Laurel Mountain Post: March-April 2009

Every Story Begins At Home. March/April - 1

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POSTA Magazine from the Heart of Western Pennsylvania

MARCH/APRIL 2009 FREE

Life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon;and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.

– Rossiter Worthington Raymond

2 -March/April 2009 LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST


elcome . . .MOUNTAIN VIEWS

Cathi Gerhard Williams

MAR/APR 2009(Volume VI, Issue 2)

The Laurel Mountain Post is a bimonthlypublication designed to focus on the people,places and events of Westmoreland Countyand the surrounding areas in the heart ofwestern Pennsylvania. We print stories aboutreal people and their daily lives; feature lo-cal merchants, craftsmen and professionals;present short pieces of art & literature; andnever lose sight of what makes this area agreat place to call home. Most of our writersare not professional reporters, but accom-plished local practi-tioners with years ofexperience in their respective fields whobring credibility and personality to everyarticle. In October 2006, the BBC Newsquoted us as “the voice of Pennsylvania.”

Laurel Mountain PostP.O. Box 227

206 Weldon StreetLatrobe, PA 15650

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Cathi Gerhard WilliamsEditor & Publisher

Briana Dwire TomackMarketing Director

Justin StuhlsatzAdvertising Sales Director

Barbara M. NeillFeatures Editor

Vanessa L. KolbergCopy Editor

Carol A. GerhardAdministrative Assistant

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Pittsburgh Advertising Federation,and The PA Newspaper Assocation

Special thanks to our advertisers forsupporting this community publication!

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Our distribution of 15,000 reachesbeyond Westmoreland County into the

neighboring counties of Allegheny,Washington, Armstrong, Bedford,

Cambria, Indiana, Somerset and Fayette.In 2006 our web traffic increased by

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across western Pennsylvania arediscovering the Laurel Mountain Post.

Wilted Leaves on the Tree of Life

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal,love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

– From a headstone in Ireland

It’s not often that I get to quoteEinstein. It’s pretty difficult for mostof us to contemplate theoreticalphysics, the dimensions of time andspace that he defined. Especiallywhen we are not only busy and dis-tracted, but emotional as well.

In the few weeks since my fa-ther passed away from cancer andmy thoughts were devoted to grief,something Einstein wrote caughtmy attention: “Our death isnot an end if we can liveon in our children and theyounger generation. Forthey are us; our bodies areonly wilted leaves on thetree of life.”

My father was knownas a big, strong man – atree trunk of a person, youmight say. People calledhim a gentle giant, with aheart ten times biggerthan his size 14 EEE shoes.He made everyone aroundhim feel safe and loved. Asa farmer he was also theepic caretaker and pro-vider. Not only did he sup-port his family, but devotedmost of his spare time toraising animals and tend-ing the fields. If something broke,he fixed it; if there was a prob-lem, he found a solution; if youneeded him, he was always there– filling the room with comfort andlaughter.

And now he’s not. The silencefloats in the wind across the farm,as if that very patch of earth it-self mourns the loss along withus. The dogs still wait for him tocome outside and say hello; thecat keeps staring at his emptychair; the tractors sit idle in thebarn; and I wake up every day

My Dad: Shelly Gerhard with his daughters,Michelle (left) and Cathi (right), 1969.

painfully aware of his absence,whether it be from the sting oftears or the overwhelming acheof loss.

I never imagined how far hislife branched out toward so manyother people and things. His me-morial service was almost a “stand-ing room only” event, and the cardsof condolence keep arriving in themail. Every day I realize ten or

twelve more things that are gonealong with him. I’ve started mourn-ing not just for myself but for ev-eryone who loved him. The barrenhole in my heart keeps growing.

It seems appropriate that hedied in the winter – when the natu-ral world is seemingly dead as well.As the season progresses we getmore depressed with the continu-ing bleakness and loss of life. Ourworld feels empty, lonely and dark.We wait for spring and the prom-ise that all things bright and beau-tiful will return to us.

My dad is not coming back; he’sgone forever. But all the reasons Iloved him are still here. Just likeplanting seeds to grow in spring, Ican start filling my heart back upwith his generosity, compassion,grace and honor . . . the best of him.

He lives on through my sisterand my children. Not because weare tall and loud or that I have hisblue eyes, but by the choices we

make in our living. Weshould remember himwith actions, instead ofwords and stone.

I will build no monu-ments to my dad, exceptto guard the things heloved most. He believedthat God created all crea-tures, great and small,and caring for the world inwhich they live was themost important thing aman or woman could do.He respected the meekand braved the fierce.

He was my hero, and Ialways looked up to him.Hopefully now my gaze willreach the sky . . . with allthat I sow in empty fields.

My father died on February 1, 2009. Hisfinal thoughts were not about the things henever got to do for himself, but what he stillwanted to do for us. As a columnist for theLaurel Mountain Post, he wrote a year-longseries about farming in 2007. His follow-upproject was a series of articles on battlingcancer because he wanted to help othersfacing the same challenges. In 2008, whenhe became too ill to finish, he asked me towrite it for him. The article on pages 4-5 ismy family’s story. As he always said, hewas never in it alone . . . he had us.


DOWN ON THE FARMShelly Gerhard & Cathi Gerhard Williams

Mr. & Mrs. Shelly R. Gerhard – January 9, 1965.

All Seasons Are Beautifulfor the Person Who Carries Happiness Within

There used to be a cartoon pinned tomy mother’s corkboard – she had cut itfrom an old farming magazine when Iwas a little girl. The caption read “andnow the award for the biggest com-plainer about the weather . . .” She al-ways teased my Dad about his obses-sion with the daily forecasts, but un-derstood the importance of accurateprognostication in a farmer’s life. Nomatter how much you planned out yourwork for the week, Mother Nature wasin charge. And you had to learn to makethe best of it. You can only make haywhen the sun shines (if you are readyfor it), and sometimes the sky will rain

on your parade of workers and equip-ment anyway. Farming depends on yourability to take what comes and alter yourcareful plans accordingly. In education,it’s called an emergent curriculum. Butfor my Dad, it was a way of life.

Like Yosemite Sam in the BugsBunny cartoons, he would mumble andgrumble at adversity. But that soon gaveway to acceptance or determined prob-lem-solving. He would spend a day “pon-dering,” as he called it, and then moveforward – never back. And always witha smile on his face.

That sunny outlook on life is whatactually carried him through an eight-yearstruggle against cancer. Like his father, alifetime of too much sun exposure both athome and work led to skin cancer. Dadhad endured over 30 years of surgeries(simple and complicated) to remove can-cerous patches all over his body. Too manyto count. It was exhausting to make andkeep so many dermatology appointmentswith Dr. Hamaty. But my mother keptscheduling them, and he went.

One time he waited – because hehad too much work to do. And, I be-

lieve, because he was so tired of beingprodded, picked and cut open. In 2001,that pause in continuous care and treat-ment led to a diagnosis of malignantmelanoma which had reached hislymph nodes. It was a death sentence,a forecast of the inevitable that wouldbe, for the most part, unpredictable.The cancer was systemically withinhim now, no longer confined to sur-face spots. No one could say how fastor slow the cells would grow. Stormyweather was now certain with little hopefor rainbows and flowers.

Instead of dwelling on the clouds,he just kept going. His first questionwas, as always, “What do we do next?”Hard work kept him happy, and he hada lot of it ahead down a long road.

The first stop was a Pittsburghsurgeon named Dr. Edington, alongwith oncology consultations at LatrobeHospital with Dr. Robinson. Soon theyreferred Dad to the Arnold PalmerPavillion, part of the UMPC Cancercenter community network and a jointventure with Excela Health. There Dr.Lee suggested a colleague of his namedDr. Kirkwood, a leader in the field ofmelanoma research. After three years oftrying to keep up with all the new tu-mors, it was time for something moreaggressive.

In 2004 Dad and Mum visited theHillman Cancer Center in Shadyside,the flagship treatment and researchfacility in the UPMC system and theworld. It is home to internationally re-garded surgical, medical and radiationoncology specialists, who perform treat-ment procedures unavailable elsewherein the region. The Center also has theregion’s most advanced imaging technolo-gies to detect cancer and monitor treat-ment. Hillman Cancer Center is alsohome to a component of the NationalInstitutes of Health-funded General Clini-cal Research Center, which also providessupport for the conduct of clinical trials.

Dr. Kirkwood, the Director of theMelanoma Center at the University ofPittsburgh Cancer Institute, took overmy father’s case. Dad was accepted intoa clinical chemotherapy trial, and be-gan treatment. Every three weeks for11 months, my parents drove to Pitts-burgh for the six-hour appointment.Their long days began early in themorning with CT scans, bloodwork,MRIs, and the intravenous chemo.Throughout the treatment, Dad lost allof his hair – even his eyelashes. Fooddidn’t taste good, and he was tired. Buthe only stopped working (driving trucks)for brief periods during the worst of hissymptoms.

“If I stop moving and rest, I’ll startdying,” he said. Many times.

The worst side effect of the chemowas neuropathy. He said it felt like hewas walking on glass, even when hewas sitting down. The pain was made

bearable sometimes by drugs like Lyrica,Oxycontin and other narcotics. But thatmeant he could no longer drive. Heneeded help getting from one place toanother, and felt like a prisoner. Twoof his greatest joys, driving and walk-ing around the farm, were taken awayfrom him by the medicine trying to savehis life.

As he spent more time confined tothe house and his chair, my motherevolved from wife to constantcaregiver. They passed the time read-ing, and watching TV – when theyweren’t going to countless medical ap-pointments. My father became inter-ested in Days of Our Lives, focusing onthe fictional problems of others insteadof himself. But eventually he did askfor something.

He had spotted a fluffy red kittenout in the barn, and played with himwhenever he was able to get outside.After weeks of cajoling from Dad, mysister, my kids and myself, Mum fi-nally relented to having the first petin the house. Dad named him Buddy,and that’s what he was. The kitten slepton my dad’s lap during the long after-noons. They watched movies on EncoreWesterns together, and had small snacksfive times a day. He taught the cat to beornery and mischievous, just like he was.It was much needed comic relief.

Over time, the pain in his feetgrew worse, and traditional cures nolonger helped. Always willing to trynew things, Dad investigated alterna-tive therapies and met with JerryFelton, a physical therapist inGreensburg. Unlike most traditional in-tervention and clinical locations thatprimarily focus only at the area of re-ported pain, he utilizes whole-body as-sessment and treatment approaches to

correct pain and dysfunction. Thesetechniques are highly effective, quickto achieve results and are non-manipu-lative. Combining the best of traditionaland alternative therapy with things likeaccupuncture, exercise and nutrition,Jerry helped ease my dad’s pain, elimi-nate his need for narcotics, and regainhis mobility.

Medical science can often be veryblack and white; Jerry helped Dad sortthrough all the grey. Sometimes it wasthe fact that someone cared enough tosit down and talk with him three timesa week during a devoted block of time(instead of running off to another pa-tient in an overbooked queue) that madethe most difference.

Dad was back in the saddle again,in the seat of the truck, tractor andlawn mower. He felt productive andactive every day, though the length ofthose days grew shorter. Mornings stillbegan at 4:30, but by early afternoon itwas time to rest. Each time he estab-lished a routine of work, over a dozenmedications, rest, and therapy, however,something would change in his treat-ment– and the scheduling process be-gan again. Throughout it all, my Mumacted as secretary, pharmacist and chauf-feur as well. Managing his care becameher fulltime job.

His last chemotherapy trial re-quired weekly visits to Shadyside. Ev-ery Tuesday my parents headed intothe city for Dad’s treatment. There theymet many others who travelled to Pitts-burgh weekly – from places as far awayas Virginia Beach and even Greece. Itseemed the whole world needed hopewhen it came to cancer, and they foundit at the Hillman Center. My parentsoften remarked about how nice thepeople were there, patients and em-

Always smiling (early 1950s).


Shelly R. Gerhard, 64, of Derry, passedaway Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, in ExcelaHealth Hospice Center at WestmorelandHospital, Jeannette. He was born April 26,1944, in Latrobe, a son of the late GeorgeS. and Dora K. (McCurdy) Gerhard.

A lifelong farmer and 1962 graduateof Derry Area High School, Shelly was aretired transportation equipment operatorfor District 12 of the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Transportation from whichhe received the Secretary’s Award forExcellence in 1993. Shelly was a deaconand served as a member of the consistoryfor Christ United Church of Christ inLatrobe. He was also a member of both theF&AM of Pennsylvania, La Monte Lodge0568, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon,Westmoreland Forest No. 77. He enjoyedhis retirement years driving trucks forUnity Hauling Inc. of Latrobe, readingmystery novels, and writing about hisbeloved farming experiences for the LaurelMountain Post.

He was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Peg (Conti) Gerhard. He is survivedby his wife of 44 years, Carol (Davis) Gerhard;a brother, G. Calvin Gerhard and his wife,Dorothy; two daughters, Michelle M. Schultzand her fiance, Daniel T. Chicka, and CathiL. Williams; three grandchildren, ElizabethC. Srsic, Chi-Anne S. Chicka and Robert S.Williams; and a number of nieces andnephews.

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m.Saturday in Christ United Church of Christ,1414 Ligonier St., in Latrobe. In lieu offlowers, memorials should be made to:

Excela Health Home Care & Hospice134 Industrial Park Road, Suite 1600Greensburg, PA 15601

Christ United Church of Christ1414 Ligonier St.Latrobe, PA 15650.

Arrangements were handled by theJOHN J. LOPATICH FUNERAL HOME INC.601 Weldon St. in Latrobe.

Shelly R. GerhardApril 26, 1944 – February 1, 2009

Title quotation byHorace Friess, philosopher.

ployees. It became a small, supportivecommunity in the midst of fear and un-known. As much as they dreaded the longtrips, they needed the care and encour-agement they found there.

Mum and Dad usually made a dayout of it by stopping for either lunch orbreakfast (depending on the treatmentschedule) at one of Dad’s favorite restau-rants on Route 22: The Wagonwheel. Dadgot to know everyone almost everywherehe went, including their staff. He wasa friendly, talkative guy whoenjoyed where he was ratherthan waste time wishing hewas somewhere else. The mealsthey shared at The Wagon-wheel made them look forwardto those Tuesdays – any one ofwhich could be the day he wastold that the treatment wasn’tworking and the cancer wasspreading.

That day didn’t come on aTuesday though. It arrived onmy birthday last August (2008).Instead of going out to eat as afamily, we ended up in theemergency room with Dad. Wethought he had a bleeding ul-cer, but it turned out to be astomach tumor. Rare, but mela-noma nonetheless; and he wasbleeding to death. Surgerymeant stopping all chemo-therapy treatment, but it was hisonly option. He was transferredto Shadyside Hospital, and thetumor was removed.

He never really recoveredfrom that event. Post-surgicalinfections and brain seizures,as the cancer spread, doggedhim over the next severalmonths leaving him sick,weak, and discouraged. It tookseveral hospitalizations and in-home IV antibiotic treatments(that my mother and I learned to ad-minister) to finally beat the infections.But by the holiday season, he was wornout from it all. And so were we.

Throughout the fall, my sister andI took turns staying home with our Mumto help take care of Dad. It took two ofus to help him move from chair towalker, and then a wheelchair. Theweek before Thanksgiving we admit-ted we needed more help and calledthe team at Hillman. Excela HealthHome Care & Hospice arrived to takeover. We were relieved when they de-livered medical supplies like oxygen,a hospital bed, and medication. Bothnurses and aides visited three times aweek to check his vitals, bathe him,pet Buddy, and talk to us about what-ever was on our mind. Their help madeeverything so much easier for us: myMum, sister and me. But their arrivalbroke my Dad’s heart. When the actionstarted, he looked at us and asked,“Does this mean they have given up onme in Pittsburgh?”

What do you say to someone youfinally know is dying after fighting sobravely so long? How do you encouragehim and support the strength he stillneeds to live the few days he has left .. . in the face of the grim truth?

I called and emailed our closestfriends shortly after Thanksgiving anddisclosed the grave turn in my Dad’scondition. I wasn’t sure how long he hadleft, but explained that now would bethe time to come visit. I don’t think manyof them believed me or thought I was

Man’s Best Friend: Buddy

being overly dramatic. From what theyhad seen, or heard from my Dad onthe phone, he seemed lively and high-spirited. The doctors at the HillmanCenter always said he was the healthi-est cancer patient they knew: robust witha wonderful attitude. But that was myDad, always making hay because a littleray of sunshine stayed near his side.

As our home care for him evolved toround the clock and golfball-sized tumormasses emerged all over his body, Christ-

mas came and went. Television had be-come Dad’s constant companion, andafter the holiday movies ended, thetuner rarely strayed from the EncoreWestern channel on his new wide-screen flat panel set (that we got earlyin October just in case). I think he feltsafe and alive surrounded by a joy fromhis childhood, free from worries. Si-lence seemed to frighten him, but thesounds of TV were comforting. As thecancer spread in his brain, and seizuresbecame more frequent, he emerged lessclear about reality. Sometimes he mergedinto the storylines of the movies withhis thoughts. The way in which he com-municated to us seemed confusing, butalmost metaphorical.

