By: Kerrick Shaw 

Pittsburgh’s concert scene hit a high note this month with the announcement of an upcoming venue headlining the papers. 

The Lower Hill District is set to welcome Citizens Live at the Wylie, a 4,000-capacity music venue, in late 2026. Located near PPG Paints Arena, the venue is a collaboration between Live Nation, Citizens Bank and the Pittsburgh Penguins set to honor the city’s musical heritage. 

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An artist’s rendering of Citizens Live at the Wylie

Photo Courtesy: Live Nation

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“The venue is part of an overall commitment to honor the history of the Hill District and lift up its current residents,” Mrs. Beth Turnbull, Deputy Director of Communications for Allegheny County’s Executive Office, said. “Funding from ticket sales will be going towards benefit housing and other programs in the Hill. The economic impact will really be huge.” 

Allegheny County’s involvement in the project is through the Downtown LETRA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance) Program that was enacted to support private investment and community collaboration. The program is designed to “prevent downtown’s economic downturn,” according to the County’s official website.

 It was announced at the groundbreaking ceremony, held on March 13, that a $2 surcharge from all tickets sold will be added to the Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund. The project has created 350 unionized jobs, each with a base pay of $20 per hour. 

“It’s an exciting development, it’ll bring a vibrant new location to Pittsburgh’s Cultural scene,” Mrs. Turnbull said. “I’m excited for a venue I can get to easily from our office. I have tickets to Vampire Weekend, Lord Huron and Sabrina Carpenter in the coming months; I love concerts.” 

Carpenter is performing at PPG, a facility with a capacity over 15,000 more than at Citizens Live at the Wylie, in October. The upcoming venue’s size is comparable to that of Stage AE’s, which holds about 5,500 people in its outdoor amphitheater. 

The announcement of Citizens Live at the Wylie has generated excitement; Dean of Students Mr. Jeff Kronenwetter expressed his enthusiasm for a smaller events venue, saying he prefers venues like The Palace Theatre over Heinz Field.  

“Anytime that you can bring shows where people can gather for an evening is a great thing,” Mr. Kronenwetter said. “4,000 people sounds intimate; a smaller venue is just awesome. My wife and I just saw The Clarks at The Palace and that’s the kind of venue I like.” 

It will span 98,500 square feet, designed to host a wide range of events not limited to concerts, but also welcoming comedy shows, festivals and community gatherings.  

 Senior Paige Kline, who has seen numerous shows such as Fall Out Boy at PPG and Marilyn Manson at Star Lake, looks forward to seeing who will perform first in Pittsburgh’s newest venue. 

“I’m really interested to see what kind of artists they choose to bring there,” Kline said. “Having venues where you can say you’ve seen a rock show and a comedy act there is the kind of thing Pittsburgh needs more of.” 

Pittsburgh’s vibrant arts and culture scene is continuing to grow throughout the city with the recently announced Arts Landing outdoor civic space being just minutes away from Citizens Live at the Wylie.  

“I can imagine the improv they could get, it seems totally perfect for that,” Social Studies teacher Mr. Nicolas DeMary said. “It’s another place to have events, which I fully support. That’s what I love about Pittsburgh.” 

By: Adison Poole  

After almost five years of stickers on cups, Starbucks is attempting to reconnect with their customers through a newly implemented policy.  

 The CEO of Starbucks, Mr. Brian Niccol, came up with a plan known as “Back to Starbucks” to bring life back to the brand and live up to the expectations they were once known for. This policy created a rule where employees were told to leave a message on each cup throughout the day.  

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A Starbucks cup after the new policy.

Photo by: Adison Poole

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“I was excited about the policy,” senior Rachel Kuhn said. “I went several times to try and get a cool message.”  

The messages on the cups were to consist of cheery messages that would hopefully brighten the customers’ day or empower them.  

Many students from GS tried to receive a fun cup and visited Starbucks regularly in hopes of getting one with designs. However, many left disappointed after receiving a plain cup.  

