Laurel Mountain Post - Spring 2013

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

POST

How A Rose E’re Bloom

An Interview with “Glee” Star Trisha Rae Stahl

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 FREE – Spring 2013

Equine Chic • For Horse, Home & You • 100 East Main Street in Ligonier, PA • 724-238-7003

Saddle up and see what’s new before the sun sets!

www.EquineChic.com

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

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

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

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

Every Story Begins At Home.

Spring 2013 - 1

How A Rose E’re Bloom

An Interview with “Glee” Star Trisha Rae Stahl

by Cathi Gerhard

My son introduced me to the FOX television show “Glee.” He had been begging me to watch it with him after the first two seasons, and through the magic of Netflix, I finally caught up. It had been a long time since a TV show entertained me in so many ways. Not only was it hysterical, it was touching 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 of and kindred spirit to underdog highschoolers everywhere who either don’t fit

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

In season 4, episode 1, audiences were introduced to several new characters. One plotline focuses on shy newcomer Marley Rose, and her mother, Millie – the overweight and poor lunch lady who is teased by the kids at McKinley High. That is, until the Glee Club welcomes the pair into their protective fold.

To my surprise and editorial delight, the character of Millie Rose is played by an actress from Pennsylvania, and fellow IUP alumni: Trisha Rae Stahl. Over the Christmas

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

As a native of Pennsylvania, you are a hometown girl. Tell me about your background, – growing up, education, IUP, hobbies, activities, etc.

I grew up in Williamsport, PA where I attended Loyalsock high school. Acting was a hobby. At the time I wanted to study parapsychology (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).

2 - Spring 2013

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

non) but was having trouble finding out how to pursue that interest professionally.

My drama teacher and choir teacher asked if I had ever considered studying acting. I said it was a hobby and did not ever consider it as a career. They encouraged me to consider it and told me I should explore Mansfield U, and IUP if I planned on going to school in-state. I chose IUP, but I took two years off before attending. My time at IUP was amazing, and I graduated with a BA in theater with a focus on theatrical performance.

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

Our theater professors were like family. We worked with them, partied with them and ate meals at their homes. They were there for us academically and personally. Barb Blackledge is solely responsible for my discipline as an actress, as she demanded professionalism. Patrick McCreary and his wife Mary were amazing mentors and friends to all of us theater students, and Patrick also demanded professionalism.

The entire department did. Ed Simpson, who taught me stage movement and play writing, has since had his own successes in LA and I have had the pleasure of spending time with him when he visits town. Brian Jones was a new addition to the theater department when I was there and he brought a fresh creativity and energy to the department and quickly became family:) Tom Ault and the late Mal Bowes were geniuses, and I am grateful to have worked and studied with them.

We ate hot wings at the Coney Island Pub! We spent every St. Patricks Day there from noon-2am celebrating with Colin and Kelly, the crazy Irish musical duo. We had cheap burger and fries for “breakfast” most Sundays at Culpeppers. We drank 35 cent drafts at G-man:). I loved every minute of my time at IUP and have since encouraged a friend’s son to attend there all the way from Los Angeles. He wanted to attend school where there were seasons:) He graduated from IUP and never regretted leaving sunny southern California to do so.

What do you miss most about Pennsylvania?

I miss my friends the most.

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

I moved to LA in ’98 after doing summer stock theater at IUP with Keystone Repertory. There were like 6-8 of us that moved out there together. We got apartments side by side and Every Story Begins At Home.

started our LA adventure! We got paid to sit in audiences, do stand in work, perform in haunted houses and worked as personal assistants. Our bills (and responsibilities) were minimal and we had a blast.

I had a dry spell where I needed money and had to look for a real job (sigh). I saw an ad in the paper to work with kids with behavioral problems and was interested, as I had once considered work as a probation officer. I ended up working with kids with Autism the most: that’s where the need was.

I fell in love with it, [and] was torn between teaching and acting. Barb Blackledge had always said if you can tolerate a real job, for God’s sake do it! I had a hippie friend staying with us, and she read the Tarot cards for me.

The reading seemed to encourage me to teach; so I did, for nine years at that school.

My only involvement with acting was teaching theater during the summers to the students, and attending live theater when I could. I met a special student there whom I later adopted ... and then I knew my real reason for moving to LA ... to find my son!

He is now 23 years old, and he has severe autism. His name is Michael.

While in the process of adopting Michael, I left my job to help start a school for autism in Northridge, Ca. I met another, older teacher there. She told me I needed to be acting and introduced me to her agent. We had a twohour meeting and really hit it off. I quit my job to do the B horror movie “Trailer Park of Terror” a couple of months later.

After the movie I struggled between small acting jobs and ended up back in education, working as a behaviorist and a school administrator. I had since gotten a Master’s Degree in Teaching with a focus on Special Education. After a time of trying to make ends meet, I started back to a real job full time, at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services as a teacher and administrator. I still work with them today.

I had just recovered from a herniarepair surgery when I was at lunch with a friend (IUP alum Jeff Mensch) in Los Angeles. I got a call from my agent that I got the “Glee” audition. I was so flabbergasted by the opportunity! It was a big audition. Jeff Mensch stayed with me all weekend and coached me (he was also a member of the IUP theater department and works as a touring show director). I had two auditions, and had just started to give up hope, when my agent called and asked if I was sitting down. He told me the news, and I cried. I couldn’t believe it and still can’t!

What are your favorite storylines on the show?

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

My weight has helped my career! Though if I were just a bit smaller if would open up even more opportunities. The last thing you want to be in Hollywood is an ingenue or leading

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

Well the Rose family storyline is my favorite, but I love seeing what happens with Kurt and Rachel in New York. The NYC loft is actually on the Paramount set in Hollywood, and it is so cool! They go to New York to do outdoor NYC stuff.

Who are your favorite characters?

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

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

I am closest with Melissa Benoist [“Marley Rose”] because we work together so much and really get along well. I enjoy spending time with Lauren Potter [“Becky,” whose “inner voice” is played by Helen Mirren].

Because I spend so much time with people with special needs, I am automatically comfortable around her. I admire her a lot and was star struck when I met her.

How does it feel to have your weight be the focus of a storyline on a primetime, broadcast network television show, viewed by over 10 million people around the world each week?

It is a great opportunity to represent overweight people who are mistreated and discriminated against every day.

What about when poverty is added to the storyline?

People often believe fat people are poor because they are lazy. My character works hard, just as I do in real life, so I am pleased to blow that theory out of the water.

Do you feel your weight has hindered your career or do you relate to other actresses like Melissa McCarthy who have been outspoken about happiness and health trumping the scale?

continued on page 38 Spring 2013 - 3

MEMORY LANE

by Ruthie Richardson

They Say Its Your Birthday . . .

Fast approaching is the 35th anniversary of my 30th birthday. Saying the actual number doesn’t come easy to me, even when one of my presents will be that ‘gift’ of Medicare. How have the years flown by so swiftly? What mystical force has propelled me in an instant from what is supposed to be life in my groovy 20’s to the little old lady I am quickly becoming? I will paraphrase Tennessee Ernie Ford by saying, “I am another year older and deeper in denial.”

I remember a time when the words, “Happy Birthday” were a joyous greeting, and ones I eagerly anticipated hearing. At school on my special day, I would wait for all of my friends to catch me unawares, sneak up behind me and tug on my earlobe, loudly counting out one tug for each year and one for good measure! Hearing Happy Birthday shouted, or even better, sung to me,

“MMMM, chocolate cake from scratch!”

4 - Spring 2013

meant I had achieved some monumental and impatiently awaited occasion.

Yay! I was 6 and could start school. Yippee! I’m officially a teenager. Finally! I can get my drivers license and be completely independent. Wow! I’m now an adult and can get into any nightclub with MY OWN identification.

It seems that after I celebrated turning 21 a slight frown started to appear on my face as each February rolled around, and my birthday approached. My 30th birthday brought with it a lingering feeling of unease, of disbelief, if you will. What’s next, I fearfully pondered, middle age? How right I was, and it came with lightning speed. The years seemed to be picking up the pace. I don’t know if it was a defense mechanism or not, but I started to forget how old I was going to be.

What do you mean, it’s my 45 birthday?

That can’t be right. No, I certainly CANNOT be 60! Sixty is a lady who is really, really old, with blue hair, shuffling along and wearing a housedress. I started to hear strange, creaking sounds when I got up in the morning, and they weren’t emanating from the wooden floors. Next I noticed the shadow of my mom’s face as I glanced in the mirror. Not that this was a bad thing, but what had happened to my taut neckline? And what about those new little lines around my eyes and smile? The only lines I used to have were 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 and ignore those few extra pounds until the spring thaw has me digging out my ever shrinking shorts. I diligently attempt to figure out what I did to cause those aches and pains that appear out of nowhere. It’s strange that I haven’t aged in my mind. If I woke up with amnesia I may guess that I am probably

20 something. Where, oh where, has that little girl gone?

A beautifully decorated cake with candles flickering on top used to conjure visions of all the wondrous things I could wish for. I would close my eyes, cross my fingers, and blow those candles out. Today that cake has me wondering how many calories are in each slice and if the caffeine in the chocolate will keep me up all night. It seems like only yesterday that my little house in West Derry was filled with the delightful aroma of my chocolate cake baking in the oven and I could barely contain my excitement. The big day was finally here and to my delight, I was another year older. Today? Well, not so much.

All of our birthday cakes were homemade from scratch when I was growing up. My mom was a wonderful cook and baker. And although delicious and pretty, they were not the spectacular store bought creations that today’s kids enjoy. There were no interactive toys on top, no theme of Sponge Bob and all of his buddies in 3D colors with an airbrushed picture of myself. The only extra effort for my cake was that it wasn’t in a square pan, it was two round layers. When the frosting was done cooking, I was allowed to choose the shade it would be by adding a few drops of food color. My choice was always two drops of blue and two drops of red – making my favorite, lavender! After the icing had set, mom would add the little candy Happy Birthday letters on top.

You could buy them at the A & P in a little packet, on a rack where the candles were. They were hard as rocks but we always ate them anyway. We also ate the little round rock-hard candy candleholders. There was never much candy at my house, so beggars couldn’t be choosers.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

I can recall several memorable birthday parties where my mom allowed me to invite friends. Mostly when someone in my family had a birthday, mom would have the whole family over for dinner and the birthday cake would be dessert. But every once in a while, mom would let me plan my own party. I was allowed to invite my friends from school and church.

My mom’s menu for the kid’s parties was always pretty much the same. She would make ham salad sandwiches (bologna being the main ingredient) and egg salad, too, and cut them into little squares. We would have a side of potato chips, doled out by mom with no seconds, and a glass of Kool-Aid. Cake and ice cream would follow, and the ice cream feature was always a chocolate Dixie cup, eaten with a little flat wooden spoon. If there were 10 kids at the party, there were 10 Dixie cups – and again, no seconds.

When the big day was finally upon us, I would excitedly help mom decorate for my party. We would hang streamers across the room and blow up balloons to hang in the center. The balloon blowing always took extra time since my brother and I would delight in blowing them up, stretching the opening to make what we thought was the most hilarious sound, then we would let them go and watch them fly around the room. Mom would find those leftover little missiles for days after the party, behind the couch or stuck to the curtains. We would also rub the inflated ones on the rug and stick them to ourselves with the static electricity; another feat we found very amusing. After the party, mom would roll the streamers up carefully and save them for the next big event. Waste not; want not; that was one of her rules to live by.

Birthday parties in those days were pretty formal affairs, and everyone dressed appropriately. A lot of the boys would wear neckties with their suit or sports coat, if they had one, even as first and second graders. And the girls were always attired in their Sunday go-tomeeting best. Since everyone was dressed in his or her finest, our best manners were also on display. No running around the house and playing tag, Every Story Begins At Home.

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

and no jumping on the furniture. Our indoor voices were always expected.

The entertainment consisted of a blindfold for playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey, and a Bergman’s milk bottle accompanied by a handful of mom’s clothespins. The object of this game was to stand up straight, touch the clothespin to your nose, lean over the milk bottle and drop it in. Mom bought several small prizes for the winners of these games, but there was never a gift bag of goodies for each guest to take home, like I see at today’s parties. The rule in those days was that this was the birthday girl’s party, and she got the gifts, not you. And those gifts were not very extravagant, either. No one had much money, so if your gift was a pencil case, or a coloring book, you were thrilled.

I still remember some of my favorite gifts from those long ago celebrations. On my 11th birthday, my mom allowed me to host a party at my Aunt Margie and Uncle Walters house.

They had a nice basement with a PingPong table, a perfect spot for a birthday bash. I’m sure I received many wonderful gifts that year, but the one that is still in my head was a .45 record from my best friend, Kathy Shannon - “Tan Shoes With Pink Shoe Laces”, by Dodie Stevens. Trouble was, I didn’t have a

record player to play it on. It was one of the things I really wanted and had asked for repeatedly. The party was on the Saturday before my birthday, and my family celebration was held the next week, on the actual day. I had found the record player I wanted at Murphy’s 5 & 10 in Derry. It played one record at a time, and you had to put one of those little round plastic discs in the center of each .45 so it would fit on the pin. I had been dropping none to subtle hints about it for weeks. The night of my birthday, Daddy came in from the car with a huge box, wrapped in fancy paper and topped with a big bow. I couldn’t imagine what it was as I tore into the paper to reveal my surprise.

Daddy had gone to Edsall’s Appliance store, not the 5 & 10, and instead of a tiny little record player with a single speaker, he chose a beautiful green and white Motorola Stereophonic HI FI. It had a .45-RPM adapter so you could stack 8 or 10 records and they would drop automatically for continuous play!

It had three speeds, .33 if I wanted to play albums, .45 for my single hit records, and .78 speed for the records daddy had collected in his youth. How I loved that HI FI. I played “Tan Shoes and Pink Shoe Laces” over and over continued on page 6 Spring 2013 - 5

continued from page 5

again, and sang along until it wouldn’t play any more (a tragedy my mom was probably not very upset about). And I still remember the words, “I’ve got a guy and his name is Dooley, He’s my guy and I love him truly! He’s not good lookin’, heaven knows, but I’m wild about his crazy clothes!”

My 16th birthday was also a memorable one for the spectacular gift I received. That was the year my dad had the phone company install a new pink Princess phone in my bedroom, and it was sitting on my nightstand when I got home from school. My goodness, the life-altering conversations that took place on that old phone. All of those teenage secrets I shared with my best friends, all of our giggles, and all of our tears. I remember conversations that lasted for hours with my girlfriends, and even more importantly, with boyfriends! That little pink phone allowed me to catch up on all the gossip at school, and to find out who could get the car to drive to the Rink on Friday

night. Many major decisions were made on that line, everything from what my girlfriends were going to wear to the big dance in the gym, to who was going steady and who broke up. My friends calmed my fears on that phone about taking my driving test, we talked about our hopes and dreams after graduation, and they offered encouragement about my job interview at VASCO. That little phone was there with me, late at night, while Doug and I finalized our wedding plans.

After we got married and moved into our own house, mom had the phone company come and get my precious little pink phone. Those were the days when you didn’t buy your own phones, you leased them. I didn’t realize back then how much it meant to me, or I surely would have moved it with me. Years later, my brother, Keith, found one at a yard sale and sent it to me for my birthday. He even typed our number on the little paper circle in the middle of the rotary dial, Oxbow 4-9116. I got a pink Princess phone for my birthday TWICE in my life. How lucky am I?

So many things to wish for!

So, another birthday is fast approaching. The excitement I used to feel has been tempered, and a nice dinner with friends is party enough for me any more. I promise to proudly celebrate my true hair color (only Lady Clairol knows for sure!) my laugh lines, and my ‘relaxed’ jeans. Lord knows I’ve earned these trophies! I will blow out the candles on a piece of coconut cream pie and pray that my ornery birthday accomplices haven’t arranged for the wait staff to sing to me. But if they do, I will smile and boldly tell them how old I am. It has been a great ride, and I’m proud of the years I’ve spent on this old earth. I hope I’ve done some good along the way, made a friend or two smile, or better yet, made them share some loud and boisterous guffaws with me. I’ve tried to lend a helping hand when I could, and I know we have all wiped away more tears than we ever thought we would. Through all of these years I have been allowed to celebrate the victories of those I love, too. I have watched the miracles that came with our children, and now our grandchildren. I say, “Bring the birthdays on!

I’m a tough old bird, and I can take it!”

Although next year I might not be quite so accommodating: they say once you hit your 40’s, it’s all downhill. *****

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

6 - Spring 2013

Ruthie loves to share memories with you. Email her at: Ruth-Elaine@comcast.net, look for her on Facebook, or join our LMP online community to read her new blog!

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

THREE PENNIES

by Cindy Blonk Parker

The Truth That Once Was Spoken I’m a Jersey Girl; I’ll admit it. Born and raised. Fortunately though, we moved to Illinois when I was two years old so I didn’t learn to speak in New Jersey, and I don’t have that Jersey accent! After only a few years in the Midwest (I like to think of these as the “dry years”), our family was transferred back to NJ by the company my dad worked for and so I spent most of my formative years on the east coast. The reason I say “dry years” is due to the fact that I had no musical theatre in my life!

My parents loved the theatre, especially musicals, and when we lived in NJ we would travel into Manhattan at least once a month to see a show. So, I’ve seen pretty much all there is to see on the great Broadway: the good (Aida), the bad (Cats) and the ugly (Titanic; it lasted 7 weeks). But I’ll never forget the time I saw Les Miserables. It was Christmas of 1988.

I was on break from my undergrad studies at Penn State and my parents took my sister and me into the city to see this new show. Les Miserables had not received very good reviews in London, but it was extremely popular and so it opened on Broadway in 1987. Tickets were difficult to come by, but like the good New Jerseyian he was, my dad “knew somebody.”

We ate lunch at the Tavern on the Green and then took a cab over to the theatre. The next 3 ½ hours passed by in a flash as I was in awe: the way human nature was captured so beautifully through the characters: forgiveness and

redemption in Jean Valjean, the extreme standards of Javert, the fragility of Fantine and the hopefulness of Cosette.

I was hooked! I went home and spent the rest of my Christmas break immersed in Victor Hugo’s novels and poetry.

And so, when I found out that Les Miserables was arriving in Pittsburgh, I jumped at the chance to take my daughters to experience it. I couldn’t wait to see what their reactions would be to what I thought was one of the greatest musicals of all time. I was not disappointed. They sat on the very edge of their seats with their mouths open in rapt attention; they didn’t even notice that the first act lasted an hour and a half! During intermission they couldn’t stop talking about the costumes, the dancing, but mostly the music! My youngest daughter came home and loaded the entire soundtrack on her iPod that night. She has every song memorized, and for the past week our house is constantly filled with the songs from Les Miserables.

The hauntingly beautiful music is part of the allure of the show: it is what stays with us, what touches us, what we take home with us. The last words Jean Valjean sings are “and remember the truth that once was spoken, to love another person is to see the face of God.” That’s what I took home with me.

People are always amazed when they find out what I do for a living. I usually get a double-take with the question

108 South Market Street, Ligonier, PA 15658

724-238-6233

Open 7 Days a Week. Call for Hours.

Online Shopping Cart: www.toyboxligonier.com

Every Story Begins At Home.

***** Cindy Parker came to the United Church of Christ by way of the Presbyterian Church. A life-long Presbyterian, she jokes that she was “predestined to become UCC!” Currently called as the Pastor and Teacher of Christ Church UCC in Latrobe, PA and St. John’s UCC in Darlingtoon; she, her husband Larry and three daughters enjoy traveling all over the world! Cindy also serves as a Spiritual Director for the Three Rivers Walk to Emmaus retreats and was part of the team that brought the Kairos Outside Ministry to Pennsylvania.

Kairos (which means special time in Greek) is a prison ministry for women whose lives have been impacted by incarceration. Cindy completed her undergraduate studies at Penn State and her MDiv. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary along with a year- long internship at Family Hospice and Palliative Care. She enjoys traveling, reading, baking, and photographing her daughters.

