Editor's Picks category, Page 375
October is a hoot at the National Aviary with special owl programs
Who-oo wants to learn more about owls? The National Aviary is offering close encounters with the nocturnal birds of prey through its annual Owl-o-Ween days and other October programming. “There is no bird better for fall than an owl, and at Owl-o-Ween at the National Aviary, families can get to...
Growing up in Leechburg shaped monsignor’s faith, devotion to churchVideo
Growing up in Leechburg, Monsignor Larry Kulick was no stranger to church. “I often say one of the main reasons I’m a priest today is because of my experience in my home parish,” Kulick said. “I can remember being really interested in altar serving.” Kulick, 54, serves as diocesan administrator...
Western Pa. scare attractions will still bring Halloween screams despite covid
Sad to say, but Halloween might be the least-scary thing about 2020. Still, area scare attractions are doing their best to bring the heebie-jeebies to the masked masses, even in the midst of covid-19 restrictions. “Halloween seems like one of the few things you can do this year, because everyone’s...
‘Pearl Jam’ hackers take over Greensburg Aerobics Center Facebook page
A Facebook page belonging to The Aerobic Center at Lynch Field in Greensburg has been hacked, apparently by a company hawking shirts featuring the rock band Pearl Jam. “We’re trying to get it straightened out,” said center general manager Marianne Anzovino. “I’m furious.” Anzovino’s personal page also was hacked, she...
Why acorns are everywhere this year
That light “thud” you keep hearing outside is no doubt a falling acorn from an oak tree, likely a red oak, which will continue to unleash acorns in large numbers for the next two weeks, according to regional experts. The bountiful amount of acorns is indicative of a “very good...
Demolition begins on controversial Ewalt House in Lawrenceville
After several months of back-and-forth, the long-disputed fate of Lawrenceville’s Ewalt House has been decided. Demolition began Wednesday. Beth Rupert, one of the home’s owners, said demolition was a relief — with the building in disrepair, she said she feared the liability and safety of leaving the house standing. “It’s...
Valerie Bertinelli, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, others post tributes to Eddie Van Halen
Rock legend Eddie Van Halen died Tuesday at the age of 65 after a long fight with throat cancer. Eddie, along with his brother Alex on drums, Michael Anthony on bass and singer David Lee Roth started Van Halen the band in Pasadena, Calif., in 1974. Eddie’s unique style and...
Clorox develops device for classrooms to detect ‘illness indicators’Video
The Clorox Co. said today it has developed an experimental device to be used in school classrooms that can detect “illness indicators” in real time. “Each year, schools face the challenge of preventing one cough or sneeze from turning into a cold or flu outbreak. For schools that have decided...
Nobel Peace Prize awaited as ray of hope after a tough year
In a year of the coronavirus pandemic, military conflicts, democratic backsliding and accelerating climate change, Friday’s announcement of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize is being awaited as a chance to impart hope to a world in turmoil. From climate activists to political dissidents to international organizations, there is no shortage...
Pittsburgh DJ Sean McDowell ranks Eddie Van Halen among greatest guitarists
Longtime WDVE disc jockey Sean McDowell has no doubts about guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen’s place in rock history. “I’ve always had him at number five on my list of the greatest rock guitarists ever,” said McDowell. “I’ve always had him there, at least since 1978, along with (Jimi) Hendrix,...
Pumpkin pie flavored milk is latest specialty drink from Schneider’s Dairy
With anything flavored with pumpkin popular in autumn, a local dairy is now offering pumpkin pie flavored milk. Whitehall-based Schneider’s Dairy is selling the flavored milk for a limited time as similar milk products gain in popularity. Sales of flavored whole milk jumped 36% from 2015 to the end of...
Wilkinsburg writer Deesha Philyaw a finalist for National Book Awards
A Wilkinsburg woman well known for her writing about race, gender, parenting and culture is now receiving national recognition for her fiction. Deesha Philyaw is among five finalists in the fiction category of the National Book Awards for her story collection “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,” her first book...
Can’t find canned pumpkin? Holiday staple should return to shelves soon
Bakers hunting for canned pumpkin have found it to be a hit-or-miss proposition lately. They’ve even taken to sharing sightings on social media. The good news, according to allrecipes.com, is that there isn’t really a shortage. The bad news is that it doesn’t make the Thanksgiving pie staple any easier...
