Laurel Mountain Post :: December 2014

1 - LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST, September 2013

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

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Don’t Fear the Fork!

Is Santa the Only Thing Escaping from Your Chimney?

Echoes of Christmas Past

The Night the Christmas Tree Fell

Winter Warmer, Holiday Cheer

Leaping for Joy

2 - December 2014 LAUREL MOUNTAIN POSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOST

Every Story Begins At Home. December 2014 - 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]

Joe Walko, Managing [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 LaneDerry, PA 15627

www.LaurelMountainPost.com

LAUREL MOUNTAIN

POSTProudly serving the LaurelArea Valleys and Highlandsof Westmoreland Countysince 2004.

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

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the

We’ll be taking a short winter break!We’ll be taking a short winter break!

Our next issue of the Laurel Mountain Post Our next issue of the Laurel Mountain Post will be February 2015: Deadline is January 15.will be February 2015: Deadline is January 15.Call the Laurel Mountain Post Editorial Offi ce at 724-537-6845 Call the Laurel Mountain Post Editorial Offi ce at 724-537-6845 or visit LaurelMountainPost.com for advertising information.or visit LaurelMountainPost.com for advertising information.

Happy Holidays from our Families to Yours!Happy Holidays from our Families to Yours!

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came withoutribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes

or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if

Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What ifChristmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

– Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

“I'm dreaming of a white christmas,With every christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright,And may all your christmases be white”

White Christmas by Irving BerlinThe first public performance of the song was by Bing Crosby, on his NBC

radio show The Kraft Music Hall on Christmas Day, 1941

“Oh, life is like that. Sometimes, at the height of our revelries,when our joy is at its zenith, when all is most right with the

world, the most unthinkable disasters descend upon us.”A Christmas Story (1983)by Jean Shepherd,

based on his book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash

“Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives.When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?”

Clarence Odbody, from Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life,based on the short story The Greatest Gift

– written by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1939 and self-published in 1945

“Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. Don'tyou see? It's not just Kris that's on trial, it's everything he standsfor. It's kindness and joy and love and all the other intangibles.”

Fred Gailey, in defense of Santa Claus – Miracle on 34th Street,a 1947 Christmas film written and directed by George Seaton

and based on a story by Valentine Davies.

“Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most.And then, let each put in his share, loving kindness, warm hearts,

and a stretched out hand of tolerance.All the shinning gifts that make peace on earth.”

The end of the Christmas Eve sermon from The Bishop’s Wife, a Samuel Goldwyn film adapted by Leonardo Bercovici and Robert E.Sherwood from the 1928 novel of the same name by Robert Nathan

– Cathi Gerhard & Family

If You Can’t Say Itat Christmas,

When Can You, Eh?

My family loves to watch movies – and Christmas movies are themost fun! Last year, we even took a Facebook Quiz to determinewhich holiday classic best suited our personalities. My husband got“White Christmas;” I got “A Christmas Story;” and my daughtergot “A Nightmare Before Christmas.” We usually begin the seasonover Thanksgving weekend with “Holiday Inn,” and continuethrough the month of December singing, quoting and laughing allthe way. I would like to share some of that merriment with you byoffering the following sentimental thoughts:


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Table of Contents

5 Don’t Fear the Fork! by Carol Whelan

6 Visitor & Information Center to Open“There Goes the Neighborhood” by David Martin

7 Is Santa the Only ThingEscaping from Your Chimney?

“Home Study” by Brian Mishler

8 Why Do Our Knees Hurt So Badly?by Hayley Chemski-Horwat MSN, CNRA

9 Where Love Abides by Nancy A. Clark

11 Loyalhanna Creek Nominated

12 Echoes of Christmas Past“Memory Lane” by Ruthie Richardson

14 Body Fat’s Worst Enemy“What’s Cooking in Fitness” by Mark Rullo MS, CSCS, MES

17 The Night the Christmas Tree Fellby Joe Potts

18 Winter Warmer, Holiday Cheer“Off Trail” by Joe Walko

20 Leaping for Joy“Three Pennies” by Rev. Cindy Parker

21 Solar Panel Cost-Effectiveness

22 Spotted Lanternfly: New Pest Identified“Down on the Farm” by Cathi Gerhard & Greg Susa

26 Masahide, Japanese Poet“That’s What They Say” by Rev. Marjorie Rivera

27 Community CalendarDecember 2014 – January 2015

30 Room for One More“End Notes” by Cathi Gerhard

December 2014

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Christmas is not a time or a season Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. but a state of mind.

To cherish peace and good will, To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, to be plenteous in mercy,

is to have the real spirit of Christmas. is to have the real spirit of Christmas. –Calvin Coolidge, 1927–Calvin Coolidge, 1927


Don’t Fear the Fork!Table Setting Etiquette by Carol Whelan

facebook.com/pages/Relaxed-EventsRelaxedEvents.net

[email protected]

“Mommy there’s too many forks!” my sondeclared rather indignantly when I tookhim out for a fancy “mommy and me”dinner. I realized the army of silverwaresurrounding his plate was rather dauntingfor this little guy, but then we probably haveall felt a moment of panic.

He’s 24 now and doesn’t “fear the ware” ashe may have once upon a time (Althoughall of my children do still “fear the mom,”when it comes to table manners!)

Many of my friends have asked methrough the years about “which spoon do Iuse, or, is that my bread plate or yours,which glass is mine…?” We don’t set ourweekly dinner table with all of the extrasilver, crystal and china (especially whenyou’re the one washing them!) but thisbeing the holiday season and social gather-ings plentiful, I thought this may be a goodtime to refresh our memories on exactlywhat those utensils are there for, taking thepanic out of all those forks!

Clarence Thomas said “Good Mannerswill open doors that the best educationcannot.”

My daughter attends a university thatactually has a five-star restaurant on cam-pus and uses this as a learning atmosphere.The importance of learning proper socialand dining etiquette as well as being com-fortable in a formal dining atmosphere isbecoming critical for this generation ofyoung people. More and more interviewsare being held over lunch and dinners, soeven if they are graduating top of their classif they embarrass their firm, interview over!

A few important tips to remember:

1. Always start with the silverware far-thest from the plate and work your way in.2. Your drinking glass will always be toyour right, bread plate to your left. If thereis more than one glass the water glass willbe at the highest point above the plate withthe wine glass slightly to the right of that.3. Napkins are put in your lap as soon asyou sit down. They stay in your lap the entiremeal, smaller napkins are unfolded com-pletely, larger dinner napkins stay foldedlengthwise then put in your lap. Neverleave anything in your cloth napkin, this isto dab your mouth and fingers with only,not for any other use, ever! Never leave thetable during a formal meal, but if you must,

place soiled side down to the left of yourplate (leaving it on your seat can soil yourhost/hostesses chair and/or you may endup sitting in crumbs upon your return).Gently place your napkin to the left of yourplate upon the completion of your meal,but only when you are leaving the table.Don’t fold your napkin back up.4. Never cut a soft dinner roll, muffin orbread with your knife, gently pull it apartin small pieces, buttering it as you eat.5. Knives should always have the cuttingedge facing the plate.6. Whenever in doubt follow your host/hostesses lead.7. If there is ever a fork to the right ofthe spoons then think of it as looking a little“fishy” being on the wrong side of the plate.This will help you remember what it’s for.(Seafood, oysters, etc.)8. A sorbet to cleanse the palate is servedbetween the salad and main entrée.9. Never begin to eat until host/hostesshas taken their first bite. They may offer atoast or grace.10. When eating soup, place your spoon inyour bowl pushing it away from you. Don’tdraw your spoon from far side of bowl.

Informal DiningSetting and Serving

Place setting should include:• Dinner Plate (center)• Salad Plate (if serving, place on top of dinner

plate)• Bread and Butter Plate & Knife (above plate

to the left)• Dinner knife (to the right of the plate)• Salad knife (if serving, to the right of the

dinner knife)• Water glass to the right above the Dinner

Knife• Dinner Fork to the immediate left of the

plate

• Salad Fork to the left of the Dinner Fork• Napkin can be placed on the salad plate or

directly on dinner plate if no salad

Meal should include:First Course: Typically serve Soup, Fruit,

or AppetizerFollow with: SaladEntrée and VegetableDessert

Formal DinningSetting and Serving

Place setting should include:• Dinner Plate• Soup Bowl on Dinner Plate• Salad Plate to the left just above forks• Bread Plate to the right just above Salad

Plate, Butter Knife placed flat on bread plate• Dessert Silverware should be placed center

and parallel above the Dinner Plate. Cake forkclosest to the plate, coffee/tea spoon above andopposite direction

• Name Place Cards above the DessertSilverware, left of water glass

• Dinner Knife to the right of Dinner Plate• Salad or Fish Knife right of Dinner Knife• Spoon right of Salad Knife• Soup Spoon right of Dinner Spoon• Dinner Fork immediately to the left of

Dinner Plate• Salad Fork to the left of Dinner Fork• Napkin folded to the left of Salad Fork• Water Glass above center of plate slightly

to the right• Wine Glass right of Water Glass slightly

lower• Coffee/Tea Cup and Saucer to the right of

the spoons but can even be placed after mainentrée while waiting for desert so as to not

overwhelm table space.

Meal Should Include:First Course: Appetizer such as shrimp cocktailSecond Course: Soup, season-appropriate,

chilled or hotThird: SaladFourth: EntréeFifth: Dessert, Coffee, TeaOffering an After Dinner Cocktail is a nice way

to exit the table

Wishing you the merriest of this holiday sea-son, and remember, in the end ...

“Manners are the sensitive awareness of thefeelings of others. If you have that awareness,you have good manners, no matter what forkyou use.” – Emily Post


THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOODby David Martin, GLLVCCC President

Visitor & Information Centerto Open on Route 30 in Latrobe

The staff at the Greater Latrobe-LaurelValley Chamber has been working hard totransition to our new home on Rt. 30 be-low Sharky’s Café. It is an ideal locationthat offers great visibility andeasy access. Coming soon willbe a modern, member-fo-cused Visitor and InformationCenter (VIC). Many times wehave asked ourselves: how dowe best tell the story of what anamazing area we have to live,shop, eat, stay, play and work?Once complete, the new VICwill help us tell those storiesand promote local and re-gional activities, opportunitiesand area services.

The goal of the Chamber’sVIC is to be a true “hub” of in-formation. The facility will of-fer information and materialfrom business services, homeservices and relocation infor-mation as well as details onwhere to have fun, dine out and spend yourtime. When you consider the tens of thou-sands who regularly travel Route 30 for

events like the Westmoreland County Air-show, Steelers Training Camp, Fort LigonierDays, or a day or weekend of fun in theLaurel Highlands, there is an amazing op-

portunity to promote areabusinesses and activities andprovide people a roadmap forfuture activities and visits.Not to mention the thousandseach week making their wayto Arnold Palmer RegionalAirport for daily Spirit flightsto Florida, Myrtle Beach or –coming in April – non-stopflights to Las Vegas! The im-pact on local businesses andour area’s exposure to re-gional travelers will be con-siderable. When you considerthe amount of business traveland conference activity in LasVegas, we are expecting thenew daily flights to be metwith much enthusiasm fromthe tri-state area and beyond

… and introduce many to our great com-munities, local businesses and regionalyear-round activities.

