Laurel Mountain Post :: September-October 2006

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST A Magazine for the Heart of Westmoreland County

Every Story Begins At Home.

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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2006: Childhood Fears • A Cliffhanger Holiday • Steelers Training Camp!

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MOUNTAIN VIEWS Cathi Gerhard Williams

More Than A Few of My Favorite Things Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.

— Stanley Horowitz Fall is my favorite season of the year because it is full of all the little things that I like so much about living. It doesn’t celebrate Christmas or my birthday, we don’t go on vacation then, and the weather starts to turn a little rough. But I am always happiest from sometime in early September through Halloween, it seems.

was too busy travelling here or there.

Or better yet, watch a classic scary movie or thriller on AMC – the kind we used to watch on Saturday afternoons.

The Friday night lights from the high school behind my neighborhood signal the start of the best sport. Football season is here at last!

There is nothing prettier than the colors of fall. All the efforts of the year yield the beautiful landscape of nature, and it is the best time to take a walk. The air is fresh, the leaves are filled with color, and the sky is an elegant blue.

Pumpkin patches and apple orchards call out for a visit.

By the time we bring that perfect pumpkin home, Halloween is almost here. I have an excuse to buy chocolate – and help my kids eat their candy from trick or treating. I start baking again because it is time to try out the new crop of apples from the farmer’s market. It gets darker sooner, and we light some of those spicy candles I picked up months ago . . . it just seems like the right time now.

At some point in September, I get to wear my new fall clothes for the first time. A chilly day comes along, and it’s finally appropriate to wear a warm sweater or jacket that I bought over the summer (while all I cared about was trying to stay cool, not being particularly fashionable).

The best part about new clothes, though, are the comfortable pyjamas. I love them and am guilty of buying too many pieces of loungewear. My latest favorites are the Hatley pants I picked up at Equine Chic in Ligonier last month. When the wind starts to blow and the nights turn cold, I can curl up in bed with my cat on my lap and read one of the books I never got around to in July or August because I

next and has imagined a rainbow of possibilities in the meantime.

By October, most of my favorite television shows have started their new seasons. While Rescue Me may have just ended with the summer, Lost is about to return, much to the delight of my son who can’t wait to find out what happens

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST Proud member of the Latrobe and Ligonier Chambers of Commerce

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Briana Dwire Tomack Cathi Gerhard Williams editor@LaurelMountainPost.com

And when October goes, it seems we head straight into the frenzy of the holidays. But not before we vote – another one of my favorite things. The simple privilege of having a voice, regardless of what it says, is a gift given to every American. Don’t forget to open it.

Cathi Gerhard Williams, Editor & Publisher Briana Dwire Tomack, Marketing Director & Business Manager STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS: SEPT-OCT 2006 (Volume III, Issue 4)

P.O. Box 227 | Latrobe, PA 15650 | 724-331-3936 | editor@LaurelMountainPost.com

Walt Brewer, Daniel Chicka, Barry Dwire Jr., Carol Dwire, Ron Durika, Steve Gaul, Shelly & Carol Gerhard, Jim Kasperik, David “Muggsy“ Miles, Joy Monticue, Barbara Neill, Ruth Richardson, J.B. Rossi, Michelle Schultz, Nicole Vitale Smith, Jennifer Smoker, Scott Sinemus, Elizabeth Srsic, Rick Tomack, Drew Williams, Robert Williams

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The Laurel Mountain Post is a bimonthly publication of biffBOOcommunication designed to focus on the people, places and events at the heart of Westmoreland County in western Pennsylvania. We print stories about real people and their daily lives; feature local merchants, craftsmen and professionals; present short pieces of art & literature; and never lose sight of what makes this area a great place to call home.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 3

DERRY REMEMBRANCES Ruth Richardson

Autumn Adventures – 1950s In the fifties, when the long summer days of my youth began to get shorter, and there was a hint of autumn in the air, I seemed to get restless.

Although my summers were fun filled, each year I looked forward to the new school year with much anticipation. I was always ready to get back to class. For me, the novelty of all that free time had worn thin by the middle of August and I was ready for a change. This was when my summer doldrums would set in. I would sigh and shuffle around the house, following my mother from room to room as she completed her chores.

I learned at a very young age it was not productive in my house to whine to my mother saying, “There’s nothing to do.” The only person it was productive for was my mother.

She would stop in her tracks and say, “Go outside and play and stop pouting.” If I said I was bored, she was always happy to give me something to do and it usually included a dust rag. We knew better than to pester our parents about having nothing to do.

They would find us something in short order and it was NEVER anything we were hoping for. Dusting the Venetian blinds comes to mind, as well as relining the kitchen shelves with the decorative ‘shelf-paper’ my mom always had on hand. The 5 and 10 carried a large selection of it. Mom loved to clean the cupboards and organize them. We would fold the decorated edge of the paper down so when you opened the cupboard doors, all of the shelves looked like they had little table cloths on them. I did not inherit my mother’s love of organization, or of cleaning cupboards.

When I was remembering it all, I realized we were very creative while growing up. If we were bored with the same old activities, we would invent some new ones. I feel sorry for today’s kids. They don’t seem to know how to entertain themselves. Take away their computers, video games and television, and what would they do with all that free time? I doubt they 4 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

would be able to create their own diversions, at least not ones as imaginative as ours were. And the teenagers, if they couldn’t go to the mall and walk that circle a hundred times, would they even have a social life?

When we were little, all the kids in the neighborhood would get together every day and find adventures. After breakfast, Mom would send us out the door. We would appear later that day for lunch and have a sandwich with our mother while the three of us watched 15 minutes of Search for Tomorrow followed by 15 minutes of The Guiding Light. Then we were off again until Daddy came home from work at supper time. We would all eat together, take turns doing the dishes and then go out to play again until dark.

It wasn’t a very good idea to keep running in and out of the back door at my house, either.

After the second trip, mom would say “In or out, no more slamming the door. If you come in here again, you’re staying in and helping me.”

We didn’t know from day to day exactly what we would be helping with, but we knew it would include some sort of housework. That was enough of an incentive to have us running to the lot next door to organize a baseball game. I remember four or five of us calling from the back porch that we were thirsty. Mom would answer, “The garden hose is working, go get a drink.” We played hide and seek a lot, and freeze tag.

Sometimes a group of us would produce a talent show and put it on for the whole neighborhood, moms included.

We would rehearse our songs and make up dances, sometimes even including a skit. We would charge a slight admission fee and sell homemade cookies and KoolAid to our audience during intermission. Afterward, all the performers would split the take and spend every cent at Solomon’s store on candy. There was also my favorite summer activity - jumping rope (it was an old piece of clothes line.) There

were a thousand jump rope rhymes. I wish I could remember them all, but here are a few lines that are stuck in my head . . .

Lady bug, lady bug, turn around Lady bug, lady bug, touch the ground....

Down in the meadow where the green grass grows, There sat Ruthie, sweet as a rose.....

Postman Postman do your duty Send this letter to my cutie Mable Mable set the table Just as fast as you are able.

It didn’t matter what the rhyme was, we always ended it with “Don’t forget the red hot pepper!”

Which warned you we were about to double the speed, making you jump twice as fast.

In the summer we rode our bikes to the Derry pool. All of our friends would meet there and we would spread our beach towels side by side up on the hill by the fence, and listen to our transistor radios. The baby oil/iodine mixture we bathed in would deep-fry all those future ‘sunspots’ into our skin. Now, every 6 months I have the dermatologist freeze off a couple more. On those warm Friday nights there would be moonlight swims with pizza afterward at Bell’s (it later became Marco’s). Sometimes, we would go to the movies at the Gem Theater and then stop at Murray’s Restaurant for a cherry Coke. Other days we would take that really big bike ride all the way to Bergman’s Dairy for ice cream.

In the fall, the Latrobe Roller Garden would reopen and every Saturday or Sunday afternoon from 1 to 4:30, this is where you could find us. I would arrive with my skates tied together and thrown casually over my shoulder. I was desperate for a red white and blue metal skate case. They sold them at the skating rink, along with professional skates and the little fabric covers that went over them, (black for the boys and white or tan for the girls). They also sold skating skirts with satin linings and matching tights underneath, and all kinds of skating accessories. Although I never got my case back then, I saw one at a yard sale at Louie Oliver’s several years ago. It had belonged to one of his sisters and when I told him the story of how I had always coveted them, he let me have it at a really good price. When I brought my newfound treasure home, my husband, Doug, asked, “What in the world are you going to do with that?” I told him I was going to keep my skates in it, of course. They were up in the attic, next to my walking doll.

The roller rink was a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. I remember the guards wore black and white striped shirts and carried whistles, much like the lifeguards at the pool. Jerry Balega was one of them and I remember what a great skater he was. He always skated backwards and made it look so easy. I’ll never forget the day he asked me to skate. He held my hand in the couple’s skate, him backwards, me forwards. While I was smiling confidently, I was praying the whole time that I wouldn’t fall and embarrass myself. What a thrill it was for me.

Later, we would all form a big circle and do the Hokey Pokey, (And you turn yourself around That’s what it’s all about!). Next came The Mexican Hat Dance, the horse races, and last but not least, the Grand March. At the end, each couple held their clasped hands up in the air to form a big tunnel that we would skate under while holding onto the person’s waist in front of us. My worst fear was letting go of that person and stopping that long line of skaters behind me. There was the ‘trio skate’, where three of you held hands, side by side. It was followed by the ‘conga trio’, where you held onto each others waists in a row - one, two, three, kick. They had a ‘couples only’ skate, and one just for waltzing couples. These were the really good skaters, and I was always envious when I watched them do those turns. I loved the ‘all girls’ skate because this gave us a chance to show off our skills, and also our skate skirts as the boys stood behind the railing and watched us. Mine was a light blue and white checked skort (a short skirt with tights attached at the waist). I had matching light blue pom poms on my skates. I was sure that outfit was so spectacular that it, alone, could have qualified me for the Olympic skating team. The girls’ skate was immediately followed by the ‘all boys’ skate.

It was pretty much an ‘anything goes, free for all’ and what a bunch of lunatics they were. How no one ever managed to crack their skulls, I will never know. They had painted big silhouettes of skaters around the walls leading to a stage on the far side of the rink. In the fifties and sixties, musical groups would play on that stage. These were nationally known artist, like Chubby Checker. I remember a troupe of skaters that competed for the Latrobe Roller Garden, too.

There were both boys and girls and they wore matching outfits with those nifty skate covers.

Hanging on the walls of the rink were photographs of them. At the end of the day, after three hours of skating, I remember how rubbery my legs felt when I took my skates off and we walked out front to meet our ride.

In the fall, especially, there seemed to be lots of activities to enjoy. I remember making orange pumpkins with folded legs out of construction paper and hanging them on our front windows.

We would carve our Jack-O-Lantern and mom would toast the pumpkin seeds in the oven. Our youth fellowship at the EUB church would plan hayrides at someone’s farm. As Halloween approached, my brother and I would have Daddy bring home a big bag, filled with ears of field corn he got from a farmer he worked with at Westinghouse. We would shell that corn, smiling at the thought of the grand sound it would make after we tossed it at someone’s front windows. We

would go Halloweening every night. Not only did we go ‘corning’, we would also collect empty spools of thread and cut little V’s in the top and bottom. After bending a nail through the center and tying a string around the spool, we wound the string around and around. Next we held the spool against a window and pulled the string. It would make the loudest (and to us, most frightening) noise, all designed to scare the bejabbers out of an unsuspecting neighbor. You had to sneak up on someone’s porch and do this, then run like crazy. We soaped windows, too, on both houses and cars. And we sprinkled laundry soap in front yards and waited for the next hard rain to make a wonderful sudsy mess. That pretty much completes the list of the most destructive Halloween pranks we ever pulled.

We also dressed up in costumes and went trick or treating. One year, my mom bought me a nurse’s costume, complete with nurse’s cap and medical bag. I got a white satin ‘half-mask’ to go with it, and thought I looked very glamorous and professional with my stethoscope hanging from my neck. I loved that outfit and played nurse with my dolls all winter. We only went trick or treating in our own neighborhoods. After we rang the doorbell, the neighbor would invite us in to collect a treat and then they would guess who we were.

You couldn’t leave until they guessed correctly.

Sometimes we stumped them and we all had a good laugh as we lifted our masks (we called them false faces), delighted that we had managed to fool them. We never went to anyone’s house we didn’t know, although I guess we knew everyone in the entire neighborhood. Today I get carloads of complete strangers, trick or treating with their big grocery bags held out. They come all the way from Latrobe and Blairsville and I have no idea who they are.

Fall was also apple season and my mom took full advantage. She made beautiful pies and warm, chunky applesauce, but her specialty was apple dumplings. They were huge, gooey and delicious.

Mom loved being in the kitchen and was a fabulous cook. When her gardening season came to a close, she spent her extra time baking. When I saw the can of cocoa and big bag of sugar on the kitchen table it meant only one thing - FUDGE! This was from a recipe handed down from her grandmother.

We took turns stirring it for what seemed like hours. She didn’t use a candy thermometer, just a little cup of water. She would drop a spoonful of candy in and could tell if it was ready just by the appearance. My brother and I were allowed to scrape every extra ounce from the pan and stirring spoon while we waited for the big platter of candy to cool. I tried to replicate her recipe once.

You could have paved the driveway with my version. Although I have never been able to duplicate her recipe, I saved the big pink Melmac platter she used to coat with butter before pouring that wonderful treat into it. We had to wait an agonizing hour until it set before it could be cut.

The creamy, chocolatey flavor was exquisite. No candy I have ever eaten, no matter how expensive, could compare to hers.

Our youthful games and adventures were certainly not the kind that are immortalized in books. The excitement factor was pretty low, I guess. But we had wonderful times. We learned

that we had to get along or be shunned. We learned what it felt like to win, and more importantly, how to behave when you didn’t win.

We learned self-reliance and the ability to compromise. And, I think most importantly, we learned to cultivate our imaginations. Just about everyone in the neighborhood seemed to be in the same boat financially, and none of us lived very ‘high on the hog’. But the kids in my neighborhood had no idea we were poor. Our lives seemed idyllic, at least when I think back that’s how I remember it. When they say ‘money isn’t everything’, my childhood proved what a profound statement that is. Daddy worked for Westinghouse’s meager factory wages and mom stayed home to take care of us while she made ends meet brilliantly. My family had riches that you couldn’t measure on a spreadsheet. Mom and Daddy gave us everything we needed for a wonderful life, love, encouragement, stability, a happy home, and strict but loving guidance. I can’t think of anything important that I was ever deprived of . . . except maybe that red white and blue skate case.

Ruthie Parrish Richardson is a life-long resident of Derry. Her memories of growing up in such a wonderful small town are one of her greatest treasures.“I feel the lessons we learned back then were a powerful force in shaping the people we are today. Small town America may seem to be gone forever, but if, now and then, we take a moment to remember what those ‘growing-up years’ were like, we can keep the values we learned strong and pass the best of them along to the next generation.” Ruthie and her husband Doug have owned Richardson Construction in Derry since 1970 and have a daughter, Nicole, who lives in San Francisco with her husband, Russell and daughter, Riley.

Write to Ruth at ruthelaine@LaurelMountainPost.com .

ONE MONTH FREE! w/Paid Joining Fee and E.F.T. Sign Up Offer Expires 10/15/06

Loyalhanna Community Center (Knights of Columbus) 724.244.2869 latderjazzer@msn.com Owner/Instructor Cathy Guerrieri

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 5

A Cliffhanger Holiday

by JB Rossi

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6 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

With the soaring temperatures and the high humidity readings over the summer months, I traded in my Nike joggers for an indoor Stairmaster located in an air-conditioned, environmentcontrolled loft exercise room inside my home.

Thank goodness, I did. Little did I know that just a few weeks later over a week-long holiday in Southern Italy, I would climb over ten thousand steps!

My “stepping vacation” adventure (as the holiday was quickly nicknamed), began as the small Iberian airliner touched down in the Southern Italian city of Naples. My family descended the first twelve steps off the aircraft. Looking forward to the first segment of our vacation, we quickly gathered our baggage and headed out into the airport lobby. As the electronic double doors parted, we were greeted by approximately thirty men of various heights and ages all holding up signs with names written on them in bold black letters. I quickly scanned the placards. Not one had the name “Rossi” printed on it. I took another look. No. My driver, which had been previously arranged for months in advance, was apparently no where in sight. My husband and children looked at me in puzzlement.

