Laurel Mountain Post :: February 2015

1 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST, September 2013

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

POSTFREE

Internet Cat Celebrities Cole and Marmalade

WCNS Radio Goes Worldwide

Visitor & Information Center Opens

First Mistake in Weight Loss

"Hard Days, Hard Nights"Make for Happy Memories

Radon Awareness

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the

FEBRUARY 2015 | ISSN 2330-6629

2 - February 2015 LAUREL MOUNTAIN POSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOST

Valley School ad

Every Story Begins At Home. February 2015 - 3

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

Cathi Gerhard, Editor & [email protected]

Megan Fuller, Web & Calendar [email protected]

Nancy A. Clark, Contributing [email protected]

Gregory Susa, Co-Publisher & Circulation ManagerCarol Gerhard, Copy Editor

Publisher cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy of the matter represented in the advertise-ments herein published. Please contact the advertiser to verify details.

Laurel Mountain Post189 Fairview Lane

Derry, PA 15627

www.LaurelMountainPost.com

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

POSTProudly serving the LaurelArea Valleys and Highlandsof Westmoreland Countyand neighbors since 2004.

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

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OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the

“The Voice of Pennsylvania” – BBNC News, 2006

We Love toTell the Stories

“We have read the most recent edition at least three times over. Itoffers so much on each page . . . It’s the perfect companion for thosewho have lived here, those who just got here, and for those of uswho haven’t quite taken the time to look around.”

– Derek Baughman, Latrobe

Several years ago, I received one of the best compliments from alocal reader (above). He summarized exactly what the LaurelMountain Post has been all about since our debut issue in 2004. Icouldn’t have said it better myself!

These are the kinds of comments that keep coming back to mefrom readers, and they serve to validate our new partnership withthe Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Community Chamber of Com-merce as their official magazine. We share the same footprint: theLaurel area valleys and highlands of Westmoreland County (andsurrounding areas). We share the same mission: “Connecting Busi-ness, Community & Education.” And we both want to tell the sto-ries in our neck of the woods.

The new Neighborhood Visitor & Information Center (seestory on page 6), will be a great place to make those connections inthe center of our region. If you missed the grand opening on Feb-ruary 2, that’s OK – you’re welcome to stop in Monday – Satur-day. It’s not just for visitors, but for everyone to learn more aboutour community.

There are so many local stories that we take for granted as resi-dents. Just because we pass people, places and things on the streetevery day doesn’t mean we know everything about them. Discov-ering new or in-depth narratives about our friends and neighbors,then sharing it with our readers, is one of our favorite things!

We are honored to tell some of those stories in this issue: Takeanother look at our local AM radio station, 1480 WCNS; go backin time with “Hard Days, Hard Nights” and the glory days of rockand roll concerts in Pttsburgh; re-consider what you thought youknew about the dangers of radon; February is full of holidays andcelebrations you never knew; and much more. Browse throughour calendar of events and attend something new!

There’s so much to discover about Western Pennsylvania – that’swhy we can barely fit it all in, month after month, on the pages ofthe Laurel Mountain Post.

– Cathi Gerhard, Editor


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Table of Contents

February 2015 LINDSAY M. TURCHETTA, AWMA®

Financial Advisor

Financial Advisors TM

2790 Mosside BoulevardSuite270

Monroeville, PA 15146412-858-9090 Fax 412-856-8433

Direct 724-493-9473

(Personal Office)2016 Highland AvenueGreensburg, PA 15601

724-493-9473www.waddell.com

On the DiamondANTIQUES

110 East Main StreetLigonier, PA 15658

(724) 238-2226

Mary Jo CulbertsonProprietor

(724) 238-0497

Multi-Dealer ShopMulti-Dealer ShopMulti-Dealer ShopMulti-Dealer ShopMulti-Dealer Shop

5 Then Comes February ... by Nancy A. Clark

6 All Aboard! What’s Your Destination?There Goes the Neighborhood by Denise Martin

8 Internet Cat CelebritiesCole & Marmalade by Cathi Gerhard

10 A Steelworkers Story by Johnstown Heritage

11 Natural Gas Vehicles Come toWestmoreland by Westmoreland Conservation

12 First Mistake in Weight LossWhat’s Cooking in Fitness by Mark Rullo

14 “Hard Days, Hard Nights”Makes For Happy Memories by Carol Whelan

15 Mapping Your Ancestorsby Westmoreland Historical Society

17 Radon AwarenessHome Study by Brian Mishler

18 5 Reasons Your Dog Will Love YouFor Baking Homemade Dog Treats

by The Green Divas

20 Ojibwa Indian SayingThat’s What They Say by Rev. Marjorie Rivera

21 WCNS Radio by Cathi Gerhard

26 Community Calendar

28 Distribution Guide

31 Fear Factor End Notes by Megan Fuller


Then Comes February ...by Nancy A. Clark

Just when I thought the holiday halle-lujahs were packed up with the Christmasornaments and hauled to the attic, alongcomes February with a suitcase full of newopportunities for celebrating.

I’m a card-carrying believer in thetheory that merrymaking is the best broomfor sweeping away the winter doldrumsand the writers of Chase’s Calendar ofEvents and www.brownie locks.com agree.Their suggestions have filled our datebookto over-flowing.

February offers something for everydepartment – from the stalwarts who “buckup” on Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day(February 11) to the intellectuals who honorWorld Thinking Day (February 22) to theuninhibited, scantily clad Mardi Gras reve-lers in Rio (February 24).

Don’t forget to send your sweetie a boxof chocolates for Valentine’s Day (February14), and consider helping Honest Abe blowout 206 candles on his birthday cake (Feb-ruary 12) and 283 candles for the firstGeorge W. to be called Mr. President (Feb-ruary 22). Or, you could kick it up a notchand launch February as National HeartMonth, International Hoof Care Month,or Pull Your Sofa Off the Wall Month, withgaiety that’ll give your neighbors somethingmore to talk about than the weather.

Switch out your winter garb for a grassskirt and a couple of coconut shells, graban icy Bahama-style beverage and swivelyour hips in the snowy front yard on Hulain the Coola Day (February1). Your mis-sion: convince yourself and the neighbors thatit’s a summery day in southwestern PA.

If you escape pneumonia or hula skirtitch, thumb your nose at Groundhog Philon Groundhog Day while you plow throughsnowy drifts to join a flash mob of “uku-lelists” plunking their four strings on PlayYour Ukulele Day (February 2).

Bubble Gum Day and Girl Scout Cook-ie Day are neck and neck out of the gate onFebruary 6, but that day I’m putting mymoney on Working Naked Day to win bya long shot.

I don’t have one to dump, so I won’tbe dumping on Dump Your SignificantJerk Day, but feel free. I’ll be dipping myspoon that morning with those celebratingIce Cream for Breakfast Day. If neither ofthese ideas float your boat on February 7,consider Wave All Your Fingers at YourNeighbor Day and settle their debate aboutyour mental state.

Few topics or objects escape the noticeof the historically astute staff of Chase’sCalendar of Events, the 58-year old publi-cation that salutes anything and every-thing. So eagle-eyed are they to recognizethe value of being recognized that even ahumble, but nutritious nut has its day –National Almond Day (February 16).(Goober aficionados will get their day onMarch 1 – Peanut Lovers Day).

Do observe Clean Out Your ComputerDay on February 9 because ExtraterrestrialVisitor Day follows on the 10th, and onenever knows from which planet the nextalien hacker will emerge.

Not enamored with your given name?Hang loose, goose; Get A Different NameDay awaits you on February 13. Or elect tocelebrate that day as Madly In Love WithME Day. Either way, it’s all about you.

The folks at www.brownielocks .commust spend one-half of their work day inresearch and the other half in stitches. Justtry to keep a straight face when decipheringCow Milked While Flying in an AirplaneDay (February 18).

“Parrot heads” (you know who youare!) can salute National Margarita Dayon February 22, raising a salt-rimmed glasswith Jimmy Buffet on the warm sands ofthe Florida Keys.

Every dog has his day on National DogBiscuit Day (February 23 - see story onpage 18), but Fido and Fluffy may run forcover on the 24th – Spay Day.

If none of the aforementioned is enoughto squirt your pickle, consider rubbing el-bows with enthusiasts from around theglobe who gather on February 17 for Cham-

pion Crab Races Day “… for some highenergy competition and entertainment.” (Ican’t make this stuff up, folks). TheNational Crab Racing Association (NCRA),headquartered in Indialantic, FL, willappreciate your support.

As for me and my lady pals, we spunkyold broads will be kicking up our heels – ashigh as knees and decorum allow – in cele-bration of February as Spunky Old BroadsMonth. Not relegated to just one day, weof-an-age will jubilate for 28 straight days.Oh, if only it were a Leap Year …

And you thought February was goingto be boring.

* * * * *

Nancy Clark and her husband, Tom, rejoice in50 years of marriage, three children and threegrandchildren. She dabbles in freelance andmemoir writing when she isn’t baking, knitting,reading, or building a jigsaw puzzle.

Better LuckNext Season!

Margaret Helen Lauer (age 6 months)proudly shows her support for Mom’sfavorite team. “Maggie” is the daughterof Drs. Adam and Ellen Lauer of Bangor,ME, and the granddaughter of Latrobephysicians Howard and Susan Bursch.


THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOODby Denise Martin, Director of Membership

All Aboard! What’s Your Destination?I really enjoy the beginning of a newyear. It allows an opportunity to pauseand reflect on the past twelve months– the highs and lows, successes and…well, let’s just say “good attempts” –and then consider what we’d like toaccomplish in the coming year.

Aside from the normal resolutionslike exercising, eating better, cleaningup a cluttered room, etc., it’s a won-derful time to find a unique passion,try something new, take that risk orbuild fresh relationships. I’m a strongbeliever that life in the comfort zonefeels great, but you’ll only begin togrow and fully enjoy life when you stepbeyond the “comfort” and take theroad less traveled.

We did exactly that in the greaterpart of 2014 here at the GLLV Cham-ber. Sure there was a “comfort level”of doing the same routine, the sameevents, the same conversations…people like familiarity, predictabilityand knowing what to expect. But thatdidn’t mean WE the Chamber, or YOUthe Members were growing and mov-ing forward. Predictability didn’t guar-antee success.

So what did we do? We pushedout of our “comfort zone” and charteda new course! We knew there was abetter way to help our Members: newideas for success, a greater ability toexcite our communities with betterevents, and there were definitely newconversations and important rela-tionships that could be built. And thatmeant shaking things up, taking somerisks and forging a new path.

Were we nervous? Yes. Did wehave all the answers? No. Did we be-lieve in our mission and our vision tobuild a stronger Chamber of Com-merce, add more value to ChamberMembership and re-engage with ourbusinesses, schools and communities?

You BET we did! So we set a courseand got a little “uncomfortable” know-ing we could make a difference andbuild a better Chamber.

One of the greatest visions ourPresident David Martin had was toopen a Visitor & Information Center.He believed we could create some-thing special, a common place thatwould welcome residents and visitorsalike, with information from ourMembers about their businesses andarea attractions. He wanted to builda resource center to share the storiesof where to live, work, eat, stay andplay in our great communities, and toalso share the history of some of themost remarkable people, organiza-tions and businesses in our area. Whenyou meet someone as forward-think-ing and creative as David, you justjump onboard and prepare for theride. One of our newest Members putit best when he said, “The GLLVChamber is like a train speeding downthe tracks. I knew I could either jumpon the train, or get run over by it. So Ijumped on board!”

What we’re doing IS exciting. Wecompletely changed our look. We com-pletely changed our events. Wecompletely changed locations. We leftour comfort zone because we wantedthe coming year, 2015, to be BIGGERand BETTER for all our Members –for YOU! Every idea we have, everydecision we make, every late night orlong weekend is all about YOU! Wewant our Members to feel the value ofmembership and to partner withthem for their success. We want ourschools to benefit from our business-focused educational programs andour communities to flourish with newfaces and visitors and vibrant busi-nesses. We want YOU to feel our com-mitment, our excitement – knowing

it’s all about YOU – so when you hearthat train whistle coming down thetracks you want to jump onboard.

If you’re already a Member, youknow the excitement I’m talkingabout. We’ve seen so many familiarfaces AND new faces at our monthlyevents; Networking Breakfasts,Ribbon Cuttings, and our brand newBusiness After Hours. We had nearly100 people attend our first BAH inJanuary and we were thrilled! It feelsgood to know you see the improve-ments and you LIKE them! If youaren’t a Member, you’ve probablyheard about us, read articles about us,or just know of the “buzz” we’vecreated in the last few months. Guesswhat? We’re just getting STARTED!Join us!

