Scranton Cultural Center Free Concert June 26 Enjoy a concert given by the United States Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple on June 26 at 7:00 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force. Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., it is one of six musical ensembles that form The U.S. Air Force Band. Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Miller’s Army Air Forces dance band, the current band consists of 18 active-duty musicians, including one vocalist. Through the years, the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United States, deployments around the world, and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington D.C. The United States Air Force Heritage of America Concert Band concert is sponsored by LT Verrastro and supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts. The concert will take place in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Theatre at 7:00 p.m. with the doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase. Tickets are free to the public and are required for admission. They can be acquired at the Fidelity Bank Box Office at the SCC in person or by calling (570) 344-1111, or via Ticketmaster. Convenience charges may apply. For additional information and a full schedule of events, visit SCCMT.org. The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple’s 2022-2023 Season is sponsored by Fidelity Bank and LT Verrastro and supported by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Lackawanna County Office of Arts and Culture, and Commissioners Jerry Notarianni, Debi Dominick, Esq. and Chris Chermak. A special thank you to its media partners: Access NEPA, Allied Services, Audacy, Citizens’ Voice, Lamar Advertising, MAC Signs, The Times-Tribune and Times Shamrock Communications. ABOUT THE USAF BAND’S AIRMEN OF NOTE: The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force. Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., it is one of six musical ensembles that form The U.S. Air Force Band. Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Miller’s Army Air Forces dance band, the current band consists of 18 active-duty musicians, including one vocalist. Through the years, the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United States, deployments around the world, and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington D.C. Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the foremost jazz artists’ respect worldwide, leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, and Doc Severinsen. In 1990, the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series, featuring the “Note” in concert with legendary icons of jazz. The series broadcasts to millions over National Public Radio, independent jazz radio stations, satellite radio services, and the internet. Additionally, the “Note” produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets. One of the group’s holiday recordings, “Cool Yule,” reached #2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart. As part of The U.S. Air Force Band, the Airmen of Note’s mission is to HONOR those who have served, INSPIRE American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and CONNECT with the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and the United States. The excellence demonstrated by the Airmen of Note reflects the excellence displayed by all Airmen stationed worldwide, whose selfless service and sacrifices ensure the freedoms enjoyed by citizens of the United States of America.. www.music.af.mil/USAFBand/Ensembles/Airmen-of-Note/
FNCB Bank Donates Scoreboard to Greater Pittston Area Little League FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, is pleased to announce our latest project supporting the community with a $6,000 grant awarded to the Greater Pittston Area Little League for the purchase and installation of a scoreboard at their Duryea Little League field. “We are proud to partner with a great community organization like the Greater Pittston Area Little League,” said Michael Cummings, FNCB Bank Senior Vice President, Marketing Manager. “The new scoreboard will help enhance the fan and player experience and is a perfect example of FNCB’s commitment to youth sports in NEPA.” The scoreboard donation represents part of FNCB’s larger Community Caring initiative. Through outreach programs, donations, and an employee volunteer network, FNCB is committed to helping the communities they serve.
WVIA News Matched with Reporter from Report for America Report for America has placed corps member Isabela Weiss with WVIA News. Weiss is one of over 60 reporters and photojournalists Report for America has matched with local newsrooms across the country. Weiss, a storyteller turned reporter from Athens, GA, will join WVIA News in July and report on Rural Government. “It’s so exciting! I’m really looking forward to joining the WVIA team,” said Weiss. “I’m thrilled to get to know NEPA and cover the stories that matter to you.” Report for America is a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. An initiative of the nonprofit media organization, The GroundTruth Project, it is structured to harness the skills and idealism of an emerging group of journalists plus the creative spirit of local news organizations. “WVIA News was thrilled to learn that we’d been chosen to receive a Report for America corps member,” said Julie Sidoni, WVIA’s News Director. “After such a competitive application process, it’s gratifying to know we’re on the right track when it comes to building a journalism department that truly serves the people of Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.” “WVIA has grown a new newsroom from the ground up over the last couple of years and is ready for the opportunity to support our corps member in this role,” said Amy Tardif, Regional Manager for region 1 with Report for America. “We believe she will provide much needed attention to stories about rural government in the 22-county region that have previously gone uncovered.” Report for America’s work is made possible by the Knight Foundation, Google News Initiative, Microsoft, Spring Point Partners, Natasha and Dirk Ziff, Joyce Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Walton Family Foundation in partnership with the Missouri School of Journalism, The Hearthland Foundation, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Just Trust, Lumina Foundation, Posner Foundation, Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation, Henry L. Kimelman Foundation, the Commonwealth Fund, Tow Foundation, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, Park Foundation, Evelyn Y. Davis Foundation, and other leading philanthropic partners. To learn more about Report for America and its efforts to strengthen communities through public service journalism, please visit www.reportforamerica.org.