The Chamber’s Visitor & InformationCenter will provide directories and mate-rial from menus, maps, flyers, businesscards, local coupons and information onarea business services and real estate list-ings. The Center will be staffed to answerquestions and provide suggestions. The VICwill also feature area memorabilia, localworks-of-art, a history section, unique mer-chandise and be technology-focused. A new“interactive” 70" HD display will be a focalpoint of the Center and feature a variety ofmedia promoting our membership and di-verse communities.

It will tell the story… your story of whatmakes our region truly great.

Going into 2015, the new GLLV Cham-ber will be a resource for promoting andbuilding stronger, sustainable businessesthat fuel our region’s continued growth. Asa business development organization dedi-cated to helping our Members profit andgrow, we have thoughtfully planned thenew VIC to promote, excite and deliver com-munity-focused and profitable results forour membership.

Happy Holidays from the staff at the newGreater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Chamber ofCommerce. Here’s to a prosperous and ex-citing 2015!

VIC to ShowcaseLaurel Mountain Post

The Laurel Mountain Post will continuedelivery of each issue to many of your fa-vorite community and regional locations;however, the new Visitors and Informa-tion Center will be the main hub for localdistribution and promotion. As the Cham-ber’s new Official Magazine, the LMP willcontinue to tell original stories written byyour friends and neighbors. Our expandedcommunity calendar is a great way for resi-dents and visitors alike to see what’s goingon across the Laurel Highlands. So stop ineach month to pick up your copy and dis-cover something new about your neighbor-hood from the new VIC!

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HOME STUDYby Brian Mishler

Is Santa the Only ThingEscaping From Your Chimney?Today’s weather forecast: Winter will beawful.

As you read this, we are looking forwardto the Christmas season, and have alreadyendured at least our first snowfall of theyear. Hopefully, unlike me you were pre-pared in advance, as I shivered in mid-thirties temperatures hastily cleaning mygutters, mowing the lawn one last time, andgetting a new storm door installed.

The holidays are a happy time at home;for us the kids come to visit, bringing thebustle of holiday jobs, laundry, and time spentindoors as the weather rages on outside.

Many of us will seek refuge in front ofour fireplaces, some hoping the fireplacewill reduce our dependence on our centralheating system. However, modern fire-places are designed primarily as enter-tainment-oriented appliances.

From bankrate.com:“In most cases, using the heater is going

to be a better choice from a thermal perfor-mance point of view, but fireplaces may bedesired as an aesthetic choice,” says MaxSherman, a fellow at the American Societyof Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Condi-tioning Engineers, or ASHRAE, and a staffsenior scientist/group leader at LawrenceBerkeley Laboratory.

To be on the safe side, have the chimneyinspected once a year. A CSIA-certifiedchimney sweep might charge $100 to $300for the inspection; the sweep itself may costextra, says Ashley Eldridge of the CSIA. To

avoid losing more heat through the chim-ney, remember to close the damper afterthe fire is completely out, Eldridge says.

Chimneys are designed to “suck” fireplaceheat and its associated smoke and othercontaminates out of the house. However,the chimney can’t distinguish fire heat fromambient heat. Your chimney is an effective24-7 year heat removing device, and iscapable of making your furnace or centralheating system work much harder than itneeds to.

If you plan to use your fireplace thisseason, you should have already had itcleaned and the chimney sweep shouldhave made sure the damper is operational.The damper is your primary means ofreducing unintentional heat loss. A set ofglass doors over the fire place opening canalso be helpful. If you haven’t had yourfireplace and chimney cleaned and inspect-ed, now is the time. If you’re not familiarwith the proper operation of your damper,you’re not alone; don’t be embarrassed toask your chimney sweep how to operatethe damper. Many fireplace inspec-tions reveal a damper out of placeor jammed open by improperoperation. While they aretypically a heavy piece of castiron, they require a gentle touch.

Many homeowners and espec-ially those in older homes whosechimneys are no longer safe toburn only use their fireplaces for

ornamentation. They put flower or candlearrangements inside and dress them up forthe holidays. However the chimney has notstopped its heat sucking function. If you’reamong the folks who no longer use yourfireplace, consider having a chimney sweepseal the damper. There are various mater-ials and methods available, and the bestresult will be had from either sealing thebottom and installing a cap at the top, orsealing both ends. This function is best doneby a professional: most chimneys are“shared;” they have multiple flues servingdifferent appliances. Sealing the wrong fluemay, for instance, cause the furnace to shutoff or worse – cause carbon monoxide toenter the house.

If you have a chimney that is alreadysealed, and want to start using it, don’tassume all is well. Have it evaluated by achimney sweep, and preferably videoscanned. Much as it is impossible to see thewalls of a tunnel by looking from one end,seeing a chimney by looking down or upprohibits a through view of the liner.

Wishing you and your family a happyholiday season next to the fireplace! (ornot!)

* * * * *

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 disadvantaged

seniors and veterans, assisting them with pre-renovation inspection and selection. Brian

also teaches a variety of real estate-relatedclasses, and has mentored others seeking

to become home inspectors. He currently resides in Latrobe,with his better half, Carol, theirBoston terrier Gizmo, three cats,

and three transient college stu-dents. When spare time is to be had,

Brian can be found on a motorcycle,in a kayak, or hiking in the area. Hecan be reached at

[email protected].


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Wake up. Stand up. Ouch. Get dressed.Make breakfast. Ouch. A few Advil. Getmoving. Pain subsides...or, it doesn't...nextday, Repeat.

Anyone else find this to be a commonoccurrence? Why do our knees hurt sobadly? Our knees suffer a great deal ofmechanical stress daily. We twist, we turn,we stop, we start, we jog, we walk, we takethe stairs, and more! Typically, our kneescan withstand the 'pressure' of our dailychores. However, certain habits can cre-ate true detriment to our precious joints andleave us suffering with chronic pain, ar-thritic pain, or worse ... acute injury pain!Let's review a few risk factors and behav-iors, as well as how to correct the pain.

Contributing factors to 'bad knees' in-clude increased body weight, exercise tech-nique, overuse of muscles/joints, bodyalignment, and proper footwear. As a NurseAnesthetist I've seen more knee replace-ments than I could count, and know firsthand that joint surgery isn't a "walk in thepark" but rather, a last resort.

Why Do Our Knees Hurt So Badly?by Hayley Chemski-Horwat, MSN, CNRA

Knees bear the brunt of your body weightand every extra pound can up to three ex-tra pounds of pressure (i.e. 10 pounds ofexcess weight = 30 pounds of pressure).Added weight accelerates osteoarthritis bybreaking down joint cartilage. By losing10-20 pounds you could potentially cutyour risk of joint pain in half!

At Building Bodeez we understand thegreat benefits of regular exercise, however,and also understand increased injury risk.That said, the best idea is to always warmup and cooldown (for 5-10 minutes each).Avid exercisers should choose variety andincorporate low impact activities such asbiking, walking, yoga, swimming, flexibil-ity training, personal training, or even re-sistance band routines. Ballistic routinessuch as CrossFit, power-lifting, jumping(Kickboxing), twisting (Zumba), running,and high-impact sports may pose a greaterrisk to those suffering with knee pain andshould be used in divided doses. Repetitiveexercises that do not allow the knees to restoverwork the joint and create painful in-jury; use these formats wisely.

Proper body alignment may also pro-mote joint safety. An excellent analogy iswhen car tires wear bald. If your tires arenot aligned on your vehicle, they will wearimproperly. The same principle applies tojoint pain. Proper posture and core strength(abdominal strength) will promote properjoint alignment.

Well-fitted footwear promotes align-ment, cushioning, and shock absorption.Irregularly fitted shoes can create over-pr-onation or supination (turning in or out),can exacerbate planter fasciitis, can increasearch pain and more. This eventually is com-pensated in the joint and osteoarthritisflares.

If your joint pain cycle persists past 2weeks and is not treated with pain, relax-ation, stretching, and occasional NSAIDs(Advil, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc) contact ahealth care professional for further treat-ment. Ultimately be aware that you onlyhave 2 knees: they feel each and every stepyou take. Be nice to your joints, and theywill pay you back tenfold.

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

continued on page 15

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Where Love Abidesby Nancy A. Clark

Hubby and I were on the road again, hisjob sending us to wherever a communi-cations equipment installer was needed. InDecember of 1961, an assignment took usfar from our southwestern Pennsylvaniahomestead to a one-traffic-light farmingcommunity in the midwest. There, we wouldcelebrate our first Christmas as young mar-rieds– my first Christmas away from family.

Our temporary home in the Show Mestate was a non-descript room with noview, in a lackluster motel on the outskirtsof Brookfield, Missouri. The onlyhint of homey-ness or holiday inour space was a pile of white, pinkand pale green Kleenex tissue“carnations” I’d fabricated to filla squatty wicker basket we foundin the closet. The premise heldlittle promise that this would beA Christmas to Remember.

My 19-year old heart was inturmoil as the holiday approached– torn between the joy of beingwith my husband in this frozentundra and being back home where Christ-mas was happening. Distance magnifiedmemories of aromatic anise pizzelles andbaked sweet breads, the serenity of bluelights strung at the front door, of super-hyped younger siblings, and of KarenCarpenter’s poignant “Merry Christmas,Darling” lilting over the KDKA-Pittsburghradio air waves.

I had a case of homesickness and, baby,it was bad.

Bent on easing my despair, hubby sug-gested we drive into town, sing carols in acandlelight worship service, and then walkthe streets to feast on the lights in shopwindows – just as if we were back home.“Something to make you smile again,” hesaid with hope I didn’t share.

(Perry Como, personally ushering usback to Pennsylvania for some homemadepumpkin pie, would make me smile again,but there wasn’t a snowball’s chance inHeck of that happening.)

“Maybe if we had a Christmas tree…,” Iwhimpered when my bridegroom askedwhat it would take to lift my melancholy.As if a tree was possible. With only twopennies to rub together…well, let’s just saySanta wouldn’t be delivering anything – letalone a Christmas tree – to our motel roomthat night. The fog of self-pity envelopedme like a shroud.

Below-zero air temperatures outside thechurch contrasted sharply to the warmth

inside, and on that silent night, holy night,we had the streets all to ourselves. Millionsof stars danced in the expanse of black velvetover our heads, doing their part to heraldthe arrival of God’s gift of love; but theirsparkle did little to make me smile.

On the drive back to our room, Tomstopped at his job site – said he needed tocheck on something. Minutes later, he ret-urned to the car with a large, flattened card-board box tucked under his arm. “You never know when you might need

a piece of cardboard,” was all heoffered. Sleep was a recalcitrant allythat night. In dreams, I toggledbetween Jimmy Stewart’s It’s aWonderful Life and my family’sreal life 900 miles east. Awake orasleep, I yearned to be a kidagain, back home and nestled allsnug in my wee little bed. We awoke on Christmas morn-ing to 50,000 lumens of sunlightbouncing off mounds of fresh

snow. The tears on my pillow had dried; butthe Norman Rockwell-like image of flyingribbons, crumpled gift wrap and excla-mations of “it’s just what I wanted” fillingthe air back home intensified the ache inmy heart.

Then I spied it – something in the cornerof the room that wasn’t there the nightbefore. I bolted upright from my warmspot in the bed and focused, hand overmouth to stifle an exclamation of my own.Propped up on the top of the only chair inthe room was a sturdy cardboard, Christ-mas tree-shaped cutout plastered with pink,pale green and white Kleenex tissue car-nations. A handwritten message on theback side of a menu flyer was taped to thebase of the tree: Merry Christmas, Darling.“Something to make you smile, again,” mysleepy Santa murmured, lifting himself upon one elbow.

