Latest news with #PennsylvaniaMapleFestival
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
11 young women to compete March 8 for title in 78th Maple Queen Scholarship Pageant
MEYERSDALE — Eleven Somerset County high school teens will compete for the title of Queen Maple LXXVIII in the annual Maple Queen Scholarship Pageant at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Meyersdale Area High School auditorium. Ella Holly will be the master of ceremonies. The music accompanist is Ian Dively. The young women will be judged in a pre-contest interview with the judges, and evening gown and talent competition. The top five scoring contestants will then advance to an on-stage personality competition before the announcement of the new maple queen, who will receive $2,500, and top two maids of honor, who will receive $1,000 and $500 respectively, from the Pennsylvania Maple Festival. The winners also receive cash prizes and trophies from various businesses and organizations. More: So many emotions went through Gracie Paulman as she was named maple queen The contest also features awards for the contestant receiving the highest score in maple wisdom, Miss Congeniality, Nancy Beamer Memorial Interview, promenade, and Anna Ruth Thomas Memorial Talent. The new court will preside over the 78th annual Pennsylvania Maple Festival April 5 and 6, and April 9-13, in Meyersdale, and the queen will represent the maple festival in appearances throughout the year. The contestants are Kelana Blubaugh, Malia Sines, Emma Lischak, Hope Canfield, Jayla Maley, Abagail Barndt, Jaylynn Anderson, Bailey Knotts, Maryn Rhoads, Madelyn Richardson and Kiran Wiedner. Kelana Blubaugh, the daughter of Jason and Kristi Blubaugh, will perform a tap dance routine. She is a student at Meyersdale Area High School where she is a varsity cheerleader, a member of the dance team, an elementary tutor, a school newspaper worker, a school ambassador and a school Science Club member. She is a basketball letterman, cheerleading letterman, Challenge Program Award winner, academic letterman, honor roll student and regional and national competitive dance finalist. After high school, she plans to attend Frostburg State University to pursue an RN/BSN degree and work in the NICU. Malia Sines, the daughter of Johnny and Jennifer Sines, will perform a jazz dance routine. She is a student at Meyersdale Area High School where she is a member of the student council, National Honor Society, high school dance team and student ambassador. She's been listed on the honor roll. After high school, Malia plans to finish her associate degree at Allegany College of Maryland in early childhood education and then transfer to Frostburg State University to get a bachelor's degree in early childhood elementary education. Emma Lischak, the daughter of Jeremy and Brianne Lischak, is a student at Berlin Brothersvalley High School. Her talent will be a monologue. She is a member of the National Honor Society, student council president, LEO, Art Club, yearbook president, FOR Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is a graduate and senior of Camp Cadet. After high school, Emma plans to attend a university for a degree in elementary education. Hope Canfield is the daughter of Joe Canfield, Amanda Canfield and Myah Willis. Her talent presentation will be a piano performance. She is a student at Meyersdale Area High School where she is a member of the volleyball team, marching band, concert band, Jazz band, chorus and musical. She participated in district band, district jazz, honor roll, and received the All-Star Volleyball Award, Honorable Mention Volleyball Award and 1000+ SAT awards. After high school, Hope plans to attend IUP for music composition and music performance. Jayla Maley is the daughter of Ashley McKenzie and James Maley. She is a student at Salisbury-Elk Lick High School where she is the senior class president, Home Ec Club president, Pep Club vice president, LEO Club vice president, Ski Club vice president, FBLA Communications officer and student government member. She is a Somerset County Fair princess, honors student, Red Ribbon Rally runner-up speaker, Somerset County Exchange Club Student of the Month and 2024 Homecoming Queen. Her talent will be a monologue. Jayla plans to earn certifications to become a 911 dispatcher and pursue a career in law enforcement. More: Maple producers tapping ceremony officially marks 2025 maple season Abagail Barndt is the daughter of Michael and Tammy Barndt. She is a student at Somerset Area High School, where she is the Interact Club secretary and a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions. She received the FFA Community Service Award, Interact Club Service Above Self Award and was an Outstanding Young Woman finalist. She plans to attend the University of Pitt-Greensburg to earn an RN/BSN degree to become a pediatric nurse. Her talent will be a hip-hop dance routine. Jaylynn Anderson is the daughter of Jason and Rebekah Anderson. She is a student at Meyersdale Area High School and plans to perform a vocal solo for her talent. Jaylynn is the SADD Club president, National Honor Society secretary, Envirothon secretary, and rifle team co-captain. She is a member of the student council, chorus and a student ambassador. She received the Soroptimist International Community Services award, Red Ribbon Rally speaker, Lions Club Student of the Month, Student of the Day, Remarkable Raider, American Legion Certificate of School Award, academic letterman, rifle team letterman and Daughters of the American Revolution Award runner