NEPIRC Receives Grant to Serve Underserved Schools NEPIRC Secures Significant Grant from the Luzerne Foundation to Expand its Dream Team Program Eric Joseph Esoda, president and CEO of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC), is pleased to announce the receipt of a significant grant aimed at enhancing and expanding its Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team program, which serves to bridge the gap between students in northeastern, northern and north central PA and manufacturing careers. From right to left: Eric Joseph Esoda, president & CEO, NEPIRC; Jenelle Osborne, talent stream coordinator, NEPIRC; and David Pedri, president and CEO, The Luzerne Foundation NEPIRC was awarded a three-year, $30,000/year grant from The Luzerne Foundation’s Pasco L. Schiavo Fund, marking NEPIRC’s first philanthropic foundation grant. This substantial investment underscores the regional and statewide impact of the Dream Team program. With this grant, NEPIRC’s Dream Team will expand school and student outreach throughout Luzerne County, primarily in the Hazleton and Weatherly areas. NEPIRC’s Dream Team will recruit Spanish-speaking ambassadors, work within underserved communities and host engagements for underserved populations in the Hispanic/Latino community. The grant will also allow the Dream Team program to create Dream Team presentations, videos and career awareness materials in Spanish. NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team program is funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s Manufacturing Training to Career Grant. “Pasco Schiavo was a man who always gave individuals a chance who wanted to work hard and better their communities,” said David Pedri, president and CEO of The Luzerne Foundation. “The Luzerne Foundation is honored to partner with NEPIRC and its Dream Team to keep Pasco’s legacy of generosity alive by helping the next generation achieve success,” continued Pedri.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Provides New Service to Seamlessly Connect Passengers Customers departing from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) with American Airlines will soon have the ability to make connections through a third hub – Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Effective August 6, 2024, new service linking AVP and PHL will be operated by luxury motorcoaches as part of American Airlines’ partnership with The Landline Company. The service will operate four (4) times daily in each direction, providing customers with a convenient way to start and end their travels. The service will have many of the features customers would expect from the first-class cabin of a regional jet, including in-seat power, WiFi, plentiful legroom and leather seats. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton customers connecting on American Airlines via PHL can clear security at AVP. American and Landline take customers directly to the tarmac of the “F” Concourse in PHL, allowing for easy, behind security connections to American’s global PHL network. Customers book trips on American and Landline just like any other connecting flight option by navigating to their preferred airline ticketing / reservation platform and selecting AVP as their origin. Here are the highlights: American Airlines is launching a new “tarmac-to-tarmac” luxury motorcoach service to its hub in PHL. The new service allows passengers to clear security at AVP, board a luxury motorcoach at one of AVP’s departure gates and arrive at a secure gate at PHL’s Terminal F. Customers will then disembark at the gate (without having to re-clear security), and walk to their next gate to continue their connecting flight. These luxury motorcoaches feature 35 premium leather seats in a 2 by 1 seating configuration and offer 36 inches of seat pitch, comparable to the premium cabin on a regional jet. Passengers also enjoy free WiFi and in-seat power at every seat. Additionally, customers can earn and redeem AAdvantage miles using these new connecting Landline “flights”. Bags are handled as with any flight: passengers check their luggage in with American Airlines on arrival, and the airport’s baggage handling system takes over from there. Check-in also works like any other American Airlines flight. American is launching the service with four (4) roundtrips per day, timed to connect with American flights out of PHL. To use the service, customers will book their flight through American Airlines’ website or mobile app, entering AVP as origin and selecting the destination (i.e. MIA) as the endpoint, just like a flight itinerary. Carl R. Beardsley, Jr., AVP’s Executive Director, said, “Many passengers choose AVP for the convenience and low-stress environment. Being able to start your trip from AVP and connect through Philadelphia alleviates some of the stress when starting your