WINTER 2018 | VOL 02 | ISSUE 02
WINTERTIME ADVENTURES
For a cold-weather rush, take to the slopes on a snow tube, snowboard or skis.
Your Best Shot Practice hitting clay targets, whether you’re an expert or a novice.
Save the Bats Scientists work to preserve cavern’s premiere residents.
REFRESH YOURSELF FOR WHAT’S NEXT
WELCOME
www.7springs.com CEO Eric Mauck Director of Marketing & Communications Alex Moser
Sales Director William Gregory
Publisher Bill Uhler Director Bob Cucciniello
Graphic Designers Jenni Leiste, Alex Tatro Special Content Editorial Director Christian Williams Copy Editor Leslie Andres Contributing Photographers Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Heidi Lewis, Patrick McCloskey Contributing Writers Katie Buchan, Scott Cummings, A.A. Forringer, Patrick McCloskey, Catherine Orlando, Paris Wolfe For editorial inquiries Jean Teller 785-832-7231, jteller@sunflowerpub.com For advertising queries Tracy Brooks, tbrooks@altoonamirror.com; Alex Moser, amoser@7springs.com All material and photographs copyright Sunflower Publishing, 2018. Laurel Highlands Magazine releases twice a year.
HAPPY READING! JEAN, EDITOR
WINTER 2018 | VOL 02 | ISSUE 02
WINTERTIME ADVENTURES
For a cold-weather rush, take to the slopes on a snow tube, snowboard or skis.
Your Best Shot Practice hitting clay targets, whether you’re an expert or a novice.
Save the Bats Scientists work to preserve cavern’s premiere residents.
ON THE COVER Take to the air as you conquer the snow. Photo by Heidi Lewis
Laurel Highlands Magazine
Editor Jean Teller
A recent trip to the Laurel Highlands and Seven Springs Mountain Resort opened my eyes to the beauty of the region. While my visit coincided with the trees starting to change color, I can well imagine the winter wonderland that will appear as soon as the temperatures drop. Snow tugs at the souls of many winter outdoors enthusiasts. Many find themselves in the Laurel Highlands region, looking for new adventures, favorite haunts, and time with friends and family. We introduce you to the Snowsports School and Sports Clays at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. From there, venture to the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, a 50-acre oasis founded by the late wife of golfer Arnold Palmer; the Stone House Restaurant and Country Inn in Farmington, a perfect place for a special dinner, reception or event; or the Fred Rogers Center in Mr. Rogers’ own neighborhood of Latrobe, where visitors discover wonderful facts about the man, his long-running television program, and the community. As a side note, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first airing of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. While we’re in the area, let’s stop in at Hidden Valley Resort for winter sports and a wedding or two. No matter what brings you to the Laurel Highlands region, you will find fun, good food, and great hospitality!
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Production Manager Jenni Leiste
CONTENTS
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HELLO, LAUREL HIGHLANDS! Supervising Snow Sports Jamie Forys’ unlikely path to supervising Seven Springs’ all-season sports school.
FEATURE Mr. Rogers’ First Neighborhood Latrobe remembers the gentle man who made such a mark on television and our children’s educations.
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STAY The Resort-within-a-Resort Seclusion and tranquility await at Seven Springs’ Fin ’n Feather.
PLAY Hit It with Your Best Shot Sporting Clays at Seven Springs provides a safe haven for novice shooters—or those with experience—to practice, practice, practice.
PLAY Outdoor Adventures, Hidden in the Valley Hidden Valley Resort offers families a beautiful place to embrace the activities of the Laurel Highlands.
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Laurel Highlands Magazine
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DISCOVER Get Outside! Be one with nature, be well with nature at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve.
DISCOVER Visiting The Stone House Historic restaurant and inn is a foodie’s dream come true.
DISCOVER A Wright Creation For an up-close look at the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, book a tour of the house and grounds at Kentuck Knob.
HELLO, LAUREL HIGHLANDS! Making Mountains Sing How a mountain manager turns Seven Springs Mountain Resort to winter white.
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HELLO, LAUREL HIGHLANDS! The Grape Life Manager finds her calling as family-run winery offers flavor to Somerset County.
FEATURE Picture-Perfect Weddings Resort offers beautiful vistas and locations for romantic celebrations any time of the year.
FEATURE Saving the Bats Pennsylvania bats are in trouble, and work is underway to bring them back.
EVENTS
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#HIGHLANDSMAG!
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STAY Story by Katie Buchan | Photos by Heidi Lewis Laurel Highlands Magazine
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The Resortwithin-aResort Seclusion and tranquility await at Seven Springs’ Fin ’n Feather.
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3846 State Route 31 Donegal, PA 15628 724.593.RIDE
www.SilverHorseCoffee.com
Laurel Highlands Magazine
@silverhorsecoffee
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ush woodlands, tranquil ponds, a small gravel road leading through the forest … many may recognize this scene as the quintessential Laurel Highlands motif, but few know of the magical “resort-within-a-resort” tucked within the boundaries of the 5,500 acres of Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Fondly described as a place where time slows down, Fin ’n Feather at Seven Springs is one of the best-kept secrets hidden in a surprising location. Along Village Drive, a main thruway at the resort, a small side road extends from the paved drive and leads into a wooded area near Turtle Pond. A little farther down the road is a scene of rustic charm and tranquility that can be described as an idyllic forest oasis, completely hidden away yet located just minutes from the excitement of the Seven Springs Resort. This private mini-resort consists of three separate buildings, the Main Lodge, the Guest House, and the Carriage House. Sleeping up to 16 people, the Fin ’n Feather property is a perfect hideaway for everything from weddings and family gatherings to corporate retreats. Its unique layout allows guests to convene during the day and withdraw to the privacy of their respective houses each evening. Once inside the grounds of Fin ’n Feather, visitors quickly discover why this property has earned the nickname of the resort-within-a-resort. “Fin ’n Feather sits on eight acres of possibly the most serene land at Seven Springs,” says Dave Runco, director of hospitality. “On the grounds, you’ll find a bocce ball court, campfire pit, hiking trails, volleyball, fishing ponds complete with Orvis fly fishing rods, croquet, and more to discover. Inside the Main Lodge is a dining room that can accommodate 20 guests, a full kitchen, a living room with a fireplace, and a game room with a pool table, card table, darts, and more. That only covers some of what you can explore. It’s really the perfect place for a family getaway, a corporate retreat, or a wedding ceremony and reception.”
B U R R I T O S
Pair cheeses from Moo Echo Dairy with your favorite mead; fresh produce from area farmers markets will make any meal special.
FIT ‘N FEATHER LODGING
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Babbling brooks rush beneath the walking bridges, resident swans guide their cygnets across the gentle waters, native wildflowers dot the landscape, and occasionally a bald eagle soars above the trees, all accentuating Fin ’n Feather’s tranquil seclusion. Whether you visit during the vibrant summer season or in the delicate quiet of the winter snows, this is a place to refocus and reconnect, both with loved ones and with yourself. “You’re just minutes away from the resort, but you’re also nicely tucked away in a private paradise at Fin ’n Feather,” says Runco. “We’ve left the grounds alone to mature for more than 50 years, and you can find huge hemlocks and other elements of nature in its purest form as you explore. This is a rustic setting tied together with modern conveniences. Whether you’re observing the wildlife or relaxing by the fireside, it’s a place where you can watch your troubles meander down the stream.”
FIN ’n FEATHER 800-452-2223, ext. 7087 www.7springs.com/meet/fin-n-feather
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Gazebos • Sheds Poly & Wood Lawn Furniture Link Log Fireplaces Wood & Vinyl Swing Sets Swings & Gliders
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1791 Indian Creek Valley Road Champion PA 15622
PLAY Story by Scott Cummings | Photos by Heidi Lewis Laurel Highlands Magazine
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Hit It with Your Best Shot Sporting Clays at Seven Springs provides a safe haven for novice shooters—or those with experience—to practice, practice, practice.
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f you’ve ever experienced the heartpumping sensation of flushing iridescent pheasants in the fall field or a ruffed grouse from snow-covered logging brush, witnessed an overhead duck drop into marshy wetlands, or watched as your dog stalked a speeding rabbit—then you most likely share an enthusiasm for shooting sports. Your success in these endeavors depends upon your preparation. Unlike trap and skeet, sporting clays targets are thrown in a variety of trajectories, angles, speeds, elevations, and distances, all of which simulate actual hunting conditions. As with any hobby, patience is tested and proficiency is earned. But what a feeling! The Laurel Highlands area is littered with clubs and accommodations, ranging from the rustic to the posh, for such practice. Rated one of the best facilities in the country, Sporting Clays at Seven Springs is a unique opportunity. National Sporting Clays Association Level III instructor Mike Mohr designed three challenging paved courses with 48 stations and 117 different birds (positions). The facility also sports a five-stand heated building for allyear shooting on its beautiful mountain ridge. This facility can host large events or tournaments and is also a great spot for novice shooters of all ages. The staff at Seven Springs Mountain Resort are sharp; everyone has a unique background and story to tell. Paul Ankney is a NSCA Level II clays instructor, avid hunter, and taxidermist. As a former schoolteacher, he’s perfect for the job— patient, encouraging, knowledgeable of the outdoors. This experience allows him to make those crucial learning connections with shooters for bird hunting in the fall.
SPORTING CLAYS AT SEVEN SPRINGS 777 Waterwheel Drive Champion, PA 15622 800-452-2223, ext. 7899 www.7springs.com/sporting-clays-at-seven-springs
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Whether you’re a novice at the sport or an experienced shooter, Sporting Clays offers the expert assistant-and space-to hone your skills.
