in-greensburg-salem

SPRING 2013

INSIDE: Greensburg Salem School District News

Inspiring Local Gymnasts to Tumble and Twirl Toward Their Dreams

Salem Township Gymnastics Program

SPECIAL: Greensburg Salem Home Improvement

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IN Greensburg Salem | SPRING 2013 |

INSIDE

COMMUNITY INTEREST

Greensburg Salem School DistrictMessage from the Superintendent ................................................. | 4Golden Lion Art Gallery ................................................................. | 9

Prom Dresses for Life ......................................................... | 12

Greensburg Teens Honored for Achievement at 2012 Presentation Ball .................................................. | 14

Upcoming Westmoreland Symphony Events .............. | 15

Greensburg Man Receives Carnegie Medal for Act of Heroism .............................................................. | 16

Scouting for Food Makes an Impact in Greensburg | 18

Sparks of L.I.F.E. Bring Life to Nursing Homes .......... | 22

Greensburg Houses of Worship ....................................... | 24

ON THE COVER | Samantha Allen practices her floor routine. The Salem Township Parks &Recreation Department has offered a non-competitive gymnastics program for over 30 years.

ON THE COVER

Salem Township Gymnastics Program Inspires Local Gymnasts to Tumble and Twirl Toward Their Dreams .......................................... | 28

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Kepple-Graft Funeral HomeWhy Should I Have a Funeral? ................... | 39

IN Greensburg Salem is a non-partisan community publication dedicated torepresenting, encouraging and promoting the Greensburg, Salem Townshiparea and its comprising municipalities by focusing on the talents and gifts ofthe people who live and work here. Our goal is to provide readers with themost informative and professional regional publication in the Commonwealthof Pennsylvania.

SPECIAL: Greensburg Home Improvement

SPRING 2013


11 30

9

18

Welcome to the spring issue of Greensburg Salem magazine. I hope that you are as anxious as I am to get the cold and snow behind

us and get busy planning projects around the house.This issue is dedicated to home-improvement projects great and

small. Some projects will give you curb appeal, some will increase yourhome’s value, and others are for the sheer enjoyment or luxury of it.

Regardless of your aims with your home, whether gutting the walls, orjust planting the perfect tree in the yard, our homes are a source of pridefor us, and not in a status sense. They are where we raise our families,where we feel safe, and where we invite our friends and loved ones forparties and fellowship.

Our homes are where our children play, and where oftentimes, wetend to sick loved ones. They are where we try hardest in life, and where

the challenges of life hit us the most. Our homes bear witness to our triumphs as well as our sorrows,and they are as much a part of our personalities as what we choose to wear or adorn ourselves with.

So with so much importance placed on the walls that contain us, we hope that you can find at leastone project within these pages to be fodder for your next project around the home.

Have a wonderful spring!Wayne Dollard, Publisher

PUBLISHERWayne Dollard

REGIONAL EDITORS

Pamela Palongue [North and East][email protected]

Mark Berton [South, West and Erie][email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER

Leo [email protected]

AD PLACEMENT COORDINATOR

Debbie [email protected]

SCHOOL & MUNICIPAL CONTENT COORDINATOR

Megan [email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Anna Buzzelli Joe MilneSharon Cobb Melissa St. GilesMike Miller Tamara Tylenda WRITERS

Jonathan Barnes Heather HoltschlagJennifer Brozak Chelsie KozeraMatt Fascetti Leigh LyonsTracy Fedkoe Dana Black McGrathMike Ference Joanne NaserJacob Flannick Melanie PaulickBritt Fresa Gina SallingerElvira Hoff Judith Schardt PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mark Fainstein Primetime ShotsGinni Klein Kathleen RudolphLen Pancoast Gary Yon

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS

Tamara Myers Tom Poljak

ADVERTISING SALES

Sophia Alfaras Gabriel NegriJulie Graff Aimee NicoliaJason Kalakos Vincent Sabatini Peter Leben Mark SeamansAnna Marie Lee Michael Silvert Connie McDaniel RJ Vighetti Brian McKee Nikki Capezio-Watson This magazine is carrier route mailed to all districthouseholds and businesses.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part withoutwritten permission is prohibited. Copyright 2013.

CORRESPONDENCEDirect all inquiries, comments and press releases to:

Summer content deadline: April 22

IN Community MagazinesAttn: Editorial603 East McMurray RoadMcMurray, PA 15317Ph: 724.942.0940 Fax: 724.942.0968www.incommunitymagazines.com

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

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INGreensburg Salem

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All across the country, whether in private or professional conversations, the talk these days seems to turn to school safety. Inlight of this year’s tragic events, everyone is discussing what can bedone to protect some of our country’s most revered people – its children and their teachers. Greensburg Salem is no different. At administrative meetings, staff meetings, PTA meetings and board

meetings the topic continues to receive a lot of attention.

Although all stakeholders atGreenburg Salem agree that our primary focus must continue withproviding an exemplary educationfor students of the district, the safetyof our children and staff must be ourtop priority. In order to account forrecent changes in the administrativeand teaching ranks as well as working to learn from safety expertsin our community, the GreensburgSalem School District has begun to reorganize the Safe School Committee. This committee will

review our current plans, revise plans as needed and allow for reviewand rehearsal throughout the school year. The committee will also lookat the many recommendations and measures being implemented byothers across the country and assess which measures may be a good fit for our community and students. As we work together with ourcommunity safety and security experts and our emergency responders,we can always find ways to improve and stay current and up to datewith our practices.

While several recent incidents of violence seem to have been unrelated to the setting where they occurred, we also know that frequently employees or students who are troubled may carry out such acts in the workplace or school. Schools, again, must educate thestakeholders when those around them seem to have early warningsigns: withdrawing from social settings, feelings of being persecuted,bouts of anger over seemingly minor situations, or expressions of angeror violence in writings or drawings. When a person is noticed with thewarning signs, early intervention is critical and a must. GreensburgSalem has many wonderful partnerships with community mentalhealth organizations and various other community resources whichcan offer expert levels of assistance to students and adults and sharetheir expertise with the schools. We will continue to encourage teachers, students and parents to come forward when they experiencea situation that causes them concern.

While many are somewhat apprehensive about sending children toschool in light of recent events, research has shown that school can actually be a place of structure and stabilization for children, as it provides a place of security and comfort throughout their childhoodand beyond. A positive school environment creates an optimal setting for wonderful encounters of teaching and learning. When students believe that adults in the school care about them, have highexpectations for their education and provide the support they need to be successful, children thrive. When schools are deeply committedto creating nurturing, safe and challenging environments, their students engage in less destructive behavior and engage in more constructive behavior. One only has to walk down the hallways of a school with walls devoid of authentic student work and see fifteen posters that start with “Don’t...” and compare the difference in school climates.

At the heart of school climate are the relationships that exist in three different domains: staff to staff, staff to student and student tostudent. At Greensburg Salem we have invested heavily in all of thesedomains but over the next several months we will look at each domainagain with a fresh set of eyes and see if anything can be done better ordetermine if any student or adult who needs intervention are out therethat we may have missed. Structures that we know support studentconnectedness to their school are small-group learning communitieswith low student to teacher ratios, class meetings where students share with teachers and each other, student and staff mentors and cooperative learning opportunities where students work together andhave various opportunities to share their individual talents and skillswith others. We will continue to explore our structures and examinewhat they do for our students.

As a staff, we look forward to the upcoming months. We will all learn from each other and work to make our district an even safer and more welcoming place for our students and staff.

Letter from the Superintendent

4 Greensburg Salem

Dr. Eileen Amato – SuperintendentPhoto by Jeremy Lenzi

GREENSBURG SALEM : WHERE

The Greensburg Salem School District pages are edited and compiled bythe Community Relations Department. For more information pleasecontact Anita Rometo, community liaison, at 724-832-2907 [email protected].

Greensburg Salem | Spring 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 5

‘e f f o r t c r e at e s a b i l i t y ’

These children are transported more than 400 million miles to school each year. Everyyear, children are needlessly injured or killed by drivers passing stopped school busses. Together, we can protect all of our children by following these simple rules. Regardless of your schedule, it is imperative that you slow down and follow these rules:

• When you meet or overtake a stopped school bus with red signal lights flashing andstop arm extended, you MUST STOP.

• When you approach an intersection (from any direction) where a school bus is stopped with red signal lights flashing and stop arm extended, you MUST STOP.

• You MUST STOP at least ten (10) feet away from the school bus.• You MUST WAIT until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm has been

withdrawn before moving. • DO NOT MOVE until all the children have reached a place of safety.• You MUST STOP on roadways with painted lines.• You MUST STOP at an intersection where a bus has lights on, whether it is or is not

marked with a stop sign. All traffic MUST STOP from any direction.• You MUST STOP on roadways with ridged /grooved dividers.

Additional information can be found at www.greensburgsalem.org/transportation .Please help keep Pennsylvania roadways safe for all children. If you see violations, record the driver’s license plate number and report it to local authorities.

When in doubt, STOP!

Footloose in Rehearsal at GSHSFootloose brings rock music and dancing back to a small town and to the Greensburg

Salem stage. This stage production, based on the popular 1984 movie, tells the volatilestory of what happens when a young outsider challenges a town’s ban on dancing. Dancing and singing explode on the stage as 40 Greensburg Salem students assume theroles of the youth and townspeople of Beaumont to the sounds of Let’s Hear it For theBoy, Holding out for A Hero and, of course, Footloose.

