Lifestyles

Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown is nearly 70, smart and swingin'.

At the eighth annual Mountain Playhouse Revels on Saturday, Pennsylvania's oldest professional resident summer theater raffled a 2008 red Passion Coupe Smart Car.

Winner of the tiny, but comfortable vehicle, that gets 41 mpg was Jeffry Williamson of Williamson Financial Group.

The drawing followed filet and crab cakes at Green Gables Restaurant, and a comedy and music routine at the nearby Playhouse with Mary Ehlinger and Larry Tobias, under the direction of Guy Stroman.

Wearing a beehive wig that flopped to the beat, Ehlinger played the accordion and kazoo and sang the "Beehive Polka."

Tobias answered by singing Patsy Cline's "Crazy" while strumming a guitar.

For the grand finale, the tux- and gown-clad audience joined Ehlinger and Tobias in dancing the "Hokey Pokey."

Teresa Stoughton Marafino, Playhouse co-producer with her sister, Mary Louise Stoughton, said event sponsorship was at an all-time high.

"It's wonderful to see all of this support during these times," Stoughton Marafino said. "It speaks to how important the Playhouse is in southwestern Pennsylvania."

The Revels committee was headed by Molly Walton, Jane Laks Gleason, Bonne Gurzenda and Sophie Mellon.

Seen playing at the Playhouse: McKinley and Elsie McAdoo, Barbara Russell, William Gurzenda, Jim and Kaye Maust, Joanie Gipson, Erica Roslonski, Debi Wheeler, Joe Walton, Paul and Tara Vittone, George and Janet Siefert, Sean and Amy Sebastian, David Garwood, Chip Ganassi, Thomas and Sharon Schaller, Jim and Seana Hollingsworth, Don and Kim Kramer, Matt Marafino, with his children, Elizabeth, James and Michael, Rooney Gleason, with his son, Burke, Joseph and Lisa Frederick, Eliza Chetlin, Henry and Jane Sibenaller, Ralph and Karen Artuso, Robert and Megan Bashaw, James Beck and Pat and Angela Berzonski.

Did you know that the term "Laurel Highlands" was coined in 1958 by a group of area residents and business people looking to increase tourism in the Chestnut and Laurel Ridge region?

Who knew we didn't always call it that?

The good people of the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau knew, as they celebrated 50 years of promotion efforts with an anniversary bash Wednesday evening at Seven Springs Mountain Resort near Champion.

Displays of vintage advertising materials from founding members such as Idlewild and Seven Springs ringed the Tyrol Room, where about 220 members and supporters, undaunted by a fresh blanket of snow, gathered for the event.

A mint-condition fire-engine red 1957 Chevy sat proudly at one end of the room, calling to mind the Lincoln Highway and the National Road, two historic routes that carried generations of travelers through the region.

But why a '57 and not a '58? The bureau's public relations manager Julie Donovan explained that, while a '58 Chevy was on tap for the event, its owners decided earlier in the day not to bring it out in the inclement weather. Luckily, a resort employee knew the owner of the beautiful '57 that was hastily pressed into service.

Greeting guests were Seven Springs (and Pittsburgh Pirates) owner Robert Nutting, along with resort CEO Eric Mauck. The bureau's board chairman Charles Fox, vice chairman Brad Heiser and treasurer Andrea Cuda also were on the scene.

After dinner, Tony Marino and members of Stage Right presented a retrospective of "The Laurel Highlands Through the Years."

Guests received a bound '50s-style booklet produced for the anniversary celebration.

Seen at Seven Springs: Ann Nemanic, Kisa Valenti, Joanne Pearson, Dick Barron, Deborah Fox, Bruce Robinson, Phil and Gladys Light, Diana Morreo, Angela DiFranco, Tom and Dee Sylvester, Linda McKenna Boxx, Michele Gornick, Rachel Roehrig, Bob and Susie Bastian, Teresa Stoughton Marafino, Paul Jr. and Nancy Fry, Kirk Utzinger, Susan Weaver, Bea Conn, Caleb Crousey, Emmanuel Osagie and Gary Antosh.

-- Shirley McMarlin

The Westmoreland Intermediate Unit Foundation raises money to fund classroom projects, buy equipment and provide scholarships that help to educate thousands of students in Westmoreland County every year, many with special needs.

It is no surprise that more than 175 people attended their latest fundraiser at Ferrante's Lakeview in Greensburg on Oct. 26 to help raise nearly $5,000 for the cause. The "Fall Into Winter Fashion Show" featured clothes from Macy's perfect for tailgating, back to school and the holidays. Renee Bompiani, Carol Wentzel, Sally Whigham, Sally Hayward, Pat Burlas, Jeanne McCaver, Susan Gilroy and Barb Vernail loved this season's trends which include long scarves and vests.

Dr. Luanne Matta, executive director, and Beth Alwine, foundation president, invited KDKA-TV's traffic reporter Jim Lokay and Shop 'n Save spokesperson Kathy Svilar to emcee the event. Modeling the women's collection with sparkling holiday fashions were Samantha Fecich, Julie Romagnoli, Fran Iezzi, Valeria Nova and Deanna Querio, event chairpersons. Browns and greens looked great on male models John Noble, Joseph Nova, Robert McDonald and Richie Robbins. Teens and toddlers looked great in fall colors, including Klarissa Dinsel, Cassandra Campi, Joey Ray, Tessa Smith, Logan Rega and Blake Tonkin.

Helping to organize the event were members of the board of directors and volunteers Beth Ann Alwine, Nicholas Masciantonio, Melanie Pantalone, Judy Panebianco, Daniel Querio, Marissa Rega, Richie and Denise Robbins and Luann Leitza.

Bolstering their efforts, the foundation is set to receive a $5,000 matching grant from the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County for a program which provides therapeutic horseback riding for pre-school-aged autistic children.

-- Jennifer Miele, WTAE

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