Shirley McMarlin stories, Page 37
For McKeesport filmmaker, ’80s-style horror movie has happy endingVideo
It’s not often a horror movie helps someone get their head on straight, but it happened for Mark Cantu. The McKeesport-based indie filmmaker was considering giving up on his chosen career path when he was inspired to begin writing what would become “Massacre Academy,” set for a world premiere July...
Animal Friends of Westmoreland celebrity dance contest takes to virtual stage
From finding contestants to arranging a date and location, a lot of time and effort goes into planning Dancing With the Celebrities, a signature annual fundraiser for The Animal Friends of Westmoreland. After being canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic, the dance event will be virtual this year, airing...
Out & About: Greensburg, Latrobe art centers present ‘Art Neighbors’ awardsVideo
“I didn’t expect that.” That was the reaction of Ed Korinko of Manor when his cold cast bronze sculpture, “Bald Eagle,” was named Best in Show in “Art Neighbors,” the annual joint exhibition presented by the Greensburg and Latrobe art centers. Awards were announced during a July 8 reception at...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: July 9-11
Salute to summer Celebrate summer with Westmoreland Symphony’s annual “Summer Sparklers” outdoor concert at 7 p.m. today in St. Clair Park in downtown Greensburg. Artistic Director Daniel Meyer will lead the symphony in a program of patriotic and popular favorites, including “American Salute,” “Sing-Along America,” “Beach Boys Medley,” “A Tribute...
Variety is the spice of upcoming Greensburg Garden Center garden tour
Greensburg Garden Center’s upcoming garden tour will transport participants to outdoor spaces reminiscent of the British Isles, the tropics and places in between. Set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 31, the tour will feature seven gardens arranged along a self-driving route that begins in New Alexandria, reaches out...
Westmoreland Museum show chronicles Hempfield artist’s immigration journey
With “Creation out of Chaos,” artist Sheila Cuellar-Shaffer hopes to cultivate conversations around immigration, particularly as it affects women, individually and collectively. Works in her exhibition, showing through July 18 at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, include memories of Cuellar-Shaffer’s personal immigration journey to the United States...
Out & About: Cannons and Cocktails is a blast at Fort LigonierVideo
Parties at Fort Ligonier are a blast. Literally. A mortar-firing demonstration was part of the fun during a July 2 Cannons and Cocktails party at the fort, which dates back a couple of decades prior to the founding of the United States of America, to the days of the French...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: July 2-4
Critter count Amateur naturalists are invited to help with a “bioblitz” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Keystone State Park in Derry Township. Participants can hike the McCune Run or Davis Run trails during the day and and compile a list of all of the living things they can see...
Pittsburgh CLO’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ will be under the stars at Heinz Field
In case you’re wondering how Pittsburgh CLO can stage a musical in the vast expanse of Heinz Field, don’t worry — the audience won’t be straining to see the performers from the upper decks. When the company presents “The Wizard of Oz” July 8-10 on the Steelers’ home turf, “We’ll...
Gather your family and go have some summertime fun
Warm, sunny days are the perfect setting for making family memories, but they’re also ideal opportunities to encourage kids to get creative and let their imaginations soar. There are many ways to do that, and there are lifelong benefits for everyone, said Maria Stone, director of the Seton Hill University...
Stage Right’s ‘Hair’ celebrates 1960s hippie vibe
For the Stage Right Theatre Company, the rock musical “Hair” isn’t just an anachronistic snapshot of the peace and love era of the 1960s. Cast members in their 20s and 30s are finding parallels between the “Age of Aquarius” and the present day, said Director Tony Marino. The troupe will...
Greensburg, Latrobe art centers celebrate shared mission in joint show
Greensburg and Latrobe art centers will celebrate their collective mission of promoting art and artists across Westmoreland County with the annual joint exhibition, “Art Neighbors.” Featuring works by members of both organizations, the show will run from Thursday through July 31 in the Latrobe Art Center, 819 Ligonier St. An...
