Lifestyles category, Page 177
Husband thinks it’s not ‘his problem’ to help with aging parents
Dear Carolyn: My husband, “John,” is the oldest of three children. His siblings, “Bill” and “Sue,” both live where they all were raised. Both parents are in declining health. Over the years, Sue has taken on the lion’s share of caring for them. She is a nurse, so a logical...
Travel to Cuba is complicated by complex new regulations
Cuba has a mystique about it, so it’s no surprise that myths surround travel there. That may be even truer this month after regulations were changed by the Trump administration. Some of the regulations have been interpreted strictly, some more liberally. Here is our “myth, fact or unclear” primer on...
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad a kickin’ summer side dish
To say Buffalo chicken dip is addicting is an understatement. I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a potluck where the buff-chick dip didn’t all go — and go fast! I feel confident saying that any one of us well-meaning health conscious adults, would sit down and eat an entire...
4 easy dishes to make with tomatillos
Alligators, Chinese bamboo pit vipers, tomatillos, frogs with sling shots. All of them green. Only three of them dangerous. And while I’d love to pass an idle hour regaling you with harrowing yarns of brushes with cruel death, I guess I’ll write about tomatillos instead. Tomatillos are inexpensive, easy to...
Travel tip: Summer tours available at Allegheny River lighthouse
Why is there a lighthouse in the middle of the Allegheny River in Forest County? Take the July 13 tour of the Sherman Memorial Lighthouse and find out. Hosted by Tionesta Lions Club, the self-guided tour is set for 1-4 p.m. at the 75-foot, privately owned structure located on Lighthouse...
Living with Children: 12-year-old son thinking about suicide
Question: On several occasions over the last six months or so, our 12-year-old son has told us he’s been thinking about suicide. Apparently, he’s been the target of a couple of school bullies and sometimes feels like life is too much. We’ve talked to him, tried to help him express...
Why you should leave aphids alone
I often hear from gardeners who are worried when they discover a few aphids on their favorite rose. While aphids can be troublesome garden pests, especially when their population numbers more than about 12 aphids per square inch, more often than not, aphids aren’t anything to worry about. In fact,...
Civil War weekend slated at Historic Hanna’s Town
Historic Hanna’s Town, a recreation of Westmoreland County’s original 18th century county seat, will experience a time shift in late July as Civil War armies take over the Hempfield site. Visitors will discover the history of the War Between the States as reenactors settle in for a weekend encampment representing...
Staycation destination: Polymath Park in Mt. Pleasant Township
Need a break? Looking for new adventure? There’s no reason to leave Western Pennsylvania. In this occasional series, we highlight “staycation” ideas found in our own backyard. Imagine being able to tour a Frank Lloyd Wright home — it’s easy if you try because Fallingwater is only an hour’s drive...
Out & About: Historic Hanna’s Town provides July 4 history lessonsVideo
Out on the western edge of the Pennsylvania frontier, tiny Hanna’s Town still played a part in the American Revolution. Independence Day visitors to the Hempfield historical site heard about the Hanna’s Town Resolves, a 1775 declaration whereby area residents proclaimed their willingness to take drastic measures — even to...
Ligonier Country Market features rock painting, music
Rock music and rock painting are part of Saturday’s features at Ligonier Country Market. The local acoustic band Super Moon will perform a blend of rock and bluegrass, market planners say. The trio’s material spans Neil Young to Bill Monroe, and ranges from jazzy instrumentals to bluegrass three-part harmony. Instrumentation...
Around Western Pa., plenty of places for dogs, owners to dine togetherVideo
On a recent warm, summer afternoon, John and Rose Marie Burchett enjoyed a leisurely lunch in Ligonier with their Yorkshire terriers, Teddy, 8, and Bunny, 5. The Waterford couple — and their dogs — are regulars at Paws on Main, a “pet boutique” where the front porch doubles as a...
