NEPA Philharmonic Takes Center Stage in June and July The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s June and July events will include a main stage concert, the NEPA premiere and private screening of the award-winning documentary Maestra, the launch of the 2024-2025 season, a summer BBQ hosted by the Philharmonic League, Yoga on the Roof, and free Independence Day concerts in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Saturday, June 1, the Philharmonic will kick off its summer season with a Masterworks concert featuring the esteemed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, with pianist, Xiayin Wang, and Rachmaninoff’s sublime Symphony No. 2. The concert will take place at 7:30PM at Kirby Center for the Creative Arts at Wyoming Seminary. Tickets range in price from $38-$76, with free student admission (available through calling the box office or at the door). Parking is also free. Concert sponsors are Sundance Travel, Geisinger Temple B’nai B’rith, and Steinway & Sons. On Sunday, June 2, the Philharmonic will host a private screening and reception at the Scranton Art Haus of the award-winning documentary “Maestra” featuring the NEPA Philharmonic’s conductor Mélisse Brunet. This will be the only screening in our region of this internationally acclaimed film. VIP Tickets are $125, which includes a private meet and greet with Maestra Mélisse Brunet at 1:30 PM. Patron tickets are $75 and includes a 2 PM reception, movie screening and Q & A. The “Maestra” event is sponsored by Scranton Art Haus and Serenity Senior Living. Tickets must be purchased in advance and seating is limited. June will also mark the launch of the eclectic 2024-25 season “Building Bridges”. Next season will feature the fully professional NEPA Philharmonic at its best, with tributes to Queen and Tina Turner, two holiday concerts, and three classical concerts featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Bizet, Sibelius, Dvorak, Copland, the thrilling Carmina Burana and more. Concert venues include Scranton Cultural Center, F. M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, Kirby Center for Creative Arts, and Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino. The full season will be announced in June with early bird subscriptions available for purchase in July. On June 26 the Philharmonic League will host Swing Into Summer with Jazz & Jeans at Constantinos in Clarks Summit. Join us as we celebrate our 2024 Philharmonic League honoree, Mary Marrara, recognizing her many years of commitment to the League and to our community. Music for the event will be by Erin Malloy. Tickets are $55 per person. Please RSVP: The Philharmonic League, PO Box 4525, Scranton PA 18505, or nepaphil.org All proceeds benefit the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, with a large portion dedicated to Once Upon an Orchestra Community Outreach and our Senior Citizen Outreach. The 11th Annual Yoga on the Roof, a project of Jaya Yoga Studio Clarks Summit owned by Hillary Steinberg, features live music by the Philharmonic and will take place on Thursday, July 4th at 9 AM on the roof of the Marketplace at Steamtown’s Electric City Parking Garage. This annual one-hour yoga practice is open to all level practitioners and is followed by treats from Maximum Zen. A donation of $15 supports young people’s programs of the NEPA Philharmonic. Preregistration is possible at nepaphil.org and walk ins are welcome. An annual tradition…free Independence Day NEPA Philharmonic concerts will take place on Courthouse Square in Scranton on Wednesday, July 3rd, and at Kirby Park in Wilkes Barre on Thursday, July 4th. A program of familiar patriotic songs will be followed by a giant fireworks display. These concerts are sponsored by The City of Scranton, The City of Wilkes-Barre, and Visit Luzerne County (Department of Tourism). For tickets and additional information about the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, please check out nepaphil.org or call 570.270.4444.
