching with a focuson Special Education. After a time of tryingto make ends meet, I started back to a realjob full time, at Vista Del Mar Child andFamily Services as a teacher and admini-strator. I still work with them today.

I had just recovered from a hernia-repair surgery when I was at lunch with afriend (IUP alum Jeff Mensch) in LosAngeles. I got a call from my agent that Igot the “Glee” audition. I was so flabber-gasted by the opportunity! It was a bigaudition. Jeff Mensch stayed with me allweekend and coached me (he was also amember of the IUP theater department andworks as a touring show director). I had twoauditions, and had just started to give uphope, when my agent called and asked if Iwas sitting down. He told me the news, andI cried. I couldn’t believe it and still can’t!

Were you a “Gleek” before you gotthe role as lunch lady Millie Rose,Marley’s mom?

I was not a Gleek, but I always respectedthe show and watched it now and again.

What are yourfavoritestorylines onthe show?

Well the Rosefamily storylineis my favorite,but I love seeingwhat happens with Kurt andRachel in New York. The NYC loft is actuallyon the Paramount set in Hollywood, and itis so cool! They go to New York to dooutdoor NYC stuff.

Who are your favorite characters?

I love Becca Tobin’s “Kitty,” I love LaurenPotter’s “Becky,” and of course, Jane Lynch’s“Sue Sylvester.”

Which actors are you closest toon set and outside of the show?

I am closest with Melissa Benoist [“MarleyRose”] because we work together so muchand really get along well. I enjoy spendingtime with Lauren Potter [“Becky,” whose“inner voice” is played by Helen Mirren].Because I spend so much time with peoplewith special needs, I am automaticallycomfortable around her. I admire her a lotand was star struck when I met her.

How does it feel to have yourweight be the focus of a storylineon a primetime, broadcast networktelevision show, viewed by over 10million people around the worldeach week?

It is a great opportunity to represent over-weight people who are mistreated and dis-criminated against every day.

What about when poverty is addedto the storyline?

People often believe fat people are poor be-cause they are lazy. My character workshard, just as I do in real life, so I am pleasedto blow that theory out of the water.

Do you feel your weight hashindered your career or do yourelate to other actresses likeMelissa McCarthy who have beenoutspoken about happiness andhealth trumping the scale?

My weight has helped my career! Though if Iwere just a bit smaller if would open up evenmore opportunities. The last thing you wantto be in Hollywood is an ingenue or leading

continued on page 38


They Say Its Your Birthday . . .

MEMORY LANEby Ruthie Richardson

Fast approaching is the 35th anniversaryof my 30th birthday. Saying the actualnumber doesn’t come easy to me, evenwhen one of my presents will be that‘gift’ of Medicare. How have the yearsflown by so swiftly? What mystical forcehas propelled me in an instant fromwhat is supposed to be life in my groovy20’s to the little old lady I am quicklybecoming? I will paraphrase TennesseeErnie Ford by saying, “I am anotheryear older and deeper in denial.”

I remember a time when the words,“Happy Birthday” were a joyous greet-ing, and ones I eagerly anticipatedhearing. At school on my special day, Iwould wait for all of my friends to catchme unawares, sneak up behind me andtug on my earlobe, loudly counting outone tug for each year and one for goodmeasure! Hearing Happy Birthdayshouted, or even better, sung to me,

meant I had achieved some monumen-tal and impatiently awaited occasion.Yay! I was 6 and could start school. Yip-pee! I’m officially a teenager. Finally! I canget my drivers license and be com-pletely independent. Wow! I’m now anadult and can get into any nightclubwith MY OWN identification.

It seems that after I celebratedturning 21 a slight frown started toappear on my face as each Februaryrolled around, and my birthday ap-proached. My 30th birthday broughtwith it a lingering feeling of unease, ofdisbelief, if you will. What’s next, Ifearfully pondered, middle age? Howright I was, and it came with lightningspeed. The years seemed to be pickingup the pace. I don’t know if it was adefense mechanism or not, but I startedto forget how old I was going to be.What do you mean, it’s my 45 birthday?That can’t be right. No, I certainlyCANNOT be 60! Sixty is a lady who isreally, really old, with blue hair,shuffling along and wearing a house-dress. I started to hear strange, creak-ing sounds when I got up in the morn-ing, and they weren’t emanating fromthe wooden floors. Next I noticed theshadow of my mom’s face as I glancedin the mirror. Not that this was a badthing, but what had happened to mytaut neckline? And what about thosenew little lines around my eyes andsmile? The only lines I used to havewere tan lines. What was happening??

I am attempting to age gracefully,and to embrace my ever changing self.I try to laugh at my laugh lines andignore those few extra pounds until thespring thaw has me digging out my evershrinking shorts. I diligently attemptto figure out what I did to cause thoseaches and pains that appear out ofnowhere. It’s strange that I haven’taged in my mind. If I woke up withamnesia I may guess that I am probably

20 something. Where, oh where, hasthat little girl gone?

A beautifully decorated cake withcandles flickering on top used toconjure visions of all the wondrousthings I could wish for. I would closemy eyes, cross my fingers, and blowthose candles out. Today that cake hasme wondering how many calories arein each slice and if the caffeine in thechocolate will keep me up all night. Itseems like only yesterday that my littlehouse in West Derry was filled with thedelightful aroma of my chocolate cakebaking in the oven and I could barelycontain my excitement. The big day wasfinally here and to my delight, I wasanother year older. Today? Well, not somuch.

All of our birthday cakes werehomemade from scratch when I wasgrowing up. My mom was a wonderfulcook and baker. And although deliciousand pretty, they were not the spectac-ular store bought creations that today’skids enjoy. There were no interactivetoys on top, no theme of Sponge Boband all of his buddies in 3D colors withan airbrushed picture of myself. Theonly extra effort for my cake was that itwasn’t in a square pan, it was two roundlayers. When the frosting was donecooking, I was allowed to choose theshade it would be by adding a few dropsof food color. My choice was always twodrops of blue and two drops of red –making my favorite, lavender! After theicing had set, mom would add the littlecandy Happy Birthday letters on top.You could buy them at the A & P in alittle packet, on a rack where thecandles were. They were hard as rocksbut we always ate them anyway. Wealso ate the little round rock-hardcandy candleholders. There was nevermuch candy at my house, so beggarscouldn’t be choosers.

“MMMM, chocolate cake from scratch!”


continued on page 6

I can recall several memorablebirthday parties where my momallowed me to invite friends. Mostlywhen someone in my family had abirthday, mom would have the wholefamily over for dinner and the birthdaycake would be dessert. But every oncein a while, mom would let me plan myown party. I was allowed to invite myfriends from school and church.

My mom’s menu for the kid’sparties was always pretty much thesame. She would make ham saladsandwiches (bologna being the mainingredient) and egg salad, too, and cutthem into little squares. We would havea side of potato chips, doled out bymom with no seconds, and a glass ofKool-Aid. Cake and ice cream wouldfollow, and the ice cream feature wasalways a chocolate Dixie cup, eaten witha little flat wooden spoon. If there were10 kids at the party, there were 10 Dixiecups – and again, no seconds.

When the big day was finally uponus, I would excitedly help mom decor-ate for my party. We would hangstreamers across the room and blowup balloons to hang in the center. Theballoon blowing always took extra timesince my brother and I would delightin blowing them up, stretching theopening to make what we thought wasthe most hilarious sound, then wewould let them go and watch them flyaround the room. Mom would findthose leftover little missiles for daysafter the party, behind the couch orstuck to the curtains. We would also rubthe inflated ones on the rug and stickthem to ourselves with the static elec-tricity; another feat we found veryamusing. After the party, mom wouldroll the streamers up carefully and savethem for the next big event. Waste not;want not; that was one of her rules tolive by.

Birthday parties in those days werepretty formal affairs, and everyonedressed appropriately. A lot of the boyswould wear neckties with their suit orsports coat, if they had one, even as firstand second graders. And the girls werealways attired in their Sunday go-to-meeting best. Since everyone wasdressed in his or her finest, our bestmanners were also on display. No run-ning around the house and playing tag,

and no jumping on the furniture. Ourindoor voices were always expected.The entertainment consisted of a blind-fold for playing Pin the Tail on theDonkey, and a Bergman’s milk bottleaccompanied by a handful of mom’sclothespins. The object of this game wasto stand up straight, touch the clothes-pin to your nose, lean over the milkbottle and drop it in. Mom boughtseveral small prizes for the winners ofthese games, but there was never a giftbag of goodies for each guest to takehome, like I see at today’s parties. Therule in those days was that this was thebirthday girl’s party, and she got thegifts, not you. And those gifts were notvery extravagant, either. No one hadmuch money, so if your gift was apencil case, or a coloring book, youwere thrilled.

I still remember some of myfavorite gifts from those long agocelebrations. On my 11th birthday, mymom allowed me to host a party at myAunt Margie and Uncle Walters house.They had a nice basement with a Ping-Pong table, a perfect spot for a birthdaybash. I’m sure I received many wonder-ful gifts that year, but the one that isstill in my head was a .45 record frommy best friend, Kathy Shannon - “TanShoes With Pink Shoe Laces”, by DodieStevens. Trouble was, I didn’t have a

record player to play it on. It was oneof the things I really wanted and hadasked for repeatedly. The party was onthe Saturday before my birthday, andmy family celebration was held the nextweek, on the actual day. I had found therecord player I wanted at Murphy’s 5& 10 in Derry. It played one record at atime, and you had to put one of thoselittle round plastic discs in the centerof each .45 so it would fit on the pin. Ihad been dropping none to subtle hintsabout it for weeks. The night of mybirthday, Daddy came in from the carwith a huge box, wrapped in fancypaper and topped with a big bow. Icouldn’t imagine what it was as I toreinto the paper to reveal my surprise.Daddy had gone to Edsall’s Appliancestore, not the 5 & 10, and instead of atiny little record player with a singlespeaker, he chose a beautiful green andwhite Motorola Stereophonic HI FI. Ithad a .45-RPM adapter so you couldstack 8 or 10 records and they woulddrop automatically for continuous play!It had three speeds, .33 if I wanted toplay albums, .45 for my single hitrecords, and .78 speed for the recordsdaddy had collected in his youth. HowI loved that HI FI. I played “Tan Shoesand Pink Shoe Laces” over and over

Well behaved little ladies and gentlemen, dressed to the 9’s.


continued from page 5

again, and sang along until it wouldn’tplay any more (a tragedy my mom wasprobably not very upset about). And Istill remember the words, “I’ve got aguy and his name is Dooley, He’s myguy and I love him truly! He’s notgood lookin’, heaven knows, but I’mwild about his crazy clothes!”

My 16th birthday was also a mem-orable one for the spectacular gift Ireceived. That was the year my dad hadthe phone company install a new pinkPrincess phone in my bedroom, and itwas sitting on my nightstand when I gothome from school. My goodness, thelife-altering conversations that tookplace on that old phone. All of thoseteenage secrets I shared with my bestfriends, all of our giggles, and all of ourtears. I remember conversations thatlasted for hours with my girlfriends,and even more importantly, with boy-friends! That little pink phone allowedme to catch up on all the gossip atschool, and to find out who could getthe car to drive to the Rink on Friday

night. Many major decisions were madeon that line, everything from what mygirlfriends were going to wear to the bigdance in the gym, to who was goingsteady and who broke up. My friendscalmed my fears on that phone abouttaking my driving test, we talked aboutour hopes and dreams after graduation,and they offered encouragement aboutmy job interview at VASCO. That littlephone was there with me, late at night,while Doug and I finalized our weddingplans.

After we got married and moved intoour own house, mom had the phonecompany come and get my precious littlepink phone. Those were the days whenyou didn’t buy your own phones, youleased them. I didn’t realize back thenhow much it meant to me, or I surelywould have moved it with me. Yearslater, my brother, Keith, found one at ayard sale and sent it to me for mybirthday. He even typed our numberon the little paper circle in the middleof the rotary dial, Oxbow 4-9116. I gota pink Princess phone for my birthdayTWICE in my life. How lucky am I?

So, another birthday is fast ap-proaching. The excitement I used to feelhas been tempered, and a nice dinnerwith friends is party enough for me anymore. I promise to proudly celebratemy true hair color (only Lady Clairolknows for sure!) my laugh lines, and my‘relaxed’ jeans. Lord knows I’ve earnedthese trophies! I will blow out thecandles on a piece of coconut cream pieand pray that my ornery birthdayaccomplices haven’t arranged for thewait staff to sing to me. But if they do,I will smile and boldly tell them howold I am. It has been a great ride, andI’m proud of the years I’ve spent on thisold earth. I hope I’ve done some goodalong the way, made a friend or twosmile, or better yet, made them sharesome loud and boisterous guffaws withme. I’ve tried to lend a helping handwhen I could, and I know we have allwiped away more tears than we everthought we would. Through all of theseyears I have been allowed to celebratethe victories of those I love, too. I havewatched the miracles that came withour children, and now our grand-children. I say, “Bring the birthdays on!I’m a tough old bird, and I can take it!”Although next year I might not be quiteso accommodating: they say once youhit your 40’s, it’s all downhill.

So many things to wish for!

Still have my HI FI and most of my old .45’s.

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Ruthie loves to share memories with you. Email herat: [email protected], look for her on Facebook,or join our LMP online community to read her new blog!


The Truth That Once Was Spoken

THREE PENNIESby Cindy Blonk Parker

Cindy Parker came to the United Church of Christ byway of the Presbyterian Church. A life-long Presby-terian, she jokes that she was “predestined to becomeUCC!” Currently called as the Pastor and Teacher ofChrist Church UCC in Latrobe, PA and St. John’s UCCin Darlingtoon; she, her husband Larry and threedaughters enjoy traveling all over the world! Cindy alsoserves as a Spiritual Director for the Three Rivers Walkto Emmaus retreats and was part of the team thatbrought the Kairos Outside Ministry to Pennsylvania.Kairos (which means special time in Greek) is a prisonministry for women whose lives have been impactedby incarceration. Cindy completed her undergraduatestudies at Penn State and her MDiv. from PittsburghTheological Seminary along with a year- long internshipat Family Hospice and Palliative Care. She enjoys travel-ing, reading, baking, and photographing her daughters.

I’m a Jersey Girl; I’ll admit it. Born andraised. Fortunately though, we moved toIllinois when I was two years old so Ididn’t learn to speak in New Jersey, andI don’t have that Jersey accent! After onlya few years in the Midwest (I like to thinkof these as the “dry years”), our family wastransferred back to NJ by the companymy dad worked for and so I spent most ofmy formative years on the east coast. Thereason I say “dry years” is due to the factthat I had no musical theatre in my life!

My parents loved the theatre,especially musicals, and when we lived inNJ we would travel into Manhattan atleast once a month to see a show. So, I’veseen pretty much all there is to see on thegreat Broadway: the good (Aida), the bad(Cats) and the ugly (Titanic; it lasted 7weeks). But I’ll never forget the time I sawLes Miserables. It was Christmas of 1988.I was on break from my undergrad studiesat Penn State and my parents took mysister and me into the city to see this newshow. Les Miserables had not receivedvery good reviews in London, but it wasextremely popular and so it opened onBroadway in 1987. Tickets were difficult tocome by, but like the good New Jerseyianhe was, my dad “knew somebody.”

We ate lunch at the Tavern on theGreen and then took a cab over to thetheatre. The next 3 ½ hours passed by ina flash as I was in awe: the way humannature was captured so beautifullythrough the characters: forgiveness and

redemption in Jean Valjean, the extremestandards of Javert, the fragility ofFantine and the hopefulness of Cosette.I was hooked! I went home and spent therest of my Christmas break immersed inVictor Hugo’s novels and poetry.

And so, when I found out that LesMiserables was arriving in Pittsburgh, Ijumped at the chance to take mydaughters to experience it. I couldn’t waitto see what their reactions would be towhat I thought was one of the greatestmusicals of all time. I was not disap-pointed. They sat on the very edge of theirseats with their mouths open in raptattention; they didn’t even notice that thefirst act lasted an hour and a half! Duringintermission they couldn’t stop talkingabout the costumes, the dancing, butmostly the music! My youngest daughtercame home and loaded the entiresoundtrack on her iPod that night. Shehas every song memorized, and for thepast week our house is constantly filledwith the songs from Les Miserables.

The hauntingly beautiful music ispart of the allure of the show: it is whatstays with us, what touches us, what wetake home with us. The last words JeanValjean sings are “and remember thetruth that once was spoken, to loveanother person is to see the face of God.”That’s what I took home with me.

People are always amazed when theyfind out what I do for a living. I usuallyget a double-take with the question

“You’re a pastor?” Somehow I just don’tfit the bill, the picture of what a pastorlooks like in their mind. As the con-versation progresses I usually hear thevoluntary confession: the reasons whythat person doesn’t go to church/doesn’tneed church/ doesn’t believe in God orthat there is a God. I nod at the appro-priate times and listen politely but all thewhile I am thinking, “Really? I see Godeverywhere I look.”

Perhaps that’s why I love Victor Hugo’sline, the line that I remember, that I tookhome with me, that I cannot forgot–theline that Jean Valjean sings at the end ofLes Miserables: “and remember the truththat once was spoken, to love anotherperson is to see the face of God.” And I inviteyou to take a look, a really good look atsomeone you love – what do you see?

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Ligonier Valley RailroadCaters to Passenger Traffic

by Bob StutzmanWhen the LVRR began to operate in1877, the line originated at the wye inLatrobe near today’s Weiss Furniturewhere it interchanged with the Pennsyl-vania Railroad. From there it continuedalong what is now Lincoln Avenue pastthe steel mills and then southeast toKingston where it then followed theLoyalhanna Creek through ChestnutRidge and Idlewild Park to Ligonier.

Much has been written about theimpact this short-line railroad had onthe economic development of LigonierValley. The importance of the LVRR,however, as a passenger train shouldnot be minimized. The railroad affec-ted the lives of people living not only inthe valley, but also throughout south-western Pennsylvania by providing ameans of reliable and economicaltransportation that up to this time hadbeen unimaginable.

People from the Pittsburgh areacould now more easily travel to theLigonier Valley, which had alreadyestablished the reputation of being atourist attraction because of its “unex-

celled scenery, invigorating mountainair and crystal spring water.” It alsomeant that Ligonier Valley residentscould easily travel to Latrobe in 30 to40 minutes, a trip which, before therailroad, was at least a three-hour rideby horse and buggy. Even moreunbelievable, they could travel toPittsburgh in less time than it had takenthem to travel to Latrobe before therailroad.

Having served more than ninemillion passengers over its 75-yearhistory, the LVRR from the beginningrecognized the importance of cateringto its passengers. The published sched-ule of the LVRR between Latrobe andLigonier included as many as 11 passen-ger stops along its 10.6 mile line, eventhough not all of them were active at thesame time. The train also stopped forindividuals who flagged it down and madeextra stops to drop off passengers. Al-though two of the 11 stops provided onlya platform, the other nine, which variedgreatly in size and structure, offeredshelter for passengers.

LVRR’s original station in Latrobewas built around 1877 next to Alex-andria Street along the railroad tracks.It stood across the street from what istoday the Family Video store. In 1903when the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)elevated its mainline tracks to eliminateall the grade crossings in downtownLatrobe, the LVRR had to elevate itstracks to continue interchanging withthe PRR. At that time, the LVRR alsoextended its passenger siding to thePRR station in Latrobe. The LVRRshared the same platform with east-bound PRR passengers but accessed itfrom the opposite side.

It is uncertain whether the LVRRrented space in the Latrobe station orthe PRR staff accommodated LVRRcustomers. Research will continuetoward unraveling this question.

The Oakville Station, built in 1899,was located 1.2 miles from the Latrobewye at the intersection of HarrisonAvenue and Grant Street. This station,which served the residents of Oakvilleand the nearby steel mills, was designedto accommodate passengers on the firstfloor and provide housing for the stationagent on the second floor. According tothe March 7, 1900, Ligonier Echo, thefirst agent at Oakville was CumminsKimmel, a LVRR track foreman. TheOakville Station was sold in the 1920sand converted into a private residencewhich stands today across from the NutHouse on Lincoln Avenue near thePond Restaurant.

The Osborne Station, located 2.1miles from the Latrobe wye, was builtnext to the intersection of the LVRRtracks and Raymond Avenue Exten-sion, east of today’s Latrobe SkatingCenter. No photographs of this stationare known to exist, but a now-deceasedlocal resident, Paul Carey, whose familyowned the surrounding farm, recalledthat the station was just a smallbuilding. Sometime after 1938 whenthis stop was removed from theschedule, the building collapsed. Carey


remembered seeing the carcass of arailroad baggage cart in the basementunder the debris. No trace of thisstation exists today.

Located 3.2 miles from the Latrobewye, the Kingston Station was built nextto the Loyalhanna Creek across thetracks from the Latrobe Water Works,which today is the site of the LatrobeMunicipal Authority. The stationserved the Water Works, the SoissonBrick Yard, which stood next to it, thePeters Paper Company, currently thesite of the Kennametal Kingston plant,and the residents of Kingston. Builtfrom blueprints the same as or similarto the ones used for Oakville, Kingstonserved both as a station for passengersand a residence for the station agent.After the LVRR went out of business,this station was torn down to makeroom for westbound Route 30.

Nothing more than a platform, theBakers stop, 5.7 miles from the Latrobewye, was included in early LVRR sched-ules. It was located halfway through theLoyalhanna Gorge near the spur to theBooth and Flinn quarry on the southside of the Loyalhanna Creek. The cut-stone abutments for the trestle bridgethat spanned the Loyalhanna Creek onthe Booth and Flinn siding can still beseen along westbound Route 30. Thispassenger stop accommodated thefew families who lived and worked inthat area.

Located 6.5 miles from the Latrobewye, the Longbridge Station was locatednear the communities of McCance andLongbridge. Until age nine, John Vucinalived in Longbridge where his motherran a boarding house for Booth andFlinn quarry workers. He remembersthat before the bridge was raised to passover the railroad tracks, the originalLincoln Highway intersected the rail-road on the same grade. Vucina saidthat Longbridge Station was built atthat intersection by the quarry. Theone-room frame building also doubledas a grocery store for the neighborhoodand was run by a McCance. Eventhough the building which housed thestation no longer exists, some of thenearby houses from that time still standtoday. The station remained in oper-ation until the Last Run in 1952.