David’s vision is coming true, andwe’re proud to announce The Neigh-borhood Visitor & Information Centeropened on February 2! Our staff spentsome long days, nights and weekendsto make this dream come true. Wealready feel the VIC has connected ourgreat communities, built some won-derful relationships and opened thedoor to endless possibilities for areagrowth. We are so excited to share thestories of our businesses, restaurants,lodging, attractions and our rich his-tory. So many of our Members havesent us their business cards and mediabrochures or just stopped by to see TheNeighborhood VIC. We’re organizinglocal memorabilia and art provided byMr. Arnold Palmer, The McFeely-Rogers Foundation, Pittsburgh Steel-ers, Rolling Rock memorabilia fromJames Mickinak, Latrobe Art Centerand more!

This resource center is the FIRSTof its kind in our area. Last year at thistime it was just a “thought” – perhapseven a New Year’s Resolution – to do


something different, take a new risk,take that leap forward and grow. Wecan check that off our list. Done.Happening. ACHIEVED!

Now it’s YOUR turn! What did youwant to do last year that just didn’tget done? Did your business grow likeyou’d hoped? Did you take that risk,find that new passion, and move outof your “comfort zone”? Why not startthe New Year in a NEW direction,with us? We’ve already got the trainmoving forward and we’ve plenty ofroom for more passengers! GROWwith us! Get excited about somethingdifferent. Attend some new events,build new relationships, network withyour “neighbors” and make a wholenew group of friends. We’re here tohelp you make 2015 the BEST YEARyet!

Remember what I said aboutfeeling comfortable? We wiggledthrough the hard times, making allthese changes to create a new Cham-ber, and as tough as it was…WE FEELGREAT! We’re VIBRANT and FULLYALIVE and invite you to jump on-board. Do you have a destination inmind? Let the GLLV Chamber take youthere! All aboaaaaard!

* * * * *

Denise Martin is the Director of Membership atthe GLLV Community Chamber of Commerce.She believes in building strong business relation-ships and regularly meets with current and pro-spective Members to understand their businessneeds and dreams. Denise was part of the outsideteam in 2014 specializing in the marketing andsales initiative of the new re-brand, and enjoyedthe challenge and energy of the “new” Chamberso much, she joined the staff full time in January2015. If you are interested in Chamber member-ship, she can be reached at [email protected].

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD from the Chamber staff (left ro right):Allen Martello (Director of Marketing & Events), Denise Martin (Director of Membership),

David Martin (President), and Dolan Vogle (Ambassador Chair).

VISITOR & INFORMATION CENTER WINTER HOURS:Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm; Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

Sunday hours will be announced in the spring!

America’s Best MusicAmerica’s Best MusicNow Playing OnlineNow Playing Online

Your Link to Music, Sports, Talk Blocks, and All Things Local!

Listen from your computer, tablet or smartphone!


Internet Cat Celebrities

Cole & MarmaladeNews outlets around the world are writingabout cats on the internet. My recent searchfound current articles by Forbes, The Guar-dian, Huffington Post, PBS, NPR, Slate and theToday Show (to name just a few). Everyonehas heard of Grumpy Cat, right? Personally,as a lifelong “cat person,” I have “wasted”countless hours of my time looking at funnycat videos and websites (comedian KathleenMadigan recommends “Cats Who Look LikeHitler”). My husband gave me a Crazy Cat Ladyaction figure for Christmas.

Over the holidays, while I was scanning YouTube, I stumbled upon a pair of cats wholooked much like two of my own: a big, blackcat and a small orange tabby named Cole &Marmalade. They have their own YouTubechannel, Facebook page, Twitter and Insta-gram accounts, and a webpage on The Ani-malist. Rachel Ray Nutrish is even one of theirsponsors! Not only are their videos creativeand fun to watch, they are educational, too! Idecided to contact their “dad,” Chris Poole, tofind out more about the adorable duo.

How did this cat project get started?

My life revolved around cats of the smalland large variety! I worked at a sanctuarycalled Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida forseveral years. I was an intern there, andthey offered me the videographer job inMay of 2008. It’s the world’s largest ac-credited sanctuary dedicated to exotic cats(home to over 100 lions, tigers, leopards andmore!). They’ve rescued them from furfarms, circuses, roadside zoos and manyare former “pets” that have been aban-doned or abused.

I’ve always had domestic cats at homein England. My mum’s cat was namedSarah, and she was a very tolerant blackcat (see photo at right of the two of us).I’m sure I must have annoyed the heck outof her as a little kid, but we always curled

up on the couch with each other too. It’sprobably why I love black cats so much!

Fast forward 20+ years when a friend ofmy wife and me found a tiny black kitten– now called Cole – at a busy Floridaintersection in the evening all by himselfand texted us a picture. We knew we hadto bring him into our lives!

He was anemic and covered in fleas, sowe had to bathe him and get him checked-out at the vet. He was only around 5-6weeks old, so he had to be bottle-fed andtaught how to go to the bathroom and allthat fun stuff! It was great to see him grow-up, and because we raised him from sucha young age, he bonded with us so veryclosely and loves to snuggle with us!

Then, when I learned black cats are leastlikely to be adopted and most likely to beeuthanized in animal shelters, I decided touse my video skills to do some good fordomestic cats as I do for the big cats at thesanctuary. That’s when I started my “ColeThe Black Cat” YouTube channel andbegan making videos (such as “10 Reasonsto Adopt a Black Cat” ) including ones thatpromote spay, neuter and adoption. So Istarted filming Cole, making funny andeducational videos and posting them to hisYouTube channel.

Marmalade, our ginger kitty, was rescuedfrom a friend of a friend. They didn’t wantMarmalade, and I feared he’d end up in ashelter or living outside and adding to theferal cat problem. We’d also been thinkingabout adopting another cat for months, andwhen she sent us a pic of him, we decidedit was fate and we had to adopt him!

What is your background in film?

I studied graphc design at university, butall of the video editing skills are self taught.I use Final Cut Pro to edit now, and have acouple of video cameras and a GoPro whichI use now. But a couple of years ago, I justhad the one $500 camcorder.

How did the partnership with RachelRay come about?

We are partnered with Animalist and Dis-covery Digital Networks. Companies ap-proach them with products they would liketo advertise online, and then Animalist con-tacts the appropriate video creators to see ifthey would be interested. I admire the workRachael Ray is doing to help shelter ani-

mals, and Nutrish is natural food that theboys enjoy too.

You feature a lot of homemade toysand structures in your videos – wheredo you get the ideas?

My wife and I are very creative, and we’realways thinking of fun stuff to make forthe boys to play in– like our epic cat castleand cat-proof christmas tree. It’s just so easyto make that stuff: cardboard, tape, scis-sors, glue. And it really keeps the cats en-riched in their environment. Plus peopleenjoy watching the videos too.

What cat websites would yourecommend to our readers?

The Animal Rescue Site is a great place foreverything: articles, videos, shopping, andthey do so much to help animals in need.(www.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com)

Scholars have written a lot about whywe love cats on the internet so much.For example: “They transcendlanguage and culture” (PBS.org). “Weare still worshipping cats as godsmuch like the Egyptians” or “they area psychological reflection of our-selves.” (Forbes.com). Why do youthink cats are universally appealing?

You never know what to expect from them!

Has the popularity of the Cole &Marmalade videos changed your life?

It’s really cool, after building up their pre-sence online for a couple of years now, tosee the good stuff we are doing. And thegood stuff other people are doing afterwatching our videos or seeing our posts onsocial sites: people adopting cats, buildingshelters for feral cats, and educating theirfriends and family about certain animal

Sarah and young Chris


welfare issues. Plus, it gives me great pleas-ure when people enjoy our funny videosthat I produce – and then see them gettingshared, going viral, and seeing my cats onTV!

If you ever doubted their popularity,the success of your fundraisingcampaign comfirms it: tell us aboutMarmalade’s battle with cancer.

Well it was a total shock, because Marm isso young (1.5 yrs), but cats can hide thingsso well… We had just moved to California,and all of our belongings were still on theway. And now Marm was sick, so it was astressful time… But we really have amazingsupporters, and many of them suggestedsetting up an online FundRazr [.com] sopeople could contribute towards the emer-gency surgery costs to remove the tumor.So I set up a page, expecting to raise a fewhundred dollars, but ended up raising morethen the $4000 surgery costs. And thenwhen Marm needed chemo treatments, Ikept it running because people again wan-ted to help their favorite internet cat. Andwe ended up raising enough to cover all ofMarmalade’s chemo costs as well. Trulyamazing; and we’re so lucky to have thesupport which many others don’t.

How is Marmalade doing? I saw onFacebook that he recently receivedhis final chemo treatment.

Yep, a few weeks ago, the sonogram showedthat all was clear, and he had a few moretreatments after that…. I figured we caughtit early on, blasted the cancer away, and

we have him on supplements and a greatdiet. Now we’re going to be looking at al-ternative treatments going forward… He’sdoing very well, and he hates vet visits.There’s only so much little kitty bodies cantake, so I’m very happy with the decisionto stop chemo and look at alternatives tomake sure he’s around for many moreyears to come!

What’s next?

I’m going to continue producing Cole &Marmalade videos, both fun vids andawareness/educational videos, and con-tinue to help other animal welfare organi-zations whenever possible. I feel that I canreach a lot of people through my videos anddo lots of good.

Cole & Marmalade look like a “blackand gold” team. Have they ever visitedPittsburgh or considered endorsingthe Steelers, Pirates or Penguins?

We’ve never been there, but of course we’dlove to visit at some point in the future.Being a Brit and not a fan of sports (doesthat make me sound bad?!). I don’t reallypay attention to much, but I was at the2009 Super Bowl in Tampa when theSteelers won. BUT I didn’t see any of thegame since I was volunteering and sellingbeer for a big cat sanctuary I worked atback then!

* * * * *

Please giggle along with us by watching someof the hilarious Cole & Marmalade videosonline. You’ll also find lots of great tips for

http://animalist.com/coletheblackcat/http://instagram.com/blackcatcolehttps://twitter.com/coletheblackcat

www.youtube.com/user/chrispoole20www.facebook.com/ColeTheBlackCat

Video producer and “Dad,”Chris Poole with Marmalade.

COLE

MARMALADE

projects to make at home for your own cats,as well as other inspirational topics. My ownginger tabby, Leon, also loves to watch theboys and their antics on the big TV screen (buthe has little patience for the commercials inbetween each video).

I think Cole & Marmalade would be an ex-cellent choice as the official team cats in theSteel City, and would love to invite them tomake an appearance at the Laurel MountainPost SteelersFest 2015 tent during TrainingCamp in Latrobe this summer! Of course, Mar-malade needs a lot of time to recover this year,and we wish him the best of luck in his fightagainst cancer. In the meantime, we’ll stay intouch online – and you can too! Just visit oneof the links listed below.

– Interview by Cathi Gerhard


“A Steelworker’s Story”Opens at the Heritage Discovery Center

(JOHNSTOWN, Pa.) – Steelworkers inJohnstown were part of a colossal under-taking – in fact, the Johnstown mill couldproduce 2 million tons of steel and steelproducts annually. As the end of steelproduction in Johnstown approached,steelworkers often collected souvenirs oftheir lives in the mill – something toremember the great industry in which theylabored. A new exhibition of these souvenirs,“A Steelworker’s Story,” is now open at theHeritage Discovery Center.

An opening reception for the exhibitionwill be held on Sun., Feb. 22 at 2:00 pm –it is free to JAHA members or $5 for thegeneral public. JAHA staff will give a specialtour of the exhibition.

Items in “A Steelworker’s Story” werecollected by Tom Leslie, who worked in themill from 1974-1992. They document allfour divisions of the Bethlehem SteelJohnstown Plant – Franklin Works, Gau-tier Division, Lower Cambria Works, andRod &Wire Mill. The Conemaugh & BlackLick Railroad division is also included. Thisexhibition was developed and installed byLeslie and Don Costlow, another formersteelworker, in association with the John-stown Area Heritage Association (JAHA).

The exhibition is displayed in the SteelTheater of the Heritage Discovery Center,where the multimedia presentation “TheMystery of Steel” is presented as part of themuseum experience. Artifacts displayedinclude a wide variety of mill signs, productsamples, and even personal effects like hardhats and lunchboxes.

“Almost all Johnstown natives have apersonal connection to the steel mills – ifthey didn’t work there themselves, a familymember did,” said Richard Burkert, JAHApresident. “So we think this exhibit will bemeaningful to a lot of people.”

Entrance to the exhibit is included withadmission to the Heritage Discovery Center,and free to JAHA members.

Steel’s Rich History in Johnstown

Beginning in 1854, Johnstown’s CambriaIron Company was founded to produceiron, and later, steel railroad rails. By theearly 20th century, the output of Johns-town’s steel mills expanded to include struc-tural steel, plate steel, rods and wire, railroadwheels and cars, and other products.

In 1923, Bethlehem Steel Corporationpurchased the Cambria Works. At that time,the Johnstown plant was still one of the

top four steel producing centers in theUnited States.

