(Photo of Matthew Hydzik Provided with Release Courtesy of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Midland, PA) The Henry Mancini Awards will recognize outstanding student achievement in high school musical theater across Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, and Mercer counties during its annual ceremony May 17 at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center.

This year’s event will feature Pittsburgh native Matthew Hydzik as its keynote speaker.

Organizers said a record 21 schools will participate in the 2026 awards program, which honors excellence in musical theater performance and arts education. The program has been operated by Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center since 2014.

Under sponsorship from Pittsburgh CLO, the Mancini Awards are affiliated with the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards.

Winners for Best Actor and Best Actress will advance to the national competition in New York City, where students from across the country participate in coaching sessions, master classes, rehearsals, and a final performance at Minskoff Theatre, home of Disney’s The Lion King, with a panel of industry experts selecting
exceptional students for The Jimmy for Best Performance by an Actress and Actor. Jimmy nominees receive opportunities for merit scholarships, professional advancement, and other prizes.

Hydzik, a graduate of Penn State University, has appeared in five Broadway productions: West Side Story, The Cher Show, Side Show, It Shoulda Been You and Grease.

He has also been in five national productions, portrayed John in the Off-Broadway and U.S. premiere of Tomorrow Morning and recently portrayed Young
Monet in A Mirrored Monet, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The Mancini Awards ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 17 and will feature performances by nominated schools and students.

A full list of participating schools and nominees is attached, according to a release from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center:

Award, School, Show, Role, First Name, Last Name
Best Actor Slippery Rock High School Anastasia Gleb Vaganov Stefon Austin
Best Actor Slippery Rock High School Anastasia Vlad Popov Jon Barkley
Best Actor Western Beaver Jr./ Sr. High School Hadestown: Teen Edition Hades Marcello Bertucci
Best Actor Commodore Perry High School Singin’ in the Rain Don Lockwood Jeb Bowser
Best Actor Neshannock High School SpongeBob the Musical SpongeBob SquarePants Xavier Mastropietro
Best Actor Beaver Falls High School James and the Giant Peach James Henry Trotter Kash Stevenson
Best Actress Western Beaver Jr./ Sr. High School Hadestown: Teen Edition Eurydice Madison Beckman
Best Actress Mohawk High School Water for Elephants Marlena Millie Blum
Best Actress North Catholic High School Footloose Ariel Moore Abby Brown
Best Actress Freeport Area High School Tuck Everlasting Mae Tuck Jersey Diehl
Best Actress Hopewell High School Mean Girls: High School EditionRegina George Anne Claire Fueller
Best Actress Knoch High School Hadestown: Teen Edition Persephone Remmy Kovac
Best Supporting Actor Riverside High School Disney’s Frozen Olaf Chase Emerick
Best Supporting Actor Beaver Falls High School James and the Giant Peach Ladahlord Sam Haas
Best Supporting Actor Beaver Falls High School James and the Giant Peach Earthworm Jordan Jesseman
Best Supporting Actor Moniteau High School Mary Poppins Michael Banks Aaron Kay
Best Supporting Actor Beaver Area High School Matilda Bruce Alex Schoenberger
Best Supporting Actor Hopewell High School Mean Girls: High School EditionKevin G Carter Weber
Best Supporting Actress Ambridge Area High School Chicago: Teen Edition Matron “Mama” Morton Ariana Avolio-Mason
Best Supporting Actress Slippery Rock High School Anastasia Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna Viola Griffith
Best Supporting Actress Central Valley High School Freaky Friday Savannah Tarasa Householder
Best Supporting Actress Slippery Rock High School Anastasia Countess Lily Malevsky-MalevitchEllie Jedrzejewski
Best Supporting Actress Hopewell High School Mean Girls: High School EditionKaren Smith Bella Pashuta
Best Supporting Actress Beaver Falls High School James and the Giant Peach Spiker Aubri Wright
Best Choreography Execution Budget 1 Beaver Falls High School James and the Giant Peach
Best Choreography Execution Budget 1 Commodore Perry High School Singin’ in the Rain
Best Choreography Execution Budget 1 Mohawk High School Water for Elephants
Best Choreography Execution Budget 2 Freedom Area High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Best Choreography Execution Budget 2 Laurel High School The Addams Family
Best Choreography Execution Budget 2 Slippery Rock High School Anastasia
Best Choreography Execution Budget 3 Ambridge Area High School Chicago: Teen Edition
Best Choreography Execution Budget 3 Hopewell High School Mean Girls: High School Edition
Best Choreography Execution Budget 3 Moniteau High School Mary Poppins
Best Choreography Execution Budget 4 Knoch High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Choreography Execution Budget 4 Mars Area High School The Wizard of Oz
Best Choreography Execution Budget 4 Neshannock High School SpongeBob the Musical
Best Costume Design Budget 1 Beaver Falls High School James and the Giant Peach
Best Costume Design Budget 1 Commodore Perry High School Singin’ in the Rain
Best Costume Design Budget 1 Mohawk High School Water for Elephants
Best Costume Design Budget 2 Freedom Area High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Best Costume Design Budget 2 Laurel High School The Addams Family

