By Margaret Roarty mroarty@timesleader.com Norm’s Pizza & Eatery in Wilkes-Barre announced it will permanently close its doors later this month after 30 years in business following the owner’s retirement According a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page its final day of business will be Saturday but the time has come for a new chapter,” the post read Norm’s thanked its longtime staff and customers for making the last three decades successful Friday night dinners and family traditions families expand and shared so many laughs and tears with you and for that we are forever grateful,” the post continued customers were urged to check with the restaurant regarding menu items as they will become limited with orders for ingredients ending Norm’s Pizza & Eatery was established in 1994 on Spring Street in Wilkes-Barre The restaraunt moved to its location at 275 N TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com Stay up-to-date on important news from TribLIVE 1-800-909-8742 © 2025 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved About Us Advertise Career Opportunities Contact Advertising Contact Circulation Contact Newsroom Contact Us Feedback Request Correction Resource Center Scholarship Opportunities Send Letter to the Editor Send News Tip Subscribe Subscriber Services Blog eFeatures Email Newsletters eTrib Facebook Home Delivery Instagram LinkedIn Marketing Minute Store Locations TribLIVE App - App Store TribLIVE App - Google Play X (formerly Twitter) Arts & Entertainment Best of the Best Business Directory Circulars Contests Coronavirus Lifestyles Local News YaJagOff Obituaries Opinion Our Publications Photos Real Estate Sports Video Weather Cookie Settings Privacy Policy Terms of Service Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA head swim coach Erin Dietrich WILKES-BARRE — The Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA named Erin Dietrich head coach of its swim team The squad is beginning its summer season and is looking for new members Orcas (ages 9-13) and high school team (14-18) will compete in local competitions from May through July Swimmers or parents interested in learning more about the swim team should email Erin.Dietrich@wvymca.org Dietrich started working individually with swim team members leading up to the start of the season She is available for one-on-one sessions to assess abilities or just to improve recreational swimming skills Dietrich began working at the YMCA in February 2022 taking on multiple roles within the aquatics department as a lifeguard She joined the Dolphins swim team as an assistant coach later that summer ”My coaching journey began under the guidance of my aunt who has successfully run a swim program in New Jersey for over 30 years,” Dietrich said “I started volunteering with her at the age of 14 I learned how to work with swimmers of all ages and skill levels I continued on as a dive and turn coach each summer deepening my love for the sport while actively swimming for multiple teams.” As head swim coach of the Wilkes-Barre YMCA team Dietrich said she will aim to rebuild and revitalize the squad — not just to cultivate strong athletes but to help shape confident leaders and foster a supportive YMCA community for kids and young adults The team kicks off its summer season on May 5 Practices will be held up to five times a week between the Wilkes-Barre Area High School and the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA ”My goal is to inspire and encourage young swimmers to push their physical and mental limits,” Dietrich said “I want to help them develop their own goals and move towards becoming the best versions of themselves.” the Wilke-Barre YMCA Swim Team will also be offering two days of beginner open water training in June The courses will be aimed at enhancing strength and endurance in our swimmers Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Felipe De La Cruz dazzled with six scoreless innings leading the Syracuse Mets to a 6-3 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders De La Cruz struck out nine batters during the game and retied the final 17 batters he faced Syracuse (14-17) started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a spark at the top of the order and Drew Gilbert hit another double off the wall in right-center field to bring Walton home and put the Mets ahead Joey Meneses pushed an RBI single into right field that scored Gilbert to make it 2-0 Syracuse held a 2-0 lead thanks to fantastic pitching from De La Cruz The 23-year-old left-hander tossed six innings and only allowed one hit and struck out nine while retiring 18 of the 20 batters he faced Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s (15-15) offense came alive The RailRiders scored three runs to tie the game at 3-3 putting pressure on the Mets lineup to score again Syracuse came out swinging in the bottom of the seventh and stormed back to retake the lead Walton drew a walk to score Celestino and put the Mets in front hit a sacrifice fly to right field that brought in Ritter to give Syracuse a 5-3 lead Jon Singleton smacked an RBI single into right field that scored Senger and put the Mets ahead the Syracuse bullpen stepped up to shut it down Rico Garcia tossed a scoreless eighth inning and Anthony Gose closed the door in the ninth to secure the victory Syracuse continues its six-game series against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday night with game five The catcher has reached safely in all 15 games he’s played at Triple-A Opposing Triple-A pitchers are having a tough time getting out Jesus Rodriguez Since being promoted from Double-A Somerset to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on April 13 the 22-year-old catcher from Venezuela has appeared in 15 games through May 2 and safely reached base in all 15 He is batting .377 (20-for-53) with three doubles He also is 4-for-4 on stolen bases and has an on-base percentage of .485 and an OPS of .976 Rodriguez has gotten a hit in 12 of the 15 games and drew at least one walk in the three games he did not get a hit he is batting 14-for-28 with three three-hit games His first Triple-A hit was an RBI single against Rochester’s Clay Helvey in the fifth inning of the second game of a doubleheader April 13 that capped an 8-0 victory for the RailRiders RBI Rodriguez. In his Triple-A debut, Jesús Rodríguez extends the lead to 8-0. #WhereLegendsRise #RepBX pic.twitter.com/HEsUsSZLNT in the bottom of the first inning against Charlotte righthander Nick Nastrini Rodriguez sent a 2-0 pitch out to left field 370 feet for his first Triple-A home run It was a good pitch and I just tried to put the ball in play I got good contact to it and gratefully it was a home run.” Jesús Rodríguez hits his first Triple-A home run! 100.7 mph | 370 ft.