travel from a larger airport.” Joe Sottile, American Airlines Director of Domestic Network Planning, said, “We are pleased to expand our innovative partnership with Landline to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. Complementing our existing service from AVP to both our Charlotte and Chicago hubs, this new service will enhance access to American’s global network, including convenient one-stop service via our Philadelphia hub to over 100 destinations in the U.S. and around the world.” “We are thrilled to expand our network to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton region, allowing American Airlines passengers to clear security at their local airport, closer to home, and connect through Philadelphia post security,” said Michael Sharer, Landline’s Northeast Operations Lead. “This service will provide a seamless, premium motorcoach connection to passengers with flights out of Philadelphia. Passengers can book their trips on AA.com by searching Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AVP) to their final destination.” Travelers arriving back in PHL will continue to board the luxury motorcoach airside and arrive nonstop directly at AVP. Checked baggage will be directly transferred between the motorcoaches and aircraft. American Airlines currently has three (3) daily roundtrip flights between AVP and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), as well as two (2) daily roundtrip flights between AVP and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
Primo Hoagies’ Wilkes-Barre Locations to Host Costumer Appreciation Day PrimoHoagies, known for its gourmet hoagies with high-quality meats and cheeses piled high on fresh-baked seeded rolls, announced today the Wilkes-Barre Arena Hub, Dickson City, Edwardsville and Wilkes-Barre 309 locations are now under new ownership by local couple, Michael and Rachel Davis. To celebrate and thank their loyal customers, the Davis’ will host a Customer Appreciation Day at the following locations: Wilkes-Barre Arena Hub – Tuesday, February 13, 2024 395 Arena Hub Plaza 10am – 8pm Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 Dickson City – Tuesday, February 20, 2024 1945 Commerce Blvd & Rt 6 10am – 8pm Dickson City, PA 18519 Edwardsville – Tuesday, February 27, 2024 33B West Side Mall 10am – 8pm Edwardsville, PA 18704 On these specified days, PrimoHoagies will offer the first 100 customers* in line a free Primo Size Hoagie. Throughout the celebration, customers who enroll in the rewards program will enjoy Primo Size Hoagies for just $6.99. In addition to the Customer Appreciation Day festivities, PrimoHoagies is launching a “Golden Ticket” promotion that will run throughout the month of February. Ten golden tickets will be randomly placed within hoagies, and lucky customers who discover these golden tickets can redeem them at the Wilkes-Barre Arena Hub, Dickson City or Edwardsville locations for a $25 PrimoHoagies gift card. Using recipes passed down through the generations for its iconic hoagies, PrimoHoagies layers Thumann’s gourmet meats and cheeses, a secret blend of spices, and locally sourced, fresh vegetables onto award-winning, seeded rolls that are baked fresh throughout the day. The casual restaurant’s diverse menu features a wide variety of cold and hot hoagies, cheesesteaks, wraps, vegetarian options, sides, chips, drinks, cookies, desserts, and more. Michael and Rachel, high school sweethearts from Mountain Top, PA, have built a life centered around family. Married with two young children, Natalie and Nora, family is paramount to them. Coming from backgrounds of entrepreneurship, Rachel and Mike are experienced business owners. Rachel’s family owns Herron Electric, an electrical company in Mountain Top, while Mike’s family is the former owners of Two Jack’s Cycle, a motorcycle dealership in Wilkes-Barre. With a passion for business and a desire to continue their entrepreneurial journey, the Davis’ started looking for another venture, which they found in PrimoHoagies, a local brand they were already familiar with and admired for its quality. “We can’t wait to embark on this new chapter with PrimoHoagies, where family values meet business passion,” said Rachel. “Every sandwich carries not just flavor but a piece of our commitment to quality and community. We can’t wait to share our journey with the community and create lasting memories, one delicious bite at a time.” The Davis’ also bought the Wilkes-Barre 309 location which will be relocated to a brand new PrimoHoagies in Pittston, with plans to open in early summer. *To enjoy the Customer Appreciation Day Specials, customers are encouraged to join PrimoHoagies complimentary Rewards Program. By texting “Primo” to (484) 270-4000 or visiting the Rewards Program Page, customers can access exclusive offers and start saving on their favorite hoagies!