The Johnstown mill employed some16,000 workers in 1953 – and late as 1973,11,800 workers were employed. Johns-town’s Bethlehem Steel Plant was hit hardby the decline of the American steel in-dustry in the 70s and 80s.

Bethlehem decided to significantly cut itsJohnstown operations for a variety of rea-sons, including aging facilities, lack of accessto transportation, and difficulty in com-plying with environmental regulations.Damage caused by the 1977 flood didn’thelp matters, and by 1982 only 2,100 work-ers were left. The Johnstown plant of theBethlehem Steel Corporation was closed in1992.

* * * * *

The Johnstown Area Heritage Association is anon-profit, membership-based organization dedi-cated to preserving and presenting Johnstown’sunique history to the nation through high-qualityeducational, cultural and recreational experi-ences. It owns and operates several museums inthe Johnstown Discovery Network, including theJohnstown Flood Museum, the Frank & SylviaPasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center, Wagner-Ritter House & Garden, and Johnstown Child-ren’s Museum.

JAHA also programs regular workshops andother events for children, cultural presentationsfor adults, and other special events, includingthe AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival and theJohnstown Film Festival. For more informationon JAHA programs, museums and events, visitwww.jaha.org; www.facebook.com/theJAHA;www.twitter.com/theJAHA; or call 814-539-1 8 8 9 .

Sweet Soire on February 7, 5-8pm with songbird Jane West, appetizers and refreshments.Find a one-of-a-kind gift for your one-of-a-kind sweetheart!


The Westmoreland Conservation District, anorganization that promotes the wise use of ournatural resources, has recently purchased twoclean-burning natural gas vehicles andinstalled a “slow-fill” station on its campus tofuel them, thanks to major financial supportfrom Peoples Natural Gas and the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Environmental Resources. The vehicles – two Ford F150 pickup trucks– are being used by the conservation district’stechnical staff, who travel to farms, forests,and commercial and residential developmentsites throughout Westmoreland County toensure that work being done there includesmeasures to protect our natural resources. “Our staff drive a total of about 18,000 milesevery year in the course of our work, and sowhen we had a chance to reduce the impact ofthat travel, improve air quality, and reducedependence on imported fuel – all of whichthe natural gas vehicles do – we were all forit,” said Greg Phillips, Westmoreland Conser-vation District manager/CEO. ”Natural gasvehicles are a perfect fit with our mission ofprotecting the environment and conservingresources.” The vehicles were purchased locally astraditional gasoline-powered pickup trucksand converted to also run on natural gas byAlternative Fuel Solutions of Mehaffey,Pennsylvania at a cost of $9,500 each. Eachtruck’s natural gas capacity is equivalent to21.5 gallons of gasoline, which the organi-zation estimates will provide about 450 milesof travel per fill up. “We’ve had the vehicles in operation only ashort amount of time, but we anticipate thatusing compressed natural gas will result insignificant fuel cost savings for our organi-zation – perhaps as much as $1,500 a year.We also expect to save on some of the tradition-al vehicle operating expenses because thereis less wear and tear on the engines withcompressed natural gas, and less need forpreventative maintenance (oil changes andgeneral engine service),” Phillips said.

Using compressed natural gas also benefitsthe environment, avoiding possible fuel spillsinto waterways and significantly reducingemissions, including a 29% reduction ingreenhouse gases compared to comparablegasoline vehicles, and reductions in NOx,volatile organic compounds, and particulates. The new slow-fill natural gas fueling stationwas installed with the help of the Westmore-land County Public Works Department andAdam Eidemiller, Inc. The station is verycompact, about 3 feet by 3 feet by 5 feet, whichis the size that a homeowner with a natural gasvehicle might some day have. The station usesa compressor and fills the vehicles over aperiod of about eight hours. “This is a pio-neering effort for us, marking the first slow-fillstation that Peoples Natural Gas has donatedto an organization in our 18-county serviceterritory,” explained Barry Kukovich, thecompany’s manager of Communications andCommunity Affairs. Compressed natural gas fueling stations alsomade a debut in another part of WestmorelandCounty just a few weeks before the conser-vation district acquired its station. In midNovember, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commis-sion officials unveiled three “fast-fill” com-pressed natural gas fueling stations at the NewStanton service plaza, making it the first of theturnpike’s 17 plazas to offer the alternativefuel. More than 112,000 vehicles in the U.S.run on compressed natural gas, according tothe Department of Energy.

* * * * *The Westmoreland Conservation District was establishedin 1949, when local farmers, seeking help to conserve theirsoil and water resources, approached the CountyCommissioners. As the county has grown and changed inthe 65 years since then, the District has responded withnew programs to help ensure minimal negative impacton all aspects of the county’s natural wealth – its soils,forests, streams, and open space – as well as its valuable,productive farmland. In addition to its science-basedefforts, the District serves as a clearinghouse forconservation information. The District is located in arestored 1880s-era barn now located at 218 Donohoe Road,Greensburg. It maintains a website at www.wcdpa.com.

With one of the Westmoreland Conservation District’s new compressed natural gas vehicles are (l-r): GregPhillips, district manager/CEO; Jeffrey Nehr, vice president, Commercial Operations, Peoples Natural Gas;Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas, district board member; and Barry Kukovich, manager, Com-munications and Community Affairs, Peoples Natural Gas.

Natural Gas Vehicles Come to Westmoreland

winter signs

snow-flakeslinger on the frayed

coat of the wind,the vagrant

leavesmurmur

rasping promises,

on a hillsidestars huddleabove a tired

barn,a house

with frostedwindows.

by Peter Sullivan


.

by Mark Rullo MS, CSCS, MES

WHAT’S COOKING IN FITNESS

First Mistake in Weight LossAt some point in time, most people makean attempt to lose weight. The reasons arenumerous; look good for swimsuit season,wedding, special event or for health reasons.Unfortunately for most, regardless of thereason to start a weight loss program, theirfirst decision is not always the best decision.

For individuals who are ready to embarkon a weight loss program and a positivelifestyle change I wanted to share one ofthe biggest reasons why individuals fail withtheir weight loss goal as well as provide asuggestion to increase your chance forweight loss success.

Biggest Mistake – Joining a Gym

You must be thinking I am out my mind.If you are serious about losing weight andhave struggled and become frustrated withtrying to lose weight in the past, then a gymmembership may not be the best solution.

Do not get me wrong, exercise plays arole in the process, but is second fiddle tonutrition. As we say at My Fitness Kitchen;“Get fit in the gym, LOSE WEIGHT in theKITCHEN!”

Individuals who are not sure what to do,how to fuel their body, struggle with moti-vation and need accountability having amembership to a place to exercise in hopethat it will work more times than not fallsshort with the targeted weight loss. Can’texpect to out-exercise your fork!

Gyms merely provide access to fitnessequipment and exercise classes and moreoften this access is simply not enough forindividuals seeking to lose weight and keepit off.

Don’t believe me that GYMS ARE NOTTHE SOLUTION FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

Just look around, we have more gymmembership or workout facilities optionsavailable to choose from than ever beforefrom the big box gyms and franchises tothe independent gyms, YMCA’s and niche(cross-fit, jazzercise, sport-performance,yoga, etc..) studios.

According to IHRSA (InternationalHealth Racquet and Sports Club Associa-tion) there are more clubs, more membersand even greater utilization (workouts)

among the members than at any othertime in the fitness industry history.

Additionally, USA Today recently reported(December 10, 2014 – Jayne O’Donnell)on the America’s Health Rankings that“Americans got fatter last year” that obesityrate increased from 27.6% to 29.4% ofadults.

Therefore, if belonging to a “Gym” issupposedly the solution to lose weight andwe have more “Gyms” to choose from,more individuals (members) belonging togyms and the most utilization than everbefore then WHY as a society are over-weight and obesity rates increasing and notdecreasing? The answer is simple; gyms arenot the answer for weight loss.

I could go on and on about how gymmemberships are not a solution in theweight loss battle but that isn’t the onlypoint of this article. Actually, if you wouldlike more information on specifics of thispoint, please feel free to e-mail [email protected] and we will be happyto forward a previous article on this topic -“Why GYMS make you Fat”.

With the information above, I justwanted to make individuals aware so theydo not put all the eggs (time, energy andmoney) into one basket (gym member-ship) when it comes to seeking a solutionfor weight loss. Also this is not to discreditthe value of “Gyms;” rather, just bring tolight that access to exercise isn’t enough forwhen it comes to weight loss.

If joining a “Gym” isn’t the best optionto achieve weight loss, what then shouldsomeone do to lose weight?

For individuals to become successful withweight loss they need a plan of attack.Unfortunately, most individuals have noclue what to do in terms of how much andwhat food to eat to drop weight and keep itoff, yet alone what exercises to incorporateto maximize their metabolism.

Having access to exercise or joining a“Gym” can be part of the plan but only afterfew other variables are understood. The firststep of any weight loss program requirespersonalization and accountability.

The number one priority in this person-alization process for effective weight loss ishaving an assessment done to determine

your metabolism and mindset. This one stepis the difference between controlling theweight loss process to just hoping for weightloss. If you are serious about wanting tolose weight, take the time to meet with aprofessional that can help you figure outwhat your metabolism is and who canexplain what activities and behaviors canhurt or help your metabolism.

Once you have a better understandingof your metabolism you can start theprocess of building the strategic plan. Theplan should take into consideration howyou can manage your metabolism both vianutrition and activity based on your avail-ability of time, limitations (physical, work,family, etc...). Balancing these variablesinto your plan is critical if there is going tobe any chance of winning the weight lossbattle as well as making it long-term andlivable unlike the quick-fix fad diets.

With this information collected, then youcan set realistic time frame of when youshould reach the desired goal. No programshould try to push a square peg in a roundhole. You see this with cookie-cutter caloricmeal plans made available with boot-camps, gyms and info-commercials; thatinclude foods you would never eat even ifyou had a gun to you head. I do not carehow good and healthy a food is; if you hatea particular food you will not eat it. Thenutrition has to be built around the foodsyou are already consuming while coachingyou on how each are different and will fitinto your nutritional formula. There has tobe customization of the exercise program(frequency, intensity and exercise selection)as well. Yes some exercises are more effec-tive than others; however any exercise per-formed safely is 100% better than the bestexercise not performed.

This personalization also requires ac-countability. Having communication be-tween you and another professional over aperiod of time (30-60 days minimum)creates the best foundation for success.During this period there should be weeklymonitoring to make the necessary adjust-ments into the program (nutrition andexercise) to fit the goals of the individualwhile also matching their lifestyle. In ad-dition to the weekly check-ups, daily


communication plays a huge role both withaccountability and empowerment. Thisstrategic planning period is the perfectjumpstart toward the most safe and fastestweight loss that can last a lifetime.

For more information, please feel free toconsult with any of the fitness professionalsat My Fitness Kitchen®. Additionally, asan on-going thank you to Laurel MountainPost and its readers, mention this article fora FREE, no obligation, personalized, meta-bolic nutritional formula and fitness pro-gram that will leverage the “Hierarchy ofFat Loss.” If you are serious about achievinga body transformation goal, then you needa program, as any goal without a plan isreally only a wish!

As an added incentive for people new toMy Fitness Kitchen®, by mentioning thisLaurel Mountain Post article, you willreceive $25 “Kitchen Cash” to be usedtoward our no-risk, no obligation, 100%money guarantee 30-Day Weight LossJUMPSTART program at My Fitness Kit-chen®, as a courtesy of the Laurel Moun-tain Post.

www.myfitnesskitchen.com724-879-8523

[email protected] Fitness Kitchen®

is where weight loss is made simple.

My Fitness Kitchen® is located in Latrobe 30plaza, Latrobe PA. My Fitness Kitchen® is aweight loss and body transformation center thatalso happens to have a fitness center connectedto it. From the moment you enter My FitnessKitchen® regardless of your age, fitness level orexperience, it’s all about “You.” The supportivestaff, welcoming atmosphere, and friendlymembers combine to create the most unique andcomfortable environment for your weightmanagement and fitness success. Whether it isNutrition, Fitness or both, you can be confidentMy Fitness Kitchen® is the solution to ahealthier and thinner you.

About the Author:Mark Rullo, MS, CSCS, MES is an ExercisePhysiologist, Certified Strength & ConditioningSpecialist, Medical Exercise Specialist, Certified GolfFitness Instructor and owner of My FitnessKitchen® www.myfitnesskitchen.com 724-879-8523. Mark and his team at My Fitness Kitchen®specializes in weight loss and body transformationhelping thousands meet and exceed their goalsthrough evidence-based scientific programming.

* * * * *

The start of the year combined with New YearResolutions make it peak season for gym mem-bership sales. What is the top resolution indi-viduals seek to achieve? That’s right – weightloss. According to the Journal of Clinical Psych-ology in 2014 it reported that weight loss ranked#1 out of the top 10 New Year Resolutions. Evenmore discouraging is that only 8% who madeweight loss their New Year’s Resolution is actuallysuccessful. Again, these numbers only validatethat if you want to lose weight joining a gymmay not be the best solution for you.

