Latest news with #PaigeCognetti
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Officials weigh in as two homeless shelters announce closure
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Keystone Mission has announced the closure of two homeless shelters in our area. Hundreds rely on these shelters for resources like food, water, and a place to stay, but now they'll be forced to find somewhere else to go. People 28/22 News spoke with in Wilkes-Barre were emotional about the closure, but more than anything, they're worried about what it means for Wilkes-Barre's homeless population going forward. 'This place is hope. You know, it don't matter if you're alone in this world or any of it. As long as you got hope and there's a will, then there's a way,' Wilkes-Barre resident Joshua Ervin told 28/22 News. A source of hope for many will soon be a thing of the past. Keystone Mission announced early Tuesday afternoon it would be closing two shelter locations, one in Scranton, the other in Wilkes-Barre. The Wilkes-Barre location on North Pennsylvania Avenue is set to close in four weeks. Attempts to reach the mission's director were unsuccessful, but Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown says the shelter is closing due to a lack of funding. PSP searching for missing woman in Pike County 'As far as I knew, everything was fine, everything was going well over there, and then to get a phone call from another news source that said, you know, 'They're closing, Mayor, what do you think?' It's just shocking to me,' Mayor Brown said. The shelters offer resources to those in the community who need them most. From the basics like food, water, and shelter, to tools like addiction recovery and housing assistance. For one man we spoke with, these resources allowed him to get back on his feet. 'I went from being homeless, sleeping in my car, to sleeping here. And then eventually, as time progressed, I got my one job, they got my bus pass, I got my phone back active,' Ervin added. We reached out to Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti regarding the Scranton location's closure, who issued the following statement: The loss of Keystone's services is unfortunate. In Scranton, we have formed strong relationships with multiple agencies focused on assisting the unsheltered population. Our Unsheltered Action Group meets regularly. We have already been planning for next year's Code Blue and are working with service providers to fill the weekend dinner gap that Keystone leaves. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti But until those gaps are closed, many in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre will be without the resources they need to help them get back on solid ground. 'I've gotten back up on my feet enough thanks to this place where I'll- I'll be okay. Is it going to be okay for most of the people that use this place for a means to sleep? Probably not,' Ervin continued. There is no word on when the Scranton location is set to close. Keystone Mission's other Wilkes-Barre location near Sherman Hills will reportedly stay open. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Public pool reopened after closing last summer
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— After a public pool in Lackawanna County was closed last summer, it's back open this year with some renovations. The ribbon cutting was held at Connell Park pool in Scranton. The pool has been in the area since the 1970s and became dilapidated. The city allocated 1.1 million for the repairs, money that came out of the American Rescue Plan Act. 'In these past five years, we've been able to invest over $26 million in recreational facilities throughout the whole city. All of our neighborhoods from Connell pool here in southside to a cricket pitch in center city, all sorts of dog parks that are new, the pool facilities, the splash pads. There's something for everyone here in Scranton and we're excited to keep building on the amenities,' expressed mayor Paige Cognetti. Connell Park is one of three outdoor pools open this summer in the Electric City. The pool will officially open Saturday morning and will be open daily from noon to 6 p.m. through labor day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Scranton neighborhood holds breath as heavy rain puts properties in peril
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Scranton neighborhood all too familiar with flooding is holding its collective breath this weekend. Heavy rain once again put their properties in peril. 'Oh no. Here we go again,' Scranton resident Doris Repshis said. Flash flooding was the first thought Repshis had in her Keyser Valley neighborhood after heavy rain hit hard and fast early Saturday morning. The flash flood fears this weekend are a flashback for her of what she and her family experienced nearly two years ago. 'I was fortunate enough to have my grandson and my son here to help me, but we bailed water for several hours from the basement,' Repshiss stated. The September 2023 flood damaged her Jackson Street property and dozens of others. This area is surrounded by low-lying land and two creeks, Keyser and Lindy, that meet just down the road from Merrifield Avenue. DPW crews sprang to action around sunrise Saturday morning. NWS issues flash flood warning for part of NEPA They were out for hours, clearing debris from drains and setting up hoses to pump run-off into the storm water management system before it had a chance to flood homes. 'They've been doing their jobs cleaning up all that and I think they're doing a wonderful job keeping the city safe,' Lucinda Belles from Scranton explained. 'When there's a large storm event like this, sometimes we need to add extra physical pumps and hoses to the pump station itself,' Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti told 28/22 News. 'Seeing the hoses hooked up, they seem to be more on top of things quickly,' Repshis added. Consider it lessons learned from that devastating flood nearly two years ago. 'We continue to invest in our personnel and equipment so that we can have the vac trucks and things like that, that help us keep the basins clean,' Mayor Cognetti continued. The city says residents in Keyser Valley should soon see infrastructure improvements firsthand, and with more rain in the forecast, neighbors here are hoping this effort is a sign of what's to come: fast action and long-term solutions. Mayor Cognetti says a $23,000,000 investment plan for stormwater upgrades has been approved. There is no firm timetable on when the work will be completed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Cognetti claims victory on Scranton Democratic ticket