Award School Show Role First Name Last Name
Best Costume Design Budget 2 Slippery Rock High School Anastasia
Best Costume Design Budget 3 Beaver Area High School Matilda
Best Costume Design Budget 3 Moniteau High School Mary Poppins
Best Costume Design Budget 3 Western Beaver Jr./ Sr. High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Costume Design Budget 4 Knoch High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Costume Design Budget 4 Neshannock High School SpongeBob the Musical
Best Costume Design Budget 4 New Castle High School Disney’s Frozen
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 1 Freeport Area High School Tuck Everlasting
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 1 Mohawk High School Water for Elephants
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 1 Rochester High School The Addams Family
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 2 Karns City High School Bye, Bye Birdie
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 2 North Catholic High School Footloose
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 2 Slippery Rock High School Anastasia
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 3 Beaver Area High School Matilda
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 3 Hopewell High School Mean Girls: High School Edition
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 3 Western Beaver Jr./ Sr. High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 4 Knoch High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 4 Neshannock High School SpongeBob the Musical
Best Crew/ Technical Execution Budget 4 New Castle High School Disney’s Frozen
Best Ensemble Budget 1 Beaver Falls High School James and the Giant Peach
Best Ensemble Budget 1 Freeport Area High School Tuck Everlasting
Best Ensemble Budget 1 Mohawk High School Water for Elephants
Best Ensemble Budget 2 Laurel High School The Addams Family
Best Ensemble Budget 2 North Catholic High School Footloose
Best Ensemble Budget 2 Slippery Rock High School Anastasia
Best Ensemble Budget 3 Ambrige Area High School Chicago: Teen Edition
Best Ensemble Budget 3 Hopewell High School Mean Girls: High School Edition
Best Ensemble Budget 3 Moniteau High School Mary Poppins
Best Ensemble Budget 4 Knoch High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Ensemble Budget 4 Mars Area High School The Wizard of Oz
Best Ensemble Budget 4 Neshannock High School SpongeBob the Musical
Best Lighting Design Budget 1 Beaver Falls High School James and the Giant Peach
Best Lighting Design Budget 1 Commodore Perry High School Singin’ in the Rain
Best Lighting Design Budget 1 Freeport Area High School Tuck Everlasting
Best Lighting Design Budget 2 Laurel High School The Addams Family
Best Lighting Design Budget 2 North Catholic High School Footloose
Best Lighting Design Budget 2 Slippery Rock High School Anastasia
Best Lighting Design Budget 3 Ambrige Area High School Chicago: Teen Edition
Best Lighting Design Budget 3 Beaver Area High School Matilda
Best Lighting Design Budget 3 Western Beaver Jr./ Sr. High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Lighting Design Budget 4 Knoch High School Hadestown: Teen Edition