#WhereLegendsRise #RepBX pic.twitter.com/6e15cW2TzP he has thrown out four of eight would-be base stealers RailRiders manager Shelley Duncan likes what he has seen so far from Rodriguez the skills needed to be a successful big-league catcher keep improving and develop the mental mindset to sustain a big-league season and deal with those ups and downs on a day-by-day basis and a bat-to-bat basis.” “Almost everybody here on this team – and the other teams too – has big-league experience So they try to do their best job,” Rodriguez said “That’s why you have to be smart every day and be patient.” Signed by the Yankees as a undrafted free agent in 2018 Rodriguez spent the 2019 and 2021 seasons in the Dominican Summer League and the 2022 season in the Florida Complex League He was a DSL midseason all-star in 2019 and a FCL postseason all-star in 2022 after helping the Yankees’ rookie-level team capture the league title In 2023, he played a combined 109 games at Class A with Tampa (84) and Hudson Valley (25) and batted .310 (122 for 393) with 20 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 62 RBI, 55 walks and 21 stolen bases. Those numbers earned him MiLB.com organizational all-star honors he played 56 games at Hudson Valley and 23 games at Double-A Somerset and batted a combined .302 (89-for-295) with 15 doubles Rodriguez started at Somerset and was only batting .107 (3-for-28) with three doubles two RBI and two walks in seven games before being promoted to the RailRiders “Everybody here has a lot of big-league experience so I’m trying to learn from everybody,” Rodriguez said “I know some of the guys from spring training I’m just trying to do my best to help the team Duncan believes Rodriguez has a bright future “The way he takes his at-bats and the way he handles himself is impressive,” Duncan said The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders bested the Syracuse Mets 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium Jake Woodford struck out seven and Alex Jackson drove in two and scored twice to back the RailRiders in the series win taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning Jackson worked a one-out walk and scored on a triple by Braden Shewmake The Mets answered in the third when Donovan Walton homered off of Woodford Dominic Smith and Bryan De La Cruz reached on singles against Anthony Gose Jackson tripled past the diving effort of Drew Gilbert in center Jackson scored on a passed ball to build a 4-1 lead allowing just one run on four hits over a season-best 5.2 innings of work with a season-high seven strikeouts McKinley Moore pitched 1.1 scoreless while Kervin Castro followed with a perfect eighth Billy McKinney homered off Colten Brewer and the Mets put the tying run in scoring position Brewer struck out Hayden Senger to shut the door for his second save of the year Gose (2-1) took the loss after allowing three runs in the sixth Jackson finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a pair of runs batted in and was a perfect 2-for-2 challenging pitches Jesús Rodríguez worked a seventh-inning walk and carries a team-best 17-game on-base streak into play this coming week The RailRiders took four of six in the set and won eight of 12 in Syracuse this season Scranton/Wilkes-Barre returns home on Tuesday to host the Rochester Red Wings for a seven-game The RailRiders are home for two weeks with the Toledo Mud Hens NY – With two more fantastic Triple-A pitching debuts and a trio of long balls the Syracuse Mets beat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders NY – With two more fantastic Triple-A pitching debuts and a trio of long balls Syracuse (15-17) set the tone early with a high-scoring bottom of the first inning Leadoff man Donovan Walton started the frame with a solo home run that put the Mets in front 1-0 and Jared Young all walked to load the bases Joey Meneses grounded out but scored Gilbert and made it 2-0 Syracuse Rafael Ortega smacked a three-run homer to thrust the Mets ahead a Jakson Reetz single with a throwing error by third baseman Jose Rojas scored Luke Ritter and gave Syracuse a 6-0 advantage The Mets held Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (15-16) scoreless through three innings thanks to a great start from recent Double-A call-up T.J pitched three innings and only gave up one run in the fourth inning to make it 6-1 the Syracuse offense continued to add insurance Gilbert hit his first Triple-A home run of 2025 and gave the Mets a 7-1 lead GIlbert has now reached base in 11 consecutive games and finished Saturday's game with three walks in addition to his homer Syracuse conceded a run on a Dominic Smith homer that made it 7-2 but the Mets got that run right back in the bottom half After a Meneses single and a throwing error by second baseman Jake Gatewood Gilberto Celestino scored to extend the Mets lead to 8-2 Grant Hartwig tossed a scoreless inning and secured the victory Syracuse ends its six-game series against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Sunday afternoon with game six 2025) –The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders lost 6-3 to the Syracuse Mets on Friday night at NBT Bank Stadium The RailRiders rallied to tie the game in the top of the seventh but the Mets recaptured the advantage in the home half of the inning and snapped Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s 2025) –The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders lost 6-3 to the Syracuse Mets on Friday night at NBT Bank Stadium but the Mets recaptured the advantage in the home half of the inning and snapped Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s three-game winning streak Box Score The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first Donovan Walton doubled on the first pitch of the inning from RailRiders starter Brandon Leibrandt and scored on a two-base hit by Drew Gilbert Joey Meneses looped a single to right to plate Gilbert and extend the Syracuse lead Felipe De La Cruz held Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in check over the first six innings After Syracuse extended the lead to 3-0 with a walk and a run-scoring double against MLB Rehabber Clayton Beeter in the bottom of the sixth Scranton/Wilkes-Barre evened the score at three apiece in the top of the seventh Rumfield singled off Tyler Zuber and advanced to third on a double by Alex Jackson Both scored on a two-base hit from Dominic Smith to cut the Mets lead to one Jake Gatewood reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Smith to score the game-tying run Double the bags. Double the runs. 💯#WhereLegendsRise #RepBX pic.twitter.com/FrDuQe27wr responded quickly and rebuilt its three-run lead in the bottom of the seventh The Mets loaded the bases and regained the lead when Geoff Hartlieb walked Walton Gilbert added a sac fly and Jon Singleton’s RBI single against Rob Zastryzny closed the scoring Leibrandt allowed two runs on three hits over four innings in his return from the 7-Day Injured List Beeter allowed a run on a hit and walk in his lone inning of work with two strikeouts Hartlieb (2-2) suffered the loss while Zuber (1-0) vultured the win Anthony Gose worked a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season Erick Leal takes the ball for the RailRiders on Saturday as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Syracuse continue this set at 6:35 P.M. The RailRiders return to PNC Field on Tuesday, May 6, to host the Rochester Red Wings for a six-day, seven-game series. Tickets and promotional details are available online at www.swbrailriders.com Savor the flavors of the Mediterranean at the Wilkes-Barre Greek Food Festival hosted by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 32 East Ross Street this popular annual event offers authentic Greek cuisine and pastries available from 11 AM to 7 PM each day and a wide selection of Greek pastries such as baklava and galaktoboureko The festival is open to all—diners may place orders in person by calling (570) 823-4805 during festival hours or by visiting greekfoodfestival.webs.com for online ordering and menu details the Wilkes-Barre Greek Food Festival is a delicious way to support local tradition and community PA- In the Charlotte Knights first game at PNC Park since 2019 Charlotte defeated the Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders 5-4 in 11 innings on Tuesday night and earned their first road victory of the season in the process Nick Nastrini led the way with six shutout innings and Dominic Fletcher Nick Nastrini led the way with six shutout innings and Dominic Fletcher provided the game-winning RBI single in the top of the 11th inning Nastrini kept the RailRiders scoreless over the game’s first six innings Charlotte’s right-handed starting pitcher surrendered only two hits and struck out six California native also