LMP-April2014

ISSN 2330-6629

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

POST

now featuring the

o

FREE

Westmoreland County Guide to Homes

The Ridge Lost in the Mazeway to Success Environmental Mobile Apps Family Heirlooms Forever Young

April 2014

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST, September 2013 - 1

We Have Moved!

3887 Route 30 Latrobe (Next to Dino’s Sports Lounge)

Tel. 724-539-1900 Michael J. Brownfield, OD Matthew A. Christianson, OD Now easily accessible from both directions of Route 30!

Latrobe 30 Plaza Route 30 Arnold Palmer Motors

First Burger King National Bank

Dino’s The Eyeglass Sports Shoppe Lounge

Walmart/Lowes

iWellnessExam S D-OCT Introducing the iWellnessExam, offered as part of your comprehensive eye examination at The Eyeglass Shoppe.

Like an MRI of the eye, but totally painless and taking only seconds to perform, the iWellnessExam provides high definition cross sections of your retina which can reveal ocular anatomy and signs of disease in exquisite and stunning detail.

The iWellnessExam technology allows Drs. Brownfield & Christianson to see with unprecedented clarity what is invisible with traditional examination methods!

RAY-BAN PRADA D&G DKNY BCBG COLE HAAN NIKE VERA BRADLEY IZOD NAUTICA DIOR GUCCI VANNI EDDIE BAUER MARC ECKO & MUCH MORE!

The area’s largest Maui Jim and only Oakley dealer!

2 - April 2014

www.EyeglassShoppe.net

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Table of Contents

2014

4

Reader Letters

26

44th Annual Earth Day

5 6 8

Dirt Don’t Hurt by Cathi Gerhard

28

Home Study

29

Spring Frolic Features Prohibition Theme

30

What the Gluten Is Going On?

31

Earth Talk

32

My Fitness Kitchen

34

Hiking in Pennsylvania: The Laurel Highlands Trail

34

That’s What They Say

36

Information for Life

36

Classified Ads

37

Shops Around the Corner

10

The Ridge by Joe Walko Celebrate Earth Day: Eco-Friendly Products Postmodern Tendancies “Lost in the Mazeway to Success”

by Megan Fuller

12

Natural Health

13

Environmental Mobile Apps

14

Reversing Roles

17

“Sage” by Granny Earth

by Earth Talk

“Does Birth Order Determine Personality Even into Old Age?” by Gretchen Fuller

Lend A Hand ... Give A Cloak

by Nancy A. Clark

18

Ligonier Valley Writers Conference

20

Learn About West Virginia Museum of Glass and Artifacts

“Honey Do” by Brian Mishler

by Janine Koutsky, MS

“Environmental Impact of K-Cups”

“OVER-expecting Weight Loss Success”

by Mark Rullo, MS, CSCS, MES

“Buddha” by Rev. Majorie Rivera

“Do It Yourself Lawn Care?”

by Michael Vernon

“The Twisted Vine Eclectic Market”

21

Alumni Association Creates Scholarship for Ag Sciences

39

April-May Calendar

22

Three Pennies

44

Distribution & Subscription Info

46

End Notes

“Do You Have Anything Here to Eat”

by Rev. Cindy Parker

23

Summer Camp at Historic Hanna’s Town

24

Down on the Farm

“Forever Young” by Cathi Gerhard

“Family Heirlooms”

by Cathi Gerhard & Gregory Susa

Every Story Begins At Home.

April 2014 - 3

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

POST The Laurel Mountain Post is an independent, monthly publication produced at Fairview Farm in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. All material printed herein is subject to copyright and permission to reproduce in any format must be obtained in writing from the publisher. This publication is registered with the US Library of Congress, ISSN 2330-6629.

First a howling blizzard woke us, Then the rain came down to soak us, And now before the eye can focus — Crocus. – Lilja Rogers

Letters to the Editor I am writing to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you on St. Valentine’s Day and how much I liked the article in the Post. As I have said to everyone to whom I have shown it, you really understand what I am trying to accomplish at The Coventry Inn. it is so refreshing to have customers like yourselves.

Charles A. Runyan The Coventry Inn – Indiana, PA Thank you so much for including us in your Shops Around the Corner. We loved the article. We try to convey this message all the time. Thanks again!

Sue Schropp & Staff The Medicine Shoppe – Latrobe, PA

Cathi Gerhard, Editor & Publisher Megan Fuller, Managing Editor Gregory Susa, Co-Publisher & Circulation Manager Elizabeth Srsic, Art & Layout Editor Michelle White, Business Manager Carol Gerhard, Copy Editor Sales: Jason Ament, Char Bukoskey, Mary Carlson, Sarabeth Dei, Bryan & Kelly Johnson-Hill. Media: Joe Jerich, Eric Pensenstadler, Mary Fowler. Circulation: Jason Ament, Char Bukoskey, Nancy Clark, Sarabeth Dei, Gretchen Fuller, Cathi Gerhard, Bryan & Kelly Johnson-Hill, Scott King, Laurie McGinnis, Victoria Mull, Bob Raho, Doug Richardson, Elizabeth Srsic, Alice Susa, Gregory Susa, Lindsay Turchetta, Robert Williams. Columnists: please use contact information provided at the end of each article or on our website.

Publisher cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy of the matter represented in the advertisements herein published.

Please contact the advertiser to verify details.

Laurel Mountain Post-style stories, links and photos EVERY DAY!

Editorial Office 189 Fairview Lane Derry, PA 15627

Mailing Address PO Box 332 Ligonier, PA 15658

Phone: 724-537-6845 • Fax: 724-558-9548

www.LaurelMountainPost.com

Every Story Begins At Home 4 - April 2014

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Dirt Don’t Hurt Author Margaret Atwood once said that we should smell like dirt at the end of a spring day. When I was a young child, my parents nicknamed me “Pig Pen” after the character from the Charlie Brown comics. Not only did I come home filthy from a long day playing outside on our farm, but they often saw me sitting in the middle of the lane throwing handfuls of dirt into the air – and laughing heartily as it rained down on me. I was just following a famous writer’s advice . . .

I have always loved the earth, the fields of my family farm, and big gardens. Nothing compares to the smell of freshly turned topsoil on a spring day. And yes, because I grew up with it, the smell of freshly-spread manure has a comforting scent to me. Dirt (and everything it contains to make life grow again each year) is precious to

me. The birds are singing its praises this very day, as they wait for worms and bugs to make their way up to meet the sun again (and their circle of life fate in a robin’s belly).

Our heirloom vegetable seeds arrived last week, and it’s time to sow our own food. I will check my notebook from last season to make sure I rotate my planting beds properly. Nutrients in and out are the key to sustainable farming, and during my tenure as caretaker to this patch of earth, it is my responsibilty to follow nature’s guidelines.

Sadly, much of the 20th century endured the pursuit of mankind’s greed and comfort, with palpable dis-

regard to our planet’s ecosystem. We now understand much of the damage done to the earth, and many of us seek to change those wasteful ways.

The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement, which led to the passage of the Clean Air, Water and Endangered Species Acts. Each year, more than 1 million people worldwide gather on April 22 to participate in green activities, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

The Billion Acts of Green campaign invites individuals and businesses to register the actions they are taking to help the envrionment. The next time you are outside, enjoying the moment, acknowledge your appreciation. And then think about what you can do to help, to get your hands dirty for the sake of the earth.

— Cathi Gerhard, Editor

http://www.earthday.org/takeaction/campaigns.html Every Story Begins At Home.

April 2014 - 5

The Ridge

by Joe Walko “It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanates from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.”

– Robert Louis Stevenson

It seems life moves at a frantic pace nowadays. Time to renew the spirit or just pause and simply be is at a premium, often one of the first things sacrificed to over-scheduling and overbearing work demands. I have learned that I consciously need to make time for renewal. I need to make it a priority. I have also learned that nature is a wonderful place to reconnect, to “renew my weary spirit,” as Stevenson says.

We are lucky enough to live in an area that abounds with wonderful natural places that afford unlimited opportunities to reconnect with Nature’s gifts, like the Laurel Highlands. I have a number of special places in the Laurel Highlands, ‘secret spots’ that call to me, that make a “claim upon my heart.” One of my favorites is The Ridge.

Ahh, the Ridge. Actually a series of parallel ridges, worn-down rumples of rock, the first western folds of a carpet pushed into the corner by the Appalachian mountains. The Ridge itself is actually the second of the parallel ridges, properly named Laurel Ridge, just east of Chestnut Ridge. It juts only 1,500 feet above the Allegheny Plateau, but even this minor rise creates dramatic changes in the flora and fauna, as the terrain supports an ecosystem more characteristic of the boreal forest in Canada than of the hardwood plains of western Pennsylvania. Mountain laurel and rhododendrons follow the mountain streams, Canadian hemlocks and eastern white pines their traveling companions, mixing with the oaks and maples and deciduous trees more characteristic of lowland western

A bird of the coniferous forests of the Northeast, the Blackburnian Warbler is breathtaking in its brilliant orange-and-black breeding plumage. Most numerous in mixed forests of hemlock, spruce, and various hardwoods, usually ranging high in trees. (Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon Society).

6 - April 2014

Pennsylvania. Bears, deer, foxes, coyotes and porcupines lend to the wilderness feel, while exotic warblers and wildflowers, found only on the ridges, sprinkle their unique color.

Only forty miles from my office in Greensburg, The Ridge is a fantastic wilderness, a place of escape for me, a world away from the everyday stress.

So when the crush of spreadsheets and deadlines and family commitments are chasing me into my dreams, I know it’s time to visit my friend.

I grab a sandwich at Mister Bones at the bottom of Cabin Hill after leaving the office. Fifteen minutes later, cruising east on Route 30 out of Greensburg, the trees start to outnumber cars, and there is more green than concrete. The traffic eases, the road opens up, and rolling hills replace subdivisions. Soon it’s fence posts, fields, and farms, the big city receding far back in the distance.

Traveling east past Latrobe, scenic Loyalhanna Creek roils with rapids, dividing the highway. Mountains and forest fill the windshield now, and blue sky pours through the open sunroof.

My worries begin to shrink like the city in the rear view mirror. Turn off the highway just past Ligonier, cutting through regal farms and picture postcard horse pastures. Another turn and it’s all woods now, an unmaintained, pot-holed, narrow road on the ridges’ flanks.

The low evening sun filters through the trees, and the road is lined with purple wild geraniums and phlox, climbing up the mountain now following a wild trout filled mountain stream. The woods become thicker. I stop at the Linn Run spring to fill up my Nalgene bottles, and drink deep of the cool, sparkling, refreshing natural water. That’s good stuff!

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Pitted asphalt soon becomes gravel, and gravel becomes dirt. I park at a deserted trailhead and take in a big gulp of fresh mountain air. I can breathe again, my pressed dress shirt with its starched collar and tie like a noose replaced by a t-shirt. A backpack substitutes for my briefcase, and wingtips are traded for hiking boots.

Soon I am trekking deep into the woods, walking a couple of miles through the evening forest. I can feel the exertion squeezing out the stress.

Intrusive email beeps and ringing phones are replaced by the calls of the wood warblers. Beautiful Blackburnians, with their throats ablaze in fiery orange, fill the hemlocks. Canada warblers, a string necklace of sapphire pearls set against a chest of yellow, line the trail, while magnolia warblers of brilliant blue and gold sing from the mid-story. Stately black and white warblers creep up tree trunks with a formal elegance, and the energy of the tiny orange and black American redstarts hawking insects from the under story is contagious and puts a spring in my step.

I enjoy the plant life, too. Ferns of every shape and hue of green unfurl, phlox of gentle lavender shoot skyward two to three feet above the forest floor, and painted trillium spring their triumvirate of three leaves between three delicate white petals ringed in pink. On the steep sections the ground is covered with a most delicate woodland flower. Five creamy white petals veined with pink, like an unswirled peppermint candy, surrounded by three heart shaped leaves. “Hearts and candy” I dub them, so much more descriptive than the common wood sorrel name given by the guidebook.

Yes, the subtle beauty of the forest flowers, nurtured in the regal air of the big trees that form a protective canopy - it fills my soul!

Turning off the main trail, I lose the blazes – there’s my hidden dark hemlock grove, perched above two converging streams. Refuge, home away from home, my secret spot, so close, but so many worlds away! My tent is quickly set up in the soft hemlock needles on a perfect level bench between three giant hemlocks and the Every Story Begins At Home.

Ohio designated the white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) as the official wildflower in 1986. Found throughout the central and eastern US, the white trillium is also called wake robin, snow trillium, great white trillium, or large white trillium.

backpack is hung on a snag. Hiking boots are exchanged for tevas, the camp chair is inflated, and I enjoy a sandwich and a cup of steaming hot soup, a bit of dark chocolate and a glass of wine under the hemlocks.

Evening vespers is performed tonight

by The Woodland Thrushes, Wood and Hermit and Veery, as the sun sets through the trees. Everything I need is within arm’s reach. I sit back tonight and do nothing.

What was I so frazzled about?

Worries recede. I go to bed in a flyless tent under the stars and moon when I am tired, usually fairly early without homework to check and a yard to mow. Dreams come quickly, soothed by the constant gurgle of the rushing mountain stream.

At daybreak, I wake to birdsong, not an alarm clock, and spend a few minutes enjoying the morning sounds in the gathering light, before reluctantly leaving my toasty sleeping bag.

I brew up a cup of instant coffee, and sip the steaming beverage while sitting on a rock above the creek, spying on

warblers as they flit among the trees.

After packing up camp, I enjoy a leisurely morning walk back to the car through the sun soaked forest, the morning dew from the ferns wetting my legs and infusing the life and energy and rejuvenating beauty of the forest directly into my veins. Exactly what I need… *****

Joe Walko is a full time widowed parent to two beautiful but challenging boys, now unemployed by choice after a 25-year career in Corporate Finance, a writer and blogger searching to find his voice, a seeker, a nature and adventure junkie discovering whole new worlds and beauty in the glorious struggle, in the ordinary, in my own backyard, and mostly, in my heart.

April 2014 - 7

Celebrate Earth Day Year-Round with Some of These Eco-Friendly New Products April 22nd is Earth Day and there are some new innovations that save time, money and energy, while being ecofriendly! The Laurel Mountain Post staff was asked to sample and review the following products: 1. From pint-size athletes to personal trainers, everyone needs to get the stink out of their clothes. Sport Suds is the eco-friendly, high-performance laundry detergent that doesn’t mask the scent...it actually removes the scent and offending bacteria! Sport Suds is sustainably sourced, biodegradable, non-toxic, and septic safe. Sport Suds is also gentle, hypoallergenic, nontoxic, fragrance free and is never tested on animals! www.sportsuds.com SportSuds, $20.95 – fresh, clean scent; great for work clothes too!

2. From the washer to the dryer, there’s a new Earth-friendly and energy efficient option! LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls are reusable dryer balls that reduce drying time (by 25 percent) and soften laundry naturally! LooHoos lift and separate clothes creating a constant motion that allows more air to circulate around your wet laundry so it dries faster. Made of lanolin-rich wool, about the size of a baseball, these dryer balls can be used for years and the hues will never transfer onto your clothes. The wool fibers absorb static cling and unlike many commercial 8 - April 2014

dryer sheets, LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls are all-natural and contain no harmful chemicals or toxins, making them ideal to use with all laundry including delicate garments such as baby clothes and cloth diapers. Made in the USA! Sold individually, or in sets of three. www.loo-hoo.com LooHoo, $27.95 – These cute little balls cut our drying time in half!

3. Of course you want the safest products on your hair, too! Kemistry’s healing, new all-pure shampoo and conditioner restores the hair with earth’s nutrients. Paraben-free, Kemistry has a megadose of amino acids, pro-vitamin B-5, and aloe vera juice, to name a few. These nutrients protect color, increase hydration and strengthen hair to the core. Kemistry sends your tresses to therapy, to recover from the years of abuse. After one use, your hair will be lighter, cleaner, and not stripped of its beautiful structure. Because Kemistry is packaged in pouches and not bottles, you’ll have less to throw away, reduc-

ing post-consumer waste and saving the planet from plastic, limiting the carbon footprint. Kemistryhair.com Kemistry, $26 and $28.00 – Clean, refreshing scent; creamy texture.

Leaves hair soft (and sulfate-free!)

4. The only thing worse than a clogged drain is the plumber’s bill!

Ditch the harsh and abrasive chemicals and save some serious cash by opting for the more effective and nontoxic solution, Drain-FX. This simple to use and cost effective tool eliminates the need for a plumber when a clogged drain is the issue. The best part about Drain-FX is that it prevents harmful toxins from entering into the environment, as the device relies solely on the power of water to unclog drains. We all know there is a great concern about the environmental impact of pouring toxic chemicals into the water supply, so DRAIN-FX delivers an effective green alternative within the drain cleaning product category. DRAIN-FX is a hydro-mechanical drain cleaning device that uses simple tap water and clever engineering to create a powerful pressure washer, which breaks down clogs and flushes them away. DRAIN-FX comes with a lifetime warranty at an affordable price too. www.drain-fx.com

Drain-FX, $19.95 – We always worry about putting chemicals down the drain, especially with a septic system and spring/well water. Great solution!

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

5. Your four-legged friends deserve the best, too! Catty Stacks has developed 100% recycled, vegetablebased ink cardboard boxes have a unique design that will have your cats playing and purring within no time!

These unique cubes are designed to be stacked and have holes to pass through offering hours of entertainment. The recycled sturdy cubes are suitable for pets up to 20 pounds each and are very easy to assemble! www.cattystacks.com CattyStacks, $14.99 – Cats cannot get enough of these sturdy cardboard tubes and boxes. The only drawback is the expense to buy enough to make a large structure.

6. For the kiddos, DuneCraft (www.dunecraft.com) creates super unique nature products: from terrariums to greenhouses, sprouting beans to vegetable and fruit gardens. Get growing on Earth Day or any day! Fun and learning go hand-in-hand with the entire product line only at DuneCraft.

A full collection of truly superior items that spark creativity and bring out the mad gardening scientist in all of us.

Proudly made in the USA, DuneCraft brings ecology to life for as little as $4.99!

DuneCraft, starting at $4.99 – Our kids (of all ages) love these affordable gardening projects!

Please verify details and pricing information with each vendor by visiting their websites. We hope you enjoy these eco-friendly products as much as we did testing them!

7. The Monkey Mat (www.monkey mat.com) is the absolute solution to creating a clean floor anywhere you explore. Explore the outdoors and celebrate Mother Earth with Monkey Mat. It’s a “must-have” item for any excursion from playdates to airport layovers, spontaneous picnics, outdoor festivities, and everything in-between. It’s for the young and younger when you’re faced with a questionable surface that you just can’t imagine sitting upon. It’s stylish and savvy in an array of colors, and packs away with a simple fold and tuck back in its pouch.

The Monkey Mat is sustainable and reusable made from washable superior strength nylon mixture material.

MonketMat, $29.99 – adorable and super convenient!

8. Eco-friendly diaper changing? An innovative mompreneur of two found changing her toddler’s diaper a challenge as her daughter was an active baby so she created a solution - a slip resistant diaper changing pad, Lili’s Bebe Pad. It’s the changing pad with a slip resistant backing, soft comfy changing surface they are generously sized to accommodate babies of all sizes. Machine washable and dryer friendly. The best part? Lili’s Bebe Pad is BPA free, phthalate free and lead free. (www.lilibebe.com)

Lili’s Bebe Pad, $12.99 Spring Sale.

Super soft and plush on one side, rugged on the other!

Every Story Begins At Home.

April 2014 - 9

POSTMODERN TENDANCIES

by Megan Fuller

Lost in the Mazeway to Success Remember that show that was on a couple years ago, LOST? Many of us are probably thinking of it because, at the time of this writing, the Malaysian airliner has disappeared with no trace.

