Meditation labyrinths have been around for over 4000 years. Used by nearly every religious tradition, they facilitate prayer, meditation, and personal reflection. A labyrinth, unlike a maze, has only one path, leading to the center and back again.

Traditionally speaking, there are three phases to the labyrinth: purgation, illumination, and union. Purgation is the walk from the beginning of the labyrinth to the center. This phase helps you to clear your mind.  Illumination occurs at the center of the labyrinth. Here, is where you receive insight. Union is the walk from the middle of the labyrinth to the end. In this phase, you feel empowered, having received the insight to tackle your issue.

One such example of this can be found at the Memorial Garden Labyrinth found in the courtyard of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in downtown Johnstown, PA. Visitors can access the garden from the Locust Street entrance, which provides an area for peace and meditation within the typical rush of the city. This particular labyrinth is an eleven-circuit labyrinth similarly designed as the one in the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France. The labyrinth was built and dedicated in 1999 as a way for members of the congregation and the public to experience and embrace the tradition “that seeks for a connection to God on a personal nature.” Many visitors to this garden have traveled a labyrinth for the first time and are surprised by the overall positive impression received from practice.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is located at 335 Locust street in Johnstown (click here for a map). The Memorial Garden Labyrinth is open to the public.

Photograph courtesy of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association

A slice of the Johnstown, PA-area’s history can be found on the fourth floor of the Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center. For it’s here that the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) has recreated the spirit of an authentic Johnstown-area ethnic social club. Known as the Ethnic Social Club, the facility is furnished with items restored from the area’s social clubs and provides the public with regular opportunities to enjoy a unique atmosphere.

Since its opening in 2008, the club has seen use for public and private events, including the regularly occurring “Last Friday”. Last Friday is a social event open to the public that features a cash bar and, typically, live music. It occurs on the last Friday of every month, with doors opening at 5:00PM. Last Friday really is a great way to round out your workweek.

Throughout the year JAHA holds special events at the club, including today’s (March 17, 2010) St. Patrick’s Day celebration, which will feature live acoustic music by Gordy Haluska and a special menu of Irish food and drinks. Doors open at 5:00PM. Another upcoming event is the April 16, 2010 “Day After Taxes” event featuring the music of Dave DiStefano.

“We’re also exploring other kinds of programming,” says says Shelley Johannson, Director of Marketing and Communication for the Johnstown Area Heritage Association.  “We have a stand-up comedy event coming on Friday, May 14, 2010 featuring ‘just dana’. You can get all of the details on our Facebook page.”

To help you keep up on these happenings, the “Do Johnstown!” calendar always has the Ethnic Social Club’s events listed and you can get information on every JAHA event on their “News and Special Events” page and through their social networking sites (listed below).

The Ethnic Social Club is also available private functions, which can include everything from business engagements, fundraisers, adult birthday parties and more. For rental and scheduling details, contact Melissa Rearick by calling (814) 539-1889.

To learn more about the Ethnic Social Club you can visit the club’s page on the JAHA Web site. Additional ways to keep up with everything this organization has to offer include:

• JAHA Web site
• JAHA on Facebook
• JAHA on Twitter

The Ethnic Social Club is located at the Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center, 201 6th Avenue, Johnstown (click here for a map).

The structure that formerly held St. George’s Serbian Orthodox Church is being transformed into a facility that is part gallery, part performance space, part education center. “We wanted to find a way to repurpose this magnificent structure,” says Adam. “The goal is to bring it back to the public.”

VOMA is more than a unique venue—it’s a part of the community. While primarily an art structure, the central theme is education and appreciation of the arts. Efforts are still underway, but the plans are firmly in place and will roll out over the course of the coming year. This includes a fine art gallery and exhibition areas for both music and performance art.

Keeping focused on education, VOMA will be presenting lecture series on pottery, fine art, music and even cooking. Adam says these classes “will provide an opportunity for local artists to speak to the public on their craft and their approach.”

On Saturday, February 6^th, 2010 the public will have the opportunity to support this cause by attending “V.O.M.A. Dawning”, a fundraising event held at Ace’s on Chestnut Street, Johnstown, PA (click here for a map) that will feature an evening of live jazz music, a silent auction and more. Complete details are available on the VOMA blog (see below for URL).

Official online presences for VOMA include:

• Web site
• Blog
• Facebook

Artists interested in learning more about the venue should contact VOMA by calling (814) 410-2245 or by emailing voma.arts (-at-) yahoo.com.

The Venue of Merging Arts is located at 307 Chestnut Street, Johnstown, PA (click here for a map).

Since opening in 2001, the museum has provided our region with a peek into the local justice system through the display of artifacts and educational posters, and even providing access to one of the cells.