induced a pair of inning-ending double-plays The Knights plated a couple of runs in the top of the third and took a 2-0 lead Tim Elko’s Sacrifice Fly pushed across the first run of the contest Kyle Teel quickly followed with an RBI single Corey Julks belted a solo Home Run in the top of the seventh and the Knights increased their lead to 3-0 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh and cut Charlotte’s cushion to one The Knights held their one-run advantage until the RailRiders were down to their final out of the game The home team then hit a solo Home Run and forced extra innings Each team plated their automatic runner from second base in the 10th inning; however the Knights claimed a 5-4 lead on Fletcher’s two-out RBI hit in the 11th Chase Plymell worked a perfect bottom half to secure the win Julks led the offense with a 3-for-4 night at the plate Charlotte will attempt to string back-to-back wins together in Game Two of the series That contest is slated for 6:35pm ET on Wednesday – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins announced today that they have signed forward Raivis Ansons.. – It was a crestfallen scene in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ locker room.. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins announced today that they have re-signed forward Jack Beck.. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins announced today that they have signed defenseman Tommy.. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins announced today that four players are being reassigned.. – A late goal by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms cut the.. Address: 40 Coal Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 Phone: 570-208-7367 General Email: [email protected] Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" By providing a telephone number, e-mail address, and submitting this form, you are consenting to be contacted by e-mail & SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging. See our privacy policy for more information Copyright © 2025 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Wilkes-BarrePenn State Wilkes-Barre art gallery features student workOne of the pieces in the "Hidden Gems" exhibit at Penn State Wilkes-Barre this summer. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons DALLAS, Pa. — This summer, visitors to campus can view a gallery of student art on display at Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s Friedman Art Gallery features artwork by students enrolled in prior Penn State Wilkes-Barre art courses The gallery is open to the public at no charge on weekdays from 8 a.m While some of the pieces were created by students enrolled in art classes more than 25 years ago others were designed during recent courses at Penn State Wilkes-Barre Students in ARTH 112: Art & Music History courses lecturer of music and art and director of the Friedman Art Gallery studied various modern art and painting techniques The class members discussed environmental art and used recycled materials to create art class members prepared a unique CAPS (Creative Art Project for Students) Students in the INART 001: Perceiving the Arts course studied various artwork and painting techniques These students incorporated techniques from paintings by well-known professional artist Bob Ross and created their interpretations of paintings while following the painting instructions provided by the artist Friedman Art Gallery curators discovered hundreds of paintings drawings and photographs submitted as assignments for previous campus art classes dating back to the late 1990s These artworks had been stored in various campus classroom closets Some of the pieces in the “Hidden Gems” exhibit were created by former students of art professor William Chickillo’s ART 020: Introduction to Drawing and ART 040: Introduction to Printmaking and Mixed Media courses Since many artworks in the exhibit cannot be specifically attributed to the original artists gallery leaders encourage previous students and the public to visit the exhibit to view the pieces and see if they can identify the artists a gift to Penn State Wilkes-Barre from Sidney and Pauline Friedman regularly displays the work of students and local artists The gallery strives to promote and encourage professional and amateur artists from the campus and surrounding communities while giving visitors to the campus the opportunity to view fresh and innovative artwork in a wide range of media To learn more, contact Pineno at 570-675-9159 or FriedmanArtGallery@psu.edu is considered unfit for occupancy due to significant code violations A notice taped to the front door lists several reasons for the posting WILKES-BARRE — Residents of an East Union Street apartment building that included King’s College students were forced to vacate their homes this week after the building was condemned due to significant building code violations A sign taped to the door of 16-22 East Union St said the building was unfit for human occupancy as of Tuesday signed by Wilkes-Barre Building Code Official Dan Kratz said a roof leak and plumbing issues were among the reasons for the posting The building also does not have a fire alarm and is an electrical hazard Kratz told the Times Leader that the elevator does not have current certification According to a work permit posted to the window City Administrator Charlie McCormick said the building was inspected about a month and a half ago due to a complaint about the roof leaking into an apartment Inspectors then found other issues that needed to be addressed The issues were not fixed when inspectors returned this week McCormick said he believed some residents were students of King’s College and that the school had a process with which to find alternative housing for them King’s College Public Relations Manager Will Skaggs told the Times Leader that 12 students in total were displaced all of whom were offered emergency on-campus housing as well as help securing on-campus housing for next year Skaggs said the college will provide them with food and parking assistance as needed City Health Department Social Worker Gail Malloy directing residents to various community resources McCormick stated that no one would be able to move back into the building until all of the violations were resolved Efforts to reach the building owners for comment Wednesday were not immediately successful NY – Tuesday night's game between the Syracuse Mets and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders has been postponed because of inclement weather The game will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Wednesday Game two will begin approximately 40 minutes after the NY – Tuesday night's game between the Syracuse Mets and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders has been postponed because of inclement weather Game two will begin approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game fans with tickets on days of doubleheaders can attend both games Wednesday home games this season are We Care Wednesdays presented by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield We Care Wednesdays provide local 501(c)(3) organizations the opportunity of a game day experience at no cost to them to help gain awareness and raise money for their worthwhile organizations Fans can enjoy $5 off wings and select items at the Wildcat concession stand at NBT Bank Stadium wine slushies are 50% off at the Jim Beam Dugout Bar and at the 315 Bullpen Bar at NBT Bank Stadium Fans with tickets for Tuesday's postponed game may redeem those tickets for any other Syracuse Mets home game at NBT Bank Stadium for one calendar year from Tuesday's date and tickets can be redeemed at the Syracuse Mets Ticket Office or by calling 315-474-7833 (WOLF) — A Wilkes-Barre team is