Greater Scranton YMCA Receives Grant from The Les Paul Foundation The Greater Scranton YMCA is among a select group to receive a grant from the Les Paul Foundation for its Music Education and Guitar Lesson Program for children enrolled in the Y’s Before and After School Program. The program will combine music education with hands-on guitar lessons, giving students the opportunity to explore their creativity while building self-confidence through the power of music. “At the Y, we believe in nurturing the potential of every child and teen, and music is a powerful tool for that growth,” said Rich Surridge, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “Music education inspires creativity, builds confidence, and gives young people a voice. Through programs like this, rooted in our core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, we’re creating safe, inclusive spaces where youth can thrive, belong, and discover who they are. This is how we strengthen our communities and live out our mission each day.” For more information about the Music Education and Guitar Lesson Program at the Greater Scranton YMCA, contact Brandon Whipple, Senior Program Director, at bwhipple@gsymca.org.
Aspen Meadows Pet Services Hosting Grand Opening Ceremony Aspen Meadows Pet Aquamation & Memorial Services is pleased to announce that they will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for their newly constructed pet aquamation facility, onsite beginning at 3:00pm on January 30th, 2026. “Pets are paramount members of our families and our community. At Aspen Meadows, it is our honor to provide dignified aftercare services to support families and individuals as they say goodbye to their beloved companions,” said Lauren Calvey, CEO of Aspen Meadows. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Aspen Meadows Pet Aquamation & Memorial Services marks the beginning of a new era in death care for the Clarks Summit community members. In partnership with their sister companies, Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services, and Scranton Area Cremation care, they now offer comprehensive aftercare options not only for people, but also for the animals who are deeply cherished members of families. Aspen Meadows was established as a complementary expansion of the long-standing Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services in Clarks Summit. With more than 125 years of dedicated service to the community, Jennings-Calvey has continually evolved to meet the needs of families, including the addition of an onsite crematory in 2020. Aspen Meadows builds upon this legacy by expanding dignified aftercare options and services to include animals. Aspen Meadows offers onsite aquamation, a gentle and environmentally conscious alternative to traditional cremation that uses water instead of flame. Aspen Meadows provides a variety of memorialization options, including goodbye sessions, memorial and viewing services, burial and interment assistance, postmortem refrigeration, transportation options, and more. Event Details Their family-friendly community event will take place during Clarks Summit’s 22nd annual Festival of Ice, celebrating this year’s theme, “The American Dream.” Guests can enjoy a live ice carving in front of their business, live music by Tony Vergnetti, and light refreshments throughout the event. Date: Friday, January 30th, 2026 Location: 111 Colburn Avenue, Clarks Summit PA 18411 Time: 3pm-6pm Live Ice Carving: 3-5pm Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: 5:15 pm Contact Lauren Calvey, CEO of Aspen Meadows, at Lauren@jenningscalvey.com with any questions. Click here for more information.
Grey Towers Announces Winter Lunch & Learns Grey Towers Heritage Association will host four monthly lunch and learns this season on January 24 through April 18, all focusing on the Pichot legacy of conservation and America’s 250th birthday. The Pinchot Legacy in Pike County – Past, Present, and the Path to America 250 is the first in the series on January 24. Join the U.S. Forest Service and the Grey Towers Heritage Association for a special Lunch & Learn (free for members) celebrating the Pinchot family legacy and its profound influence on both Pike County and the nation. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this program highlights why the story of the Pinchot family and the conservation movement they helped build remains essential to understanding the American identity. “Our guests will experience a rich historical narrative through the lens of Grey Towers, the birthplace of American conservation,” explains Jared Simister of the U.S. Forest Service, which oversees Grey Towers National Historic Site. “We will also discuss the conservation legacy of Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, whose partnerships with President Theodore Roosevelt, and other notable figures, transformed how America manages public lands.” “Building on Pinchot’s national legacy, we’ll explore how the Pinchot family also shaped Milford’s civic culture, championing community, stewardship, and public service as core American values since the earliest days of our country,” adds Jeff McQuaid, President of the Grey Towers Heritage Association. The event will also feature a forward-looking conversation about how this legacy continues to guide today’s conservation efforts, youth education, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships ensuring a vibrant future as the nation prepares to commemorate America 250. Other scheduled Lunch & Learns are The Gardens of Grey Towers – The Past and Projecting Forward on February 21; Olmsted and Pinchot – A Partnership that Shaped America’s Landscapes on March 14; and The Music and Stories of Pennsylvania’s Past on April 18. The Lunch & Learns take place at Forest Hall, 214 Broad Street in Milford, PA with the exception of the April 18 event, whose location will be announced this winter. Tickets for the January 24th event are free for members, $15 for non-members, and $5 for students. Subsequent events are $15 for members, $20 for the general public, and $10 for students. Guests are welcome at 11:00 a.m. and programs start promptly at 11:30, with a light lunch offered after the presentation. Click here for more information. Please note the lecture space at Forest Hall is only accessible via a one-flight staircase; there is no elevator or ramp access available at this time.
