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‘Bang Bang’ takes aim at The Playhouse Downtown

New Castle, Pa., native Ingrid Ullrich traveled the world performing on cruise ships and with renowned organizations such as Cirque du Soleil. Those opportunities stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic and then she suffered a hip injury while teaching dance. “I sadly, unfortunately, ...

Ticket stubs

Cyclists plan 53rd Century ride on Sept. 20 Registration is underway for the 53rd Northeast Ohio Century bicycle tour on Sept. 20, sponsored by the Out-Spokin’ Wheelmen bicycling club. Riders will gather between 7 and 10 a.m. at the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge, 6400 state Route 46, Mecca. The 25-mile route will visit the Hartford Apple Festival and the Hartford Hill Winery and Brewery. There also will be 10-, 50- and 51-mile routes, and century riders can reach their 100-mile goal with the two longest routes. Support vehicles will be available to assist cyclists until 5 p.m. ...

Mahoning Valley arts and entertainment

Art ARTS & EDUCATION AT THE HOYT, 124 E. Leasure Ave., New Castle, Pa.: “Shaping Space: PIttsburgh Society of Sculptors” and “Nicole May Luga — City Scrolls: Everyday Beauty,” both through Sept. 30. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

A defender should always keep at the forefront of his mind exactly how many tricks his side needs to set the contract. This number becomes his goal for that hand, and if he absent-mindedly loses sight of it, disaster might soon follow. Consider this deal where West led a spade against four ...

Hints from Heloise: Crossword puzzles help to kill time

DEAR HELOISE: I had to chuckle when I read the letter in your column from the woman who mentioned taking a crossword puzzle book to the doctor’s or other appointments when there’s a wait. I’ve been doing this myself for years. Everyone else is sitting there playing with their smartphones and looking at me like I’m weird. But my cellphone is a “dumb” flip phone, and I enjoy the crosswords. I’m in my 80s and call them “mental gymnastics.” — An Old Fuddy-Duddy in the Buckeye State Fuddy-Duddy, I’ve read that crossword puzzles help keep the mind sharp and active, ...

Dear Annie: Granddaughter wonders if girl is half-sister

DEAR ANNIE: My granddaughter, “Melanie,” thinks that she has a half-sister 24 years younger. Melanie believes that her father, long divorced from her mother, was asked by his former unattached girlfriend with whom he remained friendly, to “help” her have a child before it becomes biologically too late. Now, my granddaughter has become very attached to the 2 and 1/2 year old and visits her at least once a week. She finds a lot of physical resemblance to herself when she was that age. She sees her father participate lovingly in the little girl’s activities. She has asked him ...