The Darlington Station was locatedat the western entrance to IdlewildPark, 7.2 miles from the Latrobe wye.

This station, which was built in 1896,stood out from the other LVRR stationsbecause of its Victorian architecturalstyle, which included curved windowsand decorative trim. Like Oakville andKingston, this station also housed thestation agent and his family. Ella BetzWuchina, granddaughter of VivianSnyder, the station agent during the1940s, lived there along with her grand-parents and her aunt. She described thebuilding as having two bedrooms and abathroom upstairs, a kitchen in the

basement, and a living room behind thestation lobby on the first floor, wherepassengers bought tickets.

The Darlington Station also doubledas the park store where inbound Idlewildpatrons could buy picnic supplies. Thestation later evolved into a conveniencestore where local customers purchasedbread, milk, soda and, as John Vucinaremembers, lollipops with ediblehandles. When the railroad ceased op-erations in 1952, Idlewild Park tookownership and used the building foremployee housing until it donated thebuilding to the LVRRA in 2006. It nowserves as the LVRR Museum.

The station in Idlewild, 7.6 milesfrom the Latrobe wye, was once billedas the smallest station in Pennsylvaniaand was staffed only during the picnicseason. Today it stands on its original

site near the bumper car ride in thepark. About twice its original size, itnow serves as a hospitality office forlarge groups visiting Idlewild and asmall museum. Displayed in it is acollection of LVRR photographs andmemorabilia and outside are severalcast-iron railroad signs.

The Millbank stop was located nearthe site of today’s entrance to IdlewildPark, 8.0 miles from the Latrobe wye.This stop accommodated the localresidents and the Crescent Pipeline

Pumping Station, which stood on thesite where today’s Flea-Tique stands.Paul Fry, who lived in Millbank in the1960s, remembers walking past theabandoned building on his way to andfrom swimming at the Idlewild pool.According to Fry, Millbank was a 4’ x8’ brick building with a bench insidealong the back wall for waiting pas-sengers. Dean Shirey, who grew up on anearby dairy farm, remembers deliveringmilk cans to Millbank to be shipped toPittsburgh. Idlewild demolished thebuilding about 20 years ago to make roomfor its current entrance plaza.

The Bells stop, consisting of only aplatform, was located 8.9 miles fromthe Latrobe wye where the railroadcrossed Two-Mile Run Road. No photo-


This photograph of the Last Run wastaken by Dean Shirey at the Ice Pond

just west of Bells.


graph of it is known to exist. Nearby wasthe railroad spur to the ConsolidatedIce Company, situated on the propertycurrently owned by the Camp and Con-ference Center.

The original Ligonier Station, 10.0miles from the Latrobe wye, was a twostory frame building that housed boththe passenger lobby and the offices ofthe railroad. In 1909, when the LVRRdecided to build a new station, theframe structure was moved across thetracks and repurposed into the railroadfreight station.

At a cost of more than $50,000, thenew Ligonier Station was designed tobe impressive as well as functional. TheNovember 24, 1909, Ligonier Echostated, “The beautiful, modern stationbuilt of granite and terra cotta resem-bling granite [will be] possibly the finestand best equipped railroad station forany town the size of Ligonier.” The build-ing was officially opened in 1910 withthe baggage and waiting rooms and theticket office on the first floor andLVRR’s headquarters on the second.

In 1957 the Ligonier Station wassold to the Pennsylvania Game Com-mission, which resold it in 2002 to theLigonier Valley School District for itsadministrative offices. The originalframe station still stands along Rail-road Street and serves as a garage and

maintenance building for the LigonierValley School District.

In 1899 when the LVRR built a lineeast of Ligonier to support the Byers-Allen Sawmill and interchange with thePittsburg, Westmoreland and Somer-set Railroad, it added a summer stationnear Frank’s Hotel, a popular touristattraction located on the site of today’sRamada Inn.

The summer station was a coveredplatform alongside the tracks, locatedon the site of today’s Chestnut RidgeFamily Medicine practice on WestLoyalhanna Street. A ticket office, lo-cated next door to the hotel, still standstoday in the back yard of a residenceon South Fairfield Street, near where itoriginally stood in the early 1900s.

Undoubtedly, the LVRR mademost of its money from the industriesthat sprang up along its line, but fromthe beginning the railroad recognizedthe added value of passenger business.The expense of building and maintain-ing 11 stops and manning at least sevenof them along its 10.6 mile road, as wellas the cost of developing Idlewild Parkto attract tourists to Ligonier Valley,reveals how committed the Mellonfamily was to promoting its railroadpassenger business.

* * * * *

Part Two: “Ligonier Valley Tourism Inceases as Trans-portation Evolves,” coming in the summer issue of theLaurel Mountain Post.

This article was originally published in the December2012 edition of the Liggie (Volume 8, Issue 4), thenewsletter of the Ligonier Valley Railroad Association.With the author’s permission, we are reprinting thisseries in an effort to reach a wider community audiencefor education, preservation, and to promote the impor-tance of local history.

CONTACT INFO: Ligonier Valley Railroad Museum,3032 Idlewild Hill, PO Box 21, Ligonier PA 15658. 724-238-7819. www.lvrra.org, [email protected].

Bob Stutzman is the Co-founder of the Ligonier ValleyRail Road Association (2004), eight-year officer, andoriginator/editor of their quarterly publication TheLiggie. Retired from LVVR in 2012, he is an activemember of Christ United Church of Christ in Latrobe,and a member of the Greater Latrobe CommunityChorus. Bob also attended Ligonier High School andthe University of Pittsburgh and served in the UnitedStates Air Force. Also retired from Timken-LatrobeSteel as the manager of the Special Products Division, heis married with two daughters and five grandchildren.

Ticket OfficeThis picture at includes Frank’s Hotel, the ticket office adjacent to it,

and the summer station in the foreground.

LVRR, continued from page 9

WYE: a track arrangement withthree switches and three legs forreversing the direction of a train.


Cathi Gerhard - Editor • Gregory Susa - Publisher

Megan Fuller - Editorial Consultant • Kaytlen Powers - InternJason Ament - Advertising Sales Consultant

Carol Gerhard - Copy Editor • Scott Sinemus - The Ligonier ChefElizabeth Srsic - Art & Education • Ruthie Richardson - Memory Lane

Mark Rullo - What’s Cooking in Fitness • Granny Earth - Healing With WeedsBrian Mishler - Home Study • Cindy Parker - Three Pennies

Bruce & Ellen Henderson - Features & Photography • Fusty MuckrakerJoe Jerich - Features & Photography • Eric Pensenstadler - Video

Bloggers: Elizabeth Srsic, Joanna McQuade, Ruthie Richardson,Hayley Chemski, Cathi Gerhard, Megan Fuller

Distribution Team: Doug Richardson, Heather Haines, Bob Raho, Robin Shields,Joanne Hartman, Beverly Struble, Jack Wilson, Jason Ament, Cathi Gerhard,

Gregory Susa, Alice Susa, Nancy A. Clark

The Laurel Mountain Post is an independent, quarterly publicationproduced at Fairview Farm in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

Office Mailing Address:Laurel Mountain Post | PO Box 332 | Ligonier, PA 15658

Editorial Office:Located at Fairview Farm | 189 Fairview Lane | Derry, PA 15627

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SubscriberInformation

Print subscriptions will once again beavailable for $20/year, and will arrivevia 1st Class US Mail. We’ve had someissues with slow bulk mail deliveries inthe past, so we plan to stuff envelopesand lick stamps from now on! You willreceive a copy of each quarterly printedition along with subscriber-only cou-pons from local businesses in apprecia-tion of your support! Please send a checkwith your name and mailing address to:

Laurel Mountain Post SubscriptionsPO Box 332 • Ligonier, PA 15658

(include email address when possible)

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POSTLAUREL MOUNTAIN

Sweet Home, PennsylvaniaLaurel Mountain Post Continues As Independent Community Magazine

A local business owner recently brought some concerns abouta direct mail marketing piece to my attention. This letter of in-troduction talked about a new local magazine with a name verysimilar to ours, and an emphasis on Latrobe, Ligonier and Derry.

Competition never hurts, but I wanted to let everyoneknow that, despite the similarities being portrayed, we haveno affiliation with this publication. The Laurel Mountain Postcontinues to be an independent magazine without corporateaffiliation and influence, written and produced by the citi-zens, family and friends of western Pennsylvania.

A little research revealed that this new rival is actually aform of “template marketing,” which means that a large me-dia company designs a format in which customized infor-mation is inserted. This template is used regionally, nation-ally, and sometimes globally. Many local newspapers andmagazines have since gone the way of this cheaper, mass-produced, carbon-copy type of publishing – the product of acorporate parent in another city or even country.

Travel anywhere in the United States, and you will be ableto pick up a few “local magazines” in a variety of genres that lookjust like ones found in any other American city. Same design,similar content, with a few regional photos and extras thrownin here and there: think chain stores and restaurants.

Printing costs are lower because they run a million cop-ies and then customize only a few pages for each market. Adsales are handled on the same format, with a smattering ofsponsorship levels. It’s a smart business model, but it reallyrobs the pages of any real or unique personality.

Here at the Laurel Mountain Post I am biased, of course.I prefer to run as much original content as possible, includ-ing ads. I enjoy getting back into the streets and meeting realpeople: to write stories, gather information, and sell adver-tising – though it’s been a while since I’ve been out there,due to my broken down back. That’s where our volunteerscome in, the ones who help me survive. Alive on every page,the writers, delivery hands, sponsors, proofreaders and othercontributors work together to make the Laurel MountainPost a consistent “voice of Pennsylvania,” as we were calledby the BBC World News in 2008.

Without those individuals, our chorus of voices wouldsound like nothing more than the droning, automated din ofa cookie cutter production line in Anytown, USA. So, I wouldlike to thank you all for your continued support of the LaurelMountain Post. I promise to ardently organize your efforts intothe best local magazine I can imagine and publish each quarter.

– Cathi Gerhard, editor


National Wildlife Week is celebrating its75th Anniversary with a goal of planting75,000 trees across the United States. Thetheme - Branching out for Wildlife – linksthe important role that trees play in the livesof wildlife and people. Featuring 45different species, with activities for learningabout trees and wildlife, National WildlifeWeek will give youth and families a chanceto spend the week exploring trees andwildlife and give back to their communitiesby committing to plant a tree and care forit for a year.

Since 1938, National Wildlife Weekhas been a time to learn about wildlife andnature. Past themes have focused onoceans, prairies or conservation topics likewater and recycling. This year’s theme ofBranching Out for Wildlife helps to raiseawareness about the vital role, oftenoverlooked, that trees play in our daily livesand in the lives of wildlife. Trees provide usinvaluable products and services we use allthe time—they provide us with oxygen tobreathe, their roots help prevent erosion,they provide wood to make houses andfurniture, they provide homes for wildlife,and they provide food for people and forwildlife.

NWF has a host of resources forexploring these amazing wildlife species,including posters, wildlife trading cards,lessons and activities, articles and webinars.Tree planting service projects are beingorganized across the country supported bygenerous donations from supporters andbusinesses. Visit www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek to learn more and explore theresources available to help plan youradventure with wildlife. Donate today tosupport these efforts at www.nwf.org/trees.

“National Wildlife Week for 75 yearshas inspired generations to take a momentto learn and reflect on wildlife and ourenvironment. NWF is encouraging everyAmerican to take a moment during thisweek to join us in celebrating our amazinglydiverse wildlife and wild places and to thinkabout what you can do to make a difference

“Branching Out for Wildlife”National Wildlife Week: March 18-24, 2013

Branching Out for Wildlife Mega-PosterThe National Wildlife Week poster series (pictured at left)for 2013 is actually one big poster! Our“mega-poster” features the different parts of a tree and wildlife that are found in or use that part ofthe tree. Put all the individual posters together to make one very tall tree!

Each poster is designed to be printed at 17" x 11" but can also be printed at 11" x 8-1/2". When allthe posters are printed and assembled vertically, they form one long poster—5-1/2 feet long! Posterfiles are available for download at: http://www.nwf.org/National-Wildlife-Week/Posters.aspx.

where you live – at home, in your com-munity, at your school or place of business.Plant a tree, remove an invasive species,provide a place for wildlife- make adifference,” says Eliza Russell, Director ofEducation.”Give yourself 90 minutesduring the week to get outside and re-connect to the outdoors and nature.”

National Wildlife Week was firstobserved in 1938 under the name “NationalWildlife Restoration Week”. Pastspokespeople of National Wildlife Weekinclude Walt Disney, Shirley Temple, andRobert Redford.

Founded in 1936, National Wildlife Federation’smission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife forour children’s future. The organization is currentlydeveloping programs to counteract nature deficitdisorder in children by encouraging parents and othercaring adults to help children spend more time outdoorseveryday. Learn more at www.nwf.org.

PLANT A TREE TODAY!Your donation will help us to reach ourgoal of purchasing and planting 75,000trees leading up to and during NationalWildlife Week. Contributions go directlyto supporting tree planting. Native treeswill be planted by youth at schools, parksand other public places across the coun-try. (Visit www.nwf.org/trees)

National Wildlife Week 2013 is acelebration of trees and their importanceto wildlife and to people – as sources offood and shelter and shade and so muchmore. Help us to restore trees to publicspaces across the country by making yourdonation today.

90% of your contribution assists withthe purchase of trees, providing ma-terials for tree planting (tree guards forsaplings, shovels, mulch, watering sup-plies, gloves) and educational resourcesabout caring for trees. 10% of yourcontribution supports NWF work toprotect wildlife that depend on trees aspart of their habitat.


Pitt-Greensburg Theatre Company to Perform“Eleanor – An American Love Story”

Rehearsals are underway for the Pitt-Greensburg Theatre Company’s productionof “Eleanor—An American Love Story,”which will be performed April 4 and April5 at The Palace Theatre (21 West OttermanStreet, Greensburg, PA 15601). Curtain timeis 7:30 p.m. The performance is part of Pitt-Greensburg’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Twenty Pitt-Greensburg students arepart of the cast, which is under the directionof Stephen Schrum, PhD, associateprofessor of Theatre Arts, and ChristopherBartley, music director.

“As a director, I always like workingwith large groups of actors in stagingmoments that fill the stage, but the bestparts of Eleanor are the smaller, intimatescenes, usually involving Eleanor, Franklin,and Franklin‘s mother,” said Schrum.“These scenes are fraught with conflict andhumor and are great fun to work with. Achallenge will be to show the changing eras,since the show covers a long period of time,but at the same time, we can ground thosetime and period changes with the gradualchange to Eleanor’s ‘public face’ and hergrowing confidence in playing practicalpolitics—though we see the seeds of herpolitical life even in scene one.”

Written by Jonathan Bolt with musicby Thomas Tierney and lyrics by JohnForster, this musical tells the story ofEleanor Roosevelt’s journey from a shy,young aristocrat to her emergence as apowerful catalyst for social change. It tellsof the passionate courtship and bittersweetmarriage to Franklin, and ultimately, of thesurprising partnership that so dramaticallychanged the face of 20th Century Americaas well as the entire world.

“Everybody knows Eleanor Roosevelt,”explained junior Jess Uhler, a Visual &Performing Arts major from Harrisburg,PA. “But they may not know that she wasthe driving force behind her husband andsome of the major changes that occurredin this country. [Through the show,] I thinkwe get to see the person that only her familymembers saw.”

A regional theatre hit, the show madeits debut in 1987 at the Village Theatre(Issaquah, WA). In 1990, the PittsburghPublic Theatre performed the show andearned high praise from regional dramacritics, including “Eleanor succeeds becauseit’s got drama and heart . . .” (PittsburghPost-Gazette), “Eleanor grips us from startto finish . . .” (WQED-FM), “Eleanorsparkles with humor and pathos . . . richlydeserving of the standing ovation theaudience awarded it.” (Times/BeaverNewspapers), and “Red-white-and-bluehistory with energy and warmth, pace andfluidity,” (The Pittsburgh Press).

“Pitt-Greensburg’s theatre program isa hidden gem. New members of our audi-ence always tell us how excellent our showsare,” said Jesse Palatucci, a Visual &Performing Arts senior from Brentwood,PA. “People coming to The Palace will seean excellent performance. It’s pretty specialto be at The Palace but it’s also bittersweetsince this is my last show and we won’t beperforming at Ferguson Theatre. We’ll getto perform to a bigger audience, though.This feels more professional . . . it’s prettyamazing.”

Ticket prices are $18 (adults), $17(senior citizens 55+), or $10 (students andyouth). A special ticket price of $15 perperson is offered for groups of 10 or more.

L to R: Emily Ann Stark; Anthony Puzzini andStephen Schrum; Jordan Fessler

Brian Donehue and Alicia DePaolo; xxx; Kiersten Brown,John Richey, Bethany Thomas, Emily Ann Stark

Tickets are available from the University ofPittsburgh at Greensburg (Lynch 203A, 150Finoli Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601) byvisiting the website www.greensburg.pitt.edu/eleanor. Questions may bedirected to 724-836-7497.

The Pitt-Greensburg Theatre Company’s production ofEleanor—An American Love Story is made possible, inpart, through grants from the Laurel Highlands VisitorsBureau and the Greensburg Foundation Fund of theCommunity Foundation of Westmoreland County.

Founded in 1963 and celebrating its 50th anniversary,the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is a publiclyassisted, four-year, liberal arts college in southwesternPennsylvania. A regional campus of the University ofPittsburgh, Pitt-Greensburg offers 24 baccalaureatedegree programs, including new majors in Educationand Spanish, as well as 19 minors. More than 13 percentof Pitt-Greensburg’s full-time faculty—the highestpercentage of any University of Pittsburgh campus—have received the prestigious University-wideChancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.

© Cvandyke | Dreamstime.comEleanor Roosevelt Sculpture Memorial Washington DC

14 - Spring 2013 LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

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HOMESTUDYby Brian Mishler

Not All Contractors Are Created Equal

Brian Mishler is an 18-year veteran of home inspectionand is a past president of PRO-ASHI, the local chapterof the American Society of Home Inspectors. You canget more information about home inspection atwww.pro-ashi.com.

A story my clients often hear is about atime I walked through the electricaldepartment of a local big-box hardwarestore, and came across a man, his wifeand young daughter in tow, holding a60 amp electrical sub panel. He waslooking up at a rack and muttering,“OK, a 10 gauge wire can handle 30amps…” Passing by, all I could think is“don’t do it”! If you don’t know what thisjargon means, it’s OK; most folks don’t,and I don’t think our hero did either.

In my experience the most com-mon problems that are found duringhome inspection are those caused bythe homeowners themselves; especiallythose who are “handy”. It seems folksbelieve that electrical wiring is theeasiest, as this particular system usuallyhas the most inventive “repairs”performed, and is most frequentlycalled out during inspection. I’ve seenelectrical systems wired on lamp cord(It’s made for lamps, not the entirehouse!), the ‘ol penny in the fuse boxtrick, homemade extension cordspowering entire sections of a home,homemade backup generator systems,you name it, “Harry Handyman” haswired it. Mr. Handyman least com-monly tackles natural (and other) gassystems, but that didn’t stop oneintrepid soul from plumbing his entiredetached garage like your high schoolchemistry lab, except he didn’t botherwith any of those silly safety shutoffvalves, fire suppression, or otherexpensive stuff that might stop thebuilding from entering low orbit upondetonation. Home inspectors fre-quently find themselves facingdangerous situations because of such“improvements”. So do utility workers;the aforementioned homemade gener-ator system can send electricity back tothe utility lines during a power outage,creating the potential that a line workercould be shocked or electro-cuted. Mr.Handyman has also dis-covered howimproper waste plumbing can allowsewer gasses into the house, how im-

proper supply plumbing can contam-inate his family’s drinking water, howimproperly installed shingles can blowoff a roof… you get the idea.

As you might imagine, we homeinspectors frequently encourage clientsto seek the services of a “competent” fillin the blank (plumber, electrician, etc.)contractor. The next question the clientasks is “how do I find one of those?”. Avery good question and one thatrequires some homework. We arefortunate to have very good, competent,ethical contractors in our area.Unfortunately, muddying the watersbetween good and bad, Pennsylvaniahas a contractor registration program,which many confuse with a “licensing”program. In order to be a registeredcontractor in PA, one merely has toprovide business information and acheck. There is no testing, nothing todetermine the qualifications of theindividual or company in question. Theperson / company only have to provethey have $50,000 each in personalinjury and property insurance. (Tocompare, we home inspectors need$250,000 in errors and omissionsinsurance.) As an exception, bothPhiladelphia and Allegheny countieshave more extensive contractorlicensing programs. The state programdoes provide a means to file a com-plaint, but isn’t it better to avoid acomplaint situation altogether?

The best place to start looking forcontractors is to determine what typeof work needs to be performed, and starttalking to friends, and professional ac-quaintances. As you talk to folks lookfor names (good or bad) that come upmore frequently than others. Most anybusiness will have unhappy customers;don’t let one negative comment dis-suade you, but a bunch may tell a dif-ferent story. The Better BusinessBureau and Angie’s list can be valuabletools to learn how companies deal withcomplaints.

Once you’ve settled on a handfulof contractors start making calls. Tellthem what you’re thinking about doing;ask for their thoughts on the project, ifit’s a good fit for their company, andhow they think it best to pursue com-pletion. If they’re unwilling to talk toyou as a prospective client, things won’tget better once you’re a client. Same ifthey don’t answer the phone, etc.

Next, get at least three bids! You’renot dating; a contractor will not beoffended if you’re talking to others! Aclient recently called me upset; they hadcalled a well-advertised Pittsburgh area“jack of all trades” company to install acable and receptacle (outlet) for akitchen stove. The company repre-sentative told my client that they wouldhave to install a new electrical serviceand main panel to accommodate theadditional load, and the total projectwould be $13,000! I informed my clientthat in this case, this was way too much;($2,000 should do it easily), and theyshould seek bids from other con-tractors. Compare your bids, and makesure the bids are for the same work,materials, etc. Also, request copies ofthe declaration page of the contractorsinsurance; if they don’t have insuranceand get hurt on your property, it’s yourproperty insurance that will cover theinjured! Bid in hand, ask questions;when will work commence, more im-portantly when will it be completed?Who will be inspecting the work? Whois responsible for building permits andschedule inspections? Beware thecontractor who doesn’t want to getpermits or inspections!!

