Latest news with #PointParkUniversity
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kiser apparent GOP nominee for county treasurer
Out of the two women seeking the Crawford County treasurer position, the numbers were in Renee Kiser's favor as of Tuesday night's unofficial vote count. Kiser will go against Stephanie Martin in the fall for the seat which is held by Christine Krzysiak. Krzysiak, a Republican, is retiring after first being elected to the position in 2011. Based on the unofficial results, Kiser brought in 4,109 votes compared to opponent Sarah E. Medvec's 3,185. Leading up to the election, Kiser was pounding the pavement and reaching as many voters as she could, telling The Meadville Tribune on Tuesday night that she only had three hours of sleep in the past 30 hours. Still, she was excited for what's to come. 'I think I worked very hard. I went to a lot of events. I think my experience and my education spoke to voters and I'm extremely thrilled,' she said. 'I'm going to work very hard for the people of Crawford County, and I look forward to the November race.' Kiser is a lifelong Crawford County resident and currently calls Saegertown home. She is a graduate of Meadville Area Senior High and earned her bachelor's degree in business education at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. She has 20 years of banking experience and worked in the county's treasurer's office for nine years before being elected as county auditor in 2024. She is currently the secretary for the Crawford County Republican Women. Her opponent come November, Martin, moved to Meadville in 2005 and worked at Allegheny College for 18 years as a mathematics professor. She ran the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program from 2012 to 2022 when she left the college to pursue a position with the HOPE initiative. The treasurer position manages the county's finances, overseeing the collection of local taxes, and advising county officials of investments while providing regular financial reports. Official results will be certified once all provisional ballots and other ballots that must be counted by hand are completed. The final computations, after a five-day posting period in which there are no objections or challenges, will be made official with the final signing by the Crawford County Board of Elections.
CBS News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Pittsburgh teens travel to New York City for national monologue competition
There are only a handful of Pittsburgh teenagers who can say they've performed on stage at the Apollo Theater. And now, there are two more. They are part of the Bill Nunn Theater Outreach Project. It's designed to get the participants ready for two competitions. The August Wilson Monologue Competition hosts a regional competition in Pittsburgh where students perform the works of the Pulitzer-winning playwright August Wilson. There are also regional competitions for the Next Narrative Monologue Competition, which features the works of contemporary playwrights. "We've been producing this program since 2008. We have witnessed the transformation of our young people," said Demearia Boccella, managing director of the Bill Nunn Theater Outreach Program. Nunn is also a Pittsburgh native and actor who started the program to expose young people to the work of Wilson. For at least two months, the students spent several hours on a Saturday selecting their monologues, memorizing and perfecting every nuance of their delivery. It's a program that introduces them to theater techniques, confidence-building and prizes. Top finalists win scholarship awards to Point Park University and a trip to New York City for the Next Narrative National Monologue Competition. "Traveling to New York for our participants is the winning prize of the monologue competition in addition to the cash prizes," said Boccella. "But really technically, it's like icing on the cake." The regional competitions were held in March. This year's top two Pittsburgh finalists were Dayton Jackson and KenNyah Woods. They earned the right to join the finalists from eight other cities around the country for the national competition in New York. However, this year the Pittsburgh group was a little larger. In a surprise move following the Pittsburgh competition, the Phoenix Helsel Family Foundation came forward and announced that it would sponsor all of the participants to travel to New York to support the finalists. There were screams of joy from the teens. "We do things that are a little bit more creative to help people in those different ways," said Anissa, the foundation's executive director. The students had the full New York experience. They stayed in Harlem, rode the subway to Manhattan, saw the shops on Madison Avenue, enjoyed artwork at the Whitney Museum and saw the Tony-nominated play "Purpose.". Also, the finalists had a chance to meet some of the actors after the show and ask them about their craft. Woods asked actor Glenn Davis, "Putting yourself into a character who has a bipolar issue, was that hard for you as an actor?" "Every character has their difficulties," Davis said. "I don't think I've run into a character in my professional life that I went, oh, this is a cake walk. This is easy." There was more time with well-known performers. Tony Award-winning actress and Broadway director Phylicia Rashad spent lots of time greeting the young people and having an intimate lunch and learn with the finalists. Kenny Leon, the Tony Award-winning director whose current project is "Othello" on Broadway, operates the Next Narrative Monologue Competition through the Kenny Leon True Colors Theatre Company. His ties to Pittsburgh run deep. "Pittsburgh will always be the foundation of the monologue competition," Leon said. "And August Wilson will always be in the Army of soldiers that loved us more than we loved ourselves. They always told our stories, so that's a great reminder to all of us that these young people, they can write their own stories, tell their own stories, speak their own stories, direct their own stories." For the students, the experience left a lasting impression. Jackson and Woods performed their monologues at the Apollo. The rest of the students reflected on their experiences. "All of the actors did an amazing job," said Candace Smith. "Their portrayal of each character was very authentic, and I really like that." Layla Sewell-Wilson said she liked the New Yorkers. "Everybody was so sweet. Like if you wanted to do a TikTok with people, they would do a TikTok," Sewell-Wilson said. Ashlyn Fair said her takeaway was the monologues performed in New York. "Watching everybody execute their monologues in their own way was pretty inspiring," she added. "Everything's a process," said Darnell Peak. "You can't rush anything. You can't jump thinking you're going to be the best already. You just got to take your time, slow down and enjoy it." Taj Jones believes she gained something she didn't expect. "Getting to know these people, it was like a blessing. And I feel like I built a great relationship with these people," she said. "I feel like we're almost family." Tillman added, "I think that each and every one of these kids, no matter what their beginnings were, their endings are going to be something magical."