“They’re supposed to write nice stuff like ‘have a great day,’ but I haven’t gotten anything on my cup,” Kuhn explained. 

All employees were encouraged to participate and act right away to get cups out to customers.  

“I went almost three days last week and didn’t get anything on mine,” Kuhn said. 

The policy was heavily advertised on sites such as Tik Tok with users’ pages being flooded with videos of silly messages or song lyrics on cups.  

“I’ve seen it everywhere on Tik Tok,” sophomore Hayden Caughey said. “It’s so annoying to keep going and not get anything.” 

Out of students who said they went, there were only a small handful actually received a message.

One of those students, senior Sloane Potter, spoke of her experience and how excited she was to finally get one.  

“It was nice to get such a sweet message on mine,” Potter said. “I made sure to take a picture of it to show off.”  

The policy is still fairly new, and several students have said they just hope to get something eventually and they’ll be happy when they finally do.  

“I go to Starbucks pretty regularly anyways,” Kuhn laughed. “I’m bound to get one at some point.” 

By: Emma Helmick 

The GS gymnastics team flipped their way to WPIALs, ready to showcase the skills they’ve been working on all season. 

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Members of the GS gymnastics team poses before their first meet.

Photo Courtesy: Reese Price

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WPIALs had several events to compete in as well as four different divisions to compete in such as bronze, silver, gold and diamond. 

“I think my team has improved on solidifying their skills for each routine while still having fun and cheering for everyone including other schools,” junior Emma Visnick said. 

High school gymnastics teams throughout the Westmorland County area went to WPIALs to participate. 

“I think my performance was the best at WPIALs because I got my highest vault and floor scores of the season,” junior Sophia Demorest said. “Also my All Around went up by two points.”  

 The competitions had many events the girls were competing in, consisting of bars, beam, vault and floor. 

This year alone the team gained three new members. There are four rankings in gymnastics; bronze, silver, gold and diamond. No matter what their past rankings were, everyone who joins a new team has to start at bronze.  

“Having more athletes this season brought a new level of excitement and depth to the program,” Gymnastics Coach Mrs. Amy White said. “While it was a supportive group of athletes, the competition between them pushed everyone to improve and have a commitment to success.” 

Last year the GS gymnastics team had only four gymnasts. This year the team found themselves with three new members, creating a larger team and allowing them to compete in more events.  

The gymnasts competed in several events. The girls who placed from GS were Visnick and freshman Ryann Luce who both placed in the bronze category.  Visnick got 1^st on the bars and 2^nd on vault and beam. She also placed 2^nd all around. Luce got 2^nd on floor.  

“This season was an incredible success,” Mrs. White said. “Every athlete put in the hard work, supported one another and embraced the journey of high school gymnastics, making it a truly special year.” 

By: Kerrick Shaw 

A $31 million transformation is set to breathe new life into Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, with Arts Landing offering a bold splash of creativity and connection. 

Arts Landing, a dynamic outdoor space for community events, performances, and recreation, aims to revitalize the area between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard, the project being a part of a broader initiative to enhance downtown Pittsburgh. 

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Renderings by Field Operations.

Photo Courtesy: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

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The space will feature a one-acre Great Lawn for picnics and outdoor activities, as well as an amphitheater designed for concerts and other events. The Play Room, created using natural materials, will provide a creative space for children, and the Garden Walk will wind through the new landscaping. Additionally, the Flex Zone will include pickleball courts and other spaces for entertainment. 

“It sounds like it’s going to be everything it should be,” Art teacher Mr. Darryl Audia said. “Anything that can be made for people to use that breaks up their day and gives them an aesthetic experience is a good thing. It’s going to be a great place to bring people into downtown.” 

The project is set to begin in April of this year, with a soft opening scheduled for April 2026 during the NFL Draft, followed by a grand opening in June 2026 at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. Designed by Field Operations, the project will transform four acres of downtown space. 

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Renderings by Field Operations.