set to compete in the 2025 Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game at the Little League Baseball World Series The success of the Wyoming Valley Little League Challenger Division began a few years ago After concerns of a lack of a home field and a bleak financial outlook things turned around for the division when it secured a field from the City of Wilkes-Barre with a twenty five year lease at one dollar per year That lead to an increase of donations to help get the division back on its feet The team says making it this far now is an honor Wyoming Valley will face off against a Woburn Massachusetts team in the game this August at Little League Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport financial assistance is an important component for students and their families Penn State is committed to making a college education affordable and accessible to everyone the University provides financial assistance to many eligible students 88 percent of students receive some form of it “Financial assistance provides access to education that students otherwise may not have and that’s really important when students are selecting a school They often choose Penn State — and specifically a Commonwealth Campus like Penn State Wilkes-Barre — for the availability of scholarships,” said Desiree Voitek “It gives students peace of mind to be able to study and not have to work excessively to pay tuition They can focus on their studies and have the time to participate in extracurricular activities.” Penn State Wilkes-Barre awarded 224 scholarships totaling nearly $1 million Donors have supported many of those scholarships with 59 donor-created scholarships offered at the campus Voitek said the availability of financial aid is especially important for many students who choose Penn State Wilkes-Barre “We have a high population of first-generation students and others who have greater need,” she said “We want to provide that access and affordability to them as part of our mission.” Bailey Hayes is a first-generation student who has received scholarships to help finance her education she said it was because she received scholarships that she was able to pursue her degree in criminal justice “I have a very vivid memory of my dad telling me when I was growing up that college might not be possible for me because our family would not be able to afford it,” she said “I started making sure I was getting straight A’s and working hard at athletics.” Hayes first attended Luzerne County Community College, where she earned an associate degree in criminal justice. She thought that would be the last stop for her education, but a faculty member encouraged her to reach out to Rebecca Sarver, assistant teaching professor of criminal justice and coordinator of the criminal justice program at Penn State Wilkes-Barre “Since I come from a lower-middle-class family I initially wasn’t going to go for a four-year degree,” Hayes said and it ended up working out beautifully for me Penn State Wilkes-Barre was close to home and very affordable Professors Sarver and [Jeremy] Olson [assistant professor of criminal justice] were so welcoming and inviting to the major And now I’m graduating college with a minimal amount of debt.” She estimated that financial assistance has covered about half of her tuition each semester and said she has received a minimum of two scholarships each academic year Attending a campus where so many other students receive financial assistance has made Hayes feel supported and able to relate to her peers “Knowing so many other people get support too makes me realize this is normal and it’s OK to accept help,” she said “It makes me so happy that there are other people out there in all kinds of situations who still chose to go to college and pursue education I like knowing I’m not the only one who is overcoming hurdles.” Some scholarships are targeted to students with demonstrated financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) often on grade-point average (GPA) as designated by a donor Others are program-based for students in certain majors or activities Student-athletes and veterans are some examples of students eligible for program-based awards unique to Penn State Wilkes-Barre “Our Office of Financial Aid works on each student’s financial aid package on a case-by-case basis,” Voitek said “We award as many students as we can the scholarship funds that we have available to try to make it as affordable as possible.” Marine Corps until he was permanently medically disabled with back and knee injuries Since his situation made it difficult for him to get a job he acknowledged that he needed help to be able to complete his degree and move into a new field “My back injuries have gotten substantially worse I was laid off because of that and could not find work,” Kelly said “I had to be honest about my injuries and disability and did not get a call back from most places losing quite a bit financially and going through a bout of depression It took the VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] to help get me back on an even keel They helped me get my life back on track and helped get me to Penn State Wilkes-Barre.” Through his scholarship and Chapter 31 benefits books and other expenses have been completely covered said she hears from many students like Hayes and Kelly who are “beyond grateful” for the assistance they have received “They say they are not sure they could have made it without financial support and now they don’t have to work a full-time job in order to go to school,” she said “We host our annual scholarship and awards dinner we offer meet-and-greets over Zoom with attendees and donors to connect them so our scholarship recipients can share their gratitude.” I explain to them how their gift really encourages me to keep going and how I’m grateful there are people out there who want to support people like me It means more than anyone will ever understand that someone recognizes the effort I’ve been putting in for years.” “Sometimes we hear that students can’t wait to pay it forward themselves I think our students really celebrate and acknowledge the philanthropy they have received.” Kelly said the help he received inspires him to help others and he chose his major because he wanted to help other veterans like himself “I wanted to come to Penn State Wilkes-Barre because they had my major and I was already familiar with the campus,” he said “I’d like to work with disabled veterans such as myself and this was the best avenue to do that.” He said he has a five-year plan and a 10-year plan he hopes to work at a VA hospital in vocational rehabilitation occupational therapy or substance abuse counseling he wants to start his own nonprofit organization “by veterans for veterans” with a program that would offer rescue animals and assistance for veterans needing mental health Hayes said she has wanted to work in law enforcement since she was 4 years old and hopes to contribute to scholarship funds later in her career She wants to work for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and eventually investigate human trafficking Both Hayes and Kelly expressed their relief at being able to focus on their studies “The financial assistance aspect has been so important for me,” Kelly said “I wouldn’t be able to get this education without it.” “I already live in my own house and pay my own bills and my own insurance I have been able to use whatever I earned from working toward those bills and use my scholarship money to pay my tuition I have been able to save money from working to start my life after graduation I have also been able to have more time to go home and see my family.” Voitek said many of the benefactors who have made gifts or endowed campus scholarship funds were once in a similar place as the student