WVIA News

The Lackawaxen River is up for Pennsylvania’s 2024 River of the Year. Other nominees include: the Allegheny River and the Youghiogheny River, both in Western PA. Nominations were based on the waterway’s conservation needs, successes and programming plans if the nominee wins the award. The competition is overseen by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) in cooperation with the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The award has been presented annually since 1983. The winner will receive a $10,000 state grant to help fund river of the year activities. Many local rivers have received the honor, including the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. The waterway was River of the Year in 2023. Voting is open until 5 p.m. on Jan. 19.

The annual Paupack Polar Plunge is Jan. 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It benefits the Tafton and Ledgedale Dive/Rescue Teams. The event in Tafton at 1st Klas Marina includes food, music, a big bonfire and other activities. Groups of plungers run into the lake every 20 minutes. Tickets are $25. The dive/rescue teams provide emergency response services not only on Lake Wallenpaupack but also on surrounding waterbodies. Event sponsors are also needed for the Polar Plunge. For more details, visit Paupack Polar Plunge on Facebook.

Penn State Extension is surveying the public to help shape its future health and wellness programming. Extension’s goal over the next three to five years is to serve Pennsylvanians in ways that are meaningful and accessible to them. There are eight topics survey respondents can indicate their level of interest in, including nutrition and food preparation, women’s health, aging successfully and other health-related topics. The survey is confidential. It takes about five to 10 minutes to complete. Prizes are available for those who respond. The survey is available at https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bpVztR0miu6m9Ei. For questions, contact Elise Gurgevich, Penn State Extension assistant director for food, families and communities programs, at eag107@psu.edu.

Older adults and people with disabilities have until Dec. 31 to apply for rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2022. The rebates are available through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. The state initiative benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. Applications can be submitted online through myPATH – the state’s tax hub – or by paper. The application is available to download online.

Reestablishing direct passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City is just a few stops away. A major federal decision for the region was made today.

Reestablishing director passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City is just a few stops away, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey announced today.

At the gate of the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, close to 200 protesters of all ages called for the plant to stop operations and for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

For 25 years, Santa Claus has hitched a ride on a steam engine from Carbondale to Scranton in Lackawanna County. Old St. Nick along with Mrs. Claus stop at communities in between to spread Christmas Cheer.

A Christmas tradition that began in the 1940s will light up a boulevard in Columbia County for another holiday season.

Williamsport received an over $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to build a new cycling attraction in Shaw Park. It’s part of an ongoing initiative to invest in the city’s parks and recreation.