Electric City Studios offering Christmas mini sessions Electric City Studios is offering mini photography sessions during the month of November as we head into the holiday season. The photography sessions will take place from November 1-13 and November 22-30. Weekday shoots will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m. while weekend shoots ar from 12:00-6:00 p.m. There are three ways to book a 15-minute photo slot for the company’s Christmas-themed set up: Electric City Studios take the photos: $150, and includes 5-10 edited images Photographers bring their clients to the set/clients bring their own photographer: $40 Clients bring their own phone/camera: $50 You can book a spot on Electric City Studios’ booking calendar by clicking here.
Coffee Inclusive opens new Scranton location Coffee Inclusive, a nonprofit coffee shop and bakery operated by PA Inclusive, has officially opened its second location at 526 Cedar Avenue in Scranton. Building on the success of its Pittston location, Coffee Inclusive creates meaningful employment and training opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including people with Down syndrome and autism. Coffee Inclusive’s Scranton location serves specialty coffee, breakfast, lunch, fresh-baked goods and Inclusive Grounds coffee. Staff members invite the community to stop in, meet the team, and experience its mission of inclusion in action.
Wright Center vice president of primary care and public health policy recognized as healthcare trailblazer in City & State PA list Laura Spadaro, vice president of primary care and public health policy for The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has been named as one of Pennsylvania’s Trailblazers in Healthcare by City & State Pennsylvania, a multimedia news organization dedicated to covering the state’s politics and policy. The list recognizes public officials, hospital and healthcare executives, nonprofit leaders, union leaders, academics and others making a difference by framing, influencing and changing the healthcare industry. At The Wright Center, Spadaro leads federal and state regulatory strategy, health policy and government relations initiatives that expand access to high-quality primary and preventive health services and strengthen the healthcare safety net. Since 2021, she has directed more than 110 responses to proposed regulations and requests for information, helping shape Medicare, Medicaid and public health policy while amplifying the voices of patients and frontline clinicians. Through collaboration with national partners and policymakers, she contributed to advocacy efforts supporting multi-year reauthorization and increased federal investment in the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program, growing annual funding from approximately $175 million to $225 million. Previously, Spadaro served as executive advisor to the Pennsylvania secretary of health, focusing on strategic initiatives and cross-agency priorities. “Laura’s deep understanding of health policy combined with her ability to build meaningful relationships with policymakers and partners makes her an invaluable advocate for our patients, clinicians, and communities,” said Jennifer Walsh, Esq., senior vice president of enterprise integrity, chief legal and governance officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “She brings a thoughtful, informed and persistent voice to some of the most important healthcare policy discussions facing our nation, always keeping in focus the real-world impact on access to care and the people we are privileged to serve. This recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgment of Laura’s leadership and the difference she continues to make.” The Wright Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1976, The Wright Centers for Community Health, Graduate Medical Education and Patient & Community Engagement are a physician-led, community-owned nonprofit and a cornerstone of healthcare in the region. The enterprise employs nearly 680 professionals, including nearly 200 resident and fellow physicians, and trains more than 200 interprofessional healthcare learners each year. In fiscal year 2025-26, The Wright Center served more than 39,000 unique patients across all care settings in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Wyoming counties. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center and safety-net provider, The Wright Center serves all patients, from pediatrics to geriatrics. Learn more at TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Brown Initiative to host 10th Annual Kick-off to Christmas Live Music & Dance Concert Entertainment company The Brown Initiative will host its 10th annual Kick-off to Christmas Live Music & Dance Concert on December 4, 5, and 6 at 97 Bochicchio Boulevard in Covington Township. The performance is a great way to kick off the holiday season with family, friends and loved ones. The event will raise funds for several community organizations and will feature 10+ singers and 20+ dancers, as well as a live band. Tickets will go on sale later in the month of October.
Marywood University’s Center for Law, Justice & Policy Hosting Speaker Series The Courts and Our Community Marywood University’s Center for Law, Justice and Policy is hosting a Policy Perspectives speaker series, “The Courts and Our Community.” The lectures in the series are being offered during the fall semester on several Tuesdays at Noon at the Swartz Center on Marywood’s campus. These events are free and open to the public. The Honorable Karoline Mehalchick and the Honorable Jennifer Wilson, United States judges for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, are coordinating speakers for the series. Judges Mehalchick and Wilson are partnering with Patrick M. Seffrin, Ph.D., professor and director of the Center for Law, Justice, and Policy at Marywood, to present these events, which give participants the opportunity to engage with leading legal professionals and gain insight into key issues coming before the courts that affect the community. The public lecture series provides the opportunity for anyone interested in contemporary issues coming before the courts to hear from legal professionals who specialize in these matters. The following events are scheduled for October and November: Tuesday, October 6: Modern Constitutional Issues – Presented by Magistrate Judge Martin Carlson (Ret.), Assistant United States Attorneys Carl Marchioli and Christian Haugsby, and former Assistant Federal Public Defender Fritz Ulrich, this session will include a discussion of how the Constitution applies to everyday issues and recent interpretation and application of the Constitution by our courts. Tuesday, October 20: Immigration Law – Presented by Professors Jill Family and Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, together with Attorney Tracey Hubbard, this session will focus on the current status of immigration laws in the United States and the interplay of the roles of the immigration proceedings and the federal courts. Tuesday, November 3: Election Law – Presented by Attorneys Donna Walsh and Nicole Boland, together with Marywood Professor Adam Shprintzen, this very timely session will discuss the modern constitutional issues pertinent to election and voting law in the United States. Tuesday, November 17: Advocacy & Judicial Decision Making – Presented by Judge Thomas Vanaskie (Ret.), Assistant United States Attorney Jenny Roberts, and Attorney Christopher Opiel, along with Judges Karoline Mehalchick and Jennifer Wilson, the final session will explore how cases move through the federal court system, the issues attorneys face in advocating for their clients, and how judges ultimately reach their decisions. For more information about the Center for Law, Justice, and Policy at Marywood University, visit: marywood.edu/academics/center-for-law-justice-policy, email legalcenter@marywood.edu, or connect via social media on Facebook (Marywood Center for Law, Justice and Policy) and X (@MU_LEGAL_CENTER).