Tobyhanna Honors Leader with Supervisor of the Quarter Award Tobyhanna Army Depot’s newest Supervisor of the Quarter was named last week at the organization’s quarterly leadership meeting. Edward Bentler received the accolade for his leadership of the Installation Services Directorate’s Roads & Grounds Branch during the first quarter of 2023. The branch has a vast mission, shouldering responsibility for snow removal, wastewater treatment, potable water, masonry, roofing, locksmithery, grass cutting, maintenance of cargo door equipment, and emergency repairs to critical underground utilities such as water mains and sewer lines. Supervisors of the Quarter are selected by a panel of judges based upon four criteria: accomplishment of their duties; how effectively they set an example to others; efforts to improve the depot productivity; and how they display selfless service in accordance with Army values. Bentler was nominated for the award by William Ramey, Director of Installation Services. “Ed leads from the front, takes on the most challenging tasks, and does so with the utmost level of professionalism,” Ramey said. “Without Ed’s leadership, the most basic utilities on our installation would not work as efficiently as they do. He is a servant leader that puts the needs of his team and the installation before his own.” The formal recognition and associated praise came as a total shock, according to Bentler. “Being named as Supervisor of the Quarter was totally unexpected – I didn’t even know I was in the running! I am grateful and humbled to even be considered for this honor,” adding that he wishes the award could be shared. “Any success I have had is because of my team,” he said. “We are a small team and everything we achieve, we achieve together.” A native of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Bentler is no stranger to servant leadership. He served in the U.S. Air Force for six years on active duty. Bentler then remained in the Air Force Reserve for another fourteen years, deploying to Southwest Asia for the third time in 2009 – an assignment that saw Bentler missing the birth of his second child. Since joining Team Tobyhanna, Bentler has worked as a maintenance worker, locksmith, and mason in the Roads & Grounds Branch as well as an engineering technician elsewhere in Installation Services. He sought out the leadership role in his former branch to make a difference for his teammates. “When I decided to pursue this position, I did it because I wanted to grow the team and heighten visibility of their impact on Tobyhanna’s mission. Having worked there myself, I knew how important it was to help them understand that they are worth more than they think,” he noted. Describing himself as a “people-first leader,” Bentler emphasized the need for supervisors to act as part of the team. “Work alongside your team – not ‘over’ them. Train them to be empowered, share as much information with them as you can, and, most important, be accountable. Acknowledge your mistakes so they feel comfortable doing the same.” While he has appreciated the opportunity for recognition, Bentler said it pales in comparison to seeing his team succeed. “There’s nothing better than seeing the team celebrate when they complete a task they didn’t think they could do. I am proud to be their leader.” The Supervisor of the Quarter award – and its companion Employee of the Quarter awards – are TOBY2035 initiatives aligned with the Invest in Our People line of effort. The plan, which has three additional focus areas, strives to position Tobyhanna for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense’s premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider. Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners. Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters. About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.
