The University of Scranton Announces March Events

Access to the campus is currently limited to members of the University community, invited guests and others as listed in the Royals Back Together plan. Campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. 

Mar. 1     5 p.m. Lecture with Q&A via Zoom – “Freedom and Our Founding: What do they mean for us today?” The event is part of the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project’s second theme, “The U.S. Citizen and the American Founding.” Registration required. Free. Call 570-941-4419 or email community@scranton.edu. 

Mar. 3     noon. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Linneaus’ Legacy: Corrupting Color to Serve Discrimination and Exploitation” presented by Kathy Johnson Bowles, executive director of the Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu.  

Mar. 3     4:30 p.m. Lecture on “The Future of Catholic Education: Challenges and Opportunities” by author Fr. James L. Heft, founding president of the Institute for the Advancement of Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California. Presented in honor of the Ignatian year, the lecture is hosted the Jesuit Center and the College of Arts and Sciences. Moskovitz Theater. Free. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu 

Mar. 4-6    8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. “A Good Farmer” by Sharyn Rothstein presented by The University Players, co-produced by The Jesuit Center. Royal Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Ticket prices vary. Call 570-941-4353 or email players@scranton.edu.    

Mar. 14     noon. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “A Remarkable Tale of Law, Politics, and Religion: The Making of Kiryas Joel, a Hasidic Town in Upstate New York” presented David N. Myers, Ph.D., Sady and Ludwig Kahn professor of Jewish history at UCLA and director of the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy, and Nomi Stolzenberg, founder and co-director of the USC Center for Law, History and Culture. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu.  

Mar. 21 through Apr. 29        Art Exhibit: “Shinnecock Sites and Portraits: Photographs by Jeremy Dennis.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.  

Mar. 22     7 p.m. Public Dialogue on “Freedom and Our Founding: What do they mean for us today?” The event is part of the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project’s second theme, “The U.S. Citizen and the American Founding.” Registration required. Free. Call 570-941-4419 or email community@scranton.edu.   

Mar. 23     7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “General Recital” featuring The University of Scranton Performance Music students in solo, duo, trio and small ensemble performances. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.  

Mar. 24     noon. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “Window Into the Presidency: The White House Tapes and Their Meaning” presented by Fredrik Logevall, Ph.D., Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs, Harvard University. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu.  

Mar. 26     9 a.m. Preview Day for accepted students to The University of Scranton’s class of 2026. Various locations on campus. Call 570-941-7540 or email admissions@scranton.edu.  

Mar. 29     4 p.m. Jay Nathan Lecture Series: “Iceland: History, Culture, Environment” presented by Her Excellency, Ambassador Bergdís Ellertsdóttir of Iceland. Cultural performance and reception to follow. Moskovitz Theater, DeNaples Center. Free. Reservations encouraged. Call 570-941-7816 or email kym.fetsko@scranton.edu.  

Mar. 30      Time TBA. Lecture by Neal Thompson, author of “The First Kennedys.” Book signing immediately follows lecture. Moskovitz Theater, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-7401 or email info@scranton.edu.  

Tobyhanna Army Depot Warfighter of the Quarter

Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) honored one of its own Saturday night for outstanding service as an Army Soldier.

Sergeant First Class (SFC) Frank E Boehme, Jr. of the 109th Infantry Regiment out of Easton, PA – and a member of the TYAD workforce – was recognized as the first Warfighter of the Quarter of 2022 during a ceremony at the Wilkes-Barre/Penguins Military Appreciation Night event. The award, which celebrates the bond between TYAD’s employees and the warfighters they support, has been presented to over 35 deserving military members from across Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Boehme’s commanding officer, Lt. Ryan Joyce, nominated him for the honor, noting the Sergeant’s extraordinary commitment to his fellow Soldiers.

“SFC Boehme is by far the most skilled and professional Platoon Sergeant that I’ve worked with. He lives by Soldier first and mission always.”

Kelvin Spencer agreed.

“SFC Boehme serves as a premier role model for Soldiers and Noncommissioned Officers across the Army. He consistently sets the example for all to follow and demonstrates commitment to the Army Values, to the Warrior’s Ethos and he superbly represents our country’s military force of the future,” he said. Spencer is the chief of Tobyhanna’s Electronics Fabrication Division and leads the Tobyhanna chapter of the Association of the United States Army. He also served as depot Sergeant Major from 2009 to 2012.

Open and honest communication is a priority for Boehme, who cites General Colin Powell as one of his leadership influences.

“General Powell famously said that the day Soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you stopped leading them. I work hard to ensure my team knows that I care and will do anything I can to assist them.”

Boehme also noted that his career achievements would not have been possible without the love and support of his family.

“Whenever it was time to pack up my duffle bags and leave, I knew that things back home were going to be okay – whether it was for a weekend, a few months or for a yearlong deployment. My parents and my family always step up and cover down during my absence so I can stay focused on my Soldiers and my mission.”

Coworkers and depot leadership similarly laud Boehme’s performance.

“Frank continuously provides exceptional service, whether it is as Soldier or civilian,” said Jason DeMatteo, chief of the Law Enforcement Branch.

Boehme says his years in uniform have given him a unique appreciation for the role Department of Defense civilians play in national security.

“I feel tremendous gratitude to the entire Tobyhanna team for their efforts to make life easier for warfighters on the battlefield.”

Boehme enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in January 2004 and deployed twice to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A highly decorated Soldier, he has been honored with the Army Commendation Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), an Army Achievement Medal with two OLCs, the Armed Forces Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four OLCs, and the Combat Infantryman Badge – among other impressive accolades. He is a member of the Order of the Combat Spur (Gold) and is the recipient of the Order of Saint Maurice Medallion.

