The Tisburys are set to release new album, A Still Life Revisited, this spring on Friday, April 25, with Double Helix Records and SofaBurn Records. “Forever,” their first official single from the upcoming record just played on 979X’s Locals Only show!

“Will it all just stay the same?” asks songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist Tyler Asay in the debut single to launch A Still Life Revisited. He said he aimed for something catchy that everyone can sing along to, and I’d say The Tisburys accomplished just that on this danceable track.

“Forever” contains a lot of fun hooks with bass and guitar bouncing off each other in a new, interesting way to convey an exciting glimpse on what’s to come on the full-length record. This is also the perfect alt-rock release to lead us into the warm season!

“It was kind of the big kick-off single to launch this new album routine,” said Tyler Asay in a phone interview with The Weekender.

Asay explained that A Still Life Revisited is all about looking back at your past and seeing how it’s influenced your life. The lyrics include themes of deep memories, chosen family, and finding home wherever you are. With time and reflection, we’re able to draw from our past and celebrate the journey that led us to where we are today.

“Everything was on purpose for that to go together in that way,” said Asay.

The follow-up single, “Water in the Clouds,” just came out on streaming services and is also now available for listening on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and more. This song is a bright, energetic piece of sunshine with heartfelt lyrics and upbeat instrumentals.

The Tisburys also released “The Anniversaries” as a single in Fall 2024, although it was not yet announced that an album was on the way! All three singles feel like they could be the soundtrack to our own lives — something I want to blast on a roadtrip while sticking my head out the window!

“This is the first time I’ve released anything with a label,” said Asay.

This is also the first time The Tisburys recorded an album in a bona fide studio — everything’s been self-released up until this point. A Still Life Revisited was recorded at Dr. Dog’s Mt. Slippery studio in the suburbs of Philadelphia with their longtime engineer/producer Justin Nazario. It was mixed by Phil Joly (The Strokes, Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey) and mastered by Ryan Schwabe (Beach Bunny, Slaughter Beach Dog, Hop Along).

“We wanted to make a record that pushes together a lot of the stuff we’ve been doing while upping the ante. We wanted to make an album that sounded good on the radio,” said Tyler Asay.

This is The Tisburys’ most collaborative effort to date and they worked closely with their whole team to make everything sing. In an era where bands are seen as an individual, this is truly a “band record” with every member contributing songwriting and production ideas, especially from longtime lead guitarist John Domenico and keyboardist/co-producer Jason McGovern.

“The goal with this record was ‘everything in its right place’,” said Asay. “Every instrument is playing its part, and every song came together like a puzzle”.

The Tisburys’last album, 2022’s Exile on Main Street, channeled iconic 90s radio rock such as Gin Blossoms and The Replacements, while this new one will push into the raw, rustic power of millennial alt-rock music such as The Strokes, Frightened Rabbit and The Hold Steady.

“Exile on Main Street was more influenced by college rock and 90s radio rock,” said Asay. “It still has that power poppy, catchy songwriting we always gravitate towards, but for the new album I was leaning into the 2000s indie vibe.”

This spring, The Tisburys are also looking forward to hitting the road and playing cities they’ve never played before. They are currently booking a tour out in the Midwest for a festival and heading to Newport, Connecticut where their new label SofaBurn Records is from!

On March 15, they’ll head to Quarry House Tavern in Silver Spring, Maryland with James Barrett and the Montaines. Then, they have a show in Philadelphia on Friday, March 21, to celebrate St. Patrick’s at Johnny Brenda’s with Bar Dusts, which is a Pogue’s cover band featuring members of The Menzingers and Modern Baseball.

The Tisburys will have their album release show in Philadelphia the first week of June 2025. Then, they plan to return to Scranton, Asay’s and Domenico’s hometown, later this summer. After all that, they’ll start thinking about the next record!

“I love writing, and I love performing music, and I just want to keep doing that until I croak,” said Asay. “The people who inspire me, people like Springsteen and The Replacements, you try to capture a little bit of that magic and that’s what I try to do every day.”

A Still Life Revisited is available for pre-order and they’re also doing a vinyl record release for the first time as well this April when the album comes out in full. In the meantime, get a taste of what’s to come from this talented rock band through their three singles currently available for listening on streaming.

“The goal is to just play as many shows as we can to promote the new album and sell a bunch of records.,” Asay said “Whatever we can do to get the music out there.”

Get up to date on the latest music from The Tisburys and follow along with them on social media for all the update on the way. Tune into 979X’s Locals Only Show every Sunday night with Lazy E from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. for more great new music from talented regional artists like this!

It was estimated that an overbloated 45 million Americans hit the open road this past Memorial Day weekend, traveling a minimum of 50 miles. I never quite understood the rationality of going away (especially flying), which is such a process for a measly three or four days. If I am going somewhere big, I want the whole enchilada, meaning the minimum is an entire week! Otherwise, don’t waste my time.