Big city boy Ren (Noah Telford) and his nemesis, the inflexible Reverend Moore(Brian Sweeny), go head-to-head as the teens try to convince the town council to drop theban so the school can have a prom. Reverend Moore’s daughter, Ariel (Kira Elma), movesbetween the two worlds playing both the rebel and the dutiful daughter.

You can enjoy Footloose on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings February 28and March 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m., as well as Sunday, March 3 at 2:00 p.m. Reservedseating is only $8, general admission is $7. Tickets will be available starting February 22. For ticket information call 724-832-2960.

Did you know that 1.5 million children are transported on Pennsylvania roads each day?


6 Greensburg Salem

Calcusolve is a mathematical competition involving problem-solving across a wide variety of mathematical fields. This year there have beencompetitions at both the middle school and high school levels. GS students gave outstanding performances at both the team and individuallevels.

At the high school competition, the team of Aaron DeCarlucci, Ande Greco (1st place individual), Josh Kappel (3rd place), Sarah Mica, and Sam Wotus earned first-place honors. Taking the third-place team award were Ryan Downs (5th place), Rielly Jobkar, Riley Maruca, Jason Stofko, and Thomas Wygonic. Recognized with a fourth place individual award was John Sheffler.

The middle school participants swept the team awards earning first, second, third, and fourth places. The first-place team was comprised of Kevan Downs, Tristan Elma, Asher Joy, Mary Joy and Adam Petro. Earning the second-place team award were Zach Armentrout, Noah Calisti, Nick Leo, Chris Schrecengost, and Katie Wotus. Following closely behind in third place was the team of Scott Armentrout, JonahFaulk, Grant Hoffer, Julius McBride, and D’Angelo Rifenburgh. The fourth-place team included William Crites, Dylan Crystaloski, CobyJobkar, Jeremy Kappel, and Maggie Nicolai.

The individual awards were not nearly as clear-cut at the middle school level with several students sharing top honors. First place was a three-way tie between Tristian Elma, Mary Joy and Adam Petro. Sharing second place were Asher Joy and Chris Schrecengost. Nick Leoearned the third-place individual award while fourth-place was shared between Noah Calisti and Kevan Downs. Rounding out the individualawards was Zach Armentrout’s fifth-place finish.

Short Story Yields Recognition Rachel Krunszyinski accepted the Spooky, Scary Story contest challenge to write a story

set at the historic Fort Ligonier and featuring at least two people from the fort’s history. Set inmodern times with visitors from the past, her story Friendly Fire Incident was one of morethan 200 entries and earned her 2nd place in the high school division.

Fifth Graders Rule in Math Thinking Games

Grade 5 elementary SEAL Program students from all three buildings joined students from neighboring school districts at the Math Thinking Games. The 120 students in attendancecompeted in four mathematics games – 24, Set, Number Junctions Puzzles, and Equate.

Teams of Greensburg Salem students displayed their math expertise by finishing first, second and fourth. Leading the way was Metzgar Elementary student Megan Shissler whowon the overall “Math Master” title by placing first with the highest individual score.

Members of the first-place team were Chase Clemence, Josh Klueber, Madison Rugh, andSophia Watt. The second-place team was comprised of Elizabeth Armentrout, Jack Maruca,Megan Shissler, and Tyler Vanderburg. Earning fourth-place honors were Lien Ferry, BenPetro, Morgan Poole, and John Zuccher.

The LION’S PRIDE Greensburg Salem Dominates Calcusolve Competitions


Two members of the GSHS TSA (Technology Students Association) have advanced to the state competition at Seven Springs. Josh Ferguson designed, produced working drawings for, and built a CO2-powered dragster which took second-place at the regional competition. He will be joined by Abby Parrish who earned a fourth-place in Photographic Technology. In that event, students capture and process photographic and digital prints depicting the current year’s published theme – Courage.

Other students awarded recognition in Photographic Technology were Sarah Howarth (5th place) and Colton Hearn (6th place).

GS Students at Art Museum

Mrs. Audia’s Advanced Art and Portfolio Preparation class held their an-nual portfolio exhibition at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.Twenty-one student artists presented their artwork for family and friends.Open to the public, the museum offers GS students gallery space for 2-3days as the museum changes its featured exhibitions.

Funky SnowmanWins First Place “Not Your Ordinary Snowman” was the theme of the sculpture competition,and Greensburg Salem Middle School eighth grader Katie Wotus rose to thechallenge, earning first place. With a paddle ball for his head, the snowmanseemed to arise from the bottom of a toy chest, pulling playing cards, toy soldiers, blocks and crayons as he grew. If you look closely, you will see that his Slinky midsection contains a matchbox size race car.

High School Students Qualify for State Competitionsolve Competitions



8 Greensburg Salem

This time last year, American History students and teachers werecoping with the well-worn textbooks available for class use. Years of bumpy backpack rides, desk dives, and multiple rebinding attempts left the books hopelessly falling apart. Missing pages werean ever-growing epidemic -- something had to be done.

A group of teachers and administrators previewed and trial testedthe TCI (Teacher’s Curriculum Institute) History Alive! series. The TCI program was already in place for social studies students inkindergarten through eighth grade. American History teacherAimee Manning said, “I think the consistency of using the same program across all grade levels is helpful to students.” The implementation of the TCI program seemed like a natural fit forthe high school and another way to smooth the transition for theincoming freshman.

Unlike the old text and program materials, the TCI program focuses on building specific skills emphasized in the CommonCore Standards and works to create twenty-first century citizens.This is accomplished by introducing students to specific skill-building tasks, such as political cartoon analysis and creation androle-playing political debates. Tenth-grade teacher Adam Jonescommented, “TCI allows students to experience history, as opposed to being given the history.” With TCI students performeach skill, with varying content, multiple times throughout a semester to encourage growth and mastery of the each skill.

The TCI program provides a variety of activities and materials tothe teacher and, with minimal tweaking, they are easily put intopractice. Although the availability of new resources and materialsare great for the American History teachers, the group benefittingmost by the materials are the students. In the TCI program, students are not only being exposed to the historical content, but they are learning skills which transcend subject matter andgrade level. They are learning to solve problems, create new products, and analyze information from a historical perspective,and throughout the process, they are becoming better, more prepared learners. Tommy Lowden, a ninth-grade student, said,“TCI allows the student to receive the basic understanding of thetopics, and go into greater depth.” Lowden went on to say, “I feel I have learned more in the present year than past, and I’m more successful in the classroom.”

As the school year, and time itself, begins to press on – the GSSDAmerican History students and teachers are experiencing the pastin new ways.

by Mr. Brandon Roberts

American History Curriculum: Out With the Old, In With the New

Mr. Roberts moves around the classroom answering questionsas students in his American History I class work on completingprojects. Pictured (l-r) Selina Ramos, Kris Dick, Levi Kinneyand Lawson Monta.



Golden Lion Gallery

Third graders at Nicely Elementarywere able to "shed new light" onwhat they understand about nature'slandscapes. After viewing inspiringimages dealing with sunsets, silhouetted figures, birch trees in winter, and interesting horizons...Miss Alberth helped students toblend pastels for a majestic sky, paint objects in silhouette, and decide how to cast shadows on theground. Artist Raegan Shaw provedthat winter can be colorful.

Students in Mr. Audia's6th grade art classlearned about landscapepainting in their "Nature" unit this year.The unit involved a special community program with the Westmoreland Museumof American Art calledArtConnect, where students from the middle school visit thevast collection at theWMAA and make workinspired by their visit.

This piece is a landscape painting by MorganO'Leary - Grade 6, created with tempera painton canvas.

In Miss Alberth's art class, 5th graders have beenapplying new vocabulary and skills related toweaving, and other fiber arts. Here, you see astuffed and sewn pillow with a woven front. The artist, Twyla Crawford used a hand-madecardboard loom, dark purple yarn for the warp,several bright colors for the weft, and black felt for the back of the pillow. This project is truly from scratch! We enjoy learning about weavingbecause it is an ancient craft that started not as an art form, but for survival.

Pottery students in Mrs. Hajdukiewicz’s Pottery IIclass were assigned the task of creating a piece that

combined two concepts in the clay medium. GabrielleWalton’s piece “Mad for You,” featuring an open

mouth and exploding head, combines two feelings.

Kaidyn Gonder, a second grader in Mrs. Carnicelli’s art class at Hutchinson Elementary School, painted this winter cardinal composition. Students concentrated on painting different visualtextures while creating a balanced composition with only a few elements.

10 Greensburg Salem

Greensburg Salem recently topped 700victories in its Wrestling Program withthree victories at the North Hills DualsTournament on December 15, 2012.Wrestling at Greensburg Salem has a longand rich history – dating back to 1936.Throughout that time GS has been aperennial powerhouse boasting numerousstate title winners and placeholders.

Past coaches and wrestlers joined thecurrent team at a match in late Decemberto commemorate passing the 700 mile-stone. The former coaches that were in attendance and recognized for their contributions were Joseph Nava (1959-62), Jim Salathe (1962-66), Daryl Kelvington (1970-75 and 1995-98),Rob Waller (1975-81), Bill Alexander(1987-95), and Randy Parsley (1998-Present). Among the past GS wrestlers inattendance were several that became PIAAState Champions while wearing the brownand gold including Phil Detore, 1965;Mickey Kenney, 1970; Ken Parsley, 1978; Brian Kapusta, 1989 & 1990; Jeff Kaputsta, 1992; Vertus Jones, 1995;Greg Jones, 2000; and Donnie Jones, 2003 & 2004.


