JoAnne Klimovich Harrop stories, Page 34
Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild are going cashless
You can leave your cash at home if you’re heading for Idlewild & SoakZone and its sister parks this summer. The parks will accept credit, debit and prepaid cards or secure mobile payments including MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover only starting next week. Guests can also use Apple Pay...
Bethel Park double amputee, cancer survivor hopes to inspire others
Jean Mwale is putting one prosthetic leg in front of the other. The Bethel Park resident is taking the steps to heal and move forward, and she wants to share her story of fear, pain, hope and love. “Don’t give up,” said Mwale, smiling as she put on her prosthetic...
New West Jefferson Hills superintendent to lead alma mater
You really can go home again. Janet Sardon sat in the library at Thomas Jefferson High School on a recent Friday morning. She recalled her days as a student in the district. “I can remember that time of my life walking into (then) Pleasant Hills Elementary and my days in...
FashionAFRICANA launches a summer/resort capsule collection
It could be viewed as wearable art. The limited edition capsule collection recently launched by FashionAFRICANA features a collaboration between a painting by internationally known artist Karl Mullen and Squirrel Hill-based stylist and producer Demeatria Boccella, one of Pittsburgh’s fashion experts. Mullen and Boccella collaborated on the pieces – a...
After 2-year wait, high school girls hockey team skated into inaugural season
Three young girls clutched a sign: “I Play Hockey Thank You For Paving A Path For My Future.” Those girls — Emma Abramowicz, Hannah Spradley and Angela Marshall — entered the locker room before a playoff game June 5 at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. They play youth hockey...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: June 17-19
It’s Father’s Day weekend. Here are some ways to spend it. Juneteenth Pittsburgh’s annual Juneteenth celebration is from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Downtown from Point State Park to Market Square. It will feature a festival and more than 100 minority-owned vendors set up along Penn and...
South Side artist creates colorful cleats for Steelers, other pro players
Matt Speck is an artist. But you won’t find his work in a gallery. It will be walking or running around. The South Side resident paints footwear, specifically cleats. “I think athletes sometimes get dehumanized, so these cleats help them express themselves on the field,” Speck said. “It shows their...
Using their heads: Fox Chapel sisters create hats with bows and memories
Sarah Shelby was bundling up for a wintry day. She threw on a bulky warm coat and reached for her baseball hat. But something was missing. “I just didn’t feel feminine,” said Shelby, who is known for wearing signature bows in her hair. “I thought, ‘what if this signature baseball...
Bakery Square in East End unveils its 3rd public art installation ‘I see YOU’
You should see “I see YOU.” The latest art installation at Bakery Square in Pittsburgh’s East End features images of fourth and fifth graders from nearby Urban Academy and Lincoln Elementary in Larimer. The third community public art project for Walnut Capital, which operates Bakery Square, was unveiled on Monday....
Anthrocon to return to Pittsburgh for annual convention
The furries are returning to the ’Burgh — and in greater numbers. After missing the past two years because of the pandemic, the annual Anthrocon Convention will be June 30 to July 3 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. “We’ve had to expand to an 11th hotel,” said John...
Pandemic has caused a changing face of the workweek
The workweek as it once existed likely has changed forever. Four-day workweeks. Zoom calls. Hybrid schedules. Full-time remote. All have become standard operating procedure for many businesses and their employees. Companies were forced to adjust — or be faced with the prospect of folding — after the covid-19 pandemic struck....
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: June 10-12
It’s the weekend. Here are some ways to spend it. Kenny Chesney Country music star Kenny Chesney brings his “Here and Now Tour” to Pittsburgh on Saturday. The show starts at 5 p.m. with guests Carly Pearce, Old Dominion and Dan + Shay. Chesney is set to take the stage...
Bantam Jeep Festival celebrates vehicle in its Butler birthplace
They call it “the wave.” If you know, you know. Jeep owners acknowledge each other by holding up two or three fingers from their steering wheel when they pass by on the road. There will be a lot of waving this weekend. Jeep enthusiasts will gather Friday through Sunday at...
