The laurelight JTH Festival Gallery
Jackson Township Home
Jackson Township Heritage Festival Home

One of the best things about living in the Johnstown area is, on any given weekend between May and October, there’s always some kind of festival, or jubilee, or carnival going on. Jackson Township is no exception. I’m especially fond of the Jackson Township Heritage Festival because the picturesque Veterans Park is a setting right out of Meet Me In St. Louis or Life With Father. I always feel like I’ve been tossed back a hundred years when I wander through the festival: friendly, enthusiastic vendors and patrons, good music, and, of course, great food. The JTHF is on my short ‘A’ list of “There’s Too Much to do Around Here.”

I’ve also got a soft spot in my heart for Jackson Township itself. Back in the Stone Age, JT was the first, and may still be the only, municipality to link to laurelight on its website. Thanks, guys. Anything I can ever do for you… And the rest of you, try to catch up, would you?

And, so, the photos. I like to plan my visit when TREE is playing. If you’re not an aficionado, check them out here, and you will be. So, we’ve got photos of the band, some fine folks, a little Sal’s pizza, some Pie Shoppe baked goods and a few other odds and ends. Check out the 2012 Festival link above and make your plans. Enjoy.

The Johnstown Concert Ballet Gallery
The Johnstown Concert Ballet
Artworks Johnstown
The Cambria City Ethnic Festival

Put on you dancin’ shoes and unpack your tu-tus. It was pure pleasure, and a nice change of pace, to watch the Johnstown Concert Ballet perform at Johnstown Artworks during a weekend of otherwise rocking out at the 2011 Cambria City Ethnic Festival. Grace and elegance marked the performance of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade, choreographed by Ballet Artistic Director Carla Prucnal. It’s been a long time sicne I was priveleged to photograph a dance company, and I can only hope the photos do justice to this classic performance.

Don’t forget to ‘like’ laurelight.com on Facebook.

The Bandshell Bark Gallery
The Roxbury Bandshell
On a beautiful September morning a few weeks back, I packed up the gear as cool canines and their well-behaved pets from around the area descended on Johnstown’s Roxbury Park for the 6th annual Bandshell Bark in support of the Roxbury Bandshell Preservation Alliance. Organizer Eileen Graham knows how to throw a party. Wonderful people and four-legged handlers converged for a day of howls and barks and all-around fun. Many thanks to Eileen and Alliance president Mary Borkow for inviting me to particpate in the good time.

TITV Peoples Gallery
The Official Thunder in the Valley Web Page

A final wrap-up from Johnstown’s Thunder in the Valley 2011. A few people pics to close things out till next year. There are still a half-dozen band galleries to post on the laurelight.com Facebook page, but they’ll show up as time permits. Meanwhile, this is a wrap, so on to the rest of Summer. There’s a lot of catching up to do.

or: Why it Took Thirteen Hours Over Three Weeks to Hike the First Seven Miles of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

Trail Gallery
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Official Page

Okay, a couple of fine points first:

• I’m not a backpacker. I bought a truck so I’d have room to carry all my stuff on a 3 day/2 night camping trip. I’m not about to carry my life on my back for weeks at a time. In the words of Brett Weston: “If it’s more than 20 yards from the car, it’s not a photograph.” So, when I plan to hike a long trail, it’s got to have accessable trailheads not too many miles apart. Whatever distance I hike in, I’ll have to hike out. The 70 mile Laurel Highlands Trail will eventually take me 140 miles to finish.
• The kids stopped hiking with me years ago, as I cannot resist the urge, at any given moment, to strike out directly across country. “What’s this? Looks like a shortcut…” Turn left at the rock that looks like a bear. Turn right at the bear that looks like a rock, and, three weeks later…
• I’m an old, fat, lazy smoker, and it takes me a long time to get up one of these hills.

So, back in 2008, I figure it’s time to tackle the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. A nice thing about wandering around Johnstown and PA’s Southern Alleghenies is that, no matter how alone you think you are, no matter how far out in the wilds you may be; if you travel in a straight line, you’re never more than a thirty to sixty minute walk from a paved road. The plan is to hike the first 5 miles of trail, straight up the ridge, to the Decker Avenue fire tower. Next leg, I can drive up to the tower and continue south to PA Rt. 271. 10-12 miles today and maybe 16 or so miles next time.