In the newest psychological horror to hit the big screen this past weekend, “Passenger,” two unknown actors play lovebirds who witness a freak accident while traveling in the rural mountains. They make the ultimate mistake, deciding to stop and offer help. It may sound harsh, and I don’t know about you, but in this day and age, I don’t stop my car to help or pick up anyone. No way, Ray! Now, if it were an animal in need, I may reconsider.

Trying to capitalize on the recent ballooned success of “Obsession,” which I coincidentally just reviewed last week, sadly, “Passenger,” although not a flop by any means, did not go the extra mile, wink! Sorry, not sorry for the old man pun.

Starring in a small supporting role is Academy Award winner Melissa Leo (“The Fighter,” “21 Grams”), who plays Diana Larson, a fellow camper and open road vagabond who offers the young couple sound advice and eerie superstition.

“Passenger” is, by all means, a decent addition to the horror library, but it will not be a standout. It contains ample jump scares throughout, but misses a turn signal or two when maneuvering its necessary in-depth story. Proceed with flagger force caution, and maybe perhaps just wait for streaming!

“Passenger”

Starring: Melissa Leo

Christopher’s “Meow” Score: “6” paws out of 10.

Thanks to a hard-working group of high school juniors, little kids have new books to read, hungry families have more food, and veterans know somebody cares.

Some children who didn’t have their own beds now have a place to stretch out at night, and even the animals at Blue Chip Farm have more supplies.

A total of 68 students from 17 area high schools graduated from Leadership Northeast’s Junior Leadership program on Wednesday at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Wilkes-Barre, and each of them had worked on a team to answer a need in the community.

“We’d hold up a book and say something like ‘Who likes dragons? Here’s a book about dragons,” 16-year-old Luke Tellis from Dallas High School said, reminiscing about how his team, The River Readers, had distributed books at local elementary schools after helping to collect thousands of them.

Waiting for Wednesday’s graduation ceremony to start, Brady McCann, 17, and also from Dallas High School, said it was “really awesome to know we helped over 600 families.”

As a member of the Fuel Our Future team, he collected food for people in need and helped organize a cornhole tournament at Doug’s Board Room in Kingston.

Once Wednesday’s graduation program started, each of the Junior Leadership grads had a chance to address the audience, often mentioning fundraisers such as 5K races, basket raffles or Bingo games they had organized to help finance their projects.

As part of the Dream Makers team, some of these “servant leaders” had physically helped build beds in connection with the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization. As part of the Spark Squad, some had made fleece tie-blankets and stuffed satchels with toys and coloring books for pediatric patients at Geisinger’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.

The River Readers had read books to small children on Read Across America Day, and the Serving Smiles group had organized a walk/run on the Back Mountain Trail to benefit Coffee Inclusive.

The Supper Squad had worked to help the Dinners for Kids program that operates out of Ollie’s Restaurant on the West Side; the Jogs for Dogs team organized a 5K for the Blue Chip Farm Animal Rescue, Hearts for Heroes visited with and collected gifts for veterans, the Head Start Heroes pitched in to help the preschoolers at Luzerne County Head Start and the Tiny Miracles team worked to help young families in connection with the MamaBird organization.

Along the way, the graduates developed leadership skills, learned about their communities and made new friends — because each team was made up of students from different high schools.

“We learned a lot of stuff you don’t learn in school,” said 17-year-old Sara Golden, from Wyoming Area, who was part of the Spark Squad, along with Mo Doherty from Wyoming Seminary and Carol Dushanko from Crestwood. The three, who were spending time together in the Kirby Center lobby before Wednesday’s ceremony, said they expect they will remain friends.

One highlight of Wednesday’s program was the presentation of the inaugural William Wagner Memorial Scholarship Award to Mackenzie Hrivnak, from the Dallas School District, who plans to study education in college. The award was presented by Jason Wagner, a Wilkes University professor who is the son of the late educator William Wagner.

With more than 3,000 alumni, Leadership Northeast began in 1981 as a community leadership development organization. An independent non-profit, it is dedicated to developing informed and committed leaders from all segments of society.

In the spring of each year, Leadership Northeast accepts applications from high school sophomores who are interested in participating in the Junior Leadership Northeast program the following fall. Applications are available at all participating public and private schools and must be submitted through the participating high school guidance office. The JLNE Class of 2027 has been finalized and will begin their program in the fall of 2026. For more info, see leadershipnortheast.org.

Be careful who you wish for — instead of what you wish for — is the blaring warning of this sensational festival darling that is the late-spring surprise hit of the season.

Made for the measly chump change of only $1 million and having already made over $27 million worldwide, it is no wonder these small-budget horror thrillers are making a mint. No big-name stars, which means the price tag is lower, which equates to a boatload of money for the studios.

