The Penn State Cooperative Extension office and the UMWA Health & Retirement Funds will be offering the Growing Stronger Program. This is a 12-week exercise program for middle-aged and older men and women that will be held on Mondays and Fridays from 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. at the New Alexandria Senior Center. The series will be led by Denelle Wirth, AmeriCorps Member, Dori Campbell, RD, LDN with Penn State Cooperative Extension, and Penny Tronzo, RNC, BSN a Program Manager with the UMWA. Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact your local Cooperative Extension Office in advance of your participation or visit. For more information on the Growing Stronger Program, please attend an informational meeting at 12:30p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2008 at the New Alexandria Senior Center, Community Center Building, P.O. Box 144, Main St., New Alexandria, PA. Also you can call Penn State Cooperative Extension Westmoreland County at 724-837-1402.
 

Peach Plaza Grand Opening! This opening will take place on Saturday, June 7th, starting at 1:00p.m., at Twin Lakes Park Peach Plaza. Ceremony and Ribbon cutting will take place at 1:00p.m. Free Skate, Food, Prizes and Skating Competitions & Demos will Immediately Following Ribbon cutting. Click Here to learn more about the construction of Peach Plaza! For More Information Contact: Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation Citizens Advisory Board at 724-830-3950.
 

My heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who participated in the 2008 American Cancer Society Daffodil Days Campaign from March 24-30, and helped spring bloom in Westmoreland County. As the first flower of spring, the daffodil symbolizes hope and rebirth, and through its Daffodil Days program and your support, the American Cancer Society is able to bring that hope to everyone affected by cancer.  I would like to thank all of those who supported this year's Daffodil Days by purchasing flowers for their homes and/or offices, as well as those who donated flowers to area hospitals and care facilities. This year, more than 10,000 daffodils, 650 vases, and 850 Boyds™ Bears were given in exchange for donations, raising $88,000.  Spring arrived in Westmoreland County because of you!

Sincerely,

Arlene Seliy, 2008 Daffodil Days Chairperson, Westmoreland Unit
 

The Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded a $7 million grant to Saint Vincent College toward construction costs of the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Complex that will house the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computing.   Saint Vincent announced May 1 a major expansion of its science buildings -- the largest building project in its history. This $40 million fundraising project will finance the expansion of the Science Complex as well as provide endowment for science faculty professorships, student scholarships and research and ongoing facility operation and maintenance. Groundbreaking is expected in 2009 with completion in 2011. The Richard King Mellon Foundation was created in 1947 by Richard King Mellon (1899-1970), chairman of Mellon Bank, conservationist, and dominant figure in the financial, industrial, and civic life of Pittsburgh for many years. For 60 years, the Foundation has maintained a commitment to southwestern Pennsylvania.
 

Chris Higbee Project benefit concert for Central Westmoreland Habitat for Humanity - This event will take place on Friday, June 6th, doors open at 7:00p.m., at Pitt-Greensburg, Chambers Hall Gym. An IUP graduate, Chris Higbee founded the “PovertyNeck Hillbilles (PNH)”. PNH performed for seven years; it released a #2 nationally rated video “Mr. Right Now” starring “Big Ben” Roethlisburger; acquired an international fan base; and distributed two records. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. (Online ticket sales available soon at www.centralwestmorelandhfh.org).  For More Information & Tickets Contact: Central Westmoreland HFH at 724-523-0308.
 

Twenty-two students from schools in southwest Pennsylvania were honored at Ligonier Valley Writers’ seventeenth annual Student Poetry Awards ceremony Saturday at the Barnes & Noble in Greensburg.  The winning students read their poems aloud to an audience of proud family members, teachers and others. They received certificates, booklets containing all the winning poems, and cash prizes (which many promptly spent on books). Ligonier Valley Writers holds the Student Poetry Contest for students in grades 4-12 every spring. This year, more than 200 entries were received.  LVW is a nonprofit group serving writers and readers throughout western Pennsylvania. It offers events throughout the year, including the fundraising dinner, the summer conference, and various talks and workshops. The conference is July 26 this year. Faculty members are Damian Dressick for fiction, Lori Jakiela for nonfiction, Nancy Krygowski for poetry and Casey Daniels for mystery writing. For more about any LVW events and publications, as well as lessons on writing poetry, visit www.ligoniervalleywriters.org.
 

Please Note: That Bob Saget’s Show Has Been Cancelled at the Palace Theatre, Greensburg, Pa, For Saturday, June 7, 2008. Refunds Available at Point of Purchase.  For more information visit:  www.thepalacetheatre.org.
 

