Workforce Barriers Summit goes virtual

Posted on March 4, 2025 by The Dunmorean

Originally scheduled as an in-person event, the NEPA Thrives Workforce Barriers Summit has transitioned to an interactive virtual format via Zoom, ensuring accessibility while maintaining the same valuable content. Hosted by the Scranton Area Community Foundation through its NEPA Thrives initiative, the Summit will bring employers, human resources professionals, executives, and managers together to tackle workforce recruitment and retention challenges across Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Join the NEPA Workforce Landscape and Sector-Focused Collaboration on Thursday, March 6, from 9 to 11 a.m.. The Institute will present on the workforce landscape, followed by a discussion on regional workforce challenges. Experts will explore how employers, community organizations, and education providers can collaborate to address recruitment and retention barriers, highlighting promising practices and strategies with insights from JobsFirstNYC. Register here.

Additional Sessions include: March 13 – Strengthening Organizations Presentations; March 19 – Childcare Panel; March 21 – Employment Resources Panel; March 24 – Transportation Panel; April 3 – Unlocking Business Growth through Community Foundation Partnerships; April 9 – K-12 Panel, and April 14 – The Welcoming Center

This virtual series will include expert-led discussions and solution-driven collaborations, leading up to an in-person wrap-up collaborative on May 1.

The Scranton Area Community Foundation is dedicated to fostering systemic change and collaborative solutions that benefit employers, workers, and families across Northeastern Pennsylvania. This Summit offers actionable strategies to strengthen organizations and drive economic growth in response to ongoing workforce challenges.

For full session details and to register, visit SAFDN.org.

For inquiries, contact Koren Clark, Community Impact Manager, at koren@safdn.org.

Night of comedy to benefit Holy Cross Boys Basketball

Posted on February 5, 2025 by The Dunmorean

Be prepared to hear uproarious laughter coming from Holy Cross High School as some of the best comedians in the NYC to Philadelphia corridor come to Dunmore to raise funds for the Holy Cross Boys Basketball Team on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m.

The host and producer of the show is Tim Conniff. Originally from Eynon, Tim now lives in Doylestown, and is an award-winning keynote speaker and comedian who produces comedy shows and fundraisers all over Pennsylvania. He also happens to be the brother-in-law of Holy Cross’ head coach Al Callejas!

The show’s opener is Scranton’s own Jeannine Luby, who has alternated between performing comedy improvisation and stand-up comedy for over 20 years and currently focuses on producing and performing in comedy night events at wineries, women-owned businesses, and at private events to empower and entertain women.

Featured performer is teacher and comedian Troy Moore. His classroom stories will crack you up! He’s a regular at many great comedy clubs in the tri-state area and he has opened for the likes of Jackie “the Jokeman” Martling and the late, great Gilbert Gottfried.

The event headliner Tracy Locke travels all across the nation doing stand-up comedy. Based in New York City, Tracy is a warm-up comedian for ABC’s Tamron Hall Show and can also be heard on Sirius XM and on her podcast Girls Gone Green.

This is a BYOB event (must be 21 to attend) and tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/holy-cross-boys-basketball/holy-cross-boys-basketball-comedy-night

Nunsense comes to People’s Security Theater in March

Posted on February 5, 2025 by The Dunmorean

Cast members of the upcoming production of “Nunsense” include, from left: Courtney Rosenkrans as Sr. Robert; John Baldino as Sr. Mary Hubert; Rob Misko as Rev. Mother; Christine McGeachie as Sr. Mary Amnesia, and Laura Lockwood as Sr. Mary Leo.

The smash-hit musical comedy Nunsense returns to Scranton on March 22 and 23 at the People’s Security Theater on the campus of Lackawanna College. Our Cabaret Productions is partnering with Lackawanna in this professional theater fundraising event to support higher education in the region.

The music and antics of the Little Sisters of Hoboken will entertain audiences on Saturday, March 22 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35. Patrons can also enjoy pre-show dinner or brunch from St. Julia’s Kitchen before each show at 409 on Adams, the college’s student-run restaurant. Advanced reservations are required, $45 per person. Tickets for the show, brunch, dinner, and a VIP meet-the-cast reception following the March 22 performance are available online at ourcabaret.com. 

The show will star Rob Misko (Carbondale) as Rev. Mother and John Baldino (Clarks Summit) as Sr. Mary Hubert with Laura Lockwood (Moscow) as Sr. Mary Leo, Christine McGeachie (Peckville) as Sr. Mary Amnesia, and Courtney Rosenkrans (Scott Township) as Sr. Robert Anne. Nunsense is produced by Baldino and directed by Misko with tap choreography by Ballroom ONE Dance Company, Eynon.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for our cast and crew as we celebrate our company’s 20th anniversary,” says Baldino who is general manager of Our Cabaret Productions and an assistant professor at Lackawanna. “The People’s Security Theater at Lackawanna College is a special gem in a city so rich in theater history and Nunsense is a gem of a show in the musical theater world. Bringing them together will be a tremendous experience for faculty, students, staff, supporters of the college, and theater-goers all over northeastern Pennsylvania. I’m also eager for my students and colleagues to meet Sr. Hubert.” 

“I have had a love affair with Nunsense since I first saw the off-Broadway production in 1985,” says Misko, who directed the first non-Equity production of Nunsense in the world in Carbondale and has performed as Rev. Mother more than 150 times. “And it’s always special to direct and perform in the show. To mount a Nunsense production alongside my closest friends in a space like the People’s Security Theater is a dream come true.” 

Nunsense begins when the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show, so they take over the school auditorium, which is currently set up for the eighth-grade production of Grease. 