The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum Features Literature, Culture, Music, and Wine

The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum will offer Collaborate Programs featuring fascinating topics in the areas of literature, culture, music and wine education during the spring semester.

This spring, The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum will offer Collaborate Programs featuring fascinating topics in the areas of literature, culture, music and wine education. Presenters include, from left: Richard Kogan, M.D., professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and artistic director of Weill Cornell Music and Medicine; wine writer David Falchek; George J. Aulisio, Ph.D., dean and professor, Weinberg Memorial Library; Virgina Picchietti, Ph.D., professor of Italian at Scranton; and Hank Willenbrink, Ph.D., associate professor of English and theatre at Scranton.

On Monday, March 31, the Schemel Forum will partner with Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library for an evening celebrating the legacy of Umberto Eco with the premiere of “Umberto Eco: A Library of the World.”

This engaging documentary explores Eco’s life as a scholar, novelist and philosopher, highlighting his insatiable curiosity and deep connection to libraries. Following the screening, a panel of University of Scranton faculty members will delve into Eco’s influence on literature, philosophy and culture, examining his interdisciplinary approach and the enduring relevance of his work in a rapidly changing world. Panelists will be George J. Aulisio, Ph.D., dean and professor, Weinberg Memorial Library, Virgina Picchietti, Ph.D., professor of Italian, and Hank Willenbrink, Ph.D., associate professor of English and Theatre.

The event, which will begin at 6 p.m. in Brennan Hall Pearn Auditorium, is free and open to the public.

On Thursday, April 10, the Schemel Forum and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) will present the concert lecture “Schumann: Music, Mood Swings & Madness.” Richard Kogan, M.D., professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and artistic director of Weill Cornell Music and Medicine, will discuss how creative artists are especially vulnerable to mental illness. The German composer Robert Schumann is one of the finest examples of the blurred boundary between genius and insanity. Dr. Kogan will explore how the racing thoughts, flight of ideas and sharpened imagination of Schumann’s hypomanic states induced prodigious bursts of creativity until the onset of psychosis led to his tragic final years in an insane asylum.

 The event will begin at 6 p.m. at GCSOM, 525 Pine St., Scranton. Admission to the event, which includes a reception, is $40 for the general public. The event is free for Schemel Forum members and University of Scranton and GCSOM employees and students.

On Friday, June 6, the Schemel Forum will pilot a new program, “Vinho and Views: Exploring Portugal’s Wine Heritage.” This hands-on wine education event will feature a four-course wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, a presentation on Portuguese wines, and an interactive discussion led by wine writer David Falchek.

Participants will discover the rich history and vibrant flavors of Portugal’s wine and will explore the unique challenges of indigenous grape varieties, the connection between Madeira and the Founding Fathers, and how the Portuguese celebrate their wines.

Falchek has been published in Beverage Media, Vineyard and Winery Management and others, and writes a drinks column for The Scranton Times. He is the former executive director of the American Wine Society.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

The cost for the wine tasting, hors d’oeuvre and lecture is $60 per person, $100 per couple for non-Schemel Forum members. There is no additional fee for Schemel Forum Members, Angels, and Archangels to attend this event. University of Scranton and GCSOM students, staff, and faculty must purchase tickets for this event and participants must be 21 years or older.

For additional information or registration information, contact Rose Merritt at 570-941-4740 or rose.merritt@scranton.edu

Additional Schemel Forum events can be found on the Schemel Forum’s webpage.

Scranton Area Community Foundation Awards Grant to Scranton Counseling Center

Scranton Area Community Foundation Awards $10,000 Fall 2024 Community Needs Grant to Scranton Counseling Center to help with their Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Unit

Scranton Counseling Center has been awarded a $10,000 Community Needs grant by the Scranton Area Community Foundation in support of the Center’s Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Unit (CRSU). The CRSU is a 24-hour walk-in facility for people experiencing crises but who don’t need the level of support an inpatient psychiatric hospital provides. Trained crisis counselors connect them with services & resources to help them succeed in the community. The facility has 8 beds & offers a less restrictive option for managing individuals who are going through a crisis and provides assessment of crisis needs and supervision 24-hours a day up to 3 days. Scranton Counseling Center is extremely grateful for the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s continued belief in our programs.

Pictured L to R: Cathy Fitzpatrick, SACF Director of Grants and Scholarships; Melanie Galli, SCC CRSU Coordinator; Doug Hein, SCC Directors of Development; and Laura Ducceschi, SACF President and CEO.

Outreach Hosts Early Childhood Community Meeting

On March 4th, Outreach – Center for Community Resources, members of the Scranton School District board and staff, Maternal & Family Health Services (MFHS), the United Way, Children’s Issues in a Changing World, and other key regional stakeholders came together for a valuable discussion on building school readiness, promoting parental involvement, and improving the coordination of services for children throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. 

The event was held at the Allied Services Luger Scranton Rehab Center on Morgan Highway. The more than 50 attendees explored topics such as early identification, engaging parents, transitions between birth to 3 and 3 to 5, and transitions between 3 to 5 and kindergarten. 

Outreach President/CEO Lori Chaffers (L), Scranton School District Assistant Superintendent Al O’Donnell, and John F. Kennedy Elementary School Principal Nora Phillips (R) opened the meeting by discussing the critical needs of our community’s youngest members. 