Hopefully, by the time the April issue is out in print, that mystery will be solved. In the show, not only were the people on the plane physically lost, they lost their society. The passengers that crashed on the LOST island were from many different cultures, with different backgrounds, and a variety of skillsets – most of which weren’t particularly useful on a deserted island. In other words, their skills no longer had value and the knowledge they had on how to be successful were no longer relevant. Of course, this was not true for every single survivor; the doctor, the fisherman, and the hunter’s skills retained value, but the majority of the passengers were left dumbfounded as to what next steps they should take. Their path to success, which is generally defined by one’s culture, was destroyed and in order to survive a new path had to be forged.

Although LOST did entertain me (okay, mesmerize me) for 121 episodes, it is not the first time I’d been exposed to such a plot. In fact, we all have been – multiple times, perhaps in real life, or history class, or political science.

One doesn’t have to be lost on a deserted island to have one’s skills lose value and path to success destroyed.

Take for example, the European invasion of the Americas. As the Anglos moved to the New World they forced the indigenous off their lands and onto reservations. Just as in LOST, these actions made the indigenous’ traditional skills valueless and path of success null.

Way back in 1956, an anthropologist named AFC Wallace published an 10 - April 2014

article describing a phenomena he called “revitalization movements.”

Wallace was studying the literature about Handsome Lake, a Seneca prophet among 19th century Iroquois.

The Iroquois had been forced on to reservations and were not allowed to pursue their traditional activities and

The structure of the revitalization process, in cases where the full course is run, consists of five somewhat overlapping stages: 1. Steady State; 2. Period of Individual Stress; 3. Period of Cultural Distortion; 4. Period of Revitalization (in which occur the functions of mazeway reformulation, communication, organization, adaptation, cultural transformation, and routinization), and finally, 5.

New Steady State. (p. 268)

were engaging in self-destructive behavior. Handsome Lake had a vision of a new way of life for his people, in which they could again be successful.

He spread the word and, as his ideas took hold, the self-destructive behaviors lessened. He gave his people a new understanding of how to live a successful life within their new confines.

Wallace noticed the process through which this transformation occurred and began to look at other culture change movements. He discovered that these movements all followed the same process, which he then outlined. Some stress on the culture was the catalyst for each revitalization movement. The stress would cause some significant part of the population to no longer be able to achieve success with their traditional “mazeway,” a term Wallace used. I define it as: everything that we know about how to successfully live our lives within our culture.

There will probably never be a time when 100% of a population is successful, but during the Steady State stage the majority of the population is able to use their knowledge and skills to successfully create a happy life.

During the Period of Individual Stress an increased number of people may experience poverty, poor health or other stresses for which usual coping techniques are not working. Still the majority of the population, although a smaller majority, is able to get by based on the traditional ways. In the Period of Cultural Distortion the stress has reached a larger part of the population and so there may be an increase in alcoholism, suicide, violence, crime, corruption or other self-destructive behaviors by individuals who feel stranded in their own environment. As these self-destructive behaviors increase, the stress on the society also rises — and less and less people care about following the rules of society because the rules no longer have any benefit for them. Without some intervention the society might collapse.

The saving measure is the Period of Revitalization within which the mazeway is reformulated. Usually a leader will emerge from the stressed group and articulate a new way of thinking and acting which will allow the society to be successful once again.

Examples of such a leader are Jesus, Joseph Smith, Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, and Hitler. I threw in Hitler here to show that revitalization LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

movements aren’t always “good” and luckily, don’t always succeed. For the revitalization movement to be successful, the new mazeway has to be accepted as legitimate by the surrounding community. In the case of Nazism the global community rejected the new way of thinking as being an acceptable mazeway and had to kick butt to ensure the movement did not take hold. If the new mazeway is seen as a legitimate way of life by the folks on the inside and outside of the movement, a New Steady State will be reached.

News watchers may now be thinking about how many places there is evidence of the Period of Cultural Distortion: Venezuela, Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Chechnya, Mexico, Egypt and everywhere the Arab Spring took hold, come to mind just off the top of my head. What about here in the good old USA? What stage are we in? Are Americans succeeding using our traditional mazeway of the American Dream? Hard work and education lead to a good job, the abil-

ity to own a home and car(s), and to generally be more successful than your parents. This was my understanding of how to achieve success in America as I was growing up. Does the great majority of the population feel that this model has worked for them or will work for their children or grandchildren? I haven’t done a poll, but anecdotes of lack of success, the way the country is so divided politically, and movements like Occupy Wall Street make me think the answer is no.

If there is still a majority for whom the aforementioned American Dream works it is a small majority, which leaves a large minority of Americans in need of a new mazeway. I know many people who cannot make ends meet with a single job, and so they paste together a living doing multiple jobs – some of which they may enjoy, others not so much. Many folks don’t feel like the jobs they do have are secure having been through the Great Recession and seeing all the downsizing and restructuring in the work place. People with college degrees, even with gradu-

Help with Health Insurance The Open Enrollment Period for obtaining health insurance under the Affordable Healthcare Act ended on March 31,

but we can help you find healthcare options year-round!

Dan McCue, Financial & Group Services, Inc. “We Can Handle Your Health Insurance Needs from Cradle to Grave!”

For More Info:

724-593-2081 or fgsinc@lhtot.com

Madeline Nagy is a 5-year-old girl who has enduredmany challenges including physical impairments, surgeries, and many nights spent in hospital beds instead of her own. She has been diagnosed with Turner Syndrome and Trisomy 7. Because of her disclocated hips and knees, Madi uses a wheelchair to get around. Please consider making a donation for Madi’s family to assist in getting a wheelchair-accessible van. This will make Madi’s trips to the hospitals and doctors a little less painful. It would be amazing for Madi to be able to go the the hospital in comfort. Please give as little or as much as you can – every little bit helps, and the family of this precious little girl would be very grateful.

www.gofundme.com/madelinesvan

Go to to make a donation and follow Madi’s amazing journey!

This advertisement sponsored by Wraps By PJ.

Every Story Begins At Home.

ate degrees, are working for small sums because that is all they can find.

So many people lost their homes in the past few years and are not able to or not confident enough in their current situation to buy again. The house next door to me has been sitting empty since 2011: our neighbor gave it up because he wasn’t able to afford it after getting laid off. He found a another job, but at just half the salary.

It seems as if the USA is also in a Period of Cultural Distortion as well, happily without the widespread violence in some of the other countries mentioned previously. I am eagerly waiting and watching for the introduction of a new mazeway. ***** Megan Fuller is an applied cognitive anthropologist with postmodern tendencies who grew up in the exciting Pittsburgh suburb of Pleasant Hills and had the distinct pleasure of earning a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from IUP. In 1993, Megan moved out West to get a Master’s Degree. She also picked up a husband and hasn’t quite convinced him to move back to Western PA. To maintain her authentic Pittsburgh accent she regularly watches Pittsburgh Dad and engages anyone wearing black and gold sports gear in conversation.

What Do You Want? To be financially secure without hav-

ing to live paycheck to paycheck? To have better health? To leave a legacy for your children? To be able to give to charity and help others without taking from your own family’s needs? It Works Global has the answer to all of those questions. We have the products and the know-how to help you have your very own business and create the life you want. Visit my website www.itworks withpaula.com and check out our product line to help you achieve whatever it is that you are hoping to achieve. We are changing lives in our own Communities and Worldwide. If you are interested in joining My Team, or have any questions, call Paula Turbin, 301-697-2672 or email me: wrapsbypj@gmail.com

Help Save The Movies!

The Ligonier Theatre Announces an All New Keep The Screen Lit Fundraiser

BUY A THEATRE SEAT! Have Your Name Placed On The Seat Of Your Choice Center Section Seats $500.00 includes Plaque + 4 Admission One Ticket For Each Of Our Next Seasons Shows Seats On Left & Right Sides Plaque Only $250.00

To Buy Your Seat Go To:

www.ligoniertheater.com or call 724-238-6514 Ext.3 This advertisement sponsored by Dan McCue, Financial & Group Services, Inc.

April 2014 - 11

NATURAL HEALTH

Healing with Mother Nature’s Weeds by Granny Earth, ND

Sage: Salvia officinalis The word ‘Salvia’ comes from the Latin- salvare, meaning ‘to cure’.

There was an old medieval saying that went like this: ‘Why should a man die, while Sage grows in his garden?’

Sage is a perennial plant (a shrub actually) that grows about 2 foot high.

It’s considered to be a woody evergreen, with soft gray-green or purple leaves.

The delicate flowers are bluishpurple. Native to Mediterranean areas, Sage has been praised throughout history for its powers of longevity.

This one is no trouble to grow, it’s not invasive and will come back year after year. I have given many Sage plants away over the years- they thrive in sunny spots, making it through our cold winters just fine. Every year the plant gets bigger and more beautiful.

Probably just one plant would do a family quite well for a whole year, medicinally.

12 - April 2014

Sage is good for many things: as a remedy for sore throats, poor digestion and irregular menstruation. It’s also used as a gently stimulating tonic, having a slightly warm, but bitter and astringent taste. It contains a volatile oil, Thujone, which is strongly antiseptic. It also has estrogenic actions, making it a good menopause remedy for hot flashes and helping the body adapt to hormonal changes. Thujone also helps to reduce breast-milk in nursing mothers.

Another Sage phytochemical, Rosmarinic acid, is a strong antiinflammatory used for muscle spasms.

It’s also an effective anti-microbial agent and is both a digestive tonic and stimulant, as well as a nerve tonic. It helps calm and stimulate the nervous system, depending on what the body needs. The combination of antiseptic, relaxing and astringent actions of Sage, makes it ideal for sore throats.

For this, you’d gargle with it, in the form of a tea.

Being astringent, it will also help with mild diarrhea too. Astringent weeds tend to stop bleeding, so the sage leaf would be used topically for healing wounds, in the form of a poultice.

To make an infusion for use as a gargle: Take 1 teaspoon of dried leaves and infuse them in a cup of boiling water. Pour the boiling water over the leaves, cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Alternately, half the water may be replaced by cider vinegar. Use some to gargle with and drink the rest with a little honey, added for taste. *A note from Dr. Culpepper- ‘A decoction of the leaves provokes the urine, brings down women’s courses and expels the dead child.’

According to that old, wise manI would recommend that Sage NOT be used by expectant mothers.

‘No matter where life leads me- I always have some Sage as a grounding friend, a constant companion. As a live plant, she gives me patience. As a tea, she cleanses my body. As a smudge, she clears my energy and as a friendshe says- ‘I love you!’. Your loyalty is beyond compare, thank you- dear, sweet, Miss Sage.’ Page 137 – 138 in ‘Do It Yourself Weed Medicine’.

***** Seventy-some years young, and following my lifelong passion, which is natural healing and teaching others about weed medicine, I believe that we each must do what we can to get back to Nature. In making your own weed medicine, you’re going to be going out looking and identifying certain weeds that grow around you–you’ll be outdoors, in the sunshine and fresh air–getting back to Nature.

Maybe you’ll start growing your own weeds, turning your backyard into a weed garden!

Granny Earth has a bachelor’s in Psychology from California University of Pennsylvania (which she earned at age 59), and both a masters and doctorate from Clayton College of Natural Health.

www.grannyearth.com grannyearth@zoominternet.net Phone: 724-542-9713 Granny’s monthly Natural Health Newsletter- ‘CONNECTIONS’ is available via- Snail-Mail. 12 pages- All good stuff! $35.00 a year (12 issues).

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

“

What are some cool apps that work with a mobile phone that can help me get in better touch with the environment?

— Mitchell Brown, Troy, MI Not surprisingly, there are thousands of “green” apps out there that make it easier for people to find and share information to help us all become better stewards of the natural environment.

The American Lung Association’s State of the Air app shows live color-coded air quality maps for any U.S. location and includes both ozone and particulate pollution counts. The app also provides air quality alerts, short-term forecasts and opportunities to learn more about air quality risks and to contact lawmakers to push for more stringent pollution regulations. Another way to find out who’s emitting what nearby is via aMobileFuture’s Pollution, a free app that compiles information from various pollution databases around the world and then shows users which big polluters are emitting what near them. Coverage includes 1,380 cities, mostly in Europe and the U.S. Ethical shoppers will appreciate the GoodGuide, a free app that shows how any of 120,000 food, personal care and household products stack up in terms of sustainability, fair wages and even health risks. Users just snap a picture of an item’s bar code to get the low-down on whether or not it’s a “good” buy. And the free JouleBug app turns living greener into a game, taking specific sustainabilityoriented steps such as reducing energy use, recycling more or buying local and translating these small acts into positive “units of impact.” Embedded videos demonstrate ways one can green up daily life.

Adair Systems’ 99 cents GasHog app makes it easy to track a car’s fuel efficiency.

Enter the odometer reading and amount of fuel added each time you refill the tank and the app calculates the fuel economy of the previous tank and compares it to historical averages. The app also offers tips for improving fuel economy. And Avego’s free CarmaCarpooling app matches nearby drivers with riders to share the commute and the expense. At the end of the trip, the rider can send a payment through the system to the driver to cover a share of gas and wear-and-tear.

PaperKarma is a free app to help reduce junk mail. Users input their address information once and then snap a picture through the app of any unwanted junk mail. Behind the scenes, PaperKarma’s automated system notifies the publisher to take the user’s name and address off their list.

Every Story Begins At Home.

enter in their zip code—the app automatically inputs average regional electricity rates accordingly—and then choose which type of fixture, size/shape and wattage bulb(s) they are looking to replace. The app then suggests options that use less energy and shows how much money the user can expect to save with the newer bulb(s).

It’s nice to know that the little screens we’ve become increasingly dependent upon—and which otherwise tend to distract us from nature and the outdoors—can also be used for the betterment of the environment. ***** Thousands of “green” apps now that make it easy for people to find and share information to help us all become better stewards of the natural environment. Pictured: A GoodGuide app evaluates a household product. (Photo: Good Guide)

Another popular app is Light Bulb Finder, a free app designed to help ease the transition from older incandescent bulbs to more energy efficient replacements. Users

CONTACTS: State of the Air App, www.lung.org/ healthy-air/outdoor/state-of-the-air/app.html; JouleBug, www.joulebug.com; GasHog, www.adair systems.com/gashog; CarmaCarpooling, www. carmacarpool.com; Light Bulb Finder, www.light bulbfinder.net; GoodGuide, www.goodguide.com.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk @emagazine.com.

This advertisement sponsored by The Medicine Shoppe.

April 2014 - 13

Reversing Roles:

Does Birth Order Determine Personality Even into Old Age?

by Gretchen Fuller Last week I was visiting my mother at her residence at the assisted living center where she has been since July 2012.

As I sat chatting with her in the lobby, one of the aides stopped to tell me that my mother had refused to take her shower the night before, and she needed my help. She wanted me to talk to her to convince my mom to take her shower that afternoon. I said I would try, but that I was not making any guarantees my efforts would have any effect. The aide was under the impression that my mother would want to please me by taking the shower.

The aide obviously doesn’t know my mother very well. She is not inclined to do anything she doesn’t want to do to please anyone – least of all me. I did talk to her about it. You know what her response was? She said she didn’t feel like it. I did not follow up to find out if she eventually took the shower or not. I did not get any phone calls regarding the shower, so I assume that she did take the shower at some time.

This incident got me to thinking about what shapes our personalities and why we are the way we are. Many years ago I read “The Birth Order Book” by Dr. Kevin Leman (1985, Fleming H. Revell Company). In the book he discusses how the order of our birth in the family affects our personality: first borns, onlies, middle and last borns. He even delves into what birth orders make the best marriages.

I thought that I might revisit that book with the personality of my mother in mind, as she reaches the sundown of her life. The first time I read the book, I read it thinking of myself as the oldest of three children.

According to Dr. Leman, I discovered that I have almost all the characteristics of the first born: “perfectionistic, reliable, conscientious, list maker, well-organized, critical, serious, and scholarly.” Now I am looking at it from 14 - April 2014

the viewpoint of the last born. My mother was the baby in a family of ten.

She grew up with four sisters and three brothers. One sister and one brother died either before she was born or shortly thereafter.

Dr. Leman says that some of the characteristics of the last born are “manipulative, charming, blames others, show off, people person, good salesperson, precocious, and engaging.” I noticed that some of these personality traits do show up in my mom in her old age. She never was a show off, and she still isn’t. She was a people person which made her good at being the receptionist in the doctor’s office where she worked for a time. However, she can be manipulative, and it usually works because she is charming.

She manipulated me into letting her move in with me when she felt she couldn’t live by herself anymore. We looked at many independent living facilities, but she kept saying she could not afford them. So, we determined that if she were to move in with me, I would need to put an addition on my house giving her a bedroom on the first floor and her own bathroom. She said she would help with the cost of it, but in the end she reneged on that. I am still bearing the cost of the addition.

It should be paid off in another eighteen months.

She has everyone at the assisted living center thinking that she is really a lovely lady. Behind all that niceness she is self-centered and blames others for her problems – two more characteristics of a last born. An example is the loss of hearing that she experienced in the last six years. When she was living with me, she would turn the sound on the TV up as high as it would go. I would complain that it hurt my ears and could not sit in the same room with her. I tried to convince her to get hearing aids, but she claimed that it

wasn’t her hearing that was the problem, but that I had particularly good hearing! She also accused my sister and me of mumbling when we were talking with her because she couldn’t hear us. It was our fault not hers.

Since she moved into the assisted living facility, I can keep my house much cooler than when she was living here. When she was about to move in she said, “When I move in we’ll be warm because I’ll help with the heating bills.” It was of no concern to her that I was not comfortable with the house really warm. I kept it at a temperature that I could live with and like, not because I was saving money.

I suppose that as the youngest in a large family she put up with a lot of teasing and tormenting from older brothers and sisters. I think this made her really paranoid. Any time something would happen that may have been an accident, she would think that it was done purposely to annoy or hurt her. Even now if I can’t go to visit her, she thinks it’s because I don’t want to see her – not because I may have had another commitment that prevented my visit that day. Although, luckily for me since her memory isn’t as good as it used to be, sometimes she doesn’t remember that I was not in to see her for a day or two.

Back to the subject of birth order and marriage. My dad was a middle child, so he had good negotiation skills. He really used them living with my mother. Take the time my future husband asked my dad for his blessing in marrying me: my mom did not talk to me or my dad for several days because she was not consulted. Somehow they made it work for many, many years. After my dad passed away 37 years ago, my mother forged ahead.

She continued to play golf until she was 83 years old. She sold her house and moved to an apartment. She dealt LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

with several bouts of cancer all on her own. I think her faith and her last-born characteristic of independence helped her deal with life without dad.

Since I read Dr. Leman’s book, I think I understand how to work with my mother a little better. I am not saying I like it, but at least I understand it. ***** Gretchen Fuller is the Real Estate Tax Collector in Pleasant Hills, PA. She came to that job by a very circuitous route: Gretchen spent many years substitute teaching or making the rounds of all the banks in Pittsburgh. She has a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University of Pennsyl-vania and an MBA from Duquesne University. She is looking forward to retirement soon so she can spend more time with her six grandchildren.

Second Chapter Books New and Used Books • Children’s Gifts Jewelry • Greeting Cards • Neat Stuff 139 East Main Street Ligonier, PA 15658

724-238-7933 fb.com/secondchapterbooks

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

POST

Enhance Your Life With Music piano • violin • viola • cello • guitar • voice flute • lessons • weddings • events

Lessons at Vittone’s in Greensburg 724-309-0553 • vmullmusic@gmail.com

TOYS • GAMES • PUZZLES 108 South Market Street, Ligonier, PA 15658

724-238-6233

Open 7 Days a Week. Call for Hours.

Online Shopping Cart: www.toyboxligonier.com

Instant Access to Full Issues GPS Locator to Find A Print Copy Near You Content from Our Social Networking Pages Discounts from Community Merchants

APPLE & ANDROID

Our Mobile App Is Coming Soon!

