August, 28, 2010
Times Leader
by Matt Hughes

WILKES-BARRE – Organizers called it a Shabbat on the shore.

About a hundred Jews gathered at the River Common Friday evening for a combined service.

“It was beautiful, it was very moving,” said Sheila Fendler, of Kingston, “I hope they do it again.”

The service was hosted by reform synagogue Temple B’nai B’rith, Kingston, conservative synagogue Temple Israel, Wilkes-Barre, and the Jewish Community Center, Wilkes-Barre, but brought together members of congregations all around the county, organizers said, and unity was the theme of the day.

“We do a lot of things together, as a community, which serve to highlight both our similarities and our differences,” said Rabbi Roger A. Lerner of Temple B’nai B’rith. “We have a lot to learn from our different perspectives.”

The service was led jointly by Rabbi Lerner and Rabbi Larry Kaplan of Temple Israel, accompanied by Cantor Ahron Abraham of Temple Israel.

The rabbis along with the nearly 100 gathered on the River Common offered prayers and sang songs and psalms welcoming the Shabbat, the Jewish holy day of rest that begins at sundown on Friday.

Before one song, Leha Dodi, the chorus of which translates from Hebrew as “Come, my friend, the bride to meet, the holy Shabbat let us now greet,” Kaplan told the assembled congregation “the tradition is to rise and face the entrance and imagine the Shabbat entering, which I suppose here could anywhere.”

“It could even come by rowboat,” Lerner chimed in.

The service drew to a close just before the sun dipped below the western mountains, casting a mellow glow over the river bank that imparted thoughts of the sacred in the minds of some gathered.

“It was very spiritual, with the sun going down at the end of the service, which means the Sabbath is coming into us and enveloping us,” said Roz Smulowitz, of Kingston.

Though Friday’s service was not typical, Kaplan reminded his audience that seeing the divine in nature need not be confined to any particular day.

“Sunsets happen every day,” Kaplan said. “Don’t just wait until we have these to come down here and enjoy the river.”

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August, 20, 2010
Times Leader
by Matt Hughes

Summer might be coming to a close, but Wilkes-Barre’s River Common is about to start rocking.

Rivercommon.org has announced a schedule of upcoming music events to be held at Wilkes-Barre’s River Common.

Director of River Common Programming and Outreach Karl Borton described the upcoming events as a hybrid marriage of an open-mic night and a concert, allowing aspiring artists to open for local professional musicians.

“The point of the event is to get a taste of what’s out there, to see what the talent is in N.E.P.A.,” Borton said. “Were giving the artists a crowd, a crowd that no other open-mic night would give them.”

Each night will begin with a one-hour open-mic session at 6 , followed by a concert at 7. Those interested in performing at the open-mic sessions can sign up before the event begins at the River Common. Performers will be allotted 15 to 20 minutes each on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Reggae-artist George Wesley will kick off the series Thursday, Sept. 9, and concerts have been scheduled for each subsequent Thursday through Oct. 21. All artists are local, with four based in Luzerne County and three in Scranton.

Each night has been themed with a different style of music, including acoustic rock, bluegrass and hip-hop, Borton said.

All events will take place on the River Common, except in the case of inclement weather, in which case they will be moved to either the Jewish Community Center Wyoming Valley, 60 S. River St., or Arts YOUniverse, 47 N. Franklin St. Any change of venue will be posted to www.rivercommon.org the day of the event, Borton said.

August, 20, 2010
Times Leader
by Eileen Godin

WILKES-BARRE – Area residents met and learned about some of our slithering, often unnoticed neighbors Thursday night at the Wilkes-Barre River Common.

The program, hosted by the River Common, was presented by naturalist Jeanne Carl from the Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Summit Hill. It was one of four family-orientated programs held this summer by the River Common.

Carl brought some of snakes to show and discuss as she separated reptile myth from reality. Among the snakes she brought were a milk snake, a hog nose snake, a western milk snake, a black rat snake and a corn snake. She said there are 22 different types in the state.

About 40 adults and children listened to Carl describe the snakes’ habitat and how humans kill many out of fear. The harmless corn snake, once a native snake, has been killed off in the state, she said.

“They can be found in Ohio and Maryland, and all the way down to Florida,” she said.

She said that years ago the mindset was not to find out what kind of snake it was, just to kill it because it might be a copperhead and it might bite.

“It surprises me when people say, ‘I was out in the woods and I saw a snake, fox or bear,’ ” Carl said. “That is their habitat. How would you feel if you woke up and saw someone sitting on your couch drinking your soda. That’s how some snakes and animals feel, protective.”

While a short, dark brown-and-tan hog nose snake twined around her finger, she told her captive audience never to pick up a snake they might see in the wild.

“These are used to being handled but could still bite,” she said. “Wild snakes will do the most unpleasant things to get away from you. They could bite or poop on you. And snake poop really stinks.”

As some children giggled, Carl smiled and said the hog nose will pretend to be a rattlesnake and shake its tail and flare out its head, but rarely bite with its teeth.

A beautiful red, black and white western milk snake was the next one brought out of a sack. Carl explained it closely resembled the venomous coral snake.

While the snake worked its way up Carl’s arm and into her sleeve, she explained the difference between poisonous and venomous.

She said the western milk snake is poisonous “if I were to take a bite of it.” The coral snake is venomous. The difference is poison has to be eaten, while venom has to be injected into the bloodstream, she said.

Pleased with the turnout, Karl Borton, director of the River Common Programming and Outreach, said the group has held four programs this year focusing on different native species such as bats, fish and mammals.

“Our goal is to provide families affordable entertainment,” he said. “Most events are free to the public.”

He said he had heard of the Carbon County Environmental Education Center and its work in animal rescue and rehabilitation programs through a friend.

August 19th, 2010
Diamond City Partnership
Press Release

Wilkes-Barre PA, August 19th, 2010 – The River Common is calling on all musicians, performers, and aspiring artists to participate in the park’s upcoming Open Mic and Concert Series, Thursday evenings in September and early October. Hosted and headlined by seven local performers, the FREE two-hour series will feature an open mic night from 6-7pm and concert performance from 7 to close.

“It’s not a concert. It’s not an open mic. It’s a hybrid unlike any other event experienced in NEPA and is something that local performers will not want to miss!” states Karl Borton, Director of River Common Programming and Outreach, “Where else can you say you opened up for your favorite musician? Bottom-line: It’s a unique opportunity that is not offered in the local club scene and is something that people should come out to experience for themselves!”

Each week the event will begin with an open mic night and end with a concert performance by one of NEPA’s “home grown” talents, featuring George Wesley, SUZE, Nowhere Slow, Mike Miz, Clever Gents, Cabinet, and K8! Open mic participants and concert fans alike are invited to come out for this unique series where they are asked to “Show up, Sign Up, and Jam in the Park!”

The event will be hosted in the River Common Amphitheater on the Corner of River and Northampton Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA and shall be equipped with a drum kit and audio/lighting backline. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Jewish Community Center of Wyoming Valley or Downtown Arts, home of Arts YOUniverse. Check the website for event updates at www.rivercommon.org! Schedule and location are subject to change.

SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE
9 – George Wesley, Regaee
16 – SUZE, Jam-Band, Rock
23 – Nowhere Slow, Acoustic Rock
30 – Mike Miz, Acoustic Rock

OCTOBER SCHEDULE
7 – Clever Gents, Hip-Hop
14 – Cabinet, Bluegrass
21 – K8, Acoustic Rock

George Wesley: has written and performed his own infectious music for over four decades creating many memorable songs influenced by the blend of rock’n roll and Caribbean sounds. Through his countless stops up and down the east coast of the U.S. and in the islands of the Caribbean , people have enjoyed listening and dancing to the original music of George Wesley. Through the years George has been a headliner at many festivals as well as playing the same stage with a long list of well known artists including The Wailers, Santana, Black Uhuru and Jimmy Cliff.

(more – Page 2)

SUZE: Originally formed out of Kingston, PA in the summer of 2007, SUZE has come a long way from playing backyard parties and bar gigs. The new SUZE lineup, formed in October 2009 and modified in April 2010, consists of Adam McKinley (lead vocals/guitar), Brandin Shaffern (bass/vocals), Kevin Gallagher (drums), Adam Gabriel (lead guitar/vocals) and Angelo Miraglia (keys). They are currently recording and producing their first original album and their sound is a mix of blues, funk, jazz and rock. The band enjoys playing live music more than anything else and is a high energy show.

Nowhere Slow: Having played in front of packed clubs in Northeastern Pennsylvania for the better part of a decade, Nowhere Slow has reached new heights with Listen/Love, its fourth and most ambitious studio album. Blending pop sensibility with tight harmonies and melodic songwriting, the four-piece band has branched out in every way, exploring new sounds, booking new venues and finding new challenges on stage and in the studio. The music is always a work in progress, but Nowhere Slow has found its identity in a sound both catchy and challenging. In a live setting, the band breathes new life into cover songs while winning audiences with its originals.