MARCH – it is more than just a month of the year at GreensburgSalem Middle School. MARCH is the after-school program that

provides students with Math And Reading Content Help. The middle schoolattendees of this interactive program are assisted by education majors from SetonHill University, Saint Vincent College, and The University of Pittsburgh atGreensburg. MARCH is supervised bylanguage arts teachers from each of thethree middle school grade levels.

One of the elements of MARCH is the use of the sophisticated computer program, Achieve3000. The program offers tens of thousands of non-fiction

Associated Press articles, enabling students to read about topics of interest. The philosophy of Achieve3000 is that every student is working at his or her individual reading level. Initially, students take an assessment that determines this level. As the students progress

through the computerized program, the levels adjust to indicate theirreading growth; as a result, more challenging articles are provided.The program and the tutors provide one-on-one instruction with content that meets each student’s needs by utilizing before-, during-,and after-reading strategies. The Achieve3000 reading program evenoffers mini lessons in geography and math.

Mrs. Barb Garofola, program coordinator, commented, “I trulyenjoy spending time with our MARCH kids. They work hard and are very proud of their achievements, which makes me proud of my participation in the program.”

In addition to the reading portion of the MARCH program, students receive help with homework in any content area. Seventh-grade math teachers are also on hand to help students.

Snacks are provided and limited busing is available for students.Though data shows improvements in the reading ability of the students involved in the program, there is another benefit, as well.MARCH students enjoy the mentoring provided by the college students and the teachers, and the adults, in turn, enjoy this small-group setting with middle school kids.

MARCH

AM

HCRA

AM

HCRA

Students MARCHing along at GSMS

Winning Ways of GS Wrestling

After the ceremony, several coaches affiliated with the program gathered in the new Wrestling Room, under a muralpainted by Shane Stofko (2011) as part of his Senior Project. Pictured (l-r) are George Carter, Rob Waller, RandyParsley, G. Daryl Kelvington, Bill Alexander, Joseph Nava, and Kevin Johnson.



Volunteering to help others teaches children andteenagers to look beyond themselves and understandthe role they play in their community and country.While any community service is a good thing it is at itsbest when it also involves service learning – that is, providing a context for the students to understand thesituation their service is addressing.

When students at Hutchinson Elementary collectedschool items for Hurricane Sandy victims their effortswere related back to the reading lesson Stone Soup. It isan old folktale that, in the words of teacher and projectorganizer Jen Tucci, “shows caring and helping others is what it means to have a rich life.” Since sending thesupplies in late November, students at Hutchinson havestarted corresponding with the children in Oceanside,N.Y., who were the recipients of their generosity. Newfriends, even miles away, are another characteristic of arich and flavorful life.

Often the service project is built into the curriculum.Promoting fitness in the PE classes through the “Kids Walk” activity at Metzgar Elementary raisedfunds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.Additionally, the annual “Jump Rope for Heart” activity at Hutchinson adds a fun competition whileteaching about an important health issue.

At Metzgar and Nicely Elementary, older studentsgive up their recess time once a week to assist in computer class. The fourth grade students at Metzgarshare their computer expertise with first graders whilesome Nicely third graders help Mrs. Sparrow prepareher classroom for the kindergarten computer class.

Sometimes the whole school gets involved in aproject, like “Penny Wars” at the middle school.Here grade levels compete against one another raising money to support the school’s holiday Giving Tree. For one week students bring in sparechange. Each homeroom has a container for collecting coins or dollar bills. The value of any pennies collected by a group count positively toward that group's point total, while the value ofother coins or dollar bills are subtracted. Dozens ofstudents volunteer to stay after school to count thechange so daily updates can be given to the studentbody. The grade level that has the highest “positive”score is the winner – along with the students whose Christmas is a little brighter thanks to theirclassmates. Eighth grade won this year and was rewarded for their generosity with a movie.

By high school, volunteering is second nature for many students and is a big part of the district’sculture. Organizations with service components like Student Council, National Honor Society andInteract (Rotary for youth ages 12-18) all thrive.Opportunities to make a difference in their community while learning about themselves and social issues abound. From mentoring to taking acommunity service class as an elective to seniorprojects built around supporting their community,Greensburg Salem students make a difference every day.

Making a Difference at GSAll you have to do is walk into any of Greensburg Salem’s school buildings to see a strong commitment to helping other people and the

community. From the Student Athletic Trainers sponsoring “Pink Week” at the high school in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Monthto a lone student deciding to collect blankets for victims of Hurricane Sandy – students are spearheading fundraising and collection projects.

12 Greensburg Salem

It started with a simple idea.

In an effort to raise money for herAmerican Cancer Society (ACS) Relay

for Life team, Greensburg resident Kristin Poppa wanted to collect gently used prom dresses and resell them.

That simple idea? Well, by 2012, it had grown to a collectionof 1,000 dresses and more than $15,000 in donations to theACS.

In 2006, Poppa, 30, and her 25-year-old sister, Katie, werelooking for fundraising ideas for their Latrobe Relay for Life teamthat they formed in honor of their mother, Cindy Rothwell, whowas diagnosed with cancer in 2005 after the birth of their sisterWhitley.

“At first, Katie and I tried to consign our old prom dresses,”said Poppa, “but that wasn’t working out the way we had hoped.So we started talking to friends and even local bridal shops aboutdonating their gently used prom dresses.”

Poppa said she tapped into a conviction that any woman whoowns a formal dress can relate to. “We always say, ‘We’ll wearthese dresses again,’ and then we hang them in the closet,” shesaid, laughing. “But you know you’re never going to wear themagain, no matter how much you think you will.”

By the end of that first year, Poppa and her team had amasseda collection of 200 donated dresses. Now they were faced withthe task of cleaning them, organizing them by size and color,finding a place to resell them, and, finally, pricing them. Poppadistinctly remembers how difficult it was to find the money to attend her high school prom.

“It was hard to make your own money to buy your tickets, letalone finding the money to buy your dress, and get your hair andnails done,” she said. “After doing a lot of research, we decidedthat we would sell the dresses at half the cost of retail. Wewanted to make the prices reasonable, so no dress would costmore than $250.” The prices, however, are negotiable; if a girlcomes in with a strict budget or if she’s trying to pay for the dresson her own, Poppa will work with the parents or teen so that theprice of the dress falls within her budget.

In March of 2006, Poppa’s team set up the very first “PromDresses for Life” event at the Greensburg Courtyard Marriott.They advertised the event in local media outlets, online on socialnetworking sites, and through local high schools.

The first year, the group sold 10 dresses and made $500. By the second year, the idea had taken off, and Poppa found that more and more local businesses were willing to contributeto the cause.

Over the years, local bridal and formalwear shops have offered to donate brand-new dresses from “last season” to theevent. Local dry cleaners offered to clean the dresses for free.Claire’s and Icing boutiques donated more than $3,000 worth of costume jewelry, tiaras, purses and gloves to the cause andlast year My Sissy’s Closet donated 40 pairs of shoes to theevent. In addition, Poppa, who works full time as a manager atValley Pools in Greensburg, said that the company lends itsclothing racks from Halloween costume displays to the eventand her team snagged clothing racks from stores that were moving or going out of business. Dress donation locations nowspan Route 30 from North Versailles to Latrobe.

One of those locations, Sisters II, has been involved since the beginning. The boutique’s owner, Robert Kolbosky, said that throughout the year his store will save dresses for Poppa’sfundraiser that otherwise might be put on sale in his store.“Sometimes, if we’re pricing a dress for sale, we’ll tell ourselves, ‘No, we’re going togive it to Kristin to makesure she has enoughmerchandise for her fundraiser.’”

Prom Dresses for Life By Jennifer Brozak


Like other dress shops, Sisters II donates brand-new dresses and shoes that are simply being retired because they have beendiscontinued.

Poppa also enlists the help of her family. Her stepfather, Randy, built her first set of clothing racks and a platform for girlsto stand on while they’re trying on dresses – and she says theydeliberately place those platforms outside of the dressing roomsso that her team can “ooh and aah” as girls consider variousdresses. Her brother, Randy, Jr., and stepfather also help out with the transporting of the dresses to and from the event.

“We get a lot of help from the community, and are incrediblythankful,” said Poppa.

She added that the fundraiser’s main goal is to raise money for cancer research because of her mother’s ongoing battle with the disease, but she also wanted to showcase the otherservices that the American Cancer Society provides to familieslike hers.

For instance, Poppa said that the ACS provides rides for patients to attend chemotherapy appointments, which was especially helpful because of her family’s work commitments.She’s also thankful for the society’s team of educational resources, which helped her understand a doctor’s medical jargon while her mother was undergoing treatment.

“I can’t tell you how many times I called [the ACS staff] because I had no idea what the doctor was talking about,” she said. “And my stepdad, of course, wanted to do everything he could to help her. They would put the information in layman’s terms for us, and tell us where we could go to find more information.”

She also appreciates the “esteem-boosting” activities, including its “Look Good…Feel Better” seminars in which cancerpatients are taught how to apply makeup and wigs and get totake home product goody bags.

As her mother continues to fight and recover from breast, liverand brain cancer, Poppa remains focused on her goal of raisingmoney for Cindy’s Angels through Prom Dresses for Life. At thesame time, she’s helping area teenagers fulfill their wishes.