recipients “I often hear from our donors that they want to pay it forward,” she said “Many of them received their start in life with the help of a Penn State education They also hope these scholarships give students the inspiration and support to continue in their education so they can start a new trajectory for themselves and their families Our benefactors want to see students succeed and have the confidence to do so with the help of a scholarship.” This year’s Scholarship and Awards Dinner was held at The Greens at Irem Clubhouse on Thursday bringing together donors and student recipients Penn State Wilkes-Barre has additional resources to help meet student needs Another internship fund has been specifically designated for rehabilitation and human services students to provide a stipend for books Other assistance includes a lending closet through the Struthers Family Career Services Center where students can receive professional attire and a campus food pantry stocked with a variety of items we take a well-rounded approach,” Voitek said “Scholarships combined with all these other resources demonstrate that we are thinking about our students’ entire scope of needs.” Wilkes-BarrePenn State Wilkes-Barre names student marshals for commencementJunenoire Fonte, left, and Bailey Hayes will serve as student marshals for the Class of 2025's commencement ceremony. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons — Junenoire Fonte and Bailey Hayes have been selected as student marshals for the Class of 2025’s commencement ceremony Penn State Wilkes-Barre Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Lynda Goldstein announced Commencement begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, in the Athletic and Recreation Building and will also be livestreamed Student marshals are chosen based on academic excellence. They lead the procession of graduates during the commencement ceremony. Hayes will introduce the speaker, Joseph Boylan “We commend Junenoire and Bailey for their achievements in and out of the classroom,” Goldstein said “They represent the best of our graduating class and we are honored to have them lead their peers at commencement." Junenoire Fonte will earn her degree in information technology she graduated from Milford High School in New Hampshire “I’m excited for this opportunity and honored that my hard work and persistence has been the winning formula to be asked to be in this position,” Fonte said I had been out of school for over 20 years and didn’t believe that education was for me My early school years were challenging; I was held back a grade while my mom was in and out of the hospital recovering from multiple strokes schools lacked the support systems that exist today for students like me.” She said that through dedication to her studies; the support of others she was able to keep up with the challenges that faced her Fonte has balanced academics in addition to her role as a mother of two children She said she appreciates Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s attention to students of all needs including the Office of Student Disability Resources and Auraleah Grega “Auraleah has been a great resource and a listening ear for me She understands the challenges of being a nontraditional learner,” Fonte said “She is able to guide me toward what support is available and provide me with a distraction-free area for studying and tests.” Fonte attended photography school and lived and worked in New York City as a professional photographer for commercial and portrait photography and as a photo editor at W.W She has also had a long-term commitment to direct and supply graphic support of a scholarly digital project at the Metropolitan Museum of Art She transferred to Penn State Wilkes-Barre from Luzerne County Community College. While a student at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, she received the Irene Thomas Memorial Award from Arts at Hayfield and the University’s President Walker Achievement Award in 2024 Fonte said she hopes to combine her passion for art with her skills in computers and technology She works as an independent contractor assisting individuals with their information technology needs She also continues to consult with up-and-coming photographers providing guidance to them as they launch their careers Hayes, who will earn her degree in criminal justice grew up in the Lake Lehman and Mountain Top areas and now lives in Hunlock Creek She is a graduate of Crestwood High School and Wilkes-Barre Career and Technical Center “It is an absolute honor to be chosen as a student marshal,” Hayes said “My experience at Penn State Wilkes-Barre has been more than anything I could have ever hoped for Hayes is involved in numerous clubs and organizations at Penn State Wilkes-Barre secretary of the Military Appreciation Club and a member of Lion Ambassadors She completed an internship at the Domestic Violence Service Center and works as a direct support professional for FUNctional Connections and a police clerk for the municipality of Kingston She is also serving an internship with the Luzerne County Child Advocacy Center I know I will be working with a variety of populations,” Hayes said “That’s why I wanted to work with and learn more about all types of people even while I’m still in college.” She earned her associate degree in criminal justice from Luzerne County Community College “I have wanted to work in law enforcement since I was about 4 years old,” Hayes said “There was never a moment in my life where I wanted to work in a field where I didn’t help people.” She took her first law enforcement class in 10th grade and said her interest in the field has continued to grow She hopes to work for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department initially as a police officer and later as a human trafficking investigator Wilkes-BarrePenn State Wilkes-Barre announces Joseph Boylan as spring commencement speakerJoseph Boylan Credit: Provided by Joseph Boylan a business leader and Penn State Wilkes-Barre alumnus will serve as the speaker for the commencement ceremony at Penn State Wilkes-Barre on May 10 Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Lynda Goldstein announced Commencement begins at 10 a.m. in the Athletic and Recreation Building and will also be livestreamed “We are pleased that Joe Boylan has accepted the invitation to give the commencement address to the Class of 2025,” Goldstein said “His resilience and determination to overcome challenges in pursuit of his degree are inspiring I think the students will find many of the experiences he has faced relatable The success he has achieved demonstrates where a combination of effort and commitment can lead.” “I’m honored for the opportunity to be this year’s commencement speaker My Penn State education and network have given me so many opportunities I wouldn’t be where I am today without Penn State.” Boylan lives in Harveys Lake with his wife president and chief executive officer of the Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce is a second-year Interior design and architecture student at Drexel University Boylan works as portfolio director at Throughline an enterprise design and strategy firm headquartered in Washington he oversees the company’s digital transformation and user experience portfolio managing a team of employees across the United States The firm works with clients including the Department of Defense Our strategists distill what’s complex and our designers make it visual and actionable,” Boylan said “We’re known for using a visual communication style to ignite innovation He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business with a concentration in marketing and management His path to earn his degree was not without its struggles and challenges something he said he wants