Latest news with #Rockin'theRiver
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
INNOVATION: Newman says Post-COVID, Downtown Wilkes-Barre is coming back strong
Apr. 27—WILKES-BARRE — Larry Newman, executive director at Diamond City Partnership, says that five years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — an event which had an enormous economic impact on Downtown Wilkes-Barre. "Across the nation, the rise of remote work led to a significant reduction in demand for office space — one of the primary pillars of Downtown's economy," Newman said. "That unexpected drop in daily employee traffic dealt a blow, in turn, to storefront restaurants and retailers. And after more than a decade of positive momentum, Downtown Wilkes-Barre's revitalization was halted in its tracks." However, Newman said the Downtown had the benefit of a road map to guide its recovery — the plan developed by the Diamond City Partnership (DCP) — Wilkes-Barre's nonprofit downtown management organization. "That plan — which serves as a basis for Downtown Wilkes-Barre's Main Street program designation by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development — is built around the time-tested 'four-point' Main Street approach to downtown revitalization," Newman said Well before the start of COVID, Newman said the Main Street approach was helping DCP implement the community's vision for Downtown Wilkes-Barre as: —Clean, safe, and beautiful. —The region's "walk-to-everything" neighborhood of choice. —The region's college neighborhood. —A regional center of arts, culture, dining, and entertainment. —A place whose historic architecture, riverfront, and high-quality public environment are the basis of an enhanced visitor experience. "And despite the setbacks of the past five years, we've continued to make progress toward those goals," Newman said. Newman said Downtown Wilkes-Barre continues to grow as a residential neighborhood — by the end of 2024, he said the total number of people living within the boundaries of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Improvement District was 157% of the 2019 total. That residential growth was accompanied by retail growth — Newman said eight new independent storefront businesses opened within Downtown's SOMA Arts District during 2024. Merchants like The Burnt Norton, Evergreen, and Virtual Fairways are catering to a new generation of downtown residents, college students and visitors. Once-vacant downtown spaces — such as the former newspaper building that's now King's College's Kowalski Center for Advanced Healthcare Education, or the one-time furniture store at 116 South Main Street that now houses Building Blocks Learning Center and 34 market-rate lofts — are again filled with activity. Newman said a terrific array of outdoor events — parades, the Fine Arts Fiesta, Farmers Market, Rockin' the River, and Public Square concerts — occurs throughout the year, joining the entertainment offerings at the F.M. Kirby Center, R/C Movies 14, and Downtown's other arts and culture venues. Last year, Newman said DCP helped return the Cavalcade of Jazz to Downtown Wilkes-Barre, and on April 25, DCP is partnering with the Sordoni Art Gallery to present "SOMA" Night Lights — a new projection mapping festival that will temporarily transform the landscape of Downtown's SOMA Arts District into a canvas for illumination art. "Together with DCP's other events — such as the 'Sunsets on South Main' live-music series; the Downtown Discoveries Kids Fest; Cocktails & Culture; Inspired Bites; Small Business Saturday; and the Holiday Market — these events are bringing more people downtown throughout the year," Newman said. DCP also continues its work to improve the downtown environment. Thanks to a Luzerne County ARPA grant, Newman said DCP was able to expand its Downtown Ambassador Team in 2024. The Team now cleans and beautifies the downtown core 7 days a week, while a new Quality of Life Ambassador connects at-risk individuals to the help they need. During 2024, Newman said DCP's Downtown Ambassador Team: —Removed almost 14,000 pounds of trash from sidewalks and curbs. —Eliminated 74 graffiti tags and 369 stickers. —Planted and maintained 186 hanging flower baskets and 32 large ground planters. —Assisted or provided directions to 764 people. Newman said DCP's volunteers planted 17 additional shade trees throughout downtown in 2024, while DCP façade grants are restoring historic buildings and improving Downtown's built environment. Slowly but surely, Newman said Downtown continues to rebound — in 2024, downtown visitation reached 82% of 2019 levels — led by those who came here to shop, dine and attend shows and events. And 2024 downtown employee volumes hit 57% of the 2019 total — a 5% improvement over last year. "This work is critical because the fact is that downtown revitalization is economic development," Newman said. "That reality is understood by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, whose new 10-year Economic Development Strategy has been built, in large part, around downtown revitalization." As Gov. Josh Shapiro recently said in an address to the 2025 Main Street Now Conference: "You can tell whether a