This advertisement sponsored by The Toy Box of Ligonier

TOYS • GAMES • PUZZLES

“You’re a pastor?” Somehow I just don’t fit the bill, the picture of what a pastor looks like in their mind. As the conversation progresses I usually hear the voluntary confession: the reasons why that person doesn’t go to church/doesn’t need church/ doesn’t believe in God or that there is a God. I nod at the appropriate times and listen politely but all the while I am thinking, “Really? I see God everywhere I look.”

Perhaps that’s why I love Victor Hugo’s line, the line that I remember, that I took home with me, that I cannot forgot–the line that Jean Valjean sings at the end of Les Miserables: “and remember the truth that once was spoken, to love another person is to see the face of God.” And I invite you to take a look, a really good look at someone you love – what do you see?

Spring 2013 - 7

Ligonier Valley Railroad Caters to Passenger Traffic

by Bob Stutzman

When the LVRR began to operate in 1877, the line originated at the wye in Latrobe near today’s Weiss Furniture where it interchanged with the Pennsylvania Railroad. From there it continued along what is now Lincoln Avenue past the steel mills and then southeast to Kingston where it then followed the Loyalhanna Creek through Chestnut Ridge and Idlewild Park to Ligonier.

Much has been written about the impact this short-line railroad had on the economic development of Ligonier Valley. The importance of the LVRR, however, as a passenger train should not be minimized. The railroad affected the lives of people living not only in the valley, but also throughout southwestern Pennsylvania by providing a means of reliable and economical transportation that up to this time had been unimaginable.

People from the Pittsburgh area could now more easily travel to the Ligonier Valley, which had already established the reputation of being a tourist attraction because of its “unex-

8 - Spring 2013

celled scenery, invigorating mountain air and crystal spring water.” It also meant that Ligonier Valley residents could easily travel to Latrobe in 30 to 40 minutes, a trip which, before the railroad, was at least a three-hour ride by horse and buggy. Even more unbelievable, they could travel to Pittsburgh in less time than it had taken them to travel to Latrobe before the railroad.

Having served more than nine million passengers over its 75-year history, the LVRR from the beginning recognized the importance of catering to its passengers. The published schedule of the LVRR between Latrobe and Ligonier included as many as 11 passenger stops along its 10.6 mile line, even though not all of them were active at the same time. The train also stopped for individuals who flagged it down and made extra stops to drop off passengers. Although two of the 11 stops provided only a platform, the other nine, which varied greatly in size and structure, offered shelter for passengers.

LVRR’s original station in Latrobe was built around 1877 next to Alexandria Street along the railroad tracks.

It stood across the street from what is today the Family Video store. In 1903 when the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) elevated its mainline tracks to eliminate all the grade crossings in downtown Latrobe, the LVRR had to elevate its tracks to continue interchanging with the PRR. At that time, the LVRR also extended its passenger siding to the PRR station in Latrobe. The LVRR shared the same platform with eastbound PRR passengers but accessed it from the opposite side.

It is uncertain whether the LVRR rented space in the Latrobe station or the PRR staff accommodated LVRR customers. Research will continue toward unraveling this question.

The Oakville Station, built in 1899, was located 1.2 miles from the Latrobe wye at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Grant Street. This station, which served the residents of Oakville and the nearby steel mills, was designed to accommodate passengers on the first floor and provide housing for the station agent on the second floor. According to the March 7, 1900, Ligonier Echo, the first agent at Oakville was Cummins Kimmel, a LVRR track foreman. The Oakville Station was sold in the 1920s and converted into a private residence which stands today across from the Nut House on Lincoln Avenue near the Pond Restaurant.

The Osborne Station, located 2.1 miles from the Latrobe wye, was built next to the intersection of the LVRR tracks and Raymond Avenue Extension, east of today’s Latrobe Skating Center. No photographs of this station are known to exist, but a now-deceased local resident, Paul Carey, whose family owned the surrounding farm, recalled that the station was just a small building. Sometime after 1938 when this stop was removed from the schedule, the building collapsed. Carey LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

remembered seeing the carcass of a railroad baggage cart in the basement under the debris. No trace of this station exists today.

Located 3.2 miles from the Latrobe wye, the Kingston Station was built next to the Loyalhanna Creek across the tracks from the Latrobe Water Works, which today is the site of the Latrobe Municipal Authority. The station served the Water Works, the Soisson Brick Yard, which stood next to it, the Peters Paper Company, currently the site of the Kennametal Kingston plant, and the residents of Kingston. Built from blueprints the same as or similar to the ones used for Oakville, Kingston served both as a station for passengers and a residence for the station agent.

After the LVRR went out of business, this station was torn down to make room for westbound Route 30.

Nothing more than a platform, the Bakers stop, 5.7 miles from the Latrobe wye, was included in early LVRR schedules. It was located halfway through the Loyalhanna Gorge near the spur to the Booth and Flinn quarry on the south side of the Loyalhanna Creek. The cutstone abutments for the trestle bridge that spanned the Loyalhanna Creek on the Booth and Flinn siding can still be seen along westbound Route 30. This passenger stop accommodated the few families who lived and worked in that area.

Located 6.5 miles from the Latrobe wye, the Longbridge Station was located near the communities of McCance and Longbridge. Until age nine, John Vucina lived in Longbridge where his mother ran a boarding house for Booth and Flinn quarry workers. He remembers that before the bridge was raised to pass over the railroad tracks, the original Lincoln Highway intersected the railroad on the same grade. Vucina said that Longbridge Station was built at that intersection by the quarry. The one-room frame building also doubled as a grocery store for the neighborhood and was run by a McCance. Even though the building which housed the station no longer exists, some of the nearby houses from that time still stand today. The station remained in operation until the Last Run in 1952.

The Darlington Station was located at the western entrance to Idlewild Park, 7.2 miles from the Latrobe wye.

Every Story Begins At Home.

This station, which was built in 1896, stood out from the other LVRR stations because of its Victorian architectural style, which included curved windows and decorative trim. Like Oakville and Kingston, this station also housed the station agent and his family. Ella Betz Wuchina, granddaughter of Vivian Snyder, the station agent during the 1940s, lived there along with her grandparents and her aunt. She described the building as having two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, a kitchen in the

site near the bumper car ride in the park. About twice its original size, it now serves as a hospitality office for large groups visiting Idlewild and a small museum. Displayed in it is a collection of LVRR photographs and memorabilia and outside are several cast-iron railroad signs.

The Millbank stop was located near the site of today’s entrance to Idlewild Park, 8.0 miles from the Latrobe wye.

This stop accommodated the local residents and the Crescent Pipeline

This photograph of the Last Run was taken by Dean Shirey at the Ice Pond just west of Bells.

basement, and a living room behind the station lobby on the first floor, where passengers bought tickets.

The Darlington Station also doubled as the park store where inbound Idlewild patrons could buy picnic supplies. The station later evolved into a convenience store where local customers purchased bread, milk, soda and, as John Vucina remembers, lollipops with edible handles. When the railroad ceased operations in 1952, Idlewild Park took ownership and used the building for employee housing until it donated the building to the LVRRA in 2006. It now serves as the LVRR Museum.

The station in Idlewild, 7.6 miles from the Latrobe wye, was once billed as the smallest station in Pennsylvania and was staffed only during the picnic season. Today it stands on its original

Pumping Station, which stood on the site where today’s Flea-Tique stands.

Paul Fry, who lived in Millbank in the 1960s, remembers walking past the abandoned building on his way to and from swimming at the Idlewild pool.

According to Fry, Millbank was a 4’ x 8’ brick building with a bench inside along the back wall for waiting passengers. Dean Shirey, who grew up on a nearby dairy farm, remembers delivering milk cans to Millbank to be shipped to Pittsburgh. Idlewild demolished the building about 20 years ago to make room for its current entrance plaza.

The Bells stop, consisting of only a platform, was located 8.9 miles from the Latrobe wye where the railroad crossed Two-Mile Run Road. No photocontinued on page 10 Spring 2013 - 9

Ticket Office This picture at includes Frank’s Hotel, the ticket office adjacent to it, and the summer station in the foreground.

WYE: a track arrangement with three switches and three legs for reversing the direction of a train.

LVRR, continued from page 9

graph of it is known to exist. Nearby was the railroad spur to the Consolidated Ice Company, situated on the property currently owned by the Camp and Conference Center.

The original Ligonier Station, 10.0 miles from the Latrobe wye, was a two story frame building that housed both the passenger lobby and the offices of the railroad. In 1909, when the LVRR decided to build a new station, the frame structure was moved across the tracks and repurposed into the railroad freight station.

At a cost of more than $50,000, the new Ligonier Station was designed to be impressive as well as functional. The November 24, 1909, Ligonier Echo stated, “The beautiful, modern station built of granite and terra cotta resembling granite [will be] possibly the finest and best equipped railroad station for any town the size of Ligonier.” The building was officially opened in 1910 with the baggage and waiting rooms and the ticket office on the first floor and LVRR’s headquarters on the second.

In 1957 the Ligonier Station was sold to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which resold it in 2002 to the Ligonier Valley School District for its administrative offices. The original frame station still stands along Railroad Street and serves as a garage and 10 - Spring 2013

maintenance building for the Ligonier Valley School District.

In 1899 when the LVRR built a line east of Ligonier to support the ByersAllen Sawmill and interchange with the Pittsburg, Westmoreland and Somerset Railroad, it added a summer station near Frank’s Hotel, a popular tourist attraction located on the site of today’s Ramada Inn. The summer station was a covered platform alongside the tracks, located on the site of today’s Chestnut Ridge Family Medicine practice on West Loyalhanna Street. A ticket office, located next door to the hotel, still stands today in the back yard of a residence on South Fairfield Street, near where it originally stood in the early 1900s.

Undoubtedly, the LVRR made most of its money from the industries that sprang up along its line, but from the beginning the railroad recognized the added value of passenger business.

The expense of building and maintaining 11 stops and manning at least seven of them along its 10.6 mile road, as well as the cost of developing Idlewild Park to attract tourists to Ligonier Valley, reveals how committed the Mellon family was to promoting its railroad passenger business. *****

Part Two: “Ligonier Valley Tourism Inceases as Transportation Evolves,” coming in the summer issue of the Laurel Mountain Post.

This article was originally published in the December 2012 edition of the Liggie (Volume 8, Issue 4), the newsletter of the Ligonier Valley Railroad Association.

With the author’s permission, we are reprinting this series in an effort to reach a wider community audience for education, preservation, and to promote the importance of local history.

CONTACT INFO: Ligonier Valley Railroad Museum, 3032 Idlewild Hill, PO Box 21, Ligonier PA 15658. 724238-7819. www.lvrra.org, lvrra@verizon.net.

Bob Stutzman is the Co-founder of the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association (2004), eight-year officer, and originator/editor of their quarterly publication The Liggie. Retired from LVVR in 2012, he is an active member of Christ United Church of Christ in Latrobe, and a member of the Greater Latrobe Community Chorus. Bob also attended Ligonier High School and the University of Pittsburgh and served in the United States Air Force. Also retired from Timken-Latrobe Steel as the manager of the Special Products Division, he is married with two daughters and five grandchildren.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Sweet Home, Pennsylvania Laurel Mountain Post Continues As Independent Community Magazine A local business owner recently brought some concerns about a direct mail marketing piece to my attention. This letter of introduction talked about a new local magazine with a name very similar to ours, and an emphasis on Latrobe, Ligonier and Derry.

Competition never hurts, but I wanted to let everyone know that, despite the similarities being portrayed, we have no affiliation with this publication. The Laurel Mountain Post continues to be an independent magazine without corporate affiliation and influence, written and produced by the citizens, family and friends of western Pennsylvania.

A little research revealed that this new rival is actually a form of “template marketing,” which means that a large media company designs a format in which customized information is inserted. This template is used regionally, nationally, and sometimes globally. Many local newspapers and magazines have since gone the way of this cheaper, massproduced, carbon-copy type of publishing – the product of a corporate parent in another city or even country.

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

Subscriber Information

Print subscriptions will once again be available for $20/year, and will arrive via 1st Class US Mail. We’ve had some issues with slow bulk mail deliveries in the past, so we plan to stuff envelopes and lick stamps from now on! You will receive a copy of each quarterly print edition along with subscriber-only coupons from local businesses in appreciation of your support! Please send a check with your name and mailing address to: Laurel Mountain Post Subscriptions PO Box 332 • Ligonier, PA 15658 (include email address when possible)

Printing costs are lower because they run a million copies and then customize only a few pages for each market. Ad sales are handled on the same format, with a smattering of sponsorship levels. It’s a smart business model, but it really robs 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, including ads. I enjoy getting back into the streets and meeting real people: to write stories, gather information, and sell advertising – though it’s been a while since I’ve been out there, due to my broken down back. That’s where our volunteers come in, the ones who help me survive. Alive on every page, the writers, delivery hands, sponsors, proofreaders and other contributors work together to make the Laurel Mountain Post a consistent “voice of Pennsylvania,” as we were called by the BBC World News in 2008.

Without those individuals, our chorus of voices would sound like nothing more than the droning, automated din of a cookie cutter production line in Anytown, USA. So, I would like to thank you all for your continued support of the Laurel 724-238-9273 412-951-5579 • Fully Insured (PA046680) Mountain Post. I•promise to ardently organize your efforts into the best local magazine I can imagine and publish each quarter.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

POST

– Cathi Gerhard, editor

Office Mailing Address: Laurel Mountain Post | PO Box 332 | Ligonier, PA 15658 Editorial Office: Located at Fairview Farm | 189 Fairview Lane | Derry, PA 15627

Cathi Gerhard - Editor • Gregory Susa - Publisher Megan Fuller - Editorial Consultant • Kaytlen Powers - Intern Jason Ament - Advertising Sales Consultant Carol Gerhard - Copy Editor • Scott Sinemus - The Ligonier Chef Elizabeth Srsic - Art & Education • Ruthie Richardson - Memory Lane Mark Rullo - What’s Cooking in Fitness • Granny Earth - Healing With Weeds Brian Mishler - Home Study • Cindy Parker - Three Pennies Bruce & Ellen Henderson - Features & Photography • Fusty Muckraker Joe 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 publication produced at Fairview Farm in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

www .Laurel Mountain PPost.com ost.com • p: 724-537-6845 • f: 724-558-9548 www.Laurel Every Story Begins At Home.

Spring 2013 - 11

“Branching Out for Wildlife” National Wildlife Week: March 18-24, 2013 National Wildlife Week is celebrating its 75th Anniversary with a goal of planting 75,000 trees across the United States. The theme - Branching out for Wildlife – links the important role that trees play in the lives of wildlife and people. Featuring 45 different species, with activities for learning about trees and wildlife, National Wildlife Week will give youth and families a chance to spend the week exploring trees and wildlife and give back to their communities by committing to plant a tree and care for it for a year.

Since 1938, National Wildlife Week has been a time to learn about wildlife and nature. Past themes have focused on oceans, prairies or conservation topics like water and recycling. This year’s theme of Branching Out for Wildlife helps to raise awareness about the vital role, often overlooked, that trees play in our daily lives and in the lives of wildlife. Trees provide us invaluable products and services we use all the time—they provide us with oxygen to breathe, their roots help prevent erosion, they provide wood to make houses and furniture, they provide homes for wildlife, and they provide food for people and for wildlife.

NWF has a host of resources for exploring these amazing wildlife species, including posters, wildlife trading cards, lessons and activities, articles and webinars.

Tree planting service projects are being organized across the country supported by generous donations from supporters and businesses. Visit www.nwf.org/national wildlifeweek to learn more and explore the resources available to help plan your adventure with wildlife. Donate today to support these efforts at www.nwf.org/trees.

“National Wildlife Week for 75 years has inspired generations to take a moment to learn and reflect on wildlife and our environment. NWF is encouraging every American to take a moment during this week to join us in celebrating our amazingly diverse wildlife and wild places and to think about what you can do to make a difference

PLANT A TREE TODAY! Your donation will help us to reach our goal of purchasing and planting 75,000 trees leading up to and during National Wildlife Week. Contributions go directly to supporting tree planting. Native trees will be planted by youth at schools, parks and other public places across the country. (Visit www.nwf.org/trees) National Wildlife Week 2013 is a celebration of trees and their importance to wildlife and to people – as sources of food and shelter and shade and so much more. Help us to restore trees to public spaces across the country by making your donation today.

90% of your contribution assists with the purchase of trees, providing materials for tree planting (tree guards for saplings, shovels, mulch, watering supplies, gloves) and educational resources about caring for trees. 10% of your contribution supports NWF work to protect wildlife that depend on trees as part of their habitat.

where you live – at home, in your community, at your school or place of business.

Plant a tree, remove an invasive species, provide a place for wildlife- make a difference,” says Eliza Russell, Director of Education.”Give yourself 90 minutes during the week to get outside and reconnect to the outdoors and nature.”

National Wildlife Week was first observed in 1938 under the name “National Wildlife Restoration Week”. Past spokespeople of National Wildlife Week include Walt Disney, Shirley Temple, and Robert Redford.

Founded in 1936, National Wildlife Federation’s mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. The organization is currently developing programs to counteract nature deficit disorder in children by encouraging parents and other caring adults to help children spend more time outdoors everyday. Learn more at www.nwf.org.

Branching Out for Wildlife Mega-Poster

The 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 of the 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 all the posters are printed and assembled vertically, they form one long poster—5-1/2 feet long! Poster files are available for download at: http://www.nwf.org/National-Wildlife-Week/Posters.aspx.

12 - Spring 2013

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

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

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

Pitt-Greensburg Theatre Company to Perform “Eleanor – An American Love Story” Rehearsals are underway for the PittGreensburg Theatre Company’s production of “Eleanor—An American Love Story,” which will be performed April 4 and April 5 at The Palace Theatre (21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601). Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. The performance is part of PittGreensburg’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Twenty Pitt-Greensburg students are part of the cast, which is under the direction of Stephen Schrum, PhD, associate professor of Theatre Arts, and Christopher Bartley, music director.

“As a director, I always like working with large groups of actors in staging moments that fill the stage, but the best parts of Eleanor are the smaller, intimate scenes, usually involving Eleanor, Franklin, and Franklin‘s mother,” said Schrum.

“These scenes are fraught with conflict and humor and are great fun to work with. A challenge will be to show the changing eras, since the show covers a long period of time, but at the same time, we can ground those time and period changes with the gradual change to Eleanor’s ‘public face’ and her growing confidence in playing practical politics—though we see the seeds of her political life even in scene one.”

Written by Jonathan Bolt with music

by Thomas Tierney and lyrics by John Forster, this musical tells the story of Eleanor Roosevelt’s journey from a shy, young aristocrat to her emergence as a powerful catalyst for social change. It tells of the passionate courtship and bittersweet marriage to Franklin, and ultimately, of the surprising partnership that so dramatically changed the face of 20th Century America as well as the entire world.

Every Story Begins At Home.

“Everybody knows Eleanor Roosevelt,” explained junior Jess Uhler, a Visual & Performing Arts major from Harrisburg, PA. “But they may not know that she was the driving force behind her husband and some of the major changes that occurred in this country. [Through the show,] I think we get to see the person that only her family members saw.”

A regional theatre hit, the show made its debut in 1987 at the Village Theatre (Issaquah, WA). In 1990, the Pittsburgh Public Theatre performed the show and earned high praise from regional drama critics, including “Eleanor succeeds because it’s got drama and heart . . .” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), “Eleanor grips us from start to finish . . .” (WQED-FM), “Eleanor sparkles with humor and pathos . . . richly deserving of the standing ovation the audience awarded it.” (Times/Beaver Newspapers), and “Red-white-and-blue history with energy and warmth, pace and fluidity,” (The Pittsburgh Press).

