CLARKS SUMMIT — Reilley Taft summed up the conditions and energy at the 21st annual Festival of Ice on Saturday.

“It’s very cold, but nice, here,” Taft said while his teeth chattered in the freezing temperatures. “Everything’s nice. I’m enjoying it.”

Anne Armezzani, a member of the board of directors at the Abington Business & Professional Association (ABPA), and the event director at The Gathering Place, concurred with Taft’s assessment. As one of the festival’s most prominent organizers, Armezzani saw the cold as a huge win — at least for the ice.

“The weather is perfect for an ice festival,” Armezzani said. “It’s cold for people, but it’s perfect for ice.”

The festival kicked off Friday and will continue on Sunday.

Armezzani said the turnout Friday night was excellent, largely thanks to the parade and bands that served as entertainment. Like others in Clarks Summit this weekend and in years past, Armezzani wore a costume consistent with the Festival of Ice’s theme. This year, the theme was “Under the Sea.”

“I was a sea witch [on Friday] night, but I couldn’t get around with all those tentacles,” Armezzani explained. On Saturday, she settled for a more restrained Spongebob Squarepants-themed outfit.

Also in costume was Clarks Summit Borough Council President Gerrie Carey, who walked the streets dressed as a lobster. As an elected official, she sees the festival as a good endorsement of the borough for those who come from outside the area.

“This is our biggest fundraiser for all our merchants. We have people coming from all over — out-of-state and everything — for our ice festival,” Carey said. “Every year, it’s been a big success.”

Carey, who has been at all 21 Festivals of Ice, added that the local community does a lot to make the weekend special. Even the council members get in on the festivities. They sell chicken noodle soup at the festival, and the proceeds from the sale go towards the borough’s Christmas lights each year.

“The whole Abington area is all supporting [the Festival of Ice],” Carey said.

Locals like Gabby DiMatteo are living proof of Carey’s perspective. DiMatteo, 16, said she has been coming to the festival for as long as she can remember. As she’s gotten older, she’s noticed a few positive changes to the festival’s social opportunities. In addition to the activities that have been added to the festival in recent times, DiMatteo has also recognized the demographic changes that occur over the course of the weekend, depending on the events that are happening and at which time.

“On the first night, when they start with the parade, there’s a lot of my friends…,” DiMatteo explained. “But more toward the daytime, it’s all families, mainly.”

Still, the Festival of Ice is largely a family affair for DiMatteo. She said she is prone to seeing members of her big family walking around the festival. No matter who she goes with, the Festival of Ice remains an important part of her — and of the community’s social calendar.

“It’s a yearly thing that our family goes to,” DiMatteo said. “Whether it’s friends or family, it’s always a good time.”

The Dietrich Theater in downtown Tunkhannock will present one of William Shakespeare’s most famous and darkest tragedies, “Macbeth.” This production, recorded at the Donmar Warehouse in London, will have three showtimes: 7 p.m. Wedneday, Feb. 5, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb 9.

This story about ambition, power and betrayal, set in medieval Scotland, follows Macbeth, a Scottish general, who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become king.

Driven by ambition and spurred by his wife, Lady Macbeth, he murders King Duncan to take the throne. As Macbeth’s reign becomes increasingly tyrannical, he is consumed by guilt and paranoia, leading to more bloodshed and his eventual downfall. It’s a dark and gripping tale of how unchecked ambition can lead to one’s destruction.

This production features a stellar cast led by David Tennant (“Doctor Who”, “Broadchurch”) and Cush Jumbo (“The Good Wife,” “Criminal Record”). The show is directed by Max Webster, known for his acclaimed works like “Life of Pi” and “Henry V.”

This rendition of Macbeth promises to combine unsettling intimacy and brutal action at breakneck speed in a tragic tale of love, murder and nature’s power of renewal.

General admission is $14, seniors/members tickets are $12, and student/child are $10. Tickets are available for purchase at dietrichtheater.com, at the Dietrich’s ticket booth or by calling 570-836-1022, ext. 3.

CLARKS SUMMIT – The Clarks Summit Festival of Ice is back at a slightly different time of year. Despite this tweak to the schedule, the event will surely make for an ideal family-friendly weekend.

Anne Armezzani, a member of the board of directors at the Abington Business & Professional Association (ABPA), and the event director at The Gathering Place, is one of about ten organizers that guide the Festival of Ice through its nearly year-long planning process. The most exciting element of this year’s festival, according to Armezzani, is the theme: “Under the Sea.”

It’s the first time the festival has chosen “Under the Sea” as its predominant aesthetic, but it lends itself well to the event’s atmosphere.

“There’s a lot of ideas that go around ‘Under the Sea,’” Armezzani said, citing cultural powerhouses like the film “Finding Nemo” and the television show “Spongebob Squarepants.” Both of those properties will likely make appearances at this year’s festival, as will an ice sculpture of Poseiden’s Throne, the perfect site for family selfies. The throne will be located near Clarks Summit’s distinctive blue clock tower.

Traditionally held in February, the 2025 iteration of the Festival of Ice has made its home in January. With that change in time comes an increase in participation from certain sects of the community. The community element is, after all, one of the main reasons for the Festival of Ice’s success after more than two decades.

“It’s just the continuation of a long tradition of 21 years,” said Armezzani.

Organizers begin working on the next year’s festival just a few months after the current year’s one ends. Throughout the year, those in charge put their trust in the people and businesses of Lackawanna and Wyoming counties, especially those within the Abingtons.

“We rely on all the local retailers to jump in and offer special products, special sales, and get all excited about having the carvings in front of them,” said Armezzani.

Some of this year’s vendors include Deep Roots Cidery, B&G Winery, Alderson Valley Maple Company, Steve Kaufman’s Light Up Company, Clarks Green United Methodist Church, Electric City Sweets, Countryside Conservancy, Noreen Thomas State Farm Insurance, Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, and the Abington Blaze baseball team.

At times, finding vendors can be a bit difficult considering the low temperatures associated with this time of year. However, the enthusiasm always seems to come around.

Volunteers from local nonprofit organizations step up to help make the festival work. That includes serving guests at The Gathering Place, which, this year, will be the site of Poseidon’s Place Food Court. Most of the food served will connect back to the “Under the Sea” theme. Top menu items include torpedo dogs, a hot dog with or without wiener sauce; Ursula’s Brew, a hot mulled cider; and fruit pouches for the little fish.

In discussing the community’s excitement for the 2024 Festival of Ice, Armezzani referenced the annual festival parade, one of its most important traditions. The parade’s maestro will be Tara Atkins.

“People are always, always looking forward to it,” Armezzani said of the festival at large. “Any student that wants to can dress up in a costume and march in the parade.”

Importantly, the Festival of Ice organizers do their best to keep young people engaged with the Festival of Ice. They work with local schools — and keep food and activity prices low — to encourage families to make the most of their time at the festival.

In some cases, they spend a ton of time taking everything in.

“We see so many families… They show up early on Saturday morning, and they’re there until early Sunday morning,” Armezzani said. “They have a great time.”

This year’s Festival of Ice will take place in Clarks Summit from Friday, Jan. 24, to Saturday, Jan. 26. The event will feature a food court, entertainment, vendors, ice carving and a plethora of other points of interest.

ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY

Hazleton student contributes research to Voter Education Exhibition

READING — Altagracia Garcia, Hazleton, contributed a research poster for the Media and Politics Class Voter Education Exhibition displayed in the Miller Gallery at Alvernia University.

Dr. Jodi Radosh, professor of communication and digital media, and Dr. Victoria Williams, professor of political science, who co-teach the class, facilitated and fact-checked this project, which sought to educate the campus community about the importance of voting and media literacy during the election season.

The interactive exhibition highlighted various facets of political media and the importance of informed voting, aiming to equip students with the tools to navigate today’s complex media landscape. The display featured in-depth posters created by each student to highlight the presidential candidates’ takes on pressing issues. It also had different marketing materials and posters from each candidate, custom Alvernia “vote” pins and a selfie station with different props that encouraged voting.

CENTRAL PENN COLLEGE

Mountain Top resident earns dean’s list honor

SUMMERDALE — Patricia Searfoss, Mountain Top, was named to the Central Penn College dean’s list for the summer 2024 term. Searfoss is majoring in business administration.

Of the students who took classes, 39% made the dean’s list. To qualify, an undergraduate student must carry six or more credits and earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or better for the term.

COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Local student gains experience during MLB Little League Classic

Abbey Hengst, Drums, was one of 20 Commonwealth University students who attended the MLB Little League Classic in Williamsport to volunteer during game-day operations.

During this experience, the volunteers were able to participate at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, which opened in 1926 and was renovated in 2017 to fit the scale of a Major League Baseball field. This year marks the eighth year of the MLB Little League Classic.

Students named to PSAC Scholar Athlete List

Nearly 600 Commonwealth University student-athletes were named to the 2023-24 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athlete award list.

Local students include:

• Nate Baranski, Larksville — Bloomsburg campus.

• Jordan Bond, Dallas — Bloomsburg campus.

• Jeremy Cawley, Duryea — Bloomsburg campus.

• Cole Coolbaugh, Wyoming — Bloomsburg campus.

• Kaelyn Crawford, Hunlock Creek — Mansfield campus.

• Gianna Gombeda, Hazle Township — Bloomsburg campus.

• Abbey Hengst, Drums — Bloomsburg campus.

• Christopher Hine, Plains Township — Lock Haven campus.

• Kennedie Huber, Mountain Top — Bloomsburg campus.

• Thomas Iskra, Wilkes-Barre — Bloomsburg campus.

• Sydney Lloyd, Nescopeck — Bloomsburg campus.

• Livia Moore, — Luzerne — Bloomsburg campus.

• Mia Nemeth, Drums — Bloomsburg campus.

• Jacquline Nevel Nescopeck — Bloomsburg campus.

• Madeline Newman, Dallas — Bloomsburg campus.

• Ryan Petrosky, Mountain Top — Bloomsburg campus.

• Chase Purdy, Sweet Valley — Bloomsburg campus.

• Ellie Rowe, Nescopeck — Bloomsburg campus.

• Espefani Santos-Soto, Hazelton — Lock Haven campus.

• Emily Smith, Dallas — Mansfield campus.

• Allie Stover, Mountain Top — Lock Haven campus.

• Carly Wywoda, Dupont — Mansfield campus.

Student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 upon completion of the academic year to be eligible for the PSAC Scholar-Athlete Award.

Overall, the PSAC honored 4,036 student-athletes from the league’s 18 institutions after the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic year as PSAC Scholar-Athletes.

The 2023-24 PSAC Scholar-Athlete total of 4,036 (52% of the entire PSAC student-athlete population) marks the ninth straight year the PSAC has awarded at least 40% of its student-athlete population with “Scholar-Athlete” status. The total number of PSAC Scholar-Athletes increased from 2022-23’s total by 199.

EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY

ESU’s MANA Chapter Joins 50th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, D.C.

EAST STROUDSBURG — Ten students from ESU’s chapter of MANA, A National Latina Organization, joined MANA’s 50th anniversary celebration from Oct. 3-5 in Washington, D.C., where they honored their heritage, strengthened their confidence and were further motivated to drive positive change in their communities.

The following local students were among the ten East Stroudsburg University students who attended MANA’s 50th anniversary celebration:

• Richermy Batista, Hazleton.

• Arianna Cruz, Wilkes-Barre.

• Maria Heredia Rojas, Hazleton.

Established as a student organization in 2023, the university’s MANA chapter advances the organization’s mission of empowering Latinas through leadership, education and advocacy.

Highlights of the three-day experience included a tour of the White House and a private educational session at the U.S. Department of Education, where they learned about issues affecting Hispanic communities nationwide. The anniversary celebration concluded with a festival on the National Mall.

Austin Blank helps coordinate philanthropic pickleball tournament

EAST STROUDSBURG — ESU students taking the Sport Management Organization and Administration class, including Austin Blank, Glen Lyon, hosted a philanthropic pickleball tournament on Oct. 17, 2024, on campus at the Mattioli Recreation Center.

The event featured 32 teams and collected over 250 donated items to benefit the Warrior Food Pantry. Designed as a fun and competitive initiative, the tournament provided an opportunity for ESU students and staff to come together while raising awareness and support for local community needs. The top three teams were awarded prizes, with the champions receiving custom championship rings.

ELMIRA COLLEGE

Erfman Inducted Into Phi Eta Sigma

ELMIRA, N.Y. — Kaylee Erfman, Pittston, was one of 22 students recently inducted in the Elmira College chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, the International Honor Society rewarding first-collegiate-year scholarship.

Phi Eta Sigma, the oldest and largest first-year honor society, was founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois. The goal of the honor society is to encourage and reward academic excellence among full-time, first-year students in institutions of higher learning. The Society has established chapters in over 350 institutions of higher learning in the United States. Elmira College is the 289th chapter, established in 1990.

PALMER COLLEGE OF CHIROPRACTIC

Dallas resident awarded degree

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Olivia Evans, Dallas, graduated with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Florida Campus in Port Orange, Florida, on Sept. 27, 2024.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GLOBAL CAMPUS

Plymouth student earns degree

ADELPHI, Md. — Ann Keppel, Plymouth, earned a Master of Science in environmental management from University of Maryland Global Campus in summer 2024.

Keppel was one of more than 3,200 students worldwide who earned degrees from UMGC in the summer 2024 term.

THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON

Swoyersville student participates in Competitive ROTC Program

SCRANTON — Caleb A. Grossman, Swoyersville was among the 16 University of Scranton ROTC cadets who traveled throughout the United States and internationally as participants in military leadership programs offered during the summer months.

Scranton cadet Grossman, an international studies major, participated in Project Go and traveled to Kyrgyzstan to study Russian.

Project GO is a nationwide, highly selective program open to all qualified ROTC students that offers fully-funded opportunities in critical language education, overseas study and cross-cultural experience. Through Project GO, future military officers develop linguistic and cross-cultural communication skills required for effective leadership for all services in the 21st century operational environment.

Mountain Top student named Presidential Scholar

SCRANTON — Lainey A. Conway, Mountain Top, is among the eleven students from its class of 2028 awarded four-year, full-tuition Presidential Scholarships.

Presidential Scholarships are awarded to incoming first-year students with outstanding records in high school and notable community involvement. The scholarship covers four years of full tuition provided that the student maintains at least a 3.25 grade point average.

Conway graduated as valedictorian from Holy Redeemer High School. A member of the National Honor Society, she received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award and the American Legion Auxiliary Youth Hero Award. She was student director of the Luzerne County Youth Advisory Committee. She was named a scholastic superstar by the Citizens’ Voice and received the “Key to the City” from the City of Wilkes-Barre for her lifesaving efforts involving a bus and its driver. She was also an active member of the Geisinger Youth Volunteer Program. A member of the University’s Magis Honors Program in STEM, Conway will major in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology. She is the daughter of Joseph and Stacy Conway.

Conway is also among the 11 outstanding members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2028 who entered its Magis Honors Program in STEM. One of Scranton’s five programs of excellence, the Magis Honors Program combines the development of STEM knowledge and research techniques with programing to further the students’ understanding of the impact science has on society.

Pittston student presents research project at mathematics conferences

SCRANTON — Ashlyn Urbanski, Pittston, was among the University of Scranton undergraduate students majoring in mathematics and computer science, who, along with faculty from the Mathematics Department, presented research at multi-state regional conferences.

The research was conducted with faculty advisor Joseph Klobusicky, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics, during the summers of 2023 and 2024 and was supported by grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS).

Urbanski, a neuroscience and mathematical sciences double major presented “Turning function for regular polygons.” She is also a recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship.

WASHINGTON — A sharply divided Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s final bid to put his New York hush-money case on hold, clearing the way for him to be sentenced for felony crimes days before he returns to the presidency.

The court’s 5-4 order allows Judge Juan M. Merchan to impose a sentence Friday on Trump, who was convicted in what prosecutors called an attempt to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels. Trump has denied any liaison with Daniels or any wrongdoing.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined with the court’s three liberals in rejecting his emergency motion.

The majority found his sentencing wouldn’t be an insurmountable burden during the presidential transition since Merchan has indicated he won’t give Trump jail time, fines or probation.

Trump’s attorneys had asked the sentencing be delayed as he appeals the verdict, but the majority of justices found his arguments can be handled as part of the regular appeals process.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh would have delayed the sentencing, the order states.

Trump said he respects the high court’s order, and will pursue an appeal that could end up before the high court again. “I respect the court’s opinion — I think it was actually a very good opinion for us because you saw what they said, but they invited the appeal and the appeal is on the bigger issue. So, we’ll see how it works out,” he said at a dinner with Republican governors at his private club in Florida.

