Mohegan Pennsylvania Brings Back Party on the Patio

Calling all tribute band fans! Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Party on the Patio is back and better than ever. The popular, free summer concert series kicks off Thursday, June 1st, and every Thursday through September 14th guests can gather at the Outdoor Concert Venue for a party like no other, hosted by DJ Tommy from The River 105.

This year’s lineup has been extended to 16 weeks of live tribute bands, and Completely Unchained (a tribute to Van Halen), Fooz Fighters (a tribute to the Foo Fighters), Idol Kings (a tribute to Journey/REO Speedwagon), and Country Legends (a tribute to Keith Urban and Garth Brooks) make their summer debut. Local fan favorites Philadelphia Freedom (a tribute to Elton John), Bon Poison (a tribute to Bon Jovi and Poison) and Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentleman (a tribute to Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan) are just a few bands set to rock the stage. Doors open at 6:30pm and shows starts at 7:30pm. There is no cover for Party on the Patio. After the show, keep the party going with DJ Tommy at Breakers!

After dancing up an appetite, guests can stop by the Mohegan Pennsylvania food tent for freshly grilled burgers and hot dogs or visit a delectable local food truck each week. Coors Light, Blue Moon, Patio Punch and a variety of seltzer, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available for purchase.

Featured bands for Party on the Patio, hosted by The River 105 are as follows:

6/1/23:            Stayin Alive, a tribute to the Bee Gees

6/8/23:            Completely Unchained, a tribute to Van Halen

6/15/23:          Back in Black, a tribute to AC/DC

6/22/23:          Fooz Fighters, a tribute to the Foo Fighters

6/29/23:          Philadelphia Freedom, a tribute to Elton John

7/6/23:            Best of the Eagles, a tribute to the Eagles

7/13/23:          Black Dog, a tribute to Led Zeppelin

7/20/23:          Idol Kings, a tribute to Journey and REO Speedwagon

7/27/23:          Red NOT Chili Peppers, a tribute to Red Hot Chili Peppers

8/3/23:            Who’s Bad, a tribute to Michael Jackson

8/10/23:          Rubix Kube, a tribute to the 80s

8/17/23:          Country Legends, a tribute to Keith Urban and Garth Brooks

8/24/23:          Full Moon Fever, a tribute to Tom Petty

8/31/23:          Tusk, a tribute to Fleetwood Mac

9/7/23:            Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentleman Present An Evening Of Jimi Hendrix & Stevie Ray Vaughan

9/14/23:          Bon Poison, a tribute to Bon Jovi & Poison

*Lineup subject to change

For more details on the tribute bands and a full list of food truck participants, visit moheganpa.com/potp.

All guests must be 21+ to attend Party on the Patio. Additionally, most areas of Mohegan Pennsylvania are restricted to guests 21 years of age and older, including the hotel, gaming areas, and several restaurants. Valid, unexpired photo identification is required (driver’s license, passport, military ID). Expired identification will not be accepted. Wristbands issued for Party on the Patio are not valid for the gaming floor. All persons, bags and personal items are subject to inspection. No portable chairs are permitted.

Misericordia University Open House

Misericordia University will hold an open house for high school students and their parents in the spring on Saturday, April 22, 2022, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Check-in will begin at 9:00 AM at the Anderson Health and Wellness Center.

The open house event for high schoolers and their parents is the chance to experience the campus, meet students and visiting professors, and speak with admissions and financial aid representatives. Students and their families will tour the campus, sit in on a presentation on admissions and financial aid, meet with faculty in their academic program, and have a delicious lunch. Students and families will interact and hear from current students and tour some specialized facilities with students in their major.

Prospective students can tour numerous buildings, including the Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Science Center, which embodies a commitment to advanced technology and infrastructure that lends itself to superior teaching, learning, and research with a state-of-art facility. Specialized tours are offered of John J. Passan Hall Misericordia’s 40,000-square-foot located at 100 Lake St., Dallas. Passan Hall houses state-of-the-art simulator laboratories and classrooms in the nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology programs of the College of Health Sciences and Education.

