Lifestyles category, Page 53
Buffalo Township woman crowned queen of weight loss
Michele Malkowiak loves being called a loser. The Buffalo Township grandmother and homemaker shed more than 100 pounds over a two-year period during the pandemic. As a result, she is Pennsylvania’s reigning 2021-22 Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) queen. “I was blindsided,” said Malkowiak, 56. “I found out the day...
Out & About: Greensburg Christian businessmen host Good Friday breakfast
It’s good to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but there’s an even higher hall of fame to aspire to. That was the message from guest speaker David Baker to attendees at the Good Friday Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Greensburg Christian Business Men’s Connection on April 7...
David’s Bridal could lay off more than 9,000 employees as company explores sale
Pennsylvania-based David’s Bridal, which sells wedding dresses and other clothing and accessories for special occasions, could lay off thousands of people across the country and is exploring a sale of the company. The company filed a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor &...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: April 14-16
Music for a new day The Pitt-Greensburg Chorale and Chamber Singers will present a spring concert, “One Day, A New Day,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Campana Chapel at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, 150 Finoli Drive, Hempfield. The Chorale will sing music by various composers, including Elton...
When planting a meadow, heed conditions in your garden, yard
Wildflower meadows have been growing in popularity among gardeners, and for good reason. They’re low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, provide food for birds, wildlife, pollinators and other insects, and they’re pretty. Wildflowers are native plants, so your options will vary according to where you live. Start your search on the Lady Bird...
Home-based workers became younger, more diverse in pandemic
People working from home became younger, more diverse, better educated and more likely to move during the worst part of the covid-19 pandemic, according to survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In many respects, the demographic makeup of people working from home from 2019 to 2021 became more like...
Mobile home park residents form co-ops to save their homes
PORTLAND, Ore. — When Gadiel Galvez learned that the owner of his mobile home park south of Seattle was looking to sell, he and other residents worried their largely Latino community would be bulldozed to make way for another Amazon warehouse. So, they decided to form a cooperative and buy...
Out & About: Greensburg Art Center goes Gallic for wine gala
The invitation said, “Come to Paris with us,” as Greensburg Art Center created a Moulin Rouge theme for its April 1 Art on the Vine fundraiser. The trip was a long time coming, with the party originally planned for 2020 and put on hold by the pandemic. A papier mache...
Building the Valley: Moonlight Inn restaurant in Vandergrift stands test of timeVideo
Jim Baker of Carrick doesn’t mind taking a road trip for a hearty meal. Baker recently drove 40 miles to meet with former classmates from his 1973 Kiski Area High School graduating class for an evening of food and fellowship at Moonlight Inn in Vandergrift. He ordered a Franco’s Ribeye...
Top it off: Hats complete the look for Easter, Passover and spring events
Lana Neumeyer pulled a wide-brim hat with a bow out of a large bag. She reached inside another bag and grabbed a few decorative silk flowers in shades of pink and red. Then, she pinned them on the headpiece. “I like to dress up for special occasions,” said Neumeyer, an...
Out & About: Saint Vincent Summer Theatre Gala teases upcoming 53rd season
A pair of Broadway veterans entertained guests at the Saint Vincent Summer Theatre Gala, in the return of the signature fundraiser after a three-year hiatus. Held March 31 in the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College, the event featured a program Broadway songs and stories by actors — and...
Out & About: Habitat for Humanity gala boosts building projects
Central Westmoreland Habitat for Humanity is in the midst of two housing projects, a new build in Greensburg and a property rehab in Lowber. Families already are waiting to move in, said Executive Director Courtney Guerrieri at the organization’s Home Is Where the Heart Is Gala, on April 1 at...
Peeps maker asked to eliminate ‘dangerous food chemical’ from its candies
Easter is on its way and means that its Peeps season around the world, but there’s some bad news for fans of the sugar-coated marshmallow treats churned out right here in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. That is, at least, according to Consumer Reports. Because, according to USA Today, the advocacy and research...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: April 7-9
Hard rock It’s another rockin’ weekend, thanks to two shows at The Lamp Theatre, 222 Main St., Irwin: • Beyond Purple, 8 p.m. Friday. The tribute act performs the high-energy hits of Deep Purple and Whitesnake, and their offshoots Dio and Rainbow. A ticket is $27. • Molly Hatchet, 8...
