The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Santa Train Celebrates 25 Years in a Small Town The most wonderful time of the year is almost here, and so is the beloved Santa Train! Join the 25th anniversary of this free family event that brings magic and joy through the Lackawanna Valley on Saturday, December 2nd. The Santa Train will travel along the historic Delaware & Hudson railroad line, stopping at six stations to greet children and families with special silver anniversary surprises. Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, and other characters will distribute candy, gifts, and holiday cheer. The train will feature live entertainment by Doug Smith’s Dixieland All-Stars, Franko the Great, Ryan Cornelius the Balloon Wizard, a special guest appearance by the Brown Initiative, the Valley View High School Band, and Champ, the mascot of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders. A holiday tradition since 1996, the Santa Train took a two-year hiatus but made a triumphant post-pandemic return in 2022 with hundreds of families and children in attendance. The train will arrive in Carbondale at 10:30 AM; Archbald at 11:20 AM; Jessup at noon; Olyphant at 12:45 PM; Dickson City at 1:30 PM, and its final destination, the Steamtown National Historic Site, at 3 p.m. Beyond its popularity as a festive celebration, the Santa Train is a way of honoring the region’s rich heritage, shaped in large part by the railroad industry. With its origins in Carbondale, the D&H was one of the most important railroads in the country, connecting local coal mines with markets in New York and across the Atlantic seaboard. The Steamtown NHS in Scranton preserves and showcases the history and legacy of steam locomotives with exhibits, demonstrations, and excursions. The Santa Train is a communitywide effort made possible by the Lackawanna Heritage Valley, Steamtown NHS, Delaware/Lackawanna Railroad, Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority, Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau, Carbondale Business Association, City of Carbondale, the boroughs of Archbald, Jessup, and Jessup 21st Century Association, Dickson City, Olyphant, and the City of Scranton. Special thanks to this year’s sponsors: Peoples Security Bank, Community Bank N.A., NBT Bank, Honesdale National Bank, Rotary Club of Scranton, North Penn Charitable Foundation, Quinn’s Market and Propst Transportation and Lackawanna County. For more information, visit www.lhva.org.
Cooper’s Seafood House to Benefit The Women’s Resource Center Indulge in a feast fit for a cause at Cooper’s Seafood House! From Wednesday, December 6th to Friday, December 8th, 2023, Cooper’s is excited to offer a special deal that brings together delicious seafood and charitable giving. Alaskan King Crab Extravaganza for a Cause! For a limited time, treat yourself to one pound of succulent Alaskan King Crab Legs for just $20! With each order Cooper’s will make a $10 donation to the Women’s Resource Center. It’s a win-win – savor the unparalleled taste of Alaskan King Crab while contributing to a meaningful cause that supports and empowers women in our community. Special Details: Dates: December 6th, 7th, and 8th, 2023 – Dine in only Deal: One pound of Alaskan King Crab Legs for $20. Sides Included: Enjoy the perfect pairing with complimentary French fries and cole slaw. By participating in this special event, you not only get to relish a delectable seafood experience but also make a positive impact on the lives of women through your generous donation to the Women’s Resource Center. Join Cooper’s Seafood House for a feast that goes beyond the table, where every bite makes a difference!
The Wright Center Receives Donation from Dunkin Franchisee Group To help area children and families in need, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement (PCE) was recently presented with a $2,500 donation from a regional Dunkin’ franchisee group and a matching gift from the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. The $5,000 contribution will be reinvested in the community through PCE’s activities, such as school backpack giveaways, winter clothing and blanket giveaways, free food distributions, and other special mission-driven projects. The Lufrankton Network, a franchisee group that operates stores in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, chose PCE to receive charitable funding made available during its recent “Renovation Celebration” to highlight the makeover of its Dunkin’ location in Eynon. The foundation generously doubled the gift because its mission – “to provide the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness” – is reflected in many of PCE’s initiatives to assist children in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and nearby counties. “We are grateful for this amazing support from Dunkin’,” said PCE Director Holly Przasnyski. “For its ongoing operation, the nonprofit PCE relies on external funding such as donations and fundraising. So, if it wasn’t for the kindness of civic-minded businesses like Dunkin’, we would not be able to conduct our events that help feed, clothe, and otherwise support the under-resourced children and their families in the communities we serve.” PCE is a subsidiary of The Wright Center for Community Health. Employees of the health center volunteer to conduct its activities, which are intended to improve people’s access to health care and empower them to be co-managers of their health and wellness plans. In particular, PCE strives to help Wright Center patients and others in the community overcome food insecurity and other non-medical issues that can affect their ability to focus on achieving and maintaining their maximum wellness. Those issues commonly include transportation barriers, lack of access to educational opportunities, homelessness, and poverty. For more information about The Wright Center and its primary and preventive care services, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
