| Senior Manager of Communications
John Walton begins his sixth season behind the microphone for the BEARS in 2007-08. In addition to his duties as radio and television broadcaster for the club, Walton is also the team’s Senior Manager of Communications, overseeing the team’s media relations department and reporting directly to the President/General Manager.
One of the longest tenured broadcasters in the American Hockey League, Walton called his 500th American Hockey League game on November 20, 2005 against the Rochester Americans at GIANT Center. After calling HERSHEY’S playoff runs in 2006 and 2007, Walton will mark his 700th AHL broadcast on December 22nd against Norfolk in 2007-08. The winner of the 2004 James H. Ellery Award for his radio work by the AHL, Walton celebrated his first Calder Cup championship in 2006 when the BEARS defeated the Milwaukee Admirals four games to two. Walton and WHTM-TV sports director Gregg Mace called the action on the telecast back to central Pennsylvania when the BEARS claimed their ninth Calder Cup title on June 15, 2006.
Prior to his arrival in HERSHEY, Walton served as the public address announcer for the Cincinnati Reds from 1996-2002 at Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field. In a span of less than three weeks in 2002, he was at the microphone for the final game in Riverfront Stadium history and the first game ever played at GIANT Center. During his time in Cincinnati, he also was the first play-by-play voice of the AHL’s Cincinnati Mighty Ducks from 1997-2000, and also served as a sports anchor for 700 WLW Radio, the region’s number one news/talk station. He began his hockey broadcasting career at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he was the Voice of the Redskins from 1994-1996, and also announced football and basketball at WRBI-FM 103.9 in Batesville, Indiana in 1996. In addition to sports, Walton also was a disc jockey at WOXY-FM in Oxford, a station recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine four times in the 1990’s as one of the magazine’s “15 Best Radio Stations”. During his college days, Walton was sports director of Miami University’s WMSR-AM, and worked with current Fox Sports studio host Chris Rose and current St. Louis Blues broadcaster Chris Kerber while in Oxford.
A Columbus, Ohio native who grew up in the shadows of the University of Minnesota and the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, Walton lives in Elizabethtown, and has a daughter Kelsey (12) and son Jack (9).
Public
Address Announcers
Don Scott has served as the Public Address announcer
for the HERSHEY BEARS since 1991, and as the Associated
Press writer for the BEARS since 1988. In 2003 he
also started doing the game scoring when not on PA
and doing Saturday morning news on WLBR AM 1270.
He's covered local and area sports for more than
40 years for Lebanon County radio stations and the
Lebanon Daily News. He currently writes the weekly
column "Sports Talk" for the Lebanon Daily
News, something he's done since 1989. And from 1968
to 1991 Don hosted the post-game Hockey Corner Show.
Don is the recipient of the 1987 Amateur Softball
Association of Pennsylvania Sportscaster of the Year
and is a 2001 Central Chapter Pennsylvania Sports
Hall of Fame inductee.
Game Night MC
Jim has been involved with the team since the 1994-95
Season. He started out as "Sign Boy" for
Let's Make a Deal. Jim has worked with Ed Coffey
doing on ice promotions and Youth on Ice in the past.
His job now is running the stairs at GIANT Center
doing the game break promotions in the stands. He
is also auctioneer for all of the Bears Charity Jersey
Auctions (with Ed) and has filled in doing color
commentary with Dan Kamal, Dave Mishkin and John
Walton!
Jim is a graduate of Mercersburg Academy and Penn
State University (1980), with a degree in Turfgrass
Management. In his "spare" time he is a
Certified Golf Course Superintendent as well as Vice
President and Director of Golf Operations at Fairview
Golf Course ... off ice home for many, many HERSHEY
BEARS past and present!
Anthem Singers
Leslie Barton hales from the small town of Mountville,
Pennsylvania. She is a Hempfield High School graduate
and is currently in her sophomore year at Millersville
University.
While growing up, Leslie performed in talent shows,
musicals, churches, choirs and even toured Europe with
American Music Abroad. In 2005 Leslie was crowned the
winner of Lancaster Headliners where she performed
at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA. She
was also a featured performer for Countdown Lancaster
for the past two years.