Well, I get half-way up the ridge, huffing and puffing all the way, and I see this guy standing by a pile of boulders. “What’s up?” “Oh, the kids are down checking out the old iron furnace.” “Iron furnace?” I’d had no idea there were ruins on the steep slope. So, I left the trail and headed downhill (not thinking I’d have to go back up again) and checked out the old iron furnace too. By the time I was satisfied, it was close to Steeler game time, so, puffing and huffing, head for home and save the rest of the climb for another day.

Second Attempt- One week later and my kind of weather, seriously: bitter cold, high winds and snow squalls. I finally reach the top of the ridge, overlooking Morrellville and the Conemaugh Valley, biting wind huffing and puffing nearly as hard as I am, exhausted, iced to the bone, numb, like Lawrence’s frozen bird; and never having felt more alive in my life. Life is good. First leg is over and I’m well on my way to Ohiopyle. I’m looking forward to the next trip, which should get me half-way from the tower array to the Ligonier Pike.

Thanksgiving Sunday: snow on the ground, but clear skies and bright sun. I drive to the fire tower, spend a few minutes looking for the trail, and, finding it, head south. I get about three miles in, discovering and exploring the shelter area on the way. The time at the shelters cut into my hiking time and it’s warming up quite a bit. Reaching a power line leading from New Florence generating station, I see, down slope about a hundred yards, a quad track. “Oh. Looks like a shortcut…” Two hours later, before I realize what I’ve done, I’m back down at Big Spring Reservoir, the Peach Orchard, the Northern Terminus, the bottom of the Laurel Ridge, and I have to hike up that stinking mountain ONE MORE TIME to get back to my truck! And, huffing and puffing, I loved every minute of it.

Enjoy the pics while I research my next trip.

Johnstown Community Day 2011 Gallery
Johnstown Community Event Facebook Page
Lift Johnstown Web Page

On the last Monday in May, I found myself scrambling down the verticle slope of Johnstown PA’s Yoder Hill, below Grandview Cemetery, to photograph the US Army Silver Wings Command Exhibition Parachute Demonstration Team out of Fort Benning, Georgia. What a pleasure it was to photograph these crack paratroopers from above as they floated down to the grassy surface of Sandyvale Cemetery. And what a privelege it is to offer these photos to honor those who have served and given all, and those who continue to serve and risk all in order to preserve our freedoms.

Thanks to Renée Daly, Johnstown’s Economic Developemnt Coordinator, for helping me work out the logisitics of the shoot.

“The enjoyment of scenery employs the mind without fatigue and yet exercises it; tranquilizes it and yet enlivens it; and thus, through the influence of the mind over the body gives the effect of refreshing rest and reinvigoration to the whole system.” -Frederick Law Olmstead

Roxbury Bandshell and Park Gallery

The last time I posted a photo of the Roxbury Bandshell, it was, literally, moments away from destruction. But then, something wonderful happened. A group of local citizens was organized, and, for the first time in decades of landmark demolition and parking lot construction, declared, “Enough!” The Roxbury Bandshell Alliance, shovelling against a rising tide, and against all odds, managed to scratch up the necessary resources, and, with demolition equipment lurking in the parking lot, saved this historic structure from the wrecking ball.

The group continues working tirelessly to this day to preserve this bit of Johnstown, PA’s heritage, but, in this observer’s mind, they did more than secure this piece of local history. From the day the Bandsehll was saved, a recreational domino effect has rippled along the Stonycreek and Conemaugh Valleys and up over the surrounding Laurel and Allegheny ridges. Since this watershed moment, the region has seen:

• development of a whitewater mecca along the Stonycreek River
• a growing trail system, locally reaching from Riverside to Johnstown’s Sandyvale Cemetery, that will eventually stretch through Mineral Point and South Fork to Cresson, and downstream through the Conemaugh Gap, someday to join with the developing Pennsylvania Greenway;
• progress on river access and a recreation area along Johnstown’s Somerset Street
• development of a cultural and historic district in Cambria City

…and many more initiatives that, when all added together, mean a much improved quality of life for local residents.

Now, certainly, we’re finally seeing fruition of labors that were already in progress before the formation of the Bandshell Alliance, but, it seems that, since that remarkable day in the city’s life, the region has finally seen more things being built than are being torn down.

