The Waverly Community House Appoints New Executive Director The Board of Trustees of the Waverly Community House is pleased to announce the appointment of Gia Tugend as Executive Director, effective July 22, 2025. Ms. Tugend has served as Interim Executive Director since May 18th, providing thoughtful, steady leadership through a time of significant transition. Her appointment follows an extensive search conducted by a committee of former trustees and community leaders and reflects deep confidence in her experience, vision, and long-standing commitment to The Comm. A Clarks Summit native, Gia has been a dedicated member of The Comm staff since 2012, most recently serving as Director of Institutional Advancement and Digital Media. In this role, she oversaw successful grant initiatives, community outreach, and program development. She holds a dual degree in English and History from Marywood University, graduating in 2014. Gia’s goals as Executive Director include advancing long-range strategic planning, supporting capital building projects, and strengthening The Comm’s financial sustainability for generations to come. With a strong belief in The Comm’s mission, she is committed to expanding educational, recreational, and cultural programming while fostering inclusive community engagement. “Gia brings a rare blend of institutional knowledge, creativity, and forward-thinking leadership,” said Betsy Curtin, President of the Board of Trustees. “Her passion for this organization and her vision for the future make her an ideal leader to carry The Comm forward.” Gia lives in Clarks Summit with her husband Brian and enjoys the outdoors, fitness, and traveling. Programs and operations at The Comm will continue uninterrupted under Gia’s leadership and with the support of the dedicated staff and board of trustees.
Scranton Shakespeare Festival: Last Call for Tickets Get your tickets now! Final week of performances at the Scranton Shakespeare Festival. The 2025 Company Cabaret Join us for an unforgettable evening as the company take the stage to celebrate the timeless charm of the American Songbook. July 23 Get Tickets Now Julius Caesar Power, loyalty, and betrayal collide in Shakespeare’s gripping political thriller. As Rome teeters on the edge of tyranny, conspirators plot to overthrow a leader they once loved July 25 Get Tickets Now Timon of Athens Timon, a wildly generous millionaire, learns the brutal truth about friendship when his generosity is met with ingratitude, leading him from lavish feasts to bitter exile when his fortune fades. July 26 Get Tickets Now Little Shop of Horrors When nerdy florist Seymour discovers an unearthly, singing plant with a lust for human blood, Skid Row gains an unexpected hero. July 31, August 1-3 Get Tickets Now
Hilton Scranton to Host ‘Dinner & Dueling Pianos’ Join us for an unforgettable night of music, food, drinks and fun at the Hilton Scranton! Experience the high-energy, interactive entertainment of The Philly Keys. Enjoy a delicious three course dinner as our talented pianists take the stage, belting out your favorite songs and taking your requests all night long. Sing, laugh, and clap along to this crowd-fueled musical showdown. Seating is limited—reserve your spot today!Please note, doors will open 6:00PM, dinner begins 6:30PM, show starts 8:00PM. All tickets will come included with a salad, duo entree plate, and dessert. A cash bar will be available throughout the event. Get Tickets
Fidelity Bank & Peoples Security Bank: Water Balloon Battle Benefit Fidelity Bank and Peoples Security Bank Face Off for a Good Cause On Thursday, July 24 at 5:30 PM, a friendly rivalry takes center stage as Fidelity Bank and Peoples Security Bank & Trust gear up for the Third Annual Bankers’ Water Balloon Battle on the 100 block of W. Drinker Street in Dunmore. With both banks located directly across the street from each other, the Dunmore Police Department will temporarily close the block to allow employees from each institution to take part in a lighthearted water balloon battle—all in the name of community. The event is more than just fun. Proceeds raised by participating employees will benefit Bread Basket of NEPA, supporting their efforts to combat food insecurity in Lackawanna County. Highlights include: Employees from both banks wearing custom t-shirts. Hundreds (dare we say thousands) of water balloons launched across Drinker St. Community engagement and friendly competition for a local cause. The event demonstrates both organizations’ commitment to giving back to the communities they serve—one water balloon at a time. WHEN: Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 5:30 PMWHERE: 100 block of W. Drinker Street, Dunmore, PAWHY: To support Bread Basket of NEPA and raise awareness for food insecurity in our region Media coverage is welcome. Interviews and photo opportunities will be available on-site.