I would be lying, and I am sure you would too, if we both admitted we never once threw a penny into a fountain and made a secret wish. In “Obsession,” after breaking open his “One Wish Willow” to win over his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic named Bear comes to soon regret getting what he asked for after realizing every action comes with a sinister price.

I wish someone were obsessed with me, or do I? Everything is a catch-22 these days, as people are always envying the grass on their neighbor’s property rather than being satisfied with their own land.

This latest supernatural thriller, “Obsession,” is every bit unsettling, as it also feels fresh and jarring. Want to watch something that may lower your overheated body temperature during these humid days? Perhaps sink your booty in the nearest theater seat, this one will chill you right down to your core!

“Obsession”

Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette

Christopher’s “Meow” Score: “8” paws out of 10.

The Rotary Club of Wyoming recently hosted its annual student scholarship award dinner at Leggio’s in Dallas, recognizing three graduating seniors from Wyoming Area who have distinguished themselves through community service. Shown from left are Rotary President Nick Sobeck, scholarship recipient Abigail Francis, top scholarship recipient Stephanie Urena, scholarship recipient Joey Allegucci, and Rotary member/Program Chair John Harrington.

Staff Report

Lake-Lehman High School held its 2026 Prom, “A Night on the Bayou,” on May 15 at The Banks Waterfront.

Members of the Prom Court included Bella Brown, Logan Hasset, Kate Stogoski, Hunter Palka, Cameron Janick, Andrew Chapple, Kaitlyn Marx, William Jenkins, Hannah Chipego, Greyson Dieffenbacher, Adyson Perlis, Von Voelker, Finley Norconk, Graci James, Robert Gregor, Isabelle Maopolski, Christopher Yetter and Jake Evans.

Congratulations to Robert Gregor and Isabelle Maopolski for being named Prom King and Prom Queen.

Northwest Area High School’s Attendance Incentive Program, sponsored by Cross Valley Federal Credit Union, continues to promote the importance of strong attendance, academic success, and community involvement with local businesses. Students with exemplary attendance in March were rewarded with gift cards to Sprinkles Ice Cream in Shickshinny. March raffle winners are shown from left: Kendyl Miner, Kyle Penko and Chase Strunk. Not shown are additional winners Colbie Orlowski, Jillian Bonham and Jack Brunn.

Staff Report

Northwest Area High School’s Attendance Incentive Program, sponsored by Cross Valley Federal Credit Union, continues to promote the importance of strong attendance, academic success, and community involvement with local businesses. Students demonstrating exemplary attendance in April were rewarded with gift cards to 2 Kings Shickshinny. April raffle winners are shown from left: Noah Gunther, Jack Brunn, Thomas Carey, Riley Badman, Kayleigh Davenport and Addison Davis.

Staff Report

With the traditional publishing of magazines and physical print in danger, including the revered “Runway Magazine,” which is an institution in fashion, successful journalist Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), after being fired, returns to her old stomping grounds opposite her old crew, most notably her infamously tough publisher Miranda, played by the legend Meryl Streep. Speaking of physical media, heck, I am still mad that the CD went out of style!

Two full decades after the release of the original “Devil Wears Prada” (which I failed to realize was such a cultural touchstone for so many), here we are with a wildly successful box office draw, but does the sequel live up to all the hype?

I had the pleasure of going to New York City two weeks ago and seeing Stanley Tucci in person on the morning talk show “Live with Kelly & Mark,” and on the same day, I saw Emily Blunt on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” With that being said, I felt an extra-special connection to this one.

“The Devil Wears Prada 2,” although touching, is lacking the same sharp humor of the first edition. With necessary character development and growth, it was still a pleasant reunion catching up with this cheeky bunch. With this kind of box office money flying in, who knows, maybe we will be seeing a part 3 in a few years!

So if you haven’t yet, throw on your Manolos or just your memory foam-lined Sketchers, grab your girls and enjoy this fresh outing while you can. In the tradition of the devilish boss herself, Miranda Hobbs, “that’s all.”

“The Devil Wears Prada 2”

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt

Christopher’s “Meow” Score: “7” paws out of 10.

“Smooth Criminal,” “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “You Are Not Alone,” “Man in the Mirror.” Just like the Energizer Bunny, the hit list of Michael Jackson singles goes on and on and on. Streams of Mr. Jackson’s catalog are up in record numbers since the release of this popular biopic, which has already made nearly $100 million dollars domestically in just its first week in theaters.

Jaafar Jackson, who makes a glittery splash in his feature film debut, is shockingly Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew. “Michael” is a biopic that is heavy on musical performances and not so much on detailed substance. So if you are a fan of the King of Pop’s songs, you will be tapping your feet on the floor the entire way through, just as I was.

I wish that this colorful, over-the-top spectacle dug a little deeper than it dared to do. It was very surface-level, playing it safe and family-friendly. I wanted to see the goods. The goods meaning all of the speculated tabloid juice. Spoiler Alert: there was little to none that was revelatory, sadly.