The local CROP WALK started with a 1998 event as a cooperative effort between Scottdale and Mt. Pleasant churches to meet food needs for people around the world. The earlier route included the steep hill and narrow road by the Zaracki farm between Mt. Pleasant and Alverton. “It was not popular,” according to Hiebert. The highlight of the former route was the view of the valley and mountains from Fenton Road [the former Kendi Road]. By contrast, the Coal & Coke Trail follows a valley and is level all the way. Especially helpful on the former route were the Scottdale and Mt. Pleasant Rotary clubs, who helped with safety. Host churches at the start of the WALK have included the Mt. Pleasant Church of God and the Mt. Pleasant Church of the Brethren. Hosts for the conclusion of the WALK have included Scottdale Mennonite Church [one year] and the St. Pauls Lutheran Church. Shuttle service has been provided through Grooms transit.  All of the more than 2,000 CROP WALKs held in the US are open to anyone, but local walk has especially appealed to churches which are part of Scottdale or Mt. Pleasant association of churches. Current treasurer for the WALK is Owen Jacobs, Mt. Pleasant. For additional information on Church World Service [the international sponsoring organization] see the following web link: www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/.
 

We are now launching a fundraising program. We offer gourmet candies, nuts, trial mix, dried fruits and so much more. We offer a variety of 1 or 2 pound tins with your choice of product. Basket Flair will create the fundraising forms and pay your organization a flat rate per item sold. Please contact me to find out more. Basket Flair is located in Irwin, PA. We can be reached toll free at 866-904-1611 or on our website at www.BasketFlair.com.
 

Historic Hanna’s Town will open the 35th season of its popular Antiques & Collectibles Sales on Sunday May 11th. This longstanding community tradition brings together over 200 vendors in a quaint and historic setting. A variety of one-of-a-kind items covering a wide price range are featured at each sale. Shoppers can find a unique gift for Mom on this Mother’s Day or bring her along to find her own. Good buying and selling opportunities abound for lovers of antiques and collectibles and anyone seeking vintage items that are not available at department stores. The gate opens at 7:30a.m. Sunday morning and the market continues through early afternoon, although, unofficially, many vendors are set up by 1:00p.m. Saturday and sell that afternoon. There is parking on site; admission is $3 per car. Parking revenues are divided equally between the Salem Twp Volunteer Fire Dept. No. 2 (Forbes Road) and the Westmoreland County Historical Society who administers Historic Hanna’s Town for Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation.  Antiques & Collectibles Sales are held the second Sunday of the month May through September. Future dates for 2008 are June 8, July 13, August 10 and September 14. The public is cordially invited to browse for bargains, enjoy a variety of food booths and support local history preservation as well as a local fire department at the Antiques & Collectibles Sale at Historic Hanna’s Town. The selling vendors pay a fee to set up their wares with these proceeds benefiting the Historical Society’s education and preservation projects including Historic Hanna’s Town, a Revolutionary War period settlement and site of the first English courts west of the Allegheny Mountains. Vendors of antiques & collectibles (please no flea market items) are welcome to set up for the day or weekend.  Historic Hanna’s Town is located along Forbes Trail Road near its intersection with Route 119, 3 miles north of Greensburg. For additional information, call 724-836-1800 or visit www.hannastown.org.
 

Audition Dates:  Saturday, May 31st and Saturday June 21st, 2008 from 11:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. Pre---registration required. Casting call for The Ballet Academy of Irwin’s production of Cinderella. Audition is open to all area ballet students between the ages of 8 and 25. Student ages 5-7 are also welcome but need not audition. Performance is scheduled for early September. Non BAI students welcome to participate and are not expected to leave their current dance studio. Rehearsals will take place throughout the summer beginning June 27, 2008. Please contact 724-864-1460 for details.  Audition Fee $10 and Participation fee also applies.
 

Westmoreland Cleanways and Waste Management have entered into a partnership to provide a pilot drop-off recycling program to residents and businesses in the communities of Bolivar Borough, New Florence Borough, St. Clair Township and Seward Borough, at no cost to the municipalities. A drop-off recycling rolloff was placed at the Roadway Plaza on Rt. 711 in Seward on April 17, and is now available for public use. Materials being accepted for recycling include: aluminum and bimetal cans, #1 and #2 plastic bottles, clear/green/brown glass, and newsprint (including the inserts). Bottles and cans should be emptied and rinsed, and lids should be removed, before being placed in the recycling rolloff. All the recyclables, including the paper, can be mixed together in the bin. The material is separated at a recycling processing center and then shipped to manufacturers to be made into new products.  Westmoreland Cleanways, as the county’s recycling coordinators, and Waste Management, with a deep commitment to making a difference for the environment and the communities they serve, will operate the Northeastern Westmoreland County Recycling Program as long as it is serving the needs of the area’s residents.  For additional information about the Northeastern Westmoreland County Recycling Program, Waste Management, or other programs sponsored by Westmoreland Cleanways, call 724-836-4129.
 

The day started with questions about the weather but the skies parted before noon and a record number of cars came rolling in. Downtown Irwin annually hosts what is considered the kick-off to the Car Cruise season. The event is held annually the last weekend of April by the Irwin Business and Professionals Association.  More than 200 classic cars and motorcycles were in Downtown by noon on Saturday. The car owners and guests were treated to music by DJ Daddy “G” and a guest appearance by famed Pittsburgh Oldies DJ Porky Chedwick. The Corvette Club of Western Pa., celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2008, was also in attendance at this year’s event. The crowd was also treated to long-time Pittsburg Vocalist-Leon Daniels of the El Vinos. Despite the intermittent rain the cruise attendance was estimated at 4-5,000 attendees between 12(Noon) and 5:00p.m.
 