The defeat comes after the conservative-majority court has handed Trump major victories over the past year, ensuring that states could not kick him off the ballot because of the 2021 attack on the Capitol and giving him immunity from prosecution over some acts he took as president in a ruling that delayed an election-interference case against him.

The justices could also be faced with weighing other parts of the sweeping conservative changes he’s promised after he takes office.

In the push to delay the New York sentencing, Trump’s attorneys argued he is immune from criminal proceedings as president-elect and said some evidence used in the Manhattan trial violated last summer’s immunity decision.

At the least, they have said, the sentencing should be delayed while their appeals play out to avoid distracting Trump during the White House transition.

Prosecutors pushed back, saying there’s no reason for the court to take the “extraordinary step” of intervening in a state case now. Trump’s attorneys didn’t show that an hourlong virtual hearing would be a serious disruption, and a pause would likely mean pushing the case past the Jan. 20 inauguration, creating a delay that could last at least through his presidency.

“We brought a case. A jury of ordinary New Yorkers returned 34 guilty verdicts,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at an unrelated news conference Thursday afternoon. “Our function right now primarily is to continue to give voice to that verdict and respect, as a principle — bedrock principle of the administration of justice — that the jury’s voice must not be rubbed out.”

Trump’s attorneys went to the justices after New York courts refused to postpone sentencing, including the state’s highest court on Thursday.

Judges in New York have found that the convictions on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to personal matters rather than Trump’s official acts as president. Daniels says she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. He denies it.

Trump’s attorneys called the case politically motivated, and they said sentencing him now would be a “grave injustice” that threatens to disrupt the presidential transition as the Republican prepares to return to the White House.

Trump is represented by D. John Sauer, his pick to be the solicitor general, who represents the government before the high court.

Sauer also argued for Trump in the separate criminal case charging him with trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which resulted in the Supreme Court’s immunity opinion.

Defense attorneys cited that opinion in arguing some of the evidence used against him in the hush money trial should have been shielded by presidential immunity. That includes testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made while he was in office.

The decision comes a day after Justice Alito confirmed that he took a phone call from Trump the day before the president-elect’s lawyers filed their emergency motion before the high court.

The justice said the call was about a clerk, not any upcoming or current cases, but the unusual communication prompted calls for Alito to recuse himself, including from the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Justices make their own decisions about whether to recuse and Alito still weighed in on the case.

The O’Malley family and the Ancient Order of Hibernians Paul ‘Hook’ O’Malley Division Four present the 32nd annual Hook O’Malley Firecracker Race Against Cancer check. The O’Malley family raised $4,170 for the American Cancer Society. Paul ‘Hook’ O’Malley was a well known professional and amateur boxing trainer as well as a father figure. The race is dedicated to his memory. He died from cancer 33 years ago. From left: Matt O’Malley, Joseph Holland, Patrick O’Malley, Michael Robinson, American Cancer Society representative Michelle Newberry, Mark McDade, Rob Fletcher, Kevin Donovan, Jim Moran and Dan Donovan.

Lackawanna Trail broke a 26-game Lackawanna League boys basketball losing streak in its Division 3 opener, then created a winning streak in its next outing.

The host Lions defeated Blue Ridge, the champion when most of the same teams were together in Division 4 a year ago, 61-40.

The victory made Lackawanna Trail one of four Division 3 teams to start 2-0 in league play, matching Elk Lake, Montrose and Mountain View. It improved the Lions to 5-5 overall going into their scheduled Jan. 6 game, third-best out of seven teams in the District 2 Class 2A seeding race.

Coach Ben Domiano says his players are improving every day. The Lions are backing up that assertion with their performance.

Lackawanna Trail has won three of its last four and five of its last seven since dropping the first three games of the season by a total of 59 points. The last three wins by the Lions have been by their biggest margins of the season, 19, 20, then 21 points.

The Lions jumped out to a 20-4 lead after one quarter against Blue Ridge.

Jake Antolick, a returning all-star who is again the team’s leading scorer, hit two 3-pointers in the quarter on the way to 17 points. Jimmy Phillips added 12 points in the win.

Lackawanna Trail won its league opener 54-35 over Carbondale Dec. 21.

Antolick poured in 26 points against the Chargers. He had eight points and Phillips hit two 3-pointers during a 26-point second quarter that turned a tie into a 33-14 halftime lead.

Phillips finished with 10 points.

In between the two league games, the Lions placed third in the Taylor Lions Tournament Dec. 27 and 29 at Riverside. They lost 62-51 to North Pocono, a Lackawanna Division 1 team, then beat division rival Forest City 61-41.

The Lions also finished third while hosting the Cal King Tournament earlier in the month. They lost to Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 co-leader Lake-Lehman 53-42 and defeated Western Wayne 56-48.

Antolick had 17 points against Lake-Lehman, Phillips scored 19 against Western Wayne and Lorenzo Domiano represented the Lions on the all-tournament team.

Lackawanna Trail’s other win was 49-42 in a non-league game at Tunkhannock Dec. 9.

The Abington Heights wrestling team was on an upswing entering the New Year.

The Comets finished December with a 4-3 record to rank fourth out of 12 teams trying to qualify for the District 2 Class 3A Dual Meet Tournament. They won their last dual of the month, defeating host Scranton 43-19 Dec. 18 in the Lackawanna League Division 1 opener.

Abington Heights then finished the month with the best of its three individual tournament performances, placing third out of 26 in the team standings Dec. 27-28 in the Jim Thorpe Christmas Tournament.

Sophomore Mason Whitney completed the 2024 portion of the season with a 19-0 record.

Brian Heard, the University of Pennsylvania commit who earned a fifth-place state Class 3A medal last season, is 19-1 with a team-high six technical falls. He is tied with Keith Yusinski for second in pins with 11, two behind leader Frank Scalpi.

Lackawanna League Tournament

Whitney and Heard won championships for Abington Heights in the Lackawanna League Wrestling Tournament Dec. 21 at Wallenpaupack, repeating titles with victories over wrestlers from Honesdale.

Whitney claimed the 133-pound title by technical fall over Cole Lamberton, 16-1 in 3:31.

Heard shut out Duke Martin for an 11-0 major decision at 189.

The title was the fourth for Heard, who is 143-22 in his career. He is a three-time District 2 champion.

Heard needed less than two minutes of wrestling to reach the final. He pinned West Scranton’s Nicholas Fuchylo in 37 seconds and North Pocono’s Louis Antidormi in 1:08.

Whitney, who was seventh in the state last season, produced a similar effort. He pinned Elk Lake’s Derek Learn in 1:07 and North Pocono’s Merrick Young in 51 seconds.

Lamberton and Martin were among the six finalists, half of which won individual titles, while leading Honesdale to the team championship 212½-197½ over Wallenpaupack.

Abington Heights finished fifth with 146 points.

The Comets had four wrestlers reach the consolation finals.

Jake Schiavone finished third at 121 pounds with a 7-0 decision over Blue Ridge’s Brice Woodruff.

J.J. Beck (127), Luke Evans (152) and Scalpi (215) took fourth.

Yusinki was fifth for the Comets at 172 and Dickson placed sixth at 145.

Other tournaments

Whitney also won tournament titles in the team’s season opener, the Darren Klingerman Invitational at Central Columbia and in the Jim Thorpe Christmas Tournament.

Heard made the finals of both, taking the title at Jim Thorpe.

The Comets finished with 200 points at Jim Thorpe, behind only Wallenpaupack’s 277 and Hughesville’s 220½.

Whitney started with three pins, the first two in 18 and 15 seconds, then won back-to-back technical falls by 16-0 scores in just 4:31 total wrestling time. He won the 127-pound title by putting away Tamaqua’s Aiden Schlier as the second period ended.

Heard pinned his first three 172-pound opponents in 50 seconds or less, then sandwiched two technical falls around another pin. His longest bout was 3:47 and he needed just 2:13 to post the technical fall of Wallenpaupack’s Gabriel Caulfield in the final.

Jake Schiavone also reached the final, finishing third when he lost a 7-3 decision to Wallenpaupack’s Giovanni Lomonaco at 121.

Luke Evans placed third at 145 when he posted a 10-2 major decision over Hughesville’s Kile Hartman in the consolation final.