“We’ve helped a lot of girls who otherwise could not afford the prom of their dreams,” she said.

Unfortunately, personal commitments are hindering Poppa’sability to organize the event for 2013, and she is currently lookingfor another individual or group to take the reins.

“Prom Dresses for Life has not only raised funds for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life over the past six years,but has also helped hundreds of teenage girls by giving themconfidence, happiness and a glimmer of what it’s like to be aprincess for a day,” she said. “I would love to see Prom Dresses

for Life take on new life so it can continue spreading the good that so many people desperately need in their lives.”

Readers who may be interested in joining the cause should contact Poppa at [email protected].

Prom Dresses for Life hasnot only raised funds forthe American Cancer Society Relay for Life over the past six years, but has also helped hundreds of teenage girlsby giving them confidence,happiness and a glimmerof what it’s like to be aprincess for a day.

14 Greensburg Salem

The hard work and dedication of eightAfrican-American high school juniors and seniors were recognized at the 2012Jack and Jill of America Inc., PittsburghChapter Presentation Ball held at theOmni William Penn Hotel. The theme was“Our Journey: Creating Our Legacy.” Theteens were honored for their “outstandingacademic, athletic and community serviceachievements” while they waltzed thenight away. The proceeds from the ballbenefited a local food bank. Greensburg area brother and sister,

Forrest and Olivia Barnes were presenteesat the ball. Their parents are Rufus Barnesof Cranberry Township and StephanieBarnes-Jones of Greensburg. It took approximately one year for them to prepare for the ball; participating in various seminars from community service to leadership along with manyother subjects.Organized in 1944, the non-profit

Jack and Jill of America, Inc., PittsburghChapter is one of the oldest AfricanAmerican family organizations in theUnited States that was founded by thelate Marion Stubbs Thomas in 1938 inPhiladelphia. It provides social, culturaland educational opportunities for youthbetween the ages of two and nineteen.Dr. Rhonda Johnson has been a Jack

and Jill of America, Inc., Pittsburgh Chapter member since 1994 and was avolunteer at the ball. “The Pittsburgh Chapter is the second

oldest in the nation,” said Johnson. “We have a rich history. I have two daughters that have been presentees

in the ball in the past and have one son remaining that will be apresentee next year. There are so manyopportunities for the children. They havecultural, educational, recreational and social activities and most importantly,community service. We believe in givingback to the Pittsburgh community andgive throughout the year to charities such as the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.”

to learn more about Jack and Jill of america, inc., Pittsburgh chapter, visit the website atwww.jackandjillpittsburgh.com.

By Kathy Rudolph

Young People’s ConcertsStorm Chasers!e Westmoreland Symphony will present its annualYoung People’s Concerts on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. at Greensburg-Salem High School.

is event, which has taken place every year since1977, will be a wonderful opportunity to hear a live orchestra playing classic works by Beethoven, Vivaldi and Debussy.

e concerts center around atheme and in the past have included Peter and the Wolf,

Musicolympic, Music from Outer Space, e Bird Catcher,Music of the Dance, Cowboys and Indians, Music fromAround the World and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.

e concerts will be conducted by Daniel Meyer, Artistic Director.

Program:Wagner: Flying Dutchman OvertureDebussy: Nuages (Clouds)Vivaldi: “Winter” Concerto from the Four SeasonsBeethoven: Pastorale Symphony (understorm)Grofé: Cloudburst and On e Trail from Grand Canyon SuiteStrauss: under and Lightning Polka

Hold on to Your Hat! e Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra will present the 11th annual Hat Luncheon on June 1, 2013. Champagne reception at 11 a.m. and Luncheon at noon.Call 724.837.1850 for an invitation.

is fun event brings out attendees dressed in their finestattire, including the most fashionable hats for an elegant

fund raising event with liveorchestral music.

Last year’s event was held atthe Greensburg Garden andCivic Center and guests wereentertained by students of theAcademy of Music.

e event is underwritten byseveral area businesses andorganizations, as well as

individuals with a desire to support the arts.

For more information on the upcoming event, pleasevisit the website at www.westmorelandsymphony.org,or call 724.837.1850.


Daniel Meyer, Artistic Directorand his wife Mary Persin (farright) and co-chairs Candace Cassidy and Jill Briercheck.

Artistic Director Daniel Meyer speaks with pianist Sasha Voinovduring the Young People’s Concert.

Monday, July 11, 2011, should have been a relaxing day forGreensburg resident Michael Ledgard. He was planning toplay a late game of golf with his good friend Kirk Haldeman atthe Ligonier Country Club and then grab a bite to eat at anearby restaurant. Little did Ledgard know that the day would prove to be anything but relaxing.

Ledgard and Haldeman were unable to play golf due torain, but still decided to have dinner at a restaurant and bar in Ligonier. After circling the full parking lot and briefly considering eating elsewhere, they found a parking space and entered the bar area. Shortly after ordering their meals,Ledgard noticed a man who walked into the bar and ordered a beer. Another bar patron, Donald Holler, with whomLedgard was casually acquainted, was watching a televisionshow about the Iraq/Afghanistan war. The man at the barsaid he had a problem with the show that Holler was watching and wanted it to be turned off. Holler, along withsome other bar patrons, refused to change the channel. The man then left the bar and returned a few minutes laterwith a semi-automatic rifle and shot Holler.

While most of the people in the bar scattered and some took shelter in a nearby walk-in cooler, Haldeman immediately jumped into action and grabbed the shooter,forcing his second shot away from the bar patrons. Ledgard

then tackled both men to the ground in an effort to helpHaldeman protect the other people. At that point the

two were able to get the rifle away from the shooter and hold him down until police arrived. Sadly, Hollerwas pronounced dead at the scene.

The shooter was later identified as Army veteranStephen Fromholz of San Antonio, Texas. His trial took place in August, 2012, with both Ledgard and Haldeman as witnesses for the prosecution.

Fromholz was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, though his sentence is

currently under appeal. About six months after the incident, which received

extensive local news coverage, Ledgard and Haldeman werecontacted by the Carnegie Hero Fund, which awards medalsand financial grants to those throughout the United Statesand Canada who have risked their lives to an extraordinarydegree to save, or attempt to save, the lives of others. Since its inception in 1904, the fund has recognized 9,539 heroes (44 in 2012). The fund was established by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and has provided $34.4 million in one-time grants, scholarships, death benefits and continuing assistance.

In yet another selfless act, Ledgard and Haldeman usedtheir monetary prize from the Carnegie Hero Fund to hold amemorial party for Holler at the bar where he was killed onthe anniversary of his death. They provided an open bar and appetizers to anyone who wanted to join in celebratingHoller’s life, and Ledgard says that it was a very special night

16 Greensburg Salem

By Autumn A. Altieri

Greensburg Man Receives CarnegieMedal for Act of Heroism


with many in attendance. He and Haldeman attended aBoard of Directors meeting for the Carnegie Hero Fund where they were awarded their medals.

Ledgard notes that while he does not feel like a hero, the events of that night did change him. He is much moreguarded about possible altercations when he is out in publicand he catches himself wondering if the tragic events of thatnight could have been avoided by trying to keep the shootercalm or by simply changing the television channel. Ledgardthinks about that night often, especially when he hears about other public shootings and altercations such as theColorado movie theater massacre. He also thinks about the others in the bar that night and sees them occasionally.Just this past September, one of them took Ledgard andHaldeman on a golf outing to show his appreciation for theirheroic deeds that night.

Ledgard humbly attributes his heroic actions that night to Haldeman, and says that he is not sure whether he would have acted so bravely if not for the concern for hisfriend’s welfare. He and Haldeman met through work andtheir friendship quickly transcended the workplace as the two joined golf leagues and golf clubs together. They startedto travel on golf outings together and have remained close for two decades.

While Ledgard does not like to speculate about whetherFromholz would have continued shooting bar patrons thatnight, he does acknowledge that Fromholz fired a secondshot after killing Holler and cannot deny the possibility that many more people might have been killed or injured if not for himself and Haldeman. Ligonier Borough PoliceChief John Berger has been quoted as saying that if not forLedgard’s and Haldeman’s quick actions, Fromholz mighthave attempted to hurt or kill everyone in the bar that night.

Ledgard, who was previously a resident of Ligonier formore than eight years, currently works as a contractor andlives with his wife, Virginia Tuscano, in Greensburg. The twohave five children and six grandchildren. Ledgard is humble to a fault when discussing his involvement in helping to savethe lives of many innocent people that night, and though heimmediately called Virginia after the incident, he initially did not tell many of his family members about his actions.Most local news broadcasts did not mention his name, sowhen his family members found out about his involvementtheir reactions were most often disbelief that he didn’t tellthem sooner.

No one quite knows how they will react in a life-threaten-ing situation until presented with one. When the time camefor Michael Ledgard, he thought not about himself, but aboutthe welfare of those around him.

“Join us for an afternoon delight with a wonderful performance,great food and fun on Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m. Start at the Seton Hill Performing Arts Center in Greensburg with a performance of “Little Women,” and then walk across the parking lot to The Supper Club for gourmet hors d’oeuvres, agelato bar, coffee and cash bar. And for more fun, there is asilent auction with awesome jewelry and amazing sports paraphernalia, and the amusing treasure chest game and greatdoor prizes. Just a wonderful way to spend the afternoon; bring friends and family to share the event that supports seniorcitizens in your community with Forbes Trail Faith in Action.

