Our Kids
Following His Family's Footsteps
"I've been around the medical field all my life, so it only seemed natural that I would make it my career," Chris Kravetsky was only three years old when his parents opened Lifestat Ambulance Service in Saltsburg.

Our Kids
Running Through Life With Excellence
On your mark…..;Get set..….Go! The race you're about to read about isn't held at some local track. It's the race that one young girl named Melanie Worek participates in every day as she runs through the numerous responsibilities she has undertaken.

Our Kids
A Serious Student
According to Mrs. Gayle Frederick, third grade teacher at Fort Crawford Elementary School in New Kensington, Michael Mascara is the perfect example of a child any teacher would want in the classroom.

Our Kids
Joe Riddle
What do you do when you want to play hockey and there isn't a local team? Well, you help organize one yourself. That's exactly what Joe Riddle of Lower Burrell and several other students did.

Our Kids
Realizing Success Through Hard Work
Although the gymnasium is packed with parents, friends, and members of the community, there is a deafening silence over the crowd. They watch and wait anxiously as the young gymnast completes her routine across the mats in perfection. In a release of tension the crowd cheers and applauds her excellent performance.

Our Kids
Diverse Interests Bring Many Opportunities
Sporting diverse interests and an outgoing personality, Ling Xu, a senior at Plum High School is sure to excel in any endeavor she decides to pursue. Her experiences in school include membership in National Honor Society, cheerleading for the past three years, and holding a part in the school's production of "The Music Man". She has also been involved in student government and is currently President of Student Council.

Our Kids
An Amazing Achiever
One day when Becky Pacek was only 2 ˝ years old she toddled over to the TV set and began pointing to the words displayed on the screen. She surprised her mother by pointing to and correctly identifying the words, Jack and king.

The Dedicated
Leechburg Mayor Jane Favero
Settling down in her hometown after being away for 27 years was not the course Jane Favero of Leechburg expected her life to take.

The Dedicated
Humanitarian Work Leads To Nicaraguan Trip
I wear a lot of hats. I'm a wife, a mother, business owner, and humanitarian,"

The Dedicated
Mark Decroo
As he stood beside a stream casting his fishing line, Mark Decroo of New Kensington heard a noise in the brush. He was stunned when a grizzly ran across the road in a full run and took off into the woods. No, this didn't happen in New Kensington, Mark was actually at Glacier National Park in Montana.

The Dedicated
Building A Better Plum
To most people, the thought of being involved in local government is enough to send a chill up their spine. We all love to talk about what is and isn't being done, as well as the people doing it, but when it comes to putting our lives on the firing line of community politics, the answer is usually "No thanks."

AK Educators
A Great Man Recognizes Greatness In Others
Despite earning many personal awards and achievements, Mr. Tom Stabile, principal of Highlands Middle School, is a man who lauds the accomplishments of others. Beginning with a college teacher who urged him to go into the education field, Mr. Stabile's words were filled with praise and gratitude for those who have taught him and those he works with now.

AK Educators
Love Of Reading Blossoms Into Teaching Career
As a child, Cindy Vanetta's dad instilled in her a love of reading. He had an extensive library, and it was considered a great treat to be permitted to read a book from it. But the children had to prove they were ready for such an honor by reading certain books their father required first.

AK Educators
Kiski Area Principal Anthony Nicholas
He described himself as a "late bloomer," an average student, and rather careless about his studies. In fact, his high school guidance counselor was shocked he got accepted into college at all, and even then he didn't take things seriously. It wasn't until his third or fourth year in college that reality hollered and Anthony Nicholas listened.

AK Educators
A Mission In Education
To Donna Antkowiak, Principal of the Valley Middle School, a career in education wasn't just a job; it was her mission. She had a lot of terrific teachers and a great school career. Since the very beginning in grade school, she knew she wanted to become a teacher.

Our Local Heritage
Our Local Heritage
*Apollo-Ridge* /- U. S. Stamps Out Apollo Woman:/ She was born in the late 1800s out on Dime Road at Cochran's Mills, which was named for her family.

Our Local Heritage
Freeport, Luther, and Blue Slate
It was the turn of the 18th century, and the dawn of the 1800s, in the area that would be known as Freeport one day.

Our Local Heritage
Heritage Tidbits
Apollo-Ridge: School Daze If you had been school age during 1876 in Kiskiminetas Township, which covered most of Apollo-Ridge school district, you would have been one of 253 boys or 223 girls attending one of 13 schools in the area.

Our Local Heritage
The Chute
Things were done a little bit differently 50 years ago. But even as today, safety was a big concern.

Alle-Kiski Online
What is Content Filtering
You've heard the phrase, "You can find anything on the Internet!" While my personal experience has proven that not everything is on the Internet yet, almost everything is.

AK Sports
Alle-Kiski Wrestlers Take Home The Gold
Hershey - Today, Joe Makara of Burrell High School won the 125lb AA State Championship held at Giant Center in Hershey PA. He defeated Zac Sheldon of Wyalusing PA with a score of 3 - 0. This is Joe's second State Championship in a row. He won the 119lb AA State Championship Individual Wrestling Tournament in 2002.

