Mark Ciocca, artist & educator from NEPA, speaking about his work titled, "Engine #6039"that will be on exhibit at Steamtown National Historic Site in downtown Scranton as part of Arts in the Parks weekend—August 23 & 24, 2025. On Sunday, August 24th, at 3:00,Ciocca will present the program, "Creating Engine #6039," a conversation with the artist.There will programs by other speakers each day as well. Admission is free.For more information: www.nps.gov/steamtown; www.markciocca.com/

Rev. Bill Carter, Pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, jazz pianist, composer, arranger & band leader, and Derrick Bang, biographer of Vince Guaraldi,speaking about the Jazz Mass Guaraldi composed for Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.To mark the 60th anniversary of the premiere, First Presbyterian Church of CS will presenta full performance of the work that was transcribed from the key recording by Carter.Featured will be a talk by Bang at 9:30 am on Sunday, August 31, 2025, followed bythe Mass, presented by the Presbybop Quartet, the combined choirs of the 1stPresbyterian Church & Our Lady of the Snows, at the FP Church, 300 School Streetin Clarks Summit. The public is invited, and for more information: www.fpccs.org/

Rev. Bill Carter, Pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, jazz pianist, composer, arranger & band leader, and Derrick Bang, biographer of Vince Guaraldi,speaking about the Jazz Mass Guaraldi composed for Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.To mark the 60th anniversary of the premiere, First Presbyterian Church of CS will presentthe full Mass that was transcribed from the key recording by Carter.Featured will be a talk by Bang at 9:30 am on Sunday, August 31, 2025, followed bythe Mass at 10 am, performed by the Presbybop Quartet, the combined choirs of the 1stPresbyterian Church & Our Lady of the Snows, at the First Presbyterian Church, 300 School Street in Clarks Summit. The public is invited, and for more information: www.fpccs.org/

Maegan Zielinski, board member of the Street Art Society of NEPA, speaking aboutthe organization and its End of Summer Mural Trolley Tour on August 19, 20 & 21, 2025, at 6:00 pm, leaving from the Old Train Station in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Attendees areasked to arrive at 5:45 for the hour and 15 minute tour that will take in over 30 murals.The excursion will conclude in Forty Fort at Amy Bezek Photography for a meet-&-greetwith mural artists and refreshments. The trolley will return to the Old Train Station at oraround 8:15. Tuesday's trip is sold out, but there are openings for the Wednesday & Thursday tours. For more information: www.streetartsocietynepa.org/

Carl Achhammer, Jr, founding member, & James Gavern, president of the NEPA Bonsai Society, speaking about the art and the group's 2025 Open House on August 23rdfrom 10 am to 2 pm at Keller's Garden Center, 7 KernStreet in Exeter, PA. For more information:www.nepabonsai.com/

Katherine Ann Wynne, award-winning author and screenwriter,speaking about her recent essay collection titled, "The Animalsof Fernwood Cottage," highlighting many of the animals she &her husband Peter Wynne, have welcomed over the decades inWayne County, PA. www.katherineannwynne.com/

Ty Kim, Emmy Award-Winning filmmaker and director of therecent documentary titled, "Earl." The film tells the story ofthe life and music of the distinguished 20th composer andeducator who retired from Harvard University in 1990and died in 1998. Earl studied with Arnold Schoenbergand Ernest Bloch and taught Paul Salerni and JohnHarbison, award-winning composers in their ownright. Earl Kim's association with writer SamuelBeckett is explored in the film as well as Earl'sservice during World War II. We hear in this featureDr. Salerni's memories of Earl Kim as his teacher & mentor, as well.The documentary has been screened internationallyand has won a number of prizes.For more information: www.earlkimcomposer.com/

Tim Novotney, award-winning producer, director & editor at WVIA, speaking about his Emmy-nominated short documentary,"The Secret Beneath Hazleton," that can be viewed onlineat wvia.org/ under Short Takes. There is a Kickstarter campaign underway toraise funds to produce a full documentary on the city beneath Hazleton, and for more information:Kickstarter.com and search for "The Secret BeneathHazleton."

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of the NEPA Philharmonic;Leah Valenches , violin with the NEPA Philharmonic String Quartet;and Chris Norton, Sr. Vice-President at WVIA Public Media, speaking about the benefit concert for WVIA on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Harmonyin the Woods at 5:30. with a reception at 5:00.Singer-Songwriter Regina Sayles will perform with the PhilharmonicString Quartet featuring folk, rock, and pop arrangements withoriginals by Sayles, too.For tickets: www.wvia.org/events; For more information:www.nepaphil.org/ and www.harmonyinthewoods.org/

Bill Amos, playwright, Cole Hrusovsky; directorAnd Matt Bubul, actor, speaking about thePA Theatre of Performing Arts production of"Sherlock Holmes & the Scarlet Avenger" adapted byAmos from the story, "A Study in Scarlet."There will shows from August 14 through the17, 2025--Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7 pm,Sunday at 3:00, at the Ferrara Center on BroadStreet in Hazleton. www.ptpashows.org/