Event:

Fundraiser for Forbes Trail Faith in Action

General Performance, food and friends Description:

Date: sunday, february 24

Time: 2 p.m.

Where: Greensburg, PaStarting with performance of “Little Women” at the Seton Hill Performing Arts Center THEN after the performance moving across the parking lot to The Supper Club for gourmet hors d’oeuvres, dessert and coffee with cash bar AND Silent Auction, Treasure Chest Game and door prizes

Cost: $60 each ticket donation or $110 for two tickets

For [email protected] Information: or 724-327-3353 (faith in action office)

FTFIA is a local service provided by local volunteers with thegoal of assisting seniors over the age of 60 to maintain theirindependence, dignity and quality of live by providing FREEnon-medical services including, transportation to doctors‘appointments, shopping escort, handy-man repairs, homesafety checks and caregiver relief. All services are free andthere are no income requirements for this United Way ofWestmoreland County Program.

18 Greensburg Salem

By Matthew J. Fawcett

20 Greensburg Salem

By Jennifer Brozak


Books Come Alive is a series of live produc-tions presented by Greensburg’s Stage Right Schoolfor the Performing Arts & Professional TheatreCompany. The series transforms beloved children’sstories into live performances at area libraries, including the GreensburgHempfield Library. It giveschildren a chance to see andexperience live theater forfree, which is presented byyoung actors in a familiar setting.

Cesare Muccari, director of the Greensburg HempfieldArea Library, was instrumental in developing the Books Come Alive program and said that the response to the program has been “fantastic.”

“I see the faces of these children during the performances, and they’re really excited about it. Thepoint of the program – of anychildren’s library program – is to encourage kids to read.The Books Come Alive program has been incrediblysuccessful,” said Muccari, noting that the program haseven encouraged children who were once audience members to join Stage Right as performers.

Tony Marino, the artisticdirector at Stage Right, saidthat his company works withlocal librarians to determinewhich books they would like tosee and then adapts them to stage performances.All of the Books Come Alive actors are Stage Right students.

“Some of the scripts are tightly based on theoriginal story, and others are loosely adapted,”

Marino said. For instance, in a recent holidayadaptation of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,”one of Santa’s elves causes an explosion at anXbox factory – a detail that was obviously not included in the original 1939 version of the story.

Marino relies on the librarystaff to give input about whichbooks are “hot” and oftentimesties the productions into theSummer Reading themes of thelibrary. Stage Right has beenproducing Books Come Alive for nearly 10 years. Marinosaid that the Books Come Aliveseries is part of Stage Right’sOutreach productions and requires a special commitmentfrom its young actors becauseof its short, two-to-three day rehearsal process.

The Books Come Aliveevents are “a unique performance experience,”he explains. “It truly is abaptism by fire in a reallyexciting way for these youngperformers. They get the opportunity to think on theirfeet, to interact with the audience, and build their improvisational skills. They’regoing for it right off the bat.”

The performances are tailored to children ages 3-11.Lasting only 30 to 40 minuteseach, they are enhanced with costumes, props, singingand dancing and are set beforea large, colorful backdrop. Themain goal of the program is

to foster a love of reading and literacy in youngchildren. Oftentimes a child will want to read the book if they were not familiar with the storybefore viewing the play.

To learn more about upcoming Books Come Alive productions at The Greensburg Hempfield Library,please visit the website www.ghal.org. For more information on Stage Right, please visit the websitewww. stagerightgreensburg.com/outreach.

Young children often wish that the characters from their favoritestories could come to life to talk and play. Through the ingenuity ofa program known as Books Come Alive – and the talents of its local

student actors, their wishes can be fulfilled.

These young performers get the opportunity to think on theirfeet, to interactwith the audience,and build their improvisationalskills.

Some people say there are no second acts in life. Members of The Sparks of L.I.F.E., a group of Greensburg-area amateur musicians, would beg to differ.

The Sparks of L.I.F.E. is comprised of nearly two dozen area senior citizens, all of whom are amateur organists and students of theLowrey Organ at Trombino Music Center located in WestmorelandMall. The group is a local chapter of the company’s recreational musicclub known as L.I.F.E., an acronym for “Lowrey is Fun and Easy.”

According to Sparks of L.I.F.E. President Don Rose, 74, L.I.F.E. chapters were founded as a way for those involved in the program to collaborate and reach out to the community.

“Our primary mission is to have fun and to share the ease of playing the organ, as well as the therapeutic benefits gained in theprocess of learning how to play,” he said.

The volunteer group performs on a regular basis at venues such as nursing homes, senior citizen centers and senior assisted-living facilities. Each event usually lasts around one to one-and-a-half hours and features performances by about 10 members on a rotating basis. This allows performing members – some of whomhave their own health concerns – to play two or three songs, andRose said that members who can’t play still assist with the events in other ways.

The group’s vice president, Richey Eberman, begins a typical performance by playing “I Don’t Know Why I Love You Like I Do,” during which Rose introduces the club and its sponsorship. Rosethen introduces each of the performers as they play, and Ebermancloses the show by playing “It Seems Like Old Times.” Rose said he encourages the members to play what they enjoy, and since themembers play at different skill levels, each performance features

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a variety of music, including country, polka, swing,Latin, show tunes, light jazz, old standards, patriotictunes and gospel.

Sparks of L.I.F.E. member Jo Hursh, 62, said thatshe prefers to play upbeat big band and rock ‘n’ rollsongs like “In the Mood,” “Fly Me to the Moon” and“Great Balls of Fire.” Hursh, who not only performswith the group but also serves as its reporter andphotographer, said that one of her proudest mo-ments since joining took place at an Alzheimer’s carehome in Irwin.

“There was a gentleman sitting in the front rowwith a vacant stare in his eyes, showing no emotion,”she explained. “As the music was playing, I took hishands and we swayed to the music. Suddenly, hestood up and started shuffling his feet, still holdingmy hands. The staff in the room could not believethat was happening. This man, who had not shown areaction to anything, was on his feet, lost in the mo-ment of the music.”

“Seeing the smile on the residents’ faces gives me the greatest thrill,” said Rose. “It means that we have accomplished something for them – their smile and laughter mean everything.”

In addition to performances, the group is alsocommitted to helping the community at large. “Lastyear, we held a food drive for the WestmorelandCounty Food Bank,” said Hursh. “This year, in lieu ofa Christmas grab-bag exchange, all members made a monetary donationto buy essential paper products for three local church food pantries.”

The group’s current incarnation is a far cry from what it was whenRose took the lead in 2006. At the time, the chapter had only five mem-bers (including the store manager) and was not performing at all. Rosetook over the group and changed its name from the L.I.F.E. Chapter ofSouthwestern Pennsylvania to The Sparks of L.I.F.E. – a name that, forRose, has a significant double meaning.

Prior to taking over the club, he underwent extensive abdominal surgery due to an infection in his abdominal wall that was leading

to septicemia (blood poisoning). About a month later,he was about to be released from the hospital when hesuffered a cardiac arrest.

“I literally died on the floor of that hospital room,”Rose says. “The attending physician was able to bringme back to life by hitting me with the paddles 12 times.This led to quintuple bypass surgery in June 2006, andanother month of recovery.”

“I asked the doctor why he hit me 12 times with the paddles, knowing that 3-4 times is par for the course. He told me that every time he would use the paddles,he would see a spark of life in my eyes, and that as long as he was seeing those sparks of life, he was going to continue trying to revive me. Thank God hewas persistent.”

Today, the club has 22 members, all of whom are students at Trombino Music Center, and each ofwhom, Rose says, “represents a spark.”

Most of the group’s members initially learned how to play through Trombino’s Quick Start program, in which the music center loans students a small beginnerorgan for six weeks. During that time period, students are required to attend a lesson for an hour each week,and the music center guarantees that students will learnsix songs in six weeks. After the six-week period ends,students continue taking weekly classes at the store.Rose continues to take a weekly class to hone his skills.

“Each of us joined [the group] because of loving toplay and wanting to give something to the community,” he said. “Noneare professionals. All are hobbyists, some with prior experience, butmany with only a love of music and a desire and willingness to learn.”

