Latest news with #ScrantonHighSchool
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scranton Shakespeare Festival, in financial need, to charge for some shows
The Scranton Shakespeare Festival will now charge $20 for its previously free summer musicals, a response to financial strain. Its Shakespeare plays, which begin June 20, remain free. 'Despite our best efforts through fundraising and grants, we have reached a point where we simply cannot sustain our work without additional support,' according to an email the nonprofit professional theater troupe sent to patrons Sunday. 'To continue offering the kind of vibrant, ambitious productions our community deserves, and to ensure the future of Scranton Shakespeare Festival for years to come, we must ask for your help in a new way.' Tickets can be earned by helping out with productions. 'No one will be turned away for lack of funds,' according to the email. At all levels of theater, musicals generally draw bigger crowds than plays. The musicals are reliable crowd-pleasers: 'Sister Act,' 'Hairspray' and 'Little Shop of Horrors.' The first, 'Sister Act,' is June 26 to 29, plus July 26. The musical is based on the Whoopi Goldberg movie about a singer who hides out in a convent and brings new life to it. * The upcoming season of the Scranton Shakespeare Festival. (Scranton Shakespeare Festival) * Dane Huggler and Violet Martin in a past production by the Scranton Shakespeare Festival. Martin, a Scranton High School student, will play Juliet in the Festival Youth Ensemble production of 'Romeo and Juliet' and will be in the main stage production of 'Hairspray.' (Brandon Lam Photography) Show Caption 1 of 2 The upcoming season of the Scranton Shakespeare Festival. (Scranton Shakespeare Festival) Expand Buying the rights to the scripts for the summer productions cost $10,417. The total cost of this season, including stipends for the ensemble and staff, is $115,655. The festival receives Lackawanna County grants and solicits donations and sponsors. It stages fundraising shows in the off season, such as a Christmas pantomime. The Shakespeare plays remain free thanks to a new $5,000 sponsorship from PNC Bank. They begin with a youth ensemble production of 'Romeo & Juliet,' beginning June 20, followed by 'Julius Caesar' and 'Timon of Athens' in July. The schedule and box office are online at Reservations are encouraged for the free shows. The festival was started with a 2011 production in Nay Aug Park. Each year brings a different mix of visiting professional and local performers. This year there are 34, who will perform in a theater inside the Marketplace at Steamtown in Scranton. Co-founder and artistic director Michael Bradshaw Flynn could not be reached for comment.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election analysis: A look at primary outcomes, implications
Two women will battle for Scranton mayor just six years after city voters swept incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti into office as a Democrat-turned-independent running as an alternative to the city's entrenched Democratic political establishment. Cognetti's historic 2019 special election victory to fill the unexpired term of corrupt former Mayor Bill Courtright was in the minds of many a rejection of Scranton's old-guard Democratic politics — a symbolic turning of the page that opened the door for Cognetti to become the city's first female mayor and shatter a longstanding glass ceiling without the support of traditional city Democratic power brokers. * Patricia 'Trish' Beynon, Republican candidate for Scranton mayor in 2025 primary and general elections. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICIA BEYNON) * Scranton Mayor-Elect Paige Gebhardt Cognetti at Scranton City Hall in Scranton on Nov. 7, 2019. * A voter walks into the polls in John G. Whittier Elementary School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters walk into Charles Sumner Elementary School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters walk into the polls as they take literature from candidates and volunteers at John G. Whittier Elementary School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters gather outside of Green Ridge Assembly of God Church in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters walk into Scranton High School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * A voter walks into Scranton High School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * A volunteer waits for voters to enter the polls in Jackson Heights Apartments in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 9 Patricia 'Trish' Beynon, Republican candidate for Scranton mayor in 2025 primary and general elections. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICIA BEYNON) Expand After sailing to reelection as a Democrat in 2021 and dominating a contested Democratic primary Tuesday with more than 75% of the vote, Cognetti now faces another potential glass-ceiling-breaker in Republican mayoral candidate Patricia 'Trish' Beynon. The accounting executive defeated business owner Lynn Labrosky by 118 votes in Tuesday's GOP primary, securing the Republican nomination for mayor in November's municipal election, according to unofficial election results. If elected, Beynon would become the first Republican woman to take City Hall and Scranton's first elected GOP mayor since the late Jimmy Connors, a Democrat who switched parties and won the office as a Republican in 1989 before switching back in 2000 during his third term. Then-Republican City Councilman Wayne Evans was appointed interim mayor after Courtright resigned in disgrace, serving for several months until Cognetti succeeded him in January of 2020. Patricia Beynon celebrates with supporters at Cooper's Seafood House in Scranton on Tuesday night after capturing the Republican nomination for Scranton mayor. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Beynon will have to overcome a considerable Democratic voter-registration advantage to make that history, which will require defeating Cognetti and a possible field of independent candidates for mayor in November. The entrance of would-be independent mayoral candidate Gene Barrett, the former Scranton Sewer Authority executive director and a former city councilman who originally announced plans to challenge Cognetti in the Democratic primary but ultimately didn't file paperwork to appear on the ballot, would certainly change the dynamic of the race. Barrett forecasted his potential independent run in March after Democratic former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan filed to challenge Cognetti, telling The Times-Tribune on the day of the filing deadline that a three-person Democratic primary would only split up votes to the advantage of the incumbent mayor. Cognetti didn't ultimately need that advantage, earning 6,264 votes Tuesday to Sheridan's 1,864, but Barrett could prove a more formidable challenger if he mounts a meaningful independent campaign. Reached last week, he didn't commit to an independent run but didn't rule one out. 'We're looking at it,' Barrett said. 'It will be a practical and common-sense decision. Certainly the incumbent mayor won convincingly in the Democratic primary, but on the other hand it wasn't a very strong candidate that she ran against.' Even if Barrett runs and doesn't defeat Cognetti himself, his possible independent candidacy, that of independent mayoral candidate Mike Mancini and potential others would likely siphon votes away from Cognetti to Beynon's advantage. It's an advantage she could use in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a more than 2-1 margin and hold the registration advantage in every one of Scranton's 48 precincts. Mayor Paige Cognetti enters her campaign headquarters after winning the Democratic primary mayoral election in Scranton on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Running for mayor as a Democrat, Cognetti has never failed to garner at least 70% of the vote. She earned 71.36% in her 2021 municipal primary victory over Democratic City Controller John Murray, 72.51% in the 2021 municipal election where she defeated longshot Republican candidate Darwin Lee Shaw II and 75.51% to Sheridan's 22.47% Tuesday. But despite that success, Cognetti's endorsement wasn't enough to get her preferred city council candidate, Democratic city planning commissioner member Todd Pousley, over the finish line in the Democratic primary for city council. It was a defeat that could hamper Cognetti's ability to enact her legislative agenda should she win another four-year term this fall. City council The dynamic of city council was going to change regardless of Tuesday's outcomes, as two of the three Democratic council members who most frequently align with Cognetti on legislative matters — Council President Gerald Smurl, Councilman Bill King and Councilwoman Jessica Rothchild — are set to leave office after this year. King didn't seek reelection, and Smurl withdrew from Democratic primary contention in March amid issues with certain signatures on his nomination petitions. His withdrawal left a field of six Democratic candidates — Pousley, incumbent Councilman Tom Schuster, Scranton School Director Sean McAndrew, former state House candidate Patrick Flynn, political organizer Frankie Malacaria and vocal Cognetti critic Virgil Argenta — vying for three Democratic nominations to advance to November's municipal election, when three seats on the five-member council are up for grabs. Flynn, McAndrew and Schuster won nominations Tuesday, with Flynn finishing as the top vote-getter. They'll appear on November's ballot alongside Republican Marc Pane, who was the lone candidate in the GOP primary. Whoever wins the three council seats in November will serve alongside Rothchild and Democratic Councilman Mark McAndrew, Sean McAndrew's uncle, when council reorganizes. Patrick Flynn, who captured a Democratic nomination for Scranton City Council on Tuesday night, celebrates with his wife, Kate, at Benny's on Green Ridge Street in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Smurl said last week he doesn't currently intend to seek reelection as an independent, but left open the possibility that he'll reconsider. Nonetheless, Tuesday's council outcome was a blow for Cognetti who, should she win reelection, stands to lose two often reliable votes on the five-member legislative body. The administration's legislative proposals require the majority support of three council members to pass, assuming all members are voting, and a supermajority of four can override the mayor's veto. In past votes where council split and Cognetti's proposed legislation narrowly passed 3-2, Smurl, King and Rothchild often voted together in support of her proposals with Schuster and Mark McAndrew opposed. That's not to say Smurl, King and Rothchild always align with the mayor or that Schuster and Mark McAndrew never do — council members are free agents and the body often votes unanimously. Flynn, Sean McAndrew and Pane could also find common ground with the mayor if she's reelected and they secure council seats. But the defeat of Pousley, who finished fourth despite Cognetti's backing, means one less likely ally on council for the mayor should she retain City Hall. Cognetti acknowledged the harder road ahead in her victory speech Tuesday. 