(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A mixture of Hershey’s chocolates is displayed in the company’s Times Square store, March 1, 2017, in New York. Hershey is cautioning on its 2024 profit growth as the company contends with rising cocoa costs that are leading to higher prices for chocolate. Cocoa futures prices have doubled over the past year and hit an unprecedented $5,874 per metric ton Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in intraday trading. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) The trailer for a biopic called “Hershey” was released this week. It is based on the life of the famed late businessman and chocolatier who founded the Hershey Chocolate Company, Milton Hershey.
It was filmed across the Pittsburgh-area last summer, including Harmony in Butler County, and stars Finn Wittrock as Milton Hershey and Alexandra Daddario as Catherine “Kitty” Hershey.
This movie is about the rags-to-riches story of Milton Hershey as he builds his chocolate empire. The movie will be released in theaters on Thanksgiving, which is on November 26th this year. According to IMDb, “Hershey” is the origin story of Milton and Kitty Hershey, “who, when confronted by tragedy, determine to leave their amassed chocolate fortune in the hands of children.” The Hershey company expressed that the movie was shot across over a dozen locations in Pennsylvania, using over 70 sets to recreate the time period. More than 1,500 background actors from around the state also helped build the world that is seen in the movie.
SEWICKLEY — Explore the Sweetwater Center for the Arts and embrace your artistic side at a special open house April 19.
Sponsored by Allegheny County’s RAD Days, and completely free to the community, the open house at Sweetwater provides an opportunity for people to meet the Sewickley arts center’s teaching artists, and experience hands-on crafts in each department.
“Wander through the studios, meet the artists and instructors, and experience live music, arts, crafts, and hands-on creativity,” Sweetwater’s website said. “Bring the whole family and explore, create and connect.”
Lasting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors are asked to register at sweetwaterartcenter.org, helping the staff know how many bagels or other baked goods to prepare.
Class activities that day for visitors:
Make a bracelet in metalsmithing with Pat Falbo
Get creative with fiber arts with Lizzy Bablak
Build a unique collage with Claria Barilar
Mix up your own trail mix with Michelle George
Create a comic storyboard with Armand Ceres
Animate your own flip book with Dani Wesserman
Try needle felting with Bea Angeles
Sweetwater Executive Director Christine Brondyke spoke about the facility’s many art classes and special events when appearing Wednesday on the Beaver County Radio Morning Show with Scott Tady.
Here is Brondyke’s interview:
RAD Open House Event
From noon to 2 p.m., Brondyke will host a behind-the-scenes look at all Sweetwater has to offer. Green Hen Farms will be popping up with fresh, locally grown flowers.
Visitors also can learn about SweetRide, a mobile art unit that enables Sweetwater to bring art experiences directly into neighborhoods, schools and organizations that may not have easy access to the arts.
There’s also live music throughout the day.
Take a tour Sunday of Sweetwater Center for The Arts.
“It’s such an inviting way for families and community members to see what we’re all about,” a Sweetwater press release said.
Other Sweetwater events this season:
• Sweetwater Blooms – Saturdays May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, and September 19 (9 a.m.–1 p.m.) on Bank Street. A vibrant outdoor market featuring local flower farmers, artisans, food vendors, and small businesses — truly a celebration of community.
• Sweet Jazz – Four evenings of live regional jazz in June and July, both outdoors at the Walnut Green and indoors in our Community Room. Each concert features talented local and regional musicians, creating a lively, welcoming atmosphere for jazz lovers of all ages. From smooth classics to contemporary grooves, Sweet Jazz is the perfect way to enjoy music, community, and the beautiful summer evenings in Sewickley.
• Mavuno Festival – September 26, celebrating BIPOC artists, small businesses, and community voices. This vibrant festival highlights creativity, culture, and connection, with live performances, interactive art experiences, and locally curated food and artisan vendors. Mavuno is a chance for the community to come together, celebrate diversity, and support local artists and businesses in a meaningful way.