In short, cheapest is rarely the best,educate yourself, and don’t be afraid toask questions. When in doubt contactyour friendly neighborhood homeinspector!

* * * * *


by Mark Rullo MS, CSCS, MES and Julie MartsonWHAT’S COOKING IN FITNESS

Ignorance Is BlissUntil It Comes to Weight Loss

All across the country, and probably acrossthe world, fitness professionals hear peoplesay things like this: “Last night, I ate twopieces of cake at my son’s birthday party. Guess I’ll be on this treadmill for a while towork it off.”

I know I have said things like it beforetoo. It seems like there is a huge belief thatpeople can out-exercise a bad diet, and I amhere to help break this disgustingly per-vasive myth into pieces. Just call me MythBuster. At My Fitness Kitchen®, we like to talkabout the Hierarchy of Fat Loss in that firstand foremost you can’t out-exercise acrappy (high-caloric diet), once that isunderstood and accepted then it followedby progressive resistance training so youcan maximize the caloric burn when notexercising via EPOC (excess post oxygenconsumption). The final two levels in thishierarchy are interval cardio and steadystate cardio. Following this Hierarchyensures weight loss will happen at the mosteffective and safe route. The number one factor in weight lossis supportive nutrition which is creating adaily caloric deficit while also supplying thebody both macronutrients (proteins,carbohydrates and fats) and micronutrients(vitamins and minerals) for adequatenourishment. Most people would refer tothis as a diet. First of all, let me explain what I meanwhen I use the word diet. It is such a smallword that has taken on this strange life ofits own, and most people (especially wo-men) associate it with a struggle with foodand a quick change in eating habits. Thingslike the South Beach diet, the Zone diet, theMaker’s Diet, Atkins, and the Paleo diethave all given us an idea that a diet is a wayto eat that a doctor or author (or evenVictoria Beckham) prescribes. Diets areoften linked to pain and suffering anddeprivation from our favorite foods. “No, Icannot have ANY sweets, I’m on the_______ diet and they say not to have anysweets.” “This week I have to cut out fruitbecause Dr. Know-It-All says it’s bad.”

Regardless of what you think aboutwhen you hear or read the word diet, I wantyou to read the rest of this article with theunderstanding that I am using it as a wayto describe your daily food intake and whatthat intake adds up to over time. I am not

advocating any diet other than the diet thatinvolves you knowing the caloric conse-quences of the food and beverages you putin your mouth. Let’s pretend that we have an averageman in his mid-thirties who weighs 180pounds. After finding out his height, weight,age, and activity level, a fitness professionalcan determine what his dietary needs are. We can determine how many calories a dayhe needs in order to maintain his currentweight. Let’s pretend that Mr. Averageneeds 2,000 calories a day in order to stayjust as he is. In other words, his body burnsabout 2,000 calories a day just doing whathe is currently doing, so in order to keephis body where it is, he needs to eat 2,000calories every day. He can eat whatever hewants – cookies, donuts, and chips ORvegetables, fruit, and lean proteins OR evena mix of the two – and he will maintain hisweight (he will feel better and is encouragedto eat fruit and vegetables and lean proteins,but as long as he is only taking in 2,000calories a day, he can eat whatever he wantsand maintain his weight). Let’s say that Mr. Average starts eatingan extra 500 calories a day without realizingit and within 5 weeks, he suddenly sees thathis weight is now 185. Rather than changehis new dietary habit and eat less, Mr.Average starts to run for 30 minutes day,which for a man of his size would burnaround 500 calories at first. Although heate 2,500 calories, he burned an extra 500by running, which means he just equalizedhis extra intake. But – like many of us – hejust might think to himself, “I ran for30 minutes, I can have an extra serving ofpasta/meat/ bread/fill-in-the-blank.” Evenif that extra serving is just 250 calories, he’snow taken his caloric intake back up to2,250 calories, and those extra 250 calorieswill eventually be stored as fat since his bodydid not use it.

In one pound of fat, there is 3,500 calories.In order for a person to lose a pound of fat,they need to have a caloric deficit of 3,500calories. In order for someone to gainweight, they need to eat an extra 3,500calories. If Mr. Average keeps up hisrunning and still nets 2,250 calories a day,he will continue to gain weight at a rate ofone pound every two weeks (3,500 calories÷ 250 extra calories a day = 14 days).

Let’s look at Ms. Average, a 145 poundwoman whose age and activity levelrequires her to eat 1,800 calories. Let’s sayshe had an extra 300 calorie donut atbreakfast. In order to burn off that donut,she finds out she would have to walk forover an hour. Add another 250 calorieswhen she had a 20-ounce soda at lunch. That will take another 50 minutes to walkoff. Ms. Average has 24 hours in a day,just like the rest of us, and she works 8hours a day, sleeps 8 hours a night, andhas a family she would like to spend timewith when she gets home from work. DoesMs. Average really want to go on a two hourwalk after working all day and taking careof her family? Let’s face it: Most of us eat more thanwe need to. We can tell just by stepping onthe scale every once in a while or even byputting on our clothes. When we eat morethan we need, we gain weight. We can ex-ercise to help offset some of that weightgain, but it will never undo the damage wecause when we shove too many calories pastour lips – hence why controlling caloricintake is #1 in the hierarchy of Fat Loss. Bysaying no to our stomach and our cravingswhen we do not need to eat, we can saveourselves the aggravation and annoyanceof weight gain. Your diet (caloric intake)determines your weight. Exercise deter-mines your activity level. They both gohand in hand and can influence the other. I will never discourage someone fromexercising, but I will discourage you fromremaining in the dark about your owndietary needs. Ignorance may be bliss, butwhen you can’t even button your pantsbecause you just keep gaining weight, blisswill not be the emotion you feel. “But Julie,” you say as you read thisarticle, “it was my birthday this week. I hadto have cake at the office, and then myfamily had a party, so I had to eat cakethere. And then I had to go out for pizzawith my friends on Saturday and I had toeat three slices and the waitress keptrefilling my glass and I-” Well, this may sound mean or harsh,but we all need to face reality. No onestrapped you to your table and forced cakeand pizza down your throat and soda andbeer and whatever down your throat.

When it comes to weight loss, we needto face the facts. Our diet influences our


weight gain or loss the most. Only we areresponsible for that. We can argue abouthigh fructose corn syrup, low-carb diets,and Jenny Craig until we are blue in theface, but ultimately, we are the masters ofour own health and creators of ourmetabolism. We would all love a secretformula that guarantees weight loss, but thebest way to do it is to just eat less and movemore. Set down your fork when you feelfull! Push the plate away! Step away fromthe jelly donuts on the counter at work soyou don’t stand there and eat five withoutthinking about it!

We have all heard “only you canprevent forest fires.” I would like to addanother phrase to our vernacular – Onlyyou can prevent obesity. There are endlessprograms out there, as well as numeroustools to help us learn how to reverse theobesity trend in this country, but obesitycannot be stopped without some willpowerfrom within each of us. Your weight losscannot be achieved without you making aconscious decision that you want to change.

You are the master of your health. Ifthat is intimidating and you feel like youare in the dark, ask for help. Fitness andhealth professionals love helping peoplelearn. It is a huge factor in why we do whatwe do. If you need help discovering whatsupportive nutrition looks like for you, MyFitness Kitchen® can help. Contact the“Kitchen” at 724.879.8523 mention thisarticle to coordinate a FREE no obligationconsult where we can provide you with yournutritional game plan with personalizedmetabolic formula.

As an added incentive for people newto My Fitness Kitchen®, by mentioning thisLaurel Mountain Post article and aftermeeting with one of My Fitness Kitchen’sFitness Professionals for a private consult –you will receive $50 “Kitchen Kash” to be usedtoward any program or service at My FitnessKitchen® as a courtesy of the Laurel Moun-tain Post.

Something far from your traditional, intimidatinggym, My Fitness Kitchen® is where weight loss ismade simple.

My Fitness Kitchen® is located in Latrobe 30 plaza,Latrobe PA. My Fitness Kitchen® is a weight lossand body transformation center that also happens tohave a fitness center connected to it. From the momentyou enter My Fitness Kitchen® regardless of yourage, fitness level or experience, it’s all about “You”. Thesupportive staff, welcoming atmosphere, and friendlymembers combine to create the most unique and com-fortable environment for your fitness and weightmanagement success. Whether it is Fitness, Nutritionor both, you can be confident My Fitness Kitchen®is the solution to a healthier and thinner you.

About the author:Julie Marston - Julie Marston is an ACSM CertifiedPersonal Trainer and group fitness instructor at MyFitness Kitchen® with a passion for overall wellnessand health with a degree in exercise science and health.Her specialty is weight loss, and she has worked withclients of all ages.

Six students, three from Valley Schooland three from Ligonier Valley MiddleSchool, came together to form the team“Capers” at the FLL Regional Majorhosted by Shady Side Academy onDecember 8th. The boys collaborated ona challenge created by FIRST (For In-spiration and Recognition of Scientceand Technology) in which they had tocreate a robot from LEGOs and pro-gram the robot to perform a variety oftasks on a 4x8 foot table.

“I like how Mrs. Christoff [thegroup’s coach] is very flexible. She givesus guidance, but not rules,” saidClayton Ritter, a sixth grader at ValleySchool of Ligonier. “She lets us roamthe wide world of Legos and robotics -gives us a lot of freedom – but if we straytoo far she directs us back in the rightdirection. Also, she gives us snacks tokeep us going, which we like a lot!”

They met with seniors at theLigonier Valley Senior Center to deter-mine difficulties posed by aging as partof their research.

“It helped us know what commonproblems sernior citizens have and gotus thinking about how we could solveor help them,” explained Zak Peltz-Palko, age 12. “we didn’t design a robot

Ligonier Capers Robotics Team, shown from left to right:Coach Valerie Christoff, Cole Zimmerman, Zackary Peltz-Palko, Emmett Nelson, Clayton Ritter,

and Simon Brown. (Missing from photo: Hunter Mellon)

Ligonier students Place 6th

at Western PA FLL Robotics Championshipto help the seniors but we designed arobot to do a certain task on a boardthat related to a real human problemthat happpens as you age.”

At the competition, each team wasjudged on five categories: RobotPerformance, Robot Design, Program-ming, Research Project, and Team-work. Our boys were fifth on the table,earning an invitation to the WesternPA FLL Robotics Championship wherethey scored sixth out of the qualifyingteams.

Team member Hunter Melloncommented,“The reason I got involvedwas because I thought it would besomething really interesting and fun todo as an extra-curricular activity.”

The championship event included48 teams vying for recognition andawards for outstanding robotic perfor-mance, design innovation, program-ming prowess, research excellenceand demonstrated gracious profes-sionalism. It was held at the NationalRobotics Engineering Center inLawrenceville.

“We didn’t expect to place ashigh as we did in the championship,”commented Peltz-Palko. “We werejust excited to be there.”


by Clair Ward, Head of School at Valley School of LigonierTODAY’S EDUCATION

The Right Path to Tomorrow’s Career?

Clair Ward was appointed in 2008 to the position ofHead of School at Valley School of Ligonier (www.valleyschoolofligonier.org). Ms. Ward holds an M.Ed. fromBoston College and a B.A. in English/Classics fromHamilton College. Ms. Ward lives in Rector with herdaughter and her husband, Bryon Williams, a doctoralcandidate at Duquesne University.

Each generation believes that the world isa scarier place than it was in the past.School security issues and a more volatileeconomy make this a logical conclusionthese days. Among other things, we nowworry about our recent college graduatesfinding it difficult to secure a position intheir chosen careers. Many of my localschool administration colleagues can attestto the fact that there are a tremendousnumber of highly qualified teachers with noreal prospect of local employment in thenext three years. While this is indeedconcerning, I worry about what I see as agrowing trend in education. In order tomake our graduates more employable,colleges and universities are beginning toleave behind the true essence of liberal artseducation in exchange for courses of studythat feel far closer to vocational training.And the breeding ground for this approachbegins in our elementary schools that areasking teachers to give up more and moreinstructional time to standardized testpreparation.

In his 2005 book, A Whole New Mind:Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future,Daniel Pink notes that historically we havemoved through the agricultural, industrial,and informational economic ages. Hesuggests that we are headed for what herefers to as the conceptual age. This newera will be marked by, among other things,careers that will require agility and creativeproblem solving. Gone are the days ofchoosing a career in your twenties andremaining there until retirement. The nextgeneration will need to have the skills toembrace as many as three careers and benimble enough to re-invent themselves overthe course of their work lives. Pink believesthat while the information age requiredtraits associated with the left side of thebrain (such as organization, analysis, andsequencing), tomorrow’s careers will re-quire traits more associated with the rightside of the brain (such as design, empathy,and meaning). In fact, many suspect thatthe livelihoods that will be most prevalenttomorrow do not actually exist today.

If what Daniel Pink says is true, we mayhave a dilemma on our hands. The worldof education is being asked to reduce itselfto only what is directly measurable—only

what is immediately employable. The trendis to ask students and schools to specializeearly, and to choose a career path as earlyas the last year of high school or the firstyear of college. A Pittsburgh universityprofessor recently spoke with me about afirst year writing and literature class. Mostof the students in the class are alreadycommitted to very prescribed career pro-grams such as pharmacology, nursing, orphysicians’ assistant. On the surface thissounds great. Students have made a com-mitment early on and are determined to befocused. But what happens if they gethalfway through the program and decide itis not a fit for them? Or what if by the timethey graduate, these fields are no longer asrelevant? Students will have had a largevolume of coursework that might not betransferable to other programs. Furthermore,their training may not include coursework ina variety of liberal arts areas and studentsmay miss the opportunity to discover a newlove or passion. Students are increasinglyencouraged to choose a vocation prior tohaving experienced the world. This sort oftraining will produce graduates who are notnecessarily equipped for lifelong learningand who might not be as agile or right-brained as Pink implies the livelihoods oftomorrow will require them to be.

This is a true dilemma for our college-bound population. On the one hand, whocould possibly blame them? The cost ofhigher education has risen to epic levels.That sort of investment drives students andtheir parents to look for a “sure thing” asan outcome of a college education. Andunlike the college graduates of the 80’s and90’s who could turn a liberals arts human-ities major into a six-figure technologysalary in Silicon Valley, today’s graduatesare entering a world in which simply findingany work takes great precedence over lay-ing the groundwork for a career. The eco-nomic volatility is causing widespread panicas graduates struggle to work and theirparents struggle to retire. The dilemma iswhether or not to prepare for one thing,over being prepared for anything.

Our knee-jerk response to better pre-pare students for specific careers couldironically cripple them for the ever-changingcareer world. The more we limit education

to specific training, the less agile ourstudents could become. Additionally, we areraising an entire generation who, no matterhow hard we assert the opposite, are learn-ing for reasons other than the joy oflearning. They may not develop into the life-long learners we say we want to produce.We are showing our students that we valuenarrow academic knowledge over enduringacademic behavior that will sustain theirlearning for a lifetime. And the tragic partis that for many of them, the academicknowledge they will collect in their chosencareer training (vs. their holistic education)may not be transferrable to the two or threeadditional careers the future world eco-nomy will require of them. It seems that weare preparing students for the world of ourpast, not the world of their future. Liberalarts education exposes students to thevariety of subject areas and skills necessaryto be adaptable in the new economy. Accor-ding to Daniel Pink, liberal arts educationwould not be considered a luxury, but anecessity for success.

It is not too late; there is still time. Letus consider a world in which students havethe opportunity to discover new passionsand potential livelihoods through realliberal arts education. Let us agree to raiseour children so that they value lifelonglearning and have the intellectual agility tokeep them afloat through several lifetimecareer changes. There is a saying about folkswho adore their jobs: “They have neverworked a day in their lives.” If we allowstudents to choose their livelihoods basedon passion and not simply on practicality,we stand the best chance of them thrivingand being fed by their professions. Whilepaying the bills is important, let us agree toraise this generation of children as intrinsiclearners not extrinsic earners. In this way,we will deliver truly nimble graduates whowill be able to navigate the landscape of therapidly changing world.

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April 27 Yard Sale, 8 am to 12 pmMay 1 Musuem and story open for season

Tues - Sat 11 to 4, Sun 1 to 5Community Day - 1 to 5

(Westmoreland County Residents Free Museum Preview)

Compass Inn MCompass Inn MCompass Inn MCompass Inn MCompass Inn Museumuseumuseumuseumuseum

1382 Route 30, Laughlintown, 3 miles east of Ligonier724-238-4983 • www.compassinn.comEvents sponsored by Ligonier Valley Historical Society

This advertisement sponsored by Carol & Dave’s Roadhouse and Bob Stutzman

This advertisement sponsored by Antiques On the Diamond in Ligonier

The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art will continue its tradition ofcelebrating the area’s talented young artists with the return of Artists ofthe 21st Century, the Museum’s annual student art exhibition. A total of310 student-created works will be featured in the dual exhibitions. Artistsof the 21st Century will be on view at SAMA-Loretto from February 8through April 6 and at SAMA-Ligonier Valley from February 22 throughApril 21.

The exhibition, held in conjunction with National Youth Art Monthand the State Arts-in-Education Month, is open to schools that participatein SAMA’s Museum/School Partnership Program. Through the program,SAMA educators travel to public and parochial schools to provide Arts-in-Education programs designed to enhance students’ understanding of artcreation, technique, history, criticism and aesthetics. The award-winningprogram is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.

More than 300 students will be represented in the two exhibitions.Schools in Westmoreland and Fayette counties will be exhibited at SAMA-Ligonier Valley, while schools in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Indiana andSomerset counties will be featured in the Loretto exhibition.

Each Museum will hold an opening reception to celebrate theexhibition and the region’s student artists. The SAMA-Loretto receptionwill be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 16. SAMA-LigonierValley’s reception is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Pleasenote that parking for the Ligonier Valley reception is available at FortLigonier only, with free shuttles running to and from the Museum. Thereceptions are open to the public, but the Museum suggests a donation of$1 per person in support of the exhibition.

SAMA Education Coordinator Jessica Campbell said the student artexhibition, now in its fifteenth year, is a special program for young artists.“This exhibition is a great opportunity for students to see their own workprofessionally exhibited in an accredited art museum,” she said. “It’s trulyone of my favorite exhibitions because of the incredible diversity, and itallows the Museum to share the work of these talented young artists withthe community.”

In total, 15 districts and 36 schools are participating in the studentart exhibition. Each district is permitted to submit up to 20 individualprojects and one group project. Schools represented in the Lorettoexhibition include: Altoona Area High School; Bishop Guilfoyle CatholicHigh School; Bishop McCort Catholic High School; Blacklick Valley HighSchool; Cambria Elementary School; Cambria Heights Elementary School;Coal Country Hangout Youth Center; East Side Elementary School; ForestHills Middle and High schools; Indiana Senior High School; JacksonElementary School; Northern Cambria Middle and High schools; PortageArea Elementary School; Richland Elementary School; and Saint MichaelSchool.

Schools participating in the SAMA-Ligonier Valley exhibition include:Baggaley Elementary School; Bovard Elementary School; Fort AllenElementary School; Greater Latrobe Junior and Senior High schools;Greensburg Salem Middle and High schools; Hempfield Area Senior HighSchool; Holy Trinity School; Latrobe Elementary School; MaxwellElementary School; Mountain View Elementary School; Perry ElementarySchool; Stanwood Elementary School; Valley School of Ligonier; WendoverMiddle School; West Hempfield Elementary and Middle schools; and WestPoint Elementary School.

Each of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art’s four locations –Altoona, Johnstown, Ligonier Valley and Loretto – is open to the publicfree of charge. Hours of operation at SAMA-Ligonier Valley are 10 a.m. to5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. weekends. Hours of operationat SAMA-Loretto are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 5p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit www.sama-art.org or callJessica Campbell, Education Coordinator, at (814) 472-3920.

This project was made possible through the AIE Partnership of the PennsylvaniaCouncil on the Arts, a state agency. State government funding for the arts dependsupon an annual appropriation by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and supportfrom the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. The PCA Arts-in-Education Partner in this region is the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art.

Student Art Exhibit Returnsto SAMA Museums

LIGONIER VALLEY RAIL ROAD MUSEUM

At the restored Darlington Station

Sharing the 75-year history of railroading in Ligonier Valley

Wednesday thru Saturday 11 a.m. to

3 p.m.

3032 Idlewild Hill, Ligonier, PA www.lvrra.org

724-238-7819 ─ [email protected]


Spring into Health and Fitnessby Hayley Chemski, MSN, CRNA and Certified Fitness Trainer

Hayley owns and operates Building Bodeez FitnessCenter in Derry, PA, with her husband, Shawn Horwat.She is also a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist atSt. Margaret’s Hospital in Fox Chapel, PA. An avidgroup exercise instructor and fitness trainer, she assistsclients to manage stress regularly. Visit Building Bodeezat www.buildingbodeez.net for a FREE 7-day trial orcontact Hayley directly at [email protected].

Finally! The days are longer, the weather iswarmer, the sun is bright, and you are readyto enjoy the seasonal change. Motivation tostart a landscaping project, or to begin anexercise regime, or to spend more timeoutdoors with your family propels you outthe door. You emerge from your fleecepajamas and don some breathable fabricsand rush outdoors … unsure of what to donext. Here is a Spring Guide designed tohelp you Spring into Health and Fitness!

Spring ushers in the sound of lawnmowers and the sweet smell of freshly cutgrass. Are you hoping to change theappearance of your yard? Are you buildinga new outdoor fireplace? Are you plantingnew shrubbery? Yard work is refreshing,as it offers instant gratification and a boostin self-esteem. Moreover, spending timeoutdoors offers a break from winter’sgloomy days and long, cold nights. You mayalso experience the healthful benefits ofvitamin D absorption and a boost of mood,simply by the change of weather.