On January 25 he asked me if itwas OK to make camp with the wagonshere. And that he wanted to tell meand my sister goodbye. On January 27he found enough mysterious strengthto get up out of his chair and then fallon the floor. Bloodied and confused hetold me to get the tractor and pull himout of the ditch so he could go.

Not wanting to give him up to whatwe imagined was a dark and depress-ing nursing home, we balked aboutwhat to do next. We paged his nurse,Janet, to come help us sort out the nextstep. She encouraged us to call an am-bulance and take him to Excela Health’snew Hospice Center at WestmorelandHospital in Jeannette. Terrified, mymother agreed and followed him therean hour later.

When I arrived with her, we wereboth unprepared for the wonderful fa-cility we found. Newly-remodeled, thecenter had opened in August of 2008.We were greeted by the nurses, aidesand social worker. Dad’s room wasbright and clean, and the unit wasfilled with amenities to help the fam-ily members through their long vigils.Everyone who worked there seemed asthough they wanted to be there. Theyseemed to be experts on dying – not

just the clinical aspects, butthe emotional ones as well.

There was almost alwayssomeone with Dad, evenwhen one of us couldn’t bethere. The staff didn’t seemover-scheduled and were avail-able immediately. I went homea few times and got a fullnight’s rest because I didn’tworry about him – I knew theywere there if he needed them,as the pain of cancer’s finaldays grew worse by the hour.

On January 31, he startedto show the unmistakablesigns that accompany the lastdays of dying. By the eveningit seemed he was entering thefinal hours. Everyone wascalled in to be there with Dad.We took turns holding hishand while AMC showed aClint Eastwood western filmfestival all night. My Mum toldme that one of those movieshad been their first date backin October of 1963. As thehours passed, Dad’s breathingbecame much more labored.We’re not sure when con-sciousness left him, but wethink his last words were tomy sister when she left onceearlier in the day. He said, “Ilove you, too.”

Dad passed away early in the morningon February 1, around the time hewould have typically gone out to work,in the fields or on the road. I would liketo think that he got up that morning andleft us for what he valued most: a posi-tive attitude and hard work, regardlessof the location or circumstance.

Shelly Gerhard in one of his beloved fields of grainon Fairview Farm in Derry Township.

PostscriptOur entire family would like everyone toknow how grateful we are for the sup-port and love we received throughoutDad’s illness and following his death.We learned that help is there whenyou need it, and it’s OK to ask for it.Whether it comes from family, friends,church, hospitals, social workers, etc.,all of it is an equal blessing.

We encourage you to reach out whenyou have the need, and hope to high-light some of the important resourcesavailable to you in upcoming issues. Itwas impossible to include everythingDad wanted to share about his experi-ences with just one article. And so weare committed to making healthcare amore prominent feature in the future.


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“It is charity in disguise and gives a newoutlook on volunteer work,” said juniorCourtney Durick. This is only one voice fromthe 603 students who participated in lastyear’s Rockdown, an organization that raisesmoney for the high school publications andArnold Palmer Pavilion, a member of UPMCCancer Centers and joint venture withExcela Health through Latrobe Area HospitalCharitable Foundation.

This year the event will be held on April3, at the Greater Latrobe Senior High Schoolwith the doors opening at 6:30 pm. The 9 pmopening ceremonies will help focus the essenceof the entire event. Last year’s openingceremony featured the family of GreaterLatrobe student Justin Smetak who passedaway from muscular cancer in April 2007.

“Justin Smetak was a cancer victim thatwas a friend of mine throughout elementaryschool and junior high, and I felt that it wasright to contact his parents for the openingceremonies of the Rockdown. Hearing theirsadness, they let us know that they haveaccepted his passing and Justin would nothave wanted it any other way. That momentwas one of the most memorable moments ofmy life. It was unbelievable how silent 650people were. Many tears were shed,especially by our class of 2010,” said MeghinKerila, a dedicated member of the organizingcommittee for two years.

RockStock 2009: Peace.Rock.Cure willfeature John Challis a nationally recognizedeighteen-year old from Freedom, PA, whopassed away in August of 2008. His motto isone that the Rockdown of Greater Latrobepersonifies: “Courage + Believe = Life.”

The Rockdown will be packed withcompetitions, food, sports, and live musicsuch as the nationally famous band RustedRoot who is appearing at the Rockdown forthe first time. Rusted Root is a local bandfrom Pittsburgh that fits into the genre ofrock, college rock, and blue grass. “I amexcited that we secured Rusted Root, its aneclectic band that appeals to a variety ofpeople,” said Lizz Bowlen, design committeechair of the executive board.

Lovebettie is opening for Rusted Root.Alexandra Naples, a recent graduate, is thelead singer, songwriter, and piano player ofthis alternative band. “Lovebettie will makethe teenage punk audience dance dancedance,” said Bowlen.

“There are so many activities that keepyou busy throughout the night and there isalways something exciting happening. If I couldsum up the Rockdown in a couple words I wouldsay it is an active environment,” said seniorRachel DeFelice. Sporting events throughoutthe night include activities such as dodgeball,rock wall, sumo wrestling, and many minicompetitions that require skill, effort, andtalent. Preliminary rounds will happen theweek of the Rockdown, including a tournamentat the All American Paint Ball Park.

Senior Paige Blawas said, “It is a reallyfun experience and I feel very lucky that myhigh school has such an exciting event.”GLSD is unique in this inspiring communityevent that they develop to be successful eachand every year.

The event features a variety of studentteams who are competing to earn pointsthroughout the night when challenged invarious activities. Teams can earn pointsby participating in the business orientedscavenger hunt, dressing up in costume thenight of, and bringing in food for WestmorlandCounty Foodbank. The winning teamreceives season passes to Post GazettePavilion, which features the booked acts of2009 such as Phish, Jimmy Buffet, and othernational touring acts.

“I think it is good that the students ofour school are supporting a cancer foundationin a unique and fun way,” said senior AdamSarnovsky. The Rockdown is giving thestudents a new insight into charity in analternate and enjoyable way.

The competitions, games, activities, andsports are all organized by the Rockdowncommittee. This student-empowered commit-tee puts forth a great deal of dedication to havethis become yet another successful event.

“The success of the Rockdown basicallycomes down to how dedicated our staff is toputting time into this cause,” said KristinaWiggins, Executive Director of PublicRelations for the Rockdown.

The student committee has set high goalsfor the 2009 Rockdown. The plan is to have 700individuals attend the event and raise a netprofit of $20,000. This money will then bedivided equally between the Arnold PalmerPavilion and the GLSHS publications.

The committee is making sure that thisevent will be a safe environment withsecurity and proper organization. “Thecommittee really works hard to make sureit runs smoothly and safely,” said PatrickLynch, Executive Director of Public Relationsfor the Rockdown.

Individuals throughout the student bodyfeel very strongly about the essence behindthe Rockdown. “This event holds a specialplace in my heart. My next door neighborand lifetime friend died of cancer at a youngage, so knowing that we are helping kids likehim really makes me feel good when I wakeup the next day and let it all sink in that wejust pulled it off, and all of our hard work wasworth it,” said Lynch, who has been dedicatedto the organizing committee for two years.

Giving back is something that thesestudents strongly believe in. “I think that itis great that we donate money to the ArnoldPalmer Pavilion because we raise a lot ofmoney and it is good to know that it is goingto a great cause,” said Blawas.

The Rockdown will carry on the traditionwith its seventh upcoming event. Theparticipating students will come with spiritshigh and an extreme amount of energy. Thenight will be a remarkable, fun experience, butthe real meaning of it shall not be outshined.

“To me the Rockdown is hope, because ifour students can get together and organizethis event for cancer then there is hope, hopeto conquer,” said Kristina Wiggins. Thestudents are our future, if the future holdshope to conquer cancer, the hope that theirvoice brings will forever keep it alive.

– by Maria Graziano, freelance journalistGreater Latrobe Publications

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REPARTEE FOR TWOBarbara M. Neill

Taking A Chance on LoreCounty Chronicler Ceane O’Hanlon-Lincoln

Once upon another lifetime I knew aFrench teacher who taught in thesecondary building across from myelementary school. We were not reallyfriends, but our paths did occasionallycross. I have a vivid recollection of herproffering very tasty egg saladsandwiches to a group of colleagues onthe picket line during an unfortunatework stoppage. I also remember herpiquant personality, elfin manner andwinning way with words. She wassomeone with a lot to say back then andI enjoyed listening to her. This womanleft the Ligonier Valley School Districtin the early 1980s and I heard that shehad taken up writing. I never knew whatbecame of her after that and hadn’tthought of her in years.

When doing some internet researchlast fall for a few Fayette County facts, Iinadvertently brought up the distinctivewords: County Chronicles by CeaneO’Hanlon-Lincoln. I didn’t recognize thebook title or the author, but the author’sname seemed somehow familiar. Sincethe book looked enticing, I did someinvestigating and found that CountyChronicles had evolved into a broaderseries. The first installment was chieflya collection of the author’s columns fromThe Daily Courier of Connellsville that hadbeen published in 2004 and hadspawned County Chronicles II (2006) andCounty Chronicles III (2007). All threeworks contained pieces concerning PAhistory (with an emphasis on FayetteCounty in the first volume). Alwaysanxious to acquire quality reading andreference works, I determined that I hadto examine and perhaps acquire the set.(First borns have to have their sets.)Assisted by the very obliging Joanne atthe Greensburg Barnes & Noble, I gainedmy trio of Chronicles with some verydetermined book scouting. And, just as Ihad gradually come to the suspicion, theauthor photographs depicted the one andonly “Ceane” of my life’s acquaintance(although her surname has changedsince I knew her). I discovered that todaythe woman I once knew does indeed havea different occupation, and while sheisn’t an antique dealer, she definitely“deals in antiquities.”

Initially, Ceane undertookcommercial writing projects for variousbusiness concerns in Fay-West Countyarea, including a series of traveloguesfor several local agencies. She alsodabbled in poetry with triumphantresults, winning the Editor’s ChoiceAward for her chosen selection in GreatPoems of Our Time. She was awardedhonors in the mid-80s at Robert Redford’sSundance Institute when two of herscreenplays made the top twenty-five:one was optioned by Kevin Costner andthe other was translated into a mysterynovel, A Toast to Destiny, (with a fellowteacher). Historical fiction in the form ofa short story collection, Autumn Song,followed.

Ceane came to newspaper writingnear the beginning of the newmillennium and the compilation of her

previously-mentioned Daily Couriercolumns became the first of the CountyChronicles to be published by MechlingBooks. The most recent edition, CountyChronicles 1V, was released in Octoberof 2008. The series is beautifully-donewith cover art by Connellsville residentHelen Alt, a selected assortment of printsby PA artist Robert Griffing andnumerous photographs of interest ineach installment. Because the bookchapters are meant to be stories untothemselves and are not chronologically-ordered, they can be read in sequenceor randomly, depending on the reader’smood and interest.

Along the way County Chronicles hasbrought the writer Connellsville’s AthenaAward, a Citation/Special RecognitionAward from the PA House ofRepresentatives and a Congratulatory/Special Recognition Award from theSenate of PA. The historical volumes areto be found in the PA State Library, HeinzHistory Center and the libraries of manyprestigious universities. Ceane has alsobeen tapped to guest on 2 televisionprograms: The Faces of Fayette in herhome area and PA Books hosted by BrianLockman on PCN, the PA Cable Network.

The author calls her style“conversational,” and I would have toagree with that chatty assessment. But,her eyes, ears, nose and fingers informher writing as well. She charminglywrites of people, places, events andthings with equal relish and her styleis as much like that of the Gilded Ageshe so esteems as it is contemporary.And, like all good tellers of fictional orfactual tales, she merges a measured mixof analysis and imagination.

Ceane O’Hanlon-Lincoln is a self-confessed time traveler. However, shedoesn’t always travel forward from pointA to point B or even from point Abackward to point Z. She often moves“like a circle in a spiral, like a wheelwithin a wheel.*” There are no finitebeginnings and endings; only ongoingrevolutions intersecting the twoextremes. With a remarkable repertoireof literate lexis, euphonious expressionsand sensory imagery she unwinds pastand present wonders while exposing thekaleidoscopic windmills of her mind.

* * * * *

BMN: Gazing into your crystal ball, whatdo you foresee for the future of books?

CO’H-L: Ha! I don’t need a crystal ball toanswer that. Books better be compellingtoday or people will not read themthrough to the end. There are simplytoo many distractions – big-screen, digitaltelevisions, computers with all theamenities; you name it. A book has tohold interest, from beginning to end, likenever before – a real challenge formodern-day writers! Books areexpensive, so I want to give my readersthe best product I can for their hard-earned money.

BMN: With the vast selection ofinformational sources as close as a clickthese days do you still frequent yourbeloved libraries as often as you oncedid?

CO’H-L: I often frequent libraries for Ifeel at home in a library – absorbed anduncharacteristically still and silent.Connellsville’s charming Carnegie FreeLibrary, my hometown library that hasretained its Edwardian charm since its1903 beginnings, has always occupieda special chamber of my heart. Anotherof my favorite libraries is the CarnegieLibrary of Pittsburgh on Forbes Avenue.The majestic building takes my breathaway each and every time I enter its awe-inspiring portals. Recently, I had awonderful book signing there, a dream-come-true for this author.

BMN: I’m sniffing out a bloodhound. Isthere a Miss Marple lurking within?

CO’H-L: I love research. Some writersdon’t, but I do. To me, research is like atreasure hunt; one never knows whatone will uncover. A writer of history isalso a history detective; I love discoveringgems of history, some of which lead toother Chronicles. Sometimes it’s hard toknow when to stop sleuthing and getdown to the actual writing/crafting, butI enjoy both the research and the writing.

BMN: You and I have discussed our“honing” devices. Tell us about “thewriting and the rewriting of the words,words, words, words, words, words,words.” (My apologies to thatconsummate revisionist, Mr. Poe. I justcouldn’t resist.)

CO’H-L: I don’t know if I am a goodwriter or, as I strive to be, a great one.Only Time, our greatest historian, willbe able to tell us that. However, I knowone thing for certain – I am a darn goodREwriter, for I rewrite and polish, rewriteand fine-tune, rewrite and proof, thenrewrite and proof again until thelanguage flows. When I get readerfeedback telling me my “… books readlike whipped cream,” the work wasworth the effort I put into it. Or when areader relates that he or she could notput my current book down, or someoneasks when the next installment iscoming out. However, my favoritefeedback is when a reader tells me mybooks make him or her proud to be aPennsylvanian.

BMN: You could never be accused ofdiscrimination, since you write about alland sundry. However, if you had yourdruthers, would you rather write aboutthe living or the deceased? (Each set ofsouls has its spherical advantages to besure.)

CO’H-L: Host Brian Lockman made asimilar comment on the TV show PABooks. My Chronicles are quite varied. Inresponse to your question, I cannot

choose. I enjoy researching and writingabout our heroes of bygone days as wellas our present-day heroes.

BMN: Your “Haunted Pennsylvania”segments in each CC volume seem toconfirm that truth is still stranger thanfiction.

CO’H-L: PA is brimming over withdocumented ghost stories. I also try andferret out unusual happenings, as wellas little-known or long-forgotten tales.And though I tell these events in astorytelling manner, “History is nothistory unless it is the truth,” A. Lincolnonce said. I do my homework, make useof paranormal experts, and visit thosehaunted sites. I have had paranormalexperiences at a few of those sites, andhave included some of these episodeswithin my CCs.

BMN: Connellsville holds pride of placein your heart and in your works.Conversely, you are the published prideof that city at present. Could youcomment on this mutual admirationsociety?

CO’H-L: I love Connellsville becausethere is no place like home and for itshistory, from the time it was called“Stewart’s Crossing” to present day.Connellsville has pulled itself up (afterseveral years of decline) and dusted itselfoff from its smoky past to embark on anew era, one bright with tourism. Wehave come a long way from the smoky,industrial city known from the 1870s tothe early 1950s as the “Coke Capital ofthe World.” My most treasured award isthe Athena Award presented to me bythe Greater Connellsville Chamber ofCommerce for career excellence. I hopeI can always live up to that honor – Isurely mean to try.

Ceane O’Hanlon-Lincoln, circa 1980


Melanoma Monday® - May 4, 2009

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BMN: What are your job perks, County Chronicler?

CO’H-L: One of the best perks of my Pennsylvaniahistory series is meeting all the fine people I havebeen privileged to encounter along the exciting roadto history. Among them are Margaret Mead’sdaughter, Mary Catherine Bateson; Jim Thorpe’sdaughter, Grace; Pennsylvania author/historianextraordinaire David McCullough; Robert Griffing,artist of the Eastern Woodland Indians; andPennsylvania’s Sweetheart Shirley Jones. There areothers, too numerous to mention, all wonderfulpeople. The second great perk is traveling to thehistorical sites and places of interest of our greatcommonwealth; and third is learning as I researchand write each Chronicle. I am continuously learningabout our great commonwealth and our PAluminaries.

