November 2, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact:

Janet Bucciarelli, SAMA-Ligonier Valley Coordinator

(724) 238-6015

Travis Mearns, Public Relations Coordinator

(724) 238-6015

SAMA AUXILIARY TO SPONSOR HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

            Ligonier – The Auxiliary of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley is pleased to announce the Museum’s fourth annual Holiday Home Tour. The tour features five of the area’s most beautiful and unique homes, all festively decorated for the holiday season. The Holiday Home Tour will be held on Saturday, December 8.

            The tour begins at the Museum with check-in between 9:30 and 10 a.m. At the Museum, guests will be given tour tickets and information brochures. Holiday cookies, pastries and beverages will be provided at the Museum. Tickets for the tour are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. Sales are limited to 500, so be sure to reserve your tickets early. For reservations or more information, please call the Museum at (724) 238-6015.

            Upon leaving the Museum, it’s off to tour the homes on one of several shuttle buses. Ten buses will be shuttling guests from home to home, though some guests from points west of Ligonier may prefer to tour one Latrobe area home on their way home. At that home, Donna and Tom McClure’s stately, traditional Palmer Place home, guests will find sweeping panoramic views of Latrobe’s gently rolling hills and peaceful valleys. Once there, impressive architectural details, an inviting floor plan, soaring ceilings, hardwood floors and stunning interior design make the home one to remember. With an artist’s eye and a mother’s heart, Mrs. McClure blends family heirlooms with eclectic collections of art, china, pottery and antiques to create a warm, comfortable and inviting family home with a great sense of style.

            At Amy and Robert Hepler’s “Lambchop Farm,” guests will find a delightfully sophisticated version of a working farm. The expertly restored original farmhouse is flanked on either side with two large, airy wings filled with modern art, antiques, fine furniture and touches of country charm. From the sleek modern kitchen to the bright, wicker-filled sunroom and several cozy fireplaces throughout the house, this home offers the best of past and present for a busy, modern family.

            Tucked under a canopy of trees on a large wooded lot, Betty and Don Gaston’s “Merry Meadow” home exudes charm and warm hospitality. Traditional in design, their spacious home offers fine furniture, rich fabrics, colorful floral displays and a lifetime of mementos and collectibles artfully displayed, including Mrs. Gaston’s collection of White House ornaments.

            Perfectly set on a manicured lot, Peg and Cloyd Gallagher’s inviting, tri-level rustic contemporary home is a treat to behold. From its high oak-peaked ceilings to two airy lofts, guests will be impressed with this inviting family home filled with holiday cheer and brimming with every type of holiday décor. Tastefully decorated with a flair for design, this magical home offers a different holiday tree in every room with its own special theme.

            When the gate opens to Lisa and Tom McChesney’s rambling country estate, “Stone Hill,” guests begin to experience the “art of living.” Built to take advantage of the breath-taking mountain views, their spacious home has an open floor plan that allows their wonderful array of furniture, accents and collectibles to be displayed with simple elegance and great appeal. Seamlessly blending art and fine living, numerous paintings by Bud Gibbons, Charles Lindford and Minette Bichel, along with several miniature room niches made by Mr. McChesney’s mother, are on display. To celebrate the season, Mrs. McChesney has skillfully arranged a variety of whimsical and festive holiday decorations throughout their home. Guests also are invited to tour Mrs. McChesney’s bead studio, LMH Designs, where she showcases and sells her custom-designed glass bead jewelry.

            The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley is located at One Boucher Lane and Route 711 South in Ligonier. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. weekends. The Museum is a handicapped-accessible facility and is open to the public free of charge. For more information, please call the Museum or visit www.sama-art.org.