The Ritz Celebrates 115th Anniversary The Ritz Theater & Performing Arts Center, at the heart of downtown Scranton, opened over a century ago – Labor Day – and was first known as “The Poli,” NEPA’s premier vaudeville theater which hosted the best performers of all time – Harry Houdini, W.C. Fields, Mae West, Ray Bolger, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Fannie Brice, Will Rogers & many more! This incredible building with its rich history is entering its 115th anniversary in September and is currently the home of the Creative and Performing Arts Academy (CaPAA) of NEPA – a vibrant arts program for kids, teens and adults serving over 300 students from all over NEPA. Students come to the Ritz for a variety of classes in theatre, music, and dance in addition to over two dozen productions throughout the year including The Ritz Mainstage Players, a semi-professional audition-based company offering full musicals and plays for all ages. We are so thrilled that performers of all ages can still experience the magic of this classic vaudeville theater nearly 115 years after Sylvester Poli first opened the doors on Wyoming Avenue. The Ritz Theater’s legacy continues to shine brightly in downtown Scranton! This family-owned operation has become a cornerstone of NEPA’s arts community and is committed to building a positive, safe, and welcoming atmosphere for friends, families, and neighbors to celebrate the arts for generations to come. Come and Celebrate with a slice of Birthday Cake!!
SACF Women in Philanthropy Civic Engagement Summit Rescheduled The Civic Engagement Summit hosted by Women in Philanthropy that was previously scheduled for September 16, 2022, has been rescheduled to take place on Thursday, October 6, at the Century Club of Scranton. This new date allows Women in Philanthropy the opportunity to include additional national and regional partners in the conversation who are prepared to lend their voices in these discussions and support the local work on civic engagement and advocacy. Last week, Women in Philanthropy announced a partnership with the National Constitution Center, a private nonprofit organization in Philadelphia that will provide Women in Philanthropy with a thorough understanding of government and the importance of civic engagement. Together with experts in the field, Women in Philanthropy will host this Civic Engagement Summit to engage in valuable discussion and explore topics including how to encourage voter participation, promote the development of leadership and advocacy skills across the region, and engage youth in civic education. Participation in this event will help in creating action plans to further engage individuals and communities in civic life in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Women in Philanthropy, the initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation comprised of over 100 regional supporters, announced earlier this month that it would be hosting a Civic Engagement Summit to explore the topic of civic engagement and advocacy as it relates to women, girls, and their families in Northeastern Pennsylvania. After much research and many organized panel discussions with regional, state, and national experts over the past two years, Women in Philanthropy learned that the COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges causing people to feel disengaged from civic life and from advocating for important causes. Women in Philanthropy also learned that there are a variety of ways to make a difference in the area of Civic Engagement and Advocacy that focus on breaking many of the barriers women, girls, and their families are facing. Civic engagement can look like activism, voting, volunteering, environmentalism, community and national service, running for office, service-learning, and many other activities. Civic engagement is an important part of the democratic process. It affects not just individuals but also improves entire neighborhoods and impacts societies. “What we’ve identified is that there is a tremendous opportunity to help make civic engagement and advocacy more inclusive, and to further support women and youth in the civic space,” stated Laura Ducceschi. “Women in Philanthropy hopes to advance this important topic and work to eliminate the barriers to civic engagement that exist across the region.” The Civic Engagement Summit will take place on Thursday, October 6, at the Century Club of Scranton (612 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton from 11:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Registration is $30 for the general public, $10 for students, and complimentary for Women in Philanthropy supporters. The cost includes lunch, refreshments, and an evening networking reception from 4 to 5 p.m. To become a Women in Philanthropy supporter, please visit supportnepawomen.org or call the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203.
Steam Excursion to Carbondale on September 24th Join Steamtown NHS on Saturday, September 24, 2022 for a steam-powered excursion to Carbondale for the city’s Autumn Market. The Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 26 will depart Steamtown NHS at 9:30 a.m., arriving to Carbondale around 11:15 a.m. Passengers will then have a two-hour layover in Carbondale to enjoy events being offered. The returning train ride will depart Carbondale at 1:30 p.m., arriving to Steamtown around 3:30 p.m. NOTICE: Travel times may change due to slow orders or other delays along the route.While steam is planned, Steamtown NHS may be required to change out locomotives due to unforeseen mechanical issues.Masking requirements on passenger coaches are based on local conditions. Updates are posted weekly, on Fridays, to www.nps.gov/stea. In addition to Carbondale’s Autumn Market, S. Robert Powell, President of the Carbondale Historical Society and Museum, will be at the Carbondale Station to welcome passengers aboard Steamtown’s excursion, and to direct them to the center of town. Powell will lead a walk from the Carbondale Station to Main Street and the center of town, with a stop at Delaware & Hudson Caboose No. 35964, Carbondale City Hall, and Memorial Park. The Carbondale Historical Society (3rd floor of Carbondale City Hall) will be open to visitors from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; guided tours of the museum will be available. Ticket prices for Carbondale Excursion: Adult (ages 12-61) $25.00; Senior (ages 62+) $23.00; Youth (ages 3-11) $18.00; Child (ages 2 and under) $1.00. Visitors can purchase advance tickets for this excursion online through recreation.gov or on-site at our Information Kiosk, credit card only, during regular business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily.
Indraloka Animal Sanctuary to Host Sanctuary Spirits & Brew Please join us at Indraloka Animal Sanctuary for our Sanctuary Spirits & Brew event on Monday, July 18th from 3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. This is an opportunity to meet our rescued animals and mingle with other local business professionals. You’ll have the chance to take a guided tour of the sanctuary, followed by an hour of networking. Free cheese, wine, and coffee will be provided. If you’re looking for a chance to network and hear about opportunities for your business to contribute to the community through our programs, we’d love to see you on July 18th! Register here.
