Lifestyles category, Page 129
Coronavirus taking big bite out of Easter candy sales for region’s makers
Coronavirus-related business closures are taking a hefty bite out of area confectioners’ Easter candy sales. With chocolate bunnies, eggs and other seasonal sweets accounting for about half of annual revenue, it’s a situation that could put some companies out of business. “It’s devastating, actually,” said John Mandak, owner of Valos...
Have gardening questions? Master Gardeners’ hotline has answers
Home gardeners can have their questions answered beginning April 1 via the annual garden hotline sponsored by Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County. The hotline is a free service offered through the Penn State Extension Office to help Westmoreland County residents with various gardening questions and concerns, including...
No need for soap or cleaners; washing produce with running water is enough
At the intersection of worrying about being infected by the coronavirus and what to do about groceries brought into the house, some are washing their produce with soapy water — even bleach or vinegar solutions — to try to kill the virus and other germs that may be on their...
Living with Children: More on picky eaters
Per the old Chinese saying, “May you live in interesting times,” it may be that the most interesting of times are those when people do not want to hear the truth — as in the present, or so it would seem. I did not intend to write a follow-up to...
Taco Bell offering free tacos Tuesday
While many restaurants and businesses are closed during the coronavirus outbreak, some are still offering food and takeout. Amid all this, Taco Bell announced that they are giving away beef tacos on Tuesday. Addressing the coronavirus outbreak, the company posted on Saturday night: “Now more than ever, we could all...
10 ways to make better photo memories when you can travel again
How to keep travel memories alive? Incorporate these steps into your travel routine before you head out the next time. Some are as easy as planning a meet-up with locals who know the lay of the land; others are about collecting information you can use when you return home. Here...
Travel tip: Cruise line offers credit to passengers changing plans
Royal Caribbean is offering a “Cruise With Confidence” plan to passengers already booked on a cruise, or those thinking about booking. The Future Cruise Credit plan allows passengers to cancel bookings on any cruise that embarks through July 31 from any port for credit on a future cruise. Cancellations must...
97-year-old Latrobe woman livestreams baking lessons on FacebookVideo
Back in the day, mothers and grandmothers passed down their culinary knowledge to daughters and granddaughters side-by-side in the kitchen, waiting to mix in an egg or lick extra icing from the spoon. On Sunday, 97-year-old Lucy Pollock, of Latrobe, will do the same. The only difference is that her...
Couples in quarantine: Stress, anxiety, fear of the unknown
The 60-something husband works in the food industry and still insists upon leaving every day for work, saying he needs to keep his business afloat. His frightened wife desperately wants him to stay home. For another couple, in the midst of a separation, the bitterly fought issue is the kids...
How communities are staying connected while respecting social distanceVideo
There are plenty of sayings to inspire us in these trying times: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Or, alternatively, “When life gives you lemons, take out the salt and the shot glasses and fill them up with tequila.” So...
Coronavirus delays production of AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead,’ postpones Season 10 finale
The popular zombie apocalyptic thriller “The Walking Dead” has had to delay production due to the coronavirus. AMC, which produces the show, announced the news on Twitter on Tuesday. “Current events have unfortunately made it impossible to complete post-production of ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 10 finale, so the current season...
Primanti’s to give out free beer with takeout orders for 1 day
If you order Primanti Bros. to go Thursday, the restaurant chain will throw in a free beer — and bring it to your car. The company turned its bartenders to “cartenders” as restaurants shut down in-house dining during the coronavirus pandemic. “As we were going through this crisis, we tried...
Many airline flights nearly empty as virus undercuts travel
Airline service in the United States is teetering on the brink of collapse, with near-empty planes and coronavirus outbreaks that have left some air traffic control towers empty. Even with sharply reduced schedules, airlines are consolidating some of the remaining flights because passengers aren’t showing up. An official of one...
Veterinarians, pet owners forced to adjust during coronavirus outbreak
Medical professionals treating humans aren’t the only ones having to adjust the way they practice in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Veterinarians have made similar changes in asking pet owners to postpone routine appointments and elective surgeries. They’re also reassuring pet owners that, though animals are the likely original source...
Living with Children: Time for parents to keep calm and carry on
Vital to a child’s sense of well-being are parents who act competent to provide adequate provision and protection under any and all circumstances. I often refer to that obligation as “acting like a superior being.” It requires, under the most trying circumstances, keeping one’s cool, projecting a sense of having...
It’s National Puppy Day … let’s celebrate
Today is National Puppy Day. It began in 2006, and there’s little doubt we’ve never needed it more than we do today. We are going into our second week of coronavirus quarantine, practicing social distancing holed up in our houses. We are missing our friends, our jobs, our teachers. You...
Remember When: March 23
A look at the Valley’s past in the language of the times as compiled by George Guido. 100 years ago Pittsburgh Plate Glass to expand The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. has announced it will acquire the 37-acre Wainwright plot in Creighton for $100,000. This will allow the adjacent glass plant,...
Travel tip: Indiana County waterfall makes for scenic day trip
With a hiking trail, picnic pavilion and a 45-foot waterfall, Buttermilk Falls Natural Area near Clyde, Indiana County, makes for a quick and scenic outing. Steps leading to the base of the falls include several viewing platforms, and there is access to walk behind the falls at the bottom. The...
Now is a good time to plan future family travel bucket list
While most of us may not be traveling any time soon, that doesn’t mean we can’t plan for the future. While many schools are out and we’re spending more time at home, consider creating a family travel bucket list for future use. Here are five ideas to consider: Reflect your...
Whiskey or whisky — what’s the difference?
You may have found yourself, at one time, doing a double take at a liquor store. Yes, if you’re a whisk(e)y fan, you may have noticed some brands are spelled with an “e” while others skip the extra vowel. But why? In short, it has to do with a particular...
Why you should never store canned goods in the garage
Stockpiling food and water is like a little insurance policy: Hopefully you never have to rely on it, but if you do, if could prove to be priceless. Whether it’s the threat of natural disaster or a pandemic, having a safety stash of food and water can give you a...
Living with Children: The best cure for picky eating
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) said there is no idea so bizarre that a philosopher has not advanced it. These days, the philosophers in question are psychologists and the bizarre ideas are their explanations of human behavior. Said explanations are bizarre because (trust me on this, I am one) psychologists wear, as...
Tall, spiky flowers add a vertical interest to garden
Early spring is a great time to start planning your plantings for the coming season. Look over photos of your garden from last year to see where blank spaces occur or where the design of your flower plantings could be elevated. One of the most wonderful opportunities we have to...
Couples scramble to revamp wedding, honeymoon plans amid coronavirus pandemic
After their August engagement, Greensburg couple Gregory Mertz and Janelle Stayt planned a dream wedding. They were going to marry March 21 in Montgomery County, host their reception at Stateside Vodka Bar in Philadelphia and then depart on a European honeymoon. As the fast-spreading coronavirus raced around the globe, the resulting...
Flight 93 National Memorial tree planting postponed until 2021Video
The annual Plant a Tree at Flight 93 event has been postponed until next year. Held at the Flight 93 National Memorial each spring, it typically fills its volunteer slots early. Many organizations and individuals return year after year. The 2019 event drew about 400 people planning to plant more...