It was clear that the filmmakers behind this project set it up for a direct sequel, like a majority of films do now. The reality is that does not always happen, leaving its audience not only wanting, but expecting more.

“Michael” was good, it wasn’t great. The performances were solid, but it felt a bit empty. No mention of sister Janet was also a big let-down for me personally, as she signed off and did not want her name associated with the spectacle.

Let’s just hope and pray with the massive worldwide box office intake, Hollywood ends this one with a follow-up that is a bit more deserving of the devoted fan service; otherwise, they can just “Beat it!”

​

“Michael”

Starring: Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Colman Domingo

Christopher’s “Meow” Score: “6” paws out of 10.

On average, around 6.8 million households in the U.S. are filled with roommates who share a dwelling and are unrelated. One must really screen their potential candidates closely in this day and age, though, you definitely do not want a “Single White Female” scenario transpiring!

The newest Happy Madison production company’s film, called “Roommates,” which just so happens to be Netflix’s number 1 streaming film this week, stars funnyman Adam Sandler’s own daughter, Sadie Sandler, who plays Devon, a young, naive college student who is trying her darnedest to fit in, while befriending a more confident, free-spirited Celeste to share her common space.

“Roommates,” a sometimes raunchy comedy, is surprisingly better than it had to be. It is easy to relate to and identify with the awkward Devon. I mean, let’s be frank, isn’t almost everyone unsure of themselves at 18? Some just have a better way of hiding it than others.

This naughty comedy is filled with some physical humor and genuine laughs. Will it be remembered by next week? Well, no, fat chance!

It was great seeing comedian Janeane Garofalo (“Reality Bites”) back on screen in a bit part playing the teens’ college professor. If anything, this chuckle-fest made me reflect on my younger self. Would I want to go back in time and revisit my own graceless late-teen years? Not a chance. How about you? Just like the famous tag-line, “Youth is wasted on the young.”

“Roommates” serves as a reality check reminder for those of us who are blessed with having a sane one under the same roof. For those of you who can’t afford to live alone in Trump’s America, believe me, we all more than sympathize.

“Roommates”

Starring: Natasha Lyonne, Janeane Garofalo, Sadie Sandler

Christopher’s “Meow” Score: “5” paws out of 10.

Happy Earth Day! We could fill this space with concerns about the current president’s peculiar obsession with attacking renewable energy projects like wind and solar power, or his baffling embrace of an electric-car-pioneering billionaire while insisting that oil is the future. We could argue that even if you believe “global warming” isn’t proven, we would still be better off getting past fossil fuels. How different would the war with Iran be if we had reduced reliance on oil here and elsewhere?

But Earth Day isn’t about big picture debates like that, or at least it isn’t just about them. After all, the first Earth Day in 1970 was designed to spark widespread interest in environmental issues that most people didn’t know about or fully appreciate. The movement arguably helped accomplish “big picture” things like the Endangered Species Act, Superfund, the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Clean Air Act (among others), but it did so over a decade of growing awareness that spurred such legislation.

In many places, Earth Day has become an opportunity for many little but meaningful efforts, the kind of one-day activity that could easily become life-changing —and earth-changing — habits.

You can sift through your old clothes or other unused items and find places that will accept them as donations to be re-purposed rather than becoming landfill fodder.

Similarly, you can look into recycling programs that will let you get rid of items no longer useful or even functional to you, but can be kept out of the trash stream. Find your municipality’s website and see if you’ve been missing out on curbside pick-ups for common recyclables like paper, cardboard, bottles and cans. If you haven’t been using the service, get the required bins and start. Luzerne County’s website (luzernecounty.org) has info on a wide range of recycling options, from the usual home refuse to oil, gas, electronics and even household hazardous waste.

You can visit the Luzerne County Transportation Authority website (lctabus.com) to check bus schedules and routes and see if any suit your travel needs (there’s even a myStop link to plan trips). And if you are 65 or older, you’re eligible for a pass that lets you ride LCTA all day, every day, for free during regular service hours.

Plant a tree, or organize a tree-planting. This could be as simple as picking a spot on your own property and heading to a garden center for advice on the right tree for your site. Or if you want to become a modern-day Johnny Appleseed, visit the Penn State Extension for a good dose of info on community tree planning (extension.psu.edu)

The possibilities are endless. Join a local clean-up effort (or organize one). Start your own backyard compost pile to turn plant food waste into mulch. Stop buying individual plastic bottles of water and replace them with a reusable one you fill yourself. Plan a little extra time to walk (or bike) to nearby destinations rather than automatically grabbing the car keys. Take a bag or two to the grocery store so they don’t send you home with more plastic bags to deal with. Switch your incandescent light bulbs to LEDs.

It’s a big earth, but keeping it a little greener and healthier can be done in small steps.