BMN: How would you describe your relationshipwith your readers?

CO’H-L: There is a definite love affair between meand history and me and my readers. From the outset,when County Chronicles ran as a history column,my reader feedback was so warm, encouraging, andpositive. I owe my readers a great debt of gratitudefor their word-of-mouth advertising about my books.I love hearing from them and meeting them at booksignings. I think readers can sense how much Ilove what I do; I was born to write history. I wantmy readers to know how much I treasure each andevery one of them – and I always will. My responseis my promise to always give them the best work Ipossibly can.

BMN: I have long been fascinated by Napoleon’sJoséphine. After reading your short story collection,I suspect you are as well. Do you think she was avictim, vamp, or a bit of both like so manyunforgettable women throughout the ages?

CO’H-L: There is an old saying that “well-behavedwomen seldom make history.” I have come to knowJoséphine quite intimately, more so than any otherhistorical figure except perhaps Mary Todd Lincoln,another misunderstood lady. Most assuredly,Joséphine was both victim and vamp; but beyondthat, she was incomparable and possessed of a nobleheart – indeed, one of history’s great ladies.

BMN: I take pleasure in your attention to the aspectsof apparel and ornamentation. By any chance doyou seek out vintage clothing and/or jewelry foryour own wardrobe?

CO’H-L: I adore vintage clothing and antique jewelry.My favorite era for apparel and ornamentation islate Victorian, often referred to as Edwardian, thatcommenced in the 1890s and was swept away byWW I. Called by the French la Belle Époque thisperiod included the popular Gibson Girl created byAmerican artist Charles Dana Gibson. Throughouthistory fashion often reflects the economy, and theEdwardian was an era of beautiful clothes – thepeak of luxury!

BMN: Considering your appreciation of music andability as a poet, have you ever considered becominga lyricist?

CO’H-L: Now that is one thought that has neverdanced in my head, but now that you’ve put it there,I might give it some shimmer. I have written andseen published several poems. One appears inAutumn Song, others in my County Chronicles PAhistory series.

BMN: You have an abiding interest in the CivilWar era, exhibit a talent for exploring relationshipsand are drawn to themes of reincarnation and spiritworlds. Might you be ideally suited to author anepic rich in history – a New Age Gone With TheWind, perhaps?

CO’H-L: It’s funny you should mention GWTW, forit is my all-time favorite novel. Margaret Mitchellhas influenced my writings; she was a true Irishseanchaí! In fact, I am often called the “MargaretMitchell of Connellsville” due to the passion of mywords I am told.

I have been told four separate times in my life thatI am an “Old Soul” who has lived manyincarnations. Perhaps I revere the past and havethe intense love for history that I do because I livedit. I have an open mind about it. I don’t think minewould be a southern epic. Perhaps a Civil War epicwith a Pennsylvania flavor, or an epic on thePennsylvania frontier during the years of eternalvigilance, the French and Indian War era throughthe aftermath of the Revolutionary War. At this pointin time, I would need psychic field glasses to answerthat question. One thing I do know is that magichappens, and maybe, just maybe, that GWTW magicwill happen for this author.

BMN: You took a risk when you left the teachingprofession to try your hand at writing. Was itworth it?

CO’H-L: Indeed, it was! Actually, I never thought ofit as a risk; I knew I could do it. Writing is my life;it’s who I am. Without it, I would cease to exist …or perhaps that is all I would do – exist. Writing issuch a wondrous process of discovery I can’t waitto get started each day! I’ve thanked my readers,and I should also thank my husband who is sosupportive of my work. The only thing better thandoing what you want in life, is having someonewho loves you enough to let you do it.

* * * * *

Do I still like to hear what Ceane O’Hanlon-Lincolnhas to say? You bet. Do I think her gamble on history,legend and lore has paid off? In spades.

– County Chronicles II, III, and IV can be purchased fromMechling Books, Barnes and Noble and other select

bookstores, as well as directly from the author. CountyChronicles V is slated to debut in late 2009.

Autumn Song is available from the author.

– Email Ceane O’Hanlon-Lincoln at [email protected] call 724-626-1817

– To contact Mechling Books go to www.mechlingbooks.comor call 1-800-941-3735

*The Windmills of Your Mind, words and music by AlanBergman, Marilyn Bergman and Michel Legrand


Beef Tips With Red Wine2 lbs. beef tips1-2 garlic cloves, chopped1 lg. onion, chopped2 cans of Campbells Golden Mushroom soup3/4 c. red wine (Walnut Hill Winery’s Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon)1/2 c. water1(8oz) can of mushrooms, drained Brown beef tips in butter, transfer to crock pot, include the pan drippings. Add remainingingredients, cook on low, covered, until beef tips are tender (6-8 hrs). Serve on a bed ofrice or noodles. Make a big salad, have some French bread and ENJOY!

– Submitted by Samantha Crissman of Walnut Hill Winery

READER RECIPESFavorite Formulas from Neighborhood Kitchens

Nancy Hoffman’s Cranberry Bread1 orange2 T. butter1 egg1 c. sugar1 c. cranberries, chopped

Grate the rind of the orange. Squeeze the juice from the orange into a heat-resistant bowland add enough boiling water to make ¾ c. liquid. Add grated rind and butter; stir to meltbutter. In another bowl beat well egg and sugar; stir into the orange mixture; addcranberries and nuts. Sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Stir flour combination intoorange/cranberry/nut mixture. Spoon into greased 9 x 5 loaf pan. Bake 1 hour at 325degrees. Yield: 1 loaf

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The Salvation Army in WesternPennsylvania is gearing up for its2009 camping season. Theorganization's 95-acre Camp Allegh-eny, located along Slippery RockCreek in Ellwood City, is readyingfor its summer camp program that

Salvation Army Sets Dates and Food Guidelinesfor Camp Allegheny

will run June 22nd thru August13th. Each year, nearly 2,000needy children from all over West-ern Pennsylvania enjoy a programthat provides not only fun and ex-citement, but also valuable char-acter building activities. Accred-ited by the American Camping As-sociation, Camp Allegheny offers adiverse program including recre-ation, Christian education, na-ture, swimming, boating, arts &crafts, archery, hiking and muchmore. For many of these camp-ers, The Salvation Army providestheir only chance of a summervacation experience.

A seasonal food service pro-gram and full complement of staffprovides three healthy meals eachday. Through a contract with theDepartment of Education SummerFood Service Program, free mealsare provided to eligible childrenduring all camping sessions. Thisfederally funded Summer Food Ser-vice Program provides approxi-mately 9% of the total Camp oper-

ating budget, which helps keep thecosts at a minimum for those at-tending. Meals are provided regard-less of race, color, national origin,sex or handicap. Any person whobelieves he or she has been dis-criminated against in any USDA-related activity should contact theSecretary of Agriculture, Washing-ton, D.C. 20250.

All Children from householdsthat receive food assistancethrough the DPA PennsylvaniaACCESS Card Program or Tempo-rary Assistance to Needy Families(TANF) are eligible. The family sizeand income guidelines for free andreduced priced meals are as fol-lows: One family member,$19,240.00; two family members,$25,900; three family members,$32,560; four family members,$39,220; five family members,$45,880; six family members,$52,540; seven family members,$59,200; eight family members,$65,860; and each additional fam-ily member over eight, $6,660.00.

For information on attendingCamp Allegheny or sponsoring acamper, contact your local Salva-tion Army or the organization'snewly relocated uptown PittsburghSocial Services Department at1323 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh,PA 15219-4700 (Life'sWork facility)412-394-3580.

During the off-season, CampAllegheny is also available tochurches, schools, corporationsand groups for retreats and specialevents. To learn more about itscomprehensive facilities, contactColleen Ley at 412-446-1551.

Founded in 1865 in London, En-gland by William and CatherineBooth, The Salvation Army is both achurch and a social service organi-zation that provides critical servicesin 117 countries worldwide. For moreinformation on The Salvation Army's28-County Western PennsylvaniaDivision, log onto www.salvationarmy-wpa.org. The Salvation Army– Doing the Most Good for the MostPeople in the Most Need.

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I am of the belief that the experiences we rememberthe most vividly are those that make us laugh theloudest or cry the hardest. Emotional extremesdefine our boundaries and much of the rest of ourlives is just filler – significant, surely, but filler justthe same. I’ll tackle tears another day; today I feellike taking up laughs. The letters LOL can standfor either “laugh out loud” or “laughing out loud.”However, my subject is not to be confused with theoverused text abbreviation/initialism; I am speakingof the purely human expression of the term.

Television has used a laugh track, or cannedlaughter, for decades. The process of adding aseparate soundtrack of laughter to a show filmed inan audience-free environment was thought to elicitthe optimum reaction to the punch lines and jokesin sitcoms, comedies and cartoons. A show filmedbefore a live studio audience could have the tract“sweetened” if not enough laughter was heard fromthose present. There have been arguments pro andcon over the years, but one thing remains same:genuine laughter is the desired result, however itis attained.

Laughter has been highly prized throughout theages. Victor Hugo felt that “Laughter is the sun thatdrives winter from the human face” and Mark Twainsaid, “The human race has one really effectiveweapon and that is laughter.” Edward EstlinCummings (aka e. e. cummings) claimed, “The mostwasted of days is one without laughter.” Surely itwould be counterproductive for the medicalcommunity to advocate that “laughter is the bestmedicine,” but health professionals do acknowledgethe benefits of mirth. Numerous articles on the orderof “Humor Your Tumor” by Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.have been written urging patients to embrace thelighter side of life.

Think of all the expressions in our languagehaving to do with laughter: rolling on the floorlaughing, bursting with laughter, convulsed with

laughter, laughing your head off, laugh ‘til you bust.Laughs can be described in ways positive andnegative, e.g. hearty, warm, girlish, uproarious;irritating, derisive, raucous, grating. Consider, also,the types of laughs. There are belly laughs andhorselaughs, giggles and guffaws, cackles, chortlesand chuckles, snickers, sniggers and titters to namejust a few.

My husband always knows when I am readingChristopher Buckley. Intoning from the next roomhe’ll ask, almost rhetorically – “You’re reading oneof that guy’s books again, aren’t you?” He doesn’tfind the satirist nearly as hysterical as I do. One ofthe many fond recollections I have of our newlyweddays is the memory of listening to him howl overThe Three Stooges while I cooked our dinner. I havenever heard such uninhibited, unadulteratedenjoyment. What little amusement I get from thosejuvenile gents are the punny titles Moe created forthe shorts. A shared sense of humor is also to becherished; isn’t a shriek with someone over an insidejoke priceless? As Victor Borge once quipped,“Laughter is the closest distance between twopeople.” But, no matter what it is that makes eachof us LOL, it’s the end result that counts – therestorative power it has over our being.

In Shakespeare’s The Merchant of VeniceGratiano bids, “With mirth and laughter let oldwrinkles come.” Wrinkles, loneliness, sadness,illness, tragedy and grief are experienced to someextent by most human beings during the course of alifetime. It’s difficult, if not nearly impossible, tostay positive in the face of adversity. I hope to remainon the laugh track and to indulge in at least onegenuine LOL a day until I draw my last breath.(“Laugh” always trumps “apple” in my book.) Inthese troubled times it’s comforting to know thatsomething has guaranteed worth – a laugh cannever be too big to fail.

– Barbara M. Neill

Stayin’ on the Laugh Track: The Genuine LOL

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Daffodil Days is one of the American CancerSociety’s oldest and most beloved fundraisingprograms, which celebrates the Society’smission to eliminate cancer as a life-threatening disease. Since 1973, DaffodilDays has empowered people everyone fromschool children to corporate CEOs to make adifference in the fight against cancer by raisingfunds and awareness to help beat the disease.Although Daffodil Days involves offeringdaffodils every spring to donors inappreciation of their contributions, it is aboutmore than just beautiful flowers it is everyone’sopportunity to share hope for a world free ofcancer. By giving daffodils to friends, familymembers, and even cancer patients, donorsare really giving hope by enabling the Societyto offer free programs and services to improvethe lives of people facing cancer.

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During the past 14 years, Daffodil Dayshas raised nearly $250 million in grossrevenue to support the American CancerSociety’s lifesaving mission to eliminate canceras a life-threatening disease.

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Dr. John S. ParkerHometown Today: Latrobe

Birthplace: Altoona, PA

Number of Siblings: 2 sisters

High School Alma Mater & Graduation Year:New Castle Senior High School, Class of 1946

College Alma Mater & Graduation Year:Washington & Jefferson College, Class of1952; University of Buffalo Medical School,Class of 1957

Spouse & Year of Marriage: Dorris McKean Parker, 1951

Number of Children: 5 – 2 boys, 3 girls

Vocation: Physician (retired) – Practiced internal medicine in Latrobe from1961-1994

Positions Held: U. S. Navy 1946-48, Hospital Corpsman; JeffersonMedical College, Associate Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine;Latrobe Area Hospital, Chief of Medicine from 1974-1993; DiagnosticAssociates, President (until retirement)

Past & Present Affiliations: Served in various capacities for AmericanMedical Association, Pennsylvania Medical Society, and WestmorelandCounty Medical Society; AARP Health Services, Legislation Advisor;Southwestern PA Partnership for Aging, Board Member; Laurel AreaPartnership on Aging, Cofounder and Chairman; W&J College, AlumniTrustee; Latrobe Presbyterian Church, Member and Elder; Union Mission,Board Member; involved in numerous community organizations includingthe Latrobe Area Chamber of Commerce

Avocations: Gardening (Master Gardener of the Penn State UniversityExtension Program; active in the Mini-Garden program of the Latrobe Area)

Favorite Charitable Cause: Latrobe Presbyterian Church

Favorite Quote: There is no limit to what can be accomplished if you don’tcare who gets the credit. – Dr. C. C. Young

Hidden Talent: Quiet arm-twisting!

Role Model or Mentor: David K. Miller, MD (Chairman of the Department ofMedicine, E. J. Meyer Memorial Hospital, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY)

Best Lesson Learned: Never give up – be optimistic even in the face ofwhat appear to be overwhelming obstacles.

Most Memorable Accomplishment: Helping to create the Greater LatrobeCommunity Network (www.greaterlatrobe.net)

Future Aspiration: Working to guarantee that GLCN is known as a greatcommunity resource

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THE LIGONIER CHEFScott M. Sinemus

The first thing that went throughmy mind when Cathi asked me tomake the topic of my article for thisissue about food and wine pairingswas: how can I break down so muchinformation into such a smallamount of space?

I am not a sommelier by anystretch of the imagination;however, cooking professionally infive-star establishments for 20years has given me the opportunityto develop my palate more thanmost. In fact, when I was workingat the Ritz-Carlton, Boston (my firstjob after culinary school) we had awine tasting every Tuesday. Wewere welcome to attend everyTuesday but at least once a monthwas mandatory. I knew I’d found mydream job; mandatory winetasting—could life get any betterthan that?

There was a wine appreciationcourse at my school, but it wasnearly all from books and lecturesabout wine—we had only twotastings at the end of the semester,one for reds and one for whites.Since I had grown up knowingseveral friends, neighbors andrelatives making their own homemade wines, most of which wereso incredibly sweet I couldn’t standto drink them, I didn’t have the

ambition to pay much attention towine. Neither did most of thepeople here in the States, until thewineries in Napa started winningsignificant competitions over theFrench Bordeauxes in the early80’s, did everyone seemed to startpaying attention.

It’s always more fun to jumpright in with tasting but it isadvisable to learn some of thebasics from a reference book likeGrossman’s Guide to Wines, Beers& Spirits. There is a reasonparticular glasses are used forcertain wines; temperature,storage, age, and variety make aphenomenal difference whenconsuming wine.

Every country in the world haswines they’re known for. The typeof grape, soil, weather, crushingand fermentation processes haveeverything to do with that. Theseare the subtle reasons that makepeople love or loathe a wine. Whensomeone says to me, “I loveBordeaux” the first question I askis, “Which province in Bordeaux?Graves? Pauillac? St. Emillion? St.Julienne…etc.” This is the pointwhere the conversation eithercontinues because I know theperson actually does knowsomething about wine or I politely

excuse myself and find someoneelse to talk to at the party.

It is true that there were veryrigid and staunch rules to whatwine one would serve with whatfood, the foundations of which arestill valid. Perfect case in point:Chablis. The flint in the soil makesthis wine somewhat difficult todrink alone; but when you pair itwith fresh oysters it becomes anentirely different experience.These days, however, food andwine pairings are much morerelaxed. I recently heard someoneat another table in a restaurantsay, “We have to pick a white winesince we’re all having fish.” Thepoor souls didn’t seem to know thatsince they were having a grilledmeaty fish, a bottle of Beaujolais(much less expensive than thewhite they chose) would’ve beensomething fun to try and would’vecomplimented the grilled flavor oftheir fish even more than thewhite they picked.

Price should never be adetermining factor when decidingwhether a wine is “good.”Especially now that so manydifferent wines from so manydifferent regions are available.The Wine and Spirits store behindthe Westmoreland Mall has a vast

A Little Cheese to Go with That Wine?selection and even has a “cellar”room for high-end wines that evenless than five years ago were aspecial order.