Tues-Fri, 10 am - 5 pm, Sat, 10 am - 3 pmClosed on Sun & Mon

All Credit Cards Accepted

724-537-5283745 Lloyd Avenue Extension | Latrobe, PA 15650

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“Hard Days, Hard Nights” Makes for Happy Memories!Pat DiCesare: Spotlight on a Local Legend

If you grew up anywhere even close toPittsburgh and listened to the radio, youknow the name Pat DiCesare. He’s Pitts-burgh’s Music Man. The DiCesare of DiCe-sare Engler Productions, but long beforethat, he was the genius that brought TheBeatles to Pittsburgh – hence giving birthand building Rock-n-Roll in our region aswe know it today!

Pat has recently written an award win-ning book Hard Days, Hard Nights sharingmany behind-the-scenes stories about thequirks and antics of some of our favoriteartists. The pages are filled with local artists,familiar venues like The Red Rooster (oncelocated on Route 30 be-tween Latrobe and Greens-burg), and The HolidayHouse in Monroeville. Artistsyou may have neverknown, or forgotten, wereoriginally from this area.

Growing up in Erie,Pitts-burgh is where wehad to come for any greatconcert. Our biggest highschool worries were who’sdriving, how many ticketscan we get, and where arewe telling our parents we’llbe? While turning thepages of Hard Days HardNights, I smiled at my in-nocence; it never once dawned on me dur-ing those fun years that anything could pos-sibly have gone wrong! Everyone chipped infor gas, our coolers were packed, and we hadour lighters to flick when they played ourfavorite songs. Yep, that’s all it took!

I learned of artists showing up late,intoxicated (or worse), demanding con-tracts, uncooperative management, and amillion other things that never crossed my

mind while walking into The National Rec-ord Mart to purchase my $10 ticket! (Nowmy children have to add another “0” to thatticket price!) Remember record stores andDJ’s as they used to be? Now it’s iTunes and(who exactly is) Bob FM!? Much to Pat’sdismay, today, most radio station playlistsare dictated by corporations. The listeningaudience doesn’t have the input we oncedid, or the impact to help new local artists.

If you ever went to a concert betweenthe 50’s and late 90’s in our area, you mostlikely have Pat DiCesare to thank for that.

When you read his book and catch your-self remembering the words to a song he

casually mentions, you willfind yourself humming alongand smiling at the memory.

Ever heard of The Rol-ling Stones, Led Zeppelin,Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd,Chicago, Bette Midler, andThe Who? How about AliceCooper – you may be sur-prised to learn a little aboutwho the man was, off stage.

Whether you are an AlJarreau kind of fan or moreof a Guns-N-Roses listener,the common denominatoris the same man. The manwho stayed up for daysbringing the people of

Pittsburgh the music they loved, to everygeneration, in all kinds of venues. The CivicArena, Three Rivers Stadium, StanleyTheater (aka Benedum Center), IC LightAmphitheater, The Syria Mosque to namebut a few. While packing into our seats, itnever entered our thoughts the once tabooreputation that the rock scene carried, orthe pioneers that had to break throughthose barriers to bring it to us.

Amongst my Pittsburgh Blessings I thinkI’ll count Pat twice: once for the memorieshe gave me in my youth, and then againfor having the privilege of calling him amentor and a friend.

Hard Days Hard Nights may be part ofthe story of Pat’s life, or the history of pro-moting music in a new way. It may be awalk down memory lane, but what it does–maybe without intention–is, it floods youwith memories you placed in a precioustime capsule, and that, if for no otherreason, makes you want to read this book!

Pat didn’t invent music or rock-n-roll;he simply loved it, which is why he wroteit, played it, produced it and promoted it.

Promising his wife his promoting daysare over he still lives here. Although hisoffice walls could easily be littered withsigned photographs of music legends, theyaren’t. Pat never wanted photos or auto-graphs; he just wanted the music to play,and the fans to be happy. No, his walls onlydisplay what matters most now, his grand-sons. Two poster-sized photos of what hislegacy really means to him.

I asked Pat, for all the places you couldhave, and did live, why stay in Pittsburgh?You’ve promoted in California, Las Vegas,NY, and even Ohio, but keep coming back.His answer is simple: “It’s the people; itshome, and I love it here.”

Grab his book, grab your glasses (readingor wine), and grab your phone, for you aregoing to want to call those old friends youshared the music with.

Hard Days Hard Nights can be purchased on Ama-zon. Check Pat out on Facebook: he posts wherehe will be for his book signings. He loves the oppor-tunity to hear your favorite concert memories,and would be happy to sign a copy for you.

– Written by Carol Whelan

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The Westmoreland County Historical Soci-ety will hold a workshop, Mapping YourAncestors: Understanding Geographyin Genealogy Research to help research-ers understand the changing map of Penn-sylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, andhow geography has an impact on their re-search. The workshop will be held on Mon-day, February 23rd from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.in the Calvin E. Pollins Library, 362 SandHill Road, Suite 1, Greensburg, PA.

Genealogical research can be challen-ging, particularly when the object of thesearch seems to be playing hide and seek.Our ancestors did move about more thanwe might suspect, but many researchersdon’t realize that often it is the geographical

Mapping Your Ancestors:Understanding Geography in Genealogy Research

borders that moved, not the ancestor. Know-ing when counties and townships wereformed between 1769 - 1879 helps re-searchers find lost ancestors.

Westmoreland County was formed onFebruary 26, 1773, and encompassed all ofsouthwestern Pennsylvania. Prior to ourcounty’s foundation, this region was Cum-berland, then Bedford counties between1769 and 1773. At least eight new countieswere created, wholly or in part, from landwithin the original boundaries of West-moreland between 1781 and 1803. Thetownships underwent radical boundarytransformation until the late 1870s as well.Another difficulty is that Virginia claimed

a large portion of southwestern Pennsyl-vania in the 18th century. That border dis-pute was not settled until 1784. The pres-entation will use historic maps and atlases,tax and land records, and online resourcesto help researchers untangle and interpretthis sometimes complicated historic record.

Advance registration is required for theMapping Your Ancestors workshop.Fees include maps and related material;$17 for WCHS members, $23 for others.Please call 724-532-1935x210 to make areservation. Please visit www.westmorelandhistory.org and follow our activities onthe Westmoreland County HistoricalSociety Facebook page, and on Twitter@WCHistory.

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#1037798 – Beautiful Old Farm House on +/- 30 acresEnjoy relaxing views of small pond from front porch,stroll through fruit orchard to spring house. Main househas 3 bedrooms and traditional farm house 1st floor.Newer 3-car garage with 1-bedroom apt above, withoak flooring and trim. Older bank barn will need someattention. Offered at $395,000

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#1035170 – Charming 4-bed home on tree linedquiet street, lovely en-try foyer, large livingrm with bookshelvesand fireplace, formaldining rm with built inchina cabinet, eat inkitchen, 1st fl laundry,powder room. Largemaster with decorativefireplace. updated bath-room. Third floor bo-nus rooms. Offered at$124,000

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HOME STUDYby Brian Mishler

Radon AwarenessJanuary was Radon Action AwarenessMonth: seems kind of a bummer to ring inthe new year talking about radon; but Iguess the EPA got last pick of when to havean “awareness month”.

If you’ve bought or sold a home in thepast 10 years and hopefully longer ago thanthat, you should have been made aware ofhaving your home tested for radon.Whether or not you did or have, hopefullythis article will shed some light on the issueand eliminate some old wives’ tales thathave been circulating since the ‘70s.

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas thatcomes up from the soil. It is a decay productof uranium, which is what makes it radio-active. It is naturally occurring; and there-fore everywhere.

What we’re concerned about is whenradon builds up to unacceptable levels inour homes. It can sneak into the housethrough cracks in the basement floor slab,from around the underground pipes in thebasement, and other such penetrations.Many older homes were built withoutplastic under the concrete floor, and radoncan make its way straight up through thefloor itself. Contrary to popular belief,concrete is neither moisture nor air tight; itjust slows them down a whole lot. Newerhomes are now built with radon resistantmaterials and methods, but testing is stillnecessary to determine if those measuresworked.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has determined that 4.0 Picocuries(a measure of radiation) of radon per literof air poses a health risk. They also statethat radon is the second leading cause oflung cancer in the United States. Secondonly to cigarette smoking. So, it’s the #1cause among non-smokers.

You can learn more about the EPA’sposition and rules regarding radon bygetting a “citizens guide to radon”, availableat: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html

Or if you’ll be buying or selling a homesoon, the “home buyers and sellers guideto radon”: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html

Pennsylvania as it turns out is a “highpressure” area for radon; it is not uncom-mon to find elevated levels in Pennsylvaniahomes. The PA Department of Environ-mental Protection (DEP) has a pretty slickwebsite where you can enter a zip code, andfind out how many radon tests have beenconducted in that area, the highest andlowest test levels, and the average.* http://

www.depreportingservices.state.pa.us/ReportServer/Pages/

ReportViewer.aspx?%2fRadon%2fRadonZip

Regardless as to the age of your home, ifthe earth around or under it have settled,etc. the radon levels in your home canchange. This is why EPA recommendstesting your home every three years, andevery other year if you have a mitigationsystem installed.

If your home is newer, it may have beenconstructed with radon resistant measures,however that does not mean impervious;you still need to test periodically.

Some old baloney I’ve encountered sincebecoming a radon tester in 1996:• “Radon is just a government conspiracyto make money.” No, radon is not a gov-ernmental conspiracy to put money in my(the tester’s) pocket. (Don’t you just hate itwhen the government conspires to makeyou money? Has that EVER happened?!)• “Canada’s action level is higher than inthe U.S.” I’ve never bothered to find out ifthis is true; I don’t live in Canada, and I’mpretty sure my house has never been there.• “It’s impossible to get radon fixed.” Actu-ally in most cases it’s easy to get radonmitigated; it’s usually a less than 1-day job,and typically costs less than 1% of thehome’s value. (Most systems are less than$1,000)• “Ya gotta die of something.” Seriously?Isn’t that an equally compelling argumentfor not looking before you cross the street?

Putting a new deck on the house is fun,and we can see and appreciate where ourmoney has been spent. Testing and fixingradon is kind of like replacing the waterheater; it’s necessary, but no fun, and mostfolks don’t take their friends in the basementto show it off. (“That’s a beautiful water heaterBob, how many people will it shower?”)

Getting your home tested is relativelypainless, for a professional short term (2 –89 day) test, the cost is usually between$150 - $200, and isn’t much more for along term (90 days – 1 year) test. You canalso purchase a do-it yourself test kit; andif you choose to go that route, you mustfollow the instructions on package to the

letter. I cannot count the number of calls Ihave gotten from folks who got an alarm-ingly high test result only to find out theyhad placed the test kit incorrectly. On theflip side, one can only wonder who receivedfalse lows due to improper testing procedures.

A short term test is conducted under“closed house conditions” wherein the doorsand windows must remain closed exceptfor normal momentary entry and exit,fireplaces cannot be used, and a few otherrestrictions for 12 hours prior to and for theduration of the test. While the EPA definesa short term test as anything less than 90days, this is commonly a 2-5 day test. Thisis the most commonly used testing protocolfor real estate transactions.

A long term test is EPA-defined asanything over 90 days, and is conducted in“lived in” conditions. The occupants cancome and go, open windows, and use thehouse as they normally would. This is theprotocol/testing I recommend for folks whoare not planning to move anytime soon.

The PA DEP has a list of testers and radonmitigation companies that are currentlylicensed. Licensee must obtain continuing

*Here is what the search for 15601 (Greensburg / Hempfield) turned up:

Zip Code Test Location No. of Tests Max Result pCi/L Avg Result pCi/L15601 Basement 5299 184.7 6.215601 First Floor 229 35.0 4.5

continued on page 19

The EPA states that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.Second only to cigarette smoking. So, it’s the #1 cause among non-smokers.


5 Reasons Your Dog Will Love Youfor Baking Homemade Dog Treats

Dogs are very special to us. They accompanyus in the best of times and worst of timeswith a wagging tail and a spring in theirstep. While I am not lucky enough to havea dog at the moment, I have been thrilledto be around Green Diva Meg’s dog, Gracie,for some time now. Every Tuesday, Graciesits by the door as I walk in and waits forme to give her a treat. I’m sure many ofyou readers have dogs that havesimilar rituals when you come home.

I’m writing this post because Igot to thinking: we spend so muchtime being conscious consumers. Welook at food labels, we buy locally,human, organic and fair-trade food.So why do we feed our dogs withpackaged, processed foods that we soknowingly avoid for ourselves?

For this reason, I have researchedthe health benefits of baking your doghomemade dog treats instead of buyingthem from a store. You love home-made desserts, right? Why shouldn’tyour dog. Anyway, here are some reasonswhy baking your canine friend homemadecookies is a pretty great idea.