“But I have nothing for you,” I utteredbetween heaving waves of sniffles andsnuffling.

The magnitude of his precious gift of loveoverwhelmed me; gratitude overtook theache in my heart with the reality thatChristmas happens were love abides.

As it is with Christmas miracles, the fogmy beloved fought to vanquish evaporatedwith the smile he sought…the only gift hewanted.

In retrospect, it was not only a lovelyChristmas; it was A Christmas to Remember.

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* * * * *

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.


Jo VernonWestmoreland Financial Services of Pennsylvania Inc.Phone: 724-995-8297 Email: [email protected] Licensed by the Department of Banking, NMLS 136138


Harrisburg - The public is invited to voteonline for the 2015 Pennsylvania River ofthe Year, choosing from among five wa-terways nominated across the state.

Nominated are: Conewango Creek,Lackawanna River, Loyalhanna Creek,Neshaminy Creek and the Ohio River.

“These nominated waterways showcaseso many unique natural resources and rec-reational opportunities,” said Departmentof Conservation and Natural ResourcesSecretary Ellen Ferretti. “They demonstratejust how blessed Pennsylvanians are withthis wealth of major rivers and streams andhow so many are willing to support them.

“Entering its fifth year, the online publicselection process has become increasinglypopular,” Ferretti said. “We know this spiritof good-natured competition rallies com-munity support around our deserving wa-terways and puts them in the limelight.”

Nominations were based on eachwaterway’s conservation needs and suc-cesses, as well as celebration plans shouldthe nominee be voted 2015 River of theYear. In cooperation with DCNR, selectionof public voting choices was overseen bythe Pennsylvania Organization for Water-sheds and Rivers (POWR), an affiliate ofthe Pennsylvania Environmental Council(PEC).

The public can vote for their favorite statewaterway through 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15.

The website www.pariveroftheyear.orgfacilitates voting and offers information on

Loyalhanna CreekNominated for Pennsylvania’s 2015 River of the Year

Vote Online at www.pariveroftheyear.orgnominated waterways and the River of theYear program. Voting will be managedthrough Woobox, an online contest appli-cation that restricts voting to one vote peremail address.

POWR, an affiliate of the PennsylvaniaEnvironmental Council, administers theRiver of the Year program with fundingfrom DCNR. Presented annually since1983, this year’s 2014 designation wasawarded to the Schuylkill River in south-east Pennsylvania.

“It’s really great to see how engagedpeople are in campaigning for their localrivers,” said PEC President and CEO DavittWoodwell.

The Schuylkill River Greenway Associa-tion (SRGA) served as the lead organiza-tion in presenting the Schuylkill River.

“Having the Schuylkill named River ofthe Year gave the SRGA the opportunityto reconnect the public with the river,” saidSRGA Executive Director Kurt Zwikl. “Thehonor highlighted the value the Schuylkillhas to the region historically, recreationally,and as a beautiful and vital natural re-source.”

After a waterway is chosen for the an-nual honor, local groups implement a year-round slate of activities and events to cel-ebrate the river, including a paddling trip,or sojourn. The organization nominatingthe winning river will receive a $10,000leadership grant to help fund their River ofthe Year activities.

POWR and DCNR also work with localorganizations to create a free, commemo-rative poster celebrating the River of theYear.

The River of the Year sojourn is just oneof many paddling trips supported by DCNRand POWR each year. An independentprogram, the Pennsylvania Sojourn Pro-gram, is a unique series of a dozen suchtrips on the state’s rivers. These water-basedjourneys for canoeists, kayakers and oth-ers raise awareness of the environmental,recreational, tourism and heritage valuesof rivers. For more information about thesojourns, visit www.pawatersheds.org.

To learn more about DCNR’s Rivers Pro-gram, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us (click on“Conserve,” then “Waterways”).

To learn more about the River of the Yearprogram, visit www.pariveroftheyear.org.


.

MEMORY LANEby Ruthie Richardson

I’ve been looking at all the Christmas decor-ations in the stores: there are aisles andaisles of them, far as the eye can see. Thereis every possible color or artistic scheme youcould ever think up. And they have beenavailable since Halloween, or as I like tothink of it, HalloThanksMas. We don’t geteven a day or two in between any more.

All those fancy, designer decorations gotme to thinking of the simpler little 1950’sChristmases of my childhood, and ourdecorations, the ones that were storedlovingly, year to year, in cardboard boxesabove our garage in West Derry. Momdidn’t add many decorations from year toyear; her budget was prettystrict and left little room forfrivolities. But one decora-tion I do remember fromyear to year was the icicles.As I recall, the first ones Iremember using were madeof lead. We were tuff kids inthe 50’s. We played withliquid mercury when ourthermometers broke, andmade tin soldiers out ofdaddy’s lead solder. Do youthink we were scared of alittle lead icicle? And al-though mom asked us tosave as many as possiblefrom year to year after theholidays by carefully takingthem off the dead and jaggypine branches, it was no easytask. They sure did tangleup. And my brother, Keith,liked to ball them up in his fist and fire themat me, like a little Christmas punkin-ball tothe head. I can still remember our handsturning grey after handling all that lead.Come to think of it, this may explain a lotabout the behavior of all those hippies frommy generation.

Icicles. That word got me to thinkingabout other words we don’t use so muchany more, words that I still sometimes usein my day-to-day conversations. Wordsthat, while making the younger generationlook at me quizzically, will make my con-temporaries smile and automatically inter-pret them into today’s vernacular without

Echoes of Christmas Pastskipping a beat. For example, last monthwe swept the last of the leaves off ourdriveway, and I told Doug I noticed somecracks in the Macadam. He laughed outloud at the word ‘macadam,’ and said ittook him back to the good old days. Itamuses me to use the old terminology, evenwhen I know the modern version. I guessI am embracing my new found codgerstatus. So without any translation, I willfill this Christmas missive with lots of oldtime phrases and words. You can translatethem as you go along, and smile when yourealize your own codgery-ness!

When I recall the family’s Christmastrees from my youth, I remember them allbeing spectacular and HUGE. Probablybecause our living room in West Derry waspretty small, and so was I. Mom wouldbundle us up, and Daddy would drive usout to a local tree farm to cut down theperfect one. It seemed that every Christmaswas a snowy one from those days long ago.We didn’t worry too much about those icy,slick roads. The tire chains on Daddy’srecaps made sure we got there safely. Evenafter the road crews spread cinders, it couldget pretty slippy on the back roads.

After we chose the absolutely perfect tree,Daddy would tie it to the top of the car forthe ride home. My brother, Keith, and Ihelped drag it into the living room, leavinga trail of wet snow, dried leaves and pineneedles in its wake. Mom would clean upthe mess as we helped secure the trunk intothe little tree stand, and then with all of ourhelp, up into the corner it would go. Mydad added a new tradition to this yearlyscenario after the year our fully decoratedtree came crashing down in the middle ofthe night. Daddy wasn’t taking any chancesafter that. He would wrap a little wirearound the trunk, mid way up, and nail

the wire to the floor in backof the tree, right through thecarpet. This did not amusemy mom but she relented,because she didn’t want toever have to clean up thathorrible mess again. Our house always seemedso festive at Christmas. Momlet me help arrange our littlecardboard Christmas villageand train set under the treewith a white sheet and lots ofangel hair. Who cares aboutthe little cuts on our handssince that ‘angel’ hair was nomore than spun glass? Like Isaid before, we kids were tuffback in the olden days. Mybrother and I made yards ofred and green constructionpaper chains for garland, andour two strings of colored

lights gave off the perfect glow. Next weadded the beautiful and fragile glass ballsmy mom had collected over the years, andlastly, the all-important placement of theicicles. Mom insisted they be placed one byone so they would all hang perfectly down.My brother, on the other hand, thoughtthey looked better if he stood five feet awayand tossed them by the handful. Needlessto say, ‘mommy and me’ were in charge ofthis last, sparkly adornment.

I remember helping mom wrap gifts forthe cousins and grandparents with beautifultissue paper with glitter on it from the 5 &10 down street. Other gifts were wrapped

Notice the icicles, hung in poisonous perfection!

Macadam is a type of road construction pioneered by Scottishengineer John Loudon McAdam around 1820 – broken stone of

even size used in successively compacted layers for surfacingroads and paths, and typically bound with tar or bitumen.


with shiny cellophane that was secured withChristmas seals. Next we added nametagsand stickers that we had to lick to get themto stay on the paper. Sometimes momwould add bows to a really special gift. Shewould let me pull the scissors down thelength of the ribbon, and I would watchthe springy spiral cascade over that specialpresent.

Our holiday activities were always ac-companied by the sounds of old Christmassongs emanating from the radio – or evenbetter – the Christmas Carolers who wouldgo door to door through the neighborhoodserenading us from the snowy landscapethat was our very own Christmas wonder-land. There were lots of treats to nibble on,too: ribbon candy, homemade fudge, or thegumdrops on my Grandma Stewart’s littlewhite plastic tree. She displayed it on the‘mantle’ of her cardboard fireplace that hada little red light bulb and a fan under thecardboard logs. When you plugged it in, itlooked like the flames were dancing … atleast we thought so! On that tree, Grandmastuck a gumdrop on every single branch,and we could never make up our mindsabout which color to choose. But nobodyever wanted the purple ones. There werealways a few of those left when all theothers were gone.

Come Christmas Eve, a very specialphone call was traditionally made to ourrelations in Miami to wish them a MerryChristmas. After dialing “O” and beingconnected to the long distance operator, shewould complete our call, person-to-personwith my Grandma Veda. Yes, person-to-person was more expensive, but Daddycouldn’t risk one of the kids answering thephone and eating up those long distancecharges. A quick hello and I love you wasall we could ever get in. And mom wouldset the timer, so we knew exactly when tosay BYE BYE!

Christmas morning was always an ex-plosion of wrapping paper, squeals of de-light, and an overwhelming feeling of loveand contentment. Mom would be in thekitchen basting the Christmas ham orturkey and taking all her other famous sidedishes out of the icebox to warm up inanticipation of complimenting the spectac-ular repast. I would help set the table withthe good dishes. No Melmac for this meal!The relations would burst through the door,shaking the snow from their coats andsharing happy greetings and kisses underthe mistletoe. After finishing up our gloriousfeast the women would do the dishes, andthe men would stretch out on the davenportand complain about having eaten toomuch. I remember the joy of playing withour new toys, listening to Christmas carols,

and the soft laughter and chatting of thegrown-ups as they finished their dessertand coffee, fresh from mom’s new perco-lator, her favorite Christmas gift.

Those memories of Christmas past seempretty meager when I think back and recallthe details. There was not much extramoney to spend on high-end designer dec-orations, gourmet food, or fancy presents,but the things money can’t buy were overlyabundant. I hope my mom and daddyknew the value of what they provided for

us, and how much it meant to me. I hope Iremembered to tell them, and to thankthem. And most of all, I hope they know,even now, that I wouldn’t trade one secondof it for all the money in the world.

* * * * *Ruthie grew up in an idyllic and magical place– a 1950's childhood, and she loves to sharethese memories with you. Stay in touch: emailher at: [email protected], and look for

her on Facebook.

