Scranton’s Art Haus Cinema to host filn screening and addiction discussion Scranton Art Haus will host an event featuring actress, playwright and screenwriter Florencia Lozano on July 23rd for a screening of the film Life After You and a live panel discussion about addiction prevention. The event will begin at 6 pm, and is an opportunity for filmmakers, an addiction expert, educators and members of the community to come together to discuss addiction and recovery openly and honestly. Lozano, known for her roles in One Life to Live and Narcos, co-wrote and starred in the film, which is a drama inspired by the true story of a family coping with the loss of their 19-year-old son to a fentanyl-laced heroin overdose. The fil explored the tragedy of addiction as well as the grief, healing and hope by those left behind. Those who want to attend are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance on the Art Haus Cinema website.
Doug Smith’s Dixieland All-Stars Presents Celebrating America 250 Doug Smith’s Dixieland All-Stars will present Celebrating America 250, an engaging musical program that explores the rich history of Dixieland jazz—America’s original art form. Through live performances, instrument demonstrations and interactive discussion, audiences of all ages will discover how this uniquely American genre helped shape the nation’s musical heritage. Select programs will also feature hands-on activities for children and families, making the experience enjoyable for all generations. Upcoming performances will take place at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library on Sunday, July 19, at 2 p.m. and the Valley Community Library on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 5:30 p.m. Community members are encouraged to register for an upcoming event through their local library.
Restaurant Week happening July 17-23 in downtown Scranton Scranton Tomorrow’s Restaurant Week will take place in downtown Scranton from July 17th through July 23rd. There are a dozen participating restaurants throughout the city. There are no advance tickets for Restaurant Week. Diners can show up at participating restaurants and pubs to choose from their 3-course fixed price menus. The most popular price points are $19.99, $29.99 and $39.99. Restaurant Week is a project of Scranton Tomorrow’s Summer of Scranton campaign, which encourages people to support local businesses during the summer season. You can learn more about Restaurant Week and see menus from participating restaurants on Scranton Tomorrow’s Facebook page. The following restaurants and pubs are participating in Restaurant Week: The 16th Ward – 306 Penn Avenue Alter Bar – 116 North Washington Avenue, Suite 100 AV – 320 Penn Avenue Bar Pazzo – 131 North Washington Avenue Bartari – 101 Adams Avenue Fork ‘N’ Bowl – 305 Penn Avenue Picciocchi’s Pasta – 114 Wyoming Avenue P.J.’s 1910 Pub – 100 Adams Avenue The Roof at Oppenheim – 409 Lackawanna Avenue Robata Sushi and Hibachi – 244 Adams Avenue Spin & Savory – 341 North Washington Avenue Warney Cellar and Tap – 515 Center Street
Regional Hospital of Scranton receives nationwide recognition Commonwealth Health Regional Hospital of Scranton has been named one of only 100 hospitals nationwide to receive the American College of Cardiology (ACC) HeartCARE Center designation. This is ACC’s highest recognition for hospitals and health systems that provide cardiovascular care. The HeartCARE Center designation was established in 2018 and recognizes hospitals that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered cardiovascular care. “This recognition is a testament to the expertise and commitment of our entire cardiovascular team,” said Michael B. Clark, President and CEO of Commonwealth Health. “Their dedication to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care continues to make a meaningful difference for patients and families throughout our region.” Regional Hospital of Scranton’s inclusion on this national list reflects its ongoing dedication to advancing cardiovascular care through evidence-based practices, coordinated treatment and continuous performance improvement.
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.
