Around the Township Neighborhood
Block Parties
Fun, food, entertainment galore! Who wouldn’t want to spend their day (and evening) with friendly, familiar faces that we pass by every day on our way to work, walking the dog, running to the school bus stop, or working in our yards? Each year, many neighborhoods in Upper St. Clair set aside a day, usually late in the summer, to gather its residents together for traditional block parties. While the parties take on a multitude of forms, the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department is usually a familiar guest, where a truck and some of its members attend the party and spray some of the party’s energetic youngsters with a fun rush of water. While many USC neighborhoods hold parties, UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY found five of them celebrating camaraderie this past summer and fall seasons. As we begin to bundle up and wonder just how long winter will last, showcasing summer parties gives us the hope that our cold weather days will be short-lived.
Brookside Farms The fifth annual Brookside Farms block party— held each year at the close of summer—was once again a great success! Gorgeous weather, dozens of children, the Upper St. Clair fire truck, a cake walk, and boardwalk-themed games rounded out the festive day. Food was certainly plentiful. While the protein was provided by Frisch’s of Caste Village, attendees complemented the spread with delicious homemade appetizers and salads. Committee chairs Elaine Shedd, Stephanie Len, Kristine Fishell, Cassie Falkenstein, and Mary Kirk worked hard to create fun experiences, showcasing an exciting theme for this year. “Every year our kids help influence the theme. We’ve done many different themes, including ‘under the big top’ and a luau, but the boardwalk theme seemed a fitting way to end this summer,” said Kristine. With more than 100 residents attending, it was the most wellattended block party to date. “Each year, the event continues to grow. We thoroughly enjoy that we have new faces and new families who join the end-of-summer celebration, alongside residents who have called Brookside home for more than 20 years,” said Elaine, block party treasurer. “It’s a great event for everyone in the neighborhood!” And since Brookside Farms comprises homes from two neighboring communities—Upper St. Clair Township and the Borough of Bethel Park—this day also brings unity among the neighbors, and gives friends and families time to reconnect before the busy school year begins. Carriage Lane Carriage Lane held its sixth annual block party on Saturday, August 25. The designated day for the party is always the Saturday before USC schools open for business and students get back to the books. Growing with each passing year, the event started with games for the kids and water balloons, and continued with a bounce house and a DJ. Sparklers and an outdoor movie capped off a perfect neighborly gathering for residents on this wonderful USC cul-de-sac street.
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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter 2018