to relate to the graduates “I quit or gave up on Penn State numerous times but the University and the people there never gave up on me,” Boylan said After his first year at Penn State Wilkes Barre but then withdrew after the first semester of his third year “I had tremendous anxiety and I was mentally unraveling and struggling with confidence,” he said I recommitted to my education and went back to finish my degree at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.” Boylan said it was his connections at Penn State Wilkes-Barre that put him on the path to success beginning with an internship opportunity After his planned internship with Philadelphia sports teams didn’t work out who was in the beginning stages of starting a nonprofit that would become known as The Institute The Institute was established as the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development a think tank with offices in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton offering data analysis Boylan reviewed Brookings reports and provided analysis he was hired as a research analyst for The Institute He has continued his connection with Penn State Wilkes-Barre serving as a member of the campus Advisory Board and as a guest speaker for Clemente’s classes “Penn State Wilkes-Barre is a special place for me,” he said Lynda Goldstein and the University have done for me While going back allowed me to prove to myself that I could accomplish something Terry and Lynda showed me as a nontraditional student that I could accomplish even more after I finished my degree.” advancing to the role of district director He was later appointed as vice president of economic development for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce where he oversaw a restructuring that resulted in the elimination of $15 million in debt and the addition of $2 million in capital during a four-year timeframe Boylan also worked as executive director of Wilkes-Barre Connect a chamber program that focuses on attaining resources for entrepreneurs He assisted in developing a partnership between Wilkes-Barre Connect and the Penn State Wilkes-Barre LaunchBox one of the first entrepreneurial outreaches established as part of Invent Penn State allowing both organizations to share resources and programming He was recognized for his role with Invent Penn State during a dinner with then-President Eric Barron “Penn State footprints have appeared again and again throughout my career,” Boylan said he said he plans to recognize the students for their hard work and share his journey with them “I want to have them understand that I know what it takes to be in that seat,” he said hard work and sometimes a second job or finding daycare We will celebrate their hard work and never forget the commitment it took to get there.” Boylan said he also wants to encourage the graduates to recognize the power of their support networks and the Penn State alumni network “I will tell them to look to the audience and know that during their journey in life dark times or times when they’re uncertain But the family and friends who have supported them will always support them,” he said “And this is an incredible family of Penn Staters they have entered into You never know where you are going to run into a Penn State graduate At some point in their lives when they need it Wilkes-BarrePenn State Wilkes-Barre honors research fair winnersMolly Moran stands next to her project, “The Ethics and Impact of Ticket Scalping and Scamming in the U.S. Concert Industry.” Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons — Penn State Wilkes-Barre held the Celebration of Scholarship The event allows faculty and students to present their current research This year's event featured 33 posters created by 56 student participants staff and community judges evaluating the submissions Students and faculty in disciplines ranging from biology and surveying engineering to business and communication can share their research with the campus community and the public by preparing a poster for display during the annual research fair Participants also attend the event to discuss their research and give an oral presentation to a panel of judges Presentations are judged by randomly assigned faculty and staff judges who score the posters and the oral presentations “Student participation in academic research fosters critical thinking offering hands-on experience beyond the classroom It also helps students build meaningful connections with faculty explore career paths and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their field,” said Valerie Lynn masterfully coordinated Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s successful Celebration of Scholarship this year We would like to thank all of the student participants faculty research sponsors and judges for their dedication to research.” Celebration of Scholarship winners were honored at an awards ceremony held in the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Nesbitt Library on April 10 and received monetary prizes University Libraries’ Undergraduate Research Award – Excellence in Information Literacy Student posters can be viewed on the Celebration of Scholarship website every Penn State campus holds its own undergraduate research fair campuses are able to select posters to participate in the Eastern Regional Undergraduate Research Symposium held this year at Penn State Brandywine on April 26 Six posters from the following disciplines were selected to represent Penn State Wilkes-Barre: As members of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League (AHL) we are proud to serve as the primary developmental affiliate for the St use the link below to manually subscribe from your calendar app: 2025) – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders bested the Syracuse Mets 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium Box Score Calm, cool, and crusin' into third. 💯#WhereLegendsRise #RepBX pic.twitter.com/TxT22Cl9Xx The Mets answered in the third when Donovan Walton homered off Woodford Dominic Smith and Bryan De LA Cruz reached on singles against Anthony Gose All-Over-It Alex. 💪#WhereLegendsRise #RepBX pic.twitter.com/6xWJ3qyfoh Jesús Rodríguez worked a seventh-inning walk and carries a team-best 17-game on-base streak into play this coming week The RailRiders took four-of-six in the set and won eight of 12 in Syracuse this season Scranton/Wilkes-Barre returns home on Tuesday, May 6, to host the Rochester Red Wings for a seven-game, six-day series. The RailRiders are home for two weeks with the Toledo Mud Hens, Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, coming to town for a set from May 13-18. Tickets and promotional details for any home game are available online at www.swbrailriders.com Building owner Nikolin Gjoklaj (left) and developer George Albert address the Wilkes-Barre Zoning Hearing Board Wednesday Gjoklaj plans to turn a former Catholic church and art/studio gallery A developer plans to turn this former Catholic church and art/studio gallery into a 16-unit apartment building WILKES-BARRE — A former Catholic Church and art gallery will be converted into a 16-unit apartment building following the project’s approval at Wednesday’s Zoning Hearing Board meeting The board also approved a variance to reduce the off-street parking area setback from the required 10 feet down to five feet was formerly the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church the space was renovated and converted into a gallery space but closed around 4 to 5 years ago after the previous owner passed away Developer George Albert said the building will be split into two levels: the first main floor of the church level and then a mezzanine that would be constructed above to include a second floor Each floor will have 8 units of varying sizes