Editor's Picks category, Page 362
Westmoreland County retailers ‘cautiously optimistic’ for good holiday shopping seasonVideo
Like many owners of small businesses in the area, the owner of Penelope’s Gifts and More store in downtown Greensburg is hopeful about the holiday shopping season — despite the pandemic and a higher unemployment rate. “I’m cautiously optimistic. It’s such a different year, and you can’t compare it to...
Toy drive benefiting New Kensington Salvation Army becomes drive-thru eventVideo
A long-running toy drive benefiting the New Kensington Salvation Army will be done a bit differently this year. Choosing to postpone it because of the covid-19 pandemic wasn’t even considered, said Dr. Lawrence York, a New Kensington chiropractor who has hosted the toy drive since 1999. “We knew — one...
3 black bears bagged in Allegheny County during archery season
Three black bears were taken by archers in Allegheny County so far, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The black bears bagged in Allegheny County were in West Deer, Elizabeth and in the state game lands in Marshall and Franklin townships, said Zeb Campbell, game warden for Allegheny County. While...
Few people venture out early for Black Friday dealsVideo
Carl Laird wasn’t going to let fears over the pandemic stop him from his 19-year tradition of Black Friday shopping. Shortly after 5 a.m., the 40-year-old from Rillton had already been to Dunham’s for gun ammunition and to Walmart for pajamas. But Laird was one of only a handful of...
Where to watch your holiday favorites
Original local holiday TV specials have been in short supply in recent years but with so many traditions canceled this year due to covid, there’s a welcome new gift under the Christmas TV programming tree: Pittsburgh CLO’s “A Musical Christmas Carol” starring Richard Thomas will air on WQED-TV at 7:30...
Alex Trebek recorded powerful Thanksgiving message for ‘Jeopardy!’ ahead of his death
Beloved “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek offered an uplifting vision for the future of the world in a video he taped shortly before his death to be aired as part of the game show’s Thanksgiving episode. “You know, in spite of what America and the rest of the world is experiencing...
Trump skips turkey jokes, gives thanks for covid-19 vaccines
WASHINGTON — Nostalgia was in and jokes were out Tuesday as President Donald Trump offered a reprieve to a pair of meaty turkeys at the traditional Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremony at the White House. The National Turkey Federation presented the White House with two birds, Corn and Cob. Corn was...
Turkey-trot fundraisers challenged by pandemic
Turkey-trot fundraisers across the region are being slowed down this year by the covid-19 pandemic, which is reducing participation and forcing many of the events to go virtual. The 29th annual Greensburg Turkey Trot has 235 runners and walkers signed up for this year’s virtual event, down from more than...
Financially distressed Pa. towns faring better than expected, while others in pain
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — A significant number of Pennsylvania municipalities are considering applying for a state program for the severely financially distressed, while...
Pittsburgh region stood up to ‘Big Snow’ during 1950 Thanksgiving weekendVideo
Carl Huszar’s father and uncle had to walk several miles to get milk from a North Huntingdon farm because the roads were impassable. Faye Dames Matty, who now lives in Fort Myers, Fla., learned her father made it all the way from the Virginia military base where he was stationed...
Toy safety group releases annual list of top 10 ‘worst’ toys
BOSTON — Cute plastic animals with tiny accessories that pose a choking hazard, Black Panther-inspired claws with the potential to cause facial or eye injuries, and green slime that could be harmful if swallowed: These are just some of the items on an annual list of potentially dangerous toys released...
You can now make $2,500 just by watching Christmas movies
For Christmas movie fans everywhere, getting paid for doing what you love is now being taken to a whole new level. Reviews.org recently announced a seasonal job opportunity in which yuletide merrymakers will get the chance to earn $2,500 on a quest to find the best Christmas movie of all...