I gritted my teeth and shrugged. So much for my diligent prearrangements!

Suddenly there was a loud commotion coming from behind the mass of drivers. A frantic voice called out and the crowd parted like the red sea to let someone through. A short, dark curly-haired young man with olive skin pushed his way to the front of the crowd and stopped abruptly in front of me. He lifted up his placard and smiled.

“Hello,” I said. I gently turned his sign right side up. “I’m Mrs. Rossi.”

He smiled again, nodded, and then led our group of eight out to his blue mini-bus. As we piled in, I began my usual questioning; How far was the hotel from the airport? How long would it take us to get there? Would we be hitting a lot of traffic at this time of day? And, most importantly, did he have cold drinks available? He just nodded again and smiled. I’m sure I had insisted on an Englishspeaking driver!

Within minutes we were out of the city and whisking our way toward the mountains in the distance. Having done my research ahead of time, I knew that our destination was situated in the hills above the Tyrrhenian Sea. I sat back and got ready to enjoy the view.

But as the two-lane highway narrowed to a smaller two-lane road, and then to a one-lane road that was not much wider than my driveway but still handled two-way traffic, I began to get nervous.

We climbed higher and higher. The tiny road became more and more twisted, snaking its way up the steep mountain and moving ever so close to

the edge of the cliff. I looked out my window once and saw nothing but a steep drop all the way down to the ocean. Suddenly I remembered reading something about the Amalfi Drive being described as the “winding ribbon of potential death.” My tummy turned. Thank goodness I hadn’t taken off my motion sickness bands yet.

Several times as we serpentined our way up the mountain, the driver had to pull over to the very edge of the road to let another car or bus pass by us in the opposite direction. I kept my eyes straight forward.

Finally, when we reached the summit of the mountain, the driver slowed down. I ventured a look sideways. I saw a sign.

“Oh look, honey,” I said. “There is a hotel all the way up here on the top of this mountain!”

The driver stopped the van completely and got out. I took another look at the sign and gasped.

“Oh, honey.” I drew in another long breath. “It’s our hotel…” I swallowed hard. How could this be possible? I thought our hotel had its own private beach and the ocean is way down there? I grew nauseous again.

Did I fail to mention that in addition to being motion sensitive, I am also frightened of heights and claustrophobic? Who planned this vacation anyway?

Within minutes the other seven members of our group jumped out of the vehicle and ran over to the edge of the cliff. I, of course, stayed right beside the van. Someone needed to keep an eye on our luggage, after all. The driver began to unload while two of the most muscular men I have ever seen began to gather up the bags.

Each man threw two backpacks on, hefted a suitcase underneath each armpit, and then grabbed two other pieces of luggage with each hand. It was amazing to see. And ever more amazing was how they carried all this down the fifty steps to the lobby where we checked in.

When the keys were all distributed, the two men picked up their respective loads and led the way down the steep cliff toward our rooms.

As I followed them out of the lobby, I looked out to see the most picturesque view I have ever seen. I could have sworn I was looking at a painting. I was standing on the edge of a shear cliff that dropped down about 1000 feet into the azure blue ocean. To my left I could see a hundred or so tiny little houses clinging to the hillside with terraced gardens everywhere. Lemon trees dominated the vegetation.

I looked to my right. On no! The one porter was holding the door open for me to a tiny glass outdoor incline. Seeing the look of horror on my face, the man motioned toward the steps.

“How many?” I asked.

“Only one hundred and ninety-five down to your room, Senora.” The porter smiled. I took a deep breath, reluctantly entered the glass contraption along with the other seven members of my group, and closed my eyes. As the door shut and we began our descent, I heard gasps of awe and pretend wails.

“We’re sliding right into the sea, Aunt Jo,” cried one child. “Look, Aunt Jo, the one cable that’s holding us up here is getting so thin. I hope it won’t break while we’re here.” And, “Hey, Mum, you’d better be careful not to tumble out of bed tonight.

You won’t stop rolling until you hit the water way down there!” Are we having fun yet!

Within a few moments (it felt like a lifetime to me), the incline stopped and we piled out. There were only twelve more steps down to our lodge! As I entered our room, I set down my purse and walked over to the French doors. I opened them wide and was amazed. The small balcony attached to our room seemed like it was floating above the sea. The view (when I finally mustered up enough courage) was fabulous. Just breathtaking! Sprawled before me was the deep blue sea as calm as a sheet of glass. To my left and right were pastel-colored villas clinging to the hillside. Fishing boats of every size bobbed near the dock as yachts and water taxis maneuvered about. From the height of our hotel room, everything looked like a rainbow of dappled specks painted on a crystal blue canvas.

Now I completely understand John Steinbeck’s description of Positano in his May 1953 article in Harper’s Bazaar. “It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.”

The stepping adventure continued throughout our stay. There were 927 steps down to the private beachfront or you could go down in an elevator which traveled windowless inside a cave for what felt to me like a lifetime, but, in reality, was equivalent to descending about twelve stories.

There were only fifteen steps down from the beachfront restaurant to the boat dock, but 378 more to get back up from there to the swimming pool.

With all this stepping, one can get rather famished quickly. A steep walk down into the small town center is a must for additional fine dining options and shopping excursions. From our room we scaled 224 steps to get the shuttle and only 683 steps down from the drop-off point to the shore area

for the best restaurants. I indulged in typical Italian fare such as insalada caprese, pizza fritte, spaghetti pomodoro, and of course, grilled local fish. After lunch, we wisely chose to go back to our hotel via the water taxi rather than climbing back up the steps.

Downtown Positano, however, is not all steps.

There are several steep walkways hidden amongst the steps. One that I remember in particular was covered with a beautiful canopy of blooming bougainvillea vines.

My favorite shop was I Sapori di Positano, which is located just after the covered walkway. Within its walls, you can find almost anything to do with the one item that this town (and much of the Amalfi coast) is most noted, its lemons! The Amalfi lemon is most noted for its size, sweetness, juiciness, and relatively seedless nature. Southern Italy’s warm, dry climate and rich volcanic soil are responsible for producing this amazing fruit. Lemon groves cover the hillsides, fields, and terraced gardens throughout this region.

At I Sapori di Positano, I found huge lemon scented candles, lemon decorated tablecloths, lemon painted pottery, and most importantly, limoncello.

Limoncello is the zesty refreshing liqueur made exclusively from the one-of-a-kind sweet Amalfi lemons. It is served ice cold as an apertivo or as an after-dinner digestive. This coveted liqueur has a sweet citrus taste and comes in beautifully handpainted bottles and ceramic decanters. Yum! Within a few days, I was getting used to all the climbing and getting less out-of-breath with each step. And with all this exercise, I was able to indulge in a few extra Italian delicacies such as gelato and a limoncello or two without the extra weight gain.

Unfortunately, my few days sped by, not allowing me the time to explore the nearby island of Capri and the three-island abode of the mythological Sirens, who bewitched passing sailors with their entrancing voices. I still have so much to see and do in the Amalfi coast. But I guess I will have to leave those sights for my next adventure. For now, my first cliffhanger holiday in Positano was certainly a step in the right direction!

J.B. Rossi wants to thank the staff of the Laurel Mountain Post for allowing her the opportunity to share her stories with the great people of our community. Thank you also to the loyal readers of this fabulous publication. We’re getting bigger and better all the time because of you!

Where science, technique and beauty meet

Islamo-fascist terrorists are determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can, and destroy our nation – not because of anything we’ve done, but simply because of who we are and what we believe. This is the great challenge facing America in the early years of the 21st century, and we need leaders who understand this threat and are committed to defeating it.

Diana Irey - R

I’ve got three teenage children I love very much, and I want them to be able to grow up in an America where they don’t have to worry every time they get on an airplane, or visit a big city, or take a drink of water.

I support the President. In Iraq today, we are engaged in the central front of the War on Terror.

VIEWS FROM THE C ANDID ATE: ANDIDA 12th Congressional District Jobs are the Number One priority for Jack Murtha, and his record speaks for itself throughout Westmoreland County. He helped to attract Sony, worked the deal for the purchase of rail lines that were being abandoned by CSX to save jobs and help attract new ones, attached an amendment that saved Latrobe Brewing, supports regional defense contractors and the Center for Global Competitiveness at Saint Vincent college, and leads the regional diversification into tourism.

Jack Mur tha - D Murtha View from the balcony of my hotel room of the town of Positano, Italy, as it clings to the cliffs.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 7

FOCUS ON CHILDREN Nicole Vitale Smith, M.S.W.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!!

CHILDHOOD FEARS “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.

You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt Every child experiences some type of fear. Recently, my oldest son jumped off a slide, half-way down, because he saw a big spider. My younger son will not go to bed without a night-light. One friend can not take her 6 year old daughter to the movie theatre because of the dark and loud noises. At Hershey Park two summers ago, a friend’s 3 year old jumped over the table during lunch when a person dressed as a candy bar walked towards us. A friend’s son began to stutter recently because he does not want to start school. My next door neighbor informed me that her 9 year old son is afraid of heights and elevators and her 12 year old daughter is afraid of doing poorly/ failing at school and gymnastics.

Being afraid is a normal part of life.

Richard Kingsley, a pediatric psychiatrist, reports that “many children experience age-appropriate fears, such as being afraid of the dark. Most kids, with some reassurance and perhaps a nightlight, will overcome or outgrow it.”

So, what are kids afraid of?? A child’s fears will change over time and may vary based on gender. In addition, certain fears are common at different ages. The following chart was prepared by New York University’s Child Study Center: (remember that this is a sampling of typical occurrences and children develop at different rates) 5-10 months: stranger anxiety, loud noises 12-18 months: separation anxiety (from parents or caregivers) 2-4 years: monsters and animals, dark places, loud noises 4-6 years: school, dark, water, heights, animals 6-11 years: thunder/ lightening, doctors, burglars, fires, death, wars 12 and older: tests/ exams, teasing, friends, dating

Although anxieties are a part of growing up, you may help your child manage his fears. Never ignore your child’s fears. Encouraging your child to talk about his or her fear(s) is critical. Always acknowledge their concern and let him know it is 8 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

good to discuss fears. Always answer their questions on their level- don’t use words that are too complicated. Also, reassure him that it is ok to be afraid. Share some of your fears and anxieties and how you cope. Help him to overcome his fear by teaching him distraction and relaxation skills (deep breathing or imagining a beautiful, peaceful place).

You need to try and desensitize him by confronting

phobias in young children are treatable. They suggest seeking help from a psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in phobias. In addition, Dr. Kingsley explains that “if a pattern that is persistent or pervasive emerges, then you really need to intervene.” He recommends seeing a mental health professional with expertise in working with children and adolescents.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia reports that while most children have common fears and anxiety, specific phobias occur in 1 to 9% of children and adolescents. They estimate that 1.4% experience social phobias (the fear of social situations). Iowa State University’s education department asserts that 1 in 4 children between the ages of 3 and 8 experience night terrors or nightmares.

Nicole’s sons, Austin & Owen, with his fears through gradual exposure to that fear. For instance, you and your child might visit the preschool and meet the teacher before school starts.

As a next step you might spend an entire day with them at school, decreasing that time over the next few days. Facing your own fears and taking small steps to alleviate that fear will assist your child.

Lastly, never over-react to his fears.

When you have exhausted the above-mentioned techniques and put forth the effort to help your child with his fears, some kids will still have trouble. Look for changes in your child’s eating or sleeping, or a sudden closeness to you. If a fear becomes extreme and interferes with daily activities, then a phobia may develop. Phobias are strong and irrational fears (Caring for Your School Age Child, Bantam, 1999).

For example, you should be concerned if your child refuses to go outside because he is afraid of dogs.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics,

If you would like to read more about this topic, I recommend the following books: Help for Worried Kids: How Your Child Can Conquer Anxiety and Fear, by Cynthia G. Last, Freeing Your Child From Anxiety; Powerful, Practical Solutions to Overcome Your Child’s Fears, Worries, and Phobias, by Tamar E. Chansky, No More Monsters in the Closet: their dad, Chris.

Teaching Your Children to Overcome Everyday Fear and Phobias, by Jeffrey Brown, MD, and Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child

by Katharina Manassis, MD. Books for children include: Let’s Talk about Being Afraid (the Let’s Talk Library), The Runaway Bunny, The Kissing Hand, After Dark, Are You My Mother, Where the Wild Things Are, and Starting School.

If you have further questions, The Anxiety Disorders Association of America is a good resource and information may be obtained from their website www.adaa.org.

Nicole is a 1988 Derry Area High School graduate. She attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated in 1992 with a BA in Social Work. She received her MS degree in 1997 from Temple University. She has worked in the following areas: Early Intervention (developmental disabilities), Adolescent Mental Health, Hospice, and Youth Work (England).

Currently, Nicole is taking a break from her career as a Licensed Social Worker to be a full-time mom to her two boys, ages 6 and 3 years old.

American Association For Lost Children, Inc. I am pleased to inform the local communities of a wonderful small charity, located in Latrobe, which searches all over the country and sometimes out of the country for missing children American Association For Lost Children, Inc., (AAFLC) is an international, Christian, non-profit organization dedicated to providing hands-on investigations and recovery of missing children at no cost to the parents. AAFLC conducts actual physical searches for missing children, along with educating, counseling and encouraging parents of missing children. Whenever possible, AAFLC works in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to recover missing children.

Mark R. Miller, a 1977 Latrobe high school graduate and 1981 graduate of St. Vincent College founded AAFLC in 1987 in Houston, Texas. Since 1987 AAFLC has found over 100 missing children. AAFLC has gone as far away as Germany and Lebanon to find missing children and return them to the U.S. On May 5, 2006, AAFLC found two small missing children, born in the U.S., who had been abducted and taken to Mexico and returned them to their mother in Florida.

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The missing children AAFLC focuses on are victims of non custodial parental abduction. When a child is abducted by a stranger, it makes for sensational headlines. When a child is taken by a parent, few take notice. Yet the emotional toll on children kidnapped in family abductions is no less severe.

In some of the missing children’s cases AAFLC has solved, the abducted children were told their other parent was dead. Still other children abducted by a parent are told their other parent does not love them and some are sexually abused.

Of the nearly 250,000 kidnappings reported each year in the United States, more than three quarters are perpetuated by someone the child knows, usually a parent, according to the Department of Justice. According to Ernie Allen, President of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in 80 percent of cases involving parental abduction, the abducting parent does not have the child’s best interests in mind. They are taken out of anger or vengeance against a spouse, not love for the child.

AAFLC has been in numerous newspaper stories and T.V. news shows over its almost 19 years of existence. In past years AAFLC has been featured in: Reader’s Digest, Women’s World, Life and Biography Magazines and has been seen on Inside Edition(Three Times), CNN’s Larry King Live, 48 Hours and other T.V. news shows.

Each year May 25th is National Missing Children’s Day in the United States.

AAFLC is located at: 539 Fred Rogers Drive, Latrobe, PA. AAFLC has 3 full time employees, Mark Miller, Stephanie Flowers and Tess Kramer and one part time employee, Mike Kramer. AAFLC’s phone number is 724-537-6970. At AAFLC’s website, www.aaflc.org people can view actual T.V. news coverage of a few of the many missing children AAFLC has found over the years.

– Mike Kramer

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Think Pink in October October. The mere mention of the month brings thoughts of what it means. We think of Fall. We know that football season is well underway.

It reminds chocoholics that Halloween will be here soon. For me, all of the aforementioned leap to mind. But my very first thought every year is that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer. Those two words that are plastered all over every media outlet.

It’s the disease that takes over 40,000 women from us every year.

It’s the disease that affects almost 213,000 newly diagnosed patients every year. And it’s the disease that eventually touches the lives of 10 times those numbers because it affects one’s entire way of life. I am

one of the many millions who has been touched by breast cancer. You see for me, October is also a reminder that it is the month in which my dear Aunt Ellie, my Mom’s older sister, passed away after a courageous four year battle with the disease. This is why I am so passionate.

This is why I am involved. And this is why when I Think P.I.N.K., it is not just a 31 day gig. It is a state of mind.