Currently focusing on her song-writing, she hopes to
someday become an established singer/songwriter and
tour the world with her music. In the meantime, Leslie
is thrilled to sing for the HERSHEY BEARS for her third
season!! She thanks God for blessing her with an amazing
gift and the opportunities to share it. She would also
like to thank her family and friends for their continued
love and support.
Amy Beniston is a graduate of Annville Cleona High
School and holds an associates degree in theater from
Harrisburg Area Community College. She began singing
with the HERSHEY BEARS back in the old barn and she
has loved every minute of it.
At a very young age Amy found she could carry a tune
through the musical Annie. Through the years she realized
how amazing it was to be able to express her emotions
through song. Over the years Amy has performed at weddings,
churches, minor league baseball games, on a cruise
ship talent show and at other various events. She says
it has all been wonderful!
Nothing to Amy is more rewarding then to look at an
audience and realize that while she’s singing
they are feeling what she’s feeling. “That
is what it’s all about” says Amy enthusiastically.
Amy is grateful
to be able to sing another year with
the BEARS....Go BEARS!!!!!!!!
Finally, Amy would like to thank her parents, family
and friends who have been so supportive through everything! “I
love you guys!”
Michael Benson is a graduate of Milton Hershey High
School (MHS) and honored to be singing for the HERSHEY
BEARS for a fourth season. He enjoyed singing as part
of the MHS Glee Club and as the national anthem singer
at various MHS athletic events. He is a graduate of
Pennsylvania State University, a Certified Public Accountant
and is employed at the Pennsylvania Securities Commission
as the Deputy Chief Accountant.
Michael attends Aldersgate United Methodist Church
in Mechanicsburg and serves as a member of the Praise
Team. He occasionally sings in weddings, performs in
musicals (Smokey Joe's Cafe with Theater Harrisburg
and is a chorus member at the opening of the Majestic
Theater in Gettysburg, PA) and has performed the national
anthem for the Harrisburg Senators. Michael resides
with his wonderful wife, two sons and two daughters
in Enola. The entire family hopes the BEARS have another
successful season. GO BEARS!!!
Laura Delaney is a graduate of Penn State University
and specializes in Corporate Communication. She works
as a Program and Services Specialist for the Central
Pennsylvania Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. Laura
is originally from the Lehigh Valley, but now resides
with her husband Bill in Central Pennsylvania. She
has a passion for singing and performing which is evidenced
in her singing experiences. She has participated in
school choir, performed countless times in church,
weddings, local sporting events, Lehigh Valley’s
May Fair and for the Philadelphia 76ers. She has been
singing since she can remember.
Laura also grew up in a home that loves hockey! She
is looking forward to being part of the HERSHEY BEARS
performing team, saying “it’s an honor
to have been chosen.” She would like to thank
her family and friends for all of their support and
encouragement throughout her career. Go BEARS!!!
Kelly Grumbine is
16 years old and a junior at Lower Dauphin High School.
She is pleased to be singing the National Anthem for
the HERSHEY BEARS.
She has participated in the school chorus, musicals,
and the Dauphin County Chorus. She is a member of Fishburn
United Methodist Church and sings for church events
and special music. She is also a member of the Youth
Rodeo Association and sang the National Anthem for
two years at the openings of each rodeo event.
Kelly also plays indoor and outdoor soccer. Her passion
is with animals, especially her horse Miss Kitty. She
performs with Kitty in barrel racing and pole bending.
Kelly hopes to eventually become an equine veterinarian.
Adrienne Howe lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with
her husband Eric and their two beautiful children Alexis
and Eric, Jr. She is a graduate of Lampeter-Strasburg
High School and Millersville University. She has a
bachelor’s degree in speech communication and
is employed as a Probation Officer Supervisor with
the County of Lancaster.
Adrienne is thrilled to be back for her third season
singing for the HERSHEY BEARS! She has been singing
since she was a young girl and was involved in chorus,
madrigals and musicals from grade school through high
school. She has sung with several bands over the years,
both as lead and back up singer; and is currently a
studio vocalist who sings tracks for various artists.