Mike Miz: has been playing since the age of 15 and has had the pleasure to grace the stage with such formable artist as Merle Saunders, Umphrey’s McGee, Don Preston (Frank Zappa and the Mothers), Chuck Garvey, Al Schnier, Vinnie Amico & Jim Loughlin (moe.), Charlie Hitchcock & Ben Combe (Particle), Marco Benevento, Jeff Pevar, Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident), Michael Glabicki (Rusted Root), Jen Z (Antigone Rising), Ryo Okumoto, Marc Ford (Black Crowes, Ben Harper), Willy Waldman, Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth, Phil and Friends), Scott Sawyer, Gordon Stone, and Creed Bratton. A fusion of folk, rock, blues, blue grass and reggae, Mike’s set lists include a wide range of original material covering a spectrum of musical genres. From the fast paced, cheerful, shred grass of “Was a Time” to soft, touching love songs such as “Broken Wheels” to the heart wrenching despair of the rock/reggae “Dopesick Blues,” Mike’s sets are like a musical novel unfolding real life experiences of the young singer/songwriter’s life.

Clever Gents: is DJ/Drummer/MC trio that fuses all kinds of music, both new and nostalgic, into one huge party mix. The DJ/Drummer combination carries huge amounts of energy, with an MC that handles the microphone and helps keeps the night young. Covers, improvisations, mash-ups, old classics, new bangers, this party ain’t like no other.

Cabinet: mixes a tasty blend of banjo, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass and acoustic guitar and has caught the ears of bluegrass admirers, jam-band lovers and even fans of the indie scene. Cabinet’s fresh sound is a product of a diverse group of musicians with unique influences and backgrounds. Although the band was forged a mere two years ago, the group has forged a dedicated fanbase in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and is steadily growing across Pennsylvania and Ohio, with breakout gigs in Vermont and Pittsburgh.

K8: combines acoustic rock and folk with elements of pop, and is a talented singer/songwriter from Wilkes-Barre, PA. Her unique way of telling a dark story with a happy feeling song is unparalleled. With a bittersweet mixture of poignant lyrics and a powerful, expressive voice, k8’s music truly conveys the range of emotions in her writing. The singer/songwriter has rocked the stage at Wilkes-Barre’s Concert for a Cause, River Fest, and Women Who Rock festivals and is currently in the studio producing her third album.

For more information about this and future programs visit www.rivercommon.org or call 570-823-2101 ext 128.

River Common Summer Programs are provided by the 2010 Season Sponsors: The Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.

Event sponsors include Axelrad, Breaker Boy Drums, First Liberty Bank and Trust, Mohegan Sun, RiverCommon.org, and Wilkes-Barre Riverfront Parks Committee.

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August 9th, 2010
Diamond City Partnership
Press Release

Wilkes-Barre PA – The River Common has St. Patrick on speed dial as it prepares to drive out the snakes from the park following the Live Reptiles Program on Thursday, August 19th.

The FREE program, hosted by Jeannie Carl of the Carbon County Environmental Education Center, is set to run from 7-8pm at the River Common Amphitheater and will feature live reptiles including the black rat, milk, corn, and western hognose snakes.

Join Jeannie on the Common next Thursday as she discusses how to properly ID our area’s native snakes, why they are important to our eco-system, how humans have impacted our scaley friends, and what the similarities and differences are between the various species of snake. The program is appropriate for all ages and is a great opportunity to learn more about the animals in our area.

For more information please contact Karl Borton at 570-823-2101 ×128!

The River Common is Luzerne County’s newest park and entertainment venue. The park is host to a 750-person granite amphitheater, a fishing pier and grand common, and a quarter mile of paved walkways, gardens, and ornamental trees. The park connects the city to the Susquehanna River via two grand portals, each equipped with flood-resistant sliding doorways, customized lighting features, and public fountains.

For more information and a listing of upcoming events, please visit the River Common website: www.rivercommon.org

River Common Summer Programs are provided by the 2010 Season Sponsors: The Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.

Event sponsors include RiverCommon.org, and Wilkes-Barre Riverfront Parks Committee.

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July 29, 2010
Citizens Voice

Grammy Award-winning percussionist Steve Fidyk will christen the 750-seat River Common amphitheater – Wilkes-Barre’s newest entertainment venue – with a free concert at 7 p.m. tonight.

Fidyk will play with Wyoming Seminary Performing Arts Institute’s Faculty Jazz Ensemble.

Fidyk, who has made more than 30 recordings, is a drummer with the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble of Washington, D.C., and has toured and recorded with Maureen McGovern. Joining Fidyk will be veteran musicians Alex Noppe, Pete Johnson, Kyle Vock and friends.

Noppe is an associate instructor in jazz at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he directs the Jazz Ensemble IV. He plays with the Columbus-Indiana Philharmonic, the Terre Haute Symphony, and the David Baker Jazz Ensemble and has performed with the Lansing Symphony, the Jackson Symphony, and the Green Bay Symphony.

The concert will include low brass chamber music ensembles led by Michael Parker.

Parker has been the tuba player with the Monumental Brass Quintet in Washington, D.C., since 2002. As a member of the MBQ, Parker is currently on the artist rosters for Summit Records, Washington Performing Arts Society, Class Acts Arts, Living Arts Pennsylvania, and formerly with Young Audiences of D.C. and Virginia.

The accomplished musicians will perform at the River Common as part of the PAI’s International Summer Program, which educates high school students in music, theater, and dance. Taught by prestigious international faculty and conductors, this intensive program prepares students for conservatory auditions by providing academic training and high-level performance experiences.

Joining the faculty performers will be PAI students Josh Fleming, Matt Johnson, and Gregory Townsend will support the concert experience.

Fleming (baritone horn) is currently going into his sophomore year at Sherwood High School in Olney, Md. and has been selected as a member of the Maryland All-State Band.

Johnson (tuba) is a 2010 graduate of St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C. He won the Disney World Solo Contest.

Gregory Townsend (tuba) is a 2010 graduate of Marriotts Ridge High School in Maryland and was awarded First Chair Tuba in the Maryland All State Bands 2006-2008, and 2010.

For information about this and future programs, visit www.rivercommon.org or call 823-2101, ext. 128. Find out what it takes to survive in the wilderness with no supplies or equipment at a free program at 7 p.m. tonight at the Nesbitt Park boat launch parking lot, presented by the River Common.

Learn wilderness survival skills tonight

Franklin B. Klock II, naturalist from the Carbon County Environmental Education Center, will discuss how to build a shelter and stay warm, find safe water and food, start a fire without matches and signal for help.

The program is appropriate for all ages.

The next River Common program will be a free fishing clinic from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 at the fishing pier in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will provide fishing poles, bait and tackle and offer a clinic on tying knots, baiting hooks, properly casting lines, and fishing safety.

No fishing license is required but participants must register in advance by calling 477-2206.

July 29, 2010
Times Leader
by Bill O’Boyle

Steve Fidyk, who has performed on several Grammy Award-winning recordings, is back home and will be in concert tonight on the River Common.

The Hanover Area High School and Wilkes University graduate will perform tonight at the River Common amphitheater along the Susquehanna River.

Fidyk, 42, said this will be the 11th consecutive year he has returned to his hometown to perform and work with high school students.

“It just gives me a great sense of pride to come back to my hometown and perform for old friends and my parents,” Fidyk said. “And I continue to be inspired by the student musicians I’ll be working with all week. Hopefully we’ll have a good turnout.”

Fidyk said if it rains the concert will move to the Buckingham Performing Arts Center on the campus of Wyoming Seminary. Tonight’s concert is free and is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Fidyk will perform with the Performing Arts Institute’s Faculty Jazz Ensemble. The musical performance will be the first concert to be hosted at the newly constructed venue, and will additionally feature low brass chamber music ensembles led by Michael Parker.

Fidyk, who is an accomplished percussionist, studio musician, clinician and educator, will perform alongside industry veterans Alex Noppe, Pete Johnson, Kyle Vock and friends.

Fidyk is an accomplished musician with more than 30 recordings to his credit. He currently is a drummer with the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble of Washington, D.C., and has toured and recorded with Maureen McGovern, New York Voices, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, The Capitol Bones, Michael Abene, and the Taylor/Fidyk Big Band, an ensemble he co-leads with former Stan Kenton arranger Mark Taylor.

The musicians join the River Common as part of the PAI’s International Summer Program, which educates high school students in music, theater and dance. Taught by international faculty and conductors, this intensive program prepares students for conservatory auditions by providing academic training and high-level performance experiences.

July 27, 2010
Diamond City Partnership
Press Release

Wilkes-Barre PA – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission returns to the River Common Fishing Pier on August 4th to host a FREE fishing clinic, 5:30-8:30pm. The event, geared towards kids and adults of all ages, is the second family fishing day planned for the park in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

Fishing poles, bait, and tackle will be available on-site for individuals interested in casting their lines. In addition a guided clinic on tying knots, baiting hooks, properly casting lines, and fishing safety will be presented by representatives of the PA Fish and Boat Commission. The 2 hour program will answer all of your questions including, “What types of fish exist in the Susquehanna River,” What Makes a Good Fishing Spot?,” and “How do you properly handle a fish?.”

