Editor's Picks category, Page 309
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Nov. 26-28
Holiday rock opera The Wizards of Winter super-group will present the holiday rock opera, “The Christmas Dream,” at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Lamp Theatre in Irwin. The 11-member ensemble includes former members of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Def Leppard, Blue Oyster Cult, Rainbow, Trixter and the Ted Nugent...
Thanksgiving: If the feast is back, so are the leftovers
We’ve all learned more than we bargained for about how to celebrate the holidays during uncertain times. Last year, many of us cooked smaller Thanksgiving feasts and celebrated by Zoom. This year, with the proper precautions, we might see more real-life gatherings, and plates full of most — if not...
Operation Santa Claus has new partner to help needy families
In the early 1980s, the Tribune- Review’s Operation Santa Claus started as an idea in the newspaper’s editorial department. “At the time, George Beidler was the Greensburg editor, and he kind of spearheaded the whole thing to get it off the ground,” said retired Tribune-Review General Manager Art McMullen, who has...
TV Talk: Local stations set holiday programming
While locally produced holiday season specials have declined over the years, some favorites remain, including: “WTAE Project Bundle-Up Telethon” (Dec. 3): Channel 4 and the Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division launch their 36th year of community service to area children and seniors in need. The Project Bundle-Up telethon, hosted by...
Dollar Tree makes it official: Items will now cost $1.25
NEW YORK — Faced with the rising cost of goods and freight, discount retail chain Dollar Tree said Tuesday it will be raising its prices to $1.25 for the majority of its products. Dollar Tree said the reason for raising its prices to $1.25 was not due to “short-term or...
Hempfield Area senior marching in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Jacob Onoffrey knows marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as part of Macy’s Great American Marching Band is the chance of a lifetime. When the Hempfield Area High School senior found out he was chosen to be part of the event, he was shocked. “It was the biggest spark...
What is the best time to serve Thanksgiving dinner?
What time will you gather around the table for Thanksgiving dinner? According to a 2018 survey of U.S. consumers, early afternoon is the preferred time to dig in to the turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie. More specifically, 42% of respondents said they’d be sitting down between 1 and 3 p.m....
Talking turkey since 1621: What was on the table at the first Thanksgiving
There is a lot of speculation and misinformation about the menu of the first Thanksgiving dinner, held in 1621 at Plymouth Colony in what is now Massachusetts. Was turkey on the table? “We don’t think so,” according to npr.com. “Turkeys are a possibility, but were not a common food in...
Turkey or ham? Survey takers, locals weigh in on holiday menu debate
From the TribLIVE archive, this story was first published on Nov. 24, 2021. Ready to roast that Thanksgiving … swine? Turkey is the traditional centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner, of course, but ham has become a leading contender among alternative entree choices. Ham is included in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s...
Hit the Monroeville library after hours during inaugural Winter Walk
Just in time for the holidays, The Friends of the Monroeville Public Library will hold a Winter Walk event for adults over the age of 21 Dec. 4. The walk will be part of the Blanket the Library PLUS fundraising event, which began Nov. 15 and will run through Dec....
Vaccines making Thanksgiving easier, but hot spots remain
The U.S. is facing its second Thanksgiving of the pandemic in better shape than the first time around, thanks to the vaccine, though some regions are seeing surges of covid-19 cases that could get worse as families travel the country for gatherings that were impossible a year ago. Nearly 200...
Comedian Frank Caliendo brings his many voices to Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
Frank Caliendo does impressions, not impersonations. The stand-up comedian’s performances include personalities such as Morgan Freeman, Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Robert De Niro; politicians George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald Trump; broadcasters John Madden, Charles Barkley and Jon Gruden; and talk show hosts Dr. Phil, Jay Leno and...
Black Friday loses luster with retailers’ earlier push to maximize holiday sales
Black Friday isn’t what it used to be. That, of course, won’t stop sisters Jenna and Jamie Fratangelo of Scottdale. They’ll have Thanksgiving dinner with their family, get their five children ready for bed, plot their game plan and then head out before sunrise to spend the day shopping for...