from about 800 square feet to 1200 square feet Albert said the target demographic for tenants would be those 55 years and older The parking lot can accommodate up to 35 spaces and there will be stormwater improvements made to the site While the building itself is in good condition Albert said the steeple is in disrepair and will have to be taken down the church’s outer appearence will remain more or less the same a building manager will be on site at all times Construction on the project is slated to begin this summer Albert said the process is likely to take around six to eight months the board denied an application by El Rey Tire & Auto Service to install four storage trailers for tire storage on the business’s property The business was originally approved for a special exception back in Novemeber 2024 to construct an accessory building for used tire storage Wilkes-Barre Council Member Jessica McClay who lives across the street from the property said the storage containers were placed there instead within a month of the business’s approval for the building construction “A building is going to bring value to the city A building is also going to bring up tax value Zoning Officer Bill Harris asked the business owners why they didn’t tell him ahead of time that the storage containers were going to be on the property Owner Norberto Jaquez said they were under the impression that the zoning permit they got in Novemeber allowed them to do so “These are classified as industrial containers which is usually compatible with a C for heavy commercial zoning district or M or M2 for heavy manufacturing or light manufacturing zoning,” he explained The containers were not allowed in a comericial community district several other applications of note were approved • Castillo Real Estate LLC for a variance to operate an automotive body repair garage at 30 Gould Lane which is located in a R-1 zone and a variance to waive 33 parking spaces for the proposed use • Castillo Real Esate LLC for a variance to waive the required minimum lot size from 5,000 square feet reduced to 2,307 square feet for property located at 71 Parrish St it was approved for a variance to waive the required minimum lot width from 50 feet reduced to 18.3 feet and a variance to waive the required minimum side yard setback from 8 feet reduced to 0 feet • Anzalone & Doyle Trial Lawyers for the property located within a C-3 zone at 8-18 W for a variance to install an advertisement sign on the roof top of a building containing an existing 25 foot by 80 foot sign support structure Wilkes-BarrePenn State Wilkes-Barre to hold open house April 26 for prospective studentsCredit: Penn State. Creative Commons — Penn State Wilkes-Barre invites prospective students and their families to visit the campus during an open house on April 26 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m The event will begin with a continental breakfast and will include campus tours along with details about the admissions process Prospective students will learn about the 91 percent of Penn State Wilkes-Barre students who receive financial assistance They can also ask questions of the admissions team “Attending an open house is the ideal way to determine if Penn State Wilkes Barre is the right fit for you,” said Aaron Mattern senior regional director of enrollment management “Whether you’re discovering our academic programs engaging with current students and dedicated faculty and staff or taking in the beauty of our scenic campus an open house offers a fun and insightful introduction to your journey as a Penn Stater.” The Penn State application fee is waived for students who visit the campus Those planning to attend should register online. Upon registering, participants will receive followup communications with a campus map, directions and additional information. Those who are interested but unable to attend the open house can schedule a one-on-one visit and tour by contacting the Admissions office at 570-675-9238 or wbadmissions@psu.edu.  Need to Sell? Click here to place a classified ad. Watch #OnTheStacks podcast! New episode every Wednesday. KINGSTON TWP. — Police in Kingston Township, along with detectives from the Luzerne County district attorney’s office, arrested a Wilkes-Barre man on allegations that he solicited a child for sex. Thomas Clayton Clark, 62, of Mill Street, was arrested Monday when investigators believed he was meeting a child with intentions of committing sexual acts, according to court records. Court records say Clark engaged in online communications with an undercover officer posing as a child beginning in early March through Monday. During the online communications, Clark was advised he was communicating with a child, but he continued to solicit the child and perform sexual acts, court records say. Clark allegedly expressed his fear of being arrested but wrote, “(expletive) it, what’s 25 years, right?” When investigators learned Clark was making arrangements with another child to meet, he was arrested at his residence with assistance from the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, police stated. Clark was arraigned by District Judge Ferris Webby of Wright Township on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, criminal use of communication facility and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor. He was jailed without bail at the county correctional facility as he was deemed a danger to society. President Donald Trump makes a major sports announcement. The announcement comes amid reports Washington, D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft. WATCHWilkes-Barre police investigate armed robbery on South Pennsylvania Avenueby FOX56 NEWSROOM (WOLF) — Wilkes-Barre City Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred early Tuesday morning at a business on South Pennsylvania Avenue the suspect entered the establishment around 4 a.m and approached the counter while displaying a firearm described as a male with a large build and standing between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 8 inches tall ordered the victim to hand over money from both cash registers the suspect fled the scene and was last seen heading towards East Northampton Street Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident Crews are working to repair a water main break that is affecting residents and businesses in Wilkes-Barre and Wilkes-Barre Township According to American Water Work Service Company Tuesday and repairs were estimated to take about 10 hours to complete Wilkes-Barre Township Police stated that the main water break is on Highland Park Blvd near I-81 Ramp The water company said people who reside in the area may experience discolored or cloudy water run cold water at the lowest level of your house run water at the highest level of your house The condition should clear after 3 to 5 minutes of running water If you are a landlord and water service is in your name please inform your tenants so they are aware of this impact to their water service,” the emergency alert stated for the remainder of the evening due to the water main break WILKES-BARRE — City police say they arrested Ezekiel Canty on charges he shot a 45-year-old man during a physical confrontation on Old River Road Thursday night Canty was arraigned by District Judge Carol A Davenport of Shickshinny on charges of firearms not to be carried without a license Canty was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $150,000 bail Officers responded to the 100 block of Old River Road for a reported fight at about 7:37 p.m officers learned Canty and another man engaged in a physical confrontation Canty brandished a firearm and shot the man in the abdomen when the victim picked up a bat Police said the victim was transported to a local hospital Wilkes-BarreWilkes-Barre