OUR COMMUNITY
 Under
the direction of the County Arts Council, Scranton, PA, has re-invented
itself. A challenge was the fact that the Scranton industrial-based economy had
seen better days. Scranton has met that challenge with creativity and its
location. Located in northeastern Pennsylvania, Scranton is about two hours from
Philadelphia and New York City – and is fast becoming a weekend cultural
getaway.. A community of visual artists, dancers, musicians and art galleries
has come alive in Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg. Entertainment offerings
include dance, theater and concerts between the Ballet Theatre of Scranton, the contemporary performers at East Stroudsburg University, the epic productions at the J.J. Ferrara Performing Arts Center, or an evening at the historic Keystone Theatre.
Scranton's Quality of Life index has shot up in
the past few years. The cost of living in Greater Scranton has remained approximately equal to the
U.S. average, which is significantly lower than all other Middle Atlantic
metropolitan areas. Scranton boasts 13 colleges, universities, and technical
schools, and an average student to teacher ratio in public schools of 16 to 1
has resulted in high school graduation rates well above state and national
averages.
Scranton
(pop. 81,805) is the County Seat of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Scranton
has not neglected its rich history. The Lackawanna Coal Mine (yes, a real coal mine)
and Steamtown, U.S.A (celebrating the heyday of
the Railroad in America) are open for visitors. You
can ride a real steam locomotive, and then visit the Mall at Steamtown. The historic Radisson
Lackawanna Station Hotel is well located for exploring the history of the old
and the wonders of the new Scranton. It is within walking distance of the
Cultural Center and Steamtown National Historic Site, and provides a
complimentary shuttle to sites such as the Masonic Temple.
 The
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is nine miles south of Scranton.
Whitewater rafting, hiking, nature
photography, or camping are available in and near these quiet mountains and
streams. Ski resorts such as Camelback Resort, Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort offer the arts -- as well as skiing.
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