Urban Co-Works Holds ‘First Friday Free Coworking’ Event

Every First Friday, Urban Co-Works offers free coworking in our coworking space from 9am to 5pm. This month’s event is set to take place June 6th, at the regular time of 9am to 5pm.

Freelancers, remote workers, entrepreneurs and other professionals come to Urban Co-Works to try out our vibrant workspace for First Friday Free Coworking. Discover the benefits of working in a distraction free environment by signing up here for free tickets.

The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum Holds Wine Event

Wine education presented by David Falchek, wine writer and former executive director of the American Wine Society

A new program of The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum will feature a unique wine education event, “Vinho and Views: Exploring Portugal’s Wine Heritage,” presented by David Falchek, wine writer and former executive director of the American Wine Society. The event will be held Friday, June 6, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

 This 90-minute event will feature a four-course wine tasting accompanied by hors d’oeuvres, a presentation on Portuguese wines and an interactive discussion.

 “When we think about wine from Portugal, we often think only of Port,” said Falchek. However, Portugal is a centuries-old wine producing region that produces all kinds of wines.

“Portugal’s wines have evolved with its people, culture and cuisine, becoming a springboard for the region and what shaped it,” said Falchek.

Participants will enjoy a guided tasting of four iconic wines, including the refreshing Vinho Verde, a still white from the Dão region, a bold red blend and the renowned Tawny Port. They will also learn how Portuguese wines are made from indigenous grape varieties that set the country’s wines apart from those of other wine-producing regions throughout the world.

“When you open a bottle of Portuguese wine, it is completely unique to the region,” said Falchek.

Alongside the tasting, participants will learn about the accidental creation of Port wine during a trade war between England and France and how that influenced not just the wine’s evolution, but also the names of Port wines.

The presentation will also include discussions about Portugal’s significant contributions to the worldwide wine industry as the primary producer of wine corks from the country’s sustainable forests.

Participants don’t need to be wine connoisseurs to appreciate and enjoy this event, said Falchek.

“You’re the master of your own taste. No one can tell you what you do and don’t like,” he said, adding that he hopes participants will come prepared to be more adventurous in drinking something new.

For those unsure about trying a new wine, Falchek says, “Try it … try it and find out what you like.” A wine you enjoy today may not be your favorite tomorrow, as tastes change over time.

“In the end, it’s really a personal journey,” he said.

Falchek has been published in Beverage Media, Vineyard & Winery Management and others, and writes a drinks column for The Scranton Times.

To register for this wine education event, or for more information on the Schemel Forum, call 570-941-4740 or email rose.merritt@scranton.edu. The cost for the wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, lecture and discussion is $60 per person and $100 per couple. There is no additional fee for Schemel Forum Members, Angels and Archangels. University of Scranton and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students, staff and faculty must purchase tickets. Attendees must be 21 or older. To pay online, visit: www.scranton.edu/schemelforum.

Additional Schemel Forum events can be found on the Schemel Forum’s webpage.

The Wright Center, June ‘Walk With a Doc’ Events In Jermyn and Scranton

The Wright Center for Community Health invites the community to take a step toward improving their health by joining monthly Walk with a Doc events.

This physician-led initiative brings health care providers and community members together for an invigorating walk with doctors and other health care professionals. Participants will have the opportunity to exercise, engage with health care professionals, and connect with new people.

The June Walk with a Doc event in Jermyn will be held on Saturday, June 7, at 9 a.m. at the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Walkers should gather at the Delaware Street Trailhead entrance.

 The monthly community Walk with a Doc event in Scranton is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, at 9 a.m. at the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Walkers should gather at the Olive Street entrance.

The walks are free and open to the community, accommodating people of all ages and fitness levels. No pre-registration is necessary.

Walk with a Doc is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring communities through movement and conversation. According to the American Heart Association, walking for just 30 minutes a day can improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels, help maintain a healthy body weight, reduce the risk of obesity, enhance mental well-being, and lower the risk of osteoporosis.

For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health’s Walk with a Doc program, contact Melissa Germano-Ryczak at germanom@TheWrightCenter.org.

