Shirley McMarlin stories, Page 46
Pancakes, pickles, prepared meals tops in 2021 food trendsVideo
Whether home-cooked, dine-in or takeout, food — glorious food — was one of the few pleasures we could depend on in 2020. Food sustains the body and nourishes the soul. Somehow, a bite of something delicious makes a bad day, or a bad year, just a little bit better. Good...
Thin mints or Trefoils? Girl Scout cookie sales set to begin
Thin mints or Trefoils? Do-si-dos or Tagalongs? It’s time to decide which Girl Scout cookies you’re buying this year — and how many boxes. Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania will launch their 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program on Friday, hoping to bring smiles to the faces of their customers during a...
Animal Friends executive director Kelli Brisbane getting hands dirty in new post
Kelli Brisbane is getting her hands dirty in her new job. There’s nothing nefarious about it — it’s just part of being the new executive director at Animal Friends of Westmoreland. Since taking over the role on Dec. 14, Brisbane already has fostered a dog and pitched in at the...
Greensburg artists’ work is Christmas gift to Puerto Rican church
A mosaic made by two Greensburg Art Center members has found a home in a small Puerto Rican church. It’s the last thing artists Rosemary Sovyak of Hempfield and Tom Niggel of Greensburg expected when they put their hands and heads together to create something for last winter’s “Collaborations” show...
Mt. Lebanon man leads Video Trust, national group supporting academic film libraries
A lifelong love of the movies has led to a Mt. Lebanon man leading a nonprofit that helps strengthen film collections at academic libraries around the country, from kindergarten through university level. Chad Hunter is the new executive director of Video Trust, a 40-year-old national organization that provides professional development...
Phipps Conservatory extends run of annual Winter Flower Show
The Winter Flower Show: Home for the Holidays has been extended through Jan. 17 at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh. The extension offers visitors an opportunity to view the annual show that they might have missed due to the site’s recent pandemic-related shutdown. “We wanted to give everyone...
Cinemark theaters set to reopen, showing new and classic filmsVideo
Cinemark will reopen its Pennsylvania theaters on Friday, including these Southwestern Pennsylvania locations, in accordance with updated local covid mandates: • Cinemark Monroeville Mall and XD, 600 Mall Circle Drive • Cinemark North Hills and XD, 851 Providence Blvd., McCandless • Cinemark Robinson Township and XD, 2100 Settlers Ridge Center...
Carnegie Museum of Art names 3 to senior leadership team
Three new members have joined the leadership team of the Carnegie Museum of Art, as the institution reopens after the second pandemic-related shutdown and moves into the new year. “This is a really exciting time to build new leadership, as we move out of the pandemic reality,” said Eric Crosby,...
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art extends closure into early February
Citing “an abundance of caution and with the health and safety of staff and visitors as the top priority,” The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is extending its temporary closure. The Greensburg museum is now scheduled to reopen to the public on Feb. 7, with resumption of operating hours from...
Modern farmhouse decor seamlessly blends best of diverse stylesVideo
Brothers David and Will Franicola of Madison took on a big project in June when they bought an old farmhouse on 115 acres in East Huntingdon. Built around the turn of the 20th century, the house needs a lot of work before it will be move-in ready. “Everything is pretty...
Make a new year’s kindness resolution with Children’s Museum of PittsburghVideo
How can you ensure a good start to the new year? At the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, staff members think we can make 2021 a brighter year by sending more expressions of kindness into the world. “To make this happen, we’re inviting kids and families to make and share resolutions...
Artists to discuss Westmoreland billboard project, which drew national attention
Two artists will discuss their involvement in the Diversity Billboard Art Project during a Jan. 14 virtual conversation hosted by The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Ginger Brooks Takahashi and Susanne Slavick are among 10 artists whose original commissioned work has appeared on billboards across Westmoreland County in a public...
Greensburg infant’s brief life honored with random acts of kindness
In January, the brief life of a Greensburg infant led to an outpouring of love and support to his bereaved parents. This year on the date of his birth and death, Jan. 6, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region is honoring his memory with Willie’s Random Acts of...