The famous 'authentic' cardboard fireplace. We are holding our favorite Christmas presents,Keith with his boy scout knife and me with Mary, my walking doll.


by Mark Rullo MS, CSCS, MES

WHAT’S COOKING IN FITNESS

Body Fat’s Worst Enemy ...When we lose weight (fat) where does itgo? It doesn’t just literally fall off our body;rather, it is used as fuel when our body is ina caloric intake deficit relative to our caloricintake (eat less than our body needs).

Where exactly does this fuel utilizationoccur in the body? The muscle tissue iswhere the body will utilize fat a fuel in thepresence of oxygen and thus “burn” off fat.This is why we educate our clients thatmuscle is our metabolism and havingconcern for muscle in your program isparamount to shedding unwanted fat.

How you leverage this information is aprocess we call “Hierarchy of Fat Loss” hereat My Fitness Kitchen. Basically there is achain of command when it comes to howcertain activities are more efficient thanothers when it comes to losing fat.

First and foremost is Supportive Nutri-tion. Very few can out-exercise a lousy diet– more particularly a high caloric diet.There are individuals who eat extremely“healthy” but are also overweight, and thenthere are individuals who eat mostly junkfoods and are at optimal weight. The differ-ence is those who are overweight eat morecalories than their body needs and anyexcess is stored as fat regardless if they arehealthy or junk calories.

Second in the chain of command areactivities that promote a concern for muscle.These exercises or workouts not only burncalories, but more importantly, maintainor promote muscles mass and elevate meta-bolism (e.g., resistance and/or metabolicresistance training).

Last in the chain of command are activitiesthat burn calories but don’t necessarilymaintain muscle or elevate metabolism(e.g., interval cardio and steady-statecardio).

For the purpose of this article, I am goingto talk about the second point above –activities that burn calories, build muscleand elevate metabolism. What separates thispoint and makes it superior from allexercises in the chain of command of fatloss is its impact on MUSCLE.

This is what we like to refer to as the“other 23+ hours” benefit. Meaning if youexercise for 30 minutes or an hour one day,what is your body, or more particularly,

your metabolism doing the rest of the daywhen you are NOT exercising? Some peopledon’t realize you actually burn calories allday. This ability to burn calories all day isthe key to losing fat. More importantly, thetype of exercise you do will greatly impacthow much (residual) caloric expenditureyou will get at rest after a particular work-out.

For simplicity there are two types ofexercise;1. Cardiovascular training, which trainsyour heart (cardiac) muscle tissue2. Strength/resistance training, which trainsyour skeletal muscle tissue.

Your heart (cardiac) muscle is designedto resist fatigue; therefore can be trainedevery day. Additionally cardio exercise willgenerate the highest expenditure per unitof time; however this is where the confusionsets in. “If I want to lose weight/fat, whywouldn’t I just do cardio since I will burnmore calories per minute than weight train-ing?” When you are exercising, yes cardioexercise will have a greater caloric expen-diture per unit of time than weight-trainingworkouts; however the key with weighttraining exercises is that it takes muchlonger for your metabolism to get back toresting levels as compared to cardioexercise.

This delay to returning to resting levelsis what increases your overall caloricexpenditure for the day. This is referred toas EPOC or Exercise Post Oxygen Con-sumption. EPOC is defined as the recoveryof metabolic rate back to pre-exercise orresting levels. This period of time canrequire several minutes for light steady statecardio to several hours for hard intervalsor metabolic resistance training.

It is your skeletal muscles that need restand recovery. It is during this rest/recoveryperiod of the skeletal musculature that thedifference is made with fat loss. Howeverthe key to maximizing this “other 23+hours” is that the muscles must fatigueenough that they breakdown the skeletalmuscle tissue so that energy (caloric burn)is spent during the non-working hours torepair damage from the resistance training.

NOTE – do not confuse using musclesor having a weight in your hand as weight

training. For it to have its impact it mustbe via a progressive overload while finishingat a momentary muscular fatigue for thereto be a demand of skeletal muscle repairand increase EPOC.

Actually there are studies documentingEPOC being elevated some 38 hours postworkout. So if, for example, you did ametabolic resistance training workout at7AM on Monday, you’re still burning morecalories (above resting levels) – withouteven working out again by the time you goto bed at 10PM on Tuesday. This advantageis why proper resistance training only needs1 to 3 days per week of 15-20 minutes to beeffective, unlike its cardio counterpart thatrequires 4+ days per week of 30+ minutesto become effective with supporting theweight loss process. For those people whosay they don’t have enough time, what doyou say about that for effective time man-agement?

In conclusion, this information is not in-tended for you to abandon all steady-statecardio (walking, jogging, etc.) exercise. Ifyou have all the time in the world, go aheadand do as much steady state cardio as youwould like as it is great for your heart andlungs. Just make sure are also having con-cern for your muscle that cardio activitiescan’t provide. However, this is for indi-viduals who have been trying to lose weightwith steady-state cardio (e.g., walking orjogging on a treadmill or outside) alone andhave been frustrated because the results arenot happening as fast or as they would like,as well as for people who complain theyhave no time.

Understanding this chain of commandof effectiveness is like selecting a knife tocut a steak: both a butter-knife and steakknife can do the job, the only difference isone is more effective than the other. Youcan only burn so many calories in an hourfrom a workout regardless of your fitnesslevel. The difference is how much you areburn-ing the other 23 hours of the day whennot able to exercise. We are not the victimof our metabolism; rather, we are thecreator of it. To best maximize our meta-bolism, it comes tdown to how much leanbody mass (muscle) you have and how youstimulate it.


For more information, please feel free to consultwith any of the fitness professionals at My FitnessKitchen®. Additionally, as an on-going thankyou to Laurel Mountain Post and its readers,mention this article for a FREE, no obligation,personalized, metabolic nutritional formula andfitness program that will leverage the “Hier-archy of Fat Loss.” If you are serious aboutachieving a body transformation goal, then youneed a program, as any goal without a plan isreally only a wish!

As an added incentive for people new to MyFitness Kitchen®, by mentioning this Laurel Moun-tain Post article, you will receive $25 “KitchenCash” to be used toward our no-risk, no obligation,100% money guarantee 30-Day Weight LossJUMPSTART program at My Fitness Kitchen®, asa courtesy of the Laurel Mountain 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 weight man-agement and fitness success. Whether it is Nutri-tion, Fitness or both, you can be confident MyFitness Kitchen® is the solution to a healthierand thinner you.

About the Author: Mark Rullo, MS, CSCS,MES is an Exercise Physiologist, Certified Strength& Conditioning Specialist, Medical ExerciseSpecialist, Certified Golf Fitness Instructor andowner of My Fitness Kitchen® www.myfitnesskitchen.com 724-879-8523. Mark and his team atMy Fitness Kitchen® specializes in weight loss andbody transformation helping thousands meet andexceed their goals through evidence-based scientificprogramming.

continued from page 8

* * * * *Hayley is a Certified Fitness Trainer and the co-owner of Building Bodeez Fitness Center, locatedat 154 Pandora Rd in Derry, PA, as well as a full-time Nurse Anesthetist with the University ofPittsburgh Physicians, currently based at St.Margaret’s Hospital in Fox Chapel, PA. Hayleyoffers a wealth of fitness and health knowledge,serving as the Group Fitness Coordinator andWellness Programs Director at Building Bodeez.She has developed several programs at BuildingBodeez including initiation of the first ZUMBAclasses in the area, as well as AerobaDANCE andYogilates (her unique creations), and the wildlysuccessful Building Better Bodeez weight loss in-tensive program.

Sources: "Are you Killing Your Knees?" Re-trieved online November 14, 2014 fromwww.sharecare.com/health/chronic-pain/ar-ticle/bad-habits-knees-knee

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The Night the Christmas Tree Fellby Joe Potts

Christmas memories capture some of themost cherished moments of our childhood.We remember warm family gatherings,presents that delighted us, church servicescelebrating the Infant’s birth. Sometimes,however, our memories include grim tab-leaus seared into our brains by events gonehorribly awry. These recollections are theexclamation points rising above the land-scape of periods; they are cymbal clashesin the lush, hushed strings of the sound-track of our youth. For me, one of theharshest, most discordant cacophonies ofmy childhood has to be the night theChristmas tree fell.

The evening began as a scene that Nor-man Rockwell might well have painted. Myfather had come home from work in aholiday mood, bolstered by a wonderful hotmeal prepared by my mother. Middle classmeatloaf at a family table before Christmascan surpass filet mignon in satisfying hun-ger and strengthening spirit. Cups of steam-ing tea for my parents, and bittersweet hotchocolate for us kids, helped us forget theDecember winds blustering outside.

Christmas was my mother’s favorite timeof year, and I could see the joy of the seasonin her eyes. The magic day was rightaround the corner, and my two sisters andI were working ourselves into a frenzy ofYuletide anticipation. Ornaments! Lights!Presents! No school!

My father had set up the Christmas treeseveral days prior. The unmistakablearoma of needles and sap permeated thehouse, promising Christmas as surely as thefalling temperatures. Most of the decoratingwas completed – big red, green, and bluebulbs, glass balls, crocheted trinkets, stringsof icicles. Full and plump as a Christmasturkey, the tree stood majestically in thecorner of the living room, the black Lionellocomotive chugging around its base. Thetowering pinnacle of the spruce almosttouched the ceiling. Magnificent it was, butjust as the newly-christened Titanic had anappointment with an iceberg, so our treehad booked a reservation with doom.

All that remained was to place the angelon the treetop, a maneuver requiring someagility and delicacy. As Dad confidentlyplaced the stepladder beside the tree, mysisters and I knew he was the man for thejob. My mother, still wearing her jingle belland reindeer Christmas apron, had us joinhands, and we became my father’s personalcheering section.

Angel in hand, he embarked on his climbwith the determination of Sir EdmundHillary ascending Everest, except Daddidn’t need a Sherpa. One slow, careful stepafter another, the wooden ladder stepsgroaning with age, brought him to thesummit.

With a bold stroke that would have madeSir Edmund proud, Dad decisively rammedthe angel onto the protruding branch at thetop. I looked at my sisters and gave them aknowing wink, as they nodded in approval– we knew that angel was there for theduration. My father’s face shone with thesatisfaction of a manly task accomplished.He was once again the conquering providerfor his family.

As Dad descended the ladder, fate intru-ded in a way none of us could have ima-gined: his foot became entangled in the wirefrom the tree lights. The wire had furtivelywrapped around his leg, with a level of ma-levolent cruelty that can only be exhibitedby inanimate objects. Reaching the loweststep, his leg stretched the wire taut, causingtension on the tree. My father then lost hisbalance, a victim to the evil wire’s plot, andbegan to fall backwards. We watched inhorror as the tree tipped over, being pulledby my unsuspecting father. It was followinghim down as faithfully as Santa’s sleigh hadever followed Rudolph.

As the tree made its long descent intofamily folklore, time slowed, as it often doeswhen cataclysmic events visit the innocent.Four shocked faces were frozen in disbeliefas the tree came down, silent at first, thenculminating in a thundering CRASH tinkletinkle tinkle tinkle... Moments before, asplendid spruce had stood in giddy holidayregalia. Now there lay a pile of green rubblewith an occasional ornament and parentallimb sticking out. The formerly festive livingroom looked as if someone had decorateda horrific holiday crash scene.