Get out and be part of the North American Butterfly Count
What started with an employee’s dream now marks PPG’s Monroeville Business and Technology Center’s annual participation in the North American Butterfly Association Butterfly Count. Registration for the 10 a.m.-noon July 13 event will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the 440 College Park Drive facility. The all-age event is open to...
Trib garden columnists win national awards for their work
Tribune-Review garden columnists Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser have again received recognition for their work from a national gardening communications organization. The pair received a Silver Award for co-hosting “The Organic Gardeners” radio show in the 2019 GardenComm Media Awards, presented by Garden Communicators International. Editor of Everybody Gardens, Oster...
The best ground covers for slopes
Question: I have a fairly steep bank in my backyard that is very difficult to mow. It is partly sunny. What would be a good ground cover to plant that would look nice and solve my problem? Thanks so much! Answer: The slopes of Western Pennsylvania certainly cause issues for...
Vandergrift children’s garden much more than just digging in the dirt
Addison Uskuraitis, 11, is painstakingly pulling weeds around a raised bed filled with dinosaur kale. When asked if she would enjoy eating the kale, even served with bacon, she recoiled and responded with a hearty “No!” It’s the tomatoes growing in another part of the bed of this Vandergrift community...
Cancer-safe grilling: Add marinade, forget the hot dog and other tips
By all means, do grill for summer holidays. But you can cut your exposure to potential cancer-causing agents by tweaking the menu and method of cooking, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). Grilling and cooking meat at high temperatures can create several cancer-causing substances that are either...
Red, white and blue treats for the Fourth of July
Before you head out the door to that fabulous Independence Day picnic, grab a few simple ingredients and make these delicious star-spangled treats. Star-Spangled Sangria This popular Spanish drink gets a red, white and blue makeover in this Star-Spangled Sangria recipe. Enjoy this festive drink on the Fourth of July...
Soul-food restaurant to open in West Mifflin Walmart
Soul food restaurant Cornbread, described as fast-casual farm-to-table, will open the first of three area sites in the Walmart at 2351 Century Drive, West Mifflin. Doors at the leased space will open at 11 a.m. July 5, with locations at the Walmarts in Frazer and Hempfield set to open before...
Moon Township garden tour includes 2 sites with water features
The Moon Township Garden Tour is planned for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 6, featuring six gardens throughout the township. Two of the gardens have water features with koi fish. Cost for the tour is $10 in advance and $15 day of the tour. Pre-purchase is available at eventbrite.com. From 9...
What’s Brewing? IPAs up close and personal
In this part 2 of 2, let’s continue our look at some of the various types of IPAs. With so many being offered, how do we know which one to pick? They’re not all bitter nor are they all hazy, juicy, dank or fruity. Hopefully, this will provide some guidance...
First Greensburg Restaurant Week coming in August
The first Greensburg Restaurant Week will celebrate the city’s culinary scene in August, with 17 restaurants offering discount deals and special menus. “We wanted to bring more awareness to small businesses,” said Ashley Kertes, director of Think Greensburg, which is organizing the event. “We have a really great selection of...
Penn State master gardeners will host open house in Hempfield
A little over a year ago, master gardeners from the Penn State Extension in Hempfield planted a garden to test the truth of plants traditionally labeled as “deer-resistant.” At this year’s Penn State master gardeners open house July 13, attendees will be able to see for themselves. “There’s been a...
Justin Severino’s Larder restaurant to open inside East End Brewing Co.
Acclaimed chef Justin Severino is teaming up with Pittsburgh brewer Scott Smith to open Larder restaurant inside East End Brewing Company in Larimer on Friday. “We chose the name Larder because so much of what we do is preserving food and making food such as salami or pickles as well...
Farm-to-table harvest dinner set in Ligonier
Loyalhanna Watershed Association and Ligonier Country Market are partnering in a harvest dinner at the Watershed’s Nimick Family Education Center, 6 Old Lincoln Highway West, Ligonier. The 6-8:30 p.m. Aug. 10 event is an annual summer feast served family style, planners state. A farm-to-table community dining experience, the meal will...