Photo Courtesy: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

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This new addition will not only impact the city’s arts scene, but it will also benefit the people of Pittsburgh. Arts Landing will provide a space for artists to collaborate and perform while offering an interactive experience for audiences. The project’s design emphasizes accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that all community members can participate in and benefit from the space. 

“I think it’ll be successful, I know a lot of people enjoy places like that,” senior Kylie Kolenc said. “I think that it’ll make people appreciate the natural atmosphere; there’s a lot of garden-type things from what I could tell. The greenery alone could attract more people.” 

According to the Cultural Trust’s press release, the Garden Walk will be “a verdant escape” in the center of Pittsburgh. The path will be insulated from nearby residents and businesses with “thoughtful plantings” and topography.  

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Renderings by Field Operations.

Photo Courtesy: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

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 “I would love to see more people downtown, more attention on the arts,” Law and economics teacher Mrs. Beth Simone said. “It’s going to be very accessible; it’s going to be between two of the sister bridges; the whole area is very walkable. It comes down to the safety of the space for me.” 

Field Operations, the Cultural Trust and other partners are dedicated to having local manufacturers and recyclable products used throughout the construction of Arts Landing. As stated in the press release, about 75% of waste from construction and demolition will be diverted from landfills. 

 Arts Landing will be a major investment in Pittsburgh’s cultural future, set to become a dynamic hub where creativity and community can come together. 

“Any art-centered public space for downtown Pittsburgh is fantastic,” Mr. Audia said. “Arts Landing is exactly what Pittsburgh needs: it’s a space that will not only inspire creativity, but also bring the community closer through the arts and environment.” 

By: Ever Schmidt 

As winter sports come to an end, there are a few teams and students who deserve special attention for having so much growth and great seasons.  

Two boys from the bowling team made semi-finals of the regional championship. Senior Dylan Megliorino placed second with a score of 683 and senior Sam DeMine placed third. Both advanced to States based on how they did at regionals.  

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DeMine poses with a trophy won during the year.

Photo Courtesy: Javon Trout

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“Megliorino this season has been bowling very well as he has qualified for states as an individual and as a team,” bowling Coach Mr. Javon Trout said. “He also has one of the highest averages in the WPIBL’s. Sam has been bowling well, too, throughout the season, helping the team to advance into the state finals, which is a very big accomplishment.”  

DeMine tied with a Franklin Regional student and won by a tie breaker with a score of 214. He placed third in sectionals and fifth overall for regionals.  

“We are now trying to prepare the best we can and hopefully come back with a state title,” DeMine said. “We have just been trying to win every match and do the best I can for the team, which being said we have been undefeated and are now going to States.”  

As for the team, GS qualified for the semi-finals. They played three normal games and then three Baker sets which is when multiple bowlers combine scores for one game. GS finished the semi-finals with a score of 4,324. Megliorino placed second again with a score of 703 and DeMine placed fifth with a score of 673.  

“This season went well,” Coach Trout said. “I am very proud of the team. They are a competitive group and two girls we have are really improving throughout the season, Dylan and Sam both bowled very well. They definitely performed well and helped the team move to States. Next season should be another good one.” 

On the other hand, the GS wrestling team had a great season as well, but a few wrestlers stuck out in particular. During the season they finished 10-4 in dual meets. Two of their wrestlers qualified for regionals. Junior Sadie Sarver was a County Champ and advanced to the regional tournament and senior Ethan Miller also qualified for the regional tournament. 

“The coaches are very proud of the team and the season went very well,” Wrestling Coach Mr. Randy Parsley said. 

  Sarver placed fifth in the 118-pound weight division and qualified for the Southwest Regional Tournament which took place Mar.1. 

“I was very excited to be competing in regionals,” she said. “My first match was against the WPIAL champion from Knoch. I ended up not placing unfortunately” 

    Miller placed third in the 172-pound weight division. He placed eighth in the WPIAL Class AA Wrestling Championship that were held February 21-22. 

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A referee raises Miller’s hand after winning a match.

