August, often referred to as the "dog days of August," is a slower month for events but a busy time for farms. As summer ends and schools prepare to reopen, our local farms are working hard to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to your tables. Supporting local family farms not only provides you with the best seasonal produce but also strengthens the farm-to-table connection, ensuring food travels less and arrives fresher.

Maybe last year wasn’t their year… or maybe it was the best one yet.Regardless of where the last chapter ended, the start of the school year brings a clean slate: new faces, changing routines, sharpened pencils, and the promise of fresh beginnings.

Tucked into the rolling hills and forested ridges of western Pennsylvania, a surprising number of beautiful waterfalls are within a short drive of Pittsburgh. These natural wonders offer serene hikes, perfect photo ops, and a refreshing escape from city life. Whether you’re looking for a day trip or a scenic stop along a weekend adventure, here are ten impressive waterfalls you can reach in under two hours.

I love New Years resolutions.  While some people moan and groan at the “new year, new me” social media posts and flocks of newbies at the gym, I love setting goals and the wishful thinking that I’ll actually accomplish them. I’m still working on replacing my Diet Pepsi addiction with water . . . maybe someday. 

Let’s be honest, we are all dreading back to school. Rushing, nagging, Ubering the kids around, quick meals, ugh—its exhausting even thinking about it. And like many of you, I still don't understand why schools must start in August. Would it hurt anyone to start after Labor Day? C’mon. Growing up in Russia, schools always started on September 1. We were all dreading it and secretly hating it, but we had at least three months of summer.

Ulyana Kubini, a junior for the 2024–2025 school year at Fox Chapel Area High School, has been named a winner of the prestigious Coolidge Scholarship. The full-ride presidential scholarship, which covers four years of tuition, room, board, and expenses, can be used to pursue undergraduate studies at any accredited college or university program in the United States.

Twenty-seven Fox Chapel Area High School recent graduates were named 2025 Top Scholars.

The heat is on during the dog days of summer, and it brings plenty of thirst! But fear not, there's a world of exciting thirst-quenchers waiting to soothe your palate and keep you hydrated.

For young adults who are considering a military career, the ROTC program presents a promising opportunity for them. ROTC, which stands for Reserve Officers' Training Corps, is a leadership training and development program that equips full-time, college-enrolled students for service roles in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force. A similar program, the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI), is available in the Coast Guard. 

In a stunning triumph, students from The Music Note, a leading Pittsburgh music studio, have won top prizes at the International Youth Music Competition (IYMC). Their achievements will culminate in a recital and awards ceremony in New York City. The event takes place at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music on August 31.

Staples once ran an entertaining television ad showing an excited father and his reluctant kids shopping for supplies to the soundtrack of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Back-to-school shopping can be both exciting and full of opportunities. With the right approach, it can be an enjoyable, affordable, and positive experience for everyone.

When I think back to the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, so many things come to mind. My husband and I had just returned from a weekend visit to Toronto, narrowly making it over the border crossing before the world shut down.

You may have heard someone refer to vacation with kids as just parenting in a different location. It’s true—traveling with small (or big) kids can be exhausting and stressful, but it also offers the opportunity to see the world through your children’s eyes.

For many people dealing with chronic pain or post-injury recovery, conventional care offers a limited set of tools: medications, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery. These approaches can be life-changing; but what happens when they don’t go far enough?

What is the fourth of July? And why do we celebrate? Of course, the obvious answer is that it is the day that the United States gained its independence from England. But sometimes the meaning of the day gets lost in the fireworks and celebrations.

As a born-and-raised Pittsburgher, I never take summer for granted. I hate the winter—like, daydream-about-moving-to-California kind of hate. I’ve made more than a few empty threats to pack up and head somewhere with year-round sunshine and bougainvillea. But deep down, I know I’d miss the rhythm of the seasons—and the way summer here feels like a reward we’ve truly earned.

Staying in a hospital often evokes a sense of uneasiness. One thing that helps ease the angst is warmth and friendship. This month, we’re sharing a doggone good tale about three therapy dogs that visit hospital patients and brighten their days. Oliver, Lucy, and Finnegan are three miniature goldendoodles whose job is to share love and companionship. The Kautzman family of McCandless Township has dedicated themselves to this heartwarming cause.

This month, the "happiest place on earth," Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California, marks a significant milestone-its 70th anniversary. Disneyland, a unique creation supervised and built by Walt Disney, opened its gates to the public on July 18, 1955, offering a one-of-a-kind experience and creating magical memories for generations.