More Lifestyles category, Page 20
Psychedelic churches in U.S. pushing boundaries of religion
HILDALE, Utah — The tea tasted bitter and earthy, but Lorenzo Gonzales drank it anyway. On that frigid night in remote Utah, he was hoping for a life-changing experience, which is how he found himself inside a tent with two dozen others waiting for the psychedelic brew known as ayahuasca...
Greensburg Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church sewing group clothes girls in hope
Calling someone a “so-and-so” is not a compliment, but change the spelling to “Sew ’n Sew,” and the term takes on a new — and positive — meaning. It’s the name adopted by a group of women who meet monthly at Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greensburg. At home and...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Jan. 27-29
Cards and collectibles The annual Joe’s Sports Card & Collectible Show returns to Westmoreland Mall this weekend. For more than a decade, the show has offered attendees the opportunity to buy, sell and trade cards, memorabilia, action figures, gaming products and other items. Vendors will be set up in the...
Hong Kong pet rabbits enjoy bunny resort while owners away
HONG KONG — Rabbits scamper around a play area in a climate-controlled building in suburban Hong Kong, some climbing a castle made of wood while others explore a cotton tunnel. In one of the world’s most densely populated cities, where most apartments range from small to minuscule, rabbits are popular...
Greensburg Night Market plans 3 winter dates at Live Casino Pittsburgh
Fans of the Greensburg Night Market won’t have to wait until spring to enjoy another installment of the popular shopping, dining and entertainment event. The market is partnering with Live Casino Pittsburgh at Westmoreland Mall to host three winter night markets in the casino’s new event space. More than 40...
Greensburg Country Club hosts art council’s annual antiques show, sale
Antiques dealer and appraiser John Mickinak eats dinner at a chestnut wood table handmade by monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey. He’ll offer another for the annual antiques show and sale that benefits the Southwestern Pennsylvania Council, from Jan. 27 to 29 at Greensburg Country Club. “Many people are not aware...
A Florida taxidermist takes clients nobody else will: grieving pet owners
INVERNESS, Fla. — Allison Doty has washed her cat, Cakes, twice. Once, during her life, scrubbing Cakes in the bathtub when she was too dirty to clean herself. The other time was after her death. Doty stood in front of the sink of her dimly lit kitchen, pale light streaming...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Jan. 20-22
Making music A Community Music Program recital will begin at 6:30 p.m. today in the Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Ave., Greensburg. Performers will be people of all ages who receive private musical instruction through the program, taught by Seton Hill faculty and staff members. Admission is...
Is retirement the right choice for you? Experts weigh in
Retirement is a phase of later adulthood that remains the ultimate goal for many professionals who dream of leaving the daily grind behind. But is retirement right for everyone? How do you know if retiring is the best option for you, or when to retire? Deciding whether to retire and...
Phipps Conservatory show explores orchid and bonsai history, culture
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens presents an annual show highlighting the beauty and abundance of its orchid and bonsai collections. This year’s show will do that — and more. “Orchid and Bonsai Show: Origin Stories,” opening Saturday in the historic glass house in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section, also will provide historical...
Feathers Artist Market in Irwin to host local author open house
Tracy Alaia, owner of Feathers Artist Market and Gifts in Irwin, describes herself as “a crazy book person.” “I read 48 books last year, and I’ve already read five books in January,” she said. “Reading is my peace and my stress relief. If I can’t sleep, I read; I prefer...
5 thing to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Jan. 13-15
Local flavors “Taste of Westmoreland” is the theme for Art on Tap 2.0, from 6 to 8 p.m. today at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N. Main St., Greensburg. The 21-and-older happy hour will feature libations and light bites from local vendors, including Bella Terra Vineyards, Salem Spirits...
Designers look to nature, landfills for new decor materials
At first glance, Nina Edwards Ankers’ sconces and chandeliers look like ancient scrolls of parchment, or sheets of buttery toffee, wrapped around LED bulbs. Come closer — or just ask the New York-based designer/architect — and you’ll find they’re actually made of algae. She came up with the idea while...
Jeannette’s Skeptik Innovations gains notice in car customization worldVideo
There’s no denying the influence of the “Fast & Furious” movie franchise on American car culture. The action films sparked interest in both street racing and vehicle customizations. Steve Molans was one of those who took notice, as a high school kid in Jeannette back in the early 2000s. Now...
This WWII weapons bunker has a new mission: Sheltering a scientist’s insect collection
LOS ANGELES — A World War II-era weapons bunker in Irvine, Calif., has a new mission — sheltering preserved insect specimens. When a collection of bugs floating in specimen bottles outgrew his laboratory, Robert Fisher moved them into an abandoned weapons bunker at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Jan. 6-8
Friday family fun The monthly Family Fun Night is planned for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Smithton Public Library, 615 Center St. The free event will feature stories, games, crafts and more all-ages activities with a moon theme. Visitors will have a chance to steer a BeeBot moon rover...
Willie’s Random Acts of Kindness Day honors memory of Greensburg infant
Though William David “Willie” Fennell lived only a few hours after his birth Jan. 6, 2020, his brief life continues to have an impact on others. His parents, Will and Lindsay Fennell of Greensburg, in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region, are inviting people to perform...
Big Brothers Big Sisters social media posts showcase kids needing mentors
For Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region, one could say the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. What that means, Executive Director Stephanie Babich Mihleder said, is that the group has a long list of kids it would love to serve — if only they had...
Greensburg Y family fitness series includes in-person, virtual classes
A family-oriented health and fitness program is returning to the Greensburg YMCA this month, with a new twist. Half of the program’s 12 classes will be conducted virtually, allowing more people to participate. The six-week Fit Family and Friends program begins Jan. 17 with “Spin to Win,” an in-person cycling-based...
Tradition of hiking in the new year reaches all 50 U.S. states
BOSTON — A simple plan to get more people enjoying the outdoors on New Year’s Day has become a nationwide movement after a hike at a Massachusetts park more than three decades ago. Just 380 people participated in the initial First Day Hike in 1992 at the nearly 7,000-acre Blue...
New Year’s resolutions can be about more than self-improvement
People tend to focus New Year’s resolutions on self-improvement and fulfillment. Maybe it’s time to rethink the resolution. In 2020, about 75% of adult Americans set a goal to better themselves in 2021. But Forbes reported there is research to show that, year after year — for a variety of...
From panties to potatoes, global New Year’s customs predict what’s to come
Watching the ball drop in Times Square, toasting with champagne and shooting off fireworks are familiar ways many in America may choose to ring in the New Year. Around the globe, other countries and cultures have their own unique New Year traditions. Fodor’s lists several unusual examples: Fashion forecast In...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Dec. 30-Jan. 1
Artsy interlude Weekend hours will be 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N. Main St., Greensburg. The museum will be closed Sunday for New Year’s Day. Current exhibits include “Gatecrashers: The Rise of the Self-Taught Artist in America,” featuring...
Holiday Family Day draws dozens of visitors to Historic Hanna’s Town
Historic Hanna’s Town was a hive of activity Thursday, as dozens of people gathered for Holiday Family Day. “People are looking for something to do between Christmas and New Year’s, so as long as they want to come, we’re happy to be here,” said Lisa Hays, executive director of Westmoreland...
6 ways to make extra money in retirement
More than 1 in 4 retirees say they’re spending more than they can afford, according to an October 2022 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. With inflation at 7.1% in November, it’s not surprising that savings aren’t going as far as they used to. But there are ways to...
