Phil Haynes, drummer, composer, & band leader, speaking about his recent double album titled, "Liberty Now!" with the ensemble Free Country. Haynes settled in central Pennsylvania in 2003, and he has had strong ties to Bucknell University in Lewisburg. The recording was released on Corner Store Jazz. For more information: www.philhaynes.com/www.cornerstorejazz.com/

Jack Swersie, co-founder & steering committee member of the Gallery at 530 Main in Stroudsburg, and artist Liz Tilley, committee member & Corporate Sponsorship Representative at WVIA, speaking about the Gallery's First Anniversary exhibition running to February 14, 2026 and the shows they will host through the rest of the year. For more information: www.shermantheater.com/Tilley also spoke about The Stars & Stitches Forever Quilt Challenge hosted by the Monroe County Historical Association in Stroudsburg. Quilts are due by February 27th.For more information: www.monroehistorical.org/

Bob Eckstein, award-winning illustrator, writer and cartoonist, speaking about his recent book, "Inspired by Cats: Writers and Their Mewes(es), with NavaAtlas and issued by Countryman Press, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company.For information: www.BobEckstein.com/His Substack newsletter is titled, The Bob

Marjorie Maddox & Jerry Wemple, co-editors of the collection,Keystone Poetry: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania,issued by Penn State University Press. There will bereadings by poets from the volume presented virtually byword hive: a space for poets--January 17, 2026 from 7:00to 8:30; February 21st & March 21st. www.wordhive.org/There will be other readings at sites throughout the stateincluding on April 9th in Bloomsburg.www.psupress.org/www.marjoriemaddox.com/www.jwemple.com/

Dr. Robert Wolensky, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, co-founder andlongtime coordinator of Anthracite Mining Heritage Monthin the region, speaking about the history of the commemorationand the events planned for January 2026. For moreinformation: www.anthracitemuseum.org/WVIA takes part each year with a series of web pagesfeaturing anthracite-related ArtScene interviews,Short Takes videos, the WVIA Knox Mine Disasterdocumentary, stories from WVIA News and more:www.wvia.org — search on "AnthraciteMining Heritage"

John Vaida, violin, and Amy Iwazumi, viola, co-founders ofthe Northeastern PA Chamber Music Society, speaking aboutthe next pair of concerts titled, "Symphonic Overtones," to bepresented Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 7:00 pm at HayfieldHouse at Penn State Wilkes-Barre in Dallas. Also Saturday,January 17 at 3:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church ofBloomsburg. The program will feature an arrangement forstrings of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante, K.364, and BrahmsSextet No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op 18.Tickets are available online only.wwwnepacms.org/

Noelle Casella Grand, Assistant Principal Cellist with the NEPA Philharmonic,speaking about her life in music and the upcoming chamber concert titled,"Cello Starry Night," presented by the Philharmonic at 7 pm on Friday, January 16, 2026at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. The featured guest pianist will be Sebastian Grand, and the program will include pieces by Bach, Beethoven,Debussy and more. www.nepaphil.org/ 570-270-4444

Jared Whitford, co-producer, director and designer ofSTOA: A New Musical Journey, with actors Sara Sneed,Bebe Tabickman, Samantha Lee Mason; and LydiaBrookhart, speaking about the original children'smusical with book and score by Alivia Tagliaferri andadditional music by Sarah Keely Decker.The show will have its premiere on Friday, January9, 2026, at Clark Chapel at Lycoming College inWilliamsport at 7:30 pm. Also shows 1/10 at 7 pm,1/11 at 2 pm, 1/16 at 7 pm, 1/17 at 2:00-a sensory-friendly performance,Also 1/17 at 7 pm, and 1/18 at 2 pm.www.stoabear.com/

Russell Redding, PA Secretary of Agriculture, speaking withWVIA's Fiona Powell before her retirement, in anticipationof the 2021 PA Farm Show. They talked about the importanceof agriculture in PA, about the Farm Show and about "AllCreatures Great and Small" by James Herriot.The 2026 PA Farm show will run from January 10ththrough the 17th at the PA Farm Show Complex &Expo Center in Harrisburg. www.farmshow.pa.gov/A new season of the PBS series "All Creatures Great & Small"will have its premiere on Sunday, January 11th at 9:00 pmon WVIA TV.There will be a special sneak preview of the first episodeon Thursday, January 8th at 7:00 pm at the WVIA PublicMedia Center, 100 WVIA Way in Pittston. There is noadmission fee and the public is invited to attend.Laura Ducceschi is the special guest.Those who attend are asked to bring a donation ofpet food or supplies to be distributed to local animalshelters. www.wvia.org/eventsThe WVIA News Team will broadcast live from the2026 PA Farm Show on Thursday, January 15th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.

Bonnie Culver (co-founder with Mike Lennon); Robert Mooney;Kaylie Jones; Christine Gelineau; and David Hicks (director ofthe program)--all faculty members of the Maslow Family GraduateProgram in Creative Writing at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre,speaking in June 2025 on the occasion of the 20th anniversaryof the program. January 4 to January 9, 2026 marks the firstof two residency weeks for the new year. There will bereadings each evening that are free and open to the public.www.wilkes.edu/creativewriting