Vitamin D is absorbed from sunlightvia your largest body system, your skin.This vitamin is fat-soluble and helps tofacilitate calcium absorption in yourintestines. Vitamin D helps to preventosteoporosis and has been proven todecrease morbidity in elderly women.

You may notice your mood improvewhen spending time outdoors. SeasonalAffective Disorder (SAD) is a knownpsychological disorder classified bydepression, especially during the winter.SAD occurs more often in women than men,and also at locations where winter nightsare long. This form of depression is lesslikely to onset during summer months.SAD is characterized by feelings of hope-lessness, change in appetite or sleeppatterns, loss of energy and interest in dailyactivities, and irritability. One of its knowntreatments is light therapy, which mayinclude direct exposure to sunlight. SomePennsylvanians may joke about their boutswith SAD, but this disorder is real, and canbe associated with the change of seasons.

As you prepare for landscaping andoutdoor yard work, realize that you willmost certainly plan for changes to your yardand consult expert help as needed.Remember to do the same if you arebreaking from winter hibernation to start

Spring is the time of plans and projects. — Leo Tolstoy

an exercise regime this spring. Consultexperts in the fitness industry to assist youwith proper goal planning, as well asnutritional guidance and safe fitness plans.At Building Bodeez Fitness, I regularlyutilize the mantra “Failing to Plan is likePlanning to Fail” to instruct clients how tocement progress and achieve fitness goals.

Here are a few tips of how to develop afitness regime this spring that may catapultyou over the hump to a healthier you thissummer:• Hydrate. Drink plenty of clear liquids.This will help to flush your body of toxins,maintain healthy skin, and decrease bingeeating.

• Eat fresh foods. Now that theweather is breaking, visit a local farmers’market or the produce section at yourgrocery store. Sample berries, bananas,nuts, melons, tomatoes, carrots, and more.Find exciting additions to breakfast cerealsand omelets, add fresh options to lunch anddinner pasta dishes.• Exercise. Schedule an appointmentwith yourself and visit a nearby fitnessfacility. Join a recreational league (i.e.baseball, volleyball, bowling). Find time inyour schedule to exercise three timesweekly, for up to one hour. Space out theexercise if time is short, but never stopoffering your heart its healthiesttest…cardiovascular exercise. Moreover,spring ushers in a myriad of races, walks,and adventure events that are excellentgoals for novice and advanced fitness gurus.• Move. Even the most avid ‘fitnessenthusiasts’ must avoid sitting on the couchfor the remainder of their day. Sedentarylifestyles are associated with increased riskof diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, andworse. Keep your BODEEZ IN MOTION™.Park farther from your destination. Joinforces with a colleague and enjoy alunchtime walk around your workplace orat the park. Wake early, when the sun isrising, and enjoy a peaceful run. Simplyenjoy what Mother Nature is offering youthis time of year.• Rest. Enjoy a spring siesta on theporch. Sleep is often de-prioritized andhappens to be one of the most healthfulpractices you can commit to. Strive for 7-8hours of rest daily (including naps), and findyourself feeling less stressed and moreenergized!Spring is a time of renewal and of growth.Spend this time enjoying nature’s best andenjoying a fresh outlook on your health.Find yourself enjoying the fruits of the earthand the sunlight above. Set goals for a newyou and a refreshed spirit.

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Western PA Cloth Diaper Fans Make a Change on April 20–Amazing Local Response to Pre-Earth Day Celebration

Cloth diapers have come a long way in recent years and localfamilies are joining in the celebration. The Great Cloth DiaperChange 2013 will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at10:30 a.m. at Mommy Gear in Ligonier PA. This is the thirdyear that Mommy Gear is hosting this international eventand we’re proud to join hundreds of locations all over theworld to attempt to break last year’s Guinness WorldRecord™ of 8,251 cloth diapers changed.

Sponsored by Mommy Gear the local event will giveWestern PA families a chance to help break a Guinness WorldRecord™ for the most cloth diapers ever changed on April20, 2013, in honor of Earth Day and during InternationalCloth Diaper Awareness Week. Each baby will receive a swagbag of product samples and be eligible for door prizesincluding a Little Bums folding chair, Undercover MamaNursing Tank, BabyLegs legwarmers, and more. There willalso be earth friendly activities for preschoolers.

Participants can pre-register to reserve a swag bag bycalling 724-238-9633, at www.mommygear.com or on Face-book @Great Cloth Diaper Change of Westmoreland County.

“Cloth Diapers are easier to use than ever before,” saysDawn Lamuth-Higgins of Mommy Gear. “Today’s cloth

diapers come in fun colors and convenient designs. Moreand more parents are choosing cloth because it’s gentle onbaby’s sensitive skin and it’s a great way to save money. Thisevent is fun way for people to learn more about clothdiapering and join with other families to celebrate cloth.”

If you don’t have a cloth diaper you can still participatein the Great Cloth Diaper Change—Mommy Gear will haveextras to borrow.

Why Cloth Diapering is Making a Comeback:Environmental: Cloth diapers reduce waste for families

with children in diapers by more than 50%.Financial: Cloth diapers allow families to save more than

$2000 per child. This investment is even better if you havemore than one child and re-use your cloth diapers.

Health: Cloth diapers help parents reduce exposure oftheir babies’ skin and lungs to the chemicals in disposablediapers.

Cute and comfortable: Parents love putting soft clothdiapers, available in a variety of styles and patterns, on theirbabies.

Convenient: Once you’ve purchased your stash, no moreweekly trips to the store to purchase more – simply put aload in the laundry!

Great Cloth Diaper Change 2013Saturday, April 20 at 10:30 am at Mommy Gear107 S. St. Clair St., Ligonier PA 15658888-624-4327 (GEAR) or 724-238-9633www.mommygear.com

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About The Great Cloth Diaper Change: In its third year, The Great Cloth Diaper Changeis an international initiative organized with the help of the nonprofit Real DiaperAssociation designed to show the world that cloth diapers are a real option for today’sfamilies. The brainchild of Judy Aagard of Tiny Tots in California, Aagard says shecame up with the idea in an effort to host a family event celebrating Earth Day. TheGreat Cloth Diaper Change has morphed into an exciting Guinness World Record™breaking event, and in 2012, more than 8,000 babies were changed simultaneously.For more information visit www.GreatClothDiaperChange.com.

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126 West Pittsburgh StreetSuite A

Greensburg, PA 15601

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814-754-1500


DOWN ON THE FARMby Cathi Gerhard & Gregory Susa

Generations Nourishing Generations

Best friends, but never quite college sweet-hearts,Greg and Cathi finally married 20 years later. To-gether they own and operate Fairview Farm in DerryTownship, now an estate winery in the making,“managed” by two peculiar black cats, two devoteddogs, and a ridiculously bossy new kitten.

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA)will host National Agriculture Day onMarch 19. This will mark the 40th anni-versary of National Ag Day which is cele-brated in classrooms and communities acrossthe country. The theme for Ag Day 2013 is“Generations Nourishing Generations.”ACA will host major events in the nation’scapital including the Mix-and-MingleLuncheon and the National Celebration ofAgriculture Dinner. Additionally, the ACA

This advertisement sponsored by Fairview Farm of Derry

will bring approximately 100 college stu-dents to Washington to deliver the messageof Ag Day to the Hill.

These events honor National Agric-ulture Day and mark a nationwide effort totell the true story of American agricultureand remind citizens that agriculture is a partof all of us. A number of producers, agri-cultural associations, corporations, studentsand government organizations involved inagriculture are expected to participate.

Why Celebrate Agriculture?

Agriculture provides almost everythingwe eat, use and wear on a daily basis. Buttoo few people truly understand thiscontribution. This is particularly the casein our schools, where students may onlybe exposed to agriculture if they enroll inrelated vocational training.

By building awareness, the Agri-culture Council of America is encouragingyoung people to consider career oppor-tunities in agriculture.

Each American farmer feeds morethan 144 people ... a dramatic increasefrom 25 people in the 1960s. Quitesimply, American agriculture is doingmore – and doing it better. As the worldpopulation soars, there is an even greaterdemand for the food and fiber producedin the United States.

The National Ag Day program encour-ages every American to:

• Understand how food and fiber pro-ducts are produced.

• Appreciate the role agriculture playsin providing safe, abundant and affordableproducts.

• Value the essential role of agriculturein maintaining a strong economy.

• Acknowledge and consider careeropportunities in the agriculture, food andfiber industry.

As the current trustees of a tradionalmulti-generational “family farm,” we areworking to ensure these skills and practicesare not forgotten. Our generation has seenthe family farm almost die out – replacedby “food science” and corporate massproduction. Everyone can participate inways both large and small. Farming doesn’thave to be done on several acres of land ina rural area. It’s time to reconnect with self-sufficiency and the stewardship of the earthwhile we still have a chance.

* * * * *


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Celebrating 80 Years of Style in Downtown Latrobe!

906 Ligonier StreetLatrobe, PA 15650

www.RoseStyleShoppe.com

724-537-6218

Latrobe: Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Welcome to LatrobeTV,“Your neighborhood channel”A decade ago, accessing the Internet was a relatively“static” experience. Online content was mostly limitedto unchanging text complimented by stationary graphicsor photos. With the rapid pace of technological advance-ment, today’s Internet is a much more vibrant experi-ence. Information is delivered, increasingly, through rich,multimedia websites featuring broadcast quality video.

LatrobeTV , your neighborhood channel willprovide live and archived on-demand video program-ming accessible to viewers locally and anywhere in theworld, continuing our community’s history of leadershipand innovation. A project of the Greater LatrobeCommunity Network, LatrobeTV will offer localprogramming accessible 24/7 on your computer, mobiledevice, or even on your living room TV!

LatrobeTV will:• Partner within our community to help produce anddistribute program content;• Stimulate, assist and create community programming;• Utilize volunteers and interns providing communityinvolvement;• Provide an Internet gateway to access local areaprograms.

We’re just getting started, but there’s lots more to comeso be sure to check back often! You can keep up to dateby following us on Twitter or subscribing to our RSS feed.

LatrobeTV original seriesLocal programs, locally produced!

Current series…

City Manager’s Video Blog with Alex Graziani (monthly)

Superintendent’s Video Blog with Judy Swigart (monthly)

Neighborhood Cafe Open Mic Nite Live (weekly)

City Council Meetings (bi-monthly)

School Board Meetings (bi-monthly)

More local programs coming soon!

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“Ideas come from subjects I obsess over,like insects or mythological beasts,

and a color paletteI’ve fallen in love with at the time.”

The ScribblerAn Interview with Local Illustrator Abby Diamond

by Cathi Gerhard

Anniversary presents can sometimes causeemotional conundrums between spouses.While vacuum cleaners are often a prac-tical necessity, they aren’t very personalor romantic. The traditional charts don’talways supply the correct answers either.Somehow, my husband couldn’t quiteconnect with a gift of crystal or leather forour third anniversary last month (January).So he went rogue and chose something allon his own: a print called “The Sea GlassOwl” (pictured at far right) by local artistAbby Diamond, who was once a fencingstudent of his.

I haven’t seen beautiful illustration likethis in a long time. Not only is her workpretty – something I could look at on mywall for a long time, but it is detailed andaccurate as well as artistic. She combinesprecise renderings of her subjects on care-free backdrops awash in seemingly abstractwatercolor palettes. Her view of the worldis one I would love to see more often . . .

Give me a brief resume of yourbackground: hometown, education,hobbies, interests/activities, etc.

I live in Latrobe, PA and attended EdinboroUniversity of Pennsylvania for my BFA inStudio Art. Since graduating this past May,I started my own illustration business anddraw all kinds of things for people aroundthe world. The best part about illustrationis that it’s both my career and my hobby,and it never gets old. I love environmentalscience and subjects of biology. I spend alot of time writing, walking and hiking withmy dog, and making art with friends.

How did you find your artisticvoice?

Slowly. I’ve always loved to draw since I wasa kid, but it took all of high school andcollege to get to the point where I waspleased with the work I was making. Nowthat I’m done with college, identifying my

artistic voice is more important than everbecause I’m marketing my work to differentart industries. I’m learning that freelanceartists need to have very loud, persistentartistic voices.

Why the birds and other animals?

I began drawing birds frequently during mysophomore year of college, after a course inscientific illustration convinced me that Iwanted to illustrate for Audubon. Thatphase eventually wore off, but I found thatthe drawings became popular because birdsare powerful symbols to lots of people. So Ikept creating them for friends, to sell in thetown coffee shop, or for art departmentauctions instead of for scientific reference.

Why watercolor over othermediums?

Watercolor is flexible and slow to dry. It alsocombines easily with any other art mediumon the planet, like ink or markers or coffee,so it’s the perfect medium for experiment-ing and mistake-making. Which I do,frequently. Gouache, or opaque watercolor,also has these same benefits.

What inspires you to do a painting?

Idea generation inspires much of my work.When I want to make a painting, I usuallysketch ideas for days before getting the goodpaper out. Ideas come from subjects Iobsess over, like insects or mythologicalbeasts, and a color palette I’ve fallen in lovewith at the time.

If I’m making an illustration, I thinkabout the message the illustration issupposed to carry, and then brainstormdifferent ways of conveying that messageto a viewer.

Do you photograph your subjectsfirst or draw on other sources forimages?

Both! I photograph references I need andcomposite my own photos or use referencephotos I find as inspiration/groundwork fora composition, and sometimes life sketches

Pictured L-R, top to bottom: Bird Cluster, Gold; Master Yoda; and Swamp Lion from a serieson the twelve labors of Hercules, part of an undergrad thesis.


as well. Many of my sketchbooks are filledwith pencil drawings of taxidermy frombiology classrooms and nature centers.

How many prints in each run?

Anywhere from 2 to 20. I generally makeprints before an arts festival or for my Etsyshop. The work I sell on Society6.com isprinted from digital files by the website, sothose prints are unlimited.

Tell me a little about yourcommission work.

I began doing commission work during mysecond year of college for club organi-zations, the school paper, the biologydepartment and friends in a local band.When I found out people would actually payme for artwork, I started doing commis-

sions outside of classes to make extramoney, and wound up drawing tattoos, petportraits, CD album covers, and greetingcards for anyone who asked.

Today, my commission work has led meall over: through card game design, albumartwork, tattoo design, literary journalcovers, and artisan festivals. The fun partis mailing the finished commissions out toclients all over the world; I’ve gotten to sendpieces to Great Britain, Australia, China,and even South Africa.

How long does a painting take?

Paintings like the splashy birds are usuallysmaller, and take anywhere from 20minutes to two weeks total time. My biggestpieces are upwards of 30"x40", and can takeup to 16- 25 hours.

What size are your originals?

The original pieces that I do on commissionrange from 4"x6" to 18"x24" depending onthe client’s needs. My personal pieces arevery large, usually around 29"x35".

What is your printmaking method?

When I need to have prints made, I go toLaurel Valley Graphics and have themprinted digitally. They offer a great varietyof printing options, and their rates are veryreasonable.

Have you shown your work?

During college there were exhibitionsconstantly, and in addition to hosting my


Pictured L-R, top to bottom: The Sea Glass Owl; Feo, The Pysanky Mouse; Luna Moth;Qwerty Magazine; Little Strings; Hummingbird King; and Goliath Beetle.


THE LIGONIER CHEFby Scott Sinemus

Stepping Out of the RoutineNever Tasted So Good!

One of my resolutions for the new yearis to step outside of my comfortablebento box and try new places I normallywouldn’t go to. On a recent journey tothe Costco in Robinson I saw abillboard for Burgatory. I’ve heardthe buzz and thought “what a perfectopportunity to start.” It was packed at2:00 in the afternoon on a weekday! Wewere hungry – and since there was aparking space becoming available rightby the door– we decided to go in, checkthe place out, and at least see howlong it would be until we would beseated . . . immediate opening! Guesswe’re staying.

Positively thrilled we did. We wereseated so quickly I didn’t even have achance to notice how chic and excitingthe environment was until after we satdown. (Be certain to read the massiveflow chart on the wall) The wait staff isexceedingly helpful with getting you

settled in. The menu is concise andeasily read with some pre-designedburgers; but on every table is a tabletand pencils to create your own frombeginning to end. Briôche buns as thestandard on the pre-designed got myattention. I of course had to opt for thecreate your own when Dry Aged Wagyuwas one of the choices for meat.

As for the other toppings you getto choose several things for free; someof the others include: Cage-Free Egg •Applewood Smoked Bacon $1.5 •Avocado $1.5 • Napa Slaw • CaramelizedOnion Marmalade • Grilled Pineapple• Sautéed Mushrooms • Maple Cured

Ham • Onion Straws • RoastedTomatoes • Grilled Onions • CabernetSauce • Roasted Red Peppers •Guacamole $1.5 • Avocado Wasabi$1.5. Cheese is $1

The burgers arrived perfectlycooked, on a stainless steel military type

of square tray. All of the burgers comewith an abundance of homemade chips.I only eat my father’s homemade chipsand skipping them ensures my chancesof having room for the Prantl’s burntalmond torte milkshak. . . yes, theyactually grind up a piece of the actualpastry! All of the milkshakes on themenu can be enhanced with any liquorof your choosing, the Prantl‘s comeswith vanilla vodka and amaretto. Theyare also presented in a classic glass withample remainders served in thestainless cup it was mixed in. It is themost sublime dessert to have after theburger, in my two subsequent visits it’snearly become a tradition for dessert.OH! The most unique feature of themilkshake is the size of the straw, it’shuge! Perfect size for getting the cakeand slivered almonds through.

If you’re out near Robinson or theWaterworks you should definitely takethe time to check them out. The menuis also available online: burgatory.com

With stepping out of my normbeing such a fantastic experience Icouldn’t wait until I picked the nextplace. It was the Connections Caféin Ligonier for lunch. Again a veryunique set up. There are severalcomposed salads (many of them vegan)soup, and a sandwich du jour. I had thegrilled mushroom, spinach and smokedgouda sandwich; it was so good Iordered another one. Their concept isclever, you can pick 2 items for a setprice or 3 for a little more. All of thecontainers are eco-friendly which is awelcome surprise for take away food.The menu changes daily and is avail-able online either on their website:connectionscafe.com or become theirfriend on Facebook and it will be onyour news feed.

“Be certain to read the massive flow chart on the wall!”


Scott Sinemus is a Chef with a degree in Culinary Artsfrom the Pennsylvania Institute for Culinary Arts inPittsburgh. He’s continued his education with classesfrom the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone andThe Greenbrier; and has travelled internationally insearch of authentic cuisine.

So the plan is working at least forlunches; next step: dinner. My friendLisa asked us to dinner but insisted wepick the place. We got a gift card to 111in Greensburg for Christmas so thoughtthat would be the perfect place to go.We’d been there before and it was quitegood. The menu changed for thesummer last year and just wasn’t asappealing to anyone in our group so wesort of fell away from it. I am pleasedto report that the steak is no longercoffee crusted!

The tuna tartar and Carpaccioshould not be missed, both were thebest we’ve had locally in ages. Theportions are massive I recommend ifordering the escargots to request a halfor third of the amount of pasta. Thesnails were perfectly cooked, abundantand very flavorful; the pasta was alsoperfectly done, the pesto delightful, justentirely too much pasta. The lobster

mac & cheese (seemingly popping upon menus everywhere) uses real Mainelobster… the only kind as far as I’mconcerned, langostinos or SouthAfrican are not lobster! The pieces werenicely sized, tender and plentiful.

The crab cakes & salmon were spoton as well. But my veal chop exceededall of my expectations! It was crisp onthe outside, perfectly cooked internallyand the demi-glace was like JamesBeard himself was in the kitchen (I hadto ask for more). Even the risotto under-neath it was brilliant. On the way homewe were already checking calendars tofigure out when we could make it back.

I’m pleased that my plan forexploring new places in the area isworking out well so far. The com-mentary I hear most often is, “you’re achef, I’m sure you’re overly critical anddifficult to provide for.” That statementis somewhat true; yes I am a chef, but I

am not difficult. If I have specialrequests or questions, they’re ad-dressed immediately when ordering. Iam only overly critical when a rest-aurant claims to be the best at some-thing and fails to provide. Especially ifthe prices are through the roof. I willnever complain about spending a littlemore on food if I am provided for.Better ingredients do cost more, payinga staff with experience also costs more;but making delicious food worth thevalue charged isn’t difficult if you’reclaiming to be a professional.

If you have a favorite place torecommend please send me an emailso I can check it out:

[email protected]

own solo show, there were group shows suchas the annual student show and the MichaelV. Gmitter Memorial Scholarship exhibition.This past summer, I participated as a vendorin Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Arts Fest with afellow art colleague, and in October at theEdinboro Homecoming Artisan Market. Mymost recent show will be at Penn Avenue’sImagebox Studio in March.

Who are your artistic inspirations?

Dave Mckean, Shaun Tan, and David Peter-son, who are book illustrators. Caitlin Hackett,Ciaran Duffy, Clay Rodery, Nimit Malavia,Martin Wittfooth, and Jack Unruh, who areillustrators and painters in all different media.Finally, Peter Aurisch and Andrey Grimmy,who are eastern European tattoo artists.

What is your dream job/lifeas an artist?

This is difficult; I want it all. I want to illustratefor clothing companies, draw album art formajor bands, illustrate scientifically, createmurals, etc. The list grows daily. Most of all, Idream of being a children’s book illustrator. Ilove to write. My works are small and odd, sothey yield some quirky pictures that I hope topublish someday.

Have you done professionalcontract illustration?

I have had great privileges doing professionalillustration for different clients. During my lastyear of college, I had the opportunity toillustrate a custom holiday greeting card forthe interim president of Edinboro Universityto send to all faculty, students, and alumni.Shortly after that, I created an illustration forthe cover of a literary journal released by theUniversity of New Brunswick. This pastsummer brought the opportunity to work witha start-up gaming company in creatingartwork for a new fantasy card game.

Do you have other illustrationspecialties such as architecture,portraits, anatomy, etc?

I had a great deal of human figure anatomyand human head anatomy drawing classes inschool, and I minored in biology to get agreater perspective on the scientific illustrationfield. I also have digital illustration training aswell as traditional drawing skills.

