Mohegan Pennsylvania to Host Oktoberfest 2023

The region’s largest Oktoberfest is back where it all started. The festivities will kick off with a ceremonial keg tapping from each of our participating distributors for Oktoberfest at 5:00pm on Friday, September 15th. Over the course of this two-day event, guests will enjoy award-winning traditional entertainers, local bands, authentic German American cuisine, wiener dog racing, NEPA cornhole tournaments, strong arm contests and more than 50 beer selections including highlights like Shangy’s – The Beer Authority, Northeast Eagle, Wallenpaupack Brewing Co and L.T. Verrastro. Guests will also have the option to enjoy wine, spirits and various seltzers.

NEPA Cornhole will be conducting walkup tournaments throughout the festival which will take place on the racetrack infield.

Live entertainment at Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Oktoberfest will include fan-favorites, Bavarski Band, Schützengiggles Oompah Band, Joe Stanky and the Cadets, Alpine Horns Ensemble, HSV Bavaria, Ken Norton, Jay Luke and the return of talented singer and Germany’s own, Romy. The main stage will feature an area of over 1,000 seats for guests to enjoy this incredible lineup of entertainment.

Oktoberfest will also feature local vendors offering authentic German American cuisine, traditional style fair options, pizza, pierogies and more; some of these vendors include The Alpine Wurst & Meat House, Luppo Russo Wood Fired Pizza, Yogi’s Pierogies, Lou’s Concessions, Cibo’s Pizza, Kernel Moonies Gourmet Popcorn, Best Cigar Pub and more.

Additionally, Wiener dog races are back by popular demand! Attendees can register their furry friends in several heats of races throughout the festival. Attendees who register their wiener dogs for the race will receive free admission to Oktoberfest. There will be a Dachshund parade before each race and trophies will be awarded to the winning wiener dog! To register, click HERE.

Okto-Bucks are the official currency of Oktoberfest 2023 at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Guests may purchase Okto-Bucks at the event ($1 = 1 Okto-Buck).

Direct parking for the event is available on the racetrack with shuttle service to and from the festival grounds. Casino guests can access the event grounds through the racing lobby entrance.

For more information about Oktoberfest, visit MoheganPA.com/Oktoberfest.

The Dime Bank 2023 Scholarship Recipients

The Dime Bank has awarded scholarships to six students based on their academic and leadership capabilities from Wallenpaupack Area, Wayne Highlands, Delaware Valley, Carbondale Area, Scranton, and West Scranton school districts. The students must be furthering their education in the field of business, economics, finance, management, or accounting to be eligible for The Dime Bank Directors Award Scholarship. Each graduating senior received $1,000.00 to attend the college of their choice. The Dime Bank is proud to support future leaders with this educational assistance. 

Treasurer Stacy Garrity Praises Expansion of Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, Reminds Pennsylvanians of Dec. 31 Deadline

Treasurer Stacy Garrity today congratulated the General Assembly and Governor Shapiro for expanding Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program and encouraged eligible residents to apply now for the 2023 rebate.

“Expanding the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program will help some of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians – especially seniors on fixed budgets – at a time when the effects of historically high inflation continue to wreck household budgets,” Garrity said. “This essential program has provided more than $7.3 billion in relief since it started in 1971. One of Treasury’s highest priorities is processing these payments quickly to get the funds into the hands of the people who need them. The General Assembly and the Governor deserve a lot of credit for expanding it to help even more of our citizens.”

As of August 4, Treasury has processed 311,298 payments totaling $145.4 million for this year’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. The deadline to apply for a rebate this year has been extended to December 31, 2023.

“I encourage everyone who is eligible for this year’s rebates to apply as soon as possible,” Garrity said. “Treasury prioritizes getting these payments out the door and we will make payments on a rolling basis as applicants are approved by the Department of Revenue.”

Starting in 2024, the maximum standard rebate will increase from $650 to $1,000. The household income limit for property tax rebates will increase to $45,000 (up from the current $35,000 limit). The limit for rent rebates will also increase to $45,000 (up from $15,000).

Beginning in 2025, the new income limits will be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI). That calculation will be done by the Secretary of Revenue.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits Pennsylvanians age 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older. Some homeowners may qualify for supplemental rebates.

For more information about eligibility, Pennsylvanians can contact their state legislators, visit the Department of Revenue’s website, revenue.pa.gov, or call 888-222-9190. Applications can be filed online through the Department of Revenue’s myPATH system.