Other opportunities on campus are also offered to the open house attendees. The Pauly Friedman Art Gallery in Insalaco Hall will be open from 9:00 – 3:00 PM for those that wish to view our current exhibit. MU Athletics will be in action with two games: Men’s Lacrosse starting at 1:00 PM at Mangelsdorf Field and Baseball at 3:00 PM at Tambor Field. Finally, see “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” performed by the MU Players at 7:30 PM.

If students and their parents are looking for a college that delivers a robust education and a personal experience, look no further than Misericordia University. Misericordia is a small, private university that offers a hands-on, transformative education to all who seek it. Misericordia ensures that each student receives a personalized experience and the resources to achieve their goals.

For more information, contact the Misericordia University Admissions Office at 570-674-6264 or email at admiss@misericordia.edu to register now, click here.

Lackawanna College Offers Early Explorers Program

The Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center invites children ages three to six years old and their guardians to attend Early Explorers, a program aimed at providing children with a lifelong, meaningful relationship with the natural world. Classes will be held every Thursday from April 20 to May 25, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center (LCEEC) located 93 MacKenzie Road, Covington Township, PA 18444.

Early Explorers is a program series that offers discovery-based learning that changes with each season. Using the natural world as a catalyst for growth and development, children will explore natural sciences, gain sensory awareness, creatively express themselves, and practice using large and fine motor skills while developing critical social skills. 

During each class, children will have the opportunity to hike and explore the various habitats on the 211-acre property, which includes a forest, meadow, open field, and a stream. Children will also gain first-hand experiences with plants and animals. Each week will feature a different nature-related topic including Super Seeds, Awakening Amphibians, For the Birds, Animal Mothers, Spring Winds and Little Sprouts.

Enrollment is now open. The cost is $40 for the series of six classes. Registration is limited, and pre-registration is required. This is an outdoor program, so please dress for the weather. For more information or to register, contact Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center at (570) 842-1506 or email yaniks@lackawanna.edu.

Scranton Area Community Foundation to Host NEPA Housing Lab

The Scranton Area Community Foundation (SACF), in partnership with the City of Scranton and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, is hosting “NEPA Housing Lab: Developing Strategies for Impact” on Friday, April 14th from 9 AM – 4 PM at the Radisson Hotel in Scranton. Participants of this workshop-style event will develop steps to address critical housing and homeownership issues in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

This workshop-style event will engage with local stakeholders, funders, and lenders to advance the expansion and accessibility of affordable, attainable, and quality housing in Scranton and the Lackawanna County region. Led by the Federal Reserve Bank of Pennsylvania, the Housing Lab consists of two tracks: Affordable Housing Development and Homeownership. Participants will engage in presentations and panel discussions throughout the full day event. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti will provide opening remarks.

The NEPA Housing Lab developed out of previous community roundtable discussions hosted between 2020 and 2022 by SACF in partnership with the City of Scranton and other community partners. In these discussions, community members identified lack of equitable housing as a major issue facing the region.

“The affordable housing crisis is everywhere, including Scranton”, said Mayor Paige Cognetti. “We are seeking solutions and are looking forward to working with experts locally and from outside the region to understand what might work, what might not, and most importantly, to move ahead as quickly as possible.”

Alongside Mayor Cognetti, the NEPA Housing Lab will also feature the followers presenters & speakers: Laura Ducceschi, President & CEO, SACF; Vivian Williams, Community Initiatives Manager, SACF; Maggie Martinelli, Chief Operating Officer, SACF; Teri Ooms, President & CEO, The Institute; Eileen Cipriani, Director of Community Development, City of Scranton.

Panelists will include Ira Goldstein, President of Policy Solutions, The Reinvestment Fund; Fred Bañuelos, Community Investment Business Development Manager, Federal Home Loan Bank Pittsburgh; Dana Hanchin, President and CEO, HDC MidAtlantic; Chris Casciano, Senior Vice President of Credit Union Operations, Community First Fund; Leslie Winder, Director of Community and Economic Development, Urban Affairs Coalition; Abraham Pardo, Director of Housing, The Urban League of Philadelphia; Coleen Baumert, Director of Homeownership Programs, PHFA; Pamela Anslinger, Homeownership and Financial Services Manager, NeighborworksNEPA.

