More Lifestyles category, Page 28
Find out and fix what Big Data says about you
I thought I knew all about the information that consumer reporting agencies were collecting on me. Then I discovered The Work Number — a database that reports every paycheck I’ve received from my company, with net and gross amounts, going back to my hire date six years ago. Another consumer...
Holiday warning: Easter lilies can kill your cat
As people decorate homes for the Easter holiday, there’s a fresh warning about a certain flower. Easter lilies — those lanky, white beauties of spring — are extremely toxic to cats. According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration, any plant in the lily family, including daylilies, is deadly for cats....
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: April 8-10
Get your Kix The hard-rock, glam-metal band Kix will take the stage at 8 p.m. Friday at The Lamp Theatre, 222 Main St., Irwin. The band’s 1988 release, “Blow My Fuse,” went platinum, with the power ballad “Don’t Close Your Eyes” peaking at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100....
Robots are on the move at Carnegie Science Center
“Warning, warning Will Robinson!” is how B-9, the robot from “Lost in Space,” might put it. The Carnegie Science Center’s Robot Hall of Fame, of which B-9 is a member, has been permanently moved from the second floor to the ground level lobby of The Rangos Giant Cinema. In addition,...
Sandcastle to open early with new look, first new slide in 10 years
Like its sister attractions Kennywood and Idlewild & SoakZone, Sandcastle will open earlier than usual this season. On Friday, the water park in West Homestead announced opening day is May 21 — a week prior to the traditional Memorial Day weekend start. Kennywood opens April 16 and Idlewild on May...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: April 1-3
Whodunit? Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht will engage in “A Pathological Discussion,” with sessions at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at The Lamp Theatre, 222 Main St., Irwin. With host John McIntire, the 91-year-old Wecht will cover cases of notorious deaths, including those of Jeffrey...
Edmunds: Should you fix your car or buy new?
Perhaps this scenario is familiar to you. Your car broke down and now you’re faced with a costly repair bill. It may not have been the first time this has happened and you’re getting tired of pouring money into an aging machine. A new car would be nice, but is...
4 big expenses you could face in retirement
Retirement planning is part savings, part guessing game. While many of your day-to-day expenses will remain the same, there are big-ticket categories that can take a large bite out of your savings. The more you can plan, the better prepared you’ll be to weather the costs. Here are four expenses...
Millennial Money: Please don’t go broke attending weddings
Sure, you want to feel joy and love upon receiving a wedding invitation. But one little postcard or email can also pack loads of pricey pressure. Perhaps you must secure travel and lodging, buy gifts and attire, or call off work. Or maybe you have the honor — and extra...
Spring cleaning: It’s not what it used to be, but it’s still a good idea
Spring cleaning has roots in ancient cultural and religious practices. In Jewish tradition, it is linked to the Passover, commemorating the Jews fleeing in such haste from slavery in Egypt that they didn’t have time to let their bread rise. Celebrated in early spring, Passover is ushered in by cleaning...
Pittsburgh has plenty of sights for NCAA tourney visitors
National Geographic Traveler got it right by naming Pittsburgh to its “19 for 2019 Cool List” of trending travel destinations. The only U.S. city to make the list, the Steel City ranked third among the coolest places to travel in the coming year. It’s still pretty cool in 2022. Pittsburghers...
Poodles pop in popularity, but Labs still No. 1 U.S. dog breed
NEW YORK — Labrador retrievers are still tugging hardest on U.S. dog lovers’ heartstrings, but poodles just strutted back into the American Kennel Club’s top five most popular dog breeds for the first time in nearly a quarter-century. The club’s annual popularity rankings come out Tuesday, drawn from more than...
As ice festival business booms, Jeannette company looks to train carvers
The work is plentiful, but the laborers are few. With the proliferation of winter ice festivals across Pennsylvania and neighboring states, DiMartino Ice Co. in Jeannette is looking to train ice carvers to fill the demand. “We’re busy from December through February,” said owner Ernie DiMartino. “We’re somewhere every week,...
Realtors to conservatives living in liberal areas: Try Idaho
SANDPOINT, Idaho — Linda Navarre moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, from Cleveland in 1978, when the town consisted of people in the timber industry and hippies “and they all got along.” Now she barely recognizes the small resort community near the Canadian border that is quickly growing as people disenchanted with...
Regent Square event merges litter, fashion and craft beer — for good cause
While there are litter walks, fashion shows and craft beer parties, Allegheny Cleanways has combined all three for an event Saturday in Pittsburgh’s Regent Square. The confab of events isn’t as unlikely as it seems. Anyone who volunteers to pick up litter, especially in colder or wet weather, has to...
Sign-ups start for Greensburg Walk a Mile gender violence-awareness event
All kinds of feet in all kinds of shoes will gather April 23 in downtown Greensburg’s St. Clair Park for Westmoreland County’s 11th annual Walk a Mile in Their Her His Our Shoes, an event that raises awareness of gender-based violence. Participation shows a commitment to ending violence against people...
A guide to Pittsburgh: Strip District blends best of old and new
For a small stretch of land, Pittsburgh’s Strip District has a big history. From its roots as an industrial center, through its reinvention as a produce distribution hub, to today’s vibrant blend of uses, it has continued to evolve. Today’s Strip District is a mix of old and new, traditional...
Romance fraud: Looking for love in wrong place proves costly
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — For the victim, a 78-year-old man from Annandale, it started with an effort to find some companionship. He created an account on a social network called iFlirt, then made contact with someone identifying herself as a widowed woman in her 30s who seemed interested. As the...
Emotional support or hogwash? Man fights to keep his pet pig
CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. — Ellie the potbellied pig snuggles up to Wyverne Flatt when he watches TV and sometimes rolls over to let him pet her belly. The 110-pound pig is “family,” Flatt says, an emotional support animal who helped him through a divorce and the death of his mother. Officials...
PNC Park hosting American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb
Competitors can make like a PNC Park hot dog vendor by scaling the steps of the Pittsburgh baseball stadium during the March 19 Fight For Air Climb, hosted by the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania. Now in its 16th year, the local fundraising event joins 41 others across the United...
Yinzer Cards offer unique Pittsburgh-style Valentine’s greetings
The Yinzer Cards Valentine’s Day line eschews the hearts and flowers of the typical Valentine’s card in favor of greetings tailored to a local audience. “They are not exactly your grandmother’s Valentine greeting card or candy,” said Pittsburgh-based comedian Jim Krenn, who started the card line in 2018 with radio...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Feb. 4-6
Read his mind A few seats remain for a concert by Canadian troubadour Gordon Lightfoot at 8 p.m. Friday at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. In a career spanning more than 50 years, the singer/songwriter has produced a string of hits including “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Carefree Highway,”...
Cure cabin fever with a number of outside activities in Western Pennsylvania
When winter comes, many of us tend to hunker down and get cozy inside. The Scandinavian cold-weather hygge lifestyle has been popular in recent years — cuddling up in fuzzy sweaters and blankets, making a cup of tea and a pot of soup, reading a book or watching a movie,...
Saint Vincent walks attract birdwatchers in fair or foul weather
The rough “chip” of the cardinal and the “potato chip, potato chip” call of the American goldfinch were among sounds that pierced the winter sky Wednesday morning during a bird walk at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve in Unity. Before leading a group of about 15 Saint Vincent College students...
DIY or call a professional: Which is right for your remodel?
A do-it-yourself remodel can be a budget-friendly way to freshen up your home. For some projects, it may take just a few YouTube videos to show you how to modernize your space. But not every project is right for amateur renovators. Your skill level, budget and how important the project...