J.J. Beck (127), Yusinski (160) and Scalpi (215) all took fifth while Chace Berry (139) was sixth.

Whitney won a Klingerman title at 133 pounds with a 9-3 decision over Bloomsburg’s Anthony Barra. He reached the final with three straight victories by technical fall.

Heard suffered his only loss of the season while taking second at 189 with a championship round loss, by pin, with Tyler Ulrich from Warrior Run in 3:19.

Evans was third at 152 with a 7-1 decision of Carlisle’s Kenny Tran in the consolation final.

Yusinski was sixth at 172 while Beck and Scalpi were eighth at 133 and 215.

The Comets placed sixth out of 24 teams with 137 points. Honesdale scored 174½ to beat out Crestwood by 11 for the title.

The Comets also competed in the Blue Raider Duals at Tamaqua, going 3-3.

Abington Heights won just two of seven non-league boys basketball games to begin the season, but the defending champions remained strong against Lackawanna League opponents, running their regular-season division winning streak to 17 games Jan. 2.

Jordan Shaffer scored 18 points and led a second-quarter, 3-point barrage that lifted the Comets over visiting Delaware Valley 58-48.

Shaffer had three of the team’s seven 3-pointers during a 25-9 second quarter that created a 34-19 halftime lead.

Robby Lucas, Chris Begley, Andrew Kettel and Ire Osuntokun had the other 3-pointers in the quarter.

Lucas finished with 13 points.

The Comets won big in each of their other victories, including 61-29 over visiting Wallenpaupack in the Dec. 18 league opener.

Lucas finished with 24 points to lead the Comets, who limited the Buckhorns to one field goal in the first quarter.

Shaffer added 17 points and Kettel had 12.

The other wins came 80-54 over Wyoming Valley West Dec. 4 and 63-37 over Emmaus Dec. 21 in home, non-league games.

Abington Heights scored 25 points each in the second and third quarters against Wyoming Valley West.

Shaffer scored 12 of his 25 points in the second quarter.

Lucas added 19 points while Kettel and Carter Plantz had 12 each.

Lucas hit four 3-pointers while scoring 20 points and Shaffer added 18 against Emmaus.

The Comets dropped two holiday week tournament games, falling to Uniontown 63-54 and Mentor (Ohio) 72-64 in the Central Valley Roundball Holiday Classic.

The 72 points for Mentor was the team’s lowest output of the season.

Shaffer had 24 and 23 points in the tournament games while Lucas had 16 and 19.

The Comets dropped two other road games during December, losing 71-66 to Shamokin and 66-45 to Executive Education Academy Charter in consecutive, non-league games.

Lucas went 9-for-12 from the line while scoring 26 points against Shamokin.

Abington Heights had the start of its Lackawanna League Division 1 girls basketball season delayed until after the New Year because of weather.

Madeleine Walsh scored 19 points Jan. 2 when the Lady Comets defeated visiting Wallenpaupack 45-31 in the league opener.

The win was the third straight overall, improving Abington Heights to 5-4 and moving the team above .500 for the first time this season.

Walsh had eight points in the first quarter to help Abington Heights to a 13-10 lead.

Abby Schneider and Maggie Coleman had 3-pointers in the second quarter, which ended with the Lady Comets on top 26-18.

Walsh had seven more points in the third quarter as Abington Heights expanded the lead to 36-25.

Emma Coleman had five points in the first quarter and seven in the second half to finish with 12.

Lily Scoblick and Sarah Cantner each grabbed seven rebounds.

Abington Heights is 5-2 since losing its first two games. It topped Wilkes-Barre 46-40 in non-league play Dec. 10.

Emma Coleman scored 14 points in the win while Maggie Coleman had 13 and Walsh 12.

Maggie Coleman hit two 3-pointers and scored nine points in the second quarter when Abington Heights went from trailing 12-3 to leading 24-21.

The Abington Business and Professional Association presented checks for $370 to each of the four local fire companies in memory of Dawn Dawn Soboleski, the late owner of Sunrise Cafe. The organization raised the funds via a dinner in tribute to Dawn Soboleski. From left, are: Sean Connolly, Chinchilla Hose Company; Gail Rees, NBT Bank; Dale Richmond, Dalton Fire Company; Tim Richmond, Dalton Fire Company; Brent Tripp, Dalton Fire Company; Stacey Soboleski, Sunrise Cafe; Jeff LaCoe, Newton Ransom Volunteer Fire Company; Diane Calabro, ABPA; Ed Wesolowski, Clarks Summit Fire Company; and Noreen Thomas, ABPA.

Norah Carey has found success in bocce and won a gold medal at the Special Olympics.

Norah, who has Down Syndrome, graduated from Abington Heights High School in 2022.

She participated in both Unified Bocce and Unified Track at the school. In track, she ran the 100m, 400m relay, and javelin.

“I like playing sports, so I tried it. I am good at bocce and like the competition. I enjoyed learning bocce, having fun with friends and making a lot of new friends from Unified,” she said.

Her parents are Krista and Kelly Carey. Her sister is Brynn Carey.

She is the granddaughter of Jack and Judy Evans and the late Jim and Paulette Carey.

Her mom was the head coach of the Unified Abington Heights bocce team, and her dad was the assistant coach.

“I wanted to coach Unified at Abington Heights because the previous coach went on maternity leave and did not know if Unified would continue. My other daughter, Brynn, was interested in joining the team as a partner and it was important to me for both my daughters to be teammates together in high school. Kelly and I also knew most of the athletes and parents that joined Unified since they were babies and toddlers. The team really was like a family,” said Krista Carey.

The Abington Heights Unified Bocce team competes in the Northeast Region of the Special Olympics, The team competes in 8 to 10 matches per season against Carbondale, Lakeland, Dallas, Mountain View, Wallenpaupack and Lackawanna Trail School Districts.

“I think it is very important to offer unified sports to our student body and to express inclusion wherever we can across extracurriculars,” said Enrico Mastroianni, athletic director, Abington Heights School District. “In sports, in particular, our students learn valuable life lessons such as teamwork, leadership and resilience. We are proud to partner with the Special Olympics to provide those experiences for all students within the Abington Heights community. We couldn’t be more proud of Norah of all she has accomplished while she was here in our programs.”

Norah graduated from the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County in the Service Occupations program. This program taught her various vocational skills to be used in service industries.

She was the first student in the NEIU’s Strive program at Marywood University. She will graduate from the program in February 2025. She learns work skills and social and life skills. She works in the café at Marywood. She also does music, art and yoga and is learning food services and would like to work in a bakery.

It was Norah’s first year doing community Special Olympics bocce. She did a bocce bash with Gia Grasso from Scranton at Bloomsburg University and won second place. She won the regional tournament at DeSales University with Jannette Depamphilis from Scranton. At Desales, she qualified for states that were held at Villanova. Her partner at the state competition was Matt Jones.

“My goal when signing up for bocce was to have fun and meet new people,” she said. “I do like to win if I can. I was confident going in and proud of how I played. I had tears of joy when we won.”

“It ended up being a good partnership, and Matt and Norah really came together as a team. They had a slow start with qualifying matches as the two learned each other’s strengths. They ended up in the losing bracket, but they really gelled with each other and played great together. Saturday’s matches were some of the best rolling Norah has ever done. In the final match, she and Matt complimented each other, Norah and Matt needed to work together to roll their best performance and they did,” said Kelly Carey.

This was Roseann Polishan’s first season as a Special Olympics coach. She has been a Class A volunteer for many years. She coaches bocce in the fall and volunteers for swimming in the spring.

“Norah was the first gold medal bocce player I have coached. Many of the athletes have been participating for years in bocce and they have a blast playing and competing. I am thrilled with Norah’s success at bocce. This was her first year with the Northeast Region Special Olympics after competing with Unified Champion schools. She is a very determined young woman. She was dedicated to practicing. Her calm attitude and keen concentration were remarkable and led to her success. If you are interested and want to learn something new, go for it. Don’t give up — keep trying and working hard at it. Take small steps and break difficult down. Most of all, have fun,” she said.

“We’ve tried to treat Norah just like her sister as much as possible. You set goals high and teach your child the right path. When she met a goal, we keep pushing. You have to focus on strengths and not all the other issues as much as possible. Norah always surprises us by doing things we didn’t know she could do. create the right mindset for Norah and her teammates.to flourish. Unified is like any other varsity sport in that we are here to learn, be good humans, improve our skills and hopefully win,” said Kelly and Krista Carey.

