Lifestyles category, Page 77
‘Let’s try something new’ meets the national housing squeeze
BOISE, Idaho — Riley Romazko and her fiancé Julien Rivera were among the first to buy a shipping container home at Caritas Commons, a cluster of single-family houses built for limited-income residents on a quiet street in an older Boise neighborhood. Romazko, 27, who runs an online naturopath consultancy and...
Kimberly Palmer: 5 ways to feel richer (even if you’re not)
In some ways, feeling “rich” is less about how many zeroes you have in your bank account and more about knowing how to use them to get what you want out of life. For author and certified financial planner Tom Corley, feeling rich comes from having an Irish pub-style structure...
Greensburg’s MB Bride supports military with annual gown giveaway
For brides, finding the perfect gown can be one of the most challenging — and expensive — steps in the wedding planning process. MB Bride in Greensburg made it easy and affordable for Lisa Denk of Jefferson Hills, through the annual Hug-A-Hero gown giveaway July 20. In less than two...
Out & About: Pirates legend Steve Blass shares memories at Excela Health gala
Ladies and gentlemen, “Elvis” was in the building on Saturday evening at Greensburg Country Club. The King — or a reasonable facsimile thereof — made a surprise return from the great beyond for the Las Vegas-style casino games that topped off Black Tie for Hearts, a benefit for the Excela...
Irwin student’s love of shopping inspires school clothing giveaway
Saydee Resnik of Irwin really likes back-to-school shopping. This year, the rising senior at Hempfield Area High School is sharing her enthusiasm by organizing a clothing giveaway for high school-age girls Aug. 6 at Pazaz Christian Dance Academy in Greensburg. Shopping hours will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in...
Out & About: Westmoreland Walks hosts boot-scootin’ fundraiser
Cowboy boots were the preferred footwear for the Westmoreland Walks Give Breast Cancer the Boot fundraiser, held Friday evening at The Barn at Ligonier Valley. The western themed event — perfect for the rustic venue — featured a barbecue dinner, country music by the Michael Christopher Band and lots of...
Monarch butterflies are in trouble; Here’s how you can help
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a butterfly. My money says the fluttering insect you’re envisioning has black-veined, reddish-orange wings outlined with white specks — the iconic attributes of our beloved American monarch butterfly. Unfortunately, the species, which populates many childhood memories, is in trouble. The migrating monarch...
Inside the pickleball boom: Here’s what you should know about the fast-growing sport
Pickleball courts are popping up all over the area. They’re the ones populated by people of all ages who have fallen under the spell of a sport played on a small court, 44 feet long by 20 feet wide, with paddles — not rackets — and a plastic ball with...
Dog-friendly dining spots gaining in popularity
There’s a special menu offered at The Olde Spitfire Grille geared toward four-legged customers. From “bark bowls” to “sweet puptato chips,” the South Greensburg eatery has gone out of its way to cater to customers and their pets. It’s been a growing trend in Western Pennsylvania. Pet-friendly restaurants have been...
Start harvesting your garden veggies now, and keep it going
One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make is not starting to harvest their vegetable gardens early enough. You don’t have to wait until the announcement of an impending frost before reaping what you have sown. Vegetable gardens should be harvested over a long period of time starting as early as...
Can job-hopping help retirement savings?
Millennials have been coined the “job-hopping generation,” and I’ve contributed to that stereotype. I started my career at 22 and have job-hopped almost every year since. For many of those years, I was young and restless, and there was another part of me looking for more fulfilling work and pay...
French riverboat tour was worth the pandemic wait
“We’ve been waiting for you” was the common theme among our cabin crew, bartenders, waiters, tour guides and the Tapestry II River Boat captain. It had been two years of waiting for the riverboats to take to the water since the boats were shut down for the pandemic. The staff...
Free JamBrewzle music festival set at Latrobe brewery
Playing at various festivals over the years, musician Derek Woods of Hempfield had a vision for creating one of his own. “I always wanted to start a festival that had a semi-circus theme to it,” said the front man for the Derek Woods Band. The dream became a reality when...
Good beer, great value: 10 cheap beers you’ll actually enjoy drinking, including 1 that’s cheaper than gas
Inflation won’t quit. The price of gas has reached the stratosphere. The stock market is taking a beating. And I won’t even start on crypto. Boy, could we use a beer. But we don’t need just any beer in these fraught economic times. What we need more than ever is...
How to budget realistically for home repairs
If you’re a homeowner and haven’t faced a big repair bill yet, just wait. Even in the best-maintained homes, stuff will wear out or break. Budgeting for these inevitable bills isn’t always easy. One commonly cited rule of thumb — to save 1% to 4% of your home’s value each...
Study: Millennials didn’t stray far from where they grew up
Growing up in mid-sized Virginia Beach, Andrew Waldholtz wanted to live in a big city so he moved to the District of Columbia for college. After four years in the comparatively expensive city, he realized he wanted a place to live that was more affordable. Waldholtz, 35, eventually found a...
Out & About: SAMA Ligonier Valley celebrates 25 years with birthday bash
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art marked an important milestone on Saturday evening with a 25th Anniversary Birthday Bash. Among attendees was Connie Pilz of Ligonier Township, a member of the steering committee that worked to establish the facility a quarter-century ago. Pilz recalled how a group of local residents,...
In your debt: 3 times debt can be a helpful tool
In some corners of the personal finance advice world, getting into debt is just about the worst thing you can do. And yes, some forms of debt — particularly those that charge high interest rates — can keep you locked in a cycle of owing money for years. Still, there...
Greensburg Garden Center member pens song for annual butterfly release
Greensburg Garden Center’s annual butterfly releases will be extra special this year, with a song written especially for the event. Member J.D. Peterson of Greensburg will perform her composition, “The Life Cycle of the Butterfly,” as part of a brief, fun educational program she will present during releases at 11...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: July 22-24
Funky Friday The funky soul sounds of Joslyn & The Sweet Compression will fill Greensburg’s St. Clair Park on Friday, as the weekly SummerSounds concert gets underway at 7 p.m. Powerhouse vocalist Joslyn Hampton and her brass-heavy band play original music influenced by generations of groove music. Band member Marty...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: July 22-24
It’s the weekend and it’s going to be a hot one with temperatures near or in the 90s. Here are some ways to spend it. Deutschtown Music Festival Three days of music at 40 venues on the North Side — including near PNC Park — begins Friday and goes through...
Thursday food truck and music nights continue in Jeannette
The summer slate of Concerts and Food Truck Thursdays will continue July 21 in downtown Jeannette with an array of food vendors, a beer garden and music by Twisted Fate. Now in its fourth year, the event takes place every other week through Sept. 1, rain or shine. From 6...
From the college dorm trenches: What to bring, leave at home
NEW YORK — For the uninitiated, outfitting a college dorm room can be a dizzying experience. Doing it at a time of high inflation can make it even more daunting. The first step: Meticulously go over what the school allows and provides. If you want a microwave and minifridge, are...
Up in the Bavarian Alps, rugged trails with German cheer
SCHÖNAU AM KÖNIGSSEE, Germany — At 23 minutes before midnight, at 5,600 feet above sea level, the lashing rain and furious winds outside the darkened bunkroom prompted two questions to turn over in my head: Will the roof of this hut be ripped off in the dead of night? Will...
Bethel Park’s Vintage Radio Players take listeners back in time
When you listen to them talk, you can just picture it. Just like in the good old days. Members of the Vintage Radio Players re-enact scenes from the time there were no televisions. People gathered around and listened to shows rather than watch them. To picture it, think of those...