The Swiftwater Hotel Opening Day Announced The Pocono Mountains welcomes its newest luxury destination, The Swiftwater, opening its doors to guests on June 10th, 2024. Nestled amidst the serene beauty of the Pocono Mountains, The Swiftwater offers a unique blend of modern elegance and natural Pocono design, promising an unparalleled experience for both leisure and business travelers alike. The Swiftwater boasts 100 meticulously designed guest rooms and suites. From plunge pool suites to King and Queen rooms, every detail has been carefully curated to provide the ultimate in comfort and relaxation. The hotel features an indoor/outdoor pool, fitness center, concierge lounge, and garden patio. Guests will discover a culinary journey at The Swiftwater’s signature restaurant, The Olivet. The restaurant offers a fine dining experience, sourcing local ingredients and seasonal flavors. The Olivet also features a unique bar experience with cocktail flights, olives from around the world, and mimosa flights for a signature breakfast experience. Breakfast will be open to hotel guests only, with dinner being open to the public with limited availability. The Swiftwater is also an ideal venue for corporate retreats and special events. Featuring the Branch executive meeting room and lightning-fast Wi-Fi, it is the perfect spot to meet with your team. Advanced audio-visual technology and a dedicated event planning team ensure that every event is executed flawlessly. In addition to luxurious accommodations and world-class dining, The Swiftwater is the perfect home away from home for your adventures in the Pocono Mountains. Our dedicated concierge is available to help you plan your itinerary from whitewater rafting to wine tasting and everything in between. Our location in the heart of the Pocono Mountains makes it the perfect retreat for rejuvenation and adventure. The Swiftwater partners with local artisans and producers, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Pocono region.
The Wright Center Receives Grant The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education was awarded a $3 million grant to train internal medicine residents and faculty to better serve patients living with limited English proficiency and/or physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. The five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will also be used to train internal medicine residents and faculty in best practices for patients who all too often experience disproportionate impacts to care access. The Wright Center is one of 18 programs around the country awarded a total of $8 million in grants as part of HRSA’s mission to improve access to health care for underserved and marginalized groups. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 27% of adults in the United States live with some type of disability. The Wright Center for Community Health provides whole-person primary health services to patients in eight counties, including Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. Nearly 16% of residents in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties are people with disabilities, while more than 16% of the population in Pike and Susquehanna counties and nearly 18% in Wayne County are people with disabilities, according to the American Community Survey. The state average, according to the same survey, is just under 14%. “The absence of professional training toward disability consciousness for health care practitioners is one of the most significant barriers that prevent people with disabilities from receiving appropriate and effective health care,” said Dr. Jumee Barooah, the senior vice president of education and designated institutional official for The Wright Center. Additionally, the communities The Wright Center serves are becoming increasingly diverse, with a notable influx of Hispanic, Indian, Nepali, and Bhutanese residents moving to the region within the last decade. More than 60 languages are spoken in the Scranton School District. Patients at The Wright Center speak more than 22 languages, including Spanish, Nepali, Mandarin, Krio, Gujarati, Hindi, Serbian, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. Research has shown that when a patient’s primary spoken language differs from the primary language of the health system, worse health outcomes often result, according to Wright Center officials. Putting methods in place to aid communication with patients who are most comfortable communicating in a language other than English can improve their health and well-being. “We were so pleased to learn we were awarded this grant from HRSA,” Dr. Barooah said. “It is allowing us to increase the number of internal medicine physicians who are trained in these vital best practices through developing and implementing an enhanced curriculum, which in turn will have a positive impact on patient care for all of our community members.”
Geisinger Hosting PA Health Talk on Fertility Prospective parents and community members are invited to join fertility specialists Jennifer Gell, M.D., and Lydia Shively, PA-C, for a virtual PA Health Talk from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18. Infertility is more common than most people think, and risk for infertility increases with age. Participants looking to grow their family can learn about: When to see a fertility specialist Conditions that affect fertility Testing options Fertility medications Fertility treatments and more The live event will be hosted via Microsoft Teams. To register, visit geisinger.org/fertilitytalk. During registration, participants may submit questions for the fertility experts to answer during the talk. For more information on fertility treatments, visit Geisinger’s fertility website.
PennDOT Engineering District 4 Traffic Bulletin The PennDOT Engineering District 4 Traffic Bulletin advertises current and upcoming travel restrictions scheduled on state-owned highways in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. The Traffic Bulletin is updated in real-time during normal business hours. Please note: The schedule is subject to change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. The Traffic Bulletin link will be emailed on Fridays each week but can be viewed at your convenience any time of the day. To view the current Traffic Bulletin, go to the PennDOT Engineering District 4 website homepage, click on Traffic Bulletin, or click here: Traffic Bulletin (pa.gov). Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website. Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District4.