“Pitt-Greensburg’s theatre program is a hidden gem. New members of our audience always tell us how excellent our shows are,” said Jesse Palatucci, a Visual & Performing Arts senior from Brentwood, PA. “People coming to The Palace will see an excellent performance. It’s pretty special to be at The Palace but it’s also bittersweet since this is my last show and we won’t be performing at Ferguson Theatre. We’ll get to perform to a bigger audience, though.

This feels more professional . . . it’s pretty amazing.”

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

Tickets are available from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (Lynch 203A, 150 Finoli Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601) by visiting the website www.greensburg .pitt.edu/eleanor. Questions may be directed to 724-836-7497.

The Pitt-Greensburg Theatre Company’s production of Eleanor—An American Love Story is made possible, in part, through grants from the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau and the Greensburg Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County.

Founded in 1963 and celebrating its 50th anniversary, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is a publicly assisted, four-year, liberal arts college in southwestern Pennsylvania. A regional campus of the University of Pittsburgh, Pitt-Greensburg offers 24 baccalaureate degree programs, including new majors in Education and Spanish, as well as 19 minors. More than 13 percent of Pitt-Greensburg’s full-time faculty—the highest percentage of any University of Pittsburgh campus— have received the prestigious University-wide Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.

© Cvandyke | Dreamstime.com Eleanor Roosevelt Sculpture Memorial Washington DC

Spring 2013 - 13

2013 PA Fishing Licenses Now Available The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is now offering the new 3- and 5-year multi-year fishing license, and you can now take advantage of the convenience, cost savings and great rewards being offered just for purchasing a multi-year license. It’s easy to do and the rewards are great. Over $300 in free goods and discounts. See http://gonefishingpa.com/ Fishing licenses are sold by license issuing agents through an electronic point-of-sale (P.O.S.) system. This system brings increased efficiency, more options, and easier upgrades for anglers. Internet fishing licenses are sold online at: www.pa. wildlifelicense.com.

A current license, signed in ink, is required of persons age 16 and over to fish or angle for any species of fish and to take fishbait, baitfish and species of amphibians and reptiles from Commonwealth waters by those legal methods described in this booklet.

FISHING is defined as the act of angling, or to catch, take, kill or remove, or the attempt to catch, take, kill or remove, from any waters or other areas within or bordering this Commonwealth any fish by any means or method for any purpose whatsoever.

CASTING and/or RETRIEVING, whether by rod, reel and line, or by handline, for oneself or for others, requires a current license, unless specifically exempted by law. See www.fishand boat.com for more information.

Annual licenses are valid from December 1, 2012, through December 31, 2013. WHILE FISHING, your license must be signed in ink and must be displayed on an outer garment. In addition, anglers must be prepared to furnish positive proof of indentification.

Ligonier Outfitters 127 127 W. W. Main Main Street Street Ligonier, Ligonier, PA PA 15658 15658 724-238-4900 724-238-4900

Fly Fishing Center Fishing Lessons Guided Fishing Trips Men’s and Women’s Apparel Home & Gift Ideas

FREE UPS SHIPPING with catalog orders

www.ligonieroutfitters.com

Delivery to Home or Office

Serving All of Western Pennsylvania

Visit Our Store at 1869 Route 30 in Ligonier, PA

Bringing the olde general store to your door – with a $75 minimum order!

Preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

Your local Red Cross in Westmoreland County is here to help.

For more information, visit WestRed.org or call 724-834-6510.

This advertisement sponsored by Lindsay Turchetta

14 - Spring 2013

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

HOMESTUDY

by Brian Mishler

Not All Contractors Are Created Equal A story my clients often hear is about a time I walked through the electrical department of a local big-box hardware store, and came across a man, his wife and young daughter in tow, holding a 60 amp electrical sub panel. He was looking up at a rack and muttering, “OK, a 10 gauge wire can handle 30 amps…” Passing by, all I could think is “don’t do it”! If you don’t know what this jargon means, it’s OK; most folks don’t, and I don’t think our hero did either.

In my experience the most common problems that are found during home inspection are those caused by the homeowners themselves; especially those who are “handy”. It seems folks believe that electrical wiring is the easiest, as this particular system usually has the most inventive “repairs” performed, and is most frequently called out during inspection. I’ve seen electrical systems wired on lamp cord (It’s made for lamps, not the entire house!), the ‘ol penny in the fuse box trick, homemade extension cords powering entire sections of a home, homemade backup generator systems, you name it, “Harry Handyman” has wired it. Mr. Handyman least commonly tackles natural (and other) gas systems, but that didn’t stop one intrepid soul from plumbing his entire detached garage like your high school chemistry lab, except he didn’t bother with any of those silly safety shutoff valves, fire suppression, or other expensive stuff that might stop the building from entering low orbit upon detonation. Home inspectors frequently find themselves facing dangerous situations because of such “improvements”. So do utility workers; the aforementioned homemade generator system can send electricity back to the utility lines during a power outage, creating the potential that a line worker could be shocked or electro-cuted. Mr. Handyman has also dis-covered how improper waste plumbing can allow sewer gasses into the house, how imEvery Story Begins At Home.

proper supply plumbing can contaminate his family’s drinking water, how improperly installed shingles can blow off a roof… you get the idea.

As you might imagine, we home inspectors frequently encourage clients to seek the services of a “competent” fill in the blank (plumber, electrician, etc.) contractor. The next question the client asks is “how do I find one of those?”. A very good question and one that requires some homework. We are fortunate to have very good, competent, ethical contractors in our area.

Unfortunately, muddying the waters between good and bad, Pennsylvania has a contractor registration program, which many confuse with a “licensing” program. In order to be a registered contractor in PA, one merely has to provide business information and a check. There is no testing, nothing to determine the qualifications of the individual or company in question. The person / company only have to prove they have $50,000 each in personal injury and property insurance. (To compare, we home inspectors need $250,000 in errors and omissions insurance.) As an exception, both Philadelphia and Allegheny counties have more extensive contractor licensing programs. The state program does provide a means to file a complaint, but isn’t it better to avoid a complaint situation altogether?

The best place to start looking for contractors is to determine what type of work needs to be performed, and start talking to friends, and professional acquaintances. As you talk to folks look for names (good or bad) that come up more frequently than others. Most any business will have unhappy customers; don’t let one negative comment dissuade you, but a bunch may tell a different story. The Better Business Bureau and Angie’s list can be valuable tools to learn how companies deal with complaints.

Once you’ve settled on a handful of contractors start making calls. Tell them what you’re thinking about doing; ask for their thoughts on the project, if it’s a good fit for their company, and how they think it best to pursue completion. If they’re unwilling to talk to you as a prospective client, things won’t get better once you’re a client. Same if they don’t answer the phone, etc.

Next, get at least three bids! You’re not dating; a contractor will not be offended if you’re talking to others! A client recently called me upset; they had called a well-advertised Pittsburgh area “jack of all trades” company to install a cable and receptacle (outlet) for a kitchen stove. The company representative told my client that they would have to install a new electrical service and main panel to accommodate the additional load, and the total project would be $13,000! I informed my client that in this case, this was way too much; ($2,000 should do it easily), and they should seek bids from other contractors. Compare your bids, and make sure the bids are for the same work, materials, etc. Also, request copies of the declaration page of the contractors insurance; if they don’t have insurance and get hurt on your property, it’s your property insurance that will cover the injured! Bid in hand, ask questions; when will work commence, more importantly when will it be completed?

Who will be inspecting the work? Who is responsible for building permits and schedule inspections? Beware the contractor who doesn’t want to get permits or inspections!!

In short, cheapest is rarely the best, educate yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. When in doubt contact your friendly neighborhood home inspector! ***** Brian Mishler is an 18-year veteran of home inspection and is a past president of PRO-ASHI, the local chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors. You can get more information about home inspection at www.pro-ashi.com.

Spring 2013 - 15

WHAT’S COOKING IN FITNESS

by Mark Rullo MS, CSCS, MES and Julie Martson

Ignorance Is Bliss

Until It Comes to Weight Loss All across the country, and probably across the world, fitness professionals hear people say things like this: “Last night, I ate two pieces of cake at my son’s birthday party.

Guess I’ll be on this treadmill for a while to work it off.”

I know I have said things like it before too. It seems like there is a huge belief that people can out-exercise a bad diet, and I am here to help break this disgustingly pervasive myth into pieces. Just call me Myth Buster.

At My Fitness Kitchen®, we like to talk about the Hierarchy of Fat Loss in that first and foremost you can’t out-exercise a crappy (high-caloric diet), once that is understood and accepted then it followed by progressive resistance training so you can maximize the caloric burn when not exercising via EPOC (excess post oxygen consumption). The final two levels in this hierarchy are interval cardio and steady state cardio. Following this Hierarchy ensures weight loss will happen at the most effective and safe route.

The number one factor in weight loss is supportive nutrition which is creating a daily caloric deficit while also supplying the body both macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) for adequate nourishment. Most people would refer to this as a diet.

First of all, let me explain what I mean when I use the word diet. It is such a small word that has taken on this strange life of its own, and most people (especially women) associate it with a struggle with food and a quick change in eating habits. Things like the South Beach diet, the Zone diet, the Maker’s Diet, Atkins, and the Paleo diet have all given us an idea that a diet is a way to eat that a doctor or author (or even Victoria Beckham) prescribes. Diets are often linked to pain and suffering and deprivation from our favorite foods. “No, I cannot have ANY sweets, I’m on the _______ diet and they say not to have any sweets.” “This week I have to cut out fruit because Dr. Know-It-All says it’s bad.”

Regardless of what you think about when you hear or read the word diet, I want you to read the rest of this article with the understanding that I am using it as a way to describe your daily food intake and what that intake adds up to over time. I am not 16 - Spring 2013

advocating any diet other than the diet that involves you knowing the caloric consequences of the food and beverages you put in your mouth.

Let’s pretend that we have an average man in his mid-thirties who weighs 180 pounds. After finding out his height, weight, age, and activity level, a fitness professional can determine what his dietary needs are.

We can determine how many calories a day he needs in order to maintain his current weight. Let’s pretend that Mr. Average needs 2,000 calories a day in order to stay just as he is. In other words, his body burns about 2,000 calories a day just doing what he is currently doing, so in order to keep his body where it is, he needs to eat 2,000 calories every day. He can eat whatever he wants – cookies, donuts, and chips OR vegetables, fruit, and lean proteins OR even a mix of the two – and he will maintain his weight (he will feel better and is encouraged to eat fruit and vegetables and lean proteins, but as long as he is only taking in 2,000 calories a day, he can eat whatever he wants and maintain his weight).

Let’s say that Mr. Average starts eating an extra 500 calories a day without realizing it and within 5 weeks, he suddenly sees that his weight is now 185. Rather than change his new dietary habit and eat less, Mr. Average starts to run for 30 minutes day, which for a man of his size would burn around 500 calories at first. Although he ate 2,500 calories, he burned an extra 500 by running, which means he just equalized his extra intake. But – like many of us – he just might think to himself, “I ran for 30 minutes, I can have an extra serving of pasta/meat/ bread/fill-in-the-blank.” Even if that extra serving is just 250 calories, he’s now taken his caloric intake back up to 2,250 calories, and those extra 250 calories will eventually be stored as fat since his body did 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 3,500 calories. In order for someone to gain weight, they need to eat an extra 3,500 calories. If Mr. Average keeps up his running and still nets 2,250 calories a day, he will continue to gain weight at a rate of one pound every two weeks (3,500 calories ÷ 250 extra calories a day = 14 days).

Let’s look at Ms. Average, a 145 pound woman whose age and activity level requires her to eat 1,800 calories. Let’s say she had an extra 300 calorie donut at breakfast. In order to burn off that donut, she finds out she would have to walk for over an hour. Add another 250 calories when she had a 20-ounce soda at lunch.

That will take another 50 minutes to walk off. Ms. Average has 24 hours in a day, just like the rest of us, and she works 8 hours a day, sleeps 8 hours a night, and has a family she would like to spend time with when she gets home from work. Does Ms. Average really want to go on a two hour walk after working all day and taking care of her family?

Let’s face it: Most of us eat more than we need to. We can tell just by stepping on the scale every once in a while or even by putting on our clothes. When we eat more than we need, we gain weight. We can exercise to help offset some of that weight gain, but it will never undo the damage we cause when we shove too many calories past our lips – hence why controlling caloric intake is #1 in the hierarchy of Fat Loss. By saying no to our stomach and our cravings when we do not need to eat, we can save ourselves the aggravation and annoyance of weight gain. Your diet (caloric intake) determines your weight. Exercise determines your activity level. They both go hand in hand and can influence the other.

I will never discourage someone from exercising, but I will discourage you from remaining in the dark about your own dietary needs. Ignorance may be bliss, but when you can’t even button your pants because you just keep gaining weight, bliss will not be the emotion you feel.

“But Julie,” you say as you read this article, “it was my birthday this week. I had to have cake at the office, and then my family had a party, so I had to eat cake there. And then I had to go out for pizza with my friends on Saturday and I had to eat three slices and the waitress kept refilling my glass and I-” Well, this may sound mean or harsh, but we all need to face reality. No one strapped you to your table and forced cake and pizza down your throat and soda and beer and whatever down your throat.

When it comes to weight loss, we need to face the facts. Our diet influences our LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

weight gain or loss the most. Only we are responsible for that. We can argue about high fructose corn syrup, low-carb diets, and Jenny Craig until we are blue in the face, but ultimately, we are the masters of our own health and creators of our metabolism. We would all love a secret formula that guarantees weight loss, but the best way to do it is to just eat less and move more. Set down your fork when you feel full! Push the plate away! Step away from the jelly donuts on the counter at work so you don’t stand there and eat five without thinking about it!

We have all heard “only you can prevent forest fires.” I would like to add another phrase to our vernacular – Only you can prevent obesity. There are endless programs out there, as well as numerous tools to help us learn how to reverse the obesity trend in this country, but obesity cannot be stopped without some willpower from within each of us. Your weight loss cannot be achieved without you making a conscious decision that you want to change.

You are the master of your health. If that is intimidating and you feel like you are in the dark, ask for help. Fitness and health professionals love helping people learn. It is a huge factor in why we do what we do. If you need help discovering what supportive nutrition looks like for you, My Fitness Kitchen® can help. Contact the “Kitchen” at 724.879.8523 mention this article to coordinate a FREE no obligation consult where we can provide you with your nutritional game plan with personalized metabolic formula.

As an added incentive for people new to My Fitness Kitchen®, by mentioning this Laurel Mountain Post article and after meeting with one of My Fitness Kitchen’s Fitness Professionals for a private consult – you will receive $50 “Kitchen Kash” to be used toward any program or service at My Fitness Kitchen® as a courtesy of the Laurel Mountain Post.

Something far from your traditional, intimidating gym, My Fitness Kitchen® is where weight loss is made simple.

My Fitness Kitchen® is located in Latrobe 30 plaza, Latrobe PA. My Fitness Kitchen® is a weight loss and body transformation center that also happens to have a fitness center connected to it. From the moment you enter My Fitness Kitchen® regardless of your age, fitness level or experience, it’s all about “You”. The supportive staff, welcoming atmosphere, and friendly members combine to create the most unique and comfortable environment for your fitness and weight management success. Whether it is Fitness, Nutrition or 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 Certified Personal Trainer and group fitness instructor at My Fitness Kitchen® with a passion for overall wellness and health with a degree in exercise science and health.

Her specialty is weight loss, and she has worked with clients of all ages.

Every Story Begins At Home.

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 Championship Six students, three from Valley School and three from Ligonier Valley Middle School, came together to form the team “Capers” at the FLL Regional Major hosted by Shady Side Academy on December 8th. The boys collaborated on a challenge created by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Scientce and Technology) in which they had to create a robot from LEGOs and program the robot to perform a variety of tasks on a 4x8 foot table.

“I like how Mrs. Christoff [the group’s coach] is very flexible. She gives us guidance, but not rules,” said Clayton Ritter, a sixth grader at Valley School of Ligonier. “She lets us roam the wide world of Legos and robotics gives us a lot of freedom – but if we stray too far she directs us back in the right direction. Also, she gives us snacks to keep us going, which we like a lot!”

They met with seniors at the Ligonier Valley Senior Center to determine difficulties posed by aging as part of their research.

“It helped us know what common problems sernior citizens have and got us thinking about how we could solve or help them,” explained Zak PeltzPalko, age 12. “we didn’t design a robot

to help the seniors but we designed a robot to do a certain task on a board that related to a real human problem that happpens as you age.”

At the competition, each team was judged on five categories: Robot Performance, Robot Design, Programming, Research Project, and Teamwork. Our boys were fifth on the table, earning an invitation to the Western PA FLL Robotics Championship where they scored sixth out of the qualifying teams.

Team member Hunter Mellon commented,“The reason I got involved was because I thought it would be something really interesting and fun to do as an extra-curricular activity.”

The championship event included 48 teams vying for recognition and awards for outstanding robotic performance, design innovation, programming prowess, research excellence and demonstrated gracious professionalism. It was held at the National Robotics Engineering Center in Lawrenceville.

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

Spring 2013 - 17

TODAY’S EDUCATION

by Clair Ward, Head of School at Valley School of Ligonier

The Right Path to Tomorrow’s Career?

Each generation believes that the world is a scarier place than it was in the past.

School security issues and a more volatile economy make this a logical conclusion these days. Among other things, we now worry about our recent college graduates finding it difficult to secure a position in their chosen careers. Many of my local school administration colleagues can attest to the fact that there are a tremendous number of highly qualified teachers with no real prospect of local employment in the next three years. While this is indeed concerning, I worry about what I see as a growing trend in education. In order to make our graduates more employable, colleges and universities are beginning to leave behind the true essence of liberal arts education in exchange for courses of study that feel far closer to vocational training.

And the breeding ground for this approach begins in our elementary schools that are asking teachers to give up more and more instructional time to standardized test preparation.

In his 2005 book, A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future, Daniel Pink notes that historically we have moved through the agricultural, industrial, and informational economic ages. He suggests that we are headed for what he refers to as the conceptual age. This new era will be marked by, among other things, careers that will require agility and creative problem solving. Gone are the days of choosing a career in your twenties and remaining there until retirement. The next generation will need to have the skills to embrace as many as three careers and be nimble enough to re-invent themselves over the course of their work lives. Pink believes that while the information age required traits associated with the left side of the brain (such as organization, analysis, and sequencing), tomorrow’s careers will require traits more associated with the right side of the brain (such as design, empathy, and meaning). In fact, many suspect that the livelihoods that will be most prevalent tomorrow do not actually exist today.

If what Daniel Pink says is true, we may have a dilemma on our hands. The world of education is being asked to reduce itself to only what is directly measurable—only 18 - Spring 2013

what is immediately employable. The trend is to ask students and schools to specialize early, and to choose a career path as early as the last year of high school or the first year of college. A Pittsburgh university professor recently spoke with me about a first year writing and literature class. Most of the students in the class are already committed to very prescribed career programs such as pharmacology, nursing, or physicians’ assistant. On the surface this sounds great. Students have made a commitment early on and are determined to be focused. But what happens if they get halfway through the program and decide it is not a fit for them? Or what if by the time they graduate, these fields are no longer as relevant? Students will have had a large volume of coursework that might not be transferable to other programs. Furthermore, their training may not include coursework in a variety of liberal arts areas and students may miss the opportunity to discover a new love or passion. Students are increasingly encouraged to choose a vocation prior to having experienced the world. This sort of training will produce graduates who are not necessarily equipped for lifelong learning and who might not be as agile or rightbrained as Pink implies the livelihoods of tomorrow will require them to be.

This is a true dilemma for our collegebound population. On the one hand, who could possibly blame them? The cost of higher education has risen to epic levels.

That sort of investment drives students and their parents to look for a “sure thing” as an outcome of a college education. And unlike the college graduates of the 80’s and 90’s who could turn a liberals arts humanities major into a six-figure technology salary in Silicon Valley, today’s graduates are entering a world in which simply finding any work takes great precedence over laying the groundwork for a career. The economic volatility is causing widespread panic as graduates struggle to work and their parents struggle to retire. The dilemma is whether or not to prepare for one thing, over being prepared for anything.

