Nearby: Stolen Blow-Up Santa Costs College Kid $447 in Fine and Court Costs

Where does Santa live? A dorm room? I think not.

The moral of the story is: If you want a blow-up Santa in your dorm room, go out and buy one. A former La Roche student found out the hard way that doing otherwise can cost you $447. The young man, who was 18 at the time of the incident in December, appeared Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge William K. Wagner on a misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property after a stolen blow-up Santa was found in his dorm room. The commonwealth reduced the charge to a summary count of disorderly conduct, and the judge imposed a $300 fine plus $147 in court costs. Here's what the criminal complaint filed by police has to say about the incident: It all started late Dec. 4 when another student (we'll call him Grinch) came to the room of this …

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Where's Santa? Track Him Live from the Pine-Richland Area

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has a website that offers a Santa tracker mobile app to follow the jolly man's magical flight.

They sent him their wish lists, sat on his lap, and left cookies and milk for his arrival. Now the only thing left for children to do is track Santa's progress as he delivers gifts around the world on Christmas Eve. Thanks to the folks behind the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) website, families worldwide can follow Santa's Christmas journey in real time. The tradition started in 1955 after an advertisement for Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for a special "Santa hotline." Instead of reaching Kris Kringle, the number put kids through to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Commander-in-Chief’s operations, according to a description on the NORAD Tracks Santa Facebook page, which has more than 1 …

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Cindy Cusic Micco

12:19 pm on Monday, December 24, 2012

Same to you, Dale! Happy Holidays!   more ›

Santa to Visit North Park Boathouse, Share Cookies with Local Girls and Boys

Allegheny County and Santa are asking attendees to consider bringing a new toy or book to donate to the DHS Holiday Project.

Santa Claus is taking time out of his extremely busy schedule and visiting North Park to share cookies with local girls and boys, the Allegheny County Office of Special Events announced. The Jolly Old Elf will be at the North Park Boathouse from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 1. The event is free and open to all boys and girls. In addition to St. Nick, the events will include holiday crafts, musical entertainment, KDKA “KidKast,” holiday movies, refreshments, and of course, cookies! Allegheny County and Santa are asking those attending the events to consider bringing a new toy or book to donate to the DHS Holiday Project, which provides gifts to children and youth receiving services through the Department of Human Services Office of …

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The Reindeer is Back for Holiday Dazzle ... And So Are A Ton of Activities

The third annual Holiday Dazzle will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Pine Community Center.

Santa Claus is coming to town and so is a reindeer. They are making special appearances at Holiday Dazzle, a family-oriented event at Pine Community Center from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday. The cost at the door is $5 per person. Santa will arrive via fire truck with "elves" from the Wexford Volunteer Fire Company. If the weather cooperates, he will wend his way to The Gazebo behind the community center, where he will greet girls and boys and hear their holiday wishes. Otherwise, look for the Jolly Old Elf inside the center if the weather is yucky. Bring your camera—Santa is very photogenic in that bright red suit. Also outside you will find a reindeer, a camel, an ice carver and horse-and-carriage rides. Hungry for s'mores? Look for the bonfire. By…

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Transportation Detours, Street Closings Set for Pittsburgh's Light-Up Night Festivities, Parade

If you're heading for the annual festivities scheduled for Friday and Saturday around the Golden Triangle, plan your route and parking options first.

Planning to head to Downtown Pittsburgh Friday for Light-Up Night? How about Saturday for the Sounds of the Season Parade or other daylong holiday activities planned throughout the Golden Triangle? Here are schedules and transportation details you'll want to keep in mind. Pittsburgh's 52nd annual Light-Up Night begins at noon Friday, when Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl lights the tree at the City-County Building on Grant Street. Also set for noon: the annual dedication and blessing of the traditional Christmas creche at U.S. Steel Tower on Grant Street. Most festivities begin at 5 p.m. Friday, however, with events scheduled for three stage locations — in Market Square, on the Clemente Bridge and at EQT Plaza. Performers include Joe …

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Here Comes Santa Claus! Track His Sleigh Ride Here

He's getting closer all the time ... make sure you put out milk and cookies for the jolly old elf and maybe something for the reindeer too.

Where is Santa? Are the reindeer in shape and pulling their weight on that sleigh?

Santa Hitches a Ride on Wexford VFC Fire Truck to Visit Children in Pine Township

The jolly old elf had a sack full of candy to give away to children, all of whom proclaimed they were good this year.

Although we have never figured out how Santa can deliver presents to children all over the world in just one night, we do know how he managed to get around all of Pine Township on Saturday. The nice firefighters at Wexford Volunteer Fire Co. gave him a ride, he said, as he handed out candy to boys and girls throughout Pine neighborhoods as a light snow fell. Actually, there were four Santas and four fire trucks. Rumor has it that Santa enlisted the help of three elves to don big red suits and help him out. The Santa Express is a yearly event for Wexford Volunteer Fire Co. The red trucks and red suits were a perfect match.

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