Dunmore Native Collaborates on Janis Joplin Book

Posted on December 1, 2021 by The Dunmorean

Dunmore native, Caitlin Allyson, has collaborated with renowned photographer, Elliott Landy, on his new book Photographs of Janis Joplin On the Road & On Stage. Allyson designed the book and was the editorial director for the project.

Janis Joplin, Big Brother and The Holding Company. Anderson Theater, NYC, 1968. Photo By ©Elliott Landy, LandyVision Inc.

The 196 page hardcover book features both Landy’s iconic as well as many never-before-published images of Janis. The photographs are accompanied by Janis’ candid thoughts taken from conversations and interviews recorded by David Dalton, a founding editor of Rolling Stone magazine, while on tour with Janis in 1970. Landy’s photographs portray both the public and private lives of Janis, offering an intimate behind the scenes glance at her brief yet groundbreaking years of fame.

According to Allyson, a Kickstarter campaign in support of the book was recently launched and will run until Dec. 21, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The Kickstarter Campaign link is: http://kck.st/3wsg7ez

Kickstarter supporters are offered a variety of unique rewards, which include advanced signed copies of the book, fine art prints, lithos, and more at discounted pricing.

Caitlin writes: “Elliott & I were scheduled to have an exhibition together at ArtWorks Gallery & Studio in the spring of 2020, but that was cancelled due to the pandemic. At the start of the pandemic, Elliott asked if I would be interested in designing a book. I said yes without hesitation.

“It’s such an honor to be on this project. Elliott has always been one of my favorite photographers, and music from the 60’s has always been one of my favorite genres. I find that whole era magical.

“For the book, we looked at every negative and slide that Elliott took of Janis. The text that is paired with many of the photos was selected from extensive recordings of conversations and interviews with Janis made by David Dalton during the last year of her life. Elliott’s goal in pairing Janis’ words with her photos was to provide a personal insight into her life and career, creating a

Best known for his classic “rock” photographs, Elliott Landy was one of the first music photographers to be recognized as an “artist”. His celebrated works include portraits of Bob Dylan (Nashville Skyline), The Band (Music From Big Pink and The Band album), Janis Joplin, Van Morrison (Moondance), Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, etc. He was the official photographer of the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

Caitlin Allyson is a 2009 graduate from Dunmore High School, and received her Bachelors of Arts in Visual Arts and a double concentration in Photography and Printmaking with a specialization in Art Therapy cum laude from Keystone College..

Allyson’s skills are well-rounded in many forms of media, however her expertise lies in both traditional and digital photography, design, and curating. She has exhibited her work her artwork throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

Caitlin has worked as a curator and event planner for galleries in NEPA, as a photography teacher at Arts Alive in Scranton, and as an art teacher for ArtWorks Gallery & Studio. She currently works as a designer for Elliott Landy.

DePietro’s Employees Offered Free Tuition at Lackawanna College

Posted on December 1, 2021 by The Dunmorean

Employees at DePietro’s Pharmacy in Dunmore will get a chance to attend Lackawanna College tuition-free in a new partnership agreement announced last week.

Under the agreement, DePietro’s employees who meet the requirements for the pharmacy’s tuition program will be offered a Lackawanna College Business Partners Scholarship. The agreement will allow employees to attend Lackawanna College tuition-free to pursue a bachelor’s or an associate degree.

“Working together with our local and regional businesses continue to help us understand and answer some of our labor force needs,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “Partnering with DePietro’sPharmacy will give employees a path to careers in growing and in-demand fields like healthcare.”

Dr. Murray also states that these partnerships help solve the social and economic issues of a growing national workforce shortage and the rising cost of tuition, keeping college affordable and accessible.

“The Lackawanna College Business Partnership Scholarship initiative is a great program that helps the College connect with the NEPA workforce,” said Jeff Gregory, Director of College Enrollment Partnerships. “Partnering businesses can offer employees a valuable incentive that helps retain their employees as well as hiring additional employees by helping them achieve additional skills.”