I have been involved with the Race For The Cure, specifically the Pittsburgh Affiliate, for 12 years. My mother and I began our volunteer efforts the year after my Aunt was diagnosed. But I already knew about breast cancer, at least on the surface so to speak. My Dad’s mom,

Aunt Ellie, Mom & Me 10 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

my Grandma Libby, had died from it in 1965. Since I wasn’t born for another five years, I, of course, never knew her. Yet I had heard those two words for as long as I can remember. The true awareness of what it all really means, however, did not set in until I attended my first Race For The Cure. All you have to do is take one look at the sea of pink t-shirts, the special shirts worn by survivors, and you get it. It makes more of an impact as you read the many tributes, in both words and pictures, that participants wear in honor of or in memory of family and friends. And then as you listen to the roll call of how many years those brave survivors are still going strong after being diagnosed, it tugs at your heart and leaves a lasting imprint in your mind. It is always moving. It is sometimes bittersweet.

And it is most definitely how one can learn to Think P.I.N.K.

a simple, yet powerful way to learn to Think P.I.N.K.

I often don’t realize how much I know about breast cancer and breast cancer awareness until someone asks me about it. And yet at the very same time, I realize how much more I could know. My dream is that someday there won’t be a Race. This would mean that there would be a CURE. In the meantime, I want to give everyone an opportunity to have

Kathy Kasperik is a Derry High Graduate and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State University. Kathy is also extremely passionate about the Komen Race for The Cure® after losing family members and friends to the disease. She has been a volunteer with the Pittsburgh Affiliate for over 12 years. Kathy will always be seen wearing some form of a pink ribbon, the universal sign for breast cancer awareness. Everyone needs to THINK PINK!

P - Promise to “Think Pink” - A promise to a dying sister is why the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was created. Make your own promises. Find your passion. Care.

I - Inspire hope - Do your part.

Volunteer. Donate money. Support survivors.

N - Need to know - Learn your body.

Identify your risks. Understand your history.

K - Keep active - Participate in a Race. Increase your knowledge about the disease. Wear a pink ribbon everyday!

I know that when I turn the page on the calendar to signal October’s arrival, I will be in my 24/7 Think P.I.N.K. mode.

My hope is that I have helped a few more people join me in my crusade.

DOWN ON THE FARM Shelly Gerhard

Whole Grain Goodness Hello again from Fairview Farm!

Summer is starting to wind down and things are getting a little less hectic.

We got our oats harvested, and it turned out pretty well this year. The old combine made it through another year without breaking down. The weather cooperated, and I was able to get the straw baled without it getting rained on. Things went pretty well according to schedule . . . straw baled, and the alfalfa and clover seeded in the stubble will make new hay fields for

next year. Part of the oats were sown without grass so I could plow it up later and plant some barley. I always like to have barley for cattle feed, and haven’t grown it for a couple of years.

It seems to keep the cows’ hair shiny.

They like it and stay healthier when I add it to the corn and oats in the grinder.

We are ready to plow eight acres. The soil was tested to determine the amount of lime needed. Working it

WHERE’S MUGGSY? On the Scene with David “Muggsy” Miles

Fairview Farm’s Annual Corn Roast & Picnic In August, Muggsy traveled to Fairview Farm in Derry Township to attend Shelly Gerhard’s annual Corn Roast & Picnic. This year’s event included a roasted pig, provided

by Don Jones of New Alexandria, and a smorgasboard of potluck favorites.

over one time, lime is then spread. I disc and harrow and plant some winter barley at the end of September, adding in some timothy grass which comes up in spring after laying dormant all winter. Time to take a couple of days off!

Between plowing and planting barley, we work on odds and ends of 2nd and 3rd cutting hay that needs to be cut and baled, according to weather. It is also time to put up food for winter, clean out barns, place fresh bedding and do repairs around barns in time to bring the cattle in for winter. We separate the calves from cows to get ready to take to feeder calf sale and decide which ones to sell, and what ones to keep and feed over the winter based on how much feed we have stored for winter. It’s also a management decision based on the pricing on rates for light feeders – sell all if price is high; keep if price is low and you have lots of hay. Then you can sell in spring for heavy feeders.

Picking corn comes at the end of October. Sometimes corn does not mature until November, but it’s time to get the corn picker and corn wagons out, and check their tires. Then, if some of your corn is growing along fencerows or woods, you have to pick outer rows by hand or simply mow them down.

Another regular event was the hayride at dusk.

Muggsy got to try his hand at driving the tractor before the double haywagon adventure got under way!

If you were organic farming, you would have planted pumpkins around the out edges of the cornfield. Any kind of vines or gourds make good companion crops. The pumpkin vines would climb the corn stalks making a beautiful fall display, the kind you picture in the country this time of year!

Shelly Gerhard is a native of New Derry and lifelong farmer. Together with his wife, Carol, he has owned and operated Fairview Farm in Derry Township since 1964 raising beef cattle, chickens, pigs, horses and a variety of crops including corn, oats, barley, wheat, soy beans and hay. This day-in-the-life account of small town rural farming is based on a composite of his life experiences. He studied Agriculture at Penn State University and, as an avid reader, continues to learn about a variety of subjects every day.

k

Good Luck to the

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

from everyone at the Laurel Mountain Post and all of your Training Camp Fans!

k

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LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 11

THE LIGONIER CHEF Scott Sinemus

Shuck It and Make Chowder Well summer seems to be coming to an end yet again. Adieu humidity and mosquitos, hello crisp nights and colorful ridges! Aside from spring, autumn is my favorite season for a multitude of reasons; most are food related of course. With the garden seemingly overflowing with bountiful goodness and a more civilized climate I look forward to all my favorite simmered & slow cooked comfort foods.

One of my favorite things about the end of summer is the corn roasts we get invited to. There is something inherently special about getting together with friends you haven’t gotten to see much throughout the busy summer and enjoying a potluck corn roast. The one at Fairview Farm always has a hayride, lots of fun, fantastic corn and giant filled cookies (the pastry is perfection) made by Slim’s mother, Betty Chicka. This year’s hayride wasn’t nearly as exciting as last years; but I guess you can’t have an axle break on the wagon every year or even that would get dull and boring. When I was growing up, we even went to a few that served very young field corn instead of sweet corn; now that was some very hearty corn.

Since the corn is just about finished producing tender but still tasty kernels, one of the first things I make is Corn Chowder. There isn’t a better application for leftover or slightly tougher corn. Even with the lack of rain, this summer seemed to produce some really delicious corn. However, it’s passing its peak for gnawing right off the cob.

There are a few other applications for corn when it’s still flavorful, but getting a little tough: relish, salsa, canning, and even blanching and freezing if off of the cob seems to help tenderize it a wee bit.

The following recipe as with most, is a guide. If you don’t have salt pork, use bacon; if you like carrots, add them; if you like green peppers more than red, use green or a mix of both. To lower the calories, use milk instead of light & heavy cream. If you add grilled chicken or lump crabmeat and serve a salad and crusty bread, you’ve got a complete meal! When we were in the south, we had blackened chicken and corn chowder that was really quite good; but the taste was more blackened seasoning rather than the sweet delicate nature of the corn. Of course small round loaves of bread can be hollowed out and used as the bowl to serve this hearty chowder; everyone always seems to get so excited when 12 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

presented with a warm and crispy bread bowl filled with virtually anything really.

When I make corn or any other chowder I usually make a cauldron of it, with the sole intention of freezing the “chowder base” for use throughout the winter. The chowder base is the mixture of all of the ingredients with the exception of the cream or milk. It is still possible to freeze the chowder if you’ve added the cream, but it may look broken or curdled when thawed. To avoid this issue, it’s best to freeze before adding the cream.

One of my regular clients always says, “this is truly the best way to have corn because you never have to pick it out of your teeth!”

Truth be told, even if we’re having corn-on-the-cob as a side dish, I always cut it off of the cob.

A method for cooking corn that I’ve become quite fond of in the last several years is to put it in the microwave without removing any of the husk or silk. Well, trimming the bottom of the ear off where it was attached to the stalk is a good idea, particularly if you have a smaller microwave. And you must not forget to check for the nasty caterpillars you sometimes find in corn before you press start. Once you’ve got that accomplished, arrange the ears in the microwave alternating top & bottoms for more even cooking, do not overload the oven. Cook on high power for 10 minutes. Turn the ears over and move the center ones to the outside, vice versa. And cook on high for 5-10 more minutes. The corn will be extremely hot, use tongs to remove it from the oven. Allow it to cool slightly before attempting to remove the silk & husks. Steaming the corn in it’s husk like this makes removing the silk a dream come true, and the flavor of the corn is enhanced rather than dumped down the drain with the water normally used to cook husked corn in.

Once you have the corn husked and cut off of the cob, simply toss with some melted butter, salt & white pepper to taste. If the corn gets too cool while you’re cutting it off of the cob, simply reheat in a bowl with the butter, salt & pepper for a few minutes in the microwave. You may never husk & boil corn again . . . I know I haven’t.

Scott Sinemus is a Chef with a degree in Culinary Arts from the Pennsylvania Institute for Culinary Arts in Pittsburgh. He’s continued his education with classes from the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and The Greenbrier; and has travelled internationally in search of authentic cuisine. To schedule a private cooking class, visit www.The LigonierChef.com.

Corn Chowder INGREDIENTS: • 10-12 medium ears fresh yellow corn, husks and silks removed • 3 ounces salt pork, trimmed of rind and cut into ¼ – ½ inch cubes • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter • 1 large sweet onion, small dice • 1 large red pepper, small dice • 1 cup celery, small dice • 1/2 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour • 3 cups chicken stock • 2 medium to large red-skinned potatoes scrubbed and cut into ¼ -inch cubes (about 2 cups) • 1 medium bay leaf • 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves • (or ¼ teaspoon dried) • 2 cups light cream • 1 cup heavy cream (optional) • 2 tablespoon minced fresh parsley leaves • 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt or 1 1/2 teaspoons of chicken base • Ground white pepper & salt to taste DIRECTIONS: 1. Cut kernels from the cob, transfer to medium bowl and set aside.

2. Sauté salt pork in Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cubes are crisp and golden brown, approx. 10 minutes. Pour lardons into a strainer over a bowl, and return the pot to the heat.

3. Stir in butter and onions and cook until translucent. Add the celery & red pepper, and reserved salt pork; cook until slightly softened.

Stir in flour until there are no lumps or dry flour remaining. Pour in stock and whisk until combined.

4. Add potatoes, bay leaf, thyme, cream, bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are tender.

Stir in parsley, chives, salt & pepper to taste.

Temper in the heavy cream at this point, if you’ve decided to be completely decadent.

Bon appetit!

Makes approximately 2 quarts

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What Do the Steelers Eat at Training Camp?

I went to Steelers training camp this week. I hadn’t been since my mother and my Aunt Cass used to drag my brother & me nearly every day… we took picnic baskets! I was 10 and after an hour or so, it didn’t seem to be much fun anymore. But since my mom knew one of the coaches, we got to meet a lot of the players, I had an experience I never forgot . . . watching the then, like now, Superbowl champs having dinner! It was an eye-popping sight, but practicing that hard all day couldn’t happen without substantial meals.

I was curious to see if the new champs had any special meals to go with their special teams. I began asking a few of the players what their favorite food was while they were here at training camp. I have to admit I wasn’t expecting pizza & burgers to be the first two answers I heard. First I thought, I don’t remember seeing pizza as a kid, I do however remember an enormous, brilliant red pile of lobster, which I’d recently come to love from the live tank at Kroger that was where Big Lots is now.

Fortunately the next player I asked was Chris Hoke (pictured above), whose answer was immediately, “Prime Rib or anything meat, but it’s all really good”.

Now that’s the sort of answer I was looking for. Following suit, Heath Miller (below left) said virtually the same thing, although he liked the pulled pork and a good steak. And one rookie, Mike Lorello (below right), said the tenderloin with portobella mushroom sauce was his favorite, but the crab legs come in a close second.

All the guys said that everything they have at training camp is delicious and there’s a huge selection of items to choose from. But there is one secret that none of the rookies seem to know… there’s ice cream behind the curtains!

Best of luck to the Superbowl Champion Steelers for this upcoming season!

– Scott Sinemus, The Ligonier Chef

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LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 13

Yesteryear’s Memories

Ft. Ligonier Days 2006 It may seem like summer, but the Fort Ligonier Days Committee has been thinking about the fall and this year’s Fort Ligonier Days which will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13, 14, and 15.

WE LOVE THEM ALL! Chris & Heather Smail and Noah, Lisa McCoy – Ford City, PA

Who Is Your Favorite Steeler?

Faces from Steelers Training Camp in Latrobe

BIG BEN Madison Ricchiuto Pittsburgh, PA

Theme of this year’s festivities is “Yesteryear’s Memories”, and the theme will be reflected in the variety of ways during the festivities which feature musical entertainment, crafts, food booths, a parade, and battle re-enactments at Fort Ligonier.

Windows in Ligonier will be dressed for the festivities, and awards will also be presented for best costumes.

Featured at this year’s parade will be nearly a dozen bands including the U. S. Marine Corps Band from Quantico, VA, the University of Pittsburgh Marching Band, high school bands including Ligonier, Laurel Valley, Derry, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Latrobe and Butler, and other marching musical units including a 25-member bagpipe band and a polka band. The parade will also include historic units, floats, costumed characters, the shrine units and special guests, including TV personalities.

Arrangements are being made for a number of the participating bands to perform in concert following the Saturday (Oct. 14) parade. Those performances will be announced as scheduled.

A line-up of musical entertainment is also featured during the three day of festivities which mark the anniversary of the battle of Fort Ligonier on Oct. 12, 1758 during the French and Indian War. Among entertainers who will perform at this year’s festivities are The Vogues performing 50s and 60s oldies hits for the Saturday night street dance.

Others include singer Deanna Dawn Denning, the Flood City Brass Band, Guaranteed Irish, Blue Shades, the Desperadoes, Gashouse Annie, and Runa Pacha playing music of the Andes.

BIG BEN

This year’s festivities will also feature a variety of craftsmen located at three craft sites around the town of Ligonier. Crafts include a variety of items including artwork, dried flowers, wood items, specialty foods, leather goods, handwoven clothing items and much more.

Liam McNamara Fishersville, VA

The festival will also include the popular food booths which will ring the Diamond area. Proceeds from the food sales benefit community groups.

More information about the festival is available from the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce by contacting 724-238-4200 or at the web site, www.ligonier.com.

14 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2006 COMMUNITY CALENDAR LIVE ONST A GE! ONSTA CONCERT “I Remember You” Craig Niezelski An Evening of American Standards September 30 at 8:00 PM All Tickets $10.00

VINT AGE FILM VINTA IN THE VALLEY “A Streetcar Named Desire”

September 8 & 9 at 7:30 PM September 10 at 2:30 PM All Tickets $6.00

Ligonier Theater 208 West Main Street 724-238-6514, ext. 2 vpltheater@wpa.net www.valleyplayers.org www.ligoniertheater.com

SUBSCRIPTION SHOW

Thru Nov19

Ansel Adams: A Legacy SAMA Ligonier Valley; Ligonier, PA 15658; 724-238-6015 www.sama-art.org

Catch Me If You Can

Thru Sept 3

Born of Fire: The Valley of Work Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, PA; 724-837-1500, x27 www.wmuseumaa.org

Thru Sept 3

Gristmill Productions presents Harps and Harmonicas Mountain Playhouse, Jennerstown, PA; 814-629-9201 www.mountainplayhouse.com

Sept 1-3

Ameriserv Johnstown Folkfest Friday 5PM-12AM, Sat 1230PM-12AM, Sunday 1230PM-1130PM, Johnstown Festival Park, Johnstown, PA; 888-222-1889 www.jaha.org

Sept 1-4

Labor Day Luau Celebrate summer with a Bavarian Beach Party, a Backyard Cookout and the BEACH BOYS in concert (Sept. 2) Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, PA; 814-352-7777 www.7springs.com

Sept 1-4

Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Colonial Festival Fri/Mon 10AM-6PM, Sat/Sun 10AM-8PM, Westmoreland County Fairgrounds, Pleasant Unity, PA; 724-863-4577 www.familyfestivals.com

Sept 1-3

Labor Day Weekend at Benner’s Meadow Run Benner’s Meadow Run Camping and Cabins, Farmington, PA; 724-329-4097 www.bennersmeadowrun.com

Sept 1-3

Johnstown Folk Fest Johnstown New Festival Park, Johnstown, PA 15907;18880222-1889 www.jaha.org

Sept 2-3

Teen Quest Group Retreat Teen Quest Ranch, Somerset, PA; 1-800-288-8336 www.teenquest.org

Sept 2

Farmer’s Market 9AM-12PM, Lynch Field, Greensburg, PA; 724-834-4880

Sept 2

Beach Boys 2 PM, Grey Rocks Amphitheatre, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, PA; 814-352-7777 www.7springs.com

Sept 2

7th Annual Caring Car Cruise 4PM, Clay Avenue, Jeannette, PA; 724-523-0274

Sept 5

Farmer’s Market 3-6PM, Parking Lot Behind City Hall on Main Street, Greensburg, PA;724-834-4880

Sept 6

Greensburg Toastmasters Club presents Communication and Leadership Skills Seminar Greensburg Court House, Main Street, Greensburg; 724- 537 -7966

Sept 6-10

Farmer’s and Threshermans Jubilee New Centerville, PA ; 814-926-3142 www.ncrvfc.com

Sept 8

Latrobe Skating Center Opening 7-930PM, South Ligonier Street, Latrobe, PA; 724537-8541 www.latrobeskatingcenter.com

Sept 8-9

Vintage Film in the Valley presents A Streetcar Named Desire 730PM, Ligonier Valley Theatre, Ligonier, PA; 724-238-6514 www.ligonier.com

Sept 8

Scottish Highlands Dinner Mountain View Inn, Greensburg, PA ; 724-834-5300 www.mountainviewinn.com

Sept 8-10

Mountain Craft Games Somerset Historical Center, Somerset, PA;814-445-6077 www.somersethistoricalcenter.org

Sept 9

Farmer’s Market 9AM-12PM, Lynch Field, Greensburg, PA; 724-834-4880

October 20, 21, 27, 28 at 8:00 PM October 29 at 2:30 PM $12.00 Adults $10.00 Seniors/Students Call for Reservations!