Wine, like most things in life,should be a personal choice.Everyone’s palate is different. Fivepeople can taste the same wine andarrive at five completely differentconclusions on whether it is “good”or “bad.” None of the five areincorrect.

Although we don’t live in Napaor Sonoma, we are fortunate tohave several local wineries aroundthe area, all of which offer tastingsof the wines they produce. Thefestivals in Pittsburgh and SevenSprings are fantastic events fordeveloping a palate.

Gather some of your friends,take a day and try out some of thelocal wineries. It’s a relativelyinexpensive activity, will benefityour wine knowledge, and it’s fun!

Or if you can’t decide whoshould be your designated driver,have a tasting at home. Haveeveryone bring a bottle of Bordeauxfor instance, making sure thatthere is a bottle from each provincein the region. This is the best wayto notice all the subtle differencessoil, microclimate and processingtechniques can influence a wine.The same can be done withCalifornia wines. Have everyonebring a bottle of Cabernet but makesure they come from all over Napa—the northern parts of Napa (St.Helena/Calistoga) tend to be thebetter reds.

Here are just a few suggestions for pairings:

Cheese Meat Fish Sauce Dessert

Chardonnay: Asiago Chicken Bass Cream Vanilla PuddingHavarti Pork Halibut Pesto Bananas Foster

Sauvignon Chévre Turkey All Citrus SorbetBlanc Feta Chicken Shellfish Anything Key Lime

Riesling Gouda Asian Trout BBQ Apple PieJarlsburg Spicy/smoked Sea bass Spicy Caramel Sauce

Cabernet Roquefort Red meat Grilled Brown TiramisuCheddar Bittersweet Chocolate

Merlot Romano Lamb Grilled Béarnaise FondueAsiago Veal Swordfish Bolognese Berries

Pinot Noir Brie Duck Salmon Mushroom White ChocolateChévre Pork Tuna Red Sauce Crème Caramel

Zinfandel Aged Brie Ribs Cajun Style Salsa Carrot CakeHuntsman Spicy Seafood Spicy Gingerbread

Raise a glass andcheck out one of theselocal purveyors!

Walnut Hill WineryGreenhouse WineryGreendance WineryRaspberry Acres WineryVite e VinoFoggy Mountain Lodge


MARCH/APRIL 2009COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Mondays and Wednesdays starting Monday,March 16 @ 10:00 amGet Off Your Rockers!Muncipal Building-Council Chambers, 901Jefferson Street, LatrobePhysical fitness programs for seniors. Cost is$25 for Latrobe residents and $30 for non-residents. Register by calling (724) 537-4331.

Through April 19Artists of the Twentieth-First Century:Student Art ExhibitionSouthern Alleghenies Museum, One BoucherLane and Route 711 South, Ligonier

March 6, 7 (10-6), 8 (10-5)Pittsburgh Arts & Crafts Spring Fever FestivalEvents Center behind Westmoreland MallGreensburg, PA

Saturday, March 7 @ 10:30 amRead the Movie, View the Book DiscussionGroup—East of EdenLigonier Library, 120 West Main Street, LigonierTo join the group or learn more, call (724) 238-6451 or email [email protected].

Saturday, March 7 @ 7:00 pm and Sunday,March 8 @ 2:30 pmOcean’s 7 & 7: A Roy Stargess CaperThe Geyer Performing Arts Center, 111Pittsburgh Street, ScottdaleTickets are $8 and can be purchased by calling(724) 887-0887 or by visitingwww.geyerpac.com

Saturday, March 7 @ 9:00 amUSASA Halfpipe and Slopestyle EventSeven Springs Mountain Resort, 777Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs, PAAccrue points toward a national ranking.Register through www.usasa.org andwww.mdxseries.com.

Saturday, March 7 @ 10:00 amYour Changing Body for BoysWestmoreland Hospital, 532 West PittsburghStreet, GreensburgTo register, call 1-877-771-1234 or [email protected].

Saturday, March 7/Sunday, March 8 @ 2:30 pmCharlie and the Chocolate FactoryThe Ligonier Theater, 208 West Main Street,Ligonier. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 forstudents and can be reserved by calling (724)238-6514 ext. 2.

Saturday, March 7 @ 8:00 pmRiver City Brass Band presentsAmerican GraffitiThe Palace Theater, 23 Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $22, 24 and 29.To purchase tickets, call 1-800-292-7222.

Saturday, March 7 @ 10 amGeneology and DNAWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve, St. VincentCollege, Latrobe. (724) 537-5284.

Monday, March 9 @ 9:30 amYoga BasicConference rooms C & D, WestmorelandHospital, 532 West Pittsburgh St, GreensburgOne hour, eight week course on Mondaymornings throughout March and April. Cost is$64 for community members and $32 for ExcelaHealth employees. Call 1-877-771-1234 or [email protected] to register.

Tuesday, March 10 @ 7:30 pmAhn Trio Contemporary Chamber MusiciansPasquerilla Performing Arts Center, University ofPittsburgh at Johnstown, 450 SchoolhouseRoad, Johnstown. Tickets are $10, 22 and 24and are available by calling 1-800-846-2787 or(814) 269-7200.

Wednesday, March 11 @ 6 pmComposting WorkshopWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve, St. VincentCollege, Latrobe. (724) 537-5284. Registrationrequired/$10 fee.

Thursday, March 12 @ 9:00 amGentle YogaConference rooms C & D, WestmorelandHospital, 532 West Pittsburgh Street,Greensburg. One hour, eight week course onThursday mornings throughout March and April.Cost is $64 for community members and $32 forExcela Health employees. Call 1-877-771-1234 oremail [email protected] to register

Thursday, March 12 - Saturday, March 14Once On This Island7:30 pm. Belle Vernon Area High SchoolAuditorium, 425 Crest Avenue, Belle VernonFor tickets, call (724) 929-9800, ext. 247 orvisit www.bvbroadway.com

Friday, March 13/Saturday, March 14 @ 7:00 pmCountry CabaretGeyer Performing Arts Center, 111 PittsburghStreet, Scottdale. For tickets, call(724) 887-0887 or visit www.geyerpac.com

Friday, March 13/Saturday, March 14 @ 7:30 pmGreaseGreater Latrobe Senior High School Auditorium,131 High School Road, Latrobe. Tickets are $10for adults, $8 for students and $5 for seniorsand children under 8. Tickets may bepurchased by calling (724) 539-4298.

Friday, March 13 - Sunday, March 15 @ 9:00 amHomecoming:Women’s Slopestyle InvitationalSeven Springs Mountain Resort, 777Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs, PAFor information, call 1-800-453-2223

Saturday, March 14 @ 10:00 amSurreal Scenes for KidsWestmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N.Main Street, Greensburg. Children learnfundamental art techniques while exploring thebackrooms of the museum. Class is $15. Toregister, call (724) 837-1500 ext. 10.

Saturday, March 14 @ 8:00 pmClassical Elegance by the WestmorelandSymphony OrchertraThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $9, 18, 25 and 37 andmay be purchased by phoning (724) 837-1850.

Sunday, March 15 @ 7:00 pmLive Nation presents Brian ReganThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets may be purchased online atwww.livenation.com.

Monday, March 16/Tuesday, March 17 @ 6:00 pmTime and Time Again:Abraham Through the AgesIndiana University of Pennsylvania, Waller HallStudio. Tickets may be purchased by calling(724) 357-2547 or by visiting iuptickets.com

Wednesday, March 18 @ 10 amTiny Wonders TimeWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve, St. VincentCollege, Latrobe. Learning about nature forchildren aged 2 to 4, register at (724) 537-5284.

Wednesday, March 18 @ 3:00 pmTitles and Tea Book Discussion Club—TheQuilter’s ApprenticeLigonier Library, 120 West Main Street, LigonierTo learn more about the discussion group, call(724) 238-6451 or [email protected]

Wednesday, March 18 @ 7:30 pmFootloose (Broadway Musical)Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, University ofPittsburgh at Johnstown, 450 SchoolhouseRoad, Johnstown. Tickets cost $33, 37 and 39and are available by calling 1-800-846-2787 or(814) 269-7200.

Thursday, March 19/Friday, March 20 @ 9:00 amAmerican Cancer Society Daffodil SaleFront Lobbies of Westmoreland, Latrobe, FrickHospitals and Norwin Medical Commons

Thursday, March 19 @ 7:30 pmHarold Betters in ConcertWestmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N.Main Street, Greensburg. Cost is $10 formuseum members and $15 for nonmembers.For tickets, call (724) 837-1500 or visitwww.museumaa.org.

Friday, March 20/Saturday, March 21 @ 8:00 pmGreensburg Central Catholic High Schoolpresents BrigadoonThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $10.

Saturday, March 21 @ 12 noonWon’t You Be My Neighbor: Family Fun Day!Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N.Main Street, Greensburg. Stories, games, artactivities and guided tours for free.

Saturday, March 21 @ 1:00 pmGuitar Hero CompetitionGeyer Performing Arts Center, 111 PittsburghStreet, Scottdale. For info, call (724) 887-0887

Saturday, March 21 @ 7:00 pmMaria Schneider OrchestraPasquerilla Performing Arts Center, University ofPittsburgh at Johnstown, 450 SchoolhouseRoad, Johnstown. Tickets are available bycalling 1-800-846-2787 or (814) 269-7200.

Saturday, March 21 @ 7:30 pmA Night of Doo Wop: featuring Kenny Vance &the Planotones, Charlie Thomas’ the Drifters,Frankie Ford, and Dickie LeeState Theatre, 27 East Main Street, UniontownTickets are $30, 40 and 45 and are available bycalling (724) 439-1360

March 23 @ 7:30 pmGreensburg College Club Travelogue SeriesPacific Coast Highway - Top to BottomGreensburg Salem High School65 Mennel Drive, GreensburgFor info. call 724-834-0126 or 724-925-9221

Thursday, March 26-Saturday, March 28@ 7:30 pmThe Pajama GameBurrell High School Auditorium, 1021 PucketyChurch Road, Lower BurrellFor tickets, call (412) 334-1403

Friday, March 27 and Saturday March 28 @8:00 pm; Sunday, March 29 @ 2:00 pmStage Right presents The Sound of MusicThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $18 and $22 for adults,and $12 and $18 for students and are availableby calling 724-832-7464 or 724-836-8000.

Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 @7:30 pm; Sunday, March 29 @ 2:30 pmBlue Suede Paws(family theater entertainment)Geyer Performing Arts Center, 111 PittsburghStreet, Scottdale. Tickets are $5 and may bepurchased by calling (724) 887-0887

Saturday, March 28 @ 8:30 amForestry II WorkshopAnn Rudd Saxman Nature Park, Donohoe Road,Greensburg. Fee is $10 for nonmembers and $5for members of the Westmoreland WoodlandsImprovement Association. Advanced registrationis required by calling (724) 837-5271 ext. 210or by emailing [email protected].

Saturday, March 28 @ 9:00 amAnnual March for ParksTwin Lakes Park, GreensburgFor information and to register, call (724) 830-3950 or visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us

Saturday, March 28 @10:00 am7th Annual Pond Skim and Meltdown PartySeven Springs Mountain Resort, 777Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs, PAPond skimming competition and after party.Registration is $25. For more information, callSeven Springs Ski Patrol @ (800) 452-2223,ext. 7814.

Saturday, March 28 @ 7:30 pmAn Evening with Groucho (Comedy)Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, University ofPittsburgh at Johnstown, 450 SchoolhouseRoad, Johnstown. Tickets are $10, 22 and 24and are available by calling 1-800-846-2787or (814) 269-7200.

Tuesday, March 31 @ 7:30 pmWestmoreland Cultural Trust presentsGaelic StormThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $15, 20, and 25 andavailable by calling (724) 836-1123.

Thursday, April 2 @ 6:30 pmLigonier Valley Historical Society presentsTastes of the TownMill Creek Restaurant, 137 West Main Street,Ligonier. For tickets, call (724) 238-3968

Thursday, April 2 - Sunday, April 5 @ 7:15 pmActors & Artists of Fayette County presentSteel MagnoliasGeyer Performing Arts Center, 111 PittsburghStreet, Scottdale. Tickets are $8. Call (724)887-0887 or visit www.geyerpac.com

Thursday, April 2 through Saturday, April 4 @8:00 pm; Sunday, April 5 @ 2:00 pmBack to the 80s: The Totally Awesome MusicalNorwin High School Auditorium, 251 McMahonDrive, North Huntingdon. For tickets, call (724)422-4009

Thursday, April 2 @ 7:00 pmWestmoreland Cultural Trust presentsKaraoke on Stage!The Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Admission is $5 and singers arerequired to register by calling (724) 836-1123.


To submit your event to this calendar,please email complete information to:[email protected]? Call 724-537-6845

Thursday, April 2 @ 7:30 pmPhiladanco (Dance)Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, University ofPittsburgh at Johnstown, 450 SchoolhouseRoad, Johnstown. Tickets are $10, 30 and 32and are available by calling 1-800-846-2787or (814) 269-7200.

Thursday, April 2 through Saturday, April 4 @7:30 pm and Saturday, April 4 and Sunday,April 5 @ 2:30 pmAnnieDerry Area Middle School Auditorium, Rte. 982and North Chestnut Street, Derry. Tickets are $8and can be purchased by calling (724) 739-0052 or by emailing [email protected]

Friday, April 3 @ 6:00 pmYour Changing Body for GirlsWestmoreland Hospital, 532 West PittsburghStreet, Greensburg. To register, call 1-877-771-1234 or visit [email protected]

Friday, April 3 @ 8:00 pmElko Concerts presents Ray MontagueThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $30 and 35 and areavailable through Ticketmaster.

Saturday, April 4 @ 8:00 pmSt. Vincent College presentsCarducci String QuartetCarey Center Auditorium for Performing Arts, St.Vincent College, Latrobe. For tickets, call(724) 805-2565 or visit www.stvincent.edu/concertseries

Saturday, April 4 @ 8:00 pmTo Kill a MockingbirdState Theatre, 27 East Main Street, UniontownTickets are $28, 32 and 36 and are available bycalling (724) 439-1360

Saturday, April 4 @ 8:00 pmRiver City Brass Band presentsStrike Up the BandThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $22, 24 and 29 foradults and $20, 22, and 27 for students andseniors. Purchase tickets by calling 1-800-292-7222.

Sunday, April 5 @ 6:00 pmGeneration Exodus presents SkilletThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $19, 29, and 45 andare available by visiting www.skillet.com

Tuesday, April 7 @ 10:00 amEat Well for Life IIBoard room, Frick Hospital, 508 South ChurchStreet, Mount Pleasant. Four-week program topromote wellness and long term weightmanagement through nutrition and physicalactivity. The program is free to Highmarksubscribers. For information, phone (724) 830-8568 or email [email protected]

Tuesday, April 7 @ 8:00 pmMiro Dance Theater: Spooky ActionIndiana University of Pennsylvania, FisherAuditorium. Tickets are $16 and are availableby calling (724) 357-2547 or by visitingiuptickets.com

Saturday, April 9Bunny Breakfast - 9amPeter Cottontail & Company - 10 amA Wild Egg Hunt - noonWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve, St. VincentCollege, Latrobe. (724) 537-5284.Please call for registration information!

Saturday, April 11 @ 10:00 amArt Adventure for KidsWestmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N.Main Street, Greensburg. Children learnfundamental art techniques while exploring thebackrooms of the museum. Class is $15. Toregister, call (724) 837-1500 ext. 10.

Saturday, April 11/Saturday, April 18 @ 9:00 amOil Painting with Jolene JoynerLatrobe Art Center, 819 Ligonier Street, LatrobeFee is $70. Register by calling (724) 537-7011or by visiting www.latrobeartcenter.org/classes.htm

Wednesday, April 15 @ 10:00 amTiny Wonders TimeWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve, St. VincentCollege, Latrobe. Learning about nature forchildren aged 2 to 4, register at (724) 537-5284.

Saturday, April 15Benefit Green ConcertWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve, St. VincentCollege, Latrobe. (724) 537-5284.

Thursday, April 16 @ 10:00 amDiscover Relaxation Within IConference Rooms B & C, Frick Hospital, 508South Church Street, Mount Pleasant.Four-week program to help minimize stress bylearning coping skills and relaxationtechniques. Free to Highmark subscribers.To register, call (724) 830-8568 or [email protected].

Thursday, April 16 @ noonTour of Greater Latrobe High School’s ArtCollectionLatrobe High School Center for Creativity,131 High School Road, Latrobe, PA.Lunch at the Center for Creativity followed by atour of the school’s art collection. Forinformation, call (724) 238-6015.

