Lifestyles category, Page 54
Diocese of Greensburg presents 23rd Salt and Light Awards
Recipients of this year’s Communities of Salt and Light Awards, bestowed by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg, are “folks who have really lived the mission of Catholic Charities, the diocese and the Catholic Church itself,” said Bishop Larry Kulick. Presented for the 23rd year, the awards recognize individuals...
Hawaii blocks some Waikiki sands for seal pup
HONOLULU — The birth of an endangered seal at Hawaii’s most popular tourism hubs is highlighting the tension between protecting the islands’ fragile ecosystems and maintaining access to the pristine white sand beaches that attract millions of visitors each year. Hawaii officials this week fenced off a large stretch of...
Book invites kids to turn native gardens into national park
Doug Tallamy, the wildlife ecologist and entomologist who urges home gardeners to join forces and create a pollinator-friendly “Homegrown National Park,” is now bringing kids into the effort. Tallamy has become a leading evangelist for the return of native plants and trees that can support birds, bees and other essential...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: April 21-23
Chinese musicians “A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,” a free concert of traditional Chinese music, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Robert S. Carey Performing Arts Center at Saint Vincent College in Unity. Featured musicians will be Yazhi Guo on the suona and Zhou Yi on...
New to volunteering? A how-to guide to find the right fit
Over the last 20 years, fewer and fewer people in the U.S. have donated their time through volunteering with nonprofits. While it’s not the only way to give back to your community, volunteering through nonprofit organizations is a powerful way to make a difference. Nonprofits support many of our society’s...
Flower Magazine founder to share floral expertise at Carnegie Museum of Art
Margot Shaw doesn’t buy flower arrangements anymore. Once a self-confessed “call and order flowers girl,” a watershed moment came when planning her daughter’s wedding. Working alongside the floral and event designer, she became inspired and did an apprenticeship with that creator of beautiful blooms. Shaw will present her artistry at...
Former Bella Luna space to reopen as The Coxcomb
As he stood behind what will soon be a finished bar top, Will Patterson of Monroeville heard someone driving past the open door of the former Bella Luna restaurant at the Murrysville/Monroeville border. “Are you open?” the woman asked through her passenger side window. “Early June, hopefully!” Patterson shouted before...
Building the Valley: New Kensington native teams with Strange Roots, Common Oven to offer downtown brew pub
Tony Vigilante isn’t a master beer brewer or a professional pizza chef. But he sure loves a great pint to wash down a tasty pizza. So when the New Kensington native saw the chance to share his penchant for brew and pie in the town where he lives and works,...
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...
