Editor's Picks category, Page 300
Racial reckoning turns focus to Pa. roadside historical markers
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania had been installing historical markers for more than a century when the racist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017 brought a fresh round of questions from the public about just whose stories were being told on the state’s roadsides — and the language used to tell...
‘Go in peace’: Pennsylvania church founded in 1800 holds last service
BELLEFONTE — A Pennsylvania church with a 221-year history held its final service and is scheduled to close at the end of the year because of declining membership and attendance. The First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, which is nearly as old as the borough itself, held the final scheduled service...
Faces of the Valley: Youngsters with illnesses transformed into Superheroes for calendar
Seven-year-old Giuliana Taylor isn’t famous — yet — but she’s already getting the star treatment thanks to a local nonprofit called Superheroes Believe in Miracles. The group rolled out the red carpet at Giuliana’s home in New Kensington to unveil her glammed-up photos that will appear in a 2022 calendar....
Holiday delivery: Christmas baby for Unity family
Santa had a little something special on his sleigh when it passed over central Westmoreland County on Christmas morning: a baby girl for the Gorzelsky family of Unity. Iris Ann Gorzelsky, the daughter of Kaitlin and Adam Gorzelsky, came into the world two days earlier than anticipated — at 7:47...
Santa’s on his way: Here’s how to track him
All eyes are on the guy dressed in red and white. It’s time for Santa Claus to shine, and there are a few ways to track his gift-giving progress — with the help of nine flying reindeer, Rudolph included of course — before he makes it to rooftops across Southwestern...
10-year-old dons elf suit to spread Christmas cheer at Unity personal care home
A young beacon of the holiday spirit made sure residents at a Unity personal care home felt loved during a special visit Thursday. Dora Runyon, 86, exclaimed when William Gunther, 10, handed her a small elephant stuffed animal, one of 150 he purchased to hand out to those spending Christmas...
‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’
As we do every year on Christmas Eve, we offer you this gift to share with the ones you love: Clement C. Moore’s classic poem about Santa. ’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung...
Things to do in Westmoreland County: Dec. 24-26
Christmas Eve services Churches across the area will open their doors for Christmas Eve services Friday. For those without a regular church home, there are plenty of ways to find a service to attend. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, which includes parishes in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties,...
Feast of the Seven Fishes highlights Italian family tradition in Western Pa.
Dinnertime, for an Italian family, is sacred. It’s an opportunity to gather around the table, share a meal, drink some good wine and engage in great conversation. The spread on Christmas Eve represents the heart of this tradition. The Feast of the Seven Fishes — for which seven seafood items...
Alcoa-inspired flagpole with metal Christmas tree shines on near Route 66 in Gilpin
A flagpole in Gilpin has a unique holiday addition, compliments of a former Alcoa employee. “It’s Dad’s Alcoa flagpole tree,” joked Joseph Kovalchik of his late father’s handmade aluminum creation. John Kovalchik worked for 34 years as a maintenance electrician at Alcoa’s research lab in New Kensington. He died in...
Ligonier man’s Christmas story takes on new life
Carl Smith was a young father, worried about disappointing his children 50 years ago when he spun a Christmas tale that became a family tradition. At the time, he had no idea the tale would take on a life of its own, going so far as to be featured in...
TV Talk: Fayette County hunter launches season two of ‘MTN TOP Outdoors’Video
Jeremiah “Jay” Voithofer of Farmington, Fayette County, remembers going to a Holiday Inn in Uniontown at age 8 to meet Terry Drury, a host of TV shows about hunting. “I made a turkey sound call and he gave me – and signed – his box call,” Voithofer said. “It’s just...
TribLive Taste Test: Apple Pie and Sugar Cookie Toast CrunchVideo
If you’re a kid, you don’t want to waste a lot of time on Christmas morning deciding what you’ll have for breakfast. That’s taking up time better spent playing with toys. So the TribLive Taste Test team — working from home this week, and with the assistance of professional kid...