Thursday, April 16 through Saturday, April 18 @8:00 pm; Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April19 @ 2:00 pmWestmoreland Cultural Trust presentsLate Nite CatechismGreensburg Garden & Civic Center, 951 OldSalem Road, Greensburg. For tickets, call (724)836-8000 or visit www.thepalacetheatre.org

Thursday, April 16; Friday, April 17;Wednesday, April 22 through Saturday, April 25@ 7:00 pm and Sunday, April 19 @ 2:00 pmBoys’ LifeIndiana University of Pennsylvania, Waller HallMainstage. Adult play about life after college.$16 tickets are available by calling (724) 357-2547 or by visiting iuptickets.com

Thursday, April 16 @ 7:30 pmDuquesne University Jazz EnsembleWestmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N.Main Street, Greensburg. Cost is $10 formuseum members and $15 for nonmembers.For tickets, call (724) 837-1500 or visitwww.museumaa.org.

Friday, April 17 @ 8:00 pmElko Concerts presents Boney JamesThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $40, 45 and 49 and areavailable through Ticketmaster.

Saturday, April 18 @ 9:00 amOpera Ignite: The Dancing CowCampana Chapel Lecture Hall, University of Pittin Greensburg. Children’s performing artsliteracy program. For information, contactStephen Shrum at (724) 836-7483 or [email protected]

Saturday, April 18 @ 1:00 pmGuitar Hero CompetitionGeyer Performing Arts Center, 111 Pittsburgh St,Scottdale. For information, call (724) 887-0887.

Saturday, April 18 @ 7:30 pmBarrage (Contemporary Music)Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, University ofPittsburgh at Johnstown, 450 SchoolhouseRoad, Johnstown. Tickets are $10, 30 and 32and are available by calling 1-800-846-2787 or(814) 269-7200.

Saturday, April 18 @ 8:00 pmWestmoreland Symphony Orchestra’sGypsy Moods!The Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $9, 18, 25 and 37 andmay be purchased by calling (724) 837-1850.

Saturday, April 18Westmoreland Earth DayWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve, St. VincentCollege, Latrobe. (724) 537-5284.

Sunday, April 19 @ 2pmThe Herb Stidy Group of Indiana Countyhosts author Susan Wittig AlbertChestnut Ridge Inn and Conference CenterBlairsville, PA. Tea and refreshments will beserved at signing of her book Wormwood anddiscussion of “Shaker Herbs.“[email protected]

Sunday, April 19 @ 1 pm and 4 pmWestmoreland Cultural Trust and MadScientist present CSI: LIVEThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Student tickets are $10 and adulttickets are $18 and may be purchased bycalling (724) 836-1123.

March 23 @ 7:30 pmGreensburg College Club Travelogue SeriesLa Belle FranceGreensburg Salem High School65 Mennel Drive, GreensburgFor info. call 724-834-0126 or 724-925-9221

Tuesday, April 21 @ 7:30 pmTo Kill a Mockingbird (Drama)Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, University ofPittsburgh at Johnstown, 450 SchoolhouseRoad, Johnstown. Tickets are $10, 30 and 32and are available by calling 1-800-846-2787 or(814) 269-7200.

Wednesday, April 22-Saturday, April 25@ 7:30 pmThe Mystery of Edwin DroodHempfield High School Auditorium. 4345 Route136, Greensburg. For tickets, call (724) 834-9000

Friday, April 24 @ 8 pmElko Concerts presents Buddy GuyThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $37, 43, and 47 andare available through Ticketmaster.

Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 @ 8 pmWitness for the ProsecutionThe Ligonier Theater, 208 West Main Street,Ligonier. For information, call (724) 238-6514.

Friday, April 24—25 @ 7:00 pmBrewski FestivalSeven Springs Mountain Resort, 777Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs, PA

Admission is $39 for Friday and $49 forSaturday per person and includes a buffet,entertainment and seminars. Tickets can bepurchased by calling (866) 703-7625 or bygoing to tickets.7springs.com. Discountedlodging for the event can be reserved by calling(866) 437-1300.

Friday, April 24 @ 10:30 am & 8:00 pm;Saturday, April 25 @ 8:00 pm; Sunday, April 26@ 2:00 pm; Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday,April 29 @ 10:30 am; Thursday, April 30,Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2 @ 8:00 pmChildren of EdenReeves Theater, Seton Hill University,Greensburg. Adult tickets are $12 and studenttickets are $5 and are available by calling (724)838-4241 or by emailing [email protected].

Saturday, April 25 @ 8:00 pm“Connie Francis”: The Legend ContinuesState Theatre, 27 East Main Street, UniontownTickets are $46, 56 and 66 and are availableonline at www.supremeconcerts.com

Saturday, April 25 @ 8:00 pmElko Concerts presents Andrew Dice ClayThe Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Tickets are $35, 40 and 47 and areavailable through Ticketmaster.

Thursday, April 29, Friday, April 30 andSaturday, May 1 @ 7:00 pmStage Right’s All County Musical: High School Musical 2The Palace Theater, 23 W. Otterman Street,Greensburg. Adult tickets are $15 and 20,student tickets are $12 and 15 and are availableby calling 724-832-7464 or 724-836-8000.

Saturday, May 2Garden Art WorkshopWinnie Palmer Nature Reserve, St. VincentCollege, Latrobe. (724) 537-5284. FREE.Registration required.

(continued in next column)


Business Benefits in a Tight Economy:• Meet potential customers• Increase your visibility• Strengthen executive and managerial skills•• Have a voice• Save money

It’s Time to Grow Your Business!Join the Ligonier Chamber

For more information, please contact us:120 East Main Street • Ligonier, PA 15658 • 724-238-4200 • www.ligonier.com

Business Benefits in a Tight Economy:• Meet potential customers• Increase your visibility• Strengthen executive and managerial skills•• Have a voice• Save money

Wine has been stored many waysin the past 7,000 years. In thebeginning, wine was stored in clayjars, wood barrels, and animal skins.Later, fragile glass bottles were used.By proclamation of King James I ofEngland (1567-1625) all glassmakerswere to stop using wood to heat theirfurnaces so as not to deplete thenatural forests. He was anenvironmentalist before his time!Glassmakers then turned to coal,which allowed for a much hotter fire.The hotter fire from burning coal incombination with the use of a bellowsallowed Sir Kenelm Digby to create themodern day wine bottle which isthicker, stronger and darker in color.Cork also became popular at this timeallowing for long-term wine storage.

Caves and catacombs became theoptimum storage space for wine.Since very few people have a cave ontheir property, many homeownersbuild a wine cellar, which can varygreatly in size, cost, and storagecapacity. Six factors should beconsidered before a wine cellar isbuilt: location in the home, storagecapacity, temperature, humidity, light,and vibration.

The best location for many is asmall, unused closet or an area underthe stairs. Closets are relatively easyto adapt to climate-controlledenvironments and can be insulated,moisture-sealed, refrigerated, andhumidified. When sealed correctly,closets make an ideal environment forlong-term storage of modest winecollections. Spaces under stairs canwork well with open air racking or withclimate controls. Under stairs locationshave a few drawbacks. Capacity may belimited and footsteps overhead mayvibrate the bottles in the cellar.

Converting a room into a wine cellarmay become costly. Electrical systemsmay need to be upgraded to accommodatethe refrigeration system. The conversionmay also necessitate reinforcing thestructural frame and flooring to handlethe additional weight. Remember, evena modest collection of 500 bottlesweights half a ton. For those with largewine collections, a wine cellar is a greatinvestment.

For those with no such facility, afreestanding cabinet may be the bestoption but should only be used formid-term storage of about five years.Depending on the types of wine beingstored, some cabinets may needappropriate insulation to maintain aconsistent temperature.

Temperature is the greatestconcern when cellaring wine. Today’smodern home is kept roughly at 68° Fbut temperature fluctuates with mostrooms warming rapidly during the dayand cooling again at night when thethermostat is turned down. The idealtemperature for storing wine isbetween 50° F and 53° F with little tono fluctuation, allowing it to ageproperly. Storing wine at lowertemperatures slows the ageing process

giving it greater complexity and theopposite occurs at slightly highertemperatures. A general rule is thehigher the temperature, the shorter theshelf life.

A moderately damp cellar is idealfor most wine cellars as humidity helpsto keep the cork from drying out. Thisis also achieved by storing a winebottle on its side to allow constantcontact between the wine and thecork. When the cork dries out, it mayexpand and contract allowing airinside the bottle, ultimately damagingthe stored wine. High humidity levels

result in mold forming on the bottlesand cork. For serious collectors, highhumidity also has a tendency to leavethe labels ruined, which will devaluean entire collection.

Light and vibration are also veryimportant factors to consider whenbuilding a wine cellar. Ultravioletlight destroys wine which is onereason why wine was originallystored in caves and catacombs. Like acave, wine cellars should have nowindows. If this is not possible, wineshould be shielded from the UV light.Vibration is also another concern butisn’t as much of a problem in the modernhome. It is important to remember,wine needs to sleep and frequentdisturbance of wine will agitate it.

For those of you beginning yourwine storage adventure to otherswanting to expand their cellar, LibertyCloset Systems, Inc. can help. Weunderstand that every bottle of wine-regardless of its vintage or variety-deserves proper storage and carecreating a difference you’ll come to taste,appreciate, and nurture. Wine cellardesign, fabrication, and installation isdone entirely by our expert team ofdesigners and craftsmen.

For more information, please visit us atwww.libertyclosetsonline.com.

More pictures can be found under the “our work”section under hobby centers.

Sources: www.sutton.com, www.cellarnotes.net,The Home Wine Cellar by Perry Sims

Wine Storage Solutionsby Heather Haines

Chuck Walters with wine racks byLiberty Closet Systems, Inc.


John Hanna, OwnerPHONE: (724) 537-5140 • FAX: (724) 537-0687

www.hannainsuranceagency.us

Hanna Insurance Agency

It’s Our Anniversary!March 28, 10-5 PM

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Picturing AmericaAt Adams Memorial Library

Picture America . . . the way it hasbeen seen through history’s greatworks of art. Adams Memorial Libraryhas received a grant from the NationalEndowment for the Humanities (NEH)to bring these images to the LatrobeArea. Through the “Picturing America”project, the library, along with manyother K-12 schools and public librariesacross the country, has received 40pieces of art in poster format.

The NEH has carefully selectedAmerican masterpieces that bring usface to face with the people, places,and events that have shaped ourcountry.The images are just a smallsample of significant works, and serveas a starting pointfor learning aboutour nation’shistory and artisticlegacy throughsculpture, finecrafts, archi-tecture, photogra-phy and painting.

The librarywill present adifferent work ofart each weekthrough Memo-rial Day, and thenbegin again onLabor Day andcontinue throughthe end of theyear. Each weekwe will displaythe poster accom-panied by inter-esting facts about the artshown. Some art will be hung atspecific times of the year (such asLouis Comfort Tiffany’s stained glasswindow entitled “Autumn Landscape,”which will be displayed in September).

The facts about each work of artwill highlight something that eitherthe viewer may not notice if they onlylook casually or else may not be ableto know just by looking. Someexamples: The church called the“Mission Nuestra Senora de laConcepcion” from 1755 shows animage of God with facial features of

both Spanish and American Indianancestry. The famous painting of PaulRevere by John Singleton Copleydisplays symbols of Freemasons in thesame orientation as they appear onthe back of the dollar bill. The statecapitol of Columbus, Ohio, was builtin 1831 and is shorter than mostmodern buildings in part becauseelevators were not yet common. In thewell-known picture called “MigrantMother” by Dorothea Lange, the womanis a full-blooded American Indian. Contrasting matte and gloss finishesin black-on-black Pueblo pottery cause“second color” to appear—the brightwhite of reflected light.

The curatorfor the PicturingAmerica project isAlex Shivetts (pic-tured above), a 17-year-old junior atGreater LatrobeSenior High. He isresponsible forcompiling the factsand changing outthe weekly dis-plays as part of hissenior class pro-ject. With approvalfrom his schoolsupervisor, Re-becca Snyder(2009 Pennsyl-vania State Tea-cher of the Year),Alex is getting ahead start on

next year’s requirement. He willhave to write an essay in additionto the weekly work he will be doing,and will then have to make apresentation to a panel of three orfour teachers and administrators atthe school around the middle of nextyear’s term to be graded on theentire project.

To view an online gallery of thePicturing America art pieces or to readabout any pieces visitors to the librarymight miss over the year, please visitthe grant’s website at:

http://picturingamerica.neh.gov

“The Picturing America grantfrom the National Endowment forthe Humanities has trulyenriched our lives.The posters dovetail perfectlywith the scope and sequence ofour district’s social studiescurriculum. Valuable as thePicturing America posters are toteaching our curriculum,however, perhaps their greatestworth is their limitless potentialto teach us all—students, staffand parents— about ourselves.”

— Katrine Watkins, Librarian,Shaler Area Intermediate School,

Glenshaw, PA


Contact : SueAnn ZippiIndependent Consultant

[email protected]

As spring approaches and thatfresh clean smell is in the air, don’tyou just want to take a big deepbreath and soak it all in?

Whoa! Not so fast! What’s inthat stuff your inhaling? “Air” iscomprised of many components;nitrogen, oxygen, dust, dander,chemicals, and water vapor just toname a few. One component alsofound in air, most any air, is Radon.Radon is a colorless odorless gasthat is a product of naturallydecaying uranium found in nearlyall soils. It is present virtuallyeverywhere, indoors and out.

In sufficient quantity, Radonposes a serious health risk. Radonis a cancer-causing naturalradioactive gas, and is the leadingcause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and the second leadingcause of lung cancer in Americaoverall. It claims about 20,000lives annually. That’s more thanthe population of Latrobe, Derry,Ligonier, Stahlstown, and LaurelMountain Borough combined. Findthe average test results in yourPennsylvania zip code at thefollowing website: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/RadiationProtection_Apps/Radon/. Don’tpanic, keep breathing, and readon.

How does this nasty stuff getinto our homes? Pretty easily;through cracks in solid floors,construction joints, cracks inwalls, gaps in suspended floors,gaps around service pipes, andsometimes our water supply. If ahouse receives public water, theradon is naturally removed inprocessing. With a well, there is achance the water is harboringradon, but it usually is a smallsource if at all.

Radon testing and repair israrely expensive, usually takesvery little time, and compared tothe cost and pain of lung cancertreatments, it’s a huge bargain.

Testing and correcting radon inyour home is a pretty simple affair.First of all, education is important.In Pennsylvania, go to: http://www.dep . s ta t e .pa .us/brp/Radon_Division/Radon_Homepage.htm or log onto the EPA’swebsite: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html#overview for acitizen’s guide to radon.

Additionally EPA Radonpublications can be ordered from:

US EnvironmentalProtection AgencyNational Service Center forEnvironmental Publications(NSCEP)P.O. Box 42419Cincinnati, OH 45242-0419

Second, is the testing. There areessentially two types of tests, longterm (90 days or greater) and shortterm (less than 90 days, but at least48 hours). Short term testing isusually the fastest and most popular,especially during a real estatetransaction. Both are valid for makinga repair decision, however long termtests will more accurately reflect theoverall radon levels in the house overthe seasons.

A short term test kit can bepurchased at the local hardware storefor about $20. If using this method,read and follow the instructionsprecisely. If the instructions are notfollowed correctly, the result is notreliable. Another option is to hire alicensed radon testing firm. Most ofthese firms can do either long or shortterm tests, and the cost is usually$125 - $150. To avoid any potentialconflict of interest, use a testing firmthat does testing only and does notprovide radon repair or mitigation. Youcan find a licensed testing firm sortedby county at: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/brp/radon_division/Rn_Services_Directory/County%20Test.pdf or by calling the PADepartment of Environmentalprotection Bureau of Radiationprotection at 717-787-2480.

Regardless of the type or lengthof the test, the result will beexpressed in Picocuries per Liter.(pCi/L) This is a measurement ofRadon per liter of air. If the test resultis 4 pCi/L or higher, the EPArecommends that the building havecorrective action.

If repair is needed, the costranges from $700 - $1,200. The mostcommon form of correction ormitigation is called “sub-slab”depressurization or suction. Simplyput, a hole is drilled into thebasement floor and a pipe installedinto it. From there the pipe is run upout of the house where an enclosedfan is installed, usually close toground level drawing air from underthe floor. From there pipe, downspout,or some other material can be usedto vent the system, usually above theroofline. Installation normally onlytakes a few hours, and Radon levelscan be reduced in most homes to 2pCi/L or less.

The long and the short: Justbecause you can’t see, smell, or tasteit doesn’t mean Radon isn’t real. It’sa threat to your family you can solveby simply picking up the phone, orgetting online. Do it today.

Brian Mishler of HomeStudy ProfessionalHome Inspection has enjoyed 14 years

experience in the home inspection industryhelping to educate buyers and sellers on

their current or new home/property.

Radon… Big Risk, Easy Fixby Brian Mischler


SHOPS AROUND THE CORNERGetting To Know Unique Local Businesses and the People Behind Them

As far as I know they don’t sing duets,perform pas de deux or juggle, butColleen Dougherty and Debby Forrest ofColleen’s Massage & Wellness Therapiesare a hard act to follow just the same.The sisters are united in their visionand work together to bring health andwellness to our area providing balm andalleviating discomfort for the stressedand physically-challenged – a “sleightof hand” feat, so to speak.