Award School Show Role First Name Last Name
Best Lighting Design Budget 4 Mars Area High School The Wizard of Oz
Best Lighting Design Budget 4 New Castle High School Disney’s Frozen
Best Scenic Design Budget 1 Freeport Area High School Tuck Everlasting
Best Scenic Design Budget 1 Mohawk High School Water for Elephants
Best Scenic Design Budget 1 Rochester High School The Addams Family
Best Scenic Design Budget 2 Laurel High School The Addams Family
Best Scenic Design Budget 2 North Catholic High School Footloose
Best Scenic Design Budget 2 Slippery Rock High School Anastasia
Best Scenic Design Budget 3 Ambrige Area High School Chicago: Teen Edition
Best Scenic Design Budget 3 Beaver Area High School Matilda
Best Scenic Design Budget 3 Western Beaver Jr./ Sr. High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Scenic Design Budget 4 Knoch High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Scenic Design Budget 4 Neshannock High School SpongeBob the Musical
Best Scenic Design Budget 4 New Castle High School Disney’s Frozen
Best Student Orchestra Freeport Area High School Tuck Everlasting
Best Student Orchestra Knoch High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Student Orchestra Mohawk High School Water for Elephants
Best Musical Budget 1 Beaver Falls High School James and the Giant Peach
Best Musical Budget 1 Freeport Area High School Tuck Everlasting
Best Musical Budget 1 Mohawk High School Water for Elephants
Best Musical Budget 2 Laurel High School The Addams Family
Best Musical Budget 2 North Catholic High School Footloose
Best Musical Budget 2 Slippery Rock High School Anastasia
Best Musical Budget 3 Hopewell High School Mean Girls: High School Edition
Best Musical Budget 3 Moniteau High School Mary Poppins
Best Musical Budget 3 Western Beaver Jr./ Sr. High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Musical Budget 4 Knoch High School Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Musical Budget 4 Neshannock High School SpongeBob the Musical
Best Musical Budget 4 New Castle High School Disney’s Frozen
Special Judge Award Freedom Area High School Brandon Yeager
Outstanding Student Artist Beaver Falls High School Sa’Miyah Thompkins
Student Reporter Freeport Area High School Abi Barlow
CLO Academy Scholarship Winner Mars Area High School Camden Kleba
CLO Academy Scholarship Winner Slippery Rock High School Stefon Austin
RMU Scholarship Winner Freedom Area High School

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Senate Republican Communications Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Penn State Master Gardeners, the PA Vegetable Growers Association, and volunteers gathered in Harrisburg on Thursday to begin planting for this season’s Capitol Hunger Garden.

Guests including Elder Vogel Jr. and Emily Kinkead celebrated the start of the garden’s 16th season.

Vogel and Kinkead serve as co-chairs of the Legislative Hunger Caucus, which advocates for solutions to food insecurity affecting residents across all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Officials said the Hunger Garden reflects the caucus’ commitment to supporting those in need in the Harrisburg area.

Last year, the garden produced a record 1,192 pounds of produce and herbs, benefiting Downtown Daily Bread and the people it serves.

The Pennsylvania Department of General Services, the PA Vegetable Growers Association, Penn State Master Gardeners, and local volunteers help maintain the garden each season.

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute announced Thursday that the Glimmer of Hope Foundation donated $140,000 to launch a new “Mind, Body, Care” initiative in partnership with the AHN Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Institute and the AHN Imaging Institute.

The initiative is designed to improve quality of life for breast cancer patients, particularly those living with metastatic disease.

According to AHN, the funding will expand access to behavioral health services, introduce advanced diagnostic technology, and provide comfort-focused resources for patients across Western Pennsylvania.

Officials said the donation builds on Glimmer of Hope’s longstanding support of the AHN Cancer Institute and strengthens the region’s continuum of breast cancer care.

