Tobyhanna Army Depot Advances New Military Family Housing Development Construction is moving forward on Tobyhanna Army Depot’s new military family housing community, with the Cadence Communities at Tobyhanna project entering its vertical construction phase. First announced in 2023, the development will bring 35 new homes to the installation for military families. After months of site preparation, civil infrastructure and utility work, crews have begun shifting their focus to the construction of the homes. Civil infrastructure work is now substantially complete, and framing has started on two building pads. Additional pads will move into construction as the project progresses. The completed community will include 17 duplex-style buildings with a total of 35 homes. Of those, 19 will feature four bedrooms and 16 will feature three bedrooms. Each residence will have two-and-a-half bathrooms, while one four-bedroom home will be a standalone residence designed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements. The project remains on schedule for completion in the first quarter of 2027. The neighborhood’s roadway, named Radio Way, also reflects Tobyhanna Army Depot’s history and connection to its mission. Depot Commander Col. Benjamin L. Kilgore highlighted the importance of the project as construction moves into a more visible phase. “Seeing this project move from site development into vertical construction is an exciting milestone for Tobyhanna Army Depot,” said Kilgore. “This new housing represents a significant investment in our military families and strengthens our ability to support the warfighters who serve here.” Depot Sgt. Maj. Cory P. Alkire emphasized the role military housing plays in supporting warfighters and their families. “The warfighter on the front lines, whether in garrison, training, or deployed, always depends on the support and structure of the most important investment they fight for: their families,” said Alkire. “Now that vertical construction has begun, we are one step closer to providing our local community with a new, amazing resource their families can enjoy for decades to come.” As framing continues and additional building pads enter construction, the new residential community is becoming increasingly visible. Once completed, the development will provide modern housing while enhancing Tobyhanna Army Depot’s ability to support military families and the warfighters who serve at the installation.
Viking Pest Control Begins Servicing PNC Field, Home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders Viking Pest Control, an award-winning pest control company serving the Mid-Atlantic region, has taken over pest control duties for PNC Field, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the local minor league baseball team. With more than 45 years of experience, Viking Pest Control brings extensive experience and state-of-the-art treatments and technology to help ensure a comfortable, distraction-free environment for field attendees and staff. Founded in 1980, Viking Pest Control serves homes and businesses across Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The company has been recognized as one of the best pest control companies in the country by major publications, including USA Today and Forbes. Viking Pest currently provides pest control services to other professional sports venues, including the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., home of the New Jersey Devils hockey team, and Penn Medicine Park in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, home of the Lancaster Stormers baseball team. “We are honored to take over pest control service for PNC field,” said James McIntyre, President of Viking Pest Control. “As sports fans ourselves, we know how pests can ruin the fun and excitement of a day at the ballpark. It’s our privilege to help protect that experience.”
Geisinger hospitals receive multiple American Heart Association recognitions Four Geisinger hospitals were recently honored by the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA) for providing high-quality, life-saving heart and stroke care. The hospitals earned Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards, which recognize organizations that demonstrate a commitment to following the latest evidence-based guidelines for treating heart disease and stroke. Adherence to these guidelines helps improve patient outcomes, support recovery and reduce hospital readmissions. Get With The Guidelines® brings together the expertise of the AHA and ASA to help hospitals nationwide align patient care with the most current, science-based treatment recommendations. As participants in the program, Geisinger hospitals qualified for the awards through their sustained commitment to improving the quality of cardiovascular and stroke care. Geisinger hospitals received the following awards for heart and stroke care: Geisinger Community Medical Center Get With The Guidelines®–CAD STEMI Receiving Gold Plus Award with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital Get With The Guidelines®-Rural Stroke Gold Geisinger Lewistown Hospital Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Stroke Gold Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Geisinger Medical Center Commitment to Quality Get With The Guidelines®–CAD STEMI Receiving Gold Plus Award with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Target: Aortic Stenosis™ Honor Roll Geisinger Medical Center Muncy Get With The Guidelines®-Rural Stroke Gold Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Get With The Guidelines®–CAD STEMI Receiving Gold Plus Award with Target: Type 2 Diabetes “We are committed to delivering high-quality care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and continually improving processes to ensure patients receive timely, appropriate care for heart attacks and strokes,” said Alfred Casale, M.D., chief medical officer, surgical services, Geisinger. “The Get With The Guidelines® programs help our teams put proven science into practice every day, leading to better outcomes and helping our patients live longer, healthier lives.” According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke remain the leading and fifth-leading causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show that patients often experience better outcomes when care teams consistently follow evidence-based treatment guidelines. For more information about heart and vascular care at Geisinger, visit geisinger.org/heart.