Here are a few pointers to “up your game.” • Point your front or lead foot in the direction you want to break the clay (called “break point”). • When shouldering your gun, keep the lower half of the stock’s butt tucked in tight and the upper half above your joint. This keeps your sight alignment down the barrel and not up it. • When clutching the fore-end grip, remember to place your index finger parallel to the barrel and not under it with your other digits. Subconsciously, where you point that finger is where the barrel follows. This finger positioning allows you to keep your eyes on the bird and leads to better side-to-side movement (without jerking on your approach) as it relaxes the tension in your forearm. • The best kill shot is hitting your clay or bird on its apex, or highest point of trajectory. Once it turns over, it’s downhill fast and so are your odds of hitting it. At that point, stay well under it when squeezing the trigger. • On a crossing clay or bird, stay in front of it and aim twice the distance of what your brain says to lead it. One foot ahead? Aim two. Two feet ahead? Aim four in front. The result: a smashed clay. The translation to hunting is simple: It’s better to be too far forward and put some pellets in the duck than to aim spot-on or run behind and not hit the target at all. • Relax, see the bird coming, never release your eyes from the target. An example of this is taking the lower clay first on a two-shot pull. The top clay is usually launched in such a way that it’ll hang up and you can catch it before it breaks apex. Smart approach. Your natural inclination might be to do the opposite. It is not a sin to shoot top down, but success is directly correlated to patience in relaxing and staying on that lower bird even though opportunity is fleeting. Same with closing one eye versus both eyes open. Ankney agrees that instincts can take over, and if it repeatedly works, don’t fix it. • Speaking of instincts, try this exercise. Pace about while your partner talks out a hunt scenario. Gun at mid-body, imagine that duck flushing or flying overhead. When he yells, “From your left,” react accordingly. Not all clays facilities allow shooting outside a booth, but you can practice in a field at home. In the end, it’s all about growing your confidence, knowing your gun, and understanding your shell’s load patterning when accompanying the right chokes for your intended game. Hand-eye coordination and muscle memory come with practice, and practice doesn’t make perfect—perfect practice make perfect. Novice or experienced, consider getting some pointers. If just one tip takes on new meaning, then the trip to Seven Springs was worth it, and that increased waterfowl harvest means sending your instructor a thank-you card.
“Relax, see t he bird coming, never release your eyes from the t arget.”
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—Paul Ankney
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Story by Katie Buchan | Photos by Heidi Lewis
PLAY
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Hidden Valley Resort offers families a beautiful place to embrace the activities of the Laurel Highlands.
idden Valley Resort has a fitting name. Located just a few miles from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, this quiet resort is a hidden gem, tucked within a gently sloping valley and offering families the perfect place to enjoy the Laurel Highlands in every season. With 110 acres and 26 unique ski slopes and trails, Hidden Valley offers fresh powder and gentle terrain; it’s an ideal place to teach the little ones to navigate the snow on skis or a snowboard or to head out and learn a new sport yourself. Learning to hit the slopes is both easy and fun at the Hidden Valley Snowsports School. The cliché of a ski instructor sending frightened newbies down an intimidatingly steep hill for their first run is not the reality at Hidden Valley. The school takes a new approach to those first turns on the snow with the Fun-Based Learning program. The Fun-Based Learning program uses shaped snow features that naturally control speed to allow first-timers to feel the sensation of gliding on snow. The instructor patiently takes each guest through the learning process step-bystep, allowing each to gain confidence and control and gradually progress with her or his skills. “I get many compliments about our instructors and staff, and I’m very proud of what our team has done,” says Mike Mohr, general manager of Hidden Valley Resort. “One of the best things our team does is create games for the children that allow them to learn and play at the same time. Incorporating games helps them stay focused and engaged, and it creates that fun environment that’s critical for the kids.”
Laurel Highlands Magazine
Outdoor H Adventures, Hidden in the Valley
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With all the sporting options available at Hidden Valley Resort, every family member will find exactly the right activity, whether it’s skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, or fun in the sun on the golf course.
While skiers and snowboarders can take on everything from green-level beginner trails to black diamond slopes, the resort also offers snow tubing for those looking for an easier approach to high-speed snow sliding. Featuring six lanes and a magic carpet to whisk tubers back up after each run, Hidden Valley’s snow tubing park offers guests all of the fun of sled riding without the uphill trek. Inside the Snow Tubing Lodge, hot chocolate and snacks await those with rosy cheeks coming back inside after a thrilling day of dashing through the snow. With the arrival of spring, the melting snow reveals a stunning par 72, 18-hole golf course at the top of the mountain. The course at the Hidden Valley Golf Club is designed to follow the natural terrain of the mountainous landscape, resulting in a challenging and beautiful course. From some locations, golfers can see vistas spanning up to 30 miles as they play through the course. “It’s a true mountain course with long-range views and picturesque rolling hills,” Mohr says. “Our quaint country club atmosphere and personalized service bring us a lot of regulars. We have a great view from the Mulligan’s Grill to enjoy a cold beverage and light fare after your rounds. It’s where you’ll hear all of the tall tales of how well everyone played that day.” Not only is Hidden Valley beautiful on its own, the resort is tucked into a vast expanse of state park and forest land. Visitors can explore miles of trails for hiking, biking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and more within the thousands of acres of pristine woodland just outside the resort’s borders. Each season offers something different to enjoy at Hidden Valley Resort, from exhilarating slides in the snow to breathtaking fall foliage hikes to golf course views you’ll write home about.
167 West Patriot St. Somerset, Pa 15501 (814) 445-2100
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612 Goucher St. 1577 Forest Hills Dr. Johnstown, Pa 15905 Salix, Pa 15952 (814) 255-6421 (814) 266-3948 1111 Scalp Ave. Johnstown, Pa 15904 (814) 269-3493
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One Craighead Drive P.O. Box 4420 Hidden Valley, PA 15502 814-443-8000 www.hiddenvalleyresort.com
434 Main St. Johnstown, Pa 15901 (814) 535-5919
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HIDDEN VALLEY RESORT
It’s not just a sub, It’s an EM’S SUB
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Story by Scott Curry | Photos Courtesy of Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve
DISCOVER
Get Outside!
Be one with nature, be well with nature at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve.
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inter blues have you feeling down? The good folks at Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe would like to remind you of a very simple and research-based method of dealing with seasonal emotions. Get outside. Taking a walk in nature is a sure-fire way to give you a positive boost. A 2015 study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, found that people who walked for 90 minutes in a natural area, as opposed to participants who walked in a high-traffic urban setting, showed decreased activity in a region of the brain associated with a key factor in depression. “This finding is exciting because it demonstrates the impact of nature experience on an aspect of emotion regulation, something that may help explain how nature makes us feel better,” says lead author Gregory Bratman, a graduate student in the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program of Stanford University’s School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences. In another study, also led by Bratman, time spent in nature showed a positive effect on mood and cognitive function, including working memory, as well as a dampening effect on anxiety.
“I wish everyone would remember just how simple it is to feel better.”
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Basically, science has proven something we all know intuitively good when we go outside. So why does it seem like we’ve forgotten? Author Richard Louv coined the phrase “nature deficit disorder” in his 2005 book Last Child in the Woods. He writes, “Nature-deficit disorder is not meant to be a medical diagnosis but rather to serve as a description of the human costs of alienation from the natural world.” The evidence and research behind this term are staggering and very real.
Laurel Highlands Magazine
—Allis on Petris
FOR MORE INFORMATION
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WPNR.org 724-537-5284 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650
Welcome to OUR Boardroom sporting clays
Recent findings show children ages 8 to 18 spend more than six hours each day with electronic media, more than 45 hours a week. Children have less time for unstructured, creative play outdoors in today’s society than at perhaps any other time in human history. People who spend most of their time indoors are at risk for developing chronic health problems. Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, anxiety, and depression are more common among those who forget to get outside.
trillium spa Snow Tubing Where executives become adventurers, luncheons become culinary journeys and productivity soars to new heights. Whether it is a small committee, or a company-wide conference, our dedicated team has coordinated thousands of conferences and will ensure your guests have a relaxing and productive meeting. Deluxe Hotel Room • Continental Breakfast • General Session Meeting Room Standard Audio/Visual Services • Morning Break Service Luncheon Service Afternoon Break Service • Professional Conference Planning Services For more information on hosting your event, please contact one of our Sales Professionals at 800 -452-2223, ext. 7975.
777 Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs, PA 15622
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• right off the Pennsylvania Turnpike •
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The Solution Nestled in the foothills of the Western Allegheny Mountains, on the campus of Saint Vincent College, lies a beautiful nature reserve named in honor of Winnie Palmer, the late wife of golf legend Arnold Palmer. It was Winnie’s vision, and the Palmer family spearheaded the effort and ultimately saved the area—more than 50 acres—from urban development nearly two decades ago. “Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, or WPNR as the folks here call it, is a destination for (people of ) all walks of life to come and experience the beauty and wonderment of nature,” says Angela Belli, executive director of WPNR. “When you visit us, the first thing you’ll notice is our Environmental Learning Barn. Winnie loved the red barns of Western Pennsylvania and how they added character to the landscape. In addition to our walking trails, Certified Nature Explore Classroom, apiary, gardens, historic Lochry blockhouse and other fascinating outdoor interests, we provide a full suite of programming for all ages in the barn. I like to say we teach people about nature from K [kindergarten] to gray.” Belli, her staff and volunteers are passionate about nature and encourage people to get outside. “I wish everyone would remember just how simple it is to feel better,” says Allison Petris, WPNR’s environmental education coordinator. “I love taking a walk around here; it never gets old. You just feel good after a nice hike.” Are the walking trails still used even when there’s snow? “Absolutely,” says Jennifer Eppolito, education horticulturist at WPNR. “We have free snow shoes for guests. We subscribe to the notion that there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing choices. My kids and I love going for a hike in winter. The crisp air is invigorating, and it’s a ton of fun.” This winter, forget about chilling with a movie. Help yourself and your family by encouraging them to play outside. We gain so much by exploring nature; your body and mind will thank you for it.
learn to ski or snowboard
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Manicures • Pedicures • Facials • Massages • Body Treatments Hydrotherapy • Sauna • Signature Blends • Couples Massage 7SPRINGS.COM
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Story by Paris Wolfe
| Photo Courtesy of Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau
DISCOVER
Laurel Highlands Magazine
Historic restaurant and inn is a foodie’s dream come true.