The “Mind, Body, Care” initiative is centered on these three primary areas, according to a release from Allegheny Health Network:

• Mind: Expanding access to behavioral health services for metastatic breast cancer patients, this pillar builds on a successful 2025 pilot program, which you can find out more about by clicking here. Funding will support the continued placement of a specialized behavioral health psychologist in the clinic, providing therapy to this high-need population.
• Body: Introducing contrast-enhanced mammography at AHN Allegheny General Hospital, representing a significant advancement in breast cancer diagnostics. Contrast-enhanced mammography offers superior lesion visibility, particularly for women with dense breast tissue, and demonstrates diagnostic performance comparable to breast MRI. Expanding access to this technology is expected to reduce diagnostic delays, minimize unnecessary biopsies, and shorten time to treatment — especially for underserved patients who face barriers to obtaining breast MRI.
• Care: Providing SuzziPads to patients at five AHN Cancer Institute locations — Saint Vincent in Erie, Wexford, Allegheny General, Forbes, and Jefferson Hospital/Bethel Park. SuzziPads are specialized cold-therapy socks and mittens designed to help reduce chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, a common and often debilitating side effect of treatment. SuzziPads can also help prevent fingernail and toenail loss and other extremity damage associated with chemotherapy.

(File Photo of Sign with Person on Bike Getting Hit by a Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Shaler Township, PA) PennDOT, AAA East Central, and the Shaler Township Police Department hosted a bicycle safety event to promote awareness during National Bicycle Safety Month.

Officials discussed safety tips for both bicyclists and motorists, emphasizing the importance of sharing the road.

The Shaler Township Police Department also promoted its annual bicycle rodeo, scheduled for May 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kiwanis Park. The free community event is designed to educate young riders and their families about bicycle safety.

You can visit Shaler Township’s website by clicking here for more details about the event.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of oneBURGH, Posted on Facebook on May 7th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Mars, PA) After millions of votes were cast, the Mars Fightin’ Planets were named the 2026 Best High School Mascot in America.

The nationwide contest featured a March Madness-style bracket in which 64 high school mascots competed head-to-head.

Mars defeated the Poca Dots of West Virginia in the opening round before advancing past the Johnson Atom Smashers of Georgia in round two.

In the later rounds, the Fightin’ Planets defeated the Bonanza Antlers of Oregon in the Sweet 16, the Yuma Criminals of Arizona in the Elite Eight, and the Willingboro Chimeras of New Jersey in the Final Four.

The championship matchup featured two Pennsylvania schools, with Mars defeating the Boiling Springs Bubblers by a vote of 899,296 to 575,259.

The mascot — named after both the Mars borough and the Red Planet — is also known locally as the “Mars Meatball.”

School supporters also generated significant social media attention during the contest, including a YouTube video featuring students from Mars Area Elementary School explaining why they believed the Fightin’ Planets deserved the title.

(File Photo of Pittsburgh International Airport Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced more than $10.7 million in federal funding Thursday for continued upgrades to the new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport.

According to Deluzio’s office, the funding was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Department of Transportation to support several infrastructure improvements at the airport.

The funding includes:

• $5,527,109 to reconstruct 700,000 square feet of terminal space of existing terminal as part of the final phase of the terminal modernization project, including construction of the north and south airside terraces.
• $4,013,934 to rehabilitate 4,300 feet of existing pavement in Taxiway B and 3,000 feet of existing pavement in Taxiway C to help maintain structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris to extend their service life.
• $1,200,000 to replace two existing emergency electrical generators that have reached the end of their usable lifespan.

(File Photo of the Pittsburgh International Airport Airside Terminal)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Breeze Airways has launched new nonstop service from Pittsburgh International Airport to Louisville.

The route will operate twice weekly, with flights scheduled on Thursdays and Sundays. One-way fares start at $69.

Earlier this week, Breeze also announced three additional nonstop routes from Pittsburgh to Vero Beach, Punta Cana, and Cancun.

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa Township, PA) The Chippewa Police Department took two people into custody Thursday morning in Chippewa Township. 

Police said officers conducted a traffic stop near First National Bank at about 9:13 a.m. and apprehended two individuals in connection with reported suspicious activity. The individuals were reportedly spotted outside the Home Depot prior to the stop. 

Authorities said the individuals were identified at the scene and transported to the police station in Chippewa. 

(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Sewickley Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Gibsonia reported that a 30-year-old Springdale woman was involved in a single-vehicle crash Sunday in New Sewickley Township. 

Police said Sonitha Louissaint was traveling eastbound on Interstate 76 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike when her vehicle struck a deer at about 10:38 p.m. 

No injuries were reported.