Our knee-jerk response to better prepare students for specific careers could ironically cripple them for the ever-changing career world. The more we limit education

to specific training, the less agile our students could become. Additionally, we are raising an entire generation who, no matter how hard we assert the opposite, are learning for reasons other than the joy of learning. They may not develop into the lifelong learners we say we want to produce.

We are showing our students that we value narrow academic knowledge over enduring academic behavior that will sustain their learning for a lifetime. And the tragic part is that for many of them, the academic knowledge they will collect in their chosen career training (vs. their holistic education) may not be transferrable to the two or three additional careers the future world economy will require of them. It seems that we are preparing students for the world of our past, not the world of their future. Liberal arts education exposes students to the variety of subject areas and skills necessary to be adaptable in the new economy. According to Daniel Pink, liberal arts education would not be considered a luxury, but a necessity for success.

It is not too late; there is still time. Let us consider a world in which students have the opportunity to discover new passions and potential livelihoods through real liberal arts education. Let us agree to raise our children so that they value lifelong learning and have the intellectual agility to keep them afloat through several lifetime career changes. There is a saying about folks who adore their jobs: “They have never worked a day in their lives.” If we allow students to choose their livelihoods based on passion and not simply on practicality, we stand the best chance of them thriving and being fed by their professions. While paying the bills is important, let us agree to raise this generation of children as intrinsic learners not extrinsic earners. In this way, we will deliver truly nimble graduates who will be able to navigate the landscape of the rapidly changing world. ***** Clair Ward was appointed in 2008 to the position of Head of School at Valley School of Ligonier (www.valley schoolofligonier.org). Ms. Ward holds an M.Ed. from Boston College and a B.A. in English/Classics from Hamilton College. Ms. Ward lives in Rector with her daughter and her husband, Bryon Williams, a doctoral candidate at Duquesne University.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

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 ─ lvrra@verizon.net

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

Compass Inn M useum Museum April 27 Yard Sale, 8 am to 12 pm May 1 Musuem and story open for season Tues - Sat 11 to 4, Sun 1 to 5 Community Day - 1 to 5

(Westmoreland County Residents Free Museum Preview) 1382 Route 30, Laughlintown, 3 miles east of Ligonier 724-238-4983 • www.compassinn.com Events sponsored by Ligonier Valley Historical Society This advertisement sponsored by Antiques On the Diamond in Ligonier

Every Story Begins At Home.

Student Art Exhibit Returns to SAMA Museums The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art will continue its tradition of celebrating the area’s talented young artists with the return of Artists of the 21st Century, the Museum’s annual student art exhibition. A total of 310 student-created works will be featured in the dual exhibitions. Artists of the 21st Century will be on view at SAMA-Loretto from February 8 through April 6 and at SAMA-Ligonier Valley from February 22 through April 21.

The exhibition, held in conjunction with National Youth Art Month and the State Arts-in-Education Month, is open to schools that participate in SAMA’s Museum/School Partnership Program. Through the program, SAMA educators travel to public and parochial schools to provide Arts-inEducation programs designed to enhance students’ understanding of art creation, technique, history, criticism and aesthetics. The award-winning program 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 SAMALigonier Valley, while schools in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Indiana and Somerset counties will be featured in the Loretto exhibition.

Each Museum will hold an opening reception to celebrate the exhibition and the region’s student artists. The SAMA-Loretto reception will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 16. SAMA-Ligonier Valley’s reception is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Please note that parking for the Ligonier Valley reception is available at Fort Ligonier only, with free shuttles running to and from the Museum. The receptions 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 art exhibition, now in its fifteenth year, is a special program for young artists.

“This exhibition is a great opportunity for students to see their own work professionally exhibited in an accredited art museum,” she said. “It’s truly one of my favorite exhibitions because of the incredible diversity, and it allows the Museum to share the work of these talented young artists with the community.”

In total, 15 districts and 36 schools are participating in the student art exhibition. Each district is permitted to submit up to 20 individual projects and one group project. Schools represented in the Loretto exhibition include: Altoona Area High School; Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School; Bishop McCort Catholic High School; Blacklick Valley High School; Cambria Elementary School; Cambria Heights Elementary School; Coal Country Hangout Youth Center; East Side Elementary School; Forest Hills Middle and High schools; Indiana Senior High School; Jackson Elementary School; Northern Cambria Middle and High schools; Portage Area Elementary School; Richland Elementary School; and Saint Michael School.

Schools participating in the SAMA-Ligonier Valley exhibition include: Baggaley Elementary School; Bovard Elementary School; Fort Allen Elementary School; Greater Latrobe Junior and Senior High schools; Greensburg Salem Middle and High schools; Hempfield Area Senior High School; Holy Trinity School; Latrobe Elementary School; Maxwell Elementary School; Mountain View Elementary School; Perry Elementary School; Stanwood Elementary School; Valley School of Ligonier; Wendover Middle School; West Hempfield Elementary and Middle schools; and West Point Elementary School.

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

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

Spring 2013 - 19

Spring into Health and Fitness

by Hayley Chemski, MSN, CRNA and Certified Fitness Trainer Spring is the time of plans and projects. — Leo Tolstoy Finally! The days are longer, the weather is warmer, the sun is bright, and you are ready to enjoy the seasonal change. Motivation to start a landscaping project, or to begin an exercise regime, or to spend more time outdoors with your family propels you out the door. You emerge from your fleece pajamas and don some breathable fabrics and rush outdoors … unsure of what to do next. Here is a Spring Guide designed to help you Spring into Health and Fitness!

Spring ushers in the sound of lawn mowers and the sweet smell of freshly cut grass. Are you hoping to change the appearance of your yard? Are you building a new outdoor fireplace? Are you planting new shrubbery? Yard work is refreshing, as it offers instant gratification and a boost in self-esteem. Moreover, spending time outdoors offers a break from winter’s gloomy days and long, cold nights. You may also experience the healthful benefits of vitamin D absorption and a boost of mood, simply by the change of weather.

Vitamin D is absorbed from sunlight via your largest body system, your skin.

This vitamin is fat-soluble and helps to facilitate calcium absorption in your intestines. Vitamin D helps to prevent osteoporosis and has been proven to decrease morbidity in elderly women.

You may notice your mood improve when spending time outdoors. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a known psychological disorder classified by depression, especially during the winter.

SAD occurs more often in women than men, and also at locations where winter nights are long. This form of depression is less likely to onset during summer months.

SAD is characterized by feelings of hopelessness, change in appetite or sleep patterns, loss of energy and interest in daily activities, and irritability. One of its known treatments is light therapy, which may include direct exposure to sunlight. Some Pennsylvanians may joke about their bouts with SAD, but this disorder is real, and can be associated with the change of seasons.

As you prepare for landscaping and outdoor yard work, realize that you will most certainly plan for changes to your yard and consult expert help as needed.

Remember to do the same if you are breaking from winter hibernation to start 20 - Spring 2013

an exercise regime this spring. Consult experts in the fitness industry to assist you with proper goal planning, as well as nutritional guidance and safe fitness plans.

At Building Bodeez Fitness, I regularly utilize the mantra “Failing to Plan is like Planning to Fail” to instruct clients how to cement progress and achieve fitness goals.

Here are a few tips of how to develop a fitness regime this spring that may catapult you over the hump to a healthier you this summer: • Hydrate. Drink plenty of clear liquids.

This will help to flush your body of toxins, maintain healthy skin, and decrease binge eating.

• Eat fresh foods. Now that the weather is breaking, visit a local farmers’ market or the produce section at your grocery store. Sample berries, bananas, nuts, melons, tomatoes, carrots, and more.

Find exciting additions to breakfast cereals and omelets, add fresh options to lunch and dinner pasta dishes.

• Exercise. Schedule an appointment with yourself and visit a nearby fitness facility. Join a recreational league (i.e. baseball, volleyball, bowling). Find time in your schedule to exercise three times weekly, for up to one hour. Space out the exercise if time is short, but never stop offering your heart its healthiest test…cardiovascular exercise. Moreover, spring ushers in a myriad of races, walks, and adventure events that are excellent goals for novice and advanced fitness gurus.

• Move. Even the most avid ‘fitness enthusiasts’ must avoid sitting on the couch for the remainder of their day. Sedentary lifestyles are associated with increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and worse. Keep your BODEEZ IN MOTION™.

Park farther from your destination. Join forces with a colleague and enjoy a lunchtime walk around your workplace or at the park. Wake early, when the sun is rising, and enjoy a peaceful run. Simply enjoy what Mother Nature is offering you this time of year.

• Rest. Enjoy a spring siesta on the porch. Sleep is often de-prioritized and happens to be one of the most healthful practices you can commit to. Strive for 7-8 hours of rest daily (including naps), and find yourself feeling less stressed and more energized!

Spring is a time of renewal and of growth.

Spend this time enjoying nature’s best and enjoying a fresh outlook on your health.

Find yourself enjoying the fruits of the earth and the sunlight above. Set goals for a new you and a refreshed spirit. ***** Hayley owns and operates Building Bodeez Fitness Center in Derry, PA, with her husband, Shawn Horwat.

She is also a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Fox Chapel, PA. An avid group exercise instructor and fitness trainer, she assists clients to manage stress regularly. Visit Building Bodeez at www.buildingbodeez.net for a FREE 7-day trial or contact Hayley directly at buildingbodeez@gmail.com.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Spruce Run Equine Veterinary Associates Nancy E. Mauer, DVM Kristin Abderhalden, DVM Aaron R. Howard, CEqDT sreva@comcast.net

6904 Lincoln Highway Stoystown, PA 15563 814-754-1500

Somerset and Surrounding Areas

Br andie Woodw ar d, MA ATR-BC, LPC Brandie dwar ard Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor Phone: 724.834.4227 Fax: 724.834.4242 Email: brandiearttherapy@yahoo.com 126 West Pittsburgh Street Suite A Greensburg, PA 15601

“Cr ing tth he pperson erson yyou ou w ant tto o bbe. e.

“Creeat ating want e.””

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 local families are joining in the celebration. The Great Cloth Diaper Change 2013 will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Mommy Gear in Ligonier PA. This is the third year that Mommy Gear is hosting this international event and we’re proud to join hundreds of locations all over the world to attempt to break last year’s Guinness World Record™ of 8,251 cloth diapers changed.

Sponsored by Mommy Gear the local event will give Western PA families a chance to help break a Guinness World Record™ for the most cloth diapers ever changed on April 20, 2013, in honor of Earth Day and during International Cloth Diaper Awareness Week. Each baby will receive a swag bag of product samples and be eligible for door prizes including a Little Bums folding chair, Undercover Mama Nursing Tank, BabyLegs legwarmers, and more. There will also be earth friendly activities for preschoolers.

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

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

diapers come in fun colors and convenient designs. More and more parents are choosing cloth because it’s gentle on baby’s sensitive skin and it’s a great way to save money. This event is fun way for people to learn more about cloth diapering and join with other families to celebrate cloth.”

If you don’t have a cloth diaper you can still participate in the Great Cloth Diaper Change—Mommy Gear will have extras 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 have more than one child and re-use your cloth diapers.

Health: Cloth diapers help parents reduce exposure of their babies’ skin and lungs to the chemicals in disposable diapers.

Cute and comfortable: Parents love putting soft cloth diapers, available in a variety of styles and patterns, on their babies.

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

Great Cloth Diaper Change 2013 Saturday, April 20 at 10:30 am at Mommy Gear 107 S. St. Clair St., Ligonier PA 15658 888-624-4327 (GEAR) or 724-238-9633 www.mommygear.com ***** About The Great Cloth Diaper Change: In its third year, The Great Cloth Diaper Change is an international initiative organized with the help of the nonprofit Real Diaper Association designed to show the world that cloth diapers are a real option for today’s families. The brainchild of Judy Aagard of Tiny Tots in California, Aagard says she came up with the idea in an effort to host a family event celebrating Earth Day. The Great 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.

Every Story Begins At Home.

Spring 2013 - 21

DOWN ON THE FARM

by Cathi Gerhard & Gregory Susa

Generations Nourishing Generations The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) will host National Agriculture Day on March 19. This will mark the 40th anniversary of National Ag Day which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country. The theme for Ag Day 2013 is “Generations Nourishing Generations.”

ACA will host major events in the nation’s capital including the Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon and the National Celebration of Agriculture Dinner. Additionally, the ACA

will bring approximately 100 college students to Washington to deliver the message of Ag Day to the Hill.

These events honor National Agriculture Day and mark a nationwide effort to tell the true story of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is a part of all of us. A number of producers, agricultural associations, corporations, students and government organizations involved in agriculture are expected to participate.

Why Celebrate Agriculture?

Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis. But too few people truly understand this contribution. This is particularly the case in our schools, where students may only be exposed to agriculture if they enroll in related vocational training.

By building awareness, the Agriculture Council of America is encouraging young people to consider career opportunities in agriculture.

Each American farmer feeds more than 144 people ... a dramatic increase from 25 people in the 1960s. Quite simply, American agriculture is doing more – and doing it better. As the world population soars, there is an even greater demand for the food and fiber produced in the United States.

The National Ag Day program encourages every American to: • Understand how food and fiber products are produced.

• Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.

• Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.

• Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.

As the current trustees of a tradional multi-generational “family farm,” we are working to ensure these skills and practices are not forgotten. Our generation has seen the family farm almost die out – replaced by “food science” and corporate mass production. Everyone can participate in ways both large and small. Farming doesn’t have to be done on several acres of land in a rural area. It’s time to reconnect with selfsufficiency and the stewardship of the earth while we still have a chance. ***** Best friends, but never quite college sweet-hearts, Greg and Cathi finally married 20 years later. Together they own and operate Fairview Farm in Derry Township, now an estate winery in the making, “managed” by two peculiar black cats, two devoted dogs, and a ridiculously bossy new kitten.

This advertisement sponsored by Fairview Farm of Derry

22 - Spring 2013

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Latrobe: Welcome to the Neighborhood! .com Welcome to LatrobeTV,

“Your neighborhood channel” A decade ago, accessing the Internet was a relatively “static” experience. Online content was mostly limited to unchanging text complimented by stationary graphics or photos. With the rapid pace of technological advancement, today’s Internet is a much more vibrant experience. Information is delivered, increasingly, through rich, multimedia websites featuring broadcast quality video.

72 4-53 7-9329 724-53 4-537-9329

SAME CONVENIENT LOCATION!

Angela Caurso, Jr. James Deglau

Behind Domino’s Pizza Downtown Latrobe

102 DEPO T STREET in LA TR OBE, P A DEPOT LATR TROBE, PA

Handm ade PPot ot at aig Susa Handmade ottter y by LLat atrr ob obee Ar Artt is istt Cr Craig Forge d ffrr om tth he His n PPenn enn vania W at ersh ennss yl ylvania Wat atersh ershee d Histt or ic W Weest er ern No wA vai lable in Lig onier at Now Avai vailable Ligonier Eq uin he T w is in e!

Equin uinee Chic and T Th Tw istt e d V Vin ine!

LatrobeTV , your neighborhood channel will provide live and archived on-demand video programming accessible to viewers locally and anywhere in the world, continuing our community’s history of leadership and innovation. A project of the Greater Latrobe Community Network, LatrobeTV will offer local programming accessible 24/7 on your computer, mobile device, or even on your living room TV! LatrobeTV will: • Partner within our community to help produce and distribute program content; • Stimulate, assist and create community programming; • Utilize volunteers and interns providing community involvement; • Provide an Internet gateway to access local area programs.

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

LatrobeTV original series

w w w.L oyalhannaMudw orks.c om .Lo lhannaMudwo ks.com

Local programs, locally produced!

906 Ligonier Street Latrobe, PA 15650 www.RoseStyleShoppe.com 724-537-6218

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)

Laurel Mountain Post Subscribers

Take $5 OFF purchase of $25 or more (Must present coupon at time of purchase) Valid February – April 2013

School Board Meetings (bi-monthly) More local programs coming soon!

Thanks for visiting and “Y’all come back now, hear?”

Celebrating 80 Years of Style in Downtown Latrobe!

Every Story Begins At Home.

Spring 2013 - 23

The Scribbler An Interview with Local Illustrator Abby Diamond

by Cathi Gerhard

Anniversary presents can sometimes cause emotional conundrums between spouses.

While vacuum cleaners are often a practical necessity, they aren’t very personal or romantic. The traditional charts don’t always supply the correct answers either.

Somehow, my husband couldn’t quite connect with a gift of crystal or leather for our third anniversary last month (January).

So he went rogue and chose something all on his own: a print called “The Sea Glass Owl” (pictured at far right) by local artist Abby Diamond, who was once a fencing student of his.

I haven’t seen beautiful illustration like this in a long time. Not only is her work pretty – something I could look at on my wall for a long time, but it is detailed and accurate as well as artistic. She combines precise renderings of her subjects on carefree backdrops awash in seemingly abstract watercolor palettes. Her view of the world is one I would love to see more often . . .

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

I live in Latrobe, PA and attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania for my BFA in Studio Art. Since graduating this past May, I started my own illustration business and draw all kinds of things for people around the world. The best part about illustration is that it’s both my career and my hobby, and it never gets old. I love environmental science and subjects of biology. I spend a lot of time writing, walking and hiking with my dog, and making art with friends.

How did you find your artistic voice?

Slowly. I’ve always loved to draw since I was a kid, but it took all of high school and college to get to the point where I was pleased with the work I was making. Now that I’m done with college, identifying my

artistic voice is more important than ever because I’m marketing my work to different art industries. I’m learning that freelance artists need to have very loud, persistent artistic voices.

Why the birds and other animals?

I began drawing birds frequently during my sophomore year of college, after a course in scientific illustration convinced me that I wanted to illustrate for Audubon. That phase eventually wore off, but I found that the drawings became popular because birds are powerful symbols to lots of people. So I kept creating them for friends, to sell in the town coffee shop, or for art department auctions instead of for scientific reference.

Why watercolor over other mediums?

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

What inspires you to do a painting?

“Ideas come from subjects I obsess over, like insects or mythological beasts, and a color palette I’ve fallen in love with at the time.”

Idea generation inspires much of my work.

When I want to make a painting, I usually sketch ideas for days before getting the good paper out. Ideas come from subjects I obsess over, like insects or mythological beasts, and a color palette I’ve fallen in love with at the time.

If I’m making an illustration, I think about the message the illustration is supposed to carry, and then brainstorm different ways of conveying that message to a viewer.

Do you photograph your subjects first or draw on other sources for images?

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

24 - Spring 2013

Both! I photograph references I need and composite my own photos or use reference photos I find as inspiration/groundwork for a composition, and sometimes life sketches LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

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.

as well. Many of my sketchbooks are filled with pencil drawings of taxidermy from biology classrooms and nature centers.

How many prints in each run?

Anywhere from 2 to 20. I generally make prints before an arts festival or for my Etsy shop. The work I sell on Society6.com is printed from digital files by the website, so those prints are unlimited.

Tell me a little about your commission work.

I began doing commission work during my second year of college for club organizations, the school paper, the biology department and friends in a local band.

When I found out people would actually pay me for artwork, I started doing commisEvery Story Begins At Home.

sions outside of classes to make extra money, and wound up drawing tattoos, pet portraits, CD album covers, and greeting cards for anyone who asked.

Today, my commission work has led me all over: through card game design, album artwork, tattoo design, literary journal covers, and artisan festivals. The fun part is mailing the finished commissions out to clients all over the world; I’ve gotten to send pieces to Great Britain, Australia, China, and even South Africa.

How long does a painting take?

Paintings like the splashy birds are usually smaller, and take anywhere from 20 minutes to two weeks total time. My biggest pieces are upwards of 30"x40", and can take up to 16- 25 hours.

What size are your originals?