Johnson College Receives $5,000 Contribution From Fidelity Bank Johnson College recently received a $5,000 contribution from Fidelity Bank to support students enrolled in the college’s Industry Fast Track program. The donation was made through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The Industry Fast Track program is a partnership between Johnson College and area school districts. It allows high school juniors and seniors to enroll in dual-credit coursework on the Johnson College campuses while remaining full-time students at their respective high schools. For more information about participating in the EITC program with Johnson College, visit johnson.edu/eitc. Johnson College received a $5,000 EITC contribution from Fidelity Bank to support students in the college’s Industry Fast Track program. Pictured from left: Douglas Cook, senior director of college advancement, Johnson College; Dr. Katie Pittelli, president and CEO, Johnson College; and Donna J. Kane, AVP, regional retail sales manager, Fidelity Bank.
Salt Barre Presenting Fundamentals Of Headstand Event Fundamentals of Headstand Ready to get upside down? In this hands-on workshop, Kendra guides participants through the essentials of headstand. Attendees are led through a warm-up flow, core-strengthening movements, and headstand drills they can practice independently. Learning the fundamentals of headstand helps build confidence and supports safe integration of inversions into a regular practice. Saturday, January 24, 2026 Click here for more information.
Geisinger’s Jason W. Mitchell Named to HAP Board Geisinger’s chief medical officer, Jason W. Mitchell, M.D., is among the newest members of the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania’s (HAP) board of directors. He started a 3-year term this month that runs through December 2028. The HAP board includes up to 28 health leaders from across the state in any year. HAP is a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems to advance high-quality, accessible and financially sustainable health care. HAP includes most Pennsylvania hospitals among its more than 235 member organizations. Its board sets the association’s strategic direction and priorities related to fostering a robust hospital community and promoting access to high-quality care across the state. “I am thrilled and humbled to join the HAP board. This is such a critical time for health care, with ongoing challenges and critical changes in care delivery and payment models across the landscape – including right here in Pennsylvania,” said Dr. Mitchell. “Just as we are doing at Geisinger for our patients and communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania, HAP can help lead the charge statewide as we strive to continue to improve access to high-quality, high-value care, in both rural and urban settings.” A practicing family physician, Dr. Mitchell oversees a medical staff of nearly 1,800 physicians and 1,200 advanced practice providers at Geisinger. He joined Geisinger last March after spending 2 decades at Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque, N.M., where he was chief medical and clinical transformation officer for more than 10 years. “I am proud to welcome Dr. Mitchell to HAP’s board of directors,” said Nicole Stallings, HAP’s president and chief executive officer. “Dr. Mitchell brings a wealth of experience leading clinical teams and driving value-based care. As an accomplished physician and hospital leader, he knows the difficulties that clinicians face each day and is committed to supporting caregivers’ health and wellness.” Prior to joining Presbyterian in 2006, Dr. Mitchell spent 3 years as medical director of the University of New Mexico’s not-for-profit Locum Tenens Program, where he oversaw program operations and quality for primary and specialty care physicians serving rural and urban populations. Dr. Mitchell is a national speaker and author of numerous value-based care articles and presentations, as well as on topics ranging from strategy and business transformation to payment models and population health.
WVIA’s Keystone Edition Returns WVIA’s flagship public affairs program, Keystone Edition, returns for a new season beginning January 19, featuring a refreshed format designed to deepen community conversation around the most timely and impactful issues facing Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Now airing as one new episode per month, the reimagined Keystone Edition will focus exclusively on in-depth reporting from the WVIA News team and discussion of a single, highly relevant topic each episode. Episodes will be moderated by WVIA’s Director of Journalism, Julie Sidoni, and feature the WVIA News team to provide deeper insights and context for the show. Each episode will serve as a live, town-hall-style forum, recorded in front of a studio audience at WVIA Studios and later broadcast on television and available on-demand. Each episode will tackle an issue that matters right now — from education to economic challenges, public safety, healthcare, and other urgent regional concerns. Topics will be selected based on timeliness and community relevance, allowing Keystone Edition to respond quickly to what’s happening across the region. To kickoff the season, WVIA will celebrate the inspiring life and career of legendary Lackawanna College football Coach Mark Duda, who has helped produce more than 450 NCAA Division I athletes, and more than 25 players who went on to sign NFL contracts. After his recent Parkinson’s diagnosis, Duda retired at the end of the 2025 season. His work on and off the field has encouraged countless young men to become the best versions of themselves at home, in the classroom and out in the community. A Trusted Space for Informed Conversation At a time when information can be overwhelming — or difficult to find — Keystone Edition offers viewers something increasingly rare: local, relevant news they can trust. Each episode presents multiple perspectives, encourages civil discourse, and provides context to help viewers make informed decisions about the issues that affect their families and communities. Keystone Edition is more than a television program: it’s a monthly community forum where complex topics are unpacked together, helping viewers stay informed and engaged with what matters most. In addition to watching on television or on-demand, community members will have the opportunity to attend each live taping as part of the studio audience. Click here for more information regarding the Keystone Edition.