Every Story Begins At Home . . . Let’s Tell Yours

Every Story Begins At Home.

April 2014 - 15

Indiana Office: 724-349-8500 957 Philadelphia St. Indiana, PA 15701

New Alexandria Office: 724-668-5080 412 W. Main St. New Alexandia, PA 15670

Blairsville Office: 724-459-9200 213 E. Market St. Blairsville, PA 15717

New Florence Office: 724-235-3062 213 Ligonier St. New Florence, PA 15944

Derry Township

#981596 – This home has beautiful views!Shape of home is Hexagon,With Architectural Design and One of kind!

Custom kitchen Decora cabinets,Granite counter tops.

Offered at $400,000

Indiana

#994532 – 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath brick home located in Brookwood Estates. Home features, living room, dining room, family room, sun room and a finished basement.

Main floor laundry, large mud room. Enjoy the warmth of the 2 fireplaces, sit on the deck or relax on the back porch. Offered at $299,900

Blairsville

#978955 – 4 Bedrm with nice size closet with Hard wood fls upstairs. Remodeled Kitchen floors to ceiling with all Stainless appliances, Quartz counter tops, Newer cabinets with soft close doors!!Open floor plan to dining. Sunken-in Living rm with wood burning Fire place and built in book case. Offered at $158,400

Blairsville

#980085 – Vintage stone home in prime location surrounded by beautiful dwellings. Four bedroom home with exterior hand picked and placed river stone and tile roof built by Amish in 1936. Rooftop deck over one car garage. Covered side porch for entertaining. House in need of significant work-priced accordingly. Lot 80 x 71. Offered at $82,900

Blairsville

#974000 – Beautifully maintained with amenities galore.Fully equipped oak kitchen w/granite countertops,black appliances,oak wainscotting in DR, oak doors and trim throughout, plenty of storage. Offered at $369,900

Blairsville

#997159 – Breathtaking Customized Home your family can grow into. A new floor plan & newly remodeled with real Oak Hardwood floors, crown molding, fresh paint newer carpeting,3 Fireplaces formal dining rm and Theater RM/Game rm reassessed lighting. Granite counter tops. Deck 16x38 and Pool. Offered at $279,000

Homer City

#989835 – Immaculate large home with all the updatesroof, windows,furnace,wiring, siding,and more. Lots of oak trim, wainscoting and oak laminate floors make this a family friendly and easy care home. Large LR, DR and KIT w/appliances and full bath. Second floor has 3 large bedrooms and cozy long deck. Offered at $131,900

Derry

#998928 – Move-in ready! Nice 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath home with many updates, fenced-in yard and storage shed. Updates include 2008 roof, kitchen and dining rm updated 2011, hardwood floors installed 2012, boiler 2008, water heater 2013. 200 amp electric, first floor bath. Fresh paint in master bath. Walkup attic with storage. Offered at $82,500

Blairsville

#984521 – Stunning home back on the market with beautifully refinished hardwoods, 2 BR, 2 storage rooms and a full bath on third floor. Fully equipped kitchen w/ Corian countertops and butler's pantry. Offered at $325,000.

Indiana

#988146 – House built around 1840. This home features large rooms with a non working fireplace in almost every room. Kitchen features the old built in stove for cooking (nonworking). BONUS: two bedroom garage apartment. Located on 1.17+/-. Swimming pool and hot tub are included in the sale. Offered at $230,000

Blairsville

#983841 – Come home to this spacious cape code in Blairsville. Relax in the large living while you enjoy the warmth of the gas fireplace or cozy up in the sunroom.

Looking to entertain, the dining room has enough room for friends and family. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the closet sizes in this house. Offered at $110,000

Indiana

986133 – This two story frame offers large rooms, some hardwood floors and newer roof and furnace. A few updates and this home is very affordable. Offered at $55,900

www.HewittRealEstate.net 16 - April 2014

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Lend A Hand ... Give A Cloak

by Nancy A. Clark

Every Story Begins At Home.

grunt”- sized portions of dry cement, sand, gravel and water in the belly of the rickety machine. When he was satisfied with the mix, he tipped the “tumbler” and poured the lumpy batter into a wheelbarrow. Sis and I took turns pushing the wheelbarrow to sections of one-by-six- inch form boards that outlined the proposed walkway.

Whichever of us was the “barrow pusher” dumped the batter and, using a large garden hoe, coaxed the goop into the space between the boards. Huffing and puffing in the equatorial-like heat, Sis and I alternated roles as “barrow pusher” and “finisher” – the latter working on hands and knees to level out and smooth over the wet surface.

By mid-morning, a well-padded lawn chair beckoned B.B. to sit beneath the shade of an old oak tree. There he snoozed contentedly… the brim of his fishing hat catawampus on his balding pate, a corpulent bumble bee circling the narrow neck of the brown bottle listing in his right hand.

At least one of this crew had the good sense to get out of the sun.

Nineteen hours and no-lunch later, when the last batch of gravel gravy was

blended, poured, spread and “finished,” three exhausted toilers dropped like stones to the ground and groaned without ceasing.

An alert and refreshed BB surveyed (by flashlight) the length of the finished walkway and proclaimed it “a work of art.”

Then he acknowledged the skill and strength of the bedraggled artists, declaring us to be “strrrrong, like bull.” From our supine position and semi-conscious state, we cared not whether he was referencing our endurance or our de‘stink’tive scent.

Time has blessed my muscles with memory loss as regards that project-mostarduous; but I pass on, for your consideration, these conclusions forever ingrained in my brain: (1) Volunteer scripturally – be prepared to give your cloak, too; (2) Thirty feet long is no baloney; and (3) Respect the bull – even if you’re standing downwind. For all you know, he may have just spent a day – and a night – building a sidewalk. ***** Nancy Clark and her husband, Tom, rejoice in 50 years of marriage, three children and three grandchildren. She dabbles in freelance and memoir writing when she isn’t baking, knitting, reading, or building a jigsaw puzzle.

Clopidogrel

D SUPPLY N DE E T

(generic Plavix)

Omeprazole

EX

(generic Prilosec)

NE

This Location Only

M

R RIC DRUG P

37

$

for

6 Months

No Insurance Needed 709 Ligonier St. Latrobe, PA 15650 724-539-4565

latrobepharmacy.com

Our low extended generic program can help keep you out of the Part D “donut hole”

Alendronate

(generic Fosamax)

Pantoprazole

(generic Protonix)

70

$

for

12 Months 6 Months

12 Months

Atorvastatin

$70 $140

Simvastatin

$35

Escitalopram

$65 $109

$65

Visit website for list of available generics

Generics You Can Afford, delivered free & directly to your door!

Latrobe, PA*

*only available from Latrobe location

- offer not available at any other Medicine Shoppe location

adno=5486390

GE

20 mg. only

RA

PA* obe, r t a L

OG

The phrase lend a hand took on new meaning when my sister and I volunteered ours to help a neighbor implement his plan to build a sidewalk. Bingo Barney – BB, for short – was a “giver” who was always there when others needed assistance. Now it was his turn to receive.

We girls offered to work as BB’s kitchen crew for the day when six strong men would invest their time and muscles into building a 30-foot long walkway between BB’s driveway and his front door.

Bingo Barney, who earned his nickname for yelling “BINGO” when his beloved Pittsburgh Pirates scored a run, dubbed us The Sissy Crew (pun intended). He gave us free reign to create a sustainable lunch for his real work crew, as long as the menu consisted of a battery of baloney sandwiches, a pile of potato chips and a ton of Twinkies. Thirst quenchers included pitchers of iced water, cans of cold soda, and tall, dark-colored glass bottles bearing a Schlitz label. The labor-intensive half of BB’s DIY Dream Team would toil in high humidity and 90-degree July heat, conditions that demanded all the fortification the crew could get.

Project day dawned as expected, but the expected work crew did not: only my hubby reported for duty that morning.

Consequently, game plan changes were necessary, and our modus operandi as baloney builders quickly expanded to include sidewalk building.

Wiser women would have read the writing on the wall and said, “See ya later, alligator.” Instead, we ran directly to the driveway next door where a virile young man was preparing to polish his 1972 sky blue Chevy Chevelle SS Coup. We offered enticements – i.e. a free lunch and a cool dip in BB’s backyard pool – if he joined our team, but no cigar. (He said he wasn’t into baloney.)

So we kissed common sense and our manicures goodbye and donned oversized pairs of orange flannel Monkey-Face work gloves. BB’s motley crew of three would have to work fast and furious to get ‘er done in one day as BB had rented a portable cement mixer for just 24 hours.

Gender equality was askew here, but what the hey.

BB, who suffered a chronic back problem, easily slipped into the role of overseer, and my mate took the helm at the cement mixer. There, he blended “girl

April 2014 - 17

Faculty Members Announced for 27th Annual Ligonier Valley Writers Conference The 27th Ligonier Valley Writers’ Conference will take place at the Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood on Saturday, July 19.

The deadline for early registration is June 10. Four renowned faculty members will work with both emerging and experienced writers. As always, workshops will be offered in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. This year, for only the second time, there will also be a workshop on songwriting.

• Fiction: Timons Esaias is a satirist, poet, essayist, and writer of short fiction. He has been a finalist for the British Science Fiction Award, and he won the 2005 Asimov's Readers Award. His work has appeared in Asimov's, Analog, 5AM, Connecticut Review, and Barbaric Yawp, among many others.

He teaches in Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction MFA Program and advises for SHU's art & literary journal, Eye Contact. His current project is a book on Warfare for Writ-

Writer Timons Esaias

Writer Sue Baugh 18 - April 2014

ers. Tim will try to inoculate attendees against the nods, smiles, POV expressions, clenched jaws, anachronisms, vanilla verb-pairs and other "bobble-headisms" that can choke your prose to death and poison your chances for a sale.

• Nonfiction: Sue Baugh develops earth science, language arts, social studies, and business books while also writing poetry and fiction. She selfpublished Echoes of Earth, a photoessay book about her life-changing journey (more than 54,000 miles by camper car, fishing boat, floatplane, and river raft) to some of the world’s oldest rock and mineral sites in Western Australia, Greenland, Canada, and the Grand Canyon. Her book has won numerous awards, including the gold Indie Award for science, a gold Ben Franklin Award for nature/environment, and a silver Nautilus Award for photography/art. Sue will teach "The Power of Story in Words and Images."

• Poetry: Lori Jakiela is the author of the poetry collection Spot the Terrorist!, as well as the memoirs The Bridge to Take When Things Get Serious and Miss New York Has Everything. Her third memoir, Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe, will come out in 2015. Her work has been widely published in magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Creative Nonfiction, The Rumpus, and Hobart. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize many times. She teaches at PittGreensburg and Chatham University and lives in Trafford with her husband, Dave Newman, and their children. Lori will address “Where I’m Calling From: On Cultivating a Poetry of Place.” She will also give the Thoburn Lecture.

• Songwriting: Mike Vale was bass player, vocalist, and songwriter for Tommy James and the Shondells in the 1960s, selling more 100 million records worldwide, with 23 gold singles and nine gold and platinum records. He helped write many Top Forty hits, including “She,” “Ball of Fire,” “Loved One,” and the smash hit “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” In the 1970s, Mike

joined the influential country-rock band Hog Heaven. He has written 150 songs.

In 2012, Mike released the album It’s a Pittsburgh Thing, followed in 2014 with In My Dreams. Mike will talk about "Digging for Gold: How to Turn the Material of Your Life into Musical Treasure."

The conference brochure will be available at www.LVWonline.org soon. If you’d like it as a pdf or a hard copy, send your email or street address to jgallagher@LVWonline.org or call Judith Gallagher at (724) 593-7294.

For those who register by June 10, the cost for the full day’s activities is $95 for LVW members or $115 for nonmembers. There will be a catered lunch and a staffed book room where LVW members can sell their books.

Poet Lori Jakiela

Songwriter Mike Vale LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Batter Up! Cakes

Special Order Cakes & Goodies 724-237-9732

Easter is around the corner so hop to it and order your delicious treats!

Call/Text/Email/Facebook today! batterup_cakes@yahoo.com BatterUpCakesandGoodies.com

®

Ligonier Valley Real Estate Co.

Financial Advisors

TM

LINDSAY M. TURCHETTA, AWMA® 2790 Mosside Boulevard Suite270 Monroeville, PA 15146 412-858-9090 Fax 412-856-8433 Direct 724-493-9473

Financial Advisor

MON thru FRI: 9:00 - 5:00 SAT: 10:00 - 2:00 PM SUNDAY BY APPOINTMENT

610 WEST MAIN STREET LIGONIER, PA 15658

(724) 238-6606 FAX: 724-238-9507 PHONE ANSWERS EVENINGS Call Us Today For All Your Real Estate Needs!

Serving the Valley Since the 1970’s

Visit our website:

www.ligoniervalleyrealestate.com Email: LVRE@ligoniervalleyrealestate.com

Relay for Life Event

Ligonier Valley

Frida Fridayy, Ma Mayy 16, 2014 3:00 pm – W eller Field Weller (Fairfield Street in Ligonier)

www .r ela e.or www.r .rela elayy forlif orlife.or e.orgg

This advertisement sponsored by Batter Up! Cakes.

Every Story Begins At Home.

www.waddell.com

(Personal Office) 2016 Highland Avenue Greensburg, PA 15601 724-493-9473

Place your ad on this page for as little as $75!

Call the Laurel Mountain Post at 724-537-6845 or visit www.LaurelMountainPost.com

On the Diamond

ANTIQUES Multi-Dealer Shop

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

Mary Jo Culbertson Proprietor (724) 238-0497

Community Yard & Trunk Sale Saturday, April 26, 8am - 1pm

1382 Route 30, Laughlintown 3 miles east of Ligonier

724-238-4983 www.compassinn.com

Events sponsored by Ligonier Valley Historical Society

This advertisement sponsored by Antiques On the Diamond in Ligonier.

April 2014 - 19

Learn About West Virginia’s Museum of American Glass and it Artifacts Place: Mount Pleasant Glass Museum 402 East Main Street, Suite 600, Mount Pleasant PA Date: April 17 Time: 7-9 Cost: $3.00 (suggested donation) The Mount Pleasant Glass Museum is very excited to announce the next speaker in our annual Speaker’s Series. Tom Felt, with a lot of help from volunteers, founded the Museum of American Glass.

Felt calls it, “The little Museum that could.” Who would have thought that a small Museum established in West Virginia little more than a dozen years ago would have grown to become a major presence in the effort to preserve and celebrate the history and manufacture of American glass? Today, the Museum of American Glass in West Virginia has a membership of over 500 plus.

It all began in 1990 when a glass study support group was formed. Their goal? To start a Museum. The location? Weston – ideal, because Lewis County had been the home of some twenty glass manufacturers and at one time could boast that it was the largest producer of handblown stemware in the world.

And that was the beginning. Articles of incorporation as a nonprofit organization were drawn up in 1993. In 1998 a small building was purchase, but rapidly became too small for the growing collections of glassware donated by collectors and clubs all over the United States. In 2006, MAGWV moved into its current location, with a public display area of nearly 10,000 square feet and additional room for a library, archives, and ample display space devoted to the machinery and equipment used to produce glass objects, including interactive displays, many designed to appeal especially to children. MAGWV is also the home of the National Marble Museum and custodian of the archives of the American Flint Glass Workers Union.

The Museum is open to visitors, free of charge, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 seven days a week in the summer. Over 2,000 people passed through its doors in 2008. Membership in MAGWV begins at $25 a year and includes a subscription to their quarterly magazine, All About Glass.

Tom Felt began collecting glassware in 1977, when he and his partner, Bob O'Grady, bought three pairs of Heisey candlesticks.

That small nucleus eventually grew into one of the largest and most complete collections of its kind and resulted in the publication of Heisey Glass Candlesticks, Candelabra and Lamps in 1984.

Tom followed this up with Heisey's Lariat & Athena Patterns (1986) and A. H. Heisey & Company: A Brief History (1996). He later expanded his research to include all areas of glass manufacture.

The Glass Candlestick Book, volume 1-3, co-authored with Rich and Elaine Stoer, was published 2003-2005, followed by L. E. Smith Glass Company: the first one hundred years in 2007 and the Encyclopedia of Cobalt Glass, co-written with Bonnie and Gene Girard, in summer of 2009. The L. E. Smith Encyclopedia of Glass Patterns and Products followed in 2010. He has written for many club newsletters and has been a regular contributor to The Glass Collectors' Digest, The Glass and Pottery Collector, and many newsletters. He is current editor of All About Glass, the Museum of American Glass in West Virginia quarterly magazine. He is retired from the Library of Congress, where he spent his career as a cataloger in the Copyright Office. He is an officer and member of the board of directors of the Museum of American Glass in West Virginia and also the organization’s archivist and chief accessioner.

The series will be held the third Thursday of the month at 7pm.

Let us know if you have a topic you would like us to discuss.

May 15 June 19

Jay Hawkins John Potts

20 - April 2014

Bottles and Bottlemaking in the 19th Century Transition from Bryce Brothers to Lenox Crystal

MistyHegan Prudential Preferred Realty • 115 S Market St • Ligonier, PA 15658

OFFICE: 724.238.7600 • CELL: 724.972.8418 mistyhegan@prudentialpreferred.com

w Ne

g tin Lis

Lot#4 Hi Acres/Charlotte Drive, Ligonier Residential lot in a great neighborhood just outside of Ligonier. Gently slopes, public water and sewage available. Nice view. $32,000

D CEED C U U EDD RRE

w Ne

8 Cedarbrook Dr, Greensburg Move in ready, updated & charming 3b,2b, convenient to EVERYTHING! Custom cherry kitchen, freshly painted, great storage, trex deck for easy care, new roof & newer windows & doors. Large back yard with mature trees. Central to schools, shopping, dining & parks. Won't last, must see! Home warranty, too! $205,000

t

G c TIN tra LIS on

W C NE er

d Un

Buck Run ll, New Paris, PA Looking for a quiet getaway? Enjoy the peace of the mountains and nature. 2br/1ba cabin on 2+acres.

Currently used for hunting, fishing, quad riding. $85,000

g in iL st

929 Orchard Ave, Greensburg Adorable brick home on 3 city lots.

3br/2ba, move in ready. Fenced in yard, great outdoor living space!

Enjoy the convenience of in-town living but the privacy and space this property offers! $135,000

491 Weaver Mill Rd Rector Charming updated cottage on 2 acres in Rector. Detached garage with finished studio space. Perennial gardens. Lovely level 2 acres. Must see if you seek a quiet property with convenience to Ligonier. 199,999k

Calling All Sellers: Are You Ready to Move??

If you've been on the fence about listing your home, now is the time.

With interest rates slowly creeping up, buyers are on the move.

Ask any agent; we have buyers, we need listings to sell! Now is the time!

Call today for a no-cost market analysis on your home and LIST IT! OFFICE: 724.238.7600 • CELL: 724.972.8418

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Alumni Society Creates Scholarship for Ag Sciences Students UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Students in the College of Agricultural Sciences who have a demonstrated financial need are the beneficiaries of a new scholarship endowment created by the college's alumni society.

With a $100,000 gift, the group created the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society Trustee Scholarship.

The Trustee Matching Scholarship Program maximizes the impact of private giving while directing funds to students as quickly as possible, meeting the urgent need for scholarship support. For Trustee Scholarships created through the end of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students on June 30, Penn State will provide an annual 10 percent match of the total pledge or gift.

This level is an increase from the program's original match of 5 percent, and it is available only for new endowments of $50,000 or more. The University match, which is approximately double the endowment's annual spendable income, continues in perpetuity, multiplying the support available for students with financial need.

"Our alumni society works diligently to coach our students and to provide funds for internships and scholarships," said Barbara Christ, interim dean of the college. "With this Trustee Scholarship, the society is leveraging dollars that will significantly assist our students."