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Role Model's a rising star, but he's still homesick for Maine
Apr. 29—Tucker Pillsbury was working on his latest album when he got very homesick for known as Role Model to music fans, had already been in Los Angeles for several years, establishing himself as a pop singer and songwriter. But he began thinking a lot about his childhood home in Cape Elizabeth and the music his parents played, by artists like Jackson Browne and Neil Young. "I just hit a point where I was missing home a lot and my whole taste in music was kind of shifting. I started listening to the music my parents would play around the house, a lot of Americana and folk, and it inevitably started to bleed into my songwriting," said Pillsbury, 27. "I just wanted to think about things that reminded me of home." His album — "Kansas Anymore" — came out last July and he's been touring the world since. His feel-good TikTok video for the song "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out," showing Pillsbury dancing through a Los Angeles mall, has more than 4 million views, and he made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Monday night, performing the song. He'll also join Gracie Abrams on some of her summer tour, including July 23 and 24 at TD Garden in Boston, and will headline his own tour of Europe beginning in November. @rolemodelSALLY VIDEO OUT NOW DIVA♬ sally when the wine runs out — tucker Pillsbury came upon his musical voice by accident. He didn't sing in a school chorus or play any instruments growing up, but displayed his creativity by writing and making videos. After graduating from Cape Elizabeth High School in 2014, he went to Point Park University in Pittsburgh to study film. While there he started playing around with some recording equipment left in his room one day. He started performing raps for a while, but decided he'd rather sing. By early 2017 he was performing and under the name Role Model, picked because he loved the Paul Rudd 2008 comedy film "Role Models." Pillsbury has several tattoos to remind him of Maine, include the script P from the Portland Press Herald logo, on his right hand. Others include a sack of potatoes, a box of strawberries and a lobster trap. @gq so sweet and sentimental ? #rolemodel #kansasanymore #tattoo ♬ original sound — GQ With his hectic tour schedule, Pillsbury says it's been harder for him to get home as often as he'd like, but says he has some trips to Maine planned throughout the summer. Sometimes family and friends come to him when he's performing nearby. When he played MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston on April 23, his mom, Susan Pillsbury, danced on stage with him. "Everyone kept telling me that he was blowing up. I didn't always understand its magnitude until I stepped on stage with him the other night. This very emotional feeling came over me as I joined him on stage and felt the immense energy from his fans," said Susan Pillsbury, a retired special education teacher. "It was truly a dream for me to experience that with him." @sarahlicciardi just two iconic divas @tucker @noplaceliketour #boston #rolemodel ♬ original sound — sarah While on tour in April, Pillsbury took a few minutes to talk to the Press Herald about his career so far and the role Maine has played in it. Where was the video for "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out" filmed? We didn't have much time to explore different malls and different places. We had about two days and it was Valentine's Day, so we just went to the Beverly Center here in LA. The idea was from the TV show "Impractical Jokers," the time they had one of the guys dancing through a mall with headphones on, kind of disrupting things. I thought, why not make that into a music video and use real people in the mall, and get them to sign waivers, so we could have real reactions. I wanted genuine reactions and that was a cool way to do it. Had you ever danced through a mall before? Like the Maine Mall in South Portland? I mean, the Maine Mall is a very special place. I feel like for anyone in their late middle school or early high school years, that was the only place we could hang out with girls and hang out with people from different schools. I'm sure there was dancing going on. There was flirting, first dates and everything. I don't know if I would have had the confidence (then) to dance around. You've said that the songs on the album were inspired by a break-up, yet "Sally" is so upbeat. Why is that? The original album was very much about that, the ending of a relationship that I had been in. A few months after the album came out, we were starting to talk about putting out a deluxe version. We had two songs I knew I wanted to put on the deluxe and I thought I should probably write some more, too. I was just in a very different place then, so the song wasn't about heartbreak, it was about my re-entry into dating, kind of finding myself again. It was celebratory, from a more joyous time in my life, for sure. What are some of the things you like to do when you come home? I will never miss a Fourth of July in Maine, that's always on my calendar. I love the fireworks and everything on the Eastern Prom (in Portland.) I like to go strawberry picking. I grew up very close to the the strawberry fields and spent a lot of time there. I heard one of them (Maxwell's) closed last year. That's a bummer. Hopefully somebody else will take it over. I like to go the beach just about everyday. The Old Port at night is my favorite thing ever. I always say, I'm at the point where I have seen a lot of the world, but there's still nothing that comes close to Maine in the summer. When you toured with Gracie Abrams last year, did you guys talk much about Maine? Her family's from here, right? I've known Gracie for a long time. She was one of the first people I met when I