The original pieces that I do on commission range from 4"x6" to 18"x24" depending on the client’s needs. My personal pieces are very large, usually around 29"x35".

What is your printmaking method?

When I need to have prints made, I go to Laurel Valley Graphics and have them printed digitally. They offer a great variety of printing options, and their rates are very reasonable.

Have you shown your work?

During college there were exhibitions constantly, and in addition to hosting my continued on page 27 Spring 2013 - 25

THE LIGONIER CHEF

by Scott Sinemus

Stepping Out of the Routine Never Tasted So Good!

One of my resolutions for the new year is to step outside of my comfortable bento box and try new places I normally wouldn’t go to. On a recent journey to the Costco in Robinson I saw a billboard for Burgatory. I’ve heard the buzz and thought “what a perfect opportunity to start.” It was packed at 2:00 in the afternoon on a weekday! We were hungry – and since there was a parking space becoming available right by the door– we decided to go in, check the place out, and at least see how long it would be until we would be seated . . . immediate opening! Guess we’re staying.

settled in. The menu is concise and easily read with some pre-designed burgers; but on every table is a tablet and pencils to create your own from beginning to end. Briôche buns as the standard on the pre-designed got my attention. I of course had to opt for the create your own when Dry Aged Wagyu was one of the choices for meat.

As for the other toppings you get to choose several things for free; some of the others include: Cage-Free Egg • Applewood Smoked Bacon $1.5 • Avocado $1.5 • Napa Slaw • Caramelized Onion Marmalade • Grilled Pineapple • Sautéed Mushrooms • Maple Cured

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

Positively thrilled we did. We were seated so quickly I didn’t even have a chance to notice how chic and exciting the environment was until after we sat down. (Be certain to read the massive flow chart on the wall) The wait staff is exceedingly helpful with getting you 26 - Spring 2013

Ham • Onion Straws • Roasted Tomatoes • Grilled Onions • Cabernet Sauce • Roasted Red Peppers • Guacamole $1.5 • Avocado Wasabi $1.5. Cheese is $1 The burgers arrived perfectly cooked, on a stainless steel military type

of square tray. All of the burgers come with an abundance of homemade chips.

I only eat my father’s homemade chips and skipping them ensures my chances of having room for the Prantl’s burnt almond torte milkshak. . . yes, they actually grind up a piece of the actual pastry! All of the milkshakes on the menu can be enhanced with any liquor of your choosing, the Prantl‘s comes with vanilla vodka and amaretto. They are also presented in a classic glass with ample remainders served in the stainless cup it was mixed in. It is the most sublime dessert to have after the burger, in my two subsequent visits it’s nearly become a tradition for dessert.

OH! The most unique feature of the milkshake is the size of the straw, it’s huge! Perfect size for getting the cake and slivered almonds through.

If you’re out near Robinson or the Waterworks you should definitely take the time to check them out. The menu is also available online: burgatory.com With stepping out of my norm being such a fantastic experience I couldn’t wait until I picked the next place. It was the Connections Café in Ligonier for lunch. Again a very unique set up. There are several composed salads (many of them vegan) soup, and a sandwich du jour. I had the grilled mushroom, spinach and smoked gouda sandwich; it was so good I ordered another one. Their concept is clever, you can pick 2 items for a set price or 3 for a little more. All of the containers are eco-friendly which is a welcome surprise for take away food.

The menu changes daily and is available online either on their website: connectionscafe.com or become their friend on Facebook and it will be on your news feed.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

So the plan is working at least for lunches; next step: dinner. My friend Lisa asked us to dinner but insisted we pick the place. We got a gift card to 111 in Greensburg for Christmas so thought that would be the perfect place to go.

We’d been there before and it was quite good. The menu changed for the summer last year and just wasn’t as appealing to anyone in our group so we sort of fell away from it. I am pleased to report that the steak is no longer coffee crusted!

The tuna tartar and Carpaccio should not be missed, both were the best we’ve had locally in ages. The portions are massive I recommend if ordering the escargots to request a half or third of the amount of pasta. The snails were perfectly cooked, abundant and very flavorful; the pasta was also perfectly done, the pesto delightful, just entirely too much pasta. The lobster

mac & cheese (seemingly popping up on menus everywhere) uses real Maine lobster… the only kind as far as I’m concerned, langostinos or South African are not lobster! The pieces were nicely sized, tender and plentiful.

The crab cakes & salmon were spot on as well. But my veal chop exceeded all of my expectations! It was crisp on the outside, perfectly cooked internally and the demi-glace was like James Beard himself was in the kitchen (I had to ask for more). Even the risotto underneath it was brilliant. On the way home we were already checking calendars to figure out when we could make it back.

I’m pleased that my plan for exploring new places in the area is working out well so far. The commentary I hear most often is, “you’re a chef, I’m sure you’re overly critical and difficult to provide for.” That statement is somewhat true; yes I am a chef, but I

am not difficult. If I have special requests or questions, they’re addressed immediately when ordering. I am only overly critical when a restaurant claims to be the best at something and fails to provide. Especially if the prices are through the roof. I will never complain about spending a little more on food if I am provided for.

Better ingredients do cost more, paying a staff with experience also costs more; but making delicious food worth the value charged isn’t difficult if you’re claiming to be a professional.

If you have a favorite place to recommend please send me an email so I can check it out: theligonierchef@yahoo.com

The Scribbler, continued from page 25

I have had great privileges doing professional illustration for different clients. During my last year of college, I had the opportunity to illustrate a custom holiday greeting card for the interim president of Edinboro University to send to all faculty, students, and alumni.

Shortly after that, I created an illustration for the cover of a literary journal released by the University of New Brunswick. This past summer brought the opportunity to work with a start-up gaming company in creating artwork for a new fantasy card game.

digitally: the drawing was sketched, then scanned and colored in Photoshop.

own solo show, there were group shows such as the annual student show and the Michael V. Gmitter Memorial Scholarship exhibition.

This past summer, I participated as a vendor in Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Arts Fest with a fellow art colleague, and in October at the Edinboro Homecoming Artisan Market. My most recent show will be at Penn Avenue’s Imagebox Studio in March.

Who are your artistic inspirations?

Dave Mckean, Shaun Tan, and David Peterson, who are book illustrators. Caitlin Hackett, Ciaran Duffy, Clay Rodery, Nimit Malavia, Martin Wittfooth, and Jack Unruh, who are illustrators and painters in all different media.

Finally, Peter Aurisch and Andrey Grimmy, who are eastern European tattoo artists.

What is your dream job/life as an artist?

This is difficult; I want it all. I want to illustrate for clothing companies, draw album art for major bands, illustrate scientifically, create murals, etc. The list grows daily. Most of all, I dream of being a children’s book illustrator. I love to write. My works are small and odd, so they yield some quirky pictures that I hope to publish someday.

Have you done professional contract illustration?

Every Story Begins At Home.

•••••

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

I had a great deal of human figure anatomy and human head anatomy drawing classes in school, and I minored in biology to get a greater perspective on the scientific illustration field. I also have digital illustration training as well as traditional drawing skills.

Tell me more about the “The Scribbler” – I love that, and it is different from your other pieces.

The scribbling squirrel is an example of the kind of art I want to create for a living. As a child I loved Beatrix Potter and Jan Brett storybooks, which often featured animals doing people things, wearing people clothes, etc. The stories are charming and whimsical, and very inspiring to me. The Scribbler is also different because it’s done

Scott Sinemus is a Chef with a degree in Culinary Arts from the Pennsylvania Institute for Culinary Arts in Pittsburgh. He’s continued his education with classes from the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and The Greenbrier; and has travelled internationally in search of authentic cuisine.

How do you choose names for each work?

Typically by running through some word associations that might fit the piece. I have a bad habit of never thinking up a title until the last minute, so they’re usually short, one word or two.

How does the Western Pennsylvania nature scene influence your work?

Western PA has beautiful scenery, and endless birds and insects around. There are great places to take wildlife photos, such as Laurel Mountain and Saint Vincent wetlands where I take my dog. The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve has great specimens of birds to draw from.

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

I am planning to relocate closer to Pittsburgh within the year, so I can become more involved in the art scene there.

To see more of Abby’s work, visit her online portfolios: http://behance.net/Finchfight http://finchfight.tumblr.com http://twitter.com/Finchfight To order prints, visit her online shops: http://society6.com/Owlcore http://ww.etsy.com/shop/Finchfight To contact Abby: finchfightillustration@gmail.com

Spring 2013 - 27

POSTMODERN TENDANCIES

by Megan Fuller

Mayan Apocalypse

Kiva Korner Our Kenyan Kiva entrepreneur, Christina, has repaid 41% of her loan to assist in her charcoal selling business. The Laurel Mountain Post lending team has five members, and we are helping small business owners in Kenya, Guatemala, and the United States. Team captains Cathi and Megan invite you to join our team and watch global entrepreneurs build their businesses and communities with your help.

28 - Spring 2013

influence of any span of time is felt both not worship the gods and were wiped before and after it takes place. With the out by flood or turned into monkeys. tzolkin and the haab running together The fourth creation were human it will take 52 haab (73 tzolkin) before beings-which is why the months are the same ceremonial and solar days are called uinal and are 20 days long to go again juxtaposed. with our fingers and toes.

When events took place over a wider period 20 day names of time than a Calendar Round, an era-based system was used called the Long Count. This is how historical dates are ceremonial set in texts. Instead of calendar being based on kin (days), the Long Count is based on the tun. Tun is a word with many meanings, when talking about the calendar it is used to numbers 1-13 describe a period of time 360 days long, however, it is also the word for “stone” and a term used for “penis” (draw your A visual of the circular nature of the tzolkin and haab. own conclusions here).

Each 20 day month is called a uinal which translates to “human beings”. A period So, on December 21, 2012 the 13th of 20 tun is called a katun and a period baktun came to an end and we moved of 20 katun is called a baktun. into the 14th (which will end on March The Long Count shows the number 26, 2407). As far as I can tell, human of days something has occurred since beings are still the creation in charge of keeping the gods’ days holy–although the base date. The base date has been sometimes I wonder about the posfigured out to be August 13, 3114 B.C.E. sibility of cyborgs or Skynet taking over. (some people say August 11, 3114 B.C.E.). This is not considered to be the beginning of time but the first day of Megan Fuller is an applied cognitive anthropologist with postmodern tendencies currently working in environthe fourth version of creation. mental compliance for a mineral extraction company in According to legend, the gods wanted historic Florence, Arizona (Troy Polamalu has an off season home there!). She grew up in the exciting to create care-takers of the earth who Pittsburgh suburb of Pleasant Hills and had the distinct would keep the deities’ days holy. Their pleasure of earning a Bachelor of Arts inAnthropology first creation didn’t work out and ended from IUP. In 1993, Megan moved out West to get a Master’s Degree. She also picked up a husband and hasn’t quite up as the animals of the earth. The convinced him to move back to Western PA. To maintain second creations were made of dirt and her authentic Pittsburgh accent she regularly watches Pittsburgh Dad and engages anyone wearing black and dissolved in water. On their third try, gold sports gear in conversation. stick figures were formed but they did solar year

Yay! WE MADE IT! We survived another end of the world scare and can start eating the stockpile of canned goods stored in the root cellar, bomb shelter, or local cave.

Actually, there was never any danger because Mayan calendars, just like our calendars, never end-they just roll over to the next cycle. The Mayan calendar is a bit different from ours though. They kept track of time with the Calendar Round. This system consisted of two cycles running simultaneously. The first is called the tzolkin and it is a ceremonial count, in which there are 13 numbers and 20 day names so it takes 260 days for a number and name to repeat. Haab is the second cycle and is the same as a solar year with 365 days. Unlike our calendar, haab is broken into 18 months of 20 days. This totals 360 days with an extra five days of bad luck tacked on at the end. Each day (not just the bad luck days) had its own omens attached to it so the Maya never needed to go see a fortune teller.

Days of the months are numbered from one to 19, with the last day named as the “seating” of the next month. This was because the Maya felt that the

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Kathy Never Met A Cable She Didn’t Like!

Local artisan and merchant Kathy Zimmerman of Ligonier is being honored for her lifetime of contributions to the knitting and crochet world at the 9th Annual Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival March 15-17 (Four Points Sheraton in Mars, PA). She will also be hosting a vendor booth , with live demonstrations and supplies of yarns, patterns, and kitting/crochet tools.

Although she had been knitting for many years as a solitary knitter, Kathy attended her first formal gathering of knitters at the TKGA (The Knitting Guild of America) National Convention in Milwaukee 1986. It was at this meeting that she took classes with and was inspired by teachers Marlyn Ibele, Evie Rosen and Maggie Righetti. Kathy became part of a growing sisterhood of knitters which went on to organize a social network of small knitting guilds at the grass roots level. This sisterhood has evolved with the internet into groups like Ravelry. As a relatively new shop owner at that time, she was so inspired by Marlyn Ibele’s presentation about how to form a guild chapter that she promptly came back to her hometown of Ligonier, PA and helped to found the Laurel Highlands Knitting Guild Chapter, where she is Chapter President to this day. She also volunteered as TKGA Education Committee Chair for several years, helping to recommend instructor rosters for national conferences.

Her greatest inspiration has been Kristin Nicholas, who was Creative Director at Classic Elite Yarns in the 1980s and 1990s, and still continues to be a creative force in the needlearts today. Kathy began her designing career by knitting model garments for Classic Elite and eventually submitting ideas which were published for their pattern collections. Kristin was her mentor, recommending her work to Knitter’s Magazine and other industry publications.

She continues to inspire Kathy with her wonderful sense of color and stitch pattern work. Kathy is also grateful to Alice Starmore, whose Aran and Fisher Gansey classes were valuable in validating her interest in cable and texture designs.

She has been most influenced by Michelle Rose Orne, whom she met through through Kristin Nicholas. Kathy assisted Michelle as a test knitter for several years before she began her own designing career. From Michelle, Kathy learned how to make the various stitchwork aspects of a garment come together to compliment each other, how to work with schematics and charts, how to write a proper knitting pattern and all about fit /sizing. And most of all, what it takes to become a professional and the importance of relationships in the yarn industry.

Every Story Begins At Home.

Kathy has designed about one or two sweaters per month for over twenty five years, plus countless accessories. She doesn’t knit them all herself, and is blessed to have a wonderful support staff of knitters (not to mention a very understanding husband) who help with the hands on work.

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

Her Plaits and Links Cardigan is the cover feature for this winter’s issue of Interweave Knits.

A cropped silhouette livens up a classic cabled cardigan. A wooly, Shetland-style yarn gives definition to Aran styling. Back and fronts are worked separately with raglan shaping.

Selected as “one of America’s most beloved yarn shops” by Interweave Press, Kathy’s Kreations has made its home in Ligonier for 33 years, at the same location (144 E. Main St). She started out sharing space with her father-in-law, who owned an appliance store, and has always shared the location with husband Tim, who owns an appliance repair business. Tim is the Kathy’s Kreations webmaster and shipping department manager.

Kathy’s favorite vacation spot is Cape May, NJ, because it is such an unusual combination of Victorian architecture with the seashore. She is often inspired by the architecture, and it is reflected in some of her designs (stitch work).

Her favorite knitting spot is at the north end of the beach at a rocky point where she can knit for hours. Kathy doesn’t often have time without a deadline, but when she does, her favorite author is Debbie Macomber, whom she considers a friend. Kathy was honored to be quoted for the final chapter of her book, A Good Yarn.

She loves to go to the trade shows and knitting conferences to meet up with knitting celebrities and find that they are just like the knitting friends 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 kathy@kathyskreations.com. She would love to meet you!

Festival: www.pghknitandcrochet.com

Spring 2013 - 29

ASK GRANNY EARTH Healing with Weeds

If there were only one herb that you would recommend to keep on hand for 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 in the winter. If you assume that you’re going to ‘catch a cold’ or the flu (just because it’s wintertime) then you’ve already set yourself up to be sick. The mind is a powerful, creative mechanism. It’s part of our physical body and whatever the mind thinks, the body does its utmost to create. Now, with that being said, there is one herb that I always keep on hand to assist my immune system to be in top shape for fighting off germs that might come my way when I’m in a vulnerable mind set. That one herb is: Echinacea.

Echinacea purpurea (ek-in-AYsha) – The Latin name Echinacea refers to ekhinos, which means hedgehog or sea urchin and describes the prickly seed cone of this herb, which is revealed after its petals have dropped. Purpurea refers to the flower’s pale purple color.

Better known as purple coneflower, Echinacea has become one of America’s most popular selling flowers as well as a very much demanded herbal healing product. Its history of use dates back thousands of years to Native American Indians who used it to treat colds, coughs, sore throats, toothaches, inflammations, snake bites and infections of all kinds. They called it ‘Missouri Snakeroot’ or ‘Kansas Snakeroot’, because it was the best treatment for snakebites.

By the early 20th century, Echinacea had become the best selling medicinal tincture in America.

Then due to the AMA’s opinion against its benefits and with the advent of Big Pharma drugs, by 1910 its use began to decline rapidly. The AMA considered it to be worthless. They coined the phrase ‘snake oil’ when referring to Echinacea and discredited its powerful healing properties. By the 1930’s it fell into almost complete obscurity as a medical treatment. However in Europe, it flourished and to this day, the best scientific healing documentation for this plant comes out of Germany.

Meanwhile in the United States, Echinacea began to make a comeback in the 1980’s.

Today it is one of the best selling herbal extracts on the market. Most people already know 30 - Spring 2013

that Echinacea works for colds and the flu.

But, this herb deserves an explanation of why it’s so effective as an infection fighter.

7. It stimulates the production of interferon and tumor necrosis factor, which is important to the body’s response against cancer.

The Echinacea plant will bring you 1. It causes an increase in the number of (and butterflies) much joy in your garden. immune cells (T-cells), thereby enhancing It’s very easy to grow. Just scatter the seeds the overall activity of the total immune into loosened soil in the early spring and system, while inhibiting virus production. rake to cover. In no time you’ll see sprout2. It stimulates phagocytosis–consumpings. They won’t bloom the first year, since tion of invading organisms by white blood they’re perennial, but the second year you’ll cells. have many blooms. It’s best not to pick 3. It inhibits the enzyme ‘hyalur-onidase’, them, but to collect the seeds for next year’s which is secreted by bacteria and viruses. crop. Then when they bloom in the 3rd year, you’ll prepare for your tincturemaking process.

In the fall, after the flowers have http://www.stockfreeimages.com gone to seed, dig up the roots of several plants, leaving enough plants for flowers to bloom next year. Take the entire plant and cut off the stems, leaves and seed pod. Now you’ll have the tops and the roots. Hang the tops and stems upside down in a warm, dry room for several weeks. Scrub the roots thoroughly and slice them up.

Lay them out on a screen to dry.

When everything’s dry, put into a large glass container; add vodka to cover. Leave in for one moon cycle, shaking daily.

Echinacea is best used at the first sign of a cold or the flu. After the first sneeze, take your Echinacea. Take it regularly for a few days and you’ll never catch that cold or flu. It can also be taken as a preventive measure. If you’re exposed to the public and want to protect yourself, take Echinacea everyday. For best results, take for 2 weeks and stop for a week, before continuing again.

This hyaluronidase enzyme helps infections gain access to healthy cells. The action that ***** Echinacea puts forth prevents the infection Seventy-some years young, and following my life-long of bacteria and viruses by actually stopping passion, which is natural healing and teaching others their growth. about weed medicine, I believe that we each must do 4. It kills harmful yeast infections. what we can to get back to Nature. In making your own weed medicine, you’re going to be going out looking 5. It helps to stimulate the growth of new and identifying certain weeds that grow around youtissue. you’ll be outdoors, in the sunshine and fresh air- getting 6. It combats inflammation (Research back to Nature. Maybe you’ll start growing your own demonstrates that use of Echinacea reduces weeds- turning your backyard into a weed garden! inflammation in arthritis sufferers by 22 %Granny Earth has a bachelor’s in Psychology from California University of Pennsylvania (which she that’s about ½ as effective as steroids, but earned at age 59), and both a masters and doctorate steroids have serious side effects and strongly from Clayton College of Natural Health. Visit her suppress the immune system.) website www.grannyearth.com, call 724-542-9713, or email grannyearth@zoominternet.net.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

The Red Satin Box

by Nancy A. Clark

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

“Can I see it? Can I see it?” I’d beg every time she opened that drawer in my presence. Mom always replied with that nebulous 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 my budding curiosity. (Even then, I loved a mystery.)