1. Homemade Dog Treats are Safer

Have you ever looked at the ingredients liston the back of a box of dog cookies? It’spretty appalling to see so many ingredientsyou have never actually heard of. By pur-chasing homemade dog treats (or makingyour own), dog owners have more controland options about what to feed their petsand what is actually going into their dog’ssnacks. Homemade treats can and shouldbe prepared chemical free. Chemicals andpreservatives found in commercialized dogtreats can actually harm dogs according toresearch. Some studies suggest that thechemicals found in many commercialtreats, snacks and food products, impede

good behavior, due to the way the chemicalsinteract with a dog’s delicate brain. In somestudies, researchers have also found thatchemicals contained in commercializeddog snacks can even cause aggressive beha-vior. Some of these chemicals and preser-vatives are not approved for human con-sumption, so what makes them any betterfor dogs?

Some chemicals to watch out for areBHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, Sodium Metabi-sulfite and TBHQ. For a complete list, checkout this article called ”Killing Me Softly: TheTruth Behind Pet Treat Labels” (http://www.examiner.com/article/killing-them-softly-the-truth-behind-pet-treat-labels). Many ofthese chemical ingredients are known car-cinogens and can also cause liver and kid-ney problems, loss of consciousness, braindamage, and life-threatening asthma.These chemicals are also used to manu-facture rubber and petroleum products,including embalming fluid. Yuck!

2.Homemade Dog Treats areHealthier

A lot of different dog treats are full of sat-urated fats. Homemade treats are madewith ingredients that contain less fat than

store-bought snacks. Giving your dog fat-free or reduced-fat snacks will not only helpyour dog have a healthier heart, but willalso help decrease the chances of himbecoming obese later in his life. Manyhomemade snacks can also be made withingredients that help keep your dog’s teethand gums clean. Homemade treats can alsoinclude ingredients that enhance your dog’s

shiny coat. Healthy dog treats alsomean fewer clean-ups due to messesand an overall healthier digestivetract.

3. Homemade Dog Treats areCheaper

You save money every week bycooking for yourself instead of goingout to eat, right? Baking homemadetreats is also an inexpensive option toprovide your pet with a little snack.It always saves money to buy in-gredients in bulk or use ingredients

that are commonly found in your pantry.I think you will be pleasantly surprised at howmuch money you saved by making your own.

4. Homemade Dog Treats are Tastier

These treats are so healthy, you can chowdown on them with your pet. Honestly, thefact that they are made from commoningredients around your kitchen makesthem all the more accessible. Anythinghomemade tastes better in general. Whichwould you prefer? A homemade batch ofcookies or some hard and processed storebought cookies?

5. Green Diva Gracie Says, “WOOF”!

* * * * *

Originally published on TheGreenDivas .com. Re-printed with permission from The Green Divas,our neighbors from New Jersey who share low-stress ways to live a deeper shade of green througha weekly radio show, podcasts, videos and blogposts… and now the first green and healthy livingglobal radio network, GDGD Radio. Working withthe best shows in this category and other talentedpartners and credible sources, the Green Divasproduce and share content on a variety of topicsrelating to a healthy green lifestyle. Visit TheGreen Divas website to learn more and tune in toGDGD Radio for 24/7 programming, and getsocial with The Green Divas on Facebook &Twitter too!

Psychic Medium Rev. Marjorie RiveraPittsburgh’s Premiere Psychic & Party Reader

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

412-884-7788 • pittsburghmedium.com


Green Diva Gina’s Delicious Dog TreatsServes 42 | Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 40 min | Total Time: 55 min

Use these common kitchen ingredients to bake your pet (andyourself) a yummy snack!

• 2 cups White Whole Wheat Flour or Rice Flour• 1 cup rolled oats, regular or quick• 1 tablespoon dried parsley or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley• 3 Tbsp. almond milk• 1/2 teaspoon salt• 2 large eggs• 1 cup natural peanut butter, crunchy or plain (or any nut butter you have)• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon cold water, enough to make a cohesive dough• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 300°F. Lightly grease a couple of baking sheets.

• Mix together all of the dry ingredients (flour, oats, parsley, salt and flax)

• Add the eggs, peanut butter and almond milk, stirring to combine; themixture will be crumbly.

• Add enough water to bring the dough together. depending on the season,you may need to add a bit more (winter), or a bit less (summer).

• To make biscuits using a dog-bone cutter, roll the dough about 1/4" thickand cut with a 3 1/2" cutter (or the size of your choice since your dog won’tcare haha). Gather and re-roll the scraps, and continue to cut biscuits untilyou’ve used all the dough.

• To make dog “cookies,” drop the dough in walnut-sized balls onto theprepared baking sheets. Flatten them to about 1/4".

• Bake the biscuits for about 40 minutes, baking the smaller cookies for ashorter amount of time. When finished, the biscuits will be dark goldenbrown, and will be dry and crisp all the way through.

• Remove the biscuits from the oven, and place on cooling racks to set.

– By Green Diva Gina

* * * * *

Brian Mishler is the owner of HomeStudy Inc.,and a 20-year veteran home inspector. He beganperforming home inspection after 15 years in theconstruction industry convinced him that hisbody wasn’t made for hard labor. Brian is theformer president of the Pittsburgh RegionalOrganization of the American Society of HomeInspectors (PRO-ASHI), and currently sits on theboard of Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, a non-profit that rehabilitates homes for disadvantagedseniors and veterans, assisting them with pre-renovation inspection and selection. Brian alsoteaches a variety of real estate-related classes,and has mentored others seeking to become homeinspectors. He currently resides in Latrobe, with his betterhalf, Carol, their Boston terrier Gizmo, three cats,and three transient college students. When sparetime is to be had, Brian can be found on a motor-cycle, in a kayak, or hiking in the area. He canbe reached at [email protected].

education and renew their licenses everytwo years. Before you have your hometested or mitigated, make sure the persondoing the work is licensed. You can checkat the D.E.P.’s radon service providerwebsite: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/radon_certification/21935/radon_services_directory/

1924689

If there is any good news about this topic,the level of radon in your home is relative;if it’s 4 or above, no matter how high, itneeds fixed, and the fix is typically the sameregardless of the number. If it’s 3.9 or less,no matter how low, no repair is necessary.However if you’re right on that cusp, (3-5)I recommend additional (usually longterm) testing just to be sure.

So take advantage of the long wintermonths to get your home tested for radon.If nothing else, it will give you the peace ofmind in knowing that you and your kidsare safe from this nasty gas.

continued from page 17


Thought-Provoking Insights on CommonQuotations by Rev. Marjorie Rivera

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“No tree has branches so foolish as to fightamongst themselves.” –Ojibwa Indian saying

I love this saying on so many levels. Visualize a tree in your mindfor a moment as we begin. Picture a summer time image of agreen tree covered with leaves with a strong trunk and imagine fora moment that you could see the roots as well. The roots absorbingnutrients and the leaves basking in the sun, everything inter-connected and thriving in harmony. There would be sap coursingthrough the tree providing energy to the highest branch and thelowest root, a perfect microcosm.

Each part of the tree depends on the other parts to exist.I have even read that a tree’s root system exists in direct pro-

portion to what we are able to see, under the ground “as above, sobelow”. Why would a branch of the tree ever cause harm to anotherbranch of the tree? A solitary act of violence could only result in thedemise of the whole tree.

As a Spiritual Medium, in private sessions with clients, if a lovedone comes through with a message for someone, and refers to atree in some capacity, I know they are referring to a family situationthat needs healed. Its a metaphor that I have created in my languagewith the Spirits. This sort of language allows me to get longermessages downloaded to me in an instant, no muss no fuss! Apicture is worth a thousand words after all. A family tree is a veryimportant and iconic symbol to me, and it can represent the nuclearfamily or the human family. Either way, the tree represents somuch more than just a plant.

Suggested reading:Sacred Tree: Reflections on Native American Spirituality by Judie Bopp

Connect with me:Tweet tweet = https://twitter.com/PGHmediumLike me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PGHmediumPin with me: http://www.pinterest.com/aPGHmedium/Sign up for my newsletter at www.PittsburghMedium.com

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WCNS Radio Goes WorldwideWCNS isn’t just your grandmother’s radio sta-tion anymore. Tune into AM 1480, and you’llhear community radio at its best! Veteranradio man Dow Carnahan is still on board, buthas been joined by a new, young group of en-thusiastic and talented media professionals.

In mid-January, the station launched itsonline broadcast service at www.wcnsradio.com. Listeners around the world can clickon the “Listen Live” button to stream thecurrent broadcast. On screen, artist and trackinformation is displayed with direct links tosocial media. If you’ve ever impatiently won-dered who sang a particular song, your wait isover!

The stations plays “America’s Best Music”with experience, enthusiasm, knowledge andclass. The playlist features “Memorable Melo-dies” with “Listenable Lyrics” performed bythe world’s classiest recording artists. Theseinclude unforgettable favorites and timelesshits from the 50s, 60s and 70s from artistsFrank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Nat King Cole,Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Neil Diamond,Johnny Mathis, the Carpenters, the Letterman,the Beatles and Temptations. They also in-clude outstanding favorites from the 80sthrough today from artists such as Barry Man-ilow, Celine Dion, Michael Buble, James Tay-lor, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart and EltonJohn, to name just a few.

The 1480 WCNS style has real DJs chattingabout the music they know and the lifestyleslisteners most enjoy and appreciate. As aPandora and XMradio subscriber, I often feeldisconnected from the outside world through-out my work day. When I started playingWCNS radio more often last fall, not only did Iget one of my favorite blends of music, but Ifound the community connection I was mis-sing and larger Pittsburgh radio stations can-not provide.

When former station owner John Longodecided to retire and sell WCNS to Laurel High-lands Total Communications Inc., I was cur-ious about the implications of such a bigchange. WCNS General Manager Brandon Kailwas happy to answer some of my questions inJanuary ...

How long has LHTC Media owned thestation, and why did the companydecide to make the purchase?

LHTC Media is a newly formed subsidiaryof Laurel Highland Total Communications,Inc. (LHTC), a company that provideslocal and long-distance phone, high-speedInternet, and cable television services tocustomers across 260 square miles of ruralPennsylvania. The first venture of LHTCMedia was the purchase of the Latroberadio station, 1480 WCNS-AM, effectiveSeptember 1, 2014.

The vision of LHTC Media is manifold.First, we want to expand the influence ofLaurel Highland Total Communications,Inc., as a complete communication servicesprovider. Also, we aim to advance the over-all mission of the Company to be an indus-try leader in providing rural communitieswith high-quality technology and com-munication services accompanied by hon-est and friendly local customer service.Furthermore, it is our desire to maintainthe deep-rooted tradition of communityradio in the Greater Latrobe area, which,we believe, is an invaluable asset to the resi-dents throughout the region.

In the age of digital media such assatellite radio, Pandora and Spotify,why would local residents tune intoWCNS online?

As media and entertainment become moreglobalized phenomena, we believe there isstill a great demand for local content. Asthe question suggests, digital media hasmade any genre of music content univer-sally available on-demand. However, whatthose media outlets lack, and what we canprovide, is local programming, i.e., highschool sports, local talk shows, local news,etc., that is more pertinent and meaningfulto the residents in the local communities.The new WCNS online feature allows us toprovide more of this type of content. Forexample, we added Greater Latrobe HighSchool Wrestling to our broadcast this year.On a few occasions, we have been able torun St. Vincent or Greater Latrobe Basket-ball on air, while having the Wrestlingbroadcast online.

Additionally, we believe that WCNS on-line will help us reach groups of listenerswho desire to listen to our Station but,because of the limitations of the AM signal,previously could not. These groups wouldinclude listeners just beyond our signalrange who can now listen to WCNS incrystal-clear sound; people who want tolisten to WCNS on their computer at work;those who might have relocated outside of

the area but maintain roots or interestshere; people who travel south for the winterbut want to stay up-to-date on what ishappening locally; parents/grandparentswho want to listen to their child’s/grand-child’s game, be it St. Vincent College orGreater Latrobe High School. We feel wecan help all of these people connect withwhat is happening locally, not to mentionprovide music entertainment that is still indemand but not so prevalent in the GreaterPittsburgh area.

There is a musical interlude onlinewhile some ads are being broadcastover AM. Why don’t all commercialsplay on both?

There is some content that we are not ableto play online. As our listeners know, weare Westmoreland County’s home for thePittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers.However, both Major League Baseball(MLB) and the National Football League(NFL) restrict online broadcasts by localaffiliates. Also, some of the commercials donot air due to licensing restrictions. Thus,our online listeners will hear a genericmusic bed that will play to “blackout” thisrestricted content.

I always hear WCNS playing indowntown Latrobe businesses.I am 45 and love the music! Tell me alittle bit about the playlist/DJ servicethat airs on WCNS. What are yourdemographics, and do you have anyplans to change the current format?