community is vibrant or not based on the success of a Main Street. If that Main Street is successful, chances are that broader community is going to be safer; chances are that schools are going to be stronger; and there's more economic opportunity in those communities." "At DCP, we couldn't agree more — which is why we are so determined to overcome the obstacles and keep the momentum going," Newman said. "But it's also critical that the larger community also recognizes the importance of having a healthy downtown. We need more stakeholders who are willing to put their shoulders to the wheel — more people who will patronize a downtown business, renew a downtown lease, or push back on negative perceptions. Everyone can do their part to make things better and help build a city center that's a point of pride for all of us." Newman said Downtown Wilkes-Barre is coming back. "And we urge you to be a part of the downtown rebound — because no matter what part of Greater Wilkes-Barre you call home, we all benefit from having a strong and vibrant neighborhood serving as the heart of the Wyoming Valley," Newman said. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New ballot box making its primary debut
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Ballot drop boxes are coming back to Luzerne County including a new high-security model making its election debut. The county election board approved their use last night for the May 20 primary, including one at Penn Place in Wilkes-Barre with several security features. 'Rockin' the River' debuts summer concert lineup The new box snaps a photo of each voter and ballot envelope as it's dropped. Election officials say the internal cameras help track and verify envelopes, adding a new layer of transparency. A regular ballot box will also be in place at the county office in Hazleton. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wilkes-Barre council approves alcohol exceptions for Fine Arts Fiesta, Rockin' the River
Apr. 11—WILKES-BARRE — City council members unanimously approved temporary alcohol suspensions for two of the local area's biggest cultural events: the Fine Arts Fiesta on Public Square and the Rockin' the River series of concerts on the River Common. The Fine Arts Fiesta exception was noted as being for the wine-tasting area and only applies to wine. Malted or brewed beverages and liquors will still be prohibited on Public Square when the fiesta takes place from Thursday, May 15, to Sunday, May 18. The Rockin' the River exception is for three consecutive Fridays — July 11, 18, and 25 — this summer. The council's resolution on the matter notes that the designated area for open consumption of alcoholic beverages will be clearly identified on those dates by the event's sponsors, the Luzerne County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Public comment Mayor George Brown received significant backlash from residents in attendance at Thursday's meeting for his comments — which were recently printed in a local publication — regarding the city's strategies for handling homelessness. Residents April Pahler, Anthony Farah and Jasmine Rodriguez each took an opportunity to poke at the city's homelessness policy, specifically the methods with which a homeless camp was removed in Kirby Park in July 2024. The residents and council members came to some understanding about the resources available to the city's homeless population, and Brown defended his comments and policies. "If you saw the pictures or if you were over along the river and saw what the two encampments had done over there and put my firefighters and my police officers in danger — going over there at night with no lights and trying to walk through buckets of feces, buckets of urine, needles, and everything else that was over there that's going to create a safety hazard for these people that are trying to provide first aid and try to help them out — yeah, I think I did the right thing, and I would do it again," Brown said. During Brown's response to the residents' concerns, one meeting attendee stood up and shouted at the Mayor. "Absolutely inhuman [how] you're treating our neighbors here. Absolutely disrespectful. You should be ashamed of yourself. This council should be ashamed of yourselves by the way you treat the most vulnerable people in our community," the resident hollered as he was escorted from the council's chambers by police. Additional resolutions In addition to the alcohol allowances, the council also: —Approved the celebration of Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22, and the promotion of earth-friendly foods and a healthier food system in the city. —Reappointed Patricia Unvarsky to the Traffic Committee. —Authorized the proper city officials to file a Project Management Proposal with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) Grant in the amount of $750,000 for assistance with King's College Student Success Center Project. —Authorized the proper city officials to sign any and all necessary documents related to awarding the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Stell Enterprises, for the Bog Phase II All-Inclusive Playground/Park Project in the amount of $431,532.