(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Markowitz Communications)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) The World’s Largest Rubber Duck is coming to Pittsburgh from April 17th-22nd, courtesy of Wolfe LLC and PerfectGift.com. This inflatable yellow duck is 61 feet tall and is nicknamed “Mama Duck.” “Mama Duck” and her 10-foot tall baby duck companion named “Timmy the Duckling,” will be seen outside of Wolfe LLC’s corporate office in Green Tree. Wolfe LLC is a commerce services company and its founder and local entrepreneur, Jason Wolfe, is providing the funding for this year’s event at no cost to the public. A two-day Rubber Duck Tailgate Party and other events will also take place to celebrate the return of the popular tourist attraction. The duck is owned and operated by Big Duck LLC and has appeared at festivals, fairs, and special events across the United States and Canada. The two tall rubber ducks make their return to Pennsylvania after they were seen at Idlewild Park in Ligonier on June 27th-29th, 2025. According to a release on Monday, on Saturday and Sunday (April 18-19) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Rubber Duck Tailgate Party will feature food trucks, a prize wheel, giveaways of branded rubber ducks, footballs, towels, T-shirts, and stickers, as well as PerfectGift+ card sales and giveaways, a shimmer wall photo backdrop and social media activations. The attraction will be closed on April 20th and 21st for private, invitation only events, but it will reopen to the public on April 22nd until deflation at around 6 p.m. ahead of the kickoff for the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held on the North Shore on April 23rd-25th.
(Beaver, PA) Several topics were discussed this morning at the Beaver County Commissioners’ work session at the County Courthouse. One of them was when audience member Fabiola Gargerich of Harmony Township asked the commissioners about an update on if there is any progress on possible artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in Beaver County during the audience participation segment. She asked them in a previous work session on March 11th, 2026 if they would consider the possibility of having an AI data center or a mechanism or ordinance for one in the county so things like the people there can be safeguarded. Commissioner Jack Manning gave her an update on this development by expressing: “There is only one that I know is active and ongoing with the development, that is the Bruce Mansfield one. I have no information on any other proposed, speculative data centers that are going through the permitting process.” Manning went on to say that Shippingport has got some ordinances that they have finished and there has been a lot of visits to data centers by the Commissioners locally as well as regionally. Beaver County Solicitor Garen Fedeles also clarified Manning’s response by stating that “none of the licensing or any type of the approval is done at the county level. That’s all going to be handled at the local level for any data center that would come in to Beaver County.” In other business, Fedeles also gave a reminder in the solicitors’ report that the midterm election in Pennsylvania is coming up next month and the 9,823 applicants who requested a mail-in ballot packet should be receiving it in the mail next week. Beaver County Recreation and Tourism Director Tony Caltury also announced that the Big Knob Grange Maple Syrup Festival is this Saturday and Sunday, taking place at Big Knob Grange from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. on both days. This event is the replacement for the Beaver County Maple Syrup and Music Festival, which was cancelled this year because of issues involving structure and leadership.
PITTSBURGH – The laughs come fast and frequently at “Shucked,” the latest Tony Award-winning musical to grace the Benedum Center stage.
The mixed-ages audience at last night’s Pittsburgh premiere laughed loudly and regularly at quips, ranging from clever wordplay, to corny dad jokes, to saucy double entendres.
“If I had a crystal ball… I’d walk different,” drawls one of the cast’s unsophisticated fellas, Peanut, whose folksy and odd philosophical musings epitomize the non-sophisticated charms of “Shucked.”
Utilizing just two main backdrops, “Shucked” is set in a fictional hick town, called Cob County, where residents are content in their isolation until the sudden, unexpected demise of their corn crop.
Only our heroine Maizy (an endearing Danielle Wade from Broadway’s “Mean Girls”) has the courage or conviction to leave Cob County to try to find a solution to what’s killing the corn. Abandoning her simple but kind fiancé, Beau (a radiant Nick Bailey,) who tries to discourage her from leaving, Maizy ends up somehow in Tampa, Florida, transfixed and befuddled by a big city where she sees adults pushing pets dogs in baby carriages with children kept in control on leashes.
Maizy is a fish out of water, soon targeted by a scoundrel podiatrist named Gordy (a solid Quinn Vanantwerp, who did 3,000 Broadway performances of “Jersey Boys”).Gordy owes the Mob money, and suspects he’s found his salvation in Maizy.
Once Maizy mentions her shiny jeweled heirloom bracelet is made of gems from a heap of shiny rocks under the soil of her family’s farm, Gordy concocts a plan to seduce her and travel back together to Cob County, confident the bumpkins there don’t recognize they’ve got a fortune in unearthed minerals he can grab.
Two joke-slinging narrators (the mirthful Maya Lagerstam and Joe Moeller) keep the pace brisk and fill in storyline gaps. As a spectator, you might rightfully question why Maizy’s and Beau’s planned wedding had to end so abruptly, but there’s no time to get bogged down in plot realism, especially with the narrators reeling off wisecracks and puns that bring groans and smiles, mixed with sharp witticisms, like noting how the term “unsolved mystery” is redundant.
“Shucked” might have the most punchlines per hour since Broadway’s “Book of Morman,” opined one critic.
You’ve got to pay attention to the rapid-fire wordplay, especially in the musical selections, which all were good, with several absolutely spectacular.