The Wright Center to Host Tinnitus Support Group

The Tinnitus Support Group of Northeast Pennsylvania will meet on Friday, June 6, at 2 p.m. at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. Virtual meeting options are available for those unable to attend in person. There is no fee to attend. New members are welcome.

The support group welcomes individuals living with tinnitus, their loved ones, and anyone interested in understanding this complex audiological and neurological condition. Participants will have the opportunity to connect, share their experiences, and explore coping strategies in a compassionate and supportive environment.

Tinnitus, often described as ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in the ears or head, affects over 50 million adults across the U.S., with many experiencing its effects daily. For some, it can be a temporary nuisance, while for others, it becomes a chronic, life-altering condition.

For more information or to obtain the virtual meeting link, contact Nicole Flynn, director of the geriatrics service line at The Wright Center for Community Health, at flynnn@TheWrightCenter.org or 570-230-0019.

PA Treasury Rep Steve Shope to Visit DACC

The Danville Area Community Center (DACC) will host Steve Shope, a representative from Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s Office on Wednesday, May 28, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. to assist local residents in searching for unclaimed property in the state’s archives.

The event is free and open to the public, with no reservations or documents required. He will give a brief overview of consumer programs before helping attendees check for unclaimed property in their name. Unclaimed property can include forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, and more.

Statewide, more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property is waiting to be returned — including over $15 million owed to Lycoming County residents alone. The average claim is worth $1,600, and about one in ten Pennsylvanians is owed money.

For more information, contact DACC Director of Community Engagement Mark Giesen 570-275-3001.

Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, MOM-n-PA Dental Missions to Give Free Services at Community Event

WHO:              MOM-n-PA Dental Missions (www.mom-n-pa.com)

WHAT:            Press conference featuring local dental chairs, Dr. Christopher Kotchick and Dr. Richard Grossman, state & local politicians, and key representatives demonstrating the power of this FREE community event. MOM-n-PA provides FREE dental care for the relief of pain to thousands of the neediest, many of whom are from working families who do not have access or cannot afford dental insurance.

WHERE:         Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, 255 Highland Park Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre Township, PA

WHEN:            Friday, June 6, 2025 at 10 am. Set-up will be on Thursday, June 5 starting at 8:00 a.m. TV and still photographers often find significant opportunities, as the empty arena will be turned into a 120 dental chair clinic in a few short hours.

MOM-n-PA believes that everyone deserves an opportunity to receive dental care regardless of income or current economic situation. For that reason, MOM-n-PA provides annual, free, dental clinics throughout Pennsylvania. With 120 mobile dental units over a two-day span, patients are accepted without qualifications, on a first come, first served basis.

MOM-n-PA has approximately 1000 volunteers including more than 200 dentists, 100 dental hygienists, and 200 dental assistants, 150 dental students, 30 nurses and 300 lay volunteers.

Since 2013, clinics have been in Philadelphia, Allentown, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Erie, Reading, and Wilkes- Barre/Scranton. This year’s event will take place at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, 255 Highland Park Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre Township, with local dentists and Co-Chairs Dr. Christopher Kotchick and Dr. Richard Grossman, spearheading the effort.

Over the course of the two day span, MOM-n-PA is expected to treat up to 2000 patients, providing approximately $1,000,000 worth of services, including medical screenings, dental exams with X-Rays when necessary, cleanings, extractions, fillings, root canals and a limited number of partial dentures, without accepting any fees.

“Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has been selected as a site because of the needs within the community and its surrounding areas,” stated Dr. Gary Davis of Shippensburg, MOM-n-PA Chairman. “We are a 100% volunteer organization and can use all the volunteer assistance and support we can get from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton community to provide these services to those families and individuals who do not have access to any dental care.”

According to the US Census Bureau, estimated statistics for a sample household over a 5 year period demonstrate that 35.9% of residents had income below the poverty level, as compared to 17.7% in the entire state. Additionally, 11.5% of residents had income below 50% of the poverty level, as compared to 6.1% in the entire state and 45.3% of children live below the poverty level, as compared to 19.0% in the entire state.

Unfortunately, families and individuals representing these characteristics often do not have access to any dental care. MOM-n-PA is designed to address this undeserved population by providing those services and seeking to establish a location where the patients will be able to receive future dental services.

