Shirley McMarlin stories, Page 54

Butterflies are now free for Greensburg Garden Center’s annual release. Thanks to funding from Dominion Energy, remaining monarch butterflies can be reserved at no charge, says garden center president Carla Rusnica. The Aug. 8 event will include two separate release sessions, to accommodate social distancing concerns. Release times will be...

The Apple Hill Playhouse in Delmont is going dark. “The time has come” to permanently close the historic stage, executive artistic director Pat Beyer said. “I’m just too old to be in this game anymore. This is my 38th year,” said Beyer, 79. However, it’s just the barn that’s closing,...

Ligonier Country Market is in the running for two top spots in a poll of America’s most essential farmers markets. The poll is being conducted by the American Farmland Trust, a nonprofit organization that promotes environmentally sound farming practices and conservation of farmland and ranchland. Currently, the Ligonier market tops...

Westmoreland Ballet Company is seeking dancers and other community partners for a film version of the beloved holiday classic, “The Nutcracker.” “Incorporating area artists, musicians, performers, community members and business owners, the film will highlight Greensburg and surrounding towns,” according to the recently established company. Filming will begin in September....

Although the hot dog doesn’t always get a lot of respect, Americans eat an estimated 20 billion of them every year. That’s roughly 70 per person. That’s enough to get the lowly tube steak some formal recognition — July 22 is National Hot Dog Day. If you find yourself passing...

Pittsburgh Opera will “Pull Back the Curtain” in a new weekly web series, giving viewers behind-the-scenes looks at what it’s like to be an opera singer, how operas are made and why opera has thrived for centuries. The first episode of “Pull Back the Curtain” will livestream at 4 p.m....

The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh will not reopen to the public until January. “Social distancing guidelines have had a tremendous impact on the creative, hands-on learning experiences that are a hallmark of the Children’s Museum and MuseumLab, and more recent restrictions on indoor gatherings have further impacted our ability to...

The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley has canceled its annual garden party. The Woodstock-themed event was scheduled for Aug. 8. “The pandemic has socked it to us again,” said site coordinator Kristin Miller in a release announcing the cancellation. The Ligonier Township facility is open to the...

Pittsburgh-born pop artist Burton Morris will join The Senator John Heinz History Center for a virtual happy hour on July 29. The free program will be presented via Zoom at 6 p.m. As part of the Pittsburgh museum’s History at Home online offerings, virtual attendees can sip a beverage of...

Thanks to texts and tweets, we’re all about quick and simple communication — the quicker and simpler, the better. That’s where the emoji comes in — why type “I’m happy” or “I’m sad,” when a quick click can give plenty of options for expressing those emotions and an array of...

As pandemic restrictions drag on, eating seems like one of the few entertainments left to enjoy. In that vein, restaurant weeks are coming to both Greensburg and Pittsburgh during August. Things might be a little different this time around, organizers say, but there still will be plenty of opportunities to...

A floating cinema equipped with social distancing boats is coming to Pittsburgh Sept. 16-20. The location for the aquatic theater and movies to be shown have not been announced yet. The cinema will be made up of 12 to 24 mini-boats, each holding up to eight people. Tickets will require...

An artist noted for his work with the jam band Phish is teaming up with Pittsburgh’s Commonplace Coffee for a line of limited-edition merchandise. Jim Pollock, who has been creating iconic art for the music industry and many brands and businesses for more than 30 years, has designed coffee mug...

Prior to reopening to the public on Aug. 5, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art will welcome members and essential workers to an exclusive reopening weekend Aug. 1-2. The special hours at the Greensburg facility are “a way to say thanks to members for supporting the Museum during the temporary...

These public programs will take place during July and August in Forbes State Forest: • Spruce Flats Bog Tour, 10-11 a.m. Saturday. Learn about the history of this unusual mountain wetland and its interesting plants. Come prepared for an easy, ½-mile, round-trip walk. Registration is limited to 5 participants. •...

Yesterday, we celebrated National French Fry Day — but if you prefer your carbs in the form of pasta, today is your lucky day. July 14 is National Mac and Cheese Day. Celebrate by taking advantage of one of these deals: • Stouffer’s brand of frozen prepared foods invites mac...

A free distribution of fresh produce is planned Wednesday at Fallingwater in Fayette County. Open to anyone in need, the giveaway organized by 412 Food Rescue will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the main parking lot of the historical site at 1491 Mill Run Road, off Route 381...

Summer in Ligonier Arts and Crafts is planned for Friday and Saturday in downtown Ligonier. The event, running from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. both days, will feature vendor sales in Diamond Park, along with merchant sidewalk sales. Vendors will offer wares including handcrafted jewelry, carved and painted gourds, pen and ink...

From basic vanilla to chunky rocky road, few things taste better on a hot summer day than a cold scoop of ice cream. Plop it into a bowl, stack it in a cone or blend it in a thick shake, and you have a treat that helps you beat the...

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life will host a drive-thru luminaria event to take the place of annual walks that have been canceled due to the covid-19 pandemic. Luminaria night is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. July 30 at the Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood campus. The Greensburg, Mt. Pleasant,...

The Market Square Farmers Market returns Thursday to its namesake home in downtown Pittsburgh. Now in its 16th season, the market was operating temporarily at a location near the David L. Lawrence Convention Center to facilitate increased social distancing and pedestrian access. The Market Square venue will be open 10...

Today is National French Fry Day, and restaurants nationwide are marking the occasion by offering free fries and other deals. Deals available at chains with restaurants in Western Pennsylvania include: • Burger King: Several offers, including large fries for $1, are available on the BK app. App specials are listed...

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art has chosen four Southwestern Pennsylvania writers to be featured on artist Janet Zweig’s “Analog Scroll,” as part of the Museum’s ongoing Bridging the Gap public art project. Located on the North Main Street Bridge in downtown Greensburg, Zweig’s work uses three-dimensional letters on tracks...