Marywood Univeristy and NEPA Philharmonic Collaborate on Concert Marywood University’s music, theatre, and dance (MTD) department is part of a unique performance collaboration between its music faculty and the Northeast PA Philharmonic. A concert, titled “Quartet for the End of Time by Olivier Messiaen,” will take place on Saturday, September 28, at 7 p.m. in the Marian Chapel at the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life on Marywood University’s campus. Featured musicians include Sophie Till–violin; Christiane Vaida–cello; Ron Stabinsky–piano, and Pascal Archer–clarinet. To secure tickets prior to the performance, go to: https://marywood.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1580&p=1. Tickets are $15 for the general public or free with a Marywood ID. To learn about other Marywood University MTD events, go to marywood.edu/mtd and scroll to the bottom of the page to view upcoming performances.
UNC’s 8th Annual Welcoming Scranton Celebration United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) invites the community to our 8th Annual Welcoming Scranton Celebration on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 10 am to 1 pm at 526 Cedar Avenue, at the corner of Alder Street, in Scranton. This fun-filled celebration is in conjunction with our South Side Farmers Market. Welcoming Scranton, a part of Welcoming Week, is a national celebration that warmly embraces long-term residents and newcomers, fostering a sense of belonging in our shared community. It promotes cross-cultural understanding and raises awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. Family, friends, and neighbors can look forward to a wide range of diverse activities at Welcoming Scranton. Enjoy the upbeat Latin sounds of Grupo Zona, free ice cream from Scoopz Ice Cream Truck, free face painting with local artist Monica Noelle, and free balloon animals with Becky Corby. Many other community resource organizations will also be joining us. Shop our 15+ Farmers Markets vendors and their one-day special $5 deal, purchase authentic Mexican food from El Buen Amigo, and challenge your mind with cultural trivia, activities, and games from UNC’s Community Revitalization and Education Departments for fun prizes. For more information, please contact Chrissy Manuel, UNC’s Director of Development and Communication, at 570.878.5643 or cmanuel@uncnepa.org.
Keystone Mission Hosts Grand Opening for Seeds of Hope Community Garden The Scranton Chamber of Commerce spread the ribbon on Keystone Mission’s opening ceremony for the Seeds of Hope Community Garden behind their Scranton Innovation Center. The idea of a community garden sprung to life in April 2023 and is designed to facilitate the development of life and vocational skills for guests at the Mission. The initiative engages Center guests, staff, and the local community to actively participate in planning, growing, and harvesting of fresh produce. After a successful summer of harvesting a variety of vegetables and spices, the garden received a handcrafted sign to commemorate the many hands that played a vital role in planning and upkeeping the garden. “This coming-together of staff, guests of our Pathfinder’s Program, many community organizations, and local residents is a true testament to what can be accomplished when we come together,” says Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Executive Director. “This project is now a reality, and it is wonderful to experience the foliage and fresh produce from the garden. We hope that community members will stop by and enjoy the scenery that exudes from the ambience of our Seeds of Hope Community Garden!” Keystone Mission recognizes the many hands that made this possible such as the Pathfinder’s Program, The Scranton Area Community Foundation, Michael McAllister, Scranton Counseling Center, Mr. Mulch, The Hughes Family, and the Klee Family. Keystone Mission gives special recognition to Mitchell Hreha and his company, 3VKG, for donating time and material to build a handcrafted Seeds of Hope Sign. To find out more about how you can participate or benefit from the Community Garden, please visit www.KeystoneMission.org/seeds-of-hope/.
