Robert Wagner

1242 Tanyard $190,000

This week's frigid weather is setting up an excellent kick off for the 22^nd WTAE-TV Winterfest. Beginning Saturday you'll find events and activities for kids of all ages. Spanning nine days (Feb 7 - 15) TV personalities, celebrities and folks young and old get together to enjoy all that old man winter and the snow makers have given us!

There is way more to do than just outside activities. Take for example the Craft Shows on the weekends, Salsa Dancing Lessons, Roller skating and Daily activities for the kids! Here's a schedule for you to see for yourself!

If you are able to sneak away during the week there are some awesome deals! Like Monday the 9^th there's a two hour tubing sessions for ONLY $4.00!! Tuesday offers a $15 Learn to Ski Day! Just a note of caution there's a footnote on both of these offerings that states "This schedule is subject to change." If you are coming up specifically for an event we recommend calling first. Even though you should be able to find something else to keep you busy while you're here!!

Make sure you tune in during news time on WTAE-TV, that's channel 4 in our house! Especially on the weekends as they have great personal interviews with Seven Springs staff who keep the resort humming! It's always fun to have a face (even though it may be covered in ski gear) to go along with the name! We'll tell you though that even with HD TV you can't tell how BLUE Dick Barrons eyes are!!

For more Winterfest information, please call (866) 703-7625. Let's us know about your experience!

Saturday, Jan 31 and Sunday Feb 1, offer all of you a chance to "free your heels!" Yes we know it's Superbowl weekend and we intend to be in front of the flat screen too!! Registration for Telepalooza starts at 8:00 in the Main Ski Lodge (look for the banner) and there's rental and share gear available for you to try telemark skiing. Plenty of time to give a whole new deminsion to the slopes, trails, and woods and be back in time for kick off!!!

Ten years ago after mastering skiing and boarding Wags took up Telemarking. He wanted to find a way to put the edge back on his snow time experience. His good friend Jim Kapp got him into the sport and they've spent many trips out West together skiing the back bowls and trees.

One of the benefits of telemarking is that it's great for skiing on the off piste. The free heel setup gives the skier much more freedom in making an approach for a back country line. Here in the groomed, it adds another challenge in balance and fitness to ski the free heel.

Thanks to the Appalachian Telemark Association (APA) for their efforts in making this their 7th annual event. You can sign up for one ($79) or two days ($99) of instruction, ski pass extra. There are PSIA Level III Certified Instructors just waiting to get you hooked! Garmont boots and Karhu skis are available to demo, and the swag (give aways) at the afternoon parties is worth the admission! Girls, if you're hesitant to start out with the guys there's also an all women's clinic offered both days! Don't be selfish, bring the kids along!! See you at registration!!

GO STEELERS!!

Kicking off 2009 winterfest activities in the Laurel Highlands is KDKA-TV with their sister station Pittsburgh's CW and Hidden Valley. Beginning TODAY you'll find January 23 through February 1, jammed packed with games, contests, activities, food, and fun!

KDKA has video coverage posted and Hidden Valley has the line up of events posted on their site. This marks the first of an annual celebration and the weather is going to be AWESOME!! Bring the family and friends and give it a try!

Tonight is the Snow Blast Family Tubing Party from 5-7. Several of our office families are going over. We hope you'll let us know what a good time you had or send a picture of the fun things you did while you were here. We'll make a slide show and post them to share how much fun can be had in our Laurel Highlands!

Even though it's only a three day event the frigid air temperatures will guarantee that the ice carvings are going to last at least two weeks!! We're braving Mother Nature and headed for a Chamber Mixer at Crazy Alice's Catering before we check out the carvings! They serve breakfast and lunch which you can enjoy dinning in or taking out (101 West Main St, Glades Court Mall, Somerset). We'll be posting some of those ice carvings for your enjoyment tomorrow so check back.

Celebrating its 14^th year the Fire and Ice headquarters may be found at 113 East Main Street, (Across from the PNC Bank for those of you who don't have the GPS gadgets!) Somerset, PA 15501. Warm up there from 10-8 Friday and Saturday and 12- 4 on Sunday. Here's a schedule for all of the fun filled events! There are fireworks tonight at 6; you have to wonder if the temperature will have an effect upon their display.

New events this year include Wood Carvings by local and regional carvers along with Festival Themed window displays. Saturday has a "Hot Stuff Chili and Soup Cook-OFF" contest in the American Legion basement, 162 West Main. Note that this event and several others require admission by the Fire and Ice Pin. They can be purchased at Headquarters. Enjoy!