Lifestyles category, Page 52
Out & About: Ligonier Valley Historical Society food fest packs ’em in
A group of area restaurants put their best foods forward for Ligonier Valley Historical Society’s 30th Tastes of the Town, on April 20 in The Barn at Ligonier Valley. Surveying the packed house, Ligonier Borough Mayor Ormond “Butch” Bellas said, “It’s great to get together as a community and enjoy...
Out & About: Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP hosts annual banquet
“Looking Back While Moving Forward” was the theme for the annual Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP Human Rights Banquet, held April 22 at Greensburg Country Club. It’s a pivotal time in history not just for the organization, but for society itself, said branch President Ruth Tolbert. “We find ourselves in a period of...
Out & About: Saint Vincent seniors exhibit digital media creations
Senior students from four disciplines came together to exhibit works from their digital media professional capstone project at Saint Vincent College. Their work is showing through May 5 in the Verostko Center for the Arts on the Unity campus, where an April 19 opening reception drew a large crowd. “Collectively...
Mirror image: Quirky O’Hara home for sale for $899,000
This home will be a true reflection of the new owner. Known as the “Mirror House,” the residence is covered in mirrors on the outside as well as inside on walls, ceilings — pretty much everywhere one looks they see themselves. You kind of have to see it to believe...
Andy Warhol portrait of O.J. Simpson goes on auction block
NEW YORK — It was 1977, and Andy Warhol was at work on his “Athletes” series, portraits of top sports personalities who, he felt, were gaining cultural prominence just like “the movie stars of yesterday.” One of them was then the star running back of the Buffalo Bills: O.J. Simpson....
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: April 28-30
Final recital The Friday Evening Music Club of the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra will present its season-finale recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Campana Chapel at the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg, 150 Finoli Drive, Hempfield. The program will include Roger Cazden on flute with Josie Merlino on piano playing works by...
From Sanders to Sauce, NFL draft fashion evolves over time
HOUSTON — Deion Sanders became the NFL draft’s first fashion icon by accessorizing a black and white tracksuit with loads of sparkling gold jewelry and dark shades when he took the call from the Atlanta Falcons before they selected him fifth overall in 1989. As memorable as Sanders’ draft swag...
Mattel introduces first Barbie with Down syndrome
WASHINGTON — Toy company Mattel revealed its first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome on Tuesday. Mattel collaborated with the National Down Syndrome Society to create the Barbie and “ensure the doll accurately represents a person with Down syndrome,” the company said. Design features of the new Barbie...
Flaming dragon in ‘Fantasmic’ show is latest in a series of Disneyland mishapsVideo
LOS ANGELES — Certain fire effects at Disney properties will be temporarily suspended after an animatronic dragon used in Disneyland’s “Fantasmic” show burst into flames Saturday night, startling the audience and prompting evacuations. Disney officials say similar fire effects will be temporarily suspended at company theme parks across the globe,...
Eat’n Park’s strawberry pie inspires 2nd round of Grist House sour ale
Strawberry Pie Forever sour ale, a collaboration between Eat’n Park and the Grist House in Millvale, returns Wednesday for its second annual limited run. “We were blown away by the incredible response to Strawberry Pie Forever last year,” said Grist House marketing manager Bailey Allegretti, noting it sold out in...
Murrysville sisters turn creative energy into Etsy shop Carefree Critters
As the covid-19 pandemic pressed on into 2021, Anna Pinto wasn’t able to attend her high school in Highland Park, and her younger sister, Gia, wasn’t able to attend the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Both were at their Murrysville residence being home-schooled — and ended up taking the...
Interactive mystery event uses downtown Greensburg as game board
A valuable painting has been stolen, and the artist is dead. Who dunnit? Amateur sleuths can trek the streets of Greensburg and solve the crime during Westmoreland Community Action’s second annual “WHO DUNNIT?” event Saturday. The story will unfold beginning at 11 a.m. at the scene of the crime —...
