From Crystal Club Soda to Gertrude Hawk Chocolate

Three months after hearing from their last witness, a Dauphin County grand jury will reconvene today and tomorrow as it renews its investigation into whether Mount Airy Casino and Resort owner Louis DeNaples lied to the state gaming board about his alleged ties to organized crime.  DeNaples, is expected to appear before the grand jury along with Anne Neeb, executive director of the Pennsyvlania Gaming Control Board.  Continue reading.

Outgoing Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro led the effort Friday to dismantle and de-fund the energy initiative that he proposed and would have headed. The Authority for Innovative and Renewable Energy was dissolved through a unanimous vote at the last commissioners’ meeting of the Munchak-Cordaro administration. The initiative would have used mine water as a source of geothermal energy for heating and cooling. Continue reading.  Editor’s Note: While I vehemently opposed the creation of the commission and thought Mr. Cordaro appointing himself chair was a blatant abuse of power, I have to applaud him for listening to public sentimate and doing the right thing by stepping down.  

The Times-Tribune published an interesting article on the sad status of the $16 million Southern Union building on Lackawanna Avenue.  According to the Times, some local officials fielding calls of interest on the building say they can’t get so much as a call back from the Staubach Co., the listing agents for the property, leaving some to wonder whether the commercial real estate company, founded by former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, dropped the ball on one of the city’s most important, if not disappointing, pieces of real estate.   Continue reading.

NJ.com bloggers debate over the need for a Scranton/ Hoboken train and who should pay for it, after it was announced that Congress has earmarked $1.3 million to continue planning the controversial line. Continue reading.

Almost a full tray.  Photo by bobjudge.

Over the last six years Scranton’s downtown has been revitalized and now Mayor Chris Doherty is leading the call for people to come and visit.  The mayor also wants visitors to spend money and, if they find they like it, he is inviting them to stay.  About $50,000 has been spent on advertising the Electric City this year and recently a mass marketing campaign featuring mailings went out to residents around the region. Pre-recorded phone messages by Doherty also went out, inviting people to visit the downtown.  Continue reading.

We will be taking the next couple days off to spend with our family.  Have a safe and happy holiday!

Tree House @ Nay Aug. Photo by SurfScranton

This holiday season, tribute band Twelve Twenty Four offers another musical gift to Lehigh Valley audiences when it performs Thursday at the Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem.  Twelve Twenty Four bills itself as “a resounding re-creation of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra,” which serves as its inspiration. The Twelve Twenty Four experience is an evening of Christmas music and stories.  Like its namesake, Twelve Twenty Four aims to capture the magic of Christmas Eve through storytelling, music and movement.  Continue reading.