Photo Courtesy: Ethan Miller

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“The season went well; I finished with a positive record of 28 wins and 12 losses,” Miller said. “This is the season I also made it to the regional tournament. Last year I made it to the state tournament for freestyle wrestling so that’s what I’m planning to do this time. Next year I would like to improve my conditioning, so I don’t ever get tired during a match.”  

By: Reese Price 

GS alumnus Donny Chedrick turned his love for sports and journalism into a career on 93.7 The Fan.  

 Chedrick, also known as Donny Football, is a 2014 GS graduate who has become a well-known voice in Pittsburgh sports media. He is currently a host and producer for 93.7 The Fan and was just given the opportunity to expand his career with WPXI. His sports expertise is evident in his broadcasts on the radio and television. 

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Chedrick reports on the sidelines during a high school game.

Photo Courtesy: Ben Tenuta

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“Thinking back to my 15-year-old self I never would’ve thought that not only am I on the air every day at The Fan, but I am also a pretty normal voice,” Chedrick said. “It’s wild the amount of airtime I have gotten, and I am very thankful for my opportunities.” 

 He continues to advance his career, securing opportunities with WPXI Final Word on Sunday nights. He had his debut on Feb. 23, 2025, where he talked about the latest news in Pittsburgh sports. 

“I was surprised myself [at] how far I’ve come,” he said. “I never thought I would be on TV.” 

During his time at GS, Chedrick took multiple journalism classes and was also a major contributor to the school news. He took every class he could at GS to set him up for a well-versed background in communications for college. Many teachers could tell that Chedrick had a future in communications based on his love for sports, media and writing. 

“Donny was very natural at it,” STEM teacher Mr. Matthew King said. “It came as easily as breathing to him.” 

After graduating from GS, he attended Waynesburg University where he studied sports communication and played football. At Waynesburg, he was part of the school newspaper, The Yellow Jacket, as well as several television and radio broadcasts he participated in while in college. 

“Waynesburg was perfect for me,” he said.  “I will never regret picking Waynesburg for the experience I was able to get and not to mention I have more than a dozen close friends that I talk to daily.” 

He graduated from Waynesburg in 2018 with a B.A. in Sports Communication. From there he took multiple jobs in sports media, including jobs as a reporter and broadcaster for networks like the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) and other radio stations. In 2021, he was given the role of being the p.m. producer on 93.7 The Fan.

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Chedrick poses for a headshot.

Photo Courtesy: Ben Tenuta

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“I was a freshman in high school when the station started, so I am one of the younger guys,” he said. “I never really thought of it when I was in high school, but I knew I always had an interest in sports.” 

His role on The Fan has been to review and provide his opinions on sports, specifically football. He even adopted the name Donny Football because of his passion and ability to analyze and speak his mind about the sport.  

“I find it fun to listen to knowing that he was once at GS,” senior Cooper Dann said. “When a guy knows ball, I could listen to them talk all day.” 

He has gained a strong following, with many students listening to or checking his social media consistently. His content resonates with many students in the community. Whether it’s his thoughts, humor or way of conveying his opinion, students enjoy listening to him. As his career progresses, many students notice and are excited to see a GS alumnus grow. 

 “He’s a down to earth guy and I think it’s great to hear him speak on his knowledge of sports,” Dann said. 

By: Kerrick Shaw 

Crowds and acts alike will be flocking to The Palace Theatre with its latest and upcoming advancements. 

Over the past year, Greensburg’s Palace Theatre underwent changes in areas necessary for the comfort and experience of patrons and performers, including restorations, new lighting fixtures, updated marketing and remodeling for the convenience of setting up events.  

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The control box at the Palace Theatre.

Photo By: Kerrick Shaw

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“You name it, we’ve pretty much touched on it,” Mr. Benjamin Luczak, Chief Executive Officer of the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, said. “We got a new HVAC system, leveled out the basement to allow carts to move easily and for proper storage, restored the original ticket booth, and are getting ready to reupholster the chairs and replace the carpeting.” 

