Tobyhanna Army Depot welcomes new enlisted leader With the traditional passing of the unit colors, Sgt. Maj. Cory P. Alkire took the helm as Tobyhanna Army Depot’s (TYAD’s) senior enlisted advisor, pledging to champion workforce quality of life and sustain world-class readiness for the joint warfighter. Alkire assumed responsibility during a ceremony on July 28. The event was presided over by Depot Commander Col. Benjamin L. Kilgore and was also attended by CECOM Command Sergeant Major Jay A. High, depot leadership as well as family and friends of Sgt. Maj. Alkire. As sergeant major, Alkire serves as the voice of the warfighters who depend on Tobyhanna Army Depot for full lifecycle support of their C5ISR equipment. He also counsels the commander on matters relating to soldiers, military families, and the depot workforce.
SWB RailRiders hosting 90s Night with Chris Kirkpatrick Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC will headline the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders’ 90s Night at PNC Field on August 22. The team will play the Charlotte Knights at 6:05 pm that night. Gates open at 5:00 pm with a classic 90s gear giveaway (a throwback Red Barons replica jersey) for the first 1,500 fans. Kirkpatrick will be there for a VIP Meet & Greet and autograph session. The VIP experience includes a meet & greet with Kirkpatrick and a signed photograph. VIPs will also get a premium infield box seat when they buy the $75 meet & greet ticket. Kirkpatrick will also sign autographs and take pictures with fans on the concourse during the game. There will be a post-game fireworks show, and DJ Hersh will play all your favorite 90s hits on the Geisinger Plaza. You can find more information about Chris Kirkpatrick Meet & Greet tickets here.
Johnson College receives scholarship award Johnson College received a $1,500 scholarship to support its automotive technology students with demonstrated financial need. This is the 16th year that this particular scholarship has been awarded to Johnson College students. Scholarship funds are raised through donations, volunteer work, sponsorships and annual Villa Capri Cruisers Car Club calendar sales. Johnson College’s two-year associate degree program in Automotive Technology prepares students for entry-level positions in the automotive career fields of automotive service centers, engine repair/machine shops, automotive equipment distributors, independent service garages, automotive parts manufacturers, sales representation and auto insurance companies. Graduates may work with brake systems, transmissions, alignments and repairs; be representatives in claims, sales and service; or become truck/fleet maintenance technicians.
Swan Lake returning to the Scranton Cultural Center Swan Lake will return to the Scranton Cultural Center on February 23, 2027. Doors will open at 6:00 pm and the show will begin at 7:00 pm at the Weinberg Theatre on North Washington Avenue in Scranton. Swan Lake will be performed by International Ballet Stars as part of their 83-performance North American tour. The performance will feature over 150 handcrafted costumes, detailed sets and a spectacular live experience. The cast is made up of performers from 16 countries, including Spain, Brazil and Poland. Ticket prices start at $53.25, including fees. Prices are subject to change. Discounts are available for children ages 3-12, senior citizens, students, veterans and groups of 10 people or more. Tickets will be available starting on July 31 at 10:00 am at the Fidelity Bank Box Office at the SCC. You can also purchase tickets by calling (570) 344-1111 or via Ticketmaster. Swan Lake last came to the Scranton Cultural Center in February 2026. You can see a full schedule of Scranton Cultural Center events by clicking here.
The Wright Center for Community Health to host August ‘Walk with a Doc’ events in Scranton and Jermyn The Wright Center for Community Health is encouraging people of all ages to attend its August “‘Walk with a Doc” wellness events. These community walks are led by local physicians and healthcare professionals. They offer an easy, fun and social way to get moving while engaging in health-focused conversations. Participants enjoy light exercise, have the opportunity to ask health-related questions and connect with others in a relaxed, informal setting. The July Walk with a Doc in Jermyn will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 9 a.m. at the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Walkers should gather at the Delaware Street Trailhead entrance. The Scranton walk is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8, at 9 a.m., also along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, with walkers meeting at the Olive Street entrance. The events are free and open to the public. People of all fitness levels are welcome, and no registration is required. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health’s Walk with a Doc program, please contact Melissa Germano-Ryczak at germanom@TheWrightCenter.org.
Tinnitus Support Group meeting at Mid Valley Wright Center location on August 7 The Wright Center for Community Health’s Mid Valley location on South Washington Avenue in Jermyn will host the Tinnitus Support Group of Northeast Pennsylvania on Friday, August 7 for a meeting. There is also a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. The support group welcomes people living with tinnitus, as well as their family members and friends. Anyone interested in learning more about the complex audiological and neurological condition is also invited to attend. Participants can connect with others who share similar experiences, exchange practical coping strategies, and find encouragement in a compassionate, confidential setting. At the August meeting, featured presenter Erin Walborn Sterantino, Au.D., CH-TM, will discuss how to move beyond just “managing symptoms” through the principles of Polyvagal Theory and Mind-Body Medicine, to retrain your system to move from “survival mode” back into “rest and digest.” As the director and certified MBSR teacher at the Mindfulness Center of the Capital Region and an audiologist at Audiologic Solutions Hearing Center, she provides treatment for hearing loss, tinnitus, sound sensitivity, and mindfulness-based stress reduction to her patients. For more information or to request the virtual meeting link, contact Joe Kelly, community health worker at The Wright Center for Community Health, at kellyj@TheWrightCenter.org or 570-903-0492.
