Community Corner
🌱 How Penn State’s fee waivers could ease New Kensington students’ campus exit
And on the New Kensington Patch calendar - Solstice of Shadows Beerfest Fundraiser

Hello again New Kensington! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How Penn State’s fee waivers could ease New Kensington students’ campus exit
- How New Kensington-Arnold staff made Christmas brighter for 126 kids
- Which New Kensington professors just earned major research and teaching honors?
Also on today's calendar: Solstice of Shadows Annual Fundraiser for Knead Community Cafe Beer Fest and 1 more event.
Find out what's happening in New Kensingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around New Kensington? Post it to New Kensington photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in New Kensingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near New Kensington.![]()
- Tuesday: Mainly cloudy and not as cold, with a high of 34 and low of 28 degrees.
- Wednesday: Breezy in the morning, temps: high: 42, low: 29.
- Thursday: Occasional afternoon rain, with a high of 53 and low of 28 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Some fees waived for students at closing Penn State branch campuses (triblive.com) — Penn State New Kensington students at the soon-to-close campus can now take up to 24 credits per semester without paying overload tuition fees and will see student-initiated fees waived in 2026-27. These changes, tied to the Spring 2027 closure, are meant to save money and give New Kensington students more flexibility as they finish degrees or transition to other campuses.
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• More than 100 New Kensington-Arnold children to benefit from Angel Tree (triblive.com) — More than 100 children in the New Kensington-Arnold School District will wake up to Angel Tree gifts this Christmas thanks to staff and community generosity. Coordinated by Martin Elementary teacher Karen Thomas, the effort supported 51 families and follows recent school-led food and change drives to help local households in need.
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• New Kensington faculty and staff honored for publications, awards (psu.edu) — Penn State New Kensington recently celebrated its faculty and staff at the 23rd Faculty Research Reception, highlighting a long list of new publications and major teaching and service awards. Local readers may recognize campus names honored for research, teaching excellence and service to students, all underscoring the New Kensington campus’s academic impact and community presence.
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📸 Around New Kensington
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in New Kensington
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Solstice of Shadows Beerfest Fundraiser
Tortured Souls Brewing, 715 Craigdell Rd, New Kensington
2:00 pm
Saturday December 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Solstice of Shadows Annual Fundraiser for Knead Community Cafe Beer Fest
Tortured Souls Brewing , 715 Craigdell Rd , New Kensington
2:00 pm - Leo"s Sports Page
Quality Inn , 300 Tarentum Bridge Rd , New Kensington
8:00 pm - MTG Standard
The Feisty Goblin Gamehouse , 890 5th Ave , New Kensington
6:00 pm
Saturday December 20
Wednesday December 24
📣 New Kensington Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Connect & Collaborate
The Corner , 701 5th Ave , New Kensington
5:30 pm - Lower Burrell Municipal Authority Meeting
Lower Burrell, PA Calendar , 2800 Bethel Street , Lower Burrell
6:30 pm - HS Sounds of the Season Concert
Fox Chapel Area High School , 611 Field Club Rd , Pittsburgh
7:00 pm - HS- HS Choir and HP Chorus Concerts
Plum Senior High School , 900 Elicker Rd , Pittsburgh
7:00 pm - Planning Commission Meeting
Lower Burrell, PA Calendar , 2800 Bethel Street , Lower Burrell
7:00 pm - DMS Spirit Day Fuzzy Holiday Sock/Slippers Day
Dorseyville Middle School , 3732 Saxonburg Blvd. , Pittsburgh
8:15 am - DMS Spirit Day Winter/Holiday Hat Day
Dorseyville Middle School , 3732 Saxonburg Blvd. , Pittsburgh
8:15 am - Christmas Sing A Long at Concordia
931 PA-910 , Cheswick
3:30 pm
Tuesday December 16
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Increased police presence at Rostraver Elementary is prompted by reported online threats.
7:01PM on Dec 14: Local elementary school will increase police presence on Monday following an online threat report. (Nextdoor )
- Walgreens posted a job opening for Photo Specialist in New Kensington. Apply here.
- Simos posted a job opening for Embroidery Machine Operator in New Kensington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near New Kensington here.
🗞 Nearby News
Tarentum
- Tarentum Community Mourns After Fatal House Fire Claims One Life, Investigation Underway (hoodline.com)
Springdale
- Decisive vote expected for Springdale data center proposal (triblive.com)
Pittsburgh
Ok New Kensington! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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