Penn State Scranton Alumni Association Annual Dinner This year’s Greater Scranton Penn State Chapter annual dinner will feature some well-known Penn Staters, while honoring the memory of Stephen “Doc” Weissberger, a man who was synonymous with the Chapter and the ultimate Penn State fan.Weissberger of the founders of the Chapter was one, serving as its president for five years and as treasurer for over 20 years. He also was actively involved in running its annual dinners for 39 years, bringing prominent Penn State coaches, players and staff members to Scranton, while raising money for scholarships and programs at the Penn State Scranton campus. This year will be the group’s first dinner without him, as he passed away last year at the age of 84. In addition to being Chapter members and football fans, Weissberger and his wife Essie were also generous donors to the Penn State Scranton campus, establishing a scholarship in memory of their parents, and supporting other campus programs and initiatives. The two were members of the campus’ prestigious donor group, The Ridge View Society and Steven also served on the campus’ Advisory Board. He was voted Penn State Alumnus of the Year in 1985 and is a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association. Featured guests are “The Voice of Penn State” Steve Jones and Penn State Men’s Head Basketball Coach Mike Rhoades. Former Penn State Nittany Lion quarterback and Scranton native Matt McGloin will serve as toastmaster. Jones has done the play-by-play voice for Penn State football and men’s basketball for over 30 years, getting his start announcing for Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s then campus radio station. He also covers a variety of Penn State and local sports and is a part-time faculty member for Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. Penn State recruited Jones as the third announcer for Penn State football in 1983, which he did until he became the play-by-play announcer in 2000. Rhoades was named the Peter and Ann Tombros Endowed Men’s Basketball Head Coach on March 29 of this year. A native of Mahanoy City, he has spent 19 seasons as a collegiate head coach, most recently at VCU. Over his career, he has produced a 373-189 record, a winning percentage of .664, seven NCAA Tournament appearances and nine national postseason appearances. He is a member of the Mahanoy Area High School Hall of Fame, Lebanon Valley College Hall of Fame (team and individual), Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Hall of Fame, Central Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Eastern Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and Jerry Wolman, Northern Anthracite Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. McGloin grew up in West Scranton and attended West Scranton High School where he played baseball and football and was a Pennsylvania all-state quarterback. He was the first walk-on quarterback to start at Penn State, doing so from 2010 to 2012; was the 2012 winner of the Burlsworth Trophy, which is presented to the nation’s outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on; spent six seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Oakland Raiders; and has worked as a football analyst for the Big Ten Network. Locally, he has established the Matt McGloin Fund of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, works as a realtor in the Greater Scranton Area and is a candidate for Lackawanna County commissioner. He is also the namesake for Penn State Scranton’s baseball field. The dinner will be held Thursday, June 8 at Fiorelli’s in Peckville. Tickets are $50, with a cash bar beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in attending can contact Mike Rescigno at MIKE.RESCIGNO@COMCAST.NET or 570-466-7872.
Keller Williams Real Estate to Host Food Drive Calling all members of the NEPA Community! Keller Williams Real Estate is hosting a food drive for a few local food banks in our area that desperately need contributions. Every year they close their offices to help support these organizations & feed more families, but they need your help to make it happen! They will pick up donations from your door on or before the event! Please reach out to Keller Williams Real Estate at 570-357-3843 if you are able to donate.
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute to Benefit from Basketball Tournament Judi H Rock On committee member and son of Judi A. Perry Hartridge, Johnny Hartridge, is hosting a 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for grades 6-8 on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28 at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Rosary Gym. The gym is located at 316 Williams St., Scranton. Team registration is $40 which includes a t-shirt for each player. There will be food available for purchase and raffle baskets. The proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute. For more team registration forms and event information, contact Johnny Hartridge at (570) 904-7604 or email him at e22star@verizon.net. Team registration is due by Friday, May 19. This event is in Memory of Judi A. Perry Hartridge. Judi Perry Hartridge, passed away from cancer in 2007. To honor her memory and love of music, her family and friends formed a committee – Judi H Rock On, to raise funds to fight the disease that claimed her life. Judi’s family held seven Judi H Rock On musical fundraisers. This event is the first sports related fundraiser in her memory.