All of our music content and DJ servicescomes via satellite from Westwood One onwhat is called the Adult Standards format.Therefore, our “DJs” are not actually in ourStudio. This type of broadcast is prevalentthroughout the radio industry, even inlarger markets. However, we do have on-air announcers who provide live, local news,weather, and sports updates at the top ofeach hour. Additionally, we have both liveand pre-recorded talk shows from local

continued on next page


hosts and guests that air every Saturdayfrom 7:00 to noon. We also air three, localchurch services on Sunday mornings.

Our music programming is geared to-ward listeners age 45 and over, which weknow from census data, is representativeof the largest demographic in our region.We do not have any plans to change ourformat currently, but we realize that wealways need to remain cognizant of theshifts in our local population and culture.

You and most of the staff are youngerthan the station’s “target age.” Nowthat a new generation has beenintroduced to this music, do you haveany favorite songs or artists from theplaylist?

Prior to the acquisition and my reassign-ment as General Manager in September, Icannot say, honestly, that I was a fan ofthis music genre. However, I have begunto develop a few favorites over the lastseveral months. I enjoy listening to artistssuch as Celine Dion, Josh Groban, andFrank Sinatra.

How many listeners do you havetuning in to the Saturday morningtalk blocks?

One of our challenges is gauging how manylisteners we have during any givenprogram. We exist in a non-rated market,meaning that we cannot subscribe to theArbitron/Nielsen ratings that are availablein the larger markets, such as Pittsburgh.Therefore, we have to be creative in gather-ing information about our listenership. Wedo this through a variety of methods in-cluding surveys, contests, and online track-ing. In fact, our new Live Player allows usto track our real-time online listenership,though we know that this is only a smallsample of our total listeners.

What’s the current marketingresearch like on radio advertising?Any statistics you can share?

Despite increased competition from a vari-ety of satellite and digital media resources,local radio remains the dominant formatamong commuters. So, as long as peoplekeep driving, local radio will continue to berelevant. Yet, we also know that youngerpeople are less likely to listen to local radiothan their parents. Therefore, we intend toreach this audience by providing localcontent that peaks their interest and canbe accessed via the Internet-enabled mobiledevices that they are using.


MEET THE WCNS RADIO STAFFFRONT: Tegan Veres, Kristin Guynn, Kayla Kuntz. BACK: Brandon Kail, Aaron Anderson, Dow Carnahan

Aaron Anderson: High School: Grove City Area College: Waynesburg University. I ama Traffic Manager, Afternoon News Anchor and Play-by-Play announcer for 1480 WCNS. Iam 23 years-old and I was a Cross Country and Track runner in high school and college aswell as a wrestler in high school. One of my biggest accomplishments was the creation ofan internet broadcasting program at Waynesburg University my senior year. I enjoywatching and announcing my favorite sports, wrestling and baseball, and I was a studentof former Pirates’ Broadcaster Lanny Frattare.

Dow Carnahan: Graduate of Derry Area High School & Westminster College, I am theOperations Manager/Sports Director and oversee the “On Air” Staff. Other duties: Hostmorning news & sports; Host a weekly Talk Block Show – Carnahan’s Corner; Do Play-by-Play of our Saint Vincent College and Greater Latrobe High School Basketball and footballbroadcasts.

Kristin Guynn: As the General Sales Manager I work with our sales team to generaterevenue for the station, devise marketing plans, and help manage our website. I attendedGeibel Catholic High School and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburgin 2006 with a BA in Communications. I also received an MBA from Point Park Universityin 2009. I worked in Higher Education for the past 8 years, at Point Park University andPitt-Greensburg, in public relations, fundraising and website management. I reside in Mt.Pleasant with my husband, Brian, 3 year-old daughter, Gia, and dachshund, Rusty.

Brandon Kail: I graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2001. I earned a Bachelor ofScience in Elementary Education from California University of PA and spent 8 years teach-ing in both Baltimore City and Pittsburgh. More recently, I completed a Master of Sciencein Organizational Leadership from Geneva College. I began working for Laurel HighlandTotal Communications, Inc. (LHTC), in July 2014, as a Business Development Specialist.Currently, I am serving a dual role as Executive Assistant for LHTC and General Managerat 1480 WCNS. I have been married for 10 years to my wife, Carrie, and we have sevenchildren, six boys and one girl, with one more on the way in June.

Kayla Kuntz: I am a graduate of Greater Latrobe Senior High School ,and graduated fromSaint Vincent College magna cum laude in 2013 with a B.A. in Communication. As a recentcollege graduate, people were surprised to find out that I worked at an AM radio station.However, in my year of work experience I have found that working at a local AM radiostation has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. I am the Account Manager on staffworking in sales, marketing, ad production from copy writing to voice production, and Ihost my own weekly half hour talk show. I feel grateful to have this opportunity workingfor my hometown radio station that entertains, informs, and serves my community.

Tegan Veres: 1480 WCNS’s Sales Assistant /Receptionist/Marketing/Talk Show Host ofAnimal Talk with Tegan….from Sodus New York, I live in Stoystown with husband and 4year old daughter, graduated from Somerset Area High School and then Cambria RoweBusiness College. I have a 17-year history in the radio business, and it will always be in myblood!! Peace, love and radio!!!


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Come in from the cold, enjoy a good meal and a hot drink!

Too Much Fun for Such a Small Town!

The Saturday Morning Talk Block line-upincludes:

• High and Wide Outdoors ShowTay Waltenbaugh and Jack BrownWeekly at 7 am

• The Wildcat 30First Saturday each month at 8 am

• Better Business Bureau ShowCaitlin Driscoll, Public Relations DirectorThird Saturday each month at 8 am

• Taking ActionTay WaltenbaughWestmoreland Community Action CEOFourth Saturday each month at 8 am

• Carnahan’s CornerSports with Dow CarnahanWeekly at 8:30 am (8 on 2nd Saturday)

• On the Go with Kayla JoLocal Events with Kayla Jo KuntzWeekly at 9:30 am (8:30 on 2nd Saturday)

• Westmoreland ChamberBusiness JournalChamber President Chad AmondSecond Saturday each month at 9 am

• Heritage HappeningsCulture & History with Louise Tilzey-BatesThird Saturday each month at 9 am

• Faith in Action Live!Spirit of helping others with Jane KerrFourth Saturday each month at 9 am

• The Tom Bayla ShowRetired Westmoreland Cty CommissionerWeekly at 10 am

• Steppin’ Out with Tony MarinoLocal arts and entertainmentWeekly at 11 am

• Animal Talk with TeganAnimal lover Tegan VeresWeekly at 11:30 am

Good Morning Greater Latrobe airsmonthly on the First Friday of every month at8 am with host David Martin, President of theGreater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Chamber ofCommerce and discusses business, educationand community events.

What are your upcoming plansin the community?

We intend to be heavily involved withcommunity-oriented events. This winter,we held the Santa’s Party in the Park event,an annual tradition at 1480 WCNS. At thisevent, we partnered with more than 25local businesses to provide treats, crafts, andpictures with Santa for more than 200children in downtown Latrobe. We alsovolunteered to ring the bell for the SalvationArmy during their annual Red Kettle Cam-paign to help the Latrobe Salvation Armyexceed their fundraising goals for 2015.

This spring, we are planning to hold alocal job fair, a Senior Lifestyle Show, which

was a tradition at WCNS before 2014 thatwe are bringing back to the community,and we will be broadcasting the 2015 West-moreland County Airshow at the ArnoldPalmer Regional Airport. Additionally, asa new member of the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Community Chamber of Com-merce (GLLV), in the near future, we willbe holding a ribbon-cutting event at WCNSand, later in the year, we expect to partner

with GLLV on events such as Latrobe’s Ba-nana Split Festival and Steelers Fest. Theseare just some of the events and activitieswe have planned for the upcoming year.

WCNS is nostalgic yet current– the best of bothevery day. Join the community by tuning into AM 1480 WCNS radio or stream online –whether you are in Latrobe, Pennsylvania orLatrobe, Australia!

– Interview by Cathi Gerhard


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FEBRUARY-MARCH COMMUNITY CALENDAR“Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.” – Peter Ustinov– Peter Ustinov– Peter Ustinov– Peter Ustinov– Peter Ustinov

2/6/2015 through 5/20/2105The Coverlet CasualtyCurated by Emily Davis. The Foster & Muriel McCarlCoverlet Gallery. Saint Vincent College, 300 FraserPurchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650. FREE

The Civil War damaged the hand-woven coverletindustry that existed to the point where it would neverfully recover. Weavers experienced the war in differentways, some making blankets for soldiers and othersfighting in it. Their lives and the coverlets made dur-ing this time is a different approach to understandinglife during the war.

2/6/2015 to 2/8/2015Pittsburgh Indoor/Outdoor Home ShowMonroeville Convention Center 209 Mall Plaza Blvd.,Monroeville, PA 412.373.7300. 10times.com

This event is a sure surprise for the home loverswho are looking for top quality home ware andkitchen ware products so that they can decorate theirhome in the most beautiful way possible.

2/7/2015 to 2/28/2015Winter Warm-UpGlades Pike Winery 2208 Glades Pike, Somerset, PA15501 814.445.3753. gladespikewinery.comWarm up this winter with Food and Music!

2/7/2015WinterFest at Nemacolin WoodlandsNemacolin Woodlands Resort 1001 Lafayette Dr.,Farmington, PA 15437 866.386.6957. nemacolin.com

It’s Nemacolin’s Annual WinterFest Weekend, theLaurel Highlands region’s premier winter adventureevent! Compete in activities like our “Nemacolin PolarBear Classic” Golf Tournament or take a jump intoour snow-making pond during the “Polar BearPlunge.” Something for everyone and a full day ofadventure sports, family fun activities, live enter-tainment, kids’ snow activities and much more!

2/7/2015Black History Month: Sylviane DioufHeinz History Center 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh,PA 15222 412.454.6391. heinzhistorycenter.org

Diouf will discuss her most recent book, “Slavery’sExiles: The Story of the American Maroons,” andreview common themes from the History Center’saward-winning From Slavery to Freedom exhibition.Her lecture will explore the extent in which enslavedAfricans went to seek freedom and independence fromslavery and bondage.

2/8/2015Sunday Lecture Series: Love Is In The AirPowdermill Nature Reserve 1795 Route 381, Rector,PA 15677 724.593.6105. carnegiemnh.org/powdermill

Join us in the Parker Room for a seasonally relevantnature talk. Weather permitting, each lecture will befollowed by a brief foray into the field for an interpretivehike. Despite frigid temperatures, many animals aregearing up for breeding season by Valentine’s Day.

2/11/2015Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the WhirlwindHomewood Branch of the Carnegie Library 7101Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh. 412.454.6391.

Join us for a screening of the film “Marcus Garvey:Look for me in the Whirlwind.” Using a wealth ofarchival film, photographs, and documents to un-cover the story of Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican immi-grant who, between 1916 and 1921, built the largestblack mass movement in world history, the film alsofeatures interviews with people who witnessed theGarvey movement firsthand. heinzhistorycenter.org

2/11/2015Business After Hours - Dino’s LatrobeSponsored by First Commonwealth Bank. 5:05 pm -7pm. RSVP Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley CommunityChamber of Commerce, 724-537-2671 or gllv.org

2/12/2015A Band Called HonaleeThe Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg,PA 15601 724.836.8000. thepalacetheatre.org

A Band Called Honalee is a modern-day folk trioinspired by the music and legacy of Peter, Paul andMary. Musically accomplished, interactive andenergetic, their shows allow audiences to experiencethis timeless music live onstage once again.

2/13/2015Art on Tap 5.2.7Westmoreland Museum of American Art @rt 30 4764State Route 30, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500.wmuseumaa.org

Experience happy hour and the latest Pop-UpExhibition athe second Friday of every month! Enjoymusic, a scavenger hunt, light bites and drinksincluding beer from All Saints Brewing Company.

2/13/2015Classic Film Series: MoonstruckState Theatre Center for the Arts 27 E. Main St.,Uniontown, PA 15401 724.439.1360. statetheatre.info

Play a crazy game at every movie sponsored by TheHerald Standard for a chance to win prizes!

2/13/2015Perfect WeddingGreensburg Garden & Civic Center 951 Old Salem Rd.,Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.3074. ggccevents.org

This madcap comedy follows the chaos that ensueswhen an engaged man wakes up next to a gorgeousnaked stranger on the morning of his wedding. Beforethis mystery woman can even get dressed and leavethe bridal suite, the man’s bride-to-be arrives and thecrisis quickly reaches nuclear proportions, with thebest man, the bride’s parents and half the hotel staffall joining in on the fast-paced hilarity. Staged byGreensburg Civic Theatre, Robin Hawdon’s modernBritish farce and touching love story is a hit on bothsides of the Atlantic.

