Friday Night Game

A group of boys stand along a fence to watch the football game Charleroi vs. Southmoreland

Finley's Fight

Finley Pletcher (left),8, and her father Mathew of Littleton, MA., claps for runners during the 4th annual Finley’s Fighters 5K/10K race at Yough River Trail .This event supports the RDH12 Fund for Sight and research for a cure for blindness.Finley, was diagnosed with a rare genetic eye disorder called Lebers Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) in 2009. Yough River Park in Connellsville.

Benefiting From Berries

Blueberries are highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruit.

If you’re like millions of Americans who are health conscious adding a variety of berries to your diet may be the ticket to a longer and healthier life. It has been reported that eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help improve your health. While all fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants nutrient-rich berries are some of the absolute best sources.Considering that some may choose to journey to far off lands looking for the fountain of youth, we in Southwestern Pennsylvania need only visit the family owned and operated Sand Hill Berries to find the answer to a higher quality of health.

Ricardo Perez, working the fields Sand Hill Berries Mt.Pleasant

In 1986 Susan and Rick Lynn along with Amy and Rob Schilling started a berry farm comprised of 7,500 raspberry plants. Since that time the business has literally grown specializing in red raspberries, red and black currents, gooseberries, yellow raspberries (I never knew they came in that color either), blackberries, blueberries and strawberries.

The Strawberry is called ‘the queen of fruits”.Strawberries are filled with biotin.

Sand Hill has made it easy for the consumer to partake in eating their produce by offering fully baked pies, pantry goods, jams and jellies and a variety of other baked goods such as cheesecake. Keep in mind that these berry delights are baked fresh daily and can be purchased at the farm market or ordered online.

Kyra Rottler, making balls of pie pastry into the correct size for rolling.

It has also been discovered that berries contain fiber and folate. Fiber is a contributing factor in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and folate may help protect against cardiovascular disease.

With all the benefits that berries provide it is no surprise that so many people in the area are making it a point to visit Sand Hill Berries.

Journey Deep Beneath The Surface

Guide Tray Heinke,

If you’re like me and are always searching for a new challenge and a bit of adventure.A visit to Laurel Caverns in nearby Farmington, PA just off Rout 40 East is just the ticket. Laurel Caverns is the ultimate underground experience for those willing to take a deep breath, collect themselves and discover the many aspects of cave exploration. The caverns offer educational field trips; cave repelling and spelunking ( upper cave and lower caver ) which is a seasoned adventurer’s way of saying cave exploring.

Ben Williams,guided leads vistors throw a narrow passages in the low cave at the Laurel Caves.

Laurel Caverns even offers an interesting gift shop which features souvenirs such as tee shirts and hoodies which can be worn like a badge of courage after you’ve completed your three hour journey deep beneath the surface.If you do decide to accept the challenge you can rest assured you won’t be going at it alone. After paying your admission you will be provided with a well qualified guide who will escort you throughout the tour and will be more than happy to provide safety instructions and explain the use of the required cave gear needed to navigate your way through the earthly wonder which at certain points descends in excess of forty five stories. Additional information regarding Laurel Caverns can be found by logging on to by calling 724-438-3003.The experience is not only beneficial to both mind and body, cave exploring can also foster new relationships with fellow explorers while on tour. It’s surprising what you can learn about someone after spending three hours with them underground to say nothing of your own state of mind.And take note that there are no elevators to bring you up to the surface. You must depend on yourself or your newfound friend’s strong backs to transport you to the world as you know it. The next time you’re thinking about finding something challenging and interesting to do, consider joining the underground movement at Laurel Caverns.