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 15

Sept 9

Ligonier Highland Games Scottish Festival Idlewild Park, Ligonier, PA; 412-851-9900

Sept 21Nov 5

Sept 9-10

Flax Scutching Festival Stahlstown, PA; 724-238-4200 www.ligonier.com

Tom Savini’s TerrorMania Century III Mall, West Mifflin, PA; 724-684-3684 www.terrormania.net

Sept 21

Sept 9-10

Tour de StrongLand Bike Race Vandergrift, PA; 724-845-5426 www.strongland.org

Westmoreland Jazz Society presents KENNY BLAKE TRIO Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg; 724-837-1500 ext.27 www.wmuseumaa.org

Sept 20

Greensburg Toastmasters Club presents Communication and Leadership Skills Seminar Greensburg Court House, Main Street, Greensburg; 724- 537 -7966

Sept 20Oct 1

Gristmill Productions presents Barbara Russell in Looking in Both Directions Mountain Playhouse, Jennerstown, PA; 814-629-9201 www.mountainplayhouse.com

Sept 21-25

The YWCA Westmoreland County Literacy Program Annual Used Book Sale Westmoreland Mall (along Route 30 in Greensburgz0 Thursday – Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Phone: 724-834-9390 Literacy@ywcawestmoreland.org

Sept 22-24

Mt. Pleaant Glass & Ethnic Festival Friday/Saturday 11AM-11PM, Sunday 11AM-7PM, Downtown Mt. Pleasant; 724-547-7738 www.mtpleasantglassandethnicfestival.com

Sept 23

Murder Mystery Christian W. Klay Winery, Chalk Hill, PA; 724-439-3424 www.cwklaywinery.com

Sept 23

Farmer’s Market 9AM-12PM, Lynch Field, Greensburg, PA; 724-834-4880

Sept 23

Grandview Gospel Sing 3-8PM, 3 miles north of town on Rte 711, Ligonier, PA; 724-593-3166

Sept 9-10

Teen Quest Group Retreat Teen Quest Ranch, Somerset, PA; 1-800-288-8336 www.teenquest.org

Sept 10

Antiques and Collectibles Show Historic Hannahstown, Greensburg, PA;724-836-1800 www.starofthewest.org

Sept 23

10 Hole Putt-Putt Contest for Missing Children 9AM-7PM, Statler’s Fun Center, Greensbug, PA;724-537-6970 www.aaflac.org

Sept 10

Scottish Band Concert 1PM, On the Diamond, Ligonier, PA ; 724-238-4200 www.ligonier.com

Sept 23-24

Teen Quest Group Retreat Teen Quest Ranch, Somerset, PA; 1-800-288-8336 www.teenquest.org

Sept 10

Vintage Film in the Valley presents A Streetcar Named Desire 230PM, Ligonier Valley Theatre, Ligonier, PA; 724-238-6514 www.ligonier.com

Sept 23-24

Annual Berlin Whiskey Rebellion Celebration Main & Vine Streets, Berlin, PA; 814-26-5987 www.berlinpa.org

Sept. 11

Home Instead and Green Meadows at Latrobe present Victoria Principal’s Senior Makeover: Feeling Good from the Inside Out 230PM, Green Meadows, Latrobe, PA; 724-537-5255 or 724-836-5795

Sept 24

Annual Chili Cook-Off & Mountain Harvest Christian W. Klay Winery, Chalk Hill, PA; 724-439-3424 www.cwklaywinery.com

Sept 24

National Hunting and Fishing Day Open House 12-5PM, Irwin Sportsmen’s Club, Irwin, PA

Sept 11-17

84 Lumber Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands Nemacolin Resort, Farmington, PA; 724-329-8555 www.nemacolin.com

Sept 26

Sept 12

Farmer’s Market 3-6PM, Parking Lot Behind City Hall on Main Street, Greensburg, PA; 724-834-4880

Farmer’s Market 3-6PM, Parking Lot Behind City Hall on Main Street, Greensburg, PA; 724-834-4880

Sept 28

Sept 15

Ligonier Tavern Presents Dan Hicks Hot Licks 2 shows! 7PM and 9PM Ligonier Tavern, Ligonier, PA; 724-238-2831

Sept 15-17

Scottdale Fall Festival Scottdale, PA; www.scottdalefallfestival.org

Art Students Night – free event A special night for college and university students, as well as high school seniors, that features a showcase of artist’s materials and free samples from local suppliers, live local bands and poetry, regional visual artists in action, refreshments, and much more! Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N. Main Street, Greensburg. Call 724/ 837-1500 ext. 10 or visit www.wmuseumaa.org for more information.

Sept 16

13th Annual Polo for the Cure 12:30 gates open; match begins at 2:00 pm; Stom Hollow Farm, Route 711 in Ligonier; sponsored by the Friends of Ligonier Polo. www.lls.org/wpapolo

Sept 30

Farmer’s Market 9AM-12PM, Lynch Field, Greensburg, PA; 724-834-4880

Sept 30

15th Annual Ebensburg Potato Fest Downtown Ebensburg, PA; 814-472-8414 www.potatofest.com

Sept 30

Greater Latrobe High School Boosters presents Wildcat Cabaret Italiano GLHS , Latrobe, PA;724-537-5207

Sept 16

Farmer’s Market 9AM-12PM, Lynch Field, Greensburg, PA; 724-834-4880

Sept 16

The Westmoreland Biennial Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg. 724-837-1500 ext. 29 www.wmuseumaa.org

Sept 30

Sept 16-17

Teen Quest Group Retreat Teen Quest Ranch, Somerset, PA; 1-800-288-8336 www.teenquest.org

I Remember You Craig Niezelski - An Evening of American Standards. Ligonier Theater; 208 West Main Street; 724-238-6514; www.ligoniertheater.com

Sept 30

Sept 19

Farmer’s Market 3-6PM, Parking Lot Behind City Hall on Main Street, Greensburg, PA; 724-834-4880

TIAA CREF Financial Services presents Museum Day Carnegie Museums of Art & Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA; 412622-3131 http://www.carnegiemuseums.org and Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Pittsburgh, PA; 412-454-6000 http://www.pghhistory.org

16 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Sept 30Oct 1

Autumnfest Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, PA; 814-352-7777 www.7springs.com

Sept 30Oct 1

Teen Quest Group Retreat Teen Quest Ranch, Somerset, PA; 1-800-288-8336 www.teenquest.org Rich’s Fright Farm (closed Mon, Tues) Smithfield, PA; 724-564-7644 www.frightfarm.com Greensburg Toastmasters Club presents Communication and Leadership Skills Seminar Greensburg Court House, Main Street, Greensburg; 724- 537 -7966

October 1-31 Oct 4

Oct 4Oct 11

Gristmill Productions presents Bingo Extravaganza! (It’s Not) The Palace Theatre presents George Carlin 730PM, The Palace Theatre, Greensburg, PA; 724-836-8000 www.

Oct 6-14

MAZEL by Amy Hartman Reeves Theater, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA; 724-838-4241

Oct 6-7

Haunted Mountain Hayrides and Trail Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Mill Run, PA; 724-4552929 www.jellystonemillrun.com

Oct 7

Art in the Kitchen Tasting Tour 10 AM-4PM; Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg; 724/837-1500 ext. 29 www.wmuseumaa.org

Oct 7

Latrobe United Presbyterian Church Autumn Festival 10AM-3PM, Latrobe United Presbyterian Church, 340 Spring Street, Latrobe, PA; 724-539-8881

Oct 18

Greensburg Toastmasters Club presents Communication and Leadership Skills Seminar Greensburg Court House, Main Street, Greensburg; 724- 537 -7966

Oct 7-8

Autumnfest Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, PA; 814-352-7777 www.7springs.com

Oct 18Nov 1

Scarecrow Contest Downtown Ligonier, PA; 724-238-4200 www.ligonier.com

Oct 19

Oct 7-8

Hallowboo at Idlewild & SoakZone Idlewild Park, Ligonier, PA; 724-238-3666 www.idlewild.com

Westmoreland Jazz Society presents Tony Janflone Jr. Band Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg; 724-837-1500 ext. 27 www.wmuseumaa.org

Oct 7-8

Teen Quest Group Retreat Teen Quest Ranch, Somerset, PA; 1-800-288-8336 www.teenquest.org

Oct 20,21 27,28,29

Catch Me If You Can Ligonier Theater; 208 West Main Street; 724-238-6514; Call for reservations; www.ligoniertheater.com

October 8

Antiques and Collectibles Show Historic Hannahstown, Greensburg, PA;724-836-1800 www.starofthewest.org

Oct 20-21

Haunted Mountain Hayrides and Trail Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Mill Run, PA; 724-4552929 www.jellystonemillrun.com

October 11

George Carlin in Concert The Palace Theatre, Greensburg, 21 W. Otterman Street, TICKETS $45 and $38 and are available by calling the Box Office at 724-836-8000.

Oct 21-22

Teen Quest Group Retreat Teen Quest Ranch, Somerset, PA; 1-800-288-8336 www.teenquest.org

Oct 21-22

Autumnfest Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, PA; 814-352-7777 www.7springs.com

Oct 21-22

Hallowboo at Idlewild & SoakZone Idlewild Park, Ligonier, PA; 724-238-3666 www.idlewild.com

Oct 27-28

Haunted Mountain Hayrides and Trail Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Mill Run, PA; 724-4552929 www.jellystonemillrun.com

Oct 27

Autumn Big Band Dinner Dance Mountain View Inn, Greensburg, PA; 724-834-5300 www.mountainviewinn.com

Oct 13-15

Fort Ligonier Days Downtown Ligonier, PA; 724238-4200 www.ligonier.com

Oct 13-14

Haunted Mountain Hayrides and Trail Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Mill Run, PA; 724-455-2929 www.jellystonemillrun.com

Oct 14-15

Autumnfest Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, PA; 814-352-7777 www.7springs.com

Oct 27-29

A Halloween Haunting Storytelling Event Compass Inn Museum, Laughlintown, PA; 724-238-4983 www.compassinn.com

Oct 14-15

Fall Foliage & Harvest Celebration Christian W. Klay Winery, Chalk Hill, PA; 724-439-3424 www.cwklaywinery.com

Oct 28

Arts Alive! Family Day – free program 12-4PM; Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg; 724-837-1500 ext. 10 www.wmuseumaa.org

Oct 14-15

Hallowboo at Idlewild & SoakZone Idlewild Park, Ligonier, PA; 724-238-3666 www.idlewild.com

Oct 28-29

Oct 14-15

Teen Quest Group Retreat Teen Quest Ranch, Somerset, PA; 1-800-288-8336 www.teenquest.org

Dollhouse & Miniature Show Mountain View Inn, Greensburg, PA; 724-834-5300 www.mountainviewinn.com

Oct 27-28

Murder Mystery Christian W. Klay Winery, Chalk Hill, PA; 724-439-3424 www.cwklaywinery.com

Murder Mystery Christian W. Klay Winery, Chalk Hill, PA; 724-439-3424 www.cwklaywinery.com

Oct 28-29

Hallowboo at Idlewild & SoakZone Idlewild Park, Ligonier, PA; 724-238-3666 www.idlewild.com

Oct 14

Oct 15

Going My Way Mountain Playhouse, Jennerstown, PA; 814-629-9201 www.mountainplayhouse.com

To add your community event to this calendar, please call 724-331-3936 or visit our website www.LaurelMountainPost.com LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 17

Lady in Leopard

by Barbara M. Neill

Bob Casey - D • The current leadership in Washington has put the special interests ahead of working families. Bob Casey will return Pennsylvania priorities to the U.S. Senate – priorities like reducing the cost of health care and creating good paying jobs. As Auditor General and State Treasurer, Bob Casey developed a long record of standing up for working families.

• Bob Casey opposes unfair trade laws like CAFTA that put U.S. workers at a disadvantage. U.S. workers are the best in the world, but they cannot compete against countries with unfair labor laws • To help more families take time off to care for family members who are sick, Bob Casey supports an expansion of the Family and Medical Leave law which has already helped more that 50 million Americans take time off from their jobs.

• Bob Casey opposes plans to privatize Social Security that will cost a trillion dollars to implement, risk retirement funds in the stock market, and require cuts to Social Security’s guaranteed benefits.

VIEWS FROM THE C ANDID ATE: CANDID ANDIDA United States Senate Race • Rick is working to strengthen Social Security so all generations of Americans will benefit from this critical program. He is committed to ensuring that those in retirement or near retirement receive their full benefits.

That is why he is fighting to pass the Social Security Guarantee Act. • Because of Rick’s leadership, the first clean coal-toliquid fuel plant in the country will be based in Schuylkill County. This will not only create 1,600 jobs for Pennsylvanians, the facility will greatly increase our nation’s energy supply in an environmentally friendly way. Rick continues to find ways to reduce our dependency on foreign sources of oil.

• Rick Santorum has been a leader in the fight against poverty by championing programs that empower all citizens to reach their full potential. Rick was the primary architect of the landmark welfare reform bill, which has enabled over seven million Americans to exchange a welfare check for a paycheck.

• Pennsylvania is rich in its natural resources, and Rick believes we must achieve the right balance between encouraging development and preserving open space.

His Farmland Preservation Program legislation is preserving and protecting thousands of acres of Pennsylvania farmland. This program has become one of the most successful conservation programs in American history.

• Rick Santorum believes in a culture of life. He led the charge in the U.S. Senate to pass legislation to ban partial birth abortion, and also worked to pass the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which recognizes the basic rights of all Rick Santor um - R Santorum children born alive.

18 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

I can’t interview Ida Louise Shaffer (1912-2003) in person, as she is no longer here on earth. She will always be in my heart, and assuredly, in the hearts of countless others in Derry and many areas nearby. She would have adored the Laurel Mountain Post had she been alive to read it. She would have been thrilled to have been interviewed by me for my debut column. I would like to tell you about her, because she was a true friend, mentor, and huge supporter of my endeavors. She is pictured here in my faux leopard coat (no thoughts of paint spraying anyone). Ida and I both adored animal prints of many types, styles, and fabrics. The November weekend that she turned ninety, my husband Kent and I took her to Mountain View Inn in Greensburg for dinner. After we took her home to Green Meadows in Latrobe, I asked for a few photos. She answered, “Yes, Barbie, but I have to wear your coat in them!” She was so very proud of the photos taken that evening! So much so that she had me have a dozen reprints made of the different poses. She gave them to some of her many friends and family members. She is pictured here in my favorite pose. Here is our story. Sorry this interview can’t be Q & A. Reason obvious.

I was five years old when I met Ida in 1956. She was my first grade teacher at the Second Ward School in Derry. It is no longer in existence. That is what happens when you live to be fifty-five, apparently. Your elementary school site becomes a playground. From the moment I met her, I adored her.