Tell me more about the “TheScribbler” – I love that, and it isdifferent from your other pieces.

The scribbling squirrel is an example of thekind of art I want to create for a living. As achild I loved Beatrix Potter and Jan Brettstorybooks, which often featured animalsdoing people things, wearing peopleclothes, etc. The stories are charming andwhimsical, and very inspiring to me. TheScribbler is also different because it’s done

The Scribbler, continued from page 25 digitally: the drawing was sketched, thenscanned and colored in Photoshop.

How do you choose namesfor each work?

Typically by running through some wordassociations that might fit the piece. I havea bad habit of never thinking up a title untilthe last minute, so they’re usually short, oneword or two.

How does the Western Pennsylvanianature scene influence your work?

Western PA has beautiful scenery, andendless birds and insects around. There aregreat places to take wildlife photos, such asLaurel Mountain and Saint Vincentwetlands where I take my dog. The WinniePalmer Nature Reserve has great specimensof birds to draw from.

Would you like to stay in the areaor relocate to a major city?

I am planning to relocate closer to Pittsburghwithin the year, so I can become more in-volved in the art scene there.

To see more of Abby’s work, visit her online portfolios:http://behance.net/Finchfighthttp://finchfight.tumblr.comhttp://twitter.com/FinchfightTo order prints, visit her online shops:http://society6.com/Owlcorehttp://ww.etsy.com/shop/FinchfightTo contact Abby: [email protected]

• • • • •


by Megan FullerPOSTMODERN TENDANCIES

Mayan ApocalypseYay! WE MADE IT! We survivedanother end of the world scare and canstart eating the stockpile of cannedgoods stored in the root cellar, bombshelter, or local cave.

Actually, there was never anydanger because Mayan calendars, justlike our calendars, never end-they justroll over to the next cycle. The Mayancalendar is a bit different from oursthough. They kept track of time withthe Calendar Round. This systemconsisted of two cycles runningsimultaneously. The first is called thetzolkin and it is a ceremonial count, inwhich there are 13 numbers and 20 daynames so it takes 260 days for a numberand name to repeat. Haab is the secondcycle and is the same as a solar year with365 days. Unlike our calendar, haab isbroken into 18 months of 20 days. Thistotals 360 days with an extra five daysof bad luck tacked on at the end. Eachday (not just the bad luck days) had itsown omens attached to it so the Mayanever needed to go see a fortune teller.Days of the months are numbered fromone to 19, with the last day named asthe “seating” of the next month. Thiswas because the Maya felt that the

influence of any span of time is felt bothbefore and after it takes place. With thetzolkin and the haab running togetherit will take 52 haab (73 tzolkin) beforethe same ceremonial and solar days areagain juxtaposed.

When events tookplace over a wider periodof time than a CalendarRound, an era-basedsystem was used calledthe Long Count. This ishow historical dates areset in texts. Instead ofbeing based on kin (days),the Long Count is basedon the tun. Tun is a wordwith many meanings,when talking about thecalendar it is used todescribe a period of time360 days long, however, itis also the word for“stone” and a term usedfor “penis” (draw yourown conclusions here).Each 20 day month iscalled a uinal whichtranslates to “human beings”. A periodof 20 tun is called a katun and a periodof 20 katun is called a baktun.

The Long Count shows the numberof days something has occurred sincethe base date. The base date has beenfigured out to be August 13, 3114 B.C.E.(some people say August 11, 3114B.C.E.). This is not considered to be thebeginning of time but the first day ofthe fourth version of creation.According to legend, the gods wantedto create care-takers of the earth whowould keep the deities’ days holy. Theirfirst creation didn’t work out and endedup as the animals of the earth. Thesecond creations were made of dirt anddissolved in water. On their third try,stick figures were formed but they did

not worship the gods and were wipedout by flood or turned into monkeys.The fourth creation were humanbeings-which is why the months arecalled uinal and are 20 days long to gowith our fingers and toes.

So, on December 21, 2012 the 13th

baktun came to an end and we movedinto the 14th (which will end on March26, 2407). As far as I can tell, humanbeings are still the creation in charge ofkeeping the gods’ days holy–althoughsometimes I wonder about the pos-sibility of cyborgs or Skynet taking over.

Kiva KornerOur Kenyan Kiva entrepreneur,Christina, has repaid 41% of her loanto assist in her charcoal sellingbusiness. The Laurel Mountain Postlending team has five members, andwe are helping small businessowners in Kenya, Guatemala, andthe United States. Team captainsCathi and Megan invite you to joinour team and watch global entre-preneurs build their businessesand communities with your help.

A visual of the circular nature of the tzolkin and haab.

Megan Fuller is an applied cognitive anthropologist withpostmodern tendencies currently working in environ-mental compliance for a mineral extraction company inhistoric Florence, Arizona (Troy Polamalu has an offseason home there!). She grew up in the excitingPittsburgh suburb of Pleasant Hills and had the distinctpleasure of earning a Bachelor of Arts inAnthropologyfrom IUP. In 1993, Megan moved out West to get a Master’sDegree. She also picked up a husband and hasn’t quiteconvinced him to move back to Western PA. To maintainher authentic Pittsburgh accent she regularly watchesPittsburgh Dad and engages anyone wearing black andgold sports gear in conversation.

20 day names

ceremonialcalendar

numbers 1-13

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Kathy Never MetA Cable She Didn’t Like!

Local artisan and merchant Kathy Zimmermanof Ligonier is being honored for her lifetime ofcontributions to the knitting and crochet worldat the 9th Annual Pittsburgh Knit and CrochetFestival March 15-17 (Four Points Sheraton inMars, PA). She will also be hosting a vendorbooth , with live demonstrations and suppliesof yarns, patterns, and kitting/crochet tools.

Although she had been knitting for manyyears as a solitary knitter, Kathy attended herfirst formal gathering of knitters at the TKGA(The Knitting Guild of America) NationalConvention in Milwaukee 1986. It was at thismeeting that she took classes with and wasinspired by teachers Marlyn Ibele, Evie Rosenand Maggie Righetti. Kathy became part of agrowing sisterhood of knitters which went onto organize a social network of small knittingguilds at the grass roots level. This sisterhoodhas evolved with the internet into groups likeRavelry. As a relatively new shop owner at thattime, she was so inspired by Marlyn Ibele’spresentation about how to form a guild chapterthat she promptly came back to her hometownof Ligonier, PA and helped to found the LaurelHighlands Knitting Guild Chapter, where sheis Chapter President to this day. She alsovolunteered as TKGA Education CommitteeChair for several years, helping to recommendinstructor rosters for national conferences.

Her greatest inspiration has been KristinNicholas, who was Creative Director at ClassicElite Yarns in the 1980s and 1990s, and stillcontinues to be a creative force in the needleartstoday. Kathy began her designing career byknitting model garments for Classic Elite andeventually submitting ideas which were pub-lished for their pattern collections. Kristin washer mentor, recommending her work to Knit-ter’s Magazine and other industry publications.She continues to inspire Kathy with her wonder-ful sense of color and stitch pattern work. Kathy isalso grateful to Alice Starmore, whose Aran andFisher Gansey classes were valuable in validatingher interest in cable and texture designs.

She has been most influenced by MichelleRose Orne, whom she met through throughKristin Nicholas. Kathy assisted Michelle as atest knitter for several years before she beganher own designing career. From Michelle, Kathylearned how to make the various stitchworkaspects of a garment come together to compli-ment each other, how to work with schematicsand charts, how to write a proper knittingpattern and all about fit /sizing. And most ofall, what it takes to become a professional andthe importance of relationships in the yarnindustry.

Kathy has designed about one or two sweat-ers per month for over twenty five years, pluscountless accessories. She doesn’t knit them allherself, and is blessed to have a wonderful sup-port staff of knitters (not to mention a veryunderstanding husband) who help with thehands on work.

One of her favorite designs is a vintage one:The English Gardeners, from Classic Elite’sBritish Collection. It was a men’s raglan allovercable pullover, her first original cable combi-nation. That collection of patterns won an awardof design excellence. However, Kathy’s favoritedesign is always the one on her needles or the nextone waiting to be published. Her latest project is a“signature piece” ladies’ allover honeycomb cableand rib pullover called “Connected” which she willbe self-publishing and plans to introduce at Pitts-burgh Knit & Crochet this March.

Her Plaits and Links Cardigan is the coverfeature for this winter’s issue of Interweave Knits.A cropped silhouette livens up a classic cabledcardigan. A wooly, Shetland-style yarn givesdefinition to Aran styling. Back and fronts areworked separately with raglan shaping.

Selected as “one of America’s most belovedyarn shops” by Interweave Press, Kathy’s Krea-tions has made its home in Ligonier for 33 years,at the same location (144 E. Main St). She startedout sharing space with her father-in-law, who ownedan appliance store, and has always shared thelocation with husband Tim, who owns an appliancerepair business. Tim is the Kathy’s Kreationswebmaster and shipping department manager.

Kathy’s favorite vacation spot is Cape May,NJ, because it is such an unusual combinationof Victorian architecture with the seashore. Sheis often inspired by the architecture, and it isreflected in some of her designs (stitch work).Her favorite knitting spot is at the north end ofthe beach at a rocky point where she can knit forhours. Kathy doesn’t often have time without adeadline, but when she does, her favorite authoris Debbie Macomber, whom she considers afriend. Kathy was honored to be quoted for thefinal chapter of her book, A Good Yarn.

She loves to go to the trade shows and knit-ting conferences to meet up with knitting cele-brities and find that they are just like the knittingfriends who frequent her yarn shop.

Kathy has a pet siamese cat named Karli,who enjoys sitting on her lap as she knits.

* * * * *For more information, please visit www.kathys-kreations.com,call 724-238-9320, or email [email protected]. Shewould love to meet you!

Festival: www.pghknitandcrochet.com


Seventy-some years young, and following my life-longpassion, which is natural healing and teaching othersabout weed medicine, I believe that we each must dowhat we can to get back to Nature. In making your ownweed medicine, you’re going to be going out lookingand identifying certain weeds that grow around you-you’ll be outdoors, in the sunshine and fresh air- gettingback to Nature. Maybe you’ll start growing your ownweeds- turning your backyard into a weed garden!

Granny Earth has a bachelor’s in Psychology fromCalifornia University of Pennsylvania (which sheearned at age 59), and both a masters and doctoratefrom Clayton College of Natural Health. Visit herwebsite www.grannyearth.com, call 724-542-9713, oremail [email protected].

ASK GRANNY EARTHHealing with Weeds

If there were only one herb that you would recommend to keep on handfor treating winter colds and flu, what would it be?

First of all, let me go on record as saying:There is no reason to get colds or the flu inthe winter. If you assume that you’re goingto ‘catch a cold’ or the flu (just because it’swintertime) then you’ve already set yourselfup to be sick. The mind is a powerful, crea-tive mechanism. It’s part of our physicalbody and whatever the mind thinks, thebody does its utmost to create. Now, withthat being said, there is one herb that Ialways keep on hand to assist my immunesystem to be in top shape for fighting offgerms that might come my way when I’min a vulnerable mind set. That oneherb is: Echinacea.

Echinacea purpurea (ek-in-AY-sha) – The Latin name Echinacearefers to ekhinos, which meanshedgehog or sea urchin and des-cribes the prickly seed cone of thisherb, which is revealed after its petalshave dropped. Purpurea refers to theflower’s pale purple color.

Better known as purple cone-flower, Echinacea has become oneof America’s most popular sellingflowers as well as a very much de-manded herbal healing product. Itshistory of use dates back thousands ofyears to Native American Indians whoused it to treat colds, coughs, sorethroats, toothaches, inflammations,snake bites and infections of allkinds. They called it ‘Missouri Snake-root’ or ‘Kansas Snakeroot’, because itwas the best treatment for snakebites.By the early 20th century, Echinaceahad become the best selling medicinaltincture in America.

Then due to the AMA’s opinionagainst its benefits and with the advent ofBig Pharma drugs, by 1910 its use began todecline rapidly. The AMA considered it tobe worthless. They coined the phrase ‘snakeoil’ when referring to Echinacea and dis-credited its powerful healing properties. Bythe 1930’s it fell into almost completeobscurity as a medical treatment. Howeverin Europe, it flourished and to this day, thebest scientific healing documentation forthis plant comes out of Germany.

Meanwhile in the United States, Echin-acea began to make a comeback in the 1980’s.Today it is one of the best selling herbal extractson the market. Most people already know

that Echinacea works for colds and the flu.But, this herb deserves an explanation ofwhy it’s so effective as an infection fighter.

1. It causes an increase in the number ofimmune cells (T-cells), thereby enhancingthe overall activity of the total immunesystem, while inhibiting virus production.2. It stimulates phagocytosis–consump-tion of invading organisms by white bloodcells.3. It inhibits the enzyme ‘hyalur-onidase’,which is secreted by bacteria and viruses.

This hyaluronidase enzyme helps infectionsgain access to healthy cells. The action thatEchinacea puts forth prevents the infectionof bacteria and viruses by actually stoppingtheir growth.4. It kills harmful yeast infections.5. It helps to stimulate the growth of newtissue.6. It combats inflammation (Researchdemonstrates that use of Echinacea reducesinflammation in arthritis sufferers by 22 %-that’s about ½ as effective as steroids, butsteroids have serious side effects and stronglysuppress the immune system.)

7. It stimulates the production of interferonand tumor necrosis factor, which is importantto the body’s response against cancer.

The Echinacea plant will bring you(and butterflies) much joy in your garden.It’s very easy to grow. Just scatter the seedsinto loosened soil in the early spring andrake to cover. In no time you’ll see sprout-ings. They won’t bloom the first year, sincethey’re perennial, but the second year you’llhave many blooms. It’s best not to pickthem, but to collect the seeds for next year’scrop. Then when they bloom in the 3rd year,

you’ll prepare for your tincture-making process.

In the fall, after the flowers havegone to seed, dig up the roots ofseveral plants, leaving enough plantsfor flowers to bloom next year. Takethe entire plant and cut off the stems,leaves and seed pod. Now you’ll havethe tops and the roots. Hang the topsand stems upside down in a warm,dry room for several weeks. Scrub theroots thoroughly and slice them up.Lay them out on a screen to dry.When everything’s dry, put into alarge glass container; add vodka tocover. Leave in for one moon cycle,shaking daily.

Echinacea is best used at the firstsign of a cold or the flu. After the firstsneeze, take your Echinacea. Take itregularly for a few days and you’llnever catch that cold or flu. It can alsobe taken as a preventive measure. Ifyou’re exposed to the public and wantto protect yourself, take Echinaceaeveryday. For best results, take for 2weeks and stop for a week, beforecontinuing again.

* * * * *

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If I stood on my tippy toes and curled my chubby fingersover the edge of the top drawer of my mother’s tall bureau,I could see a heart-shaped box nestled between stacks ofher “unmentionables.” The ruby red, satin-covered box withwhite lace trim was the prettiest thing I’d ever seen, asbeautiful as any of the Valentine boxes of yummy chocolatesI’d seen in Morton’s Drugstore window. (Even then, I lovedchocolate.)

“Can I see it? Can I see it?” I’d beg every time she openedthat drawer in my presence. Mom always replied with thatnebulous response this five-year old hated: “Maybe,someday, dear,” she’d say. “This is my box of secret things,”she’d whispered, conspiratorially, fanning the flames of mybudding curiosity. (Even then, I loved a mystery.)

“Someday” presented 55 years later, when a sibling and Iwere packing up the contents of our childhood home. Momhadn’t lived in the house for several years prior to herpassing, and most everything was as it had been when sheleft it. It occurred to me, as we trespassed through herpossessions, that having “secret things” is much likeanswering the front door dressed only in Saran Wrap™:No matter how hard you try to keep things secret, one daysomeone will see what you have.

Nearly everything in Mom’s house – from our christeningclothes wrapped in blue tissue, to the bejeweled, marabou-trimmed bedroom slippers my first-born toddler paddedaround in – unleashed tidal waves of memory for us, themost painful being our mother’s own loss of memory.

The key to success, here, would be a strong dose of solidarityand objectivity, vital tools for making unified decisionsabout the artifacts we’d unearth. We also trusted the yearsof separation from our homestead had desensitized anystrong attachments we might still harbor to the things sheleft behind. But the Herculean project (Mom was somethingof a “collector”) sorely tested our understanding of“objectivity, especially true when it came to dismantlingher bedroom. Rummaging through her “clothes press,” wepulled out garments we’d not seen in decades, yet it seemedlike only yesterday that she’d worn them. “Here’s the dressSis and I made for her 25th class reunion,” I said, holdingup a turquoise-colored frock we fashioned 38 years before.An embellished faux-diamond accessory Dad had given herfor the occasion 38 years ago was still pinned to the collar.

I drew the lot for packing up the contents of Mom’s tallbureau. Time and disuse dried out the bureau’s woodenframe, and the top drawer resisted my efforts to pull it open;

but after several yanks and tugs, the object of my childhoodfascination – the heart-shaped box - came into view,positioned exactly as I’d remembered it. A grey layer ofdust gave evidence the box of “secret things” hadn’t beentouched in years.

Dad had most likely gifted his Valentine with this box ofsweets before they married, as there was little money forsuch frivolity after their “I Do’s.” But Mom never cravedexternal tokens of affection. Dad’s kisses on her flour-streaked cheeks, and the apple pies she’d made for himsaid “I Love You” in their own, private language.

Echoes of “Can I see it? Can I see it?” rose like a morningmist from the crevices of my memory as I carried the boxfrom its nesting place to the edge of her bed. There, Itouched the faded satin, the yellowed lace, and soughtpermission to open it from one who could no longer giveit. I lifted the cardboard lid as if it was booby-trappedagainst intruders like me and stared at the treasures Iwould not have appreciated more than a half-century ago.Resting on a rumpled party napkin and atop a dusting of“fern hairs” were the skeletal remains of a lily of the valleycorsage, framed by dehydrated baby’s breath and fadedfabric leaves. I recognized it as Mom’s wedding corsage,remembering photos that showed it pinned to the leftshoulder of her light blue, street-length wedding dress.

Two pristine wooden picnic forks were among several otherparty-favor souvenirs in the box, the words “At our shower,July 19, 1941 at Coal Run Hall” written in my mother’sflawless hand across the length of the fork handles.

The contents of the box further defined the mom I knewand loved – one who wouldn’t have traded this treasurefor all the chocolates in Chattanooga. She’d savored thesefragile, secret tokens as she savored her vow “to have andto hold, for as long as we both shall live.”

In the end, the mystery was not the contents of that box,but that of love everlasting.

Forrest Gump – if you’re listening: life may indeed be likea box of chocolates; but, for certain, it’s the life we bite intooutside the box that holds the sweetest secrets of all.

* * * * *

Nancy Clark and husband, Tom, rejoice in 50 years of marriage, threechildren and three grandchildren. She dabbles in freelance and memoirwriting when she isn’t baking, knitting, reading or building a jigsaw puzzle.

by Nancy A. Clark

The Red Satin Box


FUSTY MUCKRAKERDigging Up Obscure Local History

Fusty (Dictionary.com): Adjective: Smelling stale,damp, or stuffy: “the fusty odor of decay.”Old-fashionedin attitude or style.

Muckraker (Wikipedia): The term muckrakerrefers to reform-minded journalists who wrote largelyfor popular magazines, continued a tradition of investi-gative journalism reporting, and emerged in the UnitedStates after 1900 and continued to be influential untilWorld War I, when through a combination of adver-tising boycotts, dirty tricks and patriotism, the move-ment, associated with the Progressive Era in the UnitedStates, came to an end.

Before World War I, the term “muckraker” was usedto refer in a general sense to a writer who investigatesand publishes truthful reports to perform an auditingor watchdog function. In contemporary use, the termdescribes either a journalist who writes in the adver-sarial or alternative tradition or a non-journalist whosepurpose in publication is to advocate reform and change.Investigative journalists view the muckrakers as earlyinfluences and a continuation of watchdog journalism.

The term is a reference to a character in John Bunyan’sclassic Pilgrim’s Progress, “the Man with the Muck-rake” that rejected salvation to focus on filth. It becamepopular after President Theodore Roosevelt referredto the character in a 1906 speech.

During colonial America, the yoemanfarmer had to be a versatile “jack-of-all-trades,” from carpenter, farmer, weaver,tailor, to a bit of blacksmith. While investi-gating this lifestyle, known today as “home-steading” (a movement of self-reliance simi-lar to our pre-industrial age), many forgot-ten skills and stories of local and nationalimportance emerged. They tended to havethe muck and dust of disinterested slum-ber raked up to reveal that tiny tidbit ofglimmering history. That’s my job, that ofFusty Muckraker.

Folks, in this our first installment, Iwant to shed light on a little rememberednews item from the late 18th entury. Some-times referred to as Jefferson and the MapleSugar Scheme. We start our investigtionwith the making of maple sugar, otherwiseknown as sugaring. Sugaring has been go-ing on in north america for many centuries,although no written record of it exists be-fore the arrival of the first European set-tlers. The native Americans used techniquesrequiring stone tools to make cuts into trees,and using a twig to allow the sap to run intoa wood or bark trough. Hot stones wouldbe dropped into it and the crystals collected.Other methods included letting the sapfreeze, removing the ice, and collecting thecrystals (jacking).

The Iriquois Indians had a term calledthe Maple Moon where they would de-campwhole communities and move to the sugarwoods. Chiefs counted the moons until theseven dancing warriors (Pleides cluster,otherwise known today as The Seven Sis-ters). For weeks, the Native Americans heldfestivals to celebrate. Festivities included amaple dance, which paid tributes to thegods who granted them sweet syrup. At thispoint in the season, for many Indian tribes,the sugar was their main source of food,given the sparse forest forage.

Taught the trade by the native Ameri-cans, the European’s use of iron tools andcopper pots vastly improved the productionof the syrup and sugar. Indeed one of thefirst crops harvested was maple sugar as theEuropeans established themselves.

