Shirley McMarlin stories, Page 52
City of Asylum’s jazz poetry festival stars international performersVideo
City of Asylum’s 16th annual Jazz Poetry Festival will go virtual this year, with free concerts and readings from eight national jazz ensembles and 10 poets from nine different countries. The festival will kick off at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 with classically trained clarinetist and composer Waclaw Zimpel collaborating with...
What to do with all that squash? Slice it, dice it, bake it, fry it
Most gardeners, from beginners to old pros, plant summer squash because it grows fast and can be harvested early and throughout the growing season. It’s the vegetable plant that keeps on giving. It is close to peak harvesting season for gardeners. That means many have too much zucchini, crookneck or...
Almond flour substitutes in healthier chocolate chip cookie
It can be tough to maintain healthful eating habits in stressful times, when the snack you hanker for probably begins with “chocolate” and ends with “cookie.” Chef Nicole Burgess offers some help through a recipe she developed for National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, observed Aug. 4. Burgess, the pastry chef...
Tie one on — it’s National Bow Tie Day!Video
Tying a bow tie might not be an essential skill right now, with weddings postponed, galas canceled and takeout replacing fine dining for many. But the day will come when the pandemic fades and normal activities resume — and in the meantime, the ritzy fashion accessory deserves a nod, because...
Acme girl, 9, wears national Miss Agriculture USA crown
Brystoll Ament, 9, of Acme is the new 2020 National Petite Miss Agriculture USA. After winning the Pennsylvania state title in March, she won the national title in her age division on June 27 at an event in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Founded in 2018, Miss Agriculture USA is a nonprofit...
Ligonier museum plans garden tour, plein air painting weekend
The natural beauty of the Ligonier area is the focus of two September programs scheduled at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley. • The museum’s head gardener, Anne Clark, will lead a tour of the gardens on the museum grounds at 1 p.m. Sept. 18. “This tour...
Pittsburgh Camerata prepares for both live and virtual performances
The Pittsburgh Camerata’s upcoming season will include four programs, the first of which will be available exclusively for online viewing. The following three programs will be presented live in front of an audience, if possible, or as virtual performances to be viewed online, or as both. “During this time of...
Westmoreland happenings include fundraisers, fashion and food
Arts • Artists of all ages and skill sets are encouraged to submit work for The Art Show @ Pitt-Greensburg, a virtual exhibition taking place Sept. 25-Oct. 8 as part of the campus’s Blue & Gold Celebration 2020. Artwork may be submitted via high-resolution jpg or png through Sept. 16...
Southwestern Pa. artists vie for ‘Art of the State’ exhibition awards
Finalists for awards in the 53rd annual “Art of the State” juried exhibition at The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg include six artists from Westmoreland County and nine from Allegheny. Because the museum remains closed due to the covid-19 pandemic, winners will be announced on Facebook and Twitter at...
Restaurant gambles on Jeannette location, surviving the pandemic
Seeing signs of revival and renewal in downtown Jeannette, Matt and Christine Kuhns picked a Clay Avenue site for their new restaurant venture. The 520 Bar & Grill opened in November, taking its name from the street address. Things went well for the first few months. “We were building up...
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy gourmet picnics to replace hat luncheon
The PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Luncheon, originally scheduled for May 2, has been reimagined and rescheduled for Sept. 26 as a Picnic in Your Park. Patrons are invited to pre-order gourmet picnic baskets and enjoy them at the central pickup location in Frick Park, at home or in...
Pitt-Greensburg, Westmoreland workshops to explore racism, diversity and social justice
The time has come for residents of Westmoreland County to have some tough conversations, says Al Thiel, director of the Student Center and Student Involvement at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. “This has been an unprecedented year for American life, and I believe that more people than ever are...
State troopers eager to move into state-of-the-art stationVideo
Members of Pennsylvania State Police Troop A can take pride in knowing that theirs is the only remaining original troop of four that were established with creation of the state police force in 1905. Soon, the Greensburg-based troop will have another point of pride — a new, state-of-the art station...