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hen Marianne D’Auria saw friends comment on Facebook about a great beerthemed dinner at The Stone House Restaurant and Country Inn in Farmington, the western-Pennsylvanian foodie wanted to share the experience. So she talked her boyfriend, Michael Germeyer, into spending a romantic weekend at the historic 1822 restaurant and inn. “We tried it and fell in love with the place,” Germeyer says. That was five years and one wedding ago. The Germeyers of Pittsburgh liked Chef Jeremy Critchfield’s work so much they had him cater their November 2015 nuptials at a firemen’s hall. Today four to six friends join the couple at regular beer-themed dinners and visit the restaurant in the summer for the wellregarded barbecue. “The atmosphere feels like you’re going to a friend’s house to eat dinner,” says Michael, who makes the 60- to 90-minute drive from Pittsburgh to the Laurel Highlands for the dining experience. “Now the staff knows us and treats us like family. “ It should be no surprise that the restaurant has earned such loyalty. Chefowner Critchfield has more than 25 years’ experience, much of it in luxury resorts. Most recently he was vice president of food and beverage and corporate chef at The Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. He’s been in charge of kitchens at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, just down the road, and at The Lodge at Sea Island, St. Simons Island, Georgia. All are five-star, five-diamond properties. Critchfield’s earliest memories of great food include his grandparents. “My grandma was a great baker, and my grandad was a great cook. Grandad was also a farmer and a hunter. On Sunday they’d come home from church, grab a chicken and butcher it for dinner. My love of good food started there,” he says.
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Visiting the Stone House
“I loved working w i th a m a z i n g p ro d u c t s a n d che f s , b e i n g able to make g re a t f o o d . . . I ’ m crea t i n g m y o w n s ma l l e r v e r s i o n .”
Photo Courtesy Jeremy Critchfield
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—Chef Jeremy
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3023 National Pike Farmington, PA 15437 724-329-8876 www.stonehouseinn.com
Laurel Highlands Magazine
THE HISTORIC STONE HOUSE RESTAURANT & INN
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The journey to chef-hood began as an act of rebellion. “My buddy was going on a college visit to culinary school. I thought it was an easy way to get a day off. Then, I fell in love with the idea and decided to go to culinary school,” Critchfield says. After graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Critchfield spent his early years working in kitchens at luxury resort hotels. “I loved working with amazing products and chefs, being able to make great food and pull off crazy big events. It was addictive. So, I’m creating my own smaller version of it.” The Stone House menu is heavy on the American comfort food and barbecue loved by locals and travelers. “We do a lot with dry-aged steaks. Chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, and pot roast are big on the menu,” he says. Two years ago, Critchfield added a butcher shop to the property to offer the best meat, dry-aged steaks, and handmade sausages. “It’s an old-school, neighborhood butcher shop to service our restaurant, wholesale to other restaurants, and retail to the consumer,” he says. The shop offers retail nationwide through its website www.shbutcher.com. For those who want to stay put after a great meal or spend a romantic weekend in the Laurel Highlands, the sprawling Stone House has 13 guest rooms— seven in the Victorian side, six added in 2000—as part of its 60,000-square-foot complex. There’s still one thing Germeyer would change about the place. “I wish they were closer,” he says. “We’d go there more often.”
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Story by Philip Palumbo and Mary Ann Perkins | Photos Courtesy of Jim Judkis/Kentuck Knob Archives
A Wright Creation
For an up-close look at the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, book a tour of the house and grounds at Kentuck Knob.
DISCOVER
“N
o house should ever be on a hill or on anything,” observed Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the greatest architects of the 20th century. “It should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together each the happier for the other.” With this philosophy central to Kentuck Knob’s organic architecture, the house integrates design, art and landscape seamlessly, and in perfect harmony. Great architecture does not begin at the drafting table. It begins with a tract of land and the desire to build something worthy. Throw in a striking landscape and an architect of world renown, and something special is created. Kentuck Knob is the distillation of all these essential elements. At once dramatic and serene, the house is perched 2,050 feet above sea level and commands a stunning view of the Youghiogheny River Gorge and the Laurel Highlands.
“ N o h o use s h o uld e ve r be o n a h i ll o r o n a n yt hin g.”
Sarnelli’s Corner
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— Frank Lloy d Wri ght
STOP SHOPPING
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MARKET
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Kentuck Knob is a one-story hexagonal house built in Wright’s signature Usonian style. Although Wright, with typically colorful language, quipped that he would “shake it [Kentuck Knob] out of his sleeve at will,” the house itself speaks to a higher ideal, for “Usonian” described Wright’s architectural solution to the alarming absence of affordable housing in the United States. The Hagans, owners of a successful Pennsylvania dairy company, commissioned Wright in 1953 to build their home. At age 86, and busy at work on New York’s timeless Guggenheim Museum, Wright began construction of Kentuck Knob.
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Corner of Routes 31 & 711 South, Jones Mill, PA 15646
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Exploring Kentuck Knob means finding delightful touches from the building’s creator, Frank Lloyd Wright, such as the skylights along the walkway, top, and the stone work, above.
The materials of native sandstone and tidewater red cypress ensure that the house enters into a natural rapport with its surroundings. The slanting copper roof, open plan interior, cantilevered overhangs and vast expanses of glass blur the lines between house and nature. Purchased in 1986 by Peter Palumbo, a British art and property collector who fell in love with the house at first sight, Kentuck Knob opened to the public in 1996. In the New Year, the house will continue to forge a unique path, as it has done since it was first built. The current owners have preserved the surrounding landscape and the natural beauty of Wright’s organic architecture, and they have introduced an interesting and eclectic collection of post-World War II sculptures. These pieces of artwork dot the property and can be enjoyed either as part of a guided house tour or during the unguided Woodland Walk. The collection includes works by Sir Anthony Caro, Andy Goldsworthy and David Nash; remarkable additions such as a piece of the Berlin Wall; and quintessentially British red telephone boxes designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.
The informative house tours, lasting approximately 40 minutes, offer fascinating insight into Wright’s creative process. A tour can be booked in advance or visitors can walk in and book a tour; house tours highlight some of the furnishings and extraordinary furniture on display in the house. Visitors may also book an in-depth tour, which provides an expanded view of the house and a closer look at the Palumbos’ collections of art and artifacts from around the world as well as the house’s secondary spaces not glimpsed during the guided tours. The guided house and in-depth tours both present the opportunity to enjoy the sculpture collection and the spectacular view of the Youghiogheny River Gorge. The opportunities to see and enjoy the house do not conclude at the end of the day. Over the course of 2019, a series of summertime dinners will be held on the property, presenting a more intimate and informal look at the house and grounds. Alongside an optional after-hours tour of the house, the farm-to-table dinners offer a chance for old and new friends to meet in an idyllic setting. Regional partners will produce menus of fresh and local seasonal ingredients, promising a memorable and entertaining series. Members of the public are invited to host private events on the beautiful terrace of the house. The team at Kentuck Knob stands ready to organize events and provide menus as required. The impressive view of the Gorge and Laurel Highlands from the patio is the perfect backdrop for wedding ceremonies. Above all else, Kentuck Knob continues to embody the qualities Wright constantly praised throughout his distinguished career: dignity, repose, grace, strength, delicacy, severity and rhythmic order.
TOURING SEASON March – October Daily 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday noon–5 p.m. November Daily 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Wednesday noon–3 p.m. December Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Dec. 26–30 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
kentuckknob.com/tours 724-329-1901
ADVENTURE. OUTDOORS. EXCITEMENT.
Getaway! IT’S WINTER GETAWAY TIME IN THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS
Escape the winter blues with a fun-filled trip to the mountains of the Laurel Highlands, just a short drive from Pittsburgh. Stay a few days to experience snowy adventure with skiing, sleigh rides and snow tubing at our resorts. Or cozy up by the fire and take in the picturesque scenery with family and friends at a cabin or chalet rental. Whichever escape you seek this winter, we’ve got the perfect getaway for you.
laurelhighlands.org EVENTS | PACKAGES | TRIP IDEAS
Resort Getaways
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HELLO, LAUREL HIGHLANDS!
S U P E R V I S I N G
SNOW SPORTS
Jamie Forys’ unlikely path to supervising Seven Springs’ all-season sports school.
Story by Patrick McCloskey | Photos by Heidi Lewis
up skiing as a young girl locally. When I went away to college at Drexel, I took a job as a ski instructor part time at Camelback Resort but always had an interest in snowboarding. Eventually after some time on the snow, I switched to snowboard instructing and never looked back. WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO SNOWBOARDING AND INSTRUCTION?
I always liked the free spirit culture of snowboarding. Skiing seemed like a more technical, rigid instruction discipline, and the snowboard culture allowed me to be more open in my instruction, and it seemed to be more relaxed. WHAT WAS YOUR PATH TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? An interesting path indeed. After graduating from Drexel, I worked in the women’s golf apparel world in New York and eventually worked with Immersion Research and their whitewater technical clothing. I migrated to the outdoor world when I left Immersion and was hired initially by Seven Springs to run the Adventure Camps in the summer for kids. I always had a love for the outdoors, and what I
ARE YOU ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROFESSIONAL SKI INSTRUCTORS OF AMERICA AND AASI (AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTORS), WHICH ARE NOW ONE ORGANIZATION? Yes, I am a level II snowboard instructor
and active in the organization as a director of one of the most influential snow sports schools in the country. HOW WAS YOUR FIRST YEAR? ANY SURPRISES? Actually,
my first year was great. I am the first female Snowsports director in the area and have a wonderful support staff. The interesting thing is that many of my technical directors are actually professionals in their own right outside of snow sports. Their perspectives on how things are done in the business world are very helpful in our work here at Seven Springs. I could not accomplish anything without them.
Laurel Highlands Magazine
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP AND WHEN DID YOU START SNOWBOARDING? Well, I am a Mt. Pleasant girl and grew
had done up to this point was with technical apparel for outdoor clothing companies. But the opportunity to work with Seven Springs was one that I could not take a pass. I had an interest in physical therapy as well, and after the Adventure Camp opportunity and teaching snowboarding at Seven Springs, I left temporarily to pursue the PT opportunity. Eventually Seven Springs called me back and asked if I was interested in being the operations manager for outdoor activities, and again, I could not pass on that. That relationship eventually led to me being asked to run the Snowsports School in the winter, which rounded out my opportunities at the resort.
