Lackawanna County To Present the Lackawanna Winter Market The Lackawanna Winter Market 2025 Holiday Shopping Vendor Village on Courthouse Square is returning once again! The event will take place from Friday, December 5th, through Sunday, December 7th, offering a weekend filled with music, food, fun, and a wide variety of unique shopping opportunities from small businesses. Visitors are sure to find something special for everyone on their holiday shopping lists — and perhaps a little something for themselves as well. Guests are invited to explore the many amazing small businesses and enjoy a leisurely stroll around the square. The event will feature live music, entertainment, and much more. The Lackawanna Winter Market will kick off on December’s First Friday and continue through Sunday. Event Schedule Friday, December 5th | 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Tree Lighting at 6:00 PM Saturday, December 6th | 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday, December 7th | 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Misericordia University To Host Fall Open House Misericordia University invites families to attend its Fall Open House on Saturday, November 15, and to experience all that the campus has to offer. Parents and students will have the opportunity to tour Misericordia University’s scenic grounds, meet dedicated faculty and staff, and learn more about the institution’s academic programs, admissions, financial aid, and student life. The event provides an inside look at how Misericordia supports student success both academically and personally. Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025Location: Misericordia University Campus Click here to find more information.
Johnson College To Offer CDL Training Availability In response to the regional and national demand for CDL truck drivers, Johnson College, in partnership with Road Runner CDL Academy, offers its Class A CDL Driver Training program at two convenient locations: Road Runner CDL Academy at 6 S. Keyser Ave., Taylor, and Johnson College’s Hazleton campus at 370 Maplewood Drive, located inside the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Township. This 160-hour program, available at both locations, prepares students to inspect and operate tractor-trailers and take on the responsibilities of a professional driver on the road and at pickup and delivery sites. The curriculum emphasizes vehicle inspections, defensive driving, range maneuvers, motor carrier safety regulations (DOT 380–397), trip planning, cargo handling, size and weight laws, general maintenance procedures, hours of service, and accident prevention. The training complies with the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and includes a certificate for entry-level drivers. Participants can complete the program and obtain their CDL in as little as four weeks. To learn more or to enroll in the Class A CDL Driver Training program, visit johnson.edu/continuing-ed/cdl or contact the WAVE Department at wave@johnson.edu or 570-702-8979.
Grey Towers Honored With Do 6 Partnership Award Grey Towers Heritage Association was honored on September 10 with the “Do 6” Partnership Award, bestowed by the PA Route 6 Alliance. Linda Pinto of Grey Towers Heritage Association (second from left) accepts the “Do 6” Partnership Award from Dan Glotz, PA Route 6 Alliance Board President, James Hamill, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau Senior Correspondent & Media Relations and PA Route 6 Board Member, and Candace Hillyard, PA Route 6 Alliance Executive Director. Over one hundred statewide leaders, business owners, and stakeholders gathered in Kane, Pennsylvania, on September 10–11 for the PA Route 6 Alliance 2025 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting, and “Do 6” Awards Program. The Annual Meeting featured the “Do 6” Awards, honoring outstanding individuals, organizations, and communities that exemplify the Alliance’s mission to protect, preserve, and promote the scenic, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of PA Route 6. Each year, six awards are presented. This year, the Heritage Partnership Award was bestowed upon Grey Towers Heritage Association in Pike County. Linda Pinto of Grey Towers Heritage Association accepted the award, saying, “This event truly showcased the power of collaboration and the shared commitment to preserving and promoting the unique character of our heritage area. The PA Route 6 Alliance aligns perfectly with our mission at Grey Towers.”
Geisinger Donates to Local Organizations During Challenging Times To help provide support where it’s needed most for people potentially impacted by the federal government shutdown, Geisinger is contributing $275,000 to a network of Pennsylvania food banks that distribute resources to local food pantries and cupboards throughout the surrounding communities. That includes Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serving the central, north-central and western regions, and CEO Weinberg Food Bank serving the northeast region. “At Geisinger, being the best means caring for one another and for the communities we serve,” said Terry Gilliland, M.D., president and CEO of Geisinger. “These are particularly challenging times for many of our community members, so Geisinger is doing its best to help take care of our patients, members and communities.” If an individual or someone they know is in need of assistance, NeighborlyPA.com offers a directory of resources to connect people with food pantries, mobile distributions, community meals, utility and heating assistance, and other services across Pennsylvania. The Neighborly app is available for download on Apple and Android devices. Geisinger can also connect patients who might need assistance with social workers who can help.