Proprietor Colleen is a RegisteredNurse who trained at Pittsburgh Schoolof Massage. She has additional trainingin repetitive use injuries (like carpaltunnel), raindrop therapy, cranial-sacraltherapy, acupressure, orthopedictherapy, and lymphatic drainage therapyand has obtained Reiki II level. Debby isa Certified Nursing Assistant whotrained for massage at Career TrainingAcademy and is also trained in shiatsu,geriatric massage, ortho-bionomypostural changes (scoliosis and kyphosis)and spa technique therapies. Debby alsoowns and operates a massage andwellness establishment in White Oak,Deb’s Oasis. Each sister continues tolearn new techniques to offer theirpatrons through continuing education.Before opening the Latrobe facility bothwomen were affiliated with ExcelaHealth Latrobe working primarily withcancer patients and their care givers andthey paired with the Arnold PalmerPavilion at the Mountain View MedicalCenter in conjunction with the NancyHoffman Foundation and Latrobe AreaHospital Charitable Foundation. Whenexplaining oncology massage Debby says,“A patient once told me that being withoutpain for 5 minutes is wonderful.”

Practiced for centuries as a healingart in numerous cultures, massagebenefits both the body and the mind. Ithelps reduce blood pressure, stimulateslymphatic drainage, activates theimmune system and increases flexibility

of the joints. Massage induces relaxationand aids in the alleviation of migraines,neck, shoulder and back pain.Endorphins, enkephalins and otherpain-reducing neurochemicals arereleased through massage. The procedurealso increases levels of dopamine andserotonin thereby decreasing levels ofstress and depression. (Stress anddisease have long been thought to havemore than a passing relationship bymany experts.)

Colleen’s Massage & WellnessTherapies seeks to provide a totalexperience that combines therapy andrelaxation. A soothing water fall, moodmusic and the scent of aromatherapy oilsgreet you upon your arrival. Colleenrelates, “We blend modalities to do a trulycustomized massage for each client.”Available are Swedish massage, hot stonemassage, connective tissue massage,neuromuscular therapy, lymph drainagetherapy, reflexology, aromatherapy,raindrop therapy, shiatsu and reiki. Spatherapies include exfoliation, body wrap,herbal wrap and aromatherapy wrap.Clients are encouraged to drink thesuggested amount of water followingtheir therapy, but a variety of flavoredteas are also offered to continue therelaxation process.

You certainly don’t have to be unwellto visit these sisters. “I massage healthypeople, who stay healthier withmassage,” Debby states. Take a steptoward better health today by making anappointment at Colleen’s Massage andWellness Therapies. You provide the body;Colleen and Debby provide their magicalhelping hands.

For more information aboutColleen’s Health & Wellness Therapiesvisit www.colleensmassage.com or call724-537-7353 or 412-527-7543. Therapyavailable at 1103 Ligonier Street, Latrobeby appointment only

– Story and photo by Barbara M. Neill

More than the Sum of Its Parts:Wigs ‘n More Mastectomy Boutique

Sister Act:Colleen’s Massage & Wellness Therapies

A business is so much more than acommercial venture. The building thathouses it is a shell, however grand. Alist of products or services offered canbe learned from a trip to a website or aphone call to the establishment. To trulyappreciate an enterprise, one needs to gainan understanding of the people involved –proprietors, employees and customers.

For 9 years Wigs ‘n More proprietorKathy Hendrickson has dedicatedherself to helping her clients accomplishwhat at times must seem like animpossible feat: looking their best duringthe worst of times. The boutique is a fullservice salon that carries theprosthetics, bras and wigs alumpectomy or mastectomy patientneeds and is also amply stockedwith attractive accessories suchas hats, scarves, sunglasses,jewelry, and makeup. Skin andhair care products and hairextensions supply the finishingtouches. (FYI: Skin care andmassage therapy are alsoavailable.) Featured items includeContourMed custom prosthetics,LeMystere bras, Amoena intimateapparel Raquel Welch SignatureCollection wigs, Gabor wigs,Wicking sleepwear and Spanxundergarments. Since a cancerordeal can be a confusingexperience Kathy explains,“Women are often unaware thatinsurance covers many productsfor breast-related procedures.”

Kathy also operates TanglesHair Salon & Day Spa which ishoused in the same site as Wigs ‘n More.Trained in hair styling and cosmetology,Kathy has managed her hair salon for21 years. She is active as an instructorin Look Good…Feel Better program andeducates the public about Relay for Life,the signature activity of the AmericanCancer Society. In 2008 she won theYWCA Women’s Health & Fitness Awardand she is an active member of LatrobeBusiness and Professional Women’s Club.

Employee Nancy Kimmick sharesthese thoughts about her job. “I am soblessed to work with the most caringand passionate women in the industry. Itis a pleasure everyday to engage withour clients who are such wonderfullystrong, beautiful women who have theburning desire to beat this horribledisease that robs them of life. It can bevery emotional at times when you lookin their eyes only to see the sadnessthey are experiencing, but also is veryrewarding when you fit them properlywith the right wig and see them smileand glow with confidence once again.”

We all know the old saying: If youdon’t look good, you don’t feel good. Soundsfrivolous, perhaps, but, if you talk tocancer patients and survivors, you get awhole new perspective on that glibremark. Debbie Cost of Ligonier wasdiagnosed with breast cancer in January

of 2008 and had a mastectomy thefollowing month. “Kathy and her staffwere wonderful, making a difficultsituation a little more bearable. I wasimpressed with the large selection of wigsthat were available. I ordered 3 and ammore than pleased with the quality. In fact,people can’t believe that I wear a wig,because it’s so beautiful,” says Debbie.

When she was diagnosed for thesecond time with breast cancer,Greensburg’s Ovie Marshall was told thatthis time she would be losing her hair.She was referred to Wigs ‘n More by afriend who was also battling the disease.

She relates, “I was devastated, but Ithought if I was going to go through allof this I was going to look great. When Iarrived I took a deep breath and wentinside. The staff was so nice andfriendly. I was taken to a private area totry on wigs and talk about the needs Iwould have with my double mastectomy.I left feeling educated about theimportance of caring for my wig andscalp and knowledgeable about how towear scarves and hats to compliment myhair loss. Kathy explained that myhusband and kids know me best and aremy best critics, so I brought them in tohelp me decide on length and color. Igot 2 wigs – one short for summer andone long for winter – and lots of scarves.Kathy and the staff took such care cuttingmy long wig and helping me to style andcare for both. They are always getting newskin care products that I just love. I still goback and visit with Kathy; she makeseveryone feel welcome and at home. “

And what is the sum of these parts?They all add up to Wigs ‘n More.

For more information about Wigs ‘n More,Inc. go to www.wigsnmore.net, call 724-532-1901 or visit Kathy and her staff at5924 Route 981, Latrobe.

– Story and photo by Barbara M. NeillCaring, sharing sisters – Debby Forrest (l) and Colleen Dougherty

“Some” of the parts that make W&M special –Nancy Kimmick (l), Carol Dominiczak (modeling wig)

and owner Kathy Hendrickson.



724-834-4688

271 Frye Farm Rd.

THE GARDEN GUYSJim & Joe Prengaman

Proper Planting TechniquesTaking the time to plant trees and shrubs correctlytakes no longer than planting them incorrectly.Many factors may contribute to their failure tothrive. Poor soils, exposure to extremes of sunand wind, and poor drainage are common factorsthat may cause a specimen. These can be overcomeby proper site selection, good planting techniquesand care, maintenance and upkeep.

There are three basic forms that nursery plantsare sold, bare-root, balled and burlapped, andcontainer grown. Each form has distinctadvantages and disadvantages for the consumer.Bare root plants usually are mail ordered productsthat are shipped without soil to reduce shippingweight. This does reduce the initial cost but thesetrees will frequently need staked and they can onlybe shipped and planted while they are dormant.

Balled and burlapped are usually locally grownin conditions similar to where you will plant themin your yard. Depending on the size these plantsthey can be quite heavy and awkward to move andtransport. If you are looking for large mature treesthis is your best option.

Most plants and trees sold are container grownboth locally and nationally. They are availableduring the entire planting season. They are usuallysmaller in size and easy to transport and plant.These plants are shipped with all of their rootsintact which aids in their survivability. They aregrown in a light soilless planting mix which is verydifferent from the soil they will be expected to growin and tend to dry out faster than the other types.

The steps for planting bare-root, balled andburlapped or container grown trees do not differ.Correct planting depth , size of hole , soil amendmentsand mulching all remain essentially the same .

Arguably the biggest cause of tree andornamental plant death is over-planting. Basicallythis is planting the root ball below existing soillevel. In the past it was recommended that plantsshould be planted at the same depth that they wereoriginally grown, generally it is now accepted thata plants root mass should be planted one third abovethe existing soil grade.

Now we can gauge the size of the hole we willneed. The plants root ball should sit on existingcompact soil after digging the hole to a depth oftwo thirds of the plants root ball. The holes widthis three times the size of the container or root ball,with the sides tapering in towards the center.

The area around the roots should be filled inwith the excavated topsoil from the hole. If thesoil is of extreme poor quality, such as a heavyclay, the excavated soil may be amended. Organiccompost, leaf mold, composted manure, or highquality topsoil are commonly used examples, butshould be limited to twenty percent of the backfill.

All of the grass should be removed form aroundthe hole so that the newly planted tree will nothave to compete with it foe water and nutrients.This area and the soil above the root ball can becovered with a shredded dyed hardwood mulch thatwe sell and deliver to your jobsite.

A good basic rule of thumb is plant it low nevergrow, plant it high never die.

When planning your garden, it is important toask a few basic questions:• How much time will you be able to devote toyour garden on a regular basis? The answer to thisquestion will dictate the size of your garden. Youmust remember that, once planted, the garden willhave to be weeded once a week, irrigated duringdroughts, and vegetables harvested when ripe.Depending on the type of vegetables, you may alsoneed to undertake pest control measures.• What vegetables do you like to eat and how doyou plan to use the harvested produce? The answerto these questions will dictate what vegetables to

plant and how many seeds/transplants of eachvegetable to plant. In addition to eating freshlyharvested vegetables, you will want to determinehow much produce you want to can, freeze, dry, orstore. Successive plantings of certain crops, suchas beans, will give a longer harvest period andincrease your yield. Make a list of recommendedvarieties and their planting dates. Use care inchoosing the seeds, making sure the varieties youselect are adapted to your area and intended use.• How much space is available? That is, how mucharea can be converted into usable garden space, notsimply how much empty ground is available.

Some Additional Planning Hints• Summer is the best time to plan next year’sgarden so you have the fall to prepare the soil andwinter to order the seed.• Plan the garden on paper first. Draw a mapshowing the arrangement and spacing of your crops.To keep the garden growing all season, make aspring, summer, and fall garden plan. (See IntensiveGardening Methods, Virginia Cooperative Extensionpublication 426-335.)• Plan the garden and order seeds by January orFebruary. Some plants may be started indoors asearly as mid-February.• In your plan, place tall and trellised crops onthe north side of the garden so they won’t shade theshorter vegetables.• Group plants by the length of their growingperiod. Plant spring crops together so later cropscan be planted in these areas when the early cropsmature. Consider the length of harvest as well astime to maturity. Place perennial crops to the sideof the garden where they will not be disturbed byany tillage that is needed.

Locating the Garden• Vegetables grow best in a level area with loose,welldrained soil and at least six hours of sun (eightto ten hours is ideal).• Use contour rows, terraces, or raised beds onsloped or hillside sites to avoid erosion. South-facingslopes are warmer and less subject to damagingfrosts.• Avoid placing the garden in a low spot, at thebase of a hill, or at the foot of a slope bordered by asolid fence. Such areas are slow to warm up in the

continued on page 28


First, there were skyrocketing gasprices. Next came the government bailoutof the banking and auto industries. Andwhile the gas prices have come down, thegrocery bills certainly haven’t. Our economyis in trouble and some say it’s going to getworse before it gets better which remindssome of another “Great Depression.”

But what exactly does that mean?History books tell us that this time periodfrom 1929-1939 was one of the mostdesperate times in American history.People lost their homes, their jobs, andtheir hope. As a child, I recall GrandmaSmoker describing it as a time when youhad to “make do” with what you had (whichwasn’t much). It was a lesson she carriedwith her through out her life. She used orre-purposed everything, including one ofmy broken up old dolls. I grew up watchingher weave bread bags into floor mats andsew old clothes into multi-colored quilts.

With visions of soup lines in myhead, I stopped to visit my aunt, who

was a child/teenager during TheDepression, to gain a little insight onthis historical period. My aunt, who veryadamantly said, “Jenny Ann, I’m not atall interested in seeing my name inprint!” recalls what it was like to liveduring the Great Depression. She livedon 1st street, house # 6 in Hostetter(located outside of Latrobe) across fromthe company store. Her dad was a coalminer for Frick Coal Company. (In orderto live there someone in the householdhad to work for the mine.) When themine closed he worked as a deliverymanfor the store. Not everyone had cars toget to the store so her dad would taketheir call or slip and deliver theirgroceries. A can of milk cost only 8¢. Itwas always great when the order totalended in an 8 because the family wouldget an employee discount and anythingthat ended in 8 or 9 meant they wouldreceive a bag of candy.

Their dad also worked for the Works

Progress Administration (WPA) buildingroads. They would bring in these hugeblocks of limestone and the men wouldbe out with sledgehammers busting themapart to form the roadbed. Her brotherSteve joined The Civilian ConservationCamp where he traveled and worked ondifferent building projects. He got paidso much and the rest was sent home.My aunt had to quit school after theeighth grade to help out at home. Therewas cooking and canning and the youngerchildren to look after. In those days thingsweren’t handed to you. Everyone wasexpected to work and contribute.

My aunt also states that what madethis time period so different and, attimes, so frightening was that therereally wasn’t any money. But even if therewere you couldn’t depend on the storeto have what you needed.

Shoes were especially difficult tocome by. When you needed a pair ofshoes you had to have a coupon. The

family would go to a shoe store on FifthAvenue in Pittsburgh. It didn’t matterwhat kind of shoes you got but you hadto have a coupon to get them.

My aunt only got one pair of shoes ayear, unlike now where some by a newpair every time they go shopping. Atthat time, shoes were made only ofleather and would wear out. She wasalways cutting out cardboard to put inthe bottom of shoes to make them last.re always peeking out of the tops due tothe excessive wear.

While the Great Depression was arough time in American history, therealso was a real sense of community inthose days. Someone was always thereto listen, laugh and lean on. You couldalways find willing hands to help you ifyou needed them to carry you throughthe hard times. Perhaps, with a renewedsense of community now, we can weatherour economic crisis today.

– Jennifer Smoker

Remembering the Great Depression

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In the late 1980’s, Gilda Radner, whomade us laugh on “Saturday Night Live”,found herself in a very serious situation:she had ovarian cancer. The womanwho managed to resolve many problemsthrough humor found herself dealingwith something that was out of hercontrol. Radner was discomforted by thefact that cancer patients often foundthemselves feeling very alone during theirillness. Therefore, she wanted to createan atmosphere to calm and comfort cancerpatients through their difficult times.

In 1995, the first Gilda’s Clubopened in New York City. It wassponsored in her honor by Radner’shusband, Gene Wilder, and Joanne Bull,Gilda’s personal therapist. Several yearslater, Bull opened another club in herhometown of Chicago, Illinois. Fromthere, the project took off and, in 2006,a Gilda’s Club opened in the Strip Districtin Pittsburgh through the work of aPittsburgh oncology nurse, CindyStanish and her husband Al. Locatedon the corner of 28th and SmallmanStreets, the building is easily recognizedby the big red front door and the freeparking lot located across the street. Thestaff of six attends to the daily chores oforganizing activities and paying bills.Volunteers donate their time to engagemembers in activities that span a varietyof interests. Membership in the club isfree; donations fuel the costs of runningthe place. Carol Lennon, the executivedirector, claims that “raising theoperating budget every year is somewhat

of a challenge.” However, it is a challengethat they have managed to meet.

Since Radner felt that no oneshould deal with cancer alone, the goalof the club is to attend to the emotional

and social support for cancer patients,their families and their friends. Supportand networking groups have been formedto help cancer patients share theirexperiences, loved ones to express theirfeelings, and mourners to live with theirloss. Lectures and workshops areavailable on exercise and relaxationtechniques, cooking and nutrition, crafts,and stress reduction. There are alsomany social activities designed to letcancer patients and their loved onesenjoy themselves awhile and forget theirproblems.

The Club building itself is a seriesof rooms designed to accommodate manytypes of activities. A large, state-of-the-art kitchen can serve as a classroom fornutrition classes as well as a stagingground for a community dinner. Pre-school and elementary-aged children callAustin’s Noogieland their own, whileMatt’s Media Room — with its gamingconsoles and laptops — was designedwith the preteen in mind. There arealso several large group rooms for classesand workshops and cozy spots wherefamilies can talk and unwind after astressful visit with the doctor.