The production will be under the direction of Tracy Kelley.  The auditions will be held on Sunday, May 11th – Geyer Performing Arts Center, 111 Pittsburgh St, Scottdale PA, from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. and Monday, May 12th – Geyer Performing Arts Center, 111 Pittsburgh St, Scottdale, PA, from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m.  Young adults (male & female), minimum age 14, are being sought to fill roles in this musical comedy, as well as two (2) adults – 1 male and 1 female character.  Those wishing to audition must have a prepared vocal solo of at least 32 bars (upbeat song) that best demonstrates their vocal range and voice quality.  Those auditioning must supply a copy of their music for the accompanist. A cappella renditions or taped accompaniments are not acceptable. Non musical audition will be a cold reading audition.  Dance auditions will be held.  For More Information Call:  The Geyer Performing Arts Center at 724-887-0887.
 

The Irwin Project and Irwin Main Street program are taking some preliminary steps to use art as part of their downtown improvement efforts. Recent expansion by the Norwin Art League and increased participation made it clear to Main Street Manager Donn Henderson that the town can use the growing interest as one of many tools. Henderson believes that a number of prospering venues in existence and others being planned are a good start. “With performance venues of Covenant Hall currently active and the Lamp Theater planned for opening in the forthcoming year we have quite a start” said Henderson. “We also have the expanded home of the Norwin Art League, several music and dance studios as well as shops that carry Lincoln Highway Artisan products” he added. Art has been used nationwide as a catalyst for community development.  In conjunction with expanding the creative art sector in Downtown the Irwin Main Street program will hold “Third Thursdays Art and Jazz Nights” in June, July and August. The event will feature are musicians at various curbside and restaurant venues and sidewalk Art and artisan sales throughout the downtown. The program has been funded in part with a grant from Target.  The events will be June 19, July 17 and August 21 from 5:00p.m. to 11:00p.m. People interested in participating can get more information by contacting the Irwin Main Street office via e-mail at IrwinPa@comcast.net or by calling 724-296-8074. The deadline for artist applications is May 16th.
 

Relay For Life of Ligonier - May 9-10, Weller Field; Relay For Life of Murrysville - May 30-31, Franklin Regional High School; Relay For Life of Latrobe - June 21-22, Latrobe Stadium; Relay For Life of Mon-Valley - June 21-22, Monessen City Park Walking Track; Relay For Life of Norwin - July 19-20, Norwin High School; Relay For Life of Mt. Pleasant - July 26-27, YMCA; Relay For Life of Alle-Kiski - August 2-3, Memorial Park New Kensington; Westmoreland Gala - August 2008.  For More Information Visit:  www.relayforlife.com.
 

Fort Hand Festival at Kunkle Park - Show Times Are As Follows: Thursday - 5:00p.m. till 10:00p.m., Friday - 5:00p.m. till 10:00p.m., and Saturday - 12 Noon till 10:00p.m.  The Washington Township Parks Improvement Fundraising Committee is inviting Crafters, Local Retail Businesses, Community Organizations, Community Residents, Antique Dealers, and Demonstrators to participate in The FORT HAND FESTIVAL at Kunkle Park, Washington Township, Apollo.  The Fort Hand Festival will be held in Westmoreland County, Washington Township, approx. 4 miles south of Apollo. The festival will include crafters, food vendors, kickball & volleyball tournaments, carnival rides and more. Covered wagon and pony rides, train rides and other children's games and activities will be available. Entertainment will be provided all days with a variety of bands and more.  For More Information and if you are interested in being a vendor contact:  Mary Pat at 412-496-3811 or Terry: Cell: 724-989-4808, or Wayne: Cell: 412-491-8152 Email: forthand@akvalley.net, also visit:  www.washingtontownship.com.
 

Are you looking for support as you journey through the scary world of parenting? Are you looking for ways for your children to socialize with others? This is the place for you! Come out and play with us! Moms@Play is an active and growing supportive playgroup for moms with children (approx. aged birth-4) in the Greensburg, PA and surrounding Westmoreland County area! We specialize in providing age-appropriate activities for moms of children of all ages.

Moms@Play activity focus include:

*Supportive social activities for new moms that are safe for newborns and
infants to attend.
*Moms@Play Meals Your Way Program (a meal delivery service for new moms)
* "The Little Explorers" - events that are safe and fun for creepers, crawlers, and new walkers!
*Specialized play activities for toddlers aged 2-4 including public outings, and in-house safe play activities.
* Family events and themed activities to include everyone!
* Informative coffee hours!
* Voluntary charitable events to teach our children the value of giving back
to the community.

We are an open-minded, supportive, and friendly group. When you join, please check out and add your ideas and help make our group a success. It's great to have you here - YOU are what our group is all about! Hope to see you soon! To join, please visit our website: playgroup.meetup.com/784/.
 

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