Lifestyles

Palates of fine food and wine lovers were treated Friday at the Westmoreland Community Action Wine Tasting Event at Greensburg's Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

Unofficial favorites were the dry, dark red Noiret from Winfield Winery in Cabot, the sweet Blairsville Blush from Walnut Hill Winery in Blairsville, the semi-sweet Stone House Red from Christian W. Klay Winery in Chalk Hill and the semi-dry white Traminette from Greenhouse Winery in Rillton.

Wines were accompanied by selections from Extraordinary Catering by Bart in Apollo, Pepperwood Grille in Hempfield, Perry's Pub and Grille in Greensburg and Toni's Kitchen in Monessen.

A record-breaking 250 came out to support WCA and its mission to strengthen communities and families through the elimination of poverty.

WCA efforts can be seen in the transformation of Sixth Street in Jeannette, which is being redeveloped with new and affordable family housing.

Also building in Jeannette, and more recently Monessen, is the Circles Program, an initiative that partners middle-income "allies" with lower-income Circle "leaders" who work together to form a plan to beat indigence.

"We're always recruiting people to come into that program," marketing and planning manager Cheri Cavanaugh said. "You help them choose their goals, and help them move their families out of poverty. With enough education and help, anybody can move out of poverty if they want to."

WTAE-TV reporter Jen Miele was hostess and music was by James Boggs and Lara Provance.

Seen at the tasting: Greensburg Mayor Karl Eisaman and Carmen, Westmoreland County Commissioner Chuck Anderson and Nancy, CEO Tay Waltenbaugh, WCA board president Barry Gaetano and Jill, CFO Jeff Diehl and Sheree, Larry Helkowski, Casey Cavanaugh, Gwen Loughner and Matt Laski, Mel and Kathy Wohlgemuth, Annaliese Masser, Debbie Marquis, Shari Caldwell, Judy Soles, Rob and Mary Beth Fejes, Bill and Shelley Thompson, John Kramer, Marlene Kozak and Ruth Tolbert.

-- Dawn Law

WCCC Alumni Honored

The Alumni Association at Westmoreland County Community College is growing, and so is the visibility of its graduates. The first Alumni Recognition Awards Dinner and Reception was organized by newly hired Alumni Affairs Coordinator Susan Scherff and the board, Ralph Padgett, Ray Markiewicz, Christine Adams, Alan Laick, Vickie Fry and Iva Munk.

Karen Anne Craig and Tammy Fuchs received the 2009 Alumni Awards of Excellence. Craig, a 1979 drafting and design major is now an assistant engineer of breakthrough technology at Kennametal in Latrobe. Fuchs, a 1997 baking and pastry graduate, is a chef at the Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier.

Michael Huss is the director of public safety for the City of Pittsburgh. He was given the 2009 Alumni Leadership award. He graduated from WCCC in 1994 with a major in fire science technology before receiving degrees from Point Park and Carnegie Mellon.

The 2009 Alumni Community Service Award was given to Nancy Boyer, a 1988 Human Services graduate who went on to attend Seton Hill University. She is currently a program coordinator for Westmoreland County Community Action's Head Start.

Lavina Payne is a WCCC professor of psychology and this year's Alumni Spirit Award Winner. She graduated from WCCC in 1997 with a degree in early childhood education and is pursuing her doctorate.

Larry Talmadge is the 2009 Alumni Honor Award winner. Talmadge graduated from WCCC in 1995 with a business degree before attending Geneva. He is now the vice president of retirement services at Concordia Lutheran Ministries.

Supporting these outstanding alumni at the event were: Debra Woods, Dave Hauger, Ed Nelson, William and Mary Dean, John Boyer, Mandy Giovannagelo, Brandon Payne, Barbara and Meghan Talmadge and Billy Key.

-- Jennifer Miele, WTAE

Amazing Art

There were smiles all around Thursday at the 10th annual Champions of Art, an event that encourages special-needs children to express themselves artistically. Held this year at Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood, the event brought together young artists, their parents, teachers and organizers from the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit for a night of fun and awards.

A "cookie" reception gave the children a chance to show their parents the art, hanging on the walls of Founder's Hall. Those in attendance nibbled on sweet treats while they perused more than 500 entries, each depicting a season of the year. Paul Ritter snapped a cell phone picture of his beaming son, 8-year-old Blake, posing next to his drawing of a spring rainbow fish. Sixth-grader Bobby Fox was thrilled to show off his drawing of summer fun at the swimming pool to his parents, Skip and Jennifer, and big brother Jake.

Westmoreland Intermediate Unit organizers Dr. Luanne Matta, Mary Clark, Janet Mihalacki, Beth Alwine, Gregg Kretchun and mistress of ceremonies Donna Johnson said the yearly event really boosts self-esteem. They invited students from 40 area schools to enter, including Northwestern Human Services of Herminie, Clelian Heights and Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School.

The amazing art was matched only by the courageous children who created it.

The overall Best in Show was Cory Monier, a second-grader from Southmoreland Primary Center. Monier's teachers, Renee Minniti, Barbara Ford, Kim Hinerman and Cathy Sutor, along with his mother, Darla Uhrinek, and brothers Travis and Adam, clapped and cheered loudly. Monier used a pumpkin stencil on a scratch board, and silhouetted black wolves with a silver moon. He won a ribbon, trophy and cash prize.

-- Jennifer Miele, WTAE

Blues for a good cause

Director of Development Lori Omatick says that about 90 percent of students at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, have a demonstrated need for financial aid.

To help with those needs, Omatick and a group of inspired organizers came up with the idea for an annual Blues and White Gala scholarship fundraiser. The inaugural black-tie event with attendance of about 150 was held Saturday evening at posh Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County.

Lest anyone think it a typographical error, the "blues" in the title referred to musical entertainment provided by a regional favorite, the Billy Price Band.

Receiving special thanks were a couple of generous supporters and strong advocates for Penn State Fayette, Joseph Hardy III and Congressman John Murtha. Conveying greetings from Murtha, who was unable to attend, was his aide Mark Critz, with Nancy.

Dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions rounded out the evening's festivities. A Penn State auction wouldn't be complete without a Joe Paterno-autographed football, which was generously provided. A couple of things signed by guys named Roethlisberger and Crosby also were up for grabs.

Live auction bidding was facilitated by Selby Kiffer, a Penn State alumnus and a Sotheby's auctioneer.

Seen at Nemacolin: Penn State Fayette Chancellor Emmanuel Osagie with Pat; Vice President of Penn State Commonwealth Campuses John Romano with Stephany; Susan Brimo-Cox and Lloyd Cox; Phil Savini; Pam Moore; Bill Blaney; David Omatick; Jerry and Janet Kowalczyk; Jess Hutson; Gene Steratore; Kim Robson; Dan Gorajczyk; Scott and Kim Harshman; Brian and Deborah Boyle; Ed and Carol Staines; Carol L. Staines; Colleen Conko; Robin Breakiron; Jim and Rebecca Wessel; Trey and Jenny Matheu; and, of course, the Nittany Lion.

-- Shirley McMarlin

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