Groovefest Ceremonial Keg Tapping The event starts at 1pm on Sep 21st and will have an authentic German menu from a local German food truck, Fraulien Meats and Sweets, special Oktoberfest merch and decor, fall favorites like the special barrel aged marshmallow pumpkin porter, and two Oktoberfest beers; Groove’s Oktoberfest Marzen and Weizenfest both on tap and in four packs, with German music playing throughout the day to celebrate.
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.
The University of Scranton Welcomes Guest Performers for Family Weekend Joseph Boga and The Scranton Ramblers with guest guitarist Stephane Wrembel, and an appearance by the University Concert Choir set for Sept. 21. On Saturday, Sept. 21, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a concert featuring Joseph Boga and the Scranton Ramblers with guitarist Stephane Wrembel, as part of the University’s annual Family Weekend festivities. The concert, which will also include an appearance by The University of Scranton Concert Choir, begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. Seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. “All of us in Performance Music are delighted to present such an outstanding Family Weekend concert, especially where our choir gets to perform a piece alongside musical powerhouses Joseph Boga and Stephane Wrembel,” said Janelle Decker, conductor and co-director of Performance Music at Scranton. Boga, an area native, is a member of the legendary group Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, which appears in New York City every Monday in their roost – Birdland. In addition to his work with Giordano and The Nighthawks, Boga also leads his own groups and has performed and/or recorded with a variety of other ensembles such as Stephane Wrembel’s Django New Orleans, David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, Jazz Museum in Harlem All-Stars, James Langton’s New York All-Star Big Band and The Kyle Athayde Dance Party, as well as with artists such as Stephane Wrembel, Wycliffe Gordon, Adrian Cunningham, Loren Schoenberg, Wynton Marsalis and many others. His film appearances include Killers of the Flower Moon, season 2 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Capote vs. The Swans and others. Stephane Wrembel is quite simply one of the finest guitar players in the world. Though specializing in the Django Reinhardt style, he revels in transcending and expanding, and the breadth and range of his playing and compositions are unmatched. His music incorporates jazz, blues, classical, swing, flamenco and rock. All of these influences come together as a genre identifiable only as Stephane Wrembel. This prolific musician, composer, educator and musical director has released a steady stream of music since 2002, truly making his mark as one of the most original guitar voices in contemporary music. He tours the world and has headlined venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Town Hall in N.Y.C. and The Lyon Opera House in France, and has dazzled audiences at events like Montreal Jazz Festival, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Django Reinhardt Festival in France, Ellnora Guitar Festival, Caramoor Jazz Festival and many others. Wrembel won a Grammy award for his tune Bistro Fada, which Woody Allen used as the theme song for his 2011 Oscar-winning film, Midnight in Paris. Other musicians performing with The Scranton Ramblers for the concert will include trombonist Sam Chess; guitarist Roy Williams (a native and current resident of the Scranton area); Will Reardon-Anderson, alto sax and clarinet; and Jay Rattman, bass saxophonist (a native of the Delaware Water Gap area. The University of Scranton Concert Choir is an soprano, alto, tenor and bass (SATB) mixed choir comprised of members of the University community from majors and departments spanning the curriculum – none of whom are music majors – who are brought together by their mutual love for making music. They will be performing “La Vie En Rose” with the featured guest ensemble. For further information on the performance, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit the Performance Music website. For more on Boga, visit josephboga.com, and for more info on Wrembel, visit stephanewrembel.com
Scranton Tomorrow Celebrates New Mural Downtown As we celebrate the completion ofThe Big Band mural by Eric Bussart, we invite you to join Host Geoffrey Pizzuto as he shares the story of Scranton’s legacy of Jazz in this short video produced by Jason Arden Photography. It’s a must-see if you’re curious about the famous faces featured in the mural, including Billy Lustig, leader of the Scranton Sirens, the Dorsey Brothers, and Duke Ellington. Mural Dedication & Meet the Artist Friday, October 4 @ 5:30 p.m. 217 Wyoming Avenue Downtown Scranton Following a brief program, enjoy live music with Marko Marcinko and the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band playing the tunes of the Scranton Sirens, the Dorsey Brothers and Duke Ellington. The evening also includes performances by Vince Brust Studios with Big Band Dancers. Guests will have an opportunity to meet local artist Eric Bussart, and enjoy goodies provided by the Fidelity Bank Sweets & Treats Van. The Big Band mural is made possible with generous support from the following: Lackawanna County, Lackawanna Heritage Valley (LHV), City of Scranton, Fancy Parsley Architecture & Design, The Perry Law Firm, Multiscape, Inc., The Ritz Theater, ATR Properties, Ferrario Real Estate Development, Faye Mittelman Mertz, Marilyn Kaufmann Wolk, Kenneth Michael Klein, Samuel J. Pizzuto (1937-2006), and DuPont Monument Shop, Inc.