The brawny Bailey, as the heartbroken Beau, earned thunderous applause for his strong and towering singing on “Somebody Will,” complete with enough country music lyrical tropes to sound ready for the album of Nashville’s next big star.
Acclaimed country music songsmiths Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally composed the music and lyrics
Maizy’s best friend and cousin Lulu (an outstanding Miki Abraham) did a show-stopping solo vocal performance in “Independently Owned,” a sassy song about independence with the line “I don’t need a man for emancipation.”
“Shucked’s” second act solidifies a message about the uplifting powers of family and love. There are points made, too, on the importance of learning to befriend strangers.
The Maizy-Beau-Gordy romantic triangle reaches a satisfying if not surprising resolution.
I’d have liked more depth to the story; and a little less juvenile humor.
But for two-hours-and-10-minutes, plus a 15-minute intermission, I found myself captivated by the Cob County denizens, with their silly tale a pleasant escape from reality.
Leaning into its corny-ness, “Shucked” stands ready to grow grins and bring joy through Sunday at the Benedum.
(Allegheny County, PA) Allegheny County Police have now charged a Beaver County man in connection with a sexual assault investigation from 1989. A female victim arrived at an area hospital on January 17th, 1989 following a reported sexual assault in Reserve Township. The Allegheny County Police Department’s General Investigations Unit was requested to investigate. At the time, a sexual assault evidence collection kit was completed, DNA evidence was recovered, but no suspects were identified. In November of 2024, detectives were notified of a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) hit from the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner believed to be connected to the assault. The report indicated a match with a convicted offender in the Pennsylvania State Police DNA database, who was identified as 65-year-old Lewis Vearnon. Detectives obtained a search warrant as part of their investigation to obtain an additional DNA sample from Vearnon. Results of that sample once again showed a statistical match to the original DNA samples that were collected from the victim in 1989. Vearnon is facing multiple charges including rape, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. He was taken into custody today and is currently in the Beaver County Jail pending extradition to Allegheny County.
(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Pitt Race International Complex)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Dallas, TX) Land records show that a Texas-based company has paid $50 million to buy the Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The company shares a street address in Texas with Provident Data Centers, which is a developer that has been pursuing data center projects in Scranton and elsewhere in the United States. Julian Hawes was the Wampum representative who signed the sale documents. Hawes is also the president of Provident Data Centers, which is based in Dallas, Texas. The Wampum track closed on November 9th, 2025 after over twenty years in operation. According to the documents, the sale to Wampum I LLC was finalized in March. Wampum I LLC is an entity that is registered in Delaware. Even though the track’s former owners, Jim and Kathy Stout, have been largely silent about the fate of the community institution, local residents have been concerned that it would attract attention from data center developers. The Stouts decided to step away from the racing facility after much thought in October of 2025. Officials with Big Beaver Borough and representatives from Provident Data Centers were not responsive to inquiries about the sale. Pitt Race opened in 2002 and has hosted autocross, motocross and drifting events. It had also partnered with the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Motorsport Festival since 2004.
AMBRIDGE, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apr 15, 2026–Old Economy Village has announced its 2026 calendar of public programs and events, offering visitors a range of opportunities to explore 19th -century life through demonstrations, living history, and seasonal programming.
The 2026 season features several large-scale events scheduled throughout the year, beginning in the spring. On May 2, A Day in the Life: Civil War Living History will feature reenactors portraying both military and civilian experiences of the 1860s, including encampments, drills, and interpretive demonstrations across the site. The program will also include a period fashion show highlighting Civil War-era clothing, and visitors are encouraged to attend in period attire.
On August 22, the Heritage Grape Harvest Festival will highlight the site’s agricultural history with demonstrations related to grape harvesting and traditional practices, along with additional activities for visitors. The event reflects the historical importance of agriculture and communal labor within the Harmonist Society.
On December 5 and 6, Christmas in the Village will feature programming focused on 19th-century holiday traditions. Historic buildings throughout the site will be decorated, with demonstrations and seasonal activities interpreting how the community observed the season.
“In 2026, we’re focused on giving visitors opportunities to experience history in ways that are both engaging and accessible,” said Heather Hicks, Site Administrator at Old Economy Village. “Our programs highlight the craftsmanship, innovation, and shared labor that built communities like Economy and the nation as a whole, inviting visitors to connect with these stories through hands-on, meaningful experiences.”
In addition to these events, Old Economy Village will host an America250 series, which connects the site’s history to the broader context of the United States’ 250th anniversary, as well as Homeschool Days, which provide structured, hands-on educational programming for students and families.
