More Lifestyles category, Page 41
New pups hit the dog park; owners are nervous wrecks
Like a lot of new dog owners, Adriana Magarin recently got a puppy to help brighten up pandemic life. “You can only read so many books, you can only listen to so many podcasts,” she said. Buddy, her husky, is “a troublemaker, but he gets me up in the morning...
Living with Children: Discipline vs. punishment
Misusing terminology is not simply a matter of semantics. A person who confuses the meaning of words is likely to behave accordingly. That occurred to me during a conversation with a parent who was using the word discipline as if it was a synonym for punishment. When I pointed that...
Michigan man killed after cannon used at baby shower explodes
GAINES TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A Michigan man who was fatally injured when a cannon exploded in a backyard during a baby shower was within 15 feet of the device when the blast occurred, police said. Evan Thomas Silva, 26, of Hartland, was struck by metal shrapnel in Saturday night’s explosion...
Here’s how to celebrate Valentine’s Day despite covid restrictions
Valentine’s Day is just a few short days away and even covid-19 can’t stop the celebration of love. Despite the pandemic and its restrictions, there are ways to adhere to Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders and celebrate the day safely. The Feb. 14 holiday falls on a Sunday this year. Make...
5 stories of Western Pennsylvanians who lost a sibling
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‘It is the hardest thing ever’: 5 Western Pennsylvanians share their anguish of losing a sibling
A sibling is often someone’s first friend. The person who best understands the family’s dynamic. Someone who travels through life’s stages, shares memories of childhood. Many forge lifetime bonds. The death of a sibling can leave a cavernous hole. “A sibling’s death becomes an anchor marker,” said Paul Friday, chief...
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh plans safe, outdoor Valentine’s activities
Kids and their families can celebrate Valentine’s Day early with free, socially distanced, outdoor fun at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in the North Side. Hearts in the Park, planned for 4-8 p.m. Feb. 13, will offer interactive outdoor exhibits and activities, along with drive-through elements. “While, sadly, our doors...
Things to do in Western Pa.: Feb. 3, 2021Video
Feeling down after Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter? Maybe what you need is a good laugh. You’re in luck. Arcade Comedy Theater has a reading of classic Black sitcoms, South West Communities Chamber of Commerce has a comedy date night and Rowhouse Cinema has its annual “Sweded”...
Pittsburgh ranks 19th-worst city for bed bugs
Here’s a list on which Pittsburgh should be relieved it ranks only in the middle of the pack. A survey released Monday by pest control specialists Orkin ranks Pittsburgh as the 19th-worst city for bed bugs. Pittsburgh also ranked 19th last year and 24th the year before that. The worst...
Merriam-Webster adds more than 520 new words to dictionary, including ‘COVID-19,’ ‘second gentleman’ and ‘sapiosexual’
Merriam-Webster, the United States’ leading language provider announced it was adding over 520 new words and definitions to the publisher’s website. These new words include “covid-19,” “second gentleman,” “long-hauler,” “flex,” “ASMR” and “sapiosexual.” Before the pandemic, “long-hauler” was defined as a person or vehicle that travels long distances, but it...
ScareHouse to welcome visitors on Valentine’s weekend
People can swap sweet for scary at the ScareHouse haunted attraction during Valentine’s Day weekend. ScareHouse in Frazer’s Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills is hosting a “twisted tale of holiday horror,” dubbed “Creepy Christmas,” for the holiday weekend. The Creepy Christmas event will run from Feb. 12-14. Since ScareHouse couldn’t host...
Living with Children: The correlation between food and behavior
A headache does not mean one has a brain tumor, but some brain tumors do cause headaches. Likewise, ADHD behaviors do not mean one has a food allergy, albeit some food allergies cause, in some children, behaviors that are on the official list of ADHD symptoms. (Mind you, I believe...
Pittsburgh Irish Festival to hold virtual St. Brigid celebration
Just about everyone knows who St. Patrick is, but few it seems have heard of St. Brigid. The folks at the Pittsburgh Irish Festival are hoping to change that. The organization has announced a “Celebration of St. Brigid” on Feb. 1 — the official holiday for St. Brigid, just as...
