Upper St. Clair celebrates community day
A grand time was had by many during Upper St. Clair’s annual community day celebration.
This year’s theme was “Saddle Up St. Clair,” and residents rode the wave of activities long into the day. Events started with a 5K run and fun walk, dubbed a 1- or 3-mile rodeo.
Brooks Guthridge, 4, was one of the youngest participants, who did the Run For Fun.
“He ran the whole way,” said Jackie Guthridge, who grew up in Upper Clair and attended high school there.
“We love all the fun activities and he especially loves the firemen,” she added as Brooks modeled his newest headgear, a plastic helmet given out at the USCFD booth.
Former USC athlete Michael Pezzone did his share of running on community day. His form of exercise, however, centered around chasing after his children. While awaiting the parade, Leo, Vinny and Rom Pezzone passed the time running the bases on the little league field where their father and his brothers, Anthony and Dominic, played baseball.
“We are hanging out and I’m showing them the old stomping grounds,” said Pezzone, who also played soccer for the Panthers. “It’s so cool to bring the family back here. It’s bringing back memories of the times when I was a kid going through these programs.”
Every organization and club from the high school as well as businesses, nonprofits and service groups, such as the fire company, police and EMS, were represented in the parade. They also sponsored fair booths and games throughout the grounds reserved along McLaughlin Run Road for community day.
Citizens and students could participate in a Toddler Trot, Hottest Dog Contest, Make-A-Mess games, Community Foundation Duck Race, and Community Bake Off for grades K-8.
Tours were also given of Gilfillan Farms and the Fulton Log House. Activities and reenactments were held at those locations, too.
“It’s family-friendly. A lot of activities for the kids,” said Nate Brindle. He brought his wife, Chelsea, and their children, Brooks and Liliana, to the celebration and added that they “enjoy hanging out at Gilfillan Farm.”
The petting zoo was a favorite, too, for the Brindles as well as the Zielinskis, who have resided in the community for 12 years. As she watched the goats and llamas surround her son, Colton, in their feeding frenzy, Kristy Zielinski said she loves living in Upper St. Clair.
“There is such a sense of helping,” she said. “Especially like during the recent storms, so many families helped each other out. With tough situations, we’re great. I love that.”
Lois Mitchell, Brooks Hoffman and Jake Bingaman love a parade as does Elena Fingers.
While making a mess of oil paints on foil with his two friends, Mitchell said that he was having fun “because of a lot of these activities,” but he was eager for the parade to start.
“My friend’s sister is going to be in the parade and she is going to throw a lot of candy out to us,” Mitchell said. “That’s the best part.”
Fingers agreed. She has served as a volunteer for community day for four years. The Upper St. Clair High School senior will attend the University of Pittsburgh in the fall.
“Community day is very exciting. Very fun,” she said. “There are so many booths and the petting zoo is a personal favorite. I love that especially because not only do they bring the animals, they have puppies that people can adopt.
“But the parade is what they all come for and everyone watches it. I have friends who gather all the candy in a pile and they hand out so much of it to the kids.”
As he watched his son, Austin, slip down a slide in the playground, Ryan Stack said they too were there for the parade. Residents since September, the two were attending their first community day.
“It’s been fun so far and we love the community. The neighborhood we live in is great. There are beautiful facilities here.”
Some of the facilities in the community house businesses. Dr. Brett Crell from Bethel Park recently took over a family dental practice in the Pinebridge Mall, a short walk from where the community day activities were taking place.
In addition to sponsoring a booth, Crell coupled with No Dog Left Behind. The organization saves animals by re-homing them with responsible owners.
“The dental office has an incredible lineage of being active in the community and taking care of people. So this was a great introduction to the community. We wanted friends, staff and patients to make sure we support them and the community.
“It’s great to be part of this wonderful community and to support this amazing organization. USC is a beautiful community. There is so much to do here. For me, it’s been a nice place to land,” added Crell, who grew up outside of Philadelphia. “Home is here now and where I hang my hat.”