Our Norman Rockwell night was endingas Norman Bates. It was as if Frank Caprahad turned over the director’s reins to AlfredHitchcock. But the angel was still doggedlyclinging to the top of the tree, bless herheavenly heart.

Eerie silence ensued for what seemed likeenough time for the Magi to cross theSahara. I thought we were surely going toget an answer to the question, if a Christmastree falls in the living room, and the familyis stunned out of their skivvies, does anyonehear it?

Then my mother moved more quicklythan I had ever seen her, rushing to thewreckage and shrieking, “Joe! Joe! Are youall right? Can you get up?” She tore at thelimbs and icicles and ornaments, finallyrevealing my father’s face. He lookeddazed, like he was wondering why he waslying on the floor looking at the ceiling. Butat least he appeared to be conscious.

We waited for the epithet sure to comefrom his lips. Could any kid within earshotnot suffer permanent hearing loss, searedeyebrows, and emotional trauma? Myfather then slowly stirred, groaning like thewind against the shutters outside, but lesscoherently.

Suddenly, he sprang up, seemingly un-fazed, and with a merry laugh and a twinklein his eyes, exclaimed, “Ho, ho, ho! Thatcertainly was a holly jolly trick on me!”

Sort of. At least, that’s what he’ll say whenthe Disney movie is made. Memories, ofcourse, often soften with time. I’m sure hewas a bit more emphatic, and may havesaid something to convey “Christmas! Bah,humbug!” But with more salt and vinegarthan Dickens ever placed in Scrooge’s mouth.

My father managed to resurrect the treefrom its ashes, like a Phoenix from the fire,or, more accurately, a Yuletide zombie fromits grave. Dad had suffered only a fewscrapes and scratches, the tree a bent limband some broken glass ornaments (whichmy mother greatly rued). But the Christ-mas spirit lived on, Santa still came, andwe celebrated the holy miracle of Decemberthe twenty-fifth. Life went on.

Many Christmas memories were forgedafter that fateful season. My mother’s lovefor the holiday continued to grow with eachpassing year. My father brought home afresh tree and erected it in our living roomwithout fail. But never again, for theremainder of my childhood, did I see astepladder in the same room with ourChristmas tree.


OFF TRAILby Joe Walko

Winter Warmer, Holiday Cheer

* * * * *

Off Trail is a monthly column devoted to ex-ploring our diverse and beautiful natural heri-tage, especially the the hidden gems and specialplaces off the beaten path.

Joe Walko is a fulltime widowed parent to twobeautiful but challenging boys, now unemployedby choice after a 25-year career in corporatefinance. He is a writer and blogger searching forhis voice, a seeker of his truth, a nature andadventure junkie discovering whole new worldsand beauty in the glorious struggle, in theordinary, in his own backyard, and mostly, inhis heart. Visit his website at joewalko.wordpress.com and contact him at [email protected].

“But in the heart of winter, you want a warm hot mug with your favoritesoothing brew to keep the chill away.” – Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

I love getting outside in the winter,especially when the snow falls. The slate iswiped clean, the world is refreshed, sub-dued, tucked into its winter hibernation,virgin white again, waiting to be reborn.Usually there is solitude, too, and space tohear myself think, the crowds mostlychased indoors.

I love making the first tracks throughfresh powder, whether in boots or snow-shoes or on skies, the perfect winter scenein front of me all mine, the white stuffkicking up around my heels. The crispnessof the air is invigorating, the smell of pineboughs is intoxicating, and there is a senseof discovery, even in a familiar place, whenthe woods have been given their whitewinter blanket. The stillness is perfect,unbroken for long stretches, the onlysounds the crunch of my boots and my ownbreathing, and maybe an occasional crowcalling. When I stop and am still, the minutetinkle of snowflakes can be heard, tumblingthrough the last of the leaves or off my snowjacket. It’s the sound of peace and calm,one of my favorite winter gifts.

I can’t stand there forever, though, it’scold, and once I stop moving, it gets evencolder, fast! You have to keep moving tokeep warm in the winter, and this is wherewe lose a lot of folks. But modern-day win-ter clothing can keep you amazingly warm,while moving and after you stop, so there’sno excuse for not to get outside in the winter.

And of course there are other ways ofstaying warm during the winter, too.

Returning to a ski lodge ora warming hut, with a

blazing fire and

warm company, quickly takes the chill outof frozen fingers and toes. But the best wayto warm up is from the inside, with a hot,steaming beverage.

My preferences depend on the activity,and mostly lean towards adult beverages,though hot, hearty soups are a close second.After a vigorous cross-country ski or snow-shoe outing, with my heart still poundingand breath just now slowing, there’s nothingbetter than throwing on that comfy downjacket and wrapping a gloved hand arounda beer. Not just any yellow beer in thewinter, mind you, but something hearty,something with some real body and sub-stance, something dark, something not toochilled. How about a nut-brown ale, maybea robust porter, or chocolately stout? Or ifthe winter adventure was epic enough, howabout a big Russian imperial stout, guaran-teed to take away whatever chill might betrying to sneak up on you.

After a day on the downhill slopes, asteaming hot drink warms cold cockles, getsthe blood flowing back to those frozenextremities, and melts the ice from eye-brows. Gather ‘round the roaring fire in thelodge, turning to roast the front and thenthe back, while frozen digits unthawwrapped around a hot toddy, an Irish cof-fee, or a hot buttered rum. Once you’re outof your skiing clothes, is there anythingbetter than a hot mulled wine, completewith fresh oranges, until you are completelythawed?

Spent the day sled riding or snow tubingwith the kids? Hot cider and hot chocolateis the classic way to warm up, with extramarshmallows in a big mug. Too manykids, not enough chaperones? Add a littlepeppermint schnapps to that hot chocolateto keep your good humor and sanity.

And then there is my favorite outdoorwinter activity, the overnight winterbackpack trip. After a day spent hiking sixor eight miles through the hills and snow,gaiters crusted with ice and snow gatheringon the bill of my hat, taking off a heavypack and setting up camp is a relief. Ofcourse camp has to be cozy, the snowtucked around the bottom of the tent flyto keep the wind out, a warm base layerchanged in to when the hiking is over, andlots of down clothing on the outside forinsulation.

A roaring fire is a requirement, and hereis the huge advantage of backpacking the

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail in winter –in addition to gathering out of the wind andsnow in one of the three-sided Adirondack-style shelters, a wood burning stove sits atthe entrance of each shelter, and all theshelter areas along the yellow-blazed trailare stocked with big piles of choppedfirewood!

So stoke that fire good, get it roaring, andgather round, metal camping mug ingloved hand. I love to fill my mug with myfavorite spirit, straight up, usually a whis-key, rye or maybe a good Kentucky bour-bon, or perhaps a fine scotch or brandy fora special occasion. Pick you favorite, sip itslowly, maybe warmed a bit over the fire,and mix with friends and snowflakes andwarm conversation. Or maybe make com-munity drinks, one of your favorites fromthe ski lodge, modified only slightly in camp,using snowmelt and a few ingredients fromhome (see the easy camp recipes, right.)Listen to the trees cracking and the coyoteshowling, notice that the stars seem brighteron cold nights, and toast to good friendsand warm fires. Ahh, what winter chill?

Get outside and enjoy the season’s giftsof snow and skiing and sledding, and eventhe gift of cold. It makes warming up moreappreciated, especially with a little helpfrom holiday cheer.

See you on the trail this winter! Cheers!

“Brew me a cup for a winter’s night.For the wind howls loud, and the furies fight;Spice it with love and stir it with care,And I’ll toast your bright eyes, my sweetheart fair.”

–Minna Thomas Antrim,“A Night Cap,” A Book of Toasts, 1902


Backpacker MagazineTop 10 Backcountry

Cocktails

Mountain MargaritaLemon-Lime Gatorade+ tequila + fresh snow

Watermelon SnowfieldFruit punch sports drink

+ Bacardi 51 rum + snow + maraschino cherry

Bikini SunburnVodka + light rum + cherry sours

+ juice of half a fresh lemon + sugar

Mountain Storm CosmoLime juice + cranberry juice

concentrate + triple sec + vodka+ lime Kool-Aid powder + hailstones

Snake in the GrassLemon-Lime Gatorade + vodka

+ green creme de menthe

Blackberry MargaritaFresh-picked berries + snow + tequila

Backcountry Mai TaiTang + snow + dark rum

Goodnight KissGood Earth tea + scotch

Wilderness White RussianKahlua + vodka

+ milk (use dry whole milk powder)

Under the Sleeping BagLight rum + triple sec + brandy

+ lemon juice

Hot Buttered Dark Rum Cocktails, Camp StyleLaurel Mountain Post

Ingredients1 oz dark rum1 tsp brown sugar1 pat of butterHot WaterFreshly ground nutmeg

Combine the dark rum and brown sugar in a camp mug. Melt snow over a campfire or in a camp stove, fill the mug with hot water, gently stir. Finish by floating the pat of butter on the top and sprinkle with freshly ground nutmeg to taste.

Irish Coff ee, Camp Style

2 oz Irish whiskey 6 oz coff eesugar cream

Melt snow over a campfi re or in a camp stove for coff ee; instant Starbucks VIA is perfect in the backcountry. Pour the whiskey, coff ee, and sugar (to taste) into a camp mug. Stir, top off with a sprinkling of fresh powdered snow.

Citrus Spiced Mulled Wine, Camp Style

1 750 mL bo� le red wine 2 oranges, zest and juice1/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons orange liqueurwhole spices such as star anise, black peppercorns, coriander seeds, cardamom pods, and cinnamon sticksPeel off strips of orange zest from the oranges, juice the oranges (simple squeez-ing in the backcountry!) and reserve the juice. Wrap spices in a coff ee fi lter and tie closed with a piece of twine (grape vine twine is plentiful in our woods.) In a camp pan, crush the orange zest and the sugar with a spoon to bring out the fl avor. Add the wine, reserved orange juice and spice packet. Cover and simmer over a campfi re or camp stove until wine is hot. Remove from heat and let stand for about 30 minutes (don’t let it freeze!) Discard the spice packet and orange zest. Heat the wine again, just until steaming and add the orange liqueur. Serve 4-6 hot in camp mugs.


by Rev. Cindy ParkerTHREE PENNIES

Leaping for Joy!In preparation for Advent we do a lot ofwaiting. Not the passive type of sittingaround to wait and see what will happen,but a more active type of waiting – waitingwith anticipation. As we wait for thecoming of the Christ child, I imagined whatit would be like to be in Mary’s shoes. I’vebeen thinking about Mary and her motheras we prepare for advent, especially in lightof the fact that I have three daughters.What would I say if my youngest, who isonly fourteen, came home and told me shewas pregnant by an angel, and it was allpart of God’s plan?

I am pregnant. Fourteen yearsold and pregnant! How am Igoing to explain this to mymother? I hate to think aboutit! I know what she’s going tosay,“Mary! How could you letthis happen? You’re a good girl!And now you’ve brought suchhumili-ation on your fatherand me and our good name!”

And I’ll try and explain, “Butmom, this is God’s doing!”

“God’s doing? How could youblame God?” She’ll say.

“Mom, you’ve got to believeme! An angel came and toldme. He called me favored oneand told me that the Lord waswith me. At first I was confusedand afraid, but the angel reas-sured me. I’m not afraid anymore, mama.”