“At DePietro’s Pharmacy, we would not be successful without the hard work and effort given by all our employees. On a daily basis, I strive to show my appreciation for their commitment to our customers. This partnership will truly provide a life-changing experience for my team and future employees,” says Thomas DiPietro, pharmacist and owner.

The public-private partnership is one of many that are in the works at Lackawanna College that will cover a student’s full tuition.

Doin’ Dunmore: Lazar Returning to Roots for Holiday Season

Posted on December 1, 2021 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Local music product Alyssa Lazar’s earliest gigs as a teenager included a few Dunmore spots.

And with a new release of her album, “Hopeless Romanticism,” Alyssa will be returning to one of her old stops, Crotti’s on Ash, just a few blocks up the street from Dunmore’s Schautz Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 26. She will be performing from 8 to 10 p.m.

Daughter of Mark and Maureen Lazar, Alyssa, 22, is home on a holiday visit. She has spent her past four plus years in Nashville, Tennessee, where she recently received a bachelor of arts degree. in commercial music with an emphasis in writing from the Belmont School of Music in Nashville.

Alyssa embraces a unique set of genres on her new 7-song EP. She wrote all the songs and music.

The album, released this past Nov. 17, mixes pop and rock sounds with elements from other eras. The EP is available on ITunes and Amazon and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal.

Alyssa plays guitar, but piano is her primary musical instrument. Her favorite artists, who she plays when performing, include Elton John, Lady Gaga and Billy Joel.

Her rendition of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” is scintillating. And likely to be heard at Crotti’s on Ash the day after Christmas.

Alyssa describes her music as piano-influenced pop/rock. Her fans often brand her shows as “Elton John meets Lady Gaga.”

Alyssa started performing at the tender age of four.

By the time she was 15, Alyssa was performing in local venues, bars and restaurants throughout Northeast PA. Crotti’s on Ash, Andy Gavin’s in Green Ridge, and LaCucina in Dunmore were among her regular spots for performances. Others included the V-Spot, Russell’s Restaurant, Duffy’s Coffee House, Sydney’s Lounge and the old McNally’s in Green Ridge.

Now she performs regular gigs in Nashville, including the 5 Spot where Lady Gaga performed while touring.

Alyssa’s new EP, includes two instrumental interludes.

“Hopeless Romanticism” combines today’s pop rock sound, the intricacy of 1970’s rock, with hints inspired by the music of the romantic era. It is riddled with chorale-like background vocals, piano and live strings performed by Jonathan Yudkin.

Yudkin has performed on albums of artists such as Taylor Swift and Bon Jovi.

Alyssa thoroughly enjoys song writing as much as playing piano and guitar. “This is the sound I was looking for with this EP,” she said. “It incorporates every musical aesthetic that I love the most and feels like the embodiment of who I was meant to be as an artist. I always loved classical and soundtrack music, but this is made to fit the pop/rock genre of today.

“The EP takes what are true experiences of those close to me or even the imagination of a true experience and romanticizes it.

“Some of the songs are very raw and vulnerable.

“Each song is inspired by a different mood or event that may have happened in the romantic era of the 1800’s and early 1900’s. There is an emphasis on art and romance. There are several instrumental interludes.”

Alyssa said she performs two or three nights a week in Nashville. “Being discovered is so different now,” she said. “It happens, but you need to grow and build a following. It’s not a thing that happens a lot, but it does.

“I focus on the places and venues where I am able to play my music and grow on my own. I don’t necessarily look for a break, but look to grow and grow as a musical artist and songwriter.”

The talented musical artist said she attended the Nashville Country Music Awards in 2017 and 2018. She even met country music legend Keith Urban. “He was very nice and had a good sense of humor. He even took the time to ask me about my career.”

You can find Alyssa’s new EP on most streaming platforms. She will be performing her songs from the EP along with other originals and classics during her appearance at Crotti’s on Ash the night after Christmas.