Community members invited to annual Red Kettle Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast Chamber members and community leaders are invited to kick off the holiday season at The Salvation Army Scranton Citadel Corps’ 3rd Annual Red Kettle Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast on Thursday, November 12 at 8:30 a.m. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Give with JOY.” The kickoff event is meant to celebrate the start of the holiday giving season. The Red Kettle Campaign helps provide food, shelter, utility assistance, holiday meals, Christmas gifts and year-round support to individuals and families throughout our community.
John Cleese Coming to the Scranton Cultural Center on April 10 Comedy legend John Cleese, is coming to the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple on April 10 for “John Cleese: Still Not Dead (Yet) – Celebrating ‘The Holy Grail’ at 50.” The event will begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the theater opening at 6:30 p.m. The evening will feature a theatrical screening of the immortal classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail, followed by a live question-and-answer session with Cleese. Tickets start at $65.20, including fees, with a limited number of post-show VIP packages also available for purchase. Tickets go on sale October 9 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased in person at the Fidelity Bank Box Office, by calling 570-344-1111, or through Ticketmaster.
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.