An afternoon session, “Exploring Solutions and Moving to Action”, will be facilitated by Samantha Porter, Senior Manager and Advisor, and Patricia Bell, Community Engagement Associate, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

“NEPA Housing Lab: Developing Strategies for Impact” will take place on Friday, April 14th from 9 AM – 4 PM at the Radisson Hotel in Scranton.

2022-2023 Winner of NEIU Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition Announced

Kendal Pauline, a senior at Hazleton Area Arts and Humanities Academy is the 2022-2023 NEIU Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition Winner and has been named First Runner Up in the 2023 Pennsylvania Poetry Out Loud (POL) State Championship.

“AieNEPA and The Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit is so very pleased to have a strong partnership with WVIA,” said Catherine Richmond-Cullen, Ed.D., Director of AieNEPA. “The Pa Council on the Arts has promoted the National Endowment on the Arts project, Poetry Out Loud, for more than 10 years. Our partner region is the only one in the Commonwealth working with our regional PBS affiliate. The opportunity for young creatives to recite works of poetry on television and radio is amazing. Our gratitude to WVIA cannot be overstated.”

“We are proud to take part in the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts statewide Poetry Out Loud program,” said Liz Faist, aieNEPA Assistant Director. “We are grateful to our schools, teachers and students for their participation and dedication. What a fantastic opportunity to be able to share the students’ recitations with the community on such a professional platform. We are truly grateful to WVIA and our POL (Poetry Out Loud) sponsors that make this event possible.”

“WVIA Education is thrilled to take part in Poetry Out Loud, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation, which has given millions of talented high school students like Kendal a space to share their unique voices for more than fifteen years,” said Vicki Austin, Senior Director of Grants and Education. “We appreciate the loyal support of the Overlook Estate Foundation, Inc. and our partners, NEIU 19 and Arts in Education of Northeast PA, without whom this could not happen.”

The 2023 Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition premiered on WVIA-TV Thursday, April 6 and is available to watch anytime, on-demand at wvia.org as well as on the PBS and WVIA Apps.

To learn more about Poetry Out Loud, please visit https://www.poetryoutloud.org.

WVIA Mission

WVIA educates, inspires, entertains and fosters citizenship, diverse cultures, and perspectives to nurture community.

May Events Planned at The University of Scranton

Through May 5   Art Exhibit: “The University of Scranton Student Exhibition Online.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Virtual exhibit. Free. Call. 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.

Through May 12  Art Exhibit: “Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study of Mass Incarceration” by Mark Loughney. Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.

May 2  noon. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “The Promise of American Democracy” presented by Fredrik Logevall, Ph.D., Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School and professor of history, Harvard University. Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email brooke.leonard@scranton.edu.  

May 5     5 p.m. Art Gallery Reception: “Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study of Mass Incarceration” by Mark Loughney as part of downtown Scranton’s First Fridays events. Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. 

May 6  7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “40th Annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert” The University of Scranton Concert Band and Concert Choir featuring two new works by composer/conductor Philip J. Kuehn. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.  

May 9  noon. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Vocalising and Music in the Development of Speech Language and Consciousness” presented by Harmar Brereton, M.D., medical and radiation oncologist, Weill Cornell Medical School faculty and clinical professor of medicine at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email brooke.leonard@scranton.edu.  

May 12 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton String Orchestra. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.  

May 20     4 p.m. Commencement Baccalaureate Mass. Byron Recreation Complex. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu.  

May 21   11 a.m. Undergraduate Commencement. Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Wilkes-Barre. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu.  

May 21   4:30 p.m. Graduate Commencement. Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Wilkes-Barre. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu.

Steamtown National Historic Site Increases Access

Effective immediately, visitors now have access to the following indoor areas between 10 am – 4 pm:

History Museum, Louisville & Nashville Railway Post Office Car; Erie Business Car, Cut-A-Way exhibit, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Box Car; and Rutland Caboose.

The reopening of these areas is a welcome addition to the roundhouse, railyard, and grounds which continue to remain open.