The Trust has brought on an ADA consultant who is in the process of looking at the theatre and will eventually give suggestions on how to make the space even more accessible. According to Mr. Luczak, two of the biggest upcoming projects are replacing the orchestra seats and completely redoing the dressing rooms.  

Technology teacher Mr. Matthew King, a regular attendee at The Palace Theatre, emphasized the importance of updated seating. “Being six-foot-seven, I would appreciate better seats,” he explained, noting that while the original seating is part of the theatre’s “charm,” more comfort is a change he looks forward to. 

The list of upcoming projects for The Palace is vast, also including the installation of a new sound system, the current one being from 1994, new LED screens to replace the promotional posters and additional ADA advancements. 

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The new ticket booth outside the Palace Theatre.

Photo By: Kerrick Shaw

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“We’re also looking at our programming,” Director of Marketing and Patron Experience of the Trust Daniel Stainer said. “Over the past couple of months, we’ve completely redone our brand. We have new logos and new websites that are very search friendly. We’re looking at the entire patron experience; it’s all very exciting.” 

The changes are not going unnoticed by performers, junior Braden Poole stating that they’re “boosting the overall quality” and will bring “a new form of life” to the people in attendance. Poole has performed in Jesus Christ Superstar five times at The Palace, in addition to participating in other plays and working backstage. 

“I think revamping things like the sound and lights will really keep things fresh in such a historical building,” he said.  

According to Luczak, the funding for these projects has primarily come from reserves the Trust had been investing in, amounting to around one million dollars spent so far. The Trust is engaging in a fundraising audit to determine if a capital campaign can be done for the remainder of the renovations. 

“I’m the first CEO in probably a quarter of a century to really look at this all with an arts and culture lens,” he said. “They knew there was significant deferred maintenance on all of our buildings; so, during the interview process, I asked ‘what’s the game plan?’ Most of the money has come from our reserves, which has been probably over a million dollars. With that being said, there are still multi-million-dollar projects left to do.” 

If it is deemed feasible that they can raise enough money, he added that they will “kick that off immediately.” 

“Traditionally, a lot of our entertainment is skewed more towards nostalgic tribute bands,” he said. “But now, we’re looking to bring in more headliners, more comedy and more family shows.” 

The future of The Palace Theatre is bright with the Trust’s 2024 Community Report displaying their 2025-27 strategic plan. The plan includes goals such as the development of an education and engagement department, capitalizing on The Palace’s centennial celebration and developing new audiences for all Cultural Trust events.  

“It’s not just another venue,” Stainer said. “It’s a place where people can experience joy. When you come to an event or a concert, you’re not thinking about what happened yesterday or what’s happening tomorrow; You are really in the present – in the moment. All of the changes we’re making, it’s all for the joy of live entertainment.”  

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The renovations of the outside of The Palace Theatre .

Photo By: Kerrick Shaw

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By: Emma Helmick  

Defying stereotypical roles, the boys took to the court to serve. 

For her senior project, senior Sabrina Kasic put together a volleyball powderpuff game for junior and senior boys. 

“My inspiration for the project was I wanted to do something fun that people could enjoy,” Kasic said. “I’ve seen other schools doing things similar.” 

Many local schools have boys’ volleyball teams or clubs, but GS only has a girls’ team. 

“The best part of the game was being a part of a close game at the end,” junior Zachary Smith said. “The juniors won and swept the seniors.” 

They played best out of three sets and the juniors won both of their games, taking down the senior boys. 

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The seniors play defense against the juniors.

Photo Courtesy: Sabrina Kasic

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“I would definitely play again if presented with the option, it was really fun,” senior Jake Robl said. 

 Each team had three coaches chosen from the girls’ volleyball team. 

“Every one of the boys was begging us to put them on and it was funny how excited they got when we said they could,” junior Julie Elias said. 

SCA has considered having a volleyball powderpuff before, but now there is talk of making it annual. 