We had leftover kielbasa after Easter, but it wasn’t from the Easter meal. All the remains of Easter (except some ham, used for a soup I’ll write about soon) had been pretty much finished, but MT got a hankering for more of the Polish sausage, so she cooked up a ring in the freezer. She had bought two, one for Easter, and one for sometime later. “Later” just came a lot sooner than expected.

I wasn’t hungry that evening, so a few days later, there was the better part of the ring sitting in the fridge, and I decided to look for a new recipe that would combine kielbasa and some potatoes we also had sitting around for a while. This one caught my eye partly because the mix of ingredients sounded tasty, but also because it calls for a little chicken stock near the end, adding more flavor to the array of bell pepper, onion, garlic, hot sauce and Parmesan.

Long-time readers know I’ve dabbled in kielbasa dishes before: a skillet casoulet with leftover ham, sandwiches with a quick kimchi and cheddar cheese, with pasta and a creamy mustard sauce, a single sheet pan dish with potatoes and green beans in the oven, and with some seasoned potatoes worthy of being their own side dish to many meals.

Some have been bigger hits than others at our house, but this one may have topped them all. We agreed the flavor array combined splendidly, something that can be hard to come by with the hearty spices of most kielbasa defying the notion of “melding” with other tastes.

It has the bonus of being a one-pan dish, though you do have to set the potatoes aside in a bowl while cooking everything else before returning the spuds to the skillet.

Only one variation: The recipe suggests baby red potatoes. We had full-size red potatoes sitting around and getting a bit old, so I just cut them into bite-sized pieces.

Dobru chut!

Kielbasa and Potatoes (iamhomesteader.com)

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1½ pounds baby red potatoes, quartered (approximately 10 potatoes)

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 packages (13.5 ounces each) kielbasa, or smoked sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds

1 yellow onion, minced (approximately 1 cup)

1 red bell pepper, cut into ¼-inch strips

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

½ teaspoon garlic, minced

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

¼ cup chicken stock

1 teaspoon hot sauce

Fresh parsley, for garnish

Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Salt and pepper, to taste

In a large skillet over medium heat, add 3 tablespoons of oil. When the oil is hot, add the baby potatoes. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper and cook for 28-30 minutes, or until they are fork-tender. Transfer the cooked potatoes to a plate and set them aside.

To the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Add the smoked sausage to the skillet to brown on each side, 3-4 minutes per side.

Add the onion, bell pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic, and red pepper flakes.

Cook the vegetables for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the onions and peppers are softened.

Add the chicken stock and hot sauce. Stir to combine.

Add the potatoes back to the skillet and mix all the ingredients together until the potatoes are reheated.

Serve immediately, topped with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese.

When Elizabeth Lovecchio’s third child started school in the fall of 1970, she decided it was time for a new beginning for Mom, too.

The Wilkes-Barre woman applied for a job at a place where she already enjoyed shopping. She got the job at what was then Fowler, Dick & Walker, The Boston Store in downtown Wilkes-Barre, and now, almost 56 years later, she’s going to retire on May 8, which is her 88th birthday.

“I have to say I had a good job there,” said Lovecchio, adding that seeing her co-workers on a regular basis is the part she’ll miss most as she retires from the department store, now known as Boscov’s.

She did take some time off in 1972, when she gave birth to her fourth child, but soon she was back at the store, where stints in the shoe department and Misses clothing gave way to decades at the courtesy desk.

“You do get to meet so many people,” she said, explaining she enjoyed the way customers would stop and “chit chat about anything.”

When her children — Anthony, Tom, Kelly Ann, and Antoinette — were growing up, she was grateful for the ways the department store accommodated working moms. She was able to leave work at 2:30 p.m. every day to be home when the kids got home from school. “I cooked supper every day,” she said.

It was also OK with the store if an employee took the entire summer off, to coincide with her children’s break from school.

“They were very caring,” she said of the store management.

In the early days, Lovecchio walked to work from her home in the Heights section of Wilkes-Barre. Later, her husband, Albert, would give her a ride. After he passed away in 2003, she realized that going to Boscov’s every day “was good therapy” for her.

Most recently, she’s been commuting to work through the LCTA Ride Share program. And when she would arrive at the store, a coworker would bring her a shopping cart to lean on as she made her way to her department. She’s not altogether happy about retiring, but has allowed her family to convince her it was time.

When you like a place as much as she likes Boscov’s, she said, it’s easy to stay and stay.

Oh, yes, there was one part of her job she didn’t enjoy: “Gift wrapping.” But nowadays, the courtesy desk no longer wraps gifts; the staff gives customers wrapping paper and a box so they can wrap a present themselves.

Lovecchio has been using up some vacation days, but will return to the store on May 8, for what will no doubt be a bittersweet final day.

“Already, she’s missing the place,” her daughter-in-law, Colleen Lovecchio, said.