Joy World Wealth Partners hosting Medicare 101 seminar Joy World Wealth Partners is hosting a complimentary educational seminar titled Medicare 101. It will be on Monday, October 5 at 10:00 a.m. at Joy World Wealth Partners, which is located at 125 North Washington Avenue in Scranton. The seminar will cover Medicare Parts A and B, Part D prescription coverage, Medicare Advantage vs. Supplements and how to avoid late enrollment penalties. Anyone interested in attending the seminar can RSVP by emailing joanna@planwithjoyworld.com.
Employer Resource Network hosting two new hire reporting webinars The Employer Resource Network is going to host two virtual Pennsylvania New Hire Reporting seminars as part of its webinar series. The virtual seminars do not cost employers anything. They will be on November 4 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and on November 6 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Both sessions will have the same content. You can register for the November 4 seminar by clicking here, and for the November 6 webinar by clicking here. You can also register by email by sending your requested session date, name, company and email address to RA-LI-BWPO-ESVCS@pa.gov.
Doug Smith’s Music releases Fall/Winter 2026 Schedule Doug Smith’s Music, located on Prospect Street in Dunmore, has released its Fall/Winter 2026 performance schedule. You can also find the schedule at www.lexingtonentertainment.org.
Indraloka Animal Sanctuary helps rescued hen A hen that Indraloka Animal Sanctuary rescued from a commercial egg farm recently underwent an emergency surgery to save her life. Bridget is one of 43 hens that Indraloka recently rescued after a commercial egg farm in Orangeville, Pennsylvania, lost its egg contract. Thousands of hens needed placement, and sanctuaries and rescue organizations mobilized to save as many as possible. But last week, animal caregivers noticed something was wrong with the hen. She appeared frightened and in pain. Staff immediately transported her to Indraloka’s on-site vet clinic. An examination and diagnostic testing revealed an obstruction serious enough to require surgical intervention. During the procedure, Dr. Leslie Interlandi removed a large amount of inflammatory material commonly referred to as “lash eggs.” Despite the name, lash eggs are not actually eggs. The term commonly describes inflammatory material associated with disease of a hen’s reproductive tract. For Bridget, the obstruction had become a medical emergency. “Bridget is a powerful example of why rescue is only the beginning for hens coming out of commercial egg production,” said Dr. Leslie Interlandi, Indraloka’s resident veterinarian. “Even after they reach safety, their bodies can continue to experience serious reproductive problems. Bridget was in significant distress when she came into the clinic, and without intervention, the obstruction could have become life-threatening. She doesn’t need to produce anything for us now. Our only concern is helping her heal and giving her the chance to live comfortably as a hen.” Bridget successfully underwent surgery. She remains under close veterinary supervision while the team determines when she is healthy enough to return to her flock.
PIDA Announces Fourth Quarter 2026 Loan Interest Rates The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) has announced fourth-quarter interest rate options for qualifying loan applications received through Dec. 31, 2026. Financing options cover eligible real estate, equipment, working capital, pollution prevention and energy efficiency projects. Traditional PIDA Real Estate Loans For loans financing eligible land and building costs, borrowers have the following options: Loans with regular amortization: A fixed rate of 6.25% for the full loan term, up to 15 years, or an initial rate of 5.25% fixed for seven years. 10-year loans with a 20-year amortization period: A fixed rate of 6.25% for the full 10-year term, or an initial rate of 5.25% fixed for five years. For either reset option, the rate adjusts after the initial fixed period to the then-current 10-year Treasury yield. The adjustment is limited to an increase or decrease of 2 percentage points, and the new rate remains fixed for the rest of the loan term. Additional Loan Options PIDA-MELF equipment loans: 6.25% fixed for the full loan term. Export finance working capital and accounts receivable lines of credit: 6.25% fixed for 12 months. Pollution prevention and energy efficiency loans: 2.00% fixed for the full loan term. PIDA-SBF account loans: 5.00% fixed for the full loan term. PIDA-CED account loans: 5.00% fixed for the full loan term. PIDA-SBF and PIDA-CED Eligibility PIDA-SBF account loans provide lending amounts of up to $1,000,000 for real estate loans and $400,000 for equipment for eligible businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees worldwide at the time of application. Eligible enterprises include agricultural processors and producers, industrial and manufacturing businesses, research and development, hospitality, defense conversion, recycling, computer-related services, construction and child day care. PIDA-CED account loans provide real estate, equipment and/or working capital financing of $200,000 or less for eligible retail and service businesses located in an eligible distressed area. Applicants must have 100 or fewer full-time employees worldwide at the time of application. A reset interest rate is currently unavailable for real estate loans funded through either account because statutory provisions cap interest rates at 5.00%. For more information about the program and application process, visit the PIDA program page.
