5 Things to Know This Week: Gala Concert, Sweet Jazz and Catholic Schools Week

Patch gives you a rundown of what's going on around the community.

St. James School will celebrate Catholic Schools Week 2013 beginning Monday, Jan. 28 and concluding with a Mass on Sunday, Feb. 3. This year marks the 100th anniversary for St. James School, and many special activities are planned for the week, which promotes the faith-based education private Catholic schools provide to students. All are invited to the Catholic Schools Week Mass at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, followed by the annual Donut Social in honor of St. James School's 100th anniversary this year. On Monday, Jan. 28 more than 200 Quaker Valley Middle School students in sixth through eighth grades will formally debut the school's new 500-seat auditorium.  The Grand Opening Gala concert begins at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. Celebrating …

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Sewickley YMCA Salutes Veterans with Upcoming USO Dance

The Veteran's Day dance on Saturday, Nov. 3 is free as a benefit to the community.

Get ready to waltz, swing and boogie woogie on Saturday, Nov. 3 when the Sewickley Valley YMCA hosts its inaugural USO Dance. From 7 to 10 p.m., the large gym at the YMCA will be transformed into a 1940s dance hall, taking guests on a time warp to the days of military social mixers. Celeste Fryz, member services specialist, said the Veteran's Day USO Dance is open to all adults, Y members and non-members, and it’s free. “It’s just going to be fun and it’s for the community,” she said. The event includes a DJ playing era music, dancing and prizes, food and drinks that include soft drinks, punch, coffee and water. Free parking is available. Anyone planning to attend must register by Wednesday, Oct. 31. “A lot of people are excited about it…

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QV Physics Class Tests the Waters with Robotics Program

Students built the remotely-operated vehicles in class before doing a test run Thursday at the YMCA.

About a dozen enthusiastic physics students stood Thursday at the edge of the swimming pool at the Sewickley YMCA, testing the underwater robotic vehicles they built in class. The Quaker Valley juniors and seniors in Otto Tancraitor’s concept physics class were excited to reach this point after spending 12 class periods assembling the remotely-operated vehicles from scratch as part of a pilot program launched in the fall. “The feedback we’ve heard has been mainly positive,” said Tancraitor, who teaches physics and math. Marianne Cibulas, Quaker Valley’s career education coordinator, said the district, with Moon Area School District, launched pilot programs in September using a SeaPerch seed grant. SeaPerch is an educational robotics …

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'Art With A Heart' Gives Local Students a Chance to Raise Money for Food Banks

Creativity of young people from Quaker Valley, YMCA and Watson Institute provides a helping hand to less fortunate.

For most student artists, it’s all about creating the best work of art so they can get a good grade on the project. But for the artists who entered the "Art with a Heart" silent auction, it has become about something more: creating a work that will raise the most money. The event is being held by the Sewickley Herald, and was designed to raise funds for area food banks that are always in need. The show has around 30-35 pieces, all crafted from children ranging in age from 2 to 18 who attend Quaker Valley, the Sewickley YMCA, or the Watson Institute. There is a diversity of mediums to meet everyone’s tastes, including paintings, photographs, mixed-media and sculptures. One piece in particular, a patchwork sheet music canvas that has images …

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Thanksgiving Food Program Benefits Needy Families

Turkey Trees are located at the YMCA, Sewickley Library and Safran’s Market and will be in place through today, Nov. 7

Today is the last day to join the Union Aid Society's annual Thanksgiving food program to benefit a family in need. To take part, simply pluck a “turkey” from a gift tree and purchase a grocery store gift card to benefit a family or individual in need.  Union Aid Society is counting on the continued generosity of the community to help neighbors this holiday season. This year the “Turkey Trees” are located at the YMCA, Sewickley Library and Safran’s Market and will be in place through today, Nov. 7.   Donations should be sent by Nov. 10 to the Union Aid Society office, 601 Thorn St., Sewickley 15143 or donate online at by clicking here. The Union Aid Society is a local nonprofit that provides emergency financial assistance for families and …

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YMCA 'Spectrum Series' Focuses on Kids with Autism

Thanks to a successful fund-raising motorcycle run, the new developmental programs are free for families and children with autism spectrum conditions.