'We have a real fight on our hands for city council,' she told her supporters, Pousley among them. 'We will continue to fight to make sure that we have a city council, with Dr. Rothchild, that can continue to help us make this progress and not try to tear down everything that we've built. So, it's going to be a slog. We've got a long way to go until November.' Schuster took umbrage with those remarks at Thursday's council meeting. 'I saw comments in the paper by the mayor and if I don't question things while on this council I'm not doing my job as a councilman, so I'd just like to put that out there,' he said. 'I think a lot of progress is made and this council passes most things that come from down from this mayor.' School district The race for Scranton School Board lacked the political acrimony that often marks primary elections. City voters backed experience. Incumbent board Vice President Danielle Chesek led the field in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. In Pennsylvania school board candidates can cross-file, meaning they can seek both Democratic and Republican nominations to secure spots on the November ballot. In the school board race all but one of the six candidates cross-filed and all but one, 22-year-old political newcomer Julien M. Wells, secured either a Democratic nomination, a GOP nomination or both. Chesek, recently appointed school Director Jenna Strzelecki and retired district Chief Information Officer Joe Brazil won nominations on both the Democratic and Republican ballots. Former school Director Carol J. Cleary, running only as a Democrat, won a Democratic nomination, while former Scranton City Council candidate John Howe won a nomination on the Republican ballot. From left: Scranton School Board candidates Joe Brazil, Danielle Chesek, Carol Cleary, John Howe and Jenna Strzelecki. (Chad Sebring / Staff Photos) Howe is the only of the winning primary candidates not to have worked for the district, served on the board or currently serve in that capacity. Strzelecki, the board's newest member, was appointed to a vacant board seat in late April. Tuesday's results suggest voters put stock in experience. And with four seats on the nine-member school board up for grabs this year, the majority of the five candidates that secured nominations Tuesday seem likely to win or maintain board seats. Several of the candidates who won nominations in the primary complimented the other candidates in the field after the polls closed. And while all candidates for school director are focused on the challenges ahead for the district — from improving educational outcomes and bolstering curriculums to providing the best possible education for the district's roughly 9,300 students amid the looming threat of federal funding cuts — the Scranton School Board has proven a reliable pipeline for city offices. Cognetti, Schuster and Mark McAndrew all previously served on the school board, Sean McAndrew is a current school director and King, the outgoing city councilman, is the district's former superintendent. The window for individuals who plan to run as independent or third-party candidates in November's municipal election to begin circulating nomination papers opened March 12. The last day to file those papers is Aug. 1. The municipal election itself is Nov. 4.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Turnout light across Lackawanna County for primary
SCRANTON — Voter turnout in Lackawanna County started slow Tuesday morning. But, voters who turned out said they were passionate about issues and candidates. Rebecca Panunzio of Dunmore said she votes every year because every vote counts. 'It matters,' she said. 'It matters for the children, myself. We have a right to vote.' Panunzio pointed out issues such as street maintenance and taxes are driven by local government. A Republican, Panunzio said in the long run, she casts her vote for the best candidate and not for their party affiliation. Dunmore poll worker Gert Bolick has been at her post for over 30 years. The day started out slowly, said said, but often people come out to vote on their lunch hour or after work. 'Primary elections generally have a low turnout,' she said. 'But, its hard to predict.' Jennifer Valvano, also a poll worker in Dunmore, is in her second year in the position. She was surprised that last year, during the presidential race, people who didn't regularly vote, came out. 'Many of them said, they only come out every four years,' Valvano said. 'I actually think local races are more important.' Bill Pilkonis, a judge of elections working at the Scranton High School polling location, said voter turnout might be low, but is higher than expected. He estimated that instead of the historic 20% turnout, there may be up to 35% of voters showing up at the polls. Part of that bump, he believes is in response to current national issues, which bring out voters even at the local level. As of 1 p.m., there were no issues regarding voting across the county, according to the county election department. .