NEPA Alliance holds media event with The Ritz Theater in Scranton. Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) held a media event with The Ritz Theater in Scranton. Pictured from left: James Hazen, Lackawanna County; James Olecki, The Ritz Theater; Jack McNulty, NEPA Board; Patti Monahan, Senator Bob Casey’s Office; Jeffrey Box, NEPA Alliance and Phil Condron, NEPA Board. The Ritz Theater is an event space in downtown Scranton, PA. They host numerous events (i.e. concerts, parties and theme nights) and serve food and drink on site through “Noir Dark Spirits”, the bar/restaurant inside the theater. The Ritz’s mission is to drive economic vitality in downtown Scranton while resurrecting the historic Ritz Theater and Performing Arts Center. NEPA provided The Ritz with two loans – one through the SBA 504 program and one through an EDA Cares Act Revolving Loan fund. The loans provided funding to the borrowers to help purchase the building and complete necessary renovations to make the space operational. NEPA partnered with First Keystone Community Bank on this project. “As we evaluated financing for The Ritz project, NEPA Alliance was the perfect partner because of our shared goal of revitalizing downtown Scranton,” said James J. Olecki, co-owner and Chief Executive Officer. “Our vision from the onset was to create a premier arts and entertainment venue that brings the community together and serves as an inspiration to the region. I’m proud to say that with the help of the NEPA Alliance team, the Ritz is alive once again. Millions of dollars have been invested, five new businesses have come to Lackawanna County, and over 50 new jobs have been created within the theater. Never doubt what collaboration and commitment can do to change the world.” “NEPA Alliance is proud to have assisted The Ritz Theater in the growth of their business”, said Jeffrey Box, President & CEO of NEPA Alliance.
Benefit for Lydia’s Light to Support Cancer Awareness On September 5, 2024, Lydia Rudovitz, seven-year-old daughter of Marissa Lynch and Matt Rudovitz, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The benefit for the family falls November 3, 2024 to help raise money to offset costs and support the family. To donate to the family, contact Eileen Lynch at (570) 677-2033 or donate to the GoFundMe
Marywood Univeristy and NEPA Philharmonic Collaborate on Concert Marywood University’s music, theatre, and dance (MTD) department is part of a unique performance collaboration between its music faculty and the Northeast PA Philharmonic. A concert, titled “Quartet for the End of Time by Olivier Messiaen,” will take place on Saturday, September 28, at 7 p.m. in the Marian Chapel at the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life on Marywood University’s campus. Featured musicians include Sophie Till–violin; Christiane Vaida–cello; Ron Stabinsky–piano, and Pascal Archer–clarinet. To secure tickets prior to the performance, go to: https://marywood.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1580&p=1. Tickets are $15 for the general public or free with a Marywood ID. To learn about other Marywood University MTD events, go to marywood.edu/mtd and scroll to the bottom of the page to view upcoming performances.
Johnson College Receives Grant to Support Military Veterans’ Johnson College Receives $5,000 Grant from Robert H. Spitz Foundation to Support Military and Veterans’ Resource Center Johnson College has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation’s Spring 2024 grant cycle, managed by the Scranton Area Foundation, to support its Military and Veterans’ Resource Center for students and alumni who are affiliated with the military. The project is being directed by Dr. Natalia Melgarejo, Johnson College Student Success Coordinator. The Johnson College Military and Veterans’ Resource Center, located on the College’s Scranton campus, will serve as a private space for military service members and veterans to study and develop a sense of community as students at the College. Both students and alumni will use the space to find peer support, discuss common concerns, celebrate connections, and share with others who have lived through similar experiences. In addition to the new Resource Center, Johnson College provides services such as priority scheduling and registration to servicemembers, as well as assistance with military and veteran benefits. Johnson College’s goal in serving military-affiliated families and veterans is to help ease the transition in starting, continuing, or resuming educational pursuits and to offer assistance with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits. Through its continued efforts to empower servicemembers to further their education, Johnson College was awarded the 2024-25 Gold Military Friendly® School designation from VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2024-2025 survey, with 537 earning special awards for going above the standard. About the Robert H. Spitz Foundation The Robert H. Spitz Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports initiatives and programs serving the residents of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Robert H. Spitz was born in Scranton in 1955. He was a graduate of Scranton Central High School and the University of Miami, Florida. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation was established from his estate in 2015 and supports an array of projects and programs that are aimed at improving the community. To date, the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, has provided nearly $6 million in funding to the community.
