UNC to Host Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New CEDAR Center United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new CEDAR (Community Education, Development, And Revitalization) Center on Friday, August 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at 526 Cedar Avenue in South Scranton. All media outlets and public officials are invited to attend. UNC officially moved into the CEDAR Center on June 23, 2025, marking a major milestone in the organization’s 100+ year history. The CEDAR Center now serves as UNC’s regional hub for adult education, workforce development, and a range of community-based programs. Speakers at the event will include Senator Marty Flynn, Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, Mayor of Scranton Paige Cognetti, Lisa Durkin, UNC President and CEO, and Dr. Kellyn Williams, UNC Board Member. The building, a former branch of the South Side Bank & Trust Company, was generously donated by Peoples Security Bank in 2014. Construction began in April 2024, transforming the space into a welcoming and accessible facility designed to meet the growing needs of the community. UNC extends sincere thanks to the many funding partners who helped bring the project to life, including Senator Robert P. Casey Jr., Peoples Security Bank, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (RACP), the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (Keystone Communities, Local Share Account, and Neighborhood Partnership Program), Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, Lackawanna County, the City of Scranton, the Oppenheim Foundation, PNC Bank, PPL Electric Utilities, and The Dime Bank. We’d additionally like to thank Project Architect Ralph J. Melone, AIA, and General Contractor Robert Bamford of Mar-Paul Construction Co., Inc. The ribbon cutting will celebrate the opening of this vital new space and UNC’s continued commitment to serving individuals and families across Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Kolmar Invests $60M in Lackawanna County The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and its business development division and business development marketing program, the Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company (SLIBCO), and The Scranton Plan announce the expansion of Kolmar within the Scott Technology Park, Scott Township. Kolmar, a leading contract manufacturer of innovative beauty, skincare, and personal care products, is proud to announce a $60M expansion of its campus in Scott Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. “I am incredibly excited and proud to expand our footprint in Scott Township and take this next big step in growing our business in the United States, said Yong Chul (“Ben”) Hur, chief executive officer, Kolmar. This new facility isn’t just about growing our production capabilities—it’s about creating new opportunities, strengthening our community, and building the future of beauty manufacturing right here in northeast Pennsylvania.” President of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Bob Durkin, added, “The continued investment by Kolmar in Scott Township and Lackawanna County represents a powerful affirmation of our shared commitment to long-term growth and innovation. As the developer of Scott Technology Park, The Chamber, through its business development division SLIBCO, is pleased to provide a setting that enables companies like Kolmar to expand, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to our regional economy.” This expansion includes 36 acres on which it has just completed the construction of a 200k sq ft building that will house its administrative offices, warehousing and state-of-the art production capabilities. This new construction lays the foundation for the Company’s ultimate goal of building a cosmetic industrial complex that will include introducing supply chain partners to northeast Pennsylvania. “Kolmar’s expansion perfectly illustrates Lackawanna County’s suitability for a wide range of industrial development,” shared Commissioner Bill Gaughan. “The county is an ideal location not just for manufacturing or logistics, but for corporate management and the entire spectrum of business operations. We thank Kolmar for its major expansion and investment, and especially for demonstrating that Lackawanna County works.” Through SLIBCO and The Scranton Plan, The Chamber is committed to attracting, sustaining, and growing businesses and the workforce in targeted industries. These industries include advanced manufacturing, food and beverage production, technology, energy, and life sciences. Kolmar has been a dedicated member of its local community since 1993. This new facility will be the second Kolmar facility within the park, creating 280 additional jobs within the Scott Technology Park. The company commemorated the expansion with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Scott Township Administrator Carl Ferraro shares, “Scott Township would like to congratulate Kolmar on completion of the first phase of their expansion. As one of the Township’s largest employers, their continued success is a benefit to all of Scott Township and its residents.”
The NEPA Philharmonic Kicks Off Summer with Independence Day Celebrations and Community Events The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic kicks off its 2025-26 Season, Presented by PNC, with a lineup of summer festivities, Independence Day celebrations, and three nights of music under the stars on July 3-5, 2025. With full-orchestra fireworks performances, patriotic favorites, community education and wellness events, and chamber music in the great outdoors, the NEPA Philharmonic presents outdoor large-ensemble concerts in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre on July 3rd and 4th; an outdoor chamber music concert at Harmony in the Woods in Hawley on July 5th; and community programs in Scranton, Peckville, and Carbondale. On Thursday, July 3, 7:30 PM, the full NEPA Philharmonic returns to Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton for a free concert as part of the Lackawanna County Scrantastic Spectacular. The performance – led by guest conductor Jeffrey Spenner, Assistant Director of the U.S. Coast Guard Band – features the full orchestra for the first time since 2019, with an array of patriotic classics capped by a fireworks display. For more details, visit https://www.scrantasticspectacular.com/. “I’m thrilled to celebrate the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s performance at our annual Scrantastic Spectacular on July 3rd,” says Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak. “Their vibrant orchestra will bring patriotic spirit to Courthouse Square, uniting our community in a joyful Independence Day celebration. We’re proud to support their artistry and look forward to an unforgettable evening of music and fireworks.” Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan also notes, “The Scrantastic Spectacular always is a great event and it will be even more so this year, with the full Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic bringing its extraordinarily talented musicians to the perfect setting of Courthouse Square. I can’t think of a better way for the whole community to come together to celebrate the nation’s 249th anniversary.” The celebration continues Friday, July 4, 9:00 AM, with the 12th Annual Yoga on the Roof atop the Marketplace at Steamtown’s parking garage. The NEPA Philharmonic string trio joins Jaya Yoga Clarks Summit for a unique sunrise yoga session with live music, highlighting powerful connections between arts and wellness. Registration is $20, online at www.nepaphil.org/tickets or at the door; proceeds benefit NEPA Philharmonic community and education programs. Maximum Zen Bakery of Clarks Summit provides light breakfast. On July 4, 8:00 PM, the NEPA Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Ensemble return with guest conductor Paul Bryan to Wilkes-Barre’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration at Kirby Park. This free, festive event features music, food, games, and another evening of lighting up the sky with fireworks. The NEPA Philharmonic Brass also presents two all-ages educational events: Once Upon an Orchestra at Valley Community Library in Peckville on Thursday, July 3, 10:00 AM and Meet the Instruments outside at Memorial Park in Carbondale on Saturday, July 5, 11:00 AM. Once Upon an Orchestra blends music and storytelling, bringing to life Ben’s Trumpet by Rachel Isadora with a brass trio performing 1920s-style jazz, while Meet the Instruments features instrument demonstrations and short musical excerpts with brass quintet. Both events are free; registration for the July 3 library event is at https://lclshome.org/event/once-upon-an-orchestra/. The weekend concludes as the NEPA Philharmonic expands the Stoppini Chamber Series with a special concert in partnership with Harmony in the Woods, a premier outdoor performance venue in Hawley, PA. On Saturday, July 5, 6:00 PM, the NEPA Philharmonic Brass Quintet takes center stage with “Americana Brass in the Woods”. The performance will feature a dynamic mix of New Orleans jazz, lively ragtime, and classic film scores, alongside timeless works from Gershwin, Ellington, Bernstein, Irving Berlin, and more. Tickets ($50 for adults, $25 for children) are available at www.harmonyinthewoods.org. The Scrantastic Spectacular is sponsored in part by Lehigh Valley Health Network, Scranton Tomorrow, The Lackawanna County Commissioners, The City of Scranton, and Audacy Pennsylvania. Additional support for the NEPA Philharmonic at Scrantastic Spectacular is provided by PNC, Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, Fidelity, Geisinger, and Xfinity. Once Upon an Orchestra is presented by the Lackawanna County Library System. The NEPA Philharmonic Brass at Wilkes-Barre’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July is presented by the City of Wilkes-Barre. Americana Brass is presented by Harmony in the Woods, with additional support for the Philharmonic from PNC and the Stoppini Foundation. In case of inclement weather, the July 3rd, 7:30PM Scrantastic Spectacular concert will go on as scheduled, with a rain location at Scranton High School; rain location announcements will be provided by Lackawanna County on the event website. The rain location for the July 5th, 11AM Meet the Instruments event in Carbondale will be at the Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the NEPA Philharmonic’s summer programs and the upcoming 2025–2026 Season, Presented by PNC, visit nepaphil.org, or call (570) 270-4444.
Lackawanna County to Conduct Assessment Appeal Hearings in the Marketplace at Steamtown Lackawanna County will conduct an expected large number of assessment appeal hearings in the Marketplace at Steamtown, 300 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton. Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Chris Chermak approved a lease for the space at Wednesday’s regular commissioners meeting. The county is conducting its first comprehensive reassessment of property valuations since 1968. Valuations are the basis for property taxation by the county, municipal governments and school districts. County property owners already have received new tentative valuations for their properties. The informal appeal process, in which about 9,500 property owners questioned their tentative valuations, has concluded. Letters informing property owners of final valuations will be mailed by June 20, according to Patrick Tobin, director of the county Department of Assessment. Those letters will include instructions on how to file a formal appeal. Appeal hearings will begin Aug. 1 and continue, five days a week, through Oct. 31. To accommodate the expected large number of appeals, the commissioners have appointed four auxiliary appeals boards to assist the permanent county Board of Assessment Appeals. All boards will conduct appeals in the marketplace. The permanent board will handle all commercial property valuation appeals. The space is on the first floor, between the Electric City Aquarium and Lehigh Valley Health Network. It is large enough to enable all five reassessment appeal boards to hear cases simultaneously. Under the terms of the lease agreement, the space will be occupied by the assessment appeals boards from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31 and will cost $3,700 per month, which includes the cost of the space and its utilities. The county will validate garage parking to ensure that it is free. Brian Jeffers, county chief of staff, emphasized that the space in the Marketplace at Steamtown allows for convenient parking and accessibility. “We scouted a bunch of locations and this is actually the best one,” Jeffers said. Once all appeals are resolved, the new valuations will be used by local governments and school districts to set 2026 property tax rates. Tobin noted that the new valuations are not relevant to current 2025 tax bills, and that the new valuations cannot be used to estimate 2026 taxes, which will be set when local governments and school districts adopt their 2026 budgets. — Brittain Banull, Lackawanna County Staff
Chamber Hosts Lackawanna County Commissioners On Thursday, February 29, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce hosted Lackawanna County Commissioners Chris Chermak, Bill Gaughan, and Matt McGloin at a breakfast meet and greet. The County Commissioners interacted with Chamber and affiliate organizations’ board members. Bob Durkin, president of The Chamber, Jerry Musheno, chair of the board for The Chamber, and Vince Galko, chair of the Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee for The Chamber, provided remarks to guests and welcomed County Commissioners. The county commissioners gave short salutations and spoke on the County’s and The Chamber’s strong connection in attracting, sustaining, and growing businesses to Lackawanna County.