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S
o how does a young woman with a degree in fashion design from Drexel University in Philadelphia come to be the new Snowsports director at Seven Springs Mountain Resort? Jamie Forys talks about her new assignment and how she made the career leap.
HOW DO YOU COOPERATE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AT SEVEN SPRINGS? Very well. For instance, we include
the Ski Patrol in our in-house clinics held by our technical directors, and we are very active in internal meetings with other departments. Anybody standing in one of our uniforms must be diverse in their training and be familiar with the protocols of other departments at the area.
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Laurel Highlands Magazine
YOU SEEM TO HAVE A FULL PLATE IN ALL SEASONS OF THE YEAR WITH SEVEN SPRINGS. Yes—with our summer
programs including the new mountain bike, zip line, climbing, hiking, equestrian activities as well as the alpine slide and other outdoor opportunities, the area is truly an all-season resort. We are actively involved in constructing a new mountain bike course to be used by NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) for local and national races. ‌ Switching over in the winter with pre-season clinics, hiring, training, and a full schedule of instruction, the Snowsports director position is really quite robust.
Open April Through Mid-November
HELLO, LAUREL HIGHLANDS!
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Laurel Highlands Magazine
LEARN MORE
at 7springs.com; click on “Adventures/Winter� for details on season passes and special offers, rates and schedules, parks and pipes, slopes and trails, rental equipment, and for more information on making snow and mountain safety. Call 800-452-2223 or 814-352-7777 for general information; call 866-437-1300 for reservations. The website also contains downloadable seasonal and special event brochures and seasonal maps.
M A K I N G
MOUNTAINS SING
How a mountain manager turns Seven Springs Mountain Resort to winter white.
that create the lines of corduroy that greet skiers and snowboarders arriving for first tracks each morning. The term “corduroy” describes the ridged pattern left by the snowcats; when fresh, corduroy trails are smooth and predictable, making those trails fast enough for skiers to “rip corduroy.” Every fall season since, Russel has worked tirelessly to bring the mountain to life ahead of ski season. He spends each November waiting for just the right conditions to fire up the snowguns and start building the base that will coat the slopes all winter long. “We watch the weather religiously,” Russel says. “It’s kind of like being a fireman awaiting the call to put out a fire. We must be ready at a moment’s notice.” When the winter winds begin to blow and temperatures drop below the 28-degree threshold, the crew, clad in hardhats and heavy-duty coveralls, descends upon the mountain. One by one the snowguns are turned on, blasting the mountain with a combination of compressed air and water that freezes as it hits the frigid air and falls to the ground as snow. Russel was promoted to snowmaking assistant in 2000, eventually assuming the role of mountain manager. He now oversees the teams making snow, as well as those maintaining and continuously improving the resort’s colossal snowmaking system both during the winter and in the off-season.
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s the heat wanes, the dark green leaves of late summer turn to fiery hues of red and orange and frosty air gently creeps across the rolling landscape of the Laurel Highlands. The dropping temperatures are a call to action for the skiers and snowboarders across the Laurel Highlands. That means that for one man standing atop the slopes of Seven Springs, it is go time. Kirk Russel is the mountain manager at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. For nearly 40 years, he has made the mountains sing with the unmistakable sound of more than a thousand snowguns. Perched along the intertwining slopes and trails of the snowy playground that stretches below Russel’s mountaintop office, those snowguns are capable of creating what amounts to a manmade blizzard. “My first day was December 23, 1980,” Russel says. “It was cold as hell and I walked to the top of Stowe Slope and just thought, ‘What am I doing here?’” On that fateful first day, the base of dense snow had already been built by the snowmaking team, and Russel had no idea what lay beneath it. “It wasn’t until the snow melted in the spring that I could even get a handle on the lay of the land.” Russel quickly proved his worth on the team. He had learned to weld as a child, taught by his grandfather, and, along with making snow each winter, he assisted in repairing the snowcats, the large grooming machines
Laurel Highlands Magazine
Story by Katie Buchan | Photos by Heidi Lewis
Laurel Highlands Magazine
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The technolog y i s al way s evol ving. We’ re cur r e ntly i ncorporating new equip ment that allows us to make mor e snow us i ng [fewer] r es ources.
“We have eight snowcats on the slopes each night, 1,200 snowguns across the mountain, and miles upon miles of underground piping,” Russel says. “On top of maintaining what we already have, we’re always paying attention to the latest tech within the snowmaking and grooming industry and we’re continuously making updates and upgrades.” According to Russel, excelling at making snow means not getting set in your ways. “We do whatever it takes to constantly improve our efficiency and quality,” Russel says. “The technology is always evolving. We’re currently incorporating new equipment that allows us to make more snow using [fewer] resources.” As with any weather-dependent activity, making snow isn’t as simple as turning on the system and watching the magic happen. There are no guarantees, and conditions often present many challenges to the team. According to Russel, the coldest days of deep winter are the most pleasant for the crew. Not only does the snowmaking system generate a satisfyingly massive amount of snow in a short period of time but the dry cold of a frigid day also keeps the team more comfortable. “It’s easier to stay dry when temperatures get really low,” Russel says. “Plus it just feels good to work with your hands and build something. With the right weather, we can make a lot of snow, and it’s great to see the results of our efforts piling up.” The point of all of this hard work boils down to one thing: smiles. When the sun rises across the slopes each winter morning, there are already skiers and snowboarders waiting for the lifts to begin turning and for a day of fun in the snow. For Russel, that’s the best part of the job. “It’s a sense of accomplishment,” Russel says. “Every year, we start with grass and we end up with a mountain covered in snow. It’s really rewarding when you see everyone coming out to enjoy what we’ve built.”
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HELLO, LAUREL HIGHLANDS!
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Laurel Highlands Magazine
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT GLADES PIKE WINERY and meet the family at gladespikewinery.com; visit the winery at 2208 Glades Pike, Somerset, PA 155012; or call 814-445-3753. Open 7 days a week, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the winery offers special events throughout the year as well as locations for weddings, banquets and more. For details, visit the website.
T H E
G R A P E
LIFE
Manager finds her calling as family-run winery offers flavor to Somerset County.
She didn’t know it at the time, but all that hard work and occasional mischief would ultimately result in her taking over as the general manager of the family business. “I was working a desk job for an online higher education company in Pittsburgh,” Diesel says. “One day, my dad called me and said he needed a manager, so I retired from my career and took over.” “Retirement is hard work,” she says, laughing. Since becoming GM at the winery, Diesel has served as the president of the Pennsylvania Winery Association and as a Pennsylvania Association of Travel and Tourism board member. She is currently on the board of the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau. “It has led me to so many places beyond the winery,” Diesel says. Today, a visit to Glades Pike Winery may include a fun local event, a family gathering, or simply a tasty glass of Pennsylvania wine accompanied by a beautiful rural view and friendly conversation with neighbors and friends. “Each year we have our Wine Run 5k, customer appreciation weekends, banquets, weddings and more,” Diesel says. “This year, we began developing the new Liquid Arts Festival in partnership with the historical society and local breweries and distilleries. There is a lot of fascinating history with alcohol in Somerset County, and our goal is to grow this event each year and share that history with the public.”
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beautiful expanse of rolling hills and neat rows of grapevines set the scene at Glades Pike Winery in Somerset County. Inside the tasting room, visitors are often greeted by the cheerful smile of General Manager Liz Diesel as she offers samples of the winery’s many varieties. For Diesel, wine is a way of life for both her and her family. Opened in 1995 by her parents, Steve and Karen Addleman, Glades Pike Winery began as a final project in Steve’s MBA program. The assignment: come up with a business plan. Steve and Karen had recently joined a winemaking club, and Steve decided to develop a plan for a winery. After a lot of hard work and persistence, Glades Pike Winery became a reality and has been providing the Laurel Highlands with locally made wine ever since. “We started out in a dusty old barn and spent seemingly every minute there,” Liz Diesel says. “I helped my dad a lot. There was a lot of sweeping and scrubbing to be done in the barn. Sometimes I would check customers out or bag items.” Diesel’s spunky demeanor gives away her past as a rambunctious child with a unique environment to explore. “Growing up I had to find ways to entertain myself and probably made a lot more work for the adults in the process,” Diesel says with a laugh. “We’d make forts out of the cases, and we built up a little city out of pallets. We found ways to have fun.”
Laurel Highlands Magazine
Story by Katie Buchan | Photos by Heidi Lewis
Laurel Highlands Magazine
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Behind the scenes, Steve Addleman is still the master winemaker of Glades Pike Winery. With his daughter at the helm, he has plenty of time to create a wide range of varieties, from sweet to dry, deep reds to refreshing whites, classic favorites, fun fruit wines and mead. “All of our wine is made right here at the winery with Pennsylvania grapes from both our vineyard and from vineyards in Erie,” Liz Diesel says. “Our sweeter wines take about two months to make, and dry wines take a bit longer.” Glades Pike is Pennsylvania’s 54th licensed winery, making it one of the older winemakers in a state that now has 218 licensed wineries. Winemaking has grown significantly, and, in Pennsylvania today, you’re never more than one hour from a winery. Many reasons exist for people to be a part of the world of wine, but for Diesel, the most fulfilling aspect is how it can bring the community together. “We have a lot of regulars, and they become part of our family, sitting down with us over a glass and presenting ideas to help us improve,” Diesel says. “Sometimes they just start helping us out and the next thing you know, they’re on the payroll.” This magnetic sense of community and family is likely the result of the people behind the counter. Everyone who walks through the doors of Glades Pike Winery is greeted by welcoming smiles, a warm atmosphere and samples of Pennsylvania’s bounty. With more than 20 different varieties of wine to choose from, selecting a favorite may be the most difficult part of a visit to Glades Pike Winery. “Wine preference is a lot like taking one of those online personality tests,” Diesel says. “Everyone has a different take. We can’t pick your favorite for you, but we’ll certainly help you find it.”
