Butler County residents make plans for 2026
A new year can be a new start on a hobby or breaking a bad habit that has troubled you for years.
For people in Butler County, the start of 2026 isn’t a start from a blank slate, but a chance to reinforce the goals they have had in their careers, passions or personal lives.
Justine Brown, manager of Katie’s Kitchen in St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and one of the coordinators of Butler Community Meals, said she plans to continue keeping people of Butler fed through the community meals service.
“In this New Year of 2026 for the Community Meal Ministries … I am hoping for a return of all of the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to those of our neighbors who are in need,” Brown said, “And continued support from those who are financially able to help us in providing hot nutritious meals to the growing number of hungry in our community.”
Ken Smith, who co-owns Hobnob Theatre Company with his wife, Elizabeth Smith, said every year is another chance to create more artistic opportunities for people looking for a creative outlet. He said Hobnob plans to keep creating these opportunities for performers and artists in 2026.
“Our goal is to expand the involvement of other people in all areas of our Hobnob community,” Smith said. “And to find ways to increase the involvement of other people in Hobnob.”
Elsewhere in the performing arts community, Karen O’Donnell, president of the Musical Theatre Guild of Butler board of directors, said she would like to cut down on the amount of work she does, because she retired years ago.
“I’m retired and I have three jobs,” O’Donnell said. “So I could probably work on that a bit.”
Molly Miller, who writes a weekly column called Miller Minutes for the Butler Eagle, said her goal in the new year is to direct a show for the Butler Little Theatre.
Cari Stonis, who works in Zelienople, said she wants to be more active in 2026.
“Some of mine are to complete a 5K, complete an 8-mile hike, go on more trips out of state, explore more places and spend less time on my phone,” Stonis said.
Layla Joseph, who also works in Zelienople, said she wants to use creativity to express herself more, whether it be to document her life or to capture moments in photography.
“I’d like to create a ‘zine’ for every month. This small magazine would have some highs and lows of the month, music I listened to consistently or showcase accomplishments, things that I’ve enjoyed,” Joseph said. “I’d like to shoot a proposal in action and get a media pass to a professional level sports game. In the same breath, I’d also like to lean into the hobby of it all a bit more and remember it doesn’t have to be serious all the time.”