Anyone who has already applied for this year’s rebate can check the status by using the Where’s My Rebate? online tool.

Treasurer Stacy Garrity Waives Fees for PA 529 GSP Accounts, Reduces Fees for PA 529 IP Accounts

Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced that asset-based fees will be waived for PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) account owners for the second consecutive fiscal year. Fee waivers will be funded by PA 529 GSP surplus earnings.

PA 529 Investment Plan (IP) account owners will also see a second fee reduction this year, as state fees will decrease by 0.5 basis points (0.005 percent) effective September 1, 2023. Last month Treasurer Garrity announced a reduction in operational support fees by 1.25 basis points (0.0125 percent). Combined, the IP fee reductions will result in a savings of more than $800,000 for account holders throughout this fiscal year.

“I’m cutting these fees because the great PA 529 College and Career Savings Program should be as affordable as possible for every family in our state,” Garrity said. “Lower fees help Pennsylvanians save more for their children’s education. PA 529 accounts are a tremendous tool to help the next generation afford the training and education they’ll need to enter the workforce, whether they attend one of our great technical schools, community colleges, or four-year universities – or if they enter an apprenticeship.”

There are more than 287,000 PA 529 accounts, including more than 111,000 PA 529 GSP accounts and more than 175,000 PA 529 IP accounts. Families have nearly $7 billion saved for future education expenses.

PA 529 accounts are designed to help Pennsylvania families steadily and strategically save for a wide variety of qualifying technical, collegiate, apprenticeship and K-12 educational expenses. Both PA 529 plans have significant state and federal tax advantages, and assets saved in PA 529 accounts do not affect eligibility for state financial aid.

The PA 529 GSP allows families to save at today’s tuition rates to meet tomorrow’s tuition costs. Account earnings are based on college tuition inflation rates, and families can choose the tuition credit rate they wish to save at from community colleges to Ivy League universities.

The Morningstar Silver Rated PA 529 IP offers a variety of investment options, and account earnings are directly tied to financial market performance.

To learn more about how to start saving with PA 529, visit pa529.com or call 800-440-4000.

Waverly Community House to Host 2023 Cocktails for the Courts

Waverly Community House is hosting the 2023 Cocktail for the Courts summer party on August 18th from 6 PM – 8 PM on the front lawn of the Comm. Tickets are $35.00 per person and $40.00 at the door. There will be music by The Mark Nolan Jazz Duo and light Hors D’Oeuvres, Beer, Wine, and a Signature Drink. All proceeds benefit Comm Tennis and Recreation Programs. To buy tickets, click here.

Johnson College to Host Instant Enrollment Decision Day

Johnson College is hosting an Instant Decision Day for prospective students on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside Woolworth Hall on the Johnson College Scranton campus. To register to attend, visit johnson.edu/instant.

During the Instant Decision Event, Johnson College will provide prospective students with an immediate enrollment decision. Students must supply their high school and/or college transcripts. It is highly recommended that the prospective student completes a Johnson College application before attending.

Applications for Johnson College’s Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, and Veterinary Nursing programs are excluded from instant decisions.

Geisinger Medical Center Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Clinic Moves to Grow Programs

Geisinger Medical Center’s Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Clinic has relocated to bring together clinicians who collaborate on congenital heart care at every stage of patients’ lives.

Geisinger has provided pediatric and adult congenital cardiology and cardiac surgery care to children and families in northeastern and central Pennsylvania for decades. Recently, the pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery practices and related subspecialties moved out of their longtime hub in Foss 6 at the medical center and into a new home on the fourth floor of the Danville campus’ Hospital for Advanced Medicine.

The move allows Geisinger to offer more appointments to patients needing pediatric cardiac services and provides needed space for enhanced diagnostic testing and accommodating programs as they grow.

The new clinic will house outpatient pediatric cardiology for clinical visits and diagnostic testing, and subspecialties, including adult congenital heart disease, pediatric preventive cardiology and pediatric and adult congenital cardiac surgery. Aligning these teams allows patients with congenital heart conditions to visit one location, where they can see the experts they’ll need from birth through maturity and throughout adulthood.

The move also makes navigating the Geisinger Medical Center campus easier for patients, as the new space is adjacent to patient parking.

Pediatric cardiology services in State College, Hazleton, Muncy, Lewistown, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre will not be affected and are expected to continue growing.