Spooky Halloween Activities for all Ages in Greensburg

Halloween is creeping around the corner and its time to buy bulk candy, decide on the perfect costume and pick what scary event to attend. Costume parties, haunted houses, ghost stories, and corn mazes are just a few ideas of things to do this Halloween Weekend. While Greensburg businesses and organizations have scheduled events and specials, make a point to consider other options in the area. The following events are only a few happening in or around Greensburg this weekend. Visit the ThinkGreensburg BLOG to learn the complete list of Halloween events.

Date: Oct 24-31
Event: The Valley of Terror.
Time: 7:30 to 10pm
Location: Adjacent to Westmoreland Fairgrounds
*Visitors can choose from Haunted Hayride, Haunted Maze/Trail and the Haunted Farm.

Date: Oct 28
Event: Wine Dinner for Women
Time: 7pm
Location: The Supper Club at Greensburg Train Station
*Attendees can experience the Organic Wines of Redwood Valley, California’s Lolonis Winery. Call 724-691-0536 or visit www.supperclubgreensburg.com to reserve a space.

Date: Oct 29 and 31
Event: Rocky Horror Picture Show presented by Stage Right
Time: 8pm & Midnight
Location: Davis Shopping Center, East Pittsburgh Street
*Call 724-832-7464 to order tickets.

Date: Oct 30
Event: Annual Halloween Party at Rialto Café
Time: 7 to 2pm
Location: Rialto Café
*Drink specials and costume contest for attendees.

Date: Oct 30
Event: The Parkwood Inn Halloween Party
Time: 7 to Midnight
Location: The Parkwood Inn
*Drink specials, music by DJ team Silver Hat Productions and costume contest for attendees.

Date: Oct 31
Event: Whisker Walk sponsored by Westmoreland County Humane Society
Time: 1pm with registration required
Location: Twin Lakes Park
*Dress your pets and kids in Halloween Attire for a great afternoon of fun and fundraising. Call 724-837-3779 or email hswcgbg@aol.com to register your pet.

Date: Oct 31
Event: City of Greensburg Halloween Parade
Time: 5:15pm line-up with the parade starting at 5:30pm
Location: Lynch Field Park.
*Greensburg’s Annual Halloween Parade will take place at Lynch Field. Bagged Treats will be distributed to all children in costume at the end of the parade. This event is sponsored by the City of Greensburg Recreation Department. Call 724-834-4880 for more details.
Date: Oct 31
Event: City of Greensburg Annual Trick-or-Treat
Time: 6 to 10pm
*Location: Neighborhoods of Greensburg.

Greensburg Holiday Parade - Register Today!

Register to Participate in the Greensburg Holiday Parade

The City of Greensburg Recreation Department is seeking businesses, organizations and clubs to participate in the 2010 Holiday Parade.  The Parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 20th and will start at noon.  Spaces are limited as a total of 83 participants filled the 2009 Holiday Parade.  Interested businesses should contact the Recreation Department at 724-834-4880 soon to reserve a space.  There is no fee to register a float or group.

Parade participants have the option to be as creative or as simple as they desire.  Previous participants have created a float while others walk as a group or ride in a classic car.  A favorite of the children lining the parade route is the candy passed out by the participants.   

 Every resident knows the Holiday Parade is the start of a month long schedule of downtown activities and events.  The parade is a good time for families and friends with many making it part of their family tradition.  The size of the crowd can exceed 9,000 people along the parade route if the weather is beautiful.  Regardless, this community event is a great way to be seen by the residents of Greater Greensburg area.

Nov 5th is the Deadline to Apply for Energy Efficiency Grants

The PA Department of Environmental Protection is seeking applications for the 2010 Small Business Advantage Grants program.  This grant program is intended to help companies fund energy efficiency and pollution prevention retro-fit projects.  Applications need to be submitted by November 5, 2010.  Eligible businesses are less than 100 employees and located in Pennsylvania with proposed projects that can save at least 25 percent in energy or pollution-related expenses per year.  The awards are a maximum of $7,500 and up to 50 percent matching grants. 

The full application is available at the DEP web site. The DEP first launched the grant program in 2004 and has awarded funds to approximately 1,000 Pennsylvania businesses.   The following list is a sampling of retro-fit projects in the region receiving Small Business Advantage Grants from the DEP.

• High-efficiency restaurant equipment to conserve energy.
• High-efficiency washing machines to conserve energy, water and decrease wastewater.
• Architectural insulation to conserve energy.
• Upgraded lighting with individual motion sensors to control new fixtures to conserve energy.

Eligible projects would install equipment that promotes energy efficiency or pollution prevention, adopt processes that reduce energy consumption, reduce consumption of raw materials, increase the reuse of raw materials on-site, or reduce the production of waste. Some examples of eligible projects are: Energy efficient lighting, high efficiency furnaces, boilers and air conditioning units, insulation/air sealing, energy efficient refrigeration, waste recycling systems or solvent recovery systems. ENERGY STAR rating is required if the equipment being installed is part of the project.

Greensburg Entrepreneur Continues Tradition of Neighborhood Barber.

When Becky Swiger purchased Zippi’s Barbershop, she not only maintained operation of a significant neighborhood business, but she also maintained the social fabric of Greensburg.


Swiger is the owner of Beck’s Classic Men’s Cuts located on West Otterman Street. Swiger started her career in 1987 cutting and styling hair at a salon in Pittsburgh. Since then, she has worked in a wide array of shops from a high end salon in South Carolina to a local barbershop known as Richards Barbershop in Greensburg.

“When I started at Richards, it opened my eyes to a whole other way of doing hair. Barbering is a more precise and well defined way of cutting hair. I found that I really enjoyed this aspect of being a barber” noted Swiger when asked about her experience. After gaining an appreciation for the craft, Swiger further refined her skills working in various barber shops before the next impact on her career. Swiger introduced herself to a barber named Carlo Zippi.

Carlo Zippi owned Zippi’s Barbershop which was a landmark in the Ludwick neighborhood of Greensburg. “Zippi was very well known and praised around the community” says Swiger. When Zippi decided to retire he chose Swiger to continue the trade in his shop. “I feel so lucky and blessed and thank him silently every day”.

The shop is located between downtown and Route 30 at 622 West Otterman Street at the corner of Jefferson

Avenue. Swiger’s customers are from every age group, however, a large portion of the clientele are from a generation familiar with a classic locally owned barbershop. Swiger’s customers want to walk into a barbershop that offers the same fifties and sixties era ambiance that is special and hard to replicate. They remember patronizing the local shops with their father or grandfather and the personal experiences and stories shared. Beck’s Classic Men’s Cuts strives to maintain the atmosphere created by Zippi. When younger clients come in the shop, they realize that there is a certain atmosphere that only can be found in a neighborhood store. Swiger noted “While a haircut is a service that should be done quickly, I try to make it very distinctive and unique for each client”.

Tradition in a community such as Greensburg should be praised and supported since it is the foundation of our City. Locally owned shops like Beck’s Classic Men’s Cuts have had an influence not just in the area, but also the people who inhabit it. “The best thing about taking over the business is that I feel I am part of this community and part of the American tradition of small business ownership that focuses on personal attention and quality service. Having the opportunity to blend myself into the local history of the area and becoming a Greensburg business owner have become the most fulfilling parts of my life”.

When discussing the history of Greensburg, it is very common for local businesses to be the focal point of the story. It is hard to imagine Greensburg not containing a more entertaining and informative source of local news than a barber.

Store hours are Tuesday thru Friday from 9 to 5 and Saturdays from 9 to 2. Beck’s is a walk in business. Please call 724-467-0289 if you need a hair cut.