Ballet Theatre Opens Holiday Season with 50th ‘Nutcracker’ Ballet Theatre of Scranton, under the artistic direction of Joanne Arduino, will kick off the holiday season with it’s 50th anniversary annual performances of The Nutcracker at the Theater at North over Thanksgiving weekend on Friday Nov 28, Saturday Nov 29 ,and Sunday Nov 30, at 12 noon and 5:30 pm each day. This traditional gift to the community has offered free public performances since 1976. Free tickets can be picked up at the box office at the Theater at North on the day of the specific performance, two hours prior to curtain. A sensory friendly performance is offered to an invited audience as well as the traditional educational performances for area school children. A Jubilee Performance will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at The Theatre at North. Alumni are invited to arrive at 4:00 PM for check-in, with a commemorative photo on stage at 4:30 PM, followed by the performance at 5:30 PM. This milestone performance will be a joyful reunion of past and present cast members, honoring the legacy of Ballet Theatre of Scranton and the generations of dancers who have brought The Nutcracker to life. Over 100 local dancers from ages 9- adult will perform and will feature alumna Laura Durkin as Sugarplum Fairy and professional guest artists Sanford Placide (previously of Dance Theater of Harlem, NYC) and Philadelphia Ballet principal dancers Arian Molina Soca and Dayesi Torriente. All performances are free and open to the public, with reserved seating available through Nutcracker Benefactor donations by Nov 1. For more information, call 570-347-2867 or visit www.balletscranton.org
WVIA To Premiere New TV Program WVIA will premiere a new original television program, Conversations for the Common Good: Safeguarding Justice Through Judicial Independence, on Thursday, November 6 at 7 p.m. on WVIA TV. The program, recorded before a live studio audience, features an esteemed panel of county, state, and federal judges in an engaging discussion about the importance of maintaining an independent judiciary in a healthy democracy. Moderated by award-winning journalist Tracey Matisak, the program features: Judge Matthew Brann, Chief United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Judge Joseph Saporito, Jr., United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Judge Lesa Gelb, Court of Common Pleas, Luzerne County Judge Mary Jane Bowes, Superior Court of Pennsylvania Together, the panel examines the historical role of judicial independence in ensuring a fair and impartial legal system, identifies current threats to the rule of law and the safety of judges, and discusses how both the public and the judiciary can work together to safeguard justice for all. Encore broadcasts will air on Friday, November 7 at 4 p.m., Thursday, November 13 at 10 p.m., Friday, November 14 at 3 p.m., Monday, November 24 at 7 p.m., and Tuesday, November 25 at 4 p.m. Conversations for the Common Good: Safeguarding Justice Through Judicial Independence will also be shared by public media stations across Pennsylvania. Viewers are encouraged to check with their local PBS station for additional airdates. This installment of Conversations for the Common Good continues WVIA’s mission to foster informed civic dialogue on the issues that matter most to our communities. WVIA News recently covered this event and important community conversation. Read the story here.
Misericordia University’s SLP-Connect Hosting Support Session Learn more or register at slpconnect@misericordia.edu or call 570-674-8047.
PennDOT Driver License, Photo Centers Closed for Veterans Day The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in observance of Veterans Day. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; REAL ID pre-verification; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services. A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2025 is available online. If planning to visit one of PennDOT’s Online Messenger Service Centers, please call ahead for hours of operation during holidays.
Circle Drive-In Releases Weekend Schedule FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH Screen One: “Predator: Badlands” (2025 – PG-13) at 7:00 PMScreen Two: “Regretting You” (2025 – PG-13) at 6:45 PM Gates & Box Office open at 5:45 PM SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH CIRCLE GIANT FLEA FAIR from 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Vendor Gates at 5:00 AM) New vendors are always welcome, no pre-registration required! Vendors are invited to come out and sell their crafts, artisan items, homemade products, gently used treasures & more – every Sunday! Learn more at circledrive-in/fleafair24. Tickets for upcoming movies, as well as additional information, available at circledrive-in.com.