Penn State Scranton Business Club Explores Benco Dental Penn State Scranton believes integrating real-world experiences outside the classroom is crucial for students’ success and development. Acknowledging this, Penn State Scranton’s Business Club recently embarked on a tour of Benco Dental in Pittston, Pennsylvania. Guided by Lecturer of Business Kevin Feifer the excursion offered invaluable insights into the inner workings of one of the nation’s leading dental distributors. “Company tours provide practical, real-world experiences that complement classroom learning,” said Feifer. “They showcase industry procedures, offer networking opportunities with professionals, and inspire students to explore potential career paths.” During the tour, Danielle Dominick, culture and people senior talent coordinator at Benco Dental, led the students through an engaging exploration of the company’s corporate facility. Students gained firsthand exposure to supply chain management functions and learned about the importance of marketing, from sales strategies to customer service. “The tour of Benco Dental provided our students with a unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world context,” said Feifer. “It’s crucial for students to understand how concepts learned in the classroom translate to practical applications within the industry.” The tour concluded with an informative session dedicated to internship and full-time job opportunities available at Benco Dental. Students left with a deeper understanding of potential career paths and the skills required to succeed in the dental distribution sector. “These experiences are vital in preparing students for success in their future endeavors,” Feifer said. “Some of our students aspire to start their own businesses after completing their degrees, and the entrepreneurial spirit of Benco Dental has inspired them to pursue their dreams.” Business club members Francesca Villano and Jermin Gilbert shared their key takeaways from the tour, emphasizing the company’s rich history, operational insights, advanced technology, and significant role within the dental industry. “The tour provided valuable insights into Benco Dental’s supply chain system, including how they source products, manage inventory, and distribute goods. Getting a glimpse of how these things actually work in a real business setting was really fascinating! I would definitely recommend touring Benco Dental for anyone interested in supply chain management,” Villano said. Gilbert also expressed his exceptional impression of the tour, highlighting Benco Dental’s wide range of supplies, equipment, and services. “This trip enhanced my understanding of concepts learned in the classroom. The tour guide highlighted the departments that make up the heart of Benco Dental,” Gilbert said. “Being a financial service student, this tour provided insight into the inner workings of a company of that magnitude. Benco Dental offers jobs for various departments such as financial department, marketing, management, accounting and so much more. “ Feifer and Penn State Scranton’s business club extends its gratitude to Benco Dental and Danielle Dominick for providing this enriching opportunity for students to expand their knowledge and explore potential career paths. Such initiatives play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of business leaders and innovators.
Black Scranton Project’s 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration & 5th Birthday! In Black Scranton Project’s efforts to build tradition and community, they present, for the 5th consecutive year, the annual Juneteenth Celebration, Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 12 PM-5 PM. Join all at the Black Scranton Project Center for Arts & Culture (BSPCAC) for music, food, games, giveaways, and more, as we honor Black culture, tradition, and perseverance; observe Freedom Day; and celebrate BSP’s 5th birthday! This year’s Juneteenth celebration will feature free roller skating and skate rental, vendors, crafts, and activities for the whole family. At this free, family-friendly event, guests will enjoy a day of fun, community, and discovery for all ages. Black Scranton invites neighbors, businesses, community partners, and friends to participate in the Freedom Day celebration!
Chamber Leadership Applauds the Future of Amtrak in Scranton The leadership of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce applauds the decision announced today by the Federal Railroad Administration to move forward with establishing an Amtrak connection between the City of Scranton and New York City. The Chamber and its affiliate organizations have been on record in support of this concept and pledged to work with federal, state, and local officials to establish this line to promote economic development along the corridors in Lackawanna and Monroe counties and all of northeastern Pennsylvania. “The Amtrak service will add to the already vibrant network of transportation infrastructure that is critical to our regional economy. Furthermore, this action will continue solidifying growing regional connections for the workforce, business, and recreational purposes,” commented Bob Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber’s leadership wants to acknowledge the vision and hard work of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, Congressman Matt Cartwright, Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, Governor Shapiro, the county commissioners and the Visitors Bureaus of Lackawanna and Monroe Counties, municipal officials along the corridor, and the myriad community-based supporters who together made this dream a reality. READ ONLINE: Supporters celebrate federal planning money for Scranton to NYC passenger train | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Pennsylvania American Water Announces Pipe Project in Scranton Pennsylvania American Water today announced a $6 million project to provide redundant drinking water supply from its Lake Scranton Water Treatment Plant to the city of Scranton. The project, which is slated to begin in mid-August, involves rehabilitating an existing water line that runs through the East Mountain area of Scranton. As part of the project, company contractors will be lining and reinforcing an existing 48-inch transmission line with high-density polyethylene pipe. The transmission line was originally installed through East Mountain in 1908 to serve the city. It was taken out of service in 2018 after a new transmission line was installed through the mountain. “The original cast-iron pipe served us for well over 100 years,” said Rich Dudek, project manager, Pennsylvania American Water. “The second line was installed to provide redundancy should any repairs be needed on the original pipe, and now we are making these improvements to extend the service life of the water main and add resiliency and redundancy to our Scranton water system.” The project is expected to start in mid-August and be completed in the spring of 2024. Customers’ water service will not be impacted by this work. In preparation for the project, part of the walking path around the Lake Scranton reservoir will temporarily close to pedestrian traffic beginning Monday, July 31 as contractors begin delivering material and equipment for the project. The walking path will be closed from the area where the path meets the roadway at the small stone bridge to the dam near the fishing pier. The walking path will be closed as a safety precaution due to increased truck traffic on the roadway until August 4. The path will be reopen Saturday, August 5. For more information, contact Pennsylvania American Water’s customer service center at 1-800-565-7292.