“Family fishing day is a wonderful opportunity for families and youth organizations to introduce kids to our area’s greatest natural resource, the Susquehanna River. The program provides a low-cost option for people to try something new and learn more about the sport of fishing.” states Karl Borton, Director of River Common Programming and Outreach. “The free event is just one of the many activities scheduled for the summer of 2010.”

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to learn a new trick or two. The event is appropriate for all ages and starts at 5:30pm on Wednesday, August 4th. Please pre-register with the fish and boat commission prior to the event at 570-477-2206.

The River Common is Luzerne County’s newest park and entertainment venue. The park is host to a 750-person granite amphitheater, a fishing pier, grand common, and a quarter mile of paved walkways, gardens, and ornamental trees. The park connects the city to the Susquehanna River via two grand portals, each equipped with flood-resistant sliding doorways, customized lighting features, and public fountains.

For more information and a listing of upcoming events, please visit the River Common website: www.rivercommon.org

River Common Summer Programs are provided by the 2010 Season Sponsors: The Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.

July 24, 2010
Times Leader
by Janine Ungvarsky

WILKES-BARRE – The animal cages weren’t even out of the truck when Ricky Hoyes, 5, strolled up to check them out.

“Is that a possum? And a skunk?” the Dallas boy asked, eyeing the stacked animal carriers.

Ricky soon got a close up look at two possums, two skunks and two squirrels, along with the pelts of other animals found in the wild in and around Northeastern Pennsylvania. The animals were part of a Second Chance Wildlife Center educational session at the River Common amphitheater.

Nearly 100 people – including a large number of families with young children – gathered on a muggy summer evening to hear licensed wildlife rescuers Angie Colarusso and Shane Kleiner dispel the myths and expose the truth about more common local animals like the squirrels and skunks and some that people might not see as often, like coyotes, otters and fishers.

“We saw it in the paper and we knew he loves animals, so his Grampy and I brought Ricky,” said the boy’s grandmother, Carol Sopp. “I think it’s wonderful that they have this.”

“I like animals because some fly and some hang in trees,” Ricky said, though his favorite animal is not a mammal. “I like birds. My favorite is either a tufted titmouse or a cardinal. I like the tufts on their head,” he said.

The youngster was eager to share what he knew about animals, too.

“Possums like to hang by their tails,” he said. “We read a book in school about it.”

The book had it partly right.

Colarusso said the tail of young possums are made of cartilage and the babies can indeed hang by their tails, and she demonstrated by having the younger possum hang from her forearm.

But adult possums can’t hang, she said. She also explained how many baby possums die each year because their mother is hit by a car while the babies are still in her pouch.

“We get dozens and dozens of baby possums in the springtime,” she said. They also see a lot of baby squirrels with concussions because they get blown out of their leaf nests by summer storms, babies that will die in a few weeks without treatment, Colarusso said.

Colarusso and Kleiner are two of only 40 wildlife rescuers working with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to help orphaned and injured animals.

Based in Wyoming County, they each work two other jobs but volunteer their time for rescue work and to hold as many as two education sessions a weekend because they want people to understand the role animals play in the environment.

For instance, when squirrels bury their food, they are also planting new trees, and possums, which are technically called opossums, Colarusso pointed out, are as good as cats at keeping down the mouse population.

The pair urged people to enjoy animals but not interfere with them. Most animals will leave you alone if you leave them alone, they said.

“Observe the animal from a distance,” Kleiner said. “Watch them, take pictures, enjoy watching the babies but don’t get too close – it can be dangerous.”

They also stressed that it is illegal for anyone other than a licensed professional to handle such an animal and told the crowd what to do if they encounter one which is orphaned.

Their tips included taking precautions by using thick gloves to protect from claws and teeth and putting the animal somewhere warm, dark and quiet, like a covered box with a blanket and a heating pad, and calling a vet or wildlife rescuer. For more information or to donate to help rescue injured animals: Second Chance Wildlife Center, PO Box 485, Tunkhannock, PA 18657, or phone 570-836-1851.

July 21, 2010
Diamond City Partnership
Press Release

WYOMING SEMINARY SPONSORS BRASS AND JAZZ MUSIC IN THE PARK!
Wilkes-Barre PA, July 21, 2010– Grammy Award winner, Steve Fidyk will christen the River Common Amphitheater on Thursday, July 29th as he performs with the Performing Arts Institute’s (PAI) Faculty Jazz Ensemble. The musical performance will be the first concert to be hosted at the newly constructed venue, and will additionally feature low brass chamber music ensembles lead by Michael Parker.

Fidyk, who is an accomplished percussionist, studio musician, clinician, and educator, will perform along side industry veterans Alex Noppe, Pete Johnson, Kyle Vock and friends from 7-8pm in the park.

Fidyk is an accomplished musician with over thirty recordings to his credit. He currently resides as a drummer with the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble of Washington, D.C., and has toured and recorded with Maureen McGivern, New York Voices, Cathy Fink and Marcy Maxer, The Capitol Bones, Michael Abene, and the Taylor/Fidyk Big Band, an ensemble he co-leads with Stan Kenton Alumnus Mark Taylor.

Noppe is an associate instructor in jazz at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he directs the Jazz Ensemble IV. He is currently a D.M. candidate in Brass Literature and Pedagogy, previously completed a master’s degree in performance at Indiana, studying with John Rommel and David Baker, and holds dual bachelor’s degrees in trumpet performance and jazz studies from the University of Michigan. Noppe currently plays with the Columbus-Indiana Philharmonic, the Terre Haute Symphony, and the David Baker Jazz Ensemble and has performed with the Lansing Symphony, the Jackson Symphony, and the Green Bay Symphony.

Parker has been the tuba player with the Monumental Brass Quintetin Washington, D.C. since 2002. As a member of the MBQ, Parker is currently on the artist rosters for Summit Records, Washington Performing Arts Society, Class Acts Arts, Living Arts Pennsylvania, and formerly with Young Audiences of DC and Virginia. Mike has additionally performed with the Washington National Opera, Fairfax Symphony, Washington Savoyards Light Opera Company, Elmhurst Symphony, Missouri Brass Consortium, Mount Vernon Brass Consort, and the Kenosha Symphony.

The accomplished musicians join the River Common as part of the PAI’s International Summer Program which educates high school students in music, theater, and dance. Taught by prestigious international faculty and conductors, this intensive program prepares students for conservatory auditions by providing academic training and high-level performance experiences.

Joining the faculty performers, PAI students, Josh Fleming, Matt Johnson, and Gregory Townsend will support the concert experience

Josh Fleming (baritone horn) is currently going into his sophomore year at Sherwood High School in Olney, MD. Josh has been selected as a member of the Maryland All State Band.

Matt Johnson (tuba) is a 2010 graduate of St. John’s College High School in Washington, DC. In the fall of 2010, Matt will be studying with Daniel Parantoni at the University of Indiana while pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education. In 2009, Matt won the Disney World Solo Contest and performed as a soloist with the St. John’s College High School Wind Ensemble.

Gregory Townsend (tuba) is a 2010 graduate of Marriotts Ridge High School in Marriottsville, MD. In the fall of 2010, Greg will begin studies with Professor Rex Martin in Tuba Performance at Northwestern University. He was awarded First Chair Tuba in the Maryland All State Bands 2006- 2008, and 2010. In 2009, Gregory was awarded Principal Tuba in the Maryland All State Orchestra and was also a member of the 2009 All Eastern Honor Band. Greg has also been a member of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.

Join the River Common on Thursday, July 29th from 7-8pm as the venue delivers a world class musical performance. See a sneak peak of the PAI 2010 Concert Series and take in the sounds from a group of very talented musicians.

For more information regarding the PAI 2010 summer concert series, please visit www.wyomingseminary.org/pai .

River Common Summer Programs are provided by the 2010 Season Sponsors: The Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.

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July 19, 2010
Diamond City Partnership
Press Release

Wilkes-Barre PA, July 16, 2010– Have you ever wanted to see and pet a skunk? If you answer “Yes!,” then we have the program aimed just for you!

On Friday July 23rd, the Second Chance Wildlife Center joins the River Common to host a FREE, Live Mammals Program. The event will feature a wide assortment of animals, including full grown and baby skunks, possums, and squirrels, at the River Common Amphitheater from 6:30-7:30pm.

Join Angie Colarusso and Shane Kleiner from Second Chance Wildlife Center at the Wilkes-Barre River Common as they reveal the myths and truths about some of the common mammals of Pennsylvania. They will be displaying live wild animals commonly seen in our own back yards, while discussing habitat, life cycles and other unusual tidbits, such as: What you can do when you get sprayed by a skunk?, What is our oldest living mammal? and How you can determine if a wild animal really needs help or should it be observed from a distance?