Just as an FYI for you all, not to be published on social media just yet: the visitor center, theater, and remaining portions of the technology museum will have longer term closures until our heating system can be permanently fixed.  We do not have an anticipated reopening date for these spaces. We will be setting up a TV and small viewing area for the “Steel and Steam” movie on the third floor of the History Museum and beginning in May, will have an information desk staffed by volunteers. We will need to work with our NPS regional and national communications offices to develop a Press Release or official statement with an update on the building closures and heating systems.

Steamtown Celebrates National Park Week 2023 starting Saturday, April 22

We’ll mark this celebration with cab tours of the Union Pacific “Big Boy,” ranger-guided programs, and locomotive shop tours.  Please see attached flyer for program details throughout the week.

Guided tours of the locomotive shop are planned to be offered daily at 12noon throughout the summer.

Summer Hours begin Monday, April 24

Steamtown will be open from 9am-5pm, daily.

Train Rides resume for 2023 on Thursday, May 11

Short Train Rides

  • Our short train rides, the Scranton Limited or Caboose Experience, will operate Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, as staffing permits. Departure times are: 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:15pm, and 2:30pm.
  • Tickets are $6.00 for adults and kids over the age of 5; kids 5 and under are $1.00. Tickets must be purchased on-site at the Information Kiosk, the day of your visit. Tickets are valid all day and for ANY departure time on the date of purchase.
  • Seating availability is first come, first served; we recommend getting in line 15-20 minutes ahead of scheduled departure time.
  • The Caboose Experience will be offered in lieu of the Scranton Limited on dates we offer longer excursion rides, as staffing permits.

Excursions – view 2023 schedule (bottom of page)

  • Pricing varies depending on the destination:
    • Adult (ages 12-61) $25.00-$55.00;
    • Senior (ages 62+) $23.00-$50.00;
    • Youth (ages 3-11) $18.00-$33.00;
    • Child (ages 2 and under) $1.00.
  • Tickets for our Summer Excursions may now be purchased in advance online through recreation.gov. Additionally, for those not comfortable with the recreation.gov platform, excursion tickets may be purchased on-site at the Information Kiosk. All ticket sales will be credit card only.
    • Tickets for our Summer Excursions (May-Aug) now available.
    • Tickets for our Autumn Excursions (Sep-Oct) will be released 90 days before the excursion date.

Railfest – Saturday, June 17, 2023

Save the date!  Details are still being ironed out, but we will be hosting our event to celebrate the industrial heritage of the area in conjunction with Anthracite Heritage Museum’s Arts on Fire event at the Scranton Iron Furnaces.  A free shuttle will be available to provide transportation between sites.  We have also put out a request for proposals from Mobile Food Vendors for the event, please spread the word. More information here.

As with all events and programming at Steamtown NHS, items identified above are subject to change and cancellation.  Our website is the best place for the most up to date information: Alerts & Conditions – Steamtown National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Leigh Pilzer to Perform at University of Scranton

On Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m., Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a concert featuring The University of Scranton Jazz Band and Saxophone Ensemble with special guest baritone and bass saxophonist Leigh Pilzer. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

In addition, Pilzer will also offer a free masterclass for local musicians, music teachers and their students in the afternoon before the concert on the topic of section playing. Please email music@scranton.edu for more information on the masterclass.

The concert on Saturday evening will highlight a variety of songs featuring two different instrumentations, according to Performance Music Conductors and Co-Directors Philip Kuehn and Cheryl Y. Boga. Pilzer will perform a variety of selections with the University’s Jazz Band and Saxophone Ensemble, both groups made up of student musicians from majors spanning the curriculum.

Pilzer is a Washington, D.C.-based saxophonist, arranger and educator. She has toured domestically and internationally as a member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and often performs with the National Symphony Orchestra at concerts at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As an arranger, Pilzer’s work is in the libraries of the SJMO, DIVA, the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, the DC-area premier military jazz ensembles, and college and professional jazz ensembles and brass quintets throughout the country. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance with jazz emphasis from George Mason University; master’s degrees in jazz studies and saxophone performance from The University of Maryland; and a Bachelor of Music in jazz composition and arranging from the Berklee College of Music.