Penn-Tucky connection: Project blesses Harrison City church, aid recipients
There’s a proverb that says if you want to be blessed, be a blessing to someone else. Volunteers with the Kentucky Project at St. Barbara Catholic Church in Harrison City have proven that to be true. Since 2006, the group has assisted poor rural families in eastern Kentucky by providing...
Out & About: Latrobe Art Center serves up ‘Taste of the Neighborhood’
Offer a group of people a dozen things to eat and everyone will have a different favorite. So it was at the annual Taste of the Neighborhood: Pizza, Brews & More, on April 14 at Latrobe Art Center. The overflow crowd spilled out of the center onto Ligonier Street with...
Diocese of Greensburg presents 23rd Salt and Light Awards
Recipients of this year’s Communities of Salt and Light Awards, bestowed by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg, are “folks who have really lived the mission of Catholic Charities, the diocese and the Catholic Church itself,” said Bishop Larry Kulick. Presented for the 23rd year, the awards recognize individuals...
Hawaii blocks some Waikiki sands for seal pup
HONOLULU — The birth of an endangered seal at Hawaii’s most popular tourism hubs is highlighting the tension between protecting the islands’ fragile ecosystems and maintaining access to the pristine white sand beaches that attract millions of visitors each year. Hawaii officials this week fenced off a large stretch of...
Book invites kids to turn native gardens into national park
Doug Tallamy, the wildlife ecologist and entomologist who urges home gardeners to join forces and create a pollinator-friendly “Homegrown National Park,” is now bringing kids into the effort. Tallamy has become a leading evangelist for the return of native plants and trees that can support birds, bees and other essential...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: April 21-23
Chinese musicians “A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,” a free concert of traditional Chinese music, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Robert S. Carey Performing Arts Center at Saint Vincent College in Unity. Featured musicians will be Yazhi Guo on the suona and Zhou Yi on...
New to volunteering? A how-to guide to find the right fit
Over the last 20 years, fewer and fewer people in the U.S. have donated their time through volunteering with nonprofits. While it’s not the only way to give back to your community, volunteering through nonprofit organizations is a powerful way to make a difference. Nonprofits support many of our society’s...
Flower Magazine founder to share floral expertise at Carnegie Museum of Art
Margot Shaw doesn’t buy flower arrangements anymore. Once a self-confessed “call and order flowers girl,” a watershed moment came when planning her daughter’s wedding. Working alongside the floral and event designer, she became inspired and did an apprenticeship with that creator of beautiful blooms. Shaw will present her artistry at...
Former Bella Luna space to reopen as The Coxcomb
As he stood behind what will soon be a finished bar top, Will Patterson of Monroeville heard someone driving past the open door of the former Bella Luna restaurant at the Murrysville/Monroeville border. “Are you open?” the woman asked through her passenger side window. “Early June, hopefully!” Patterson shouted before...
Building the Valley: New Kensington native teams with Strange Roots, Common Oven to offer downtown brew pub
Tony Vigilante isn’t a master beer brewer or a professional pizza chef. But he sure loves a great pint to wash down a tasty pizza. So when the New Kensington native saw the chance to share his penchant for brew and pie in the town where he lives and works,...
Buffalo Township woman crowned queen of weight loss
Michele Malkowiak loves being called a loser. The Buffalo Township grandmother and homemaker shed more than 100 pounds over a two-year period during the pandemic. As a result, she is Pennsylvania’s reigning 2021-22 Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) queen. “I was blindsided,” said Malkowiak, 56. “I found out the day...
Out & About: Greensburg Christian businessmen host Good Friday breakfast
It’s good to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but there’s an even higher hall of fame to aspire to. That was the message from guest speaker David Baker to attendees at the Good Friday Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Greensburg Christian Business Men’s Connection on April 7...
David’s Bridal could lay off more than 9,000 employees as company explores sale
Pennsylvania-based David’s Bridal, which sells wedding dresses and other clothing and accessories for special occasions, could lay off thousands of people across the country and is exploring a sale of the company. The company filed a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor &...