Located in Beaver County, Old Economy Village preserves the history of the Harmonist community and provides year-round access to exhibits, guided tours, and educational programs. The 2026 event schedule is designed to complement ongoing interpretation at the site and encourage repeat visitation across multiple seasons.
Gloria B. Krepps, 88, of New Sewickley Township, passed away on April 11th, 2026 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Conway on July 3rd, 1937, the daughter of the late Louis and Louise Spagnola. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of almost 70 years, Jack Krepps, who was her childhood sweetheart. She was also preceded in death by a sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jane and John Havranek, a sister and brother-in-law, Flo and Mel Krepps, and a brother and sister-in-law Anthony and Patty Spagnola, and Fr. Michael Greb, OFM, Cap, a very special family friend.
She is survived by their two daughters, Darla and Jonathan Kasing of Butler and Jaci and Don Mason of New Sewickley Township. These girls were their parents’ pride and joy. They are left with such beautiful memories of all their times spent together. She is also survived by her grandchildren, as she was the proud Gram to: Cory and Jessica Mason, of New Sewickley Township, Tyler Dunlap and Dr. Richelle Takemoto, of Cooperstown, New York, Ashley and Justin Yetter of Gibsonia and Jennifer and Jay Bradel of New Sewickley Township. Before long, her greatest joy was hearing herself called ‘Gigi’ by her surviving seven great-grandchildren: Lucas, Wyatt and Ellie Bradel, Olivia “Via” and Pete Mason, Owen Yetter and Tiger Takemoto. They all adored her as much as she adored them. Each and everyone of her grandchildren and great grandchildren have their own special memory of being with her to cherish. She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Bart and Connee Spagnola, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. There are a few very special people in Gloria’s life who she felt part of her family, and they include: life long friends Buzz and Dee McKay, John and Tamra Rosa and their children, Zachary and Erica, who lovingly called her Gram for they grew up spending many days and years with her, as well as Erin and Liam, who also held a special place in her heart.
Gloria married her husband, Jack Krepps, upon graduating from Ambridge High School. They truly were soulmates and enjoyed everything they did together. Whether it be an evening of bingo, a “ride to the track” or weekends at camp, where there was one, you’d find the other. She took great pride in being a housewife and Mom. Her home was always filled with love, warmth and food. She lovingly took care of her family and anyone who knocked at her door. She became Mom and Gram to many throughout the years. Saying that Gloria loved Christmas was an understatement. Her home became a Christmas Winter Wonderland at the beginning of November till sometime in February. Her love of decorating, baking cookies and watching her Hallmark movies was a passion. Each morning as her feet touched the floor she thanked her Lord for another day. She never stopped or let anything get her down. She truly loved and took great pride in being a wife, mother, grandmother and Gigi. She loved her life and lived it to the fullest always with love and compassion for everyone and anyone around her.
Friends will be received on Thursday, April 16th, from 4-7 p.m., at the William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester, who was in charge of her arrangements. A Mass of Christian Burial will also be held on Friday, April 17th at 10 a.m. at St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, 632 Virginia Avenue, Rochester. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 1101 9th Street, Extension, Freedom, where a graveside service will be held from 11:15-11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: Washington Nationals’ CJ Abrams crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — CJ Abrams went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs as the Washington Nationals held off the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Abrams hit a solo shot down the left-field line in the fourth inning to extend the Nationals’ lead to 4-1. He also hit the third of three consecutive RBI singles in the first inning, following Brady House and Daylen Lile, as Washington took a 3-0 lead.
The shortstop is 9 for 17 in his last five games with three home runs and seven RBIs.
Recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, left-hander Mitchell Parker (1-0) struck out five in two scoreless innings of relief as the Nationals won for the fourth time in five games.
Gus Varland pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save, working around a double and a walk.
Brandon Lowe and Joey Bart hit solo homers for the Pirates. It was Lowe’s seventh of the season.
Lowe became just the fourth Pirates player to hit at least four home runs and drive in 11 runs in a three-game span. Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner did it in 1947 and 1949, and Jose Castillo did it in 2006.
Pittsburgh’s Marcell Ozuna, who entered the game with a .070 batting average, had two hits and his first RBI of the season. Oneil Cruz’s 12-game hitting streak ended as he went 0 for 5.
Left-hander P.J. Poulin opened for the Nationals and gave up Lowe’s homer. Miles Mikolas followed and allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Mitch Keller (1-1) gave up five runs and six hits over four innings.
The start of the game was delayed 18 minutes because of rain.
Up next
Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (2-2, 7.09 ERA) will start on Wednesday night. The Pirates will use LHP Mason Montgomery as an opener.
