Armstrong "In The Loop Podcast"

It is that wonderful time of year again, high school musical season! We have two back to back episodes to help promote our local musicals. 

Our first episode features the Seneca Valley All School Musical and this year's production of The SpongeBob Musical! We're honored to have two members of the cast, Isaac Hixon & Morgan Roithner, as well as Producer Jessica Kavanagh. 

We learn all about what this wonderful musical is: Join SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, and the rest of the Bikini Bottom gang as they face the terrifying threat of a volcanic eruption. Through catchy songs and dazzling dance numbers, this underwater adventure is a joyful celebration of optimism, friendship, and the power of community.

Isaac and Morgan share their favorite numbers as well as their favorite scenes from the show!

• Evening performances: Feb. 27, 28, March 1st, 2nd at 7:00 PM Matinee performances: March 1st and 2nd at 2:00 PM

Tickets: $12 per adult and $10 per student

Here is the link to purchase online: https://www.showclix.com/event/svspongebobmusical

***NEW THIS YEAR*** A Sensory Friendly Spectacular production of the show on March 1st at 2:00pm. 

We know going to the theater can be a bit... squeaky for some of our friends!
That's why we're throwing a Sensory-Friendly Spectacular!
Get ready for:
• Low-key sounds: No more ear-splitting noises! (Unless it's Plankton's laughter, of course!)
• Dim lights: The theater won't be as dark as a deep-sea trench.
• Wiggle room: Feel free to move around and chat with your friends in designated seating.
• Friendly faces: Our staff are here to help with a smile!
• Bring your buddies: Noise-canceling headphones, fidgets, and your favorite stuffed animals are welcome!
• Special performance materials: Check out our website for show info to get ready for the fun! (materials will be available mid February) senecavalleytheater.com
What's a Sensory-Friendly Show?
It's a show where everyone can have a fin-tastic time! We make some adjustments, like lower sounds and brighter lights, to make the experience more comfortable for everyone.
At Seneca Valley, we believe the theater should be a fun place for everyone!
See you under the water!
Email Jessica Kavanagh for more information: [email protected]

Here is the list of the cast and production members for this year's musical: 

Director – Michael Marra

Stage Manager – Amber Hugus

Choreographers – Emily Christ & Susana Garcia

Orchestra Director – Bruce Smith

Vocal Director – Bobi Jean Alexander

Tech Director – Mark Beighey

SpongeBob – Ayla Alexander

Patrick – Isaac Hixon

Sandy Cheeks – Morgan Roithner

Plankton – Christian Schuster

Squidward – Sam Smith

Mr. Krabs – Jacob Hensler

Perch Perkins – Parker Smith

Pearl – Aydan Danylo

Best of luck to the entire cast, crew, volunteers and everyone that is making this show possible!

After a long hiatus, we are back with a new season of Armstrong In The Loop Podcast! For our first episode of the season, we're here to talk with Mindy Schnitgen (Inspired Hearts and Hands). Mindy is the Executive Director and has been running this wonderful organization for the last 13 years.

We start the episode talking about IH2 and everything she does for those in need. Mindy talks to us about the growing need for resources across the 4 counties that she supports: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver and Butler. 

We discuss fundraising and volunteer opportunities that are critical to the success of IH2.  Mindy's website has opportunities to donate, purchase tickets to upcoming events and sign up to volunteer: https://inspiredheartsandhands.com/

The major reason for this week's episode is to talk about the return of Pizza with a Purpose! This year's event will take place on Wednesday, February 26th, from 6-8pm at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township. This is open to the public! Empty pizza boxes are $25.00 and each box comes with 10 slices of pizza. The fun part is YOU get to decide what 10 slices go in that box as we have a large group of locally owned pizza restaurants serving up their best slices. This year's list of participants:

The Training Table

Large Plain Pizza and Pints

Peppino’s Pizza

Tani’s Pizza

Milano’s Pizza Callery

Mars Pizza

Adrian’s Pizza, Thompson Run Road

Off the Vine Pizza Pie

Carlucci’s Pizza

Bruno’s Pizza

All proceeds from this event go directly to Inspired Hearts and Hands as they prepare to serve Easter Boxes to families in need.