She is the reason I became a music teacher. She wasn’t a music teacher, but she could certainly create enthusiasm for a song! (Mary Jane Oliver DeBacco, do you remember? What am I thinking? Of course, you do.) Midway through the school year my mother, Kay Lyons, allowed me to invite Ida to lunch with us on a school day. This was in an era when we could walk home for lunch and had an hour to do it. Hey, go figure, kids! I got to choose the menu. Who knows why I chose chicken salad and cherry pie, but that is exactly what Mommy made. It was delicious. Thank you, Mommy. Ida told that lunch and menu story to one and all until the day she died.

Perhaps, some of you remember the book When Bad Things Happen to Good People. The basic premise is: when bad things happen to good people, God didn’t cause those things to happen; he is there to help us through them. He certainly helped Ida. She had more than her share of difficult times. Ida contracted polio at eighteen months of age. In the era of her youth being physically challenged was not viewed by society the same way it is today. She survived that, went to Indiana Normal School (today’s IUP), and taught first grade for 39 years in the Derry Area School District.

You could start teaching at a very young age back then! She retired at fifty eight, and her husband Chuck died, unexpectedly, several months later.

Despite her devastation at this loss, she persevered and became a very successful teacher of needlework for the Derry Area adult evening program. Any skill I might have for needlepoint was taught to me by Ida during one of those evening classes. She looked forward each week to her hair appointment with Linda Miller. Her hair was always perfectly coiffed. Ida and I attended many musical productions in

Pittsburgh and at the Mt. Playhouse in Jennerstown.

How she loved to do lunch beforehand! She and her sister, Lois Crede, continued to eat their evening meals together, make myriad craft and needlework projects, exercise, shop, visit friends, and keep stiff upper lips until Lois died in 1997.

Ida broke her hip on New Year’s Day, 2002. She never saw the inside of her beloved home in Derry and most of her belongings again. Her recovery was long and extremely trying. Nevertheless, with all this adversity, Ida could have been the sheet music cover girl for the song “Smile (Though Your Heart is Breaking)”. Ida got past the sorrow of losing her home of many years, and became a wonderful addition to her final home, Green Meadows. I am sure many staff members could tell you stories of Ida. In fact in mid-August I met two members of the staff and talked to another by phone who remembered her distinctly and fondly. She was honored as Person of the Month, and just missed being named Queen at Valentine’s Day. She helped with bake sales, joined exercise and singing sessions, had her hair done, went to the dining room for meals, put on her Elizabeth Arden makeup (purchased from Hildegarde Knottbeck at Bon-Ton), and dressed to the nines every single day. She made many friends there; just as she did everywhere she ever went.

She gave a television to one of her special friends – Kim Williams, who rubbed cream into her feet each evening before bedtime. During the winter months of 2003, she made every resident of Green Meadows a ribbon cross to be given as an Easter gift.

Kent and I each received one as well; they are still close at hand. That Easter we took Ida out for brunch, and visited my parents’ home in Derry afterward. My nephew/ godson Greg was visiting from North Carolina that weekend. I took a great photo of him reading Ida one of his school assignments. She had a marvelous way with children. Thankfully, most first grade teachers do.

No matter what her trials and tribulations, she smiled for all of us…family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. Yes, she wept, but usually when she was alone. She always wanted her family and friends to perceive her as being strong. We all knew she was.

Most probably, Ida was stronger than all of us put together.

She was a woman to be emulated…a great role model. Not only did she teach hundreds upon hundreds of Derry residents during their first grade school year, she taught many of us how to live life to the fullest.

The summer before she died I took most of our nieces and nephews to visit Ida. One afternoon as we left Ida’s room my niece Brittanie said, “Aunt Barbie, Ida is so joyful!”

Could anyone have said it better? Ida was so many things – generous, kind, beautiful, talented, intelligent, courageous, and most especially filled with joy. She was, and always will be, the most joyful person of my life.

I miss Ida terribly. But, she isn’t truly gone. Ida is just missing for the time being. I’d like to finish by telling you the very last words we spoke to each other. I visited her the Saturday before she died just thirty six hours later. As I was leaving I said what I had always said to her when I had to leave her, “I love you, Ida.” She replied, “I love you, too, Barbie. I could not have asked for a better friend.”

What a wonderful tribute to me. This is my tribute to her.

Writers to Perform Their Work at LVW Picnic Ligonier Valley Writers will hold its annual picnic on Sunday, September 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. at St. Michael’s of the Valley Church in Rector. The event is free, and members of the public are welcome to read from their own writing and enjoy picnic fare. Bring a covered dish or dessert if you like, as well as a poem or story or anything else you’d like to read to the group. You’ll also have a chance to win raffle prizes.

We Have Live Doves!

Dream Maker Weddings Celebrations & Events of All Types Elegant Wedding Decor Chocolate Fountain

1006 Ligonier St. Latrobe, PA 15650

Balloon Artistry Fresh & Silk Floral

Deborah A. Cycak, C.B.A.

Chech out our Chair Covers!

724-537-6770

Songwriter Bill Rhodes will perform several of his songs in duets with his sister, Cathi Rhodes, who portrayed Patsy Cline for the Valley Players of Ligonier. Among Bill’s compositions are “Buster’s Old Log Cabin” and “A Rainy Spring Day.” Several members of the Greensburg Writers Group will read from their mystery anthology, The Phantom Detectives. All of the short stories in the anthology are about a fictional writers’ group that helps a local police lieutenant solve his most mysterious crimes. The book is a fundraiser for the Ligonier Valley Writers. It will also be featured during Mystery Saturday on October 14 at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, when Barb Miller will talk on “How to Write a Mystery.”

Dan Hicks

Coming to Ligonier See Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks live at The Ligonier Tavern on September 15 – two shows, 7 and 9 PM. On November 9th, Surfdog Records will release ‘Selected Shorts,’ perhaps the best Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks album since his renowned 1970s work. Hicks, the influential and off-beat, bohemian presence who draws from diverse fields of music, wrote 10 of the 13 songs on the album, which features guest appearances by Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Beach Boys collaborator Van Dyke Parks, and Butthole Surfers frontman Gibby Haynes. ‘Selected Shorts’ showcases Hicks’ unique, jazz-inspired phrasing, his inimitable voice, and a versatile, stellar band.

One of the central, defining figures of San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury scene of the 1960s, Hicks formed Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks in 1968 while he was still a drummer for The Charlatans, the group often cited as one of the originators of the SF psychedelic sound. The early 1970s proved to be a period of success for the groundbreaking band, paving the way for visionary outsiders ever since.

Dan Hicks has continued to earn a reputation as a true original, with his signature eclecticism and humor.

‘Selected Shorts’ represents a true return to his peak form.

Learn more at www.danhicks.net.

The mystery anthology writers include Marge Burke (and her crime-solving dog, Tazz), Linda Ciletti, Rebecca Dunn, Judith Gallagher, Ed Kelemen, Barb Miller, Mary Ann Mogus, Craig Schlechter, Ron J. Shafer and J. E. Wynn. Marge Burke has had essays in the Tribune-Review and Small Town News and has written a novel based on real Civil War letters to and from an ancestor of hers. Linda Ciletti is the author of the historical romances Draegon’s Lair and Knight Stalker and has won several writing contests. Rebe Dunn writes both suspense fiction and creative nonfiction. Judith Gallagher writes textbooks and fantasy/science fiction. Ed Kelemen has published articles in numerous magazines and writes a weekly column for the Blairsville Dispatch.

Craig Schlechter writes mystery and horror. Ron Shafer publishes children’s stories and vignettes. J. E. Wynn has written science articles and a self-help book.

Ligonier Valley Writers is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. LVW serves writers and readers throughout western Pennsylvania. For more about any LVW events, visit www.ligoniervalleywriters.org. And watch for the 2006 edition of The Loyalhanna Review, coming out in the fall. This year local businesses will be able to buy ads in the Review.

Used Book Sale Come out to the YWCA Westmoreland County Literacy Program Annual Used Book Sale at Westmoreland Mall (along Route 30 in Greensburg) Thursday; September 21 – Sunday; September 24, 2006; Thursday – Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM / Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Thousands of books to choose from all sold by the inch! Through the success of the book sale, the YWCA Literacy Program is able to remain dedicated to giving adults and their families the opportunity to acquire the literacy skills they need in order to be effective in their roles as members of their families, communities, and workplaces. Bring the whole family to load up on books and help support the YWCA Literacy Program! Phone 724834-9390 or E-Mail: Literacy@ywcawestmoreland.org for info.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 19

REPARTEE FOR TWO Barbara M. Neill

The Real Deal . . . Dick Groat In the present-day world filled with so many bogus sports figures, Dick Groat is the real deal – a great athlete and a gentleman. I have known him for nearly 30 years. For our readers of a certain age, Dick needs little explanation. He was, along with other assorted Pittsburgh celebrities, a household name in our area.

As a basketball standout at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, Dick received awards too numerous to mention here. He was named the Helms National Player of the Year in 1951 (the year of my birth). In the early 1950s and 1960s he was the “complete” baseball player not only for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants as well. He and co-owner Jerry Lynch’s Champion Lakes Golf Club on the outskirts of Ligonier is a local favorite for golf outings and celebratory events. On an afternoon late in July my husband Kent and I journeyed to Champion Lakes to chat with Dick about his life.

LMP: When I mentioned to several friends and acquaintances that I was going to interview Dick Groat in my debut column, I was amazed that so many people either knew you or had a story to tell about you. My manicurist, Julie Miller of the James Vincent Salon in Ligonier, lived in your hometown of Swissvale for years. She told me your sister was her Home Economics teacher. Julie’s husband, Toby, remembers seeing you at the ball field that was named for you at the top of the hill in Swissvale. Christy Good Loughner, personal dental assistant of Dr. Richard Hansen (of the office of Drs. Hansen and Torba in Latrobe), lived on your street in Swissvale. She is close in age to several of your daughters. She recalled a “money tree” that was a part of an anniversary celebration for your parents. Just before I came to Champion Lakes today, I was volunteering in the gift shop at the W.M.A.A in Greensburg. Rather unbelievably, five minutes before I had to leave a woman by the name of Tippi Comden entered the gift shop. She knew you from her connection to The Western PA School for the Deaf. It seems that Champion Lakes is the location for the school’s Elroy Face Fork Ball Invitational. Many folks remember you from the Touchdown Club in Latrobe. Rumor has it that you still dine there on Sunday evenings. Alexa Stouffer, owner and operator of Pennywise Books in Latrobe and daughter of Joe “Smokey” Greshok, recalled your many visits to her father’s Eastwood Inn in Ligonier. Any comment on these observations?

DG: Well, Barbara, remember when you’re as old as I am, there will be stories. I know an awful lot of people. Eastwood Inn is still my favorite restaurant anywhere, by the way.

LMP: Would you say that your upbringing contributed to your many successes in life?

DG: In every possible way. My dad was fifty when I was born. My mom was in her forties. I was the baby by a long shot. I had two older sisters, Elsie and Mary 20 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Margaret. Elsie taught commercial in Munhall (now Steel Valley School District) and Mary Margaret taught Home Economics in Swissvale (now the Woodland Hills School District). Elsie, the oldest, has passed away.

Mary Margaret is eighty-six and is living in Bridgeport, West Virginia. The members of my family were all very, very supportive of me through the years.

most fun he ever had in sports, and he never even practiced with them!)

LMP: I recently viewed the movie Fear Strikes Out, a bio pic about Jimmy Piersall. (For the benefit of those who are not baseball fans, Piersall was a NBL shortstop who played during the same time frame as Dick, but primarily in the American League.) I found the 1957 movie riveting for a variety of reasons. (I would recommend it to anyone interested in baseball, movies, or familial relationships.) Did you and Piersall ever cross paths?

DG: I knew Jimmy, Barbara. Jimmy was dumb like a fox. I played against him when he was with the Mets. I remember talking to him at The Polo Grounds.

He was a fun guy, and everybody liked him.

LMP: Would you care to comment on how the Pirates of today compare with the Pirates of your era?

Pictured from left are Kent J. Neill, Jr. Dick Groat, and his namesake grandson, Ricky DeStefano of Latrobe. Ricky came directly from playing in a baseball tournament to Champion Lakes not long before I took this photo. Like grandfather, like grandson!

LMP: When I read some of the information about you on the internet, I noticed that you began your career with the Pirates in 1952. For our younger readers and less informed readers could you tell us how that career got its start?

DG: I came home from playing semi-pro baseball in Virginia between my junior and senior year at Duke. A scout told me that Mr. (Branch) Rickey wanted me to work out with the Pirates. (Rickey was the General Manager of the Pirates at the time.)

So, I worked out with the Pirates three or four mornings, and worked out with the team before they played their night games. Mr. Rickey invited my mother, father and me to attend a game. As we were sitting with him at the game, he turned to me and said “Young man, if you’ll sign a contract tonight, I’ll start you against the Cincinnati Redlegs tomorrow night.” I replied, “Mr. Rickey, that’s not fair. I owe my senior year to Duke University. I am going back. But, if you make the same offer to me when I finish my eligibility, I promise that I’ll sign with the Pirates.” End of conversation. I went back to Duke, played my senior year of basketball, played my senior year of baseball, and went to the college world series. Then I returned home to Pittsburgh on a Sunday night, signed with the Pirates Monday, joined them on Tuesday, pinchhitted on Wednesday, and started every game until the end of the season.

(Dick even managed a short stint with the Fort Wayne Pistons of the NBA before his graduation from Duke. The team flew him on a private plane back and forth between Duke and Fort Wayne, so that he wouldn’t miss his classes. He said it was the

DG: The teams are very similar. In 1952, my rookie year, we were the worst team in all of baseball. We lost 112 games. We were terrible. I didn’t play in ’53 and ’54 because I was in the army. (This was during the Korean War.) In ’55 and ’56 we were terrible. In ’57 we got a little bit better. In 1958 we were dead last at this time of the year, the end of July. We finished second that year, because all of a sudden we, as a team, learned how to win. You don’t know when it happens and why it happens. We became better ball players. And that’s what this young Pittsburgh team has to do right now – learn how to win.

LMP: My husband Kent and I have taken both of our North Carolinian nephews, Drew and Greg, to ball games at PNC Park. They both thought it was quite a place. My brother’s middle daughter, Brandie, and his son Zach of Hempfield Township, are both talented athletes who will enjoy sports events at PNC for a long time to come. What are your impressions of PNC Park, and how does it compare to Forbes Field and Three Rivers Stadium?

DG: PNC is probably as fine a ball park as there is in the country. It’s gorgeous. I love PNC Park.

Forbes Field was a great ball park. It had a beautiful background with the trees out in Schenley Park. I didn’t like Three Rivers. It was a better football stadium than it was a baseball park. But, remember, that was a period in this country when multi-purpose stadiums were in vogue.

Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis all had them.

They didn’t work out, and now we are back with individual stadiums for each sport.

LMP: At the present time, what would you say you are most interested in doing?

DG: Obviously, running the golf course is my first priority. Also, this will be my twenty-eighth year of doing the color commentary on the radio broadcasts continued on page 20

continued from page 21

for the University of Pittsburgh Panther basketball team. (Dick and Billy Hillgrove can be heard on 970 AM and 104.9 FM. during the season.) Basketball was my first love, and I love college basketball. The kids keep you young. I travel with them, have breakfast with them, and go for physical therapy three days a week with them.

LMP: Have you always been an avid golfer?

DG: I didn’t start playing golf until I was twenty-seven. I still love to play golf. I don’t play it very well anymore. I played with a two or three handicap for years.

Now, I struggle, but I think that’s part of getting older. My own golf course seems to have gotten a lot longer.

LMP: Champion Lakes, which you and your former teammate Jerry Lynch created, is a very popular Westmoreland County golf and public country club.

Any plans you would like to share for its future?

DG: It’s hard to believe, Barbara, but this golf course will be 40 years old in October on the 2nd. We do plan to expand our Bed and Breakfast venue, but you would have to talk to my daughter Allison about the particulars.

LMP: Speaking of Allison, how about an update on all of your daughters?

DG: Tracey, as you know, is my oldest. She owns her own real estate company in Durham, North Carolina. In mid-July I went to Durham to be a part of “This is Your Life, Tracey Goetz”, a tribute to her by her office staff. Her office is walking distance from the Duke campus. Carol, my middle daughter, lives in Pittsburgh. To show you what a small world it is, I was going to junior high in the same building that my sister, Mary Margaret, taught in. I couldn’t get away with anything. Today, Carol Ann is a fifth grade teacher in that same building. My baby, Allison, manages Champion Lakes and lives in Latrobe.

