A & E

At a pre-show gala, flags from 52 countries flew, and hot-air balloons hovered over vivid arrangements from Greensburg Floral.

Reggie Esmi and Julia Molnar with Parkhurst Dining Services offered a bountiful buffet with fun food names, such as Chinese Stir Fry, Istanbul Turkey, Old West Tenderloin, Cairo Coconut Shrimp, Mediterranean Fruit and Buckingham Palace Mushroom Crowns.

The event at the Unity college drew 250, and netted about $25,000 to benefit the summer theatre, in its 40th season.

This anniversary was particularly meaningful, said Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, because of the passing of theatre founder the Rev. Tom Devereux in June.

And though the community felt great sadness, it felt "gratitude for all of the blessings he has brought to this community," Nowicki said. "The theatre has been an important part of the cultural life of the region for many years. It's our responsibility to work together to carry on the legacy he leaves."

College president Jim Towey introduced his wife, Mary, thanked patrons, and told them they didn't have to wait until summer to visit the ever-growing institution.

The audience burst into laughter when Towey explained that his short speech was due to some advice he'd solicited from the archabbot:

"'Go wherever the Holy Spirit leads you, but keep your remarks under a minute.'"

Additional comments were by gala chairpersons Angelo and Pam DeMezza, and representatives of sponsors First Commonwealth and R & L Development Co.

Seen enjoying the gala: state Rep. Jess Stairs and Joan, Westmoreland County Judge William J. Ober, Bill and Phil Dymond, Nancy Jamison, Joe and Pat Reilly, Kaye Rowe, Don and Mary Lou Hacker, Richard and Joanna Stillwagon, Rick and Lisa Hoffman, Janie Belden and Rick Lang, Dr. Chuck and Anita Manoli, Eric and Michele Bononi, Don and Joan Orlando, Chuck and Nancy Anderson, Mud and Phyllis Kluska, Jan Taylor and Pat Condo, David and Linda Assard, Sean and Candace Cassidy, Joe and Virginia Greubel, Mary Jo Sell, Cory and Melissa Blystone, Marc and Lisa Poole, Jim and Susan Antoniono, John and Gretchen Kline, Jim and Pat Kelley, George Shaner and Michael Philopena, Steve and Karen Ender, Tom and Diane Luscombe, Terry and Jeanne Graft, Gene and Mary Jo McDonald, Jim and Kathy Bendel, Jerry and Nancy Davis, Joe and Bernie Biss and Dick and Barbara Flock.

When you look at a beautiful garden, you probably don't think of the science, engineering and even history that might have gone into its creation -- unless you are a noted landscape designer and teacher such as Martha Oliver of Scottdale.

Given her expertise in all things botanical, she was the perfect guide for Saturday's Scottdale Garden Tour. Not to mention that she designed the five featured gardens.

The tour was organized by Marty Savanick of Scottdale to benefit the Reuben Savanick Memorial Scholarship, created in memory of her late husband.

Scholarship funds go to students planning to work with the deaf community. Reuben Savanick, whose parents were deaf, was a certified American Sign Language interpreter.

Under sunny skies, the tour began in the English cottage garden of Jackie and Rob Rabenstein, then moved to Karen Keifer's arts and crafts garden.

After a luncheon interlude at Miss Martha's Tea Room, the group viewed the edible landscape belonging to Gwen Stamm and Rob Eby, the formal entrance and triangular flower borders at Savanick's home and, last but certainly not least, the display and trialing gardens at Oliver's business, the Primrose Path.

At each stop, Oliver discussed the specific challenges offered by the site as it related to the owner's vision for the garden.

Savanick said she hopes to make the tour an annual event. She also holds a yearly rummage sale to raise funds for the scholarship.

Spaces are still available for a second outing scheduled for Saturday. To reserve, call 724-887-6488.

Seen among the lilies and the phlox: Shirley Frankenfield, Julie Frankenfield, Danielle Kalp, Donnie Kalp, Lynn King, Bonnie Brougher, Connie Rhodes, Shirley Rugg, Merna Urbach, Karen Stansak, June Bandemer, Betty Barbery, Ruby Hurst and Rhoda Cressman.

-- Shirley McMarlin

"It's been done to death," says photographer William D. Wade on the subject of waterfalls. "My challenge was to do it differently."

The results of that challenge are on display at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, where Wade's "Waterfall Spirits" series currently hangs in the Walsh Gallery.

Starting with a love of venerable Niagara Falls, Wade's quest for images of falling water has taken him from humble Buttermilk Falls in Beaver County to California's majestic Yosemite National Park.

An added bonus, he says, is that the subject matter "slows me down and gives me lots of time to contemplate nature ... and life."

Wade's comments were made during a Thursday evening gallery talk.

In addition to a tour of the exhibit, Wade shared slides of several bodies of work in progress. Among them were series on television in public places; panoramic city- and landscapes developed through cross-processing, leaving negative images; people looking at art works; and one in which Wade "put the camera away and basically just messed around in Photoshop."

When not pursuing his personal vision, Wade stays busy as an adjunct associate professor of documentary photography with Pittsburgh Filmmakers and as a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staff photographer.

Seen in the gallery: Mort and Gloria Hersch, Ernestine Salvador, Margaret Monroe, Lowell and Gloria Smith, Evelynne Majernik, Carol E. Burrows, Ellen Utterback, David Ludwig and the Westmoreland's director and CEO Judith O'Toole, curator Barbara Jones and public programs coordinator Maureen Zang.

-- Shirley McMarlin

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