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DECEMBER 2014
www.LatrobeLaurelValley.org
GLLV VISITOR & INFORMATION CENTER UPDATE GLLV CHAMBER TAKES THE
REINS ON GREAT AMERICAN BANANA SPLIT CELEBRATION
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he staff at the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Chamber has been working hard to transition to our new home on Rt. 30 below Sharky’s Café. Coming soon will be a modern, member-focused Visitor & Information Center (VIC). fter two successful years organizing When you consider the growth of our Airport and the tens of thousands who find the GABSC, the Latrobe Community themselves on Route 30 for events like the Westmoreland County Air Show, Steelers Training Camp, or year-round fun in the Laurel Highlands, the Chamber feels there Revitalization Program will be handing is an incredible opportunity to promote area businesses and regional activities. The the reins of the local event over to the new Greater GLLV Chamber is also excited about all of the new activity happening at Arnold Latrobe — Laurel Valley Community Chamber continued on page 4 Palmer Regional Airport. of Commerce. “As this event becomes a regional attraction, and with the opening of the Chamber’s new Visitor and Information Center, this is a great opportunity to share what the City of Latrobe has to offer,” said GLLV President David Martin.
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CONGRATULATIONS!
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ongratulations to Sarah Crispin-Thomas and the staff at her State Farm Agency in Latrobe on their ONE-YEAR Anniversary! They are dedicated to helping people “manage the risk of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams” offering Auto, Home, Life, Health, Bank and Financial services. An Open House event was held on Nov. 25 where guests enjoyed delicious appetizers, drinks, pastries and door-prizes and had a chance to meet with Sarah and her team to learn more about their services.
David Strickler created his first Banana Split in Latrobe in 1904 which sold for only 10 cents at the Tassel Pharmacy. In 2013 a marker designating Latrobe as the place where the Banana Split was invented was erected, and the Great American Banana Split Celebration was born.
“The Latrobe Community Revitalization Program’s successful efforts to bring additional notoriety and interest to the Latrobe community with the unique GABSC will be placed in good hands and taken to the next level by the new GLLV Chamber”, said James R. Okonak, Executive Director of the McFeely-Rogers Foundation and Latrobe Sarah and her family live in Derry, and she is a proud second-generation State Farm Community Revitalization Program board member. Agent, following in the footsteps of her father, Frank Crispin. Mr. and Mrs. Crispin were Alongside its other existing events, the Chamber in attendance to celebrate this important anniversary with Sarah and her staff. Our will also direct the “2015 Steelers Fest at Latrobe” congratulations and best wishes for another successful year ahead! to be held at Memorial Stadium this summer.
MEMBEREVENTS “UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATER” PARTY AND MIXER
MEMBERNEWS ARNOLD PALMER REGIONAL AIRPORT'S DIRECT FLIGHTS TO LAS VEGAS
Daily, non-stop flights from Latrobe to Las Vegas will begin next spring, the Westmoreland County Airport Authority announced in Join us at the SpringHill Suites by November. The Spirit Airlines flights to Nevada will begin April Marriott on Friday, Dec. 12 from 5-8 16, 2015 at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, which currently p.m. for a Ribbon Cutting Celebration offers year-round flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, with for Carly Hall Photography and seasonal service to Myrtle Beach, Tampa and Fort Myers. Designs, and stay after the photo for our “Ugly Holiday Sweater" Party EASTERN WESTMORELAND CAREER AND and Networking Mixer. Drink specials, TECHNOLOGY CENTER DEDICATES STEM networking, appetizers, live music, a OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER photo booth, prizes and more! Wear EWCTC Students and faculty, local contractors, supporters, and your ugliest holiday sweater! dignitaries attended a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting for the school's new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Outdoor Learning Center on Friday, Nov. 21. The new facility, which is self-sustaining and completely "off-the-grid" was designed and constructed by students at EWCTC, which serves Derry Area, Greater Latrobe, and Ligonier Valley School Districts. FRIDAY, DEC. 5 • 8:05 A.M. Good Morning Greater Latrobe: Listen Live 1480 WCNS HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT LINCOLN HIGHWAY Special Year-End "Open House" Show Carolers, Christmas cookies (almost too cute to eat) and close to SATURDAY, DEC. 6 • 12-2 P.M. 100 new gift items make for a perfect Lincoln Highway Open Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening: WholeBody Unlimited House on Friday, Dec. 5 from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6 from (Ligonier) 9-11 a.m. at the Lincoln Highway Experience museum, 3435 FRIDAY, DEC. 12 • 5-8 P.M. State Route 30 East, Latrobe. Vintage holiday decorations will be Ribbon Cutting: Carly Hall Photography & Designs (Latrobe) on display in the almost 200 year old parlor. AND "Ugly Holiday Sweater" Party & Mixer @ SpringHill Suites by Marriott NEW! LOG INTO YOUR NEW ACCOUNT AT
DECEMBER CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17 • 6-8 P.M.
Beach Party & Ribbon Cutting Mixer: Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (Latrobe) Celebrating Spirit Airlines Inaugural Flights to Tampa and Fort Myers @ DeNunzio's Italian Chophouse Community Room
THURSDAY, DEC. 18 • 5-7 P.M. Ribbon Cutting and Roaring 20s Party: For InSpotlight LLC (Ligonier) @ DiSalvo's Station in Latrobe
THURSDAY, DEC. 25 • HOLIDAY
Merry Christmas!
FRIDAY, DEC. 26 • CLOSED
Chamber and Visitor & Information Center closed.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31 • CLOSED
Chamber and Visitor & Information Center closed.