Find out these answers and many more at this free program held on Friday July 23rd at the River Common Amphitheater (Northampton Street & River Street).

For more information and a listing of upcoming events, please visit the River Common website: www.rivercommon.org

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July 18, 2010
Times Leader
by Matt Hughes

WILKES-BARRE — Sue Gallagher of the Carbon County Environmental Center has presented her educational program on bats so many times she could probably do it hanging upside down in the dark.

She ran through much of that program Thursday at Wilkes-Barre’s River Common, going over myths and misconceptions about nature’s only flying mammals. To summarize: Bats aren’t blind, they aren’t flying mice, they won’t get stuck in your hair and, unless you’re vacationing on a South American cattle ranch, they won’t suck your blood either.

A little more than a year ago, things changed, and Gallagher’s message about bats changed with it.

Bats in Pennsylvania are dying, Gallagher said, in such extreme numbers that future generations of Pennsylvanians may never see them in the wild.

“You guys aren’t going to grow up seeing bats the way we grew up seeing bats,” Gallagher told the approximately 10 children who gathered with their parents for the program, which was sponsored by rivercommon.org.

There are two culprits in the disappearance of the state’s bats, Gallagher said.

Hibernating bats, the sort that live in caves, have been affected by white nose syndrome, a fungus-based illness that causes bats to awaken from hibernation early. The bats, which live on a diet of insects, then die of starvation.

The illness, which spread south from New York State last year, kills 85 to 100 percent of bat populations it infiltrates.

Other bats, especially the migratory variety, are being killed by an unlikely source: wind turbines. Bats are attracted to the turbines during mating season, Gallagher said, when they will fly to the highest point above ground. They are then either killed by the large fan blades or by low pressure systems that form near the tips of the blades that cause the bats’ lungs to explode.

A single turbine can kill 50 to 100 bats a year, Gallagher said, adding that it is too early to judge the effect of wind energy on bats because Pennsylvania does not track bat population size.

“We want to get behind wind energy; we want to say wind energy is green, but we’ve got to address its impact on bats,” Gallagher said.

“I feel bad, because I really like bats, and I don’t want them to die,” Bethany Kelsey, 7, of Wilkes-Barre, said after the program.

“I didn’t know that they were dying, which makes me very sad,” Kelsey’s mother, Angel Kelsey, added. “I grew up in the woods watching the bats.”

The bat program was the first in a series of free children’s nature education programs being held at the River Common. The next, a live mammals program, will take place July 23.

July 8, 2010
Diamond City Partnership
Press Release

WILKES-BARRE — The River Common will host a Live Bats Program on Thursday, July 15th, at the River Common Amphitheater from 7-8PM. The free program hosted by the Carbon County Environmental Education Center will feature live bats and an educational presentation about this amazing flying creature.

Visitors are encouraged to bring a friend to learn more about this native animal, its habitat, and its impact on our region. Carbon County representatives will be on-site to showcase live bats and answer all of your questions, including those concerning the threatening white nose syndrome.

Although humans remain unaffected by the White Nose Syndrome, Bats are especially vulnerable to this fungus which affects the nose and wings of our famed mosquito eater. First noticed in bat colonies in New York in 2006, white nose syndrome has spread to some, though not all, bats in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey and now Pennsylvania.

Hardy mammals that have survived for about 50 million years, bats play an important ecological role in the environment. A bat can consume 25 percent of its body weight in flying insects during a night’s feeding. In Pennsylvania alone, bats collectively eat tons of insects each night, impacting agriculture and the spread of insect-borne disease, not to mention backyard comfort.

For more information and a listing of upcoming events, please visit the River Common website: www.rivercommon.org

July 3, 2010
Times Leader
by Matt Hughes

WILKES-BARRE – Last month, they brought the city a bigger, more event-packed Riverfest celebration than ever before, but River Common events organizers aren’t resting on their laurels.

Riverfest wasn’t a blow-out bash, it was a kickoff party.

Seeking to keep the good times rolling all summer long, the River Common released a schedule of programming and events Friday.

The schedule lists events, including river kayak excursions, walking tours and nature programs, through Aug. 25. Director of River Common Programming and Outreach Karl Borton said he is developing a schedule for August and has plans for programming well into the fall.

He called the schedule “a taste of things to come,” adding that his group hopes to bring additional programs to the common this summer, including a live performance of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” coordinated by Arts YOUniverse, 47 N. Franklin St., morning yoga classes and a children’s chalk art competition.

In addition, Borton said he hopes to host at least one live performance each week at the common, including open mike nights hosted local artists.

“It doesn’t just have to be music, it can be poetry, live art or theater,” he said.

Borton said he hopes adding more and more programming will eventually make the common one of the premiere river front parks on the East Coast.

“We’d like to see the park mirror other successful river front parks in America,” Borton said, citing parks in Hartford, Conn., and Chattanooga, Tenn., for examples.

“Those parks bring in a lot of people, not just from those areas. Hopefully, we can attract crowds from Scranton and Hazleton, and bring those people into Wilkes-Barre.”

Cultural Council Executive Director Mike Burnside named a less ambitious, though nonetheless novel hope for the programming.

“We just want to get people into the habit of coming down to the river, and becoming familiar with the river in a way they never have before,” Burnside said.

The next event listed on the schedule is a family fishing day at the River Common Fishing Pier, Wednesday, 5:30 to 8:30.

Borton said the common has not scheduled any Fourth of July programming because the city already has a program planned, though all are welcome to watch Sunday night’s fireworks from the common.

The schedule of events released Friday is available at www.rivercommon.org.

June 20, 2010
Times Leader
by Gino Troiani

WILKES-BARRE — Live entertainment, water sports and educational activities were some of the events that took place during the annual Wyoming Valley Riverfest, which wrapped up its three-day run Sunday.

The festival is designed to reconnect residents to the wonders of the Susquehanna River.

Festivities were held at the River Common and Nesbitt Park and kicked off Friday, attracting people interested in enjoying the natural beauty of the river while learning more about it.

“Its focus is to bring people back to the river,” said Vincent Cotrone, president of the Riverfront Park Committee.

Cotrone placed a major emphasis on the education aspect of the festival, adding the event serves as a way to inform people about the importance of the river and environment.

On hand for the entire weekend were approximately 30 environmental exhibitors offering seminars and workshops on topics ranging from water quality to wildlife preservation.

In conjunction with educational activities and entertainment, people had the opportunity to explore and learn more about the Susquehanna on three different canoe/kayaking trips as part of the Wyoming Valley Sojourn.

On Friday, participants made the trek from West Pittston to Nesbitt Park, Saturday from Apple Tree Boat Launch in Harding to Nesbitt Park, and Sunday from Nesbitt Park to Hunlock Creek.

“We had 85 people on the water Friday evening, yesterday (Saturday) we had between 220 and 250 people on the water… and today (Sunday) we put another 150 to 200 on the water going to Hunlock Creek,” said Cotrone.

For Dan Hubbard of the Susquehanna River-based kayak and guide service, Anthracite Outfitters, the event served as a way to raise awareness of the importance of the Susquehanna River.

“A lot of the people in the valley don’t look at the river as a resource,” said Hubbard. “The river is our office, it’s our livelihood, so we want to make sure everyone takes care of it.”

Cotrone explained this is the first year the park committee utilized both sides of the river, creating more space for entertainment and activities.

“The best part of it was everyone mixing together,” said Wilkes-Barre native Sally Healey.

She said she is happy to see the river being used as a place for individuals to gather and enjoy its natural beauty.

“Growing up, the river was never used or rarely used, so this is like a re-birth. To see people smiling and laughing and taking advantage of the natural side. This is phenomenal.”

June 19, 2010
Times Leader
by John Krispin

WILKES-BARRE — The sunny weekend kicked off the annual Wyoming Valley RiverFest, with welcoming temperatures to ring in the change of seasons with a slew of family-oriented activities.

Kids of all ages picked between games and skilled activities, all in the name of fun, between the River Common and Nesbitt Park venues. Some chose more simplistic entertainment, skipping stones along the Susquehanna or wading in the cool water’s current. Other children sat on the backs of ponies, reveling in the rarity of the ride.

“The rope climb was pretty good,” said Samantha “Sam” Pennycoff, 8, of Wilkes-Barre. “I’m scared of heights but still had fun.”

She was also at the event with her brother, Jaccob Pennycoff, and her step-grandparents, Steve Diehl, of Blair County, and Retta Pennycoff, of Wilkes-Barre. Along with the tree climb, she enjoyed making necklaces during children’s art activities. A kid’s tree climb setup, hosted under one of the largest trees in Nesbitt Park, was a hot attraction, with more than 150 youths giving it a try. Their goal was to ascend a free-standing rope while using climbing tools, reach the top and ring a cowbell, only to be encouraged by their family members as they rappelled.

“(This day) is nice, and I like it,” said Diehl, 55, a cave rescuer. He detailed the harness setup the children were using with help of volunteers working with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “This is just a good day to spend with the kids.”