WVIA Set to Premiere ROAR: The Story of the Southern Columbia Football Tigers WVIA will premiere original documentary film ROAR: The Story of the Southern Columbia Football Tigers this Thursday, May 11 at 8 p.m. on WVIA television. The documentary chronicles the 2022 Southern Columbia Area High School Football Tigers as they chase a PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc.) record sixth consecutive state championship. Award-winning WVIA filmmaker Alexander Monelli tells the story of their season from the locker room to practices to the sidelines of the games, giving viewers an up close and never-before-seen look at one of the top high school football programs in the state. Located in rural Catawissa, Pennsylvania (near the world-renowned Knoebels Amusement Resort), the film aims to discover what makes the small-town team so successful year after year. The film will feature interviews with the 2022 Southern Columbia football team and its coaches alongside interviews with former NFL players Henry Hynoski (Southern Columbia, New York Giants) and Bo Orlando (Berwick, Houston Oilers), as well as former WNEP sports director Jim Coles, who covered Southern Columbia and regional high school football for 33 years, and current WNEP sports reporters, Landon Stolar and Steve Lloyd. “I can’t wait for people to see this documentary about the Southern Columbia high school football team. I spent every day for a year working on this film. I spent the last two months waking up at 3:45am every single day to finish the film properly,” said filmmaker Alexander Monelli. “It’s always exciting when WVIA puts out a new original documentary and I’m just super honored to be a part of that legacy. This company is the home of documentary filmmaking in the region and I’m proud to share this film with all of you on May 11th.” “What I hope people will say after this documentary is ‘they do things the right way,” said head coach Jim Roth. “As far as the way we work, the way we treat players, the way we interact, and then the rest takes care of itself and translates into wins.” “Southern Columbia High School football is a unique story, and we are excited to give our viewers an up-close and personal view of this team,” said Ben Payavis II, WVIA Chief Content Officer. “WVIA takes pride in shining a light on the stories of our region and giving them a platform to be shared with the world.” The trailer for ROAR: The Story of the Southern Columbia Football Tigers can be viewed here: https://www.wvia.org/roar-the-story-of-the-southern-columbia-football-tigers The documentary film will broadcast on WVIA television and will also be available to watch on WVIA’s YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/live/D3EHpfDDq0I?feature=share and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/575101254451175/. In addition to the broadcast premiere, there will be exclusive interviews with director Al Monelli, Southern Columbia Football Coach Jim Roth, and former WNEP Sports Director Jim Coles.
Johnson College to Celebrate Largest Graduating Class Johnson College will celebrate its largest graduating class at its commencement ceremony on May 13, 2023, at 10 a.m. on its Scranton campus. Graduating students will report to the Moffat Student Center gym by 9 a.m. Graduates will complete programs for Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science degrees, academic certificates, and Readiness in Skilled Employment (RISE). John W. Cosgrove, Chief Executive Officer of AllOne Foundation & Charities, will give the commencement address. Degrees will be presented by Katie Leonard, Ed.D., President & CEO of Johnson College, and Heather Bonker, General Education Director of Johnson College. Recipients of Johnson College’s Award for Academic Excellence A.A.S., Jacob Banta, an Automotive Technology program graduate, and Richard Christianson, a Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology program graduate, will serve as student speakers. Matthew Michalek ’85, Vice President of Operations of L.R. Costanzo Company, and Co-Owner of B & M Property Development, will give the alumni address to the newly graduated Johnson College class of 2023. The event will be live-streamed on the College’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/JohnsonCollegePA. Alpha Beta Kappa (ABK) is the premier national collegiate honor society for trades and essential occupations. The society honors excellence not only in the classroom, but also in shop, studio, and laboratory study. Additionally, students must be a member of a student organization or club to become Alpha Beta Kappa members. The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) is an educational non-profit that exists to honor, recognize, and empower students and teachers in Career & Technical Education The appearance of the degree candidate’s name does not verify satisfactory completion of degree requirements.