To join for free, call 412-338-1919to schedule a New Member Meeting. Theprogram director, Colleen Dwyer, andprogram managers, Kathleen BalzerPetulla and Ann O’Leary Amato, willassist new members in creating plansfrom a variety of events that best meetthe social and emotional support for eachperson. The Club is currently workingon an online support network formembers who are unable to make thetrip to downtown Pittsburgh. Visitwww.gildasclubwesternpa.org forinformation about this network.

The Club is a free, non-profitorganization that exists because of thegenerosity of the community. Anyoneinterested in volunteering on an on-going basis at the Club can call 412-338-1919 for information about the monthlyvolunteer orientation meetings.Donations, both monetary and in theform of dry goods, can also be made by

Gilda Radner: She’s Really Somethingby Paula J. Forte

A hand-painted mural of Gilda Radneroverlooking the Point in Pittsburgh adorns

the front lobby of Gilda’s Club.

calling the previous number or by visitingwww.gildasclubwesternpa.org.

Radner spent much of her adulthoodmaking us laugh at ourselves. As hercharacter Rosanna Rosannadanna usedto say, “It’s always something.”Unfortunately, the something thatstopped her laughter was cancer. Gilda’sClubhouse is her testament that life —spiritual if not physical — does not haveto stop because of a cancer diagnosis.

Colleen Dwyer (left) and Kathleen BalzerPetulla work to make the lives of cancer

patients and their families and friends a littlebrighter in a dark and threatening time.

Loren M. Means, CPASt. Vincent College Class of [email protected]

We’ll SolveYour Tax Puzzle!

Glen W. Vance, CPASt. Vincent College Class of 2000

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UPCOMING EVENTSAT WEST OVERTON

MUSEUMSWEST OVERTON VILLAGE - SCOTTDALE, PA 15683

March 14, 2009 11:00 AMDOUG OSTER

Gardening for the FUN of it !

Tips, Tricks and Stories to get the BEST GARDEN EVER.$5.00 admission fee. Luncheon (catered by Miss Martha’s Tea Room)

by RSVP only Additional $ [email protected]

March 15, 2009 2:30PMParlor Talks

Civil War Historian Ken Williams

The Campaign for New Orleans“ Our only fear is that the Northern invaders might not appear “

April 19, 2009 2:30 PMParlor Talks

Dr. Kevin Kopper

“ George Washingston’s Diplomatic Mission to Fort Leboeufand the Opening of Western Pennsylvania 1753 “

Next issue read about our upcoming MAY MART !Get your garden gloves ready !

Phone: (724) 887-7910 • Fax: (724) 887-5010Email: [email protected] • www.westoverton.org

Are yAre yAre yAre yAre you good-nou good-nou good-nou good-nou good-naaaaatured and friendltured and friendltured and friendltured and friendltured and friendly ?y ?y ?y ?y ?Working as a volunteer in a historical setting may be the right place foryou. West Overton is looking for people with special talents and energeticpersonalities ! Work with the public or behind the scenes. We have manyevents and social programs that may need your special touch. Familieswelcome ! Please mail or email us a letter telling us a little about yourselfand why West Overton would be a great place for you to volunteer.

West Overton VillageScottdale, Pa. 15683

[email protected]

In was true in Laurel Mountain Boroughlong before that phrase was coined bythe 1986 film Field of Dreams. In 1926,Lawrence William Darr and Charles B.Hegan, brothers-in-law, had their owndream—to develop a summer cottagecommunity on acreage at the bottom ofLaurel Mountain, off Route 30, whichthey purchased in 1926.

Other persons didn’t agree. “Why areyou building houses there? No one willever want to live in rock pile!” theyasked.

Darr, Hegan and Harry Lohr, a laterpartner, had a brilliant idea: createrecreational facilities, a swimming pool,shelter house, and tennis courts—andpeople would come…

Their idea worked. Eighty-two yearslater, one hundred “cottages” exist in thecommunity, once known as LaurelMountain Park, but renamed LaurelMountain Borough in 1982. The claytennis courts have been transformed intoa community garden. The swimming pooland shelter house remain, encouragingproperty sales and serving the peoplewho occupy the over one hundredresidences.

Originally, the pool area was muchmore “woodsy,” according to the late NellWilliams, who noted that many treeswere cleared before the pool was hand-dug and cemented. Her father and thelate Charles W. Darr, whose son JohnDarr still swims there regularly, helpeddig the pool.

According to Phil Rose, currentresident whose family built a cottage inthe Park in 1934, water to fill the poolcame from a three-inch stream-fedpipeline about 100-150 yards away,where Darr Dam was located. “Watercame into the dam through nine differentholes,” former resident, Steve Harwig,said. “It flowed into the pool by gravity.The dam is now obliterated.”

“They filled the pool every twoweeks,” Rose noted. “The water was notchlorinated or anything, and beingunfiltered creek water, algae grew in it.The underwater would get so dark andwe couldn’t see. You could dive up besidesomeone and surprise them.”

Resident Daneen Kinsey recallsthem emptying the pool on Sundaynights. “Someone would dive down inthe murky pool and pull the plug. OnMonday morning when you dove in itwas cold. We would turn blue. As kids,we didn’t mind.”

Stormy weather created suchmurkiness from silt and dirt that the poolhad to be emptied and cleaned, using awire brush. Then the pool had to dry inthe sun for five to six hours, after whichit filled all night.

Rose recalls people swam anytime, dayor night, in the unfenced pool, with sixtyto eighty kids played at the shallow, safeend of the pool. “They all got along together.There were no fights,” Harwig said.

“The place was…an absolutely funplace to be,” Rose said. “It was amazinghow many people used them (the pooland tennis courts).” Lifelong friendshipswere formed here, noted Harwig.

There was no lifeguard, but therewas a prominently displayed sign, “Swimat your own risk,” Kinsey recalls. Harwigcredits “old man Darr” with keeping kidssafe. Darr, “taught the kids to doggiepaddle.” Children, challenged to swimacross the deep part of the pool, couldswim by age six.

The pool developed cracks over thewinter, and each spring it was paintedand maintained. By 1934 new legal

Build It and They Will Comeby Carolyn C. Holland

regulations required fencing around thepool. Further regulations concerningwater circulation and chlorinationnecessitated hiring a caretaker. Theexpenses led to charging a “usage fee,eliminating free swimming and angeringsome residents, and restricting hours.Although scheduled swimming hourswere between 10:00 a. m. and 5:00 p.m., with an hour closure at noon, with

occasional evening hours, numerousyouth sidestepped the designated hours.“We used to go over the fence at nightand skinny dip,” Rose said. “We weren’tsupposed to get over a barbed wire fence,but we did.” Residents and “guests”reported “that was when the real funstarted, after dark,” even though the barbedwire injured some of the swimmers.

Resident Craig Miller said that, bythe time he was a teenager in the 60s,most of the lifeguards were his peers,who “made the pool accessible at off-times. The lifeguard was always one ofus. We would just go down and swim atnight if it was warm.”

The shelter house was built “as asort of a dressing room,” said Rose. Later,state-required restrooms were installed.Through the years the pool raisedneeded funding by inviting non-residents to swim for a fee slightlyhigher than residents paid.

The pool is managed by the LaurelMountain Park Association. Boardmembers are president Amy O’Brien; vicepresident, Gretchen Griffith; secretaryElizabeth Fuchs; treasurer Craig Millerand past president, Susan Crouse.

Borough residents, and those witha pool membership, look forward toenjoying the pool with the arrival of the2009 swimming season. For furtherinformation about pool membership and/or shelter rentals contact O’Brien at 724/238-9248, e-mail [email protected] or check the LaurelMountain Park folder on the website,www.laurelmountainboro.wordpress.com

Pool Circa 40s from the collection of DonnellR. Wilson, former resident, now of Texas.

Children frolicking inLaurel Mountain Borough’s pool.


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DERRY REMEMBRANCESRuth Richardson

Chicken Pox, Measles, and Mumps….Oh My!Just about everyone I know had achildhood filled with various maladies,injuries, and illnesses. For mygeneration, the first sign of illness wouldfind our moms springing into action witha plan for restoring us to rosy-cheekedvigor. As I recall, it’s a wonder some ofthe “cures” didn’t kill us. Mom didn’talways have a cure. Some of our ailmentssimply needed to “run their course”, butshe sure did have a bag full of tricks fortreating all the symptoms. One of my most vivid memories ofbeing sick was the summer I got themumps. Like most other contagiousdiseases, I got it from my brother, Keith.Every time something was “goingaround”, my brother would catch it atschool and happily bring it home andpass it along to me. One spring, hecontracted the mumps. I found it veryamusing when my mom tied a scarfunder his chin around the top of hishead, leaving the ends to look like littleears, and I couldn’t resist pointing andlaughing. She said it would keep downthe swelling. My brother was not nearlyas amused as I was, but it wasn’t longuntil the shoe was on the other foot. Mymom knew it was only a matter of timeuntil I showed the first signs ofcontamination, and sure enough, I wokeup with a low grade fever, had a scratchythroat and we all watched my neck beginto swell—two days before the DerrySchool Picnic. Although Keith laugheddelightedly at my appearance, andreferred to me as “No-Neck” Ruth Elaine,he also felt bad that I would have to missthe picnic. And to add insult to injury,my mom informed me that Keith wouldbe allowed to go without me. I had nofeelings of charity towards him; after allit was his fault that I was sick and Iwanted him to be punished by stayinghome, too. Alas, it was not to be, and Istayed on the couch, miserable while mybrother and everyone else in theneighborhood laughed it up at Idlewild.The bag of caramel corn he brought homefor me later that day did little to diminishmy resentment. We were lectured that the mumpswere nothing to trifle with. Our momstold us if we didn’t listen to theirinstructions, we could go deaf. Inaddition to that, the mumps could triggersome sort of mysterious consequencesfor boys. We didn’t know exactly what itwas, but boys who contracted the mumpshad to remain quietly in bed, and avoidany kind of jumping. We heard our momswhispering about the mumps “dropping.”We had no idea where they weredropping to, and we didn’t want to findout. In those days our moms didn’t worrytoo much about psychologically damagingus, and would make up all sorts of horrorstories to keep us in line. Just a few Iremember: “Keep crossing your eyes andthey will stay like that”, or, “If you eatthat uncooked dough, you will getworms”, and my personal favorite, “How

would you like me to give you somethingto cry about?” Then there were the measles. Iremember three kinds, but there mayhave been more. We had the three-daymeasles, the nine-day measles, andGerman measles. I can recall one of thembeing much more dangerous than therest, and it could lead to blindness. Mymom would hang blankets over thewindows to block out sunlight since itwas supposed to contribute to loss ofsight.

Everybody got the chicken pox, too.The very first case in Derry would assurethat every one of us would be passing itaround, school to school, classmate toclassmate, and, at my house, brother tosister. The one common denominatorof these “spotted syndromes” was theitching. I recall it feeling like antscrawling on me, and I was admonishedcontinuously not to scratch, as well asthe bottles of Calamine lotion we wouldgo through. Too bad they didn’t sell itby the gallon jug. My mom would allowus to put it on ourselves with little cottonballs and I usually ended up looking like

a pale pink ghoul. If you ask me, it neverreally seemed to do much good. Whenthe itch started getting the best of usand she noticed us scratching, Momwould put us in the bathtub filled withtepid water and some oatmeal. The chicken pox itchiness wasmuch worse than the measles. Thosespots would evolve from a red rash, tolittle blisters, to scabs. We wererelentlessly lectured about not pickingthose scabs since they would leave scars.I still have several of those scars to provemy mom wasn’t completely successfulwith her stern lectures. I’m sure Dr.Oliver and Dr. Blair racked up lots of

mileage making house calls to diagnoseand treat all of the outbreaks. I rememberlittle signs tacked to the front doors insome neighborhoods, telling you thehouse was under quarantine, as theytried to stop the spread of some of themost prolific illnesses. I believe we were the firstgeneration to take preventative steps toeliminate some dreaded diseases. Iremember as a first grader at West DerrySchool being bussed down to Derry Bwhere we lined up to receive polio shots(we knew it as infantile paralysis), andhow frightened I was to have this horribleprocedure done to me without my mommythere to hold my hand. They sentpermission slips home with us to haveour parents sign so we could receive theshot. I begged my mom not to sign it,but she just gave me a hug and signedaway. At that tender young age, I hadno idea what devastating illness poliowas, or what a miraculous discovery hadbeen made right here in our backyard byDr. Jonas Salk. I also remember going to Dr. Oliver’soffice the summer before first grade to

get my smallpox vaccination. I seem torecall him sticking a little needle overand over in my arm then bandaging itall up, and how I cried and cried. Whenthe bandage came off, I had a big scabthat was very itchy and that I was, again,forbidden to touch. We didn’t know whatcalamity would befall us if we picked it,and our parents told us we never wantedto find out. Like I mentioned before,fear and intimidation went a long waywith kids in the 50’s. I’m not sure whenthey stopped giving vaccinations, but mydaughter was born in 1970 and shewasn’t required to get one. You can tellif someone is your contemporary today

just by looking at their upper left arm.That telltale round scar will tell you theyare indeed a baby-boomer. Another common memory we baby-boomers have is that fatal trip we allmade to the ear/nose/and throatspecialist. From the ages of five through12 most of us were marched to thehospital for removal of our tonsils andadenoids. My parents took me to Dr.Trongo in Latrobe, whose practice waskept quite busy in the 50’s and 60’s. Ourparents would deliver us in small groupsto the pediatric floor. The night beforesurgery was a great big pajama party, withjumping on the beds, anticipating all theice cream we could eat, and awaitingthe presents that we had been promisedif we were good. The party atmospheredissipated rather quickly the nextmorning when our first roommates werebrought back from surgery—groggy,crying, and clutching their throats.Worst of all, they were unable to speakso they couldn’t tell us exactly how theyhad been so horribly maimed. Thisghastly spectacle was usually followedby an hour or so of watching them throwup. One by one, we had to wait our turnto be wheeled out, with the knowledgethat soon, they would be trying to kill ustoo.

I can remember when my turncame—they placed the little wire meshmask over my mouth and nose and toldme to just breathe deeply. With the firstwhiff of ether, I promptly held my breathand tried to climb off the table. They heldme in place and waited for me to takethat first choking breath as, thankfully,I blacked out. But all too soon I joinedthe ranks of my freshly torturedroommates, where sadly, the party wasquite over. Several years ago, my dad’scar wouldn’t start and I was in the garagewith him when, for whatever reason,he sprayed ether in the engine. I hadnot smelled that odor in 50 years, yet ittook me immediately back to thatterrifying operating room and I couldrecall exactly how panicked I had felt. As for the minor maladies ofchildhood, our moms had countlessremedies. Some of the goofiest ones haveactually been proven to work. Forinstance, when I would develop aredness and itchiness in my eye andmy mother suspected the onset of a sty,she would take off her wedding ring andrub it across my eyelid three times. Thenext morning, the redness was gone.Several years ago I read that theperspiration from your hands causessome sort of chemical reaction in goldthat actually does kill the sty-causingbacteria. Neither I nor any member ofmy family has ever had a sty, and I stilluse my wedding ring to stop their onset. Who remembers being treated fordiarrhea with Paragoric, and how awfulit tasted? It was available over thecounter at Kasperik’s Pharmacy. Today

continued on page 26


we know its principal ingredient ispowdered opium. It was also used toquiet colicky babies.

On a much less scary note, puttingon a pot of chicken soup really did thetrick to cure a cold (and it still does).The combination of ingredients has beenproven to actually slow down the growthof respiratory bacteria.

I haven’t been able to verify myGrandma Stewart’s remedy for wartremoval. It involved rubbing a raw potatoon a wart, then burying the potato underthe back porch steps. I don’t know if itworked or not, but I guess it couldn’thurt to try. My mom had a medicine cabinet fullof cold-fighting ammunition. At the firstsign of a sore throat, she gave us twoaspirins, and several times a day shewould give us a little square of Aspergum,either orange or cherry. If the sore throatturned into a cough, she bought us littleboxes of Smith Brothers Cough Dropsfor daytime use. For nighttime, we werelathered with Vicks Salve, now calledVick’s Vapo Rub. The Vicks was appliedliberally to our chests as well as ourbacks, and sometimes we got a little dabunder the nose. How it burned your nosewhen it was already sore from thesniffles! Sometimes mom would put alittle soft cloth on my chest aftershe rubbed on the Vicks so my pajamaswouldn’t stick to me. Vick’s is stillpopular to this day. My daughter rubs iton the bottom of my two year oldgranddaughter Riley’s feet at night whenshe has a cough, covers them with warmsocks, and swears by the results. Themother of my husband, Doug, didn’t useVicks — she used something calledNumotizine. Doug tells me that when hewoke up the morning after his mom hadspread this goo on his chest, he couldliterally crack the thing off in chucksbecause it had become so brittle. At leastthere was one tortuous treatment Isomehow managed to avoid whilegrowing up.