Retta Pennycoff has been a resident of Wilkes-Barre for 19 years, and she believes the redevelopment of the downtown area, especially along the river, is a step in the right direction for changing people’s minds about the area.

“There seems to be more activities going on now than ever. We went to Fine Arts Fiesta and had a great time.”

Pony rides were hosted by The Woodlands Stable and Tack Inc., which brought several of their ponies for visitors of the event to pet, ride and enjoy.

“I like doing this a lot,” said Keeley Whitney, 16, of the Gouldsboro-based farm. They are invited to many events all summer long where their horses can be seen and ridden.

“I think it’s fun watching kids have fun.”

Hula hoopers showed the youngsters techniques while their adult counterparts gave their best “Twist” impression with the hoops.

The second kayak sojourn of the weekend was jam-packed with attendees, with 200 people sliding into the shells of the vessels and on into the river. They made a trip from Harding to Nesbitt Park. Today, the kayak trip will leave from Wilkes-Barre and end in Hunlock Creek.

RiverFest has officially taken place for 11 years.

Dallas Post
June 19, 2010

Wilkes-Barre – For the past three years, Dallas artist Sue Hand has been paddling the Northwest branch of the Susquehanna River with friends in two canoes, producing plain air paintings along the way and more involved paintings back in her studio.

Many of those paintings produced by Hand, as well as by Laura Adams, of Wilkes-Barre, and Peggy Davidson, of Meshoppen, are currently on display at Luzerne Bank’s Public Square office (next to the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts) in Wilkes-Barre.

To coincide with Riverfest 2010 and to honor National Rivers Month celebrated annually during the month of June to promote awareness and preservation of the country’s rivers, Hand, Adams and Davidson are exhibiting artworks of the Susquehanna River from Campbell’s Ledge to the Nanticoke rapids.

The compositions include depictions of the river as it winds through Wyoming Valley past Pittston, Wyoming, Forty Fort, Wilkes-Barre, Plymouth and Nanticoke. The three women work in a variety of media, including watercolor, oil, acrylic, graphite and colored pencil.

This exhibit of paintings will continue throughout the month of June at Luzerne Bank’s Public Square office during regular banking hours.

For more information, call 675-5094.

June 19, 2010
Times Leader
by Camille Fioti

WILKES-BARRE — With the sparkling Susquehanna River serving as a backdrop, Karl Borton, 24, was named the new director of River Common Programming and Outreach at the kickoff of this year’s River Fest Friday afternoon.

Borton, who served as a volunteer coordinator for the River Common was responsible for developing, promoting and managing events for River Fest last year and this year. After graduating from Wyoming Valley West High School, Borton moved to Massachusetts to attend Bentley University, where he graduated with a B.S. in marketing and a minor in information technology. He has been working at Diamond City Partnership and Borton-Lawson Engineering.

Borton, who is not a city or county employee, said his salary, which he declined to disclose, would be paid through private donations, corporate sponsorships and park rental fees for private events such as weddings.

In his new position, Borton will be responsible for all public programming in the River Common park. He will also serve as the primary contact and spokesperson for public, vendor and media inquiries regarding the park.

After introducing Borton on a large portable stage in Millennium Circle, Jim Brozena, Executive Director of the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, handed him a blanket and a pillow. “You’re going to need these because you’ll be spending a lot of time down here,” he joked. “Do what you can and make this the best thing for the community.”

“This park is really the key to our community,” Borton said. “It’s an area where people can gather from all over and enjoy everything the region has to offer.” Borton said he would like to see the River Common eventually mirror other riverfront parks he’s visited, such as the Hartford Riverfront Park in Hartford, CT.

“I think this riverfront park in Wilkes-Barre is going to add a lot of value for people in the area,” he said. “The main goal is to provide free entertainment for residents and to also boost the local economy by bringing in non-traditional tourists to the area.”

Funding for a long-term lease for the covered stage, built by Mountain Productions, was made possible through the efforts of Leadership Wilkes-Barre, which raised $55,000 through donations from multiple private and corporate sponsors.

This weekend’s festivities, which will be held also at Nesbitt Park, across the river, include live entertainment, art displays, children’s activities and river sojourns. Free family fishing was sponsored by the state Fish and Boat Commission and will continue today.

“Follow the fish,” said Jan Lokuta, as he and several young volunteers drew chalk fish patterns on the sidewalk from Millenium Circle at the river’s edge, up the steps and over the Market Street Bridge to Nesbitt Park. Lokuta said the fish directional markings are to “remind people that activities will be on both sides of the river starting today.”

A Wyoming Valley native, Lokuta lives and practices law in Milford. As a member of the River Fest committee, he organized the many art activities for the event, including a children’s mural. “My role in River Fest is to try to use the arts as a way for people to re-envision the river,” he said. “I think the Susquehanna River is an under utilized gem. It is the largest river on the eastern seaboard and has a lot of potential.”

Fellow River Fest committee member John Maday said the event, which began about 16 years ago at Nesbitt Park, has grown over the years and now includes river tours

June 18, 2010
Diamond City Partnership
Press Release

WILKES-BARRE — The Diamond City Partnership is proud to welcome Karl Borton to the River Common where he will be responsible for programming all public events for the riverfront park in downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA. Borton joins the downtown community as the park’s first Director of River Common Programming and Public Outreach. His responsibilities include programming, fundraising support, and promotion of the River Common park system. He will also serve as the primary contact and spokesperson for public, vendor, and media inquiries regarding the River Common.

Prior to his appointment at the park, Karl was employed by Borton-Lawson in Wilkes-Barre, PA and served as a volunteer coordinator for the River Common where he was responsible for developing, promoting, and managing events to include River Fest 2009 and 2010. Karl’s entertainment background also includes work for Red Light Management in New York City, NY, and marketing for the Graham Colton Band.

Karl holds a B.S. in Marketing from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts with a minor in Information Technology.

“When RiverCommon.org and the Diamond City Partnership first developed a plan to provide public programming on the River Common, we knew that we had to find the right person to lead that effort on a day-to-day basis. We found that person in Karl Borton,” said Elizabeth Graham, chairman of the Diamond City Partnership.

She noted that “Karl’s passion for the River Common and its potential is obvious to anyone who speaks with him; we are confident that he’ll apply that passion, together with his event planning experience, to make the River Common a “must-visit” destination throughout the summer and fall.”

The Director of River Common Programming and Outreach position has been created as part of a larger effort to ensure that the River Common is properly programmed and marketed. That effort is led by River Common.org, a new non-profit organization created to oversee event management and fundraising for public programs on the River Common through an agreement with the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority. In turn, River Common.org has contracted with the Diamond City Partnership, Wilkes-Barre’s downtown revitalization organization, to staff this venture.

The River Common is Luzerne County’s newest park and entertainment venue. The park is host to a 750-person granite amphitheater, a fishing pier and grand common, and a quarter mile of paved walkways, gardens, and ornamental trees. The park connects the city to the Susquehanna River via two grand portals, each equipped with flood-resistant sliding doorways, customized lighting features, and public fountains.

For more information and a listing of upcoming events, please visit the River Common website: www.rivercommon.org

June 18, 2010
Times Leader
by Matt Hughes

WILKES-BARRE — For those living in the floodplain at least, the Susquehanna has forever posed a silent but ever-lingering threat. Dirty and menacing, many have viewed the river as a drawback, not a benefit, of the area.

With the construction of the River Common and the growth of Riverfest, however, others have sought to reacquaint locals with their much maligned neighbor, offering a simple invitation to come to the river and see what has been hidden in plain sight, the Susquehanna’s beauty. Invitation accepted.

Eighty-five turned out for a twilight sojourn down the Susquehanna Friday evening. The expedition was the first of three to be held as part of Wilkes-Barre’s Riverfest celebration, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Organizers expected a sizeable turnout for the event, though the mass that turned out Friday evening was cause for some surprise.

“A week ago, 17 were signed up,” said David Buck, owner of Endless Mountain Outfitters, Sugar Run.

Perhaps the favorable weather forecast brought them out.

Jeff Nealon, of Wilkes-Barre, said he made a reservation for one of last year’s Riverfest excursions, but cancelled due to the heavy rains that fell the weekend of the festival.

“We came to be able to see the river and animals and stuff in the river, from the river instead of from the road,” Nealon said. “Plus, the weather is beautiful.”

Travelers rode in single and tandem kayaks, low-slung boats propelled with double-ended paddles, brought from home or rented at special Riverfest rates from Endless Mountain Outfitters, Susquehanna River Adventures, Wilkes-Barre, and Susquehanna Kayak and Canoe Rental, Falls. One couple, Gordon and Chris Weightman, of Kingston, traveled by canoe.

“We like canoeing together, my wife and I,” Gordon Weightman said, “looking at the towns from the river instead of the opposite.”

The group set out from Nesbitt Park, Wilkes-Barre, on two 39-foot school buses just after 4 p.m., bound for its cast-off point in West Pittston.