THURSDAY, JAN. 1 • HOLIDAY
Happy New Year!
LATROBELAURELVALLEY.ORG!
Take full advantage of your Chamber membership and our ALL NEW website! Members can now log in to the member portal (Online Member Information Center) to access upcoming events, registration, and online deals. Once logged in, users can search the membership database, submit events to be added to the new "Community Calendar", and upload new Hot Deals, and Neighborhood Card discounts. If you haven't received an invitation to create an account, e-mail marketing@gllv.org.
SHOP
LOCAL
for ffo or o r Christmas
CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RIBBON CUTTINGS
CHAIRMAN
Paul Puleo
BATTER UP! CAKES RIBBON CUTTING
First National Bank of PA VICE CHAIRMAN
Don Orlando Saint Vincent College
Recent photo from Batter Up! Cakes Ribbon Cutting celebrating their new location at 110 N. Fairfield Street in Ligonier. Congratulations to Batter Up! owner Mary Carlson!
TREASURER
Maryann White Kelly, Sparber, White and Associates, LLC SECRETARY
Wayne Petrosky Signs In 1 Day
Marie Bowers Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center
Andrea Cuda
TILLE & ROSE GRAND OPENING EVENT
Ramada Ligonier
Roxann Mullen Donahue Mullen Refrigeration Service
Recent GLLV Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting at the NEW Tillie & Rose Photography & Creative Lifestyle Studio in Ligonier. Congratulations to owners Jenn, Andria and Barbara on a very unique new studio and boutique!
George Fetkovich Saint Vincent College
Ron Hamacher Saint-Gobain Ceramics
Madalyn Kalning Gutchess Hardwoods
Gale King Carpenter Latrobe Specialty Metals
Dan Krinock Pace Industries — Airo Division
Blair Kucinski
BLOOMIN’ GENIUS HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Alelphoi USA (retired)
Jeff Minkovich Westmoreland County Airport Authority
Bloomin' Genius Exotic Flowers & Gifts in Greensburg recent Holiday Ribbon Cutting and Open House! Stop by their store in the WOW Outlets on Donahoe Road. Congratulations to Carrie South and her staff!
Tim Schultheis Schultheis Electric/T.S.B., Inc.
Gary Siegel Latrobe Bulletin
Christina Sutter Kennametal Inc.
Judy Swigart Greater Latrobe School District
Dr. Phil Westerbeck
BP INSURANCE OPEN HOUSE EVENT
WestLand Clinic of Chiropractic
Dr. David Welling Derry Area School District
CONGRATS to Brian Panichelle and BP Insurance Inc. on their NEW Member Reception at their location in Ligonier. BP staff were joined by GLLV ambassadors, staff and board members for appetizers and desserts from Batter Up! Cakes, and beer from Four Seasons
LatrobeLaurelValley.org
LAYOUT AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
Robyn John Apollo Design Group
THE CHAMBER PAGE!
Read The Chamber Page in the Latrobe Bulletin every 4th Friday of the month!
"GOOD MORNING GREATER LATROBE!" Listen Monthly every 1st Friday at 8:05 a.m. on
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GREATER LATROBE-LAUREL VALLEY COMMUNITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LATROBE PA PERMIT NO. 218
P.O. Box 463, Latrobe, PA 15650-0143 724.537.2671 info@GLLV.org | LatrobeLaurelValley.org
VIC UPDATE continued from page 1
HOLIDAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
The airport’s impact on local businesses and our area’s exposure to regional travelers will be considerable. When you consider the amount of regional interest in direct flights to multiple destinations in Florida and Myrtle Beach and now daily flights to Las Vegas starting in April, we are expecting many people to be introduced to our great communities from the tri-state area and beyond. The VIC will provide directories and material from menus, maps, flyers, business cards, local coupons and information on area business services and real estate listings. The Center will be Chamber staffed to answer questions and provide suggestions and also feature area memorabilia, local works-of-art, a history section, unique merchandise and be technology-focused. Stay tuned!
eniorLife Greensburg needs volunteers this holiday season to help with two specific activities: Santa Bags and Kettle Bell Ringing. You and/or your coworkers can warm the heart of someone special this Holiday Season by donating a small gift to fill the Senior Santa Bags for Seniors living in the Latrobe and Derry communities. Scarves, warm socks, puzzles or knickknacks are perfectly suitable. Please WRAP the gift(s) and be Santa’s helper in this heart-warming gesture. SeniorLife Greensburg is also in great need for volunteers to ring the Kettle Bells. The Salvation Army Kettle Drive
Happy Holidays from the staff at the new Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Chamber of Commerce. Here’s to a
Prosperous & Exciting 2015!
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is essential to helping local Seniors now and in the future. You may donate money through the Kettles or give directly to the Salvation Army Kettle Drive. Monetary gifts are also acceptable as a tax deductible donation. Please give a special gift from the heart this year and consider volunteering to our area Seniors. For more information, contact Danielle Biddle, Outreach Coordinator, SeniorLife Greensburg at 724-838-8300, x. 28054 or dbiddle@seniorlifegreensburg.com
OPERATION TROOP APPRECIATION
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oin A & S Indoor Pistol Range, Y108, and Consol Energy on Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. to help our returning Veterans. Y108 will broadcast live from A & S Indoor Pistol Range and collect donations for Operation Troop Appreciation’s (OTA) “Welcome Home” program.
Every little bit helps, $5, $10, $20 – it all adds up to helping our Veterans this Holiday Season. Please visit A & S Indoor Pistol Range on Dec. 10 to find out more about this program and to donate. Visit IndoorPistolRange.com and OperationTroop Appreciation.org for more information.