The Sugar Scheme began in Pennsyl-vania with Quakers, who were knownabolistionists, and Dr. Benjamin Rush. Atthe time, sugar (primarily produced n theBritish West Indies) was the economicequivalent of oil today. America was at themercy of sugar imports, and the sugar wasmade by slaves. Thomas Jefferson entered

The Great Pennsylvania Sugar Schemethe picture in 1792 after serving as US min-ister to France.

An event was held that brought theQuakers, Dr. Rush, and Thomas Jeffersontogether, known as The Scientific Tea Party.Hosted by Dr. Rush, physician and closefriend of Jefferson with guest includingAlexander Hamilton, they took spoonfulsof granular maple sugar and dumped it intotheir East India teas — all in hopes of con-vincing the future president of the superi-ority of maple sugar. It was a success. In aremarkably short period of time, opinionleaders of the new United States saw mapleas the game changer in the sugar trade. Fig-ures such as Henry Drinker, a well-regardedQuaker merchant, and William Cooper,founder of Cooperstown (NY), and ofcourse Jefferson himself, all wrote theirsupport of the trade and made the point ofmaple sugar replacing cane sugar. They col-lectively argued for wide-scale, tariff-freetakeover of the sugar trade by the northernmaple sugar makers.

Being an abolitionist in his own fash-ion – despite owning slaves – Jefferson de-spised slavery and was eager to see its de-mise in the Caribbean. Calling slavery “apeculiar institution,” he never did figure outhow to get rid of it here. To these people,the advantage of maple sugar was its moralsuperiority: maple sugar was grown by freepeople, cane sugar by slaves.

Make your own sugar and send not to theIndies for it. Feast not on the toil, pain, andmisery of the wretched.

– An 1803 Farmer’s Almanac

Although this muckraker surmises that eco-nomics of the day may have been a drivingforce for a domestic supply of sugar.

As the first Secretary of State, Jeffersonpromoted a plan. Yoeman farmers ofAmerica could produce quantities of maplesugar sufficient to supply the country’sneeds and then some. He claimed that littleeffort would be needed for the United Statesto export to half the world and end Britishdominance of the sugar trade. However, theyoeman farmer found the implementationof Jefferson’s plan very labor intensive.

Even still, during this time known asthe Maple Sugar Bubble, production roseto new heights, reaching levels comparableto today. For a time, maple sugar was halfthe cost of cane sugar, and was the mainsweetener of the United States prior to the

Civil War. Lower costs and the appearanceof beet sugar ended this, and productionturned to syrup.

In the end, Jefferson’s plan to endBritish trade dominance and to end slaveryin the Caribbean failed for several reasons:• Early clear-cut of land in the northeastfor other uses, leveled many stands of maplesugar trees• It was very labor-intensive• They found they were unable to “plan-tationize” the trees outside their naturalhabitat. (Jefferson tried twice at Monticello,and today only a single tree survives)• Jefferson’s own zeal to destroy Britishdominance of the sugar trade, took hisattention to the sugar beet and away frommaple.

A temporary resurgence of maplesugar consumption occurred during the ra-tioning years of World War II. Cookbookswere even printed substituting maple forcane sugars. At the end of the war, canesugar returned, and sugaring reverted to theproduction of syrup.

Today, Jefferson’s sugar scheme legacycan be seen in your grocery store – on thetop shelf, where the good stuff is.Sommerset county is the largest producerof maple syrup in pennsylvania today. Puremaple syrup produced in the northeast andmid-Atlantic can be traced to these events.

Sources:www.wesscholar.wesleyan.edu; www.history.org;www.monticello.org


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Best Evening View of Mercury

The planet Mercury, which orbitsclosest to the sun, will be far enoughaway from its glare to be visible in thewestern sky after sunset – being bright-est on February 16th, but dimmingquickly after that. On February 8 it willbe within .4 degrees of Mars. To seeMars, you will need binoculars.

Comet PANSTARRS

Comets are primarily made of icesformed from cosmic debris left overfrom the formation of our solar system.Comets come from the Ort Cloud, aregion of our solar system which lies faroutside the orbit of Pluto. Sometimes acomet is nudged from its orbit andbegins to fall toward the sun. As it nearsthe sun the ices heat up and turn to gasand dust, forming a tail (or coma) thatalways flows away from the sun and isdriven by the solar wind. There are alwayscomets in the sky, but if they aren’t closeenough to the sun, no tail will be visible.You will need a telescope and knowledgeof their orbits to find them.

Discovered on June 7, 2011, CometPANSTARRS (Panoramic SurveyTelescope and Rapid Response System)should have reached a point in Marchwhere it can be seen from a dark sitewith no optical aids, but it has beenunpredictable. It is hoped that by mid-March, the coma (or tail) of the cometwill grow and be more readily enjoyedby the casual stargazer. Look west andlow on the horizon after sunset startingin early March. On March 12, 13, 14 lookfor the waxing crescent moon – you willfind PANSTARRS nearby.

Lunar Eclipse

If you are an eclipse chaser, you betterpack a bag. The first lunar eclipseoccurs April 25, but will not be visible

from North America. Eastern Europeand Africa will be the places to be!

Ring of Fire

Get ready to head to the land Down Underand Papua, New Guinea for the start ofthe annual full solar eclipse on May 9.If this is too far for your travel plans,you might catch a glimpse of a partialeclipse from extreme southern Mexico.

Dance of the Planets

I’m hoping for clear skies all week atthe end of May (24-30), for there is acosmic hoe down comin! Mercury,Venus, and Jupiter will changepositions nightly in the twilight sky.Venus will be brightest – six timesbrighter than Jupiter.

1st Penumbral Eclipseof the Moon

North America will see a partial lunareclipse visible in greatest eclipse at aroundmidnight on May 25 when the moonpasses through the penumbral shadow ofthe earth. (Penumbral means a partialshadow between regions of completeshadow and complete illumination)

Moonstruck

On June 23, you will see the biggest fullmoon of 2013. The moon on this nightwill be closer to the earth than any othertime of the year, making it a Super Moon.If you are at the coast on summer holiday,you can expect the highest and lowesttides of the year.

Perseid Meteor Shower

It’s Perseid time! Originating in theconstellation Perseus, the 90-meteorper hour shower is back for our annualenjoyment. This spectacular debris

cloud orbits the comet Swift-Tuttlediscovered in 1862 by Lewis Swift (July16) and Horace Parnell Tuttle (July 19).Also known as “The Tears of St. Law-rence” (for its coincidence with thesaint’s August 10 martyrdom), thisannual event has been witnessed for over2000 years. If you can be somewhere withlittle or no light pollution on August 12,it’s a reason to get together for summerfun under the stars.

2nd Penumbral Eclipseof the Moon

If you missed it in the spring you get achance to see what everyone wastalking about. On October 18 a secondpenumbral eclipse of the moon willoccur. This time 76% of the moon willbe in shadow.

Partial Eclipse of the Sun

Batting 2-3 on eclipses this year, wehave one more at bat. A hybrid eclipseof the sun will start on the east coast ofthe US, and travel through Africa. If“you’re so vain,” enough to fly toextreme northern New England orNova Scotia (or perhaps cruising in theCaribbean near Cuba) you should beable to see a partial solar eclipse off theU.S east coast will be a total eclipse, butyou will need to be out at sea to catch aglimpse of anything.

Comet ISON

Kicking off the holiday season mid-November through December is CometISON (International Scientific OpticalNetwork), expected to be very luminousand at night, brighter than the moon.One may even be able to see it in broaddaylight. This comet, discovered justlast year (September 21) by Russianastronomers Vitali Nevski and ArtyomNovichonok, will get close enough to the

WHAT IN THE WORLD COULD THAT BE?by Gregory S. Susa

Party Under the Stars!


Best Stargazing EventsFebruary 2-23: Best Evening View of MercuryMarch 10-24: Comet PANSTARRS at its bestApril 25: Partial Lunar EclipseMay 9: Annual Eclipse of the Sun (Ring of Fire)May 24-30: Dance of the PlanetsMay 25: First Penumbral Eclipse of the MoonJune 23: Biggest Full Moon of 2013August 12: Perseid Meteor ShowerOctober 18: Second Penumbral Eclipse of the MoonNovember 3: Hybrid Eclipse of the SunMid-November – December: Comet ISONAll of December: Dazzling VenusDecember 13-14: Geminid Meteor Shower

of the Year 2013

sun to be classified as a sun grazer — andafterwards will pass within 40 millionmiles of earth. Happy Holidays, indeed!

Dazzling Venus

During the entire month of December,look to the southwest for the brightestplanet of them all. This seasonal specialsolo performance will last for a fewhours each evening after sundown.Brighter than any star, Venus cantypically be seen at mid-day in a clear

sky and has been commonly reportedas an unidentified flying object (UFO).Named for the Roman goddess of loveand beauty, Venus is sometimes knownas earth’s “sister planet” as it is similarin size, positioned next to Earth, and isone of the four planets consisting of arocky body with an iron/nickel core.

Geminid Meteor Shower

Another great, if not the best, annualmeteor shower happens December 13 -

14. In 2012 we saw 120 meteors per hour,so go back to your favorite stargazing spotand enjoy, for it is expected to be just asspectacular in 2013.

* * * * *Sources:NASA Eclipse website (www.eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov)AstronomyMagazine.com; Earthsky.com

Greg Susa is a 1987 graduate of Greater Latrobe HighSchool and studied physics at Indiana University ofPennsylvania. An avid fan of all things science, hecontinues his education daily with varied reading andresearch in pursuit of the big question . . . WHY? (oftenfollowed by the exclamation WOW!)


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lady type. This town is full of them. And Iprobably have a better body image thanmost of them, [but] that doesn’t mean Iam not always struggling to lose someweight and improve my health, however.

Did you lose or gain for the show?

I had about two days of shooting betweenwhen my character went on a diet and whenshe lost 12 pounds, lol. On the show timehad lapsed, but not in real life! I tried tolose a few pounds in those two days, lol!

Do you have a personal messageyou would like to comunicate withyour role on “Glee?”

I have no personal message to communi-cate; I am just trying to live my life andaccomplish as much as I can while I amhere. In doing that I hope I inspire otherpeople ... girls, overweight people, povertystricken people – everyone I can inspire –to work hard towards their dreams and notgive up.

Do you sing? We will be seeing youperform on the show?

This is a mystery ;-).

What’s coming up for “MillieRose?” Any hints?

You can expect her to continue to get closerto other characters at McKinley ... otherthan that, I only find out when I get mynext script! I love that – it is so excitingto get my script and see what Mrs. Roseis doing next.

continued from page 3

Pictured clockwise from top left: Getting makeup done on set; In character as “Millie Rose;”With hairdresser Addy on set; December 2012; At an IUP Alum luncheon in Los Angeles, early 2000’s

(from top left): Patrick Gallagher, Michael Dorfman, Jeff Baughman — all graduated ’98

Do you have some new projectscoming up?

I am currently working on a film called“Boulevard H” with director Jesse Thomasand actors Chris Kattan, Malcolm Mc-Dowell and Scott Eastwood (Clint East-wood’s son). We filmed in New Orleansbefore Christmas and will be wrapping itup here in LA next month [January 3012].I also have another horror movie comingout next month, straight to video. It is

called “Kiss the Abyss,” and it was filmedseveral years ago.

How can fans find out moreabout you?

I am on Facebook, Twitter (@Trishy2pop),trisharaestahl.com and IMDB [InternetMovie Database].

Any advice for small-town kidslooking to make it bigin show business today?

Take every opportunity to act you can getin your town. Nothing is too small. Takewhatever classes are available! Move to abigger city when you can. Follow thesigns, be true to yourself.

Would you consider anothercareer?

I will always work with individuals withspecial needs on some level.

What is your favorite thingabout being an actress?

The creative challenge.

* * * * *Thanks to my son, Robert Williams, for turning us intoGleeks, and introducing me to this amazing woman!

– Cathi Gerhard

Korean War Veterans Plan Statewide GatheringWilliamsport Convention Spotlights War’s End 60 Years Ago

The Korean War Veterans of Lycoming County PA, Inc. will host a reunion for Ko-rean War veterans from Pennsylvania in Williamsport, in observance of the 60thanniversary of the truce signing ending the war on July 27, 1953.

The three-day event is open to PA veterans of any branch of service who servedduring the Korean War era (June 25, 1950 – January 31, 1955) whether stationed inKorea or elsewhere worldwide with the military.

The reunion will be headquartered at the historic Genetti Hotel in downtownWilliamsport, with events scheduled from Thursday, July 25 – Saturday, July 27.Military exhibits, tours, a banquet with guest speakers, and memorial services areplanned.

For a complete listing of events, fees, schedules and other information for PAKorean War veterans, their spouses and guests who wish to attend, write: KoreanWar Veterans of Lycoming County PA Inc, PO Box 3232, Williamsport, PA 17701;email: [email protected]; or phone Richard Barkman, 570-753-5490.


Even for those of us without allergies, poor indoor air quality is anoften overlooked health issue. Recent research has shown that theair inside some buildings can be more polluted than the outdoorair in the most industrialized of cities. And since many of us spendsome 90 percent of our time indoors, cleaning the air where we liveand work might be one of the most important things we can do forour health.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists threebasic strategies for improving indoor air: source control, improvedventilation and air cleaners. Source control, whereby emissions fromindividual sources of pollution are eliminated or reduced—for in-stance finding somewhere outside the home to store old paint andconstruction supplies—is typically the most effective strategy.

If the sources of pollution are beyond your control, bringing inmore air from outside through better ventilation is the best bet.

“Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced airheating systems, do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house,”the EPA warns. “Opening windows and doors, operating window

My family has bad allergies, and I’d like to improve ourindoor air quality. What are some steps I should take?

— Marcia Lane, Scranton, PA

or attic fans when the weather permits, or running a window airconditioner with the vent control open, increases the outdoorventilation rate.” The agency adds that local bathroom or kitchenfans that exhaust outdoors also remove contaminants whileincreasing the outdoor air ventilation rate.

Air cleaners (either mechanical filters or electronic cleaners)can also help reduce or remove some forms of indoor air pollution.“Some air cleaners are highly effective at particle removal, whileothers, including most table-top models, are much less so,” reportsthe EPA. “People with sensitivity to particular sources may findthat air cleaners are helpful only in conjunction with concertedefforts to remove the source.” The agency’s free online “Guide toAir Cleaners in the Home” compares the general types of residentialair cleaners and their effectiveness in reducing pollutants includingparticles and gaseous contaminants.

Some of us swear by our houseplants for keeping our indoorair free of pollutants. Mother Nature Network reports that certainplants are known to filter out specific contaminants: Aloe removesairborne formaldehyde and benzene; spider plants scrub carbonmonoxide and xylene; and gerbera daisies take the trichloroethyleneleft over from dry cleaned items out of your air. The EPA, however,does not consider houseplants to be especially effective at airfiltration, and even warns that overwatered indoor houseplants canin and of themselves present a health hazard because damp soilmay promote the growth of allergens.

Good housekeeping also can go a long way toward improvingindoor air. WebMD reports that regular mopping and vacuuming(with a HEPA-filter-equipped vacuum cleaner), keeping interiormoisture levels low, maintaining a smoke-free environment, andditching chemical air fresheners are all key to maintaining goodbreathing space inside. WebMD also suggests testing your homefor radon, a radioactive gas found in soils that can penetrate cracksin a building’s foundation and has been linked to lung cancer.

CONTACTS: EPA Indoor Air Quality, www.epa.gov/iaq/; WebMD’s “Breathe Easy:5 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality,” www.webmd.com/lung/features/12-ways-to-improve-indoor-air-quality.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registeredtrademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Sendquestions to: [email protected]. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.

Poor indoor air quality is an often overlooked health issue. Recent researchhas shown that the air inside some buildings can be more polluted than the

outdoor air in the most industrialized of cities. (Photo Credit: iStockPhoto)

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SPRING COMMUNITY CALENDARSpring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. – Rainer Maria Rilke

Through February 22Mardis GrasGreensburg Art Center/Rowe Gallery, 230 Todd School Road, Greensburg,PA 15601; (724) 837-6791; www.greensburgartcenter.org

Join us for Mardi Gras, a special member exhibition. Forget the doldrumsof winter!

Through March 2The Civil War in PennsylvaniaHeritage Discovery Center ; 201 6th Avenue; Johnstown, PA 15906; (814)539-1889; www.jaha.org

A traveling exhibit developed by the Heinz History Center of Pittsburgh,telling the story of the Civil War from a uniquely Western Pennsylvanianperspective.

As part of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil Warand in partnership with the statewide Pennsylvania Civil War 150 efforts,the Heritage Discovery Center will host a new traveling exhibit, “The CivilWar in Pennsylvania”, which is presented by Peoples Natural Gas andsupported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The exhibit, which was created by the Senator John Heinz History Centerfor its Affiliate Program members, is on display in the second-floor galleryof the Heritage Discovery Center from January 5-March 5, 2013. Entranceto the exhibit is included in museum admission, and is free to JAHAmembers.

“The Civil War in Pennsylvania” features four life-like museum figures,plus a companion Dog Jack, along with artifacts, previously unseenphotographs, and large museum panels describing Pennsylvania’scontributions to the Civil War. Free to members or with museum admission

Through September 3Remembrance: 125 Years of Jewish Life in JohnstownHeritage Discovery Center ; 201 6th Avenue; Johnstown, PA 15906; (814)539-1889; www.jaha.orgThe exhibit connects Johnstown’s Jewish community to world history,putting national and world stories in a local context. Free to members orwith museum admission.

February 10Westmoreland Cultural Trust presentsDuquesne University TamburitzansThe Palace Theatre, 21 W. Otterman St in Greensburg; 724-836-8000;www.palacetheatre.org. 2PM; $22, $18, $15

February 11-12Special Olympics of PA Winter GamesHidden Valley Resort; Hidden Valley Resort, 1 Craighead Drive, HiddenValley, PA 15502; (814) 443-8000; www.hiddenvalleyresort.com

Hidden Valley is honored to host the alpine skiing portion of this fantasticevent.

February 12Abe’s BirthdayLincoln Highway Experience ; 3435 Route 30 East; Latrobe, PA 15650;(724) 879-4241; www.lhhc.org

Come celebrate Abe’s Birthday with cake and coffee or tea at 1 pm at theLincoln Highway Experience! A special Program of vintage LincolnHighway photographs, as well as an opportunity to tour our museumexhibits and view the new orientation DVD, Through the Windshield: TheLincoln Highway Experience is included in the $5 fee.

February 12Step AfrikaPasquerilla Performing Arts Center ; 450 Schoolhouse Road; Johnstown,PA 15904; (800) 846-2787; www.upj.pitt.edu/277/

Step Afrika! is the first professional company in the world dedicated tothe tradition of stepping, a unique dance tradition using the body as aninstrument to create intricate rhythms and sounds through a combinationof footsteps, claps and spoken word. Starts at 7:30pm

February 13Conservation Station - Framed in FireWestmoreland Museum of American Art ; 221 North Main Street;Greensburg, PA 15601; (724) 837-1500; www.wmuseumaa.org

All that glitters is not gold but many of the shiny frames around theMuseum’s paintings are gold indeed. How do we maintain those lustrouswonders or restore those who’ve lost some of their intended sheen? EmilieCohen will guide us through the gilding process and explain how agingaffects this gorgeous finish. When we’re done you’ll be able to look at periodframes, furniture and decorative arts with a new perspective. Time: 12pmCost: Free

February 14The Association and Jay and The AmericansPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724)836-8000; ww.palacetheatre.orgTwo of America’s greatest vocal groups on stage! Their favorite hits includeAlong Comes Mary, Cherish, This Magic Moment, Only in America.Latshaw Productions, $65, $60, $55, $45, $35. Show starts at 8 PM

February 15Nature Storytime – Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve

Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve ; 744 Walzer Way; Latrobe, PA 15650;www.wpnr.org; Every Saturday at 10:30. Call 724-537-5285 or checkwebsite for weekly titles.

February 15-16In One Bed and Out the OtherValley Players, Ligonier Theater, W. Main St, Ligonier, PA 15658. 724-238-6514. www.valleyplayers.org

An English adaptatiton of the French farce ‘One Night at Your PlaceMadame.’ A side-splitting comedy! We meet two people pretending to besomeone else, and two people attracted to someone they think is someoneelse. 7:30, 2:30 pm.

February 18Michael BoltonPalace Theatre. 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724)836-8000; ww.palacetheatre.org

With Multiple Grammys for Best Pop Male Vocalist and more than 53Million Albums and Singles sold, legendary Singer, Songwriter and SocialActivist Michael Bolton continues to credit his fans as being “the best inthe world.”Elko Concerts, $75, $55, $45.

February 21Family Movie NightAdams Memorial Library, Reed Room. 1112 Ligonier St. Latrobe, PA 15650.724-539-1972. www.adamslib.org

We’ll be watching a family-friendly movie and enjoying popcorn &drinks. Bring blankets & pillows and get comfortable for some family fun!This event is FREE, but registration is REQUIRED. 6 pm.

February 22Meet the MuseWestmoreland Museum of American Art ; 221 North Main Street;Greensburg, PA 15601; (724) 837-1500; www.wmuseumaa.org

Where do artists get their inspiration? Does the paint just flow or arethere challenges that artists face to expressing their vision on the canvas?Meet Barry Shields a working artist who is captivated by our urbanlandscape much the way Aaron Harry Gorson and Otto Kuhler were acentury ago. Join us for this salon-style event and watch his painting unfoldwhile asking and answering questions about his creative process. Time:6pm, Cost: Free


February 23Strange Encounters of PennsylvaniaAdams Memorial Library, Reed Room. 1112 Ligonier St. Latrobe, PA 15650.724-539-1972. www.adamslib.org

Think that UFO and Bigfoot sightings are limited to the West Coast?Think again! Stan Gordon, local writer and strange phenomenon expertwill be sharing creature reports from across the state and around our localarea during his lecture “Strange Encounters of Pennsylvania.” Join us onSaturday, February 23rd at 2pm for the mysterious and exciting history ofUFO and Bigfoot encounters in our area. Please call (724) 539-1972 toregister. 2 pm.

