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Franklin student, 9, steals the show at West End Fair

A dry seat was hard to find Sunday night at the West End Fairgrounds, but the entertainment was easy to see.

Following an afternoon rainstorm, contestants took to the main stage for the “West End Fair’s Got Talent” competition.The night’s youngest competitor, 9-year-old Mylee Hauser won first-place honors with her performance of “Tomorrow” from the musical “Annie.”“I didn’t know if I could win, but I was sure hoping I could,” Hauser, a Franklin Elementary School student, said after the competition.Her friend Hannah, who Hauser said was like a sister to her, assisted her during the song.Hauser isn’t done at the fair.By winning the event, she gets her own performance on Thursday night, in addition to $350.Her ultimate goal, however, is much bigger.“I want to be Radio Disney’s ‘Next Big Thing’ and meet Sabrina Carpenter,” Hauser said.Judges for the competition were Ben Peruso, a Lehigh Carbon Community College professor; Jack Rader, state representative; Jenny Kuntz, of the Steel Creek Band and a fourth-grade teacher in the Pleasant Valley School District; and Nicole Walters, of BRCTV13.Second place went to Hannah Szmaciasz, who did a hula hoop routine.Szmaciasz coordinated well, matching her toenails with her aqua Hula-Hoop.“I’m self-taught,” she said of her skills. “I watched a bunch of online tutorials and loved trying it out. I’ve been doing this now for three years.”Szmaciasz turns 15 today. She won $250.Hayley Bock, 13, is no stranger to the spotlight, having tried out for “America’s Got Talent” three times.“This is my second year doing the West End talent show,” she said. “Last year was a train wreck as my music started about 30 seconds ahead of where it should have been. I have a great time though.”Bock performed “Till the Casket Drops” by ZZ Ward.Gary Smith, host of Gary In The Morning on Pocono 96.7, emceed Sunday’s event.“We’re just glad everybody weathered the storm and was able to make it out,” Smith said. “There are a lot of incredibly talented performers here.”

Mylee Hauser, center, thanks the crowd after winning first place at West End Fair's Got Talent on Sunday night. Also pictured is host Gary Smith, of Gary In The Morning on Pocono 96.7, and Hauser's best friend Hannah, who helped her with the routine. JARRAD HEDES/TIMES NEWS