NEPA Philharmonic and Luzerne County to celebrate county’s 240th anniversary Luzerne County and the NEPA Philharmonic will celebrate both the county’s 240th and America’s 250th anniversaries with a performance featuring a local Broadway star, a local singer-songwriter, and multimedia of local history, along with music, dance, and narration inspired by Pennsylvania’s rich heritage and cultures. Both entities will present the Luzerne County 240th Celebration on Friday, September 25 at 7 PM at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. In the program, the NEPA PHIL will perform two major compositions by renowned American composer Aaron Copland: Lincoln Portrait, a moving work for narrator and orchestra highlighting the inspirational words of the 16th United States President Abraham Lincoln, along with Appalachian Spring, famous for its musical depiction of 19th-century Pennsylvanian heritage and the use of the Shaker melody “Simple Gifts”. Appalachian Spring will be presented alongside brand-new artistic multimedia, narration, and dance highlighting 240 years of Luzerne County history across its 76 municipalities. Wilkes-Barre City Councilman and local historian Tony Brooks will provide narration for Appalachian Spring; the narrator for Lincoln Portrait is to be announced. “The NEPA Philharmonic is thrilled to collaborate with Luzerne County and so many amazing partners on this once-in-a-generation celebratory musical event,” said Chason Goldschmitz, NEPA PHIL Executive Director. “We are immensely thankful for continued support from the broader Luzerne County and NEPA community, and we are proud to showcase the incredible artistry of our orchestral musicians and hometown stars on this special occasion.” Broadway star and Luzerne County native Celia Hottenstein also joins the orchestra for the concert, presenting a selection of Broadway songs from Oklahoma, Anastasia, Company, and more alongside her husband and fellow Broadway star Travis Taber. Luzerne County singer-songwriter-guitarist Gracie Jane Sinclair, winner of the inaugural NEPA PHIL Battle of the Bands, will perform two of her original songs alongside the orchestra, orchestrated by NEPA PHIL trumpeter Darin Kelly. The program will also feature the National Anthem, sung by Hottenstein with an orchestration by NEPA PHIL Music Director Mélisse Brunet, and the premiere of Keystone Jubilee, a new orchestral fanfare composed for the occasion by NEPA PHIL Executive Director Chason Goldschmitz. The program will be approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes in length, including a 20-minute intermission. Luzerne County & NEPA PHIL will also present a special Young People’s Concert for Luzerne County schools on Friday, September 25th at 10:30 AM at the F.M. Kirby Center. Copland’s Appalachian Spring and the new historical multimedia, narration, and dance will be presented for students in grades 3-12 from across Luzerne County, highlighting 240 years of Luzerne County history in an accessible and exciting setting. Interested schools and homeschool families can call the NEPA PHIL for more information, at (570) 270-4444. Sponsorships, including Pennsylvania EITC-eligible support, are still available and welcome for the concert from individuals and businesses; benefits at various levels include program book advertisements, recognition on screen and announced from the stage, complimentary tickets, and limited Title Sponsorship options. Support can be directed towards the entire event, the evening concert, the Young People’s Concert, a broadcast recording, or towards free Angel Tickets to be distributed to veterans and low-income Luzerne County residents through local nonprofit partners. Interested sponsors can reach out to the NEPA Philharmonic at (570) 270-4444. Tickets for the program start at $16 for students (with ID) and $24 for adults; tickets are available at NEPAPHIL.org, by calling the Philharmonic Box Office at 570-270-4444, or by visiting the F.M. Kirby Center Box Office on Public Square.