LMP: Looking back over your amazing life, would you like to cast us any pearls, Dick?

DG: I’ve always contended that I was the luckiest person in the whole world.

Everything I ever dreamed of or wanted, thanks to my family, and thanks to the Lord himself, I got. Everything seemed to fall into place. There was no reason that I should have all of a sudden represented the city of Pittsburgh in an all-star game when I was a junior in high school. I wanted to go to Duke University. They didn’t give baseball scholarships, so they invited me down to play basketball, and I got a basketball scholarship. I got my education through basketball. I was fortunate because Mr. Rickey gave me the opportunity to come right off the college campus and go to the major leagues. Everything fell into place. When I was traded from the Pirates, although I never wanted to leave the city of Pittsburgh, I ended up going to the finest organization in all of baseball – the St. Louis Cardinals. The St. Louis Cardinals treated me super. I had the best year I ever had in 1963, and then won a World Championship in 1964. I have been the luckiest, most fortunate person in the world. I thank God for being as lucky as I have been all my life.

And that, readers, pretty much says it all about “The Real Deal”.

With my education background I am dedicated to being a lifelong learner. A special thank you to the Derry Area School District, the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and the Ligonier Valley School District for their encouragement and support. I love people, and can think of nothing more enjoyable than discussing their lives with them.Of all the many books I read, biographies are by far my favorites. My experiences while reading this publication in the past surprised me. I actually had positive feelings when I put this paper down. I am adverse to negativity of all kinds, and as you know, the media is often steeped in it. I hope to add to the “positivity” of the Laurel Mountain Post. (I have always made up words when it suited my purpose.) My paternal grandmother, Mildred Maud McCurdy Lyons (1904-1994) always told me, “Barbara, you can do anything you want to do, if you just set your mind to it.” I wasn’t sure about this as a younger person, but as it turns out, she was quite right.

Barbara is a 1968 graduate of Derry Area High School. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1972, and subsequently earned a Master’s Eq. She taught music in the Ligonier Valley School District for 32 years, and since her retirement in 2004, she has been actively involved in the Women’s Committee of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art and as a volunteer in An American Marketplace at the museum. Barbara and her husband, Kent, live in the Lawson Heights section of Latrobe.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 21

EARTH TALK Questions & Answers About Our Environment

Is It True That Nothing Really Biodegrades in a Landfill?

Organic substances “biodegrade” when they are broken down by other living organisms (such as enzymes and microbes) into their constituent parts, and in turn recycled by nature as the building blocks for new life.

The process can occur aerobically (with the aid of oxygen) or anaerobically (without oxygen).

Substances break down much faster under aerobic conditions, as oxygen helps break the molecules apart.

Most landfills are fundamentally anaerobic because they are compacted so tightly and thus do not let much air in. As such, any biodegradation that does take place does so very slowly. “Typically in landfills, there’s not much dirt, very little oxygen, and few if any microorganisms,” says green consumer advocate and author Debra Lynn Dadd. She cites a landfill study conducted by University of Arizona researchers that uncovered stillrecognizable 25-year-old hot dogs, corncobs and grapes in landfills, as well as 50-year-old newspapers that were still readable.

Biodegradable items also may not break down in landfills if the industrial processing they went through prior to their useful days converted them into forms unrecognizable by the microbes and enzymes that facilitate biodegradation. A typical example is petroleum, which biodegrades easily and quickly in its original form, crude oil. But when petroleum is processed into plastic, it is no longer biodegradable, and as such can clog up landfills indefinitely.

Some manufacturers make claims that their products are photodegradable, which means that they will biodegrade when exposed to sunlight. A popular example is the plastic “polybag” in which many magazines now arrive protected in the mail. But the likelihood that such items will be exposed to sunlight while buried dozens of feet deep in a landfill is little to none. And if they do biodegrade at all, it is only likely to be into smaller pieces of plastic.

Some landfills are now being designed to promote biodegradation through the injection of water, oxygen, and even microbes. But these kinds of facilities are costly to create and as a result have not caught on. Another recent development involves landfills that have separate sections for compostable materials, such as food scraps and yard waste. Some analysts believe that as much as 65 percent of the waste currently sent to landfills in North America consists of such “biomass” that biodegrades rapidly and could generate a new income stream for landfills, marketable soil.

But getting people to sort their trash accordingly is another matter entirely. Indeed, paying heed to the importance of the environment’s “Three Rs” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!) is likely the best approach to solving the problems caused by our evergrowing piles of trash. With landfills around the world reaching capacity, technological fixes are not likely to make our waste disposal problems go away.

CONTACTS: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Reduce-Reuse-Recycle page; www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/reduce.htm.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.

22 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

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The Autumn Festival at Latrobe Presbyterian Church

Plans are being formulated for Latrobe United Presbyterian’s Church’s Autumn Festival, to be held on Saturday, October 7, 2006 from 10:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. The Church is located at 340 Spring Street, Latrobe, PA. If you enjoy festivals, this is one you won’t want to miss. There is something for everyone – you will want to see: Added Touch (Accessories) where you will find lots of vintage costume jewelry. Create a whole new look for your wardrobe; How Much Is That Candy In The Window? (Candy Store). Look for some of your favorites from the past!; A Little Bit Country (Stop by the “Farm” market and stock up on: jellies, relish, homemade soup, all made with garden fresh ingredients.); Celebrations: A Holiday Boutique (Decorate your Christmas tree; find accessories and jewelry for that special evening out; find beautiful tablecloths and embroidered napkins, and jump-start your holiday shopping); The Worm Turns – stop

by The Worm Turns and find fiction, nonfiction, biography, best sellers, children’s books. All books, although they have been used, are in excellent condition; Table for $Five (lots of items (all new or nearly-new) will be a $5.00 bargain for you to find); and you will also find Apple Dumplings for sale, Sugar ‘n Spice Bake Sale (look for cookies using recipes of Paula Deen - a favorite on Food Network); Tea for You (or Two) (Tea has become the beverage of choice for many. Don’t miss the coupon in this issue of the Laurel Mountain Post. Present your coupon at the Festival and receive one (1) free cup of gourmet tea. Tea accessories will be available for purchase), and don’t miss the Vintage Crafts, and Silent Auction. The Country Kitchen will be serving all your luncheon favorites from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. AND. . . . you won’t want to miss “What’s In Your Attic?.

Everyone who loves yard sales and auctions knows that the fun is in the search for just the right item at just the right price. There will be lots of items with the “right” price. Come and enjoy!

TAKE IT ON FAITH Pastor Ron Durika

Experience Can Be the Best Teacher knowing, and if God can do anything and knows All too often we think more highly of ourselves all things, why does God allow us to deceive than we ought to. Especially in our younger ourselves and to suffer? years we think we know all the answers and can handle whatever I believe the answer this life may throw our can be seen in the way. In all fairness, I “if God always acted behind the relationship between a will point out that scenes to right our mistakes, parent and a child. some never grow out of our own pride would mislead us Responsible and loving this and many will parents will want what learn of their into believing we have handled is best for their child. limitations but fail to yet another difficult situation This does not mean fully accept them. We on our own” that they place them enter into situations within a protective blindly with false room in a controlled environment to spend the confidences that most of the times are just a blink rest of their life safely protected from any harm. of an eye away of blowing up and really being a destructive force that consumes us physically, A wise parent knows that part of their responsibility emotionally, and spiritually. is to prepare their child for the challenges that this world produces so that they may have a chance to not just survive, but to prosper in this life.

Some may ask why, if there is a God, does God allow these things to happen even to seemingly “good” people? If God is all powerful and all Sometimes words are not sufficient to teach this valuable lesson and the best way to engrain these truths of life is to have the child experience some things for themselves under the watchful eye of their parent. Through the years, the child Advertising Deadline matures and grows with the lessons taught and experienced by them until they are, at least for the Holiday Issue marginally, able to go out on their own. They do (November-December) this now realizing that they cannot survive for long of the Laurel Mountain Post without the combined help of all those around them working together for the good of all. Independence is is October 15. oddly gained by realizing dependence is necessary.

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God does this with us. If we did not experience trouble by acting on our own, and if God always acted behind the scenes to right our mistakes, our own pride would mislead us into believing we have handled yet another difficult situation on our own. This undoubtedly will lead to hurt or even destruction. But because God does love us and knows that dependence upon Him is our best hope, He allows some problems to enter our lives and teaches us to come to Him for help, as a child would run to his or her parent for help. He draws us to the one source of infinite, eternal, and unchangeable power and wisdom. I believe the best lesson I have ever learned is to look upward and cry, “Father help me! I cannot get through this without you!” My prayer is that all of those around me realize this truth before it is too late.

Ron Durika is the pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in New Florence (corner of Fifth & Chestnut Streets, 724-2352940). Join them for worship every Sunday at 10:30am and Sunday School at 9:15am. Bible Study meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 7pm.

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High, Quality Gently Used Children’s Items Clothes (newborn - preteen), Toys, Baby Equipment, Furniture, MORE! FREE Parking – FREE Admission Call Leeanne Hallquist for details at (724) 396-0006 or visit www.SaleForKids.com

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THE CORNER STORY Marge Burke

Singing Mail Having a rural mail route is vastly different than being a mail carrier in an urban or suburban area. And this shows itself to be true no better than in the small Western PA farming community where my parents live.

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Charlie has been their mail carrier since the 1980’s, and is in fact much more than a mail carrier. Charlie watches out for all the people on his route, but especially the retirees. It’s not unusual for Charlie to swing back past the house after his route and drop off a bucket of apples or a quart of strawberries. He has brought cuttings from his mother’s favorite plants in exchange for ones of equal importance from Mom’s garden.

He brings jars of honey from his hives, knowing that Mom drinks it in her tea every morning to ease her allergies. She leaves him cookies or bread or perhaps a book that she found in the attic. Charlie will pull into the drive on occasion and trot up the steps on a snowy day to make sure my parents are safe and not needing anything.

He literally delivers the mail through storm, snow, sleet, ice, and heat waves; around deer and possums and ditches and fallen branches. His customers love him and the relationships go well past that of government employee and designated recipient. He goes out of his way for them, and they appreciate it.

It was not really a surprise, then, when one day last week Charlie pulled his SUV into the drive and hand-delivered my parents’ mail. My dad answered the door and stood chatting until Mom came into the room. She heard Charlie saying that he’d had a headache since before 7:00am.

“That’s a shame,” mom sympathized. “Can I get you anything?”

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“No, but it’ll help if I can give you something.”

Charlie reached into his mail pouch and pulled out several envelopes. There was a faint tinkling heard above the noises in the house. “This is my headache.”

Mom reached out and took the letters, and the tinkling increased. She shuffled the envelopes until she found the offender.

“It’s singing,” she said, looking at the return address. “It’s a birthday card from my cousin in Tennessee, and it’s singing.”

They all stood respectfully while the muffled tones of “Happy Birthday to You” floated around the room. Mom opened the envelope and pulled out the card. She opened and shut the card several times, but it kept playing away.

“That there card has been singing to me since 7:00 this morning. It liked to near drive me crazy. If it hadn’t been property of the U S Mail I’d have chucked it out the window about two hours ago.”

My father took the card and started jimmying the flap that covered the tiny music box. Finally he freed the switch and shut the card and the music stopped.

Charlie looked like a boulder had rolled off his shoulders.

“Boy, I’m telling you, I’m sure glad to be done with that thing. First time I’ve ever listened to “Happy Birthday” for three and a half hours straight.” He turned to leave. “Oh, and Dorothy. Happy birthday. Just tell that cousin of yours not to send any more singing envelopes.”

Laughing, my parents promised, then spent the rest of the afternoon opening and shutting the card.

Perfect.

Marge Burke is a Greensburg native, has worked at Smail Automotive since high school (thirty plus years), and is a 2001 graduate of Seton Hill’s Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction program. She has two grown children; Kelly (husband Matt and son Peyton) and Nathan (fiancée Lori - Lori’s son Jacob, his daughter Autmn Rose, and their daughter Christina). Marge writes for several local magazines, including the FOCUS First Person Singular (Tribune Review), and is published in a mystery anthology for Ligonier Valley Writers.

Her hobbies are historic research, volunteering at Historic Hanna’s Town, and writing. Her spaniel/lab mix, Tazz, keeps her company, her flower gardens keep her busy, but her grandbabies keep her smiling.

office: (724) 537-0110 / cell: (724) 396-0670

Thanks to our Steelers Training Camp photographers: Jason Ament, Leslie Collins, Joe Jerich, Rudy Mauro Libby McCar thy thy,, David “Muggsy ” Miles 24 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Achieving Basic Web Success Might Be Easier Than You Think Simple things businesses without big marketing budgets can do to improve their Web marketing Millions of dollars are now being spent each year on “Web marketing”, techniques that bring visitors to a Web site and improve the chances that, once they are there, they will do whatever it is the site owners want them to do: buy a product, fill out an application, make a phone call, etc.

Companies with substantial marketing budgets know that successful Web marketing efforts can have a significant return on investment. So for them it makes good sense to hire full-time Web marketing specialists or to contract with professional Web marketing firms. But small businesses or other organizations without big marketing budgets may not know where to begin.

Before hiring a professional Web marketing consultant, there are some very basic things you can do to improve your Web site’s effectiveness as a marketing tool.

Start by making sure that you can type the name of your business into Google – or Yahoo.com or MSN.com – and see your Web site at the top of the results.

Document – Microsoft Internet Explorer). You may never have noticed it before, but it is one of the primary places search engines look to see what a page is about.

“Untitled Document” is the default used by some popular Web building software programs. Unless someone knows about the importance of a page title, he won’t bother to change it.

Having a home page for your Web site with a title like “Untitled Document” is like having a sign in front of your office that says, “Your Name Here”: not very effective! There are many other equally ineffective variants: “New Page 1”, “Home”, “About Us” – all the equivalent of “Your Name Here.”

An effective title for a Web page looks more like this (in the case of a small law firm, for example): “Family and Divorce Law – Finleyville, Washington County – Ellen P. Smith and Rebecca Powers, Attorneys at Law – Western Pennsylvania”. That’s a far cry from “Untitled Document”!

If your business has a common name, type in the city name as well.

The importance of this deceptively simple test is backed up by trends in consumers’ use of Internet search. Forty-three percent of search engine users are looking for a local merchant in order to buy something offline, and over half of all Internet users have substituted Internet search for the phone book, according to SearchEngineWatch.com and Greg Sterling of the Kelsey Group. And the number of people using search sites instead of phone books is only going to increase as more people get online and upgrade to high-speed connections.

The title of a Web page appears at the top of a Web browser. It’s also one of the first places search engines like Google look to find out what a page is about.

If people can’t find a link to your Web site by typing the name of your business into Google, then you are encouraging them to take their business somewhere else.

In addition to descriptive page titles, your Web site needs a few more things to ensure that it shows up at or near the top of search results when someone searches for the name of your business.

Keep in mind that if the name of your business shows up in search results because it is mentioned in an online newspaper article or referred to on someone else’s Web site, it is not the same as a link to your Web site. Your business name will not necessarily be a link, and people don’t want to dig through other Web sites to find your Web address or a link to your site.

2. You need detailed page “descriptions”. A description sometimes displays in search results under the page title. It is important because, like the title, search engines read it to see what a page is about.

If your Web site is not at or near the top of results when you type in the name of your business into Google, you are not alone.

To see what I mean, try this experiment: Search on Google using the words “untitled document”. You get about 80 million pages. This is because (with a few exceptions) there are roughly 80 million Web pages with the title “Untitled Document”!

The title of a Web page appears at the top of a browser window, followed by the name of the browser (Untitled

The description is a “hidden” element of a Web page, you can see it in a Web browser by going to the menu at the top of the window and selecting “View > Source” or “View > Page Source”. If the page has one at all, its “description tag” will be near the top.

Pages without a description are like pages with titles like “Untitled Document”: unless they have a lot of descriptive text somewhere on the page where you can actually see it, they are practically “invisible” to search engines.

3. Accordingly, the third ingredient of a highly visible Web site is descriptive text on its pages. If you have a Web site that uses Flash or other glitzy graphics,

there may be no real “text” on the page for search engines to read. (Search engines can’t read Flash.)