up. After high school, Jaylynn plans to attend Penn West University for RN/BSN to work in emergency medicine. Bailey Knotts is the daughter of Jeff and Kelly Knotts. She is a student at Meyersdale Area High School where she is Chapter FFA president, County FFA vice president, student council president, school board representative, and is a member of National Honor Society and 4H. She is on the honor roll, and received the Challenge Program Community Service Award, 4H Green Clover Award, 4H White Clover Award, 4H Silver Clover Award, 4H Bronze Clover Award, 4H Gold Clover Award, 4H Diamond Clover Award, FFA Star Discovery Award, FFA Star Greenhand Award, FFA Star Chapter Farmer Award, and FFA Keystone Degree. She will perform a lyrical dance routine. After high school, Bailey plans to attend Pennsylvania State University to obtain a degree in animal science. More: Maple producers celebrate the official start of the 2025 Somerset County sugar season Maryn Rhoads is the daughter of Daniel and Amanda Rhoads. She attends North Star High School, where she is a member of the National Honor Society, Pep Club, and student council president. She is a Student of the Month and 2024 Forensics Speech Regional Champion. She will be performing a monologue. Her plans include attending a university for a degree in physician assistant. Madelyn Richardson is the daughter of Tom and Erin Miller and Shawn Richardson. She will perform a jazz solo to "Valerie" by Amy Winehouse. At Berlin Brothersvalley High School she is a member of the National Honor Society, Art Club secretary, varsity soccer captain and varsity girls track and field. She was named to the high honor roll, is a soccer letterman, track and field letterman, All-Star Soccer Classic participant Soccer Awards, ICC All County, ICC Honorable Mention, 2023 Most Improved Player, and 2024 MVP. She plans to attend Mount Aloysius College to obtain a degree in ultrasonography. Kiran Wiedner is a student at Berlin Brothersvalley High School, where she is a member of the student council, French Club, English Club, Varsity Cheer Team, choral ensemble, choir vice president, musical, and senior class play. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Highest Honors, and Lions Club Student of the Month. After high school, Kiran plans to attend college to obtain a BSN to become a pediatric or NICU nurse. Her talent presentation will be a tap dance routine. This article originally appeared on The Daily American: 11 to vie March 8 for title of Queen Maple LXXVIII
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Maple producers looking ahead to spring with annual tree-tapping ceremony
Even though Somerset County is in the heart of winter, maple producers are already celebrating the oncoming spring. The annual Somerset County Maple Producers' Association tree-tapping ceremony is at 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at Baer Bros. Maple Camp, 245 Appy Acres Road, Somerset. The camp is owned by Mike and Sherry Lynch. The ceremony will feature Queen Maple LXXVII Gracie Paulman of Meyersdale and this year's contestants for the maple queen title. Maple King Jason Blocher will officially tap a maple tree. Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell C. Redding will be this year's special guest and speaker. The event will be held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Maple Tree Tapping Ceremony, an event started last year. Association President Everett Sechler of Sechler Sugar Shack, Confluence, said there also will be some state maple officials attending. More: PennDOT reviewing plans, responses for proposed Route 219 to Maryland completion project The maple sugar water harvest season happens when the days are warm but the nights are still freezing cold. The maple season could last for eight to 10 weeks, but the sap may run only 10 to 20 days. The season ends when the nights become warmer and the first stages of bud development are on the trees. Each tap yields an average of 10 gallons of sap per season, which boils down to about one quart of syrup. The association's tree-tapping event was originally deemed as the kick-off to the maple season for area producers. But in the past few years, the maple production has started earlier than usual. Some producers start tapping and boiling sugar water by the end of December. The majority of Somerset County's producers start their seasons by the end of January. More: Old-Growth Forest Network inducts Klondike Ridge area of Youghiogheny River Lake "There is truth in what is said (about the season starting earlier)," Sechler said. "But it's been a tradition to celebrate the maple season the last Saturday in February." The producers have sponsored the ceremony for more than 50 years, he said. There are about 75 members of the Somerset County Maple Producers' Association. "In those 50 years of celebrating the maple season, I can think of only two times we had to cancel that I know of," Sechler said. Visitors to the tree-tapping ceremony will be treated to free maple candies, and baked goods will be available. The Somerset County Maple Taste & Tour is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1, 2 and 8 and 9, at participating sugar camps. The 78th annual Pennsylvania Maple Festival is set for April 5, 6 and 9-13, in Meyersdale. Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 38 years, covering school boards, borough councils, sports and new stories. Contact the Daily American staff writers at news@ This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Baer Bros Sugar Camp hosting 2025 tree-tapping ceremony