The primary focus of Performance Music at The University of Scranton is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles. There is no music major at the University, and all enrolled Scranton students (undergraduate and graduate) from every major are eligible for membership in the University bands, choirs and string ensembles, with neither an audition nor enrollment fee required for membership. Hundreds of students participate in the ensembles each year. Other programs within the department, including guest artist concerts, World Premiere Composition Series, Nelhybel Collection, and Scranton Brass Orchestra, closely coordinate programming with the student ensembles and offer unique opportunities for student musicians in the ensembles to hear, observe, interact and perform with numerous world-class musicians and artist-teachers. High school juniors and seniors who are considering applying to Scranton are encouraged to contact Performance Music to arrange to sit in on a rehearsal, meet the staff, attend a concert or tour the building.

For further information on the concert, call 570-941-7624 or visit the Performance Music webpage (scranton.edu/music). For more info on Pilzer, visit www.leighpilzer.com.

NEPA Inclusive’s Fundraising Event Scheduled for May 12

The public is invited to attend the Campaign for Inclusion, the largest fundraising event of the year for the non-profit organization NEPA Inclusive. The event will take place on Friday, May 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Susquehanna Brewing Company, 635 South Main Street, Pittston. The 2023 Campaign for Inclusion raises awareness about the importance of inclusion for people with diverse abilities and Autism in schools, businesses and housing throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Co-chairpersons for this year’s event are Vanessa Vergnetti Thomas and Matthew Krispin.

Thomas is the mother of five children, including her sons Benjamin and Tristan who have Autism. A certified K-12 special education teacher, certified personal trainer and master colorist, she knows her way around the IEP and disability service system. She wants to share the mission of how NEPA Inclusive makes a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities.

Krispin was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at a very young age but has never let it slow him down. A graduate of Tunkhannock Area High School and Luzerne County Community College, Krispin is the administrative assistant for NEPA Inclusive. He is also very active in his community, serving as treasurer of the Northmoreland Township Volunteer Fire Department and a reader at St. Theresa’s Church in Shavertown.

Tickets are $50 each, which includes two beverages and food provided by iconic local restaurants from around the greater Pittston area and Wyoming Valley. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the NEPA Inclusive website, nepainclusive.org or at the door; advanced ticket purchases or requests are recommended.

Entertainment will be provided by Pittston’s popular Phyllis Hopkins Electric Trio. Emcees for the event will be longtime WBRE-TV 28 news anchor Mark Hiller and local personality Lizzie Breznay. Dozens of area businesses have donated baskets that will be raffled off during the event.

In addition to food, music and raffles, the Campaign for Inclusion will present several awards:  

  • Volunteer of the Year: Jimmy Dalkiewicz;
  • Inclusive Business Partner of the Year: AnthraCycle
  • Inclusive Business of the Year: The Salt Barre
  • Direct Support Professional of the Year: Esther Ross

“We have a great evening planned for this year’s Campaign for Inclusion,” said Frank Bartoli, president and CEO of NEPA Inclusive. “This event is a wonderful way to bring together the community with the individuals and families we help to celebrate the progress we’ve made to make Northeastern Pennsylvania a more inclusive, welcoming community for everyone. We are excited to partner with Susquehanna Brewing Company as the location for this year’s event.”

Individuals and area businesses that would like to support the event by donating a basket for the raffle or making a monetary donation can contact Nicole Ross, executive assistant, at 570-855-5355 or via email, nross@nepainclusive.org. Donations are 100% tax deductible. Donor levels are Friend, $100; Community, $250; Bronze, $500; Silver, $1,000; Gold, $2500 and Platinum, $5,000. Donations can also be made specifically for Coffee Inclusive, the new coffee shop in downtown Pittston operated by NEPA Inclusive. 

NEPA Inclusive is a provider agency that works with the PA Office of Developmental Programs’ Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ODP IDD) wavier system to design services to help people achieve an inclusive life. The organization is also a vendor with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for pre-employment transition services for high school students, supported employment for adults and offers a variety of educational, advocacy, and social programs all designed to help people live truly inclusive lives.

NEPA Inclusive is a 501c3 charitable organization with headquarters in Pittston. NEPA Inclusive serves all of northeastern Pennsylvania, the Poconos, Lehigh Valley and Berks County. Founded in 2013, its unique person-centered approach to inclusion provides people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and Autism the most inclusive life, including working in local businesses, living with their families and living in their own apartments.