Kimberly Aquilina is a Scranton native and studied journalism at Penn State University.
Ten years ago, Smeltzer saw a theremin for sale. He said that he bought it as a joke. “I did some homework. Not much has been done, not much competition, so it kind of made sense at the time to disappear. I disappeared for three years and just practiced that ridiculous thing.”
The event will showcase artists and their crafts, including painting, photography, jewelry, fashion design, food and wine, woodwork and ceramics. Powers said there will be more than 100 vendors displaying, selling, and connecting. Two stages will be erected, sponsored by SummerSteps Records and Highway 81 Revisited, where eight different bands and musical acts will perform throughout the day.
Who knew that being laid off could be the best thing to ever happen? The tough economy of 2009 catapulted Sarah Hayduk of Factoryville into her dream profession, baking for her business Infinite Sweets.
Unless you’ve dreamed of a life like Homer Simpson’s or Peter Griffin’s, your mom may have yelled at you a few times to get off your lazy posterior, because nothing good could ever come of sitting around with your buddies drinking suds. Your mama may not be wrong about you, but she can’t dispute the success of 3 Guys and a Beer’d Brewing Company, which started with home brews in backyards and resulted in a legitimate brewing company. The company does not have a storefront, but rents space to house the beer from wheat and hops infancy to full adult frothiness.
The Greater Scranton Black Diamonds Pipe Band has been entertaining crowds for almost 20 years with its bagpipes, drums, color guard, and synchronized marching. For the last four years, Jim George has been the group’s business manager — and one of its drummers. He recently spoke to the Independent Gazette about the pipe band, relaying that the Black Diamonds are a very talented group of musicians, ranging in age from 17 to 72, and hailing from many different towns throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Whether you have a pragmatic girlfriend, a difficult woman, a picky other half, or just want to wow your sweet with something different, here are some ideas for an exciting V-Day sentiment.
John Ingiaimo’s dad was a commercial photographer in the 1970s, so a young John learned the art of photography and how to print photos at a young age, with the benefit of a darkroom in his home. In 1994, Ingiaimo started assisting his father with wedding photography, and as he grew older, attended Luzerne and Keystone Colleges, studying mainly under local artist Ward Roe. Photography “guru” Rolfe Ross then took Ingiaimo under his wing and introduced him to fine art photography, at which he now thrives. Although Ingiaimo now specializes in special events and portrait photography, he is starting to revisit landscape photography and other specializations of the discipline.
Starting a business in Scranton, in today’s economic climate, was “terrifying,” according to Alchemy owner and operator, Stacy Giovannucci, but she says that the “iceberg” is starting to thaw and leave room for local start-ups to grow, and that she is happy with the niche her company has found. Alchemy provides consumers an opportunity to create their own personal “scent story,” a memory or favorite smell in a wearable, natural perfume or in non-toxic cleaning products for the home.
The Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Mehoopany provides a “heaven on earth” for its 176 animals. Opened in 2005, the nonprofit organization (which relies heavily on donations to cover its daily expenses of $500) is a no-kill “retirement villa” for many animals that were branded as having behavioral problems, as well as animals with medical issues. For owner and operator Indra Lahiri, “The human condition is really the condition of being alive.”
Timmy’s Town Center is an interactive children’s museum located inside the Mall at Steamtown in Scranton, on the second floor. These days, with so many play centers that tout video games and serve pizza to entice kids, how would a “museum” sound?