The College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society is a constituent group under the Penn State Alumni Association umbrella. Its mission is to connect, serve and recognize alumni, students and faculty by fostering relationships, commitment and pride. The organization plays a vital role in supporting the college, students and alumni programming.

In addition to the new scholarship, the society's support for students includes its annual Internship Awards program, which recognizes outstanding performance and encourages students to gain practical experience by

Every Story Begins At Home.

enrolling in internship courses offered by the college. The society also created the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Scholarship Fund, providing support for students who demonstrate leadership qualities and have a demonstrated financial need.

The society also sponsors the college's Outstanding Alumni Awards and its Armsby Honor Society. In addition, the alumni organization was instrumental in the founding of the Pasto Agricultural Museum, which it continues to support.

"As a student, I received financial assistance through scholarships, and a number of our board members were scholarship recipients as well," said Roxanne Molnar, president of the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society. "Knowing that others believed in us and helped us to receive a world class education is humbling.

"One of the society's top priorities for the college is supporting our students," she said. "Creating this scholarship allows us to give back and assist the next generation -- the future of our agricultural industry."

The alumni society gift will help the College of Agricultural Sciences to achieve the goals of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students. This University-wide effort is directed toward a shared vision of Penn State as the most comprehensive, student-centered research university in America.

The University is engaging Penn State's alumni and friends as partners in achieving six key objectives: ensuring student access and opportunity, enhancing honors education, enriching the student experience, building faculty strength and capacity, fostering discovery and creativity, and sustaining the University's tradition of quality. The campaign's top priority is keeping a Penn State degree affordable for students and families. The For the Future campaign is the most ambitious effort of its kind in Penn State's history, with the goal of securing $2 billion by 2014.

Loyalhanna Review Seeks Submissions The Loyalhanna Review seeks high-quality poetry, essays, and short stories under 1,800 words.

The deadline is May 1. For guidelines, see www.LVWonline.org.

The Loyalhanna Review has been published continuously since 1991.

The publication party for the Review will kick off the conference weekend on Friday, July 18, from 7-9 p.m. at the SAMA Museum in Ligonier. The wineand-cheese reception will feature readings from several of the writers published in the 2014 Loyalhanna Review and displays of some of the artists’ work. Guests will have a chance to talk with the authors and artists whose work is featured in the magazine.

April 2014 - 21

THREE PENNIES

by Rev. Cindy Parker

Do You Have Anything Here to Eat? “While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’”

I receive the United Church of Christ devotional every morning on my computer, and there was a Reflection by Martin B. Copenhaver titled, “Do you have anything here to eat?” In it he mentions that: Jesus asks a lot of questions in the gospels — 307, to be exact. Even when the risen Christ appears to the disciples, he is still asking questions.

And if Jesus were to ask questions when he returns, don’t you think he’d ask the important ones? Maybe he’d ask what you’d been up to? Maybe he’d ask how you have shown love to your neighbor?

But one question Jesus asks, according to Luke’s gospel is: “Do you have anything here to eat?”

What do you think about that?

That doesn’t sound like the question that the Risen Lord would ask. I have three teenaged daughters, and it sounds more like the question one of my girls would ask as they arrived home from school. Those of us that are parents know that question well, because we’ve heard it over a million times! “MOM—do we have anything here to eat?”

So his disciples give Jesus a piece of broiled fish, and he eats it. Apparently, rising from the dead really works up an appetite. Who knew? Get this guy something to eat!

So what’s going on here? Well, for one, it’s a way for Luke to assure us that Jesus’ presence is real. He isn’t a ghost.

But, knowing Jesus, the follow-up question is this: “Does your neighbor have anything to eat?” After all, this is the same Jesus who taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Not my daily bread, but our daily bread.

In this prayer that we pray almost every week at Christ and St. John’s churches, is the radical idea that your neighbor’s need is not very different 22 - April 2014

from your own need. There is only our need.

“Does your neighbor have anything to eat?”

This weekend the youth Group is going to spend 30 hours fasting. After dinner on Friday night they will not eat again until Sunday morning. Why are they doing this you might ask?

They are going without food so they know what it feels like to be hungry, not just tummy rumbling, I need a snack hungry, but tired down to the

Sacred Heart stature found in Jacmel, Haiti on the grounds of church ruins after the 2010 earthquake. (http://feliciansistershaiti.wordpress.com)

bones hungry. The type of hunger that kills a child every 10 seconds, more than 22,000 children die every day and globally more than 925 million people are hungry.

But hunger is not just a statistic, it is somebody’s daughter, sister, brother. There are people that don’t have enough to eat right here in our own community.

I spoke with one of the principles of a local elementary school, and she

told me that there are programs during school to help with free breakfasts and lunches, but she worries about the kids over the summer. The Greater Latrobe ministerium is working together with volunteers to make sure these kids don’t go hungry this summer.

“Does your neighbor have anything to eat?”

My daughters have seen the need in this community when they volunteered with Fresh Express. This is a program that local churches sponsor alongside the Westmoreland County Foodbank and local food stores. An 18 wheeler pulls up in the parking lot of Prince of Peace Lutheran church and volunteers separate food into categories. If you weren’t aware that we have hungry people in Latrobe, all you have to do is look at the huge line of people waiting with their boxes, laundry baskets and wagons.

“Does your neighbor have anything to eat?”

My daughter, Lauren, has been so touched by the people she has met through Fresh Express she wants to do more. She is in the process of earning her Gold Award through Girl Scouts.

She intends to do all she can to help alleviate hunger in her community.

One way she wants to help is through giving. She asked the congregations of Christ and St. John’s churches as well as her family and friends to donate food. She has helped distribute the senior food boxes and was dismayed by how little they contain.

In support of her, the Lay Life & Mission committee has stepped up to collect food from the congregation to help others. We, as a church community and the body of Christ, will collect special foods with a theme. Spaghetti for dinner and Breakfast for dinner are the two Lauren came up with because that’s what she likes to eat! We have the opportunity to help our brothers LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

and sisters in need right here in our own community.

“Does your neighbor have anything to eat?”

It is said that after German bombers destroyed an English cathedral during the Second World War, dedicated volunteers worked to repair one of the church’s broken statues of Christ.

Rather than restore the figure’s missing hands, the artisans left Christ handless – replacing the artwork’s “Come unto Me” inscription with “Christ has no hands but ours.”

We are called to be Christ’s presence in the world today.

St. Teresa of Avila , who was born in Spain, and entered a Carmelite convent when she was eighteen, wrote a prayer that so beautifully illustrates what Christ is calling us to do: Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Fifteen centuries ago, Saint Benedict wrote that Jesus comes to us disguised in every stranger knocking on the door asking for hospitality and food. And if that is true, the question on his lips surely is: “Do you have anything here to eat?” Amen. ***** A life-long Presbyterian, she jokes that she was “predestined to become UCC!” Currently called as the Pastor and Teacher of Christ Church UCC in Latrobe, PA and St. John’s UCC in Darlington; she, her husband Larry and three daughters enjoy traveling all over the world! Cindy also serves as a Spiritual Director for the Three Rivers Walk to Emmaus retreats and was part of the team that brought the Kairos Outside Ministry to Penn-sylvania. Kairos (which means special time in Greek) is a prison ministry for women whose lives have been impacted by incarceration.

Cindy completed her undergrad-uate studies at Penn State and her MDiv. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary along with a year-long internship at Family Hospice and Palliative Care.

She enjoys traveling, reading, baking, and photographing her daughters.

Every Story Begins At Home.

Summer Camp at Historic Hanna’s Town The Westmoreland County Historical Society’s annual Colonial Camp will be held the week of June 16th – 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Children who have completed the 1st grade through 11 years of age will participate in a variety of activities, including games, crafts, cooking and baking, and Native American life. The camp is designed to give participants a glimpse of what life was like for children who lived on the Pennsylvania frontier in the late 18th century.

The fee for camp is $130 for Westmoreland County Historical Society members and $160 for non-members. A discount is available for multiple siblings.

Historic Hanna’s Town is located 3 miles north of Greensburg at 809 Forbes Trail Road. The village was founded in 1773 by Robert Hanna and was the site of the first English court west of the Allegheny Mountains prior to the Revolutionary War. The settlement was attacked and burned by Indians and their British allies on July 13, 1782. Hanna’s Town never recovered and court was moved to Greensburg in 1786.

Call Joanna Moyar at 724-532-1935 x 212, or e-mail us at history@ westmorelandhistory.org for information and to register for the camp.

Visit our web site to learn about our other programs and activities at www.westmorelandhistory.org and follow our activities on the Westmoreland County Historical Society Facebook page, and on Twitter @WCHistory.

April 2014 - 23

DOWN ON THE FARM

by Cathi Gerhard & Gregory Susa

Family Heirlooms While Greg and I were growing up, a common site in the back of the family refrigerator was a jar full of seeds, often beans. Our parents and grandparents saved seeds from each year’s harvest in order to plant next year’s garden. Families passed them down through the generations and traded them with friends and neighbors to grow their collection of varieties.

These agricultural anthologies were valuable guarantees of personal wealth and sustainability. Food was grown and re-grown at no cost, year after year, if the proper steps were taken. Because they were open-pollinated (propogated by natural means: birds, wind, etc), these seeds could be grown again and again to produce the same historic variety. Richly-diverse,

The Safe Seed Pledge "Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural methods and between genera, families or kingdoms, poses great biological risks as well as economicc, political, and cultural threats..."

This pledge was signed by companies that are concerned about this issue.

For more information on this project: The Safe Seed Initiative c/o Council for Responsible Genetics 5 Upland Road, Suite 3 Cambridge, MA 02140 www.gene-watch.org www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/ ViewPage.aspx?pageId=261

24 - April 2014

heirloom seeds yield a wide array of colorful crops (ie: purple potatoes and carrots, yellow and pink tomatoes, or strawberry popcorn).

In the latter part of the 20th century, the practice of “food science” led to the development of many “convenience” products. Hybrid seeds were developed in laboratories to increase yield, and agri-business replaced the family farm. Why grow it if you could buy it cheap? And if you still wanted to garden, why work hard to save seeds if you could buy new ones each year?

The problems with hybrid seeds are many and often misunderstood.

• They cannot be saved and grown again. This ensures that consumers will have to purchase more product every year, much like light bulbs (the original Edison light bulb is still burning). Big business keeps making lots of money.

• Hybrid seeds are also geneticallymodified and contain built-in pesticides. These chemicals enter our soil, and penetrate our water table. We ingest these poisons by eating their crops and living in contaminated environments.

• Biodiversity disappears and nature’s ability to fight disease or pestilence dies with it, much like genocide.

• Heirloom varieties are more flavorful and richer in nutrients. Try a taste-testing this summer at your local farmer’s market!

• Cuts down on wasteful use of fossil fuels: consider the transportation costs of hybrid seeds as well as produce delivery. Organic, locally-grown foods are available without mass transit costs.

There are many resources for getting your own heirloom seed collection started. Our favorite is Seed Savers Exchange, a nonprofit organization in

Borlotti Bean, a variety of cranberry bean bred in Italy to have a thicker skin. Also known as French horticultural beans, they have an appealing sweet mild, sometimes nutty flavor and are the heart of many northern Italian dishes. Original cultivated in Colombia.

Iowa. They have great prices and an extensive historical catalog. To learn more about the anti-Monsato, nonGMO seed debate right here in Pennsylvania (or to locate local farms), contact the PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture: www.pasaframing.org/ (412) 365-2985.

There’s much more to come about Farmers Markets in our May issue, and this fall we will talk about saving your seeds to start your own family heirloom collection. ***** Best friends, but never quite college sweethearts, Greg and Cathi finally married 20 years later.

Together they own and operate Fairview Farm in Derry Township, now and estate winery and community garden in the making, managed by two black cats, two devoted dogs, and a ridiculously bossy young kitten. “Down on the Farm” is a column originally started by Cathi’s father, Shelly Gerhard, about a day in the life of a family farm in western Pennsylvania.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

A Spring Afternoon on Apple Way Farm in Derry Township (Mary’s Photography: 724-396-0224, maryjim7596@gmail.com) Every Story Begins At Home.

April 2014 - 25

44th Earth Day April 22, 2014

This coming April 22 will mark the 44th annual celebration of Earth Day, and the focus this year will be green cities. “As the world’s population migrates to cities, and as the bleak reality of climate change becomes increasingly clear, the need to create sustainable communities is more important than ever,” reports Earth Day Network, the Seattle-based nonprofit that helps coordinate Earth Day celebrations and serves as a clearinghouse for related information and resources. The group hopes to galvanize the support of more than a billion people across 192 countries this Earth Day for increasing the sustainability and reducing the carbon footprints of urban areas everywhere.

By focusing on buildings, energy and transportation issues in cities this year, Earth Day Network hopes to raise awareness about the importance of making improvements in efficiency, investments in renewable technology and regulation reform in the urban areas where half the world’s population lives today. By 2050, three quarters of us will live in cities, making it more important than ever to adapt and adopt policies that take into account how to support larger numbers of people with less environmental impact.

26 - April 2014

Earth Day Network has already mobilized a network of partners on the ground in strategically placed cities and towns around the world to organize grassroots efforts to improve local codes, ordinances and policies that will help cities become models for sustainability, but participation of the wider public is crucial to making the Green Cities campaign a success. The Green Cities section of Earth Day Network’s website features a series of in-depth tool kits designed to educate the public about key elements of the campaign and serves as the locus of organizing around Earth Day 2014. By making such resources freely available, Earth Day Network hopes to spur individuals to take civic action by signing petitions, sending letters to policymakers and organizing more events.

Some of the ways to get involved and raise awareness in your local community about Earth Day itself and the need to green our cities include: hosting a talk for co-workers or community members on the topic of local sustainability initiatives; starting a

farmers’ market; organizing a day of tree planting, park or beach clean-up, or an eco-fair; and leading a recycling drive to collect as much metal, plastic and glass as possible. Schools can register with Earth Day Network and get access to many student-friendly resources, including an interactive Ecological Footprint Quiz and environmentally-themed lesson plans tailored to the needs of different grade levels from kindergarten through high school. College students can work with dining services to start a composting program or switch over to reusable plates and flatware or start a competition between classes or residence halls to reduce waste and electricity use.

Those looking to initiate a local program or just participate in an Earth Day event need look no further than Earth Day Network’s website, where a comprehensive database of Earth Day events around the world is updated daily. Even better, keep in mind that every day is Earth Day and the planet—and generations to come— will benefit from every positive action you take.

CONTACT: Earth Day Network, www.earthday.org.

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

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Put on your most creative hat and join us for a

Kentucky Derby Party Saturday, May 3 at 4 pm Equine Chic in Ligonier 100 E. Main St on the Diamond Refreshments & Prizes Post Time 6:24 pm

Celebrating 140 Years

This advertisement sponsored by The Toy Box of Ligonier and Twisted Vine Ecelectic Market.

Equine Chic For Horse, Home & You!

Located on the Diamond at 100 East Main Street in Ligonier, PA

724-238-7003 www.EquineChic.com

Mention this ad and Enjoy $10 off every $50 you spend

Every Story Begins At Home.

April 2014 - 27

HOME STUDY

by Brian Mishler

Honey Do Ah! Spring is finally in the air after a long dreary winter. With it will hopefully come the rains we all depend on for sustenance. With equal hope, we’ll avoid the flooding we see so often.

Early spring is the best time to get a lot done, before summer vacation season is upon us, and gives us a head start to prepare for summer activities as well as get a head start on – dare I say it – next winter.

As was mentioned last month, if you haven’t already, get your gutters and downspouts cleaned and checked as soon as possible; we don’t want that rain water to end up in the basement or under the house. Rain barrels are gaining popularity for watering gardens and other outdoor uses, and if you go that route, make sure the barrel has a way to direct overflow away from the house.

Now is the time to get the bushes and trees trimmed and away from the siding, and make sure the yard slopes away from the house. If you don’t want to tackle these projects, your local landscape contractor would love to hear from you. A few hundred dollars of (proper) exterior maintenance can save thousands on interior repairs, and reduce the potential for an insect invasion.

Call your local heating contractor to get the central air conditioning serviced, and go stock up on furnace filters; they actually need to be replaced more frequently during summer than winter.

If you’re like me, you’ve got plans for improvements this year: perhaps a new deck, sunroom, or pool? The most common issues I see during home inspections are self-inflicted.

Do-it-yourselfers who don’t take the time to educate themselves on a project invariably paint themselves into the proverbial corner. Just because the big-box hardware store sells it, doesn’t mean it meets building standards. I’ve 28 - April 2014

also seen components on a shelf, but not the proper fastener for that component. Before you pick up a hammer, pick up a book; you may discover it is more cost effective and safer to hire a competent contractor. Decks are the biggest culprit, but DIY mistakes pop up commonly in electrical, water/waste plumbing, roofs, kitchens and bathrooms. When in doubt, ask questions.

Regardless of what you intend to do, a plan is the most critical part.

Often the most boring part of a project or homeownership, putting together a list or plan helps us stay on track, and get ‘er done!

Here is my spring check-up plan: Outdoors: • Inspect roof, clean gutters, ensure downspout drainage • Trim shrubs • Hire tree trimmer • Edge lawn at sidewalks, fence and driveway • Clean porch, siding and windows, checking for damage.

• Clean retaining wall • Repair damaged concrete • Call landscape, patio, chimney company to get barbeque grill serviced • Have outlets tested (Upgrade to Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) if necessary.)

Indoors: • Open windows, enjoy the air!!!

• Room by room spring cleaning • Change furnace filter • Call heating contractor get A/C serviced.

• Check outdoor hose faucets for leaks; get repaired if necessary.

This year, I’m thinking about a new deck. Here is my initial plan: • Layout – how much yard space will it take? Where will it meet the

house, and how? Will it be multi-level?

Where will the stairs be? Am I really going to put a hot tub on it? What about the barbeque?

• Overall size • Materials • Footings – how deep? Concrete or helical piers?

• Posts – Metal or wood?

• Joists – Metal or wood?

• Flooring – Composite or wood?

• Rails – Vinyl or wood?

• Lighting – overhead, built in, or both?

• Will it have any roofing?

Once I answer these questions, and compose a list of expenses, I may find it more cost effective to hire a contractor; they have the tools and experience to build a better, safer, deck faster than I can. Don’t assume they will be more expensive than doing it yourself; you may be surprised, and it’s hard to predict the cost of mistakes. If you do choose to do it yourself, get a building permit from your local authority and make sure to get the necessary inspections done. Yes, this does generate some revenue for your municipality, but most importantly, it ensures the construction is correct – and your family and friends are safe. ***** Brian Mishler is the owner of HomeStudy Inc., and a 20 year veteran home inspector. He began performing home inspection after 15 years in the construction industry convinced him that his body wasn’t made for hard labor. Brian is the former president of the Pittsburgh Regional Organization of the American Society of Home Inspectors (PROASHI), and currently sits on the board of Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, a non-profit that rehabilitates homes for disadvantaged seniors and veterans, assisting them with pre-renovation inspection and selection. Brian also teaches a variety of real estate related classes, and has mentored other seeking to become home inspectors.

He currently resides in Latrobe, with his better half Carol, their Boston terrier Gizmo, three cats, and three transient college students. When spare time is to be had, Brian can be found on a motorcycle, in a kayak, or hiking in the area. He can be reached at brian@homestudyinc.com.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

“ WHERE QUALITY & CUST OMER SA TISF ACTION CUSTOMER SATISF TISFA STILL MATTER! ”

• • • • •

Preventative Maintenance & Cleaning Furnace & AC Service & Installations 24-Hour Emergency Service Residential & Commercial Free Estimates

Spring Frolic Features Prohibition Theme

The Dog Days of Summer will be here before you know it . . . it’s time to have your AC unit serviced – call us for spring savings! call today:

724-757-4348

www.ridgeviewheating.com ridgeview.heat.ac@gmail.com PA #094125

John Zur ac ki Zurac acki

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. –Nadine Stair

MOTOR COACH TOURS BY CHRISTINE Pick up locations: Ligonier, Latrobe, Greensburg, Irwin, Monroeville April 12 Hartville Market (Ohio)..........................................................$50.00 April 26 New York City Express..........................................$89.00 (on your own) June21 & July April 27-28 The Mountaineer overnight $20 free play $20 food voucher..............................................$75.00 pp dbl.oc May 17 Celtic Women The Emerald Tour Saturday Evening, Benedum Center......................................... $130.00 pp May 18 -20 Atlantic City Show Boat (Sun-Tues) $30 free play $20 food voucher..............................................$215.00 pp dbl c May 30-June1 NYC Weekender 2 nights at The Manhatten at Times Square Hotel Right in the heart of it all................................................ $525.00 pp dbl oc June 1 - 6 Ocean City, Maryland ocean front 6 days,5 nights (5B) (2D).......................................................................$655.00 pp dbl oc June & July 20 Hershey Park....................................................................... $75.00 1st Saturday Big Bucks Bingo .............................................. $75.00 pp filling up fast We’re happy to arrange your group’s next trip . . . not enough people, call us, we will get the bus rolling.

228 Summit Avenue, Ligonier, PA 15658

The 18th Amendment was ratified in 1919 and Prohibition became the law of the land on January 20, 1920. The law prohibited the manufacture, transport, and sale of alcohol, but not the possession and consumption. The 1920s call to mind speakeasies, bootleggers, bath-tub gin, gangsters and their ‘molls’, flappers, and the Charleston. This period is characterized by rapid and sensational changes in American society, including fashion, technology, finance, and the pace of everyday life.

The Westmoreland County Historical Society invites the public to experience the romance of the ‘Roaring 20s’ with dining, dancing, and drama of that exciting era.

A Speakeasy will be brought to life in the Westmoreland County Courthouse on Saturday, April 26th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Entertainment will include an actual Prohibition-themed courtroom drama; music by the Susanne Ortner-Roberts trio, a basket raffle, and a dessert auction.

Guests will join the breadline for a selection of hearty hors d’oeuvres, and ‘Joe,’ the barkeep, will be serving libation on a strictly cash basis. Attendees are encouraged to dress in 20s style, but it is not required.

Only those who know the ‘secret’ password and knock will be admitted. This information will only be divulged to those who purchase their one-time speakeasy membership. Tickets to this event are $70 for WCHS members and $80 for others.

Call 724-532-1935 x215 for reservations.

Visit our website www.westmoreland history.org and follow our activities on the Westmoreland County Historical Society Facebook page, and on Twitter @WCHistory.

724-237-7518 • www.motorcoachtoursbychristine.com Every Story Begins At Home.

April 2014 - 29

What the Gluten Is Going On?

by Janine Koutsky, MS If you haven’t noticed, the popularity of a gluten-free lifestyle is starting to pop up everywhere. In the media, you may hear how celebrities are cutting out gluten for weight loss. Or perhaps you’ve heard of the Paleo diet. Ironically, next month (May) is Celiac Awareness Month, so this article lends itself to this hot topic.

Not so long ago, the only individuals to eat a gluten-free diet were those who were prescribed to do so because of a medical diagnosis of Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. So why now the increase of gluten-free menu items, specialty stores, and gluten-free diets? Is it possible that there is an increase in gluten sensitivity and celiac disease within our population? Or is it just those celebrities have that much influence on what we eat?

Before I continue, let me give you a brief definition of gluten. Gluten is a protein found in grains, such as wheat, barley, and rye. The big one here is wheat. Wheat is found in many carbohydrates, such as wheat bran, wheat starch, wheat germ, and cracked wheat. These are just a few examples. We also can’t forget all the flours that contain wheat, such as white flour, enriched flour, durum flour, and semolina; just to name a few. So basically, most cereals, pastas, and breads contain some form of gluten. But, let’s not forget the hidden gluten found in several processed foods, such as salad dressing and frozen or boxed meals. Bottom line – a gluten-free diet is not easy to achieve, unless you do your homework.

Let’s take a step back and look at Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s response to consumption of gluten is to attack the gastrointestinal track. Consuming gluten for these folks not only causes gastrointestinal distress and the potential malabsorption of certain 30 - April 2014

nutrients, but also intestinal damage.

Gluten sensitivity is when a person experiences the same symptoms as someone with Celiac disease, without the intestinal damage. If you know of someone who suffers or you suffer from either of these, then you know that Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity can cause substantial physical and emotional distress.

Grains that do not contain gluten are corn, quinoa, millet, rice, sorghum, amaranth, and teff. Not sure how to cook millet or quinoa? Of course there are several cookbooks dedicated to gluten-free living. Check out the gluten-free isle at your grocery store or a specialty store to find the alternatives to products like cereal, pastas, muffins, cookies, and breads.

Do the research, because avoiding gluten cross-contamination can be tricky, which doesn’t end with the food manufacturers. Some individuals are so sensitive to gluten that merely cooking with the same utensils, pots, pans, or even a toaster can cause a reaction. Those folks looking to eliminate gluten without a medical diagnosis would not have the same concern for gluten-contamination.

Does gluten deserve the bad publicity? Let’s look at what we do know.

We know that eating a plethora of refined carbohydrates – pasta, bread, cereal, pastries, cookies, etc is not the healthiest way to eat. We also know that most of those refined foods do contain gluten. What maybe you didn’t know is that foods like soy sauce, hot dogs, ketchup, beer, and deli meats also contain gluten.

Shocker? Maybe. But this just means that when eliminating gluten you need to consider the less obvious foods.

We do know some of the reasons you may read or hear for people eliminating gluten, outside of a medical diagnosis, is because of these popular claims:

1. Not digested properly 2. Bloating 3. Causes weight gain 4. Causes joint pain 5. “Our ancestors didn’t eat grains or the modified grains we currently eat, so why should we?” (a’ la Wheat Belly) 6. “Brain Fog” If you are experiencing those listed from 1-4, you may want to speak to your doctor about testing for a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.

We also know that there is no scientific evidence that says gluten is bad and that we should eliminate it, outside of a true gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease. The common “junk” foods that are over processed should be eliminated anyways. Keep in mind that just because it says “gluten-free” on the box, doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

Gluten-free cookies can be high in sugar too!

If you are convinced that you might have a gluten sensitivity, even speaking to your doctor, focus on foods of quality that are naturally occurring gluten-free grains with higher amounts of fiber and loaded with great nutrients like buckwheat, nut flours, coconut flour, and quinoa. Look for the Certified Gluten-Free Trade Mark. Finally, speak to a Registered Dietitian for the best suggestions when eliminating gluten from the diet.

About the Author: Janine Koutsky, MS, NASM-CPT, ACE, AEA is a Fitness and Nutrition Consultant for her newly formed JEM Wellness and the founder of The Nutrition Connection at Building Bodeez Fitness and Wellness Center (BBFC). In addition, she is a co-coordinator and coach of the Building Better Bodeez wellness and weight-loss program; where Janine feels passionate about educating and motivating individuals to achieve their health and fitness goals.

Taking her 14+ years of experience, along with skills and passion for nutrition and teaching to

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

the classroom, Janine taught Basic Nutrition and Anatomy classes for the Science Department in the General Education curriculum at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. In addition to teaching nutrition, she provided research and recipe testing for the international cookbook, Zumba Lovers Cookbook. Koutsky believes her love for nutrition started with her passion for fitness.

While she is busy with wellness consulting and coaching, Janine makes time to teach Zumba®, Spinning®, and Yoga, at Building Bodeez Fitness and Wellness Center. Additionally, she teaches Aqua Zumba® at Derry High School, in conjunction with BBFC. Koutsky is also now in the process of earning her RYT200 yoga certification at Moonglow Yoga in Greensburg.

Janine has a Masters Degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from California University of Pennsylvania and Bachelors Degree in Food and Nutrition from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is truly a believer that, “Exercise and wholesome nutrition are included in the foundation of a healthy and happy life”.

Koutsky resides in Latrobe with her husband Bill and their son Joshua.

Janine says that her hobbies are mostly fitness related; but she also enjoys training her golden retriever Maggie and spending time with her family.

This advertisement sponsored by Vernon Realty Services.

For Information call: (724) 331-6858

***** Building Bodeez is located at 154 Pandora Road in Derry Township. 724-739-0105. www.buildingbodeez.net.

Building Strength - Building Community Building Bodeez

What is the environmental impact of those “K-Cups” everyone seems to be using nowadays to make coffee at both home and office? — Chris B., Stamford, CT K-Cups—those little one-serving coffee containers that allow people to brew one cup at a time in a specially designed Keurig brewing machine—are all the rage these days. Each K-Cup is made up of a plastic outer container with one cup’s worth of ground coffee and a small filter inside, capped off with a foil lid. They go into Keurig brewing machines which pierce the bottom of the K-Cup with a nozzle that then forces hot water through the coffee grounds and filter, and then out into the drinker’s cup. K-Cups and the Keurig brewers are convenient and require little to no clean-up while producing gourmet quality coffee for a fraction of the price that a retail coffee shop would charge.

Environmentalists’ beef with the Keurig system is in the singleuse, non-recyclable nature of the packaging, given the implications for our waste stream. The individual parts of a K-Cup (plastic, paper and foil) could theoretically be recycled on their own, but the combination is too small and messy for recycling facilities to be able to sort. So our only choice is to throw the whole K-Cup pack, lock stock and barrel, into the garbage. Each pound of coffee consumed sends 50 K-Cups to the landfill. And with upwards of 17

With upwards of 17 million U.S. households and offices possessing Keurig coffee brewers these days, billions of K-Cups are already ending up in landfills every year. (Photo Credit: Aaron Paxson, courtesy Flickr) Every Story Begins At Home.

million U.S. households and offices possessing Keurig brewers these days, billions of K-Cups are already ending up in landfills every year.

Keurig Green Mountain, the company behind the K-Cup revolution, is on the case about the bad environmental reputation it is developing over the issue. As a first step, it launched its Grounds to Grow On program in 2011 whereby office customers can purchase K-Cup recovery bins and fill them up with spent K-Cups.

When the boxes are full, they are shipped to Keurig’s disposal partner, which turns the used coffee grounds into compost and sends the rest out to be incinerated in a “waste-to-energy” power plant. Critics point out, though, that waste-to-energy is hardly green given the airborne pollutants released from incinerator smokestacks and the fact that, in the words of Julie Craves of the Coffee & Conservation blog, recycling is the enemy of the never-ending stream of garbage needed to feed waste-to-energy facilities.

In 2012, Keurig Green Mountain, realizing it still had a lot of work to do on sustainability matters, undertook a lifecycle assessment across its product lines—and set ambitious sustainability targets to achieve by 2020. Chief among them is to make all KCups 100 percent recyclable. Other goals include ensuring responsible sourcing for all its primary agricultural and manufactured products, reducing life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of its brewed beverages by 25 percent compared to the 2012 baseline, and achieving zero waste-to-landfills its manufacturing and distribution facilities.

Those who love the Keurig system but are ready to forego the environmental guilt sooner than 2020 do have some options. Julie Craves reports that used K-Cups can actually be refilled with ground coffee and reused. An easier option might be buying a reusable KCup—most of them are made out of plastic with a stainless steel mesh filter. Still the best choice for the environment, however, might be getting the old traditional coffee pot out of storage and brewing up several cups at once—just like the old days.

CONTACTS: Keurig Green Mountain, www.keuriggreen mountain.com; Coffee & Conservation Blog, www.coffeehabitat.com.

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

April 2014 - 31

WHAT’S COOKING IN FITNESS

by Mark Rullo MS, CSCS, MES

OVER-expecting Weight Loss Success: Why Your Effort Doesn’t Match What You See on the Scale In the previous article, “UNDERstanding Weight Loss Frustration” I discussed how it is easy to UNDERreport the calories you are consuming and give up in frustration. The purpose of that article was to reinforce the science that weight loss is simple, in that it revolves around calories in versus calories out. However, simple doesn’t mean easy, due to factors such as portion distortion, food label loop holes, accountability accuracy of nutritional labels, and Bites Licks and Taste’s that may cause you to miscalculate and UNDER-report the calories you are consuming.

This article is going to continue on that theme but now focus on the other side of the caloric equation: caloric expenditure (calories out).

We have been able to document with our clients here at My Fitness Kitchen that the UNDER-reporting of caloric input (eating) averages around 25-30% until they hone in on the factors leading to this error. Meaning if you report a 1500 calorie intake, in reality you could be eating 1875-1950 actual total calories. This equates to a daily calorie error of 350 to 450 from your daily deficit, or .7lb to .9lb per week you would be expecting to see on the scale but are not – VERY FRUSTRATING. Now what about our caloric expenditure or “burn”?

First and foremost, let’s accept the fact that all methods used to measure caloric expenditure—such as the Exerspy™ armband (used here at the Kitchen), heart rate monitors, Fit Bits, Fuelbands, and displays on stationary cardio machines, to name a few—are only estimates. With that said, if you want to minimize frustration, choose a method that does not exaggerate 32 - April 2014

your burn. It may be cool to see a large caloric burn from a device; but if it isn’t true, that is a cruel trip back to reality when you jump on the liedetector, also known as the scale.

To document such a wide range of OVER-estimating caloric expenditure, I wore an Exerspy™ armband while doing a simple 30 minute steadystate cardio workout on an elliptical at a moderate level of intensity (level 14).

In the photo above, the exercise display on the machine reported 404 calories expended; whereas the Exerspy™ arm-band shows 192 calories burned in the 30 minutes of steady-state work. That is a 212 calorie difference in 30 min-utes of work or 7.1 calories per minute difference! Imagine doing that 30 minute workout three days a week or every day. That is 636 or 1484 calories you believe you are able to eat.

Again both are estimates; however it is better to err on the lower end so you don’t think you have more calories to eat than you actually do. It is no different than being told you will earn $404 dollars for doing something but in reality only get paid $192. Even worse is if you went out and purchased (ate) something that cost $404 but actually do not have the additional funds ($212) to cover the cost.

Another example happened when I was taking a Spinning class. A female next to me, no where near my size and weight (at least 60-70 lbs lighter), wore a heart rate monitor that reported she burned over 800 calories during the workout, whereas my armband showed only 380 calories burned. To understand this, the point is that mass (particularly muscle mass) plays a significant role on caloric expenditure; therefore even if I was dogging it and she was busting her butt, there’s no way there would be over a 400 calorie difference.

Another problem with calculating caloric burn of workouts is that it fails to account for the other 23 hours in the day (assuming the workout was for 60 minutes). This is where many infocommercials mislead people with hype of extreme caloric burns that are mostly impossible. Workouts with a 1000+ calorie burn are not happening unless we are talking about a large (300+ lbs.) individual who is extremely fit, exercising at a high intensity for 60 minutes.

By wearing an armband for 24 hours, I can see what the difference in one’s expenditure is while sleeping, sedentary, active (vertical/walking around), and exercising. For example, on average I burn about 4,000 calories per day. Typically I burn about 100 calories per hour sleeping, about 190 calories per hour being sedentary, and anywhere from 300 to 550 calories per hour during a workout depending on the intensity and type.

Therefore to illustrate, if I would…

• …sleep 8 hours, that would be about 800 (8x100) calories • …be sedentary for 15 hours that would be about 2850 (15x190) calories

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

• …and exercise an hour and average 425 calories burned for the workout This example would total about 4,075 calories in 24 hours. The important take-away from this is that we burn calories 24 hours, not only when we exercise.

Yes, having knowledge of an individual workout burn is great and can be motivating, but it can be misleading, particularly for the devices that OVER-estimate the caloric expenditure. Equally troubling with individual workout caloric expenditure (even when the device doesn’t OVER-estimate) is that it fails to show the entire picture of weight loss. Regardless of what you burn in a workout, how will that help you determine what you can eat (in calories) if you do not know the other 23 hours or the complete total for the day?

Understanding that we burn calories all day can also explain and educate how we can influence our metabolism during rest, not just by exercising. Monitoring expenditure all day can show which workouts create the greatest EPOC (Excess Post Oxygen Consumption), which is a scientific

term for “after burn” or elevated metabolism post workout.

As in the previous article “UNDER-standing Weight Loss Frustration” and in the few examples above on how people “OVER-expect weight Loss Success” is how we help individuals here at My Fitness Kitchen via technology and evidence-based science to eliminate the guesswork with weight loss and build programs around YOUR FOOD, on YOUR TERMS, for YOUR RESULTS. For more information, please feel free to consult with any of the fitness professionals at My Fitness Kitchen®.

Additionally, as an on-going thank you to Laurel Mountain Post and its readers, mention this article for a FREE, no obligation, personalized, metabolic nutritional formula and fitness program that will leverage the “Hierarchy of Fat Loss.” If you are serious about achieving a body transformation goal, then you need a program; as any goal without a plan is really only a wish!

As an added incentive for people new to My Fitness Kitchen®, by mentioning this Laurel Mountain Post article and after meeting with one of My Fitness Kitchen’s Fitness Profes-

sionals for a private consult as offered above, you will receive $50 “Kitchen Cash” to be used toward any program or service at My Fitness Kitchen®, as a courtesy of the Laurel Mountain Post. *****

www.myfitnesskitchen.com 724-879-8523 results@myfitnesskitchen.com My Fitness Kitchen® is where weight loss is made simple.

My Fitness Kitchen® is located in Latrobe 30 plaza, Latrobe PA. My Fitness Kitchen® is a weight loss and body transformation center that also happens to have a fitness center connected to it. From the moment you enter My Fitness Kitchen® regardless of your age, fitness level or experience, it’s all about “You.” The supportive staff, welcoming atmosphere, and friendly members combine to create the most unique and comfortable environment for your weight management and fitness success. Whether it is Nutrition, Fitness or both, you can be confident My Fitness Kitchen® is the solution to a healthier and thinner you.

About the Author: Mark Rullo, MS, CSCS, MES is an Exercise Physiologist, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, Medical Exercise Specialist, Certified Golf Fitness Instructor and owner of My Fitness Kitchen® www.myfitnesskitchen.com 724-879-8523. Mark and his team at My Fitness Kitchen® specialize in weight loss and body transformation helping thousands meet and exceed their goals through evidence-based scientific programming.

Be sure to stop by on Saturday, May 17 for our Junk in the Trunk Sale!

Shopping begins at 9 am. Contact us for merchant information.

Every Story Begins At Home.

April 2014 - 33

Hiking in Pennsylvania: The Laurel Highlands Trail Hiking in Pennsylvania: The Laurel Highlands Trail will be presented by Mike Mumau, Park Operations Manager, Laurel Hill State Park on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Calvin E. Pollins Library at 362 Sand Hill Road, Suite 1, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

The Laurel Highlands Trail is a 70-mile hiking trail that spans the Laurel Mountain from the scenic Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle, Pa. to the Conemaugh Gorge near Johnstown, Pa. It attracts veteran backpackers who relish the challenge of the rugged areas of the trail, as well as hikers who enjoy a less strenuous experience.

One of the most exciting reasons to visit the park is for its scenery. Spring wildflowers dot the forest floor in early April followed by a vibrant green forest, as leaf out begins in late April. Mountain laurel blooms in June and rhododendron blooms in late June and early July. Come to the park in mid-October and witness fall color in all its glory.

Winter is spectacular when the park is covered in a deep blanket of snow and the occasional great horned owl calls through the moon-lit forest.

The wilderness nature of the park lends itself to harboring a diversity of wildlife. In early spring, look for toads and frogs crossing the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

on their way to vernal pools to mate and lay their eggs. From spring to fall you can find the occasional red back or spotted salamander finding the cool undersides of rocks and leaf litter to their liking. The box turtle, easily camouflaged with its yellow mottled shell, hides and looks for food on the forest floor during the summer months.

