Latrobe Revitalization Program Shifts Focus To Facade, Beautification Projects

Executive Director Jarod Trunzo detailed several projects the Latrobe Community Revitalization Program hopes to advance in the coming year at last week’s Latrobe City Council meeting.

Trunzo wanted to give council a “snapshot” of what the group is working on as it changes its focus on development instead of events.

The revitalization program will continue to operate the Latrobe Farmers Market, but has turned over Steelers Fest and the Great American Banana Split Festival to the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Some projects will start in March when the weather breaks, then continue through the summer, Trunzo said.

Read more: http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourlatrobe/yourlatrobemore/7751678-74/latrobe-trunzo-development#ixzz3S2xupFNs
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Spirit Adds Direct Flights To Las Vegas From Arnold Palmer Regional Airport

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Spirit Airlines will begin nonstop flights to Las Vegas from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport near Latrobe starting April 16.

Tickets are now available online for the five-hour, nonstop flights, which will depart daily at 7 a.m.

“We’re excited about Vegas. It’s going to be a great addition,” said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the Unity airport.

The daily flights will begin just as seasonal flights to Fort Myers and Tampa, Fla., are ending for the season, airline officials said Monday in their announcement.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/7085178-74/flights-airport-spirit#ixzz3I3igX9La
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Latrobe Air Traffic Control Tower To Close

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The air traffic control tower at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe will close, along with 148 others at small airports nationwide, as the Federal Aviation Administration cuts $637 million from its budget by November.

The closures will not force airports to shut down, but pilots will now coordinate takeoffs and landings by radio without ground controllers’ help.

“We will work with the airports and the operators to ensure the procedures are in place to maintain the high level of safety at non-towered airports,” FAA administrator Michael Huerta said in a news release.

Spirit Airlines — which flies out of Latrobe to Dallas, Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla. — plans to operate a normal schedule, airline spokeswoman Misty Pinson said.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/westmoreland/latrobe-air-traffic-control-tower-to-close-680511/#ixzz2ONMqa1Kx

Amtrak’s Regulars Treasure The Pennsylvanian

English: An locomotive arriving at the Johnstown train station in Johnstown, . The train is Amtrak’s #42 Pennsylvanian. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ABOARD THE AMTRAK PENNSYLVANIAN — The steady rumble of steel wheels on tracks is punctuated by the wail of a locomotive horn and then, oddly, by the pop of a champagne cork.

It’s 8:30 a.m., and Amanda McCoy and Kim Christen are living it up in the cafe car. On the table are boxes of a Polish pastry called paczki, orange juice and a bottle of Barefoot Bubbly.

It’s mimosa time.

Ms. McCoy, of Indiana Township, and Ms. Christen, of West View, also have bread, garlic bologna, lettuce, tomato and a travel Scrabble set for the long ride. “We’re veterans,” Ms. McCoy says. “We know how to do it.”

Like many others aboard the train, they swear by it, and recoil at the possibility that the one daily Amtrak train serving Pittsburgh and Harrisburg will be eliminated in October.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/amtraks-regulars-treasure-the-pennsylvanian-675749/#ixzz2LDMwXNd9

Reading Based Carpenter Technology Poised To Buy Second Company This Year

Berks County’s fifth-largest employer (2009), Carpenter Technology Corp., announced their $558 million agreement to buy Latrobe Specialty Steel Company.  Latrobe Specialty Steel Company manufactures and distributes high-performance materials for aerospace, defense, energy, and other significant applications with manufacturing operations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, the United Kingdom and seven distribution centers throughout the United States.  In January, Carpenter purchased Amega West Services, LLC, a Houston-based directional drilling component manufacturer and service provider for $54 million.

Latrobe Specialty Steel is headquartered in Latrobe, PA.  Latrobe is 47 miles east of downtown Pittsburgh in Westmoreland County.  The company has been in business since 1913 (Latrobe Electric Steel Company) and employs about 800 people at its various locations.  Latrobe was formerly home to the Latrobe Brewing Company (Rolling Rock beer), golf legend Arnold Palmer and Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood fame (Won’t You Be My Neighbor).  Latrobe’s airport is named after Arnold Palmer, who was a pilot.

Carpenter Technology produces and distributes conventional and powder metal specialty alloys, including stainless steels, titanium alloys, tool steels and superalloys.  The company is strengthening its place in the specialty steel market and expanding their services into other compatible manufacturing areas.  Carpenter Technology, headquartered in Spring Township just outside Reading, PA, is an important player in the economy of Berks County.

Carpenter Technology Corp. is traded on the NYSE as CRS and the company website is http://www.cartech.com/

Duquesne Beer Production Restarted At City Brewing In Latrobe

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A legendary Pennsylvania beer began production in Latrobe last month. 

Duquesne Beer was formerly brewed on Pittsburgh’s South Side.  It was Pennsylvania’s top-selling beer in the 1950’s.  Referred to as the “Prince of Pilsner”, this beer was brewed from 1899 until 1972 when production was halted.  Now an Upper St. Clair man has relaunched the brand. 

City Brewing in Latrobe started making Iron City Beer last year when the Pittsburgh Brewing Company closed their Lawrenceville plant.  Duquesne Beer can be added to production using the same number of workers.  The Latrobe plant employs 110 people.  

The Latrobe Brewery is the former location where Rolling Rock beer was brewed from 1939 until 2006 when Anheuser-Busch moved Rolling Rock production to New Jersey.  Anheuser-Busch announced it was considering selling the Rolling Rock brand in 2009! 

Allentown Beverage has ordered Duquesne Beer for local distribution and you can expect to be able to purchase the “Prince of Pilsner’ in the Lehigh Valley by this weekend.  A case will run about $16.00. 

Glad to see another Pennsylvania brand coming back to life