As Christine Leandri and her students from Wyoming Area’s gifted program stood admiring a very tall, very old, white pine, Christopher Miller asked a question:

“How old is our country?”

“250 years!” a boy called out.

“This tree has been here for at least that long. It’s older than the United States of America,” said Miller, founder of the non-profit, 18-acre Lehman Sanctuary in Lehman Township, where teachers and other interested individuals are welcome to arrange a visit.

“I’m wondering how many third, fourth and fifth graders it would take to reach around the tree,” Sanctuary volunteer John Ferrante said.

Soon Alexis Mikielski, Maverick Fabbri and another friend were stretching, finger to finger, trying to form a circle around the thick trunk on a recent Thursday morning. It looked like completing the circle would take more than three people … but already most of the other students were further along the path in the old-growth forest.

Some of the water on the ground was ephemeral, Miller told them, explaining that means it’s not always there. “It’s also known as spring seeps or vernal pools,” he said. “What do you think it’s good for?”

“For drinking.”

“Water for plants.”

“For salamanders.”

“You’re all right,” Miller told the youngsters who had supplied the answers. The ephemeral water was especially good for salamanders, he said, because there would be no predators, such as fish, in it. And the young visitors were welcome to search for salamanders.

“One rule I have for you all is, if you move a rock or a log, you must put it back where you found it,” Miller said. “Gently put it back.”

Of course, they also were to gently release any salamanders they found.

“This place is wonderful,” teacher Christine Leandri said. “It’s a hidden gem.”

Helping the children experience nature first hand on their recent field trip were King’s College associate professor of biology Garrett Barr, who found several salamanders and a wood frog for them to examine, and John Ferrante, a retired forester, who was eager to talk about trees.

“This is my favorite tree,” Ferrante said at one point, pointing to a slender young birch that was growing out of a fallen hemlock. A seed likely fell into a crack in the fallen tree, he said, and it started to grow, under the bark. Now, as the new tree continues to grow, the old tree will eventually decay underneath it, leaving an empty space. The new tree will then appear to be walking on stilts, Ferrante said.

The young students already knew a lot about the natural world, even before their visit, as they proved by answering questions Miller posed. They knew the sheltering roof of tall trees in the forest is called a canopy. They knew that pollinators help food to grow. They knew some trees are conifers (cone bearing) and some are deciduous (annually lose their leaves).

But there’s nothing like being out in nature to learn, Ferrante said. “Your eyes are better than any camera. Your brain is better than a computer. You can sense things through your fingers.”

Before they entered the old growth forest with its towering pines and hemlocks, the students passed through a meadow that Miller expects will be colorful with wildflowers in a month or so. They admired a fenced-in rain garden which is designed to keep stormwater from the road — with its remnants of oil, gas, road salt and other pollutants — away from the pristine water of the wetlands.

The children also stopped to admire some dry prairie grass, a species that Miller said will grow to be about 7 feet tall this summer. Under the ground, meanwhile, its roots will grow 13 to 15 feet in an intricate system that encourages aquifers, or natural reservoirs.

“Your generation is going to be very concerned about clean water,” Miller said.

To arrange a visit to the Lehman Sanctuary, contact lehmansanctuary@gmail.com or call 570- 406-2639.

Choirs, multimedia projections, and NASA astronaut Nicole Stott join NEPA PHIL for “Planets, Moons, & Star Wars” at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 1, anchoring a weekend of family-friendly space-themed events in Scranton at the Cultural Center, the Everhart Museum, and the Lackawanna County Children’s Library.

Following the recent success of “Jurassic Park in Concert,” the NEPA Philharmonic presents “Planets, Moons, & Star Wars” at the Scranton Cultural Center in a fully immersive multimedia experience with three space-centric works designed for audiences of all ages.

The symphonic program begins with John Williams’ iconic “Star Wars Suite,” featuring fan-favorite themes from the original trilogy of Star Wars films, followed by the world premiere of composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg’s “The Moons Choral Suite,” inspired by the science and beauty of the moons of the solar system and introduced live by NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott. The program continues with Gustav Holst’s iconic “The Planets,” a bombastic work journeying the solar system from “Mars, the Bringer of War” to “Neptune, the Mystic.”

The Marywood University Concert Choir, under the direction of Rick Hoffenberg, accompanies the Philharmonic for “The Moons,” along with multimedia projections developed by Falkenberg in conjunction with Black Cat Studios, Matrix Design, and NASA scientists and astronauts. The Choral Society of NEPA, directed by Joshua Harper, will join the Philharmonic for “The Planets,” which will be paired with stunning artistic projections by projection designer Camilla Tassi. Tickets are available at NEPAPHIL.org/tickets or by calling 570-270-4444, starting at $29 for adults and $16 for students.

