News

More than 200 members of an international sign-painting group called the Letterheads are in Mars through today to paint the town more than just red.

As part of the group's international convention, the Letterheads will be painting murals, exchanging trade secrets — such as wiping fiberglass with a fabric softener sheet before painting to remove the static electricity — and giving people something to talk about.

"This is wonderful," Mayor Dick Settlemire said. "There is a lot of positive energy on the streets."

Settlemire said some older residents of Mars were apprehensive about the Letterheads descending on the 107-year-old borough of 1,746 people.

"A lot of times, something new makes people nervous," said Settlemire, who said his children are the fifth generation of Settlemires to live in the borough. "These artists are a fine bunch of people."

Occasional rain did not stop the Letterheads' progress on the murals Friday.

"They are prepared for the rain," said Jill Welsh, who runs Jill's Custom Signs in Middlesex Township and organized the convention. "It's part of every day for wall dogs … they are always dealing with the elements."

Welsh, whose hair is dyed blue, said the Letterheads donated their services to paint murals in the town.

"I didn't know what to make of it when I first heard about it," said Harry Hestel, of Valencia. "I came down to town to see what was happening."

Welsh said it has always been a dream of hers to play host to a Letterheads' international event.

"I went to my first Letterheads convention in Cincinnati in 1994," Welsh said. "I always thought I was odd or weird but didn't feel so odd or weird when I met the Letterheads."

She said she was the host for a small convention in Butler in 2000 when several groups painted a building on Route 8.

"After that, I asked if I could host an international convention, and when they found out I lived near Mars they said, 'Yes,'" Welsh said.

Welsh said that when she pitched the idea to the borough council, former mayor Robin Pittman was helpful in getting borough officials to give their approval.

"She was very diplomatic," Welsh said.

Welsh wanted to warn the council that some of the people could be offbeat.

"She said, 'They're not weird: they're creative,'" Welsh said.

Letterhead member Bill Beckner, of Canonsburg, said he does not remember how many international conventions he has attended. He was the host of the last one in the area in Canonsburg in 1992.

"I get funny looks everyday, so nothing bothers me," Beckner said from behind a chin full of wooly whiskers.

Beckner is working on a 12-foot-square mural on the back of the Pfeifer Hardware Store, one of the most visible spots in town as cars roll in along Mars-Valencia Road. Bob Hovanec and Pat Kerr of Big City Signs from Johnstown, Bill Riedel of New Jersey and Joe Buck of North Carolina were helping on the mural.

The mural on the back of the hardware store is an advertisement for a fictitious brand of paint. The advertisement, though, will be a tribute to a friend of Beckner's who died 16 years ago.

"The whole craft isn't what it used to be. This is something we can leave behind for people to see," Beckner said.

Ed Pfeifer Jr., who runs the hardware store with his father, said he was a little unsure of the idea when Welsh first approached him about painting the wall on the back of the hardware store, which sells everything from ice cream sandwiches to hammers.

"I went into it with an open mind because we are allowing some artistic freedom," Pfeifer Jr. said. "I saw the sketch Wednesday and thought it was nice … bold enough and subtle enough … it just fits."

The Foodland grocery story on Grand Avenue will have a mural stretching the length of its 100-foot wall. The Mars Area Public Library is getting a mural of two children reading a book.

Welsh said people from across the United States as well as Scotland and Australia are attending the convention.

"A lot of these people took vacation time to come to our town to do this," Settlemire said.

The convention will conclude today with festivities throughout the day, including a parade at 6:15 p.m.

"I'm glad they came," Al Gerwick, a Mars resident for 46 years, said. "I'm sure they will be a tribute to the town."

• Most Read
• Most E-mailed
• Latest News