“Someday” presented 55 years later, when a sibling and I were packing up the contents of our childhood home. Mom hadn’t lived in the house for several years prior to her passing, and most everything was as it had been when she left it. It occurred to me, as we trespassed through her possessions, that having “secret things” is much like answering the front door dressed only in Saran Wrap™: No matter how hard you try to keep things secret, one day someone will see what you have.

Nearly everything in Mom’s house – from our christening clothes wrapped in blue tissue, to the bejeweled, maraboutrimmed bedroom slippers my first-born toddler padded around in – unleashed tidal waves of memory for us, the most painful being our mother’s own loss of memory.

The key to success, here, would be a strong dose of solidarity and objectivity, vital tools for making unified decisions about the artifacts we’d unearth. We also trusted the years of separation from our homestead had desensitized any strong attachments we might still harbor to the things she left behind. But the Herculean project (Mom was something of a “collector”) sorely tested our understanding of “objectivity, especially true when it came to dismantling her bedroom. Rummaging through her “clothes press,” we pulled out garments we’d not seen in decades, yet it seemed like only yesterday that she’d worn them. “Here’s the dress Sis and I made for her 25th class reunion,” I said, holding up a turquoise-colored frock we fashioned 38 years before.

An embellished faux-diamond accessory Dad had given her for the occasion 38 years ago was still pinned to the collar.

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

Every Story Begins At Home.

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

Dad had most likely gifted his Valentine with this box of sweets before they married, as there was little money for such frivolity after their “I Do’s.” But Mom never craved external tokens of affection. Dad’s kisses on her flourstreaked cheeks, and the apple pies she’d made for him said “I Love You” in their own, private language.

Echoes of “Can I see it? Can I see it?” rose like a morning mist from the crevices of my memory as I carried the box from its nesting place to the edge of her bed. There, I touched the faded satin, the yellowed lace, and sought permission to open it from one who could no longer give it. I lifted the cardboard lid as if it was booby-trapped against intruders like me and stared at the treasures I would 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 valley corsage, framed by dehydrated baby’s breath and faded fabric leaves. I recognized it as Mom’s wedding corsage, remembering photos that showed it pinned to the left shoulder of her light blue, street-length wedding dress.

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

The contents of the box further defined the mom I knew and loved – one who wouldn’t have traded this treasure for all the chocolates in Chattanooga. She’d savored these fragile, secret tokens as she savored her vow “to have and to 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 like a box of chocolates; but, for certain, it’s the life we bite into outside the box that holds the sweetest secrets of all. ***** Nancy Clark and husband, Tom, rejoice in 50 years of marriage, three children and three grandchildren. She dabbles in freelance and memoir writing when she isn’t baking, knitting, reading or building a jigsaw puzzle.

Spring 2013 - 31

FUSTY MUCKRAKER

Digging Up Obscure Local History

The Great Pennsylvania Sugar Scheme During colonial America, the yoeman farmer had to be a versatile “jack-of-alltrades,” from carpenter, farmer, weaver, tailor, to a bit of blacksmith. While investigating this lifestyle, known today as “homesteading” (a movement of self-reliance similar to our pre-industrial age), many forgotten skills and stories of local and national importance emerged. They tended to have the muck and dust of disinterested slumber raked up to reveal that tiny tidbit of glimmering history. That’s my job, that of Fusty Muckraker.

Folks, in this our first installment, I want to shed light on a little remembered news item from the late 18th entury. Sometimes referred to as Jefferson and the Maple Sugar Scheme. We start our investigtion with the making of maple sugar, otherwise known as sugaring. Sugaring has been going on in north america for many centuries, although no written record of it exists before the arrival of the first European settlers. The native Americans used techniques requiring stone tools to make cuts into trees, and using a twig to allow the sap to run into a wood or bark trough. Hot stones would be dropped into it and the crystals collected.

Other methods included letting the sap freeze, removing the ice, and collecting the crystals (jacking).

The Iriquois Indians had a term called the Maple Moon where they would de-camp whole communities and move to the sugar woods. Chiefs counted the moons until the seven dancing warriors (Pleides cluster, otherwise known today as The Seven Sisters). For weeks, the Native Americans held festivals to celebrate. Festivities included a maple dance, which paid tributes to the gods who granted them sweet syrup. At this point 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 Americans, the European’s use of iron tools and copper pots vastly improved the production of the syrup and sugar. Indeed one of the first crops harvested was maple sugar as the Europeans established themselves.

The Sugar Scheme began in Pennsylvania with Quakers, who were known abolistionists, and Dr. Benjamin Rush. At the time, sugar (primarily produced n the British West Indies) was the economic equivalent of oil today. America was at the mercy of sugar imports, and the sugar was made by slaves. Thomas Jefferson entered 32 - Spring 2013

the picture in 1792 after serving as US minister to France.

An event was held that brought the Quakers, Dr. Rush, and Thomas Jefferson together, known as The Scientific Tea Party.

Hosted by Dr. Rush, physician and close friend of Jefferson with guest including Alexander Hamilton, they took spoonfuls of granular maple sugar and dumped it into their East India teas — all in hopes of convincing the future president of the superiority of maple sugar. It was a success. In a remarkably short period of time, opinion leaders of the new United States saw maple as the game changer in the sugar trade. Figures such as Henry Drinker, a well-regarded Quaker merchant, and William Cooper, founder of Cooperstown (NY), and of course Jefferson himself, all wrote their support of the trade and made the point of maple sugar replacing cane sugar. They collectively argued for wide-scale, tariff-free takeover of the sugar trade by the northern maple sugar makers.

Being an abolitionist in his own fashion – despite owning slaves – Jefferson despised slavery and was eager to see its demise in the Caribbean. Calling slavery “a peculiar institution,” he never did figure out how to get rid of it here. To these people, the advantage of maple sugar was its moral superiority: maple sugar was grown by free people, cane sugar by slaves.

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

– An 1803 Farmer’s Almanac Although this muckraker surmises that economics of the day may have been a driving force for a domestic supply of sugar.

As the first Secretary of State, Jefferson promoted a plan. Yoeman farmers of America could produce quantities of maple sugar sufficient to supply the country’s needs and then some. He claimed that little effort would be needed for the United States to export to half the world and end British dominance of the sugar trade. However, the yoeman farmer found the implementation of Jefferson’s plan very labor intensive.

Even still, during this time known as the Maple Sugar Bubble, production rose to new heights, reaching levels comparable to today. For a time, maple sugar was half the cost of cane sugar, and was the main sweetener of the United States prior to the

Civil War. Lower costs and the appearance of beet sugar ended this, and production turned to syrup.

In the end, Jefferson’s plan to end British trade dominance and to end slavery in the Caribbean failed for several reasons: Early clear-cut of land in the northeast • for other uses, leveled many stands of maple sugar trees • It was very labor-intensive • They found they were unable to “plantationize” the trees outside their natural habitat. (Jefferson tried twice at Monticello, and today only a single tree survives) • Jefferson’s own zeal to destroy British dominance of the sugar trade, took his attention to the sugar beet and away from maple.

A temporary resurgence of maple sugar consumption occurred during the rationing years of World War II. Cookbooks were even printed substituting maple for cane sugars. At the end of the war, cane sugar returned, and sugaring reverted to the production of syrup.

Today, Jefferson’s sugar scheme legacy can be seen in your grocery store – on the top shelf, where the good stuff is.

Sommerset county is the largest producer of maple syrup in pennsylvania today. Pure maple syrup produced in the northeast and mid-Atlantic can be traced to these events.

Sources: www.wesscholar.wesleyan.edu; www.history.org; www.monticello.org Fusty (Dictionary.com): Adjective: Smelling stale, damp, or stuffy: “the fusty odor of decay.”Old-fashioned in attitude or style.

Muckraker (Wikipedia): The term muckraker refers to reform-minded journalists who wrote largely for popular magazines, continued a tradition of investigative journalism reporting, and emerged in the United States after 1900 and continued to be influential until World War I, when through a combination of advertising boycotts, dirty tricks and patriotism, the movement, associated with the Progressive Era in the United States, came to an end.

Before World War I, the term “muckraker” was used to refer in a general sense to a writer who investigates and publishes truthful reports to perform an auditing or watchdog function. In contemporary use, the term describes either a journalist who writes in the adversarial or alternative tradition or a non-journalist whose purpose in publication is to advocate reform and change.

Investigative journalists view the muckrakers as early influences and a continuation of watchdog journalism.

The term is a reference to a character in John Bunyan’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress, “the Man with the Muckrake” that rejected salvation to focus on filth. It became popular after President Theodore Roosevelt referred to the character in a 1906 speech.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

6:00am GET BATH READY FOR DAD 6:30am PACK LUNCH FOR THE

KIDS 10:00am GIVE DAD HIS MEDICINE 1:00pm FOLD EVERYONE’S LAUNDRY 2:00pm SORT DAD’S BILLS 3:30pm PICK UP THE KIDS 4:20pm TAKE DAD OUT FOR FRESH AIR 5:30pm REMEMBER

THE DAYS WHEN DAD TOOK CARE OF ME 6:00pm MAKE DINNER 8:00pm HELP DAD TO BED 11:00pm FINALLY GO TO SLEEP

Only those who care for others know what it’s really like to care for others.

That’s why AARP created a community with experts and other caregivers to help us better care for ourselves and for the ones we love.

aarp.org/caregiving or call 1-877-333-5885

Every Story Begins At Home.

Spring 2013 - 33

WHAT IN THE WORLD COULD THAT BE?

by Gregory S. Susa

Party Under the Stars!

Best Evening View of Mercury The planet Mercury, which orbits closest to the sun, will be far enough away from its glare to be visible in the western sky after sunset – being brightest on February 16th, but dimming quickly after that. On February 8 it will be within .4 degrees of Mars. To see Mars, you will need binoculars.

Comet PANSTARRS Comets are primarily made of ices formed from cosmic debris left over from the formation of our solar system.

Comets come from the Ort Cloud, a region of our solar system which lies far outside the orbit of Pluto. Sometimes a comet is nudged from its orbit and begins to fall toward the sun. As it nears the sun the ices heat up and turn to gas and dust, forming a tail (or coma) that always flows away from the sun and is driven by the solar wind. There are always comets in the sky, but if they aren’t close enough to the sun, no tail will be visible.

You will need a telescope and knowledge of their orbits to find them.

Discovered on June 7, 2011, Comet PANSTARRS (Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System) should have reached a point in March where it can be seen from a dark site with no optical aids, but it has been unpredictable. It is hoped that by midMarch, the coma (or tail) of the comet will grow and be more readily enjoyed by the casual stargazer. Look west and low on the horizon after sunset starting in early March. On March 12, 13, 14 look for the waxing crescent moon – you will find PANSTARRS nearby.

Lunar Eclipse If you are an eclipse chaser, you better pack a bag. The first lunar eclipse occurs April 25, but will not be visible 34 - Spring 2013

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

Ring of Fire Get ready to head to the land Down Under and Papua, New Guinea for the start of the annual full solar eclipse on May 9.

If this is too far for your travel plans, you might catch a glimpse of a partial eclipse from extreme southern Mexico.

Dance of the Planets I’m hoping for clear skies all week at the end of May (24-30), for there is a cosmic hoe down comin! Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter will change positions nightly in the twilight sky.

Venus will be brightest – six times brighter than Jupiter.

1st Penumbral Eclipse of the Moon North America will see a partial lunar eclipse visible in greatest eclipse at around midnight on May 25 when the moon passes through the penumbral shadow of the earth. (Penumbral means a partial shadow between regions of complete shadow and complete illumination) Moonstruck On June 23, you will see the biggest full moon of 2013. The moon on this night will be closer to the earth than any other time of the year, making it a Super Moon.

If you are at the coast on summer holiday, you can expect the highest and lowest tides of the year.

Perseid Meteor Shower It’s Perseid time! Originating in the constellation Perseus, the 90-meteor per hour shower is back for our annual enjoyment. This spectacular debris

cloud orbits the comet Swift-Tuttle discovered in 1862 by Lewis Swift (July 16) and Horace Parnell Tuttle (July 19).

Also known as “The Tears of St. Lawrence” (for its coincidence with the saint’s August 10 martyrdom), this annual event has been witnessed for over 2000 years. If you can be somewhere with little or no light pollution on August 12, it’s a reason to get together for summer fun under the stars.

2nd Penumbral Eclipse of the Moon If you missed it in the spring you get a chance to see what everyone was talking about. On October 18 a second penumbral eclipse of the moon will occur. This time 76% of the moon will be in shadow.

Partial Eclipse of the Sun Batting 2-3 on eclipses this year, we have one more at bat. A hybrid eclipse of the sun will start on the east coast of the US, and travel through Africa. If “you’re so vain,” enough to fly to extreme northern New England or Nova Scotia (or perhaps cruising in the Caribbean near Cuba) you should be able to see a partial solar eclipse off the U.S east coast will be a total eclipse, but you will need to be out at sea to catch a glimpse of anything.

Comet ISON Kicking off the holiday season midNovember through December is Comet ISON (International Scientific Optical Network), expected to be very luminous and at night, brighter than the moon.

One may even be able to see it in broad daylight. This comet, discovered just last year (September 21) by Russian astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok, will get close enough to the LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

sun to be classified as a sun grazer — and afterwards will pass within 40 million miles of earth. Happy Holidays, indeed!

Dazzling Venus During the entire month of December, look to the southwest for the brightest planet of them all. This seasonal special solo performance will last for a few hours each evening after sundown.

Brighter than any star, Venus can typically be seen at mid-day in a clear

sky and has been commonly reported as an unidentified flying object (UFO).

Named for the Roman goddess of love and beauty, Venus is sometimes known as earth’s “sister planet” as it is similar in size, positioned next to Earth, and is one of the four planets consisting of a rocky body with an iron/nickel core.

Geminid Meteor Shower Another great, if not the best, annual meteor shower happens December 13 -

14. In 2012 we saw 120 meteors per hour, so go back to your favorite stargazing spot and enjoy, for it is expected to be just as spectacular in 2013. ***** Sources: NASA Eclipse website (www.eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov) AstronomyMagazine.com; Earthsky.com Greg Susa is a 1987 graduate of Greater Latrobe High School and studied physics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. An avid fan of all things science, he continues his education daily with varied reading and research in pursuit of the big question . . . WHY? (often followed by the exclamation WOW!)

Best Stargazing Events of the Year 2013

February 2-23: Best Evening View of Mercury March 10-24: Comet PANSTARRS at its best April 25: Partial Lunar Eclipse May 9: Annual Eclipse of the Sun (Ring of Fire) May 24-30: Dance of the Planets May 25: First Penumbral Eclipse of the Moon June 23: Biggest Full Moon of 2013 August 12: Perseid Meteor Shower October 18: Second Penumbral Eclipse of the Moon November 3: Hybrid Eclipse of the Sun Mid-November – December: Comet ISON All of December: Dazzling Venus December 13-14: Geminid Meteor Shower

Every Story Begins At Home.

Spring 2013 - 35

3rd Annual Soup’s On: March 23 22nd Annual Tastes of the Town: April 11 Ft. Ligonier Opens for the Season: April 13 5th Annual Model Railroad Home Tour: April 27 Compass Inn Opens: May 1

134 West Main Street Ligonier, PA 15658 724-238-4608

Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce 120 East Main Street in Ligonier, PA 724-238-4200 • office@ligonierchamber.com

Joanne Grace Hartman, MT A massage relaxes muscles, easing and soothing your aches and pains.

It rejuvenates – restoring balance to our body and being, making us better for all the things life throws our way.

Spring & Summer Merchandise Arriving Daily!

220B West Main Street Ligonier, PA 15658 Phone: 724-858-6271

Distinctive Children’s Clothing & Gifts and Something for Mom as Well!

Constance Donovan Matson D.V.M. 2026 Route 30 East • Ligonier, PA 15658 Office: 724-238-9645 • Fax: 724-995-8123 Cell: 724-331-4475 Email: donovanc@vt.edu

“Dr. Mastson, you’re the best!”

20 Brilliant Ave in Aspinwall 412-781-1777

– Basel Wasel

Men’s Shop

104 East Main Street Ligonier, Pennsylvania 15658 Telephone: (724) 238-9235

Shorts • Knit Polos • Sport Jackets Slacks . . . And More

“When How You Look Matters” 36 - Spring 2013

Dovecote

A unique collection of new and old.

136 East Main St in Ligonier 724-238-3181

NEW Vera Bradley • Byers’ Choice Carolers Baby Gifts • Caspari Paper Products Cards •Fashion Jewelry • Scarves • Linens

TheFinishingTouch 210 West Main Street in Ligonier Mon - Sat 9:30-5 and Sun 12:30-5

724-238-9832

Spend $10 or more to sign up for a $25 gift certificate (Drawn Monthly)

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

“Quest for the Best” Best Lunch in Ligonier

CONNECTIONS CAFE & TEAROOM

109 South Market Street in Ligonier 724-238-9611 • Open 7 Days Monday - Saturday, 11-6 • Sundays 12-4 Women’s Sportswear and Accessories • Gifts and Wool Shop Dusters NAOT and OTBT Shoes & Sandals

Edible Kneads Breakfast Bagels (Mon & Tues) Healthy Salads • Homemade Soups • Desserts Grilled Cheese Sandwiches • Loose Tea • Locally Roasted Coffee Dinner with Friends (Thursday) Mexican Night (Friday)

Steelers, Penguins, Fair Trade Gifts from Around the World

Where Country Has Old-Fashioned Flair!

Johnston Benchworks Furniture Handmade Primitives, Lamps, Country Prints Berries/Twigs/Garland, Wood Signs, Flags/Stars Denims/Purses and a whole lot more!

Tues-Thurs 11-4, Fri-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4 231 East Main St • Ligonier, PA • 724-238-3376

On the Diamond

ANTIQUES Mult i-De p Multi-De i-Deaaler Sho Shop

110 East Main Street Ligonier, PA 15658 (724) 238-2226

Mary Jo Culbertson Proprietor (724) 238-0497

The Strawberry Crow 209 East Main Street Ligonier, PA 15658 724-995-8022

Period Reproduction Furniture • Candles Folk Art • Lighting • Textiles • Antiques • Giftware Handmade in the USA Folk Art Santas by Arnett

219 East Main Street Ligonier, PA 15658 724.995.8116 • 877.848.6371 Monday - Saturday 10 - 5 www.naughtytoffee.com

Melt in your mouth mischief!

Every Story Begins At Home.

Spring 2013 - 37

continued from page 3

lady type. This town is full of them. And I probably have a better body image than most of them, [but] that doesn’t mean I am not always struggling to lose some weight and improve my health, however.

Did you lose or gain for the show?

I had about two days of shooting between when my character went on a diet and when she lost 12 pounds, lol. On the show time had lapsed, but not in real life! I tried to lose a few pounds in those two days, lol!

Do you have a personal message you would like to comunicate with your role on “Glee?”

I have no personal message to communicate; I am just trying to live my life and accomplish as much as I can while I am here. In doing that I hope I inspire other people ... girls, overweight people, poverty stricken people – everyone I can inspire – to work hard towards their dreams and not give up.

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

This is a mystery ;-).

What’s coming up for “Millie Rose?” Any hints?

You can expect her to continue to get closer to other characters at McKinley ... other than that, I only find out when I get my next script! I love that – it is so exciting to get my script and see what Mrs. Rose is doing next.

