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Community Features

Sharing Expertise

Therapy helps those with anxiety disorder connect with others

Mental health therapist Amy Swigart, left, and Susan Roop, owner of Inspiring Change in Butler Township, help those dealing with reactive attachment disorder. “They can't connect with individuals,” Swigart said of those affected by RAD.

Amy Swigart, a mental health therapist and behavioral specialist consultant, took her expertise international recently when she made a presentation before the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

12/12/2018 Community Features 0 comments

DOWN THE RIVER

Historic 1920s Delta Queen riverboat can cruise again

In this file photo, the Delta Queen riverboat is moored at Coolidge Park in downtown Chattanooga, Tenn. President Donald Trump signed legislation Nov. 4 allowing the historic 1920s-era riverboat to cruise the nation’s rivers once again after a 10-year layoff.

ST. LOUIS — After a decade in dock, the historic 1920s-era Delta Queen riverboat will cruise again.

12/11/2018 Community Features 0 comments

FIGHT THE BLIGHT

SRU student works to remove, replace stricken trees

A group from Slippery Rock University is looking to remove and replace Cleveland Select pear trees along Main Street in Slippery Rock that have been affected by fire blight, a contagious pathogen that has rendered the trees' leaves brown and withered.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University student Luke Gregory is thinking about pear trees. But these don't have a partridge in them; they have fire blight and need to be replaced.

12/10/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Tips for preventing a home disaster

There’s no way to prevent every possible disaster from striking while you’re away from home, but you can increase your peace of mind significantly with these five safeguards:

12/10/2018 Community Features 0 comments

For the birds

Audubon count moved up after last year's cold temps

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania's Chris Kubiak tries out his binoculars at Succop Nature Park in Penn Township last week in preparation for the Dec. 16 bird count across Butler County.

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is giving an early holiday present to bird watchers in Butler County.

12/8/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Caring Angel Basket Auction under way

This basket is available at the Caring Angel Basket Auction which is running until Dec. 13 at the Nixon/Sarver Education Center at Butler Memorial Hospital.

The 21st annual Caring Angel Basket Auction opened its bidding for 51 baskets this week.

12/8/2018 Community Features 0 comments

HELP WITH OPIOID ADDICTION

'Hope is Dope' comes to art center

“Washboard” Tony Frochio readies his snare drum and homemade stompfiddle for his performance Monday night at “Hope Night” at the Butler Arts Center.

Washboard” Tony Frochio of Connoquenessing has made a lot of music in a lot of different places.

12/7/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Horse saves himself with a great escape

Gelding on way to slaughter gets 2nd chance

MIAMI — Talk about a survival instinct.

12/7/2018 Community Features 0 comments

CONGREGATION HAS TIES TO 1860

Emlenton church marks 25 years at site

Emlenton United Methodist Church marked 25 years in its present location Nov. 25. The first service in the building took place the Sunday before Thanksgiving in 1994. A new pastor starts in January.

EMLENTON, Venango County — The past met the future recently at Emlenton United Methodist Church, 1303 Kerr Ave.

12/6/2018 Community Features 0 comments

A LEGAL TOSS

9-year-old convinces town to scrap snowball fight ban

Dane Best, 9, throws the first legal snowball in the parking lot of the town hall after presenting his argument Monday to the town board of trustees to change a law in Severance, Colo., that bans snowball fights. The board earlier voted unanimously to approve the law change.

SEVERANCE, Colo. — A 9-year-old boy has convinced the leaders of a small northern Colorado town to overturn a nearly century-old ban on snowball fights, and he already knows who his first target will be — his little brother.

12/6/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Gifted Perspective Cranberry girl wins statewide competition for her video project

Nine-year-old Cranberry Township student Cameron Foster receives an award Friday at the annual Gifted Conference at the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Township for winning a statewide competition for gifted students. Presenting the award is Daniel Rossi-Keen, president of Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education.

A 9-year-old Cranberry Township girl won a statewide competition for gifted kindergarten through 12th grade students.

12/5/2018 Community Features 0 comments

North Catholic students show off their latest robot

Sherwood Oaks residents impressed

Sherwood Oaks resident Betty Tolbert, center, got a chance to operate the robot, spinning it around and learning to launch a ball from its basket.

