When Sven Hosford and Kathy Briar were visiting a specialty bookstore in Shadyside in the early 1990s, they noticed a large bulletin board of classes and community events on natural health and spiritual practices.

Steve Mellon, Post-Gazette Sven Hosford and Kathy Briar at the Journeys of Life bookstore in Shadyside, where a bulletin board sparked the idea for the Point of Light magazine. Click photo for larger image. More info The All Hallow's Eve event at the Club Cafe is open to the public. It is sponsored by the Theodore Marchbein Center for the Healing Arts and features drumming sessions by Jim Donovan of Rusted Root, music by The James Harvey Band, literary readings and an award ceremony. Tickets are $5. They can be obtained in advance by linking to www.clubcafe.com, or at the door. Point of Light, is distributed free at spots throughout the region, or available by subscription for $12 to cover mailing costs. To subscribe, call 724-863-4206 or send a check to Point of Light, P.O. Box N, Irwin, PA 15642. You can read more at www.pointoflight.com

"It struck me that Pittsburgh didn't have any kind of publication to address this audience, to address these types of subjects,'' said Hosford.

Both Hosford and Briar, who were new enthusiasts to the benefits of natural health practices, decided to begin a publication that would provide that new voice. Hosford, 45, had a background in graphic design and journalism; Briar, 52, had a degree in accounting and English.

This year, the free quarterly "Point of Light" marks its 10th anniversary with a publication that continues to expand.

For the couple's contribution, they will be honored Saturday with the first Community Achievement Award being presented by the Pittsburgh Healer's Network, a group of alternative and holistic practitioners.

"They believed in the community. They helped give us a resource to know where to go,'' said Sherry Harvey, a psychotherapist and Reiki Master who assembled the healer's network a few years ago.

She said the couple, who produce their publication in Irwin, took a gamble on the magazine that is supported by advertising revenue. But since its inception it's been in the black. "It had to be really hard. We've watched the magazine grow.''

Harvey also came up with the idea for the annual award, which will be presented at an "All Hallow's Eve" extravaganza at the Club Cafe on the South Side, 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday.

She said she started the award to give credibility to the alternative healers. "I wanted the community at large to see we really exist,'' she said. "We're not fly-by-night, hoodoo-voodoo practitioners.''

Hosford and Briar met at a class on Reiki, a form of energy healing. He had been turned onto natural health practices after attending a Reiki demonstration following a knee injury. He had no health insurance at the time and couldn't afford to see a doctor. Walking had become painful.

At the demonstration, a woman performed Reiki on his knee. "I stood up 10 minutes later and there was no pain. There's been no pain since. For me that was a miraculous healing.''

He said the success of his magazine shows there is a vastly underserved market in Pittsburgh for natural health. "There are thousands and thousands of people interested in this subject.''

In January, the magazine plans to launch a Web site called Wholistic Pittsburgh, that will serve as a clearinghouse for all information on natural health practices in the region. It will include listings of practitioners, event calendars, discussion forums, an encyclopedia of holistic terms and other features.