What I couldn’t avoid, no matter howhard I tried, was the most dreadedremedy of all, and I hesitate mentioningit. I apologize in advance if I offend, butusually with the first sign of the flu, mymom would initiate the treatment wehated above all others. Moms were taughtthat a good cleaning out of bacteria wenta long way toward nipping certainviruses in the bud. When we saw thatred rubber contraption with the longhose come out of the closet, we wouldrun for cover—always to no avail. WhenMom said you were getting an enema,you didn’t argue.

My mom also had a seeminglyendless list of cures for the cuts, scrapesand bruises that go along with raising afamily. The bottle of Merthiolate wasalways front and center, and that hotpink liquid would send you through theroof as Mom rubbed the glass applicatorover your cut. If it wasn’t too big of ascrape, my mom would allow me tochoose Mercurochrome. It was darkerred in color and didn’t burn. Guess thatmeant it didn’t work as well, but I didn’tcare. Funny thing, when I wasresearching the spelling I found outthat Mercurochrome is banned now,because it contained such largeamounts of mercury. I still have a little jar of Sayman’sSalve, one of my mom’s miracle creams,on my shelf and use it on most skinirritations. It’s another old-fashionedremedy that still amazes me with itshealing properties. If we got a burn, wewould spray on the Unguentine. Iremember the container was a little redplastic fire extinguisher. If we got asprain we knew to dab on Arnica. Andfor a bee sting, nothing was moresoothing that a little baking soda mixedwith water. That is after mom made usstand still while she removed the stingerwith a pair of tweezers. And I’ll neverforget what happened when I steppedon a nail. Mom said if I didn’t let hertape a piece of bacon on the wound todraw out the poison, I would get lockjaw.I didn’t know what lockjaw was but itsounded pretty horrible, so out the doorI would limp, with a shoe full of bacon. Warm olive oil would soothe ourearaches, and a few drops of clove oilwould tame the worst toothache. We hada little tin cup that fit precisely over youreye, and we filled it with Eye-Low torinse out an irritated eye. When thesummer sun would burn our shoulders,Mom would apply a little vinegar andthe stinging would magically stop. Myfriend, Joe Yarchak, told me his momwould apply a piece of bread to many ofhis injuries. The yeast had some healingproperties that my mom didn’t knowabout. Mom could make anything better.And if she didn’t have the remedy inher medicine cabinet, she would cureus with something from her pantry. Atthe first sign of any injury, from fallingoff my bike, to getting beaned in the headwith a baseball, from bruised knees tobruised feelings, I ran to mom. Shedoctored us through broken bones andbroken hearts. To this day, the mosthealing medicine I have ever known,better than all the antidotes andantibiotics in the world, was Mom, sittingon my bed and holding my hand. Justseeing her smiling face through the hazeof my fever reassured me that all wouldbe well. Her cool hand on my heatedbrow was usually the only thing thatwould make me feel better. Moms are very magical creatures. Theycan stop the hurt with just a kiss. Theycan take away our tears with a hug and asmile. They healed our hurts and ourhearts and helped us grow and flourishwith the promise that they would alwaysbe there to pick us up and make it all better.And Mom, I know you are still close by,looking out for me. Even if I can’t feel yourhand in mine any more, that doesn’t meanit isn’t there. I have no doubt you willalways be taking care of me.

Ruth loves to share memories with you.Email her at: [email protected]

Dr. Mommy, holding my hand!

continued from page 25

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Malicious Computer Code1 has been causing havoc onour computers for years. Their method of delivery hasbecome sneakier and the damage to our systems hasbecome so much greater. Some code keeps making acomeback through more ingenious delivery methodsrevolving around what has been tagged as socialengineered attacks.

The Wikipedia definition of Social Engineering is“the act of manipulating people into performing actionsor divulging confidential information.” We have seen iton television and read it in books and newspapers;Confidence Men work on our sense of trust to obtaininformation (personal and financial) or to performdestructive acts. Whether they are doing this to obtainsome monetary gain or are just hoodlums, the result isthe same. You or your computer system can becompromised if you are not careful.

These new attacks are showing up as newsbulletins or special offers that you can’t resist and whenyou click on the site you are either infected by theaction of going to the site or tricked into running someexecutable code. One of the most recent attacks hascome from a security attack called ANTIVIRUS2009.Sounds like something you might want to have toprevent infections but it is a program that bundles manydifferent Viruses, Trojans, Spyware and other Malwareonto your system. The first rule of thumb to protectyourself from Malware is: If you didn’t ask for theinformation don’t trust it!

How do you protect yourself?1. Make sure that you are running all the currentupdates for your operating system. Your operatingsystem manufacturer is constantly issuing new softwarepatches to protect against recently discoveredvulnerabilities. Because Microsoft Windows has sucha large installation base it is the most often attackedsystem. Be sure to turn on your automatic updates andcheck your other software products for updates as well.2. Be sure to have anti-virus software installed onyour system and make sure the automatic updates switchis turned on for this as well. Make sure that your anti-virus program has the capability to scan your email andfiles that are downloaded from the internet. You willalso want to make sure that it is capable of scanningfloppy disks (if you are still using them) and USB FlashDrives when they are inserted in your machine. Makesure you schedule full system scans periodically.3. Install a firewall on your system as well. Firewallscan be either hardware or software based, and are usedto control inbound and outbound traffic to the internetand notifies you when there is an intrusion attempt onyour system. The combination of a firewall and a goodanti-virus program will decrease the risk considerablyof your being hacked or infected with a virus.4. Most attacks come through your email so be criticalof all that you see hitting your Inbox. Remember, the

malicious code may not be in the actual email that youreceive so your computer system’s anti-malwareapplications might not catch the problem. As good asall these antivirus and anti-spyware programs are, theycan’t protect you from invitations from sites that hostmalicious code. If you accidentally invite the code tobe installed, your computer is going to do what you askit to do. Once the code is installed many of theseprograms are smart enough to attack the software onyour system that is supposed to protect you and turnoff these features or mask their destructive natures. Sodo not respond to unsolicited (SPAM) email.5. Be skeptical of individuals representingthemselves as officials soliciting personal informationvia e-mail. Please don’t fall for the poor slob in Kenyawho can’t access the money that their recently deceasedparent left them without your help. I know you are aGood Samaritan, but don’t become another dupedstatistic. If the situation is too good to be true, itprobably is.6. Be cautious of email containing files because thesefiles may contain viruses. Only open attachments fromknown senders.7. Be sure to validate the legitimacy of theorganization by directly accessing the organizationswebsite instead of following the link provided in anemail message. A classic subterfuge that is used is anemail that appears to be from your bank, credit cardcompany, or PayPal. The email has all of the logos andwebsite links that make it appear as though you aregoing one of these financial institutions. If you receivean email that you think is real, go to your browser andtype in the URL address for that company. Manuallymake the connection to see if the offer or informationrequest is valid. Most financial institutions makes it arule not to solicit personal information from you byemail; they like the phone. I won’t give my SSN overthe phone unless I am the one requesting the contact.Be careful.

If you follow these simple rules you will be able tosafely navigate through the turbulent waters of theInternet. Remember, with the current state of affairsaround the world, we are only going to see moreattempts to access our information and resources, notless. Hill Street Blues writers gave us a very well usedphrase that is even more important today. So don’t forgetto… Be Careful Out There!

Bob has been working in the computer field since 1975and started Computer Connections with his partner JudeDaigle in 1981 at the beginning of the personal computer

revolution. Bob grew up in Ligonier and graduated fromLigonier H.S. in 1972. George Washington University is

his college alma mater and he is currently living in theGreensburg area. You can see more tech tips and productreviews in Bob’s Blog pages at www.bobstechtalk.com .

Figure 1 - CNET Download Ranking

Beginner basic adult computer classes will betaught at Latrobe Senior Center beginningWednesday March 4, Thursday March 5, andFriday March 6 at 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Anevening class will begin Monday, March 9 from7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. An advanced computerclass begins Tuesday, March 10 at 9:30 am to11:30 am. Classes run for four consecutiveweeks. A $20 non-refundable donation willreserve your seat.

Scholarships are available if needed anda free computer will be given to any studentwho needs one. Classes are sponsored by Se-nior Computer Associates through (LAPA) Lau-rel Area Partnership of Aging. You can signup at the Senior Center, Avenue C, Latrobe orcall 724 539-9288 for more information.

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spring, and frost settles in theseplaces since cold air naturallydrains into low areas.• Avoid windy locations; if youmust plant in a windy spot, buildor grow a windbreak.• Locate the garden near a goodand easily accessible supply ofwater.• Choose a garden location nearyour home so it is convenient towork in the garden when youhave a few minutes.• Avoid planting near trees andshrubs; they compete fornutrients and water and maycause excessive shading.• Sites too close to buildingsmay result in plants not receivingenough sunlight. Observeshading patterns through thegrowing season, if possible, beforestarting the garden. If you have ashaded area you wish to useanyway, plant shade-tolerantcrops. If needed, increaseeffective light by providingreflective surfaces around theplants.• Try not to plant vegetablesfrom the same family (peas andbeans or squash and pumpkin) inexactly the same location in thegarden more often than once inthree years. Rotation prevents thebuildup of insects and disease.

GARDEN GUYScontinued from page 20

Use your previous years’ plans asguides for rotating crops.• Avoid locating the garden ona site where buildings with leadpaint have stood; lead may bepresent in the soil in toxicamounts. If you are unsure aboutyour chosen location, have the soiltested for lead content, or havetissue analyses done on some leafyvegetables.• Gardening where sod haslong been established, whetherconverted pastures or lawns,requires a great deal of preparationto eliminate sod, weeds, and soilinsects.

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HANDMADE JUMBO PIEROGIES - Six Varieties

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724-539-22995927 Route 981, Suite 4 - Latrobe, PA

james vincent Salon


Contact : SueAnn ZippiIndependent Consultant

[email protected]

For over 30 years, sixth grade students from GreaterLatrobe School District have had the opportunity toexperience the great outdoors and discover the beautyof Western Pennsylvania. The Greater Latrobe 6th

Grade Outdoor Education Experience is conductedfor two and a half days for each of the three elementaryschools: Baggaley, Mountain View and Latrobe. DawnaBates is the long-time 6th Grade Camp director andtaught physical education at Latrobe ElementarySchool before her retirement.

This outdoor education experience is held atHeritage Reservation in late spring and each studentpays approximately $100, which is the responsibilityof the students. However, no student is denied thisopportunity if they cannot afford the trip. Parents canchoose to have the students raise the money throughfundraisers sponsored by the Parent TeacherOrganization or pay for camp on their own.

The camp was started in 1976 and has continuedeach year involving approximately 300-325 sixth gradestudents, 40 high school students and 60 teachers. Students are divided into teaching groups of 10-13,with a high school student and teacher for eachgroup. Each group follows an exciting rotatingschedule involving science, math, social studies,language arts, fine arts and physical education. Thephysical education activities include fishing, boating,rifle (optional), and archery. The evening includesmore physical education, camp fires, songs, nightwalks, and ice cream making. The outdoor experienceenhances the 6th grade curriculum by providing thestudents with opportunities to use skills learned inthe traditional classroom in an outdoor setting. Italso provides students with activities that will enrichtheir education that cannot be done in a regularclassroom. Greater Latrobe 6th Grade Camp instillsthe concept that the opportunity to learn is everywhereand the importance of taking care of our naturalresources.

To make a contribution or learn more about 6th

Grade Camp contact the GLSD Development Office at724-539-4220 or email: [email protected] will be used to provide new activitiesand to purchase items that will help keep studentssafe. This gift would not only benefit the studentsthis year but also students in the years to come.

North Huntingdon resident JerryGrcevich is definitely a prim andproper guy – not as unseemly asit sounds after some explanation.The tamburitza musician whowas born in Turtle Creek has beenplaying the prim since he was aboy of 7 and he has certainly madea proper name for himself in theworld of folk music. (The “i” inprim is pronounced as a long “e”.)

Similar in some ways to thetraditional string family, thetamburitza string instruments ofEastern Europe are of graduatedvoicings. The prim (or prima) isthe smallest of the group andusually carries the melody. Thebrac, tamburitza cello, bugariaj(which provides the chords andrhythms) and the berda (tamburitzabass) complete the family ensemble.

Of Croatian descent Grce-vich was first taught by his father,Joe, and his Uncle Marko, whowere themselves taught by theirfather. A quick study, he joinedhis father’s band, the SlobodaTamburitza Orchestra, at 11. Lateras a 21 year-old he traveled toYugoslavia (now Croatia) to studywith the famous prim playerJanika Balaz (1925-1988). Themusician, who plays all of thetambura instruments, playedwith several groups beforeforming his Jerry GrcevichOrchestra in 1993. After studyingmusic theory at Seton Hill CollegeGrcevich tried his hand atcomposing with great success.

Acknowledgement of Grce-vich’s skill and musician-ship hascome in forms tangible andintangible. As was his father beforehim, he was inducted into theTamburitza Hall of Fame in 2001.Grcevich received the Pennsy-lvania Council on the ArtsFellowship in the Traditional Artsin 2003 and in 2005 the NationalEndowment for the Arts presentedhim with its Heritage FellowshipAward in the category of folk andtraditional artists. However,honors are not all that please TheTamburitza Man. He onceexplained, “I always get excitedabout the event if it’s a birthdayparty down the street, a three dayfestival somewhere or a hugeconcert. It’s always a thrill; it’s

always a challenge. No matterwhether there are 25 or 2,500people, you want to touch themin some way. You want to satisfythem and make them feel good.”

Grcevich is deeply dedicatedto educating the American publicand the young people of Croatiaabout tamburitza music. Alwayswilling to share his knowledgeand talent, he strives to promotethe music he holds dear andinspire others to do the same. Hetravels often to the home oftamburitza, Croatia, with thispurpose in mind. He is highlythought of in the motherland andhis arrival is anticipated by many.His recordings air on Croatiancultural radio programming and hiscompositions are enthusiasticallyplayed by the native musicians.

The musician has over 20LPs, tapes and CDs to his credit.Today he tours extensively,composes and records. Hisnewest CD, Mila Moja (My DearOne), was released in September2008. He regularly performs at theGypsy Café on the South Side ofPittsburgh with the GipsyStringz. If you’re in the mood fora melody, Jerry Grcevich willhave you feelin’ alright.

BMN: I was told that you havefamily roots in the local villageof Luxor.

JG: My great-grandparentssettled in Luxor when they camefrom Croatia. My great-grandfathergot a job in the coal mines, as somany immigrants did. I still havenumerous relatives there today.

BMN: Master tamburitza luthiers(makers) Ivan Hlad and AndrewGroeschl are gone. Are theremany skilled luthiers in thiscountry at present?

JG: There are very few left andlet’s give credit to several who arenearby. Frank Valentich ofMonroeville and Greensburg’sWalter Naglich make and repairinstruments, and also playtamburitza music themselves.

BMN: It seems, sir, that you area one-man band. Not only do you

play multiple instruments, youhave used the “sound-on-sound”recording technique. Could youexplain this process briefly?

JG: That’s when you overdub.You record each instrument partseparately and when they arecombined you get a completeorchestra sound. It’s good in away, but in another way it’s notgood. You don’t get the feeling ofa live band producing something.If I can, I like to get everybodytogether to rehearse and record.

BMN: In mid-January you are setto travel to Croatia. How will yourtime there be spent?

JG: I will be rehearsing for andperforming in concerts. Thesewill be live concerts; some willbe simulcast on radio andtelevision. When I travel abroadI also enjoy going to the schoolsand meeting with the youngchildren. I take the studentstamburitza music, and listen tothem play and show theiraccomplishments. I sometimesgive them one of my owncompositions and teach a littleof what I know.

BMN: I understand that you area very sharing musician andcomposer. How important do youfeel it is for one generation topass on their musical knowledgeand insight to the next?

JG: I think it’s very important.Folk music has not been formallycomposed by any one person; noone is given credit. You have tobe careful to protect the integrityof this traditional music; you tryto keep it in its original state.

BMN: You are widely consideredthe premier prim player in theworld. Where do you go fromhere?

JG: Musician, unlike athletes, canreach their prime a little later inlife. I hope I’m still going up theladder to do more music work andtouch more people. As I continueto play, I also hope to continue tolearn – that’s part of me.

– To contact Jerry Grecvichcall 412-823-2321

– A special thanks to Rivers ofSteel National Heritage Area for

their assistance

A Major Player: Jerry Grcevichby Barbara M. Neill

The Gipsy Stringz:(l to r) Bob Sestili, DavidKosovec, George Batyi, PeterKosovec, and Jerry Grcevich.

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INDIANA COUNTY TOURIST BUREAU2334 Oakland Avenue – Indiana Mall – Indiana, PA 157011-877-7INDIANA – WWW.VISITINDIANACOUNTYPA.ORG

Stop By Our Visitor Center or Call Us For Your Complimentary Visitor Guide

Indiana County, PAWHERE YOU CAN RELAX AND REJUVENATE

Enjoy golfing, browsing museums,

walking on our trails, exploring our

covered bridges, fishing in our

streams, or getting a massage


Laurel Mountain Post: March-April 2009

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