Residents of Sherwood Oaks retirement community in Cranberry Townsip saw the latest creation in robotics coming out of North Catholic High School, Thursday after over a dozen members of the school's robotics club came to present their creation and answer any questions the audience had about their...

12/4/2018 Community Features 0 comments

SRU presses sustainability with program

Effort mirrors Harvard's program

Paul Scanlon, director of sustainability at Slippery Rock University, takes a personal hand in recycling. Slippery Rock University's new Green Leaves Sustainable Department Certification Program includes initiatives and activities such as recycling electronics to raise awareness for sustainability and climate change.

SLIPPERY ROCK, — With winter approaching, Slippery Rock University students, faculty and staff have watched as the rich green on campus has given way to white snow.

12/3/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Drug ODs reach 70,000, amid a sense of hopelessness

In this Nov. 20, 2015 file photo, a man walks a trail as he watches the sunset over the Flint Hills at a roadside park near Manhattan, Kan. Suicides and drug overdoses helped lead a surge in U.S. deaths last year, and drove a continuing decline in how long Americans are expected to live. U.S. health officials released the latest numbers Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018.

NEW YORK — Suicides and drug overdoses pushed up U.S. deaths last year, and drove a continuing decline in how long Americans are expected to live.

12/3/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Hosting parties and visitors

Butler Veterinary Hospital veterinarian Kate Boatright checks a dog’s ears in the Center Township facility.

Visitors can upset pets, as can the noise and excitement of holiday parties. Even pets that aren’t normally shy may become nervous in the hubbub that can accompany a holiday gathering. The following tips will reduce emotional stress on your pet and protect your guests from possible injury.

12/1/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Merry Mayhem?

Pets can find holiday hustle, bustle stressful

Lucy, a 9-month-old Yorkie, is going to need extra attention this month to keep her safe from a multitude of hidden dangers from poisonous plants to toxic foods that the holiday season brings.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, but for your dog or cat, not so much.

12/1/2018 Community Features 0 comments

New flu pill should lessen impact

The first new influenza drug in 20 years was approved in October, and maker Genentech says Xofluza began reaching pharmacies recently — good timing for flu season.

12/1/2018 Community Features 0 comments

SV club helps out

INTERACT EFFORT — Members of the Seneca Valley High School Interact Club, with help from the senior high school staff and local Rotary clubs, were able to make 65 Thanksgiving dinner baskets for families in need.

12/1/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Mars reschedules Santa’s visit

MARS — Due to expected inclement weather, Santa’s visit to the borough and the lighting of the Christmas tree have been rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday.

12/1/2018 Community Features 0 comments

COLLEGE CONFIDENTIAL

Walking the holiday tightrope

College students will soon be homeward-bound for winter break. The holidays can be equally tough for parents and their college students.

12/1/2018 Community Features 0 comments

The basics of caring for your dog’s health

Becoming a dog owner is a major commitment. You want to make sure you and your pooch live a long, healthy, happy life together.

12/1/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Yuletide Spirit

Cranberry house tour funds charities

This is a dining room in a house on Meadowbrook Drive owned by Sue Brennan, one of seven that are on the Christmas House Tour in Cranberry Township Sunday. The tour put on by the Cranberry Women's Club raises money for charities the club selects. Brennan has been a club member since 2013 but said this is her first year participating in the house tours.

The Cranberry Women's Club has been hosting house tours of anywhere from five to eight houses for 15 years. This year's tour offering will feature seven houses from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

11/30/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Don’t remember sending that text? Maybe you were asleep

People are known to walk, talk and eat while sleeping. Now, there is sleep texting.

11/30/2018 Community Features 0 comments

University to stream Auschwitz music concert

Two students at the University of Michigan perform at a recording session in Ann Arbor, Mich., with Contemporary Directions Ensemble recording “The Most Beautiful Time of Life,” as it’s translated from German to English.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan plans to livestream the performance of a musical arrangement not heard in concert since prisoners performed it at Auschwitz during World War II.

11/30/2018 Community Features 0 comments

Long search nets youthful pastor

Installation set for Sunday

The Rev. Leigh Benish will be formally installed Sunday as the new pastor of Hill United Presbyterian Church, 501 Second St. She will be the church's first permanent pastor in nearly three years.

After three years without a permanent pastor, Hill United Presbyterian Church at 502 Second St. will install the Rev. Leigh Benish at a special service at 4 p.m. Sunday.