And so, I have added the following heroes to my personal pantheon. It’s also worth noting that many volunteers involving themselves in community efforts have no idea of the actual work and commitment that will eventually be required. In spite of that common under-estimation, the people below, and many others, have worked tirelessly to preserve and maintain the Roxbury Bandshell, and to provide the community with a continuing slate of first class family entertainment.

I am, and the community should be, humbled by, and proud of, this group’s achievements: Chris Verbano, Mary Borkow, Joe Balon, Joseph Guydo, Lester McDaniel, Luke Speicher, Helen Speicher, Debbie McDaniel, Matt Danchanko, Ron Heinlein and Tim Burns.

A couple of other names worth mentioning: I don’t shoot much at the Park. Bill Rogers (ishootmuscians.com) and Brian Krise (johnstowncafe.com) do outstanding jobs with event coverage. If you haven’t seen their work, check it out now.

Well, it turns out the family’s lived in Moxham for nigh on a hundred years now, and in this particular house for almost 80, so that should qualify the garden for a Johnstown story.

Grandma’s Rose: This is probaly older than I am. I’ve got a picture around here somwhere of Grandpa and me standing next to the bush close to 60 years back. And it’s still going strong.

Grandma’s Peonies: Mom tells me that Aunt Lucy brought these over the mountain when she and Uncle John and the kids were living in Blairsville. That would also date them to around 60 years or so.

Mom’s Staten Island Rose: If I heard Mom right, Aunt Kaddy brought this plant with her when she moved back from NYC in the 80′s, but I’ll have to confirm. She may have gifted the plant earlier than that.

The rose bush next to the garage, also as old as me, just started budding this week. Photos to come. We’ve still got a couple of Grandma’s daffodils sprouting each year. Those probably date all the way back to when she went to school with Ben Franklin. The lupins, also from over the mountain with Aunt Lucy, took a hit this year. They may yet bloom, but we’re confident they’ll make a full comeback next year. Grandma’s iris under the living room window looked beautiful this year, and there may be some daylillies to come in that bed. Mom cut back Grandma’s forsythia last fall, so we didn’t get blooms this year, but next year should be real good. You can’t hurt those things. Almost forgot, Grandma’s lilac tree up by the alley is still going strong.

Yes, sir, it’s been a banner year for Grandma’s garden.

Mom raised me on Johnny Cash and Ray Charles. My first-ever concert was around 1965 or 66. Eleven years old and I was sitting in the balcony of Cochran Auditorium watching Mother Maybelle and her girls, and the one and only Man in Black himself. Whoa! What a rush! Forty-five years later and I happen to meet Bill Venet at his Benscreek Variety Depot and learn that he’s been bringing Johnny and June to the people for 22 years. I’ve been following the Cash Review ever since, and when they played Johnstown PA’s VOMA earlier this month, I was there, in the balcony once again, camera in hand, eager to share the experience with you through photos and video.

What a great time we all had: hearing the old songs once again, performed by an excellent band; and sitting in a beautiful and appropriate venue. If you haven’t been to the VOMA yet, I’ll ask again, “What are you waiting for?” They’d love to have you, and they’ll treat you right. And if you haven’t seen the Cash Review, you’re missing an authentic back-yard Johnny Cash experience and a treat for the whole family.

We had 2 special treats on this special evening: Marianne Zima Locher in her first performance as June Carter Cash, and Mike Miller playing a brief set of Hank williams favorites. What a blast!

The Cash Review is:
William Venet – as Johnny Cash – Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals
Marianne Zima Locher – as June Carter Cash – Vocals
John Wolfe – Lead Guitar
Michael Delgrosso – Drums
Richard Vargo – Bass (filling i this evening)
Billy Venet – as John Carter cash – Rhythm guitar

Laurelight fancy Cash Review Album is here. Regular photos are below, following the video.

Drove the length of the city and then some last February on a snow squall day and grabbed some photos up and down the valley. Let’s see. We covered Moxham, Hornerstown, Morrelville, Cambrial City, Prosser Hollow, Coopersdale and the Conemaugh Gap. We’ve got trains, trees, tracks, bridges, steel mills, rivers, hills, a coupla crows, snow, squalls and ice. Trying to clean up the backlog, so here are the photos for you. Johnstown PA shore can be purty at times.

The laurelight Winter’s Day Album is here, and the regular stuff is below. Click on any picture to enlarge.