When Norah is not playing bocce, she plays Buddy Up Tennis at Birchwood Racquet Club with her friends. She likes to go to movies with her friends and making others laugh, She snapchats, text and Facetime with her friends. She enjoys going on hikes with the family dog, Charlie, and likes singing and dancing and being with her sister.

“Norah is funny, sociable, loves to make other’s laugh and is kind to friends and family. She has always been expected to do things within the family just like her sister. We try to treat her as typical as possible which has shaped who she is. She has learned if you get knocked by something, you get back up and keep trying. We’re always blown away by her ability to move on when things don’t go her wat and try again, “said Kelly and Krista Carey.

The parents would like to thank Sue Ann Jacobs from Milford who was the head delegate at Vilanova, Tom Robison Director of Special Olympics PA Northeast Region who helped the parents become certified to coach for Regionals and Fall fast and Roseann Polishan.

The Scranton Shakespeare Festival, “Scranton Shakes,” is inviting college-age alumni who performed in the youth ensemble to perform in its January performance “Spring Awakening.”

“Spring Awakening” is based on the 1891 play by Frank Wedekind. The musical version was adapted by Steven Sater with a hauntingly beautiful rock score by Duncan Sheik. The musical won a Grammy and multiple Tony awards, including Best Musical. The story follows a group of anarchist adolescent teenagers in 19th-century Germany as they navigate growing up in a repressive society. They learn more about their sexuality, relationships and more. The play and musical have both been deemed controversial for its portrayal of suicide, abortion, homosexuality, domestic abuse and sex, however it has been proved to be a story that reverberates through communities because of its powerful messaging,” said Lizzie Newcomb Gumula, director of education and associate producer Scranton Shakespeare Festival.

All the performers for this show are college-age students or early career artists from all over NEPA. The actors live across the tri-state area and attend Marywood University, Wilkes University, Seton Hill College, Syracuse and Temple. The performers went to high schools at Abington Heights, Mid Valley, Holy Cross, Scranton Prep and others.

There are 14 cast members including two local professional actors: Kelly Jean Graham as Adult Woman and Joe McGurl as Adult Man. The rest of the cast features Nina Collarini as Wendla and Ethan Symuleski as Melchior. The other cast members are Ryan Repecki as Hanschen, Max Snyder as Georg, DeAndre Bridges as Otto, Daniel Almonte as Ernst, Mary McHugh as Thea, Madelyn Casey as Martha, Sarah Pugliese as Ilse, and Gianna Evans as Ensemble.

Teddy Novak has been involved with Scranton Shakes since 2021. He was in the first youth ensemble production which was “Peter and the Starcatcher.” He has been acquainted with Lizzie Gumula since 2017 when she directed shows at Our Lady of Peace School where Novack was a student. Gumula has been impactful in his journey as a young performer.

In the “Spring Awakening,” he is playing Moritz Stiefel. He is the best friend of Melchior who is played by Ethan Symuleski.

“Playing Moritz has raised certain challenges I haven’t yet come across. His story is heavy and emotionally taxing. My goal is to utilize Mortiz as a learning opportunity for exploring an emotionally intense role while also respecting and paying heed to the serious topic of suicide, as it is, unfortunately, a reality of the world we live in.” he said.

Stephen Murphy is the musical director for the show. He describes the music for “Spring Awakening” as pop/rock score that features hard-hitting rock anthems and heart-wrenching ballads. There is a full rock band with added strings.

“I first got involved in Scranton Shakes in 2014, acting in ‘The Pirates of Penzance.’ I have been involved in some way every year since, whether it is acting, music director, playing piano or all of the above. What I enjoy about Shakes is the fact that we can keep the vibrant theatre community of our local actors alive while at the same time introducing more regional talent from Philadelphia to New York City to the area and making connections. I am currently living in New York and constantly working with people I met at Shakes,” he said.

Hannah Sottile has been with the Scranton Shakespeare Festival for the past three years. She was a member of the Youth Ensemble for two years and then was a junior teaching artist this past summer.

“I will be playing Anna. Anna is part of what our director refers to as the “Girl Gang” of the show. She is young, but she is very loyal and cares deeply for her friends and is there for them through thick and thin. I love how supportive and welcoming the environment of Scranton Shakes is. Every time I step into the space, I learn something new about myself and the world around me. Their mission of supporting accessible theatre is so important and inspiring to see. I have made some of my best friends through Scranton Shakes and incredible memories that I will cherish forever.”

“My favorite aspect of performing with the Scranton Shakes crew is how effective we are as a team. This show, in particular, is filled with people I’ve worked with numerous times before and there has been such an ease and wonderful sense of chemistry in rehearsals. I can’t wait to see the finished product because I know it will be a wonderful reflection of the collaboration of the Scranton Shakes family over its decade of crafting art,” Novak said

“I’m personally very excited from both producing and directorial standpoints to be presenting this title as it grapples with uncomfortable lessons that should be discussed in public spaces but often are not. It really is a touching story that I hope leaves audiences empowered and makes people see the realities of the story that are still present today,” said Gumula.

This production is partnering with the Catherine McAuley Center and Scranton Friends of the Poor to bring awareness to some of the topics portrayed in the play. There will be a number of community-centered activities to connect the arts with advocacy, including a menstrual product drive at the show, a period bracelet fundraiser with proceeds going to the Scranton Shakes Festival, a community talkback after the show and distributing a resource packet on the topics of the show. Audience members are encouraged to bring period products to the show for the menstrual product drive.

The show is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 10 and 11 and 1 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Shakes Space in The Marketplace at Steamtown.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance at scrantonshakes.com/tickets or in person before the show.

The show is sponsored by TLC Dental Services.

This production is R-rated and is not suitable for children under the age of 14. All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18.

To learn more about Scranton Shakes, follow on social media@ scranton_shakes, on Instagram and Scranton Shakespeare Festival om Facebook.

CLARKS SUMMIT — The Abington Business & Professional Association (ABPA) will give people something to dive into this winter. The members are organizing a wet and wild weekend for this year’s Clarks Summit Festival of Ice with a theme of “Under the Sea.”

From Friday, Jan. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 26, downtown Clarks Summit will resemble the Big Blue with displays and live carvings of sea creature sculptures and other ocean-theme items that will be made of ice.

The festival will kick off with a parade on State Street on Friday evening. The Abington Heights Marching Band will perform the song Under the Sea from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” Local businesses will decorate floats to represent their stores. They will coordinate their shops with the underwater theme.

The festival will have activities as big as the ocean.

There will be interactive exhibits and live entertainment by The Electric City Aquarium.

Carriage rides will be provided around town by Brookvalley Farms from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Clarks Summit Festival of Ice will offer adventures for all ages.

Dalton Community Library is looking forward to a busy 2025.

As we step into a fresh new year, let us embrace the chance to prioritize our health, cultivate meaningful relationships and pursue new goals or hobbies in the coming year.

Beginning Jan. 6, our library hours will be changing with more evening time for community usage including gaming and meetings. Our new hours are: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. We are closed Wednesdays and Sundays.

Lackawanna County Library System’s Winter Challenge, “Birds of a Feather Read Together,” for all ages, is right around the corner, running from Feb. 3 to 28. More information will be available on the LCLS County Library System website and Dalton Community Library Facebook page. You can also call the library 570-563-2014.

Our year-end program for 2024, Steven’s cooking demonstration with generous food donation from our longtime business partners Beta Bread and Los Amigos, was well attended and enjoyed by all. Please watch for more adult and children’s programs to be scheduled in this coming year.

Saturday Spotlight will have our first book discussion this year on Jan. 25. We meet 10:30 a.m. to noon every third Saturday. This month, we will shine our spotlight on “James” by Percival Everett.

Our Bridge group meets from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday. Whether you are new at the game or a pro, we encourage new members to join us.

Please keep in mind this winter, if you are doing any sorting or downsizing, our spring book sale is right around the corner. Any book donations are greatly appreciated.

January is National Hobby Month, so please stop into our library and check out our monthly display of books for all ages.

Dalton Community Library Board and staff thank all the patrons and visitors who have utilized our library. We are looking forward to another busy year. Here’s to new beginnings and endless possibilities.

Happy New Year!

As I sit at my desk at the Dietrich to write the last column of 2024, I am so aware of how far we have come in the last 24 years. When our Board of Directors reopened the Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater in 2001, we did not have money to hire staff, so we all volunteered to take shifts. Esther Harmatz was the volunteer General Manager for about 6 months. I had another full-time job, but I volunteered to sell tickets every Sunday night. Other community members stepped up, too.

