A Little Horseplay

A pair of horses nuzzles on a farm along Hoke Road in Bullskin

Floating Leaves

Raindrops fall on autumn leaves floating in the Youghiogheny River,Connellsville

A Walk Among The Leaves

Cindy Tremba of Connellsville,takes her dog Cooney,for a walk through the fall colors at Yough River Park in Collellsville.

'Stop, Drop and Roll'

South Connellsville Fire Company Chief Jeremy Grubbs shows Karson Snyder,3,how to aim a fire hose during a fire prevention program at Creative Kidz Learning Center in South Connellsville.

Foggy Pasture

A horse grazes in a foggy pasture at a farm along Quarry Street in Mt. Pleasant.

Day At The Fair

 

Hannah Armel,7,of Greenburg,get a balloon hat from balloon Artist Dennie Huber of Altoona,at the Westmoreland Fair in Mt.Pleasant Township

 

 

Todd Phillips of Canton,Ga. riding a bull during the rodeo at the Westmoreland Fair in Mt.Pleasant Township.

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.

Water Dog

Bob Kashin, of Youngwood, and his pal Macie, navigates there way down the Youghiogheny River in a kayak from Connellsville to Dawson.

Pittsburgh Marathon 2014

Runners coming down South Main Street in the West End

Steel City Showdown

Steel City Showdown 2014 -Cyclist crossing the Roberto Clemente Bridge in the Women's Cat 3/4

Follow The Leader

Enjoying Life

Poetry In Motion

Catch me if you can Frick Park- Pittsburgh , Pa.

Light Up Night

Light up night downtown Pittsburgh -Market Square

Faith and Hope

Kate Gornick during her 16th Chemotherapy Treatment, her last one !

Road Runner

Logan Malatal, 13, from West Allegheny placed first in his age group,13 and under at the Heritage Valley Sewickley 5K Heart & Solerun/walk event.

Floating Along

The Rubber Duck knows no frontiers, it doesn’t discriminate and doesn’t have a political connotation. The friendly, floating, four-story-high Rubber Duck has healing properties: it can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them. The duck has been on display in Amsterdam, Lommel (Belgium), Osaka, Sydney Harbour, Sao Paulo and Hong Kong and arrives in the US for the first time for the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts.
Artist's Florentijn Hofman (The Netherlands). The duck has been on display in Amsterdam, Lommel (Belgium), Osaka, Sydney Harbour, Sao Paulo and Hong Kong and arrives in the US for the first time for the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts.

Senior Olympics

Bob Bible participates in the 2013 Beaver County Senior Olympics basketball toss at the CCBC Dome in Monaca.

Pinball Wiz

PAPA World Pinball Championships -held in Carnegie Pa.
PAPA operates the largest, most competitive pinball tournament held anywhere in the world, bringing more than a thousand players and spectators together to enjoy three solid days of brutal pinball battles and plain old-fashioned fun!

Drying Off

Buddy drying off after a swim in the pool.

Then and Now

This photo took five years ago of my niece Abby in 2008 and now in 2013 on the same ride at the carnival in Beaver.

Winning Catch

Richie Feczko makes the winning catch for Forest Hills during the East Suburban Baseball League 10 & under Championship game.

Feeding Time

Roseann Giambro primate keeper at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium feeding a baby gorilla. The gorilla's mother Moka
suffered from an infection in her mammary glands. Antibiotics cleared it up, but she is not producing milk, so the baby
will remain under human care until he is strong enough to go back with the troop and is eating solid food.

Embracing Life !

Cancer may take her breast, hair and eyelashes but it can not take away the Power and Beauty of her Spirit !

Zumba, Zumba, Zumba

Kim Williams an Instructor at the Beaver County YMCA. Giving a Zumba demonstrating during Senior Day At The Beaver Valley Mall.

Pinwheel

B and W or COLOR ? I can't make up my mind so you decide.

Me, Myself and I

A portrait of my nephew Jon I,shot at Big Rock Park New Brighton,Pa.

Foggy Autumn Sunrise

Cooling Off

Valley Of Fire

Valley of Fire State Park is the oldest state park in Nevada,USA. It covers an area of almost 42,000 acres and was dedicated in 1935.

Team Work

Ocean City,MD

Kristen Zawacki Memorial Golf Outing

First Annual Kristen Zawacki Memorial Golf Outing at Lake View North Golf Course. View all Photos Click Here

Silent Prayer

May the light of God always shine upon you !

Walking in Faith

I captured this image the day after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I do have a good prognosis. The photo seems symbolic to what I'm going through. It gives me serenity. I hope that it is comforting to those who are struggling.

Amazing Wonder

Sun Dance