Upper St. Clair community day a ‘cosmic’ event

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A llama amuses Ariana Brown and Liliana Namestka at the petting zone during Upper St. Clair community day festivities. In addition to visiting with the llama the two friends enjoyed feeding the goats and lambs.

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Candy was the main attraction as the parade passed along McLaughlin Run Road during Upper St. Clair community day. A young girl eagerly collects packets of goodies tossed out by the units and organizations participating in the parade.

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Banner bearers Peter Markowitz (center) and Dylan Childs (left) played key roles in organizing Upper St. Clair’s community day activities. Markowitz is the president of the high school’s student government organization while Childs is senior class president. The theme for this year was Cosmic Community Day.

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Sawyer Teyssier takes a slap shot and scores a goal playing one of the many games at Upper St. Clair community day.

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A cake bake- off drew a crowd as spectators visited the McLaughlin Activities Center to look at the entries in the annual contest sponsored by the Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Rotary Club. Over 44 cakes created by 50 bakers were entered in the annual competition. Looking over some of the selections and picking their favorites are, from left, Katy Walker, Amanda Pozzuto, Denis Burlovic and Chris Santilli.

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Bow gets the Helbling family’s vote for the “Hottest Dog” in Upper St. Clair although the clan did not enter the pet into the annual contest at this year’s community day event. “He’s a little bit energetic and tends to get overexcited,” said David, who is pictured with his children, Eli (left) and Ariana (center). “I think his tail wag would be his strong suit,” added Ariana. “That’s his thing,” said Eli. “Is it a category?”

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Reenactors from the 9th PA Reserves put on a demonstration for spectators during Upper St. Clair community day activities. In addition to being part of the living history demonstration, the historic Log House was open for tours.

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Nora Aspiotes and her brothers, Nolan and Niko, try their hand at the fish pond. The family regularly attends Upper St. Clair community day.

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Percussion members from the Upper St. Clair High School marching band perform during the community day parade.

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Botsburgh team members demonstrate one of the robots they created during the community day parade. The robotics club is one of the many activities in which Upper St. Clair School District students can participate.

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Ryan Robbins receives a soaking at the Upper St. Clair football club’s dunk booth.

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Cooper Grumley happily accepts his balloon creation while his brother Quinn and father, Michael, look on. The boys said that marching in the parade with their youth wrestling organization was the best part of the community day celebration in Upper St. Clair.

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Upper St. Clair basketball players and their coaches enthusiastically march in the community day parade, proud of being the first team to capture three straight WPIAL championships in a row in the highest classification.

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Children grab flags being passed out by marching units in the Upper St. Clair community day parade.

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Oliver Reichstein, 7, has his picture taken as a fireman at a selfie station set up by the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department during community day activities.

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Addy Cox selects a prize at the Upper St. Clair Band and Orchestra Parents Association booth during community day activities. Cox was waiting to watch her friend, Avery, march in the annual parade. Both are classmates at Streams Elementary School.

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Upper St. Clair law enforcement officers carry the colors of the country, state and school district during the community day parade.

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USC freshmen Brady Miller, Porter Livingston, Fisher Leimkuehler and Collin Ziegler were among the many student volunteers helping to make community day a success.

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A young patriot waves an American flag to marching units passing by during the Upper St. Clair community parade

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With the state of affairs around the globe, Upper St. Clair attempted to provide a brief respite. On May 16, the high school’s student council transported the community to another world, presenting a virtual utopia when it hosted “Cosmic Community Day, 2026.”

“We do think USC really is out of this world,” said Peter Markowitz, student council president.

“100 percent,” agreed Dylan Childs, who is senior class president.

“With a lot of current events going on in our world and a lot of division, I think community day is a really good time to come together, de-stress a little bit and just have fun.”

Approximately 70 teenagers from the student council were on campus before 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning to assist with activities, which day kicked off with a 5K fun run and walk. A Toddler Trot followed before an opening ceremony that featured dignitaries such as District Judge Ron Arnoni as well as politicians Natalie Mihalek, Devlin Robinson and recently elected Jennifer Mazzocco. The day, which concluded at 4 p.m., featured fair booths with representatives from organizations throughout the community and school district, a petting zoo, cake bake-off, pony rides, tie-dying activities, food booths, a parade as well as tours of the historic Gilfillan Farm and demonstrations at the 1830 Log House.

“Community day is one of my favorite days,” said Childs. “I like being out here, seeing everyone, seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces. It just makes my day.”

Having the opportunity to showcase the school’s activities is also a highlight. Most every club or activity offered within the district was represented.

“Community day is a really great opportunity for people who aren’t as involved to get involved or find something that they want to do in the future. It’s also a great way to get information out there and for all classes to interact.”

Brady Miller, Porter Livingston, Fisher Leimkuehler and Collin Ziegler all agreed. The four freshmen are student council representatives. They volunteered to work community day and were assigned parking lot duties.

“At least we had a prime spot for the parade,” said Leimkuehler with a laugh.

The entire freshman experience, however, had been a positive one for the group because they said they were able to meet students from all four grades and community day proved to be one of the highlights.

“I just think seeing everyone all united and having fun together, no matter who you are, is the best part of the day,” Livingston said. “I just really enjoy seeing all of that and the community coming together and having fun.”

A novice, too, as he is in his first term as a township commissioner, Wayne Herrod said USC community day is a “wonderful” event.

“It’s an opportunity to show what this community is all about and showcase the students. They’re smart, they’re intelligent, they’re involved,” he said. “It’s just so nice, a community event which the school district makes better and showcases all the township has to offer.”

Although a mid-afternoon rain shower interrupted some of the fun, citizens noted that the day offered up some of the best weather in years.

“The last few years it’s rained and we didn’t come even though we live right up the hill,” said Chris Teyssier as he and his wife, Meg, watched their son participate in one of the games for children.

“Sawyer’s involved in lacrosse now and she (Meg) baked. So we had to come down and see how the cookies were doing,” Teyssier said. “It’s been awesome.”

Richard Helbling concurred. He came to community day with his children, Eli and Ariana.

“It’s been great. The weather’s been nice. There’s a lot going on, a lot of people and a lot for the kids to do. So it’s been a lot of fun.”

The parade, in particular, provides the most fun for spectators as well as participants. School clubs as well as athletic teams, not to mention philanthropic groups and community organizations dispense candy to the delight of the children lining the parade route, which traveled throughout the high school campus and along McLaughlin Run Road.

While they are employed at the township’s recreation center, Katy Walker, Amanda Pozzuto, Denis Burlovic and Chris Santill all said they would attend the festivities regardless, especially to see the parade.

“It’s so neat to see all the kids excited about the parade and seeing all the different community and school groups,” Pozzuto said.