The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) honored the District 4 winners of the “Paint the Plow” safety outreach contest which promotes winter driving safety and fosters appreciation for high school art programs and student creativity.

Pittston Area High School won the award for the second year as the best of Luzerne County. Wallenpaupack won the award  for  the best of Pike  County. The plows all incorporated the message “Don’t Rush in Ice and Slush” on the blades.

Winners of the “Judges’ Pick” were awarded to Dunmore High School, Pittston Area High School, Wallenpaupack Area High School, and Blue Ridge High School. The “Judges’ Pick,” were determined by PennDOT representatives.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders single-game tickets for the 2020 season will go on sale online Friday, February 28, at 10 AM, giving fans the first chance to purchase tickets for any individual game at PNC Field during the 2020 regular season.

Single-game tickets will only be available on swbrailriders.com beginning on February 28. In-person ticket purchases can be made at the E-Auto Box Office at PNC Field starting at 10 AM on March 9.

The RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, open the upcoming season at home against the Buffalo Bisons on April 9. Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre is home on Memorial Day and July 4 this season. Tickets for all theme nights, including the Office Night featuring an appearance by Brian Baumgartner, the actor who portrayed Kevin Malone on the tv hit comedy, Youth Baseball and Softball Night, any of the giveaway nights or any fireworks nights will be available for individual purchase for the first time.

Single-game ticket prices remained level from the 2019 season. Infield Box seats are $15 when purchased in advance and $16 at the box office on game days. Field Reserved seats and Budweiser RailHouse tickets are $14 in advance and $15 on game days. Bleacher seats are $12 and lawn tickets are $11 when purchased in advance and the prices go up one dollar when purchased on game days.

Additional promotions and giveaways will be announced soon.

Season ticket memberships, mini-plans and ticket bundles for the Keystone Mid Summer Classic, presented by Norwegian Cruise Line, featuring the Triple-A All-Star Game presented by the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau are available now. For more information, call (570) 969-BALL or visit swbrailriders.com.

The iconic Scranton Electric City sign will face new competition when The University of Scranton lights its new St. Thomas Gateway at a ceremony Thursday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. The University completed renovations to the gateway façade of St. Thomas Hall facing Linden Street that features a lit glass wall etched with the seal of The University of Scranton that spans the center of the four-story building. University of Scranton President Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., will launch the inaugural lighting at the event, which is free of charge and open to the public.

The modern design of the St. Thomas Gateway layers the region’s distinctive West Mountain stone with granite quarried from the same site as the stone used in 1867 to construct the Scranton Estate on campus. The base of the Gateway includes a wood trellis, a wall carved with The University of Scranton’s name and a stone bench for seating. At the top of the Gateway, a cross rises above the left side of the building. The center glass wall will be lit in evenings to accentuate the image of the University’s seal.

The ceremony will include hot chocolate, glow sticks, music and a display that will highlight the lighting capabilities of the new design.

Hemmler + Camayd designed the updated St. Thomas Gateway. A.J. Guzzi General Contractors, Inc., served as the construction manager for the project.

The ceremony will be live streamed at Scranton.edu/eventslive.

Through Mar. 6    Art Exhibit: “Sharon Cosgrove: A Change of Vision.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.

Feb. 28-Mar. 1, Mar. 6-8    8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. “Carrie: the musical” by Lawrence D. Cohen presented by the University Players. Royal Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4353 or email players@scranton.edu.

Mar. 4    6:30 p.m. Understanding Yazidi Refugees: Screening and Discussion of the Documentary “On Her Shoulders,” sponsored by the University’s Office of Equity and Diversity and Ellacuría Initiative.  Moskovitz Theater, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-6645 or email jennifer.pennington@scranton.edu.

Mar. 5    5 p.m. Task Force on Healing, Reconciliation and Hope Lecture: “Clergy Sexual Abuse: Lessons Learned in the Diocese of Scranton” presented by Monsignor Thomas Muldowney, vicar general and moderator of the Curia, Kathleen Bolinski, safe environment coordinator, and Mary Beth Pacuska, victim assistance coordinator, of the Diocese of Scranton. Kane Forum, Edward Leahy Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4546 or email hrhtaskforce@scranton.edu.

Mar. 6    noon. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Navigating in an Uncertain World: Global Challenges, Populism and Brexit” presented by David Donoghue, Ph.D., Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, 2013-2017. Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu.

