News

East Stroudsburg University’s Concert Choir and Symphonic Band will present their fall concerts this weekend in the Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall in the University’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg. Both concerts are open to the public at no cost.

On Friday, November 17 the Concert Choir will perform at 7:30 p.m. The concert looks at seasonal songs, beginning with the ever-popular “Seasons of Love” from Rent. Other works include popular hits such as “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles, “In Summer” and “Let it Go” from Frozen, and “The Song of Purple Summer” from Spring Awakening, settings of poetry by Robert Frost and Rachel Field, and a parody on Bach – “Cold and Fugue Season.”

Stroudsburg is the only town in Pennsylvania that is dissected by Interstate 80. The highway literally runs through the center of town, cutting Stroudsburg and South Stroudsburg in two.

PennDOT's proposal to expand I-80 will devastate the area, negatively impact the community, encroach on our pristine creek, streams and exceptional value watercourse, and require earthmoving activities (relocating a creek.) It will crush Stroudsburg Borough, the Monroe County seat, and will wreak havoc on local businesses, cutting off accessibility to our thriving downtown Main Street. Two major hospitals, emergency services and fire companies will have dangerous response times due to the closure of two exits. Constant Main Street gridlock will be inevitable due to the closing of these exits and South Stroudsburg will be cut off with huge soundwalls.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Engineering District 5-0, in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) document in accordance with 23 CFR § 771, and the National Environmental Policy Act.

The EA considers improvements to I-80 from Interchange 303 (PA 611/North 9th Street) to Brodhead Creek, including Interchange 304 (US 209), Interchange 305 (BUS 209/SR 2012/West Main Street), Interchange 306 (SR 2004/Dreher Avenue), and Interchange 307 (PA 611/Park Avenue and PA 191/Broad Street). The preferred alternative meets the project needs to improve safety, reduce congestion and alleviate access and mobility concerns, while minimizing environmental impacts and addressing public and agency feedback.

Source:

https://www.i80project.com/environmental-assessment-ea/

The hospitality industry in the Poconos is struggling to find employees. So they've come up with a new way to introduce these jobs to the younger generation. 12 different school districts from our region got to participate in a hospitality bootcamp.

Students are trying their hand at event planning. They were asked incorporate the five senses and come up with a way to kick off the first day of school.

Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center Student Sage Desimone says, "Our event planning was a food fair. What we’re thinking is a cultural food fair throughout all of the nations."

It’s all part of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Hospitality Career Bootcamp. Over 90 students from 12 different school districts were invited to participate at Camelback Lodge in Tannersville.

East Stroudsburg University honored Dr. Patricia Graham, professor emerita of intercultural and interdisciplinary studies, as ESU’s recipient of the second annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Keepers of the Flame Award from Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).

The award recognizes an individual from each of the 14 State System university campuses for their contributions to creating and promoting diverse, equitable and inclusive environments that cultivate a sense of belonging. The award recipients were announced during PASSHE’s annual DEI Summit held at Shippensburg University.