Marywood Community Leadership Celebration to Spotlight President and Alumna Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., Marywood’s President, who will retire on June 30, will be recognized with a special spotlight at Marywood University’s 11th Annual Community Leadership Celebration on Thursday, May 2, 2024, 5:30 p.m., at the Center for Athletics and Wellness on the University’s campus. The event also will honor community leader and Marywood alumna Mary Ellen McDonough. As Marywood’s 12th President, Sister Mary has guided Marywood University for the past eight years with her collaborative leadership and bold vision, devoting her life to promoting Marywood’s mission and core values. During her presidential tenure, Sister Mary made strides in the scholarly life of the university by restructuring and streamlining the Colleges, adding or expanding several signature academic programs, and establishing the Offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Global Education. During her eight years, Marywood has welcomed national retail partnerships to Marywood, including Starbucks, the popular Gear Shop, Apple, and Amazon stores. Additionally, Marywood’s endowment has nearly doubled and maintained a fiscally responsible status under her leadership, even during universally challenging financial times in higher education. To further strengthen Marywood’s future, Sister Mary is presently bringing the University’s $30 million comprehensive campaign to its conclusion. This campaign is designed to fund new construction and academic spaces on campus, provide scholarships for students, and enhance the student experience. In moments such as an unprecedented global pandemic, Sister Mary supported the entire community of faculty, staff, and students with strength and confidence. Her engagement, both in the public arena and on campus among the students, are two highlights of her presidency. She has represented Marywood well locally, nationally, and even internationally, but when asked, Sister Mary notes that the best part of the job was interacting with the wonderful people who are our students. The CLC is Marywood’s signature fundraiser, providing special support to Marywood students and honoring individuals in the community who exemplify Marywood’s core values in leadership and service to others. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit campus improvements as part of the EMPOWER Campaign. To join Marywood University in recognizing Sister Mary Persico, IHM, and in honoring Mary Ellen McDonough at the 11th Annual Community Leadership Celebration on May 2, please visit marywood.edu/clc for ticket and sponsorship information, or call (570) 348-6238.
NeighborWorks Kicks Off of West Scranton Events with Spring EGGstravaganza NeighborWorks is hosting its second egg hunt in West Scranton on Saturday, April 13th at Novembrino Park (201 10th Ave, Scranton, PA). There will be music, community resources, games, and more from 11am to 3pm. The egg hunt will start promptly at 1pm and all ages are welcome. The event is free and will be held rain or shine, and participants are encouraged to bring their own baskets. NeighborWorks is expanding the event this year to have more activities available to participants. The Youth Arts Coalition will be providing arts activities for children in attendance. Additionally, the Albright Memorial Library will be signing people up for library cards and have free books to give away. Friends of the Poor will have healthy snacks and information on their services available just a few blocks away from the splashpad. Fidelity Bank will have free ice cream from 12-2pm, PennDOT will have crosswalk safety demonstrations, and the PA Department of Health will have COVID test kits, tick prevention information, and more! Both years, the event has been initiated and driven by West Scranton’s Image, Identity, and Events committee member, Vivian Williams. She has worked with West Scranton Intermediate School to get candy donations and volunteers to help fill the eggs with candy for the egg hunt. This year she will also be managing the volunteers during the event to make sure everything runs smoothly. This initiative is part of NeighborWorks’ West Scranton Neighborhood Plan, a comprehensive 10-year strategy for improving the neighborhood. It kicks off a slate of annual events in the neighborhood, including the Allen Park Summer Concert Series, Fall Festival, and West Side Wonderland Tree Lighting. Please contact Miranda Pace at mpace@nwnepa.org or 570-606-7359 for additional information.