came out to LA. She found out that I was from Maine, and we talked about it. Her mom is from Maine, and they have family up there. It's beautiful to have someone on tour to talk (about Maine) to. She embraces it in a cool way. What's the thing you like most about touring and what's the biggest challenge? Being on stage is truly one of my favorite parts of this whole thing. I don't think there's been a time when I got on stage and didn't have a smile on my face. No matter how bad my day was, as soon as I'm on stage and performing, it will change my mood. Everything else about touring can be pretty hard on your body and your mind. Not being able to settle anywhere for more than 24 hours and being in a different bed every night, going from hotel to hotel and living out of a bag. It is cool to see new places every day. It's just a unique way to live your life. I have an amazing group of people I tour with, and they make it fun. Do you think there were things about growing up in Maine that help you deal with the celebrity and touring and all you're going through now? I think there's a lot. I've always talked about my friends. My best friends in the world are people that I grew up with, that we have been friends since kindergarten. They ground me every time I go home. We plan our trips together, and we hang out the same way we did in high school. Those friends, when I 'm with them, we never, ever talk about my career or anything that's going on with music. Our conversations are pretty much the same as they were when we were 18. I love that, because when I'm in LA I feel like all I'm talking about is myself and my career. I get excited for that, for just the normalcy of Maine. Copy the Story Link
CBS News
09-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Former Pirates pitcher Steve Blass to receive honorary degree from Point Park University
Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and longtime broadcaster Steve Blass will be awarded an honorary degree from Point Park University during the school's commencement ceremony at the end of April. Blass, 82, will be honored with a Doctor of Humane Letters, a degree often awarded to those who have made significant humanitarian or philanthropic contributions to their communities. The Connecticut native played for the Pirates from 1964 to 1974 and was part of the 1971 World Series-winning team, earning a complete game victory in Game 7 against the Baltimore Orioles. He also spent 34 years as a commentator for Pirates games. In 2022, for his over 60 years of combined service as a player, broadcaster, and team ambassador, Blass was inducted as an inaugural member of the Pirates' Hall of Fame. Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis is also scheduled to be the featured commencement speaker. The commencement ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, at PPG Paints Arena. Doors open at 11 a.m.
CBS News
20-03-2025
- CBS News
Cybersecurity experts urge email users to take steps to guard against vicious ransomware scheme
Federal cybersecurity officials are out with an urgent warning to protect your email accounts and personal data. A dangerous ransomware scheme first identified in 2021 is picking up speed, breaching the data of hundreds of people. The vicious ransomware is called Medusa. Jeffrey Seaman, a cybersecurity expert and applied computer science associate professor at Point Park University, calls it blackmail in the modern age. "The crazy thing about it, it's like one of those movies you see on TV and you're like, oh, this can't happen. Then you know it really can happen. That's how dangerous and scary it could be," Seaman said. Federal authorities say users of Gmail, Outlook, and other popular email services are at risk. "I would just say more people are falling for it because it's unique because it's not just for commercial companies, but it also involves individuals like yourself or almost like a phishing email. So, you receive an email something looks too good to be true. You click on it. And a lot of times people do not even know their system has been exploited by this virus," he said. The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center released an advisory to alert people about Medusa, which is a ransomware-as-a-service provider. According to the advisory, Medusa's developers typically recruit cyber criminals to work for them. Seaman said these hackers look for vulnerabilities in your operating system. "So, if you do not have patching updates. So, keep your system up to date. And what it does is it looks for everything that you basically do on your computer. It could be banking, it could be searching the internet. It could be Facebook. It could be anything," he said. The "Medusa actors" use a double extortion model. First, they hold data hostage. "It finds stuff that you don't want out there, such as social security number or bank account number or checking account, etc.," said Seaman. Then they send a scary pop-up to the victim's screen. "They reach out to you, and they say, hey, you know, you pay X, Y, and Z. And we will not exploit you. If not, we'll exploit have a time frame And that's what's so scary about it," he said, Seaman said everyone should take extra steps to protect their email accounts. His tips include: "Use something like 22 characters. Use not just characters, but using merit characters, and different numbers, but also change every three months. And I tell people all the time. Use multi-factor authentication. Use a couple of them. Use your cell phone number. Use a device such as Google Authenticator, or Microsoft," Seaman said. In his opinion, it's better to be safe than sorry. "So, if you don't want your life ruined, I say be safe as possible. You know, take all the precautions. I mean, you might take the precautions, and you still might be a victim, but it's best to try to be safe," said Seanan.