Johnson College receives final contribution from Peoples Security Bank & Trust for innovation campaign Johnson College received a final $30,000 contribution from Peoples Security Bank & Trust, completing the bank’s $150,000 commitment to the College’s Innovation at Work Capital Campaign. Through its support of the campaign, Peoples Security Bank & Trust helped Johnson College make significant investments in its campus and educational programs, providing students with modern learning spaces, technology and equipment. The Innovation at Work Capital Campaign was a $5 million initiative focused on supporting continued growth and student success at Johnson College. The campaign supported the construction of Ideal Saldi Hall, expansion of the building trades labs, which became Bracey Hall, and the College’s Annual Fund and student scholarships. These investments have strengthened Johnson College’s ability to provide students with the education, technology and resources needed to prepare for successful careers. To learn more about the Innovation at Work Capital Campaign and the impact of the campaign’s investments, click here.
Annual 2nd Chance Festival scheduled for September 17 Outreach Center for Community Resources is promoting the annual 2nd Chance Festival, which supports housing for people coming out of the Lackawanna County Prison and raises awareness about successful community reintegration. The festival will be on the Lackawanna County Courthouse Square, located at 200 North Washington Avenue in Scranton, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on September 17. There will be live music, vendors, community information and raffle baskets. You can get more information about the festival and learn about sponsorship opportunities by contacting Jennifer Shoemaker at (570) 558-7573 or Katie Schnurr at (570) 558-7568.
Scranton Cultural Center hosting Open House event The Scranton Cultural Center is hosting an Open House event on Saturday, August 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at its location on North Washington Avenue. Patrons will be able to “test drive” seats that are available for the upcoming 2026-2027 Broadway In Scranton season. Attendees can sit in various locations throughout the theatre to find the seat that fits them best before purchasing their season ticket. Staff will be on hand to answer any questions about the 2026-2027 Broadway in Scranton Season and to help patrons purchase their season ticket(s). Season ticket prices for the six-show subscription are $409, $479 and $539. 2026-2027 shows include Mystic Pizza, Beetlejuice, Hadestown, Jersey Boys, Shucked and A Beautiful Noise. You can learn more about the Scranton Cultural Center by clicking here.
Scranton Half Marathon members gather for check presentation Members of the Scranton Half Marathon gathered with representatives from each of Scranton’s Little Leagues and Tripp Park Little League Softball for a check presentation. A total of $35,882 was distributed among the seven organizations, with each receiving $5,126. The remaining $35,882 from the race proceeds was deposited into the Scranton Half Marathon Foundation, which provides grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Lackawanna County. Those on hand for the presentation include (from left to right): Matt Byrne, Scranton Half and South Scranton Little League, Tony Cantafio, Green Ridge Baseball Association, Brian Wallace, Tripp Park Little League Softball, Ted Zwiebel, Scranton Half, Chris Healy, Connell Park Little League, Tom Minora, Scranton Half, Kayla Bunevitch, North Scranton Little League, Tim Holmes, Scranton Half, Ryan Collins, West Scranton Little League, Tim Wolff, East Scranton Little League, Gary Jones, Scranton Half, and Pat Fricchione, Scranton Half. Since its inception, the Scranton Half Marathon has been committed to giving back to the community. The race aims to inspire the community by promoting health, fitness and local heritage, and showcases the scenic beauty and rich cultural history of Scranton and the Lackawanna Valley.
Mutts & Motors Car Show happening September 13 The Mutts & Motors Car Show is scheduled for Sunday, September 13 and will benefit the animals at Griffin Pond Animal Shelter. Gates will open at 9:00 a.m. at 946 Griffin Pond Road in South Abington Township, and vehicles must be on the field by 11:00 a.m. for judging. It costs $10 to register a car or truck, and the top five vehicles will will trophies. The public can attend the event for free with the option to donate to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter. There will also be a 50/50 raffle, food trucks and music. The rain date for this event is Sunday, September 27. You can learn more about the event by clicking here.
WVIA nominated for six Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards WVIA has announced that it has received six nominations for the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards. The nominations are as follows: Overall Excellence (#101) WVIA General Manager: Carla McCabe Documentary (#503) Making NEPA Home Producer/Director: Kara Washington Historical/Cultural – Short Form Content (#405) VIA Short Takes: The Day Carbondale Director: Alexander Monelli | Reporter: Kat Bolus Historical/Cultural – Short Form Content (#405) VIA Short Takes: The Lattimer Massacre Producer/Director: Timothy Novotney Societal Concerns – Short Form Content (#408) Aging Together in PA Producer/Director: Timothy Novotney Editor – Content (#701) Making NEPA Home Editor: Kara Washington