For more information about the event visit www.mom-n-pa.com.

Catherine McAuley Center to Host Menstrual Health Awareness Day PEP Rally

The Catherine McAuley Center invites members of the Scranton community to a PEP Rally on Wednesday, May 28th to celebrate Menstrual Health Awareness Day (MHA Day).

The “PEP” stands for Period Education Project and this rally will include not only celebrating the work that has been accomplished around period poverty but acknowledging what work lies ahead.

The PEP Rally includes a product giveaway, snacks and refreshments, educational material, a judgment free zone for the opportunity to ask questions, and friendship bracelet making. The bracelet, 23 white beads and 5 red, not only represents the menstrual cycle but so much more.

Beginning in 2013, Menstrual Health Awareness Day highlights the lack of education, ongoing taboos, and stigma that cause poor menstrual hygiene including a lack of access to products. MHA Day has two key aims. First, it breaks the taboo around menstrual health and hygiene. It raises awareness and shifts negative social norms. Second, it urges leaders to prioritize and act at global, national and local levels.

The Catherine McAuley Center invites the community to its administration building to learn more about this movement and the Center’s Period Project.

Event Details:

Catherine McAuley Center PEP Rally for Menstrual Health Awareness Day

When: Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Time: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Catherine McAuley Center

     430 Pittston Avenue

             Scranton, PA 18505

The Catherine McAuley Center has provided programs and services to those experiencing homelessness in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties since 1984. Beyond a shelter of a roof and walls, the Center’s mission is to help the community break the cycle of poverty and address the trauma of homelessness. To learn how you can make a difference, please contact the Catherine McAuley Center at 570-342-1342.

Press is welcome to attend.

The Scranton School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Partner with AllOne to Host 5k Run With the Bears & Cub Walk

The Scranton School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children In Partnership with AllOne Charities is excited to host Run with the Bears & Cub Walk. Proceeds from this 5k race will directly support the academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs offered to Deaf and Hard of Hearing students at The Scranton School. 

What: 5k Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk

When: Saturday, May 31, 2025 @ 9:00 AM

Where: The Scranton School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children, 537 Venard Rd., Clarks Summit, PA 18411

Packet Pick-Up and Day of Registration: 7:30 to 8:30 AM at the Pavilion at the school.

The first 125 participants to register will be receive a race t-shirt. Overall winners will receive a cash prize, and top finishers in each age group will take home awards.

To take part in the 5k run or 1 Mile Fun Run, sign up here

Sponsorship Link: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=NzNeu4

Lackawanna Historical Society, “For the Least of Them” Play Steps back in Time in County Courthouse

Join the Lackawanna Historical Society to step back in time to 1902 in the Lackawanna County Courthouse for a special performance of the play “For the Least of Them” in Courtroom Three on Sunday, June 1 at 2pm.

Written by KK Gordon, the play offers a glimpse into the private thoughts and prayers of Fr. John Curran during the Anthracite Strike of 1902. Fr. Curran played an important role in the strike, supporting the striking miners, counseling UMA president John Mitchell and acting as a trusted confidant of President Theodore Roosevelt, whose decision to set up a neutral commission to intervene in a labor dispute marked a major change in how the US government dealt with labor.  Dramatically set in the courtroom where Curran testified before the Anthracite Strike Commission, this one-man show emphasizes Curran’s role in the strike and his dedication to “the least of them.”

KK Gordon, a proud Scrantonian, poet, author and actor became intrigued by Fr. Curran’s story when he saw Gary Anderson’s critically acclaimed one-man play ‘Clarence Darrow’s Search for Justice’ at the Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton in 2010.  Fr. Curran will be portrayed by Plains native Scott Rave under the direction of Art Walsh.

This production is made possible by funding support from the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority and the Anthracite Cultural Board. 

Seating is limited and tickets are $10. Advance tickets can be purchased online at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/lackawanna-historical-society/for-the-least-of-them.

For more information about the program or to make reservations, contact the Lackawanna Historical Society at 570-344-3841 or email lackawannahistory@gmail.com.

Photo L-R: Kelly Ann Walsh, Walter Mitchell, Scott Rave, and Bobby Musto