Because the group is near capacity, it is not actively seeking new members. However, Rose noted that it could accommodate two or three new performers. Anyone who is interested in learning more aboutThe Sparks of L.I.F.E. can contact Don Rose at 724.689.2248 or Richey Eberman at 724.836.8602.

american baptist church1228 Brinkerton Rd, Greensburg,PA 15601

first baptist church1228 Brinkerton Rd, Greensburg,PA 15601

Grace baptist church 4463 State Route 136, Greens-burg, PA 15601724-863-3032

church of brethren554 Stanton St, Greensburg, PA15601

Greensburg church of the brethren 554 Stanton Street, Greensburg,PA 15601724.834.2130

blessed sacrament 300 N Main St., Greensburg, PA15601724.834.3710

blessed sacrament cathedral300 N Main St, Greensburg, PA15601

our lady of Grace1001 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Greens-burg, PA 15601724.838.9480

Seton Hill UniversitySeton Hill University, Greensburg, PA 15601724.830.1075

st benedict's churchRR 8 Box 560, Greensburg, PA15601

st bruno church1707 Poplar St, Greensburg, PA15601

St Paul's Church820 Carbon Rd, Greensburg, PA15601

st. benedict Bruno Rd., Greensburg, PA 15601724. 834.9045

st. bruno 1707 Poplar St., Greensburg, PA15601724.836.0690

st. Nicholas (byzantine) 622 E Pittsburgh St., Greensburg,PA 15601724.837.0295 st. Paul 820 Carbon Rd., Greensburg, PA15601(724) 834-6880

lifespring christian church314 S. Pennsylvania Ave.,Greensburg, PA 15601724.832.7514

lifespring christian church314 S. Pennsylvania Ave.,Greensburg, PA 15601724.832.7514

first christian churchRR 15 Box 1, Greensburg, PA15601

life church Carmike Cinemas, Westmore-land Mall, Greensburg, PA 15601724.832.1404

Greensburg alliance churchRR 6 Box 63a, Greensburg, PA15601

laurel Highlands church of God103 Westminster Ave, Greensburg, PA 15601

church of christ-christianRR 12 Box 193, Greensburg, PA15601

christ episcopal church 145 N Main St, Greensburg, PA15601724. 834.4750

evangelical lutheran church501 Fairfield Dr, Greensburg, PA15601

first evangelical lutheranchurch246 S Main St, Greensburg, PA15601

Herald Zion lutheran churchRR 6 Box 64, Greensburg, PA15601

st Matthias evangelical church100 Chapel View Dr, Greensburg,PA 15601

Zion's lutheran church140 S Pennsylvania Ave, Greensburg, PA 15601

charter oak United MethodistRR 7 Box 353a, Greensburg, PA15601

first United Methodist church15 E 2nd St, Greensburg, PA15601

otterbein United Methodistchurch111 College Ave, Greensburg, PA15601

south Greensburg UMc411 Sheridan Ave, Greensburg,PA 15601

trinity United Methodist church210 W 4th St, Greensburg, PA15601

calvary chapel of Westmoreland 500 Chestnut Street, Greensburg, PA 15601412.779.4649

church of the open Door970 N Main St, Greensburg, PA15601

Covenant Church East623 Highland Ave, Greensburg,PA 15601

Moving Waters Ministries724.516.7622

sonrise churchRR 7 Box 258a, Greensburg, PA15601

Victorious life church 214 Frye Farm Rd, Greensburg,PA 15601724.837.6308

Word of life MinistriesRR 6 Box 59m, Greensburg, PA15601

st Michael's orthodox church601 Wirsing Ave, Greensburg, PA15601

The Salvation Army Po Box 945/ 131 E. Otterman St,Greensburg, PA 15601724.834.3335

First Presbyterian ChurchPO Box 1038, Greensburg, PA15601

24 Greensburg Salem

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28 Greensburg Salem

Nadia Comaneci. Mary Lou Retton. Shawn Johnson.Gabby Douglas. For decades, superstar Olympic gymnasts have been capturing the hearts of the public –and inspiring thousands of young children around theworld to pursue the sport of gymnastics. Locally, for morethan 30 years, the Salem Township Parks and RecreationGymnastics Program has been helping area children of all ages learn to flip, tumble and twirl in the spirit of theirown gymnastic idols.

Run by head coach and administrative director Rebecca Peiffer,along with coach Melissa Miller, the program offers six differentclasses, which are all geared to a child’s experience level and ability. Children as young as 3 or 4 years old can enroll in Kinder-gym before progressing through the ranks, which includeBasic Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Intermediate, Pre-Team andTeam classes.The program is designed to be recreational, not competitive,

so that “every kid can be a star,” according to Peiffer. “Not every child is going to want to compete, or will have the

ability to compete,” she says. “Competing is expensive and timeconsuming, and if you’re a competitive gymnast, it’s the only activity you’re going to be able to be involved in. We’re muchmore flexible.” For instance, Peiffer said that if a child is interested in joining

the program but is involved in other activities or sports, thecoaches will work around the child’s schedule. Instead of competitions, gymnasts participate in an annual exhibition atGreensburg-Salem High School that showcases the individualclasses as well as graduating seniors.

By Jennifer Brozak

“We’re very much like a family,” notes Peiffer. So much sothat oftentimes former gymnasts will come back to visit –sometimes with their own families in tow. We’ve been to bridal showers, weddings, baby showers [of former students] – you name it,” she said.Peiffer, 46, became head coach in 1982 when she was

just 15 years old. At the time, her father was the Salem Township supervisor and asked her to help out with the program. When the man and woman running the program resigned, she took over and has been serving ever since. Prior to joining the Salem Township program, she had been acompetitive gymnast with the Greensburg and ScottdaleYMCAs. “I’ve been here so long that I used to coach thecoaches. And every year I check to make sure I can still flip,”she said, laughing. “And I still can.”At the start of her leadership, Peiffer said there were

only 40 gymnasts enrolled. Today, there are 125 girls and 4 boys in the program, and she tends to see a peak in interest every time the summer Olympic Gamestake place. The gymnasts participate in dance,tumbling, uneven bars, beam and vault so thatthey “get a taste of everything,” explained Pfeif-fer. The practices take place in a multipurpose room at Greensburg-Salem’s James H. MetzgarElementary. Most participants come from theGreensburg-Salem area, but the program has also attracted students from the Derry, Penn-Trafford and Apollo-Ridge areas. In addition to Peiffer and Miller, Peiffer’s sister,

Rachel Grant, and Leandra Allen, a Greensburg-Salem High School senior, serve as coaches. “Every year we have a junior or senior come

in to help us coach,” Peiffer said. Allen will begraduating and moving on to college to pursue a nursing career this year. After being a part of the gym for 12 years, she said it will be “veryhard to leave.”“This place is like my home,” continued Allen,

18. “I came here every day as a student before I started coaching. It’s a great program, and it appealed to me because it’s like a big family.”The Salem Township program begins in

September and culminates with the gymnasticsshow in June. Annual fees vary by class and range from $125 for Kinder-gym to $230 forTeam. Non-resident fees are slightly higher.

anyone interested in signing up for the salem township recreation Gymnastics Program can visit www.salemtownshippa.com/gymnastics.


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30 Greensburg Salem


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Sunday April 21st 10 am � 2 pm (Many Items Half Price)Fall Dates Sept 13-15 2013

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32 Greensburg Salem

Greensburg Salem Tech Ed Studies Real World Physics Cody Pfeifer loads sand into bucket as he tests his cantilever in Advanced Discovery Lab at Greensburg Salem High School. Students build cantilevers, a beam anchored at only one end, as part of their study of structural design.The goal was to build a structure that can support 33 lbs of weight.

Advanced Discovery Lab is intended for students who wish to expand their knowledge in technology. Group projects and hands-on activities help students explore technological systemswhile thinking critically by designing future projects. They also research automobile design and structural engineering. In ADL, students not only use their hands to enhance their education, but their writing and sketching skills too. - Marjorie Aaron

If you have a home, you know how challenging it is to maintain it. Roofs leak, landscapes need weeding, andkitchens and baths need facelis. If you’re handy, you can get by with your own sweat equity. However, most

people don’t have the skills, let alone the time, to tackle major household projects – many of which will requireyou spending more time at the office just to be able to tackle the price tags such projects come with. Here, we

try to cover it all for you – from financing your project to enjoying it when it’s complete.

S P E C I A L S E C T I O N

IN GREENSBURG SALEM

Building a home addition can be a good alternative to buying anew home or building a house from scratch. Besides savingmoney, it can be a means of investing in your home and customizing your home to serve your family’s specific needs anddesires. But additions also bring up potential problems that maynot make them the best option for everyone.An addition can drastically change the way a house looks

from the road or yard. An addition that isn’t well planned canlook like it doesn’t belong ordoesn’t match the rest of thehouse in terms of style or overall shape. Planning an addition carefully with a skilledarchitect is the best way to ensure that the house looks asgood, or even better, than it didbefore the addition. An architect should be able

to produce sketches that give a sense of how the finished

addition will look. To minimize the appearance of an addition,homeowners can usually choose to build onto the back of the existing house, thereby hiding the new construction fromthe road.Depending on the size of an addition and the construction

schedule, it may take weeks or months before an addition iscompleted. Bad weather can cause unanticipated delays, and working with an unreliable contractor can prolong theprocess even further. If a homeowner can’t afford to be patient during the planning and construction process,moving into a new, larger home may be a better option.

An addition can be a good investment, helping to increase the value of a home. Using a home equity line of credit or getting a new mortgage that includes money to pay for the addition can be a wise financial decision, especially when interest rates are low. However, if the expected value of an addition – which a homeowner can estimate by studying the sale prices of nearby homes with similar characteristics – is less than its cost, it may be a poor investment.An addition is likely to raise

the value of a home. After theaddition is completed, a newassessment will raise propertytaxes. Prior to adding on, homeowners should estimatethe value of their home with theaddition and compute a newannual tax liability based oncurrent tax rates.Building an addition is an

ideal time to invest in energy-efficient fixtures and construction. Windows that prevent hot or cool air from escaping and low-energy-consuming appliancescan minimize the cost of an addition by reducing energy billsand its environmental impact.Remodeling your bathroom is another popular way to

jazz up your home as well as build equity. In some cases, notonly is remodeling the bathroom an aesthetic choice but a functional choice as well. Giving your bathroom a boost doesn’t always have to require a boatload of cash or space – just a little planning and creativity before you get started.


continued on page 34

H O M E I M P R O V E M E N T I N G R E E N S B U R G S A L E M

Refresh your bath’s look with a wow-worthy makeover that improves its style and function. Perhaps you have an old toiletthat you want to replace with a high-efficiency model that will lower your water bill. Or perhaps the old tile is falling off your shower and you need to replace it. Whatever your situation is, there are many options to choose from, includingdo-it-yourself options.One popular and inexpensive option is to have a theme for

your bathroom. Examples could be a Disney theme for a child’s bathroom, or perhaps a beach theme. This can be accomplished by painting thewalls, adding a wall border and by well-placed décor.Some larger and more costlybathroom updates include newflooring, new sink and vanityand a new bathtub or shower.These improvements will get even costlier if you paidsomeone to do it for you.