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Picture Perfect
Weddings
Resort offers beautiful vistas and locations for romantic celebrations any time of the year.
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Story by Catherine Orlando
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Story by Patrick McCloskey Photos courtesy of Brian Lunt and Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Photo by Seven Springs Mountain Resort staff photographer
Photos from left: Seven Springs Mountain Resort staff photographer; Heidi Lewis (2); staff photographer
It’s hardly a secret that the
Laurel Highlands is a hotspot
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during the wintertime.
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The natural landscape is a prime playground for those who love the snow … and those who just love each other. One couple wanted a wedding that would showcase their love for the outdoors, and they realized that dream at Hidden Valley Resort. The resort was the perfect venue to allow them to incorporate their hobby into the big day. “We had one couple, they did their first look photos on the terrace and then went tubing after. Great photos of the bride, in her dress, snow tubing,” says Sierra Jack, director of catering and conference services at Hidden Valley. After hitting the slopes, they said their vows and celebrated with guests while framed by a backdrop of the snowy slopes, she says. “Hidden Valley is such a great hidden nook,” Jack says. “It’s so family-oriented, so during the winter, you’re getting very little foot traffic and just so much at your fingertips.” Couples who have their weddings at Hidden Valley have dozens of options and a strong support system from their initial booking through their ceremony (and beyond!). Once they reserve their date, they choose the resort venue that’s the best fit for them and their ceremony. While some couples opt to have their ceremony on the grounds, others select traditional spaces such as the Alpine Room, the Clock Tower Room, the Summit Highlands Room, and the Lakeside Rooms, which all offer choices in size and layout. With access to a wedding coordinator and a coordinator’s assistant, couples have at least two professionals guiding the event planning.
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Photo by Heidi Lewis
Once the timeline for the big day is completed, a tasting is scheduled. The couple, who can invite four others to join them, try everything from appetizers to entrées to desserts, then meet with the chef to build their menu. The culinary team, rounded out with a pastry chef, is committed to making every bite memorable. Regardless of the season, couples can create their ideal day with Hidden Valley’s all-inclusive, customizable packages. While winter weddings capitalize on the picturesque ski lodge aesthetic, Hidden Valley in the summer is just as beautifully maintained and even more private. The lake and the stone terrace both provide scenic options for beautiful summer ceremonies. And while Hidden Valley doesn’t control the weather, staff at the resort can monitor it more closely than just about anyone else. “The mountain has its own Doppler system, so we’re able to get that information,” Jack says. The weather call is made three hours before the ceremony, and Jack recalls one couple who risked the elements and still got their happy ending. “The bride decided there was enough of a window that we expected a break from the rain. As she was walking down the aisle, it just opened up and poured rain. But they were so happy, it was so sweet to see,” Jack says. Regardless of the weather or the season, the happy couple won’t be missing out on any amenities. “The lodge is closed during the summer, so our couples really get the run of the resort,” says Jack. “We can open up the spa for treatments, or have staff go to their rooms.” Hidden Valley caters to every detail of their couples’ nuptials, from the big details to the smaller notes, like guest appreciation. “One couple had an outdoor ceremony in the fall, and it was cooler,” Jack says. “They did pashmina (fabrics) as favors, and we set up a pashmina station using apple crates recovered from a farmhouse that dated back to the 1850s. It was beautiful.” And the pros at Hidden Valley go above and beyond providing a sweet touch for guest favors … they also rise to the occasion for guest logistics and diplomacy. Once, Jack recalls, a bride’s sister called 30 minutes prior to the ceremony to request a third shuttle when only two had been booked. The wedding coordinator jumped in, picking up the groom and groomsmen, while the other two shuttles went for the bride and guests. Another time, set-up staff negotiated some tension between aunts. “Most of our couples are from Pittsburgh, and the cookie table is, of course, a big tradition. It’s very serious. And we had a time when two aunts showed up at the same time, and were there was some animosity. We sometimes call it the cookie wars!” says Jack with a laugh. Many couples who get married at Hidden Valley return to celebrate their anniversaries or to mark other milestones with baby showers and retirement parties. “Our pastry chef can recreate the wedding cake, which is so nice,” Jack says. A wedding may be one day of a couple’s life … but a wedding at Hidden Valley can provide a lifetime of memories.
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For more on Laurel Caverns visit the websites of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, pgc.pa.gov, and Uncovering PA, uncoveringpa.com.
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he flapping acrobatics of bats at dusk as they dined on insects above meadows and streams was once a regular part of summer in the Laurel Highlands. In the autumn, bats retreated to dozens of caves and abandoned mines in the region. Just a decade ago at Laurel Caverns Park near Hopwood, 2,300 bats were counted hibernating within its chambers, says owner David Cale. But then white-nose syndrome, a devastating fungal infection, moved through Pennsylvania and, in a few years, about 98 percent of the state’s cave bats had died, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. These devastating population losses mean the northern long-eared bat is now listed as threatened, and the Indiana bat has been listed as federally endangered. Even though the park halted caving activities and installed footbaths to prevent visitors from spreading the fungus, a 2012 survey found just 13 bats wintering at the Laurel Caverns cave, according to the game commission. “We did everything we could think of to keep it from coming to Laurel,” says Lillian Cale, David’s wife. “It was an amazing drop. It was just a horrifying situation.” There is hope. Conservation groups, state agencies and ordinary citizens have rallied to help the surviving bats rebuild their colonies. The game commission and researchers are closely monitoring the animals and experimenting with ways to combat the disease. In the Laurel Highlands and across the state, landowners are erecting bat boxes—birdhouse-like structures that are open at the bottom and often black—to provide safe roosting spots for adults and pups. “I am hopeful we are stable at this point,” says Greg Turner, a wildlife biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and head of endangered and nongame mammal conservation efforts. Bat populations are presently so small that it’s difficult to be certain of their status, Turner says. “But there are some juveniles that are surviving out there. That is a good indication that we are going to have some stabilization.”
The Culprit White-nose syndrome (WNS) is named for a fuzzy white growth that appears on animals’ faces and wings. The disease interrupts a bat’s hibernation, causing it to awaken and need food—it then depletes energy stores, perhaps relocates, freezes or starves. WNS was first identified in New York in 2007 and has since knocked out bat populations in the Midwest and along the East Coast. It has been confirmed in western states as well. In Pennsylvania, WNS has been most damaging to a species that was once most abundant: the little brown bat, Turner says. It has also been deadly to the northern long-eared bat, the tri-colored bat and the Indiana bat.
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Misunderstood Some people fear bats, but they are vital to maintaining ecosystems and keeping insect pests in check, says Charles Bier, senior director of conservation science at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. “There’s a lot misunderstood about them, lots of myths, and they are generally not appreciated,” Bier says. “They are not flying mice—they belong to an entirely different group of mammals. They are important in food webs and food chains. They are eating a lot of insects. They have relationships with populations of insects, they have this balance they’ve developed.” The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pennsylvania Game Commission and other state agencies are closely watching the remaining populations. In the winter, biologists count bats at their hibernacula—the word for the caves, abandoned mines and railroad tunnels where they hibernate. In the spring and fall, bats are trapped, examined for signs of disease and checked for overall health, and some of them banded. Trapping also occurs at some summer roosting sites. The game commission has invited property owners with bat colonies to conduct their own surveys and provide data through the Appalachian Bat Count. “The good news has been that [bat populations] didn’t go to zero,” Bier says. “There were individuals within each of the species that had some resilience, apparently some genetic [resistance], to this disease so they were not [dying]. And in fact, there was some indication that some of these individuals were doing pretty well.” Bats in Europe and China similarly seem to be unaffected by the fungus, researchers say. “But when numbers of a population are so low, some little chance thing can impact them,” Bier says. “So there is still a lot of concern.”
Learn about bats and white-nose syndrome White-Nose Syndrome Response Team, whitenosesyndrome.org Bat Conservation International, batcon.org National Speleological Society, caves.org
Read articles on efforts to stop WNS “Bats May Be Poised for a Comeback,” Sierra magazine, Sierra Club, sierraclub.org/sierra/batspoised-for-a-comebackfrom-white-nose-syndrome “Three Ways Bats Could Bounce Back,” Smithsonian magazine, smithsonianmag. com/science-nature/howbats-could-bounce-backdevastating-white-nosesyndrome-180969378
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Laurel Caverns Park, home of perhaps the largest sandstone cave in the world, opens every day of the year to visitors from around the globe. Visit the website at laurelcavernspark.com for information on tours, directions, and more.
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Growing the Population Because bats give birth to just one pup a year, the survival of offspring is important. But bats are also threatened by habitat loss. To provide bats safe places to roost, the conservancy has installed bat boxes on its properties, including seven at Bear Run Nature Reserve in Mill Run. A 2-by-1.5 foot structure can house up to 300 little brown bats, but so far only a few animals have been found in them, Bier says. Homeowners are also encouraged to install boxes, especially if they have a pond, stream or forested area on their property. To remove unwanted bats, Bier suggests contacting experts on how to do so without harming them. Meanwhile, the game commission is participating in research to directly combat WNS. One project involves a treatment that may interfere with the ability of the fungus to gather needed moisture, Turner says. Researchers are cautious when it comes to using chemical antifungal treatment. Hibernation suppresses a bat’s immune system, and introducing chemicals to the cave can cause further stress both to the fragile cave ecosystem and to the bats, allowing white-nose syndrome and other diseases easy access to wreak havoc on the bats’ health. Persistent pesticides can accumulate in long-lived bats such as the little brown bat, resulting in greater immunosuppression. Turner has also observed that some bats are seeking colder places to hibernate where temperatures are not ideal for the fungus to grow. The game commission is manipulating potential hibernacula to draw colder air into spaces or allow warmer air to vent in the hopes of attracting bats there, Turner says. Three sites in Fayette County are being altered in this way, but the exact locations are kept secret to prevent curious members of the public from inadvertently contaminating or disturbing the bats. “Now we are at the point where we potentially have a management tool to help bats survive,” Turner says. “If we can do this, and if they can find it, then I’m hopeful that the survivors will show the young where to find it and it will help the young survive.”