February 23Hollywood Party at the PalacePalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724)836-8000; www.palacetheatre.org

The Trust’s signature fundraiser event! Entertainment, hors d’oeuvres,dessert buffet, and themed décor; proceeds benefit programs ofWestmoreland Cultural Trust (owner and developer of The Palace Theatre).Program starts at 7 PM. $75, or $125 VIP ticket includes pre-party on stageat 6 PM.

February 23Tree Tapping CeremonyMeyersdale , 120 Meyers Avenue, Meyersdale, PA 15552. (814) 634-0213.2 pm. www.pamaplefestival.com

Did you know that although Europeans knew how to tap trees, it wasthe American Indian who discovered how to make maple syrup? Indiansfrom New England to Canada were producing maple syrup from 1664. TheIndians made a sloping cut, or gash, two inches deep and 2-1/2 incheslong, in the side of a tree. A knife or wood chip was put into the bottom ofthe cut so the sap flowed down the cut, onto the knife and into a receptacleon the ground. The receptacles were made either of bark caulked with pitchor hollowed out logs.

By 1765, the settlers changed the Indians’ tapping to tree boxing. Theytrimmed off the bark and chopped a 1/2-inch deep square or rectangularhole into the tree trunk. A sloping trough was put into the tree trunk totake the sap from the hole, or box, to a spout or spile, which led the sapfrom the trough to a receptacle. Boring holes in a tree started around 1774.

By 1950, the present day tapping was accepted.Spiles are used to direct the flow of sap from the trunk. Originally they

were wooden, then the Eureka sap spout, made of galvanized cast iron,took over. It was replaced by metal spiles and buckets and also plastic spilesfor plastic or polyethylene tubing.

The Indians used a basket or tub from hollowed out tree bark as acollecting receptacle. They were placed on the snow or ground at the baseof the tree. Troughs were used by the colonists until the late 1840’s.

Wooden buckets or pails were introduced as early as 1748, but weren’tcommon until much later. Wooden buckets were still used in 1935; thenthey were replaced by tin-plated buckets because the wooden buckets driedout and leaked if they weren’t painted every year. Bucket covers have beenused since 1870 to keep leaves and debris out. Plastic tubing, used since1965, takes sap directly to a gathering vat or storage tank.

February 26 – March 2USCAA National Basketball ChampionshipsPenn State Fayette - The Eberly Campus , 2201 University Drive, LemontFurnace, PA 15456. (724) 430-4100, www.theuscca.com.

March 1Conservation Station - Finely WovenWestmoreland Museum of American Art ; 221 North Main Street;Greensburg, PA 15601; (724) 837-1500; www.wmuseumaa.org

Winters in Western Pennsylvania require lots of warm clothing andbedding so it’s no surprise that the weaving of coverlets holds a significantplace in our regional history. Lauren Lamendola Churilla will help us sortout warp from weft, and basket weave from Charvet as we examine theunique methods needed to conserve these woven wonders. This casualsalon-style event will allow for questions and answers and some hands-onexperiences with these colorful masterpieces. 6 pm. Free

March 1Sustainable Food & Farming ConferenceLaurelville Mennonite Church Center , 941 Laurelville Lane, MountPleasant, PA 15666. (724) 423-2056. www.laurelville.org/sff.

Sustainable Food & Farming conference is a shared celebration betweengrowers and eaters alike. Come build relationships with like-spiritedindividuals and enjoy engaging workshops and dialogue around sustainablefood production and consumption. Focusing on the theme “Farming thatHeals”, the weekend will explore the impacts of cultivating and caring forthe earth with presentation from a diverse group of keynote speakers. Eachwill speak into ways that farming crosses boundaries, bringing healing toland and relationships. $136/plus lodging.

March 2Backyard CompostingWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve ; 744 Walzer Way; Latrobe, PA 15650;

Join in from 9am-2pm with a workshop that consists of an in-depthlecture given by an experienced Penn State Master Gardener. Learn howto compost yard waste, what kitchen wastes are safe to compost, and receiveliterature covering composting techniques and how to construct a compostbin out of readily available materials. Registration required. $10 perperson. Call or e-mail [email protected]

March 2Celtic ConnectionsPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724)836-8000; www.palacetheatre.org

River City Brass. $31, $26, $24 - $2 discount for senior citizens andchildren. Call RCB for tickets at 800-292-7222.

March 2Five by Design’s Ultra Lounge ShowState Theatre Center for the Arts , 27 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA15401. (724) 439-1360. www.statetheatre.info

Set in the format of a faux radio broadcast from a tiki lounge, The UltraLounge Show transports you to exotic locales in Hawaii, the Caribbean,Brazil, Rio, and Morocco.

The musical theatre travelogue features the music of Louis Prima & KeelySmith, Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Wayne Newton,and Julie London embraced by the sounds of a sultry, scintillating, jazzcombo and the amazing vocals of Five By Design.

Repertoire: Mambo Italiano | Mas Que Nada | Sway | Danke Schoen |Mack The Knife | That Old Black Magic | I Get A Kick Out of You andmore! $34, $30, $26. Show starts at 8 PM!

March 2Waterfowl WatchKeystone State Park , 1150 Keystone Park Road, Derry, PA 15627.(724) 668-2566.

Spring has not quite sprung but early March is a fascinating time ofyear to explore the natural changes around us. Join us for a hike alongKeystone Lake to search for migratory waterfowl and other natural wondersof the season from 2pm-3pm! Meet at the visitor center and dress for theweather (don’t forget warm shoes/boots and clothing – it’s best to dress inlayers). Please call 724-668-2566 or email [email protected] to register.

March 3Gaelic StormPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601;(724) 836-8000; www.palacetheatre.org


Gaelic Storm’s music includes traditional Irish music, Scottish music,and original tunes in both the Celtic and Celtic rock genres. WestmorelandCultural Trust, $26, $22, $18. 7 pm.

March 6 – August 31Letters to Sala: A Young Woman’s Life in Nazi CampHeritage Discovery Center , 201 6th Avenue, Johnstown, PA 15906.(814) 539-1889. www.jaha.org

Narrative told mainly through postcards and photographs written toand saved by Sala Garncarz, who at the age of 16 was deported into theNazi labor camp system. This traveling exhibit tells her story. Free tomembers or with museum admission.

March 8Art on Tap 5.2.7Westmoreland Museum of American Art , 221 North Main Street,Greensburg, PA 15601. (724) 837-1500. www.wmuseumaa.org.

Join us for a casual happy hour at The Westmoreland the second Fridayof every month! Relax and enjoy music, scavenger hunts, and fun withfriends! What a great way to end your work week! Admission is $7 andincludes 2 drink tickets (beer or wine). 5pm-7pm

Singers Chris and Meghan Feliciani will be performing this month.This month’s Art on Tap 5.2.7 is sponsored by Latrobe Art Center.

March 8Classic Film Series - The Good, the Bad & the UglyState Theatre Center for the Arts , 27 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA15401. (724) 439-1360. www.statetheatre.info.

If you’re missing the State Theatre Classic Film Series, you’re missingout! Come see some of the greatest films ever made on the big screen at theState. Our series makes a great girls/guys night out, the best date nightand a great place to go with friends and family! 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.Adults $5, Seniors/Students $3

March 9 – June 2Aaronel deRoy Gruber: An Art(ist) in MotionWestmoreland Museum of American Art , 221 North Main Street,Greensburg, PA 15601. (724) 837-1500. www.wmuseumaa.org.

Aaronel deRoy Gruber turned to making sculpture in the early 1960s atthe urging of fellow artist, David Smith. This exhibition highlights theartist’s sculpture exploration, from welded steel and formed aluminum toshaping Plexiglas into colorful vacuum-formed pieces that are bothilluminated and motorized. Gruber embarked on her more than six-decadecareer working in two-dimensions on canvas that quickly evolved into three-dimensional shaped canvases. It was a natural evolution for the artist whoseinquisitive nature led her to continually adapt her medium and workingmethod from painting to sculpture, from photography to video over thecourse of her career. This exhibition will include examples of both types ofsculpture as well as a sampling of the other mediums in which she worked.

March 9Plastic ArtsWestmoreland Museum of American Art , 221 North Main Street,Greensburg, PA 15601. (724) 837-1500. www.wmuseumaa.org.

You’’ll take a tour of our inspiring new exhibition of acrylic and plasticsculpture by Pittsburgh artist, Aaronel deRoy Gruber before trying yourown hand at creating some magical looking plastic sculpture. Discover waysin which to use existing plastic materials to create fascinating works thatreflect the light in a fun and unusual way! For ages 7-10

To register or for more information, contact by email [email protected] or phone at 724/837-1500 ext. 10. Time : 10am-12pm.Cost : $10 per class

March 13Somerset County Spring Job FairNational Guard Armory , 1483 Stoystown Road, Friedens, PA 15501. (814)445-6431. www.somersetpajobfair.com. Free to the public. 1pm-6pm

Sponsored by the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, the SomersetCounty Commissioners, Pennsylvania CareerLink Somerset County andJohnstown Area Regional Industries.

March 13Vienna Boys’ ChoirPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601;(724) 836-8000; www.palacetheatre.org

Vienna Boys’ Choir is a choir of trebles and altos ages 10 to 14 based inVienna, Austria. It is one of the best known boys’ choirs in the world, formedby imperial decree in 1498. Often called “Austria’s young ambassadors,”

their concerts are especially popular worldwide. Westmoreland CulturalTrust. 7:30PM. $32, $22

March 16“Irish Stories & Glories”Rockwood Mill Shoppes & Opera House , 450 Main Street, Rockwood,PA 15557. (814) 926-4546. www.rockwoodmillshoppes.com

Rockwood Mill Shoppes, in partnership with Laurel Arts, is hosting anirish-themed filmfest night, featuring a screening of Sandy Mortimer’s film.The film will take viewers on a trip through Ireland while Mortimer narrates,porovides insight, and answers questions. A traditional Irish dinner willbe catered by The Chuckwagon. BYOB. Space is limited, call RockwoodMill Shoppes or Laurel Arts for reservations. $25.00

March 16Shamrockin’ CelebrationValley Players, Ligonier Theater, W. Main St, Ligonier, PA 15658.724-238-6514. www.valleyplayers.org

Adults 21 and over only. Sing-A-Long to your favorite Irish tunes, andtaste beers from Greensburg’s craft micro-brewery, All Saints Brewery. Costis $20 per person. Be sure to dress in your finest green outfit! Snacks willbe provided. Please reserve your tickets to assure adequate quantities offood and beverages. 724-238-6514 x2

March 16-17, 20-2466th Annual PA Maple FestivalMeyersdale , 120 Meyers Avenue, Meyersdale, PA 15552. (814) 634-0213.www.pamaplefestival.org

One scene that has become forever inseparable from a history of small-town America is a local store, a pot-bellied stove and a handful of mengathered around it. Proving no exception to the rule, any recounting of thehistory of our quiet rural community of Meyersdale must give specialprominence to just such a Currier and Ives tableau. For it was actuallyaround a potbellied stove of the Shipley Hardware Company Store, oneblustery winter night some 60 years ago, that plans were formulated which,in the years since, have succeeded in launching Meyersdale into a positionof international renown as “Maple City, USA” On that night a group offarseeing men had a vision—a celebration, a festival in Meyersdale topromote the sweetest of all Pennsylvania’s commodities, our own SomersetCounty maple syrup, a Maple Festival—and that vision, that dream, becamea reality.

The background for this amazing story of development and growthcenters around that ever-popular American songstress, Miss Kate Smith.One day in the first part of 1947 Miss Smith, on her daily noontimebroadcast, mentioned that she would appreciate a taste of some goodVermont maple syrup. Through the combined efforts of a few local citizenswho accepted this as somewhat of a challenge, the idea of sending the radiostar a sample of Somerset County’s maple syrup was conceived andimplemented. On her April 17, 1947, national broadcast, Miss Smith sangnot only popular tunes but also the praises of our community’s gift to her,pronouncing our local syrup to be the “sweetest she had ever tasted.”

This publicity furnished the impetus for a hard-driving promotionalcampaign which began that May under the auspices of the MeyersdaleChamber of Commerce. However, as the long winter days began to loomahead, enthusiasm waned, and it was not until that “summit of thepotbellied stove,” January 20, 1948, that this campaign received the finalpush it needed to start it on the road to success. With Chamber of CommercePresident W. Hubert Lenhart at the helm, a planning committee wasdecided upon, and preparations for the very first Maple Festival to be heldin Pennsylvania got under way.

It was on March 18, 1948, that this Somerset County Maple Festival,which was to play such an important part in the postwar development ofMeyersdale and surrounding communities, took place. Pennsylvania’sGovernor Daniel B. Strickler, guest speaker, addressed a crowd of 1,500gathered on Main Street in front of the New Colonial Hotel. His words ofpraise for our enterprising and industrious community were followed bythe coronation of Miss Agnes Jean Hornbrook, who had earlier won theright to the title of Pennsylvania’s Queen Maple I. US Rep. William F. Crowperformed the honors. A dinner and tour of local maple camps concludedthe day.

The story of Meyersdale’s Maple Festival is one of growth. From a handfulof men gathered around a potbellied stove, it has come to include literallyhundreds of workers. From a crowd of 1,500 spectators, it has become anattraction drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually. Today, to mentionMeyersdale anywhere in Pennsylvania, anywhere in the tri-state area, andstill very much farther than that, is to bring forth the reply, “Oh! the MapleFestival.” The Maple Festival has truly succeeded in putting Meyersdale


on the map. A search for the secret of this success leads one back to thecommunity where it all started and back, too, to its citizens. Each year hasfound more and more people putting aside their differences and workingtogether — for the same cause — with the knowledge that every Festivalhas made our Meyersdale a little more important, and better still, a nicerplace in which to live.

March 16Amadeus! A Mozart CelebrationPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724)836-8000; www.palacetheatre.org. 8 pm.

Mozart: Abduction from the Seraglio; Excerpts from Marriage of Figaro;Jeanine De Bique, soprano; Symphony No. 25 in g minor; Excerpts fromDon Giovanni; Symphony No. 38 “Prague”

March 16Growing Up WildKeystone State Park , 1150 Keystone Park Road, Derry, PA 15627.(724) 668-2566

Growing Up Wild (Exploring Nature with Young Children) is an earlychild-hood education activity guide that builds on children’s sense ofwonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the worldaround them. Following this Professional Development Workshop eachparticipant will receive a copy of Growing Up Wild. Growing Up Wild iswritten for early childhood educators of children ages 3-7; features 27 field-tested, hands-on, nature-based activities in a full-color 11"x17" activityguide. This workshop for teachers, parents, scout leaders, etc. will begin atthe Keystone State Park Visitor Center, 8:30am-3:30pm. Pre-registrationis required – please call 724-668-2566 or email [email protected] foradditional information.

March 16 – April 19Pittsburgh Society of Artists-IlluminationGreensburg Art Center/Rowe Gallery , 230 Todd School Road, Greensburg,PA 15601. (724) 837-6791. www.greensburgartcenter.org

The Pittsburgh Society of Artists will be hosting an exhibition on Illumin-ation. The question to be answered by submitting artists with this show is“What makes the light go on for you? The concept is open ...as long as thetheme of illumination is included in some way in the work.”

Juror is Kathy Dlugos, Art Program Director at Westmoreland CountyCommunity College

March 16-17Wilderness First AidWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve ; 744 Walzer Way; Latrobe, PA 15650;www.wpnr.org; (703) 836-8905

A two-day class in Wilderness First Aid that includes classroom study,hands-on practice and a two-year certification. Registration required,$240. Call to register!

March 17Brian ReganPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601;(724) 836-8000; www.palacetheatre.org.

Brian Regan has distinguished himself as one of the premier comediansin the country. Brian’s non-stop theater tour has visited more than 80 citieseach year since 2005 and continues through 2013. It is the quality of hismaterial, relatable to a wide audience and revered by his peers, whichcontinues to grow Brian’s fan base. The perfect balance of sophisticatedwriting and physicality, Brian Regan consistently fills theaters nationwidewith fervent fans that span generations. Live Nation, 7PM, $42.50

March 17Fiddlers’ JamboreeFayette County Fair . 132 Pechin Road, Dunbar, PA 15431. (724) 628-3360.Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association, Inc. Time 1:30 PMto 5:00 PM in the Fiddlers Hall. Every month on the third Sunday of themonth except for January and February.

March 20Classy Glass: More Than Hot AirWestmoreland Museum of American Art , 221 North Main Street,Greensburg, PA 15601. (724) 837-1500. www.wmuseumaa.org

Join Harley Trice to learn the storied past of glass in our region and theimportant contributions that Bryce Brothers Glass Company made to thecraft of hand-blown leaded crystal. James Bryce began as an apprenticeglassblower with Bakewell in Pittsburgh in 1827 before founding his own

company in Mt. Pleasant, making high quality glassware for the WhiteHouse, American embassies around the world, the 1962 Seattle World’sFair, and famous restaurants and clubs, including New York City’s FourSeasons and the Rolling Rock Club. Time : 12pm, Cost : Free

March 20Eggs & IssuesSomerset Country Club , 416 Plank Rd., Somerset, PA 15501.(814) 445-6431. www.somersetcountychamber.com

Join us for Eggs & Issues! Featuring keynote speaker PA Secretary ofthe Department of Environmental Protection Michael Krancer. Starts at8am. There is a cost to attend. Please e-mail at [email protected] or call for details!

March 20Jewel – Greatest Hits TourPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724) 836-8000; www.palacetheatre.org. Elko Concerts, $49, $39. Show starts at 7:30pm

March 20Tiny Wonder Time “Maple Syrup Season”Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve , 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650. (724)537-5284. www.wpnr.org

Tiny Wonder Time is an hour of nature play for children ages 2-4 on the3rd Wednesday of each month. Each session includes outside activity(weather permitting), an interactive activity, a craft and a story. Childrenmust be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $1/month. Registration is required!10am-11am or 12:30pm-1:30pm

March 22Generation GapWestmoreland Museum of American Art , 221 North Main Street,Greensburg, PA 15601. (724) 837-1500. www.wmuseumaa.org

Each generation benefits from the challenges and obstacles overcomeby their predecessors. Meet two generations of artists as they share theirpersonal and professional journeys during different social and culturaltimes. Both still working artists, Charlee Brodsky came of age during thedisco-era of bell-bottoms and the waning of the cold war, while Jane Haskellbegan her artistic career at the end of World War II as the United Statesentered an era of prosperity and technological innovation. Learn how thecultural milieu in which they emerged as artists influenced them, and thedifferent challenges each had to overcome to succeed. Have we madeprogress? We’ll let them decide. 6pm, Cost: Free

March 22-24Pittsburgh Arts & Crafts Spring Fever FestivalMonroeville Convention Center, 209 Mall Boulevard, Monroeville, PA15146. (724) 863-4577. www.familyfestivals.com. Friday & Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm

Over 180 booths of unique arts and crafts including; jewelry, clothing, woodfolk art, pet treats, scented candles, ceramics, and floral designs. Samle deliciousdips, mixes, candy, candles, fudge and much more! Acres of free parking andfree shuttle! Two huge exhibit halls of arts and crafts. Monroeville ConventionCenter located at 109 Mall Boulevard, in front of Monroeville Mall. Clowns,Glitter Dot & Dapper for the kids! Enjoy a unique day of shopping!

March 22Winter Jazz 2013: Rockapella - Motown & MorePasquerilla Performing Arts Center , 450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown,PA 15904. (814) 269-7200. http://www.upj.pitt.edu/277/

Featuring Rockapella’s signature sound on incredible songs from: StevieWonder, The Jackson 5, The Commodores, Hues Corporation, The O’Jays,Martha & the Vandellas, The Temptations, and more! Show is at 7:30pm

March 232nd Annual Miracle Bunny Trail 5kPenn State Fayette Campus , 2201 University Dr, Lemont Furnace, PA15456. www.miracle5k.org

5k Run/Walk and Kid’s 1/2 mile Bunny Hop to benefit The Miracle Leagueof Pa’s Laurel Highlands, a baseball league for children with special needs. $15

March 23Imagine Nation Family DayWestmoreland Museum of American Art , 221 North Main Street,Greensburg, PA 15601. (724) 837-1500. www.wmuseumaa.org

Fun day for families featuring scavenger hunts, art activities, cookies & punch,and a few surprises to entertain you! Time : 11am-3pm, Cost : Free


March 23Lyme Disease Screening & Symposium on TicksWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve , 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650.www.wpnr.org. (724) 537-5284

Join in a lyme disease screening clinic and educational symposium to helpthe community’s efforts to reduce the epidemic pet and livestock tick infectionsin Western Pennsylvania. 1pm-4pm. Registration required by March 15.

March 23Neil Berg’s 100 Years of BroadwayState Theatre Center for the Arts , 27 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA15401. (724) 439-1360. www.statetheatre.org

Last year Neil Berg’s Broadway Holiday was so great, we had to bring themback with an all Broadway show. 100 years of Broadway recreates the greatestmoments the finest shows of the century. $36, $32, $28. Show starts at 8 PM!

March 233rd Annual Soup’s On!Ligonier , 120 East Main Street, Ligonier, PA 15658. (724) 238-4200.www.visitligonier.com

Sample “signature soups” from local restaurants in participating stores.Call 724-238-4200 for more details.

March 24Ted Neeley & The Little Big BandPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601;(724) 836-8000; www.palacetheatre.org

Ted Neeley (Jesus Christ Superstar) and his Little Big Band take a look backat Ted’s career as a pioneer of rock operas and showcase music from his newCD. Show starts at 7 PM. Vestry, $45, $38, $28; Senior and student discounts.

March 30Easter Egg HuntKeystone State Park , 1150 Keystone Park Road. Derry, PA 15627.(724) 668-2566.

Keystone State Park’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place at the beacharea and is for children 12 years of age and younger. Pre-registration issuggested to ensure ample eggs & goodies for all (724-668-2566,[email protected]). Egg Hunt is 10:30am-11:30am

Don’t miss this special day with the Easter Bunny, fire trucks, facepainting and more! This event is made possible by the Friends of KeystoneState Park. Funds support park projects, programs and events.

April 1United States Air Force Band and Singing SergeantsPasquerilla Performing Arts Center , 450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown,PA 15904. (814) 269-7200. http://www.upj.pitt.edu/277/. 7:30 pm.