Following the opening remarks, attendees were divided into four discussion groups, each tackling a different topic of interest. Staff members of the Scranton School District and Outreach facilitated the groups, helping guide the conversation. By the end of the discussions, the group determined the next steps, including discussing the possibility of creating a nonprofit index for Lackawanna County and increasing opportunities for parental engagement. 

This was the first in a series of discussions regarding early childhood in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Outreach and the Scranton School District have not announced a date for the next meeting. 

Marywood Hosts Alumni Spotlight Exhibition and Artist Talk

An alumni spotlight exhibition, “Representation and Figuration in The Maslow Collection,” curated by Marywood graduate Marcelle Reinecke, will take place from March 28 – May 30, 2025, in the Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art, Shields Center for Visual Arts, on Marywood University’s campus.

Ann Abrons “Fall” 1990, oil on linen, 48×60” (L) | Marcelle Reinecke “In the Pines” 2024, acrylic and flashe on panel, 24×30” (R)

The exhibit will feature works by Anne Abrons, William Bailey, David Hockney, David Hornung, Bob Knox, Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Nelson, Robert Schultz, and Wayne Thiebaud.

Marcelle Reinecke, exhibit curator, will present an Artist Talk on Friday, March 28, 11 a.m., in the Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art. Reinecke, a native of New Orleans, received an MFA from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), Philadelphia, and a BFA from Marywood University, Scranton. Reinecke also completed studies at the Studio Arts College International, Florence, Italy, and was a Resident Artist at the Royal Drawing School, Dumfries House Trust, Cumnock, Scotland, U.K.

Her recent exhibitions include Steven Harvey Fine Art Projects, NY; Margot Samel, NY; The Ruffed Grouse Gallery, Narrowsburg, NY; and Monya Rowe Gallery, NY. Reinecke is represented by Monya Rowe Gallery, and lives and works in Philadelphia, PA.

The Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art, located within the Shields Center for Visual Art on Marywood’s campus, is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information on Marywood art galleries, visit marywood.edu/galleries.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Unveil 2025 Promotional Slate

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are thrilled to announce their exciting 2025 promotional schedule. Fans can look forward to a season filled with fun giveaways, special appearances, fireworks, theme nights, and much more! This year’s promotional calendar will feature 11 fireworks nights, four Copa de la Diversión games, and three brand-new custom jerseys, along with unique events for all ages.Opening Night and Early Promotions The 2025 season kicks off on Tuesday, April 8, when the RailRiders host the Rochester Red Wings. Gates open at 5:30 P.M., with the first 1,500 fans receiving a 2025 magnetic schedule. First pitch is at 6:35 P.M., followed by the season’s first fireworks show.To celebrate Opening Night, fans can Beat the Clock and save big on tickets! Tickets purchased online between 10:00 and 10:59 A.M. will be just $4 plus fees. Prices increase to $6 plus fees from 11:00 A.M. to Noon, and $8 plus fees from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. This offer is only available for online purchases.Copa de la Diversión & Specialty Nights The first of four Copa de la Diversión games takes place on May 8 (Thirsty Thursday) against the Red Wings. The RailRiders will also take on their alternate “Vejigantes” identities on June 24, July 31, and August 30.Additional highlights include STEM School Days on May 14 and 28, presented by Penn State Scranton, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre. Students will participate in a trebuchet competition before enjoying the game at 11:05 A.M. These games will feature STEM-related activities and local business displays.On May 17, the RailRiders will join Minor League Baseball’s Malmö Oat Milkers for a night of quirky fun in partnership with Oatly, the world’s largest oat milk company.Special Giveaways & Theme Nights Several special promotions will take place throughout the summer, including:

  • May 18 – The first 500 kids 12 and younger receive a CHAMP squish.May 30 – Scout Night, followed by a Scout campout.May 31 – Military Appreciation Day with a camo hat giveaway for the first 1,500 fans and military-themed jerseys worn by the RailRiders.June 13 – Girl Scout Night, with an overnight campout following the game against Syracuse.June 14 – Amazing Golf Ball Whacker Night featuring Christopher McDonald, who portrayed Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore, with a custom bobblehead giveaway for the first 1,500 fans.
    • Fans can also look forward to Sensory Friendly Days on June 29, July 6, and August 31, offering a sensory-safe environment for fans of all ages.Themed Events & Fireworks The RailRiders’ Friday Night Fireworks begin on May 30 and will continue after every Friday home game for the rest of the season. Other fun theme nights include:
  • July 4 – Military-themed jerseys auctioned off to benefit Camp Freedom, followed by an extended fireworks show presented by the PA Lottery.July 11 – Christmas in July, complete with holiday decorations and a post-game fireworks show.July 12 – Margaritaville Night with a Hawaiian shirt giveaway and custom jerseys benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.August 1 – Faith & Fellowship Night with fireworks.August 16 – Harry Potter Night™, featuring custom jerseys, RailRiders Platform 93/4 socks for the first 1,500 fans, and a special photo op with house elves.August 2 – 90s Night, complete with a 90s Dance Party on the Geisinger Plaza.
    • The season concludes with Fan Appreciation Day on September 14, honoring all who make RailRiders baseball possible.Ticket Information Single-game tickets, along with season ticket plans (full, half, partial, and flex), are available now. Purchase tickets online at www.swbrailriders.com or at the PNC Field Box Office.For more information or to book your group for a promotional event, please contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-2255.All promotions, theme nights, and giveaways are subject to change. Additional details will be announced as the 2025 season approaches.