News Nearby: Peters Educator Preps for Book Release, Launch Party

A local author will celebrate the release of her new children's book with an upcoming party at Peters Township Public Library.

Kids: What would do you if your favorite stuffed toy came to life to play with you for the day?  That’s the premise of a Peters Township author and educator's new book, which will celebrate its release with a launch party in the coming months. Kimberly Smith said her magical tale, “Monkeying Around: Meet Chippey and His Friends,” invites readers to join Kenna and Callie on an adventure as they spend the afternoon with Chippey, their mischievous monkey. The fun-loving story celebrates the idea that a parent is a child’s first and most influential teacher who possesses the gift to spark a child’s lifelong passion to read at an early age. Looking at the big picture, Smith said with information streaming to us with a click of a button, …

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A Special Treat for Summer Readers

Register with the Upper St. Clair library to stop by the ice cream social on Thursday.

For those who spent some of the summer curled up with a book or two, we salute you. Or more accurately, the Upper St. Clair Township Library salutes you. That salute takes place this Thursday, Aug. 9. The library’s Adult Summer Reading Program, with the theme “Reading Is Delicious,” comes to a close with a suitably appropriate event: an ice cream social. Stop by and cool off at the township recreation center on McLaughlin Run Road, the one just down the street from the library. The party should be popular, considering the level of participation in the summer program. “We’ve had a very good turnout, probably even more so than in the past,” said Susan Latshaw, library administrative assistant. “We’ve had people of all ages.” The program …

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We Need to Talk

Upper St. Clair Township Library's Conversation Salon reinvigorates a lost art.

The Internet has opened avenues of communication that, as recently as 20 years ago, no one could have foreseen.  That’s the good news. Not so good is a corresponding drop in interpersonal discussions. A group of folks who gather at Upper St. Clair Township Library is working on remedying that. They meet for a monthly Conversation Salon to practice the art of, well, conversation. “This is a new thing libraries are trying to do, get people involved in the library, taking face-to-face,” says Lee Boyd, program coordinator at the USC library. “There’s no place else really where you can do this.” The Conversation Salon takes place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. the first Friday of each month. Participants simply are encouraged to bring a “willingness to …

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Nominate USC Library

Your nomination could help the library win cash or a prize from Lego.

Upper St. Clair residents have an opportunity to help youngsters who visit the township library. Paula Holmes, a library board member, shares the community's invitation to participate in Lego's Read! Build! Play! project. Libraries throughout the nation can be nominated, and the one that receives the most votes receives $5,000 for books and supplies. The top 200 libraries receive a special Lego Duplo Read! Build! Play! toolkit full of early literacy programming that combines preschool books with a versatile collection of Duplo bricks, which are twice the length, height and width of traditional Lego bricks and designed for children ages 1 1/2 to 5. Click here to nominate Upper St. Clair Township Library.

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What's Closed, Open on Presidents Day

A look at what's open on Monday, Feb. 20.

All Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and federal offices and courts are closed Monday for the Presidents Day holiday. However, the Township of Upper St. Clair offices are open and garbage will be picked up as normal this week. Today is a teacher inservice day in the Upper St. Clair School District. There is no class for students. Post offices are closed, and regular mail won't be picked up or delivered. State liquor stores and traditional banks are closed. The Upper St. Clair Library is open until 9 p.m. and the Community and Recreation Center is open until 10 p.m. The Port Authority of Allegheny County is operating regular bus, T and incline service. All driver license and photo centers are closed. Did we miss a closing? Tell us in the …

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Get Out: Weekend Planner

Here are 10 local events to check out this weekend.

Welcome to your Get Out Weekend Planner! It’s Thursday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do for the weekend. Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities to hit and best places to explore. 1. Christmas Tree Sale Where/When: St. Louise De Marillac Church, 6 to 9 p.m. on weeknights, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 12 to 9 p.m. on Sunday Why Go?: The STL Boy Scout Troop 4 will be selling Christmas Trees from Nov. 26 to Dec. 18 in the upper parking lot next to the Le Gras Parish Center. A variety of trees are available. This is their major fundraiser for the year. Pricing: Prices vary 2. PYBC presents “The Nutcracker” Where?/When?: Upper St. Clair Theater, 7 p.…

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Get Out Weekend Planner

A list of local happenings for this weekend.

Welcome to your Get Out Weekend Planner! It’s Thursday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do for the weekend. Upper St. Clair Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check out our top picks for this weekend to find something for everyone in the family to enjoy. 1. Nevin James at StonePepper's Grill Where?/When?:  StonePepper's Grill, Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Why Go?: Nevin James will be performing at Stonepepper's through late August. This musician, singer and songwriter has just released his album "Jealousy" after his TV debut and a 5 city tour of his "Death & Victory in Paris" rock opera that he wrote and directed. 2. Conversation Salon Where/When:  Upper St. Clair Library, Friday, 10 a.m…

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Viewfinder: Students Show School Pride During Battle of the Books

More than 50 teams compete in Upper St. Clair Public Library's Battle of the Books.

More than 50 teams comprised of students and parents competed in the Sixth Annual Battle of the Books, and this year, the trophy went to Streams Elementary. Colleen Miles and Sheri Huffman, both youth service librarians of the Upper St. Clair Public Library, organized Monday night's event. They said this is the first year the competition was so focused school pride.  Cheers erupted after a Streams Elementary student answered the first question correctly. Streams students and parents continued to dominate Monday night's competition and the trophy will now be displayed at Streams Elementary, after spending three long years at Baker Elementary. Battle of the Books pits local third and fourth graders against each other in a reading contest …

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Large E-cycling Turnout Expected in USC Saturday

There are three recycling or reusing events taking place this weekend.

Do not toss your old belongings in the garbage bin. There are three recycling or reusing events taking place in Upper St. Clair on Saturday. 1. E-cycling Event An electronics recycling event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The township has a partnership with JVS Environmental. Despite snow in the forecast, they are expecting a big turnout, as many residents will be making room for their new electronics from Christmas. Representatives bring an empty truck and load it up with all of the electronics residents drop off. A fee is charged for televisions and monitors, but every other item is free. Television recycling costs $1 per inch of screen and monitors are $5 each. Upper St. Clair's e-cycling event comes just weeks before a new e-…

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Five Things to Do This Weekend

Find out what's going on during the final weekend before Christmas

It's the last weekend before Christmas and there are many holiday happenings in Upper St. Clair. Here are five things for you and your families to check out. 1. See Santa drive through your neighborhood on a fire engine. He will be handing out treats to children, adults and pets. You can read more about the Upper St. Clair tradition and find the schedule here. 2. Head to the Upper St. Clair Library.  The 'Celebrate the Winter Holidays' program begins on Saturday. Parents can bring their children to the library to make crafts from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More information is here. 3. Attend the PCO Holiday Concert. The Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra will perform holiday favorites with guest singer/songwriter Frank Cappelli. The concert will take …