Settlers Hospitality Announces Holiday Events There’s no place like Settlers Hospitality for the holidays. Celebrations at The Settlers Inn, Ledges Hotel, Silver Birches, the Hawley Silk Mill and Hotel Anthracite help make the season merry and bright. Candlelight Christmas, December 1 through 3, at The Settlers Inn ushers in the most wonderful time of the year. The annual event is a signature celebration and an eagerly anticipated festivity in the Pocono Mountains Lake Region. Guests are greeted with live music and décor that features natural greens, artisanal and handcrafted decorations and an offering of mulled wine or syllabub. Horse and carriage rides plus an oversized gingerbread replica of The Settlers Inn enhance the festive atmosphere. A lavish holiday meal features entrees such as braised short ribs, grilled pork tenderloin and prime rib. Indulgent dessert choices include peppermint pillow ice cream, Buche de Noel and English toffee pudding. Christmas Tea is an elegant new addition to the festivities at The Settlers Inn. Every Thursday in December from 2-4 p.m. guests may delight in the Inn’s holiday finery while enjoying a traditional afternoon tea. Visitors may savor freshly brewed teas, finger sandwiches and decadent desserts surrounded by fresh greens, twinkling lights and a crackling fire. Winterfest Brunch at The Settlers Inn on December 9 and 10 features live music by harpist Kristy Chmura accompanied by a prix fixe menu of holiday inspired fare. Guests may enjoy the celebration from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. each day. It’s the fun of holiday baking with none of the at home clean-up. Make and take home four types of cookies during a Holiday Cookie Baking Class in the Boiler Room at the Hawley Silk Mill on December 7 and 14. The class from 4:30-8 p.m. will have attendees ready for holiday gatherings with eight dozen cookies. A Buche de Noel Baking Class on December 21 offers a hands-on lesson in wowing guests with a traditional yule log dessert. Gorgeous Floral’s Oh! Christmas Trees Sip and Snip on December 7 and 14 takes holiday decorating to a new level. Attendees create their own miniature boxwood Christmas Tree. The fun evening event includes a cocktail or mocktail. A Chocolate and Coffee Tasting at Cocoon Coffeehouse and Bakery on December 8 is a delicious way to warm up. Moka Origins will offer samplings of its award-winning craft chocolate and coffee from 1-3 p.m. Distinctive gift ideas from a collection of curated vendors await shoppers at the Winterfest Artisan Fair at the Hawley Silk Mill. The marketplace is open December 9 and 10 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Visitors may soak in the holiday spirit at The Waterfront at Silver Birches on December 9. Breakfast with Santa features a bountiful meal, the chance to take photos with Santa Claus, gingerbread cookie decorating and more merriment. The Jolly Old Elf also makes a special appearance at Hotel Anthracite in Carbondale on December 10. Families are invited to Brunch with Santa from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for a festive meal and an opportunity to take photos with Santa Claus. New Year’s Eve celebrations run the gamut from elegant and intimate to laid-back and lively. The Settlers Inn offers a holiday dinner from 5:30-10 p.m. accompanied by live piano music from Dan Bradley. Ring in 2024 in the Pioneer City with a New Year’s Ball. Hotel Anthracite hosts the party in Gravity Hall complete with live entertainment, food stations throughout the night and more. There is also a New Year’s Eve Bash at The Waterfront at Silver Birches. A buffet meal, DJ music and dancing lead up to a midnight champagne toast and noisemakers to welcome 2024. Celebrate early or late at Glass- wine.bar.kitchen. Enjoy early seating from 5-7 p.m. and late seating after 8 p.m. Festivities include live music and a special tasting menu. Spend the first day of 2024 at The Settlers Inn’s New Year’s Day Brunch. The holiday meal features a prix fixe menu and live piano music. Settlers Hospitality has December stacked end to end with holiday cheer, anticipated tastes, enchanting scenes and plenty of merry making. For more information, visit settlershospitality.com
The Lackawanna Historical Society to Screen Local Documentaries This season, the Lackawanna Historical Society will offer a special treat for the community with screenings of two local history documentaries at the Ritz Theater on Sunday, December 17 at 2 pm. The program begins with the Cannon Fire 2023 production “Stories from the Block: Remembering Scranton’s Wholesale District”. From the 1870s through the 1960s, Scranton’s Wholesale Block stretched along Lackawanna Avenue from the Lackawanna River to Mifflin Avenue, serving a hub of commercial activity as fresh produce and other goods were unloaded at nearby railroad freight depots. “Stories from the Block” focuses on some of the businesses that operated on the block and highlights how the city’s commercial activities reflected periods of growth and decline through the years. The project was produced by Cannon Fire Productions, with funding support from private donations, the Lackawanna Heritage Valley, and the Spitz Foundation. The work of filmmakers Bob Savakinus and Timothy Novotney features interviews with individuals like former Scranton Mayor Gene Peters, who remembered the wholesale district, and also explores the adjacent commercial district as well. The wholesale block film will be followed by a screening of “Rocky Glen Park”. This 2009 documentary presents a history and overview of one of our region’s most beloved sites and celebrates 101 years of how the park brought laughter and recreation in the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys. Admission is $10 at the door. There will be no advance ticket sales. For more information about the program, contact the Lackawanna Historical Society at 570-344-3841 or email lackawannahistory@gmail.com.