We also have exciting news as Former Pittsburgh Penguin, Colby Armstrong, and current Pittsburgh Penguins TV Personality, Dan Potash, will be joining us as special guests for the evening! Stop by to say hello, get a photo or even an autograph!

Pizza boxes will sell out and we recommend you pre-purchase a box: https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/PizzawithaPurpose

Special Thanks to our Sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors

Rich-Mar Rotary

King Orthodontics

Cranberry Township Noon Rotary

Gold Sponsors

Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA

Goddard School

Senator Elder Vogel

Fire & Ice 

Butler County Chamber of Commerce

Silver Sponsors

Armstrong Comfort Solutions

We are excited to celebrate our 5th Anniversary of Armstrong In The Loop Podcast with our very own Pennsylvania State Senator of the 47th District, Elder Vogel! This episode is also a special occasion as we were able to record in the Butler County Chamber Podcast Studio so special thanks to Jordan Grady & Christian Shields.

Our conversation with Senator Vogel is all about his time in office, over 15 years, and the achievements that he's had during his tenure. We start off discussing local community fairs since we're in the heart of farm show/fair season. We work our way into discussing the state budget that was passed in July and what it means for everyone. Senator Vogel does in-depth on important areas of focus: Education, Transportation, Agriculture, and Telemedicine.

We spend time discussing Senator Vogel's recent telemedicine bill (Senate Bill 739) that went into law this summer. This was vital for everyone in the state and took a lot of hard work to get passed. Congratulations to Senator Vogel and his entire team that worked on this bill over the last several years!

We also highlighted a very important bill that Senator Vogel was able to get into law in 2023, Expanding access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) in the state of Pennsylvania. This bill improves the availability of critical care to sexual assault victims. For more information about this bill: https://www.senatoreldervogel.com/2023/06/22/pa-senate-passes-vogel-bill-to-expand-access-to-sexual-assault-nurse-examiners-in-the-commonwealth/

It wouldn't be an episode if we didn't help promote an upcoming event! Senator Vogel is hosting his Free Annual Senior Expo on September 27th at the Community College of Beaver County. This event will be held from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM and is free for everyone to attend! Pre-registration is encouraged for this popular event. To register: https://www.senatoreldervogel.com/senior-expo-constituent-registration/

Senator Vogel has two local offices in the 47th District, Rochester and Cranberry Township. For more information or to contact these offices:  https://www.senatoreldervogel.com/offices/

Special Thanks to Senator Vogel for taking time out of his busy schedule to shed light on the district and everything happening at the state level! 

This week we're excited to have back Megan Shane as she's recently started a new non-profit called The Connected Nest.

The Connected Nest makes room for community support that helps to provide space for those on the journey to or through parenthood to talk about the challenges and the transitions. This way they can also celebrate the successes together. They are always here for new community partners, volunteers and participants.
The path to and through parenthood doesn’t always go as expected or come with an active support system. They also know that solidarity can help challenges feel a little lighter, while celebrating successes with community brings greater joy. Our programs are designed and delivered with this in mind. Participants of their programs find greater community ties, better their mental health and increase their opportunities to feel empowered. 

Find out all about their 3 programs: Empowering Moms Program, Facing Fertility, and Equipping Parents.

For more information: https://connectednest.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConnectedNest/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectednest

Special thanks to Megan Shane for joining us!

This week's episode features one of our favorite returning guests, Shanea Clancy. Recently, Shanea has launched her Clancy Consulting Services which is offering diverse consulting services for individuals and organizations. Shanea is doing everything from public speaking to marketing services thru her website: https://www.shaneaclancy.com/

We're excited as the same day this podcast is releasing (Wednesday, May 8th), Shanea's book is being released to the public, "Transforming Trauma Into Triumph". In this episode, we get into the book and dive into Shanea's story. This is all about her life and the journey she has been on. We don't want to give away the details in this description so make sure to listen or purchase a copy of her book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D364Y8H6


Special thanks to Shanea Clancy for joining us and having a great conversation! 