Trolls LIVE! Tour Coming to Wilkes-Barre Get ready for another hair-raising adventure when Poppy, Branch and all their Trolls friends come to life on stage in Trolls LIVE! Jam-packed with epic music, glitter, humor and happiness, Trolls LIVE! will visit Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza May 24th and 25th, 2022 for 2 Trolls-tastic performances. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 10th at 10am and can be purchased at www.TrollsLIVE.com, Ticketmaster.com and in person at the NBT Bank Box Office at Mohegan Sun Arena. The journey begins when the Trolls’ Hug Time is unexpectedly put at risk. Knowing the only way to save it is by doing what the Trolls do best, Poppy hosts a toe-tapping, Trolls-tastic show! Poppy, Branch, Cooper, Cloud Guy, Satin and Chenille, Smidge, Guy Diamond, Fuzzbert, Biggie and Mr. Dinkles invite you into the colorful world of Trolls Village for this interactive performance only the Trolls can create. This is one Trolls party you won’t want to miss! The world of the Trolls comes alive in this totally interactive, story-rich musical celebration of everything the Trolls love – singing, dancing, rainbows, glitter and plenty of hugs. The extravaganza utilizes the latest in scenic projection, puppetry and media technology, and features a host of special effects and interactive surprises. Trolls LIVE! includes two acts with an intermission and will enchant both children and adults alike with its popular Trolls show-stopping songs, as well as introduce audiences to all-new electrifying Trollsmusic and choreography. What: Trolls LIVE! coming to Wilkes-Barre When: Tuesday, May 24th at 6:00pm Wednesday, May 25th at 6:00pm Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza 255 Highland Park Blvd. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 Tickets: Tickets start at $18 (plus applicable fees). Tickets are available at the NBT Bank Box Office or online at Ticketmaster.com. Prices are subject to change. Additional fees and special offers may apply. A limited number of tickets are available for the Trolls LIVE! VIP Party, starting at $128 (plus applicable fees). VIP Party perks include premium show seating, a souvenir lanyard, and an after-show Meet & Greet with your favorite hosts, Poppy and Branch! For more information or to join Trolls Hair Mail for presale and other exclusive offers, visit www.TrollsLIVE.com. Follow Trolls LIVE! on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @trollslive, and use #TrollsLIVE. For information on Mohegan Sun Arena’s COVID-19 policy, please visit MoheganSunArenaPA.com.
RailRiders Join Newly Formed Organization Diamond Baseball Holdings Diamond Baseball Holdings will support Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in every aspect of the fan experience, community involvement and partnership opportunities. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders have entered into an agreement to become a part of Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH); an organization dedicated to supporting, promoting, and enhancing the sport of baseball through professional management, best practices, innovation and investment. DBH is a subsidiary of Endeavor, the global sports and entertainment company. Following the closing of the transaction, the RailRiders will continue to be led by Team President, John Adams, and the General Manager, Katie Beekman, and remain an MLB affiliate of the New York Yankees. “Joining Diamond Baseball Holdings is a tremendous opportunity for our franchise,” Adams said. “NEPA has seen great success from our team on the field and we look forward to creating a next-level fan experience at PNC Field in the years to come. We have been adding energetic individuals to our existing staff and gearing up for 2022. We truly believe that becoming a part of DBH will greatly benefit this team and our community well into the future.” As part of DBH, the RailRiders will work closely with Diamond Baseball Holdings’ leadership, Pat Battle and Peter B. Freund, to realize the club’s ambitions. Battle is Executive Chairman of DBH, bringing extensive experience at the local and national level, as well as ownership interest in two PDL teams. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Learfield and serves as an advisor to Endeavor across multiple companies. Freund is CEO of DBH, bringing a wealth experience as a longtime Minor League Baseball owner and operator. Freund most recently consulted with the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball on the transition of Major League Baseball’s licensed affiliates while spearheading the formation of the MLB Draft League. “Diamond Baseball Holdings will be global in our ambitions and hyper-local in our approach and creating incredible fan experiences will remain our number one priority,” said Battle and Freund. “Additionally, we look forward to providing opportunities for growth to the employees of PDL Clubs whose passion and ingenuity have built the sport through the decades.” Diamond Baseball Holdings was formed by Endeavor, the global sports and entertainment company. DBH will support the RailRiders with ticket sales, partnerships, naming rights, food & beverage, merchandise, content strategy, collectibles/authentics/NFTs and media rights, tapping into the broader Endeavor network for expertise across the various disciplines.