“The best part was watching it all unfold because I got to see all my hard work pay off in the end and I think it was very enjoyable,” Kasic said. 

By: Theresa Schuetz

The cubs are back in the den, as the preschool program has resumed for the second semester of the year.  

Throughout the year students work hard at both preparing and learning about what it means to be a teacher and work with smaller kids.  

“Having the kids back definitely adds a lot of color and fun to the classroom,” Child Development teacher Dr. Smietana- Lysell said. “It’s a lot of prep before the kids come; we have around a month for the high schoolers to get ready.” 

There are three different levels that can be considered in this class; level one, level two and level three. Each level can be mixed up between the class periods and each have their own set of expectations and jobs.  

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Photo By: Emma Helmick

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The level one students have a young student assigned to them that they are in charge of. Some students share a kid with someone else.  

“I would recommend this class to other students,” sophomore Anna Sybesma said. “Level ones teach two lessons and are an overall helper for the kids they’re assigned.”   

The majority of level two students don’t have a kid; however, if there is a lack of level one students, they will have a kid assigned to them. They mostly oversee the daily tasks that occur.   

“I’m excited about the kids coming back; as a level two I get to build a relationship with not only one preschooler but all of them,” junior Lily Ewing said.  

Typically, level three students do the majority of the class teaching and circle time. Sometimes students in the lower levels teach, but they are then graded by level three students based on the content contained in lectures and performance on teaching. 

“I recommend using level threes for any questions, but most of all be confident in whatever you do,” senior Regan Kerr said.  

Having pre-school in a high school is not only beneficial to the kids with learning, but also beneficial if a student wants to go into teaching in the future. Child development is just an elective; however, it will soon be able to allow students to get a child development associate certificate.  

“If you complete all three modules of child development in our building, you can take a test and get your certification,” Dr. Smietana- Lysell said. 

Having this certification allows students to begin working with early childhood development right after high school in places like KinderCare, HeadStart and other daycares or pre-schools.  

“It won’t get you a bachelor’s degree, but it gets you into where you could start working right out of high school,” Smietana- Lysell said.  

Editorial  

By: Emma Helmick 

Music lovers of GS were left puzzled after the winner of album of the year was revealed at the 67^th Annual Grammys on Feb. 2. 

Many artists went home with awards, but most viewers and nominees stay to the end to see one thing: album of the year.  

The nominees this year were Andre 3000, Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Jacob Collier, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan and Taylor Swift.   

“I think its disrespectful to the country music community because they’re very passionate,” History teacher Mr. Nick DeMary said. “Also, I’ve never heard a song off the album and I listen to music all the time.” 

Some music fans were upset when Beyoncé’s album “COWBOY CARTER” won album of the year. She also won best country album, which confused many listeners. 

“I believe that Billie Eilish’s album ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ deserved to win album of the year because of her musical creativity and her talent to create music that can be listened to from many different perspectives,” freshman Ava Richards said. “I do think Beyoncé is a very successful artist, though.” 

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Ava Richards

Photo By: Emma Helmick

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Beyoncé has been nominated for 99 Grammys and has won 35 of them. She has more wins than any other artist. She has been nominated for album of the year five times, but didn’t win until this year.  

“I mean she had a lot of streams, but personally I’ve never actually heard anyone talk about it,” senior Elanor Swanson said. “It was popular, but it didn’t compare to the rest of the albums.” 

Unlike most award shows, the Grammys does not decide their winners off of voting from the general public. Artists first have to submit their work, then it goes through a review to make sure it meets the requirements and then a group of academy members vote a few times until a winner is determined. 

“I really wish the academy would take in the consumers’ point of view,” Swanson said.  

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Elanor Swanson

Photo By: Emma Helmick

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The Grammys in particular leaves viewers at home disappointed sometimes because it can seem unfair. 

“I wish they chose it by which artist had the most impact and influence around the world,” Richards said. “Especially today in our generation where we create trends and determine what is popular in today’s age.”