By 5 p.m., lifejackets, paddles and boats had been distributed, and safety briefings begun. Buck warned paddlers of hazardous eddy currents, trees hanging into the water, and trying to stand up in a kayak.

“If you stand up in a kayak, BINGO, you go over,” Buck said.

A simple explanation if there ever was one.

The crowd then set out in groups of about 30, divided by the three outfitters supplying boats and gear.

By 5:30 p.m., the group had Pittston’s twin bridges at its back, Wilkes-Barre bound.

Most in the group were neophytes in some sense: first time in a kayak, first time paddling on a river, first time in the Susquehanna.

“We’ve lived in West Pittston for 17 years, and besides walking in front of it, we’ve never been on it,” said Greg Buzinski, who shared a tandem canoe with grandson Noah Civiletti. “After all those years of telling him not to go near the river, here we are in the middle of it.”

Robbie Marks, of Denver, Colo., remembered her childhood days in Kingston, when a green metal wall barred access to the river.

“You just couldn’t do this,” Marks said.

By the time the trip entered its second hour, the group had morphed from scattered clumps to a meandering broken column, punctuated with small groups of families, friends and new found acquaintances. One could have as much or as little company as one wanted.

Even for those familiar with the Wyoming Valley, new sights could be found along the Susquehanna’s banks. A half submerged, mostly decomposed railway car; a relic of the Knox Mine Disaster; a short section of rapids in Exeter, and a flock of Canada geese, all astounded.

“People don’t realize what we have here,” self-confessed kayak “addict” Kathy Selli, of Scranton, said.

The Susquehanna itself also takes on a new character for one who has only seen it from a bridge or roadway. Broad and deep near Wilkes-Barre, it narrows in sections, bisected by islands, and appears more a woodland creek than a mighty river.

Shortly before 8 p.m., as the boats passed by the austere white walls of the Forty Fort Cemetery and rounded a gentle bend, Wilkes-Barre again came into view, though perhaps not the Wilkes-Barre most of us know.

The setting sun’s rays gleaming from the county courthouse’s dome and the white faces of the Guard center and other River Street buildings, bound by church steeples guarding her perimeter, the city stands majestic. Even the oft-maligned Hotel Sterling blends seamlessly into the cityscape. Wilkes-Barre, her portico at least, is beautiful.

Another thought also comes to mind: It’s so small. Our fair city is dwarfed by the trees flanking her banks, and the mountains walling her in. Mother Nature awaits at our very shores.

“I’m so glad to see they’re developing the resources that we have,” Mary Anne Saylor, of Ashley, said as she paddled tandem with daughter Miranda Lyon. “The river, the mountains, what more could you need.”

June 14, 2010
Times Leader
by Matt Hughes

Wilkes-Barre – Organizers are set to showcase the Susquehanna at an expanded Riverfest celebration, June 18, 19 and 20th.

Event planners from the Riverfront Parks Committee and Cultural Council of Luzerne County said they hope reacquaint Wyoming Valley residents with a river that has been underutilized as a recreational resource at the festival, to be held at Wilkes-Barre’s Nesbitt Park and River Common.

“I want people who haven’t been there to discover something new, and then, go tell their friends,” Cultural Council Executive Director Mike Burnside said.

They will also encourage the public to enjoy the river on and off the water by adding paddling trips to more traditional festival activities like live music and children’s games.

“We get people looking at the valley and the river in a whole different light once we get them on the water,” said Vincent Cotrone, president of the Riverfront Parks Committee.

Organizers said that they also hope to indirectly promote preservation of the riverfront by encouraging people to use it, and to bolster economic revitalization downtown by bringing in crowds.

Riverfest has officially taken place for 11 years, but The Riverfront Parks Committee has held activities at Nesbitt park for 15 or 16 years, Cotrone said.

Though last year’s Riverfest coincided with the opening weekend celebration of the River Common, this year’s event marks the first the common has been fully incorporated as a cross-river sister venue to Nesbitt Park.

Annual events have been expanded and new events added to this year’s celebration. Kayak and canoe trips on the river have been increased from two to three, and musical performances will be held all three nights, up from two at last year’s Riverfest. This year’s Riverfest will also introduce the Confluence Arts Show, featuring more than 10 arts and crafts vendors.

“It keeps getting bigger and better every year,” Burnside said.

A bevy of children’s and family activities will also be held, including live bird and mammal shows, free family fishing and a kid’s tree climb, and attendees will be invited to add their artistic touch to a community mural.

Organizers are hoping to increase attendance to more than 3,000, up from 1,500 last year, when rain kept many away from the riverside.

Food vendors will also be onsite as will information booths. The Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation will host a free acid-mine drainage tie-dye T-shirtmaking stand, Friday night and Saturday, as long as T-shirt supplies last.

A full schedule of activities can be found at the Riverfront Parks Committee’s website, www.rivercommon.org.

June 6, 2010
Times Leader
by John Krispin

WILKES-BARRE —The River Common park can be enjoyed in many different ways. On cooler days, you can bundle near the river and cast a line, hoping for a tug.

On warm days, you can ride your bike along the concrete pathways. On rainy days, you can huddle underneath the floodgates or under the Market Street Bridge’s canopy.

Or on hot days, you can roam around the fountain, engaging in its timed dances. These are all activities that can be found in one of the downtown’s newest recreational areas.

“I think it’s a good thing for the city, to have done the construction,” said Francis Shovlin, 25, a city resident. “Now this is where I eat my lunches during the week, ride my bike or take a run.”

As a young professional who enjoys cultural and musical events, Shovlin believes the River Common is a place for like-minded individuals to enjoy the area they’ve called home. He graduated college, settled back in the area and now finds that living downtown means everything is in walking distance. The River Common park, for him, is an enjoyable part of living in the downtown.

“A lot of people seem to ride their bikes, walk their dogs and just sit out eating lunch, taking walks and staying healthy,” he said.

In celebration of its first full year in use by the public, the Wyoming Valley Riverfest, held at the River Common and scheduled for June 18-20, offers free activities for children and adults. Several local musicians are slated to play over the course of the three days.

Shovlin also enjoyed previous musical events, such as local bands Cabinet and George Wesley, and he says he is anticipating a good turnout for the Riverfest event. He is a drummer with County Lines, which is performing Saturday, June 19, at 9 p.m. during Riverfest activities.

Last month, the Luzerne Foundation held its annual Community Celebration at the River Commons, with vendors, volunteers with the organization handing out information, and patrons enjoying live music by local artists.

For more information on the 2010 Wyoming Valley Riverfest, or other events being held at the venue, visit www.rivercommon.org.

RIVER COMMON COMPETES FOR A $50,000 GRANT; VOTES NEEDED TO WIN

Wilkes-Barre PA; May 1, 2010 – The Cultural Council of Luzerne County has successfully entered into PepsiCo’s “Pepsi Refresh Project” for a chance to win a $50,000 grant. The grand prize will be used to fund FREE, community events at the newly established River Common Park in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Fans of the Cultural Council and River Common are currently being asked to lend their support to the council’s cause by voting for the Pepsi grant idea, accessible through the river common website: www.rivercommon.org and by clicking the Pepsi Refresh Image located on the homepage.

“Each month this year, PepsiCo will be giving away millions of dollars to fund community projects that make a difference. This month the River Common has a chance to secure funding for events planned in the 2010 season” states Mike Burnside, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of Luzerne County, “We need the support of our fans to help win our bid to bring music and arts to our community, and are asking them to visit the Pepsi Refresh website to vote for our River Common idea.”

Burnside and his crew will be competing against hundreds of other non-profits and businesses throughout the United States to win the grant. Although he acknowledges that the competition will be tough, Burnside is confident that the River Common’s fan base will help them make the top ranking. “Much like a popularity contest, Pepsi is looking for businesses that have a devoted fan base and viable idea. I am confident that we have both and will raise enough votes to win the contest.” According to the Pepsi website, recipients of Pepsi’s grants will be the top ten businesses able to garner the most votes in one month. Fans are able to vote for up to 10 of their favorite ideas each day, starting May 1st.

The money sought in the Pepsi Refresh grant project will go towards programming the 2010 season, which will include a variety of events like the annual River Fest Festival and the Luzerne Foundation Community Celebration.

“From small productions like Shakespeare in the Park to larger regional festivals like River Fest, the River Common plans to work with the Cultural Council to program a diverse schedule of events” notes Karl Borton, Volunteer Coordinator at the River Common. “Currently, we have two large events and over 30 weekend activities planned for the 2010 season…and this is only the beginning. In the next year or two, I see this venue becoming a major attraction in the Wyoming Valley.” Though he wouldn’t divulge any specifics, Borton states that events at the River Common could include fishing seminars, art contests, poetry readings, live performances, musical selections, and college celebrations. “I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but plan to see a bunch of events pop up on our calendar in early summer. It’s going to be an exciting year at the River Common”

Kicking off this year’s schedule, the Luzerne Foundation’s Community Celebration will be held on May 19th and feature musical performances from local favorites George Wesley and Cabinet. The event is set to run from 5-9PM. Following the celebration, River Fest 2010 is planned for the weekend of June 18-20th. River Fest’s annual celebration will include activities geared for all ages, including horse riding, arts and crafts, fishing seminars, musical performances, and more. Details of these events are posted on the River Common Website, www.rivercommon.org. The two planned events are open to the general public and free for those who attend.

