Shirley McMarlin stories, Page 13

Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra will continue its long-running tradition of going “Home for the Holidays,” with the annual concert set for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. But there are new elements in the mix this year. As usual, the All-Star Choir of Westmoreland County will perform,...

Since the movie “Frozen” was released in 2013, it’s become a favorite tale for people of all ages — and one that’s been on the “must-do” list for the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale. Circumstances have finally converged, and the winter wonderland of “Disney’s Frozen Jr.” will take over...

For the third consecutive year, Latrobe resident Clare Kaczmarek captured first place in the Places category of the 2022 Go Laurel Highlands Photo Contest, with a sunrise photo taken in May at Baughman Rock Overlook, above the Youghiogheny River Gorge south of Ohiopyle. Kaczmarek said she had to get up...

Soon after the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley launched its sculpture garden, a local philanthropist offered to add to the collection. “Donald Green, a gentleman who was very philanthropic to the Ligonier Valley, reached out to SAMA to see if we would be interested in having another...

The Christmas tree tends to be the centerpiece when the halls are decked for the holidays. The question can be whether to go with a live or artificial tree. Here are two things to consider when making the choice: Shopping for a live tree is a great way to make...

Holiday greens and gifts Hours for Greensburg Garden Center’s annual Gifts & Greens Sale are 3-7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Greensburg Garden & Civic Center, 951 Old Salem Road. Holiday merchandise includes trees of various sizes individually decorated by Garden Center members, along with aromatic...

Holiday music and shopping — along with the ghostly appearance of William Shakespeare — are among events on tap this weekend in Pittsburgh. Shakespeare’s ghost Premiere performances of Pittsburgh playwright Nathan Wagner’s “Perdita” will be at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Friday in the New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square...

For its 2023 slate of programs, the Carnegie Museum of Art will take inspiration from its long-running Carnegie International — now in its 58th iteration. “The program builds on the incredible momentum of the Carnegie International, which is part of the collecting legacy on which the museum was founded,” said...

For many people, taking in a performance of “The Nutcracker” is as much a part of the holidays as the shopping, baking, visiting and general merriment. It certainly is for Natalie Ann Kasievich, executive director of the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, who grew up in Allegheny County’s North Hills. “My family...

Greensburg Hempfield Area Library hosted a Nov. 18 fundraising event whose name was a bit of a play on words. The Thanks“giving” Gala, at Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield, not only looked forward to the coming holiday but also thanked supporters for their generosity. About 120 guests gathered in the...

About two dozen women spent a cozy afternoon at The Victorian Lady of Academy Hill, guests of Westmoreland Walks at the annual SereniTea. Held Nov. 19 at the historic mansion in Greensburg, the event was one of three sold-out seatings of the tea, which raises funds for the organization’s scholarship...

Among pivotal French and Indian War dates is Nov. 12, 1758, when a raiding party of French troops from Fort Duquesne and their Native American allies went to filch livestock from the Post at Loyalhanna, later rechristened Fort Ligonier. The raiders were chased off by about 500 Virginians under Col....

“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness,” so the saying goes. At The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, it is better to light the building’s entire south-facing facade during the darkest days of the year. This year’s light show was revealed during Winter Lights Illumination...

Light ‘em up Light Up Ligonier will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday on the Ligonier Diamond. Santa will come to town for a countdown to the flipping of the switch to illuminate the bandstand, trees and holiday decorations on the Diamond. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available. For information, visit...

Shopping, seminars, Santa and more are in the news this weekend in Pittsburgh. Thanksgiving tradition Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will present “Thanksgiving Tradition: Strauss Family Favorites” at 8 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave. in the Cultural District. Former PSO Concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley returns to...

In between Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, there’s another opportunity to score some holiday gift deals. Museum Store Sunday is an annual event in which art, nature, culture, science and history institutions around the globe offer deals and discounts on their merchandise, including many items developed exclusively for those...

A million glittering lights will illuminate the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden during “Dazzling Nights,” an immersive pop-up light installation running Nov. 27 to Jan. 1. Features of the night-time, winter wonderland display will include an interactive lighted walkway, a forest of light and fog evoking the aurora borealis and a 65-foot...

On the wall opposite the entrance to the Fort Ligonier art gallery is the painting of a white-wigged soldier on horseback, apparently in the thick of battle. “Most visitors naturally assume it’s George Washington,” said Julie Donovan, the fort’s director of marketing and public relations. But it’s not. Rather, it’s...

For the 27th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Council for the Arts, juror Paula Burleigh said she chose “artworks that asked me to find unexpected delight in the ordinary.” Her choices included works in various media by 53 regional artists, revealed during a Nov. 12 opening reception...

During the covid-19 pandemic shutdowns, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust President and CEO Kevin McMahon frequently reassured colleagues that things would be OK. “Even in the darkest days of the pandemic, I said, ‘We’re resilient; we’re gonna make it through this,’ ” he said. “Of course, there were moments when I got...

Holiday shopping, animal encounters and parties celebrating art and history are on tap this weekend in Pittsburgh. German-style market The Peoples Gas Holiday Market opens Friday in Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh, with hours from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Inspired by the original German Christkindlmarkts (or “Christmas Markets”), the...

Here comes Santa Claus Special holiday entertainment will begin at 5 p.m. Friday at Westmoreland Mall, leading up to Santa’s arrival. The Hempfield High School Marching Band will escort the jolly old elf around the mall in a parade starting at 6 p.m. at the entrance on the lower level...

Even though masks no longer are required in most settings, organizers of a new exhibition at Saint Vincent College think they’re still a relevant conversation topic — in more than one way. The topic is explored in “Through the Mask: Conversations About Masks and Masking,” a juried multimedia exhibit that...

Taylor Swift has added a second date at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh as part of her upcoming “Eras Tour.” In addition to the previously announced June 17 show, she’ll also play the North Shore venue on June 16. Swift will be touring stadiums across the country beginning March 18 in...

This weekend is a great time to celebrate movies, music, dance, cultural heritage and chocolate in Pittsburgh. Film festival The Three Rivers Film Festival continues through Nov. 16, featuring 18 independent feature films not showing elsewhere. Films are screening at the Harris Theater downtown and The Tull Family Theater in...