WILKES-BARRE — The Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame released the Class of 2025 — and “class” is the perfect word to describe the nominees.
When the Hall of Fame was formed in 2022, our mission was established to honor those who are natives or residents of Luzerne County, or those who have roots in Luzerne County and who have achieved success, gained notoriety or have had a great impact on the world of arts and entertainment either in NEPA or beyond.
For the third year in a row, that mission has been accomplished.
The two sub-committees of the organization have again chosen a deserving group that will be inducted in our third annual induction ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts.
Those considered in the “Arts” category have excelled in the categories of stage, film, television, dance, painting, sculpture or artistic design.
Those considered in the “Entertainment” category have excelled in the areas of music, radio or other media specific to arts and entertainment.
The 2025 inductees are:
Arts Category
Lillian Cahn — The creative pillar that built the Coach line of luxury accessories into a global brand.
Niccolo Cortiglia — The painter who crafted likenesses of politicians, public figures and community leaders.
Bob Heim — The cartoonist, illustrator and journalist with a charming sense of humor.
Lyman H. Howe — The pioneering, traveling filmmaker whose turn-of-the-century achievements include the use of synchronized sound, filming in an airplane and documenting military and political history.
Marion Lorne — The Emmy-winning actress who is most remembered for her portrayal of Aunt Clara in “Bewitched.”
Rose O’Neill — The artist who created the Kewpie characters and became one of the earliest female cartoonists to achieve national recognition and acclaim.
Lawrence Russo — The sculptor whose most famous work — the Christ the King statue on the King’s College Administration Building — is one of the area’s most towering works of art.
Entertainment Category
Andrea Bogusko — The longtime instructor whose Music Company has become a fixture in the local community over four decades of business.
The Great Rock Scare — The energetic band that entertained audiences with their faithful renditions of classic rock hits.
Florence Foster Jenkins — The so-called “world’s worst opera singer” with a Carnegie Hall performance and fascinating life story to her name.
The Leer Brothers Band — The supergroup that sprouted from some of the area’s most popular bands of the 1960s.
Motionless in White — The aggressive metal band with a catalog that includes radio-ready hits and brutal deep cuts.
Matthew Rogers — The Grammy-winning songwriter who has worked with some of country music’s biggest stars.
Joe and John Stanky — The polka-playing brothers, who have led the Cadets and the Coal Miners respectively, are staples of the community.
Alan K. Stout — The music journalist and radio host with an unrivaled dedication to local artists and entertainers.
Distinguished Achievement Award
Paul Pringle — A Los Angeles Times reporter who won three Pulitzer Prizes for investigative reporting, won the George Polk Award and wrote the non-fiction book “Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels.”
What is most important is that Luzerne County has produced some of the most talented and creative people in the world and it is an honor to honor them for all they have accomlished that makes us all proud.
Ticket information for the Oct. 4 induction event at The F.M. Kirby Center will be announced soon. For information, visit www.facebook.com/LCAEHOF.