NEPA PHIL and the Everhart Museum also co-present a panel discussion at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30 at the Everhart Museum, featuring Everhart curator James Lansing, composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg, projection designer Camilla Tassi, and NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott.

The discussion explores the art and science behind both the May 1 concert and the Everhart Museum’s exhibit of NASA imagery, “Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe”, on view through July 2026. The Everhart Museum will extend public hours that evening until 7 p.m. with a cash bar with wine and beer from AV Restaurant & Lounge available during the event.

On Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m. at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library, the Philharmonic presents a free event as part of their Once Upon an Orchestra series, geared to children ages 2-6 by connecting the excitement of music and reading.

NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott will narrate astrophysicist Brian Greene’s children’s book “Icarus at the Edge of Time,” an imaginative sci-fi story about a boy journeying to the edge of a black hole, while accompanied by a group of NEPA Philharmonic musicians performing the music of Philip Glass.

Tickets for “Planets, Moons, & Star Wars” on May 1 start at $29 for adults and $16 for students, available at NEPAPHIL.org/tickets or by calling 570-270-4444. The Everhart Museum discussion on April 30 is included with the cost of admission ($10 adults, $5 students/seniors, children 12 & under free), though registration is recommended through the Everhart’s website. Once Upon an Orchestra on May 2 at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library is a free, non-ticketed event.

The NEPA Philharmonic’s 2025–2026 season is sponsored by PNC. The Symphonic Series is sponsored by the Thalenfeld Family Foundation, and “Planets, Moons, & Star Wars” is presented by the Eureka Foundation. Additional support for this performance is provided by F. Warren Breig & Carol Nelson Dembert, Paul & Adrienne Horger, and Pat Atkins.

Marquis Art & Frame Second Floor Gallery is pleased to present “Iterations,” a solo exhibition of new work by regional artist Trinka Ravaioli. The exhibition will open with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 24.

“Iterations” explores cycles of light and dark through a layered and evolving process rooted in landscape and memory. Drawing from her connection to Spring Hills Farm and the surrounding natural environment, Ravaioli’s work reflects an intuitive practice of returning, reworking, and allowing each piece to emerge over time.

Working across oil, charcoal, and pastel, the artist builds surfaces that invite viewers into a contemplative experience of the landscape as both physical and emotional terrain.

This exhibition features a range of work, from smaller, more accessible pieces to larger works, offering opportunities for both new and established collectors.

Trinka Ravaioli serves as Executive Director of the Spring Hills Foundation, based in North Abington Township, where she develops programming that connects art, environment, and community.

A portion of the proceeds from the exhibition will benefit the Spring Hills Foundation.

The exhibition will be on view through May at Marquis Art & Frame. Free store-side parking is available.

MMI Preparatory School’s Prepper Playhouse will bring the classic story of Willy Wonka to the stage at 7 p.m. April 24 and April 25 in the Athletic and Drama Complex, 154 Centre St., Freeland.

Each year, the students in MMI’s Drama Club work hard to put on a great performance. Drama Advisor, Mrs. Joanne Oakum, sees this firsthand:

“Willy Wonka has been such a fun and rewarding experience because of the commitment our students have shown from the very beginning,” Drama Advisor Mrs. Joanne Oakum said. “They have put in countless hours of hard work, supported one another throughout the process, and truly taken ownership of the production. For many of them, the theater is where they find their place, and it has been incredibly meaningful to watch them grow in confidence while bringing so much energy, creativity, and Prepper Pride to the stage.”

At MMI, being involved in extracurricular activities is one of the school’s core pillars of excellence: the guiding foundational principles of an MMI education.

“Programs like the Prepper Playhouse are an essential part of the MMI experience because they give students the opportunity to grow in confidence, creativity, and collaboration,” said Head of School Mrs. Theresa Long. “Under the guidance of Mrs. Oakum, our students are challenged to take risks, support one another, and bring their talents to life on stage. The time and dedication she invests in this program creates an environment where students can truly thrive, both in performance and behind the scenes.”

Tickets to MMI’s may be purchased at the door or online at boostmyschool.com. The school recommends purchasing tickets in advance.

REVIEW

“Thrash”

Starring: Djimon Hounsou

Christopher’s “Meow” Score: 4/10 “paws”

Heavy winds, pouring rain, and sharks — Oh my!

This freshly streaming disaster horror on Netflix stars Oscar winner Djimon Hounsou (“Blood Diamond”) as an uncle trying to rescue his niece and other casualties from a terrible Category 5 storm that hits South Carolina.

Don’t get your hopes too high on this one, folks. It is by no means a close second to the classic “Jaws.” In fact, I think “Finding Nemo” might actually have more of a bite than “Thrash.”

A rising storm surge is why the sleepy Carolina town unexpectedly gets a school of sharks circling their streets, hungry and ready to feed on those in peril. Anyone who still questions the “phenomenon” of climate change being real or a hoax should be tied down and forced to watch this one as a lesson. 83 degrees in early April is enough proof, and that is by no means an April Fool’s Joke.