The Warfighter of the Quarter award is a TOBY2028 Connecting with the Community initiative. The long-range strategic plan aligns with the depot’s four strategic focus areas: Investing in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications; and aims to posture the organization for future success.

6th Annual Winter Blues Guitarmageddon Postponed

Due to weather disruptions and travel restrictions, the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple’s 6th Annual Winter Blues Guitarmageddon featuring Joe Louis Walker with King Solomon Hicks, Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen and the Deb Callahan Duo scheduled for tonight at 7:00 PM has been postponed and will be rescheduled for Sunday, March 27 at 6:00 PM.

All tickets for tonight’s performance will be honored at the rescheduled date. Patrons can contact their original point of purchase or the SCC’s Fidelity Bank Box Office at (570) 344-1111 with any questions.

Railfest to Return to Steamtown National Historic Site

Steamtown National Historic Site (NHS) is pleased to announce the return of Railfest on Saturday-Sunday, June 11-12, 2022.  This year’s celebration will be offered in partnership with the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum’s Arts on Fire event at the Scranton Iron Furnaces. Both sites are excited to be collaborating to provide an interactive and immersive experience showcasing our community’s history. New for 2022: there will be no cost of admission for the event!  

Details are still being ironed out for the weekend-long event which is expected to include activities such as an iron pour, live music, arts programming, and more! Updates will be forthcoming. Stay informed by visiting www.nps.gov/stea or @SteamtownNHS on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Learn about the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum by visiting www.anthracitemuseum.org or @AnthraciteHeritageMuseum on Facebook and @AnthraciteMuse on Twitter.

Waverly Community House Upcoming Events

National Women’s History Month Luncheon

Our annual luncheon honoring the accomplishments of great women in our past and present, and inspiring great women in our future. Open to the public. Keynote speaker Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti. Thursday, March 10th, 12:00 pm, Glen Oak Country Club. Tickets on sale HERE or through The Comm office and website.
Laurie Tuchel – ” A Sense of Place”

Art opening in our Waverly Small Works Gallery, Friday, March 18th. Live music and refreshments. Free event. Open to the public.

Visit “The Upstairs Thrift”!

Our upscale thrift shop featuring women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing and housewares.

Stop by The Comm Library

We have an updated assortment of adult and children’s books

Beautiful Blocks Program Open for Applications

Applications are now being accepted for the second year of Beautiful
Blocks in the City of Carbondale.
Beautiful Blocks is a home improvement program which provides matching grants of up to $1,000 per property to groups of residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. After a successful inaugural cycle in Carbondale, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is pleased to once again partner with the City of Carbondale to offer Beautiful Blocks to residents of the Pioneer City.

The Beautiful Blocks program seeks to make neighborhoods throughout Carbondale more attractive places to live. Eligible exterior improvements include everything from painting and mailboxes to larger projects like sidewalks and lamp posts. Grants will be awarded through a competitive application process. Applications will be judged on project impact, coordination, and the likelihood of neighbors continuing to work together in the future.

Pre-applications are being accepted until March 21. Awards will be announced in May, with work taking place throughout the summer. Residents must match their grant awards dollar-for-dollar, unless they meet certain income guidelines. Residents whose household income is less than 80% of the area median income are only required to provide a 20% match. For example, if a resident meets these income guidelines and receive the maximum $1,000 grant award, they must personally contribute at least $200 towards their project. Otherwise, participants must match the $1,000 grant with $1,000 of their own funds.

According to NeighborWorks President & CEO Jesse Ergott, “After a successful first year in Carbondale, we look forward to building on the positive impact of Beautiful Blocks to the City of Carbondale. We appreciate the support of our community partners in supporting this program, and encourage Carbondale residents to join with their neighbors in improving their neighborhood through Beautiful Blocks.”

“Mayor Justin Taylor is very excited about getting into our neighborhoods with Beautiful Blocks to create meaningful relationships with our residents, the City of Carbondale, and NeighborWorks NEPA,” Michele Bannon, Carbondale City Clerk and member of the NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania Board of Directors, said of the program’s expansion into Carbondale. “We see that building strong relationships between neighbors allows for a thriving, unified, and safe community dedicated to making Carbondale a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

In the first year of the Beautiful Blocks program operating in Carbondale, three groups of neighbors participated, with more than $15,000 in grant funding awarded. This grant funding helped to leverage more than $30,000 in funds invested from participating homeowners.Carbondale residents interested in participating in the Beautiful Blocks program can download pre-application instructions and access the pre-application document by visiting the program homepage at https://www.nwnepa.org/programs/beautiful-blocks.html.

More information about NeighborWorks can be found at www.nwnepa.org.

NEPA Film Festival

Opening night festivities at the Northeast Pennsylvania Film Festival to feature Tony award winning playwright, screenwriter, author, filmmaker and Scranton native Stephen Karam, and screening of his first feature film, an adaptation of “The Humans” for A24 films. This inspiring conversation will be moderated by our CEO and Chief Creative Strategist Helen Lavelle! 
 

6:00PM Cocktail Reception
 

7:00PM “A Conversation with Stephen Karam: Evolution of “The Humans” from Stage to Screen” Moderated by Helen Lavelle
 

8:00PM   Screening of “The Humans.”

Helen Lavelle is a nationally-recognized leader in the advertising industry and the owner of Lavelle Strategy Group in Scranton. Ms. Lavelle is also an artist and an advocate for the arts in all genres. Her figurative, landscape and abstract work is held in corporate and private collections worldwide.

Stephen Karam is the Tony Award-winning author of The Humans, Sons of the Prophet and Speech & Debate. For his work he’s received two Drama Critics Circle Awards, an OBIE Award and is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist.