Oscar Wilde’s comedic masterpiece opens in the BlackBox Theater on Feb. 13

Staff Reports

MIDLAND — Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland continues its 2025-2026 season with “The Importance of Being Earnest,” presented in the BlackBox Theater for nine performances.

The newest show in the Clearview Federal Credit Union Subscription Series will be staged Feb. 13-15 and Feb. 19-22.

Few plays have endured quite like this one. With its razor-sharp wit, delightfully tangled identities, and unapologetic satire of social expectations, Earnest remains one of the great comedies of manners and a joyful reminder that laughter, cleverness, and a little absurdity are timeless. Wilde’s world is elegant on the surface and rather silly underneath and this cast brings these words to life with precision and playfulness.

“Whether this is your first time seeing Earnest or your tenth, prepare to laugh and enjoy one of the most produced comedies of all time,” Justin Fortunato, producing artistic director for Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, said. “Thank you to all our patrons for supporting Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center and live theatre in our community.”

Tickets are available by visiting LincolnParkArts.org or calling 724.576.4644

Lincoln Park’s recent BlackBox presentation of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” completely sold-out, so people are encouraged to get tickets as soon as possible.

(Credit for Photo: Courtesy of KDKA Photojournalist Brian Smithmyer: A truck flipped upright and crashed into an apartment building in Robinson Township early Friday morning.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Robinson Township, PA) One person was taken to the hospital after a truck flipped during a crash in Robinson Township this morning. This happened a little after 4 a.m. and a vehicle ended up vertical against a home in the 100 block of Chestnut Ridge Drive following the crash and according to first responders, it looked like the truck came off of Bayer road, went airborne and crashed into an apartment at the Chestnut Ridge Apartment Homes. According to Moon Run Volunteer Fire Company, medics took one person to the hospital with minor injuries. The cause of the crash is unknown at this time, but officials on scene told WPXI they believe the pickup truck came off a nearby hillside. A neighbor told WTAE that the apartment that was hit is vacant. The truck was towed from the scene by 6 a.m. 

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release in Pittsburgh yesterday from Allegheny Health Network, three hospitals from Allegheny Health Network have recently been honored with Healthgrades’ 2026 Specialty Care Excellence Awards, which adds to the Pittsburgh-based health system’s growing list of accolades for serving patients throughout Western Pennsylvania. AHN Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) was among the top award winners, stood out for its leading cardiovascular care and cardiac surgery programs and it was recognized as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery (2022-2026) and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care (2025-2026) and Coronary Intervention (2026). The other AHN facilities recognized by Healthgrades included AHN Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie, which ranked in the nation’s top 50 hospitals for outpatient excellence in prostate care (2026) for superior clinical outcomes in benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment and AHN Jefferson Hospital in Jefferson Hills, which received the Vascular Surgery Excellence award (2024-2026) and ranking No. 3 in Pennsylvania this year for superior clinical outcomes in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, carotid surgery, and peripheral vascular bypass surgery. 

(FIle Photo of the Montgomery Locks and Dam)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) According to a release in Washington D.C. from Congressman Chris Deluzio’s office yesterday, Deluzio (PA-17) announced that four more of his requested community projects successfully received over $185 million in federal funding in the spending bills passed yesterday by the U.S. House of Representatives. The single biggest item of those four is the funding to help modernize the Montogomery Locks and Dam along the Ohio River in Beaver County, with more funding for both local water infrastructure and police equipment. According to that same release from Delzuio’s office, the $185,356,000 in funding breaks down across the following four projects: 

• $183,829,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ mega project to modernize the Montogomery Locks and Dam in Beaver County  

• $900,000 for the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa to purchase updated wastewater treatment equipment  

• $502,000 for Ross Township Police Department to purchase body-worn cameras  

• $125,000 for the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department to purchase a police river patrol boat 

(Photo Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding unveiled the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture yesterday in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, which is a 1,000-pound sculpture made entirely of butter that illustrates how defining moments in the history of the United States and the evolution of agriculture have grown side by side to shape our country. It is called “A Toast to Our Nation’s 250th Anniversary: Inspired by Founders. Grown by Farmers” and it was designed and crafted by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken to celebrate America250 and reflect the 2026 Farm Show theme, “Growing a Nation.” That butter sculpture is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, American Dairy Association North East, and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program. The 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show will run tomorrow through Saturday, January 17th, 2026 in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center and more information about it can be found by clicking here.

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) According to a release from Congressman Chris Deluzio’s office in Washington, D.C. yesterday, Deluzio (PA-17) voted yesterday to lower healthcare costs by extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare tax credits for three more years. If this is passed into law, this will fend off a spike in healthcare costs for around 24,000 constituents in the 17th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday with 230 votes in support and 196 votes against and it now heads to the Senate. 17 Republicans joined with Democrats to pass the measure and if it does not pass into law, Pennie estimates that average monthly premium costs will increase 74% in Beaver County and 75% in Allegheny County, which translates to a $137 and $125 monthly increase per member, respectively. Congressman Deluzio released the following statement after the vote:

“Life is already too expensive. Now my hardworking constituents in Western Pennsylvania are staring down budget-crushing increases in their health insurance premiums—all because D.C. Republicans let cost-saving tax credits expire at the end of December. 

“Facing these massive premium increases, it’s no surprise that people are deciding to drop their healthcare coverage and risk bankruptcy from an unlucky illness or a hospital stay. 

“We should have extended the tax credits before they expired, but D.C. Republicans refused to join guys like me who were trying to stop healthcare costs from exploding.  

“Today, seventeen House Republicans joined me and every single House Democrats to vote to extend these cost-saving tax credits. I’m glad they finally did the right thing. 

“Now, the Senate needs to do their job and stop Americans from getting hammered by rising healthcare costs. We need to fix this now.”

(Credit for Photo: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images, Caption for Photo: US actor Noah Wyle accepts the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for “The Pitt” during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles on September 14, 2025.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Los Angeles, CA) The HBO Max medical drama “The Pitt,” which is set in Pittsburgh, has now been renewed for a third season. HBO Max announced this on Wednesday night at the show’s season two premiere event in Los Angeles. The show has stars like Noah Wyle, who plays Dr. Michael Robinavitch, and it won five Primetime Emmys and earned thirteen Emmy nominations at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on September 14th, 2025. 

(File Photo of Representative Aaron Bernstine)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Conoquenessing, PA) Representative Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) invites senior citizens from the 8th Legislative District to attend his upcoming Senior Citizens Luncheon to celebrate them in Connoquenessing on Wednesday, January 14th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company. Seniors will enjoy a complimentary lunch while learning more about programs and services available to support the senior population in Pennsylvania. Information will be available on assistance programs in Pennsylvania, services for transportation, and other resources that are designed to help older residents stay healthy, informed and independent. There is no RSVP that is necessary, and for additional information, you can contact the district office of Bernstine at 724-752-2120.