The varied habitat of Laurel Ridge attracts a variety of bird life. Year-round forest residents include the blackcapped chickadee, tufted titmouse, pileated woodpecker, ruffed grouse, turkey and great horned owl. Turkey vultures often circle above the park in search of a meal and the flutelike call of the wood thrush is a welcome addition to any summer voyage into the woods. The spring and fall months bring a variety of migratory birds through the area, including warblers and hawks.

Hiking in Pennsylvania: The Laurel Highlands Trail is free to Westmoreland County Historical Society members and $6 for non-members. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Please call 724-532-1935 x210 for reservations. Visit our website www.westmoreland history.org and follow our activities on the Westmoreland County Historical Society Facebook page, and on Twitter @WCHistory.

That’s What They Say Thought-Provoking Insights on Common Quotations by Rev. Majorie Rivera

“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?”

– Buddha Most religious and spiritual practices have a call to action. A daily practical application of values and beliefs that lead to a great inner knowing. There are many things one can read about, let’s take for example, the sea. I could say to you that the sea is vast, blue and has waves of water. I could tell you many things about the sea, that in fact, unless you have direct relational experience with the ocean, the awesomeness of concept will simply be lost. An excellent example; picture the 1999 movie with Brendan Frasier and Alicia Silverstone called “Blast from the Past.” Where the lead character, Adam sees the ocean for the first time after having been in a nuclear fallout shelter for 35 years. He plodded off into the water in his clothes and socks with sheer delight at first sight of the water’s edge.

Experience changes everything. Talking about helping someone is vastly different than rolling up your sleeves and actually helping. Life, as we call it, is an opportunity for us to know experientially what we already know conceptually. We have been reading and talking and letting life pass us by for quite some time, haven’t we?

Spirituality calls for all of the concepts to be put into action; kindness, love, and compassion in action. In other words, let a passion for something, anything, fuel your action. If you see a need for change, somewhere in your world, don’t be afraid to make one small ripple, that ripple could create a wave. Remember the concept of “pay it forward?” It was a movement stemmed from the Helen Hunt movie of the same name. The movie showed us the interconnectedness of kind acts and exemplified the famous Ghandi quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” How many quotes can I cram in here this month you ask, dear reader? It all goes so well together, I could go on for days . . .

Suggested Reading: The Hope by Andrew Harvey (A Guide to Sacred Activism)

34 - April 2014

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Valley School Ad

Every Story Begins At Home.

April 2014 - 35

Classified INFORMATION FOR LIFE

by Michael Vernon

Ads

________________________________

For Sale

Do It Yourself Lawn Care?

Grass. It is everywhere. Because most lawns are too small to be clearly seen via satellite in any kind of efficient manner we must rely on estimates to determine exactly how much of our surface area is covered by lawns. The latest estimates show that simple grass covers approximately 79,000 square miles of the earth. This is roughly the size of Nebraska. That’s a lot of mowing, fertilizing and watering. The question you have to ask yourself as a homeowner is whether or not you want to handle your little green oasis yourself or trust it to the hands of a professional.

Mowing can be a source of pleasure and pride for some homeowners and with increasing pressure from local governments to cut back on watering that leaves the third element of a successfully green yard – fertilizing.

Your choice if you decide to chemically

treat your yard is to hire a service to come out four or five times a year or to head to the local box store and purchase the fixins to do it yourself.

The cost of doing it yourself is approximately two thirds of what it would cost if you hired a professional.

Before you determine that this is one area of lawn care that you can handle yourself, consider the positives of hiring a professional to treat your yard. If you are unhappy with how your lawn is coming along you can always contact that lawn professional and they can come out and make adjustments to the treatments you are receiving; usually at no additional expense. The chemicals a professional uses are also considerably stronger than what you can purchase at your local retailer. Some may say this is a bad thing but with today’s lawn chemicals being improved every year it is usually safe for your kids or pets to be on them after one day.

The choice comes down to cost and how much your time is worth.

Please don’t hesitate to call me regarding this and any other issue you may have about your home and its upkeep. I can be reached at my office at your convenience.

Look out for more of my Information for Life.

Michael J. Vernon Broker/Owner Vernon Realty Services 305 West Main Street Ligonier, Pa. 15658 (724) 238-0443 - Office (724) 331-6858 - Cell Phone www.vernon-realty.com mike@vernon-realty.com

36 - April 2014

__________________ Custom-Engraved Tags and Dog Collars Lots of styles and colors to choose from; tons of fonts available. FREE DROP-SHIPPING when you mention this ad. Call 724238-7003 or stop in at Equine Chic (For Horse Home and You), located on the Diamond in Ligonier. www .E quineChic.c om www.E .EquineChic.c quineChic.com __________________________________

Planning a Spring Garage Sale? Consider advertising it here in the Laurel Mountain Post. All classified ads are only $30 for up to 50 words.

Choose the color for your headline or add a graphic with fewer words. Order online at www.Laurel MountainPost.com or by calling 724-537-6845. Deadlines are the 15th of each month. We also cross-promote all ads on social media. ___________________________________

Twisted Vine Eclectic Market Saturday, May 17 Shopping Starts at 9:00 am 2367 Route 30 in Ligonier, PA _________________________________

Miscellaneous __________________ Grow Your Business with

Laurel Leaders!

All local business leaders are invited to attend a weekly meeting of BNI (Business Networking International) held each Wednesday at the Ligonier Country Inn, Laughlintown, from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm. Visitors are welcome (no reservations needed), free of charge. www.bnilaurelleaders.com _______________________________ Place your Classified Ad for only $30, up to 50 words (per block). Sections include: Celebrations, Help Wanted, For Sale, Memorials, Discounts and Miscellaneous. Color headlines and artwork available at no extra charge!

Call 724-537-6845 or place your online order at: www.Laurel MountainPost.com. Deadline for Classifieds is the 20th of the month: (March 20 for the April issue).

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Shops Around the Corner The Laurel Mountain Post Recommends . . .

Twisted Vine Eclectic Market 2367 Route 30 Ligonier, PA 15658 724-804-8463 www.facebook.com/TwistedVine.Ligonier My brother-in-law is an artist and sculptor who began commercially marketing his pieces about a year or so ago. After a test run with some themed pieces at Equine Chic in Ligonier, he set up a regular space at the Twisted Vine Eclectic Market. It was a pretty new shop in town, and I decided to stop in one day last fall to check it out.

I met Aimee and Misty – two of the friendliest shopkeepers in Ligonier (or any other town). These two clearly love not only what they do, but their town and the variety of people in it. This infectious enthusiasm makes it an even greater joy to shop among the truly eclectic mix of treasures: antiques, art, fashion, furniture, home decor and more. When I stop by each week (it is now part of my regular Wednesday in-town rounds), there are always new things to see.

The Twisted Vine promotes and hosts several events throughout the year. They are usually held in the evening, with live music, light appetizers provided by the merchants, and wine. Organic, locally roasted coffees are also served along with Tea Forte teas. Merchants attend and “meet & greet” with customers to develop more of an appreciation for their art.

When I decided to feature the Twisted Vine in a Shops Around the Corner feature, I sent some questions over to the girls and Misty answered: How did you get together and then come up with the idea for the Twisted Vine?

We have been friends since, um, well, we don’t know. Our parents have known each other since childhood and went to school together. Aimee’s, husband, Randy Halferty, went to kindergarten through graduation with me. I refer to Randy as my school cousin.

Aimee, has 2 children, Quinn, 18 and Peyton, 8. Since Peyton started all-day

Every Story Begins At Home.

school, it was decided that she had “ridden the stay-at-home-mom wave” long enough.

It’s a tough decision to go back to work, and she didn’t like the idea of working on someone else’s schedule with the long hours that her merchandising background demanded. Aimee called me, and said she wanted to look at the building on Route 30 just outside of Ligonier. It had previously housed the Country Cottage and Barnhart’s Furniture and had been empty since the Barnharts retired. The building has a lot of character and potential with the great location.

The concept of the Twisted Vine came over a few bottles of wine and lunches at Fat Daddy’s. After each session we became more excited about the idea, and with the support of our husbands (Misty is married to Chris Hefner), the plan began to take shape. We met with our attorney who helped us with our partnership agreement and our leasing of the building, as well as the lease for the merchants who rent space.

Describe the categories of merchants in the shop and how it operates: We rent space by the square foot to 70+ local artisans and antique collectors. Space is currently limited, so we only accept new merchants that have an art or craft unique to anything else in the shop. We call them merchants, not vendors, as they are the owners of their own businesses. We encourage them to get themselves set up as a business with a name, business cards, their PA tax ID number, insurance and marketing. All of this can be a little daunting, but since we just went through it all ourselves, we have all of the resources and contacts close at hand. We encourage them to attend a SCORE class at St. Vincent if they are just getting started.

Our merchants are primarily local, within the Ligonier, Latrobe, Greensburg areas but as far away as Blairsville, Somerset and Pittsburgh. The farthest away is Aimee’s mom, Becky Smith, from Wilmington, NC. Becky is originally from Ligonier and had her own business, the Wooden Bobbin for years before they moved south. She specialized in primitive art pieces, most of which she created herself. She is a master at the technique of chalk painting and was named Merchant of the Month in Wilming-

ton last month for her furniture, painted pieces and smalls. Becky and her husband, Terry Smith, are planning to move back to the area this spring: we are all looking forward to her presence at the shop.

What are some favorite finds?

The shop features, handmade jewelry, primitive arts, Amish, antique and upcycled furniture, collections, metal and wood art, homemade pet products, local honey, sweet & savory treats, woven & crocheted baby gifts, alpaca wool textiles, handmade and up-cycled clothing, embroidered towels, homemade soaps and apothecaries. There are also wine accessories, photo art, hand painted wine glasses, pottery and kitchen wares. Most of the merchandise in the shop can be customized by the artisans (who are often open to commissioned pieces).

What kinds of new merchandise are you looking for?

Leathersmith, Garden Art, unique crafters, upcycled clothing, train collectibles, and a landscaper that would like to place an outdoor patio to promote their business.

Goals or future plans?

We are looking forward to developing more of an active schedule with our outdoor space over the next two summers. Coming soon: Amish outdoor furniture and play yards.

With spring comes Junk in the Truck season. Junk in the Trunk (JIT) is the simplified version of an outdoor market with participants pulling in (we have 2 level acres), parking, popping their trunk and selling right from it. Join us on Saturday, May 17 at 9 am! No flea market tables, with the exception of large furniture items are outside of the vehicle.

Costs for Junk in the Trunk are $10 for a car, $15 for an SUV and $20 for a truck. No reservations are needed, but we do ask that those participating send some photos of what they are planning to bring so we can post them and promote JIT on our Facebook page.

– Cathi Gerhard

April 2014 - 37

LOYALHANNA REALTY 201 S. Market Street Ligonier, PA 15658 (Across from Fort Ligonier)

BUYER & SELLER AGENCY JEAN M. CASE

Owner/Broker, GRI, ABR

Jean Case: 724-600-5182 Tracy Case-Pelesky: 724-510-4010 Lisa Davis: 412-596-1028 Lorraine DiCecco: 724-953-2356 Associate Broker Kathy Johnston: 724-995-1013 Susan Ransel McBroom: 724-309-3395

724-238-3663

SALES & APPRAISALS

Colleen Pritts: 724-493-7734

FAX: 724-238-0317

www.loyalhanna.com

Amy Stoner: 724-217-6610

COLONIAL BRICK RANCH $249,900 #997343. Family room w/fireplace, 3 spacious bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths, & 2-car garage. Wooded back yard w/pond. Country living on 2 acres, yet close to everything. Ligonier Twp. JEAN LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

KISKI AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT $59,900 #996708. Two-story, 2-bedroom home w/new bathroom & windows, & updated kitchen. LORRAINE LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS! $249,000 #997725. In this well-constructed brick building with loads of parking. Great location right along Rt.271N in Ligonier Twp. JEAN LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

ion duct tic Re s a r D

COMPLETELY REMODELED $99,000 #983195. Two-bedroom, 1-1/2 bath Cape Cod in Ligonier Boro.

Den could be 3rd bedroom. New kitchen appliances, large yard.

LORRAINE LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

CLASSIC COLONIAL $199,900 #993156. 4-bedroom, 2-1/2 bath home w/eat-in kitchen, 1stfloor family room, spacious patio, & garage on beautiful wooded lot. Clifford Estates, Ligonier. COLLEEN LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

LIGONIER BORO $129,900 #969244. 3-bedroom, 2-bath brick Cape Cod in great location.

Enclosed side porch off kitchen. Close to playground. 2 blocks from town. Shows great! JEAN LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

38 - April 2014

WONDERFUL RANCH $114,900 #983008. Solid 3-bedroom home w/garage on beautiful large corner lot in New Alexandria. Large finished basement. TRACEY LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

LATROBE $75,900 #991859. Three-bedroom, 2-story home w/large eat-in kitchen, wonderful den w/hardwood floor, covered side porch, nice corner lot, & garage. LORRAINE LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

HISTORIC COLONIAL $249,900 #993199. Three-bedroom, 2-bath home on 4.72 acres in Ligonier Twp. Refinished wood floors, updated baths, fireplace, built-in bookcases, open staircase, patio, enclosed porch, new roof, & newer garage. Location, charm, & privacy! MOTIVATED SELLER! COLLEEN LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

WONDERFUL COUNTRY SETTING $345,000 #993333. Four-bedroom, 3-bath, 2-story in Derry Twp. Wellconstructed home w/wraparound porch, 2 master suites, & grand entrance. Gorgeous views & beautiful landscaping! TRACEY LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

CHARMING DUPLEX $109,900 #979643. With 2-bay detached garage. Unfinished area above garage would be perfect studio apartment. Separate utility meters.

Great investment! Laughlintown. LISA LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

CHARMING FARM $569,900 #962314. 46.74 acres w/beautiful 5-bedroom home, large barn, & outbuildings. Very workable farm in Cook Twp., but minutes from Seven Springs. Mostly pastures, some woods. Fabulous location! JEAN LOYALHANNA REALTY 724-238-3663

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

APRIL-MAY COMMUNITY CALENDAR

through Lent Local Friday Fish Fry Events • Our Lady of Grace Church (Shepherds Hall), 11am - 1pm and 4-7pm. 724-838-9480.

Greensburg.

• Carbon Fire Hall, Greensburg. 4-8 pm. 724836-2145.

• Hempfield Township #2 Fire Dept, 5-9 pm.

724-837-7344.

• Eastern Derry VFD: 11am - 7 pm.

• St. Bruno’s, Greensburg. Parish Center, 47pm. 724-836-0690. through 6/7/2014 Cajun Dance BMNECC Hall 449 W. Eighth Ave, West Homestead, 412.247.6604. grandbonrein.com Dance instruction starts at 7:30 p.m., and live music starts at 8:30. No partners are necessary, and the hall has a cash bar. through 6/10/2014 Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle Bloomfield Bridge Tavern 4412 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224 412.682.8611 calliopehouse.org The Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle is a program of Calliope dedicated to exploring, promoting and practicing the art and craft of songwriting. The circle meets monthly at the historic Bloomfield Bridge Tavern to share songs and ideas and to commune with people from diverse backgrounds and points of view who share a compulsion to write songs. through 4/25/2014 Friday Evening Music Club Mary Lou Campana Chapel & Lecture Center Finoli Dr., University of Pittsburgh at Gbg, 724.850.9056. greensburg.pitt.edu Drawing area performers and audience for shared artistic programs and camaraderie, and encouraging excellence in young musicians through performance and scholarship.

4/1/2014 - 4/1/2014 The Cooke Book: The Music of Sam Cooke Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center 450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown, PA 15904 814.269.7200. www.upjarts.org This show recaptures the music and magic of the Man Who Invented Soul – Sam Cooke.

Starring Darrian Ford, the show features Cooke’s greatest hits and some lesser known gems. Considered by many to be the definitive soul singer, Sam Cooke blended sensuality and spirituality, sophistication and soul, movie idol looks and Gospel singer poise. 7:30pm 4/1/2014 - 4/20/2014 Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in 3D Westmoreland Museum of American Art 4764 State Route 30, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500. wmuseumaa.org

Every Story Begins At Home.

Experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece of architecture in this short 3D video developed to capture the spatial power of Wright’s design and present the viewer with ‘true to life’ realism, without the need for cumbersome glasses. Developed by documentary film maker, Ken Love, this project fulfills Wright’s imperative that, “The only photograph that can be made of architecture is three-dimensional... it’s that depth that gives it quality and effect.” This video will be shown continuously during museum hours along with Love’s film, Fallingwater: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Masterwork.

4/1/2014 - 6/15/2014 Paperweight Exhibit Mount Pleasant Glass Museum 402 E. Main St., Suite 600, Mount Pleasant, PA 15666 724.547.5929 The first exhibit of the Mount Pleasant Glass Museum will be a three-month display of a collection of paperweights. Paperweights come in an infinite variety, but there are basically two types: advertising and whimsical. We will have both. None of our three factories manufactured paperweights for sale on a regular basis, but paperweights were created in the factories. That is the third type of paperweight and it is called a bucket job (jobs men did on their lunch hour and then took home in their lunch buckets). They are wild, wonderful, and unique: one of a kind. We will have bucket jobs in the exhibit too. Paperweights will be for sale in the Museum Shoppe.

4/2/2014 Dream Theater Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.8000 www.thepalacetheatre.com Dream Theater’s new, self-titled album is a masterpiece of ambition, adventure and redefined purpose, loaded with passionate simple grooves that drive people, but loaded with a deep sense of musicianship.

4/2/2014 - 4/27/2014 Duncan MacDiarmid Pop-Up Exhibition Westmoreland Museum of American Art 4764 State Route 30, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500. www.wmuseumaa.org Duncan MacDiarmid works are a representation of the natural world through his sculptures and drawings, creating environments that question our role as everyday caretakers of the world. Similar in representation to friend and colleague Cydra Vaux, rather than using narrative, he differs in allowing the observer to create their own interpretation of the elements within the exhibition.

4/2/2014 - 4/6/2014 Pennsylvania Maple Festival

Meyersdale 120 Meyers Avenue, Meyersdale, PA 15552 866.858.0213 pamaplefestival.com The story of Meyersdale’s Maple Festival is one of growth. From a handful of men gathered around a potbellied stove, it has come to include literally hundreds of workers. From a crowd of 1,500 spectators, it has become an attraction drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually. Today, to mention Meyersdale anywhere in Pennsylvania, anywhere in the tri-state area, and still very much farther than that, is to bring forth the reply, “Oh! the Maple Festival.” The Maple Festival has truly succeeded in putting Meyersdale on the map. A search for the secret of this success leads one back to the community where it all started and back, too, to its citizens. Each year has found more and more people putting aside their differences and working together — for the same cause — with the knowledge that every Festival has made our Meyersdale a little more important, and better still, a nicer place in which to live.

4/3/2014 Tastes of the Town Antiochian Village 201 St. Ignatius Trl, Bolivar, PA 15923 724.238.6818 compassinn.com Sample a wide variety of sumptuous treats provided by area restaurants.