The Gallery of Scranton Celebrates Special Showcase The Gallery of Scranton will celebrate naming “Diva Theater its “Theater in Residence” and the closing of “The Artist’s Soul” exhibit with a special presentation on Friday, May 5. The Diva troupe will use music, movement, acting and original works in response to the visual art ofprominent Northeast Pennsylvania artists Robert Bergstrasser, Michele Davis, Paul DeLuca, Timothy Hawkesworth, Earl Lehman, Allison Maslow, Travis Prince, Frank Wengen, and the gallery’s owner, Helen Lavelle, who were all featured in “The Artist’s Soul” exhibit. The collaborative event is sponsored by Fidelity Bank who understands the positive impact that the arts have in our community. “The importance of the arts and creative sector on economic growth and vitality is often overlooked, but cannot be overstated,” said Dan Santaniello, president of Fidelity Bank. “Collaborative partnerships between nonprofits and the business sector make sense for our community.” Diva Theater is a nonprofit, award-winning community theater celebrating its 25th Anniversary in the city of Scranton. The company is under the direction of Paige and Bob Balitski with performances held in the Olde Brick Theatre. The performers have been rehearsing in the gallery itself and Paige Balitski said she is excited for the chance to partner on this special event. “At Diva Theater, we pride ourselves in producing original plays by local writers and showcasing thetalented performers we have here in Northeast PA. Everything we do works toward fostering the artsthroughout the community so we are excited to partner with Helen and The Gallery of Scranton to bring the work of these accomplished artists to life,” she said. The Gallery of Scranton will open at 5 p.m. and the Diva performance will begin promptly at 6 p.m.Attendees will have a chance to meet and interact with all of the performers during a reception following their ½ hour show. Lavelle adds, “When the arts are integrated into the fabric of our community, great things happen. The Artist’s Soul exhibit has been viewed by hundreds to date. Now we are honored to bring Diva Theater talent to The Gallery of Scranton…and are thankful to Fidelity Bank whose support allows all to enjoy this performance free of charge.”
Center City Print Picnic in the Park As a way to commemorate Center City Print’s 10 year anniversary, the Paperback Foundation was created to promote positive environmental initiatives in communities across Pennsylvania. Enjoy our first annual Picnic In The Park where we bring our event to Lackawanna County’s McDade Park. Enjoy live music by Daddy-O & The Sax Maniacs, local eats and crafts, environmental education, and a day full of family fun. Together we can revitalize natural areas, create habitats for biodiversity, and improve our communities. Learn more about the Paperback Foundation by clicking here.
WYOU to Air Market Debate On Saturday, May 6 from 7:00PM-7:30PM, WYOU will host a multi-market debate between House 163rd District Democrat Candidate Heather Boyd and House 163rd Republican Candidate Katie Ford. The pair are competing in a special election for the open 163rd Pennsylvania House seat. The winner of this race will determine which party has the majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The “Special Edition of This Week in Pennsylvania” will be held at the WHTM/abc27 studio in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The 30-minute debate will be hosted by WHTM abc27 News anchor Dennis Owens. The work by WHTM and Dennis Owens in producing and anchoring four high profile statewide debates in 2022 was critically acclaimed by politicians and journalists across the Commonwealth.
Greater Scranton YMCA to Present Healthy Kids Day The Greater Scranton YMCA is hosting the Y’s annual Healthy Kids Day® on May 6 from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. This free, annual event features a variety of family-friendly activities to encourage healthy kids, healthy families and a healthy start to the summer season. Some featured activities include a Kids Fun Run that kicks-off at 10:30 a.m., vendor fair, petting zoo, rides, bounce houses, entertainment and more.Additionally, as part of the Y’s Wellbeing Initiative, the Greater Scranton YMCA will welcome two guest speakers to the event:• Taes Leavitt, a two-time Juno award winner and creator or television and stage content for kids as one half of the musical duo, Splash’N Boots;• Kelley Perotti, a two-time black belt, two-time Masters World Champion and an elementary motivational speaker who focuses on the life-changing power of kindness.Locally, Healthy Kids Day is sponsored by Community Bank, Matrix Fitness, TOPP Business Solutions, Cal Mal Vending Services, Northeastern Rehabilitation Associates, NET Credit Union and Rainey & Rainey CPAs. To learn more about Healthy Kids Day®, visit https://www.greaterscrantonymca.org/special-events/ or email Brandon Whipple, Senior Program Director, at bwhipple@gsymca.org.
