Editor's Picks category, Page 409
Alle-Kiski Valley ambulance companies struggle to keep up with call volume, community needVideo
The patient was cold and shaking, so the paramedic clutched her hands in his, warming them as they rode in an ambulance to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. Her hands were limp and icy. She had just suffered a stroke. Hayden Geisweidt loves being a paramedic. He enjoys taking care of...
Welcoming vibe, good coffee await at Oakmont’s Moonbeam CafeVideo
A new coffee shop in Oakmont is brewing up friendly vibes. “I hate going into cafes and restaurants and the wait staff is not warm and welcoming,” says owner/barista Nina Komaniak. “No coffee snobs here.” Perhaps the youngest business owner in Oakmont, 21-year-old Oakmont resident Komaniak replaced the typical collegiate...
West Deer teen takes bite out of Ohio burger competition, continues family legacyVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. Justin Von Hansen knows a thing or two about cooking. The 16-year-old West Deer resident is the nephew of world pizza champion Eric Von Hansen and works at Caliente...
Cajun or Creole? Here’s how you can tell
Confused about what’s Cajun and what’s Creole? Though you might hear the terms Cajun and Creole used interchangeably, they are in fact, two distinct ethnic groups, each with its own history, traditions, culture and, of course, food. The two cuisines do share some common ingredients but differences can be difficult...
Western Pa. school districts collaborate with PPG, FedEx Ground, Siemens
About 100 educators and business leaders gathered Thursday to celebrate successful partnerships and share what they’ve learned. The program connecting them all, the Educators and Corporations Program (ECP) will soon be introduced statewide. “Every partnership is different, but they all have one common thread,” said Sam Shaneyfelt, a consultant for...
Eggtastic news for Harmar bald eagles? Bird behavior hints that incubation has begun
After a few days of constant presence at the nest, the Harmar bald eagles are believed to be incubating at least one egg, according to a local photographer. Without the benefit of a webcam, watchers have to rely on the birds’ behavior to determine if there are eggs. Typically, the...
`Let’s go home’: Afghan war vets torn on US-Taliban deal
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Veterans of America’s longest war are finding themselves torn as the U.S. signs a potentially historic peace accord with the Taliban in Afghanistan. For many, the U.S. is long overdue in withdrawing its forces after more than 18 years of fighting. Others question the trustworthiness of...
Pittsburghers lap up beers at BrewDog’s grand opening in East Liberty
It’s 11 a.m. at BrewDog’s grand opening on Friday, Feb. 28, and the place is packed. The new 4,000-square-foot space is the Scottish company’s latest American outpost. It is located on Centre Avenue across from Target in East Liberty. Co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie started releasing experimental beers in...
High school dancers from around the world visit Point Park for national dance festivalVideo
Driven by the dream of a college scholarship, high school dancers from around the world have traveled to Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh to perform for the country’s top dance schools during the National High School Dance Festival. “It is an amazing way to get my name out to...
International food conference to be held in Pittsburgh
An annual food conference by the International Association of Culinary Professionals will be held in Pittsburgh this year, March 27 to 29. Chefs, food critics and authors will gather at the Omni William Penn Hotel for interviews, panel discussions, networking and, of course, food. Several well-known personalities will be present,...
Students hit the pool to raise funds for Special Olympics PennsylvaniaVideo
On a freezing morning outside Heinz Field, students and teachers from across the Pittsburgh region took turns plunging into a pool to help raise money for Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Twenty schools and nearly 500 students participated in the Cool Schools Plunge. The high Friday was 31 degrees. The 10th Annual...
80-foot fall, vandalism at Western Pa. parks top week’s headlinesVideo
Two parks in the Western Pennsylvania area made the news this week, both for the wrong reasons, while endings were announced for a private school in the North Hills, double coupons at Giant Eagle and security at Pittsburgh International Airport. Woman falls at McConnells Mill Jocie Van Kirk, a 21-year-old...
Shoppers find religious books, knickknacks, fellowship at Bloomfield’s Sacred Heart of Jesus Store
Each person who enters Sacred Heart of Jesus Store in Bloomfield leaves with something, even if they don’t make a purchase. “The blessing doesn’t go on the items we sell; the blessing goes on literally everyone that comes in,” says Sister Mary Madalyn Schleifer, who runs the Liberty Avenue shop...