Mr. Rogers’
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First Neighborhood
Latrobe remembers the gentle man who made such a mark on television and our children’s educations. 53
STORY BY A. A. Forringer PHOTOS BY Herb Speer
Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort.
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– Fred Rogers
developed the skills and expertise that would serve him well as he produced, wrote, composed, and hosted 1,765 episodes of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. His thoughtful way of talking to children about hard topics such as divorce, doctor visits, death, race, and haircuts came from his own childhood when he spent more time with adults than with children his own age. This ordained Presbyterian minister whose calling was children’s ministry had help from guests including cellist Yo-Yo Ma, actor Lou Ferrigno, Science Guy Bill Nye, actor LeVar Burton, Koko the Gorilla, and a young Michael Keaton making his first television appearance when the nowfamous actor worked for WQED, the public television station in Pittsburgh. Today, the City of Latrobe loves to celebrate one of their famous sons with the annual Fred Rogers Family Days in June. The downtown area features visits from Daniel Tiger, story time at the library, face painting, and Mr. Rogers Trivia Stroll in the stores. If you are unable to visit during the annual celebration, you might want to start your visit to this neighborhood at the Latrobe Chamber of Commerce, located right along Route 30 (3960 State Route 30, underneath Sharky’s Café, latrobelaurelvalley.org). There you’ll find a display of memorabilia from the show along with suggestions for other local points of interest. The Fred Rogers Center on St. Vincent College campus (300 Fraser Purchase Road, fredrogerscenter.org) has a multimedia display on the second floor that takes approximately 30 minutes to view. Also on display are some of the puppets from the show, a few of Mr. Rogers’ sweaters, and exhibits detailing
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he shy, overweight, asthmatic teenager walked the halls of the hospital, the same place he had been born and where he had watched his mother create surgical bandages for the troops overseas. He was not so familiar with the star football player he was going to see; timidly he entered the room to give this popular student the homework he had missed. Can one act of kindness change a life and make the world a far more caring place? It can if you grew up in Latrobe, and your name is Fred McFeely Rogers. Those frequent visits to the hospital to deliver Jim Stumbaugh’s homework developed into a lifelong friendship, gave the young Mr. Rogers confidence and changed his classmates’ perspective of him. Fred graduated from Latrobe High School in 1946 (one year before Arnold Palmer, the four-time Masters champ) and was both the editor of the yearbook and student council president. After graduating from Rollins College in Florida with a degree in musical composition (he had played the piano since he was 5), Rogers accepted a job as an assistant producer with NBC in New York. He would later use his music education to write nearly all the songs for his 31 seasons of television’s Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Young Fred learned puppeteering skills over the course of one summer during grade school when his protective parents kept him in his airconditioned bedroom to help him deal with his asthma. Entertaining his classmates in school with those puppets would translate later to voicing and operating 10 of the 18 puppets in the Neighborhood of Make Believe on his show. Rogers met his wife, Joanne, at Rollins. They would move from New York to Pittsburgh, then to Toronto and eventually back to Pittsburgh, and along the way he
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his overall philosophy for teaching children. The show’s archives on the first floor contain some set pieces that can be viewed through windows at various heights to allow both adults and children to see inside. (The Fred Rogers Center is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.) In the downtown area, stop at the Latrobe Arts Center (819 Ligonier St., latrobeartcenter.org) to purchase memorabilia pertaining to Mr. Rogers, and stay to grab a bite at Ricolita’s Café. On the same block, down a very slight slope along Main Street, is the Fred Rogers Park where the sweater-wearing statue of Mr. Rogers is sitting on a park bench; it’s a perfect setting for photographs. Visiting the Latrobe Historical Society (416 Weldon St.) reveals more personal items, such as the black robe in which Rogers was ordained, high-school yearbooks, some of the puppets he created as a child along with other items from Latrobe history. (The society’s building is open 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays, and from 9 to 11 a.m. on Fridays.) Latrobe clearly loves Mr. Rogers, and as he taught us, “Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.”
Additional Information • Fred Rogers’ boyhood home: 737 Weldon St., still a private residence • Latrobe Presbyterian Church: 428 Main St. • The Rogers McFeely Memorial Pool: 1309 Memorial Drive • Unity Cemetery (where Rogers is interred): 118 McCullough Road
EVENTS
2018–19 EVENTS
November 1–10
November 1
KOOL & THE GANG The Palace Theatre, Greensburg Tickets start at $49 Having performed for more than 50 years, Kool & The Gang will bring their signature sound to the Greensburg stage. Having influenced three generations of musicians, the band will play such hits as “Celebration” and “Cherish” and demonstrate why they’ve been at the top of the both the R&B and pop charts with 31 gold and platinum albums. 8 p.m. www.thepalacetheatre.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
ANSWERING THE CALL: SOMERSET COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR (EXHIBIT) Somerset Historical Center $6 adults, $5.50 seniors (65 and older), $3 children (3 to 11) As part of the community’s centennial anniversary, the exhibit examines the people and stories of Somerset County during the First World War. The exhibit features the perspectives of those on the home front as well as those on the front lines. November 1–March 31, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday– Saturday. www.somersethistoricalcenter.org
FREE
NOVEMBER-APRIL
November 2
NATURE BOOK CLUB
Kell Visitor Center, Keystone State Park Registration required The perfect opportunity for nature lovers to discuss books with a nature or environmental theme. This meeting focuses on themes found in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins; the trilogy bases action in outdoor settings with various environmental themes, metaphors and imagery throughout. 5:30 p.m. For more information and to register, contact Jean Keene, 724-668-2939, jkeene@pa.gov. www.events.dcnr.pa.gov
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
FREE
November 2–4, 1 0–11
SMICKSBURG OLDFASHIONED COUNTRY CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
Smicksburg Slow down this holiday season and join the residents in villages of Smicksburg and Dayton for delicious food, beautiful decorations, and a joyful atmosphere. The Old Order Amish families of the area welcome everyone to the area; English and Amish shops will be open at various times; please respect the privacy and lifestyle of the residents. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon–5 p.m. Sunday. www.smicksburg.net/events
FREE
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
November 3–4
HOLIDAY MART WEEKEND
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg In addition to finding great, one-of-akind gifts, enjoy a holiday performance by the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra String Quartet at 1 p.m. Sunday, November 4. Open 11 a.m.–5 p.m. both days. Hosted by The Committee for The Westmoreland. www.thewestmoreland.org
Compass Inn Museum, Laughlintown $10 adults, $9 seniors, $6 children 6–17, free for members and active military Take a break from the modern hustle and bustle with a historical look at open hearth and beehive oven cookery in the museum’s 1820s cookhouse. Enjoy the inn’s rustic charm and maybe even some special musical guests! www.compassinn.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
November 8
GOAL MAGAZINE PRESENTS STOP BULLYING, STAND UP, SPEAK OUT
St. Vincent College, Latrobe The symposium sponsored by GOAL Magazine will feature speakers talking about all types of bullying, how to identify when it is happening, and ways for students and adults talk to a bully or to someone being bullied. 5:30–9 p.m. www.latrobelaurelvalley.org www.go2goalus.com
GLADYS KNIGHT The Palace Theatre, Greensburg Tickets start at $59 With a long list of No. 1 hits in a number of genres, Knight is a musical icon. Her career began when she started singing gospel at the age of 4 and continued with the formation of The Pips when she was in grade school. In 1959, the group became known as Gladys Knight and The Pips, and their first album followed in 1960. Knight has recorded almost 40 albums, and this show will surely feature your favorite songs. 7 p.m. www.thepalacetheatre.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
November 1 0–April 13, 20 1 9
STEAM CLUB
Mary S. Biesecker Public Library, Somerset On the second Saturday of every month, the Biesecker library holds a program for children grades kindergarten through fifthgrade. They explore, through activities and kits, the wonders of science, technology, engineering, art design and math. Register at the library or online. 11 a.m. www.maryslibrary.com
November 10
VOLUNTEER TRAIL DAY Ohiopyle State Park Contact to participate Park volunteers will work on any needed trail repairs in the park. Please bring gloves and your own lunch. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information and to add your name to the list, contact Barbara Wallace at bawallace@pa.gov. www.events.dcnr.pa.gov
November 1 0–11
SKI CLUB WEEKEND Seven Springs Mountain Resort Check website for rates and packages. Kick off the winter with a weekend full of activities including ski club meetings, a Warren Miller movie screening, a ski and snowboard swap and more. www.7springs.com
Laurel Highlands Magazine
www.braddockroadpa.org (click on Seminar in upper right corner of homepage)
HARVEST CANDLELIGHT TOURS
November 10
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Hopwood, Pa. Check website for cost Hosted by the Braddock Road Preservation Association, the annual seminar includes a bus tour of historical sites, access to Fort Ligonier and its new art gallery, author presentations and a panel discussion about the earthworks at Fort Necessity. Early registration is encouraged. 7:30 a.m. Friday start for twoday tour.
N o v e m b e r 3 , 1 0 , 1 7, 2 4 – 2 5 , December 1–2, 8–9
FREE
30TH ANNUAL FRENCH & INDIAN WAR HISTORY SEMINAR AND BUS TOUR
FREE
November 2–3
FREE
November 12
SONGS & STORIES OF THE 1940S
Folk Meeting House, Springs Join Matthew Dodd as he shares songs from the Andrews Sisters and Benny Goodman, plays multiple instruments, and shares stories from World War II and more. 7:30 p.m. www.springspa.org/programs.php
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
November 16–January 1
OVERLY’S COUNTRY CHRISTMAS
Greensburg Create holiday memories with a visit to the walk-around Christmas Village operated by volunteers with this nonprofit organization dedicated to the oldfashioned traditions and treats of the season. Enjoy carolers, bonfires, horsedrawn wagons and sleighs, a model train display, a visit with Santa, and plenty of gifts at the general store. Closed some Mondays; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; opens at 5:30 p.m.; check website for schedule. www.overlys.com
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
CHRISTMAS CRAFT MARKET & ANTIQUE APPRAISAL
Bullskin Grange Hall, Wooddale Area crafters and artists share their wares in time to find the perfect gift for a special someone. Last year’s event included hand-forged items, handmade soaps and lotions, candles, jewelry, fabric crafts, wreaths and centerpieces along with holiday decorations and locally produced maple syrup and candies. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sponsored by the Bullskin Township Historical Society. www.bullskintwonshiphistoricalsociety.org or on Facebook.
