Greater Scranton YMCA Sets Kids Up For Summer at Healthy Kids Day

Free and open to the public, this annual event features a day of fun filled activities to celebrate kids being kids.

The Greater Scranton YMCA is hosting the Y’s annual Healthy Kids Day® on Saturday, May 3rd at 10:00 a.m. located at 706 North Blakely Street in Dunmore. 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.

Sponsored nationally by Peanuts, Healthy Kids Day’s mission is to prepare families in our community for a safe, healthy and fun summer. Some featured activities include rides, a vendor fair, bounce houses, face painting, first responders, and more. The celebration will kick-off with a free one-mile family fun walk at 10:00 a.m. Registration is not required.

“It is so important for kids to stay active over the summer, both physically and mentally,” said Rich Surridge, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “At the Y, we believe in providing resources for families to create healthy habits, no matter the time of year. Healthy Kids Day is a fun, free community-wide event that encourages families to take advantage of all the great summer activities the Y has to offer.”

Locally, Healthy Kids Day is sponsored by Air Excellence, Scartelli Construction, Community Bank, NET Credit Union, Matrix, Precor, Cal Mal Vending Services, TOPP Business Solutions, and Brucelli Advertising.

For more information, contact Brandon Whipple, Senior Program Director and Coordinator of Healthy Kids Day, at (570) 828-3116 or bwhipple@gsymca.org. You can also visit the Greater Scranton YMCA online!

Electric City Trolley Museum Presents Trolley Through Times excursion

The Electric City Trolley Museum will offer a special “then and now” excursion onthe Laurel Line on Saturday, April 26 at 10 am and 1 pm.  Join Electric City Trolley Motormen John Sheerin and Bob Young for a ride to Little Virginia on the Trolley Through Time as they tell interesting stories about how the line was built, and share images of scenes along the line.

Bob Young grew in the Dutch Hollow section of South Scranton, and his co-presenter John Sheerin is a native of East Mountain. Both men spent much of their youth exploring the rugged landscapes that connected their neighborhoods. The old “Over the Hill” route and the abandoned tunnel line became their playground, a stretch of land rich with history and adventure. Now, as motormen for the Electric City Trolley excursions, they get to revisit these places along the Laurel Line with every trip down the tracks retracing the paths where they once hiked, played, and explored …and they look forward to sharing the treasured memories of their youth on this very special Trolley Through Time.

Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased by calling 570.963.6590

A portion of the proceeds benefit the 505 Restoration project.

The Swiftwater to Host Job Fair at Desaki Restaurant

The Swiftwater, a premier concierge hotel redefining hospitality in the Pocono Mountains, is excited to announce its upcoming Job Fair on April 14th from 9 AM to 6 PM at Desaki Restaurant. This is a fantastic opportunity for job seekers to join a luxury hospitality team that values service, excellence, and a passion for creating unforgettable guest experiences.

We are currently hiring for the following positions:
 ✔ Front Desk – Be the first point of contact for our guests, providing warm welcomes and seamless check-ins.
 ✔ Night Audit (Overnight) – Ensure smooth overnight operations while maintaining accuracy in guest accounts.
 ✔ Housekeeping (Day, Swing, and Overnight) – Play a key role in maintaining the elegance and comfort of our guest rooms.
 ✔ Server – Deliver an exceptional dining experience with top-tier service and attention to detail.

Concierge – Craft personalized experiences and assist guests in discovering the best of the Poconos.
 ✔ Line Cook – Bring your culinary skills to life in a fast-paced, team-oriented kitchen environment

Candidates are encouraged to bring their resumes and be prepared for on-the-spot interviews. Whether you are looking for a fresh start, a career shift, or an opportunity to grow in the hospitality industry, The Swiftwater Job Fair is your chance to become part of an elite team dedicated to excellence.

Join us at Desaki Restaurant on April 14th and take the first step toward an exciting career in hospitality!

For more information, contact: info@TheSwiftwater.com

Golden Coast Fashion Show Supports NEPA Youth Shelter

Golden Coast invites the Scranton Chamber of Commerce to attend an exciting Fashion Show benefiting the NEPA Youth Shelter. The event will take place on April 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Glen Oak Country Club. The evening will feature a cocktail hour with lite bites, followed by a runway show showcasing fashions from Golden Coast and The Haberdashery. Tickets are available for purchase in-store or by phone at Golden Coast. Join us for an unforgettable night of fashion, fun, and philanthropy, all while supporting a great cause.

The University of Scranton Presents ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ Recital

On Friday, Apr. 4, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a recital entitled “Rhapsody in Blue at 100” featuring the acclaimed Frederick Hohman, D.M.A., premiering the first full organ transcription of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

According to Cheryl Y. Boga, conductor and director of Performance Music, this will be Dr. Hohman’s 4th visit to Houlihan McLean to perform on its fully restored and historic Austin Opus 301 Symphonic Organ. “Every visit by Fred is what I like to call an organ adventure – he doesn’t just perform a concert, he shares his passion and knowledge of the instrument at every opportunity during his visit.”

In addition to being a concert organist of stunning musicality and virtuosity, Dr. Hohman is an award-winning composer of organ and choral music, a creator of organ transcriptions, an online educator, a musical instrument designer and a classical music audio-video producer. Hohman earned his performer’s certificate, Mus.B., M.M. and D.M.A. in the organ studio of David Craighead at The Eastman School. In 1984, he won First Prize in both the prestigious Clarence Mader and Arthur Poister competitions. This was the first step leading to decades of organ concert tours, taking him throughout the world, appearing in concert and religious venues, including appearances before regional and national conventions of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), The Organ Historical Society and The American Institute of Organbuilders.

Dr. Hohman founded the recording label Pro Organo in 1985 and has overseen the production and release of over 300 organ and choral music titles, including 16 releases, of which he is also the featured artist. Acclaimed by a critic with The Diapason magazine as “one of the symphonic organ’s strongest exponents,” during the 1980s, Dr. Hohman championed a revival of the Symphonic School of organ-playing. His writings and recordings ignited a revival in symphonic organ literature and performance practices of the early 20th century, which led to his first organ transcription publications and several additional CD releases.

Dr. Hohman has served The American Guild of Organists (AGO) on its national committees focused upon education and was commissioned by them to appear as video instructor in a series of 30 AGO-produced videos entitled “Lessons for the New Organist,” which are free for all to view at AGO’s website. Hohman has also provided written guidance and encouragement to aspiring organists as an adjudicator in 20 national and international organ competitions.

The University of Scranton’s Houlihan-McLean Center Austin Opus 301 symphonic organ was built in 1910 by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford Connecticut for the Immanuel Baptist Church in Scranton and was restored and re-dedicated by the university in 2005 in a recital performed by Thomas Murray of Yale University. Since then, many renowned organists have performed on the instrument in solo-recitals, and it has accompanied the university’s student ensembles in the performance of many major works of the choral and instrumental repertoires. The instrument is one of the few rare surviving original examples of early 20th-century organ building, and the impressive instrument possesses a total of 3,178 pipes, 45 ranks and four manuals. The instrument is currently maintained by Clem, Cole, Dan, and Steve, technicians/artists from Emery Brothers/Dieffenbach organs.

For further information on the recital, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on Dr. Hohman, visit frederickhohman.net.

Lackawanna Historical Society Genealogy Forum Registration Now Open

The Lackawanna Historical Society’s Genealogy Forum is an opportunity to learn more about specific topics in family history research and discuss particular research tactics to uncover your family story.  These sessions are geared to those who are not new to genealogy research and who have a strong knowledge of their U.S. family history. In taking these courses, registrants should have an idea as to which places their ancestors are from in Europe.

Saturday, April 12 from 10 am to Noon: Researching Ireland and Scots-Irish Records with Barbara Spellman Shuta, Kate Bohan and Madonna Munley at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library Community Room

Saturday, May 10 from 10 am to Noon: Researching Poland with Tony Paddock at the North Pocono Library

Saturday, June 14 from 10 am to Noon: Researching Italy with Ann Marie Castelgrande at Council Chambers, 2nd floor of Carbondale City Hall

Saturday, July 12 from 10 am to Noon: Researching Carpatho-Rusyn Records with Natalie Asikainen at the Albright Memorial Library, Henkelman Room

August (date TBA) Researching Germany with Tom Price at the Valley Community Library

Saturday, September 13 from 10 am to Noon: Researching England and Wales with Tom Price at the Abington Community Library

These sessions are free, but advance registration is required. For more information or to register for these sessions, contact the Lackawanna Historical Society at 570-344-3841 or email lackawannahistory@gmail.com.

Johnson College Hazleton to Host Spring Open House

Johnson College Hazleton will hold its Spring Open House on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CAN DO Training Center located inside the Humboldt Industrial Park at 370 Maplewood Drive in Hazle Township. To register for the Open House, visit Johnson.edu/hazletonopenhouse or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

The Open House will include discussions about the admissions process, information about financial aid for those who qualify, and student services such as student life, student support, and career services. Plus, same-day acceptance will be available for many programs if students bring their high school or college transcripts. Tours of each technical area will be conducted and program directors and instructors will be available to review the specifics of their programs.