Ribbon cutting for World Cup Scranton The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 6, 2026 for World Cup Scranton’s new location at the historic Watres Armory on Adams Avenue in Scranton. Chamber staff and influencers joined community members to congratulate the all-star competitive cheer organization and fitness center.
SWB RailRider named International League Pitcher of the Month Minor League Baseball announced Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Brendan Beck was named the International League’s Pitcher of the Month for June 2026. Beck held a 1.24 earned run average in five June starts. During this time, he also worked 29 frames, earning three wins and no losses. He was named Pitcher of the Week twice in Summer 2026. The Yankees selected the 27-year-old in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft out of Stanford University.
Menah Pratt named regional chancellor for three local Penn State campuses Menah Pratt has been named regional chancellor for Penn State’s Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre campuses, effective August 1. In this role, she will oversee Penn State’s northeast campuses, working closely with faculty, staff, students and community partners to support academic excellence, student success and regional engagement. Pratt previously served in executive leadership roles at Virginia Tech, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Vanderbilt University. “Menah is a highly accomplished academic leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to student success, institutional strategy and community engagement,” said Renata Engel, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. “She understands the important role Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses play in expanding opportunity and strengthening the regions they serve. I am confident she will provide thoughtful leadership for our northeast campuses while building strong relationships across the University and throughout the community.” Most recently, at Virginia Tech, Pratt served as vice president for strategic affairs since 2016. She has led university-wide strategic planning efforts, supported enrollment and student success initiatives, and worked across academic and administrative units to guide institutional priorities and support shared governance efforts. “I am honored to join Penn State and to serve the Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre communities,” Pratt said. “These campuses have longstanding traditions of student-centered education, community engagement and regional impact. I look forward to building on the conversations I began during the interview process and working alongside students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners to deepen and enhance the campuses’ impact throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.” Pratt holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in sociology and a law degree from Vanderbilt University, as well as a master’s degree in literary studies and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa.
Incoming Penn State Scranton student receives America250PA Semiquincentennial Scholarship A Penn State Scranton student who’s going to begin his studies this fall has been recognized at the state level. Anthony Betti is a recipient of the America250PA Semiquincentennial Scholarship. Betti is a graduating senior from Mid Valley Secondary Center. He was one of just 25 students selected from more than 1,800 applications statewide. He’s also the only recipient from Lackawanna County. “Receiving the America250PA Semiquincentennial Scholarship means more to me than I can fully express,” Betti said. “When I learned I was one of only 25 students selected from more than 1,800 applicants, it didn’t just feel like an achievement — it felt like a pivotal moment in my life.” The scholarship is just one of the ways Pennsylvania is recognizing the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. It honors students who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to serving their communities. Betti also attended a luncheon at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg, where he and other recipients met Governor Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro.
Mechanical engineering students at Penn State Scranton conduct solar panel study for local organization Six mechanical engineering students at Penn State Scranton received experience solving a real-world issue. The Monroe County Conservation District (MCCD) in Stroudsburg was having issues with power interruptions threatening its educational programming and support services. Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Farhang Daneshmand had put out a call to organizations in the area that could provide student engineering projects, and MCCD jumped on the opportunity. “The partnership was motivated by a desire to move beyond purely hypothetical design problems and provide students with an authentic, real-world engineering experience,” Daneshmand said. “The Monroe County Conservation District presented a meaningful and timely challenge — energy reliability and resilience — which allowed students to work on a problem with clear technical, economic and community impact.” Six third-year students enrolled in Daneshmand’s ME 340: Design Methodology class – Emily Beemer, Ethan Lee, Joshua MacLunny, Clera O’Boyle, Eric Pisack and Vance Weimer – completed the project. They were all organized into specialized teams based on their backgrounds, experience and interests, and worked with MCCD to figure out if a solar energy backup system could improve power reliability. The students also consulted with industry professionals. In the end, the students helped prepare a proposal for a solar energy resilience system that could run the MCCD building during a power outage. The proposed system was also tailored to the building’s space constraints. The system isn’t being installed yet, but MCCD said it’s analyzing its budget and looking for grant opportunities to bring the project to life. Daneshmand said the project reflected the core goals of Penn State Scranton’s mechanical engineering program: combining technical theory with hands-on application.