Leap Day babies enjoy some ‘every 4 years’ perks
If you are planning to blow out the candles on your cake on Feb. 29, you are among approximately 205,000 people in the United States who can claim a Leap Year birthday. Many Leap Year babies celebrate on Feb. 28 or March 1 most years. A Leap year gives them...
UPMC took in $20B in revenue in 2019, claims dominance in Western Pa. insurance market
Nearly 1 in 3 Western Pennsylvanians now has a health insurance plan with UPMC — making the nonprofit behemoth not only the state’s largest private employer and hospital system but also the region’s largest insurer. That’s according to UPMC executives and their newly released 2019 year-end financial statements. They cited...
Mickey from ‘Disney on Ice’ visits UPMC Children’s Hospital of PittsburghVideo
Ella Weisbord had a simple request as she waited to meet a Disney character Thursday in UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. “I want to dance with Mickey,” the 5-year-old from Cheswick said. Mickey Mouse was happy to comply. Ella’s mother wheeled the girl up to Mickey for a meet-and-greet …...
Despite low unemployment rate, applicants flock to Hempfield job fairVideo
A low unemployment rate didn’t keep hundreds of job seekers from a career expo Wednesday. The Westmoreland Assists Native Talent (WANT) Job and Career Expo, held at the Ramada by Wyndham Greensburg Hotel and Conference Center in Hempfield, featured more than 65 employers and a range of potential employees. Expo...
Giant Eagle to stop doubling coupons
Giant Eagle will no longer double manufacturer coupons beginning Sunday. With so many e-coupons and digital choices, the store is changing to accommodate technology. The O’Hara-based retailer will continue to redeem the coupons for face value. “As customer usage of manufacturer coupons continues to decrease both in our stores and...
See how Pennsylvania students fared on SATs in 2019
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has released the average SAT scores at public schools across the state. The averages come from students in the class of 2019 who took the standardized test — about 2.2 million students nationwide, according to College Board, the institution that administers the test. The exam...
Pennsylvania couple awaiting adopted child get $20,000 gift on ‘Ellen’
A Philadelphia-area couple already expecting one life-changing moment received a second one this week, courtesy of TV talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres. Doug and Nick Roberts, of Media, are in the midst of an adoption process. They are also huge fans of the actress Kristen Bell. Somehow, DeGeneres heard about their...
What to give up for Lent? Booze, chocolate, sex — and Lent itself — among top choicesVideo
Although rooted in ancient Christian practice, the idea of “giving something up for Lent” permeates American popular culture. Witness the Twitter Lent Tracker operated for a decade by OpenBible.info. The index tracks the number of mentions of Lent or “giving up” something during the week of Ash Wednesday — which...
Standard Market and Pint House hopes to ‘raise Pittsburgh’s standard of dining’
A dormant spot in Downtown Pittsburgh’s version of restaurant row is reopening as a new venue looking to capitalize on the emerging trend of self-serve beer. The Standard Market and Pint House will open in the spring in a newly renovated space in the Courtyard by Marriott hotel first occupied...
Happy 77th birthday, George HarrisonVideo
He was known as the quiet Beatle. Thoughtful, spiritual and a superb musician, George Harrison, lead guitarist for the greatest pop group in history, would have turned 77 on Tuesday, Feb. 25. George Harrison was born #OnThisDay in 1943. He would have turned 77 today. Happy birthday @GeorgeHarrison! pic.twitter.com/HycHYYnPdG— The...
Whitehall family hopes positive message can come from online bullyingVideo
The family of an 11-year-old Whitehall inventor is using cyberbullying and hate lodged against them as a teaching moment. They hope the public will learn a lesson from it, too: That no matter how you feel about something, it’s never OK to bully and attack. Over the past several days,...
Western Pennsylvania-filmed ‘I Am Not Okay With This’ debuts on Netflix
From the opening shot of the new Netflix series “I Am Not Okay With This,” the viewer will know that this is not an ordinary dark dramedy about high school kids dealing with teen angst. A young girl is seen walking down the street. She is soaked in blood as...
