Sewickley Community Center Prepares to Upgrade Gym Floor

Work to install a new gymnasium floor is expected to begin in the spring, thanks to a $13,000 matching grant from the Sewickley Valley Community Fund.

Bob Patterson sees the Sewickey Community Center opening up their space to accommodate more local programs once upgrades to the indoor gymnasium are complete.   It will be sooner rather than later, thanks to a $13,000 boost from the Sewickley Valley Community Fund. The matching grant will help pay for half the cost of a new wood gymnasium floor. “They were gracious to give us $13,000,"  said Patterson, board member at the community center. "We’re very thankful for that.” The Sewickley Community Center qualified for the grant after raising more than enough matching funds through a combination of donations, grants and fundraisers that included a raffle for Pittsburgh Steelers tickets. In December, the SVCF presented the check, which …

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Coats For Kids Program Keeps Children Warm this Winter

The Tyler Youth Group program has several drop-off locations, including the American Legion Post 450 in Sewickley. Financial donations can be made to any Clearview Federal Credit Union.

When George Dudley initially came up with the idea give out winter coats to kids in need, he thought 500 coats would be enough. “We need four times that amount now,” said Dudley, executive director of the Tyler Youth Group based in Aliquippa, PA. He is working in collaboration with Terry Bradford, program director, to make sure the program is a success. Bradford said the American Legion Post 450 in Sewickley is serving as one of the drop off locations for anyone wishing to donate a new coat. Financial donations toward the purchase of a coat can also be made at any Clearview Federal Credit Union, including the Sewickley branch.  Since the Coats For Kids drive kicked off late last month, Bradford said about 20 names per day have been added …

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Actual Lifeguard Plays Role on Movie Set for 'The Lifeguard'

Kirsten Spalding didn't give up. Her persistence paid off.

It was a mix of persistence and an interest in movie making that recently landed a local lifeguard on set of the Hollywood film “The Lifeguard.” Kirsten Spalding, 20, has been interested in film since age 13. She attended her first Sundance Film Festival screening in Park City, Utah as a senior in high school. Her interest led her to major in media and society, a film studies program, at Hobart and William Smith College, where she’ll be a junior this fall. Those same interests drove Spalding of Sewickley behind the scenes of a professional Hollywood production this summer. The journey started back in June when Spalding’s mother told her producers were in Sewickley looking for film extras for a new movie, “The Lifeguard.” The indie film, …

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Green Gardening

Sewickley Food Pantry Garden Provides Fresh Produce at Weekly Farmers' Market

The free farmers' market runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday at the Sewickley Community Center.

Heirloom and gold tomatoes, herbs, beans, edible flowers, and even okra are in full bloom at the Sewickley Food Pantry Garden at the Sewickley Community Center. Volunteers labored in the spring resulting in a variety of plants now blooming in the center’s backyard. But beyond the horticulture focus, it’s what they’re doing with the harvest that is also amazing. Every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., locals are invited to stop by the community center to pick out nutritious, freshly-picked-from-the-garden produce, all for free. The idea is to provide families with locally grown and healthy meal alternatives during the growing season in conjunction with the center’s food pantry, which provides non-perishables and runs year round. But …

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Annual 'Come On Home Weekend' Begins in Sewickley

The traditional four-day celebration runs through Sunday.

Stan Rideout organized Sewickley's original Come On Home Weekend with a small group of black residents because he felt former locals needed a reason to come back home for a festive occasion. The 46th annual tradition officially kicked off Thursday night with a meet and greet at the Walter Robinson American Legion Post 450, 20 Chadwick St. The four-day community-oriented reunion runs through Sunday. According to organizers, the weekend encourages those who grew up here to bring family and friends to see where they grew up and to visit the places they used to frequent. Rideout, former executive director of the Sewickley Community Center, was honored in January during a benefit for Post 450, for his work in spearheading the annual homecoming …

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Juneteenth: A Conversation About Race, History and 'The Help'

The third annual community event took place Saturday at the Sewickley Community Center.

Florence Cuspard was 17 years old and fresh out of high school when she began working for a young Beaver family and caring for their 18-month-old daughter. That child is now in her 70s and Cuspard, who is 86, said Saturday that she’s forever grateful for the experience. “It was life-changing for me,” said Cuspard of Bridgewater. “I learned so much.” Cuspard went to the third annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday at the Sewickley Community Center with a mission to share her story during a town hall discussion. About 100 people attended the panel discussion called “The Help: Who’s Story Is It?” The conversation was based on Kathryn Stockett's novel-turned-movie The Help, a discussion that served as one of the biggest highlights at the …

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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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Sewickley's Juneteenth is a Celebration of Freedom

The annual celebration kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 23 at the Sewickley Community Center.

Sewickley's third annual Juneteenth celebration will bring history to life. An interactive discussion with Abraham Lincoln, a spoken word concert, and a re-enactment reading of the Emancipation Proclamation are just some of the lively activities planned for Saturday, June 23 at the Sewickley Community Center. The free event kicks off at 9 a.m. with live art by Sewickley artist Blake Irwin and a pancake breakfast.  Autumn Redcross, event chairwoman, said people from all cultural backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to attend the family-oriented celebration. "I want to get the message out that it’s not just a black event," Redcross said. "It’s not just about African-Americans, but about all Americans. This is an invitation to the community…

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