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 projects coming up?

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

I am currently working on a film called “Boulevard H” with director Jesse Thomas and actors Chris Kattan, Malcolm McDowell and Scott Eastwood (Clint Eastwood’s son). We filmed in New Orleans before Christmas and will be wrapping it up here in LA next month [January 3012].

I also have another horror movie coming out next month, straight to video. It is

How can fans find out more about you?

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

The Korean War Veterans of Lycoming County PA, Inc. will host a reunion for Korean War veterans from Pennsylvania in Williamsport, in observance of the 60th anniversary 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 served during the Korean War era (June 25, 1950 – January 31, 1955) whether stationed in Korea or elsewhere worldwide with the military.

The reunion will be headquartered at the historic Genetti Hotel in downtown Williamsport, with events scheduled from Thursday, July 25 – Saturday, July 27.

Military exhibits, tours, a banquet with guest speakers, and memorial services are planned.

For a complete listing of events, fees, schedules and other information for PA Korean War veterans, their spouses and guests who wish to attend, write: Korean War Veterans of Lycoming County PA Inc, PO Box 3232, Williamsport, PA 17701; email: gpwolfe1@comcast.net; or phone Richard Barkman, 570-753-5490.

38 - Spring 2013

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

Any advice for small-town kids looking to make it big in show business today?

Take every opportunity to act you can get in your town. Nothing is too small. Take whatever classes are available! Move to a bigger city when you can. Follow the signs, be true to yourself.

Would you consider another career?

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

What is your favorite thing about being an actress?

The creative challenge. ***** Thanks to my son, Robert Williams, for turning us into Gleeks, and introducing me to this amazing woman!

– Cathi Gerhard

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

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

— Marcia Lane, Scranton, PA

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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists three basic strategies for improving indoor air: source control, improved ventilation and air cleaners. Source control, whereby emissions from individual sources of pollution are eliminated or reduced—for instance finding somewhere outside the home to store old paint and construction supplies—is typically the most effective strategy.

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

Poor indoor air quality is an often overlooked health issue. Recent research has shown that the air inside some buildings can be more polluted than the outdoor air in the most industrialized of cities. (Photo Credit: iStockPhoto)

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

or attic fans when the weather permits, or running a window air conditioner with the vent control open, increases the outdoor ventilation rate.” The agency adds that local bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors also remove contaminants while increasing 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, while others, including most table-top models, are much less so,” reports the EPA. “People with sensitivity to particular sources may find that air cleaners are helpful only in conjunction with concerted efforts to remove the source.” The agency’s free online “Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home” compares the general types of residential air cleaners and their effectiveness in reducing pollutants including particles and gaseous contaminants.

Some of us swear by our houseplants for keeping our indoor air free of pollutants. Mother Nature Network reports that certain plants are known to filter out specific contaminants: Aloe removes airborne formaldehyde and benzene; spider plants scrub carbon monoxide and xylene; and gerbera daisies take the trichloroethylene left over from dry cleaned items out of your air. The EPA, however, does not consider houseplants to be especially effective at air filtration, and even warns that overwatered indoor houseplants can in and of themselves present a health hazard because damp soil may promote the growth of allergens.

Good housekeeping also can go a long way toward improving indoor air. WebMD reports that regular mopping and vacuuming (with a HEPA-filter-equipped vacuum cleaner), keeping interior moisture levels low, maintaining a smoke-free environment, and ditching chemical air fresheners are all key to maintaining good breathing space inside. WebMD also suggests testing your home for radon, a radioactive gas found in soils that can penetrate cracks in 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-waysto-improve-indoor-air-quality.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/ subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.

Window Cleaning Gutter Cleaning Pressure Washing Office 724.694.0368 Chad - Owner 724.875.0629

I CAN SEE FABULOUS!

C-FAB Services

IWCA Safety Certified • Fully Insured

Every Story Begins At Home.

Spring 2013 - 39

SPRING COMMUNITY CALENDAR Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. – Rainer Maria Rilke Through February 22 Mardis Gras Greensburg 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 doldrums of winter!

Through March 2 The Civil War in Pennsylvania Heritage 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 Pennsylvanian perspective.

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

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

“The Civil War in Pennsylvania” features four life-like museum figures, plus a companion Dog Jack, along with artifacts, previously unseen photographs, and large museum panels describing Pennsylvania’s contributions to the Civil War. Free to members or with museum admission Through September 3 Remembrance: 125 Years of Jewish Life in Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center ; 201 6th Avenue; Johnstown, PA 15906; (814) 539-1889; www.jaha.org The exhibit connects Johnstown’s Jewish community to world history, putting national and world stories in a local context. Free to members or with museum admission.

February 10 Westmoreland Cultural Trust presents Duquesne University Tamburitzans The Palace Theatre, 21 W. Otterman St in Greensburg; 724-836-8000; www.palacetheatre.org. 2PM; $22, $18, $15 February 11-12 Special Olympics of PA Winter Games Hidden Valley Resort; Hidden Valley Resort, 1 Craighead Drive, Hidden Valley, PA 15502; (814) 443-8000; www.hiddenvalleyresort.com Hidden Valley is honored to host the alpine skiing portion of this fantastic event.

February 12 Abe’s Birthday Lincoln 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 the Lincoln Highway Experience! A special Program of vintage Lincoln Highway photographs, as well as an opportunity to tour our museum exhibits and view the new orientation DVD, Through the Windshield: The Lincoln Highway Experience is included in the $5 fee.

February 12 Step Afrika Pasquerilla 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 to the tradition of stepping, a unique dance tradition using the body as an instrument to create intricate rhythms and sounds through a combination of footsteps, claps and spoken word. Starts at 7:30pm 40 - Spring 2013

February 13 Conservation Station - Framed in Fire Westmoreland 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 the Museum’s paintings are gold indeed. How do we maintain those lustrous wonders or restore those who’ve lost some of their intended sheen? Emilie Cohen will guide us through the gilding process and explain how aging affects this gorgeous finish. When we’re done you’ll be able to look at period frames, furniture and decorative arts with a new perspective. Time: 12pm Cost: Free February 14 The Association and Jay and The Americans Palace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724) 836-8000; ww.palacetheatre.org Two of America’s greatest vocal groups on stage! Their favorite hits include Along Comes Mary, Cherish, This Magic Moment, Only in America.

Latshaw Productions, $65, $60, $55, $45, $35. Show starts at 8 PM February 15 Nature 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 check website for weekly titles.

February 15-16 In One Bed and Out the Other Valley Players, Ligonier Theater, W. Main St, Ligonier, PA 15658. 724238-6514. www.valleyplayers.org An English adaptatiton of the French farce ‘One Night at Your Place Madame.’ A side-splitting comedy! We meet two people pretending to be someone else, and two people attracted to someone they think is someone else. 7:30, 2:30 pm.

February 18 Michael Bolton Palace 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 53 Million Albums and Singles sold, legendary Singer, Songwriter and Social Activist Michael Bolton continues to credit his fans as being “the best in the world.”Elko Concerts, $75, $55, $45.

February 21 Family Movie Night Adams 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 22 Meet the Muse Westmoreland 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 are there challenges that artists face to expressing their vision on the canvas?

Meet Barry Shields a working artist who is captivated by our urban landscape much the way Aaron Harry Gorson and Otto Kuhler were a century ago. Join us for this salon-style event and watch his painting unfold while asking and answering questions about his creative process. Time: 6pm, Cost: Free

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

February 23 Strange Encounters of Pennsylvania Adams 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 expert will be sharing creature reports from across the state and around our local area during his lecture “Strange Encounters of Pennsylvania.” Join us on Saturday, February 23rd at 2pm for the mysterious and exciting history of UFO and Bigfoot encounters in our area. Please call (724) 539-1972 to register. 2 pm.

February 23 Hollywood Party at the Palace Palace 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 of Westmoreland Cultural Trust (owner and developer of The Palace Theatre).

Program starts at 7 PM. $75, or $125 VIP ticket includes pre-party on stage at 6 PM. February 23 Tree Tapping Ceremony Meyersdale , 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 was the American Indian who discovered how to make maple syrup? Indians from New England to Canada were producing maple syrup from 1664. The Indians made a sloping cut, or gash, two inches deep and 2-1/2 inches long, in the side of a tree. A knife or wood chip was put into the bottom of the cut so the sap flowed down the cut, onto the knife and into a receptacle on the ground. The receptacles were made either of bark caulked with pitch or hollowed out logs.

By 1765, the settlers changed the Indians’ tapping to tree boxing. They trimmed off the bark and chopped a 1/2-inch deep square or rectangular hole into the tree trunk. A sloping trough was put into the tree trunk to take the sap from the hole, or box, to a spout or spile, which led the sap from 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 spiles for plastic or polyethylene tubing.

The Indians used a basket or tub from hollowed out tree bark as a collecting receptacle. They were placed on the snow or ground at the base of 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’t common until much later. Wooden buckets were still used in 1935; then they were replaced by tin-plated buckets because the wooden buckets dried out and leaked if they weren’t painted every year. Bucket covers have been used since 1870 to keep leaves and debris out. Plastic tubing, used since 1965, takes sap directly to a gathering vat or storage tank.

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

March 1 Conservation Station - Finely Woven Westmoreland 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 and bedding so it’s no surprise that the weaving of coverlets holds a significant place in our regional history. Lauren Lamendola Churilla will help us sort out warp from weft, and basket weave from Charvet as we examine the unique methods needed to conserve these woven wonders. This casual salon-style event will allow for questions and answers and some hands-on experiences with these colorful masterpieces. 6 pm. Free March 1 Sustainable Food & Farming Conference Laurelville Mennonite Church Center , 941 Laurelville Lane, Mount Pleasant, PA 15666. (724) 423-2056. www.laurelville.org/sff.

Sustainable Food & Farming conference is a shared celebration between growers and eaters alike. Come build relationships with like-spirited individuals and enjoy engaging workshops and dialogue around sustainable food production and consumption. Focusing on the theme “Farming that Heals”, the weekend will explore the impacts of cultivating and caring for the earth with presentation from a diverse group of keynote speakers. Each will speak into ways that farming crosses boundaries, bringing healing to land and relationships. $136/plus lodging.

March 2 Backyard Composting Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve ; 744 Walzer Way; Latrobe, PA 15650; Join in from 9am-2pm with a workshop that consists of an in-depth lecture given by an experienced Penn State Master Gardener. Learn how to compost yard waste, what kitchen wastes are safe to compost, and receive literature covering composting techniques and how to construct a compost bin out of readily available materials. Registration required. $10 per person. Call or e-mail info@westmorelandcleanways.org March 2 Celtic Connections Palace 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 and children. Call RCB for tickets at 800-292-7222.

March 2 Five by Design’s Ultra Lounge Show State Theatre Center for the Arts , 27 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401. (724) 439-1360. www.statetheatre.info Set in the format of a faux radio broadcast from a tiki lounge, The Ultra Lounge Show transports you to exotic locales in Hawaii, the Caribbean, Brazil, Rio, and Morocco.

The musical theatre travelogue features the music of Louis Prima & Keely Smith, Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Wayne Newton, and Julie London embraced by the sounds of a sultry, scintillating, jazz combo 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 and more! $34, $30, $26. Show starts at 8 PM! March 2 Waterfowl Watch Keystone State Park , 1150 Keystone Park Road, Derry, PA 15627.

(724) 668-2566.

Spring has not quite sprung but early March is a fascinating time of year to explore the natural changes around us. Join us for a hike along Keystone Lake to search for migratory waterfowl and other natural wonders of the season from 2pm-3pm! Meet at the visitor center and dress for the weather (don’t forget warm shoes/boots and clothing – it’s best to dress in layers). Please call 724-668-2566 or email pmcquistia@pa.gov to register.

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

Every Story Begins At Home.

Spring 2013 - 41

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

March 6 – August 31 Letters to Sala: A Young Woman’s Life in Nazi Camp Heritage Discovery Center , 201 6th Avenue, Johnstown, PA 15906.

(814) 539-1889. www.jaha.org Narrative told mainly through postcards and photographs written to and saved by Sala Garncarz, who at the age of 16 was deported into the Nazi labor camp system. This traveling exhibit tells her story. Free to members or with museum admission.

March 8 Art on Tap 5.2.7 Westmoreland 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 Friday of every month! Relax and enjoy music, scavenger hunts, and fun with friends! What a great way to end your work week! Admission is $7 and includes 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 8 Classic Film Series - The Good, the Bad & the Ugly State Theatre Center for the Arts , 27 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401. (724) 439-1360. www.statetheatre.info.

If you’re missing the State Theatre Classic Film Series, you’re missing out! Come see some of the greatest films ever made on the big screen at the State. Our series makes a great girls/guys night out, the best date night and a great place to go with friends and family! 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Adults $5, Seniors/Students $3 March 9 – June 2 Aaronel deRoy Gruber: An Art(ist) in Motion Westmoreland 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 at the urging of fellow artist, David Smith. This exhibition highlights the artist’s sculpture exploration, from welded steel and formed aluminum to shaping Plexiglas into colorful vacuum-formed pieces that are both illuminated and motorized. Gruber embarked on her more than six-decade career working in two-dimensions on canvas that quickly evolved into threedimensional shaped canvases. It was a natural evolution for the artist whose inquisitive nature led her to continually adapt her medium and working method from painting to sculpture, from photography to video over the course of her career. This exhibition will include examples of both types of sculpture as well as a sampling of the other mediums in which she worked.

March 9 Plastic Arts Westmoreland 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 plastic sculpture by Pittsburgh artist, Aaronel deRoy Gruber before trying your own hand at creating some magical looking plastic sculpture. Discover ways in which to use existing plastic materials to create fascinating works that reflect the light in a fun and unusual way! For ages 7-10 To register or for more information, contact by email education @wmuseumaa.org or phone at 724/837-1500 ext. 10. Time : 10am-12pm.

Cost : $10 per class March 13 Somerset County Spring Job Fair National 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 Somerset County Commissioners, Pennsylvania CareerLink Somerset County and Johnstown Area Regional Industries.

March 13 Vienna Boys’ Choir Palace 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 in Vienna, Austria. It is one of the best known boys’ choirs in the world, formed by imperial decree in 1498. Often called “Austria’s young ambassadors,” 42 - Spring 2013

their concerts are especially popular worldwide. Westmoreland Cultural Trust. 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 an irish-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 will be catered by The Chuckwagon. BYOB. Space is limited, call Rockwood Mill Shoppes or Laurel Arts for reservations. $25.00 March 16 Shamrockin’ Celebration Valley 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, and taste beers from Greensburg’s craft micro-brewery, All Saints Brewery. Cost is $20 per person. Be sure to dress in your finest green outfit! Snacks will be provided. Please reserve your tickets to assure adequate quantities of food and beverages. 724-238-6514 x2 March 16-17, 20-24 66th Annual PA Maple Festival Meyersdale , 120 Meyers Avenue, Meyersdale, PA 15552. (814) 634-0213. www.pamaplefestival.org One scene that has become forever inseparable from a history of smalltown America is a local store, a pot-bellied stove and a handful of men gathered around it. Proving no exception to the rule, any recounting of the history of our quiet rural community of Meyersdale must give special prominence to just such a Currier and Ives tableau. For it was actually around a potbellied stove of the Shipley Hardware Company Store, one blustery winter night some 60 years ago, that plans were formulated which, in the years since, have succeeded in launching Meyersdale into a position of international renown as “Maple City, USA” On that night a group of farseeing men had a vision—a celebration, a festival in Meyersdale to promote the sweetest of all Pennsylvania’s commodities, our own Somerset County maple syrup, a Maple Festival—and that vision, that dream, became a reality.

The background for this amazing story of development and growth centers around that ever-popular American songstress, Miss Kate Smith.

One day in the first part of 1947 Miss Smith, on her daily noontime broadcast, mentioned that she would appreciate a taste of some good Vermont maple syrup. Through the combined efforts of a few local citizens who accepted this as somewhat of a challenge, the idea of sending the radio star a sample of Somerset County’s maple syrup was conceived and implemented. On her April 17, 1947, national broadcast, Miss Smith sang not 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 promotional campaign which began that May under the auspices of the Meyersdale Chamber of Commerce. However, as the long winter days began to loom ahead, enthusiasm waned, and it was not until that “summit of the potbellied stove,” January 20, 1948, that this campaign received the final push it needed to start it on the road to success. With Chamber of Commerce President W. Hubert Lenhart at the helm, a planning committee was decided upon, and preparations for the very first Maple Festival to be held in 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 of Meyersdale and surrounding communities, took place. Pennsylvania’s Governor Daniel B. Strickler, guest speaker, addressed a crowd of 1,500 gathered on Main Street in front of the New Colonial Hotel. His words of praise for our enterprising and industrious community were followed by the coronation of Miss Agnes Jean Hornbrook, who had earlier won the right to the title of Pennsylvania’s Queen Maple I. US Rep. William F. Crow performed the honors. A dinner and tour of local maple camps concluded the day.

The story of Meyersdale’s Maple Festival is one of growth. From a handful of men gathered around a potbellied stove, it has come to include literally hundreds of workers. From a crowd of 1,500 spectators, it has become an attraction drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually. Today, to mention Meyersdale anywhere in Pennsylvania, anywhere in the tri-state area, and still very much farther than that, is to bring forth the reply, “Oh! the Maple Festival.” The Maple Festival has truly succeeded in putting Meyersdale LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

on the map. A search for the secret of this success leads one back to the community where it all started and back, too, to its citizens. Each year has found more and more people putting aside their differences and working together — for the same cause — with the knowledge that every Festival has made our Meyersdale a little more important, and better still, a nicer place in which to live.

March 16 Amadeus! A Mozart Celebration Palace 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 from Don Giovanni; Symphony No. 38 “Prague” March 16 Growing Up Wild Keystone State Park , 1150 Keystone Park Road, Derry, PA 15627.

(724) 668-2566 Growing Up Wild (Exploring Nature with Young Children) is an early child-hood education activity guide that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Following this Professional Development Workshop each participant will receive a copy of Growing Up Wild. Growing Up Wild is written for early childhood educators of children ages 3-7; features 27 fieldtested, hands-on, nature-based activities in a full-color 11"x17" activity guide. This workshop for teachers, parents, scout leaders, etc. will begin at the Keystone State Park Visitor Center, 8:30am-3:30pm. Pre-registration is required – please call 724-668-2566 or email pmcquistia@pa.gov for additional information.

March 16 – April 19 Pittsburgh Society of Artists-Illumination Greensburg 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 Illumination. 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 the theme of illumination is included in some way in the work.”

Juror is Kathy Dlugos, Art Program Director at Westmoreland County Community College March 16-17 Wilderness First Aid Winnie 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 17 Brian Regan Palace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724) 836-8000; www.palacetheatre.org.

Brian Regan has distinguished himself as one of the premier comedians in the country. Brian’s non-stop theater tour has visited more than 80 cities each year since 2005 and continues through 2013. It is the quality of his material, relatable to a wide audience and revered by his peers, which continues to grow Brian’s fan base. The perfect balance of sophisticated writing and physicality, Brian Regan consistently fills theaters nationwide with fervent fans that span generations. Live Nation, 7PM, $42.50 March 17 Fiddlers’ Jamboree Fayette County Fair . 132 Pechin Road, Dunbar, PA 15431. (724) 628-3360.

Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association, Inc. Time 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM in the Fiddlers Hall. Every month on the third Sunday of the month except for January and February.

March 20 Classy Glass: More Than Hot Air Westmoreland 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 the important contributions that Bryce Brothers Glass Company made to the craft of hand-blown leaded crystal. James Bryce began as an apprentice glassblower with Bakewell in Pittsburgh in 1827 before founding his own Every Story Begins At Home.

company in Mt. Pleasant, making high quality glassware for the White House, American embassies around the world, the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, and famous restaurants and clubs, including New York City’s Four Seasons and the Rolling Rock Club. Time : 12pm, Cost : Free March 20 Eggs & Issues Somerset Country Club , 416 Plank Rd., Somerset, PA 15501.