Circle Drive-In Upcoming Movie Showings Wednesday, July 23rd: FREE Community Movie, Celebrating Dickson City’s 150th Anniversary Screen One: “American Graffiti” (PG – 1973) at 9:00 pm Gates & Box Office 8:00 pm Thursday, July 24th: The Lackawanna Historical Society Movie Night Screen One: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (PG-13 – 1989) at 9:00 pm As always, we encourage you to get in the Christmas spirit & come dressed as your favorite character or in your favorite Christmas attire! Gates & Box Office 8:00 pm Friday, July 25th & Saturday, July 26th DOUBLE FEATURES ON BOTH SCREENS! Gates & Box Office 8:00 pmScreen One:“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (PG-13 – 2025) at 9:00 pm“Thunderbolts*” (PG-13 – 2025) at 11:30 pmScreen Two:“Superman” (PG-13 – 2025) at 9:15 pm“Jurassic World: Rebirth” (PG-13 – 2025) at 11:45 pm Sunday, July 27th 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! Come out & sell your crafts, artisan items, homemade products, spring cleaning treasures & more – every Sunday! Learn more at circledrive-in/fleafair24. Sunday Night Movies Gates & Box Office 8:00 pm Screen One: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (PG-13 – 2025) at 9:00 pm Screen Two: “Superman” (PG-13 – 2025) at 9:15 pm Upcoming Films & Events: Thursday, July 31st – The Lackawanna Historical Society presents “Dirty Dancing” at 9:00 pm Saturday, August 2nd – Girl Gang Film Fest Returns – 2:00 pm Saturday, August 9th – NEPA Mimosa Festival – 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Our Concession Stand is open during every event! Stop in for your favorite cold drinks, candy, popcorn, freshly made pizza, burgers & more! Movie tickets, upcoming events, & additional information at circledrive-in.com.
Stevens & Lee: PA Supreme Court Backs Nonprofit Tax Exemption On May 30, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued its long-awaited opinion in Pottstown School District v. Montgomery County Board of Assessment Appeals. In a 5-2 decision, the court held that Pottstown Hospital in Montgomery County (Hospital) qualified for real estate tax exemption as an “institution of purely public charity.” This major decision backing tax exemption in an era of consolidation in the health care industry will allow hospitals to survive, thrive and provide essential medical care to the communities they serve. The Pottstown decision will be a valuable resource that hospitals and other nonprofits can rely on as they structure their employee compensation plans as part of their overall strategies to provide essential charitable services to their communities. Representing the Hospital, the Stevens & Lee team presented key arguments that helped secure this important victory for the client and the wider community of nonprofits across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, entities are exempt from real estate taxes if they qualify as “purely public charities” under Article VIII, Section 2(a)(v) of the Commonwealth’s Constitution. To be exempt under this constitutional provision, an entity must satisfy the elements of a multi-factor test developed by the Supreme Court in its decision in Hospital Utilization Project v. Commonwealth, 487 A.2d 1306 (Pa. 1985) (HUP). An entity also must prove entitlement to tax exemption under two separate statutory tests. In the Pottstown case, the tax assessment board and trial court found the Hospital exempt. But then the Commonwealth Court held the opposite, concluding that the Hospital did not qualify as a “purely public charity.” The court decided the Hospital did not operate “entirely free from private profit motive” under the fifth prong of the HUP test. According to the court, compensation and financial performance incentives paid to executives of the Hospital and its parent entity, Tower Health, showed a disqualifying “private profit motive.” The Commonwealth Court also found that the Hospital failed to show the reasonableness of the fees it paid to the parent for management and administrative services. The Commonwealth Court’s surprising decision posed a significant threat to many kinds of nonprofits — not just those in the health care space. It created worry about compensation plans and management structures for nonprofits writ large, putting them at risk of losing their exempt status and having to devote funds to tax payments that otherwise could be put toward their nonprofit purposes. Thankfully, the Supreme Court reversed and reinstated Pottstown Hospital’s tax exemption. It explained that “only the salaries of the executives of a corporation seeking the tax exemption, and the net impact the payments of fees by that organization to a parent or affiliate corporation has on its own ability to fulfill its charitable mission, are relevant under the HUP test.” The Supreme Court announced that the “size of compensation” paid to executives and “the amount of the management fees” the Hospital paid to the parent “are insufficient by themselves to render the Hospital ineligible for a tax exemption.” The Supreme Court reiterated that the fifth prong of the HUP test, relating to “private profit motive,” requires a fact-specific examination of the “reasonableness” of executive compensation. The court offered helpful guidance for future cases by listing some factors that may be considered when reviewing an executive’s compensation as part of the “private profit motive” analysis: Compensation paid by similar organizations for comparable positions The organization’s need for the individual’s services The individual’s background, education, responsibilities, experience and training Whether the compensation resulted from arm’s-length bargaining The size and complexity of the organization The individual’s prior compensation arrangement The individual’s performance The relationship of the individual’s compensation to the compensation of other employees at the organization The amount of time the individual devotes to the position The Supreme Court also clarified that “there is no fixed percentage of total executive compensation based on financial performance” that will automatically “render a particular compensation structure unreasonable.” The Supreme Court’s Pottstown decision is a pivotal milestone for nonprofits in Pennsylvania. It confirms the ability of all nonprofits to pay reasonable, fair market compensation — including economic incentives — to attract and retain top executive talent without running the risk of losing tax-exempt status. The court’s decision guides nonprofits and taxing bodies alike by explaining that only the executive compensation of the entity seeking tax exemption is relevant to whether that entity qualifies as a “purely public charity.” And the court’s opinion reaffirms that nonprofits will not lose tax exemption by contracting with parent or affiliated companies for administrative services — a key, economically-efficient ruling for entities in consolidated industries like health care. Pottstown Hospital was represented by Stevens & Lee attorneys Thomas I. Vanaskie, Thomas A. Bowen, Karl S. Myers and Peter J. Adonizio, Jr., as well as Myers, Brier & Kelly, LLP attorneys Daniel T. Brier and Donna A. Walsh.