Walking through the exhibit, visitors can view a sample of the day-to-day life of Cambria County prisoners and those responsible for their keeping. The display includes:

• The jail cell of Michael Smith, a prisoner that escaped from the jail on the night before he was scheduled to be executed by hanging
• Nooses used in executions
• A collection of prisoner-made weapons
• Jailhouse ledgers, modified to ensure privacy

The exhibit is located on the corner of Center and Sample Streets, Ebensburg, PA (click here for a map) and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. Visitors should enter via the Sample Street entrance.

If you would like to learn more about the Old Cambria County Jail, visit the Cambria County Historical Society’s Web site, where they have a full series of newsletters on the subject, titled the “Jail Series Volumes 1-8”.

The first floor of the museum houses a physical exhibit about the flood. Among the items on display are artifacts salvaged from the flood, newspapers from the weeks following the disaster, and stereoview photographs of the wreckage. Central to the first floor exhibit is a fiber optic relief map of the flood’s path, tracing the story step-by-step with lights, sounds and words. Also on the first floor is an exit to an original house that had sheltered survivors.

On the second floor is a theater which has a regular showing of an award-winning documentary about the flood. The film covers the events that lead to the decay of the dam that caused the flood to the survivors who stayed to rebuild the town.

The Johnstown Flood Museum is a certainly a piece of local history and culture that should not go unnoticed. It’s an excellent tribute to an event that once destroyed our city and still defines the way we see it today.

The museum is located at 304 Washington Street in Johnstown (click here for a map). It is open  seven days a week from 10:00AM to 5:00PM, and until 7:00PM from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Click here for more information about the museum from the Johnstown Area Heritage Association.

From its first days, the War Memorial has had a part in professional hockey, serving as home ice for the Johnstown Jets through the late 1970s. In 1977 the arena was introduced to an international audience when parts of the cult-classic hockey film “Slap Shot”, staring Paul Newman, was filmed inside the War Memorial and around the city of Johnstown. Today one of the prime tenants remains a professional hockey team, the Johnstown Chiefs, a member of the ECHL, and the lone remaining original team in the franchise. When the ice is not reserved for the Chiefs or an event it is often filled with local youth and high school hockey teams.

The War Memorial, which can seat approximately 3800 people within the arena, offers several luxury box seats, an upstairs lounge area, has an overhead hanging press box and available floor seating depending upon the event.

Since opening its doors on October 16th, 1950, the War Memorial has hosted numerous rock concerts, shows and political rallies. As recently as 2004, the arena was the host venue for President George W. Bush when he visited Johnstown, PA during his first term in office.

While the majority of visitors to the Cambria County War Memorial are attending an entertainment event it is important to remember the primary purpose for the arena. Spawned by the local Lions Club, the War Memorial was built to honor those who lost their lives in World War II. The entry lobby is lined with plaques listing the names of the active duty soldiers from Cambria County that died in war and a small dedication room off to the side of the lobby that is open to the public.

The Cambria County War Memorial Arena is located at 326 Napoleon Street, Johnstown, PA (click here for a map). To learn more about the War Memorial visit www.warmemorialarena.com.

Special thanks

This article was written with “Do Johnstown!” contributing author Judith Maucieri Coposky, a Johnstown-area software engineer and dedicated Johnstown Chiefs’ fan.

Photograph courtesy of the Portage Area Historical Society

The American railway system is a major part of the heritage of Cambria and the surrounding counties. For the better part of two centuries, locomotives have transported passengers and goods from, to and through the region. Portage Station Museum provides visitors with an in-depth look into the railroad industry and its impact upon our region.

Originally a station for the Pennsylvania Railroad, the facility located at 400 Lee Street, Portage, PA (click here for a map) now educates the public through the use of exhibits and displays focused on the history and culture of the Portage area. “We’re part of the Heritage Trail, which includes a series of landmarks along the Allegheny Ridge” says John Havrilla, Treasurer of the Portage Historical Society, the non-profit organization that manages the museum. “Our theme is ‘Life along the Mainline’, where one of our permanent displays is a typical kitchen circa 1930.”

Another popular exhibit is the permanent installation “Mainline in Miniature”, a model train display that portrays the local rail system as it was in the first half of the 20th Century, including the depiction of popular landmarks such as  Horseshoe Curve and Gallitzin Tunnels. To see the trains in action, visit the museum on the first Saturday of each month.

The museum is frequently the location for special events. This month the public is invited to attend “Singin’ on the Rails”, a presentation by musician Ed McDale that uses music, history and comedy to tell the tale of the American workers that made the railway system a reality. The event is scheduled for Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 2:00PM and admission is free.