(814) 445-6431. www.somersetcountychamber.com Join us for Eggs & Issues! Featuring keynote speaker PA Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection Michael Krancer. Starts at 8am. There is a cost to attend. Please e-mail at info@somersetcounty chamber.com or call for details!

March 20 Jewel – Greatest Hits Tour Palace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724) 8368000; www.palacetheatre.org. Elko Concerts, $49, $39. Show starts at 7:30pm March 20 Tiny 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 the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Each session includes outside activity (weather permitting), an interactive activity, a craft and a story. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $1/month. Registration is required!

10am-11am or 12:30pm-1:30pm March 22 Generation Gap Westmoreland 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 overcome by their predecessors. Meet two generations of artists as they share their personal and professional journeys during different social and cultural times. Both still working artists, Charlee Brodsky came of age during the disco-era of bell-bottoms and the waning of the cold war, while Jane Haskell began her artistic career at the end of World War II as the United States entered an era of prosperity and technological innovation. Learn how the cultural milieu in which they emerged as artists influenced them, and the different challenges each had to overcome to succeed. Have we made progress? We’ll let them decide. 6pm, Cost: Free March 22-24 Pittsburgh Arts & Crafts Spring Fever Festival Monroeville Convention Center, 209 Mall Boulevard, Monroeville, PA 15146. (724) 863-4577. www.familyfestivals.com. Friday & Saturday 10am5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm Over 180 booths of unique arts and crafts including; jewelry, clothing, wood folk art, pet treats, scented candles, ceramics, and floral designs. Samle delicious dips, mixes, candy, candles, fudge and much more! Acres of free parking and free shuttle! Two huge exhibit halls of arts and crafts. Monroeville Convention Center located at 109 Mall Boulevard, in front of Monroeville Mall. Clowns, Glitter Dot & Dapper for the kids! Enjoy a unique day of shopping!

March 22 Winter Jazz 2013: Rockapella - Motown & More Pasquerilla 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: Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, The Commodores, Hues Corporation, The O’Jays, Martha & the Vandellas, The Temptations, and more! Show is at 7:30pm March 23 2nd Annual Miracle Bunny Trail 5k Penn State Fayette Campus , 2201 University Dr, Lemont Furnace, PA 15456. www.miracle5k.org 5k Run/Walk and Kid’s 1/2 mile Bunny Hop to benefit The Miracle League of Pa’s Laurel Highlands, a baseball league for children with special needs. $15 March 23 Imagine Nation Family Day Westmoreland 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 Spring 2013 - 43

March 23 Lyme Disease Screening & Symposium on Ticks Winnie 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 help the community’s efforts to reduce the epidemic pet and livestock tick infections in Western Pennsylvania. 1pm-4pm. Registration required by March 15.

March 23 Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway State Theatre Center for the Arts , 27 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401. (724) 439-1360. www.statetheatre.org Last year Neil Berg’s Broadway Holiday was so great, we had to bring them back with an all Broadway show. 100 years of Broadway recreates the greatest moments the finest shows of the century. $36, $32, $28. Show starts at 8 PM! March 23 3rd 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 24 Ted Neeley & The Little Big Band Palace 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 back at Ted’s career as a pioneer of rock operas and showcase music from his new CD. Show starts at 7 PM. Vestry, $45, $38, $28; Senior and student discounts.

March 30 Easter Egg Hunt Keystone 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 beach area and is for children 12 years of age and younger. Pre-registration is suggested to ensure ample eggs & goodies for all (724-668-2566, pmcquistia@pa.gov). Egg Hunt is 10:30am-11:30am Don’t miss this special day with the Easter Bunny, fire trucks, face painting and more! This event is made possible by the Friends of Keystone State Park. Funds support park projects, programs and events.

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

April 2 Opening Reception for Laurel Highlands Trout Trail Lincoln 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 pm To register, either email office@LHHC.org or call!

April 4 28th Annual College & Technical Fair National 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 the Somerset County Counselors Association.

April 4-5 Eleanor – An American Love Story Palace 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 direction of Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Stephen Schrum, PhD, and Music Director Christopher Bartley. Written by Jonathan Bolt with music by Thomas Tierney and lyrics by John Forster, this musical tells the story of Eleanor Roosevelt’s journey from a shy, young aristocrat to her emergence as a powerful catalyst for social change. It tells of the passionate courtship and bittersweet marriage to Franklin, and ultimately, of the surprising partnership that so dramatically changed the face of 20th Century America as well as the entire world. University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Adults $18; Seniors $17; Students & Youth $10; Groups of 10 or more $15

44 - Spring 2013

April 5, 6, 12-14 Second Samuel Valley 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 honey on a hot summer day. Behind its gentle tale of small-town life in the south in 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 6 Beatty County Road Clean Up Winnie 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 along Beatty Road. Coffee and Donuts at 8:30 AM at the Saint Vincent Gristmill.

Clean up 9am-11am; no cost. Please call to register!

April 6 Big Band and Doo Wop Brass Palace 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 6 Birds & Blooms Keystone State Park, 1150 Keystone Park Road, Derry, PA, (724) 668-2566.

Spring is a wonderful time of year to explore Keystone State Park! The longer days and warmer weather serve up a feast for the senses as nature awakens before us. We will listen for the sweet song of birds and comical chorus of frogs; search for fluttering and flowering splashes of color; and smell the fragrance of fresh blooms and grasses. Meet at the park’s visitor center, and don’t forget your hiking boots! 2pm-3pm. Please call 724-6682566 or email pmcquistia@pa.gov to register.

April 6 Fiddler on the Roof State Theatre Center for the Arts , 27 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401. (724) 439-1360. www.statetheatre.org The TRADITION lives! The universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of 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 6 Taxidermy from Start to Finish Winnie 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 how taxidermist, Bill Hise, owner of Bear’s Den Taxidermy in Finleyville, PA prepares and finishes deer mounts. Discover how a deer hide is tanned, mounted and customized to make the finished product life-like. Starts at 10am. Registration required, free to public!

April 7 Fiddler on the Roof Pasquerilla 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 unforgettabl experience. Relive the tradition! This universal story of hope, love and acceptance is a musical masterpiece! Show starts at 7:30pm.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

April 8 The Beach Boys Palace 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 their sunny 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 11 Branson’s Ozark Jubilee Palace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601.

(800) 292-7222 www.palacetheatre.org Direct from Branson, The Ozark Jubilee is fantastic family entertainment, a world-class fiddler, side-splitting comedy and your favorite country hits; a recipe for a good time! Latshaw Productions, $35, $30, $25. Shows at 2 PM and 8 PM. April 11 22nd Annual Tastes of the Town Hosted 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 12 Art on Tap 5.2.7 Westmoreland 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 Friday of every month! Relax and enjoy music, scavenger hunts, and fun with friends! What a great way to end your work week! Admission is $7 and includes 2 drink tickets (beer or wine). 5pm-7pm. The Stout Brothers will be performing this month.

April 12 Classic Film Series - The Heiress State Theatre Center for the Arts , 27 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401. (724) 439-1360. http://www.statetheatre.info/classic-film-series If you’re missing the State Theatre Classic Film Series, you’re missing out! Come see some of the greatest films ever made on the big screen at the State. Our series makes a great girls/guys night out, the best date night and a great place to go with friends and family! 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Adults $5, Seniors/Students $3 April 12 Michael W. Smith Palace 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 10 Fort Ligonier Opens for the Season 200 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 Majesty King George still flies. During your visit, you will explore the museum galleries and the impressive Fort, a full-scale, on-site restoration/ reconstruction of the 1758 – 1766 original, situated on a commanding hilltop in the beautiful Laurel Highlands. Allow at least an hour to tour Fort Ligonier plus some extra time to visit our Museum Store which features a wide selection of books, gifts, and souvenirs. MON – SAT 10 am – 4:30 pm. 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 and fort area. Tours are self-guided.

April 13 Book Box Westmoreland 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 Saturday studio 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 old book that you’d like to transform, bring it with you. If not, we’ll have plenty here to choose from. We’ll check out some of the special storage-type boxes in the Museum’’s collection for inspiration. For ages 7-10 Every Story Begins At Home.

To register or for more information, contact by email education@ wmuseumaa.org or phone at 724/837-1500 ext. 10. Time : 10am-12pm.

Cost : $10 per class April 13 Brilliant Brahms with pianist Angela Cheng Palace Theatre , 21 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. (800) 292-7222 www.palacetheatre.org Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra presents Brilliant Brahms with pianist Angela Cheng at 8pm. $39, $27, $26, $19, $10. Call 724-837-1850 for tickets.

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

Join us for the opening day of trout at Keystone State Park! Friends of Keystone State Park will have a variety of food, beverages and giveaways available 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 the opening day of trout, as well as sell bait and light tackle. Stop in for minnows to red worms, and spinners to powerbait. For more information regarding pricing and available items please call Northwest Kayak and Canoe at 724697-5280.

April 13 Season Opening – Meyersdale Visitors Center on the GAP 527 North Main Street, Meyersdale, PA 15552. (814) 634-8654. www.meyersdalehistoricalsociety.com Meyersdale Visitors Center on the GAP will open for the season on April 13. Restored Western Maryland train station with railroad and local-history themed exhibits, caboose, gift shop, model train displays, restroom facilities, beverages and snacks. Open through October 27.

April 16 – June 30 Along the Lincoln Highway Through Ligonier Valley Ligonier Valley Library, 120 West Main Street, Ligonier, PA 15658.

(724) 879-4241. www.lhhc.org The Pennsylvania Room of the Ligonier Valley Library has announced the title of this year’s Historical Photography Show, “Along the Lincoln Highway Through Ligonier Valley,” which will run April 16 through the end of June. This subject was selected to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Lincoln Highway. Photographs for the display will include: hotels, restaurants, gas stations, garages and attractions along the route, as well as pictures of the road and older vehicles.

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

An Opening Reception will be held on Tuesday, April 16, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Several other programs are being planned throughout the exhibit.

All programs are free and open to the public.

April 17 Tiny 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 the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Each session includes outside activity (weather permitting), an interactive activity, a craft and a story. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $1/month. Registration is required!

10am-11am or 12:30pm-1:30pm.

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

Spring 2013 - 45

April 19 Depue Brothers Band Pasquerilla 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 iconic family, you are in for an ear-bending revelation! 7:30pm April 20 Annual Fundraising Dinner & Silent Auction Saint Emma Monastery , 1001 Harvey Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601. (724) 834-3060. www.stemma.org. Dinner and socializing with the nuns! Unique auction items!

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

April 20 The Art of Fashion II Latrobe Country Club , 346 Arnold Palmer Drive, Latrobe, PA 15650. (724) 537-7011. www.latrobeartcenter.org April 21 Westmoreland Earth Day Winnie 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 and help foster a healthy Earth. Time: 11am-4pm. Cost: FREE April 26 Love & Art: Stories with Irv Westmoreland 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 with Aaronel deRoy Gruber. Irv met his future wife, Aaronel deRoy, at a fraternity dance at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University).

He received his B.S. in Industrial Management and she graduated with a degree in Fashion Economics. They were married for 71 years. Time : 6pm. Cost : Free April 27 5th Annual Model Railroad Home Tour Westmoreland County , Ligonier Valley Railroad Museum. 3032 Idlewild Hill Lane, Ligonier, PA 15658. (724) 238-7819. www.lvrra.org This tour will visit multiple layouts and displays in Westmoreland County. 9am-4pm. $15-adults, $5 16 and under. Tickets are sold in advance only! Only 300 will be sold. Deadline for tickets is April 20. Tickets and maps will be mailed in late March.

April 28, May 2-3, 5, 8-10 Disney’s The Little Mermaid Cresson Lake Playhouse , 279 Shapiro Road, Loretto, PA 15940. (814) 4724333. www.cressonlake.com In a magical kingdom fathoms below, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince Prince Eric that she’s the girl with the enchanting voice. Adults: $8, Students $5 April 28 Kenny Vance & The Planotones Pasquerilla 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 The Planotones 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 oldies with vocal authority and freshness. As exemplified by their signature song “Looking For An Echo”, their material is influenced by the music of the 50’s and 60’s, but they consistently bring a unique and musically sophisticated point of view. In this sense they are classicists, opening the eyes of a new generation to a rich historical musical style. With their cool and sultry musical approach, they give a gift to those who are discovering them for the first time! Show starts at 6:30pm

46 - Spring 2013

April 29 The Little Engine that Could Earns Her Whistle Pasquerilla 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 the big cars on the main line track. But can she convince Big Silver that she is worthy of being a main line engine? Back to reprise its sold-out premiere season, ArtsPower’s dynamic, song-filled adventure portrays Watty Piper’s timeless tale about hard work, determination, and the meaning of true friendship. *GROUPS: Receive one complimentary ticket with every fifteen purchased. Shows at 10:15am and 12:30pm May 1 Compass Inn opens for the season US Route 30. Laughlintown, PA. 724-238-4983. www.compassinn.com Visit the Compass Inn to receive an informative and entertaining tour by costumed docents that tells the story of transportation and everyday life in the early 1800’s. The tour delivers “history with a smile” by incorporating a generous sprinkling of etymology (word and phrase origins). For example you can learn why we drink in “bars” and “toast” people.

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

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

May 2 Popovich Pet Theatre Pasquerilla 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 the unique comedy and juggling skills of Gregory Popovich and the extraordinary talents of his performing pets. They love to show off onstage – performing a variety of stunts and skits! You and your family will be delighted to see this extravaganza of European-style clowning, amazing juggling and balancing acts and of course, very talented performing pets.

Show starts at 7:30pm May 3 Tanya Tucker Palace 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 released her much anticipated new CD, My Turn, on Saguaro Road Records. On this new album Tucker takes classic country songs recorded by country’s top men and turns the tables, giving classics such as You Don’t Know Me and Oh, Lonesome Me a powerful reconstruction from a woman’s point of view. Only 13 when her provocative Delta Dawn caused a nationwide stir and became a Top 10 country hit, she is considered one of the very few females of the “outlaw” country movement, holds a Grammy award, two Country Music Association awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, and three CMT Awards. Twenty-three of her albums have landed in the country Top 40 chart since her 1972 debut, and she has amassed ten #1 country singles, 33 that have reached the Top 5, and 41 in the Top 10. Elko Concerts, 8 pm.

May 4 Ohiopyle State Park Youth Fishing Festival Ohiopyle State Park , PO Box 105, Ohiopyle, PA 15470. (724) 329-8591. www.friendsofohiopyle.info May 5 Lincoln Highway Experience Festival Lincoln 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 be open free to Westmoreland County residents from 11 am to 4 pm. Brian Butko, noted Lincoln Highway historian and author, will be on hand to autograph his books. PoJuried members of our Artisan Trail will be on hand to demonstrate and sell their hand made crafts. ***** Family-friendly, cultural, and nonprofit events take precedence when print space is a consideration. calendar@laurelmountainpost.com/PO Box 332 Ligonier PA 15658

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

SOMERSET HISTORICAL CENTER SOMERSET COUNTY, PA

The Somerset Historical Center preserves the rural lifestyles of southwestern Pennsylvania from the times of the earliest farmers

Authorized American-Standard Showroom

to the present day.

MACK M. DARR PLUMBING • HEATING • AIR CONDITIONING

SOMERSET HISTORICAL CENTER Pennsylvania’s Rural History Museum 10649 Somerset Pike, Somerset, PA 15501 (814) 445-6077 www.somersethistoricalcenter.org This advertisement sponsored by Sprune Run Equine Veterinary Associates

Every Story Begins At Home.

320 W. MAIN ST. • LIGONIER 15658

724-238-5612 “A tradition for over 65 years!”

Licensed PA006886

HEATING • NEW CONSTRUCTION • REMODEL • WATER SYSTEMS ROUTINE SERVICE • RADIANT FLOOR HEAT • PLUMBING • REPAIR AIR CONDITIONING • NEW INSTALLATION • DUCT CLEANING

Spring 2013 - 47

END NOTES

by Cathi Gerhard

One Foot in Front of the Other At the end of January, I had the opportunity to participate in the Directions Program at Derry Area Middle School. Sponsored by the Latrobe Area Chamber of Commerce, this career planning seminar is designed to bring together a variety of local business professionals with students in 8th and 9th grade at Derry and Greater Latrobe school districts as they prepare to schedule “focus area” courses for senior high.

I was assigned to speak with Mr. Zurinsky’s 3rd period, along with Madalyn Kalning, HR Manager at Gutchess Hardwoods Inc. of Latrobe. Together we discussed choices including levels of education, types of jobs, professionalism, salaries, and budgeting. When asked if any of the students already knew what they wanted to pursue, they gave us a variety of answers: small or large animal veterinarian, computer science, agricultural engineer, make-up artist, physical therapist, OB-GYN, construction, psychologist, graphic arts, military, etc.

Largely influenced by their parents’ careers, the students seemed to have very specific ideas – or no real direction at all.

But both answers are OK; they are only in 8th grade. What we tried to emphasize in our talk was the importance of choices, flexibility, and doing something you love, rather than whatever comes along. When I was growing up, the world still operated under the 20th century model of a “lifelong” career – the one that ended with a gold watch after 40+ years of faithful service, doing the same thing every day of your adult life for the same company. They don’t give out many of those watches anymore. Today’s workers are lucky to last 10 years in the same job before a change is required, for one reason or another. We are no longer simply changing employers, but occupations. Technology and global economics are transforming so rapidly that many jobs are out of date before one can even fully train for them. Our work lives have become tenuous, discouraging, and scary. There don’t seem to be as many rules anymore, and luck plays an even bigger role.

48 - Spring 2013

Many articles in this issue of the Laurel Mountain Post discuss careers and the paths that different people have taken, telling stories of the complicated and often unexpected roads taken to their successes.

If I were to draw some conclusions from their experiences, and make my own list of rules, it would go something like this: • Be as flexibile as possible. Change is the only sure thing.

• Every job, no matter how small or “meaningless” will teach you a lot. Value these experiences and learn as much as you can. As a

freelance journalist, I have taken several different part-time jobs to pay the bills such as insurance clerk, preschool teacher, secretary, machinist, farmer, lay minister, sales clerk, customer service representative, banker, and hotel concierge. Each tenure now qualifies me to write about diverse subjects: business, education, engineering/manufacturing, agriculture, religion, economics, finance and tourism. I could never have learned all those things in four years of college!

• Choose to study what interests you, rather than train for a specific job. Become a master of knowledge and adapt to different opportunities. You’ll always enjoy what you do, despite the details.

• Fear is the biggest enemy. Being afraid to take that first step is actually the worst choice you can make. Just put one confident foot in front of the other, regardless of the terrain. Rita Mae Brown once said, “A peacefulness follows any decision, even the wrong one.” It’s never too late to change direction – we’re not cemented into the footsteps of the past.

As you get ready to begin this new adventure, no matter what your age, there are a few ways to prepare. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (www.pa careerzone.org) has developed a great online tool with the latest statistics on careers in the state, including salaries, educational requirements, and tons of other information.

It even helps you create a sample budget based on your selections!

Build a strong, professional resume, and join the online career network LinkedIn. “A digital profile of each student is essential in securing an internship or job these days,” explained Skip Glenn, Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. “Companies like Under Armour are requiring students to be on LinkedIn in order to qualify for an internship.”

Be sure to upload an appropriate photo; companies really want to see what you look like in order to vet your professionalism before they schedule an interview!

My own daughter is now facing the first crossroads of her professional life.

She will finish student teaching in May, and has no idea if she will find a job, get into graduate school, or be unemployed. Where will she go from here? It’s a fork in her road, a terrifying question no one can answer right away. I have no more advice to give, only patience. Her bag is well-packed, and it’s time to enjoy the journey . . .

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

POST

Bloom and Grow.

Advertise in the Laurel Mountain Post.