Man leaves $3K tip for a beer as Cleveland restaurant closes for virus
A customer left a $3,000 tip for a single beer as a restaurant voluntarily closed because of the covid-19 pandemic. The man walked in Sunday, ordered the beer and asked for the check, which came to $7.02, Nighttown owner Brendan Ring wrote on Facebook. Ring said the man wished him...
Here’s where to see drive-thru Christmas lights in Western Pennsylvania
Driving around town to see the neighbors’ decorations has long been a holiday tradition. But if you want something on a grander scale — say, lasers or 1 million twinkling LED lights — try one of these holiday displays, sure to impress even the most skeptical Scrooge. Holiday Laser Show...
Tarentum teen continues to provide turkeys to those in need
A Tarentum teen is doing his part to prove that hockey players are good people. Wesley Westerman, 15, started collecting turkeys for needy families last year after he read an article and saw a YouTube clip of “The Social” co-host Jessica Allen describing hockey players as conceited and rude. Wesley...
Latrobe baking sensation Lucy Pollock, 98, diesVideo
Lucy Pollock loved her fans. As star of the popular “Baking With Lucy” Facebook page, the 98-year-old from Latrobe would spend hours reading and re-reading messages from her supporters. Because her eyesight wasn’t the best, her daughter would sometimes have to read stuff to her. “She would read it and...
Leechburg woman spends Thanksgiving week organizing holiday take-out dinner for 150
Jamie Rimmel never spends Thanksgiving Day in her own kitchen. Instead, she volunteers her time every year organizing and cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal for the public at her church, Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church in Leechburg. A free take-out Thanksgiving dinner will be offered Thursday to anyone from noon-...
Looking to get a covid-19 test? Here are some of your options
As the number of covid-19 cases explodes in the region, more residents are seeking tests and face a number of options. And depending on where you go, waiting for results might take longer, according to health officials. While there are a number of covid-19 testing sites in the region, many...
Sounding off: With no evidence of voter fraud, let’s please move on
It is unfortunate that in these times anybody can throw out any sort of nonsense, and so many people will believe anything. Letter-writer Al Bianchini, offering no evidence, states that the election was “a fiasco” and “mail-in balloting is a disaster” (“U.S. voting system is a disaster,” Nov. 11, TribLIVE)....
How to safely celebrate Thanksgiving during the pandemic
Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated with large family feasts and lots of friends. This year, health officials are urging people to scrap those plans in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine has urged people to nix any gatherings, large or small, to celebrate the upcoming...
Owl be darned — Rockefeller Center Christmas tree survival tale not surprisingVideo
It’s actually not unusual, given the circumstances, that a cute Northern saw-whet owl, found in the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center recently, is healthy and still adorable. The saw-whet owl is so named because its call, not the typical hoo-hoo, but rather a mechanical toot-toot, sounds like the sharpening of...
Toast the season with festive twists on holiday spiritsVideo
You don’t have to go to the bar to get a well-made drink. Many can be served in your house. “With most people spending the holidays at home because of the pandemic, there are easy ways to make cocktails in your house,” said Barry Young, co-founder and master distiller at...
TV Talk: Thanksgiving parade telecasts altered by pandemicVideo
With covid-19 upending holiday plans worldwide, even traditions like the “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” have to change, but the show will go on, at least on TV. “You have to have it on in the background while you’re making your gravy,” teased Hoda Kotb, who will again host the telecast...
Vatican reportedly launching probe after Pope Francis’ Instagram account ‘likes’ racy photo
“At least I’m going to heaven.” That was the quip from bikini model Natalia Garibotto after the official Instagram account of Pope Francis was one of 100,000 to “like” a racy photo of the half-clothed Brazilian. According to the Catholic News Agency, the photo was quickly “unliked” by the verified...
Isolated for months, island crew sees pandemic for 1st time
HONOLULU — Just as the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold, in February, four people set sail for one of the most remote places on Earth — a small camp on Kure Atoll, at the edge of the uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. There, more than 1,400 miles from Honolulu, they...