“If you like what you currently see, I invite you to help us support the River Common” states Burnside “We need your votes to win our bread and butter, and each and every one counts. The events planned for the River Common will make Wilkes-Barre a hotspot for those individuals that live in Luzerne County. Please take the time to help us achieve this goal.” Reaching out to the community, Burnside says fans can access the River Common Pepsi Refresh Project by accessing the park’s website at www.rivercommon.org and clicking on the Pepsi Refresh Grant Image. He reminds supporters that votes can be cast once a day until midnight on May 31st and asks that fans lend their support.

Click to Vote

Luzerne County Convention/Visitors Bureau
February 22, 2010

Luzerne County Convention/Visitors Bureau invites you to download thier visitors guide.

Request your Visitors Guide HERE!

In addition, hiking maps are available here: Request your Hiking Map HERE!

And while your clicking links, join thier facebook fan group to learn of the latest attractions in NEPA! Face Book Fan Page – Click HERE!

Fish and Boat Commission
February 1, 2010

The Fish & Boat Commission has posted North Branch Water trail maps: Download Stream Guides: CLICK HERE!

NORTH BRANCH TRAIL GUIDES
Section 1: Click Here
Section 2: Click Here
Section 3: Click Here
Section 4: Click Here

Breaker Brewing Company Presents:

River Common: 2009 in Review Click Here

Times Leader
January 23, 2010
by Jerry Lynott

WILKES-BARRE – “County Commissioners have agreed to support the River Common with a ‘minimal’ amount on the upkeep of the new $23 million park.

The idea is to make the park self-sufficient and minimize the use of taxpayer funds to pay for recreational, social and entertainment events on the park located on the Wilkes-Barre side of the Susquehanna River.

Commissioner Thomas P. Cooney estimated the set-aside at $30,000 and said it will pay for expenses such as lighting and insurance that are ineligible for coverage by the county’s levee fee.

The River Common saw limited use last year of its amphitheater and river landing because of the timing of the opening. Few events could be planned in such a short time and Luzerne County Tomorrow, the nonprofit organization that will oversee the planning of concerts, festivals and other activities, was not yet ready to handle the tasks.

Frank Pasquini, president of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association and one of the people behind the nonprofit organization, said it will be similar to one set up in Hartford, Conn.

“We are hopeful this is another innovative step for us,” he said.

The organization, similar to RiverFront Recapture, which was created to hold events along the Connecticut River in downtown Hartford, will eliminate the need for taxpayer funds to program and market the River Common, he said.

The organization will seek sponsors for events at the park. In addition, it will raise money from corporations, businesses, individuals and private foundations for name sponsorships for such things as the amphitheater, benches, seating areas, portals and the 200 lighting fixtures. “There are literally hundreds of naming opportunities,” Pasquini said.”

Read Full Article

Green Life Pennsylvania
December 12, 2009
PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

WILKES-BARRE – “In Wilkes-Barre residents have been reconnected with the mighty Susquehanna River” states a newly posted video featuring the River Common. The new video describes Wilkes-Barre’s relationship to its premier water way, from the floods of 1936 and 1972, to the cleaning of the Riparian Forests, to construction and reopening of the River Common in 2009.

James Brozena, P.E., Executive Director of the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, and Vincent Cotrone, Extension Urban Forester of Pennsylvania State University, take viewers through the 5 minute documentary based on the Susquehanna River. The video includes highlights of the regional park system and features some of the many events hosted on the banks of Wilkes-Barre’s beautiful waterway.

Watch the Feature

WBRE
August 4, 2009
by Jeff Chirico

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY —If you plan on visiting the river common, you don’t want to forget your sunglasses. It can be bright out here. So in tonight’s Tuesday Tryout, we’re testing the new HD Vision Wraparounds. Consumer reporter Jeff Chirico is across the river where he put the snazzy looking shades to the test.

The commercial says “Introducing HD Vision Wraparounds.” The maker claims once you put these glasses over your prescription lenses, you’ll see things in a new light. It uses high definition vision technology.

So we asked folks walking the Common to try it. Rocky from 98.5 KRZ happened by. He tries the glasses on and says “there’s colors I’ve never seen before.” But he’s already wearing prescription sunglasses, so it wouldn’t be a fair to test with him.

So Karl Borton —events coordinator for the River Common—slips them on, as I fire off claims made in the commercial. “Do they wrap around your prescription glasses? Like a gorilla. Yea. “ “Does it give clarity and enhanced color? It does. I can see all different textures in the ground.” “Does it enhance vision and produce optical definition? Optical definition. I don’t know what that means.”

But for the last claims we have to ask the pros —Eye Specialists in Kingston. Dr. Michael Havrilla uses a photometer to see if these glasses do offer maximum UV protection. He says the lenses also have anti-reflective —amber-colored coating which may make things look clearer. Havrilla says “it does offer 100 percent UV protection. But it does not offer most comfortable lenses.”

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Diamond City
June 18, 2009
by Eric Scicchitano

WILKES-BARRE – In Brozena’s words, RiverCommon is the third grand public works project in the city’s history, joining the likes of the Market Street Bridge and the county courthouse, which turns 100 years old this year. “Those have been the icons in this community, and we want to make (RiverCommon) the new icon for the 21st century.”

Perhaps the main amenity to the park is access, provided by two 60-foot openings cut into the levee wall near Northampton and Union streets — openings which can be closed with sliding flood gates, helping lock out any of the Susquehanna’s waters in the event of a flood. There are walkways atop and on each side of the levee wall lined with benches, shrubs and trees, as well as old-fashioned street lamps and more modern LED sail lights that will keep the area well lit.

“We can be a mini Empire State Building,” Brozena says of the nine-level sail lighting system, which can be colored for special events.

RiverCommon’s debut Friday coincides with the annual Wyoming Valley RiverFest. A ribbon cutting and rededication ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, festivities continue from noon to 9 p.m. with the 10th annual Sojourn. Festival vendors and exhibitors will be featured in both the Nesbitt and RiverCommon parks, where fishing demos will be held and live birds and mammals will be on display, as well as kayaking demos, a tree climb and rock climbing wall. There’s a full schedule of music, too, including the sounds of such acts as George Wesley, K8 and Charles Havira.

With the conclusion of RiverFest, RiverCommon will become dormant once more for just a brief spell as work at the site is completed. The park should reopen sometime in August. However, if Karl Borton, events coordinator for RiverCommon, has his way, the park will be anything but dormant in the future.

Borton has grand plans in mind for the site. He envisions RiverCommon as more than a public park, and much more than a setting for community events. He talks of seeking the possible expansion of the city’s annual Fine Arts Fiesta to the waterfront, but more than that he sees RiverCommon as a must-visit concert venue for music fans and national acts alike. With a floating stage on a barge and seating provided on each shore of the Susquehanna River, Borton speaks confidently of pulling off large concerts on the river.

“My ultimate goal is to have Dave Matthews and other large artists like that come down here,” he says matter of factly.

It’s a tall task, for sure, but Borton doesn’t feel like it’s a pipe dream. In fact, he said he hopes RiverCommon becomes a go-between for bands traveling from Philly to New York City — a Red Rock of the East, if you will. For now, he’ll concentrate on social networking and getting other events off the ground, but if a barge happens to approach the Market Street Bridge and drop anchor, Wilkes-Barre could be in for one hell of a show.

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Times-Leader
June 21, 2009
by Sherry Long

WILKES-BARRE – Open less than 24 hours, the River Common park quickly became the hot spot for must-have photos on your most special day.

Ascending the stairs at the park’s Millennium Circle portal in a flowing, white strapless wedding gown early Saturday afternoon, Nadia Kopcha, a Ukraine native now living in Wilkes-Barre, was the first bride to have her bridal photos taken in the park as the Susquehanna River flowed gently in the background

While the park was not built for the exclusive purpose of serving as the Valley’s latest photo hot spot, park supporters were pleased that people were reconnecting to the river during the 10th annual Wyoming Valley RiverFest in their own ways.

Some people strolled up and down the one-mile stretch of the walkways listening to bands belt out tunes as they admired the $23 million River Common that was originally constructed to bring people back to the river and increase the levee protection system.

Children were kept busy with activities designed to help them learn more about the environment in a fun, relaxed setting.

Children climbed trees, painted drawings as they learned about the importance of water, helped paint a mural, painted tie-dye T-shirts, learned about wildlife animals from an exhibit set up by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and made birdfeeders using pine cones, peanut butter and birdseed.

Passing rain showers didn’t damper people’s spirits; they just took it all in stride as being a part of nature.