At this time when so many are making New Year’s resolutions, I want to remind you, that if you really believe in something and surround yourself with others who also believe, miracles can happen. Hildy Morgan, Board President in 2001, with Sandy Vieczorek at her side, inspired all of us to believe that the Dietrich Theater could be more than a movie theater. Within a year our treasurer said it was time to start work on our promise to be the Wyoming County Cultural Center, and look at us now. Now we have a full lineup of classes and events for children and adults and all kinds of events year round. It all began with a dream, a belief that it could be done.

All of us original dreamers of this project are thrilled that now the dream is in hands of the next generation who are taking it to new heights: serving the needs of more people and opening up new worlds for all of us. Thank you, Erica, Ronnie, and Mary, for ever-extending our opportunities to learn and be entertained. All of us, including the hearing and visually impaired.

For instance, coming up in 2025, not only on Sundays at the midafternoon shows, but also on Tuesday evenings, open captioning will be on all four movie screens. So many of us need a little help with our hearing these days, and the Dietrich aims to help you out. We also have devices that fits in the cup holder that shows captioning, a device you can use whenever you come. And we have headsets for the visually impaired that describes what is going on in a movie – audio narration. These headsets also amplify the sound. Ask at the concession stand to borrow one of these devices.

A very special class is coming up on Mondays, Feb. 17 through March 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. you will have a chance to take Conversational American Sign Language Beginner Class, taught by Kristen Hibbard, NIC-A. The cost is $80 for series. It promises to be an interactive beginner class, learning the alphabet and over 300 words, as well as insight into Deaf Culture and conversational skills. To register call the Dietrich at 570-836-1022 x3.

Regarding New Year’s resolutions, so many of us resolve to do more exercising. The Dietrich is here for you! We have three yoga options, just waiting for you to join us. I cannot say enough good things about all of these classes and the price is just right.

Chair Yoga – In Person & Via Zoom, taught by Renea Egan is free, sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne & Wyoming Counties and the Wyoming County Community Health Care Foundation. Monday session begins Jan. 6 through May 19 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. The Friday session runs from Jan. 10 through May 30 at the same time. Call the number above to register.

Renea Egan also teaches Simply Yoga on Wednesdays from Jan. 8 through May 28 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. It’s $50 for a series of 6 or $10 per class. Classes are suitable for all levels and are in a safe Vinyasa yoga style. Bring your mat, water and blanket. Call the number above to register.

Mat and Chair Integrated Kundalini Yoga is on Saturdays from Jan. 11 through May 31 from 10 to 11 a.m. Admission is $10 per class. Barbara Tierney, instructor, will teach you how to practice from the chair or the mat and you can move from one to the other in every class. This practice combines meditation, mantra and physical exercises with a focus on breathing techniques. All systems of the body will benefit. Call the number above to register.

We do it all for you!

Wishing you all a healthy, happy New Year!

SCRANTON — A Clarks Summit couple opened a thrift store on 702 East Market Street. It’s called Khlovans Thrift. The store’s title is a combination of the owners’ names Kavan Hughes and his girlfriend Chloe Conway.

The store’s merchandise is mostly clothing as well as accessories, houseware, and decorations. People bring in items, which they don’t wear or use anymore, from their houses to this store.

“Instead of throwing it in the garbage, they instead would bring it here in hopes that it would find a new life,” said Kavan. “We don’t throw anything away even so if it is brought here, it will be here until it finds a home.”

There are items in the basement including books and glassware. The basement has a dressing room. The most popular items currently are $10 winter jackets and $5 T-shirts.

The main focus of Khlovans Thrift is to finding new homes for donated items.

“I just always loved finding something that was loved by somebody else before,” said Kavan. “It felt really nice and fulfilling to find new homes for these things.”

Kavan feels that owning the store is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“We’re very grateful not only for owning our own store but the fact that the store is what it is and we get to do what we do and help save the Earth even if it’s just a little bit or a lot,” he said. “It is also fun to have the creative freedom with things just in the store itself. It’s a definitely fulfilling job.”

Chloe enjoys getting to socialize with the people who walk in the store.

“I really like getting to talk to customers and the locals that live around,” she said. “Even a little relationship with those that come in, it’s real nice.”

Linens and blankets will hopefully soon be added to the merchandise.

Waverly Comm hires family resource coordinator

WAVERLY TWP. — The Waverly Community House announced Hanora Jones was hired as a part-time Family Resource Coordinator to plan programs and workshops for families of children from birth to three years old.

This program is made possible through a grant from the Eureka Foundation and will benefit several key groups in the community. Families and caregivers will be provided with a comprehensive approach to family wellbeing and development. Parents and caregivers will receive guidance and support during critical early developmental states. The Family Resource Coordinator will offer workshops, support groups and resources specifically designed to empower parents in supporting their children’s growth and development, fostering strong family relationships and promoting positive outcomes.

Hanora “Nora” Jones holds an associate’s degree in early childhood education, as well as an Infant/Toddler CDA. Since 2015, she has dedicated herself to early childhood education, gaining valuable experience working with children ranging from six weeks to five years old.

“It is so important to be supportive of not just the child but the entire family unit,” Jones said. “I believe that nurturing a child’s development goes hand-in-hand with fostering a strong, supportive environment for their families. My mission is to make a positive impact on the lives of both children and their caregivers, guiding them on their paths to growth and learning.”

Chamber welcomes human resource manager

SCRANTON — The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce announced Kristin Hudspeth, a Clarks Summit native, as its new human resource manager.

In this role, Hudspeth oversees all aspects of human resources, including recruitment, employee engagement, benefits administration and compliance with labor laws. She plays a pivotal role in fostering a positive and productive workplace culture, working closely with The Chamber’s leadership team to align HR strategies with organizational goals.

“On behalf of The Chamber, I am pleased that Kristin Hudspeth has become part of our Team. Kristin’s vast experience and personality will certainly make this newly created position a success,” shared James Coleman, vice president of internal administration.

Hudspeth brings extensive HR management experience, including her recent role leading the executive director search for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic — showcasing her commitment to supporting local organizations and their missions. She has led innovative human resource solutions at IKEA North America Services and beyond. Hudspeth’s expertise includes talent acquisition, learning and development, and employee engagement, with a proven track record of supporting employee growth and driving business success.

Hudspeth holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the State University of New York – F.I.T. She is passionate about creating workplace environments where employees thrive and organizations excel.

The Chamber is excited to welcome Hudspeth to the team and looks forward to her contributions to advancing its mission of supporting businesses and communities in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Wright Center leader selected to serve on committee

SCRANTON — The Pennsylvania Department of Health appointed The Wright Center for Community Health’s director of addiction services to its Maternal Mortality Review Committee as an addiction treatment specialist.

Maria Kolcharno, a licensed social worker with more than 30 years of experience in substance use disorder treatment, has been with The Wright Center since 2018. She oversees the daily operations of addiction-related services and manages grant-funded clinical programs, including The Wright Center’s Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence. Designated as one of the first state-recognized Opioid Use Disorder Centers of Excellence in 2016, The Wright Center has since broadened its scope to address all forms of substance use disorders, serving more than 2,400 patients.

Kolcharno also played a key role in launching the Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support Program (Healthy MOMS) in 2018. The novel program focuses on helping pregnant women and new mothers overcome addiction and embrace a life in recovery. Under Kolcharno’s leadership, Healthy MOMS has supported more than 500 mothers and 300 babies and expanded into nine Northeast Pennsylvania counties.

The state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee was established in 2018 to systematically review all pregnancy-associated deaths, identify the root causes of these deaths, and develop strategies to reduce preventable morbidity, mortality, and racial disparities related to pregnancy in Pennsylvania.

In her role on the committee, Kolcharno’s experience will be crucial to the case review discussion and development of actionable recommendations to prevent similar tragedies. These recommendations will provide necessary improvements to the medical and social care of pregnant and postpartum individuals in the commonwealth with the goal of preventing and eliminating future pregnancy-associated deaths and associated morbidities.

“It is a privilege to be chosen to serve on the Maternal Mortality Review Committee,” said Kolcharno. “I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the state to tackle this serious public health issue and address health disparities. Together, we can empower individuals to take control of their health and well-being.”

