Scranton Cultural Center is Set to Host Sesame Street

Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their Sesame Street friends to travel to the Scranton Cultural Center in a delightful celebration on Sesame Street, Elmo and Friends Say Hello, on November 20!

Round Room Live and Sesame Workshop are proud to announce their new live show, Elmo and Friends Say Hello. The live show brings the beloved characters from the iconic Sesame Street to life in a brand-new interactive production that will tour multiple cities in the US, with a stop at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple on November 20 at 6:00 PM. 

Tickets for Elmo and Friends Say Hello will go on sale Friday, May 16, with a venue pre-sale beginning May 14. For tickets and additional information, visit SCCMT.org or call (570) 344-1111.

Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their friends from Sesame Street are coming to your neighborhood! At Elmo and Friends Say Hello, you can sing and dance with your favorite furry friends while enjoying fun surprises along the way. So put on your dancing shoes and make your way to where the air is sweet for this all-new celebration on Sesame Street!

“We are thrilled to continue to delight audiences with the Elmo and Friends Say Hello tour,“ said Round Room Live Founder and co-CEO Stephen Shaw. “Elmo and his friends are beloved characters with a long history of delighting children, and we’re honored to create magical moments for families all over the country in this interactive musical adventure.”

“Elmo and Friends Say Hello takes the laughter and learning you love from Sesame Street and extends it to an engaging live experience filled with singing, dancing, and toe-tapping fun,” said Hillary Strong, Sesame Workshop Chief Development Officer. “The show includes everyone’s favorite furry friends and promises to be a memorable event for all ages.”

Enhance your Elmo and Friends Say Hello ticket with an exclusive Photo Experience, where your family will have the opportunity to make a lasting memory by taking a photo alongside some of your favorite Sesame Street friends. Please note: to attend, each guest must have both a Photo Experience ticket and an Elmo and Friends Say Hello show ticket. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Fans can visit SesameStreetLive.com now for tour dates and ticket information, and sign up to be the first to hear news and exclusive offers. Follow Sesame Street Live social media for exclusive tour content.

Scranton Cultural Center, Beatles vs. Stones Show

The debate between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones has been going on ever since they first crossed paths on the charts 61 years ago. The argument at the time, and one that still persists, was that the Beatles were a pop group and the Stones were a rock band: the boys next door vs. the bad boys of rock. So who is better? These two legendary bands will engage in an on-stage, throw down – a musical ‘showdown’ if you will – at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple on Thursday, December 4 at 7:30 pm – courtesy of tribute bands Abbey Road and Satisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show.

Taking the side of the Fab Four is Abbey Road, one of the county’s top Beatles tribute bands. With brilliant musicianship and authentic costumes and gear, Abbey Road plays beloved songs spanning the Beatles’ career. They face off against renowned Stones tribute band Satisfaction, who offer a faithful rendition of the music and style of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the bad boys of the British Invasion.

The Scranton show is part of a 125-stop tour of the U.S., Australia and Canada and has been touring since 2011. The production includes some of the more popular songs from the two rock pioneers and covers the scope of their musical careers, although the set list for Jumping Jack Flash usually includes Rolling Stones songs up to the 1980s.

During the two-hour show, the bands perform two sets each, trading places in quick set changes and ending the night with an all-out encore involving both bands. The band members have their outfits custom-made, since avid fans know exactly what the Beatles and Stones wore onstage during different time periods in their careers. There is a lot of good-natured jabbing between the bands as well.

The concert will take place in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Theatre at 7:30 p.m. with the doors opening at 6:30 p.m.  Concessions will be available for purchase.  Tickets will be on sale May 16 at 10 AM are $58.55-$81.05.  They can be purchased at the Fidelity Bank Box Office at the SCC in person or by calling (570) 344-1111, or via Ticketmaster. A venue pre-sale will take place beginning May 13 at 10 AM through May 16 at 9 AM.  

For additional information and a full schedule of events, visit SCCMT.org.

Mohegan Pennsylvania to host Brand-New Whiskey and Cigar Event at Embers Terrace

Mohegan Pennsylvania is rolling out a brand-new event for whiskey and cigar aficionados. Set for Saturday, June 14th, Cigar & Fire will provide guests with a night of whiskey and the perfect vibes from 7:00pm – 10:00pm. Included with a ticket comes six bourbon and whiskey tastings, plus a complimentary Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado cigar! Guests can also enjoy live entertainment from Dustin Douglas and lite fare hors d’oeuvres from The Hive Taphouse! Tickets are on sale now for guests 21 years of age or older and can be purchased via the Mohegan Pennsylvania website.

Guests are invited to Embers Terrace at Mohegan Pennsylvania for an evening filled with bourbon and whiskey tastings, cigars, hors d’oeuvres, and more! Cigar & Fire will feature top-shelf pours such as Old Forester 1897, Woodford Reserve Double Oak, and Tullamore 18 year and premium cigars like Rocky Patel Emerald Toro, Knuckle Sandwich Toro Habano, and Encore Black by E.P. Carrillo.

WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, June 14th | 7:00pm – 10:00pm | Embers Terrace

All entrants will have a chance to win two tickets to the NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 22nd, along with other prizes and giveaways! Best Cigar Pub will also be on-site with a variety of premium cigars available for purchase to pair with the tastings.

For more information about Cigar & Fire at Embers Terrace, visit moheganpa.com.

Misericordia Univeristy Announces Career Exploration Summer Camps

Misericordia University invites rising high school juniors and seniors to participate in our Summer 2025 Career Exploration Camps, scheduled for June 22–24 of 2025. These immersive camps offer students the chance to delve into various fields, gain hands-on experience, and engage with our esteemed faculty and current students. Each camp is designed to provide insights into potential career paths and includes overnight accommodations to fully experience campus life. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.misericordia.edu/campus-community/university-camps/career-exploration-camps

Greater Scranton YMCA Tips for Safety around Water this Summer

The Greater Scranton YMCA is offering tips for parents to keep kids safe in and around water this summer

The Greater Scranton YMCA wants to ensure that water safety doesn’t get lost in our community’s eagerness to jump into summer. As temperatures rise, kids want to cool off, whether that is in home pools, ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, or oceans. And that means the risk of drowning is as prevalent as ever. For National Water Safety Month this May, the Greater Scranton YMCA is encouraging parents and caregivers to reinforce the importance of water safety skills with the whole family.

“As ‘America’s Swim Instructor,’ the Greater Scranton YMCA annually teaches more than 1,500 children valuable water safety and swimming skills,” said Rich Surridge, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “Now more than ever, it’s important to remind parents and caregivers that water safety needs to be top-of-mind as families start to return to their favorite summertime activities.”

As part of National Water Safety Month, the Greater Scranton YMCA is encouraging parents to play an active role in promoting water safety and providing five tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for all.

Make sure children know to always ask permission before going in or near the water. Teaching your children to be water smart is the first step in water safety – be sure they understand the importance of asking permission before going in or near the water.

Never swim alone or without a water watcher. When children are swimming, make sure they are actively supervised at all times. Teach your children that they should only swim in locations where a lifeguard is on duty, or where a responsible adult agrees to watch the children in the water without distractions.

Supervise your children whenever they’re in or near water. Whether it’s bath time or taking a dip in a pool or waterfront, make sure your children are within arm’s reach at all times.

Don’t engage in breath holding activities. Both adults and children should not hold their breath for a prolonged amount of time while swimming, as this can be dangerous.

Wear a life jacket. Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

Don’t jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in deep water. If an adult or child finds their friend in deep water unexpectedly, their natural reaction may be to jump in the water to try to save them. Even if they are a great swimmer, a panicked person will overpower them, pulling the rescuer underwater. The Y’s Safety Around Water program

teaches the “reach, throw, don’t go” concept of using a long object to reach for them and pull them to safety. By using this technique an adult or child can help their friend without compromising their own safety.

Beginning June 9th, the Greater Scranton YMCA will once again offer its Annual Safety Around Water Campaign. The campaign gives children ages three through 14 the opportunity to learn new swimming skills designed to help keep them safe around water. The Safety Around Water Campaign consists of eight swim lessons over a two-week period, four lessons each week, and costs only $25 for both members and non-members. Registration opens Monday, May 12th. The Safety Around Water Campaign is once again supported by the Kiwanis Club of Scranton.

To learn more about the Greater Scranton YMCA’s swim programs and Safety Around Water Campaign, please contact Leslie Kopa, Aquatics Director, at lkopa@gsymca.org.

Crystal Windows Celebrates 35th Anniversary

National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems is marking its 35th anniversary since the company started. The company was founded by Taiwanese-American immigrant Thomas Chen, who came to the United States at 27, speaking no English and with no formal education beyond high school. After spending his first few years here working for others in a variety of jobs, Chen launched Crystal Windows in a small commercial garage in Queens, NY, in 1990, and the rest is history. Today Crystal Windows has over one million square feet of production space in five major factories across the country and employs more than 750 workers.

“I started Crystal Windows because I believed home and building owners deserved a quality replacement window that was affordable and would last,” said Chen.  “Today our team continues that tradition, designing and producing a broad array of new products that meet today’s stringent energy codes and deliver high quality, all in the most cost-effective manner.”

The first event commemorating the 35th anniversary this year was held on Saturday, May 3, for Crystal employees, their families, and other guests. Approximately 800 people attended a celebratory gala in Queens, featuring music, dancing, and a traditional multi-course Asian banquet. Several elected officials also attended to congratulate Crystal on its achievements, and New York Governor Hochul’s Regional Director Aaron Ambrose presented a citation of accomplishment to Crystal Chairman Thomas Chen and CEO Jeffrey Smith.

Crystal’s original product line consisted of a simple aluminum replacement window for the New York City apartment house market. Today, Crystal offers over 25 lines of vinyl, aluminum, and uPVC commercial vinyl windows and doors for residential and commercial applications all over the nation.

Already extruding vinyl window components in-house, the company vertically integrated further in 2003 with the purchase and expansion of its Union, MO, aluminum profile extruder Gateway Extrusions. Besides launching three additional window production facilities, Crystal has also expanded its in-house engineering, design consulting, product testing, and field services to meet the demands of complex new construction projects requiring custom solutions.

Crystal has supplied its quality products for some of the most notable projects across the country, including: the historic OMNI Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC; the expansive city-within-a-city development Harbor Point in Stamford, CT; top security Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego, CA; hotel chains Marriott, Holiday Inn, and Hyatt; and universities in New York, Florida, Michigan, Texas, and Missouri.

“Crystal has a long history of strong growth for more than three decades and the company shows no signs of stopping,” said CEO Jeffrey Smith.  “There are many new products in development, and plans are underway for new production facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in North Carolina.  These new products and plants will help Crystal meet its future growth in exciting new markets.”