Mar. 10    7 p.m. Film Screening: “Romero” to mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of St. Oscar Romero in El Salvador. Introduction to film and discussion led by University of Scranton theology professor Will Cohen, Ph.D. Sponsored by the University’s Ellacuría Initiative and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. Moskovitz Theater, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-7659 or email teresa.grettano@scranton.edu.

Mar. 11    7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “General Recital” featuring University of Scranton Performance Music students. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.

Mar. 23 through Apr. 24    Art Exhibit: “Women in Art: Selections from the Everhart Museum.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.

Mar. 24    12:05 p.m. Mass Celebrating St Oscar Romero to mark the 40th anniversary of his assassination in El Salvador, sponsored by the University’s Campus Ministries and Ellacuría Initiative. Madonna della Strada Chapel. Free. Call 570-941-7659 or email teresa.grettano@scranton.edu.

Mar. 25    4:30 p.m. Schemel Forum Collaborative Program with the Jesuit Center, The University of Scranton: “A Schemel Legacy: The Engineer and the Monk” presented by Christopher F. Schemel, Ph.D., president Delta Q Consultants, Inc., and courtesy professor chemical engineering, University of South Florida, and Brother Mario Joseph, Monastery of the Holy Spirit. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. $30 fee. Registration required. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu.

Mar. 28    9 a.m. Preview Day for accepted students to The University of Scranton’s class of 2024. Various locations on campus. Call 570-941-7540 or email admissions@scranton.edu.

Mar. 29    7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Concert Choir with the Scranton Brass Orchestra. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.

Mar. 31    4 p.m. 25^th Annual ACHE Healthcare Symposium. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Includes dinner, presentation and panel discussion. Fees vary. Call 201-669-0902 or email sarah.novak@scranton.edu.

The IGNITE Student Leadership Conference, hosted by The University of Scranton’s Center for Student Engagement, is open to University students as well as students attending a college in Northeast Pennsylvania. Alex Weber, an award-winning performer, international speaker and competitor on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, will present “Failing Forward to Success” as this year’s keynote address at the conference on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Focused on personal growth and development, the conference holds sessions about a broad range of leadership topics, including communication, problem solving, team building, having difficult conversations, communication across differences and identity development.

As a competitor in the World Championships of Lacrosse and American Ninja Warrior, Weber knows what it means to face fears, embrace challenges and overcome failures with passion, commitment, focus and perseverance. More so, he knows how you can use failures to propel forward and hit your goals. In his powerful, passionate and hilarious keynote, Weber will share his blueprint method, tangible tools and actionable strategies for facing fears, overcoming challenges and embracing failing forward to achieve success.

A 5x TEDx Speaker and one of the youngest coaches ever to be awarded U.S. Lacrosse Coach of the Year, Weber has worked with major companies, such as NBC, LinkedIn, University of Pennsylvania, Los Angeles Lakers, AirBnB and ESPN. He has also guest lectured at the Stanford’s Graduate School of Business on the power of humor for leadership.

The conference will be held at the DeNaples Center and the Loyola Science Center from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost for non-University of Scranton students is $25.00.

For additional information, visit the IGNITE Student Leadership Conference website or contact the University’s Center for Student Engagement at leadership@scranton.edu.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Boy Scouts of America will host its 2020 Distinguished Citizens Award Dinner on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at Mohegan Sun Pocono Resort in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a reception, networking and food stations. The awards presentations and keynote speaker begin at 7 p.m.

This year, the Boy Scouts will recognize Christopher Borton, senior advisor, Borton Lawson, and Mark Volk, president, Lackawanna College, with the Distinguished Citizens Award. The award is given to leaders in NEPA who are role models in our community and who represent the ideals of Scouting in their personal and professional lives.

Bryan Anderson, national spokesperson for Quantum Rehab, a division of Pride Mobility Corporation, will be the guest speaker.

All proceeds raised go to support quality Scouting programming for area youth. Tickets are available for $150 each or a table of 10 for $1,500. A portion of the fee is tax-deductible. Sponsorship packages and program book advertising opportunities are also available for area individuals, businesses, and other organizations who wish to support scouting.

A volunteer committee has been formed to plan the event. Event chairpersons are Katie Lambert, chief financial officer, McCarthy Tire, and Greg Collins, chief banking officer, FNCB Bank.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Scouting office at 570-207-1227 or visit their web site at www.nepabsa.org.