Greensburg merchants kick off holiday sales by unveiling window displays
Downtown Greensburg merchants rang the curtain up on holiday shopping Monday by unveiling storefront windows specially decorated for the season. The event harkened back to window reveals that once were an eagerly awaited tradition for major department stores in Pittsburgh and other cities. That tradition was revisited in Greensburg last...
Shadyside’s Hunt Armory opens as 1st public ice rink built in Pittsburgh in decadesVideo
What was once a National Guard armory in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside will now serve as an indoor ice rink where the city’s youth can discover the sport of hockey. Developed in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Hunt Armory Ice Rink is the first public ice rink to be built in...
Marie Osmond promises to fill The Palace Theatre with holiday spirit
Marie Osmond is sure to have a busy holiday season, and it has nothing to do with decorating, baking and shopping. The veteran entertainer is looking forward to the debut of her new Lifetime movie, “A Fiancé for Christmas,” premiering at 8 p.m. Dec. 9. Her 17-track album, “Unexpected,” comes...
How to safely roast a Thanksgiving turkey
From the TribLIVE archive, this story was first published on Nov. 14, 2017. Thanksgiving hosts have a lot to worry about when preparing the year’s most anticipated feast; lumpy gravy, broken wine corks, unexpected dinner guests. But while there are plenty of things that can go wrong, there is only...
TV Talk: The CW delivers a new version of ‘The Waltons’Video
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. On first blush, it’s a puzzler why The CW, home to superhero and contemporary teen and twentysomething stories, would have an interest in remaking 1970s family drama “The Waltons.” But think back to The CW’s...
Trib seeks applicants for 2022 journalism scholarship program
Trib Total Media is looking for aspiring journalists to apply for its Journalism Scholarship Program. “Through this program, we hope to encourage, develop and inspire the next generation of promising young journalists,” said Jennifer Bertetto, Trib Total Media president and CEO. Trib Total Media’s Journalism Scholarship Program began in 2019...
A destination for popular Pop It toys and more, Fidget Tree to open in Lower Burrell
As many brick-and-mortar stores give way to online retailing, not everyone is going along with the trend. Kylee Hornack-Kohler and her mother, Denise Hornack, are popping the scenario with their new store, Fidget Tree, opening Wednesday in Lower Burrell. They specialize in “fidgets” and Pop It devices — sensory and...
Thanksgiving plans for Alle-Kiski Valley families almost back to normal
Thanksgiving Day is usually a big deal for Joe Weltner of Harrison. Weltner usually kicks off his Christmas decorating frenzy right after polishing off a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. “I start to politely shuffle the guests out so the first of 15-plus Christmas trees can be put up,” said Weltner of...
Pittsburgh’s Light Up Night returns
Light Up Night festivities returned to Pittsburgh this year after being canceled in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic. The event, which has historically taken place on a Friday evening, was moved to Saturday this year. Highlights of the event included the City of Pittsburgh’s 106th Tree Lighting ceremony and...
Not in a pickle any longer, giant ornament returns to Pittsburgh
This pickle didn’t pop. After the ornament that the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership tried last year to install deflated, there’s a new one to take its place. Thought to be the world’s largest pickle ornament, it was unveiled on Thursday in Downtown Pittsburgh. It is located in EQT Plaza at 625...
Crumbl Cookies expects North Huntingdon franchise to open in early 2022
Crumbl Cookies, a fast-growing bakery sensation, is coming to Westmoreland County. Mark and Tammy Ornowski of North Huntingdon plan to open a location in the township in early 2022 after spending months learning about the Utah-based brand that has gained a following on TikTok. Crumbl is the fastest-growing gourmet cookie...
It’s back: Kennywood is unretiring the beloved Kangaroo
Sometimes, just sometimes things we wish would come back, do indeed return. The iconic Kangaroo ride at Kennywood will be back for the 2022 season, the park announced Friday. And it will look shinier and newer – it’s been fully refurbished. “Kangaroo is a one-of-a-kind ride that’s perfect for a...