Comcast Business Named official connectivity provider of Scranton Official Fan Zone Comcast Business announced today that it is the official connectivity provider for the City of Scranton’s upcoming summer soccer watch parties on Lackawanna County Courthouse Square. Comcast will provide connectivity for staff and vendors, as well as the live multi-screen broadcasts of matches. Comcast Business is using a network solution powered by Comcast Business Internet and Wifi Pro for the July watch parties. It will provide reliable connectivity for operations and cashless vendor transactions. Comcast Business officials say events like these are the type of environment the Comcast Business network is built for. The connectivity and video solutions are provided as an in-kind contribution from Comcast Business, which is celebrating 20 years in business. You can read more about this announcement in a press release from Comcast Business here.
Celebrate Independence Day at the Scrantastic Spectacular & Fireworks Show Looking for a fun way to celebrate the 4th of July holiday? The Lackawanna County Courthouse is hosting the Lackawanna County Scrantastic Spectacular on July 3rd. It starts at 4:00 p.m. at the courthouse on North Washington Avenue in Scranton and is free. There will be food, games, bands, and a live performance from The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic at 7:30 p.m. A fireworks display will follow that performance. The Scrantastic Spectacular event map has a list of the best firework viewing locations. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Scranton Tomorrow, and the City of Scranton are sponsors of the event.
KSG Civil Structural Engineers celebrates presence in Downtown Scranton KSG Civil Structural Engineers hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new location at 318 Penn Avenue in downtown Scranton on Tuesday, June 23. Friends, community leaders, and local professionals gathered for the event. KSG is committed to building stronger communities through innovation, expertise, and engineering excellence.
The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Appoints Taryn Talacka as Marketing and Communications Director The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the addition of Taryn Talacka as our new Director of Marketing and Communications. In this role, Talacka will be responsible for creating marketing materials and strategies for The Chamber and its divisions, gathering content for Momentum Magazine, and producing All Things Chamber and All Things Members, two of The Chamber’s successful video productions. Before joining The Chamber, Talacka served as the Marketing Manager for dining services at King’s College, where she created print and digital marketing materials and led student-centered dining events. With a proven track record of social media management, video production, and media relations, Talacka brings valuable experience that aligns perfectly with our mission to attract, sustain, and grow business throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. “We are excited to welcome Taryn Talacka as The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s new Director of Marketing and Communications,” said Kristine Augustine, Vice President of Membership and Marketing at The Chamber. “Her extensive experience in strategic marketing, storytelling, and audience engagement will be a tremendous asset as we continue to strengthen our brand and serve our members and community.” Members of the local business community are encouraged to reach out to Talacka at ttalacka@scrantonchamber.com or 570-341-7711 ext. 157.
NEPA Philharmonic To Accompany Yoga On The Roof On Saturday, July 4th, at 9 AM, Hilary Steinberg, Jaya Yoga Studio, Clarks Summit, and the Marketplace at Steamtown will sponsor the 13th annual Yoga on the Roof, which includes one hour of of yoga accompanied by live music played by Philharmonic musicians. The yoga practice will be followed by treats compliments of Maximum Zen. This event is a favorite way to launch to Independence Day celebrations and benefits the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s educational and outreach programs. Leading the yoga practice will be Jaya Yoga’s owner Hilary Steinberg and instructor Lily Mackarey. Featured musicians will be Leah Valenches, Peter Brubaker, and Gabriel Schaff. Yoga on the Roof is a unique event in Northeastern Pennsylvania, taking place on the morning of the holiday, overlooking historic downtown Scranton. Participants are invited to pre-register at www.NEPAphil.org until Thursday, July 2nd. Walk ins are welcome. All are asked to show up by 8:45 AM on Friday, July 4th, rain or shine. A donation of $20 is requested. The Philharmonic projects benefiting from Yoga on the Roof are educational programs to meet the needs of students from toddlers to serious high school music students: “Meet the Instruments”, “Once Upon an Orchestra”, “Young People’s Concerts”, and a juried mentoring program for talented high school music students. Pre-registration is also available by calling the Philharmonic at 570.270.4444. For additional information about Yoga on the Roof, please contact hilary@jayayogastudio.com. Music Director Melisse Brunet leads the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, a robust orchestra of top professional musicians from NEPA and across the mid-Atlantic. They perform pops, classics, holidays, and candlelit concerts as well as sensory friendly concerts, shows for the hard of hearing, programs in senior centers throughout the regions as well as free July 3-4 concerts in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.
