Sycamore Youth Center to offer free summer dance camps

STEUBENVILLE — The Sycamore Youth Center is inviting area youth to take part in upcoming summer dance camps, with free ballet and jazz sessions led by returning instructor Diana Tygett.

The camps are part of the center’s annual summer programming aimed at providing skill-building opportunities for local children and teens.

Tygett, who previously taught at Sycamore, returns this summer to lead ballet and jazz instruction. She began dancing at age 5 in New York and has experience in ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance, along with a background in early childhood development.

“After seeing the impact Diana made with our students, we knew we wanted her back,” said Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center. “She does an excellent job helping students grow not only in skill, but also in confidence and creativity.”

Two ballet camps will be offered the week of June 8-12. A Children’s Ballet Camp for ages 5-10 will run from 10 to 10:45 a.m., while a Youth Ballet Camp for ages 11-18 will be held from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Each session is limited to 20 participants.

The ballet camps will introduce foundational ballet movement and technique, including positions, basic leaps and turns, with students working on a routine throughout the week.

Tygett will also lead a Jazz and Contemporary Dance Camp for ages 6-18, scheduled for June 1-5 from 11:15 a.m. to noon. The camp will focus on movement, rhythm and expression while teaching jazz steps and choreography.

All camps are free and open to area youth on a first-come, first-served basis. Families are encouraged to register at sycamorecenter.com as many camps are already near capacity.

The Sycamore Youth Center, operated by the Ohio Valley Youth Network, serves more than 500 students each week through free after-school and summer programming focused on academics, life skills and enrichment opportunities.

Franciscan panel to explore hearing God’s voice, vocational calling

STEUBENVILLE — Franciscan University of Steubenville will host a special Formation Monday panel on Monday, April 20, featuring four Catholic content creators discussing discernment, vocation, dating, spiritual growth and hearing God’s voice.

The event, “Is God Calling Me? How to Discern His Voice,” begins at 7 p.m. and is open to students in person. It will also be livestreamed on the university’s YouTube channel, with a live Q&A for both in-person and online participants.

The panel will be moderated by Jake Khym. Panelists include Father Matt Wheeler, Sister Patricia Young, Mari Wagner and Matt Breuninger.

University officials said the Formation Monday series is designed to help students grow in faith, identity and vocational discernment through conversations that extend beyond the classroom.

Panhandle Democrats set event

WEIRTON — The Hancock and Brooke County Democratic Executive Committees, along with Hancock and Brooke County Democratic Women, will sponsor a meet-and-greet with Northern Panhandle candidates who are on the May 12 ballot.

The event will be held Saturday at the Millsop Community Center. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and will feature tables with literature and information from the surrounding community organizations. A voter registration table will be set up for those who haven’t made their way to register. Tuesday is the registration deadline.

Voters are invited to enjoy BBQ, compliments of Big Foot Mountain BBQ, and refreshments, while listening to the candidates.

Candidates expected to participate include: Rachel Fetty Anderson and Jeff Kessler, U.S. Senate; Ace Parsi, Stephanie Tomana and Steven Wendelin, U.S. House District 2; Shawn Fluharty, state Senate District 1; Quincy Wilson, state House District 1; Daniel J. Day, state House District 2; Mike Robinson, state House District 3; Brianne Bates, Hancock County commissioner; Michael Traubert. Brooke County Board of Education; and Jim Douglas, family court.

Edison choirs raising voices in song

RICHMOND — The Edison Junior-Senior High School choirs will be raising their voices in song at upcoming events.

EHS Vocal Music Director Nicholas Hughes said members will perform their spring concert Monday in the school auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with performances to begin at 7 p.m.

“The theme is ‘Sounds of Stage and Screen,'” he said, adding that the evening will include the seventh- and eighth-grade choirs, high school choir and senior solos. “It will be a night of good music and recognizing our high school students and seniors for all of their hard work.”

Hughes said the concert was free, but donations will be accepted and proceeds will go to the vocal music department.

The music will continue with a cabaret at 7 p.m. May 2 in the school cafeteria. Tickets cost $25 per person or $150 for a table of six people, and those who order a table are responsible for filling all of the seats. Tickets must be purchased no later than today. The event is a fundraiser to benefit students in the vocal music department.

“The theme is ‘Once Upon A Song’ and it will be a night of eating, signing and storytelling,” Hughes commented. “There will be 10 students performing from grades 7-12 and the music will be a collection of musical theater and Disney songs.”

He said this was the first year for the cabaret, and it will include dinner, a basket drawing and a 50-50 drawing at the performance. Tickets can be purchased by contacting him at nicholas.hughes@edisonwildcats.org or through a cast member.

Weirton Kiwanis sets Facebook auction

WEIRTON — The annual Facebook auction held by the Weirton Kiwanis Club will return next week.

This year’s event will run from noon Monday to 9 p.m. April 22. Proceeds will support the club’s community projects.

The auction can be accessed by searching Kiwanis Club of Weirton on Facebook. The auction event page will be listed on there and can be clicked on. Also, you can search Facebook for Weirton Kiwanis Facebook Auction 2026 and be directed to the page from there.

Once on the event page, click the option for Discussion. Scroll down, and all items up for bid will be pictured.

While the auction is live, bidding will take place by commenting a bid for each item under the specific item picture.

Bidding will start at noon Monday at half the value of each item for most items and increase by one dollar.

When the auction concludes, the highest bid commented under each picture will be the winning bidder. Comments will be accepted until Weirton Kiwanis comments “bidding closed” under each item.

The highest bidders will be announced on the event page on April 24. Winning bidders will be responsible for paying for and picking up their items between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. April 27 at Hancock County Savings Bank, Three Springs Drive, in the community room.

Payment will be accepted in cash or by check made payable to Weirton Kiwanis Club.

Contact Weirton Kiwanis President Ernie Nicholas at (304) 479-0235 for information.

LLecture centers on Rebel barbarities

WHEELING — Pittsburgh native and historian Harry Smeltzer will be the guest speaker at the April 22 meeting of the Ohio Civil War Roundtable at 6:30 p.m. at the Ohio County Library. The focus of his presentation is the accounts of the Battle of Bull Run and Rebel atrocities associated with the battle. Smeltzer’s research is based on the findings of the 1862 Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.

Smeltzer has earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh. He hosts the web site Bull Runnings and has published articles for several Civil War magazines, including Civil War Times; America’s Civil War; and The Civil War Monitor.

Smeltzer also serves on the board of directors of the Historic Antietam Foundation. The lecture is open to the public. For information, contact Roger Micker at (304) 312-7559.