JHA Companies opens new regional office Civil engineering firm JHA Companies has opened its new regional office in Reynoldsville. The office will serve as the company’s established presence in North Central Pennsylvania. JHA Companies is a multi-state professional engineering, land surveying and environmental firm that serves people, families and businesses. It was founded in 2008 and operates eight offices in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. You can learn more about JHA Companies by clicking here.
Marion Munley sworn in as President-Elect of American Association for Justice Marion Munley, a partner at Munley Law, was sworn in as President-Elect of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Marion was elected as a national officer for the AAJ in 2022 after over a decade of dedicated service to the Association. Marion is the first woman to become Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2018 and is also a past chair of the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. Her leadership in the AAJ has been recognized with many service awards, including the Above and Beyond Award in 2018, 2019, and 2021; the Distinguished Service Award in 2020 and 2021; and the Marie Lambert Award in 2020. In 2020, she was one of the first recipients of the Robert W. Munley Pursuit of Justice Award by the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group. In her candidate statement, Marion wrote: “I will be a strong, unwavering advocate for our profession and for the clients who depend on us. I will work tirelessly to strengthen our organization and the value we provide members, focusing on three core priorities: Community, advocacy, and education.” Marion is widely recognized as one of the most prominent and respected personal injury lawyers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; she is a triple board-certified civil trial attorney who has spent over 30 years litigating wrongful death, truck crashes, medical negligence, product liability, and nursing home abuse cases on behalf of victims of catastrophic injury. She has won many multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for injury clients throughout the United States, including one of the largest truck accident settlements in history. During her career, Marion has received some of the highest honors a lawyer can receive. She has been included in the Top 10 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list; the “Top 100” and “Top 50” Women Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list. This is the fourth year in a row that Munley has been featured in the Top 10. She has been consistently named as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for the last 23 years, and has been named to the Top 100 list since 2022. This is her 12th year being named a Top 50 Women Pennsylvania Super Lawyer. Additionally, she has been named to the Law Dragon Hall of Fame and the Law Dragon List of the 500 Leading Consumer Attorneys in the United States. In addition to AAJ, she is a member of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice; the Pennsylvania Bar Association; the Federal Bar Association; the International Society of Barristers; the American Board of Trial Advocates and Summit Council.
WVIA News wins six Professional Keystone Media Awards WVIA News won six Professional Keystone Media Awards from the Pennsylvania Newsmedia Association (PNA) for its 2025 journalism. The honorees are: ● Sarah Hofius Hall — First Place, Sports Beat Reporting, Beyond the Scoreboard● Borys Krawczeniuk — Honorable mention, News Beat Reporting, politics and gov’t● Lydia McFarlane — Honorable mention, Feature Story, Clarks Summit memory cafe● Haley O’Brien — 2nd place, lifestyle & entertainment beat, 1st & 2nd for features videos “When we made the commitment to expand local journalism, we did so because we believed our communities deserved trusted, in-depth reporting that informs, connects, and serves the public. We never imagined our newsroom would achieve so much in such a short time,” WVIA President & CEO Carla McCabe said. “These awards are a reflection of the dedication of our journalists and the power of public media to tell the stories that matter to the communities we serve.” The Harrisburg-based PNA organizes the annual awards contest to recognize “journalism that consistently provides relevance, integrity, and initiative in serving readers and audiences, and faithfully fulfills its First Amendment rights/responsibilities.” The awards will be presented October 8 at the Keystone Media Awards Luncheon in Harrisburg.
Marywood University receives $11,000 EITC donation Marywood University has received an $11,000 Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation, which will support the University’s Momentum Program. The contribution will help expand opportunities for high school students who participate in the dual enrollment program. It allows juniors and seniors to earn college credits while completing their high school graduation requirements. “Marywood University is grateful to Pagnotti Enterprises, Inc. for their generous support of the Momentum Program and their commitment to expanding access to educational opportunities for local students,” said Lisa A. Lori, J.D., President. “Partnerships like this help empower the next generation of learners by providing meaningful experiences that prepare them for future academic and professional success.” Momentum offers a variety of college-level courses during the summer, fall and spring semesters. Students enrolled in the program experience the same curriculum, instructional materials and academic expectations as Marywood University students.