Community advocate, board member at The Wright Center receives state award

SCRANTON — Pedro L. Anes, a veteran, business owner, longtime community advocate, and volunteer member of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Patient & Community Engagement Boards of Directors, received a 2024 Impact Award from City & State Pennsylvania during an awards ceremony at Philadelphia Marriott Old City.

The multimedia news organization honored Anes, a Puerto Rico native and Scranton resident, for his decades of work significantly advancing diversity, education, and community engagement across Northeast Pennsylvania and the state.

City & State Pennsylvania also recognized how, as a volunteer board member at The Wright Center, he uses his leadership skills and vast community connections to support underserved individuals, particularly those with limited English proficiency and low incomes. Anes played a key role in securing continued federal funding for Community Health Centers by advocating directly with congressional leaders during the National Association of Community Health Centers’ 2024 Community Health Institute (CHI) & Expo in Atlanta.

“Pedro exemplifies the true spirit of servant leadership, dedicating his life to empowering others and championing initiatives that break down barriers and foster equity,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education and co-chair of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board of Directors. “His unwavering commitment to diversity, education, participatory citizenship, and community engagement, both locally and nationally, inspires all of us at The Wright Center. We are deeply proud to have him as a valued board member and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition of his impactful contributions.”

His notable initiatives include tackling police brutality in schools, contributing to the development of Pennsylvania’s Every Student Succeeds Act plan, which replaced and updated the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act; leading 2020 Census full count efforts in Northeast Pennsylvania with a special focus on historically undercounted populations; and ensuring the Latinx and other hard-to-reach communities in Scranton received access to COVID-19 vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the City of Scranton’s Climate Action Planning and Sustainability initiative, Anes collaborated with a regional coalition, including the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, on the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Integrated Heat Health Information System 2024 Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign. This initiative seeks to identify urban areas with disproportionately high temperatures – called heat islands – that pose significant health risks to vulnerable populations. The resulting detailed report pinpointed the areas most impacted by extreme heat, providing invaluable insights into the local climate challenges. This data was crucial in shaping the Scranton Climate Action Planning and Sustainability plan, guiding strategic actions to mitigate heat risks, protect at-risk communities, and strengthen overall climate resilience.

Anes also founded several impactful programs, such as the Latino Community Services Office, the Familias Saludables program, and the Step Up to Leadership program, to support underserved families while fostering multicultural awareness. He spearheaded an international partnership with Playball Puerto Rico, where he serves as treasurer, and the Monterrey Mexico Rotary Club to create a sustainable field renovation and equipment donation campaign aimed at supporting underserved neighborhoods in Monterey, Mexico.

The owner of Inpact Learning LLC, an independent consulting firm, Anes has over 30 years of experience developing successful diversity and inclusion strategies, organizational development, and training across nonprofit, educational, corporate, military, and government sectors. He also is a K-5 English/language arts, history, and geography teacher at Notre Dame Academy in Scranton, where he recently launched a private donation campaign to support the school and its students, securing essential items such as uniforms, winter coats, printers, teaching aids, classroom supplies, equipment, books, and funds for educational field trips.

Anes has held diverse roles, including as a senior U.S. Army non-commissioned officer, adjunct professor, chief talent officer, and multilingual partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau.

He holds a Ph.D. (ABD) in human development from Marywood University in Scranton, a master’s in administration from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, and a bachelor’s in management from Park University in Parkville, Missouri. Raised in East Harlem (Spanish Harlem), New York, he moved to the Poconos in 1998 and Scranton in 2002.

Anes is also the Mideast region representative of the National Council of the United Nations Association of the United States of America, vice president of the Lackawanna Interagency Council, and a City of Scranton Human Relations Commission member. Earlier this year, he was an organizer and panelist of the 2024 United Nations International Peace Day Interdependence Hexagon Project “Posters for Peace” art exhibit. He was also selected as a panelist representing the National Council of the United Nations Association of the United States of America for the “Finding Peace Through Action: A Community Conversation,” which was streamed live during the Yoko Ono, World of Peace Concert tour in Europe.

Board member at The Wright Center honored for community health advocacy

SCRANTON — Gerard J. Geoffroy, immediate past chair of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Patient & Community Engagement Boards of Directors, was recently selected for City & State Pennsylvania’s 2024 Fifty Over 50 List.

The list celebrates Pennsylvania’s most influential and accomplished leaders across nonprofits, government, business and media, honoring their exceptional achievements, visionary leadership, philanthropic contributions, and unwavering commitment to driving positive change and enhancing the quality of life throughout the Commonwealth.

The multimedia news organization selected Geoffroy, a longtime Jermyn resident and patient of The Wright Center for over 20 years, in recognition of his steadfast advocacy for high-quality, accessible health care, his leadership in health care governance, and his unwavering support for community health centers during his 14 years of service as a volunteer board member at The Wright Center.

“Gerard is a true champion for the people and exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose, compassion, and a deep belief in the power of community,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education and co-chair of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board of Directors. “His unwavering commitment to and advocacy for community health and affordable, high-quality, nondiscriminatory, whole-person primary health services for everyone is exemplary. His work with us at The Wright Center has helped shape the future of community health in countless ways, notably giving voice to those who have historically too often been overlooked.”

Geoffroy joined The Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors in 2010, once serving on 13 board committees. He served as board chair from January 2020 to June 2024.

City & State Pennsylvania also recognized Geoffroy for his instrumental role in transforming the board’s composition, shifting it from being exclusively physician-led to including community members – primarily patients from diverse backgrounds – ensuring that patient voices are central to decision-making. Additionally, he played a crucial role in The Wright Center’s transition to a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike in 2019, a milestone that unlocked vital resources for patients and communities and support for the organization.

Geoffroy was also the founding chair of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board of Directors, which was established about four years ago. The nonprofit affiliated entity of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education tackles the socioeconomic determinants of health like poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, and other barriers to health care.

His commitment to health care began while caring for his late wife, Anne Dowd Geoffroy, which inspired his ongoing dedication to patient education and quality care.

With more than 40 years of experience in mental health and education, Geoffroy, a Lowell, Massachusetts native, retired as a faculty specialist in counseling and human services at the University of Scranton, where he also served as an adjunct faculty member for 15 years. His extensive experience includes being a school counselor at Delaware Valley Middle School in Pike County, Pace University’s School of Continuing Education in White Plains, New York, and Fordham Preparatory School in Bronx, New York. He also maintained a part-time private counseling practice.

He received a bachelor’s degree in English from Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York, a master’s degree in counseling from Iona College, New Rochelle, New York, and a master’s degree in public administration from Fordham University, Bronx, New York.

Board member at The Wright Center, CEO of Scranton hospitals receives state award

SCRANTON — Michael P. Curran, CEO of Commonwealth Health System’s Regional Hospital of Scranton and Moses Taylor Hospital and volunteer member of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Board of Directors, received a 2024 Impact Award from City & State Pennsylvania during an awards ceremony in Philadelphia.

The multimedia news organization recognized Curran for nearly 25 years of transformative leadership in health services and his strategic emphasis on fostering strong public-private partnerships to build a pipeline of health care professionals within Northeast Pennsylvania communities. A standout initiative is Commonwealth Health System’s partnership with Jersey College to establish a School of Nursing on the Moses Taylor campus in Scranton. This project tackles Pennsylvania’s looming nursing shortage, which is expected to reach a deficit of 20,345 nurses by 2026, according to the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

City & State Pennsylvania also highlighted how, as a volunteer board member at The Wright Center, Curran uses his expertise in workforce strategy to enhance partnerships between health care organizations and academic institutions. His efforts ensure that physician residency and fellowship programs are aligned with the region’s evolving health and social needs, helping to cultivate a sustainable, interprofessional health care workforce that is deeply connected to the communities they serve.

“Michael’s leadership exemplifies the power of collaboration and strategic vision,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “His leadership work has strengthened health care delivery and medical education in Northeast Pennsylvania and paved the way for future generations of health care professionals. We are proud and honored to have him as a board member of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, where his expertise in workforce development continues to make a positive and lasting impact on our region.”

Since becoming CEO in 2022, Curran led the successful merger of Regional and Moses Taylor hospitals, navigating complex regulations, fostering collaboration among physicians, staff, board members, and community partners, and uniting the hospitals’ 233 years of combined service under a single license.