4/4/2014 - 5/6/2014 Children’s Book Festival of Johnstown Art Works and Bottleworks in Johnstown 413 Third Ave., Johnstown, PA 15906 814.262.0732. the learninglamp.org Tell Me a Story, the 6th Annual Children’s Book Festival of Johnstown, features three award-winning authors, including Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted), Debbie Dadey (Adventures of the Bailey School Kids) and James Warhola (Uncle Andy’s Cats). PLUS music and circus acts, arts & crafts and MORE! 4/4/2014 Mel Tillis Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.8000 thepalacetheatre.org Country music legend, comedian and actor. A member of the Nashville Songwriters International HOF was inducted into The Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

4/4/2014 - 4/25/2014 Nature Storytime Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve Barn, 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe724.537.5284. wpnr.org Nature Story Time is a literature hour for children. Each session includes a story and a craft. Children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

April 2014 - 39

4/5/2014 Big Band Brass (River City Brass) Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.8000 www.thepalacetheatre.com. 7:30pm 4/5/2014 Project WILD Teacher Workshop Project WILD is a national, award winning K-12 conservation education program about wildlife, people and the environment. During this workshop, participants will experience handson activities that help address state education standards while exploring concepts and issues surrounding Pennsylvania wildlife. This workshop will be indoors and outdoors and is designed for formal and non-formal educators who work with youth in K-12th grades. Participants will receive the Project WILD guide!

Date: April 5, 2014 Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm Location: Keystone State Park’s Visitor Ct Cost: $30 (Refreshments provided; bring bag lunch) 5.5 Act 48 hours provided Registration Deadline: April 1, 2014 Registration Contact: Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, 724-836-2460, ext.

2235, http://bit.ly/1fLMkN7 4/5/2014 Beatty County Road Clean Up Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve Barn Saint Vincent Gristmill 724.537.4571. wpnr.org Join the Nature Reserve and Mountain View Rotary as we clean up Beatty County Road. Coffee and donuts at 8:30 AM. Please register at 724-537-4571. Meet at the St. Vincent Gristmill. 9am-11am.

4/6/2014 - 4/27/2014 Imagine Nation Studio Sundays Westmoreland Museum of American Art 4764 State Route 30, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500. wmuseumaa.org Every Sunday from 12-3 PM, children of all ages and their favorite adult can stop by the Museum for a free, themed art activity.

Kids learn about art and have fun creating their own art project in the studio. There is a different art project featured each week.

4/7/2014 U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.8000 thepalacetheatre.org The Jazz Ambassadors, the United States Army’s official touring big band. Their diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections. FREE GEN ADMISSION 4/8/2014 California Dreaming Beach Music of the 60’s & 70’s Arcadia Theater 1418 Graham Ave, Windber, PA 15963 814.467.9070 www.arcadiatheater.net

4/10/2014 “You Can’t Take It With You” Geyer Performing Arts Center 111 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, PA 15683 724.887.0887. geyerpac.com Dinner Theater Available 4/11/2014 Pitt-Greensburg Chorale: Festival de Musica Mary Lou Campana Chapel & Lecture Center Finoli Dr., Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.7120. www.greensburg.pitt.edu The Pitt-Greensburg Chorale presents its Spring concert, featuring Jensen’s El Vito, Grau’s Kasar mie la gaji, and works of Juan Vasquez.

4/11/2014 - 4/13/2014 Children of Eden Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.8000 thepalacetheatre.org Freely based on the story of Genesis, a frank, heartfelt and often humorous examination of the age-old conflict between parents and children, Adam, Eve, Noah and the “Father.”

4/11/2014 - 4/12/2014 Spring Crop Scrapbooker’s Retreat Camp Harmony 1414 Plank Rd., PO Box 158, Hooversville, PA 814.798.5885 Pack up your work station and bring it to camp for a weekend of creative ideas, inspiration, and fun. Come by yourself or bring a group for the day or an overnight stay. Vendors will be on-site to provide you with all you need!

4/12/2014 - 4/13/2014 Breakfast with the Bunny Trax Farms 528 Trax Rd, Finleyville, PA 15332 412.835.3246. www.traxfarms.com 4/12/2014 Land-escape Westmoreland Museum of American Art 221 N. Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500. www.wmuseumaa.org Let your imagination go wild as you assemble a fantasy world landscape. After examining the realistic landscape paintings in the galleries, we’ll use all kinds of fun materials to make creature life forms, plants and habitats, as creative and crazy as our minds can invent.

4/12/2014 4th Annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes 5K St. Clair Park, Greensburg. 724-837-9540 x115. Sponsored by Blackburn Center. walkamileblackburn2014.eventbrite.com 4/12/2014 Greensburg Slow Art Day Westmoreland Museum of American Art 221 N. Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500. www.wmuseumaa.org Slow Art Day is a worldwide celebration of art that encourages people to look at art SLOWLY – and thereby experience art in a new way. Learn more: SlowArtDay.com 4/12/2014

40 - April 2014

The Heinz Chapel Choir Ferguson Theater Finoli Dr., Greensburg, PA 724.836.7120. www.greensburg.pitt.edu The Heinz Chapel Choir is the auditioned a cappella choir from the University of Pittsburgh whose eclectic repertoire ranges from motets to jazz. They perform numerous concerts in the breathtaking Heinz Memorial Chapel, including Fall, Christmas, and Spring concerts, as well as many concerts in various local churches. John Goldsmith, director since 1989, is an alumnus of Chanticleer who teaches sight-singing to Pitt’s music majors.

4/12/2014 Hands-On Glass Cutting Class Mount Pleasant Glass Museum 402 E. Main St., Suite 600, Mount Pleasant, PA 15666 724.547.5929 Come join us and listen to Peter O’Rourke discuss how to cut glass and then do a little cutting of your own and take it home. The class is two hours long and the cost is $15. This is a family friendly activity suitable for all ages!

4/12/2014 Spring Thaw Wine & Food Fest 2014 Hidden Valley Resort 1 Craighead Dr., Hidden Valley, PA 15502 814.443.8000 hiddenvalleyresort.com Enjoy an afternoon of culinary delights and wine tasting with the Southwest Passage Wine Trail participants plus live entertainment and local artisans.

4/12/2014 YMCA Adventure Warrior Race YMCA Camp Soles 134 Camp Soles Lane, Rockwood, PA 15557 814.352.7217 campsoles.org The 3rd Annual YMCA Adventure Warrior Race is sure to bring out your inner survivor! The race course is loaded with mud, unexpected challenges, ropes, water, tree covered mountains, mental obstacles, and much more! Race divisions include: Little Warrior (Ages 6-15), Parent-Child Warriors, Individual Warrior, and Warrior Teams! The race provides age appropriate excitement for the whole family!

4/13/2014 Lunch with the Easter Bunny Rizzo’s Malabar Inn - Crabtree, PA. 11:30 am and 1 pm. Reservations req: 724-836-4323 4/13/2014 The Miracle Worker State Theatre Center for the Arts 27 E. Main St., Uniontown, PA 15401 724.439.1360 www.statetheatre.info “The Miracle Worker” tells the story of Helen Keller, deaf and blind since infancy, who finds her way into the world of knowledge and understanding with the help of Anne Sullivan, her tutor. In some of the most turbulent and emotion-packed scenes ever presented on the stage, Helen overcomes rage and confusion to triumph over her physical disabilities.

4/17/2014 Westmoreland Jazz Society Event: Jenny Wilson Jazz Band Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center 100 Harrison Avenue, Greensburg, PA 724.837.1500. www.wmuseumaa.org LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Jenny Wilson is rapidly becoming one of West Virginia s notable jazz pianists and composers, and is leader of the Jenny Wilson Trio. Performing regularly in venues throughout WV, MD, PA, and beyond, the trio boasts fresh original music in addition to arrangements of favorite jazz standards.

Their successful New England tour in 2012 and an invitation to perform at The White House in Orlando, FL in 2013 is a testament to their growing development as one of the more unique jazz trios on the scene today.

4/18/2014 - 4/19/2014 Breakfast with the Bunny Trax Farms 528 Trax Rd, Finleyville, PA 15332 412.835.3246. www.traxfarms.com 4/19/2014 - 4/19/2014 Easter Egg Hunt Keystone State Park 1150 Keystone Park Road, Derry, PA 15627. 724.668.2566 dcnr.state.pa.us Keystone State Park’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place at the beach area and is for children 10 years of age and younger.

Registration will start at 10:00 AM at the Beach House, and the Egg Hunts will begin at 11:00 AM. Don’t miss this special day with the Easter Bunny, fire trucks, face painting and more! This event is made possible by the Friends of Keystone State Park. Funds support park projects, programs and events.

4/19/2014 - 4/20/2014 Fee Free Weekend National Parks of Western PA Multiple locations 724.329.8131. nps.gov Includes: Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Flight 93 National Memorial, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, and Johnstown Flood National Memorial.

4/20/2014 Easter Brunch at Nemacolin Nemacolin Woodlins Resort 1001 Lafayette Dr., Farmington, PA 15437 866.344.6957 www.nemacolin.com Join Nemacolin for our annual Easter Brunch from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm on Sunday, April 20, 2014. The price is $65 for adults and $32.50 for children ages 4-12, inclusive; children 3 and under are complimentary. Reservations are required.

4/24/2014 Somerset County Spring Job Fair National Guard Armory 1483 Stoystown Rd., Friedens, PA. 814.445.6431. 1-6 pm. somersetcountychamber.com. FREE 4/25/2014 - 4/26/2014 Brewski Festival Seven Springs 777 Waterwheel Dr., Seven Springs, PA. 800.452.2223. 7springs.com Join us for the 14th annual Brewski Festival, April 25 and 26, 2014! At this spectacular event, guests will enjoy the finest specialty beers from a unique selection of breweries. In the past, breweries such as Penn Brewery, Magic Hat and Erie Brewing served up samples of their finest products. This year we will be featuring over 100 micro-breweries.

4/25/2014 - 4/26/2014 Legends Concert Every Story Begins At Home.

Geyer Performing Arts Center 111 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, 724.887.0887 geyerpac.com A Tribute to Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash, The Everly Brothers, The Supremes, The Temptations and so much more!

4/25/2014 Plant A Tree at Flight 93 Flight 93 National Memorial 6424 Lincoln Highway, Stoystown, PA 15563 724.329.8131. nps.gov Planning to plant 19,500 seedlings over 30 acres. These trees, which are a mixture of several native species, will form an essential windbreak to protect trees planted in the nearby Memorial Groves. Much of what is now the memorial is a former surface coal mine and this effort will also help re-establish woodland wildlife habitats and to cultivate a living memorial.

4/26/2014 Barber & Brahms The Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.8000 www.thepalacetheatre.com The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra welcomes violinist Bella Hristova to perform Barber’s Violin Concerto. The concert also includes Pärt’s Fratres and Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D Major.

4/26/2014 Craft Beer Tasting Savage River Lodge 1600 Mount Aetna Rd., Frostburg, MD 21532 301.689.3200 www.savageriverlodge.com Taste six to seven regionally made craft beers with light appetizers.

4/26/2014 Community Yard & Trunk Sale Compass Inn Museum Field 1382 Route 30 East, Laughlintown, PA 15655 724.238.4983. compassinn.com Vendor fee $15 donation. Please contact lvhistory@compassinn.com for reservations, application, and details.

4/26/2014 QED Cooks with Faranda Farm & Garlic Faranda Farm 1171 Penn Ave., Hollsopple, PA 15935 814.479.7109. farandafarm.net WQED’s program director and “cooking guy” Chris Fennimore is the host of QED Cooks, a local program that has celebrated the delicious food culture of Pittsburgh and the surrounding area for the last 18 years.

Much more than a cooking show, QED Cooks is about heritage and the tradition of passing down recipes to the next generation. Tune in at 10am to catch Faranda Farm as part of a special 3-hour episode where they will discuss the benefits of using garlic in the kitchen and share information about their famous Garlic Festival!

4/27/2014 Mammoth Park Fishing Derby Mammoth Park 724.830.3950 www.co.westmoreland.pa.us A free event for fishermen of all ages from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to both adults and youth. A door prize drawing will be held for all regi-

stered participants. Co-sponsored by the Westmoreland County Sportsmen’s League and Gander Mountain.

4/27/2014 Westmoreland Earth Day St. Vincent CollegeCarey Center Gymnasium 300 Fraser Purchase Rd., Latrobe, PA 15650 724.537.5284. wpnr.org Join local organizations as they share their time and expertise and connect you to your natural community. Activities, vendors, information, and more! 11 am - 4 pm 4/5/2014 Spring Vendor and Craft Show VFW-Post 709 1017 Main St., Sharpsburg, PA 15215 412.855.2609 facebook.com/events/294941963986564/ 4/5/2014 - 4/5/2014 Ukrainian Easter Egg Workshop St. Peter & St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church 220 Mansfield Blvd., Carnegie, PA 15106 412.279.2111 Come learn the beautiful art of Ukrainian Pysanky/ Easter Eggs 4/6/2014 - 4/6/2014 9th Egg EggSTRAVAGANZA and Easter Craft and Bake Sale St. John the Baptist Byzantine Church 201 E. Main St., Uniontown, PA. 724.438.6027 Egg artists will demonstrate, display and sell eggs. Market place with pysanky supplies, basket covers, Easter crafts and ethnic items.

Children’s activities: storytelling, making Easter Eggs,and other projects.

4/25/2014 - 11/1/2014 Transformation 9: Contemporary Works in Ceramics Society for Contemporary Craft 2100 Smallman St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412.261.7003 Featuring work by the most innovative and cutting-edge craft artists, the Transformation series is a biennial juried exhibition focusing on one of six traditional craft media - wood, metal, clay, fiber, glass, and found materials - in rotation.

4/27/2014 5220 Art Expo Rostraver Ice Gardens 101 Gallitin Rd., Belle Vernon, PA 15102 724.379.7100 All ages. FREE admission. Fun for the whole family. 25% of each sale will be donated to the Officer James Kuzak Benefit Fund. Some of the items for sale will be handmade candles and soaps, fine art, autographed prints, pottery, and stained glass.

5/1/2014 - 5/3/2014 Quilt Camp Camp Harmony 1414 Plank Rd., PO Box 158, Hooversville, PA 15936 814.798.5885 Some may think quilting is becoming a lost art, but that’s just not so at Camp Harmony!

Come learn something new or enjoy the company of fellow quilters at Quilt Camp. On Thursday, travel with other campers to gather supplies and peruse local quilt shops, then spend Friday and Saturday working on unfinished projects or a small project.

April 2014 - 41

This benefit is to support the art education programs and events that keep art alive in our community.

Grow Your Business Every Wednesday with Laurel Leaders (www.BNILaurelLeaders.com) All local business leaders are invited to attend a weekly meeting of BNI (Business Networking International) held each Wednesday* at the Ligonier Country Inn, Laughlintown, from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm.

Visitors are welcome (no reservations), free of charge, and encouraged to come network with us and learn more about important topics:

April 9: Wireless Communication Debbie Sanders, Verizon Wireless Zone 724-539-0105, www.wirelesszone.com/latrobe

April 16: Nutritional Counseling Colombe Freuhauf, The Wellness Chef 724-238-2271, www.thewellnesschef.co

April 30: Health Insurance Dan McCue, Financial & Group Services, Inc. 724-593-2081, fgsinc@lhtot.com

May 7: Visitor Day Open House for Potential Members If you would l ike to learn more about BNI, this is the day!

April 14: Printing, Marketing & Web Design Allen Martello, Altris, Inc 724-259-8338, www.altrisinc.com

For more information about a presentation, please contact the scheduled speaker. (*Our meetings are cancelled whenever Ligonier Valley School District closes due to inclement weather)

www.bni-westernpa.com

5/2/2014 - 5/4/2014 Accomplice Greensburg Garden & Civic Center 951 Old Salem Rd., Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.8000. ggccevents.org Unique thriller by the author of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Part murder mystery, part sex farce, completely entertaining, suspenseful and funny. To tell you more would be criminal!

5/3/2014 6th Annual Model Railroad Home Tour Ligonier 3032 Idlewild Hill Lane, Ligonier, PA 15658 724.238.7819. lvrra.org Come for the 6th Annual Model Railroad Home Tour! The tour will visit multiple layouts and displays in Westmoreland County. The tour is from 9am-4pm.

5/3/2014 - 5/4/2014 Alchemist Picnic Touchstone Center for Crafts 1049 Wharton Furnace Rd., Farmington, PA 15437 724.329.1370. touchstonecrafts.org 42 - April 2014

The Alchemist Picnic is a gathering of metalsmiths and jewelers from the midAtlantic region and beyond. This weekend event on May 3–4 is hosted by Wayne Werner, renowned for his metalsmithing expertise, jewelry design, musical talent, and ebullient personality. He is the perfect emcee for this occasion, and Touchstone, with its beautiful woodland campus and well-equipped metals studios, is the ideal setting. Aspiring students, emerging makers, and seasoned professionals are all invited to share their creative and professional journeys. The Alchemist Picnic offers a rare opportunity to network for your guild, school, and/or organization, as well as to share your own talents and aspirations with a regional community of metals artists.

5/3/2014 Art of Fashion Latrobe Country Club 346 Arnold Palmer Dr., Latrobe, PA 15650 724.537.7011 latrobeartcenter.org The Latrobe Art Center will hold its third annual Art of Fashion Show, on Saturday, May 3rd 2014 at the Latrobe Country Club.

5/3/2014 Some Like it Hot (River City Brass) Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.8000 thepalacetheatre.org. 7:30pm 5/3/2014 Spring Open House Glades Pike Winery 2208 Glades Pike, Somerset, PA 15501 814.445.3753 gladespikewinery.com 5/4/2014 Museum Free Admission Day Participating museums are: Fort Ligonier, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Ligonier Valley Railroad Museum, Antiochian Village Museum, Lincoln Highway Heritage Experience, Compass Inn Museum 5/4/2014 Family Outdoor Show Keystone State Park 1150 Keystone Park Rd., Derry, PA 15627 724.744.7344 dcnr.state.pa.us Come enjoy the outdoors at Keystone State Park! There will be local and national vendors, exhibits, demonstrations, door prizes and food!

5/6/2014 - 5/16/2014 Westmoreland County Senior Games Mammoth Park 724.830.3950 www.co.westmoreland.pa.us An Olympic-style competition for senior sports men and women ages 50 and over.

Over thirty events including boccie, bowling, golf and shuffleboard are offered at Mammoth Park and various Greensburg locations.

Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to winners in each age bracket.

5/9/2014 Hair State Theatre Center for the Arts 27 E. Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401 724.439.1360 statetheatre.info From the Company that brought us last year’s Fiddler on the Roof, HAIR- the Broadway musical live on stage is at once both a joyous celebration of youth and a poignant journey through tumultuous 1960’s America!

This exuberant musical about a group of teenagers searching for truth, peace and love in Vietnam War era America has struck a resonant chord with audiences of all ages. Hair features an extraordinary and multi-cultural cast singing a long list of chart topping hits including “Aquarius,” “Let the Sun Shine In,” “Good Morning, Starshine,” and “Easy to be Hard.” Let your HAIR down and “Let the Sunshine In!” 5/10/2014 Hair Psaquerilla Performing Arts Center 450 Schoolhouse Rd., Johnstown, PA 15904 814.269.7200. upjarts.org This Tony Award-winning Broadway musical celebrates youth and a poignant journey through a tumultuous 1960’s America! This exuberant musical about teenagers searching for truth, peace and LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

love has struck a resonant chord with audiences of all ages. Hair features an extraordinary and multi-cultural cast singing a long list of chart topping songs, including “Aquarius,” “Let the Sunshine In,” “Good Morning Starshine,” and “Easy To Be Hard.”

Show starts at 7:30pm

Bottle Works Arts on Third Presents

MAPS, SCOTCH BONNETS & SNALLYGASTERS Current works by Michael Allison April 12 – May 31, 2014

5/10/2014 Toy Story-Art Class Westmoreland Museum of American Art 4764 State Route 30, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500. wmuseumaa.org Children ages 7-10 can expand and explore their creativity through innovative and engaging programs taught by professional artist instructors. 10 AM-12 PM; $10 per class. Registration is required.

5/11/2014 Jane Yolen Discusses The Devil’s Arithmetic Prime Stage Theatre 6 Allegheny Square E, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 814.362.7532 www.primestage.com Newbery Award author, Jane Yolen, will attend the world premiere opening performance of ‘The Devil’s Arithmetic,’ and present a post-show discussion with the audience, including children of Holocaust survivors.