New Ken-Arnold food drive shatters goals for food, cash donations
Valley High School’s annual food drive came back — and came through — in a big way this year. After not being held last year because of the covid pandemic, the now-districtwide effort shattered goals for food items and cash so much that not one but two New Kensington police...
9 days after tornado, cat found in rubble of building
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nine days after a tornado demolished his three-story office building in downtown Mayfield, Ky., Sonny “Hoot” Gibson was standing in the rubble when he thought he heard a faint meow. It instantly gave him hope that his office cat, Madix, who hadn’t been seen since before the...
Yuengling accuses Bud Light of trampling on trademark
A trademark tiff between America’s oldest beer maker and America’s best-selling beer brand appears to be over before it really began. Last week, D.G. Yuengling & Son, the nearly 200-year-old Pennsylvania-based brewer, demanded that its much larger rival, Anheuser-Busch, stop using a tagline for its forthcoming Bud Light Next zero-carb...
Holidays from the Heart remembers patients of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Anne Alter walked back into UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital in Oakland on Friday — but not as a patient this time. She walked in as someone who is living proof that it’s possible to be well and live in recovery. Alter returned to sing a moving Hanukkah song at Holidays...
Actor Richard Thomas proving to be man for all seasons in PittsburghVideo
Let’s be clear. Actor Richard Thomas loves performing in Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh audiences love seeing Thomas perform. And they’re getting plenty of chances to watch the former “Waltons” star apply his craft. Thomas is currently in Pittsburgh reprising his role as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Pittsburgh CLO’s “A Musical Christmas...
TV Q&A: Will Mark Harmon return to ‘NCIS’ as Gibbs?
Q: Mark Harmon’s name and likeness are the first things that appear in the opening credits of “NCIS.” However, he is no longer on the show. Any idea why he’s still in the opening credits? — Jeff, Baldwin Q: Is Mark Harmon really done on “NCIS”? The new guy (Gary...
Westmoreland Conservancy marks winter solstice with nature hike in Murrysville
Technically speaking, “Tuesday night” began at 4:57 p.m. That was the official time for sundown at the winter solstice — the official start to winter, and the shortest amount of daytime sunlight the region will see in 2021. About 15 participants in the Westmoreland Conservancy’s Winter Solstice Walk, held Tuesday...
C_Shoemaker Custom Clothier brings bespoke menswear to Ligonier
If clothes don’t make the man, they certainly make the first impression. And if the clothes look good, the wearer feels good, too. That’s the aesthetic Cindy Shoemaker is bringing to Ligonier with her recently opened business, C_Shoemaker Custom Clothier. The shop specializes in custom-made suits, tuxedos, sport coats, trousers,...
Powerball ticket worth $200K sold at Homestead GetGo
A Powerball with Power Play ticket worth $200,000 was sold in Homestead, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Tuesday. The ticket was sold at GetGo on East Waterfront Drive. It matched four of the five white balls drawn — 2, 13, 23, 34, 66 — and the red Powerball, 2, in Monday’s...
Januscary Film Festival brings winter chills to Pittsburgh’s Harris Theater
Usually, the scariest thing about January is getting the Christmas credit card bill. To kick off 2022, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will offer more chills and thrills with the Januscary Film Festival, which will feature six new and classic horror films screening at the Harris Theater in downtown Pittsburgh. “Most...
TV Talk: Mt. Lebanon native charts course for ‘Book of Boba Fett,’ ‘Mandalorian’
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. Mt. Lebanon native Dave Filoni has been living his childhood dream of playing “Star Wars” for two decades, trading his childhood action figures for writing scripts and directing costumed actors and massive “Star Wars” props...
Westmoreland doles out retroactive pandemic hazard pay to top administrators
Nearly two years after the fact, Westmoreland County’s senior executives, department heads and other top administrators will receive bonuses for their work in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved retroactive pandemic pay for about 60 county officials for 10 days of work between March...