“But Mary,” she’ll scold, “Nazareth is sucha small town–what will the neighbors say?You’ll have to leave town. You can go andstay with our relatives in the south, withElizabeth and Zachariah, and then you cancome back when the baby is born. We’lltell the neighbors you found him in a basketor something, like Moses.”

“But mama,” I’ll tell her, “I can’t leave,Joseph and I are getting married! And I’mnot afraid!”

“Do you think he’ll want to marry youafter he finds out what’s happened?”

And so we left that day, taking the routethrough the mountains. I had never leftthe house before and everything was newand strange–the trees, the towns, the

people. After journeying three long days,we arrived in the barren and sun drenchedland of Judea. We were very tired, and wecould see Jerusalem in the distance.

My brother dropped me off along theroad and continued on to the capital. I haveto admit that I was a little scared. After all,I hadn’t seen Elizabeth and Zachariah in along time! Well, my worry was for nothing.Elizabeth welcomed me into her home withopen arm. She was so delighted to see me,and she even said she was delighted thatmy mother thought of this! Delighted!

Soon after I arrived she put my hand onher belly and told me to feel her baby movinginside her. She called for her husband,Zechariah. And she told me how the oldman was so shocked when he learned hewas going to be a father that he lost hisspeech!

Elizabeth treated me like her own daugh-ter and taught me many things: how toweave and cook with red beans–the veryones Rebekah cooked for Isaac. She gaveme a lot of self-confidence, especially theday I was washing the clothes in the patioand tripped.

She wondered about the dizzy spells, andwhen I tried to blame it on the heat, she satme down. She looked at me, really lookedat me. “You’re pregnant aren’t you? Come,

let’s talk in the shade,” she said, and tookme down under the small grove of trees.

I told her everything; I left nothing out.I explained to her about the angel, and howhe spoke to me and told me I had foundfavor with God. And how I would conceiveand bear a son, and name him Jesus; andthat he would be great and called the sonof the Most High – and that he would reignover the house of Jacob forever!

I told Elizabeth that the angel mentionedher name, and how she was with child,even in her advanced age. She laughed

when I told her that! And Itold her I’d never forget whathe said right before he left,“That nothing was im-possible with God!” And then I waited to seewhat her reaction would be,after all my own mother didn’tbelieve me. She didn’t say any-thing at first, she just kind ofstared at me. “Do you believe me, Eliza-beth?” I asked. “Of course I do, dear. Whywouldn’t I? She told me that God wasgreat and does great things ...she should know. “Look at me,” she said! Iwas as barren as Abraham’swife–Zechariah and I wereold. There was no hope left.

Nothing. She told me how she spent manysleepless nights praying to God for a child,how she wept and cried and pleaded withGod.

“Yes, my child,” she said, “God has hisown time and moment.” Elizabeth told methat one morning Zachariah got up to goto the temple as usual with the other prieststo burn incense. He remained inside for along time, praying in the temple. And whenhe returned he couldn’t speak. It wasn’t longafter he came home from serving that sheconceived. She knew that this was the workof the Lord.

Remember how I told you that she laughedwhen the angel mentioned her name? Shesaid she knew all this was the Lord’s doing,but it was nice to have it confirmed by God’smessenger.


* * * * *

Cindy Parker came to the United Church of Christby way of the Presbyterian Church. A life-longPresbyterian, she jokes that she was “predestinedto become UCC!” Currently called as the Pastorand Teacher of Christ Church UCC in Latrobe,PA and St. John’s UCC in Darlington; she, herhusband Larry and three daughters enjoytraveling all over the world! Cindy also serves asa Spiritual Director for the Three Rivers Walk toEmmaus retreats and was part of the team thatbrought the Kairos Outside Ministry to Penn-sylvania. Kairos (which means special time inGreek) is a prison ministry for women whose liveshave been impacted by incarceration. Cindycompleted her undergraduate studies at PennState and her MDiv. from Pittsburgh TheologicalSeminary along with a year-long internship atFamily Hospice and Palliative Care. She enjoystraveling, reading, baking, and photographingher daughters.

Christ Church1414 Ligonier Street Latrobe Pa 15650

Phone (724) 537-4901www.ucclatrobe.org

Office Hours Tue-Fri 9 AM-NoonWorship with us Sunday @11AM

Sunday School @9:30AM Bible Study Wednesdays @10 AM

I thanked her for sharing her beautifulstory with me – and do you know whatshe told me? She said, “your story will beeven more beautiful, Mary, you’ll see.”

The time came, and Elizabeth gave birthto a son. And when the family asked whatshe would name him, she said, “John.” Noone believed her, because there was no oneby that name in our family, but she insis-ted. And when Zechariah was consulted andwas given a writing tablet, he too wrotedown the name, John.

Well, as soon as the words were writtendown, Zechariah’s eyes filled with tears; hespoke, and he began to praise God. Hepraised God for granting him a son of hisown, a child who would prepare the wayfor the Lord.

I’ll never forget that party: everyonetoasted to baby John’s good health. Theycongratulated Elizabeth and John, and wedanced and sang and praised God untildawn.

I saw, firsthand, how God blessed Eliza-beth just like the angel said. How God tookcare of everything, and how nothing wasor is impossible with God.

Yes, God was good to Elizabeth, and soGod was with me. God has been very goodto me, and I’ll never stop thanking him!We might not understand the Lord’s ways– his thoughts are not our thoughts – andyet, God brings down the powerful fromtheir throne, while he lifts the humble fromtheir misery. The rich, he sends awayempty; and he feeds the hungry.

God gave a child to Elizabeth; and withme, he made the greatest miracle – becausehe made me see nothing is impossible withGod by my side.

Rooftop solar panels on have always been the province of well-to-do, eco-friendlyfolks willing to shell out extra bucks to be green, but that is all starting to change.According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the cost ofputting solar panels on a typical American house has fallen by some 70 percentover the last decade and a half. And a recent report from Deutsche Bank showsthat solar has already achieved so-called “price parity” with fossil fuel-based gridpower in 10 U.S. states. Deutsche Bank goes on to say that solar electricity is ontrack to be as cheap or cheaper than average electricity-bill prices in all but threestates by 2016—assuming,that is, that the federal government maintains the 30percent solar investment tax credit it currently offers homeowners on installationand equipment costs.

But therein could lie the rub. The federal tax credit for residential solarinstallations expires in 2016, and it’s anybody’s guess whether and to what extentthe Republican-dominated Congress will renew it. Legislative analysts report thatwhile Congress is unlikely to abandon the program entirely, big cutbacks couldbe on the way. But Deutsche Bank maintains that even if the credit is reduced to10 percent, solar power would still achieve price parity with conventional electricityin some 36 states by 2016.

Meanwhile, homeowners in states where additional local incentives are availableand there’s lots of sunshine—such as across the Southwest—may in fact alreadybe able to power their homes cheaper with the sun than from the grid.Homeowners looking to go solar should check out the Database of State Incentivesfor Renewable and Efficiency (DSIRE), a free online database of all the differentstate and local incentives for solar and other forms of renewable energy.

And prices for solar are expected to keep falling as technologies improve andfinancing becomes more affordable. Solar leasing has helped hundreds ofthousands of Americans realize the dream of going solar without breaking thebank. The companies behind such programs—SolarCity, SunRun and others—take care of installation, maintenance and upgrades while the customer ends uppaying about as much for clean, green power as for grid power from coal orother fossil fuels.

Of course, solar is still a bit player in the scheme of things in terms of U.S. andglobal electricity production. But with costs coming down, we can expect to see alot more solar panels going up on rooftops across the land in the coming decade.Environmentalists concerned about our changing climate say the sooner thebetter, as our dependency on coal and other fossil fuels for electricity is a bigcontributor to global warming.

Congress will definitely be considering whether or not to extend the solarinvestment tax credit when it reconvenes in 2015. If you’re part of the silentmajority of Americans who would like to see the credit extended so that middleclass Americans can continue to afford to convert to solar power, be sure to speakup and let your Congressional delegation know.

CONTACTS: Deutsche Bank, www.db.com; National Renewable EnergyLaboratory, www.nrel.gov; SolarCity, www.solarcity.com; SunRun, www.sunrun.com.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registeredtrademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com).Send questions to: [email protected].

Are Solar PanelsActually Cheaper

Than theTraditional Power

Grid Yet?


DOWN ON THE FARMby Cathi Gerhard & Gregory Susa

The Spotted Lanternfly:A New Insect Pest Detected in Pennsylvania

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — People seeingthe spotted lanternfly for the first time arestruck by its sometimes-flashy appearance.But don’t let its colorful, butterfly-like veneerfool you, caution entomologists in PennState’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

This exotic, invasive insect — found forthe first time in the United States in BerksCounty in September — poses a potentialthreat to several important agriculturalcommodities in Pennsylvania, including thegrape, hardwood, tree fruit, landscapeand nursery industries. Homeownersalso could suffer damage to high-value ornamentals in their landscape.

“Because this insect is so new to theUnited States and Pennsylvania, wedon’t know yet what kind of impact itmight have if it becomes established,”said Greg Hoover, ornamental exten-sion entomologist in the Departmentof Entomology.

“At this point, we can only refer toit as a potential pest,” he said. “We doknow that in its native habitat inChina, India, Japan, and Vietnam, itattacks a variety of plants, includinggrape, apple, pine, stone fruit, tree ofheaven and many others.”

Hoover, who specializes in pests oftrees and woody ornamentals, is part of ateam of Penn State researchers and exten-sion educators who have partnered withcolleagues in the Pennsylvania Departmentof Agriculture to contain and, they hope,eradicate the insect before it spreads to otherparts of the state and country.

As part of that effort, the state Depart-ment of Agriculture has imposed a quaran-tine covering five townships and two bor-oughs in eastern Berks County. The quar-antine regulates or limits the movement ofvarious plants, plant-based materials andoutdoor household items out of the quaran-tine area unless certain conditions are met.

The spotted lanternfly is about 1 inch longand a half inch wide. Adults at rest havegrayish wings with black spots, and thewing tips are black blocks outlined in gray.When startled or flying, the insect willdisplay hind wings that have contrasting

patches of red and black, partially separatedby a white band. The legs and head areblack, and the abdomen is yellow withbroad black bands.

One of a group of insects sometimes re-ferred to as planthoppers, the lanternfly isa weak flyer but a strong and quick jumper.

The insect does not attack fruit or foliage,nor does it appear to spread plant diseases.Rather, it uses its piercing-sucking mouth-parts to feed on the woody parts of plants,

such as the trunk of a tree, where it leaveswounds that weep with sap. These woundscan attract other insects, such as wasps,bees, and ants, and may provide a mediumfor fungal growth. Plants with heavy in-festations may become stressed or die.

In late fall, adult spotted lanternflies layegg masses on trees and nearby smoothsurfaces, such as stone, outdoor furniture,vehicles and other structures. Newly laidegg masses have a gray, pitch-like coveringover the eggs. Old egg masses appear asrows of 30 to 50 brownish seed-like depositsin four to seven columns, in a mass that isroughly an inch long.

In Korea, where the spotted lanternfly isan introduced pest, the insect has beenfound to attack at least 65 plant species, 25of which are known to grow in Pennsyl-vania. State agriculture officials say it hasbeen observed in Berks County both feeding

and mating and has been found on willow,maple, aspen and tulip poplar.