Sebastian Maniscalo Adds Arena Dates for Second Leg of Nobody Does This Tour Tickets ON SALE Friday, July 30 at 10 a.m. Touted as “…the hottest comic in America,” by The New York Times, Sebastian Maniscalco, has celebrated heights only a few comedians ever achieve. A string of record-breaking, sold-out arena shows include a comedy record for Chicago’s United Center with 21,286, the highest gross for a single event at Boston’s TD Garden and a historic four show run at Madison Square Garden breaking the record for most shows sold in a weekend for the venue. That blockbuster success coupled with Netflix original comedy specials and a starring role alongside Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci in Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated The Irishman, it’s no surprise that both Pollstar and Billboard have honored the standup with their top touring awards. Currently on the road for his new Nobody Does This Tour, the man Vulture said, “built a tremendous fan base the old-fashioned way: one joke at a time, one audience at the time,” announces over 15 arena dates for the second leg of the blockbuster tour. With so many new experiences to draw from this last year, Maniscalco is sharing his unique comedic perspective with the masses with this brand-new show.“I’ve been unable to share my comedy for over a year,” Maniscalco shared exclusively with Billboard earlier this year. “I’m busting at the seams to get back out on the road and share my observations about life and family on this brand-new tour!” Launching in November, the new tour dates will find him returning to many of the arenas he sold out with his last performance including LA’s The Forum, Boston’s TD Garden and returns to Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena and Montreal’s Bell Centre in 2022. Long-time opener and fellow Chicago native Pat McGann continues as opener on the cross-country trek. Tickets for Nobody Does This tour dates will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, July 30, at 10:00 am local time. Tickets for the Wilkes-Barre show on Sunday, December 5th at 7:00pm will be available at Ticketmaster.com and in person at the NBT Bank Box Office at Mohegan Sun Arena. Maniscalco’s tour itinerary also includes a number of rescheduled shows from 2020 that were moved due to the pandemic. For rescheduled shows, all previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new dates listed below. During the last year the comic NBC’s Nightly News dubbed, “comedy’s new superstar,” found new ways to connect with fans and flex his comedic muscles including hosting several virtual dinners with friend and chef, Dominick DiBartolomeo. Billed as “Sebastian’s Sunday Supper” the events have offered the ultimate virtual dinner party, filled with amazing food and packed with special guests including Jerry Seinfeld, Lester Holt, J.J. Watt, Christopher Lloyd and Rick Caruso. The comedian also still managed to notched several career firsts in 2020 including a two-night run guest-hosting ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” In addition to adding late night host to his growing list of hyphenates, Maniscalco also add executive producer with the release of Sebastian Maniscalco presents Pat McGann: When’s Mom Gonna Be Home? On top of coming to a city near you fans will also find the always bothered comedian on their TV exploring the world of food in his new series, Well Done with Sebastian Maniscalco. The show premieres on discovery+ Aug. 12.Maniscalco will also make a return the big screen with a number of high-profile films. Projects in the works include a role in an untitled dramedy from Ray Romano, starring along-side Michelle Monaghan, Wiz Kalifa, Jason Derulo and more as legendary producer Giorgio Moroder in the upcoming Neil Bogart biopic Spinning Gold as well as opposite Robert DeNiro in About My Father a film loosely based on Maniscalco’s life. Stay tuned for news on the films’ release dates.