Lackawanna College Student-Run Restaurant Hosts BBQ Event Lackawanna College’s student-run restaurant, 409 on Adams, will host a BBQ on the patio event with live music, lawn games and cocktails on Thursday May 4, 2023 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Lackawanna College School of Hospitality students will team up with Greenley’s BBQ of Tunkhannock, to make an array of smoked summer foods such as brisket, pork and chicken. Also featured are a variety of salads, and desserts made by Lackawanna College’s Baking and Pastry students. “Instead of just learning about how to plan and manage events, students are actually executing leadership, organization and collaboration skills in a real-world setting, giving them a leg up when moving out into their careers,” Director of Lackawanna College’s Kiesendahl School of Hospitality Kristen McNally said. The proceeds of the BBQ support Lackawanna’s Gratuity Scholarship, used to directly support School of Hospitality students. “While the BBQ is a first-time event, we have done many themed events for our guests. Some objectives of the courses students take during their fourth semester are learning techniques of a volume kitchen and display proficiency in platter production for larger events,” McNally said. “These themed events support those objectives as well as give the students a fun immersive way to learn.” The BBQ on the patio is open to the public and located at 409 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509. Tickets are $40 per person and include admission, food, 1 drink token (21+, ID required) and all non-alcoholic beverages. Proof of digital confirmation is required for the event. Guests interested in joining the event can click this link to sign up.
Marywood University Upcoming Events Marywood University to Hold a Virtual Master of Fine Arts Information Session Marywood University will hold a virtual Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Information Session on Thursday, May 25, at 4 p.m. This information session is free and open to anyone who is interested in pursuing a low-residency master of fine arts degree. To register, please visit marywood.edu/mfainfo. Marywood’s “Get Your Master’s with the Masters” MFA program is the oldest and best low-residency program in the country, designed for educators, graphic designers, and illustrators who are working professionally anywhere in the world and are interested in earning a terminal degree. The virtual info session will cover what to expect during the three-year program that includes four, two-week residential summer sessions at Marywood’s campus; six study tours conducted in New York City and other major cities; and independent work. Former student thesis and class project examples will be shared. While production and technical skills are stressed, the thrust of the program is on creativity and conceptual thinking. By design, the program is structured for students to keep their day job while pursuing a terminal degree. While production and technical skills are stressed, the core of the program encompasses creativity and conceptual thinking. For more details about the MFA in Graphic Design and Illustration Degree program, visit marywood.edu/visual-arts-graphic-design-illustration-masters-degree. To register for the MFA Info Session, please visit marywood.edu/mfainfo. For additional information about Marywood University’s MFA Information Session, please contact Steven Brower, MFA, director of the “Get Your Master’s with the Masters” MFA program at Marywood University, at (570) 348-6211, ext. 2569, or email sbrower@marywood.edu. Marywood University to Hold Transfer Tuesdays Opportunities Marywood University has set several dates in late spring and throughout the summer for its Transfer Tuesdays program. Transfer Tuesday events are for current or former college students, at all stages of their college journey, who are considering transferring to Marywood University. Transfer Tuesdays opportunities will take place on the following Tuesdays: May 23, June 20, July 18, and August 15, 2023. Those interested in the spring/summer Transfer Tuesdays events can schedule an appointment every half hour, beginning at 2 p.m. and running through 6 p.m. Registered visitors can discuss financial aid and scholarship options, transfer credits, take a tour of campus, review credits for transfer eligibility, and complete an application for admission. Marywood University’s fall semester begins on Monday, August 28, 2023. For additional information about transferring to Marywood, or to register for the Transfer Tuesdays program, please visit marywood.edu/transfer or call Marywood University’s Office of University Admissions, at (570) 348-6234 or email YourFuture@marywood.edu. Philadelphia Poet Laureate to Address Graduates at Marywood University’s 105th Commencement Trapeta B. Mayson, LCSW, MBA, Philadelphia’s fifth poet laureate, will address graduates at Marywood University’s 105th Commencement on May 20, 2023. She will receive an honorary doctorate at the ceremony. Mayson was born in Liberia. Her family immigrated to the United States when she was a young girl, and she was raised in Philadelphia. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in political science and master’s degrees in social services and business from Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research and from Villanova University School of Business respectively. In addition to serving as Philadelphia’s fifth poet laureate, Mayson is a licensed clinical social worker and Chief Program Officer at a community mental health agency in Philadelphia. Her term as the city’s poet laureate occurred in 2020-2021, during the height of the pandemic, a time that underscored the vital intersection of mental health and poetry as part of the human experience. In response, she established the Healing Verse Philly Poetry Line, a toll-free telephone line featuring a 90-second poem by a Philadelphia-connected poet, offering callers encouraging verses of care and community, along with providing national mental health resources. The author of two self published poetry collections, Mocha Melodies and She Was Once Herself, Mayson also released the music and poetry projects SCAT and This Is How We Get Through, in collaboration with jazz guitarist Monnette Sudler. A Cave Canem, Pew, and Aspen Words fellow, she was awarded a Leeway Transformation Award and is a Pennsylvanian Council on the Arts grantee, among others. Mayson is a member of the Greene Street Artist Cooperative and, in 2021, she received an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship
Marywood University Designated a Voter Friendly Campus Marywood University was recently named a Voter Friendly Campus, one of 258 campuses in 38 states and the District of Columbia, by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education as part of the nationwide Voter Friendly Campus initiative. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encouraged their students to register and vote in the recent 2022 elections, along with a stated commitment to continue to foster and promote good voting habits for years to come. Those institutions designated Voter Friendly Campuses represent a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural, and urban campuses, collectively serving over 3.5 million students. “As part of our ongoing efforts as a designated Voter Friendly Campus, Marywood continues to promote civic engagement every year, not just during major election years,” said Kevin Farrell, director of student engagement at Marywood University. “With our Pacers to the Polls initiative, as well as our participation in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, the university has made a strong statement about its civic mission to prepare students to be engaged participants in our democracy, and we are eager to continue engaging students throughout 2023, 2024, and beyond.” Pacers to the Polls is Marywood’s nonpartisan campaign focused on increasing voter registration, preparedness, and turnout among students. Many different events and initiatives take place throughout the year as part of this campaign, and they are led and managed by a task force of students, staff, and faculty members. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge strives to change civic culture and institutionalize democratic engagement activities and programs on college campuses, making them a defining feature of campus life. The mission of the 2023 Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster colleges and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process—every year, not just during years featuring federal elections. Marywood was evaluated based on a written plan detailing how the university registered, educated, and turned out student voters in 2022, how it facilitated voter engagement efforts on campus, and by providing a final analysis of its efforts.
United Neighborhood Centers Pine Brook Family Arts Festival United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA (UNC) and John Adams elementary school are teamng up for the 2nd Annual Pine Brook Family Arts Festival. All art and activities will take place on the school’s playground. Activities include a squirt gun mural, kids axe throwing, rock painting, planting flowers, photo booths, DIY galaxy bottles, finger puppets, obstacle courses, a theatre workshop, exercise and dance activities, nutrition and educational art, along with food and music. This year UNC is partering with Marywood University Kidstuff to bring 8 campus groups to the festival to provide art for the kids, including face painting and friendship bracelets. The University of Scranton Community Relations is proving funding for the school spirit project and free Italian ice from Marv’s Mobil Icey. The University of Scranton’s occupational therapy students are providing sensory and educational crafts including noise makers, bubble wands, and weaving. Food vendors El Buen Amigo and Antonio’s Pizza will be serving up hot tacos and pizza for an additional cost to festival attendees. Organizations hosting crafts and resources include UNC, My Center for Independent Living, Outreach, Penn State extension 4H & Master Gardners, The Green House Project, The Hexagon project, Lackawanna Library systems, Be SMART, and Scranton Fringe! Event orgainzer Holly Yorkonis says, “We are excited about year two of this successful event, we nearly doubled the number of crafts and art for families this year.” UNC would like to thank sponsors Lackawanna County Re-Invest, Lackawanna County Arts and Culture, Scranton Aera Foundation, The University of Scranton, and Marywood University. Those interested in volunteering at the annual event can contact UNC Revitalization Coordinator Holly at Hyorkonis@uncnepa.org or (272)-228-1366.
Slick Cyber Systems Offers Chamber Members Complimentary Service Slick Cyber Systems understands the importance of having a robust and secure information technology infrastructure in place and are pleased to offer a free information technology network assessments to all Chamber members. With this free network assessment, we hope to provide valuable insights into organization’s IT infrastructure and help identify any areas of improvement. A team of highly experienced IT professionals will conduct a thorough assessment of your network infrastructure to ensure that systems are functioning optimally and securely. The assessment will identify any potential vulnerabilities or issues that could potentially compromise your data or computer systems. To take advantage of this offer, please call 570-215-8888 or visit https://www.slickcybersystems.com/contact/ to schedule your free network assessment. Slick Cyber Systems is committed to providing top-notch IT solutions and services to businesses of all sizes.