She also does jingle and voice-over work for radio
and television. You may have heard her in the latest “Apple
Auto” commercials.
Adrienne would like to thank her family and friends
for their endless support as she pursues her love of
singing. She would also like to wish the HERSHEY BEARS
good luck for a very successful season.
Krista Jakubik was born and raised in Hummelstown and
lived there most of her life. She attended Shippensburg
University and received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary
Education. After teaching in Norfolk City Schools,
in Virginia, she moved back home to Hummelstown and
currently teaches Kindergarten Readiness at Derry
Preschool, in Hershey. Krista lives with her three
children Andy, Katie and Joe. She also has a great
dog named Bubba! This will be Krista’s first
season with the Bears and she’s really looking
forward to it!
Krista has been singing since she was 10 years old
and has been now for 39 years! She is a member of Grace
United Methodist church in Hummelstown and is very
active with the music program. In addition to being
in the adult choir, she sings solo and special music
and also directs and sometimes performs in the annual
children's spring musical. Musical theatre has always
been a favorite of Krista’s. Her Grace family
is looking forward to coming to the BEARS games. They
have been such a great support system for her and for
that she thanks them! She feels blessed to be able
to share her voice and so glad she’s been given
the chance! Her children are quite an encouragement
for her as is her sweet "valentine" Nelson.
Krista thanks them for their support and looks forward
to a great season with the BEARS!!
Erin Kelly is 12 years old and is a student at Orefield Middle School. She sings
for numerous charities across the region and is currently a member of DreamKids
- a group of children that raise $12,000 a year for chronically and terminally
ill children to be granted a wish through the Dream Come True Foundation. She
is currently the M.E.N.C. State Representative for the National Anthem and
performed in Washington, D.C. this past June. She opened up for Radio Station
WIOV at Fallfest in Lancaster at age 10. and has performed for the Philadelphia
76ers and the Philadelphia Phillies. She has also performed at Give Kids the
World in Florida and at Downtown Disney. Erin is thankful and looking forward
to performing for another season with the HERSHEY BEARS. GO BEARS!
Janelle Sowers is majoring in Musical Theatre at Point
Park University and has always had a passion for performing.
Whether on stage at a school choir concert or at the
Strand Capitol, Janelle feels at home on stage. She
loves and has studied in all aspects of performing;
dancing, singing, and acting. She has been involved
in over 30 on stage performances in both school and
community theatre, with leading roles in “Cheaper
by the Dozen”, “Escape from the Box”, “The
Fame Kids”, “Peter Pan”, “Willie
Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, “The
Little Princess” and “The Sound of Music”.
Janelle has studied many types of dance over the years,
including ballet, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop,
but is currently studying swing dance as part of the
performance team at York’s Urban Swing dance
Club. Janelle has been involved in many singing groups,
including her church Adult and Youth Praise Teams,
York County Jr. and Sr. Honors Choirs, Heaven Bound,
Expressions, Spring Grove Choir and the Jazz Band singer
for her High School. She is also highly involved with
DreamWrights Youth and Family Theatre, including on
stage performances, back stage crew, and volunteer
assistant teacher for Broadway Music and Dance camp.
In the summer, Janelle enjoys assistant teaching music
for Vacation Bible School, and loves attending year
around performing arts and swing dance competitions.
Janelle was also seen at Virginia State Open and took
first place as junior lindy hop champion. She’s
performed as a soloist at coffee houses, the Strand
Capitol, churches, malls, weddings and First Night
York 2006. She has also performed the National Anthem
for various events including the opening ceremony for
the Keystone State Games. She has studied voice with
Kermit Finstad of Gettysburg and Carolyn Jenkins of
York, and dance with Center Stage and York’s
Urban Swing Dance Club.
|
John Walton
Don
Scott
Jim
Jones 
Leslie Barton 
Amy Beniston 
Michael Benson 
Laura Delaney
Adrienne Howe 
Janelle N. Sowers 
