lifestyle

WILKES-BARRE — Riverfest celebrates 30 years in Wilkes-Barre starting Friday, June 21 at 5:00 p.m. and carrying through Sunday, June 23, with family-friendly events and fun at Nesbitt Park — with an environmental twist!

We’ve reached the big category. Best picture winners of the past have rarely aligned with my tastes, but I’m fairly confident that my favorite film of the year will match up with the Academy’s choice. One thing I love is a list, so I’ve decided to talk about this year’s best picture nominees in the reverse order of my preference. However, let’s keep it positive. Every movie on this year’s list has merit.

WILKES-BARRE - Antonio’s Pizza & Subs in Wilkes-Barre, our next stop on the Visit Luzerne County Pizza Trail, stands as a testament to unassuming excellence in the world of pizza shops, parlors and restaurants.

This year’s best original score lineup is somewhat uninspired. I don’t want to be rude, as these composers are all extremely talented and their work this year should not be discredited. Still, I am mourning the losses of truly incredible scores from Daniel Pemberton for “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” Mica Levi for “The Zone of Interest” and, dare I say, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt for “Barbie.” But this isn’t about what’s missing. Let’s take a look at what we have.

WILKES-BARRE - They made me a pizza I couldn’t refuse.

WYOMISSING — Penn State Berks announced the campus is offering a new course that studies the cultural and musical impact Taylor Swift has had on the world, according to a report by our newsgathering partners at Eyewitness News WBRE/WYOU.

TAMAQUA — A new event celebrating the community’s rich railroad and coal mining heritage debuts this weekend.

DALLAS — For most railfans the love of trains begins early and runs deep.

Photos by Bloomsburg-based artist and railroad photographer Oren B. Helbok are part of “The Ties That Bind: Railroading in NEPA,” an exhibit that opens this week at Misericordia University’s Pauly Friedman Art Gallery.