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The Beacon
June 20, 2009
by Andrew Seaman

WILKES-BARRE – Click on the first image on the right to view an image gallery featuring pictures from the opening day of the River Commons near Wilkes University.

For Pictures, Go Here

WNEP
June 18, 2009
by Ryan Leckey

WILKES-BARRE – Part of Luzerne County is getting ready to unveil a multi-million dollar project that will connect the Wyoming valley to the Susquehanna River just like it did in the 1920s.

The River Common in Wilkes-Barre officially opens to the public at 4 p.m. Friday and some are calling it a new portal for adventure. It’s a project that’s been 10 years in the making.

Now, more than ever, there are more reasons to flock to the water’s edge in the Wyoming valley. A $23 million project has built a revamped levee system. It not only provides flood protection but has given parts of the banks of the Susquehanna River in the Wilkes-Barre area a whole new look.

“The community has been waiting and, I’m going to say, waiting more than 10 years to come down here and access the river,” said Vincent Cotrone with Wyoming Valley Riverfest.

Something else that’s completely new here is the Millennium Circle which features a fountain for kids to play in during the summertime and, for the first time since the 1920s, a levee portal system. Visitors can actually walk through the area and see the Susquehanna River which allows people to connect to the waters and the Wyoming Valley.

“The levees have provided us protection but they also prevented us from gaining access to the river,” said Jim Brozena with the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority.

With new sights to see, more people are expected to “paddle” their way into our area, not just for this weekend’s Riverfest but eventually for future concerts in the new 750-seat amphitheater, activity which could lead to economic growth in the Wyoming Valley.

“When people are coming to visit the area from, say, out of the area, they come down here, they look at this, it could be someone maybe looking to make an investment into the community,” said John Maday with Wyoming Valley Riverfest.

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Times Leader
June 18, 2009
Times Leader: Opinion

WILKES-BARRE: A MANMADE GEM along the Susquehanna River has been created in the Diamond City, and it has the promise to be a public treasure for years to come.

Its name is rather plain – River Common – but it’s really the most unique of Wyoming Valley’s parks.

Using a river park in Hartford, Conn. as a model, River Common has been redesigned to simultaneously offer flood-protection to downtown Wilkes-Barre and open the Susquehanna River for recreational purposes while offering an array of activities that include walking paths, a 750-seat amphitheater, fishing pier and Wi-Fi access.

The massive levee structure offers essential protection from dangerous flood waters – it is part of a flood-control project – but two 60-foot-wide portals offer pedestrian access to the river’s edge. There’s also ample bench seating for those who would rather relax than walk or exercise. All points are wheelchair accessible.

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June 18, 2009
RiverCommon Press Release

WILKES-BARRE – The RiverCommon stage for the dedication weekend has relocated to the Mellenium Circle. For directions please visit the directions page of this website.

Weekender
June 17, 2009
by Nikki M. Mascali

WILKES-BARRE – While there are no events planned for the RiverCommon area past this weekend’s festivities, Brozena and those in attendance that Friday — Cotrone, John Maday of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and Karl Borton, RiverCommon events coordinator — think that will change quickly and that the public will dictate what they want to see there.

When asked what they’d like to see at the site in the future, all four immediately began tossing around ideas like ethnic festivals, perhaps an expansion of the Fine Arts Fiesta, theater in the park productions and winter ice sculptures.

“It’s almost like we’ve got a paper bag over the top because you really can’t see it,” Brozena says. “No one has a real feel for how big it is down here, what it’s like and what the amenities are. Once we open it, it’s a bad term, but that’s when the floodgates are going to open to a whole host of options for this.”

Leighton hopes to see those “floodgates” affect not just the view of the river, but the city beyond its banks.

“It’ll be an opportunity for people to come down and enjoy nature’s beauty. It’ll have a ripple effect with the economy downtown because they can take a stroll in downtown Wilkes-Barre — it’ll be an asset to enhance the image of Wilkes-Barre.”

“I think what’s going to happen during RiverFest is people are going to be able to look back and forth across the river and think, ‘I have to go over there.’ This is a venue,” says Maday, standing under the Market Street Bridge looking toward the River Landing.

The landing/fishing pier is a venue that could potentially seat thousands should plans for a floating stage get finalized. Borton has a vision of the RiverCommon helping the area grow beyond its borders.

“We’d love to see this blow up into a hotspot, like ‘This is the place to go’ in the daytime, and at night, go downtown. Eventually, we want to see this be the stop-off point to Philadelphia and New York, a cool venue every artist around the country will want to play at.”

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Times Leader
June 17, 2009
by Jennifer Learn-Andes

WILKES-BARRE – Move made for potential big crowds, giving elderly and disabled access to events.

Luzerne County officials have no idea how many people will show up for this weekend’s River Common grand opening, so they’re setting up a transportation plan to shuttle the public from several downtown Wilkes-Barre parking areas on Friday and Saturday.

A county transportation authority bus and possibly two county vans will provide free transportation. The shuttle locations will be announced today, said county Flood Protection Authority Director Jim Brozena.

Brozena said the plan is particularly important to allow the elderly and disabled to access all events. The River Common is fully accessible to people with disabilities.

The lot behind the courthouse will eventually be reconfigured to create public parking for the disabled, officials say. Most of the parking spots behind the courthouse will be eliminated, forcing employees to park in a county lot across River Street or the county’s parkade on Water Street.

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Times Leader
June 14, 2009
by Jennifer Learn-Andes

WILKES-BARRE – Though the new River Common park opens Friday, there won’t be a full schedule of concerts and events until next year, Luzerne County officials say.

Scheduling major events would be difficult this late in the summer season, and county officials still have to set up a plan to program and fund events, said county Flood Protection Authority Director Jim Brozena.

Officials are in the process of creating a nonprofit corporation to collect tax-deductible donations, Brozena said.

County officials plan to model their funding plan on the one used in Hartford, Conn., which has a “Friends of the River” organization that finances free events at the city’s riverfront park through sponsorships, annual donations and even estate endowments.

Park programs and oversight are handled by the nonprofit River Recapture group, which is governed by a roughly 50-member board.

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Times Leader
June 12, 2009
by Bill O’Boyle

Wilkes-Barre – Mary Pat Appel (pronounced Ah-pell) is a certified arborist hired by Luzerne County to oversee the planting of all vegetation – trees, shrubs, perennials – along the River Common park.

More than $700,000 has been spent on landscaping for the new park that will open next week, said Jim Brozena, executive director of the county Flood Protection Authority.

More than 250 trees, 500 shrubs and 50,000 perennials have been planted along the River Common from the county courthouse south to South Street.

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Times Leader
May 31, 2009
RiverCommon Press Release

WILKES-BARRE – The RiverCommon is featuring a free two-day festival and sojourn on June 19, 20 and 21 to celebrate its dedication and grand reopening.

Combining forces with the Wyoming Valley WaterShed Coalition and RiverFront Parks, RiverFest will feature live music, artists, artisans, vendors and various exhibitors. There will be music by George Wesley, Don Shapelle, Woody Browns Project, SW!MS, Nowhere Slow, NonRefundables, K8 and Charles Havira. Featured will be live birds of prey, pony rides and a rock climbing wall.

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Times Leader
May 20, 2009
by Jennifer Learn-Andes

WILKES-BARRE – Mark your calendar if you’ve been itching to explore the revamped River Common in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

The park along the Susquehanna River will officially open June 19, kicking off with a dedication ceremony at 4 p.m., the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority announced during Tuesday’s monthly meeting.

The ceremony will be held on a stage to be set up at the amphitheater, which is accessed through the Northampton Street levee portal opening, said authority Executive Director Jim Brozena.

After the dedication, the public will be invited to enjoy a free “evening of music,” Brozena said.

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Times Leader
Sept. 10, 2008
by Steve Mocarsky

WILKES-BARRE – A state official who toured Luzerne County’s $30 million riverfront park project on Tuesday was impressed with the project’s progress and scope.

State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said he has not seen a river project “this grand and this expansive” and said it was “the future of cities in America and of cities in Pennsylvania.”

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August 18, 2008
Times Leader
by Rory Sweeney

WILKES-BARRE – A trip to Washington, D.C., to see cherry blossoms won’t be necessary next year if Luzerne County levee-keeper Jim Brozena’s plan goes as scheduled.

By May, Brozena, the executive director of the county Flood Protection Authority, hopes to cut the ribbon on a project that is transforming the levee along River Street from a large earthen wall that hides the river to a park with two gaping portals that will provide access to the waterfront, landscaped common areas full of flowering cherry trees and open-air performance spaces…

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July 17, 2008
Citizen’s Voice
by Coulter Jones

WILKES-BARRE — Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority is moving to create a nonprofit organization to plan activities along the Susquehanna River.

Authority board members discussed creating the nonprofit at their Tuesday meeting. Authority members agreed to look into creating the nonprofit that would also be used to help plan activities for the centennial celebration of the Luzerne County Courthouse. Using the same nonprofit organization for both events would reduce legal costs and duplication of resources, authority members said….

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