Inside-out: Open space outside, privacy inside become homebuyer priorities in wake of pandemic
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series on real estate market trends in Western Pennsylvania. The pandemic may have ended, but its impact on how people live — and buy homes — hasn’t. Real estate agents say the once-coveted “open concept” is not as popular as buyers reshape...
This Natrona Heights Victorian home is turn-key, thanks to updates inside and out
Size, location and updates aren’t the only things that the home at 1204 Cambridge St. in Natrona Heights has going for it, but they certainly sit at the top of the list. With 3,400 square feet, this recently redone brick home has four bedrooms and two full baths, plus tons...
How to detect lung cancer when it’s most treatable
Lung cancer is one of the most daunting of cancer diagnoses, but there is hope. By early screening for lung cancer, doctors can intervene when it is most treatable, have more treatment options at their disposal and initiate care before the disease has spread. Tell us about the use of...
5 tips for organizing your home office
Making sense of a year’s worth of paperwork and clutter can take some serious time, especially as many people have been working from home more than normal, but getting organized can help you tackle home management tasks more efficiently. Making the office a priority can reduce frustration when it comes...
BriTE Wellness aims to slow cognitive decline
Kristen Johnson clearly remembers the day her husband Jerry was diagnosed with dementia four years ago. The couple drove home from the neurologist’s office without saying a word. “It was a horrible diagnosis because there’s no cure for it,” she said. “It was like, what do we do now?” At...
Here’s how to keep your home safe during the holiday season
More home fires occur during the winter months than any other time of the year. The best way to practice fire safety is to prevent one from happening. Every year, more than 2,500 people die and nearly 13,000 are injured in home fires. Yet many people are not aware of...
What you need to know about knee replacement surgery
Knee replacements have become one of the most common joint replacement surgeries over the last several decades. Normal wear and tear of the knee can result in nagging pain from the worn-out joints, often needing replacement with an artificial joint made of metal or plastic. The artificial joint functions like...
Exacerbated by pandemic, child care crisis hampers economy
SEATTLE (AP) — After Bryan Kang’s son was born in July, the occupational therapist and his wife, a teacher, started looking for child care in the Los Angeles area. The couple called eight daycare centers: Some didn’t have spots for months; others stopped taking their calls and some never answered...
Lori Borgman: No costume needed for this Halloween scare
Some of the neighbors go all out for Halloween with spiderwebs dangling from trees, inflatable green-eyed monsters in the front yard and skeletons crawling up the house. If I really want a good scare, I scan emails in my junk folder or listen to messages on the landline. Diplomat Joe...
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh offers Halloween tips for pet owners
For many of us, Halloween can be a holiday filled with candy, costumes and ghostly fun. But our furry friends may find the day a little spooky. It’s important to keep your pets safe no matter how you plan to celebrate this year. Whether you’re expecting trick-or-treaters or planning to...
What’s SmartCurve mammography?
Since the adoption of screening mammography in the United States, mortality from breast cancer has decreased 36%. Yet the disease remains a daunting one for women, with a lifetime risk of one in eight to develop breast cancer. Interestingly, 75% of women with a diagnosis of breast cancer have no...
Homebuyer ‘love letters’ may stir bias – but they often work
Several years ago, Kristine Chadwick and her family were trying to buy a house in Eugene, Oregon. The market was competitive, so her agent suggested she write a letter to the seller, describing her husband, three kids, two dogs and one cat, and why she wanted to raise her family...
Jim Rossman: Is upgrading your operating system worth it?
Last week I wrote about keeping your computer’s operating system up to date. I mentioned that you need to pay attention to software update notifications from your computer and keep current with major upgrades and minor updates. The minor updates can happen in the background automatically, but major updates require...
What you need to know about breast cancer
What do you want women to know heading into Breast Cancer Awareness Month? I want to stress the importance of regular breast screenings. If a patient is having a problem or suspects something is not right, they should talk with their doctor. The biggest message I can provide is that...
Buffalo Township home on the market is rustic and retreat-like
Perfectly suited to its wooded surroundings and private feel, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom house at 139 Woodbury Drive in Buffalo is full of perks. Listed for sale at $399,000 and situated on 1.2 acres, you’ll find lots of space to relax both inside and out, in addition to so many of...
How to maintain hardwood floors
Hardwood floors have long been sought after by home buyers. In its 2019 “Remodeling Impact Report,” the National Association of Realtors revealed that new wood flooring was the fourth most popular project to attract buyers. Of course, hardwood floors aren’t just for buyers. Homeowners who already have hardwood floors know...
Here’s How: Enjoy your fireplace in an environmentally friendly way
Dear Jim: I want to help the environment and use my fireplace more often but hate handling firewood. Is using commercial firelogs better than real wood, and what types are best? — Randi H. Dear Randi: In all but very mild fall and spring weather, most fireplaces lose more energy...
How to make the best of a small dining space
Some homeowners may aspire to have expansive dining rooms replete with seating for 12 beneath a stunning chandelier. That kind of space certainly makes hosting dinner parties easier. However, modern homes typically have small dining rooms that require homeowners or renters to be resourceful when entertaining guests. Hosts may not...
Craftsman home renovation ideas that keep character
Craftsman homes trace their roots to the late 19th century. An architectural style inspired by the arts and crafts movement that flourished in Europe and North America for roughly 40 years between 1880 and 1920, the American craftsman home has endured into the 21st century thanks to its beauty and...
Liz Weston: Fortify your finances against natural disaster
Emergency preparedness experts recommend that you have a “go bag” and a “stay bin” for disasters: kits with supplies to help you survive a few days if you have to evacuate your home or shelter in place. Preparing your finances for natural disasters is also smart. Having cash on hand,...
Here’s what you need to know about traumatic brain injuries
Brain injury is a complex condition that is unique to each patient and requires a multi-pronged approach to recovery that includes the participation of the patient’s support system. “I always remind my colleagues that if you’ve seen one brain injury, you’ve seen one brain injury,” says Thomas Franz, MD, lead...
Tips for a stress-free morning
Mornings are often the most important part of the day – they can make or break your mood and set the tone for all of your to-dos. To help combat the hecticness that can arrive when the sun comes up, consider these five tips for a stress-free start to the...
Fall is a good time for a flower bed makeover
Nobody ever said gardening offers instant gratification. With this limitation in mind, I dug and made over one of my flower beds last weekend. For the plants, fall is a fine time for a flower-bed makeover. Cooler temperatures slow water loss from leaves, so plants can better tolerate being ripped...
The new tech must-have: always connected laptops
After a bumpy 2020-21 school year, many families are looking for a fresh start this school year. Whether students are remote, hybrid or fully back in classrooms, new laptop technologies can help them learn with greater flexibility and power. As you begin to shop for a computer, start with an...
What can people do for high blood pressure?
Half of adults in the U.S. have hypertension, or high blood pressure. Dr. Raghu Tadikamalla, a cardiologist and certified specialist in clinical hypertension at Allegheny Health Network, says we can do more to bring that number down. What are current recommendations around blood pressure? Hypertension is any number above 130/80,...