The Scranton School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children to Hold Golf Tournament Stone Hedge Golf Course The Endless Mountains surround Stone Hedge Golf Course in Factoryville, providing a scenic landscape of lush, rolling hills and grassy meadows covered with mature trees. Stone Hedge Golf Course is an 18 hole course whose layout offers a variety of fairways that range from generous and wide-open to narrow and tree-lined. The true, fast greens offer a challenging but fair test. Each hole has a unique character, offering different challenges that include strategically placed bunkers and tricky doglegs. There is also ample water coming into play throughout the golf course. The course starts in a valley surrounded by hills but moves into the woodlands on the back nine. The first nine holes are more forgiving than the latter half of the course. The excellent service and well-designed layout have earned Stone Hedge G.C. the reputation of being one of the best golf courses in the Northeast. The proceeds from the tournament will directly support the academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs offered to Deaf and Hard of Hearing students at The Scranton School. This learning space will allow the students at The Scranton School to expand their learning space to include the natural outdoor environment situated on our campus near Clarks Summit, PA.
Scranton Tomorrow: Restaurant Week in Downtown Scranton Participating restaurants will feature 3-course, prix fixe (fixed price) menus with a summer theme! July 19-26 throughout downtown Scranton. Participating Restaurants Click the links to your favorite restaurants below for menus & specials, and be sure to follow Scranton Tomorrow on social media for updates! 16th Ward 306 Penn Avenue A’tera 519 519 Linden Street AV Restaurant 320 Penn Avenue Backyard Ale House 523 Linden Street Bartari 101 Adams Avenue Catch 21 Seafood & Steak 301 N. Washington Avenue Noir Dark Spirits 222 Wyoming Avenue Picciocchi’s Pasta 114 Wyoming Avenue Pilgers’ Pastries 350 Adams Avenue Sambuca Italian Grille & Bar 234 Penn Avenue Tequila Mexican Grill & Bar 414 Biden Street
SLIBCO Construction Project Notice NOTICE TO BID Sealed proposals for the TekRidge Expansion project located at 50 Alberigi Drive, Jessup, PA., will be received by Aaron Whitney, Director of Facilities and Asset Management for the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, until August 7, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. prevailing local time. Bids will be open publicly at 2:05 P.M. in The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s executive conference room, 222 Mulberry Street, Scranton Pa 18503. The work includes a renovation of approximately 10,200 square feet of area within the building as well as the installation of (2) EV charging stations. The Work under the above Contract(s) shall be completed within 122 consecutive calendar days from the Notice to Proceed. Work shall commence on September 1, 2025, and be substantially complete by December 31, 2025. It is the responsibility of the Contractor(s) to supply the necessary manpower, materials, and equipment to complete all Work in accordance with the above time schedule and the Lump Sum Price shall be based on the Contractor manning the Work to meet this schedule. Contract Documents issued by hc architects are available via email by efischetti@hc-architects.com: All bidders are to be registered with hc architects. A Proposal Guarantee in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the Bid must accompany each bid in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. The above general outline of the principal features does not in any way limit the responsibility of the Contractor to perform all Work and furnish all labor, materials and equipment required by the Contract Documents. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids. Bidders must be prepared to submit a sworn performance record and a sworn financial statement, upon written request of the Owner, after the bids have been opened. Bidders are hereby notified that the proposed Work will be subject to the provisions, duties, obligations, and penalties of the Davis-Bacon Wage Rate Act. The successful bidder will be required to file a Stipulation Against Mechanic’s Lien prior to commencing work. Questions can be submitted via email to efischetti@hc-architects.com
Misericordia University to Host Workplace Team Building Event Build Stronger Teams by Knowing Yourself Great teams start with self-awareness. This one-day, in-person course helps leaders and team members identify their strengths and explore how to build a more collaborative and effective work environment. In Person | Misericordia University Friday, October 3, 2025Sign up here