Hazleton team developing VR/AR appsInternational society funds application development for geospatial educationPenn State Hazleton students Kyle Jones and Jason Herrera are assisting with the coding and development for virtual reality and augmented reality applications — Faculty and students at two Penn State campuses are collaborating to develop virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications for use in geospatial education funded with more than $10,000 from the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) focuses on how to implement VR and AR to help surveying educators better understand immersive technologies and how such technologies can be used to support instruction associate professor of surveying engineering at Penn State Wilkes-Barre called the Education and Capacity Building Initiative associate teaching professor of computer science at Penn State Hazleton who are both undergraduate students at Penn State Hazleton we are working with new teaching methods and many of us have become more involved with immersive technologies and virtual reality,” said Bolkas who chairs the ISPRS working group that received the funding “This is to support the education of professionals in the field and open pathways to educate others The modules we are developing will be available to anyone to use to explore VR and AR mode.” when Bolkas and his colleagues in the working group surveyed educators organization leaders and others in the surveying field on the topic of virtual reality Participants were asked about their familiarity and experience with VR and AR and what their needs were in those areas the group decided to develop an immersive experience in mapping with the ability to visualize objects and three-dimensional models Penn State Wilkes-Barre also used some of the funding to purchase six headsets to enable the VR/AR experience who previously taught at Penn State Wilkes-Barre was asked to join the team for his expertise in computer science and application development Herrera and Jones are contributing to coding and development Herrera and Jones are both second-year students majoring in computer science who got to know each other as students at East Stroudsburg South Senior High School “We both went to the same high school pursuing the same field and took the same computer science classes so we had similar experience levels before we came to Penn State,” Herrera said “This kind of opportunity has allowed me to learn and refine skills required for my major These skills will help me advance in my goals to become a successful software developer in the future I also learned how game engines work and the limitless possibilities that virtual reality can provide.” so everything was new territory in that regard,” Jones said but this was definitely the largest project so far I learned how to use programs and platforms in my field and how to work better with a team I know that learning how to work well with a team and having a broader experience with coding will be useful to any developer.” with AR application development in process The VR and AR experiences will be tested in surveying and geospatial courses at Penn State Wilkes-Barre and the U.S Military Academy at West Point during the fall semester the researchers will offer learning materials on the immersive technologies to surveying educators for use in their courses and work “The goal of this project was to broaden the education of the geospatial community and share this knowledge with them,” Bolkas said “We strive to educate our students using emerging technologies and appreciate this opportunity to make contributions to the surveying field.” Wilkes-BarrePenn State Wilkes-Barre honors scholarship recipientsPenn State Wilkes-Barre scholarship recipients were honored during this year's annual dinner. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons — Penn State Wilkes-Barre held its annual scholarship dinner on March 27 at The Greens at Irem Clubhouse recognizing donors and bringing them together with campus students who have received scholarships Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Lynda Goldstein and Regional Chancellor for Penn State Wilkes-Barre Hazleton and Scranton Elizabeth Wright welcomed guests Senior Director of Campus Development Desiree Voitek recognized scholarship sponsors a fourth-year student majoring in surveying engineering which makes all of this possible,” Voitek said “Thank you for your investment in our mission Thank you for partnering with us to ensure that a Penn State degree is within reach for so many We know that education paves the way for future success These students will go on to be leaders in their workplaces and communities and they will do so because you believed in them and provided them with this opportunity.” Voitek said that for the 2024-25 academic year 220 Penn State Wilkes-Barre students received scholarships and awards totaling nearly $950,000 Carpenter shared his experience as a surveying engineering major vice president of the Surveying Society and a senator in the Student Government Association “The education that I have obtained from Penn State Wilkes-Barre has helped set me up for the next chapter of my life,” he said “None of my success and the success of my fellow Penn Staters would have been possible without help from all the donors It is their generosity and support to us and the next generation of students that helps all of us reach our goals.” student scholarship recipients were recognized 91% of students receive financial assistance Wilkes-Barre is well-known as one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s major population centers. It’s the largest city in Luzerne County and second largest, behind Scranton in the wider Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area Things to See & Do Local Shops & Boutiques Colleges & Universities Community Nonprofits The RailRiders light up PNC Field for over 70 home match ups every season Stroll through Wilkes-Barre’s fascinating past on a self-guided walking tour of the city’s most iconic locations A companion app guides you along to all 20 stops providing plenty of information along the way you definitely won’t go hungry in Wilkes-Barre For more fun and entertainment, check out Mohegan Pennsylvania for live slots and table gaming live music and comedy and plenty of restaurants Wilkes-BarrePenn State Wilkes-Barre to host solar eclipse viewing party April 8Free solar eclipse glasses, essential for a safe viewing experience, will be provided while supplies lastCredit: Penn State. Creative Commons DALLAS, Pa. — Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s Friedman Observatory will hold a solar eclipse viewing party on April 8 from 2 to 5 p.m both inside and outside the Nesbitt Academic Commons offers a unique opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts and curious individuals alike to experience the celestial phenomenon “This will be the last chance to see a solar eclipse cross the United States until 2045,” said Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Friedman Observatory Director Violet Mager “Solar eclipses are awe-inspiring events that offer a glimpse into the wonders of our universe We look forward to sharing this experience with everyone who attends.” At Penn State Wilkes‑Barre, a 94.9% near-total solar eclipse will be visible. According to NASA’s Eclipse Explorer attendees will have the chance to observe the eclipse through a telescope with a solar filter In addition to observing the eclipse, visitors can view live footage streaming from NASA and see an eclipse-themed exhibit in the Friedman Art Gallery Children’s crafts and giveaways will be offered Those planning to attend are asked to respond online The Friedman Observatory is open to the public for an open house every Friday at 8 p.m.