Ex-jail employees charged for playing ‘Baby Shark’ on repeat
OKLAHOMA CITY — Two former Oklahoma jail employees and their supervisor face misdemeanor cruelty charges after investigators found they forced inmates to stand handcuffed for hours and listen to the children’s song “Baby Shark” on repeat, a prosecutor said Monday. At least four inmates were secured to a wall with...
Pittsburgh officer returns to work 2 years after Tree of Life shooting
It was a long road back from the Tree of Life shooting, but Pittsburgh Police SWAT Officer Timothy Matson is on the job once again. Matson returned to work Monday, according to a social media post. He return comes nearly two years after he suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the...
Hospice memorial walk planned for those who lost loved ones during pandemic restrictions
Erin Klems could not visit her mother, Mary Lou Flavin-Stumpf, before she died alone of an infection on April 28 in a Pittsburgh-area hospital. At that time, covid-19 restrictions prevented any visitation by the public to local hospitals. Many other people died alone. Then, the survivors mourned alone. But no...
8 times Pittsburgh played a role on ‘Saturday Night Live’Video
After Pittsburgh was the setting for a skit on the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live,” we wanted to find the other times the city or its sports teams have been featured on the long-running NBC comedy show. Here’s a partial list of the times Pittsburgh was featured in skits....
TV Talk: Verizon’s FiOS TV drops AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
In the latest retransmission dispute impacting local viewers, Verzion’s FiOS TV dropped AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh. A Verizon spokesman said its agreement to carry AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh expired Sept. 30. Verizon released a statement saying, “AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh has demanded a significant increase to an already high rate so fans can...
West Deer couple, neighbor invite people to come and see their haunted housesVideo
If you ask Greg McWilliams why his West Deer house looks like a Halloween paradise, he’ll give you a simple answer: It’s for the kids. “If it was just me and (my wife), we probably wouldn’t do it. It’s all for our kids,” McWilliams said. “We love seeing the smiles,...
Child advocate, horse rescue ranch partner to promote healingVideo
As a survivor of child sexual abuse, Nicole Cermak of Murrysville found herself making an instant connection with Sunday, a 15-year-old mare she fed and worked with as a volunteer at the Pleasant Valley Rescue Ranch. Sunday was about to be sold to a slaughterhouse in the spring of 2017...
Firefighters bring youth prevention message to the streets of GreensburgVideo
Greensburg children got a special visit from firefighters Sunday and a lesson in fire prevention brought right to their doorstep. Volunteers with the city’s fire department delivered plastic fire hats, coloring books and other items to help children learn how to stop fires before they even start. It’s a lesson...
Pittsburgh featured in ‘Saturday Night Live’ skitVideo
Pittsburgh TV news was featured on the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.” A local TV news report on a potential super-spreading event at the legal change of name office in the Pittsburgh federal building was the setting for a skit on “SNL” with a lot of sexual innuendo. The...
Renshaw Farms PumpkinFest offers fall-themed activities, attractions for all agesVideo
What began as a roadside stand is a sprawling, pumpkin-themed destination in South Buffalo Township. The 12th annual Renshaw Farms PumpkinFest continues Fridays through Sundays during October, offering fall-themed activities and attractions for all ages. Established in 1834, Renshaw Farms is owned and operated by sixth-generation Renshaws. “We have thousands...
‘How much blood do you want on your face?’: Haunted-house performers revel in rolesVideo
“Do you want me to dress like this for the wedding?” Holli Stiltenpole asked. Fake blood was splattered all over Stiltenpole’s straitjacket, one eye appeared glazed and useless thanks to a colored contact lens and a cross was crudely “carved” into her forehead with makeup. Tiarra Shank of Ligonier started...
Allegheny Township’s Great Pumpkin, Olga, goes to state weigh-offVideo
Olga the 1,174,5 pound pumpkin was severed from her stalk in an Allegheny Township patch Friday evening and loaded into a truck bound for the Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Association weigh-off Saturday in Cambria County. Olga beat Justin Reiter’s personal pumpkin best of 1,136.5 pounds during Saturday’s weigh-off. This great...
