Artscene With Erika Funke

Carol McManus, Vice Chair of Pike Artworks & Co-Chair of the Milford Readers & Writers Festival, speaking about the 2024 event taking place September 13, 14 & 15, in Milford, PA. There will be a wide range of panels, speakers and topics, many taking place at the Milford Theater, 114 E. Catherine Street. A number of events are free. For more information: www.milfordreadersandwriters.com/

J. Michael Lennon, Professor Emeritus of English at Wilkes University, co-founder of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing there and author of the official biography, "Norman Mailer: A Double Life," speaking about "Miami and the Siege of Chicago" written by Mailer in 1968, and also about the new documentary film by Jeff Zimbalist, "How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer." For more information: www.jmichaellennon.com/ Part 1 of a two-part series.

George Aulisio, Dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library at the University of Scranton and Director of the Schemel Forum there, speaking about the Fall 2024 season of the Forum that features courses, world-affairs luncheon seminars and more, from September into November. For more information: www.scranton.edu/schemelforum 570-941-4740

Erica Golaszewski, bassist and longtime COTA volunteer, speaking about the 2024 Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts, taking place on September 7th & 8th, with great jazz on the main stage and at the Deer Head Inn. There will be children's activities, artisans and food vendors on hand, as well. www.cotajazz.org/

Elaine Mehalakes, Vice President of Curatorial Affairs at the Allentown Art Museum, speaking about the exhibition, "Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color," running now to September 29, 2024, at the museum, 31 North 5th Street. There will be public programs on Saturday, August 31st, and Nature's Palette will take place in September. Admission is free. For more information: www.allentownartmuseum.org/

Rev. Bill Carter, Jazz Pianist, Bandleader & Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, speaking about his recent book, "Thriving on a Riff: Jazz & the Spiritual Life," issued by Broadleaf Books, in anticipation of the decades-long tradition of holding a Jazz Communion service on Labor Day weekend. This year Carter & the Presbybop ensemble will feature Latin & Caribbean tunes. Sunday, September 1, 2024, at 10:00 am at the Church, 300 School Street in Clarks Summit. The service will be streamed live online at www. fpccs.org/ For more information: www.presbybop.com/

Composer Paul Salerni, NEH Distinguished Chair in the Humanities & Chair & Professor of Music at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, speaking about the concert on August 30, 2024, featuring The Trio Sallese at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh at 7:30 pm. There will be music by Dr. Salerni, Verdi and others. www.zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu/ In addition, Salerni's one-act opera, "The Life and Love of Joe Coogan," based on an episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show, will begin streaming online on Friday, August 23rd, on regular music sites. www.paulsalerni.com/

Tom Combs of NAC Entertainment speaking about the 2024-2025 Broadway in Scranton season running from November through May and featuring "Dear Evan Hansen" in April. The shows are presented at the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Avenue. For more information: www.BroadwayInScranton.com/ (570) 342-7784

Cheryl Boga, Director of Performance Music at the University of Scranton, & Janelle Decker, Conductor & Co-Director, speaking about Janelle Decker in her new position and about the opening concert of the 2024 Fall season. Duo Corgano--Trevor Nuckols, horn, & David Ball, organ-- who will perform on Friday, September 6th at 7:30 pm in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry St & Jefferson Ave, in downtown Scranton. Admission is free. For more information: www.scranton.edu/music

Michael T. Geib, Professor of Double Bass at the University of Central Oklahoma, talking about his life in music and ties to Wayne County in NEPA. Featured are two CDs on the Onyx Lane label: "Not As They Seem," a jazz album of Geib's originals; and 12 Waltzes for Solo Double Bass by Dragonetti. For more information: www.michaeltgeib.com/

Carl Achhammer, Jr., Vice-President, & James Gavern, President, of the NEPA Bonsai Society, speaking about the art of bonsai & the annual Open House on Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm, at Keller's Garden Center, 7 Kern Street in Exeter, PA 570-709-3848 www.nepabonsai.com/ www.zenchaserbonsai.com/

Dr. Bode Morin, Site Administrator of the PA Anthracite Heritage Museum, the Scranton Iron Furnaces & Eckley Miners Village, and Anthracite Photographer Scott Herring, speaking about Herring's 288,000 images of the anthracite region & its history and culture, and the current exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of his documentary project, "The Hardcoal Chronicles," at the PA Anthracite Heritage Museum, McDade Park in Scranton now through January 2026. www.anthracitemusuem.org/ www.hardcoalchronicles.com/

Ed Randazzo, highly-respected singer-songwriter from NEPA, speaking about his life in music and his new album, "Wishing on a Train," set to be released on Friday, August 30, 2024. For more information: www.edrandazzomusic.com/

WVIA's Haley O'Brien reports on the exhibition titled, "Arts to the Rescue," opening Friday, August 16, 2024, with a reception from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the AFA Gallery, 101 Penn Avenue in Scranton. The show, featuring works of pets, centering on those in need of adoption, will run through September 14th. www.artistsforart.org/

Jill Carletti, Creative Director for Harmony in the Woods, speaking about the 2024 season and the special performance by The String Queens on Sunday, August 18 at 6:00 pm. The natural amphitheater is located at 19 Imagination Way in Hawley, PA. For more information: www.harmonyinthewoods.org/ 570-503-6685

James Lansing, Everhart Museum Curator, speaking about the exhibition, "Peace, Love & Music," running from August 15 to December 27, 2024. The opening of the show coincides with the 55th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival in 1969, and there will be a reception on August 15 outside the museum in Nay Aug Park in Scranton from 5:30 to 8:00 pm--The Flower Power Happy Hour. For more information: www.everhart-museum.org/

Tannis Kowalchuk, Founder & Artistic Director of the Farm Arts Collective, and Yurika Sase, Rice Farmer & Artist from Japan who volunteers each summer with the FAC, speaking about the Dream on the Farm series and this year's production, "Conference for Those Still Living," at Willow Wisp Organic Farm in Damascus, PA, from August 8th to 18th, 2024, starting at 6:30 pm, Thursdays to Sundays. Each  performance concludes with a shared farm-fresh meal. www.farmartscollective.org/

Rev. Bill Carter, Jazz Pianist, Band Leader & Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, speaking about his recent book, "Thriving on a Riff: Jazz & the Spiritual Life" issued in 2024 by Broadleaf Books. For more information: www.presbybop.com/ The interview first aired in April to coincide with the book's release.

Kathryn Maguet, Executive Director of the Weis Center for the Performing Arts at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, speaking about the 2024-2025 season that gets underway on September 13th with bluegrass performer Sierra Hull. For more information: www.bucknell.edu/weiscenter

Dr. William Kashatus speaking about his study titled, "Jackie & Campy: The Untold Story of Their Rocky Relationship & the Breaking of Baseball's Color Line," issued in 2015 by the University of Nebraska Press. WVIA-TV will broadcast a new documentary on the Negro Leagues titled, "Never Drop the Ball," on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 7 pm. For more information www.wvia.org/ The interview was originally recorded in 2015.