Sweetwater Offers Winter Classes for Children and Adults

Registration is open for numerous classes in the visual, performing, literary and culinary arts for both adults and children beginning at age 3.

Sweetwater Center for the Arts offers a selection of classes for learners of all ages, including classes and workshops for children beginning at age 3. Enrollment is now open for winter 2013 classes, which are offered from January through March. Classes include ceramics and sculpture, cooking, music, drawing, painting, photography, dance, jewelry, fiber arts and traditional crafts. Want to help a child age 3 to 6 explore the arts this winter? Sweetwater is offering the following classes: Monday Morning Art Club - AC01- Jan. 14 to Feb. 25 (No class on January 21). Winter Wonderland - AC02- Jan. 15 to Feb. 19 Welcome, Spring! - AC03- March 5 to March 19 Art from the Heart - AC04- Feb. 16 Busy as a Bee! - AC05- March 18 Appalachian Folk Art…

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Movie Set and Shot in Pittsburgh Arrives in Local Theaters

"Won't Back Down" is the story of two mothers, one a teacher, and their fight to transform their children's failing inner city school.

Yet another movie shot, and this time also set, in Pittsburgh opens this weekend, and in light of the ongoing debate about education reform, school funding, and charter schools, it may trigger some buzz. 'Won't Back Down,' starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, and Holly Hunter, is the story of two mothers, one a teacher, and their fight to transform their children's failing inner city school. The movie's producers said it was inspired by the story of a California mother who tried to use what's called a "parent-trigger" law to take over a school.  The movie has already getting a lot of reaction. “While we wouldn’t expect a Hollywood production about public schools to be grounded in research-based facts, there are many reasons to be …

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Update: Community Meeting on Education Has Been Rescheduled

The public community meeting was moved to Tuesday, June 26 at the Sewickley Community Center.

A meeting the Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society planned for this week has been rescheduled. An open community discussion on education will instead take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, at the Sewickley Community Center. Terry Bradford, president, said the historical society wants to start an open dialogue with the community to discuss ways to better the educational opportunities available to children in the Quaker Valley School District. The meeting is open to parents, children and all those from the public who would like to offer opinions and ideas, Bradford said. Anyone with questions or who would like to get involved should call Terry Bradford at 412-414-1335.

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Invitation: Community Meeting to Open Dialogue on Education

The public is invited to a community meeting Thursday, June 21 to discuss better educational opportunities for district children.

The Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society aims to start an open dialogue with the community to discuss ways to better the educational opportunities available to children in the Quaker Valley School District. A community meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 21 at the Sewickley Community Center. Terry Bradford, president, said the Sewickley-based historical society met on Tuesday at St. Matthews Church with Assistant Superintendent Heidi Ondek and Floyd Faulkner, community youth counselor and mentor at Youth Connect. "We discussed how together we can ensure that all children have access to all educational opportunities that the school district has, and how together we can raise the bar so that our students are prepared for the …

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Quaker Valley Advises Parents to Use Drop-Off As Neighborhood Concerns Mount in Leetsdale

Parents and students are asked to use the appropriate drop-off area to minimize ongoing safety issues.

Quaker Valley School District is reminding parents that high school students must be dropped off in the lower parking lot behind the school. In an e-mail Sunday, the district asked that all parents and students use the appropriate drop-off area to help minimize the chance of someone being injured.   “When students are dropped off in front of the school each morning student safety is compromised," the district’s message states. "Parents are to drop off their students in the lower lot behind the school."    Quaker Valley School Board and administrators have been looking at ways to alleviate traffic issues outside the high school. But school directors say the problem boils down to parents illegally stopping their vehicles in the middle of …

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Moms Talk

Moms Talk: Hoping for a Cure

Patch parenting columnist Nia Stanley says breast cancer awareness should extend throughout the year.

October marks the 25th year of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and I would be remiss not to devote a Mom’s Talk column to this special subject. As a woman, daughter, mother and friend I am accutely aware of how important finding a cure is, and I don’t mind all of the unique pink items that are sold in the stores during October. Shopping for things you don’t need is acceptable when it’s for a good cause, right? I can think of five women whom I personally know who have battled this disease in the past year, two of whom unfortunately lost that battle. My hope is that by the time my daughter is my age, a cure will be available.  There are countless celebrities who have discussed their battles with breast cancer, most recently E! …

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