Portage Station Museum is open year-round from Wednesday to Saturday from Noon until 5:00PM. There is a modified schedule for holidays, so, when in doubt, call (814) 736-9223. To learn more, visit the Portage Station Museum Web site at www.portagestationmuseum.org.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Ethnic Festival continues to delight residents of and visitors to the Johnstown-area by providing traditional ethnic food prepared by local churches and free concerts by a wide-range of bands. “There will be copious amounts of food,” says Paul Kushner, Festival Committee Chairman for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, one of the participating churches.

Scheduled to run this year from Friday, September 4th through Sunday, September 6th and affectionately referred to as “Ethnicfest”, the heritage festival is the outcome of the hard work of local churches, their parishioners and other local volunteers and local organizations. The event limits Chestnut Street exclusively to pedestrian traffic and encourages attendees to further their knowledge of the historical significance of this part of the city by hosting tours of the area churches on Saturday and Sunday, from 1:00-7:00PM. “We’ll have ambassadors on hand to guide tours of the structure and sanctuary, and we have prepared an accompanying pamphlet with historical information,” says Mr. Kushner.

Churches participating in this year’s festival are the newly-formed Resurrection Parish, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church and Visitation Church. Each will prepare a mountain of ethnic food for the enjoyment of festival-goers. “Our parish has prepared 9,000 stuffed cabbage, 2 tons of haluski, and over 30,000 perogies,” says Monsignor Raymond Balta, Pastor of St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church.

The weekend will be long on entertainment, with more than 40 live performances (both music and dance) scheduled at participating churches, Ace’s Lounge and the Bottleworks. Other highlights of the weekend include a polka mass, East European dancers, and a special ceremony to honor the public safety personnel that served during the September 11th attacks on America. For a full schedule of events, visit the Calendar area Cambria City Ethnic Festival Web site.

For this one weekend every year, all of Cambria City transforms into a family reunion, reports Monsignor Balta. “It’s really become a homecoming event. People look forward to coming to Cambria City on Labor Day weekend and getting the ethnic food like their mothers and grandmothers made. It gives them a chance to reminisce with friends and family.”

To learn more, visit the Cambria City Ethnic Festival Web site or view the official page on Facebook.

The Cambria City Ethnic Festival is held along Chestnut Street in Johnstown, PA’s Cambria City neighborhood (click here for a map).

Photograph courtesy of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association

When it comes to things to do in the Johnstown area, few attractions can match up to what the Heritage Discovery Center has to offer. The facility, located on Broad Street in the City’s West End, houses interactive exhibits, galleries, a café and a social club. Just in time for summer the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) has unveiled two new exhibitions—The Johnstown Children’s Museum and “The Mystery of Steel”, a short film providing insight into the role of the city of Johnstown in the steel making industry.

As it’s the jewel in your own backyard that is frequently overlooked for no other reason than its close proximity, the Heritage Discovery Center is holding a free preview of the new facilities.

On Sunday, June 14th a Grand Opening celebration will be held from 1:00PM to 5:00PM. The Heritage Discovery Center will be open to the public to tour the building and get a brief look at the facility’s new offerings, which include:

• Johnstown Children’s Museum
• Iron and Steel Gallery
• Johnstown Discovery Network
• “Made in Johnstown” exhibit
• “Growing Up in Johnstown—1860-1960” exhibit
• Education Center
• Galliker’s Café

Children’s Museum

The Johnstown Children’s Museum is a long-awaited attraction geared towards children that focuses on the region’s heritage, community  and geography. “What makes the Children’s Museum unique from other museums is that our overall theme is an actual place—the City of Johnstown,” says Shelley Johannson, Director of Marketing and Communication for the Johnstown Area Heritage Association.

A special feature of the museum is the Inclimber – an installation formed in the shape of Johnstown’s Yoder Hill. Children will be outfitted with a lighted hardhat and sent off to explore mine tunnels filled with surprises. The exterior of the Inclimber features a replica of world-famous Inclined Plane, while inside children can use a slide to travel the length of the installation.

“The Mystery of Steel”

The Iron and Steel gallery pays homage to the industry that historically symbolized Johnstown. At the hub of this three-story gallery is a theatre for the showing of “The Mystery of Steel”, a short film on the Johnstown steel industry comprised of historic photography, reenactment scenes and footage shot at the Johnstown Bethlehem mills in the early 1990s.

Beginning Monday, June 15th, 2009, the Johnstown Children’s Museum and “Mystery of Steel” will be open for regular business.

There is much more information on the Heritage Discovery Center at the JAHA Web site (www.jaha.org/DiscoveryCenter/).

Keeping up to date with the Heritage Discovery Center couldn’t be easier. You can subscribe to their email newsletter (click here to register) and receive updates on Facebook (click here to become a fan).

The Heritage Discovery Center is located at 201 6th Avenue, Johnstown (click here for a map).