Lifestyles

When you look around the gallery inside the Alex Fletcher Art Center in Greensburg, it makes you long to be outside. Dozens of carvings, paintings and ceramics inspired by the wild are on display until May 3 in a show called "Natural Dimensions."

David Anderson's oil-on-canvas stood out in the show. The piece, titled, "That's My Fishing Spot," depicts two black bears on their hind legs getting ready for a fierce battle over food in some wild rapids.

"Nature inspires me. It takes my mind off things," says Anderson, a recent kidney-transplant recipient. "This was my first painting after surgery."

Other artists, especially carvers, agree that their nature-inspired creations help them escape from the stress of everyday life, and they hope their work will do the same for visitors.

Melissa Monticue carved a Red Breasted Nuthatch. Chuck Hankey, a new member of the Greensburg Art Club, carved an American Kestrel. Alexis Dillon put three ceramic pieces in the show that she says were inspired by natural wonders.

Volunteer Betty Reese says the event used to be strictly for members of the Keystone Carvers Club, but organizers decided to expand the event to include works from other members of the Greensburg Art Club, and Reese says that was a great idea.

Club president Jack Sharbaugh says the Fletcher center is becoming so popular, he and other volunteers have raised enough money to build an addition. Ground breaks this week on a new ceramics studio.

Seen at the event: Sarah Anderson; Peggy Mattocks; John Lesko; Elmer and Marie Knizner; Robert and Sheila McKeever; Duke and Betsy Leeper; Glen and Carol Burrows; and Jess Stairs.

-- Jennifer Miele, WTAE

The Pen Is Mighty

Nationally known writers and artists paid a visit to the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg last week for the school's annual Writers Festival. English professor Lori Jakiela helps organize the event, hoping her students will walk away with valuable real-world experience.

Wednesday's headliner was author Steve Almond. The former reporter and adjunct professor at Boston College read and discussed excerpts from his book, "Not That You Asked."

When joking about his adolescent years, he got a lot of laughs from more than 40 students, faculty and community members who packed the school's Village Hall coffeehouse.

Pitt Greensburg professor Pilar Herr says it's of paramount importance to expose student writers to professionals. "It's always good to know what challenges you'll face as a working writer."

That's why junior Kailey Burtnett and senior Laura Sisko, both English education majors, came to hear him speak. Both read his book in class. "I was nervous to meet him, because I thought he'd be a little wacky," Sisko joked. "But hearing him read and listening to him explain his writing made it so much better."

Almond stressed the importance of being able to write about your family, your experiences and even the most embarrassing moments of your life.

Senior English students Dave Street and Kelli Macidym presented their senior memoirs from their capstone projects that night.

Poet, editor and former director of the writing program at the university Ed Ochester gave a talk and a reading Monday. Tuesday, fiction writer Jane McCafferty and photographer Charlee Brodsky presented their works. Thursday, Jim Daniels, best known for his working-class poetry, read some of his works.

-- Jennifer Miele, WTAE

Heartfelt Thanks

Hall of Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann says Westmoreland County's got heart.

Swann, with Charena, was emcee on Saturday at the 2008 Heart Gala to benefit the American Heart Association's Westmoreland Division.

Swann said an organization is only as strong as its backing, noting that the gala was "extraordinarily well-supported."

"It's very nice to be out here," he said. "And it's nice to see so many people in Westmoreland County supporting this event."

Top sponsors were Excela Health, Respironics and Kennametal, and the event was dedicated in memory of AHA advocate Larry Rhoades, former CEO of Extrude Hone Corp., a division of Kennametal.

After surviving a heart attack 16 years ago, Rhoades, 62, suffered a fatal attack last spring.

Rhoades' son John, 25, with Regina Anderson, said that when his father attended AHA galas, he would have to make arrangements to have his auction winnings hauled home after cramming what he could into his two-seater.

Rhoades' friends and family were recipients of the spoils -- from a Mercedes pedal car to fly-fishing trips.

"Whenever my dad ended up doing some cool and wild trip, it was usually because he'd won an auction item," Rhoades said. "I think my dad would be very touched to be honored by an organization that was so important to him."

Extrude Hone president Dave Tilstone, with Kim, is carrying the torch as gala corporate chairman.

Tilstone said the only symptom exhibited by his friend was periodic shortness of breath.

"He'd started to do a lot of the things he'd wanted to do. He'd lost weight. He was looking great," Tilstone said. "That's probably the biggest thing to take away from this. You really can't go by appearance and how you feel. It really is the 'silent killer.'"

Event chairs were John and Linda Dickson.

Seen at the gala: Westmoreland County Judge John Driscoll and Anne; Jeffrey and Ruth Irwin; Ralph and Donna Scalise; June Anton; Dan and Toni Kilkeary; Wendy Anton; Eric and Michele Bononi; Dave and Marie Gallatin; George Shaner and Michael Philopena; Chuck and Anita Manoli; Mel and Kathy Wohlgemuth; Leon and Marcy Zajdel; Ed and Mary Ann Kilkeary; Don and Kim Kramer; Ken and Molly Shimko; Kirk and Kellie Utzinger; Vince and Patty Quatrini; John and Kristin Rullo; and Michael and Megan Quatrini.

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