Knowles Insurance Supports UNC and WNEP Feed a Friend Program United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) received a $500.00 donation from Knowles Insurance in Scranton on Monday, November 13, 2023. All monetary donations to Feed a Friend will help feed families with children in Lackawanna County to receive a gift card to a local grocery store to buy your favorite traditional foods to celebrate Thanksgiving. UNC is grateful to be the designated Lackawanna County WNEP Feed a Friend agency for 39 years. To make a monetary donation, go to: uncnepa.org/one-time-donation/ or mail checks payable to United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 425 Alder Street, Scranton, PA 18505. You can make a non-perishable food donation at more than 70 locations throughout Lackawanna County.
Tobyhanna Army Depot Recognized at SAGE Awards Sustained excellence in community involvement earned Tobyhanna Army Depot recognition from the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce at their Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence (SAGE) ceremony on November 3. The annual SAGE Awards honor the outstanding efforts, talent, creativity, and innovation of businesses in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Eligible applications are judged by a diverse group of community leaders in ten categories, ranging from “Business of the Year” to “Customer Service Excellence” and beyond. The “People’s Choice Award” is determined through online voting by the general public during a set window. For the second year in a row, Tobyhanna’s initiatives in connecting with the community were recognized, this time with the “Community Involvement Excellence” award, which celebrates a business that has made outstanding contributions to their community through philanthropy or the investment of financial or other resources such as time, talent, materials/facility/equipment, or involvement of staff or others in the organization. In 2022, the organization was honored with the “Best Practices in Community Involvement” award. The depot was recognized for its expansive community engagement program, which supports events on the installation, such as school career exploration visits, and off-post, such as Touch-A-Trucks and military observance events – and more. Tobyhanna’s enduring Warfighter of the Quarter Award program also contributed to the honor, with more than 40 local heroes recognized through the lifetime of the program. In addition, the award celebrates Tobyhanna’s collaborative efforts with the Scranton Armed Forces Reserve Center to bring back Armed Forces Week activities, including the Armed Forces Day luncheon and parade – planned for May 2024. A SAGE Milestone award was also bestowed upon Tobyhanna Army Depot, marking 70 years of providing military readiness and field support to the nation’s warfighters. Community Relations Specialist Katie Nolan says the back-to-back accolades affirm the hard work Team Tobyhanna does to connect with the community. “Our entire team takes great pride in our community engagements, and we love getting to meet the good folks of Northeastern Pennsylvania that support our mission. These awards validate that the hard work we do is seen and makes a difference. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together next year,” she said. Connecting with the community is a line of effort under Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035. The plan focuses on posturing the depot to support future force requirements and has additional lines of effort dedicated to ensuring C5ISR readiness across the joint services and shaping the future.
Wayne Bank Joins ABA for Anti-Phishing Campaign Wayne Bank has joined the American Bankers Association and banks across the nation to promote an industry-wide campaign educating consumers about the persistent threat of phishing scams. The FDIC estimates that consumers lost $8.8 billion to phishing and other fraud in 2022, an increase of 44% compared to 2021. To combat phishing, the award winning #BanksNeverAskThat campaign uses attention-grabbing humor and other engaging content to empower consumers to identify fake bank communications asking for sensitive information like their passwords and social security numbers. “We are happy to be partnering with the American Bankers Association for this campaign. With fraud and scams unfortunately on the rise, we want to be vigilant in protecting our customers and educate them on the importance of keeping their personal information secure”, stated Jillian Guenther, Wayne Bank Vice President, and Fraud Officer. “This campaign encourages our customers to be mindful of the lengths to which scammers and fraudsters will go to capture their personal information. Being able to identify red flags and warning signs are key in preventing fraud.” Wayne Bank has been sharing eye catching and engaging short videos and consumer tips on social media and in their Community Offices designed to highlight common phishing schemes. Because cybersecurity education and fraud awareness can often be dull and forgettable to many consumers, the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign is designed to be bright and bold with a bit of comedy. Consumers are directed to BanksNeverAskThat.com where they will find a new interactive quiz, the “Scam City” video game, engaging videos, and tips on how to spot phishing scams. Additionally, the campaign is offering a Spanish language version of the website, BancosNuncaPidenEso.com, and providing of other #BanksNeverAskThat consumer resources in Spanish. For more information about phishing scams and how to stop fraudsters in their tracks, visit www.BanksNeverAskThat.com.
Johnson College Offers CDL Driver Training Course Johnson College in partnership with Ancora Education is now enrolling students in its Class A CDL Driver Training course that begins on November 27, 2023, at the College’s satellite campus, Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center, in Hazle Township. Students will learn to inspect and operate tractor-trailers and to assume driver responsibilities on the road and at pickup/delivery points. Emphasis is placed on vehicle inspections, defensive driving, range maneuvers, motor carrier safety regulations (DOT 380 -397 and a certificate for entry-level drivers), trip planning, cargo handling, size/weight laws, general maintenance procedures, hours of service, and accident prevention. Participants in this 160-hour program can obtain their CDL in as little as four weeks. The course complies with the new Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) rules established by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA), which went into effect in February 2022. To learn more or to enroll in the Class A CDL Driver Training course, visit https://johnson.edu/hazleton/hazleton-cdl/ or contact the College’s Continuing Education department at continuinged@johnson.edu.