November 22
THANKSGIVING FAMILY-STYLE AT THE STONE HOUSE $24 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under; call for reservations by November 20 The Historic Stone House offers up a traditional Thanksgiving feast from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu includes butternut squash soup, roasted turkey and all the trimmings, brown sugar baked country ham, pecan crusted rainbow trout, green bean casserole, candied yams, and, of course, pecan and pumpkin pies to finish off the celebration. Call 724-329-8876 by November 20 to make reservations; credit card required. Cancellations may be subject to a fee. www.stonehouseinn.com
FREE
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November 23
LIGHT UP LIGONIER
Downtown Ligonier The Diamond will light up for the holidays as Old Saint Nick puts in an appearance. Enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn sleigh and don’t forget to leave your wish list with Santa Claus! 6:30–9 p.m. www.ligonier.com
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
FREE
www.laurelarts.org
FREE
FREE
CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOPPE
Philip Dressler Center for the Arts, Somerset Browse the wares of local artists and artisans with displays at the Laurel Arts galleries and shops. You’re sure to find the perfect holiday gifts for everyone on your list. 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Monday–Thursday; noon–4 p.m. Saturday; closed Friday and Sunday.
FREE
EVENTS
November 10–December 18
Nov e mbe r 2 3 – Decemb er 23
HOLIDAYS IN THE HIGHLANDS
Seven Springs Mountain Resort Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: Enjoy live music, seasonal food from local vendors, Christmas carols, and more as the annual event returns to the resort. Marvel at the more than 1 million lights around the resort and experience the Santa Express Holiday Train. Santa will be on hand to pose for photos and listen to wish lists for children of any age. 5–9 p.m. Fridays, 3–9 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sundays. www.7springs.com
December 1
LIGONIER COUNTRY CHRISTMAS MARKET
SANTA’S WILD WONDERLAND CHRISTMAS EVENT
November 24
FAMILY DAY
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg Bring the family to enjoy art projects, scavenger hunts, puppet shows, story times, and special performances by Stage Right! 11 a.m.–3 p.m. www.thewestmoreland.org
FREE
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
November 30–December 2
DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS
Ebensburg Celebrate the season with the town’s family-oriented event based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Vendors and artisans will feature Christmas wares, and there will be wassailing, ice carving, sleigh and carriage rides, a live nativity, a parade, and photos with Santa. Check website for displays and times of special events. www.ebensburgpa.com/ebensburg-dickens
FREE
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
November 30–December 9
GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST
Ligonier Ramada, Ligonier Sponsored by the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce, the 14th annual contest will highlight a number of delicious and delightful gingerbread houses. Visitors will have the opportunity to bid on the confectionery creations. Noon each day. www.ligonier.com
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
Leaves from Memorial Stadium, Latrobe $60 per person The Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association’s tour is scheduled to stop in Pittsburgh at the Carnegie Science Center, home of the Miniature Railroad and Village, and in Gibsonia at the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum, which features a large HO scale train layout. Order tickets before November 24; price includes admission fees and transportation. Lunch at the Science Center cafeteria. Departure time is 8 a.m. www.lvrra.org
Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe $15 per child; registration required From 10 a.m.–1 p.m., children of all ages will visit with Santa Claus (photos will be taken!), pet live animals, discover crafts of all types, and more. All proceeds benefit SVC Wraps, a service by St. Vincent College students donating their time and talents to purchase, wrap, and deliver gifts, all for donations to in turn provide needed clothes, requested toys, and age-appropriate items for underprivileged children in the area. www.westmorelandchildrenfirst.org/saint-vincentfree-gift-service.html www.wpnr.org
December 1
REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM: WHY AMERICA IS FREE Fort Ligonier Check website for cost A 12-week in-depth study course focused on the 18th century for fourth- to eighthgrade homeschooled students. The classes meet weekly from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursdays from January 10 through March 28. Space is limited. www.fortligonier.org
December 1
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Christian W. Klay Winery, Chalk Hill Experience holiday fun with shopping, carols, food, and, of course, wine tasting. A visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus is on the schedule as well. 1 p.m. www.cwklaywinery.com
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
December 2
TOWN WIDE OPEN HOUSE
Downtown Ligonier Free admission Carolers help ease the stress of the holidays as you shop downtown from noon to 5 p.m. Take a break at one of the town’s wonderful restaurants. Sponsored by the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce. www.ligonier.com
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
December 5
POP-UP STUDIO: UPCYCLED GLASS JAR The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg $20 members, $25 non-members Get in touch with your inner artist as the museum opens to adults 18 and older for a class focused on what to do with those cute little yogurt jars; learn how to reuse and/or upcycle with three unique projects. 6–8 p.m. www.thewestmoreland.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau) Laurel Highlands Magazine
FREE
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
HOLIDAY BUS TRIP
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www.ligoniercountrymarket.com/christmasmarket-information
December 1
FREE
Ligonier The Ligonier Country Market presents its 10th annual holiday market. More than 70 of the market’s vendors will display wares of all types at the Ligonier Valley YMCA, 110 Church St., 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
FREE
FREE
November 24
FREE
EVENTS
December 8
December 11
December 15
CHRISTMAS FUN!
ART CLASSES FOR KIDS: SEASON’S GREETINGS
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Somerset Historical Center, Somerset Wares from local artisans (tinware, pottery, maple and apple products, and more) will be on display for holiday shopping. The event also features children’s activities and ornament making. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.somersethistorialcenter.org
December 8–9
NUTCRACKER BALLET Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, Greensburg Tickets start at $13 Visit the enchanting world of the Sugarplum Fairy as the WSO and the Laurel Ballet Co. present the beloved ballet for the holiday season. It’s a once-in-alifetime experience the entire family will enjoy. Create a new family tradition! 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. www.westmorelandsymphony.org/performances/ nutcracker-ballet
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
December 10
KENNY G: THE MIRACLES HOLIDAYS & HITS TOUR The Palace Theatre, Greensburg Tickets start at $48 Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G combines elements of R&B, pop and Latin with his contemporary jazz sound. Enjoy a holiday treat as you tap your feet along with the smooth sounds of this talented musician. 8 p.m. www.thepalacetheatre.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
Latrobe Art Center Fee $15; registration required through Latrobe-GLSD Parks and Recreation Join visual artist Sarah Hunter at the Latrobe Art Center to create watercolor cards. Students will not be limited to holiday themes although they will be encouraged to think about what they are thankful for. Basic color theory will be discussed and a variety of watercolor techniques will be taught. Sponsored by Latrobe-GLSD Parks and Recreation. 6 to 7 p.m. www.latrobeartcenter.org www.latroberecreation.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
December 12
RICK ALVITA AS ELVIS The Arcadia Theater, Windber Tickets start at $29 Alvita’s resemblance to Elvis Presley led him to a career as a leading tribute artist and the spokesman for the Las Vegas Convention Visitors Authority. He has appeared on television and in movies as his career has taken him from Hawaii to Malaysia. He headlines the North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina) Celebrity Theatre. 7:30 p.m. www.arcadiawindber.com
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
December 14–16
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Saint Vincent Summer Theatre, Latrobe $25 Join the fun as this holiday revue celebrates the holidays with more than 20 selections from classic Broadway and movie musicals such as White Christmas and Holiday Inn. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. www.stvincent.edu
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(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, Greensburg Tickets start at $15 Holiday music will shake the rafters as the symphony, conducted by Maria SensiSellner, and the 60-member All-Star Choir of Westmoreland County celebrate the season with special guests. 7:30 p.m. at The Palace Theatre. www.westmorelandsymphony.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
December 16
SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS SHOW The Lamp Theatre, Irwin Tickets $30 The Latshaw Pops Orchestra graces the stage at The Lamp with a collection of holiday songs and performances by this 30-member troupe of musicians, singers and dancers. 2 p.m. www.lamptheatre.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
December 19
GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC: BENNY BENACK II The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg $20 for members; $25 for non-members; $10 for students with ID; free for children under 18 Celebrate American music with a presentation on holiday jazz, part of the 2018-2019 Great American Music series. Cash bar and food available for purchase from Elegant Catering. 6:30–9 p.m. www.thewestmoreland.org
December 31
NEW YEAR’S EVE Seven Springs Mountain Resort Check website for cost Whether you’re looking for a rockin’ party, a family-friendly celebration or even a mysterious masquerade, Seven Springs has a New Year’s party that’s perfect for you! www.7springs.com
Women’s Boutique Come See What’s Sitting On Our Shelves!
724-593-5900
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Laurel Highlands Magazine
3782 St Rt 31 Donegal, PA 15628
EVENTS
December 31
FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Southridge Room, Hidden Valley Resort $15 per person A New Year’s celebration for the entire family! Spinning today’s hits, DJ Bob Teagarden will keep the crowd dancing from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. A limited number of tickets and reservations are available; purchase through ShowClix online or by calling 888-718-4253 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. www.hiddenvalleyresort.com/events
December 31
Fort Ligonier $35 for Fort Association members; $45 for non-members Celebrate the luckiest day of the year with a colonial tradition featuring live music and dancing, treats and spirits. 5 p.m. www.fortligonier.org
FOGGY BREWSFEST
Hidden Valley Resort $35 per person Ring in 2019 with music, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, confetti and party favors! The party starts at 9 p.m. and runs until 1:30 a.m. A limited number of tickets and reservations are available; purchase through ShowClix online or by calling 888-718-4253 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.
Long-term joint pain? Minor dislocation? Sprain? Strain? Broken bone?