We are very honored this week to have Pennsylvania State Representative of the 12th District, Stephenie Scialabba, as our guest to talk to us about her brand-new event that she is hosting in May. 

Rep. Scialabba previously hosted a Senior Expo, in 2023, that was very well attended by the public. There was an opportunity to grow the old event into something that would focus not only on Senior Citizen resources but resources for everyone, no matter the age. 

On Thursday, May 16th, Rep. Scialabba will be holding her 1st ever Family First Initiative Event at the Steamfitters Event Center in Harmony, PA. This is a free event and will host over 100 interactive tables, resources and special sessions. The event will run from 10am-6pm and there is plenty of parking at the facility so we welcome everyone to come out and attend this great event!

There will be collection boxes at the event for old glasses and cellphones if you're looking to donate as two non-profits are collecting!

For more information or to see the full list of vendors:
https://www.repscialabba.com/

We hope to see everyone on Thursday, May 16th at the Steamfitters Event Center!


Special thanks to Representative Scialabba for joining us! 

We are very thankful to have the opportunity to have Annie Mersing, Director of Advancement at Seneca Valley School District & Director of Development for Seneca Valley Foundation, as our guest this week. 

Annie shares with us the importance of the foundation for Seneca Valley Area School District. The Seneca Valley Foundation (SVF) is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to encouraging excellence and innovation in the Seneca Valley Schools. The Foundation achieves this by seeking donations and patrons to facilitate the development of new capital projects, programs and scholarships. Its board members consists of stakeholders from local business leaders, community leaders and school leaders. As a non-profit organization, the Foundation is also utilized as a vehicle by which memorial and other charitable donations may be made to the Seneca Valley School District.

To make a donation online, visit https://www.mightycause.com/organization/Seneca-Valley-Foundation

Follow us on Twitter: @SVSDFoundation
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seneca.valley.foundation?mibextid=JRoKGi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seneca-valley-school-district?trk=blended-typeahead

The Seneca Valley Foundation is excited to host the Harlem Wizards on Wednesday, April 17th. Come see the Seneca Valley All-Stars take the court vs Harlem Wizards. Doors open at 6pm and first tip is at 7pm. Proceeds benefit the SVHS LEAD Program- Learn, Explore, Act, Develop. 

LEAD (Learn, Explore, Act, Develop) is the district’s goal to support students’ social and emotional needs and help them thrive. At the Sr. High, the LEAD group of students and staff are driving a “SV Norms” movement that highlights positive behavior and attitudes to shape students into productive members of society. All proceeds from the incredible event will benefit this initiative.

The Harlem Wizards are renowned for their dazzling basketball skills, incredible athleticism, and, of course, their unmatched ability to entertain audiences of all ages. This event promises to be a spectacular experience for everyone involved, especially our elite team of SV ALL-STARS who will confidently take on the Wizards and showcase their own athletic abilities on the court. (Stay tuned – SV All-Stars will be enthusiastically announced soon!)

Event Details: Harlem Wizards vs. SV All-Stars
Date: Wednesday, April 17
Time: 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.)
Venue: Sr. High School Gymnasium

Tickets are on sale now! We encourage you to grab yours early, as this promises to be a sell-out event. Click here to purchase: https://harlemwizards.com/schedule-tickets/

Let's come together to make a positive impact on our community while enjoying a night of incredible athleticism and entertainment. Your support means the world to us, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Special Thanks to Annie Mersing for joining us!

We have quite the episode in store for all of you as we recorded live from the brand new podcasting studio inside the Butler County Chamber of Commerce office! We had the honor of being the first ever podcast episode to record in the studio and looking forward for many other shows to get the same opportunity in the near future!

Not only did we get to record in an actual studio, we were honored to have Bill Dimond, President of the Southern Butler County Business Association (SBCBA), join us to record the episode.