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scranton gives $100,000 in grants to eight veterans' service organizations
SCRANTON — An idea a decade ago for a memorial to honor the hundreds of Scranton veterans who died in wars resulted five years later in the Scranton Veterans Memorial Park at Scranton High School. The city this year gave the memorial park a $5,000 grant for ongoing maintenance and replacement of flags. The memorial park and seven other organizations that serve veterans received city grants totaling $100,000 to help them in various ways, including renovating buildings and providing individual assistance services, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti said Monday during an event at American Legion Connolly Post 568 in Minooka. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti announces grants awarded to veterans at the American Legion Post 568 in Scranton Monday, May 19, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) The funding, in the city's 2025 operating budget, continues the city's commitment to local veterans, the mayor said. The $100,000 represents an increase from the $80,000 total awarded in 2023 and $85,000 in 2024. 'As a veteran, I like to see how this program has grown over the last three or four years. Who knows what's going to happen in the next five years?' said Pat Ahern, chairman of Scranton Veterans Memorial Park during the announcement event. 'We have so many different organizations now. It's like planting a tree. It starts off small but eventually it grows,' Ahern said. Vice commander of the American Legion Post 568 Tom Benson joins other legion members as Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti announces grants awarded to veterans outside of the legion in Scranton Monday, May 19, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) The city accepted grant applications through April. The recipients, grant amounts and other representatives of recipient organizations who spoke during the announcement event included: • Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA (ACE), 123 Wyoming Ave., $5,000 to support the Veterans Rise and Ride program that provides transportation to employment and medical appointments. 'This $5,000 was really lifesaving,' ACE Executive Director Jim Wansacz said. 'Without that grant, we would have had to shut that (ride service) down.' • American Legion Connolly Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., $20,000 for upgrades to the community hall to improve energy efficiency and provide ADA-compliant seating. Post Commander Sean O'Shea said the post's membership is older and raising money for building maintenance and modernization is difficult. 'We're very grateful for this' grant. • Bread Basket of NEPA, 550 Madison Ave., $5,000 for its Veteran Food Security Support Initiative which helps Lackawanna County veterans struggling with food insecurity. • Fight4Vets, 711 Davis St., $10,000 for a rent assistance program that combats veteran homelessness by providing emergency rent support and additional prevention services. • Scranton Veterans Memorial Park, located at Scranton High School, 63 Munchak Way, Scranton, $5,000 to purchase flags for each Armed Forces branch and continued maintenance of the site. • UKAVETS, 237 Railroad Ave., $10,000 for the replacement of outdated facilities. • Valhalla Veterans Services, 2754 Jackson St., $20,000 to support Valhalla's Hope, which removes financial barriers to mental health counseling and suicide intervention services for local veterans. • Warrior Strong, 311 Adams Ave., $25,000 to support the Resilient Warriors program, its unique comprehensive health and wellness program. Warrior Strong President Tom Tice said support from the city allowed his organization to double its offerings and open its studio much more often to veterans and their families. 'We can really tell the community — the veteran community — is using our programs every single day,' Tice said. American Legion Connolly Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., Scranton, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * American Legion Connolly Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., Scranton, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti announces grants awarded to veterans at the American Legion Post 568 in Scranton Monday, May 19, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Vice commander of the American Legion Post 568 Tom Benson joins other legion members as Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti announces grants awarded to veterans outside of the legion in Scranton Monday, May 19, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * American Legion Connolly Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., Scranton, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 4 American Legion Connolly Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., Scranton, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Expand
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
24 students honored in Scholastic Superstars program
The Times-Tribune recognized 24 graduating high school seniors for their outstanding work in the classroom and community during its Scholastic Superstars program on Monday evening at Lackawanna College in Scranton. It has been a Times-Tribune tradition for three decades. Students received a medal while their parents and guests applauded during the ceremony sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities. Larry Holeva, executive editor of The Times-Tribune, presented the awards. Each high school in the Times-Tribune coverage area is invited to nominate up to three seniors. After the names of students and schools and other identifying information is removed, the winners were voted on by judges from local colleges. The winners are: • Grace Beckish, North Pocono High School • Owen Carso, Delaware Valley High School. • Ella Cohen, Scranton Preparatory School • Chelsea Empet, Mountain View Junior/Senior High School • Gabriella Estadt, Valley View High School • Emily Hanson, Blue Ridge High School • Lia Hartman, Western Wayne High School • Matthew Hill, Scranton High School • Sara Hoban, Abington Heights High School • Ryleigh Kilmer, Mountain View Junior/Senior High School • Zachary Kovaleski, Holy Cross High School • Stephanie Kucharski, Old Forge High School • Winni Lin, Riverside High School • Gavin Monahan, Holy Cross High School • Declan Moran, Scranton High School • Zarina Mustafina, West Scranton High School • Kaia Negvesky, West Scranton High School • Ivy Neureuter, Scranton High School • Adam Paranich, Abington Heights High School • Maura Pivirotto, Abington Heights High School • Allison Rocco, North Pocono High School • Christian Segiel, North Pocono High School • Austin Shramko, Riverside High School • Logan Zdaniewicz, Tunkhannock Area High School This year's judges were Lois K. Draina, Ph.D., retired dean, Marywood University; Aaron Mattern, senior regional director of enrollment management, Penn State Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre; and Joseph M. Roback, associate vice president, admissions and enrollment, University of Scranton. Additional coverage can be found at and will appear in print Wednesday. Starting Wednesday, The Times-Tribune will publish a biography and photo of one Superstar a day, excepting Mondays.