PennDOT Announces Online Plans Displays in the City of Scranton The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to a joint plan display regarding the SR 3023 (Cedar Ave), Section D50, Bridge Rehabilitation Project over Roaring Brook, the SR 8025, Section 250 Bridge Rehabilitation Project over Roaring Brook and SR 8025, Section PRS over Ramp D. These plan displays will be held online, and plans will be displayed for public viewing (while following all COVID-19 safety protocols) at South Scranton Intermediate School Auditorium. The project’s purposes are to provide sustainable crossings over the creek and ramp that address the structural deficiencies and provide continued access to residents, businesses, and emergency services. The SR 3023 (Cedar Ave) project consists of replacing the existing superstructure and repairs to existing abutments, upgrades to existing guide rail on all approaches, and upgrades to an existing signal, lighting, and signing. The curb-to-curb width will be increased to allow space for future bike lanes. The roadway at the SR 3023 (Cedar Ave) bridge site will be closed to truck traffic during construction. The structure is anticipated to remain open to passenger vehicles and pedestrians during the life of the project. A truck detour is proposed during construction. Beginning south of the project area, the truck detour would follow Cedar Ave, Birch Ave, Pittston Ave, Front St, Biden St, and Jefferson Ave resulting in a 1.7-mile truck detour. The SR 8025 Section 250 project consists of replacing the existing superstructure and repairs to existing abutments and pier, and upgrades to existing lighting and signing. The need for guide rail will be evaluated. SR 8025 Section PRS project consists of a deck, sidewalk, and parapet replacement. Approach roadway and sidewalk reconstruction will be included from the limits of SR 8025 Section 250 to the intersection of Front Street. Pedestrian access to the SR 8025 bridge sites will be closed during construction. The SR 8025 Section 250 structure is anticipated to remain open to passenger vehicles and trucks providing access to President Biden Expressway during the life of the project. The SR 8025 Section PRS structure will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Vehicles will access Pittston Ave via a detour to RT 11 / 307 South and Front Street. A pedestrian detour is proposed during construction. Beginning south of the project area, the pedestrian detour would follow Pittston Ave, Orchard St, Cedar Ave, Lackawanna Ave, Jefferson Ave, and Biden St resulting in a 0.6-mile pedestrian detour. The SR 3023 (Cedar Ave) project is currently in design and is planned to be let in September 2023. Construction work is anticipated to take place through October 2025. The SR 8025 Sections 250 & PRS projects are currently in design and are planned to be let in November 2025. Construction work is anticipated to take place through April of 2027. The plans display will be held in-person and online. The in-person plans display will be held at the South Scranton Intermediate School Auditorium, located at 355 Maple Street, Scranton, PA 18505 on Wednesday, October 26 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The digital version of the plans display will be available from October 1, 2022, to November 30, 2022. Online information, including the proposed detour route, detailed project information, and comment form, can be found by visiting the following PennDOT District 4-0 website: https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-4/PublicMeetings/Pages/default.aspx
