Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a free downtown training center could boost Wilkes-Barre paychecks

Coming up on the Wilkes-Barre Patch calendar: Ray LaMontagne

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Saturday August 22nd Patch AM
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Good morning Wilkes-Barre! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a free downtown training center could boost Wilkes-Barre paychecks
  • Snow White's dwarfs dance into downtown Wilkes-Barre this October
  • Why those messy mayfly swarms are actually good news for Wilkes-Barre

Also on today's calendar: The Diamond of Downtown.

Today's riddle: What is the longest word in the dictionary? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Wilkes-Barre Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Wilkes-Barre Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Humid with clouds and sun, with a high of 79 and low of 64 degrees.
  • Sunday: A shower and t-storm; humid, temps: high: 80, low: 57.
  • Monday: Partly sunny and less humid, with a high of 73 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Tec Centro coming to former Barnes & Noble in Downtown Wilkes-Barre (citizensvoice.com) — A new Tec Centro training center is coming to the former Barnes & Noble site on South Main Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre, offering free certificate programs that can lead to $20-plus hourly jobs. Construction starts this fall, with a computer lab targeted for late 2026 or early 2027, and organizers hope the tuition-free programs will help city residents move out of underemployment and poverty.
   

2. 'Snow White' ballet coming to F.M. Kirby Center (timesleader.com) — Families in Wilkes-Barre can look forward to a colorful "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" ballet at the F.M. Kirby Center on Saturday, Oct. 24. The United European Ballet Company will bring hand-painted sets, detailed costumes and lively storytelling to the stage, with tickets starting at $40 and available online, by phone, or at the box office.
   

3. Swarms of mayflies in Wilkes-Barre a good sign for the Susquehanna River (citizensvoice.com) — Huge swarms of mayflies recently coated Wilkes-Barre's Market Street Bridge, creating slick conditions but also signaling that the nearby Susquehanna River is in relatively good ecological health. An environmental consultant explains how mayflies and other sensitive insects indicate cleaner, well-oxygenated water and why this year's strong hatches may follow better summer stream flows.
   

4. Today's Hot Shots: Aug. 22, 2026 (citizensvoice.com) — Local photographers from Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Township and nearby towns are sharing sunrise scenes, backyard blooms, wildlife and dramatic clouds in today's Hot Shots gallery. The paper invites Wilkes-Barre residents to email in their own high-resolution photos with a short description for future publication.
   

📸 Around Wilkes-Barre

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Wilkes-Barre

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Wednesday September 9
  • Ray LaMontagne →
    F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, 71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre
    7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Wilkes-Barre Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please share & repost to help reunite this stray cat!
    FOUND on August 19, 2026 in Hazleton, PA 18201 near Arthur st hazleton pa Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor Wilkes Barre Heights)

Ok Wilkes-Barre! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Smiles, because it has a mile between "s". (Thank you Sharon M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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