April 2Opening Reception for Laurel Highlands Trout TrailLincoln Highway Experience, 3435 Route 30 East, Latrobe, PA 15650. (724)879-4241. www.lhtrouttrail.com

The Opening Reception for the Laurel Highlands Trout Trail is set for 7 pmTo register, either email [email protected] or call!

April 428th Annual College & Technical FairNational Guard Armory , 1483 Stoystown Road. Friedens, PA 15501. (814)445-6431. www.somersetcountychamber.com. 9am-12pm, Free.

Sponsored by the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce and theSomerset County Counselors Association.

April 4-5Eleanor – An American Love StoryPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601.(724) 836-7496. www.greensburg.pitt.edu/eleanor

A production of the Pitt-Greensburg Theatre Company, under the direc-tion of Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Stephen Schrum, PhD, and MusicDirector Christopher Bartley. Written by Jonathan Bolt with music byThomas Tierney and lyrics by John Forster, this musical tells the story ofEleanor Roosevelt’s journey from a shy, young aristocrat to her emergenceas a powerful catalyst for social change. It tells of the passionate courtshipand bittersweet marriage to Franklin, and ultimately, of the surprisingpartnership that so dramatically changed the face of 20th Century Americaas well as the entire world. University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Adults$18; Seniors $17; Students & Youth $10; Groups of 10 or more $15

April 5, 6, 12-14Second SamuelValley Players, Ligonier Theater, W. Main St, Ligonier, PA 15658.724-238-6514. www.valleyplayers.org

Our Springtime show, a Pulitzer-Nominated play, is like warm honeyon a hot summer day. Behind its gentle tale of small-town life in the southin the 40s are messages of acceptance. Call 724-238-6514 for reservations:April 5, 6, 12 & 13 at 7:30 PM April 7 & 14 at 2:30 PM.

April 6Beatty County Road Clean UpWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve , 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650.www.wpnr.org. (724) 537-5285

Join the Nature Reserve and Mountain View Rotary to clean up alongBeatty Road. Coffee and Donuts at 8:30 AM at the Saint Vincent Gristmill.Clean up 9am-11am; no cost. Please call to register!

April 6Big Band and Doo Wop BrassPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. (800)292-7222 www.palacetheatre.org

River City Brass presents Big Band and Doo Wop Brass. $31, $26, $24 -$2 discount for senior citizens and children. Call for tickets, 800-292-7222

April 6Birds & BloomsKeystone State Park, 1150 Keystone Park Road, Derry, PA, (724) 668-2566.

Spring is a wonderful time of year to explore Keystone State Park! Thelonger days and warmer weather serve up a feast for the senses as natureawakens before us. We will listen for the sweet song of birds and comicalchorus of frogs; search for fluttering and flowering splashes of color; andsmell the fragrance of fresh blooms and grasses. Meet at the park’s visitorcenter, and don’t forget your hiking boots! 2pm-3pm. Please call 724-668-2566 or email [email protected] to register.

April 6Fiddler on the RoofState Theatre Center for the Arts , 27 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA15401. (724) 439-1360. www.statetheatre.org

The TRADITION lives! The universal theme of tradition cuts across barriersof race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter,joy and sadness. No other musical has so magically woven music, dance,poignancy and laughter into such an electrifying and unforgettable experience.Relive the tradition! $36, $32, $28, Show starts at 8 PM!

April 6Taxidermy from Start to FinishWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve, 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650.www.wpnr.org. (724) 537-5285

This Saturday at the Barn Program allows you to learn first hand howtaxidermist, Bill Hise, owner of Bear’s Den Taxidermy in Finleyville, PAprepares and finishes deer mounts. Discover how a deer hide is tanned,mounted and customized to make the finished product life-like. Starts at10am. Registration required, free to public!

April 7Fiddler on the RoofPasquerilla Performing Arts Center , 450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown,PA 15904. (814) 269-7200. http://www.upj.pitt.edu/277/

Fiddler on the Roof is filled with a rousing, heartwarming score, including“Tradition,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “If I Were A Rich Man” and“Sunrise, Sunset.” No other musical has so magically woven music, dance,poignancy and laughter into such an electrifying and unforgettablexperience. Relive the tradition! This universal story of hope, love andacceptance is a musical masterpiece! Show starts at 7:30pm.


April 8The Beach BoysPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. (800)292-7222 www.palacetheatre.org

The Beach Boys have been wowing audiences since the ’60s with theirsunny vocal harmonies and good vibrations, performing such hits as Surfin’USA, Good Vibrations, Kokomo and more! Latshaw Productions, $85, $75,$65, $55, $45. Show starts at 8pm.

April 11Branson’s Ozark JubileePalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601.(800) 292-7222 www.palacetheatre.org

Direct from Branson, The Ozark Jubilee is fantastic familyentertainment, a world-class fiddler, side-splitting comedy and yourfavorite country hits; a recipe for a good time! Latshaw Productions, $35,$30, $25. Shows at 2 PM and 8 PM.

April 1122nd Annual Tastes of the TownHosted by the Ligonier Valley Historical Society at Ligonier Country Inn,features a wide variety of sumptuous treats provided by area restaurants.Tickets are limited. Call 724-238-6818 for more information.

April 12Art on Tap 5.2.7Westmoreland Museum of American Art , 221 North Main Street,Greensburg, PA 15601. (724) 837-1500. www.wmuseumaa.org

Join us for a casual happy hour at The Westmoreland the second Fridayof every month! Relax and enjoy music, scavenger hunts, and fun withfriends! What a great way to end your work week! Admission is $7 andincludes 2 drink tickets (beer or wine). 5pm-7pm. The Stout Brothers willbe performing this month.

April 12Classic Film Series - The HeiressState Theatre Center for the Arts , 27 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA15401. (724) 439-1360. http://www.statetheatre.info/classic-film-series

If you’re missing the State Theatre Classic Film Series, you’re missingout! Come see some of the greatest films ever made on the big screen at theState. Our series makes a great girls/guys night out, the best date nightand a great place to go with friends and family! 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.Adults $5, Seniors/Students $3

April 12Michael W. SmithPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. (800)292-7222 www.palacetheatre.org

Three-time Grammy Award winner with 29 #1 hit songs. Michael W.Smith inspires and entertains in a show that will have your spirit soar.Latshaw Productions, 7:30PM. $65, $55, $45, $35

April 13 – November 10Fort Ligonier Opens for the Season200 S. Market Street, Ligonier PA 15658. 724-238-9701. www.ftligonier.org

Journey back to the 18th century to a place where the flag of His MajestyKing George still flies. During your visit, you will explore the museumgalleries and the impressive Fort, a full-scale, on-site restoration/reconstruction of the 1758 – 1766 original, situated on a commandinghilltop in the beautiful Laurel Highlands. Allow at least an hour to tourFort Ligonier plus some extra time to visit our Museum Store which featuresa wide selection of books, gifts, and souvenirs. MON – SAT 10 am – 4:30pm. SUN noon – 4:30 pm. Adults $10, Children 6-16 $6, under 5 Free.Price includes admission to all galleries and exhibits in the museum andfort area. Tours are self-guided.

April 13Book BoxWestmoreland Museum of American Art , 221 North Main Street,Greensburg, PA 15601. (724) 837-1500. www.wmuseumaa.org

Staying with the theme of book arts for the month of April, this Saturdaystudio experience will explore how to turn an old book into an eye-catching,creative and very useful storage box for small treasures. If you have an oldbook that you’d like to transform, bring it with you. If not, we’ll have plentyhere to choose from. We’ll check out some of the special storage-type boxesin the Museum’’s collection for inspiration. For ages 7-10

To register or for more information, contact by email [email protected] or phone at 724/837-1500 ext. 10. Time : 10am-12pm.Cost : $10 per class

April 13Brilliant Brahms with pianist Angela ChengPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. (800)292-7222 www.palacetheatre.org

Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra presents Brilliant Brahms with pianistAngela Cheng at 8pm. $39, $27, $26, $19, $10. Call 724-837-1850 for tickets.

April 13Opening Day Snack & Slurp SaleKeystone State Park , 1150 Keystone Park Road. Derry, PA 15627.

Join us for the opening day of trout at Keystone State Park! Friends ofKeystone State Park will have a variety of food, beverages and giveawaysavailable at the Boat Rental Building (same location as in the past). 6am-5pm

Visit bait and boat concessionaires Bill & Judy of Northwest Kayak &Canoe (www.northwestkayakandcanoe.com). They will rent boats on theopening day of trout, as well as sell bait and light tackle. Stop in for minnowsto red worms, and spinners to powerbait. For more information regardingpricing and available items please call Northwest Kayak and Canoe at 724-697-5280.

April 13Season Opening – Meyersdale Visitors Center on the GAP527 North Main Street, Meyersdale, PA 15552. (814) 634-8654.www.meyersdalehistoricalsociety.com

Meyersdale Visitors Center on the GAP will open for the season onApril 13. Restored Western Maryland train station with railroad andlocal-history themed exhibits, caboose, gift shop, model train displays,restroom facilities, beverages and snacks. Open through October 27.

April 16 – June 30Along the Lincoln Highway Through Ligonier ValleyLigonier Valley Library, 120 West Main Street, Ligonier, PA 15658.(724) 879-4241. www.lhhc.org

The Pennsylvania Room of the Ligonier Valley Library has announcedthe title of this year’s Historical Photography Show, “Along the LincolnHighway Through Ligonier Valley,” which will run April 16 through theend of June. This subject was selected to commemorate the 100thAnniversary of the Lincoln Highway. Photographs for the display willinclude: hotels, restaurants, gas stations, garages and attractions alongthe route, as well as pictures of the road and older vehicles.

As in our past Historical Photography Shows, we will be asking thecommunity to lend photographs and documents for us to copy and add tothe permanent collection in the Pennsylvania Room. For the length of theexhibit we would like to borrow artifacts and memorabilia relating to travelalong the old Lincoln.

An Opening Reception will be held on Tuesday, April 16, beginning at7:00 p.m. Several other programs are being planned throughout the exhibit.All programs are free and open to the public.

April 17Tiny Wonder Time “Mud Bath”Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve , 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650.(724) 537-5284. www.wpnr.org

Tiny Wonder Time is an hour of nature play for children ages 2-4 on the3rd Wednesday of each month. Each session includes outside activity(weather permitting), an interactive activity, a craft and a story. Childrenmust be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $1/month. Registration is required!10am-11am or 12:30pm-1:30pm.

April 18Pajanimals Live: Pajama PlaydatePalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601.(800) 292-7222 www.palacetheatre.org

Elko Concerts, VIP Package $136.50 – includes character Meet ‘n Greet,photo op, poster, laminate. 6PM. All other seats $35 (reserved)

April 18Ringold Band & Messiah College Jazz EnsemblePasquerilla Performing Arts Center , 450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown,PA 15904. (814) 269-7200. http://www.upj.pitt.edu/277/. 7:30 pm.


April 19Depue Brothers BandPasquerilla Performing Arts Center , 450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown,PA 15904. (814) 269-7200. http://www.upj.pitt.edu/277/

These four violinist brothers encompass a vivid blend of bluegrass,classical and rock genres. For those not familiar with this musical iconicfamily, you are in for an ear-bending revelation! 7:30pm

April 20Annual Fundraising Dinner & Silent AuctionSaint Emma Monastery , 1001 Harvey Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601. (724)834-3060. www.stemma.org. Dinner and socializing with the nuns! Uniqueauction items!

April 20Laurel Highlands Trout Trail RendezvousHidden Valley Resort , 1 Craighead Drive, Hidden Valley, PA 15502. (814)443-8000. www.lhttrail.org. Call 724-879-4241 for more information.

April 20The Art of Fashion IILatrobe Country Club , 346 Arnold Palmer Drive, Latrobe, PA 15650. (724)537-7011. www.latrobeartcenter.org

April 21Westmoreland Earth DayWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve , 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650. (724)537-5284. www.wpnr.org

Join local organizations as they share their time and expertise.Environmental Groups will naturally connect you to your community andhelp foster a healthy Earth. Time: 11am-4pm. Cost: FREE

April 26Love & Art: Stories with IrvWestmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 North Main Street,Greensburg, PA 15601. (724) 837-1500. www.wmuseumaa.org

Please join Irv Gruber as he shares his many stories about his life withAaronel deRoy Gruber. Irv met his future wife, Aaronel deRoy, at a fraternitydance at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University).He received his B.S. in Industrial Management and she graduated with a degreein Fashion Economics. They were married for 71 years. Time : 6pm. Cost : Free

April 275th Annual Model Railroad Home TourWestmoreland County , Ligonier Valley Railroad Museum. 3032 IdlewildHill Lane, Ligonier, PA 15658. (724) 238-7819. www.lvrra.org

This tour will visit multiple layouts and displays in WestmorelandCounty. 9am-4pm. $15-adults, $5 16 and under. Tickets are sold in advanceonly! Only 300 will be sold. Deadline for tickets is April 20. Tickets andmaps will be mailed in late March.

April 28, May 2-3, 5, 8-10Disney’s The Little MermaidCresson Lake Playhouse , 279 Shapiro Road, Loretto, PA 15940. (814) 472-4333. www.cressonlake.com

In a magical kingdom fathoms below, the beautiful young mermaid Ariellongs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she’llhave to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witchUrsula, and convince Prince Eric that she’s the girl with the enchantingvoice. Adults: $8, Students $5

April 28Kenny Vance & The PlanotonesPasquerilla Performing Arts Center , 450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown,PA 15904. (814) 269-7200. http://www.upj.pitt.edu/277/

Among today’s great vocal pop musicians, Kenny Vance and ThePlanotones have voices of original and inviting dimension. The group,Kenny Vance, Johnny Gale, Kurt “Frenchy” Yahjian, Jimmy Bense,keyboardist Chip Degaard, and Tony Gallino on Drums, redefine oldieswith vocal authority and freshness. As exemplified by their signature song“Looking For An Echo”, their material is influenced by the music of the50’s and 60’s, but they consistently bring a unique and musicallysophisticated point of view. In this sense they are classicists, opening theeyes of a new generation to a rich historical musical style. With their cooland sultry musical approach, they give a gift to those who are discoveringthem for the first time! Show starts at 6:30pm

April 29The Little Engine that Could Earns Her WhistlePasquerilla Performing Arts Center , 450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown,PA 15904. (814) 269-7200. http://www.upj.pitt.edu/277/

Little Blue Engine dreams of someday leaving the train yard to pull thebig cars on the main line track. But can she convince Big Silver that she isworthy of being a main line engine? Back to reprise its sold-out premiereseason, ArtsPower’s dynamic, song-filled adventure portrays Watty Piper’stimeless tale about hard work, determination, and the meaning of truefriendship. *GROUPS: Receive one complimentary ticket with every fifteenpurchased. Shows at 10:15am and 12:30pm

May 1Compass Inn opens for the seasonUS Route 30. Laughlintown, PA. 724-238-4983. www.compassinn.comVisit the Compass Inn to receive an informative and entertaining tour bycostumed docents that tells the story of transportation and everyday life inthe early 1800’s. The tour delivers “history with a smile” by incorporatinga generous sprinkling of etymology (word and phrase origins). For exampleyou can learn why we drink in “bars” and “toast” people.

The restored Inn is completely furnished with period pieces. Visitorscan tour seven rooms including the common room, serving kitchen, ladiesparlor and four bedrooms. Staying in a hotel was very different in 1820than it is today. You have to see it to appreciate it.

The 1-1/2 hour tour includes the original Inn, and three reconstructedoutbuildings: a cookhouse, blacksmith shop and barn, all completelyfurnished with period pieces.

May 2Popovich Pet TheatrePasquerilla Performing Arts Center , 450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown,PA 15904. (814) 269-7200. http://www.upj.pitt.edu/277/

The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is a family-oriented blend of theunique comedy and juggling skills of Gregory Popovich and theextraordinary talents of his performing pets. They love to show off onstage– performing a variety of stunts and skits! You and your family will bedelighted to see this extravaganza of European-style clowning, amazingjuggling and balancing acts and of course, very talented performing pets.Show starts at 7:30pm

May 3Tanya TuckerPalace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. (800)292-7222 www.palacetheatre.org

One of country music’s greatest legends, Tanya Tucker has just releasedher much anticipated new CD, My Turn, on Saguaro Road Records. Onthis new album Tucker takes classic country songs recorded by country’stop men and turns the tables, giving classics such as You Don’t Know Meand Oh, Lonesome Me a powerful reconstruction from a woman’s point ofview. Only 13 when her provocative Delta Dawn caused a nationwide stirand became a Top 10 country hit, she is considered one of the very fewfemales of the “outlaw” country movement, holds a Grammy award, twoCountry Music Association awards, two Academy of Country Music awards,and three CMT Awards. Twenty-three of her albums have landed in thecountry Top 40 chart since her 1972 debut, and she has amassed ten #1country singles, 33 that have reached the Top 5, and 41 in the Top 10. ElkoConcerts, 8 pm.

May 4Ohiopyle State Park Youth Fishing FestivalOhiopyle State Park , PO Box 105, Ohiopyle, PA 15470. (724) 329-8591.www.friendsofohiopyle.info

May 5Lincoln Highway Experience FestivalLincoln Highway Experience, 3435 Route 30 East, Latrobe, PA 15650. (724)879-4241. www.lhhc.org

On Sunday, May 5 the Lincoln Highway Experience Museum will beopen free to Westmoreland County residents from 11 am to 4 pm. BrianButko, noted Lincoln Highway historian and author, will be on hand toautograph his books. PoJuried members of our Artisan Trail will be onhand to demonstrate and sell their hand made crafts.

* * * * *Family-friendly, cultural, and nonprofit events take precedence

when print space is a [email protected]/PO Box 332 Ligonier PA 15658


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END NOTESby Cathi Gerhard

One Foot in Front of the OtherAt the end of January, I had the opportu-nity to participate in the Directions Pro-gram at Derry Area Middle School. Spon-sored by the Latrobe Area Chamber of Com-merce, this career planning seminar is de-signed to bring together a variety of localbusiness professionals with students in 8thand 9th grade at Derry and Greater Latrobeschool districts as they prepare to schedule“focus area” courses for senior high.

I was assigned to speak with Mr. Zur-insky’s 3rd period, along with MadalynKalning, HR Manager at Gutchess Hard-woods Inc. of Latrobe. Together wediscussed choices including levels ofeducation, types of jobs, profession-alism, salaries, and budgeting. Whenasked if any of the students alreadyknew what they wanted to pursue,they gave us a variety of answers:small or large animal veterinarian,computer science, agricultural engi-neer, make-up artist, physical thera-pist, OB-GYN, construction, psy-chologist, graphic arts, military, etc.Largely influenced by their parents’careers, the students seemed to havevery specific ideas – or no real direc-tion at all.

But both answers are OK; theyare only in 8th grade. What we triedto emphasize in our talk was the im-portance of choices, flexibility, anddoing something you love, ratherthan whatever comes along. When Iwas growing up, the world still op-erated under the 20th century modelof a “lifelong” career – the one thatended with a gold watch after 40+years of faithful service, doing thesame thing every day of your adultlife for the same company. Theydon’t give out many of those watchesanymore. Today’s workers are lucky to last10 years in the same job before a change isrequired, for one reason or another. We areno longer simply changing employers, butoccupations. Technology and global eco-nomics are transforming so rapidly thatmany jobs are out of date before one caneven fully train for them. Our work liveshave become tenuous, discouraging, andscary. There don’t seem to be as many rulesanymore, and luck plays an even bigger role.

Many articles in this issue of the Lau-rel Mountain Post discuss careers and thepaths that different people have taken, tell-ing stories of the complicated and oftenunexpected roads taken to their successes.If I were to draw some conclusions fromtheir experiences, and make my own list ofrules, it would go something like this:• Be as flexibile as possible. Change isthe only sure thing.• Every job, no matter how small or “mean-ingless” will teach you a lot. Value these expe-riences and learn as much as you can. As a

freelance journalist, I have taken severaldifferent part-time jobs to pay the bills suchas insurance clerk, preschool teacher, sec-retary, machinist, farmer, lay minister, salesclerk, customer service representative, banker,and hotel concierge. Each tenure now quali-fies me to write about diverse subjects: busi-ness, education, engineering/manufactur-ing, agriculture, religion, economics, financeand tourism. I could never have learned allthose things in four years of college!

• Choose to study what interests you,rather than train for a specific job. Becomea master of knowledge and adapt to differ-ent opportunities. You’ll always enjoy whatyou do, despite the details.• Fear is the biggest enemy. Being afraidto take that first step is actually the worstchoice you can make. Just put one confi-dent foot in front of the other, regardless ofthe terrain. Rita Mae Brown once said, “Apeacefulness follows any decision, even thewrong one.” It’s never too late to change di-rection – we’re not cemented into the foot-

steps of the past.As you get ready to begin this new

adventure, no matter what your age,there are a few ways to prepare. ThePennsylvania Department of Educa-tion (www.pa careerzone.org) has de-veloped a great online tool with thelatest statistics on careers in the state,including salaries, educational require-ments, and tons of other information.It even helps you create a sample bud-get based on your selections!

Build a strong, professional resume,and join the online career networkLinkedIn.

“A digital profile of each studentis essential in securing an internshipor job these days,” explained SkipGlenn, Assistant Professor of Market-ing at the University of Pittsburgh atJohnstown. “Companies like UnderArmour are requiring students to beon LinkedIn in order to qualify foran internship.”

Be sure to upload an appropriatephoto; companies really want to seewhat you look like in order to vetyour professionalism before theyschedule an interview!

My own daughter is now facingthe first crossroads of her professional life.She will finish student teaching in May, andhas no idea if she will find a job, get intograduate school, or be unemployed. Wherewill she go from here? It’s a fork in her road,a terrifying question no one can answerright away. I have no more advice to give,only patience. Her bag is well-packed, andit’s time to enjoy the journey . . .

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

POST Bloom and Grow.Advertise in the Laurel Mountain Post.Advertise in the Laurel Mountain Post.Bloom and Grow.

laurel mountain post - spring 2013

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