Penn State and Agriculture Departmentexperts are especially worried about poten-tial damage to plants that help fuel Penn-sylvania’s agricultural economy. They saythis pest poses a significant threat to thestate’s grape, apple and stone-fruit industries,which have annual production valued atabout $20 million, $134 million and $24million, respectively. Also at risk are $12 billion

in pine and hardwood lumber sales.Mike Saunders, professor of ento-

mology at Penn State, is part of anational working group — led by theU.S. Department of Agriculture andconsisting of university and USDAscientists — organized to determinewhat is known about this pest andwhat research is needed to developcontrol measures and managementrecommendations.

“The group will explore the spottedlanternfly’s host range to see what anemergence map for this species mightlook like in Pennsylvania and be-yond,” said Saunders, whose researchand extension work focuses largely onintegrated pest management in vine-yards. “There will be research on

things like winter mortality and matingbehavior, and proposed DNA analysis willtry to pinpoint exactly where this infestationoriginated. Knowledge in areas such as thesecan help us develop management options.”

Saunders has submitted a proposal forresearch funding under the federal farm billto conduct efficacy tests for spotted lantern-fly chemical control. He noted that syn-thetic pyrethroid insecticides appear toshow promise. Hoover also is seeking farmbill funding to develop extension educa-tional materials for growers, arborists andthe public.

In the meantime, experts say early detec-tion is vital for protecting the state’s plant-based industries and stopping the insect’sspread. Following are recommendationsfor growers and homeowners, particularlythose in or near the quarantine area in BerksCounty:

The spotted lanternfly, which recently was discovered for the first time inthe United States in Berks County, poses a threat to many economicallyimportant species of trees and woody ornamentals in Pennsylvania. Image:Holly Raguza, Pa. Department of Agriculture


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* * * * *Best friends, but never quite college sweethearts,Greg and Cathi finally married 20 years later.Together they own and operate Fairview Farmin Derry Township, now an estate winery andheritage garden in the making, managed by sev-eral cats, two devoted dogs, and a ridiculouslybossy young kitten. “Down on the Farm” is a col-umn originally started by Cathi’s father, ShellyGerhard, about a day in the life of a family farmin western Pennsylvania.

They continue his tradition as well as researchand report on local agriculture and scientific newsimpacting Pennsylvania farmers and backyardenthusiasts.

• If you see eggs, scrape them off the sur-face and place them in a tightly sealed con-tainer with 70 percent rubbing alcohol orhand sanitizer to kill them.• Likewise, if you collect an adult ornymph, place the specimen in 70 percentrubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer in a leak-proof container. Never take a live specimenof the spotted lanternfly from the areaunder quarantine.• Complete the Pennsylvania Departmentof Agriculture’s Entomology ProgramSample Submission Form and send theadult/nymph specimen or egg mass to thedepartment’s entomology lab for verifica-tion at the following address: PennsylvaniaDepartment of Agriculture, EntomologyRoom-111, 2301 N. Cameron St., Harris-burg, PA 17110.• To report a sighting, call the toll-free BadBug hotline at 866-253-7189 with detailsof the sighting and your contact informa-tion, or send email to [email protected].

More information is available at the PennState Extension spotted lanternfly websiteat http://extension.psu.edu/pests/spotted-

lanternfly.

A female spotted lanternfly lays an egg mass on thebark of a tree. Image: Greg Hoover, Penn State De-partment of Entomology

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Thought-Provoking Insights on CommonQuotations by Rev. Marjorie Rivera

THAT’S WHAT THEY SAY

Who even knew that the barn was in the way? Sometimes we getso used to the things the way they are, that we don’t even realizewhat may be on the other side of those things is a “possibility”. I lovethe idea of a possibility being hidden behind something very familiar.

When I was in seminary school, there was a story/joke that wentaround, so I will share it with you to the best of my ability now:

“The joke concerns twin boys of five or six. Worried that the boyshad developed extreme personalities – one was a total pessimist,the other a total optimist – their parents took them to a psychiatrist.First the psychiatrist treated the pessimist. Trying to brighten hisoutlook, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceilingwith brand-new toys. But instead of yelping with delight, the littleboy burst into tears. ‘What’s the matter?’ the psychiatrist asked,baffled. ‘Don’t you want to play with any of the toys?’ ‘Yes,’ thelittle boy bawled, ‘but if I did I’d only break them.’ Next thepsychiatrist treated the optimist. Trying to dampen his outlook, thepsychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with horsemanure. But instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, the optimistemitted just the yelp of delight the psychiatrist had been hoping tohear from his brother, the pessimist. Then he clambered to the topof the pile, dropped to his knees, and began gleefully digging outscoop after scoop with his bare hands. ‘What do you think you’redoing?’ the psychiatrist asked, just as baffled by the optimist as hehad been by the pessimist. ‘With all this manure,’ the little boyreplied, beaming, ‘there must be a pony in here somewhere!”

I propose that if one is willing to look beyond the structure ofwhat they already see, ie: the toys or the poop, they can find thepossibility within. Sometimes, you just have to look beyond what isright in front of you to see something more grand. Have you everheard that saying “Can’t see the forest for the trees?” This saying meansif someone is too close to a situation, they can’t see other options.

I’d like to share another insight. The “field of infinite possibility”is a metaphysical concept which dictates that dwelling within you,is your “true self”, or your “pure awareness”. The field of infinitepossibility is where your inner silence expands into a greater senseof connection to all that exists in the entire universe. When youbecome willing to look beyond the limited construction of yourearthly awareness and begin to engage with this infinite field ofpossibilities inside of you, then you are moving towards the mosttruthful expression of who you are. When you are willing to burndown the barn, or what is comfortable, you can begin to see thepossibilities. That’s when things get really interesting! Burning downthe barn could be a greater metaphor for tearing down the constructsof crystallized habits and behavior patterns so that we can gainnew possibilities in life. If you want something different, then trysomething different.

Suggested Reading: “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A PracticalGuide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams,” Deepak Chopra

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

“Barn’s burnt down… now I can see the moon.”– Masahide, Japanese poet


DECEMBER-JANUARY COMMUNITY CALENDAR“No matter how carefully you stored the lights last year, they will be snarled again this Christmas.” – R– R– R– R– Roberoberoberoberobert Kirbyt Kirbyt Kirbyt Kirbyt Kirby

12/11/2014 to 12/14/2014The NutcrackerThe Geyer Performing Arts Center, 111Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, PA 15683724.887.0887. geyerpac.com

12/12/2014 to 12/14/2014North Pole ExpressStage Right! 105 W. Fourth St., Greensburg724.832.SING. stagerightgreensburg.com

12/13/2014Breakfast with Santa at the StoneHouseHistoric Stone House Restaurant, 3023National Pike, Farmington, PA 15437724.329.2020. stonehouseinn.com

Bring the whole family to have breakfastwith Santa at the Stone House.Breakfast itemswill be served as well as activities for thechildren.

12/13/2014Buddy the Elf & FriendsLatrobe Art Center, 819 Ligonier St.724-537-7011. www.latrobeartcenter.org

This year, Buddy and Santa will bringalong Mrs. Claus, Katie the Elf, and MissGwyn with her Happy Christmas Camper!The children will paint their own ginger-bread house, do an artful scavenger hunt,have a sing-a-long and then end the day witha sweet treat right from Gwyn's HappyChristmas Camper! Stay tuned for moredetails, but it's definitely a weekend youdon't want to miss! (Register early!)

Session 1: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.Session 2: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost: $16 for members; $20 for non-members (half off for additional sibling)

12/13/2014Holiday High TeaMiss Martha’s Tea Room & Gifts, 165 Pitts-burgh St., Scottdale, PA 15683.724.887.6574missmarthastearoom.com

With the stress of the season in full swing,take an afternoon to relax with friends andfamily at our Holiday-themed tea. Inaddition, each guest will make a keepsakeornament to take home. $16.50/person

12/13/2014Light Up NightOhiopyle Stewart Community Center, 15Sherman St., Ohiopyle, 724.329.1444ohiopyle-stewart.org

12/11/2014Community Open Houseand Health Fair

Holiday Inn Express & Suites 3695 StateRoute 31, Donegal, PA 15628 724.593.1881Attendees will be able to tour the Hotel’svarious rooms and amenities as well asparticipate in numerous healthcare servicessuch as blood pressure screening, diabetesassessment and prevention, bone densityand osteoporosis screening and receive anannual flu shot. We hope to see you there!

12/12/2014 to 12/14/2014North Pole ExpressStage Right! 105 W. Fourth St., Greensburg,PA 15601 724.832.SINGstagerightgreensburg.com

12/13/2014Breakfast with Santa at the StoneHouseHistoric Stone House Restaurant 3023National Pike, Farmington, PA 15437724.329.2020. stonehouseinn.com

Bring the whole family to have breakfastwith Santa at the Stone House.Breakfastitems will be served as well as activities forthe children.

12/13/2014Holiday High TeaMiss Martha’s Tea Room & Gifts 165Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, PA 15683724.887.6574missmarthastearoom.com

With the stress of the season in full swing,take an afternoon to relax with friends andfamily at our Holiday-themed tea. Inaddition, each guest will make a keepsakeornament to take home. $16.50/person

12/13/2014Light Up NightOhiopyle Stewart Community Center 15Sherman St., Ohiopyle, PA 15470724.329.1444. ohiopyle-stewart.org

12/13/2014 to 12/14/2014The NutcrackerThe Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St.,Greensburg, PA 15601. 724.836.8000thepalacetheatre.org

Revel in the holiday magic when the West-moreland Symphony Orchestra, featuringthe Laurel Ballet, performs Tchaikovsky’stimeless Nutcracker for three performances.

through 12/14/2014Candlelight ToursCompass Inn Museum 1382 Route 30 East,Laughlintown, PA 15655 724.238.4983compassinn.com. Saturdays and Sundays,reservations required

through 12/20/2014Snowflake ShowcaseGreensburgh Art Center/Rowe Gallery 230Todd School Rd., Greensburg, PA 15601724.837.6791. greensburgartcenter.org

Shop an exciting selection of hand-madecrafts, paintings, prints, jewelry, ceramics,textiles, ornaments, and other type hand-made items for your holiday gift list.

through 1/1/2015Overly’s Country Christmas 116 Blue Ribbon Lane 724.423.1400overlys.com

Celebrate the season at Overly’s CountryChristmas®, a nonprofit committed tocreating holiday memories with a ChristmasVillage that’s filled with an array of old-fashioned traditions and treats. Sing carols‘round the bonfire, revel in the model traindisplay, have your picture taken with Santa(in the days before Christmas), take a horsedrawn wagon/sleigh ride or shop for gifts inthe C. Edgar & Sons General Store plus much,much more as you experience the beauty ofthis traditional winter wonderland!

This timeless Christmas classic is full offestive songs, memorable music andrhyming verse for a sleigh-full of holiday funthat audiences of all ages will love!

12/10/2014Christmas with the Annie Moses BandPasquerilla Performing Arts Center 450Schoolhouse Rd., Johnstown, PA 15904814.269.7200. upjarts.org

Experience the beauty of the Christmasseason with the Annie Moses Band as theacclaimed classical crossover ensembleperforms stunning arrangements of holidayfavorites. Strings, harp, and soaring vocals


A Christmas CarolLigonier's local radio station, THE VALLEY, will again be broadcasting theclassic radio drama for the season on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:A CHRISTMAS CAROL, starring Lionel Barrymore as Scrooge. Theholiday special will air five times.