Or you may have pages that are essentially graphic images. Even if humans can read text that appears in these images, search engines cannot. And, once again, search engines will not know what the page is about.

The good news is that improving your Web site’s “visibility” to search engines – telling them what the site is about simply by fixing page titles and descriptions, and beefing up text on its pages – is one of the easiest and least expensive things you will ever do for your site.

4. As a final step, once you have done these three things, you should submit your Web site’s URL to Google, to let it know that you want your site to be indexed.

Google creates an index of the World Wide Web using special software that constantly “crawls” through cyberspace reading and collecting information from each Web page. This is how Google produces a list of results whenever you do a search. It looks through its index to find the best match for the terms you use. If a site is not in the index, it does not show up in the results.

In order to index your site, Google’s crawlers have to be able to find it and they have to know how to categorize it correctly. If your site has generic page titles like “Untitled Document” or “Home”, or if its pages have no description tags, or if the site has no descriptive text on its pages for crawlers to read, then, even if the crawlers do find it, they will not know what it is about. Its pages will be indexed along with millions of others in categories like those used for “Untitled Document” pages – and they will never be seen by anyone who does not already know where to look.

Once you have added good page titles, page descriptions and descriptive text to your site, you can proudly inform Google that it should read and index your site – by telling it exactly where your site is located.

TM

Go to http://www.google.com/addurl/ . Type the URL of your site – http://www.mywebsite.com or whatever the case may be – into the form and click the “Add URL” button. That’s all there is to it. A crawler will index your site within about two weeks, and you should then be able to search for the name of your business and see your Web site at or near the top of the results. Yahoo.com and MSN.com results usually follow suit.

If you have the budget, there are many more sophisticated Web marketing techniques you may want to try, but not until you have done these things first.

Mark McLaren is the owner of McBuzz Communications LLC, a company offering state-of-the-art Web marketing and electronic communications solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. Reprinted with permission of Dynamic Business, flagship publication of SMC Business Councils.

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 25

THE REC ROOM Jim Kasperik

Once A Steeler, Always A Steeler Anyone who follows the National Football League knows very well that the only thing constant about teams today is change. In the era of salary caps and money constraints, your favorite team often has to make tough decisions about who to sign and who to let leave. You may go buy the jersey of your favorite player and the next year that player may be playing for another team. This is a fact in the new NFL and it does not stop with players. The demands that coaches are under to produce winning teams immediately, often has coaches changes roles and teams quite often as well.

During his career Hoak always seemed to have an eye on moving into the coaching ranks after his playing time was over. So when he retired from the Steelers as a player, he moved directly into the coaching ranks – the local high school coaching ranks that is. For two years Hoak coached high school football and then in 1972 a young coach for the quickly improving Steelers – Chuck Noll – asked Hoak to be his running backs coach.

So at this point in the NFL, how is it that one person can coach with an organization for over 30 years?

How is it that this person can not only coach, but also coach some of the greatest players that ever have played in the NFL and often times stay “under the radar” outside the organization? Well this is a unique story of one man who has done just that.

Dick Hoak is a man who has done his job with immense success and dignity in a very demanding environment. And it just so happens that this story about Hoak is of a gentleman that was born, raised and still lives in the Laurel Highlands.

So after a two-year absence from the Steeler family, Hoak was back in black and gold and as it turns out, back to stay.

As Hoak started his NFL coaching career with the Steelers, the team had already begun to assemble the makings of a dynasty that would carry them to four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s. In fact, Hoak’ first year as an assistant saw the Steelers draft a running back from his alma mater.

Franco Harris became a Steeler and at the same time one of Hoak’s first “students.”

Born and Raised in Western Pennsylvania

Back to the Black and Gold

Throughout his coaching with the Steelers, Hoak has coached many players to super seasons – the list includes Rocky Bleier, Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker. There were many others that have been coached by Hoak and each one needs some different treatment. I asked how coaching players like veteran Jerome Bettis compared to coaching a new superb talent like Willie Parker differed. Hoak stated After successful collegiate years at Penn State, Hoak “everyone that gets to this was lucky enough to be level knows how to run. selected in the NFL draft.

You don’t teach them how Not only selected, but to run, rather you teach selected by the hometown them techniques on how Pittsburgh Steelers – he to get better.” Veterans could play professional know more of the football in Western PA! As techniques, but are most people that follow always looking to get football know, running better. He continued by back can certainly be one saying a great deal of the of the most physically teaching goes into how the demanding positions on running backs impact the the field. The average passing game by not only career of a running back catching the ball, but in the NFL today is 3.2 Dick Hoak & Jim Kasperik maybe more importantly years, which makes how they block.

Hoak’s 10-year career with the Steelers quite impressive. What makes Bleeding Black and Gold it even more remarkable is that Hoak remains on many of the team’s record lists to this day. He As the years passed by since 1972, you could count still ranks sixth on the all-time career yards list on two constants in the Steelers media guide – that for the Steelers after amassing 5,417 yards the names Rooney and Hoak have appeared. Now throughout his career. for his 34th consecutive year, Dick Hoak is back Long before Dick Hoak was associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers football club, he was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. Hoak was born and raised in Jeannette and was a standout football player as he went through high school. As his high school years drew to a close, the Nittany Lions of Penn State recruited him to come to Happy Valley to play football.

26 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

out on the practice fields with the Steelers at camp.

As Bill Cowher took over from Chuck Noll 15 years ago, only one coach was asked to stay on Cowher’s staff. Hoak has always been said to have a good feel for players and Cowher recognized that as he asked him to stay on with the team.

So at 66 years young, Hoak is still relating to players and teaching them techniques to try to help the Steelers repeat as Superbowl Champions for the fifth time in his coaching stay with the team. I asked him what makes him keep coming out, and the answer was quite simple: “I still enjoy the game and I still enjoy being out here,” he stated. When he stated this, we started to talk about the hours spent in such a job. The stories of NFL coaches working extremely long hours are legendary and in the case of the Steelers it is no different. Hoak related to me that his days start at 7 AM and go to anywhere from 10 PM to 1 the next morning. But he reiterated even with all the hours worked, the key is finding a job that you like!

Staying in the Laurel Highlands Over his years with the Steelers there had to be opportunities for Hoak to leave for greener pastures, right? I asked him this and he simply said that the offers had come to leave and coach elsewhere during his career. But he stated that he and his wife are from here and they had the opportunity to stay here with family and raise a family of their own. He seemed quite pleased when he mentioned that his kids were able to stay in the same schooling system for all their years. As I thought about this, I realized in a job such as a NFL coach, that won’t happen too often.

In our brief talk, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Hoak. His willingness to speak to me and spend more time out of his day was greatly appreciated.

It got me thinking of all the things we can be proud of in the Laurel Highlands, but most of all the people we can be proud of here. Dick Hoak is just another example of a local boy done good. The Laurel Highlands should be very proud of him and proud that the Steelers start their run at their next championship every year here in Latrobe.

Jim Kasperik was born in Derry and has lived in the Laurel Highlands most of his life. He received his Engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University and his MBA from The Pennsylvania State University. He has worked at Latrobebased Kennametal, Inc. for over ten years. During his school years Jim played football, baseball, volleyball and basketball, and still enjoys playing hoops whenever he can. His love for the competition that sports provides has kept him continually interested in sports year round .

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Sarah Penich & Holly Jennings

Come On Over to Your Neighborhood Market Mastrorocco’s has everything you need right in downtown Derry. Still a familyrun business headed by great-grandson Vince Mastrorocco, they provide a full-service grocery store (including bakery, deli, meat, and produce) and offer a small delivery service to their customers.

33 East 1st Avenue 724-694-2788

Hanna Insurance Agency

208 Weldon Street, PO Box 306 Latrobe, PA 15650

John Hanna, Owner PHONE: (724) 537-5140

• FAX: (724) 537-0687

Providing All Of Your Insurance Needs Since 1959

PANDOLPH Landscape Supply Driveway Stone, Topsoil, & Mulch Delivery Available

724-537-0850

More Than Just Little Lambs It is not quite dawn and Sarah Penich, 16, and Holly Jennings, 15, at Apple Way Farm in Derry Township are already up and at it feeding and caring for the needs of some 46 sheep, two Llamas, and two cows and the requisite farm dogs and cats. Not the typical way for high school teenage girls to start their day. But these are not your typical high school girls.

Sarah has been caring for animals for as long as she can remember and sees this as a way of life. Holly, on the other hand, is fairly new to the farm life. A neighbor of the Penich’s, Holly has only been involved in raising and caring for sheep for two years. Both girls do an amazing job–one that most others their age have no knowledge of. But the girls find their rewards in knowing they have accomplished something unique. They both raised their own flock of sheep– Southdowns, Natural Colored and Black, as well as one very rare black Karakul sheep (at right), which is known as the original “Persian lamb” and is most famous as a producer of high grade pelts for quality garments – the best being taken from unborn lambs and those up to three days old. The hairy coat of older animals was used in the production of Persian carpets.

Everyone seems to pitch in with its care.

Sarah and Holly both give a shearing demonstration for me, which is an interesting sight to say the least. I am mostly surprised at the docile nature of the sheep as they are positioned to accommodate their hair cutting. The piles of wool collected from the shearing are sometimes cleaned through by Sarah’s younger brother, Jacob, and sold to spinners. This summer, Holly and Sarah spent most of their time preparing their best specimens to take to the Derry Agricultural Fair and The Westmoreland County Fair.

Holly Jennings & Sarah Penich

When asked what she likes about this very difficult and mucky work, Sarah answers with a big smile “It beats flipping burgers at McDonald’s!”

– Story and Photos by Briana Tomack

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 27

FRIENDS & HEROES Honoring Our Neighbors Serving in the United States Military – Hayley Renee Curry

Who Would Guess?

Hayley Renee Curry and I go back a long way. Hayley was born in November of 1986, and I knitted my first baby blanket for her…peach. Hayley’s mother, Shirley Hyatt-Curry and I go back even farther. We taught school together in the Ligonier Valley School District beginning in the early 1970’s. We also retired from the same school on the same day, and walked out the door together two very happy women. Shirley “found” my husband Kent for me. Actually, out of the tree of life she picked me a plum. (No, the song references are not going to stop anytime soon.)

Hayley was a junior bridesmaid in our wedding that took place ninety-three days after I met my plum. But, that’s another wonderful story.

The middle photo (above) of Hayley was taken by me when she was five years old. It has always been a special favorite of her mother, Shirley. In fact it is still found on the Curry family refrigerator. When Hayley and I met recently at the local Barnes and Noble to chat about her life, she began by telling me this anecdote. After Hayley’s mother gave her this photo that morning, her dad, Jim Curry, a retired PA state policeman, said “Who would guess that this innocent little girl would grow up and become a JAG attorney?” Hence, I conceived the idea for this article’s title.

As many of you know in the Latrobe area, Hayley has been a high profile young lady for quite a few years. To name but a few of her past local achievements and awards: • Vanderbilt University Dean’s List • Valedictorian - Greater Latrobe Sr High Class of 2005 • PA YMCA Youth and Government Club – President of Greensburg Delegation, Statewide Supreme Court Justice (2003-2004), Attorney (2002-2003) • Westmoreland County Bar Association – Law Exploration • Greater Latrobe National Honor Society • Greater Latrobe German National Honor Society – Secretary • Greater Latrobe National Forensics League • National Merit Scholarship Finalist • Young Republicans Club – Founder and President • U.S. Achievement Academy History & Government Award • Youth and Government State Conference – Best Advocate Award • Young Republicans Club – Founder and President • American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Citizenship Award • Latrobe Rotary Club – Student of the Month • Business and Professional Women – Woman of the Month Miss Curry has a life membership in the NRA. Her love of community service led her to become involved in the Greensburg Foundation Fund’s Youth Advisory Committee.

She has been a vocal soloist at Westmoreland County Memorial Park’s Memorial Day Service (1999-2005), and she entertained the residents of St. Anne’s Nursing Home in Greensburg (2001-2005) playing the piano. Hayley was a contestant in the Miss PA Teen USA pageant, and she has written an unpublished novel, a romance set in Georgia.

This summer Hayley worked under Sheriff Chris Scherer as a Deputy Sheriff at the county courthouse. She reported directly to Lieutenant Chris Bernilovich. She had a ball!

Some of her duties included fingerprinting and issuing gun permits. She made some great contacts and many friends, as well. Some of her favorites were the maintenance personnel. (Mine, too. Listen up, Jane Spencer, Dave O’Hara, Ben Hoffer, and Greg Boyd.) She told me the story of a building tour they gave her that included climbing to the top of the courthouse dome to change the American flag. It seems it’s a dome within a dome. I learned my new fact for the day there. Hayley also spent lots of time with family, as this may be her last summer at home for a long time to come.

28 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

Hayley is back at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee at the present time. She is attending Vanderbilt on a full ROTC scholarship, and is a member of the ROTC Army Unit. Aside from her studies in the military science department, she is very active and involved on campus. She and a group of fellow students are starting a group called “Wake Up, America”. This group is dedicated to the advancement of conservative principles. Miss Curry attended a Young America’s Foundation affair in the spring and raised $1000.00 in donations for “Wake Up, America”. One of the group’s first events for this school year will take place close to Veterans Day. Retired Army Major John Krenson will speak to the organization.

Major Krenson is a deacon in Nashville, Tennessee. The topic of his talk will be the role of religion in the war on terror. Around the time of Freedom Week (the anniversary of the tearing down of the Berlin wall) “Wake Up, America” would like to commemorate that historic event. Also, on the agenda is a 9/11 Memorial for 2007 that is in the planning stages.

This tribute on the Vanderbilt Alumni Lawn may include a VFW Honor Guard rifle salute complete with bagpipe backup. Aside from these patriotic endeavors, Hayley is the soon-to-be President of the Swing Dancing Club on campus!

Hayley is a participant in ENGAGE, a program at Vanderbilt in which incoming freshman are accepted early into one of Vanderbilt’s graduate schools. She was accepted into the Vanderbilt Law School. If she maintains her grade point average, she will automatically be able to attend after receiving her undergraduate degree. She would like to pursue constitutional law and eventually concentrate on the appellate courts.

As we were winding up our conversation, I asked Hayley if she would like to tell me anything about the young men in her life. Before she could reply, I suggested that we play “Perfect Boyfriend”, a game I invented for one of my nieces when she was five years old. After explaining the basic premise of the game, we played the condensed version. I asked, “What would Hayley Curry’s perfect boyfriend be like?”

She replied, “Well, I would like to marry a military man.”

We didn’t play that game long! I know the perfect man for Hayley, and told her all about him. He is a White House correspondent for a national news network. He is intelligent, gorgeous, astute, adorable, and hilarious. Humor is very important in a husband, right girls? Miss Curry told me that she would love to be married in the Pennsylvania Sate Capitol. Having been there myself, I agree that a bride could make quite an entrance coming down the rotunda staircase. I did alert Hayley to the fact that White House press guy has a father who is the police commissioner of a very large and important city in the state of New York.

This man might want to be married in the New York State Capitol. Response from Hayley: “The girl gets to decide.”

Hmm…the man may meet his match. After discussing my matchmaking plan at length, Hayley said “Barbara, wouldn’t it be funny if you ‘found’ my future husband? You could be in my wedding. Wouldn’t that be great?” I asked if she was serious. “Yes, obviously” was her answer. With their talent and credentials Hayley and the Washington newsman could become Attorney General and White House spokesperson. Who is to say which one would have which position? Hey, I’ll buy that dream!

Keep your eye on this one, folks. She’s going places. You’d be wise to include her in your next book E.D. Hill. Who would guess that the Hayley Renee Curry that walked down the aisle with my god daughter, Kara Lynn Kocon, on September 13th, 1996 would become this Hayley Renee Curry?

– Barbara M. Neill

Rendell Administration’s Record of Achievement in Westmoreland County: • 2,900 new jobs have been created in Westmoreland County since Rendell took office. In January of 2003 there were 174,300 jobs in the county, and as of June 2006 there are 177,200 jobs.

• The unemployment rate has dropped nearly a point. In January of 2003 the Ed Rendell - D unemployment rate for the county was 6.0%; in June 2006 that figure was down 5.1%.

• 962 more Westmoreland County children now enrolled in full-day kindergarten. Enrollment in the county has gone from 269 in 2003 to 1,231 in 2005.

