Greater Scranton YMCA receives $4,000 BK5K Youth Fund grant
The Greater Scranton YMCA was awarded a $4,000 grant from BK5K Fund of the Winona Community Foundation to support its Year-Round Food Program.
The program provides daily meals and snacks to children enrolled in the Y’s Early Learning Centers, Before and After School Program and Summer Scholars at no additional cost to families.
The BK5K Youth Fund of the Winona Community Foundation, organized in connection with the annual BK5K Road Race honoring Bob Kierlin, founder of Fastenal Company, distributes proceeds to youth-serving organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to positive youth development.
Grant funds will be applied directly to the cost of food. The Greater Scranton YMCA’s Year-Round Food Program serves 352 children each year across its Dunmore and Olyphant Early Learning Centers, Y-PALS preschool, Before and After School Care, and Summer Scholars program. Meals are prepared on-site daily and follow nutritional guidelines established through the Child and Adult Care Food Program, a federally funded initiative that sets and monitors meal pattern standards to ensure children receive nutritious, age-appropriate food.
“At the Y, we believe every child deserves access to a nutritious meal, no matter their family’s circumstances,” said Rich Surridge, president and CEO of the Greater Scranton YMCA, in a news release. “Support from our community, like the generous grant awarded by the BK5K Fund of the Winona Community Foundation, is instrumental in allowing us to continue to run the Food Program and serve the children in our care.”
The Greater Scranton YMCA has operated the Year-Round Food Program since 2019. Enrollment in the Y’s early childhood education programs has grown significantly in that time, including the 2024 opening of the Olyphant Early Learning Center and the 2025 addition of three new classrooms at the Dunmore Early Learning Center. That growth has increased demand on the food program and, alongside rising food costs, created a persistent gap between program expenses and secured revenue.
For more information about the Greater Scranton YMCA’s Year-Round Food Program or early childhood education programs, contact Tressa Capoccia, senior director of education, at tcapoccia@gsymca.org or 570-795-4563.
Annual Michele’s Ladies in Pink Party set for Oct. 18
The annual Michele’s Ladies in Pink Party brunch fundraiser will be held Sunday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Fiorelli Catering in Peckville.
The Michele’s Ladies in Pink organization is named in memory of Michele Zini, the owner/operator of the Alpine Swirl in Peckville. Zini passed away in 2005 from breast cancer at the age of 46.
Breast cancer recipient awards will be presented at the brunch. There will also be a cash bar, 50/50, raffle baskets, Wheelbarrow of Cheer and door prizes.
Proceeds from the memorial event benefit local individuals battling breast cancer and other cancers, as well as fund two scholarships for Valley View High School students entering the medical field.
Tickets are $40 and will be sold in advance only. No table reservations will be allowed. A maximum of 350 seats will be available.
Tickets can be purchased by contacting committee members Wendy Mitchko at 570-650-0617, Linda Canevari at 570-383-2031, Carla Magnot at 570-510-4659, Norine Legg at 570-575-2880, Jen Berg at 570-878-6451, Maryann Veno at 570-878-0074, Rose Zini at 570-877-4660 or Kasey Zini at 570-766-2410.
Donations can be mailed to “Ladies in Pink,” 131 Basalyga St., Jessup, PA 18434. PayPal donations can be made at michelesladiesinpink.com. The organization is seeking monetary donations and gift certificates only.
For more information and updates, visit the Michele’s Ladies in Pink Facebook page.
The Kerry Kenny Band will kick off the 2026-27 Arts at First Presbyterian concert series Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, 300 School St. (Submitted)
Kerry Kenny Band to open concert series
The Kerry Kenny Band will kick off the 2026-27 Arts at First Presbyterian concert series Sunday, Oct. 4, at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, 300 School St.
The group is a world‑touring ensemble led by Kerry Kenny, a singer, songwriter and guitarist known for blending Celtic‑rooted folk storytelling with contemporary pop and rock influences.
Raised in Kenny’s Pub, her family’s Irish pub in Archbald, and inspired by global travels, Kenny’s music often explores themes of love, loss, redemption and resilience, delivered with a powerful, emotive voice described as “filled with honey and smoke.”
The concert is open to the public free of charge, with a free-will offering taken to help defray the cost of the event. Attendees can meet the artists at a reception held after the concert.
Other concerts in the 2026-27 Arts at First Presbyterian concert series include the NEPA Chamber Music Society on Oct. 25, Psalm Festival on Nov. 15, Clarks Summit Festival of Ice activities from Feb. 19-21, Presbybop Quintet on March 14, folk singer Matthew Black on April 15 and the Marywood University Chamber Choir on May 8.
For more information on the Arts at First Presbyterian concert series, visit the church’s website at fpccs.org.
Johnson College offers online career training programs
Johnson College offers WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act)-approved career training designed to help eligible individuals gain skills and industry credentials that can support new career opportunities or advancement in their current field.
Through Johnson College’s Workforce Advancement & Value-Added Education program, individuals can enroll in career-focused training at any time and complete programs online. Books and materials are included, and certification exam vouchers may be available for select programs. Some courses also include instructor-led support and guidance.
Johnson College offers 13 career-focused training courses in areas such as electronic health records, medical billing and coding, professional bookkeeping with QuickBooks, sales representative and more. The programs provide opportunities for learners to develop practical skills and pursue industry-recognized certifications aligned with their professional goals.
WIOA-approved training is available to eligible individuals seeking to gain new skills, change careers or strengthen their qualifications for employment. Individuals interested in WIOA-approved training at Johnson College can learn more about available programs, eligibility requirements and how to get started at johnson.edu/wave or by contacting wave@johnson.edu.