Moses Taylor is the region’s leader in obstetrics, gynecology, neonatal care, and senior mental health services, featuring Lackawanna County’s only Level III neonatal intensive care unit and state-of-the-art family birthing suites. Regional Hospital stands as a comprehensive acute care hub, excelling in medical, surgical, and cardiovascular specialties, with a nationally recognized Heart and Vascular Institute and the first in Pennsylvania to earn all four orthopedic certifications for hip fracture, and knee, hip, and shoulder replacement from The Joint Commission.

Before joining Commonwealth Health, Curran served as system chief operating officer at Crozer Health, where he was key in developing an innovative neurosciences program that brought comprehensive stroke and brain surgery interventions to Delaware County for the first time. He also guided the integration of Prospect Medical Holdings into the Crozer-Keystone Health System, ensuring a smooth transition for the nonprofit, four-hospital system. He also served as president of Crozer-Chester Medical Center, a premier tertiary care teaching hospital in Delaware County, where he played a pivotal role in the hospital’s transformation, expanding specialty services like burn treatment, trauma services, and kidney transplant care.

He received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s in health administration from Cornell University.

CEO and president of The Wright Center honored

Scranton — Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, was named one of the 100 most powerful and influential female leaders in Pennsylvania by City & State Pennsylvania. The multimedia organization debuted its third annual Power of Diversity: Women 100 list on Dec. 23.

The list highlights the achievements of women in diverse fields — including government, nonprofits, education, business, labor, and advocacy — who are shaping Pennsylvania’s future with their visionary leadership and significant contributions. Honorees included Kim Ward, president pro tempore, Senate of Pennsylvania; Joanna McClinton, speaker, Pennsylvania House of Representatives; Cherelle Parker, mayor of Philadelphia; Debra Todd, chief justice, Pennsylvania Supreme Court; and Leslie C. Davis, president and CEO, UPMC.

This is the second time this year that City & State Pennsylvania has recognized Dr. Thomas-Hemak for her exceptional leadership and achievements. In July, the organization selected her as a 2024 Trailblazer in Health Care.

Concurrent with her executive responsibilities, Dr. Thomas-Hemak is also quintuple board-certified in internal medicine, pediatrics, obesity medicine, addiction medicine, and nutrition. She sees generations of patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley in her hometown of Jermyn.

“Dr. Thomas-Hemak’s well-deserved recognition as one of Pennsylvania’s 100 most powerful and influential female leaders reaffirms what we at The Wright Center already know: she is a brilliant, visionary, and inspirational leader, as well as a compassionate, dedicated, and exceptionally skilled physician,” said The Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors Chair Deborah Kolsovsky. “She has an infectious passion for helping others and a remarkable ability to inspire a shared vision. She has devoted her entire career to advancing health equity, especially among our region’s most vulnerable populations, improving access to high-quality, nondiscriminatory, whole-person primary health services, and training and mentoring the next generation of health care professionals.”

Dr. Thomas-Hemak graduated from Scranton Preparatory School and the University of Scranton. After graduating as a Michael DeBakey Scholar from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completing Harvard’s Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program in Boston, she returned to Northeast Pennsylvania, joining The Wright Center in 2001, becoming president in 2007, and CEO in 2012.

Under her stewardship, The Wright Center has expanded its growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health.

She also guided The Wright Center to achieve numerous prestigious distinctions, including its designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike in 2019, which unlocked essential federal resources for the region and significantly expanded health care access. The Wright Center has also been recognized as a Top 30 Site for National Primary Care Innovations by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and, in 2024, was inducted into the esteemed American Medical Association’s ChangeMedEd Consortium.

Dr. Thomas-Hemak also led The Wright Center for Community Health’s transformation into one of the first state-designated Opioid Use Disorder Centers of Excellence in 2016, improving access to substance use disorder treatment. Amid rising obesity rates, she guided physicians in obtaining board certification in obesity medicine to better address critical health needs.

She also transformed The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education into one of the nation’s largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums (GME-SNC). Through inclusive, interprofessional workforce development and targeted initiatives, the GME-SNC model seeks to improve public health by addressing the national primary care physician shortage, misdistribution and related health and health care career access disparities.

Dr. Thomas-Hemak also serves as the governor for the Eastern Region of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians, the nation’s largest medical-specialty organization. She sits on numerous local, regional, and national health care and medical education nonprofit governing boards, cross-sector committees, and workgroups, including the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Council on Graduate Medical Education, a federal advisory committee that assesses and recommends actions on physician workforce trends, training issues, and financing policies.

She is chair of the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center Governing Board and a governing board member of the Keystone Accountable Care Organization, The Institute, and the Center for Health and Human Services Research and Action. She is also a founding member of the consortium that established the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and a founding board member of the American Association of Teaching Health Centers.

Dr. Thomas-Hemak has received several prestigious state and national awards for her leadership, mentorship, and advocacy initiatives, including the 2024 Hometown Scholars Advocacy Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and A.T. Still University for her exemplary leadership in mentoring and inspiring others; the 2024 Wilford Payne Health Center Mentor Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers; NACHC’s 2022 Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award for her efforts in engaging Congress and expanding grassroots advocacy; and the 2020 Ann Preston Women in Medicine Award from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians for advancing women’s leadership in medicine.

She and her husband, Mark, reside in Jermyn and have three children, Mason, Maya, and Antoinette. Dr. Thomas-Hemak is the daughter of the late William Thomas and Johanna Cavalieri Thomas, who lives in Archbald.

The University at Buffalo women’s basketball team, coached by Abington Heights graduate Becky Burke, rang in the New Year by extending its unbeaten start to 12 games while opening Mid-American Conference play with an 81-55 victory over Central Michigan.

The Bulls never trailed on the way to their largest victory in a conference game in its three seasons under Burke.

Buffalo is outscoring opponents by an average of 80.2-55.2.

The Bulls hoped to carry that momentum into a Jan. 5 meeting with Kent State in a rematch of last season’s MAC Championship Game.

“Thankful to be 1-0 in conference play,” Burke said, according to a story on the school’s athletic website. “Really proud of our team for executing the game plan to perfection. We played hard today defensively and that’s always our goal.”

Buffalo improved from three wins to 10 in the MAC between Burke’s first two seasons. Last year’s team was picked to finish eighth in a preseason poll of coaches, wound up fourth in the regular season and advanced to the MAC Championship game on the way to 19 wins and a berth in the WNIT.

The Bulls were 12-16 in her first season.

In her previous stop, Burke’s University of South Carolina Upstate team posted 22 wins, its most since becoming a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I team.

Earlier, she started the program at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona and led the University of Charleston in West Virginia to a Division II national tournament appearance.

Following a Class 4A State Player of the Year selection at Abington Heights, Burke went on to the University of Louisville where she started in the national championship game as a freshman.

The Keystone College women’s basketball team took a four-game winning streak into the New Year.

The Giants went 4-1 in December to improve to 7-5 on the season, going into their Jan. 4 game.

Keystone picked up its first United East Conference victory of the season Dec. 7 at Penn State Berks 79-67. The Giants then routed visiting City College of New York 72-34 and edged host Wilkes University 66-64 on consecutive days before going to Rutgers-Newark for a 68-59 win Dec. 30.

Anyah Ortiz was named United East Defensive Player of the Week Dec. 16 for her play in the wins on back-to-back days. She had 17 rebounds, 11 steals and a blocked shot in the two games.

Ortiz helped rally Keystone past Wilkes with 18 points, eight steals and seven rebounds. She had 14 points and 10 rebounds against CCNY.

In the conference win, Lisa Star scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while leading a balanced attack that placed four scorers in double figures.

Malysia Bryant scored the game-winning layup with about six seconds left against Wilkes.

The Rutgers-Newark win was the final non-conference game of the season for Keystone, which is 1-2 in the United East.

Ortiz leads the team with 13.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game on the season.

Men’s basketball

Keystone was 2-1 in the United East and 4-6 overall through the end of December.

After splitting conference games earlier in the month, the Giants played their last game of the calendar year Dec. 14 and lost to Alvernia 81-69.

Boston Caldwell scored 17 points in the loss. Caldwell leads the team, averaging 15.8 points on the season.

Daryl Coleman is averaging 14.7 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds.

Wrestling

Keystone is 2-14 on the season.

The Giants picked up their only December win when they defeated Sussex County Community College on a tiebreaker during a double dual meet at King’s College.

Dalton Klinges, a senior from Lackawanna Trail, is 3-7 on the season.