• 11,044 Westmoreland County seniors have access to low-cost prescription drugs. Expanded prescription coverage through the PACE and PACENET programs now supports 11,044 Westmoreland County seniors, an increase of 3,292 since Governor Rendell took office.

• $158 million of state investments in Westmroeland County. The state has made investments totaling $158 million in 254 local projects since Governor Rendell took office.

• 7,723 Open Space and Farmland acres protected.

Growing Greener and Growing Greener II initiatives have helped protect and preserve 7,723 Open Space and Farmland acres in Westmoreland County.

VIEWS FROM THE C ANDID ATE: ANDIDA Pennsylvania Gover Governor nor ’s Race Lynn Swann’s plan for long term reform of Pennsylvania’s property tax system, includes property tax relief for every homeowner in the first year of his Administration and eliminates current assessments in favor of a new system that sets property taxes according to the actual purchase price of one’s home.

Swann outlined a four point plan he said would serve as the key principles of necessary reform of a system he called “onerous” and “unfair.” The four key points of Swann’s plan are as follows: • Immediately reduce school property taxes for our most burdened property taxpayers.

• Constrain spending and infuse predictability by prohibiting any increases greater than the rate of inflation.

• Eliminate the current arbitrary system of property tax assessments and replace it with an understandable system based on the purchase price of the property.

• Reform the current local taxing structure for all property owners to create a fair and predictable system.

Lynn Swann - R

Swann and his Lt. Governor running mate, Jim Matthews, have been traveling across the Commonwealth highlighting their policy proposals to make Pennsylvania more competitive, create more and higher paying jobs, and to meet the needs of a changing Pennsylvania.

north

Pick Up A Copy of the Laurel Mountain Post Across the County & Neighboring Communities!

DERRY

A Touch of Class AH Creations Allison Chiropractic Center Ameriserv Financial Caldwell Memorial Library Creative Dreams Crispin State Farm Insurance Dablock’s Beauty Shop Derry Federal Credit Union Derry Post Office First Commonwealth Bank Glassmart Herron Hollow Stonery Mastrorocco’s Market Palombo’s Bar & Restaurant Prakash K. Vin, M.D.P.C Pit Stop Quik Shop, Inc. Red Apple Kwik Fill Rite Aid S&T Bank Sunkissed Tanning

GREENSBURG

Academy of the Wagging Tail Advantage Resource Group AG Jewelry Bench Amazon Cafe American Indian Jewelry Art Tech Supplies Barnes & Noble Booksellers Beeghly and Company Bill & Walt’s Hobby Shop Cheryl Ann’s Crossroads (Route 66) Denny’s (Westmoreland Mall) Derby’s Delicatessen Descendents Children’s Clothing Dr. Philip Dahar, Orthodontist dV8 Expresso Bar Earnest Gourmet Eat N Park (Jeannette) Eat N Park (North Huntingdon) Fantastic Sam’s (E. Pittsburgh Street) Fantastic Sam’s (WalMart Plaza) From the Ground Up Gander Mountain Gianilli’s II Glassmart Greensburg Care Center Ground Round (Westmoreland Mall) Hampton Inn Holiday Inn Express Jing Huang Chinese Restaurant Just Miniature Scale Katsur Dental Knit Wits Malloy’s Cameracade Montgomery Foot & Ankle Center Mountain View Inn My Sissy’s Closet Mustard Seed Gallery, Inc. Northwood Realty (Greensburg) Northwood Realty (North Huntingdon) Pagnotta Cafe Palmer Pavillion Pepperwood Grille (Westmoreland Mall) Phillip Pelusi (Westmoreland Mall) Pizza Hut Pizza Siena Prudential Insurance Reese Teleservices Seton Hill University Sharp Image Hair Designs/Day Spa Sheraton Four Points Hotel

Smail Mazda, Acura Sun Parlor Tanning Salon Super 8 Motel The Computer Clinic (Jeannette) The Pawn and Jewelry Exchange The Victorian Tea Lady Thomas Vince, DMD Tom Clark Ford Twice As Nice Westmoreland Athletic Club Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce Wilder & Co. Worldwide Travel and Tours

LATROBE

Adelphoi Village Alternative Bodywork Center Aqua Pets Arnold Palmer Motors Inc Arnold Palmer Regional Airport Awesome Blossoms by Al Bella Pasta Bement’s Flower Shop The Corner Store Chiropractic Health Center Coffee Bean Cafe Commercial National Bank (Downtown and Lawson Heights) Creative Expressions Dainty Pastry Shoppe Denny’s Dino’s Sports Lounge DiNunzio’s Italian Chophouse DiSalvo’s Station Restaurant Dr. Mucci & Dr. Picciano Dr. Philip Dahar, Orthodontist Dr. Scott Learn, DMD Drs. Hansen & Torna Dream Maker Weddings Eastern Alliance Tae-Kwon Do Falbo’s Rainbow Inn First Commonwealth Bank First National Bank (Downtown, Latrobe 30 Plaza) Frank’s Lounge Gino’s Pizza of Latrobe Hanna Insurance Agency Drs. Hansen & Torba Harvey’s Barber Shop Hi-Way Drive-In Holzer’s Store Hostetter Club In-Sync Rehabilitation Services Jazzercise (Loyalhanna) Jocelyn’s Beauty Salon Joe’s Store & Deli (Lawson Heights) L & L Quik Lube Latrobe 30 Beverage Latrobe 30 News Stand Latrobe Animal Clinic Latrobe Art Center Latrobe Center Distributing, Inc. Latrobe Chamber of Commerce Latrobe Elks Latrobe Family Cinemas Latrobe Glass & Mirror Latrobe Hair Company Latrobe Hospital ER Latrobe Hospital Little Shop Latrobe News Stand Latrobe Post Office Latrobe Senior Center Laurel Nursery/Garden Center Lazor Furniture Len’s Jewelry Loyalhanna Care Center

Mosso’s Medical Supply Company Inc. National City Bank (Latrobe 30 Plaza) Northwood Realty Olson’s Mozart House/Hall Pizza Siena Plaza News Stand RK Mellon Elementary School Ray Foot & Ankle Center Rose Style Shoppe Scotty G’s Pizzaria Sharky’s Cafe Sherwin-Williams (Latrobe 30 Plaza) Shop-N-Save (Latrobe 30 Plaza) St. Vincent College St. Vincent Gristmill Tuxedo Room Van Dyke Styling Center Vita-Charge Weiss Furniture Wingate Inn Youngstown Post Office Youngstown Tire Zappone Sausage Co & Retail Outlet

LIGONIER

Abigail’s Coffeehouse American Indian Jewelry Beno’s Betsy’s of Ligonier BP (CoGo’s) Carol & Dave’s Roadhouse Celtic Culture Chestnut Ridge Primary Care, Ltd., Weldon Compass Inn Connections Store The Country Cupboard Crafts Unlimited Curves for Women Diamond Cafe Endless Possibilities Equine Chic Essentials The Fairfield Grille First National Bank Fox’s Pizza The Frame Place The Garret Giant Eagle Gino Gianelli’s Graytok Family Vision Care Green Meadows Hair Parade Highland Chiropractic Holiday Home Store The Hollow Tavern Ivy’s Cafe James Vincent Salon John Clark Jewelers La Rosa’s Barber Shop Laughlintown Post Office Ligonier Chamber of Commerce Ligonier Country Inn Ligonier Outfitters & Newsstand Ligonier Palms Tanning Salon Ligonier Pharmacy Ligonier Post Office Ligonier Tavern Ligonier Theater Ligonier YMCA Main Street Deli Pamela’s Golden Touch Salon The Paper House & Baskitry Pathfinder Photo The Pet Corner Persnickity The Pie Shoppe

west east south The Post and Rail Ramada Inn The Road Toad Roadman’s Country Living Shop Rosalie Jioio’s Little Italy Ruthie’s Diner Sewickley Spa Standard Bank Subway The Stationery Shop The Treehouse in Ligonier Underneath

NEW ALEXANDRIA

Curves for Women Di’s Pizzeria & Restaurant Johna’s Hair Design Oasis Hotel Qwik Stop Sheetz The Roadhouse

NORTH

Bentz Pizza Time - Leechburg Blairsville Pharmacy - Blairsville Blue Ridge Family Restaurant - Blairsville Bonfire Rest - Leechburg Cuttin’ Loose - Leechburg Dean’s Diner - Blairsville Devita’s Pizza - Leechburg Fantastic Sam’s - Blairsville First Commonwealth Bank - Leechburg Guy’s Tavern - Avonmore Happy Day Cafe - Leechburg©Laura Petrilla Jerich Insurance - Leechburg Lake’s Roadhouse - Leechburg Lonestar - Avonmore Marble Kitchen - Leechburg Melissa’s Cut ‘n Curl - Blairsville Nails 4 You - Apollo Northwood Realty - Blairsville Papa Sal’s Restaurant - Blairsville Pie Cucina - Blairsville Rivertown Pub - Leechburg

EAST

Cogo’s - Bakersville Collections by Marty - Donegal Courtyard by Marriott - Altoona Darshana Yoga Center - Champion Foggy Mountain - Donegal Italian Gourmet Deli - Donegal Green Gables - Jennerstown Kreinbrooks Market - Jones Mills Living Treasures Animal Park - Donegal Log Cabin Motel - Donegal Loyalhanna Veterinary Clinic - Stahlstown Mountain Horse Saddlery - Donegal Mountain Playhouse - Jennerstown Northwood Realty - Donegal Oakhurst Tea Room - Somerset Sarnelli’s Market - Jones Mills Seven Springs Mtn. Resort - Champion Tall Cedars Restaurant - Donegal UniMart - New Florence

WEST

Courtyard by Marriott -Penn Ave Dean’s Diner - Murrysville Levin Furniture - Monroeville Spitzer Automotive - Monroeville Whirl Magazine Offices - Pittsburgh Whole Foods - Pittsburgh

LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST - 29

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Advertising deadline for the November-December issue of the Laurel Mountain Post is October 15.

Call us today at 724-331-3936 to reserve your space in the newspaper everyone in Westmoreland County is talking about!

Mount Pleasant Glass and Ethnic Festival Celebrating 20 Years September 22, 23, 24 . . . Rain or Shine!

History, tradition, and enjoyment come to mind to the people who visit the Mount Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival. Western Pennsylvania, historically supplied the world with the finest glassware and crafted items through the skills and dedication of hardworking people. The Mt. Pleasant area is well known for it’s three glass companies, Lenox Crystal, L.E. Smith Glass Company, Electro Glass Products, Jamestown Glass Outlet and Youghiogheny Glass who have carried on the tradition of fine glass making and progressive new ideas in glass products and usage. From this tradition was born the annual celebration called the Mount Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival. Nestled in the Laurel Mountains, amongst beautiful fall foilage, Mt. Pleasant comes alive in September during the festival, which is always its last full weekend. This sparkling fall 30 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST

spectacular has evolved into an event that provides enjoyment for over 50,000 people in three days. Because of the uniqueness of the festival, it has grown to be one of the largest outdoor festivals in the Western Pennsylvania area. The Mount Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival, which is located on the friendly neighborhood streets and parks of Mt. Pleasant, provides various types of enjoyment for people of all ages. The Mount Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival has free admission, and free entertainment performed on three stages, as well as strolling entertainment throughout the weekend.

Approaching the Festival Midway, one can smell the many ethnic foods, prepared right before your eyes. The variety of foods, which include Italian, Polish. German, Greek, Chinese, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Early American, provide a menu not

equaled at any one location. These ethnic foods can be enjoyed at any of the many picnic tables with umbrella’s that intermingle among the festival booths, which stretch for four blocks and two parks. Crafters from many parts of the country demonstrate, display and sell their quality items at reasonable prices.

Items include woods, ceramic, and knitted crafts to artisan stained glass.

Demonstrations are a large part of the festival attractions. Many of the vendors show how craft items are made including glass blowing and stained glass artists. But the most popular demonstrations are the glass blowing by Laurel Art and Glass.

Never before seen by the public, these artists mold and blow hot molten into a decorative glass item. Some of the world’s finest glass from L.E. Smith Glass, Lenox Crystal and Jamestown Glass Outlet will be on display and for sale at the festival. Few festivals in

the United States can offer this kind of history and art right before your eyes.

The Mount Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival is well known for free entertainment and activities that highlight three days. Top name national, regional and local talent entertains continuously on our three stages. A variety of live music offers entertainment for all ages that is second to none. The other activities also set the Glass Festival Apart from many other festivals. These unique attractions are the Little Princess Pageant, Young Miss Princess Pageant, and the Queen Pageant, the Festival Parade of Lights at night and the Giant Parade in the afternoon, Kidsfest, a Carnival, and a spectacular closing ceremony with fireworks that top it all off on Sunday Evening.

This is one festival you won’t want to miss. For additional information, call our 24 hour answering service at 724-547-7738.

The Manchurian Lotus A fundraiser to benefit the Westmoreland Museum of American Art took place Saturday, August 5 at 1:00 p.m. at “The Ponds”, the weekend home of George Griffith and Thomas O’Brien in Ligonier.

Guests viewed the hosts’ spectacular water gardens featuring 100 styles of water lilies plus other aquatic plants, including the enchanting and rare Manchurian Lotus while enjoying a delectable luncheon catered by Earnest Gourmet of Greensburg. Griffith and O’Brien (owners and operators of the Flower Barn in Johnstown) generously underwrote this event.

The 2,000 - 3,000 year-old lotus seed was unearthed in a Manchurian lakebed in 1954. This seed was the oldest seed ever germinated in all of botanical history. The lotus exists today in only two places: Kenilworth Aquatic Garden (Washington D.C.) and here in Ligonier, Westmoreland County.

George Griffith Explains the Lotus History Following the unearthing, three seeds were sent to the University of Southern California at Berkley to be germinated. A botanist there felt it to be too important for him to attempt germination and forwarded the seeds to the Kennelworth Water Gardens (our national water gardens) in Washington. The botanist in Washington (Paul Souder) successfully germinated one of the three seeds he received. The seed was determined by carbon tests to be between two and three thousand years old, making for a worldwide botanical celebration. The flower and plant appeared in all

major horticultural publications recognizing this plant from the oldest seed ever to be germinated in all of botanical history. This Lotus grows only here and at the Kennelworth Water Gardens in Washington.

In 1955, while an undergraduate student at Penn State, I became an acquaintance of Milton Eisenhower, the President of Penn State and a knowledgeable horticulturist. He asked if I would help with the celebration of President Eisenhower, Milton’s brother, who was coming to Penn State to give the commencement address. The Eisenhower brothers were all convening in the gardens at the President’s residence at Penn State. I suggested that we would decorate the pond as one of the features and he was ecstatic about it and so we floated some 2,000 water lilies on his pond. The brothers appeared with the pond as a background on the cover of Life Magazine. In appreciation of our work, Milton told me if there was anything he could every do for me please do not hesitate to call.

Two of the familiar faces seen at the W.M.A.A. fundraiser were those of Dee and Jim Thomas. Jim is a retired physician from Greensburg, and Dee is a very faithful museum volunteer, as both a docent and museum shop clerk.

In 1956, when visiting the Washington Garden to view the plant, which was guarded by chain link fence in a small pond, I realized that this plant was in danger. Being that it was highlighted behind a chain link fence was an attractant to the hundreds of children from the nearby ghetto who would take spears and stones to the plant. I asked Milton Eisenhower to intervene to have a division from the plant. That is how this plant arrived here.

Reported & Photographed by Barbara M. Neill

The rare Manchurian Lotus blooms in Ligonier, PA.

Jerry D. Felton, P.T. integrating traditional and alternative therapy services

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, September 30 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM FREE 5-minute chair massages and light refreshments 2000 Tower Way, Suite 2039 Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone:(724)834-7400 Fax:(724)834-7402 Located at the Mt. Pleasant exit off Route 30 (behind Gander Mountain)

Not Your Average Cowboy Not Your Average Equestrian Store Great ideas for everyone from: English Riding Supply Looney Tune Pads Hatley - Get Clothes to Nature Long Sleeve T’s, Knit Pants The Official Toby Keith Hat

by SCALA Wild Horse Stoneware Collection from Home Branded Nuzzle “The unbridled fragrance for her!”

LEANIN’ TREE Cards & Stationery An American Tradition Since 1949

Equine Chic For Horse, Home & You

EQUINE CHIC is located at 106 E. Main Street on the Diamond in Ligonier, PA

724.238.7003 Store open Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

www.EquineChic.com