Local Farmers Markets Open For the Season

Farmers Markets in Bridgeville, South Fayette, Scott and Upper St. Clair are beginning this month.

Farmers Markets across the South Hills are opening up this week for the start of the season. Scott Township and South Fayette both begin their full summer schedules this week, and Bridgeville’s Farmers Market will open later this month. We’ve compiled information on each of the farmers markets in the South Hills with their locations, dates and operating times. If your favorite market isn’t included on the list, post in the comments sections for others to see!   Scott Township Farmers Market Scott Park off of Lindsay Road Runs every Monday, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., from June 4 to Sept. 24. There will be fresh produce, baked goods, shaved ice and other amenities in the parking lot next to the tennis courts. New vendors interested in joining are …

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Mike Jones

10:43 am on Monday, June 4, 2012

Just added it to the story... Thanks for the info!   more ›

Skatepark Proposed for Scott Park

A Scott resident wants a skatepark to be built in the township or other South Hills communities.

Could a skatepark be coming to Scott Park? A Scott resident, who tried to have a skatepark in Dormont only for it to be rejected there, is now pushing for it to be built in the township or other South Hills communities. But the township commissioners are uncertain about the funding plan and want to know a lot more about the concept before even discussing it. The township was approached recently by Mary Pitcher, who wants to build the skatepark as a way to remember two of her sons after they drowned in July 2008 while at a reservoir in the Allegheny National Forest. The family originally lived in Dormont, but Pitcher has relocated to Scott Township. Dormont Park appeared to be the prime location for the skatepark, but the council there …

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Police Defend Charges Against Dad Who Left Kids Alone at Scott Park

The child endangerment charges created a firestorm on the Chartiers Valley Patch message board after a group called Free Range Kids linked to the story.

Scott Township police are defending their decision to charge the father who left his two young children at Scott Park without supervision for nearly two hours while shopping and showering. Govindaraj Narayanasamy, 38, of Scott, was charged with two counts of child endangerment after township police said he left the 6-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy alone in the park for nearly two hours Saturday. Police say he went to Walmart to buy snacks and later drove to LA Fitness to shower. The child endangerment charges created a firestorm on the Chartiers Valley Patch message board after a group called Free Range Kids linked to the story and several members criticized the woman’s call to police and the officer’s decision to file charges. Scott …

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Mike Jones

9:55 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012

Amanda and Guest... I appreciate you guys coming back to this story. I know the comments thread can get long and confusing, so feel free to move the conversation over to the updated story about police dropping the charges against the father... http://chartiersvalley.patch.com/articles/charges-dropped-against-dad-who-left-kids-at-scott-park-to-shower   more ›

Police Say Dad Left Kids at Park To Shower

Police say a father left his two young children alone at Scott Park for nearly two hours Saturday to shower at LA Fitness.

Police say a father left his two children alone at Scott Park while shopping at Walmart and showering at LA Fitness. Govindaraj Narayanasamy, 38, of Scott, was charged with two counts of child endangerment after township police said he left the 6-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy alone in the park for nearly two hours Saturday. Officers were called to Scott Park at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday from a person who noticed the two children playing on the swings and slides alone without a guardian. The woman told police she had been keeping an eye on them for an hour because she knew the girl and became concerned. Police officers were able to get Narayanasamy’s phone number and called him as he was driving back to the park. He arrived shortly …

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Mike Jones

5:48 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Here is Patch's Terms of Use agreement when it comes to commenting... http://chartiersvalley.patch.com/terms   more ›

Scott Township Light Up Night

Enjoy a slideshow of the holiday lights Thursday night in Scott Park, and upload your own photos!

Like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @CharValleyPatch Scott Township kicked off the weekend winter festivals Thursday night with its Light Up Night at Scott Park. The event had cookies and hot chocolate in the lodge, local country music singer Vanessa Campagna in the amphitheater and, of course, Santa Course arriving on his sleigh pulled by the three township fire departments. Upload your own photos of Light Up Night by clicking on the Submit Photo & Video button.