Raging Rapids will return at Kennywood in 2023Video
The Raging Rapids isn’t going away after all. Kennywood Park announced Thursday that it will bring back the water-based ride in 2023. “Over the next few weeks, teams will continue to break in and fine tune the ride’s new control system that was installed as part of its refurbishment project,”...
East Huntingdon farm could be idyllic retreat or commercial venture
Owners of a 57-acre property in East Huntingdon call it their little “Piece of Heaven,” but now they’re ready to pass their idyllic retreat to someone else. Featuring a brick farmhouse and wooden barn dating to 1856, the property just south of Scottdale is listed for $639,900. “It’s close to...
Ancient symbols of Easter season rooted in ideas of renewal
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2012. If there’s no bunny in the basket, there’s no Easter. That’s Norm Candelore’s theory this time of year. People buy more chocolate bunnies at Sarris Candies than any other candy during the Easter season, and the Canonsburg candymaker builds its baskets...
Paying for paradise? Hawaii mulls fees for ecotourism crush
HONOLULU — Repairing coral reefs after boats run aground. Shielding native forest trees from a killer fungus outbreak. Patrolling waters for swimmers harassing dolphins and turtles. Taking care of Hawaii’s unique natural environment takes time, people and money. Now Hawaii wants tourists to help pay for it, especially because growing...
Gardening help in the palm of your hand: 5 apps, phone tips
You’re in your garden and notice a beautiful, new-to-you flower that has popped up somewhere unexpected — pull it or leave it? Or perhaps an unfamiliar garden pest has ravaged your tomato plants. Or you experienced the deflating discovery of a gray-white crust on the soil in your seed-starting tray....
Pittsburgh Brewing teams with Turner’s Iced Tea for new beer — IC’d TeaVideo
You can’t spell iconic without the letters IC. So when the makers of the iconic Iron City Beer were looking to create a new drink, it seemed only natural to collaborate with another iconic local brand, Turner’s Iced Tea. On April 12 — 412 Day for Yinzers — Pittsburgh Brewing...
Sewickley’s Sweetwater Center for the Arts says ‘Let Them Cook’ for benefit dinner
Sweetwater Center for the Arts is reviving and revitalizing a longtime favorite event with Let Them Cook, a fundraising dinner of signature dishes made by a group of volunteer home chefs. The event is set for 6 to 9 p.m. April 21 in the center at 200 Broad St., Sewickley....
Greensburg’s new Laurel Marketplace hosts collection of local vendors
Shoppers who are used to going online or visiting seasonal outdoor markets for locally made products now have a storefront option for finding some of their favorites. The Laurel Marketplace opened March 1 at 14 W. Second St. in downtown Greensburg, in the newly renovated space that previously housed the...
Building the Valley: Gourmet and bar food meet at Lock 5 Tavern in Freeport
Lock 5 Tavern, formerly the Upper Deck Sports Bar along Fifth Avenue in Freeport, might look old, but it is far from tired. Owner Matt Vogan, 40, has bumped up the pub’s offerings with gourmet bar food in a commercial building from the late 1800s only a few blocks from...
Out & About: Black Tie event benefits Excela Health heart, lung institute
Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll wasn’t above invoking scripture to teach a lesson. So said four-time Steelers Super Bowl champion Jon Kolb to VIP party attendees at Black Tie for Hearts, hosted by Westmoreland/Frick Hospital Foundation on March 25 at Greensburg Country Club. The event raised funds for the...
Out & About: Greensburg Garden Center hosts biggest-ever spring tea
Obviously, the word is out about the annual Greensburg Garden Center Spring Tea. The March 25 event at the Greensburg Garden & Civic Center was a hot ticket, drawing its biggest-ever attendance of 122. Each of the 15 tables was decorated in a unique theme created by the table hostess...