Dime Bank Brings Financial Education to Schools The Dime Bank donated $9,000.00 to the nonprofit Brighter Financial Futures, operating as the Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy. This contribution, facilitated through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, benefits students in the Wayne Highlands, Wallenpaupack, and Delaware Valley school districts, as well as Canaan Christian Academy, through the Personal Finance Education Program. The Personal Finance Program combines three components: a personal finance curriculum covering financial and business topics, a stock market challenge simulation for teaching stock market investment, and a personal budgeting game simulation to educate students on credit, budgeting, net worth, and financial well-being for an improved quality of life. Congratulations to all the participants, with a special recognition to the top three students in each of the following categories: High School: 1st Place – Connor Selfridge/Delaware Valley High School; 2nd Place – Aidan Beheran/Wallenpaupack Area High School; 3rd Place – Micah Musser/Canaan Christian Academy. Middle/Elementary School: 1st Place – Xander Wilcox/Wayne Highlands Middle School; 2nd Place – Sutton Rizzo/Wallenpaupack Middle School; 3rd Place – Diana Sutton/Wallenpaupack Elementary School. Personal Budgeting Challenge: 1st Place – Brooklyn Moody/Wayne Highlands; 2nd Place – Micah Musser/Canaan Christian Academy; 3rd Place – Mark Reinhardt/Delaware Valley. The first-place winners of the Stock Market Challenge, Xander Wilcox of the Wayne Highlands Middle School and Connor Selfridge of the Delaware Valley High School received a Chromebook, a $100.00 gift card, and The Dime Bank gift basket. All other students received gift cards, as did the teachers. President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich commented, “Mastering personal finance skills is crucial for laying a strong foundation for future accomplishments. That’s why we believe this program is highly beneficial for students to help them improve their understanding of financial management.”
The Anthracite Heritage Museum’s 2024 Arts on Fire Festival The Anthracite Heritage Museum is pleased to announce the 13th Arts on Fire festival at the historic Scranton Iron Furnaces. Arts on Fire, the museum’s annual festival will feature an iron pour, scratch blocks, music, food, crafts, and educational tents from our partners. The event is free and will run from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Scranton Iron Furnaces just off downtown Scranton. Visit www.anthracitemuseum.org or @AnthraciteHeritageMuseum on Facebook. Metal artist Brian Glaze will run the cupola furnace and start pouring molten iron in the afternoon. Come by and etch your own design in one of our special scratch blocks. The Scranton crew will cast each design in molten iron, and you will have a special commemorative of the event. We will also host a wide array of food trucks and arts vendors throughout the event. Site administrator, Bode Morin said, “We are thrilled to be able to celebrate the significant industrial history that came out of Northeast Pennsylvania and impacted the world. Our event will showcase the intersection of Art and Industry and will allow visitors an immersive, educational, and thrilling experience for all ages.”
Marywood Professor Named “Trailblazer in Higher Education” Jeffrey Kegolis, Ph.D., Marywood University’s vice president for the student experience, was recently named to City & State PA’s listing of 2024 Higher Education Trailblazers. City & State PA is a premier multimedia news organization that dedicates its coverage to Pennsylvania’s state and local government, including all things politics and public policy, with in-depth, non-partisan news coverage that serves Pennsylvania’s leaders every day as a trusted guide to the issues impacting the Keystone State. Since arriving at Marywood University last year, Dr. Kegolis, who is passionate about supporting college students, has championed a new, counselor-staffed mental health support hotline and rolled out The Hub, a space for academic, career, and veterans’ services at the campus learning commons. Dr. Kegolis’ career in higher education spans more than two decades and features extensive experience in multiple areas of student services, including leadership programs, campus engagement/activities, residence life, fraternity & sorority life, and student conduct, among others. Dr. Kegolis holds a Ph.D. degree in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University. He also is a graduate of Marywood University, where he earned a Master of Science degree in counselor education with secondary school certification. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a neuroscience concentration from King’s College.