Decks on the rear or side of homes have become extremelypopular in the United States. Used for entertaining or just relaxing, decks come in all shapes, sizes, designs and material.The most popular, and least expensive, deck material is

treated wood. It is durable, however it will need to be painted orstained yearly or every other year depending on your climate.

Composite decking products are building materials manufactured using a mixture of plastic and wood fiber. Composite decking materials are very popular because they require less maintenance than wood and often use recycled materials. Composite decking is easy to install and is guaranteed with a 20-year warranty against rotting, splitting,splintering or termite damage. However, composite decking can be very costly.Vinyl decking made from Cellular PVC is a great choice

for decking because it is essentially resistant to stains, mold, insects and fading. PVC material is low maintenance and is a sustainable building material. But like composite, it can get costly.Powder coated aluminum decking can be used to create a

watertight floor for your deck. This unique material will neversplinter, rot or rust. LockDry Aluminum decking is cool to thetouch and is available in five colors. Aluminum decking is strongand lightweight. The LockDry system can be used to create adry space to use under your deck on rainy days.Decks can built right on the ground, or be elevated high in the

air, depending on the design of your home. If you are building adeck yourself it is very important to check all local buildingcodes and follow all of the guidelines very closely to ensure thesafety and long-term durability of your deck.Bringing your family together is often difficult. A family game

room is a fantastic way to upgrade your home and bring thefamily together. Whether you have an unfinished basement,

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an unused attic room or an empty garage, you can transform it into a fantastic oasis where your family can spend countlessenjoyable hours. There are many aspects to making your gameroom remodel a success. First you should talk to a Design/Buildcontractor about water access, waste lines and additional electricity needs. The contractor can also offer advice on any changes that might be necessary to update the space,whether it be additional insulation for a garage or attic room or waterproofing for a basement room.Water access could also be an important aspect if you

plan to have a bar or sink area. A Design/Build contractor can offer advice on what needs to be done to make the areacompletely usable. You might also want to speak with the contractor about creating an additional half bathroom for guests and family members to use when you’re entertaining.Electricity for lighting and appliances is also incredibly

important. If you are updating an unused area of your home, thecurrent electric wiring may not be able to handle the additionaldemands of a game room. The Design/Build contractor canguide you through what will need to be updated and how muchit will cost.If finances are an issue there are definitely still projects

you can complete yourself including painting, laying carpet,adding shelves or simply updating the décor.Gone are the days when it

was frowned upon to bring workhome. Today a home is not ahome unless it has a home office. Whether you are turningan extra bedroom into a workspace with store-boughtfurniture or constructing a full-scale two-level library and office, home offices are

a regular part of what makes a house a home in 2012.Making the space your own is essential to effective use of a

home office. Create a space that makes you more productiveand relaxed at the same time and that is a winning combination.A desk is an essential part of most offices. Choose one thatmeets your needs. If all you need is a work top to use your laptop from, consider a computer cart and save the space for a comfortable chair or small sofa. If you are in the market for a larger desk, consider office furniture resellers. They sell executive-grade used furniture for a fraction of the cost.Bookcases or other storage can be a nice addition. Not

only can they store books, but they are also great places to display awards or showcase your favorite collection of nicknacks or memorabilia. Decide whether you prefer furniturepieces or built-ins. Antique shops have great deals on beautifulbookcases, and most local cabinet shops can design and install custom built-ins. If you have a closet in your office, visit your local home center for a plethora of storage and organizing options.A comfortable chair or two is a necessity. Choose

long-lasting fabrics and sturdy frames. Go with classicstyles that won’t end up as next year’s garage sale item.

Test out the chair before you buy it. Desk chairs especially needto provide good support and be comfortable.We live in a society of over-indulgence. Nothing shows

this like the home theater. So many popular home magazineshave a page dedicated to converting your basement into ahome theater, or something similar. The HGTV website has 16 home theater features alone. But how doable is the hometheater in reality? First, you need a fairly large space, either a big family room or a basement. Second, you need to budgetfor all the furnishings including, of course, the stars of the show:home theater equipment – a big-screen TV, DVD playerand speakers – and comfyseating. Also very popular for home theaters is floor and aisle lighting similar to real movie theaters, and perhaps even an old-fashionedpopcorn maker.Frankly, home theaters are

generally for those with deeppockets because there really isno way to make a home theater cheaply. Still thinking of takingthe plunge? The home improvement website Home Time has a really useful feature on home theater planning. It coverseverything you’ll need to consider, like the space you’ll need and even suggested room layouts, to maximize your viewingpleasure. Kitchens are the most popular room in the house to remodel.

Many people consider the kitchen to be the center of the homeand its most important component. Another reason it is so popular to remodel is there are so many things in the kitchenthat can be remodeled…. cabinets, cabinet hardware, counter-tops, floor, appliances, lighting, walls and sinks.There is very little right or wrong when it comes to

remodeling your kitchen; it comes down to personal taste.There are so many choices when it comes to style, design and type of material for everycomponent of your kitchen.When remodeling there ismuch to consider: cost, what is your goal, what is your situation (pets or small children could help decidewhat type of flooring to use, forexample) and what is the costvs. equity value of the remodel.If finances are an issue

and you are not the handiestindividual, there are still manysimple and easy things you can do to add pizzazz and value toyour kitchen. For example, you can paint your cabinets and addnew handles rather than buying new cabinets. Adding a stylishsplashguard behind your stove and sink is easy to do and addsgreat appeal. Painting the walls can also make a huge differencein your kitchen, as can changing the light fixture.




If done well, landscaping can completely change the characterand perception of a home. Landscaping encompasses anything onthe outside of the home including grass cutting, plants, flowers,rock, mulch, borders, vegetable gardens and more.Beyond the aesthetics, landscaping can be beneficial to a

property if designed properly. Solar heat absorbed through windows and roofs can increase cooling costs, and incorporatingshade from landscaping elements can help reduce this solar heat gain. Shading and evapotranspiration (the process by which

a plant actively moves and releases water vapor) from trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures as much as 9°F (5°C). Because cool air settles near the ground, air temperatures directly undertrees can be as much as 25°F (14°C) cooler than air temperatures above nearby blacktop.Using shade effectively

requires you to know the size, shape, and location of the movingshadow that your shading device casts. Also, homes in cool regions may never overheat and may not require shading. Therefore, you need to know what landscape shade strategies will work best in your regional climate and your microclimate.Also, if you can determine how much water your plants

actually need, then you won’t overwater them and waste water. It is important to not only understand a plant’s particular wateringrequirements, but also evapotranspiration.Evapotranspiration (Et) is the amount of water that is

evaporated from the soil and transpired through the plant’s leaves. This amount of water needs to be replaced through watering. If you know your area’s Et rate, you can plan the amountof water to be replaced through irrigation. It’s best to water or irrigate your plants in the early morning when evaporation rates are low. This also provides plants with water before middaywhen the evaporation rate is the highest.

Lighting is one of the easiestand least expensive ways to cast an enchanting spell on anyoutdoor space. It is also very effective for safety and securitypurposes.Examples of exterior lighting

include: torches, candles,lanterns, solar ground lighting,flood lights, lamp posts, landscape lighting and generallight fixtures. For setting a mood

the most popular lighting is candles or small lanterns. For securityand safety purposes, it is critical to have flood light or lamp postsor ground solar lighting or all. A burglar is much more likely toenter a home without a lot of light on the outside illuminating the property.With countless styles and options available, there are no

right or wrong choices. The outdoor lighting a homeowner willchoose will come down to budget and personal preference.Many of us take pride in our homes, investing countless

hours rearranging and remodeling the interior. But it can also berefreshing to step out of the confines of the inside and spendsome time outside. It’s especially enjoyable during the spring,summer and fall months. When the weather is favorable, it’s difficult to miss out on a nice day outside.But spending time outside doesn’t mean you have to forfeit

your creature comforts. With a few small adjustments you canmake your outdoor space comfortable and inviting. Turning ayard, patio, porch or other outdoor area into a functional livingspace can be a rewarding task, and will expand your living spaceto the outdoors. With the right setup, you can spend more time inthe sunshine and fresh air, and host events al fresco for friends,family and neighbors. Options for outdoor living include outdoor kitchens, dramatic

lighting, fireplaces or fire pits, a water feature (like a fountain),outdoor living rooms, gazebos and pavilions. With so many options to choose from, for most people it will come down toprice, climate where they live and available space in which to be creative.Ponds can be a wonderful addition to your property’s outdoor

experience. Surprisingly, they are not as difficult to build as onemight think.Before you start, call 811 or

your local one-call center tohave electric and gas linesmarked so you know where todig to steer clear of them. Then, when you map out thelocation of your pond, put itwhere it will be noticed – visiblefrom a window, off a patio, oralong a walkway – but awayfrom the play areas of smallchildren or pets. Keep clear of major root systems or mature trees, which can block too much of the sunlight plants and fishneed. You’ll also need to be within reach of a grounded exterioroutlet so you can plug in a pump, an essential tool for keeping the water aerated; most pumps come with a maximum cordlength of 25 feet, and extension cords are not recommended. You may need to bury the power cord a few inches down in PVC pipe to hide it.Space permitting, you need at least 40 cubic feet for your

pond – about 7 feet by 4 feet – to keep the water clean. An initialshallow terrace just inside the perimeter of the pond holds rocksthat conceal the liner edge and keep it in place. A second, deeperterrace supports plants that live in the water and help balance thepond’s ecosystem. As you dig, you must slope the sides of thepond so that if the water freezes, the ice will push up instead ofagainst the liner. Even in warmer climates, small ponds canchange temperature rapidly, so if you’re adding fish you’ll want adeeper pond that will maintain a more consistent temperatureand accommodate the fish – 18 to 24 inches for goldfish and atleast 3 feet for koi.

36 Greensburg Salem


Crosby Garage Door, est. 1946, offers only the best service andquality products. When your garage door won’t open, callCrosby’s! We offer 24 hour emergency service. Our experiencedinstallers will repair or replace your residential, commercial or industrial garage door or opener with quality parts and professional workmanship. Visit our showroom and experiencethe beauty and quality that distinguishes us from all the rest.

crosby Garage Door38 North Urania Avenue, Greensburg, PA • (724) 834-8450www.crosbygaragedoors.com

Donahue’s Heating and Cooling is family owned and operated.Offering fast, dependable service to Westmoreland Countysince 1962. Call us for all your home comfort needs. Heating, air conditioning, heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, ductlesssystems, air purifiers, duct cleaning, maintenance, installationand 24-hour service. We treat you like family!

Donahue’s inc. Heating and cooling535 Rugh St., Greensburg, PA • (724) 834-9178www.donahues-inc.com

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Valley Pool & Spa is your community, family owned Pool & Spasuperstore since 1967. We pride ourselves on creating a uniqueshopping atmosphere with a huge product selection in ourstores. Ditch your pool boy! Valley’s experts will teach you howto do-it-all-yourself! With free computerized water testing andpool experts on staff, we can help with your every need. Visitone of our stores today in Monroeville, North Versailles, orGreensburg and experience the Valley difference.

Valley PoolsHempfield Plaza (next to Sam’s Club) (724) 837-7030www.valleypoolspa.com

Country Farms is a family-owned garden center and landscape contracting company, proudly serving southwesternPennsylvania for over 32 years. We are a service-oriented organization, offering our clients a very personal and uniquelandscape experience. Our garden center is known for its huge selection of plant material, as well as an extensive array of landscape materials and supplies for homeowners and contractors alike.

country farms1909 Route 119, Greensburg, PA 15601 (724) 837-4650 www.countryfarmsinc.com


To maintain the consistent depth of the water, you need to line the pond. A thin layer of sand and old newspapers orburlap bags softens the jagged edges of rocks and roots. But overthat you will need to put a waterproof skin. There are severaltypes of flexible liners meant for small ponds – made frompolypropylene and EPDM, among othermaterials. Look forone that’s weather-resistant, so it will stand up to UV rays and freezing temperatures. It should also be rated “fish-safe” if you plan to stock your pond and come with a warranty of 10 to 20 years so your pond will be watertight for many years to come.Remodeling your home can generate tremendous equity

for the future, as well as personal enjoyment in the present. Remodeling projects come in all shapes, sizes and costs. Projectscan range from replacing flooring or a faucet, to installing newtrim work or tile and replacing windows and doors. Remodelingcan also take on the form of revamping or adding a bathroom, redoing a kitchen, overhauling your home’s exterior for improvedcurb appeal, or completing an addition to increase your home’ssquare footage and add valuable space. Big and small changescan both have an impact and will improve the way your homelooks and functions, increasing its value and making it more enjoyable for you and your family.The key to any remodeling job is to make sure it makes

sense financially. Not all remodeling jobs are cost-effective.

For example, it is possible to pay $75,000 for a new addition,but an appraiser may be of the opinion that it only raised thevalue of your house by $50,000. It is very important that you doasmuch research as possible and talk to asmany experiencedprofessionals as possible so you can make an informed decisionabout what is best for you.

Financing Remodeling ProjectsWhile home sales may be sluggish, home remodels are

roaring. In the second quarter of 2011, Americans were expectedto spend $132.8 billion on remodeling – up 12.8% over the previous year, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studiesof Harvard University.And it’s no surprise that these projects aren’t cheap. In fact,

the same studies report that 57% of home-remodeling projectscost at least $20,000.Since saving your pennies in a pickle jar is probably not

enough to update your master bathroom with a slate walk-inshower or add granite countertops to your kitchen, explore these options to finance your new-and-improved home.

Purchase a Variable-Rate CDWhat it’s good for: Projects that can wait until a fixed time in the future with a price tag you can pay by saving.If you plan to pay for the kitchen of your dreams the

old-fashioned way – by saving for it – consider a variable-rate

38 Greensburg Salem

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certificate of deposit. This savings vehicle is similar to a traditional savings account inthat you can add money to it at any time (a fixed-rate CD does not allow additionaldeposits during the term of the CD).In return for an interest rate that may go up or down, the interest rate often is

slightly higher than a traditional CD when you buy it. You make a low minimum deposit and lock in your money for a fixed time – usually at least six or 12 months. If you withdraw your funds before then, you pay penalties and lose the interest.

Open a Home Equity Line of CreditWhat it’s good for: Long-term projects that can be paid off over five or fewer years.The beauty of using the equity in your home is that you write yourself checks from

a line of credit and pay interest on only what you borrow. Plus, the interest is typicallytax deductible.While current low interest rates add to the allure, these credit lines can be tough

to come by in this climate of lowered home values and tight credit. When interestrates rise, your home improvement project may become more expensive than you anticipated.

Refinance Your HomeWhat it’s good for: Larger projects for a home you plan to live in for the long term.A “cash-out” refinance allows you to refinance your mortgage for an amount that

is larger than your current mortgage. You get the difference in a check – effectivelyrolling the sum into a newly financed 15- or 30-year mortgage. This can be an attractive option, as mortgage rates have hovered at historic lows in recent years.The downsides include closing fees that can be in the thousands of dollars. Plus,

the threshold to qualify, including income and home-value requirements, can be high –both of which can pose a challenge in this economy.

Return on your InvestmentThinking about adding a deck or revamping the kitchen so you can up the price of your home before you sell? You might want to crunch the 2010-11 Cost vs. Value numbers, compiled by Remodeling magazine, before you do.

Projects with highest return on investment• Replacing entry door with steel door (102%)• Garage door replacement (84%)• Adding a wood deck (73%)• Minor kitchen remodel (73%)• Vinyl siding replacement (72%)• Wood window replacement (72%)• Attic bedroom addition (72%)

40 Greensburg Salem

If you are in the businessof selling homes... Don't get left out of our summer real estate section! Call us for further detailson how to get involved.724.942.0940.

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IN Woodland Hills | Summer 2010 | incommunitymagazines.com 9

“At Juniper Village we believe that nurturing the body, mind and

spirit is key to living the best, most fulfilling life possible, regardless

of your age,” says Bonnie Prisk, Director of Community Relations

for Juniper Village at Forest Hills. “Education is empowerment.

And, an engaged mind, a healthy body and a fulfilled spirit all

increase your quality of life. Our College of Lifelong Learning is a

Juniper Communities’ signature program designed not only for our

residents, but for everyone in the community who has an interest in

continuous learning and whole person wellness.” Similar to a continuing education program offered at community

colleges, Juniper Village’s College of Lifelong Learning hosts a

variety of general interest programs as well as ones themed to their

Alive in All Seasons program. “Our courses focus on staying healthy

and connected within the community, and are designed for students

55 years of age or older,” states Ms. Prisk. Courses such as Portrait

Painting, Basic Computer and Internet Classes, Creative Crafting,

Taiji and Qigong, Yoga, and educational presentations on health

related topics such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Diabetes, Depression

and Pulmonary Health have been offered. All of these activities whether they be physical, educational

or spiritual can help older adults enhance their lives. Improved

physical fitness can help with moods, raise self-confidence,

and help us feel better emotionally. Learning new information,

taking a language class or working on the computer can help

seniors build new pathways in the brain and remain sharp mentally.

And, exploring spirituality through religion, education, or social

groups can help seniors feel more optimistic about their future

and find inner peace. A variety of classes and presentations are offered at Juniper

Village each month. For more information about the College of

Lifelong Learning educational courses offered at Juniper Village

or to request your free course catalog, contact Juniper Village at

Forest Hills at 412-244-9901. Juniper Village is a senior living,

assisted living and memory impairment care assisted living

community located in Forest Hills, just off of Ardmore Boulevard.

Independent Living, Assisted Living and Wellspring Memory Impairment CareSpacious studios, suites and one-bedroom apartments available

On-site nursing staff and 24 hour assistance with daily care needs Structured activities and programs seven days a week

Delicious meals and snacks dailyHousekeeping and laundry servicesConveniently located in Forest Hills

For more information or toschedule your personal tour,contact Juniper Village at (412) 244-9901 today! Or visit us on the web at

www.junipercommunities.com

NuturingYour Spirit for Life!

“Juniper Village’s College of Lifelong LearningPrograms were designed to provide you with theopportunity to live fully, to celebrate, to grow, andto remain alive in all seasons of your life!”

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