TWELFTH NIGHT CELEBRATION
January 5 & February 9
HIDDEN VALLEY NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
www.hiddenvalleyresort.com/events
January 5
Seven Springs Mountain Resort Tickets $40 Sample amazing craft beers at Foggy Brewsfest in the resort’s Foggy Brews pub! Ticket includes beer vouchers and live music. Plus, craft beer experts will be on site during the event to talk shop and share insight about the ingredients and process that goes into each brew. www.7springs.com
Don’t wait come on in!
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Be seen by an orthopedic specialist for a fast and accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
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X-ray, MRI, casting/bracing services, and same-day physical therapy evaluations are available onsite.
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NEW HOURS è Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. David Bizousky, MD • R. Brandon Trale, DO Kelly J. Adams, CRNP • Tom Anders, PT, OCS, CSCS, ITPT
NEW NUMBER è
814-467-3628
Medical Professional Building, 600 Somerset Ave., Windber, PA www.windbercare.org
Orthopedic Walk-In Clinic
HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM: WHY AMERICA IS FREE Fort Ligonier Check website for cost; registration deadline is December 1, 2018 The fort offers a 12-week in-depth study course focused on the 18th century for fourth- to eighth-grade homeschooled students. The classes meet weekly from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursdays from January 10 through March 28. Space is limited.
Uptown Somerset Fireworks and more than 40 ice sculptures are only a small part of the unique annual celebration. This year’s theme is board games, so there is sure to be something for everyone! On tap for 2019 are musical performances during the day and evening on Friday and Saturday; a chili cookoff from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday; and a children’s center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Don’t miss the local craft beer, wine and spirits tent, or the merchant marketplace on all three days. A 5K run is set to start off the Saturday festivities.
www.fortligonier.org
24TH ANNUAL FIRE & ICE FESTIVAL
www.somersetinc.org
FREE
January 18-20
FREE
January 1 0–March 28
January 26–27
28TH ANNUAL LIGONIER ICE FESTIVAL
Downtown Ligonier With ice carvings and carving contests, merchant sales, horse-drawn carriage rides, free concerts, and food vendors, you’ll find something for the entire family during this annual festival. Join the fun beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday. www.ligonier.com
February 1 4
MASTERS OF ILLUSION: BELIEVE THE IMPOSSIBLE
The Palace Theatre, Greensburg Tickets start at $40 Sing and sway along with the awardwinning band, as Tommy James brings his unique sound to the stage in Greensburg. With 32 platinum and gold records and more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, the band is sure to play one of your all-time favorites. 8 p.m.
The Palace Theatre, Greensburg Tickets start at $28 For the past six years, Masters of Illusion has been performing live before audiences around the country. You might also recognize the show from the CW television series of the same name. The 21st-century magic show is filled with illusions and sleight of hand. Watch closely—can you tell how the magician does his work? 3 p.m.
www.thepalacetheatre.org
www.thepalacetheatre.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
February 1 6
February 24–25
TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
HEART STRINGS WITH CHEE-YUN
4TH ANNUAL WPBA HOME SHOW
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, Greensburg Tickets start at $15 A special Valentine’s Day weekend concert with the symphony orchestra will feature world-renowned violinist Chee-Yun performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto on an instrument created in 1669 by Francesco Ruggieri. The orchestra will also perform Bartok’s Rumanian Folk Dances and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4; the conductor will be Daniel Meyer, the orchestra’s artistic director. 7:30 p.m. at The Palace Theatre.
Ferrante’s Lakeview, Greensburg $3 at the door; free for children under 18 Sponsored by the Westmoreland Professional Builders Association, the Home Show will feature everything surrounding building, remodeling, renovating, or buying a home. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday. Contact a WPBA member for coupons for discounted admission. For more information, or to become an exhibitor, contact Julia, julia@westmorelandbuilders. com, 724-686-3292.
www.westmorelandsymphony.org (listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
www.latrobelaurelvalley.org www.westmorelandbuilders.com
March 20
GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC: WILLOW HILL The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg $20 for members; $25 for non-members; $10 for students with ID; free for children under 18 Celebrate American music with a presentation on pop country, part of the 2018–2019 Great American Music series. Cash bar and food available for purchase from Elegant Catering. 6:30–9 p.m. www.thewestmoreland.org
FREE
EVENTS
Fe b r u a r y 17
March 23
POND SKIM
Seven Springs Mountain Resort Free admission to spectators; $25 for participants It’s the wettest, wildest event of the winter. Catch the action as skiers and snowboarders attempt to cross the double-dip pond in their craziest costumes! Sit back and enjoy the show or get up there and see if you’ve got what it takes to stay dry. www.7springs.com
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MUSIC & MAGIC Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, Greensburg Tickets start at $15 Cellist Amit Peled is a conductor, teacher and Grammy-nominated musician. Founder and artistic director of the Mount Vernon Virtuosi in Orleans, Massachusetts, Peled is also a professor at the Peabody Institute at John Hopkins University. Among other compositions, he will perform Falla’s El Amor Brujo, and Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C. 7:30 at The Palace Theatre. www.westmorelandsymphony.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
April 8
REO SPEEDWAGON The Palace Theatre, Greensburg Tickets start at $69.75 (additional $5.25 the day of the show) In the early 1970s, REO Speedwagon was known for nonstop touring and recording—and as the vanguard of the rock movement in the Midwest. The band’s 1980 album Hi Infidelity reached No. 1 on the charts and stayed for 15 weeks. This live performance is not to be missed. 7:30 p.m. www.thepalacetheatre.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
FREE
EVENTS
April 27–28
April 29
HAMMER IN AND PLOW DAYS
RHONDA VINCENT AND THE RAGE
Scottdale Free admission Hosted by the Fort Allen Antique Farm Equipment Association, the festival displays antique equipment, tractors and engines, and will include children’s activities, crafts and a flea market. Visitors will see plowing demonstrations, and a blacksmith shop will be open both days. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday; noon–5 p.m. Sunday. (listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
The Lamp Theatre, Irwin Tickets $45 The Grammy Award-winning Vincent was named by the Wall Street Journal as “The New Queen of Bluegrass.” Her music adds modern touches to the traditional sound, and the band adds fast-paced instrumentals to the mix. With more than 80 awards to their credit, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage lives up to its reputation as a top bluegrass band. 7 p.m. www.lamptheatre.org
(listing courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau)
WRITE US! Have an event you’d like to include in our calendar? We’d love to hear from you. Send an email to laurelhighlands@sunflowerpub.com with details about your Laurel Highlands event, and we’ll try to include it in the next issue.
EVENT SOURCES www.7springs.com, www.discoverohiopyle.com, www.laurelhighlands.org, www.somersetcountychamber.com/calendar, www.visitpa.com
Start a new family tradition of making memories at Hidden Valley this winter! This is the perfect opportunity to introduce your kids to skiing and snowboarding or have them build their skills on the best beginner terrain on the East Coast.
• Hidden Valley offers a comfortable environment to learn to ski or snowboard. • 2,875’ of mountain elevation • 110 skiable acres • 470’ vertical drop • 26 slopes and trails
814-443-8000 | HiddenValleyResort.com
Located off exit 110 of the PA Turnpike.
Nestled in Laurel Mountain State Park, Laurel Mountain Ski Resort is an iconic and revered skiers’ mountain located in Ligonier, PA. Not only does Laurel Mountain boast the highest vertical drop on the Laurel Ridge in Pennsylvania at 761 feet, the mountain is famous for its double diamond Lower Wildcat Slope, the steepest in the state which averages near 60% slope. Lower Wildcat is a breathtaking run that, for the avid skier, simply must be taken.
Your Resort & Second Home Property Specialists
• Laurel Highlands Regional Office • www.ThePreferredRealty.com 800-419-7653 3802 State Route 31, Donegal, PA 15628
Season Passes on sale now at LaurelMountainSki.com
©2017 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchise of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity. Information not verified or guaranteed. If your home is currently listed with a Broker, this is not a solicitation.
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1
VACATION
RESORTS Starting at
$161
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
per person, based on double occupancy
• One night or two nights of lodging at Seven Springs • Unlimited skiing/snowboarding at Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain • Breakfast each morning AND MUCH MORE!
866-437-1300 | 7Springs.com
#highlandsmag
#highlandsmag Join in the fun in the Laurel Highlands, no matter your sport! Skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing are the perfect antidotes to the winter blues. Or visit during the warmer months for motorcycle rides, hiking and camping. How do you do adventure? Use the hashtag #HighlandsMag for a chance to be featured in a future issue!
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(Photos Courtesy of Seven Springs Mountain Resort Facebook)
#highlandsmag CALLING ALL WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS! Want to be a part of Laurel Highlands Magazine? We’re seeking freelance writers and photographers to help us tell the stories of the people who live, work and play in the Laurel Highlands region. Email laurelhighlands@sunflowerpub.com.
Discover the Ultimate Backyard!
At Seven Springs and Hidden Valley resorts, you can step out your door and onto the slopes for winter days filled with family fun in the snow. Our expert realtors are the area’s resort realty specialists. Let us help you find the resort home of your dreams!
You can also learn NEW THIS YEAR AT HIDDEN VALLEY RESORT Seize your opportunity to become part of the NEWEST additions to the vibrant Hidden Valley Resort community! Brand new three bedroom, two bath condos at the North Summit Condominiums and prime building lots in the new Green Tee community are available now.
Call the experts or visit HighlandsResortRealty.com today to learn more!
“Highest Member Satisfaction in Pennsylvania” –J.D. Power When it comes to the quality of care you and your family deserve, second best just won’t do. And when you’re a member of UPMC Health Plan, it doesn’t have to. UPMC Health Plan provides access to the world-class doctors and hospitals of UPMC as well as thousands of community doctors and hospitals. Global medical services from Assist America, coverage for children until age 26 no matter where they live, and outstanding member service, all mean you get the best health care plan.
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UPMC Health Plan received the highest score in Pennsylvania in the J.D. Power 2016-2018 U.S. Member Health Plan Satisfaction Studies of customers’ satisfaction with their commercial health plan. Visit jdpower.com. UPMC is one of only 20 hospitals nationwide to be listed on the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll, with national rankings in 14 specialties (August 8, 2017).