Kenny Chesney fans dock boats along Allegheny River as concert approaches
Country music star Kenny Chesney is a boater. His song “Guys Named Captain” begins: “Guys named Captain are always characters … Livin’ by the water, somewhere in the Americas South or Central or some Virgin Island.” Or Pittsburgh? Beginning three weeks ago, boaters have been anchored along the Allegheny River...
North Side’s National Aviary celebrates World Ocean Day all summer
Pittsburgh is known as a city that cares about its three rivers, but there are things residents can do to embrace larger bodies of water. “Oceans may feel far away, but we can collectively have a positive impact on oceans and marine life from right here in Pittsburgh,” said Cathy...
Sewickley Garden Tour to showcase 5 magnificent outdoor spaces
Behind a decorative iron gate is a serene view of lush green grass surrounding an inviting pool. Lounge chairs and black-and-white umbrellas shield guests from the sun. Beautiful flowers are in bloom — from alyssum lining the walkway to hydrangeas and magnolias on the grounds. A nearby fountain features two...
By the slice: ‘PizzaFest’ features 7 Pittsburgh pie artisans
The dough is the canvas. Artisans will create pie masterpieces at GoodTaste! Pittsburgh’s “PizzaFest – A Slice Of Delish!” on June 12 at East End Brewing, Co. in Larimer. “PizzaFest is really popular,” said show producer Dee Weinberg. “They come up with some wonderful combinations for pizza.” There will be...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: June 3-5
It’s the first weekend in June. Here are some ways to spend it. Pittsburgh Pride Pittsburgh Pride Month kicks off this weekend with several events Friday through Sunday. The Ball on the Bridge features games and music from noon to 4 p.m. Friday on the Andy Warhol Bridge and from...
The 96th Cinderella Ball at Sewickley’s Allegheny Country Club was magical
At the 96th Cinderella Ball on May 28, event chairs Kelly Waldman and Courtney Elizabeth Benson each touched a magic wand to illuminate a pumpkin – which transformed the Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley into a fairytale scene. On a warm spring evening, debutantes dressed in white gowns who wore...
Newest statue at Soldiers & Sailors museum to be unveiled Memorial DayVideo
One soldier is standing, the other kneeling. They are positioned in opposite directions. Each has one foot touching. Both are clutching M4 rifles. Their eyes are wide open. The sculpture, titled “America’s Defenders,” is believed to be one of only a few nationwide that represent a female soldier in combat...
Taking a leap: The Kangaroo returns to Kennywood
The Kangaroo will jump again. Kennywood announced Saturday that the iconic ride returns at 3 p.m. Sunday. Season pass holders can ride early starting at 11 a.m. “Guests asked for it to come back, and we decided to bring what we believe is the last ride of its kind in...
Long-distance hug: JCC, 10.27 Healing Partnership is collecting donations to help children in Uvalde
When unspeakable tragedy struck Mister Rogers’ neighborhood on that rainy Saturday morning in October 2018, it was the immediate outpouring of love that Rabbi Ron Symons recalled as an embrace for the healing process. Symons wants to pay that compassion forward to the ‘Burgh’s neighbors in Uvalde, Texas — through...
‘Every day is Memorial Day’ at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
The white marble headstones stand in perfect alignment. They create the impression of being in formation. Names of those buried here, along with the wars in which they served, their military branch and their rank, are etched on the headstones. A large American flag waves gently atop an 80-foot flagpole,...
Lower Burrell tenor to perform at Oakland’s Carnegie Music Hall before leaving for Juilliard
Ernie Clowes heard a familiar sound coming from across the street. He said he thought to himself, “Wow, there must be a neighbor who loves opera like I do. They must be playing it on the radio.” It wasn’t coming over the air waves. The powerful voice was that of...
Lawrenceville-based online grocery service delivers fresh food orders to your doorstep
When Tara Sherry-Torres sees the green box on her doorstep, she smiles. “It just brings me joy,” the Swissvale resident said, referring to the containers of fresh food that arrive weekly. “We get the box, and it’s a way for my daughter and I to cook and entertain, ourselves.” She...

