Upper St. Clair, PA|News|
Cake Decorating Contest Returns for Halloween
Little bakers, The Pie Place's cake decorating contest is back and sooner than planned. This season's theme is 'Happy Halloween!'

My parents instilled in me a love for books at an early age. I could barely read and my mom would take me to the public library weekly—sometimes twice-weekly.
We'd leave with stacks of books and return them the next week only to collect another pile.
Then, I got into magazines. Veranda, Martha Stewart Living and many other glossy reads were neatly stacked in our house, encouraging my creative writing passion.
As a May 2010 graduate of Miami University (Ohio), I earned a BA in Journalism and Italian, and headed to Naples, Fla. soon after to intern with Naples Illustrated. There I covered stories from "haute" mac and cheese to interviews with an American Idol runner-up, starring in a broadway tour, and the U.S. Olympic men's bobsleigh coach.
The prior summer I spent abroad in Italy studying journalism in Florence. We traveled the coasts from Capri to Croatia, blogging, writing and drinking limoncello. I had the opportunity to interview Project Runway's Nick Verreos for the Miami Quarterly, where I served as the arts and entertainment editor. As publications director for Miami's Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, I edited, designed and wrote for the PRemiere, a bi-monthly publication.
I've interned with Pittsburgh Quarterly Magazine, as well as Cincinnati Magazine—assisting the Summer 2010 Cincinnati Wedding Magazine cover shoot was one of my favorite projects.
Throughout college, I wrote for The Miami Student and the Unione (oldest Italian-American newspaper in the U.S.), and for three years I taught the hip-hop dance workshop at our campus recreation center.
When I'm not editing, writing (or tweeting), I love to travel, bake, work out, study Italian and indulge in a stack of magazines or a good read. Also, I'm a stylist for Stella & Dot, a boutique-style jewelry company.
I was recently chosen as one of 2012's "Pittsburgh's 50 Finest" and will be raising money for cystic fibrosis through August.
I'm a proud aunt of six nieces and nephews, and certainly enjoy spending time with my loved ones.
Fun fact: I have a black belt in Tang Soo Do.
I'm very happy to be covering the vibrant community of Peters. With goals to benefit the township by providing quick and accurate hyperlocal news, and informing and participating in volunteer opportunities, I also intend to greatly contribute to the township and neighborhood efforts to continue making Peters a great place to live.
<b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b>Local Hot-Button Issues</b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>
A hot topic in the area, of course, is Marcellus Shale drilling, if and when it's going to happen in Peters. I'm interested to see the outcome and for our team to cover the issue.
Also, with two new outpatient centers being constructed in the township, residents have differing opinions, mostly positive, in regard to health care. We plan to bring coverage of these centers and the programs they're offering to the community.
Read about the Outpatient Care Center's open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony here. St. Clair Hospital just broke ground for its new outpatient center on Route 19.
The latest hot-button issue? Catch up on the most recent story here.
Little bakers, The Pie Place's cake decorating contest is back and sooner than planned. This season's theme is 'Happy Halloween!'

Taste the chef's various renditions of old-world, classical stews through October.
Courses, scheduling formats, jobs to be preserved.
Peters Township Middle School students—show your support!
Thursday, more than 733 Bower Hill students read the same book as students across the country to raise awareness.
The Zombie Fest returns to Market Square in an attempt to break the world record for 'Largest Gathering of Zombies' on Saturday from noon to 9 p.m.
Local celebrities, such as Rose Tennant and Athena Sarris, will 'dance for a cause' in Station Square—an event presented by Arthur Murray Dance Studio and Watchful Shepherd USA.
Toni Sulkowski of Peters! She won a 51” plasma TV that was recently raffled off as a fundraiser for the Peters Township Public Library, which raised nearly $1,000.
Local celebrities, such as Rose Tennant and Athena Sarris, will 'dance for a cause' in Station Square—an event presented by Arthur Murray Dance Studio and Watchful Shepherd USA.
Committee Chairs Rocky Bleier and Dan Gigler will accept Duquesne Light’s check for the Power of Light Grant on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
Second grader Andrew Daube earned the national top spot on the website's weekly leader board.
A recall has been issued due to the possible presence of small, thin wire bristle pieces.
Do you act? Do you love Halloween? Volunteer to lead groups through the Haunted Trail in Peterswood Park this weekend.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers some tips for hunters.
Students and teachers can compete for cash prizes of as much as $1,000.
The state Department of Transportation's Bureau of Aviation is sponsoring the contest—and entries are due soon!
Program is designed to spur awareness of alternative fuel.
The annual tradition marks the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and is intended to encourage women to get yearly mammograms in hopes of detecting the disease early.
There are hundreds of breast cancer awareness walks and runs around the country, plus marathons and a plethora of luncheons, bike rides and shows. See what's happening locally.