2/14/2015The Health Benefits of Chocolate:A Wellness ClassNemacolin Woodlands Resort 1001 Lafayette Dr.,Farmington, PA 15437 724.329.6411. nemacolin.com

We have all heard in the media that dark chocolatehas various health benefits. It can even aid in weight-loss and boosts our moods and emotions by giving usthe feeling of love; but our favorite reason for eating

dark chocolate is that it’s delicious! Enjoying food ispart of living a happy and healthy life. Join JanetMcKee, local board certified Holistic Health Counselor,for some of her favorite decadent yet healthychocolate desserts. This is one class you simply do notwant to miss!

2/14/2015Greenbergs Train & Toy ShowMonroeville Convention Center 209 Mall Plaza Blvd.,Monroeville, PA 412.373.7300. 10times.com

The event hosts lot of top most exhibitor’s from allover the world sharing ideas and latest technologyrelated to the Rail services with the upcoming visitor’s.The event offers more than 100 display tables of railmodels which catches the attraction of visitor’s fromall over the world. Riding in Trains and winning prizesare also some of the other unique features of ththefamily-friendly show.

2/15/2015Sweeney Todd In ConcertPasquerilla Performing Arts Center 450 SchoolhouseRd., Johnstown, PA 15904 814.269.7200. upjarts.org

SWEENEY TODD in Concert will feature BroadwayStars and local talent from the Laurel Highlands.Scott Logsdon will direct; musical direction will be byMatt Thomas.

2/15/2015Wine & ChocolateChristian W. Klay Winery 412 Fayette Springs Rd.,Chalk Hill, PA 15421 724.439.3424. cwklaywinery.com

Entertain your valentine with wine and chocolate. Alsoa fun afternoon for friends or family – anyone who isspecial in your life. Live music provided by ShellyMcCombie. $15/person.

2/17/2015How to Communicate with Tact andProfessionalismRamada Greensburg Hotel and Conference Center 100Ramada Inn Dr., Greensburg, PA 15601.724.836.6060. 10times.com

Its a premier event in Research & Developmentindustry. Book a stall at 10times.com!

2/18/2015Josh TurnerThe Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg,PA 15601 724.836.8000. thepalacetheatre.org

Latshaw Productions and Ariat present JoshTurner - The Roughstock and Rambler Tour Multi-platinum MCA Nashville recording artist Josh Turneris one of country music’s most recognizable hitmakers.With a rich, deep voice and distinctive style, Turnerhas sold more than 12 million units, is a disciple oftraditional country music and one of the youngestmembers of the Grand Ole Opry. From his 2003Platinum-selling debut “Long Black Train” to his mostrecent 2012 Billboard No. 1 release “Punching Bag”,Turner has garnered multiple GRAMMY, CMA, andACM nominations. Turner’s hits include “Your Man,”“Why Don’t We Just Dance,” “Fire-cracker,” “WouldYou Go with Me,” “All Over Me,” and “Time Is Love,”the most played country song of 2012.


2/18/2015Allegheny Sport Travel & Outdoor ShowMonroeville Convention Center 209 Mall Plaza Blvd.,Monroeville, PA 412.373.7300. 10times.com

Allegheny Sport Travel & Outdoor Show is the mostcomprehensive & leading indoor event of its kind in thenation of USA. The event will offer outdoor enthusiaststhe widest selection of pro-ducts and services from canoesto cruisers, RVs to tents, tourism to hunting and fishing.This is the 30th edition of the session and will attractmany visitors & exhibitors.

2/19/2015GLLV Chamber Networking BreakfastRamada in Ligonier. 7:30 - 9 am.

Calling all early risers! Need hot coffee, hot foodand HOT Networking?! We've got it covered! Bringyour business cards, "60-second elevator pitch" andhungry stomach to start your day with us! RSVP724-537-2671 or gllv.org

2/19/2015Westmoreland Jazz Society-Eric DeFadeSeton Hill University 100 Harrison Ave., Greensburg,PA 15601 724.837.1500. wmuseumaa.org

Doors open at 6:30 PM. No reserve seating. Ticketsare available at the door.

2/20/2015 to 4/19/2015Artists of the 21st CenturyStudent Art ExhibitionSouthern Alleghenies Museum of Art, One BoucherLane & Route 711 South, Ligonier, PA 15658724.238.6015. sama-art.org

SAMA’s annual student art exhibition will returnthis spring with shows at the Ligonier Valley andLoretto museums. The exhibitions feature hundredsof works created by students in Bedford, Blair,Cambria, Fayette, Somerset and Westmorelandcounties. Open to schools that participate in SAMA’sMuseum/School Partnership Program, the exhibitionoffers children an opportunity to see their artworkprofessionally hung in a gallery.

2/21/2015American MastersThe Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg,PA 15601 724.837.1850. westmorelandsymphony.org

The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra presentsAmerican Masters featuring works by Bernstein,Copland and Harris. Featuring the WSO ChamberSingers and narrator Gene A Saraceni. Conducted byArtistic Director Daniel Meyer.

2/22/2015Pink Floyd ExperienceThe Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg,PA 15601 724.836.8000. thepalacetheatre.org

Westmoreland Cultural Trust presents Pink FloydExperience: much more than just a flawless recreationof the legendary songs that spanned decades in theirappeal. It’s a celebration of the music, the themes andthe innovation that this great band brought to fansaround the world. It is Pink Floyd, up close andpersonal without losing the scope and power of theirperformance. The band’s popularity remains high,having sold nearly a half-million concert tickets in theUS since 2006. In a two-hour show, performed livewith six musicians and over $2.5 million worth ofproduction equipment on stage, perhaps PFX shouldcome with a warning for potential “retinal damage.”But fans won’t turn their heads away as the massivelight show and HD projection brings the show rightonto their laps. Even the icons that Pink Floyd havemade their own – from the blinking eye to themarching hammers – have all been translated intoclever hooks along the ride.

2/22/2015Elegance & Taste: Dressing for GeorgeWashington's Inaugural BallLecture at Fort Ligonier - 2:00 pm

Lecture by Erica I. Nuckles, Fort Ligonier's Directorof History and Collections. Doors will open at 1:30PM, lecture at 2:00 PM, followed by Q & A. Suggesteddonation of $5 per person. Reservations requested,call 724-238-9701 to reserve your seat! Fort Ligonier islocated at 200 South Market Street, Ligonier, at theintersection of PA Routes 30 and 711.

2/22/2015Sonic Valley Guitar Show- 3rd AnnualRamada Greensburg Hotel and Conference Center 100Ramada Inn Dr., Greensburg, PA 15601724.836.6060. sonicvalleyguitar.com

BUY - SELL - TRADE! Over 120 tables and 12,000sq feet of vintage, used and new guitar and musicalgear. One day only - Feb 22 from 10am - 5pm.Ramada Conference Center - Greensburg PA.

2/24/2015 to 2/27/2015Tri-State Alternative FuelingExpo & ConferenceMonroeville Convention Center 209 Mall Plaza Blvd.,Monroeville, PA 412.373.7300

The 2015 Tri-State Alternative Fueling Expo &Conference will be here before you know it! If youenjoyed the great show last year, this year’s promisesto be even better! Get your tickets now to attend andhear from alternative energy professionals, meetinnovative vendors, and learn how you can getinvolved in securing America’s energy future. We lookforward to working with you towards that goal!

2/26/2015Legacy & Estate Planning for Landowners

Westmoreland Woodlands ImprovementAssociation will host a program about legacy andestate planning for owners of woodlands from 6:30 to9:00 p.m. at the J. Roy Huston Conservation Center(the barn behind the Donohoe Center) at 218Donohoe Rd. in Greensburg. Light refreshments willbe served at a social half-hour starting at 6:00 p.m.

2/26/2015Lunch a l’ArtSouthern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligoniervalley One Boucher Lane & Route 711 South, Ligonier,PA 15658 724.238.6015. sama-art.org

Lunch and lecture, speaker TBA. Cost is $15 or $12for members. R.S.V.P. by February 20.

2/26/2015 to 3/1/2015Into the WoodsThe Geyer Performing Arts Center 111 Pittsburgh St.,Scottdale, PA 15683 724.887.0887. geyerpac.com

An ambivalent Cinderella? A blood-thirsty LittleRed Ridinghood? A Prince Charming with a rovingeye? A Witch ... who raps? They’re all among thecockeyed characters in Stephen Sondheim’s fracturedfairy tale masterpiece musical.

2/27/2015Shannon and the MergerRamada Greensburg Hotel and Conference Center,100 Ramada Inn Dr., Greensburg, PA 15601724.836.6060. Prospect Lounge 9:30

2/28/2015Arts-in-Education Workshopwith Jim DonovanSouthern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligoniervalley One Boucher Lane & Route 711 South, Ligonier,PA 15658 724.238.6015. sama-art.org

SAMA presents a Sound Empowerment workshopwith musician and educator Jim Donovan. SoundEmpowerment is an accessible step-by-step systemthat shows you how to use rhythm and sound as toolsto improve quality of life for yourself and others. Theprimary focus of this training is on using rhythm andsimple vocal techniques to relieve stress, anxiety,sleeplessness, low energy and mind clutter. Cost is $50per person. R.S.V.P. by February 23.

2/28/2015Hollywood Party at the PalaceThe Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg,PA 15601 724.836.1123. westmorelandculturaltrust.org

Our black tie optional fundraising event is sure toimpress, whether this is your first time or your 10th!Join us as we celebrate the Greatest Hits of HollywoodParty’s past for an evening filled with entertainment,hors d’oeuvres and nostalgia. The celebration beginswith a 6 pm pre-party sponsored by Creenan &Baczkowski, PC. This time-honored event will be heldon the impressive Palace Theatre stage and featurepassed hors d’oeuvres, champagne and entertain-ment. A professional photographer will capture eachpre-party guest as they arrive, with photos displayedin The Palace Theatre outer lobby for the followingyear. At 7 PM, the festivities move into the outerrooms of the theatre as an impressive display of horsd’oeuvres awaits you in the 1940s inspired Megan’sSuite and in our sexy side of the 50s Mezzanine. Localrestaurateurs will proudly offer their delectablespecialties. Perhaps you are more drawn to the 70s, noproblem! Head on up to the upper Megan’s Suitewhere desserts and java are jiving in our 1970sinspired coffee house.

2/28/2015 and 3/7/2015Snowshoe Saturdays: Snowshoeing BasicsForbes State Forest 1291 Route 30, Laughlintown, PA15655 724.259.2201. dcnr.state.pa.us

Interested in snowshoeing but new to the activity?Then this program is for you! Meet at the LaurelSummit warming hut to learn some of the basics, thenwe will gear up in our shoes for a 2-4 mile hike. Pleasecome prepared with warm layers, water, snacks, andsnowshoes! *Registration is required. *There is alimited quantity of snowshoes to borrow—pleasespecify if you need to borrow when registering.

2/28/2015The British InvasionThe Arcadia Theater 1418 Graham Ave., Windber, PA15963 814.467.9070. arcadiatheater.net

More than just The Beatles, THE British InvasionTribute’s performance is three shows in one! First, youmay hear classic songs by iconic British groups suchas The Zombies, The Moody Blues, Dave Clark Fiveand Herman’s Hermits, just for starters.