5/15/2014 Westmoreland Jazz Society Event: Judi Figel Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center 100 Harrison Avenue, Greensburg, PA 724.837.1500. www.wmuseumaa.org Judi Figel is a dynamite singer and pianist who performs a wide variety of music styles in and around Pittsburgh including jazz, pop, country, light rock, Broadway and standards.

Her fun-loving personality along with strong vocals captivate audiences.

5/18/2014 Northmoreland Park Fishing Derby Northmoreland Park 724.830.3950 www.co.westmoreland.pa.us A free event for fishermen of all ages from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to both adults and youth. A door prize drawing will be held for all registered participants. Co-sponsored by the Westmoreland County Sportsmen’s League and Gander Mountain.

Submit items for our community calendar: Family-friendly, cultural, and nonprofit events take precedence when print space is limited:

calendar@ laurelmountainpost.com or

Laurel Mountain Post Calendar PO Box 332 Ligonier PA 15658 Every Story Begins At Home.

Snallygaster #1 in O il

Johnstown, PA—BOTTLE WORKS presents Maps, Scotch Bonnets & Snallygasters, Current Works by Michael Allison April 12 – May 31, 2014. 8 in the ART WORKS building, 413 Third Ave. in Johnstown’s historic district Cambria City. A free Opening Reception will be held 6 – 9 p.m. April 12 with entertainment

by The Nick Miller Project. The reception is open to the public.

When considering artists in the region, it is difficult to find one more connected to the arts community than Michael Allison. Allison has, for the past 40 years, been involved in a variety of art related projects in this region. The former curator of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, he was responsible for over 25 exhibitions held at the museum and its outreach galleries. He served on the Visual Arts Advisory Panel of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. He also has been directly involved with the Blair County Arts Festival and was the founder of the arts organization Art in Common. He has taught privately and has served as an artist in residence in the Pennsylvania school system. He recently created “The Peace Mural Project” for elementary schools. His paintings and sculptures are in numerous public and private collections. He has created public art for The John Murtha Airport in Johnstown, The Johnstown Area Heritage Association, the borough of Hollidaysburg, the borough of Lilly, and the Lincoln Highway Historic Corridor.

Allison has been in Buddhist practice for over 20 years. A well-known public speaker on both art and Buddhist practice, Allison also serves as a member of Interfaith Committee at the Altoona Campus of Penn State University, The Interfaith Council, of the Ecumenical Council of Blair County, and is a presenter for the Teaching Diversity Program.

Allison’s exhibition demonstrates his method of using borrowed, computer generated, layered images and a variety of techniques. From traditional painting techniques to pin striping and contemporary automobile painting, Allison’s current work explores the edge between image, meaning and identity.

For those who would like to learn more and get a personal perspective of Allison’s work, “ART BITES” is an informative lunch and gallery talk with Allison that will be held 11:30 am – 1:30 pm May 17, 2014. The cost is $10/person.

BOTTLE WORKS is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing space and support to make, teach and sell art. Volunteers, patrons and sponsors are needed. For further information regarding the ART WORKS building, visit www.bottleworks.org or call 814-535-2020. Regular gallery and AW Gallery Shoppe hours are 10 am – 3 pm Tuesday – Friday; 10 am – 4 pm Saturday.

April 2014 - 43

Where Can I Find A Copy?

Laurel Mountain Post Distribution List Seventy-five percent of our distribution remains within Westmoreland County, while the remaining 25% is circulated throughout key locations in the surrounding counties. The Laurel Mountain Post can be found free of charge at hundreds of local shops, office waiting areas, restaurants, museums, and festivals.

We keep up-t0-date location and delivery information on our website: www.laurelmountainpost.com.

If your business would like to carry the LMP, please contact us at 724-537-6845 or complete the online distribution form.

Derry Area

Schultheis Automation (Jones Mills)

Action for Animals Allison Chiropractic Barkley's Derry King Building Bodeez Caldwell Library Chef Dato's Derry Medical Dr. Scott Morgan First Commonwealth Bank Hansen & Torba - Dentists Jean Marie Flowers & Gifts Laundromat Mastrorocco's Market New Derry Municipal Authority Palombo's Restaurant S&T Bank State Farm Insurance Sugar Bears Sunoco

Greater Latrobe

Adams Memorial Library Barnes House Buchanan Tag Chestnut Ridge - Bursch Division Chicora's Chris Pakos, CPA Christ UC Church Coffee Bean Commercial Bank - Downtown Commerical Bank - Route 981 Dainty Pastry Denny's Doggie Divas Dunkin Donuts Eat n Park Excela Health Quick Draw The Eyeglass Shoppe Fantastic Sam's Delmont, Murrysville, Export Four Seasons Brewing Co. Fringe Center for Rehab Gino's Pizza Dancer’s Closet Gyno Associates Delmont Public Library Hanna Insurance Excela Outpatient Dr. Scott Hudimac EnV Hair Salon Jaffre's/Tin Lizzy, Youngstown irst Commonwealth Bank Jerald Jewelers Drs. Hilliard & Tarnoff Joe's Store - Lawson Heights Holiday Inn Express Kids Care Pediatrics John’s Barbershop L&L Quik Lube King's Family Restaurant Dr. Patrick Lally Kunkle's Auto Latrobe Animal Clinic Dr. Matthew Levin Latrobe Art Center Lamplighter Restaurant Latrobe Athletic Club Manordale Service Center Latrobe Hardware Martello Hair Care Latrobe Hospital Murrysville Library Latrobe News Stand - Downtown Nature Nail Spa Latrobe News Stand - Laurel 30 Panera Bread Laurel Highlands Village PT Group Laurel Nursery Salem Crossroad Apothecary Latrobe Post Office Shields Chiropractic Lincoln Highway Experience Terri's Place Little Shop UPMC Rehab Services Loyalhanna Care Center Wagon Wheel Restaurant Marge’s Hair Salon - Tara Stowers McCarl Coverlet Gallery Donegal The Medicine Shoppe Drs. Mucci & Campfield, DDS BP/McDonald’s - turnpike My Fitness Kitchen Brady’s Pizza Siena Dairy Queen ProAdjuster Chiropractic Days Inn Racer’s Tavern Donegal Pharmacy Roadman's Country Living Gerry’s Western Shop (Champion) Rose Style Shoppe Holiday Inn Express Rusbosin's Furniture Honeybear S&T Bank Tall Cedars Scotty G's The Inn at Ligonier Senior Center Sarnelli’s Shop n Save

44 - April 2014

SpringHill Suites St. Vincent De Paul St. Vincent Gristmill Store Total Service Unity Township Building, Library UPMC Vascular Institute Valley Dairy - downtown Valley Dairy - Route 30 Vasco Federal Credit Union WCNS/Unity Building Westmoreland Federal Westmoreland Historical Society Wigs n More Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve Wingate Greensburg All About Me Boutique Barnes & Noble Berkshire Medical Offices Cafe Barista Courtyard by Marriott Dancer’s Closet Eat n Park Frye Farm Road Medical Offices Greensburg Art Center Greensburg News Greensburg YMCA Hampton Inn Hampton Office Products Jioio's - Carbon Dr. Matthew Levin L&S Machine Nature's Way Market The Palace Theatre Palmer Pavilion - Mt. View ProAdjuster Chiropractic RaggZ Fiber Art Dr. John Ridinger Seton Hill University Super Spa Girl The Westmoreland @rt 30 University of Pittsburgh Vittone's Music Westmoreland Dermatology Westmoreland Hospital Ligonier Valley A Touch of Grace Abigail's Coffee Amica BP Insurance Barb's Market - Rector Bo Peep Fine Yarns Carol & Dave's Roadhouse Celtic Culture Connections Cafe Darlington Inn Davies Real Estate Diamond Cafe

Diamond Hair Cuts Diamond Rug Gallery Dovecote Equine Chic Excela Health First Commonwealth Bank Flavors Cafe Fox's Pizza G Squared Get Go Giant Eagle Gino's Granny Earth Howard Hanna Real Estate Ligonier Chamber of Commerce Ligonier Country Market Ligonier Library Ligonier Outfitters/Newstand Ligonier Tavern Ligonier Valley Railroad Museum Ligonier Vallery Real Estate Loyalhanna Realty Mack M. Darr Martins Modern Elegance Mommy Gear On the Diamond Antiques The Paper House Persnickety Post and Rail Prudential Preferred Realty Ramada Inn Rosalia Jioio's Little Italy Rustic Country Treasures Ruthie's Diner Scamp's Toffee Second Chapter Books Song of Sixpence Subway The Strawberry Crow Thistledown at Seger House The Finishing Touch The Toy Box The Twisted Vine Tree House in Ligonier UU Church Vernon Realty Services Valley School of Ligonier Wicked Googly YMCA Laughlintown Compass Inn/Historical Society First Commonwealth Bank Ligonier Country Inn Pie Shoppe Washington Furnace Inn

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

West Overton Quilt Shop YMCA

Clarksburg Shaulis Convenience Market

Youngwood - coming soon!

Indiana 119 Professional Center The Artist's Hand Book Nook Cucina Mia Diamond Drug Downtown Indiana Association Hampton Inn Dr. Hilliard & Tarnoff Indiana Chamber of Commerce Indiana County Tourism Bureau Indiana Hospital Lobby Indiana Free Library Indiana University of PA Jimmy Stewart Museum Rustic Lodge Starbucks

Allegheny County

New Alexandria BP - 819 crossroads First Commonwealth Grabiak’s Johna’s Hair Salon Kaufman's Chiropractic Keystone Pharmacy Keystone State Park Kids Care Pediatrics Library Roadhouse Quik Stop Sheetz Speal's Tavern Stahlstown Flax Scutching Festival Loyalhanna Veterinary Clinic Main Street Wine Bar Mt. Pleasant and Southern Westmoreland County Market Crystal Concepts The Frick Fun Services The General Store Herbalicious Kraisinger's Market Lenox Leo's Mericonda Beer Distributor Mount Pleasant Glass Museum Mt. Pleasant Library Nino's Orourke Crystal Sandhill Berries Speedy Meedy's Vicky's Crossroads Volero Gas West Overton Deli

Allegheny General Children's Hospital Downtown Hotels Manchester Bidwell Monroeville Library Pleasant Hills Library Strip District merchants Squirrel Hill businesses UPMC Hospitals: Monroeville, Presbyterian, Mercy, Shadyside, Hillman Cambria County (Johnstown) Comfort Inn & Suites Dancer’s Closet East Hills Family Pharmacy Holiday Inn - Downtown Holiday Inn Express - Richland Nature's Habitat - Galleria The Sleep Inn more locations coming soon!

Fayette County Adrian's - Hopwood Braddocks Inn Restaurant Chalk Hill Flea Market Miller’s Grocery Store Nemacolin Inn - Farmington Ohiopyle Falls Ohiopyle Pub Summit Hotel - Route 40 Indiana County Blairsville Cokeville Produce Market Comfort Inn The Coventry Inn Dean's Diner Hampton Inn - Chestnut Ridge Senior Center Sheetz

Would You Like to Subscribe?

Laurel Mountain Post Print Subscriptions 189 Fairview Lane • Derry, PA 15627 Secure Online Ordering in Our Web Store: www.LaurelMountainPost.com

Saltsburg exclusively at: Saltsburg Pharmacy Somerset County

My mission is to prove the continuity of life past the transition we call death.

Psychic Medium Rev. Marjorie Rivera Pittsburgh’s Premiere Psychic & Party Reader

412-884-7788 pittsburghmedium.com

Jennerstown Green Gables/Mtn Playhouse Our Coal Miners Cafe Three Rivers Dental Somerset Area Comfort Inn Eat n Park Econo Lodge Hampton Inn Holiday Inn Express Mountain Craft Days Oakhurst Tea Room Sheetz (route 31) Somerset Family Eye Care Somerset Historical Center Summit Diner Quality Inn

Even more great locations coming soon!

Easter is a movable holiday.

It occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon that happens on or after the Spring Equinox, March 21

If we have missed listing your business here, please let us know.

Print subscriptions are available for $30/year for 12 issues ($2.50 each), and will arrive via 1st Class US Mail. To order, please complete and return this form with payment: NAME: ____________________________________________________ ADDRESS: __________________________________________________ CITY: _____________________________________________________ STATE: ___________________ ZIP: _____________________________ EMAIL: ___________________________________________________ Where did you pick up this copy of the magazine? ________________________ Your subscription will start with the next issue following receipt of this order form. We only use your information to contact you regarding the Laurel Mountain Post. It will NOT be shared with outside parties or added to any other list.

April 2014

Every Story Begins At Home.

April 2014 - 45

END NOTES

by Cathi Gerhard

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything” William Shakespeare

Forever Young I have never felt so old and tired as I did this winter, the one that seemed to last forever. I spent weeks not wanting to get out of my warm bed each day – the cold, dark and dreary skies encouraging my semi-coma.

The biting cold and lack of regular activity made my joints stiff and achy, which fed my weary state and left me constantly tired. Each day, if I dressed at all (because pyjamas are warm and cozy), my go-to item was one of my many pairs of stretchy pants – or as our generation more fashionably styles them, yoga pants.

Not only are they comfortable, but they also help one manage the 10-20 pounds of extra seasonal insulation we tend to acquire.

The long winter of such discontent also brought about my first patches of grey hair, too, framing my face with a dull, white haze.

The emerging streaks go pretty well with my new reading glasses, which many magazine articles tend to call “one of the ten things that make you look older.” Really? So what. I AM older now, and I think it is far worse to hide it – or rather pretend to be younger like a “Real Housewife of Beverly Hills” with too much plastic surgery, make-up and junior-sized clothing. I went through a short spell of such fashion disillusionment in my 30s, but quickly came to my senses. Going against the grains of nature is simply destructive.

All living creatures on earth follow the rhythms of life; but somehow humans have lost their way. Because of technology we now live “despite” nature instead of along with it. We 46 - April 2014

control our climate indoors, like a science fiction bubble, and treat every day as equal. Medical science has invented youth serums, treatments and surgeries to change practically everything natural about us – all designed to fight time, which is still out of our control.

But youth is not just a fleeting period in our past – it is a spirit. Last week brought some quick samples of warmer weather, and with each burst

I felt the rejuvenating power of the Spring sunshine. No vitamin D supplement can even compare to that feeling of the real thing. Suddenly I had enough energy to take a walk, and endorphins flowed to mask my back pain better than any narcotic. I no longer craved the comforting taste of carbohydrates, but rather the juicy flavors of fruits and vegetables. It felt so good, I wanted to dance and sing!

Poets throughout history have written the lyrics to nature’s songs about new life, and its promise of rebirth. Just when we start to feel worn out, and mostly dead inside, life draws

upon that forced period of dormancy to re-energize a new season. We are a part of that cycle, no matter how much we try to deviate from it. In winter we may not hibernate, but we could all use a long winter’s rest. Cold, rainy days are for soaking up what we need (stay inside: rest, nourishment, and contemplation); warm, sunny days are meant for energy consumption (come out and play: work, activity, and enjoyment).

Consider nature’s simple, visible rewards for a successful cycle: flowers and vegetables in our garden. I love how they look. I love how they make me feel – young. The ongoing search for some fountain of youth is nothing but a fool’s errand, invented by a species that has somehow “evolved” too far from its roots.

Humans have tried to sever all ties with Mother Nature’s dumb “rules and regulations,” behaving like an arrogant teenager who knows it all. We take what we want (SUVs) instead of what we need (4 wheels and a sustainable power source). But if we wreck her car, there is no insurance to fix it.

We need to grow up, age gracefully, and play well with others. Perhaps humans are trapped in this Peter Pan syndrome because we lack patience and faith in the promised spirit of youth, caught instead in a self-spun web of frustration and fear.

This Spring, consider stepping outside of the climate-controlled box by taking a leap of faith into the real world. You might be surprised by how good it feels, inside and out.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Image Copyright Monkey Business Images, 2013. Used under license from Shutterstock.com.

nurturing our community, together. providing meals, together. stirring the public to act, together.

50 million people face hunger in America, even though billions of pounds of food go unused every year. Together let’s work to close this gap.

Please join the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks this Hunger Action Month.

When you get involved, you become part of a national solution while making an impact on your local community. Learn how you can solve hunger today at FeedingAmerica.org.

together we can solve hunger.

Every Story Begins At Home.

TM

April 2014 - 47

Any Property.

Any place.

Ve r n o n Real ty Serv i c es

Phone: (724) 238-0443 www.vernon-realty.com 305 W. Main Street | Ligonier, PA 15658 Michael J. Vernon, Broker / Owner

mike@vernon-realty.com • Cell: (724) 331-6858

Price d e Reduc

Ligonier Twp – MLS 964714

Rector

– MLS 964271

Ligonier Boro

– MLS 994370

This sprawling estate boost oversized rooms, hard wood floors, crown moulding, elegant formal living and dining rooms. A beautiful open kitchen with stainless appliances. Lovely breakfast area with a fireplace! Oversized integral 2 car garage and detached 4 car garage. Just bring your tool's or toy's. Great cul-de-sac location.

Absolutely Charming Gentlemen's Horse Farm! This spacious three bed room multi-level brick colonial home is in the quiet neighborhood of Rector but has access to all major highways. Come and see the soon to be finished lower pasture or design it for yourself. You will be amazed with the size of this home.

Bolivar – MLS 964032 - Large building could have two store fronts or one large main floor. Could live on the second floor with a 3 bedroom, Living Room, Dining Room and Kitchen or rental income.

Currently rented $350.00 per month. Options: Church, Funeral Home, Day Care, Doctor's Office, Dental Office, Hair Salon, Tanning Salon, Dog Grooming, Store Front, Retail and more.

Ligonier Twp – MLS 964728

Hempfield Twp – MLS # 988531 Wonderful opportunity for

Hempfield Twp – MLS 985432

Ligonier Boro – MLS 975560

Great business opportunity this 9 building village nested on

Ligonier Boro

Ligonier Twp – MLS 992043 The only thing missing from this

Greensburg

This home has many upgrades and is move in ready. The has laminate floors plus newer stainless steel stove. The finished lower level includes a kitchen area living room full bath and two rooms great for a In-Law suite with separate entrances. Huge yard for pets or to play.

This 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath and 1 Half Bath home is priced at $239,900 and with ZERO down payment and only $1,145 a month. Plus taxes, Insurances and condo fee’s.

48 - April 2014

This stunning split entry boasts large rooms in a great corner lot.

Enjoy sitting by the fire place just in time for the holidays.

Beautiful home on a corner lot in the borough. Large rooms with a finished attic and basement. Great home for a large family of it could be a great B & B as the property is zoned Village Residential

gorgeous Wendover abode is a new family! This home is totally move-in ready, with solid surfaces in both the kitchen and bathrooms, window treatments, a plethora of included appliances and plenty of room for living and growing. Come take a peek-you may not want to leave!

This well-built home in Ligonier Boro is just blocks to the shopping and events. This home has a lot of updates with an awesome kitchen. You will love to sit in the living room with the exposed beam celling. Just bring your personal belongings and move right in.

extra, steady income, but ready to rock as is! Nice, spacious lot for the kids or pets, and, though situated conveniently along 119, quiet atmosphere. Lots of storage in basement. Worth a peek at the current or future potential! Won’t last at $69,000.

almost three acres has many possibilities. The thriving business "The Mountain Shoppe" Gift Shop and Rustic Furniture is located on RTE 711 in Jones Mills. This location boasts over 3500 average vehicle traffic per day. With 338 foot frontage and traffic heading to Seven Springs year round resort and other great local attractions. Owner willing to sell inventory for cost, consider staying on as to transition to new ownership.

– MLS 963695

Great ranch home with newer kitchen, interior doors and trim, bath and a covered side porch. The Fenced rear yard is great for kids or pets. This home qualifies for 100% financing.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST