The Scranton Cultural Center Presents FREE Concert

Enjoy a concert given by the United States Air Force Heritage of America Concert Band at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple on February 13 at 2:00 p.m.  The concert is free and open to the public.

For eight decades, the USAF Heritage of America Concert Band has educated, inspired and entertained over 1.5 million people annually, by providing music for events that support Airmen and their families, honor our Nation’s veterans and build relationships of trust between the American people and their Air Force. The Concert Band is comprised of over 40 professional Airman-musicians who captivate audiences on regular tours throughout the East Coast with a variety of renditions of great orchestral classics, marches, Broadway hits, jazz standards, movie music and patriotic favorites.

PLEASE NOTE: As per the guidelines of the United States Air Force, all attendees eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination must show proof of vaccination to gain entry to the performance. All non-vaccinated attendees must show proof of a negative FDA-approved COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the performance to gain entry.  Additionally, masks are required inside the Scranton Cultural Center for all patrons.

The United States Air Force Heritage of America Concert Band concert is presented by Gibbons Ford and sponsored by LT Verrastro.  It is supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.

The concert will take place in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Theatre at 2:00 p.m. with the doors opening at 1:30 p.m.  Concessions will be available for purchase.  Tickets are free to the public and are required for admission.  They can be acquired at the Fidelity Bank Box Office at the SCC in person or by calling (570) 344-1111, or via Ticketmaster. Convenience charges apply when claiming online or by phone.  For additional information and a full schedule of events, visit SCCMT.org.

Scranton Cultural Center to Host Final Summer Concert

The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple will host the final show in its free outdoor summer concert series on September 10 with alternative rock/punk band Blind Choice.  The show will take place outside the Scranton Cultural Center at 420 N. Washington Avenue.

“This concert series has been such a great success, and we’ve loved providing live entertainment for our community again.  It was a great way to lead into our upcoming season,” said Deborah Moran Peterson, SCC Executive Director.

Blind Choice is an alternative rock & punk trio from Pennsylvania, Blind Choice was formed with its current members in March 2017. The band, with four years under its belt, has quickly gained success and has shared the stage with artists like Richie Ramone (The Ramones), Bowling For Soup, Drake Bell, Diamante, Sponge and TRAPT Official just to name a few! With well over 150 shows performed, the trio continues to perform throughout the tristate region playing at iconic music venues from The Bitter End to the Stanhope House, H*MAC, Chameleon Club and Mount Airy Casino & Lodge. The band is performs a mix of originals and covers, and stripped down raw acoustic tunes.  Band members include Dylan Pysher (Vocals/Lead Guitar), Matt Habrial (Bass/Backup Vocals) and Tanner Snyder (Drums).

All current CDC Guidelines will be followed, with any updates being shared via social media.  Patrons are requested to wear face coverings while inside the building.  The performance will run from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM; a cash bar with light fare will open at 6:00 PM prior to the show.  In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors.  To learn more about the Scranton Cultural Center and its upcoming events, visit SCCMT.org.

The free outdoor summer concert series is sponsored by LT Verrastro, Truly Hard Seltzer, UGI Utilities Inc., WBRE/WYOU and Fidelity Bank.  It is supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Free Online Invention-Con 2021

If you are an entrepreneur, small business owner, or independent inventor, your creative work is among your most valuable assets. Don’t miss your chance to learn how different types of intellectual property (IP), such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights, are critical to your business strategy. Learn more and register early for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) free online Invention-Con 2021: Capitalizing on your intellectual property, coming August 18-20.

Note this year’s special student programing: If you know a young inventor or entrepreneur, the August 18 agenda will feature informative workshops and young innovators who will share their experiences and insights. Please feel free to share the event link: www.uspto.gov/inventioncon

Take this opportunity to hear from business and government experts about turning ideas into innovations, protecting your work, and accessing valuable resources that can help you succeed in the marketplace. Keynote speakers Gitanjali Rao, inventor and TIME magazine’s 2020 Kid of the Year; Serene Almomen, CEO of Senseware; and recording artist Ansel Brown will share their insights on science, technological innovation, music, and business.

Presentations and workshops will cover:

  • Putting your creativity to work
  • How to safeguard your work with different types of IP protection: Patents, trademarks, and copyrights
  • How creativity and IP apply in fields as varied as artificial intelligence, robotics, fashion, music, and literature
  • Marketing, manufacturing, and how you can build a competitive advantage around your ideas
  • Fun free educational resources for kids and teens
  • Insights from the USPTO experts who examine patent applications
  • Innovation and the fight against COVID-19
  • And much more

Invention-Con 2021 will also include a wide range of virtual resource booths from the USPTO and other federal government agencies.

This event is offered by the USPTO’s Office of Innovation Outreach. For questions or assistance, please contact Inventioncon@uspto.gov. 

Don’t forget: The USPTO offers many informative presentations, panels, and chats year-round. Find one that interests you on the events page of our website.

Scranton Cultural Center to Host Second Free Outdoor Summer Concert

The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple will host its second free outdoor summer concert with Erin Malloy & Friends on July 9.  Erin Malloy will be joined by Jim Waltich (piano), Tommy Hamilton (saxophone), Doug Smith (bass), Mark Montella (drums) and Denise LaBamba (percussion).  The show will take place outside the Scranton Cultural Center at 420 N. Washington Avenue.

“We had a great turnout for our first show with Young Lion, and we are looking forward to featuring Erin Malloy,” said Deborah Moran Peterson, SCC Executive Director.  “We have enjoyed being able to connect with our audiences virtually through the past year, but we are so grateful to be able to welcome back our community with this free concert series.”

All current CDC Guidelines will be followed at each performance with any updates being shared via social media.  All performances will run from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM; a cash bar with light fare will open at 6:00 PM prior to each show.

Additional performers in the series include The Mule Team (August 13) and Blind Choice (September 10).  To learn more about the Scranton Cultural Center and its upcoming events, visit SCCMT.org.

The free outdoor summer concert series is sponsored by LT Verrastro, Truly Hard Seltzer, UGI Utilities Inc. and Fidelity Bank.  It is supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.

Apply for a Free NEPA SHRM Membership

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce would like to share with you an opportunity to apply for membership with NEPA SHRM at no cost through August 16, 2021.

NEPA SHRM is an affiliate Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) comprised of over 300 local Human Resource Professionals representing a large range of businesses in the area. NEPA SHRM chapter is looking to grow and connect HR professionals to continue their quest for ongoing professional development. Benefits of membership include the following opportunities:

  • Development of relationships and contacts with other HR professionals to share information on HR issues
  • Educational seminars and workshops to improve your HR competencies and help you maintain your professional certifications
  • Access to current best practices to make your organization more efficient, increase employee commitment, and help line managers carry out business strategies
  • Development of leadership skills through volunteer roles
  • Enhancement of your professional reputation and credentials in the HR field

You can view our full calendar of events at https://link.zixcentral.com/u/10a31827/AvwmauaS6xGpsa3PhnsoMg?u=https%3A%2F%2Fnepashrm.shrm.org%2Fevents

NEPA SHRM’s success depends on talented, dedicated professionals like you and we hope you will consider joining.  While you do not need to be certified to be a member of NEPA SHRM, you do need to be a member of National SHRM.  If you are already a National SHRM member, you can join NEPA SHRM at  www.nepashrm.shrm.org and click on the JOIN NOW button. If you are not a National SHRM member, you may join at www.shrm.org.  The $25 membership fee to join NEPA SHRM has been waived through August 16, 2021. Please consider joining now to save $25!

Should you need any assistance or have any questions or comments about membership or benefits, please feel free to contact them at 570.899.1285 or email them at membership.nepashrm@yahoo.com. Thank you for your consideration.

COLTS to Offer Free Rides to Bicyclists During National Bike to Work Week

The County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) will offer free rides to bicyclists during National Bike  to Work Week, which falls this year from May 17 through May 23.

“We were very interested in offering an incentive for people to utilize multimodal transportation as a viable way to travel,” said Executive Director Bob Fiume. “Passengers who might have a long commute may want to try cycling to work and then taking a COLTS bus home.”

Each fixed route COLTS bus has an easy-to-use bike rack in the front that can hold two bicycles. Cyclists who want to use the bike racks just need to let the driver know they will be using them.
There are not bike racks on the shared ride vans or subcontracted vehicles that run the #11 Mid Valley Industrial Parks, #46 Mall Circulator, #80 Commerce Loop, #71 Evening City Circle North, and #72 Evening City Circle South routes.

If both bike spaces are occupied, a cyclist will have to wait for the next bus, as bikes cannot be transported inside the vehicle.

Johnson College Offers Free College Readiness for STEM Occupations Program

Johnson College is offering a free eight-week College Readiness for STEM Occupations program for teenagers ages 14 to 18 years old, from low-income families, who live in Lackawanna County. The program starts Wednesday, April 21, 2021, and continues every Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for eight-weeks. The program includes dinner for students and transportation between Scranton High School and the Johnson College campus if needed. For eligibility requirements and to register, contact Dr. Kellyn Williams, Johnson College’s Chief Academic Officer at knolan@johnson.edu or 570-702-8940. This program is supported by a grant from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

The College Readiness for STEM Occupations program includes presentations and hands-on discovery activities designed to increase awareness of career opportunities in the STEM workforce and to improve college-readiness skills. Participants are evaluated throughout the program based on attendance and discussion. The program will:

  • Increase awareness of STEM-related occupations.
  • Increase awareness of two-year options for post-secondary education.
  • Designed for all students, not just those who will pursue post-secondary education or careers in STEM or STEM-related fields.
  • Develop skills necessary for success in college and career.
  • Increase student potential for academic and personal success through knowledge of campus resources.

Students who complete the program with at least 80% attendance will receive college credit (a $550 value). To qualify for the college credit, students will be required to sign-in at each session to verify attendance.

For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.

Lackawanna College Environmental Center Announces Free Core Manufacturing Program

The Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center (LCEEC) will host a free Core Manufacturing Skills certificate program beginning April 6 with in-person and online classes. The free 200-hour program will provide participants with skills necessary for entry-level positions in advanced manufacturing through classroom, simulation-based and online skill-building lessons.

“We are excited to be able to incorporate principles of sustainably into the third and final session of this popular program,” said Sharon Yanik-Craig, Center Director for LCEEC. “Green jobs aren’t just in renewable energy— existing manufacturing jobs can be enhanced by green knowledge to minimize negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources and maintain a safe working environment for employees”.

By completing the program and passing a final competency assessment, students will earn a Core Manufacturing Skills Certificate from Lackawanna College and NEPIRC, which is recognized by area manufacturing industry employers. The certificate will prepare graduates for positions in high-demand fields in environmental stewardship, maintenance, manufacturing, production, quality assurance and safety compliance.

For more information or to register, visit www.lackawanna.edu/enrichment.