The radio play be broadcast on December 24th at noon, 8PM and atmidnight. On Christmas Day it will air at noon and 6PM. For questionsand details: (724) 238-4317 or [email protected]. Listen live at AM1620 and streaming 24/7 in stereo at www.LigonierRadio.com.

take the stage to re-imagine classic melodiesand to debut originals that are sure tobecome classic. From the electrifyingrhythm of “Carol of the Bells” to the breath-taking beauty of “O Holy Night”, “Christmaswith the Annie Moses Band” is a cinematicjourney audiences are sure to love.

12/11/2014 to 12/14/2014Miracle on 34th StreetThe Geyer Performing Arts Center 111Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, PA 15683724.887.0887. geyerpac.com

12/12/2014Ugly Holiday Sweater Party5-7 pm, Springhill Suites Latrobe.

Join the Greater Latrobe-Laurel ValleyCommunity Chamber of Comemrce for ourRibbon Cutting / Photo Op to celebrate NewMember, Carly Hall Photography & Design.Carly is also hosting the Ugly HolidaySweater Party and Holiday Photo Booth!Join us for free appetizers and drinkspecials.Chamber Members are welcome;feel free to bring a guest! (724) 537-2671

12/12/2014Old-Fashioned ChristmasDerry Historical Society, Fulton House inNew Derry. derryhistory.org

Enjoy refreshments while merrymakingwith family, friends and neighbors. Thegathering will be warmed by the burninglogs in Fulton House's new fireplace,constructed with the generous support ofmembers and wonderful volunteers.

Light refreshments will be provided insidethe historic Fulton House, built in 1817 anddecorated for the holidays. The event is freeand open to the public.

12/14/2014Sunday Lecture Series:Winter WonderlandPowdermill Nature Reserve 1847 Route 381,Rector, PA 15677 724.593.4070carnegiemnh.org/powdermill

The woods in winter may seem desolate.But they are very much alive! You just needto know where to look. Learn how plants andanimals cope with the impending deepfreeze. Weather permitting, this lecture willbe followed by a brief foray into the field foran interpretive hike.

12/14/2014Christmas BrasstacularPasquerilla Performing Arts Center 450Schoolhouse Rd., Johnstown, PA 15904814.269.7200. upjarts.org

Yo ho ho! Merry Christmas! Go intoChristmas overdrive with your River CityBrass! RCBB’s traditional ChristmasBrasstacular combines all that’s great inmusic during this festive season. There willbe carols, choirs, Santa and his elves and, ofcourse, their own special brand of humorand fun! Enjoy the world premiere ofSymphony of Carols by Drew Fennellperformed by choirs from around theregion. A merry Christmas is guaranteed!Sponsored by: Concurrent TechnologiesCorporation

12/17/2014Beach Partyat Arnold Palmer Regional Airport

The Westmoreland County AirportAuthority and Latrobe Airline Services,would like to invite all members of TheGreater Latrobe Laurel Valley Chamber, to a“Beach Party ” and Ribbon Cutting Mixer tocelebrate our new service to Tampa and FtMyers. 6-8 pm.

12/18/2014A Christmas CarolThe Palace Theatre 21 W. Otterman St.,Greensburg, PA 15601 724.836.8000thepalacetheatre.org

Dickens’ classic fills the stage with veteranBroadway actors, lush costumes, stunningsets, music and dance. Seasonal carolsincluded, A Christmas Carol is an enchantingway to begin the holidays.

12/18/2014Westmoreland Jazz Society:Erin Burkett & Virgil WaltersSeton Hill University 1 Seton Hill Dr.,Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500wmuseumaa.org

Doors open at 6:30 PM. No reserveseating. Tickets are available at the door.Contact 724-837-1500 ext. 127 [email protected] for information.

12/19/20142014-2015 Classic Film Series:White ChristmasState Theatre Center for the Arts 27 E. MainSt., Uniontown, PA 15401 724.439.1360statetheatre.info

Play a crazy game at every moviesponsored by The Herald Standard for achance to win prizes!

12/20/2014Breakfast with SantaOhiopyle Stewart Community Center 15Sherman St., Ohiopyle, PA 15470724.329.1444. ohiopyle-stewart.org

12/21/2014Brunch with Mrs. ClausMiss Martha’s Tea Room & Gifts 165Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, PA 15683724.887.65574missmarthastearoom.com

Bring the family and enjoy our SundayBrunch with Mrs. Claus and her holidayfriends.

12/27/2014Christmas Open House-Visit &VespersSt. Emma Monastery & Retreat House 1001Harvey Ave., Greensburg, PA 15601724.834.3060. stemma.org

12/31/2014New Year’s Eve DinnerMiss Martha’s Tea Room & Gifts 165Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, PA 15683724.887.6574. missmarthastearoom.com

12/31/2014New Year’s Eve PartyHistoric Stone House Restaurant 3023National Pike, Farmington, PA 15437724.329.2020. stonehouseinn.com

Join us as we ring in the new year at theStone House!

12/31/2014New Year’s EveThe Supper Club at The Greensburg TrainStation 101 Ehalt St., Greensburg, PA 15601724.691.0536. supperclubgreensburg.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE 3 COURSE PRE-FIXEDINNER 5-10 P.M. Music by “Outside theBox” 8:30 p.m.- 12:30 p.m. Reserv. Reqd.

1/9/2015Art on Tap 5.2.7Westmoreland Museum of American Art4764 State Route 30, Greensburg, PA 15601724.837.1500. wmuseumaa.org

Experience happy hour and the latestPop-Up Exhibition at Westmoreland @rt 30the second Friday of every month! Enjoy


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

music by Gashouse Annie, a scavenger hunt,light bites and drinks including beer from AllSaints Brewing Company.

1/10/2015 to 1/31/2015Winter Warm-UpGlades Pike Winery 2208 Glades Pike,Somerset, PA 15501 814.445.3753gladespikewinery.comWarm up this winter with Food and Music!

1/11/2015Lecture: Bare Tree I.D.Powdermill Nature Reserve 1795 Route 381,Rector, PA 15677 724.593.6105carnegiemnh.org/powdermill

Lecture: :Bare Tree I.D.” Identify leaflesswinter trees with our helpful tricks.

1/14/2015Monthly Wine TastingThe Supper Club at The Greensburg TrainStation 101 Ehalt St., Greensburg, PA 15601724.691.0536. supperclubgreensburg.com

Wine Tasting featuring three wines andthree food pairings by Chef Greg Andrews

1/15/2015Westmoreland Jazz SocietyEric BarchiesiSeton Hill University 1 Seton Hill Dr.,Greensburg, PA 15601 724.837.1500wmuseumaa.org. Doors open at 6:30 PM.No reserve seating. Tickets are available atthe door. Contact 724-837-1500 ext. 127 [email protected] for membershipinformation.1/16/2015 to 1/18/201520th Aunnal Fire& Ice FestivalStreets of Uptown Somerset Somerset, PA814.443.1748. somersetincpa.org

“Blast From the Past” ice sculptures,entertainment, contests and fun!

1/16/20152014-2015 Classic Film SeriesBeach Blanket BingoState Theatre Center for the Arts 27 E. MainSt., Uniontown, PA 15401 724.439.1360statetheatre.info

1/17/2015The Tottie AwardsThe Geyer Performing Arts Center 111Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, PA 15683724.887.0887. geyerpac.com

Come and celebrate our season !

1/24/2015 - 1/25/2015Ligonier Ice FestivalOver 50 ice sculptures! Grab a warm drinkand admire the ice masterpieces aroundtown! Chamber of commerce, (724) 238-4200,www.visitligonier.com


END NOTESby Cathi Gerhard

Room for One More

“I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind,forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, whenmen and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of

people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another raceof creatures bound on other journeys.” – Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens’ famous novella, A Christ-mas Carol, has never been out of print sinceit was first published by Chapman & Hallon December 19, 1843. The work has oftenbeen credited with restoring a celebratorytradition to Christmas in Britain and Amer-ica, following a period of Puritan restraint.

Born in Portsmouth, England in 1812,Dickens grew up in poverty with little edu-cation. When his father was sentenced tothe workhouse (along with his mother andyounger siblings), he left school at age 12to work 10-hour days in a shoe polish fac-tory while boarding with a family friend.Upon the Dickens family’s release fromprison, young Charles’ own mother refusedto take him back. His father later rescuedhim and sent Charles to a day school inLondon. This sad childhood formed the

Mr. Fezziwig’s Ball – frontispiece illustration from the first editionof A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

foundation for many of his future writings,the most profund autobiographical com-ment found in the book David Copperfield:“I had no advice, no counsel, no encour-agement, no consolation, no assistance, nosupport, of any kind, from anyone, that Ican call to mind, as I hope to go to heaven!”

As Dicken eventually found success as awriter, he became an avid supporter of so-cial reform, children’s rights, education,international copyright, and the abolitionof slavery. A Christmas Carol was the firstof his successful and popular Christmasbooks, each one written darker as “a whim-sical sort of masque intended to awakenloving and forbearing thoughts.”

Our modern culture loves to celebratethese stories, adapting them to every formof media over and over again. We root for

Bob Cratchit to prosper despite his horribleboss, and cheer for peace-goodwill towardmen to reign over Christmas Day and ev-ery day yet to come. Perhaps it is the mostcommon theme at any time of the year:for good to overcome evil. Yet so often, itseems, we fail to play our parts in this sea-sonally-inspired drama.• Sometimes we rush and fight in trafficwithout regard for each other. Not every-one is a NASCAR driver: some are studentswho are just learning, others are trying tobe careful, and some simply make mis-takes. Where is our patience?• Many of us rush forward without a realsense of where we are going or where wehave been. In the meantime, today’s spe-cial moments fall through the cracks of thepast and present – lost forever.• While caught up in the chaos of our ownproblems, we too often judge the circum-stances of the sick and poor instead of sim-ply giving freely and compassionately tohelp them along.• We also complain about “all the workand hassle” that comes with Christmas. Butinstead of finding ways to simplify, we trimthe fat to exclude instead of accommodate.There should always be room for one morein our hearts and at our tables, whether weare serving a full ham and turkey dinneror grilled cheese sandwiches and potatochips. Every budget – of money, time, pa-tience and love – should stretch just a littlemore, especially this time of year.

I, too, need spirited reminders of forbear-ance from time to time, slipping easily intoself-centered motives and goals. Christmasand the coming New Year are the best timesto reflect on such things, and I hope you allmay do the same.

The Laurel Mountain Post will return inFebruary 2015 with a renewed communityfocus, fresh ideas, and new opportunitiesfor both readers and advertisers. To close2014, I leave you with the following:

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, andtry to keep it all the year. I will live in thePast, the Present, and the Future. The Spir-its of all Three shall strive within me. I willnot shut out the lessons that they teach!”

– A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens


OFFICE: 724.238.7600 | CELL: 724.972.8418 | [email protected]

OFFICE: 724.238.7600 | CELL: [email protected]

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309 Village Ct, Ligonier BoroOpen floor plan. Great home for en-tertaining inside and out with a lovelypatio. 2 br upstairs and den on mainfloor that could be 4th br. All necessi-ties are located on main floor; masterand beautiful bath & laundry, 2 cargarage. Convenient to town. $245,900

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Laurel Mountain Post :: December 2014