The Westmoreland’s online furniture series looks at a Chippendale desk
How much can you say about a desk? Pittsburgh-based designer Tony Allgeier can go on for at least 30 minutes. Granted, it’s not just any desk — it’s an 18th-century Chippendale mahogany slant-front desk that he’ll be examining during an online “For the Love of Furniture” program at 7 p.m....
The Westmoreland’s upcoming Community Day will be last for a while
Fans of Community Day programming at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art might want to make sure they join in the Jan. 3 virtual installment. Not only will it offer three hours of diverse programming, it also will be the last session for a while. “This will be the museum’s...
Sewickley artist Claire Hardy’s rose paintings will be in the background of ‘The Bachelor’Video
While drama is always in the forefront of “The Bachelor,” the background should interest Western Pennsylvania viewers when Season 25 of ABC’s romantic reality show starts Jan. 4. First, the season, starring suitor Matt James was filmed at Nemacolin Resort in Fayette County. Second, paintings by Sewickley artist Claire Hardy...
The Palace Theatre staff adapts to pandemic-induced world of livestreamingVideo
“Pivot” is a word that’s been used a lot during the pandemic, as businesses, organizations and individuals adapt to ever-changing conditions. Westmoreland Cultural Trust CEO April Kopas used it to describe what’s been going on at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, where a new livestream video system has allowed the...
Downtown Greensburg Project sets up virtual tip jar for food service workers
We’ve all heard of ways to help food and beverage industry workers through the second round of pandemic shutdowns: order takeout, buy gift cards and post positive reviews on social media. That’s good as far as it goes, said Downtown Greensburg Project founder Jessica Hickey, but it doesn’t help everyone....
Trafford’s Mark Milovats brings Christmas special to local TV audienceVideo
Trafford native and international recording artist Mark Milovats will be sharing his “Christmas Wonderland” stage production with digital viewers and television audiences. The special, comprising highlights from the live 2018 holiday production, will air on WTAE at 5 p.m. Sunday. “Christmas Wonderland” has been syndicated for broadcast throughout the holiday...
Bethlehem Project sees increased need for housing support
Not surprisingly, requests for assistance from the Bethlehem Project are up substantially this year. A partnership between Blessed Sacrament Cathedral and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg, the Bethlehem Project provides funds for emergency shelter or rental support, along with assistance to residents of three Westmoreland County shelters as...
Philadelphia Flower Show to move outdoors for 1st timeVideo
For the first time in its history, the renowned Philadelphia Flower Show will be an outdoor event in 2021. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society said the long-running exhibition is being re-imagined to provide a new, safe experience for visitors. “We are thrilled to be able to celebrate the outdoors and offer...
PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh anticipates September return
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is anticipating the return of live Broadway programming to its PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series in the fall. At this point, the series is scheduled to reopen Sept. 7 with “Hadestown.” “Hamilton” will return in 2022. “We are proud to have preserved most of the originally...
Westmoreland Symphony concert is truly ‘Home for the Holidays’ this year
For many around Westmoreland County, nothing signals the arrival of the Yule season quite like the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Home for the Holidays” concert. Even though pandemic restrictions prevent the symphony from playing in front of a live audience this year, the popular concert is on, via a livestream...
Saint Vincent College Summer Theatre cancels 2021 season over covid concerns
Saint Vincent College Summer Theatre has canceled its upcoming season, citing circumstances surrounding the covid-19 pandemic. “After careful deliberation and after exploring additional performance ideas, including virtual, we found it best to suspend our 2021 season,” said Greggory Brandt, producing artistic director. “Overall, in terms of risks and expenses, we...
Saint Vincent concert series streams special sacred music performanceVideo
Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica is the setting for a special virtual installment of the Saint Vincent College Concert Series, with a quartet of musicians performing sacred classics. “An Intimate Evening in the Sacred Space of the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica” is available for viewing on the college’s YouTube channel. The...