Santa lookalike from Robinson vies for prizes on ‘Let’s Make a Deal’
Check out the Santa Claus lookalike on the Jan. 29 episode of “Let’s Make a Deal.” That’s Michael Murray of Robinson, vying for big prizes on the long-running game show, airing at 10 a.m. on CBS. Murray teaches health and physical education to Pittsburgh Public Schools students from kindergarten through...
Living with Children: Unhappy tyrants are everywhere
Making children happy became a parenting goal in the early 1970s. The paradox, as everyone with a modicum of commonsense knows, is that the more effort parents put into making a child happy, the more unhappy the child becomes. Underneath the cute appearance of an infant lurks a tyrant. I...
Historic National Opera House in Homewood wants to be heard
Jonnet Solomon wants to hear voices bellow from the stage again. “I want to give people access to music once again,” said Solomon, of Mt. Washington, referring to the National Opera House, formerly known as the National Negro Opera House, in Homewood. The iconic building sits empty at 7101 Apple...
National Aviary offering in-person, virtual programming
Travel may not be an option right now because of the coronavirus, but visiting the National Aviary can make you feel like you’re on a tropical retreat, said Jennifer Torpie, the aviary’s curator of education and public programs. The aviary’s in-person and virtual programming allows visitors to see unusual bird...
Irwin gallery exhibit says ‘check yourself’ for mental health struggles
Kade Ellinger is using personal experience with depression and anxiety — along with his artistic talents — in the hope of sparking a conversation about mental and emotional health. His exhibit, “Chiggity-Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself,” is showing through February at Feathers Artist Market and Gifts in Irwin. “Check...
Pandemic brings importance of pets into focusVideo
People aren’t the only ones in the house affected by the pandemic. The lives of pets are subject to disruption, too. At the start, the change has been good for pets: With many owners working from home, or at least spending more time at home, dogs and cats have welcomed...
Carnegie Museum of Natural History offers new virtual field trips
The popular “Dinosaur Armor” exhibition is one of four virtual field trips now being offered by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, joining the museum’s growing library of virtual experiences. The experiences are available to individuals and educators, with more products slated in coming months to meet growing demand for...
Somerset Fire & Ice Festival to feature self-guided activities this weekend
“Roaring ’20s Rise Again” is the theme of the 26th Annual Fire & Ice Festival, beginning Friday in Somerset — although organizers say the word “Festival” is being swapped for “Showcase” to better describe this year’s activities. “This year will be simple, classic, charming and all outdoors,” said Regina Coughenour,...
Tylers Bakery & Cafe brings bubble tea, kombucha on tap to LigonierVideo
Have you ever strolled the streets of Ligonier, thinking, “I could really go for a bubble tea right now”? Until recently, you might have been out of luck — but now you can stroll up East Main Street to Tylers Bakery & Cafe to satisfy your craving. The eatery specializes...
Ligonier Ice Fest to celebrate ’30 years of cool fun’
This year’s Ligonier Ice Fest will celebrate “30 years of cool fun,” said event chair Cindy Purnell. The frozen festivities are scheduled for Jan. 23-24 in Ligonier Diamond Park and the surrounding downtown area. Whether it’s 7 degrees or 70, Purnell said, the event will have all the visitor favorite...
Greensburg Restaurant Week will showcase dine-in, takeout options
Greensburg-area eateries are cooking up special menus for Greensburg Restaurant Week, scheduled for Jan. 25-31. About 20 restaurants are expected to participate, according to Ashley Kertes, executive director of Greensburg Community Development Corp., which organizes the semiannual event. During the week, local restaurants typically offer reduced or fixed price menus,...
Living with Children: After 45 years, I keep right on truckin’
2021 marks the 45th year I’ve been writing this column. I’ve been told it is the longest-running syndicated column written continuously by one author. That takes “Dear Abby” out of contention. In the beginning, I was four years out of graduate school, directing a community mental health program for children...