Maternal & Family Health Services Hosts Inaugural Mother’s Day Celebrations Maternal & Family Health Services, Inc. (MFHS) announces that its inaugural Mother’s Day celebrations will be held in Scranton on May 7th and Hazleton on May 9th. From MFHS, With Love will be a celebration of all the mothers in Northeast Pennsylvania and an opportunity to say thank you for all that they do for their families. The two events will take place the week before Mother’s Day at the following locations: Tuesday May 7th | 4 – 7 p.m.MFHS Circle of Care & Voodoo Brewing Co.820 South Washington Ave., Scranton, PA Thursday, May 9th | 4 – 7 p.m.Hazleton Art League31 W. Broad St., Hazleton, PA Both evenings will be open house style events that will feature a photo booth, flower cart, fragrance bar, activities for kids, food stations, and more. All proceeds raised from the events will support programming at MFHS for women, children, and families in need. For over 50 years, MFHS has been supporting the health and nutrition of our community by delivering programs and services that meet critical needs and result in positive outcomes for mothers and children. These programs include: the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, The Nurse-Family Partnership Program, reproductive care, and the Healthy Beginnings Plus Maternity Program. Together these programs form a maternal health safety net that protects the health of pregnant individuals by connecting them to essential care and support services. The public can RSVP online via the MFHS website: mfhs.org/mothers-day/ Tickets are $50 per adult. Each ticket includes up to two children 12 and under. Additional children under 12 are $10 each. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Northeast Title & Tag and Office of Senator Marty Flynn Present Annual Peeling Plate Rally Northeast Title & Tag, in collaboration with the Office of Senator Marty Flynn, is thrilled to announce the Peeling Plate Rally, a community-driven initiative aimed at streamlining the replacement process for illegible, peeling license plates. This proactive endeavor seeks to facilitate the completion of necessary paperwork with greater efficiency and eliminate the need for mailing forms to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportaion (PennDOT). New Replacement License Plates will be issued on-site instantly during the event for Free. Event Details:Date: Saturday, April 13thTime: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PMLocation: Northeast Title & Tag Office, Keyser Oak Shopping Center,1726 N Keyser Ave, Scranton, PA 18508 In collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police, an officer will be available on-site to inspect peeling plates and provide the necessary certification on forms, affirming the plates’ illegibility. Attendees seeking plate replacement will receive the required forms during the event.Additional Participant Requirements: Copy of valid vehicle registration card and Driver’s License/Photo ID Presence of both owners if two individuals are listed as vehicle owners. For vehicles registered under a company’s name, an authorization letter permitting the present individual to sign on behalf of the company is required, along with the aforementioned documentation. Upon collection and verification of all necessary information, Northeast Title & Tag will expedite the paperwork processing and issue new plates instantly on-site during the event. During the Peeling Plate Rally, Northeast Title & Tag is waiving all service fees associated with this transaction. It is important to note that PennDOT will replace the plates free of charge, resulting in no cost to customers. For further information, please contact:compliance@neItle.org 570-895-1000 Ext. 2001
Fourth Annual Workforce Summit and Carrer Fair Landed Success The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and its workforce development affiliate, Skills in Scranton, hosted the SKILLS 2024: Workforce Summit & Career Fair. The event was held at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel and served as a platform for connecting high school students, job seekers, and regional employers, facilitating invaluable networking opportunities and fostering career development and pathways education. Lackawanna County was the main event sponsor. The SKILLS 2024 event hosted more than 100 high school seniors looking for employment upon graduation, career pathways exploration, and the opportunity to engage with industry professionals. Additionally, the Summit drew numerous job seekers from across the region, all seeking employment opportunities, with the 50 regional employers in attendance. Scranton School Board President Ty Holmes shared, “The Workforce Summit and Career Fair is a great resource for high school students. I heard one student say, “I didn’t know this…” and it was in reference to a student talking with an employer about their career options.” “We were pleased to have been able to add unique elements to this year’s Workforce Summit. Public employment resources, access to regional workforce data, and connections to students from area high schools added to the core components of the job fair, with over 50 local employers on hand,” shared Robert Durkin, president of The Chamber. Throughout the day, attendees had the chance to interact with representatives from a diverse array of industries, including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and more. Employers showcased their organizations, shared information about available job opportunities, and engaged in meaningful conversations with prospective candidates. The SKILLS 2024: Workforce Summit & Career Fair not only provided attendees with a platform to connect and network but also featured informative sessions on topics such as resume writing, interview skills, and professional development. Keynote speaker Teri Ooms, president and CEO of The Institute, paved the way for attendees and employers to learn about the status of the workforce. Identify pros and cons; Ooms shared the research The Institute has done to evaluate top-priority careers and the shortage of workers vs. employers. As the event concluded, both employers and attendees expressed enthusiasm about the connections made and the opportunities presented. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and Skills in Scranton look forward to building on this success and continuing to support workforce development initiatives in the region.
Lackawanna College to Host Spring Pop-up Lackawanna College’s 409 on Adams has transformed again! Welcome to Wisteria, our Spring Semester dining experience! Wisteria is an amazing, built from scratch concept in collaboration with Marywood University School of Architecture. Wisteria, a storybook come to life, where reality dissolves and magic blossoms, will feature a full bar and menu. There will be heated outdoor patio seating, as well as indoor seating with many magical spaces to see and explore. Dining Options are available from April 4th through May 9th on Wednesdays and Thursdays Wisteria’s gates open at 5pm Dinner and food service until 9pm Drinks and fun until the dragon sleeps While reservations are encouraged, walk ins are always welcome. Please click the link below and fill out the form to submit your reservation request. https://forms.gle/sPKzVqNGcyueE8AX9
The University of Scranton Hosts “Scranton’s Story” Spring Exhibition Over the past two years, The University of Scranton and Scranton community has explored themes of history, belonging, and identity through Scranton’s Story: Our Nation’s Story, a series of humanities-based programs that culminated in an oral history initiative called “Scranton Stories.” First launched in fall 2023, this exhibition showcases portraits taken by photographer Byron Maldonado and personal statements and interview links from 33 community members to give voice to a broad array of Scranton experiences and connect them to our national story. At the public reception, attendees will have the opportunity to meet members of the Scranton Stories team and oral history interviewees and discuss the project. For more information and to view all 25 Scranton Stories video interviews, visit www.scranton.edu/stories and via YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbsV7qLR2tZL78bScN3YbLnMRazF083yw. The exhibition is free during library hours. For more information contact Michael Knies at 570-941-6341 or Michael.knies@scranton.edu. For April 4th event information, visit this page or RSVP here.
NEPA Philharmonic to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue with All Gershwin Concert The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, under the baton of Maestra Mélisse Brunet, will present an ALL GERSHWIN Concert on Friday, April 12, at 7:30 PM at the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 North Washington Avenue. The program will feature three Gershwin masterpieces: Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, and selections from Porgy and Bess. Soloist for Rhapsody will be international pianist, Ron Stabinsky, who was born and raised in NEPA. Ron studied classical repertoire with concert pianists Ilya Itin and Thomas Hrynkiw. Introducing the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic from the stage will be President of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Robert Durkin. This will be an incredible evening of music by the innovative genius, George Gershwin. Pianist Lara Downes said, that when we hear Rhapsody in Blue, we are somehow connecting with Gershwin, his enthusiasm, his open heart, and his wanting to show us the best of what our country can be-whether we know it or not. Vocalists Michael Preacely and Marquita Richardson will be soloists for songs from Porgy and Bess. Baritone, Michael Preacely, and soprano Marquita Richardson, have worked with numerous major and regional opera houses and orchestras in the United States and have consistently garnered critical acclaim. George Gershwin, 1898-1937, was an American composer and pianist whose eclectic compositions spanned popular jazz and classical genres. Among his other compositions were Swanee, Concerto in F, Overture to Strike up the Band, I’ve Got Rhythm, the scores to Shall We Dance, Girl Crazy, and many more. Unfortunately, his career was cut short at the age of 38 when he died from a brain tumor. Tickets may be purchased at nepaphil.org, through the Philharmonic box office, 570.270.4444, at the Scranton Cultural Center Box office, or at the door on concert night. Reserved seats begin at $38. Student tickets are $16 Sponsoring this ALL GERSHWIN evening are PNC Foundation, Dr. Seth and Caroline Fisher, Munley Law, Louis and Barbara Nivert, Toyota of Scranton, and The Atkins Family. Our media sponsors are WNEP TV, WVIA, Happenings Magazine, Halibut Blue, Lamar Advertising, and Discover NEPA Our Philharmonic concerts would not be possible without sponsorship by our friends in the corporate community and individuals who are committed to keeping the music playing. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic is a fully professional symphony orchestra, performing in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. In addition to main stage concerts, the Philharmonic performs chamber concerts, “Music in Or Schools”, “Once Upon an Orchestra for tots in public libraries, and programs in local senior centers. At the center of the Philharmonic’s music programs is a juried mentoring program that offers talented high school students the opportunity to study with Philharmonic musicians throughout the year and perform side by side with their mentors in the annual Young People’s Concerts. For additional information about tickets, programs, sponsorships, or special events, please call 570.270.4444