A memorial ride in support of autistic kids will go a long way to provide area families with beneficial programs.  Trish Hooper, CEO of the Sewickley Valley YMCA, said proceeds raised in August from the Buddy Matthews Memorial Ride make it possible for the YMCA to offer a series of free programs for families and children with autism spectrum conditions. The "Spectrum Series" provides developmental programs, such as swimming lessons, creative learning and recreational activities. “The Buddy Matthews ride made it accessible to all families,” Hooper said. Linda Voshall organized the 82-mile motorcycle ride at the Leetsdale VFW in memory of her late son, Buddy Matthews, who died Aug. 22, 2009 in a motorcycle crash. The cause was dear to Buddy …

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Riding in Memory of Buddy

The Buddy Matthews Ride and Benefit for Autism will take place Aug. 13.

Linda Voshall never planned to take the lead in organizing a charity ride in memory of her son, Buddy Matthews, but every time Voshall told herself she couldn’t do this, she only had to glance at her son’s picture. Memories came flooding of a giving and loving father, husband and son, who died Aug. 22, 2009, in a motorcycle accident. Through those memories, Voshall found the strength to move forward with the annual event that her son helped to organize in 2008. “I was kind of letting it go,” Voshall said. “Then I was looking at my son’s picture and it was like he was saying, ‘Yes, you can do this.’” Voshall told herself, “I’ve got to put this thing on.” Everything else practically fell into place for The Buddy Matthews Ride and Benefit for…

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Health Notes

Taking Care of Dad

Learn about the No. 1 threat to men's health.

Today is Father's Day, and June is also national Men's Health Month.  This is a time to remember and honor the men in our lives. What better way to do that than by helping to keep them healthy? Many men are reluctant to go to the doctor. Personally, I have to practically drag my husband to his doctor. Maybe it's due to a male ego or "macho man" complex. I'm not sure, but whatever it is, routine medical checkups are essential to a healthy lifestyle. Certain diseases affect men differently than women.   The No. 1 health threat to men is heart disease, according to Mayoclinic.com. Heart disease is an umbrella term for conditions that affect the heart, such as coronary heart disease, heart attack and congestive heart failure. Left untreated, …

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Lugenia Bracero,RN,BSN

11:20 am on Sunday, June 19, 2011

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Sewickley YMCA Joins World's Largest Swimming Lesson

Th YMCA pool will be filled with young swimmers attempting to break a world record.

The Sewickley Valley YMCA will be filled to capacity Tuesday, June 14, with 205 young swimmers taking part in the World's Largest Swimming Lesson. Other swimming centers all over the world will be holding the same 45-minute swimming lesson at the same time. Kelly Wagner, aquatics coordinator, said 205 summer camp kids ages 6 to 12 are slated to participate. The kids are part of the first-session summer camp as luck would have it, and will have their name in the Guiness Book of World Records.   "It just so happens that it was offered during our summer camp time," Wagner said.  The swim, which begins at 11 a.m., is also to help promote awareness about drowning prevention. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related …

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What to Do With The Vacant Oprah Hour?

Patch offers ideas to fill the one-hour void.

The Queen of Daytime TV is ending her reign on Wednesday, leaving her viewers with an extra hour in the day. What are we supposed to do, Oprah? Without her there to tell us what to read, buy or eat, what are we supposed to do with this extra time? Patch has us covered with some ideas. Exercise You can take advantage of your Sewickley YMCA membership and use the Oprah hour to get in shape. You can swim in the pool, walk the track, lift some weights, or use the exercise equipment. There’s even nutrition counseling and personal trainers on hand to work withyou on an individual basis. The Sewickley Community Center also has a pool that, for a minimal fee, local families can use all summer long. Oprah’s medical contributor Dr. Oz would approve …

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