Robert Wolensky, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at

the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Adjunct

Professor at King's College & founder and

coordinator of Anthracite Heritage Mining Month,

speaking about the events to be held in January

2025 in the region, running from January 8 through

February 1. For information: www.ahfdn.org/

or www.wvia.org/mining

David Hicks, Director and Faculty of Practice in the

Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing

at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, speaking about

his recent children's book, "The Magic Ticket," issued

by Fulcrum Press. There will be public readings

from January 4th through the 9th on campus as

part of the program's January 2025 residency.

There is no admission charge.

For more information: www.wilkes.edu/creativewriting

www.david-hicks.com/

Neil Prisco, Marketing Director of the F.M. Kirby Center

for the Performing Arts in downtown Wilkes-Barre,

speaking about the second half of the 2024-2025

season and the newly-issued brochure. Performances

run from January 9th through June 8th, with

new events to be added regularly. For more

information: www.kirbycenter.org/ 570-826-1100

Poet Joan Selby of Maryland, speaking about her recent poetry

collection titled, "Love Warp," and reading various selections.

She has lived, taught and written in Pennsylvania, Ohio and

now in Maryland, and she hosts the Hagerstown Writing Group.

For more information: www.washingtoncountyarts.com/

Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Spiritual Leader of Temple Hesed in Scranton, and Executive Director of the Coalition on the Environment & Jewish Life, speaking about the recent interfaith, climate-focused gathering in Italy under the aegis of Wilton Park, an Executive Agency of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the efforts to establish a lasting network to further work on behalf of the climate and environmental justice. www.coejl.org/

Violinist Sophie Till of the Marywood University Music Faculty, and clarinettist Pascal Archer, principal with the NEPA Philharmonic, speaking about the Quartet for the End of Time by Olivier Messiaen which they performed with cellist Christiane Appenheimer-Vaida and pianist Ron Stabinsky, in the Marian Chapel at the Swartz Center on the Marywood campus in Scranton on Saturday, September 28, 2024.  The event was a collaboration between Marywood Music Faculty and the NEPA Philharmonic.  For information: marywood.edu/mtd or  nepaphil.org/ The interview was first broadcast 9/20/24.

Sasha Margolis, violinist, author, composer, arranger, speaking about his novel, "The Tsimbalist." Margolis is a violinist with the NEPA Philharmonic and the orchestra of Glimmerglass Opera. He is co-founder of the eclectic ensemble Big Galut(e).

The novel is set in 1871 in eastern Europe and is a detective

story with Avrom, the tsimbalist, as protagonist.

For more information: Facebook.com/thetsimbalist

Chason Goldschmitz, who will become Executive Director

of the NEPA Philharmonic on January 1, 2025, speaking

about his life in music, his work with soprano Renee Fleming

and his vision for the orchestra, as he prepares to take the

helm. For more information on the NEPA Philharmonic

and the 2024-2025 season as it continues: www.nepaphil.org/

Alan Stout, Executive Director of Visit Luzerne County,

music journalist, radio host & event producer, speaking

about the northeastern PA music scene over the years

and about all the region has to offer.

His long-running radio show, "Music on the Menu," can

be heard Sunday nights at 9:00 on 105 The River.

Facebook.com/musiconthemenu and

www.visitluzernecounty.com/

Adriana Beers, owner and artistic director of In2YouArts in Stroudsburg, speaking with reporter Isabela Weiss of WVIA News at the opening of the Gallery at 530 Main about the arts, business and education in the region after the closing of the Pocono Arts Council.  Beers' arts school shares space at 530 Main with the Gallery. The inaugural exhibition is titled, "Artists of the Poconos," and it will run through February 15, 2025.  Gallery hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4. www.shermantheater.com/