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Excitement Building for Light Up Nights

Scott Township, Bridgeville and Heidelberg all are planning winter festivals this weekend.

The temperatures aren’t quite freezing yet, but the holiday spirit definitely is in the air with the upcoming Light Up Night celebrations around the area. Scott Township, Bridgeville and Heidelberg all are planning their winter festivals for this weekend that will include bonfires, music and, of course, Santa Claus. Scott Township kicks off the winter festivals Thursday night with its Light Up Night at Scott Park. The event, which begins around 6:30 p.m., will have cookies and hot chocolate in the lodge, carolers and local country music singer Vanessa Campagna will perform in the amphitheater and Santa will arrive on his sleigh pulled by the three township fire departments. The temperatures might drop just enough for everyone to enjoy a …

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Mike Jones

3:27 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011

Look for The Patch at the Light Up Night events in Scott, Bridgeville and Heidelberg!   more ›

Local Parks Offer Creative Inspiration

Photograph for fun and leisure in the area's many recreation parks.

The Chartiers Valley area has a generous number of local parks. Each with their own personality and features. It's in this wealth of public space that shutterbugs can find artistic inspiration and personal expression. They are used for the ball teams and young families who want to get their kids moving. No question they are a great asset to our lives. But, it seems, we forget how beautiful these areas are on every level. The hustle and bustle of every day life makes it easy to take the parks' availability for granted. Armed with nothing more than an inexpensive digital camera and an open mind, the parks beckon to be seen and enjoyed. Thanks to our technological era, we can capture time and place digitally. This would have cost a small …

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Parking Lot or Duck Pond?

The new handicap parking lot at Scott Park is having major drainage problems.

When it rains, the new handicap parking area at Scott Park looks more suitable for paddling ducks than a place to park cars. The township is now struggling with its new handicap accessible parking lot built near the basketball courts on the lower level of the park where water naturally drains into the area. Scott Township Manager Denise Fitzgerald said they plan to install French drains around the lot and possibly add more stones or gravel to alleviate the water problem. Fitzgerald said the pad was installed correctly, but it is in a troublesome place due to the topography. She said the township only recently installed the handicap parking after the state demanded it be in place after the township used a grant to upgrade the basketball …

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New Trees Will Bolster Scott Park's Picnic Area

Township received a grant to plant 25 new trees in the Oak Grove picnic area

Soon, there will be 25 new trees planted in Scott Park in an attempt to “TreeVitalize” the thinning picnic area. Scott Township Commissioner David Jason announced during the board’s Tuesday night voting meeting that the township received a grant from TreeVitalize to help sustain the park’s trees. The township will receive 25 trees, mulching, stakes and training for the public works crew on how to plant them and maintain them as they grow. The trees will be several different species, Jason said, to ensure that any one disease will not spread through he entire grove. Jason said township workers have noticed the 40-year-old trees in the pavilion area are starting to show signs of their age and losing limbs. He said this program will help …

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My Turn

Getting Lucky with Horseshoes

A Horseshoe Tournament in Scott Park leads to some interesting 'facts' about the horseshoes.

My brother and his friends gathered in Scott Park for a horseshoe tournament on last Saturday. The fourth annual Horseshoe Tournament was organized by Dave Dytka and his brother-in-law Jimmy Ciccaglione, both longtime Scott Township residents. My brother asked me to come down, so I grabbed my camera and raced down to Scott Park. I thought if nothing else I’ll have pictures of the park on a lovely summer day. The Horseshoe Tournament was really a big excuse to eat lots of Armstrong’s pasta and drink copious amounts of beer, but there is a trophy involved (for the horseshoes…not for the drinking and the eating). Two trophies, one for each competitor, with the names of the previous winners engraved on it, were awarded to both members of the …

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