2/28/2015The Music of ABBA: Arrival from SwedenState Theatre Center for the Arts 27 E. Main St.,Uniontown, PA 15401 724.439.1360. statetheatre.info

2/28/2015 to 3/1/2015Pittsburgh Fire Rescue & EMS ExpoMonroeville Convention Center 209 Mall Plaza Blvd.,Monroeville, PA 412.373.7300. 10times.com

An annual trade show which is nation’s largestand well attended trade shows for firefighters, para-medics, EMTs & other emergency services personnel.The event will bring together hundreds of theNations’s finest companies together in one weekendfor all emergency Emergency rescue demonstrationsresponders. The Expos attract attendees from

continued on page 31


Second Chapter Books

139 East Main StreetLigonier, PA 15658

724-238-7933fb.com/secondchapterbooks

New and Used Books • Children’s GiftsJewelry • Greeting Cards • Neat Stuff

Derry AreaAction for AnimalsAllison ChiropracticBarkley's Derry KingBuilding BodeezCaldwell LibraryChef Dato'sDerry MedicalFirst Commonwealth BankHansen & Torba - DentistsJean Marie Flowers & GiftsLaundromatMastrorocco's MarketNew Derry Municipal AuthorityPalombo's RestaurantS&T BankState Farm InsuranceSugar BearsSunoco

Route 22DELMONTCenter for Rehab SvcsChestnut Ridge ExcelaCiggy’s TobaccoCogo’sDelmont YMCSExecela Health PTHoliday Inn ExpressHot Rod Lounge (Spaghetti House)LamplighterSalem Plaza LaundrySuperCutsThree Rivers Six Pack ShopWagonwheel RestaurantWatson ChevroletEXPORTArtisita SalonChoice Gas StationClaire Bridge Memory CareCozy InnMurrysville MusicMurrysville RehabPgh ChiropracticRestella Dance StudioMURRYSVILLEEye DocAluring Designs SalonChaye Coffee and TeaDancer’s ClosetDean’s FitnessDick’s DinerDr. Abraham/Dr. GillDuff Park Info Center

Eat n ParkEn V SalonFocus Hair DesignGolden Living CtrHealing Arts BldgHoss’s Walnut ShopsLibrary Borough BuildingNature NailsNew Horizons CounselorsPaneraPanther Chiropt TherapyS&T BankScott MedicalSportszoneStandard BankStarbucksSuperCutsUPMC Partners in HealthVarious Prof AgenciesWest Historical SocietyYoga Flow

Donegal/Jones MillsBP/McDonald’s - turnpikeBrady’sDairy QueenDays InnDonegal PharmacyHardware StoreHoliday Inn ExpressHoneybearTall CedarsThe Inn at LigonierSarnelli’sSchultheis Automation

Greater Latrobe/Unity TwpAdams Memorial LibraryArnold Palmer Regional AirportBarnes HouseChestnut Ridge - Bursch DivisionChicora'sChris Pakos, CPAChrist UC ChurchCoffee BeanCommercial Bank - DowntownCommerical Bank - Route 981D’s Windy CottageDainty PastryDenny'sDoggie DivasDunkin DonutsEat n Park

Excela Health Quick DrawThe Eyeglass ShoppeFantastic Sam'sFour Seasons Brewing Co.Gino's PizzaGyno AssociatesHanna InsuranceDr. Scott HudimacJerald JewelersJoe's Store - Lawson HeightsL&L Quik LubeDr. Patrick LallyLatrobe Animal ClinicLatrobe Art CenterLatrobe HardwareLatrobe Hospital & Little ShopLatrobe News Stand - DowntownLatrobe News Stand - Laurel 30Laurel Highlands VillageLatrobe Post OfficeLincoln Highway ExperienceLoyalhanna Care CenterMcCarl Coverlet GalleryThe Medicine ShoppeDrs. Mucci & Campfield, DDSMy Fitness KitchenPizza SienaProAdjuster ChiropracticRoadman's Country LivingRose Style ShoppeRusbosin's FurnitureS&T BankSanctus Spa & SalonScotty G'sSenior CenterShop n SaveSpringHill SuitesSt. Vincent CollegeSt. Vincent De PaulSt. Vincent Gristmill StoreUnity Township Building, LibraryUPMC Vascular InstituteValley Dairy - downtownValley Dairy - Route 30Vasco Federal Credit UnionVisitor & Information CenterWCNS/Unity BuildingWestmoreland FederalWestmoreland Historical SocietyWigs n MoreWingate

GreensburgBarnes & Noble

Courtyard by MarriottCafé BaristaCellar Door CaféCouture SalonDeb T S. G’burgGateway Convenience Rt. 66Getty’s GrillGreensburg LibraryGreensburg NewsGreensburg YMCAGV8Holiday InnJioio’s, CarbonMr. Bones Rt. 66Nature’s WayOld 66 GrillPC ConnectPizza SienaSenior Life E. G’burgSun Dawg Café DowntownThe Medicine ShoppeVittone’s MusicWestmoreland Athletic ClubWestmoreland HospitalWhite Rabbit Café

Ligonier ValleyA Touch of GraceAbigail's CoffeeAmicaBP InsuranceBarb's Market - RectorBerkshire HathwayCarol & Dave's RoadhouseCeltic CultureConnections CafeDarlington InnDavies Real EstateDiamond CafeDiamond Hair CutsEquine ChicExcela HealthFirst Commonwealth BankFlavors CafeFox's PizzaGet GoGiant EagleGino'sHoward Hanna Real EstateLigonier Chamber of CommerceLigonier Country Market (in season)Ligonier LibraryLigonier Outfitters/NewstandLigonier Tavern

Laurel Mountain Post Distribution Guide

Pick Up a Copy at Your Favorite Community Location!The new Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Visitor & Information Center, located on Route 30 below Sharky’s Cafe, is the main hubfor each new issue release. However, we will continue to distribute copies in your neighborhood at the following 300+locations:


Ligonier Valley Railroad MuseumLigonier Vallery Real EstateLoyalhanna RealtyMack M. DarrMartinsModern EleganceOn the Diamond AntiquesThe Paper HouseRamada InnRosalia Jioio's Little ItalyRuthie's DinerScamp's ToffeeSecond Chapter BooksSubwayThistledown/Bo PeepThe Toy BoxThe Twisted VineVernon Realty ServicesValley School of LigonierWicked GooglyYMCA

LaughlintownCompass Inn/Historical SocietyFirst Commonwealth BankLigonier Country InnPie ShoppeWashington Furnace Inn

New AlexandriaBP - 819 crossroadsFirst CommonwealthGrabiak’sJohna’s Hair SalonKaufman's ChiropracticKeystone PharmacyKeystone State ParkKids Care PediatricsLibraryQuik StopSheetz

StahlstownFlax Scutching FestivalLoyalhanna Veterinary ClinicMain Street Wine Bar

Mt. Pleasant andSouthern WestmorelandCounty MarketCrystal ConceptsThe FrickFun ServicesThe General StoreHerbaliciousKraisinger's MarketLenoxLeo'sMericonda Beer DistributorMount Pleasant Glass MuseumMt. Pleasant LibraryNino'sOrourke Crystal

Sandhill BerriesSpeedy Meedy'sVicky's CrossroadsVolero GasWest Overton DeliWest Overton Quilt ShopYMCA

Youngwood - coming soon!

Allegheny CountyAllegheny GeneralChildren's HospitalDowntown HotelsManchester BidwellMonroeville LibraryPleasant Hills LibraryStrip District merchantsSquirrel Hill businessesUPMC Hospitals:

Monroeville, Presbyterian,Mercy, Shadyside, Hillman

Cambria County (Johnstown)Comfort Inn & SuitesDancer’s ClosetEast Hills Family PharmacyHoliday Inn - DowntownHoliday Inn Express - RichlandNature's Habitat - GalleriaThe Sleep Inn

Fayette CountyAdrian's - HopwoodBraddocks Inn RestaurantChalk Hill Flea MarketMiller’s Grocery StoreNemacolin Inn - FarmingtonOhiopyle FallsOhiopyle PubSummit Hotel - Route 40

Indiana CountyBLAIRSVILLECokeville Produce MarketComfort InnThe Coventry InnDean's DinerHampton Inn - Chestnut RidgeSenior CenterSheetzCLARKSBURGShaulis Convenience MarketINDIANA119 Professional CenterThe Artist's HandBook NookCucina MiaDiamond DrugDowntown Indiana AssociationHampton InnDr. Hilliard & Tarnoff

Indiana Chamber of CommerceIndiana County Tourism BureauIndiana Hospital LobbyIndiana Free LibraryIndiana University of PAJimmy Stewart MuseumRustic LodgeStarbucksSaltsburgexclusively at: Saltsburg Pharmacy

Somerset CountyJENNERSTOWNGreen Gables/Mtn PlayhouseOur Coal Miners CafeThree Rivers DentalSOMERSET AREAComfort InnEat n ParkEcono LodgeHampton InnHoliday Inn ExpressMountain Craft DaysOakhurst Tea RoomSheetz (route 31)Somerset Family Eye CareSomerset Historical CenterSummit DinerQuality Inn

[email protected]

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

call today:call today:call today:call today:call today:

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END NOTESby Megan Fuller

I am going to name my next dog RichardParker and he will be just as ferocious andloveable as the tiger that accompanies PiPatel across the Pacific. I tell my kids thatwe read non-fiction to learn about theoutside world and we read fiction to learnabout ourselves. The Life of Pi is a veritablepotpourri of emotional learning. Like thesea around Pi’s lifeboat, his fears areconstantly bobbing up and down. Hopesurges through Pi and just asquickly flows away. Alongwith Pi, we–the readers–fearfor him, hope for him; wesuffer the loss of his familywith him, and experience hisdesperate thirst.

Pi Patel is just 16 when hisfamily decides to pack uptheir zoo, sell off the animals,and migrate to Canada. Thecargo ship on which Pi, hisfamily, and the animals aretraveling begins to go downand Pi is not able to get to hisfamily. In the chaos of thesinking ship crew membersthrow Pi on a lifeboat. Someof the other passengers alsofind their way on to the lifeboat, unfor-tunately they are not human passengers.Pi’s fellow passengers include a zebra,orangutan, hyena, and a Bengal tiger-named Richard Parker. After 227 days atsea only Pi and Richard Parker survive andboth of them owe that to Pi’s quick wit andtenacity.

Yann Martel is masterful in creating acharacter who is so full of life, so inquisitive,so open to new ideas that readers want toget to know him better. I first read The Lifeof Pi in 2006 and when I began reading itagain I was taken aback. I had no memoryof the whole first half of the book; the halfin which we get to know and love Pi. Webecome familiar with his home in Pondi-cherry and create the mental picture of hisserene, zoo-keeping, pious, daily routine.We meet Pi’s family and the people whoinfluence him, learn about the animals intheir zoo, and understand his great dedi-cation to higher powers. Because we knowPi, and the lengths he goes to, to maintainhis pious devotion to three faiths, readersare not surprised at his persistence for

Fear Factor:The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

survival. Many times throughout the nar-rative I thought, “I think this is where Iwould have given up.” Pi never does. Nomatter how impossible his situation be-comes, some little thing revitalizes him.

Pi credits Richard Parker for giving himthe desire to live. Pi decides early on that itis his job to keep the tiger alive, and in turn,keeping the tiger alive makes Pi stay on histoes. Because of Richard Parker, Pi main-

tains a state of alertness that is at timesdraining–even for the reader. The tensioncreated in this man vs. beast epic causedme headaches and teeth clenching; yet, Idid not want to stop reading. I had to devourPi’s plight like Richard Parker gobblesmeerkats.

In short, The Life of Pi is absolutely oneof the best books that I have ever read andre-read and I am certain to read again. Iwill be looking for Martel’s other novels(why haven’t I already?) and expect thathis narratives will take me on anotheremotional journey. As Ravi, Pi’s brother,liked to say, “Adventure beckons!”

Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland andsurrounding states.

3/8/2015 to 3/8/2015Lecture: “Into the Sugarbush”Powdermill Nature Reserve 1795 Route 381, Rector,PA 15677. 724.593.6105. carnegiemnh.org

Explore the process of making maple syrup,including why the sap flows and why some trees arebetter than others for syrup production.

3/11/2015 to 3/11/2015Western PA Collegiate Job & Internship FairMonroeville Convention Center 209 Mall Plaza Blvd.,412.373.7300

3/14/2015 to 3/15/20152015 Maple Weekend Taste & TourSomerset County Maple Producers Association, 234Sugar Cake Rd., Somerset, PA 15501 814.442.3680somersetcountymaple.orgTour and tast Somerset County maple products!

3/14/2015 to 3/14/2015Winter Bark ID HikeForbes State Forest 1291 Route 30, Laughlintown, PA15655 .724.259.2201. dcnr.state.pa.us

It can be tricky to properly identify (ID) treesduring the winter because there are no leaves! Learnhow to identify common PA trees by observing otherphysical characteristics of trees, like the bark! Comeprepared for a brisk hike on the Bob Ache trail, behindthe Forbes’ district office. No registration is required.

through to 5/30/2015Imagine Nation Open StudioWestmoreland Museum of American Art @rt 30 4764State Route 30, Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500.wmuseumaa.org

Every Saturday & Sunday from 12:30-5 PM,children of all ages and their favorite adult can stopby the Museum and create their own art in the studio!There is a different art project featured each week.

through 12/18/2015Paint and SipLiz Jones Arts 201 Fairview Ave., Connellsville, PA15425 724.455.3699

Art and Wine every Friday at 6:30 PM— unlikeother Paint and Sip places, each person attending canchoose their own project every time, rather thanhaving to all do the same one! Light refreshments areavailable... BYOB/ $20 person/ All credit cards andcash accepted.

through 4/11/2015Stone House Idol Kick Off!Historic Stone House Restaurant 3023 National Pike,Farmington, PA. 724.329.2020. stonehouseinn.com

Join us for our 2nd Annual Stone House Idol.Every Saturday at the Stone House. Finale will be heldon April 11th, 2015 at Jim Shorkey Kia.


* * * * *

Megan Fuller is an applied cognitive anthropologistwith postmodern tendencies who grew up in theexciting Pittsburgh suburb of Pleasant Hills andhad the distinct pleasure of earning a Bachelor ofArts in Anthropology from IUP. In 1993, Meganmoved out West to get a Master’s Degree. She alsopicked up a husband and hasn’t quite convincedhim to move back to Western PA. To maintain herauthentic Pittsburgh accent she regularly watchesPittsburgh Dad and engages anyone wearing blackand gold sports gear in conversation.

Laurel Mountain Post :: February 2015

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