(WBRE/WYOU) — Mayor Paige Cognetti is claiming victory Tuesday night over challenger Bob Sheridan. Cognetti is running on her administration's record highlighting financial stability, a stronger credit rating, and no tax increase for 2025. Sheridan says it's time for new leadership pointing to concerns about crime, potholes, and blight. You can check all of the results from the Primary Election by visiting the 28/22 News Election Results page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scranton gives $100,000 in grants to eight veterans' service organizations
SCRANTON — An idea a decade ago for a memorial to honor the hundreds of Scranton veterans who died in wars resulted five years later in the Scranton Veterans Memorial Park at Scranton High School. The city this year gave the memorial park a $5,000 grant for ongoing maintenance and replacement of flags. The memorial park and seven other organizations that serve veterans received city grants totaling $100,000 to help them in various ways, including renovating buildings and providing individual assistance services, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti said Monday during an event at American Legion Connolly Post 568 in Minooka. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti announces grants awarded to veterans at the American Legion Post 568 in Scranton Monday, May 19, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) The funding, in the city's 2025 operating budget, continues the city's commitment to local veterans, the mayor said. The $100,000 represents an increase from the $80,000 total awarded in 2023 and $85,000 in 2024. 'As a veteran, I like to see how this program has grown over the last three or four years. Who knows what's going to happen in the next five years?' said Pat Ahern, chairman of Scranton Veterans Memorial Park during the announcement event. 'We have so many different organizations now. It's like planting a tree. It starts off small but eventually it grows,' Ahern said. Vice commander of the American Legion Post 568 Tom Benson joins other legion members as Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti announces grants awarded to veterans outside of the legion in Scranton Monday, May 19, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) The city accepted grant applications through April. The recipients, grant amounts and other representatives of recipient organizations who spoke during the announcement event included: • Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA (ACE), 123 Wyoming Ave., $5,000 to support the Veterans Rise and Ride program that provides transportation to employment and medical appointments. 'This $5,000 was really lifesaving,' ACE Executive Director Jim Wansacz said. 'Without that grant, we would have had to shut that (ride service) down.' • American Legion Connolly Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., $20,000 for upgrades to the community hall to improve energy efficiency and provide ADA-compliant seating. Post Commander Sean O'Shea said the post's membership is older and raising money for building maintenance and modernization is difficult. 'We're very grateful for this' grant. • Bread Basket of NEPA, 550 Madison Ave., $5,000 for its Veteran Food Security Support Initiative which helps Lackawanna County veterans struggling with food insecurity. • Fight4Vets, 711 Davis St., $10,000 for a rent assistance program that combats veteran homelessness by providing emergency rent support and additional prevention services. • Scranton Veterans Memorial Park, located at Scranton High School, 63 Munchak Way, Scranton, $5,000 to purchase flags for each Armed Forces branch and continued maintenance of the site. • UKAVETS, 237 Railroad Ave., $10,000 for the replacement of outdated facilities. • Valhalla Veterans Services, 2754 Jackson St., $20,000 to support Valhalla's Hope, which removes financial barriers to mental health counseling and suicide intervention services for local veterans. • Warrior Strong, 311 Adams Ave., $25,000 to support the Resilient Warriors program, its unique comprehensive health and wellness program. Warrior Strong President Tom Tice said support from the city allowed his organization to double its offerings and open its studio much more often to veterans and their families. 'We can really tell the community — the veteran community — is using our programs every single day,' Tice said. American Legion Connolly Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., Scranton, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * American Legion Connolly Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., Scranton, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti announces grants awarded to veterans at the American Legion Post 568 in Scranton Monday, May 19, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Vice commander of the American Legion Post 568 Tom Benson joins other legion members as Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti announces grants awarded to veterans outside of the legion in Scranton Monday, May 19, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * American Legion Connolly Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., Scranton, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 4 American Legion Connolly Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., Scranton, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Expand
