Mary Pickels stories, Page 13

Smithsonian magazine is holding its 15th annual Museum Day, granting visitors free admission for two by visiting its website. This year’s date is Sept. 21. Several regional museums are participating, including the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Old Economy Village in Ambridge, Lawrence County Historical Society in New...

Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to learn about the fascinating world of monarch butterflies as Westmoreland County Master Gardeners host a “Monarch Migration Celebration.” The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 7 at Penn State Extension’s Donohoe Center, 214 Donohoe Road, Hempfield....

The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley will again host a free Family Fun Day at the One Boucher Lane site. The program is set from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 7. According to site coordinator Kristin Miller, activities for all ages will include silk marbling, storytelling, necklace making,...

Seven Springs Mountain Resort will hold its 27th annual wine festival, showcasing wineries from across Pennsylvania. Set for Aug. 23-25, the festival presents 30 wineries, including Allegheny Wine Cellars, Heritage Wine Cellars, Glades Pike Winery, Presque Isle Wine Cellars, Christian W. Klay Winery and KingView Mead. Guests can sample hundreds...

Ligonier Country Market’s special features this week include the music of the Heavenly Biscuits, a power duo of Lauren Condon and Vanessa Beggs. LVRx Pharmacy, 211 S. Market St., Ligonier’s new locally owned pharmacy, will have staff in attendance to perform health assessments and answer questions and introduce the business...

The bakers contributing cookies to the Monongahela Area Historical Society’s attempt to set a Guinness World Record for largest cookie table only had to exceed 18,000 cookies. Instead, according to the final tally, their wedding cookie spread totaled 88,425. That number was far north of the conservative “at least 50,000”...

Visitors on the annual free public tours of The Palace Theatre in Greensburg not only learn the theater’s history, but hear tales of its operation and other functions the venue serves. “I think one of the things people enjoy the most is not just what they see, but what they...

The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley will hold “Monarchs, Milkweed and More,” a collaboration with Penguin Court and Brandywine Conservancy. The event, set for 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 18, is designed to enrich and educate children and adults on various pollinators, planners say. Penn State Master...

A Scottdale woman will continue her late son’s mission with this week’s opening of the Tajz-Mahal Makerspace in Connellsville’s Carnegie Free Library. Earlier this summer, Antonette Dues began fund raising for the nonprofit organization she has established in her son Tajz Dues’ memory: Tajz’s Hope Foundation. Dues, 28, died on...

There is no skimming for the 29 teams competing in Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Battle of the Books. Teams of three to five people need to read — thoroughly — the list of books “assigned” each year. “The questions are really hard,” says Dan Hensley, the library’s adult programming coordinator....

A “Celebrating Our Art Community” event will kick off Ligonier’s Main Exhibit Gallery & Art Center’s 25th anniversary, says Mandy Sirofchuck, co-owner with husband Paul Sirofchuck. The free reception, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 16, will feature more than three dozen local artists in a variety of media. Guests...

After covering the “business of Hollywood” for The Wall Street Journal for the last six years, Unity native Erich Schwartzel is expanding his research into how China is influencing the film industry. Schwartzel, 32, is writing his first book, “Red Carpet,” after inking a deal with Penguin Press publishing house....

Pasta times five — for $5 each — is on the menu at Olive Garden through the rest of the year. The Italian restaurant’s promotion, previously a limited time offer, now offers guests $5 Take Home meals all year. Diners who order any any entrée in-restaurant (including kids’ entrées) can...

When Carolyn Anderson, 47, of New Alexandria thinks about her favorite regional small town restaurant, one place pops into mind. She remembers traveling Route 30 as a child to her grandparents’ Somerset County home, and the regular stop her family made at Laughlintown’s Original Pie Shoppe. It’s now claimed the...

For the third year, Ligonier Country Market will participate in National Farmers Market Week, being observed Aug. 4-10. The Farmers Market Coalition puts together a program and makes suggestions to farmers market operators, says Cari Frei, the market’s executive director. Among those programs is a poster contest. And for three...

Jean Slusser, president of PFLAG — Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays — Greensburg welcomes anyone to the annual Pride in the Park Picnic. Slusser is a founding member of the group and of Westmoreland LGBTQ Interfaith Network, co-hosts of the picnic from 2-6 p.m. Aug. 18 at...

Three regional artists, along with a West Coast artist, will exhibit some unusual and eye-popping creations in an upcoming show at You Are Here, 406 Clay Ave., Jeannette. Participating in the joint and a “little off kilter” exhibit, “Bat Country,” are artists Nora Thompson, Brian McCall, Johnny Dismal and Dominic...

Recognizing James Gourlay’s 10th season as River City Brass artistic and general director, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is declaring Sept. 5 as “Dr. James Gourlay Day.” Sept. 5 is opening day for River City Brass’s new season. A copy of the proclamation notes Gourlay’s expansion of the band’s audience and...

Area beer fans interested in learning how to make their own brew are in luck. Old Economy Village, 270 16th St., Ambridge, in Beaver County, is offering a free, two-day beer-making seminar. Classes will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 17 and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 31. During the first...