20 significant dates in Pennsylvania State Police history
Time was when Pennsylvania State Police troopers were unmarried men who were required to live in dorm-style rooms in their barracks. Over time, married men were able to join, but the state police stayed an exclusive boys’ club — no women allowed. Eventually, the doors opened to admit women. But...
Greensburg’s new Green Beacon Gallery aims to encompass art, music, more
Three young entrepreneurs have ambitious plans for a new art and music space in downtown Greensburg. The name is painted on the window and art already fills the walls of the Green Beacon Gallery at 235 W. Pittsburgh St., but there’s no date yet for when the doors will open....
Mattress Factory installations explore race, sexuality, ecology
Two new exhibits at the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh’s North Side explore timely issues of life on earth. “Feeling the Spirit in the Dark,” by Pittsburgh-based artist Shikeith, and “The Museum of All Things,” by Canadian-born artist Jennifer Angus, will run through March 31 in the installation art facility’s Monterey...
Greensburg Restaurant Week strives to provide ‘sense of normalcy’
Necessity is the mother of invention — or reinvention, in the case of this summer’s Greensburg Restaurant Week, running Monday through Aug. 30. “This Restaurant Week is less about an exclusive dining experience and more about driving business back to restaurants,” said Ashley Kertes, executive director of the Greensburg Community...
After 6 decades, Laurel Ballet founder closes school doors
After more than six decades of training ballet students, Eleanor Tornblom, owner and artistic director of Laurel Ballet in Greensburg, is calling it a career and closing her studio doors. “I’m 83, and I’ve done this all my life,” Tornblom said from her Greensburg home. “It’s over, and that’s a...
Music and food return to The Palace for Greensburg Restaurant Week
The courtyard of The Palace Theatre in Greensburg has been quiet this summer, with the move of the Thursday TGIS concerts to the grounds of the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. But live music — and food — will return during Greensburg Restaurant Week. The Westmoreland Cultural Trust, which operates...
Arts, cultural groups in Southwestern Pa. can apply for new pandemic relief grants
In response to the ongoing impacts of the covid-19 pandemic, a group of 15 foundations and a private Pittsburgh-area donor have announced the Arts|Equity|Reimagined Fundto help regional arts and cultural organizations weather the effects of the shutdown. The fund is open to all groups but “will prioritize small to medium-sized...
Out & About: 2 groups combine talents for ‘Art Neighbors’ show
How do you host an art gallery reception in the time of pandemic gathering restrictions? With outdoor space and creative thinking, both of which are available at Greensburg Art Center. The Hempfield center opened its grounds and galleries on Aug. 15 to debut “Art Neighbors,” the second annual joint exhibition...
Pumpkin spice lovers, rejoice – tasty blend returns early this year
Is mid-August too early for pumpkin spice flavors to make their annual appearance? Not according to Dunkin’ and Starbucks. Fall products from Dunkin’ will be on the menu beginning Wednesday, their earliest-ever rollout. The Starbucks pumpkin spice latte will return Aug. 25, according to Business Insider. Are people craving cooler...
10 artists to create original works for Diversity Billboard Art Project
Ten artists have been chosen to create original work for the Diversity Billboard Art Project created by the Westmoreland Diversity Coalition in partnership with The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Their commissions will be inspired by the theme “Make Our Differences Our Strengths” to convey how diversity and inclusion can...
There’s still time to see the Perseids — and more summer celestial sightsVideo
The bad news is that peak viewing of the annual Perseid meteor shower ended Wednesday. The good news is that you’ll still be able to see it for at least another week. “It’s past its peak, but the moon is waning, so there’s less light in the night sky, giving...
Fayette County singer in running for country music awardsVideo
A country singer from Fayette County is hoping to up her industry profile through awards from two music industry organizations. Katrina Lynn Whetsel of White, who performs as Katrina Lynn, is nominated for honors from the Atlanta-based International Singer Songwriters Association and Fair Play Country Music, an online magazine and...