Although set in South Carolina, “Thrash,” believe it or not, was filmed fully in Melbourne, Australia. When I researched that little-known fact, I thought that seemed just about as much of a stretch as filming a movie in Venice and calling it Scranton.

Bottom line, Djimon Hounsou (“Gladiator 2,” “Amistad”) is far too celebrated for this kind of empty project. But I get it. In these trying times, we all have to eat. Work is work.

“Thrash” is watchable, but in the end, it just lacks a necessary chomp.

In the mood for a chilling maritime horror? Revisit 2003’s loosely based true-story “Open Water” instead.

King’s College held its 10th annual Scholarship Brunch on March 23 to honor the institution’s donors and showcase their impact through the 90 annual and endowed scholarship programs represented at the brunch.

Nearly 180 donors and students attended the brunch. The keynote speech was delivered by Frank Balz, ‘72, who funds a needs-based scholarship for deserving students.

The Joseph W. and Ann P. Balz Memorial Scholarship award is given in memory of his parents, Ann P. Balz, the first employee of the College, who contributed greatly to the early administration of the school, and Joseph W. Balz, a member of the first graduating class of King’s College in 1950. Joseph was employed by King’s College from its founding in 1946 until 2017, for more than 70 years.

“Many of these scholarships, including the one that my family supports, include the word ‘memorial.’ But instead of memorializing the individuals for whom the scholarships are named, these funds commemorate the ideals held by these individuals when they were with us,” said Balz. “That education is a driver of opportunity and that King’s is a place where dreams can become reality. My parents wholeheartedly believed this.”

Featured student speaker Mann Patel, ‘28, a sophomore majoring in history, criminal justice, and philosophy, minoring in ethics, social work, and sociology, spoke on being the recipient of The Rev. Thomas J. O’Hara, C.S.C., Scholarship for Community Service.

“The Rev. Thomas J. O’Hara Scholarship for Community Service recognizes students who are committed to community service, which is an integral part of the College’s mission and a tenet of my personal philosophy,” said Patel. “Through programs like our Shoval Center’s SERVE Trips, I have had the opportunity to work alongside members of my King’s family who believe that service is not just something we do occasionally, but rather a duty of all those around us.”

“To the donors who have supported all the scholarships in the room today, I would like to thank you again for investing in the future of our students and the mission of King’s College. Your ability to endlessly cross borders into the hearts and lives of our students will allow us to pursue opportunities that we might not have been able to reach,” said Patel.

The brunch is organized through the College’s Office of Institutional Advancement, which facilitates more than 315 endowed scholarships and annual scholarships.

About King’s College

King’s College is a Catholic institution of higher education animated and guided by the Congregation of Holy Cross. King’s pursues excellence in teaching, learning, and scholarship through a rigorous core curriculum, major programs across the liberal arts and sciences, nationally accredited professional programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and personal attention to student formation in a nurturing community. To learn more about King’s College, visit kings.edu.

You are cordially invited to the wedding of the year! That is a card in the mail you don’t want to receive in this day and age. Who the heck can afford an over-priced wedding gift in this economy? I have also had my fill on the dance floor, tapping away to “YMCA” and “Cotton Eye Joe.”

Honestly, I just show up for the open bar and fancy hors d’oeuvres they pass around during cocktail hour. You can keep the rest of the spectacle on the back burner. I usually duck out as soon as dessert is served, performing what they call a classic “Irish Goodbye.” Now you see me, now you don’t! “Excuse me while I go use the restroom,” and make a mad dash for the car instead.

With “The Drama,” studio A24 just landed its biggest hit to date with a $15 million opening weekend. Starring Robert Pattinson playing a typical everyday guy named Charlie, and his complicated fiancée Emma, played by Zendaya (“Challengers”).

I think I may honestly like her more if she didn’t have an ostentatious one-word name. Sorry, but she is no Madonna, Cher, or Adele for that matter. One-word names are reserved for legends only.

Sources state the marketing team behind this film is in some hot water, apparently for the masterful rollout of their marketing campaign. Viewers felt misled by the early trailers and posters, going into this, confusing it for a romantic comedy, but it worked and got tushies in the seats. And it worked for me. Although I love dark comedies with a sinister twist.

Without giving away too many spoilers, the happy-go-lucky couple hit a rough spot the week before their wedding, after the doting duo reveals to each other the worst thing they have ever done. A little game of truth or dare is never a really good idea when love is on the line, folks. Lesson learned, and usually the hard way!

I usually make it a point to stay as far away from “Drama” as I possibly can, but with this particular kind of “Drama,” I may just stick around a little bit longer to watch all the devilish goods unfold.

“The Drama”

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zendaya

Christopher’s “Meow” Score: “8” paws out of 10.