Bill is the first President of the newly created SBCBA and is excited to talk all about the organization's infancy as they just started at the end of 2023. This new business association is under the umbrella of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce but is responsible for running the organization. All of the members that make up the SBCBA are the ones putting together events, marketing, opportunities for small businesses and so much more!

The organization recently created their own website, https://www.sbcba.net/, and are able to accept applications for membership. Membership is free for everyone that joins in 2024 thanks to a startup grant from the Butler County Chamber. Dues are going to be under $50 for all sized businesses and organizations after 2024 to help offset the cost of running the SBCBA website. 

SBCBA is holding many events for networking, seminars for businesses and a business expo coming later in 2024. To learn more about these events:
-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/southernbutlercountybusinessassociation
-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/southernbutlercounty_ba
-LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-butler-county-business-association/

Special thanks to Bill Dimond for joining us. We also want to thank the Butler County Chamber of Commerce for allowing us to record in their new studio! 

We have another high school musical production to highlight on this week's show! We're excited to have Zach Marra, Delaney Ray, and the Director, Mr. VanLaningham join us to talk about this year's Butler High Theater All School Musical production of "Elf The Musical".

This year's production will take place on March 15th & 16th at the Butler Area High School auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the box office on the day of the show or May's Music Shoppe in Butler!

Here is the entire cast and crew of Elf The Musical:
Cast

Zach Marra, Buddy; Delaney Ray, Jovie; Amara DiCerbo, Emily Hobbs; Genevieve Maximilien Garrido, Michael Hobbs; Patryk Lyon, Walter Hobbs; Katie White, Deb; Walter Couza, manager and Santa; Chloe Feil, Greenway; Rachel Wayne, Mrs. Claus; Bradley White, Chadwick; Konner Burek, Matthews.

Ensemble

Salem Bellaij, Marianna Benkart, Kalin Burek, Gabbi Catalfano, Paige Cihonski, Isabell Colonna, Olivia Cornish (dancer), Abby Cuffman, Piper Curry, Addison Dumbaugh, Gianna Duska (dancer), Micheal Erickson, Noel Ernst (dancer), Lilly Gallagher, Ava Gerber, Aliza Green, Luvenna Griffin.

Katelyn Hanky, Maranda Horstman, Aryahna Kaltenbach, Cora Kowal, Ashlyn Lyon, Raeleigh Niemeyer, Lyric Pappas, Sienna Perhacs (dancer), Katie Portillo Rodas, Kathrine Reed, Chloe Schoentag, Ava Schultz (dancer), Cassandra Sklencar, Olivia Slater, Jacob Szul, Mars Szurek, Johnny Ward, Liza Wick, AnnaBelle Witt (dancer).

Running crew

Sage Albert, Elaine Green, Jenna McClymonds, Maura Gilliland

We hope you go see the productions on March 15th and 16th!


Special thanks to Zach, Delaney, and Mr. VanLaningham for joining us!

It is officially High School Musical season! We are lucky to kick off the 2024 musical season with members of the Seneca Valley All-School Musical production and cast. We're joined by Michael Marra (Director), Amber Hugus (Co-Producer), and Jackson Hugus (Lead actor). 

This year's production is Something Rotten! Something Rotten! is a musical comedy that premiered in 2015. The musical is set in 1595 London and tells the story of the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who are trying to write plays to find success. The brothers are overshadowed by the Renaissance rock-star playwright, William Shakespeare. In an attempt to find success, Nick seeks help from a soothsayer who tells him that the future of theater involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time.

We hear all about the comedy that this show brings and the call backs to famous musicals in one of the show's biggest production numbers.  We also discuss all of the students that are apart of the show from cast, crew, tech and the orchestra!

For more information about Seneca Valley All-School Musical: http://senecavalleytheater.com/home/all-school-musical-2/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100042167905250&sk=about

To purchase tickets for Something Rotten!: https://www.showclix.com/event/sv-something-rotten

Special thanks to Michael, Amber and Jackson for joining us! We'd also like to thank Jessica Kavanagh for coordinating the recording!