Alle-Kiski Women
A New Outlook On Life
After a series of accidents and extremely traumatic events, which included having a son working on the first floor of the New York Stock Exchange on September 11, an incident involving sulfuric acid where she was burned, and problems with her spine, Sharon Brown of Lower Burrell decided to reevaluate her life and what she wanted to be doing with it.

Healthy Eating
Turkey Loaf with Vegetables
I found a great recipe this month that has a bit of a twist to it. If you enjoy those light meals and include meat in your diet, you have to try this one. The spices give the flavor and you wont miss the fat with the lean meat choice.

Healthy Eating
A Tasty Salad with a Hint of Spring
Since hints of spring are here, why not try sprucing up the dinner table with a fresh and tasty salad. You can't beat salads. They are packed with nutrition and flavor. Keep in mind that salads are not always low fat.

Alle-Kiski Home Life
Local Home Show A First For Area
When you think of a home show expo you think of big cities such as Pittsburgh, Erie, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia. Not anymore. Thanks to the StrongLand Chamber of Commerce, Alle-Kiski Valley will have its own HOMEXPO Show this March 21-23 at the former Montgomery Ward building in Lower Burrell.

Alle-Kiski Home Life
Spring Into Action With The Coming Of March
As a gardener, I look forward to March offering me the hope of warmer temperatures, longer days, and the anticipation of spring flowers popping through the ground.

Alle-Kiski Businesses
Brestensky's Meats
Mostly family is what you will find at Brestensky's Meats in Freeport.

Alle-Kiski Businesses
Empty Field Turns Into Lifelong Dream
I first met Jim Beall in early 1993. I was working with another company at the time when Jim called me to his house to discuss advertising for a business he was planning to open

Alle-Kiski Businesses
Apollo Window
Well it's that time of year again, when you go to your windows in the morning and open them so the fresh spring breeze can blow through your home.

Alle-Kiski Businesses
Halls Pools Spas & Fireplaces
Once upon a time - well actually about ten years ago - a friend of Jeff Hall made a decision to buy a pool.

Alle-Kiski Businesses
Eclec-TIQUES
"We bought the whole store and needed some place to put everything." That's what Robert and Gloria Thompson jokingly said when I asked why they opened their antiques store.

Parting Shots
Parting Shots Kristens Styling Salon
At the age of 21, most young people are either bouncing around jobs hoping to find some direction in life or coming to the conclusion of their college careers hoping to find a job that matches their field of study. Not so for Christen Canaan.

Parting Shots
Parting Shots-Freeport Area Historic Old Mill
Freeport Area Historical Society hopes to have a local site approved for status of Historical Landmark. Mickey's Mill is actually the second mill on the site. In 1800, a man named A.W. Lane built the original mill that was used as a sawmill and gristmill.

Alle-Kiski Families
Setting the Standard: The Josephs of Kiski Area
I recently traveled to Hempfield to attend my son's junior high wrestling match and noticed a young husband and wife with their four-month-old baby.

Alle-Kiski Families
The Turners of Freeport
Once in awhile, you meet someone for the first time, talk to them for an hour, and walk away thinking, "What a nice person."

Alle-Kiski Churches
Holiday Park Church Known for Service to Others
Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Holiday Park United Methodist Church is an active church community full of energy and known for its service to others.

Alle-Kiski Churches
Grace United Methodist Continues to Go Forward
Grace United Methodist Church in Natrona Heights has experienced several growth phases in its 126-year history.

Alle-Kiski Churches
Caring About High School Kids
Caring About High School Kids Caring about kids in high school is what Young Life's The Vine in Natrona Heights is committed to.

Alle-Kiski Churches
New Kensington's St. Paul's Lutheran Looks To Grow
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Kensington made a decision recently to revitalize itself and grow.

Alle-Kiski Churches
Puckety Presbyterian Church Wants People to Know Jesus Christ
It was 15 years ago that Pastor Gary G. Close came to Puckety Presbyterian Church in Lower Burrell.

A-K Dining
A Perfect Match
Eighteen years ago this March, Andy and Joann Batiz set out on a journey together that led to a very successful business and a wonderful marriage

A-K Dining
The Pie Cucina Ristorante
At first glance the structure resembles a sprawling ranch style home complete with a breathtaking perennial garden edging the front and sides.

A-K Valley Outdoors
Ease Into the Upcoming Fishing Season
Hey, good to see you. Things are picking up around here; we are getting ready for trout season. Yeah, I'll tell you, before trout, in late March, I hit the local lakes and rivers for outstanding smallmouth bass action, and an occasional pike or muskie.

A-K Valley Outdoors
Ice Fishing Is Not Just For The Insane
Hey, how are you? It's been a long winter.

Photo Shoots
The 2003 Tour De Strongland
The 2003 Tour De Strongland