Champion, PA

For years Seven Springs has been providing a multitude of camp offerings. Here's their line up for this year. Of special interest to folks who come up JUST for the day and would enjoy some grown up time is the Kids Adventure Day Camp. You can check out the new spa. golf, lounge by the pool, take a hike or any of the many other amenities offered while the kids have the best day of the summer without you!!

Overnight Adventure Camps These are week long camps that are designed to "challenge your limits in adventurous activities, and build self-esteem through conquering gaols and supporting others through team building activities." You'll find these offered throughout the summer for pre-teens and teens (8-17). $649 per child with sibling discount available, call 800-452-2223 extension 7396

Kids Adventure Day Camp Walking age through 10 years this camp is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. DAILY, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Yippeee for mom and dad!! RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. "For $35 a day the kids enjoy swimming, fishing, team games, paddleboating, hiking, adventures on the mountain and mind challenging activities!"

Junior Golf Camp This five day camp teaches "the fundamentals of the game, including full swing, chipping and putting, while introducing them to the rules, course management and proper golf etiquette." Available camps are July 12-17 with a half day camp offered July 6-10

They are more commonly referred to as EAB. Why are we writing about them? Have you seen the billboards that say, "I promise not to move firewood?" They started appearing locally a few months back and made us wonder, "What's behind that unusual message?"

Shortly after that we started to notice purple hanging boxes in the trees. Turns out they are traps set only in Ash trees to determine if the EAB is here. In fact there's one on County Line road as you're headed up to Seven Springs on the right and several on Rt 31.

We owe all of this promotional marketing to the Emerald Ash Borer. In 2002 Michigan residents first identified this vibrant green beetle. Over 700 million dead trees later, (in Michigan ALONE) the fight to contain this pest wages on. Destroying Ash trees in twelve other states, Ontario, and Quebec, the EAB beetle has now been found in Westmoreland County.

Here's their MO. Adults lay their eggs on the Ash tree BARK from mid-May through mid August. Eggs hatch into larvae and tunnel into the tree. The larvae live UNDER the bark and create S-shaped paths. This stage is where the damage is done. Their feeding disrupts the water flow from the roots to the crown and within a year to four the tree is dead. THERE IS NO CURE.

Getting back to the billboards the beetles are transferred from one area to another by moving infected firewood. ALWAYS use LOCAL FIREWOOD to help stop the spread of the EAB. Ash trees have been popular for landscaping as they grow quickly and can be found throughout the grounds at BOTH Hidden Valley and Seven Springs. To identify an ash tree look at the leaves. This site shows the different types of Ash trees. If you begin to notice the crown of your trees thinning out take a closer look at your bark!! PLEASE DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD!

Don’t be surprised to see the paparazzi lurking about the resort this week! Tomorrow, Wednesday (June 24) will welcome Irlene Mandrell and her sisters, Barbara and Louise to our mountains! Specifically to Seven Springs newly finished shooting lodge for Irlene’s Irlenes Celebrity Shoot 2009. There are several registration catagories and prices.

Thursday is Kid’s Day with celebrities signing autographs. According to her web site, “competition is 200 rounds of Sporting Clays with side games including, 9mm pistol side event, Paintball Challenge, Wobble Trap, 5 Stand, Tomahawk Throw, 22 revolver, Gamo air rifle, Two man flush, Terrible teal, and the Cotton ball drop.”

Wag’s has been shooting and watching the new facility go up and took some pictures for you! He says it’s awesome! There’s seven thousand square feet in the timber framed lodge that takes advantage of geo-thermal heating. Look for private lessons, tournaments, corporate and non-profit events to be on the line up! Even if you are not a shooter you need to visit this lodge on top of the mountain and overlooking a lake. Check out the new restaurant hours for a most enjoyable visit.

Here’s a list of the celebs listed on Irlene’s web site as attending, “David Caruso, Emily Procter, Rex Linn, Lee Horsley, Frankie Anne, Alan Dysert, Leslie Easterbrook, Dan Wilcox, Steve Kanaly, James E. Partee, Jr., Branscombe Richmond, Charles Napier, Kevin Blake Weldon, Michael Gregory, Scott Shepherd, Tim Abell, Tracy Lawrence, Anne Lockhart, Zane Taylor, Brian Gates, Marshall Teague, Lindy Teague, Congressman Sam Graves, John Di Santi, Robert Guy Miranda, TJ Klay, Ray Kelly, Michael Stern, Lyle Omori, Chuck Stapel, Sherol L. Engel, Jeffrey L. Engel, Steve Scott, T Bubba, Michael Collins, Buck McNeely, Jack Allocco, Stacie Randall, Lu Parker, Mike Rogers, Congressman Bill Shuster, Jim Scoutten and many more ...”

Irlene’s site says, “In the past her shoot has supported Wish Upon a Star, Inc and the Boy Scouts of America.” There’s a charity auction with some very interesting offerings! Here’s to much success and wonderful weather!

143 Southwind $694,905

4807 Swiss Mtn $105,000

126 Southwind $525,584

9006 WoodRidge $325,000

2304 Swiss Mtn $225,000

124 Southwind $987,792

8064 MeadowRidge $200,000

151 Southwind $693,969

114 Southwind $976,652

152 Southwind $853,434

133 Swiss Mtn $260,000

93 Swiss Mtn $265,000

125 Southwind $694,905

Recorded sales transfers for the resorts are acquired electronically from records inputted at the Somerset County Court House, Office of the Recorder of Deeds. We review sales in Jefferson (Hidden Valley) and Middlecreek (Seven Springs) Townships on a weekly basis and posted monthly.

Prices do not reflect bill of sales and other out of settlement transfers. Furnishings, which are included in the majority of sales are assigned no monetary value. We do not post transfers that carry $1.00 values.