Ligonier Chamber tour book offers restaurant deals, chance on resort stay
Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce is making it easy to plan dinners out with a new Ligonier Valley Restaurant Tour book. Diners visiting all listed eateries also have a chance to win a stay at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. The books are available for $5 each in Ligonier in the...
Eclectic local band HABATAT vying for NPR Tiny Desk Concert slotVideo
When HABATAT dragged a desk onstage at a recent concert, it wasn’t just an eclectic performance art prop. The band, whose members hail from Greensburg and Johnstown, were getting ready to video a song for submission into NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert contest. HABATAT was onstage at FUNKy FEST, an annual...
Lawrenceville boutique owner beats trivia legend, wins big on ABC’s ‘The Chase’
The dictionary definition of “trivia” is “pieces of information of little importance or value.” Try telling that to Liz Quesnelle of Lawrenceville. Her knowledge of facts both great and small recently won her a third of a $660,000 pot on the ABC quiz show “The Chase.” On the show’s June...
The Palace Theatre to return to live shows starting July 30
In a bit of scheduling serendipity, The Palace Theatre in Greensburg will reopen to live audiences with a July 30 visit from The Happy Together Tour. Marking its 11th year of national touring, the show is headlined by The Turtles and features other hit-makers from the 1960s and ’70s, including...
Sewickley theater to offer Wednesday open caption movies
A pilot program at the The Tull Family Theater in Sewickley aims to improve moviegoing for its patrons, especially those who are hard of hearing. Beginning Wednesday, and continuing weekly throughout the summer, captions will appear on the bottom of the screen of each movie shown that day. The program,...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: June 25-27
Live at the Lamp Well, the good ol’ days may not return — but at least live music is back at the Lamp Theatre in Irwin. At 8 p.m. Friday, The Breakers will take the stage, playing a tribute show to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Formed in 2018, the...
Revamped Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival returns to Green Tree hotel
The Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival, returning under a new name after a pandemic-year hiatus, will be held Thursday through Saturday at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Green Tree. Under new ownership, the festival will offer more than 50 classes in knitting, crochet, quilting, weaving and other creative arts, along with...
Pittsburgh Symphony plans return to Heinz Hall live audiences
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will return to Heinz Hall in September with a full orchestra in front of live audiences. “When we return in September, it will have been a shocking drought of 18 months since we’ve all been together at Heinz Hall,” said Melia Tourangeau, PSO president and CEO....
July 4th weekend starts with a bang at Fort Ligonier social event
The Fourth of July weekend will begin with a bang at Fort Ligonier, as the fort hosts a new social event called Cannons and Cocktails. Set for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. July 2, the casual gathering will feature an artillery firing, live musical entertainment by fiddler Andy Bronkaj and...
Elton John to resume farewell tour, tickets on sale June 30
Elton John is picking up where he left off, having announced the final dates for his “Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour in North America and Europe,” which was interrupted in 2020 by the pandemic. The tour includes a Sept. 16, 2022, date at PNC Park in...
‘Mask anxiety’ is a bare-faced fact for some people
It’s a common-enough dream — you’re at work, at school or in some other public place, when suddenly you realize you aren’t wearing any clothes. That doesn’t mean you’re a secret exhibitionist. Rather, dream analysts say, it hints at hidden insecurities and the fear of having them revealed to others....
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: June 18-20
Dads get in free In recognition of Father’s Day, admission to Bushy Run Battlefield is free for dads this weekend when they’re accompanied by one or more of their kids — regardless of the offspring’s age. Tours of the museum and golf cart tours of the battlefield will be available...
Food, music on tap for Westmoreland Fairgrounds weekend festival
Food vendors and some favorite bands will line up this weekend for three days of good eats and good music at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds. The Food & Music Festival is scheduled for 4-10 p.m. Friday, 2-10 p.m. Saturday and 2-9 p.m. Sunday at the complex off Mt. Pleasant Road in...
