Warmer days—and soon, summer—are upon us! With the Wyoming Valley bursting with events that celebrate our community spirit and local flavor, we’re bringing you a roundup of happenings both inside Cross Valley and beyond, from West Pittston to Nanticoke. Whether you’re into lively festivals, bustling farmers markets or simply soaking up the season, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Farmer’s Markets

Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market
When: Thursdays, June through November
Where: Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
What to Expect: Fresh produce, artisanal goods, live music and local food vendors. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy the local harvest and support our farmers.

Pittston City Farmers Market
When: Tuesdays, July through November
Where: Pittston Tomato Festival Lot, South Main Street, Pittston, PA 18640
What to Expect: A variety of local produce, baked goods, crafts and weekly entertainment. This market is a community favorite and a great place to connect with neighbors.

Festivals and Events

Pittston Tomato Festival
When: August 21-24, 2025
Where: Downtown Pittston, PA 18640
Highlights: Parades, tomato fights, live entertainment, food vendors and a 5K run. This festival celebrates Pittston’s rich tomato-growing heritage and is a must-visit for fun and festivities.

Nanticoke Heritage Day
When: July 12, 2025
Where: Downtown Nanticoke, PA 18634
Highlights: Live music, craft vendors, historical exhibits and delicious local cuisine. It’s a day dedicated to celebrating the rich history and culture of the Nanticoke people.

Rockin’ the River
When: July 11, 18 and 25, 2025
Where: River Common - Millennium Circle N River St
Highlights: Awesome music from local and regional artists. Learn more at the official site.

69th Annual Fine Arts Fiesta
When: May 15-18th
Where: Wilkes-Barre Public Square
Highlights: The Fine Arts Fiesta (FAF) is the oldest juried arts festival in PA. More than 50,000 people attend the four-day free event in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Back-to-back performances, exciting exhibits and a delicious array of ethnic foods ensure a steady flow of people from the Northeast to your booth. More info at FineArtsFiesta.org.

2025 Cavalcade of Jazz Festival
When: June 6-8th
Where: FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts.
Highlights: Recognized as the birthplace of America’s first jazz festival in 1951 by the esteemed jazz critic Leonard Feather and the Library of Congress, this festival has become a cornerstone of jazz appreciation in the region. More info at WilkesBarreCavalcadeOfJazz.org.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Baseball
When: March 28-September 21st
Where: PNC Field
Highlights: ​The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders’ 2025 season spans from March 28 to September 21, encompassing 150 games—75 at home and 75 on the road. Tickets can be purchased at the ballpark or by visiting the team’s website.

Thinking about buying your first home in Northeast Pennsylvania? It’s an exciting milestone—but it can also feel overwhelming. That’s why Cathy Casey, Cross Valley’s mortgage expert, is here to guide you through the process with these simple steps!

Before we dive in, let’s take a quick look at the current housing market in our area. Like much of the Northeast, Northeastern Pennsylvania is experiencing a significant shortage of available homes, with inventory levels at less than half of pre-pandemic norms. Limited supply and sustained home prices can make the process more competitive, but understanding these trends will help you navigate the market with confidence.

So, how can you prepare to buy a home in today’s market? Let’s get started!

1. Check your credit and budget: Review your credit score before house hunting and determine how much home you can afford. A good credit score helps you secure better mortgage rates!

2. Get pre-approved: A mortgage pre-approval shows sellers you’re serious and gives you a clear budget. It also helps your agent find realistic options for you. Cross Valley FCU offers competitive rates and personalized guidance to help you through this step, and by speaking with Cathy Casey, we can get you pre-approved in no time.

3. Find the right home: Work with a trusted real estate agent to explore homes in your price range. Consider location, property taxes and future needs before making an offer and work with your agent to discuss the pros and cons of each house you’re interested in.

4. Make an offer and secure financing: Once you find “the one,” your agent will help you negotiate an offer. Then, Cross Valley’s mortgage team will finalize your loan and walk you through the details.

5. Close and move in! After inspections and paperwork, it’s time to close on your home and get the keys! Congratulations—you’re now a homeowner! Ready to start? Contact Cathy Casey and the Cross Valley mortgage team today for expert advice and a smooth home-buying journey. We’re here to help every step of the way!

Explore Mortgages

Getting a tax refund this year? Before splurging on something fun, consider using it to improve your financial future! Whether you want to invest, save or pay off debt, the WealthWise Team at Cross Valley has a few smart ways to make your refund work for you.

1. Build your emergency fund: Life is unpredictable—having three to six months of expenses saved can provide some serious peace of mind. If your emergency fund needs a boost, your tax refund is a great way to strengthen it. Bonus: Consider opening a high-yield share certificate for guaranteed growth.

2. Pay down high-interest debt: If you carry credit card balances or personal loans, using your tax refund to pay them down can save you hundreds (or thousands!) in interest. Start with the highest-interest debt first to maximize savings

3. Invest for the future: Consider putting some of your refund into:

• A retirement account (like an IRA) to build long-term wealth.
• A share certificate for secure, higher-interest savings.
• A college savings plan if you have kids.

Small investments now can grow significantly over time!

4. Make a principal payment on your mortgage or auto loan: A lump-sum payment on your mortgage or car loan can reduce total interest paid and help you become debt-free sooner. Even one extra payment a year makes a difference!

5. Improve your financial knowledge: Investing in yourself is just as valuable. Use part of your refund to attend financial workshops, enroll in online courses, or meet with a Cross Valley WealthWise advisor to help plan for your future.

Your tax refund is a valuable opportunity to improve your financial well-being. Whether you save, invest, or reduce debt, making smart choices now can pay off in the long run.

Schedule your free session

Between teaching students at King’s College and gearing up for the upcoming Major League Baseball season, we had a chance to chat with Cross Valley’s board of directors vice chairperson, Jessica Evanko, and get to know her better.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you first discovered Cross Valley?
I was born and raised locally. I graduated from King’s College with my accounting degree. Following graduation, I worked for PwC in corporate tax gaining experience in tax audits and tax compliance of multinational corporations in a variety of industries. I transitioned into academia and joined the King’s College accounting faculty in 2018 where I have taught a wide range of accounting specific courses. I currently serve as the faculty advisor to Beta Gamma Sigma and the Student Government Association Executive Board.

I first discovered Cross Valley as a young child when I would accompany my grandmother on her trips to the credit union. At that time, it was just one of many stops on our day out, not realizing all the opportunities available at the credit union.

What’s something about you that members might be surprised to learn?
I earned a PhD in accounting. Accounting is my passion and I enjoy sharing it with my students and the Cross Valley membership.

Outside of your role on the board, what are some of your hobbies or interests?
My husband, Jeremy, and I love baseball. We are currently working on our goal of visiting every MLB ballpark.

What do you think sets Cross Valley apart from other financial institutions?
Cross Valley is with its members every step of the way. It starts with opening the first savings account for children and saving their piggy bank money, to assisting with financing a first car, to providing loans to help individuals close on the home of their dreams. Cross Valley also offers scholarship opportunities to offset the cost of a college education, the Holiday Magic program to help members’ wishes come true, and so much more. We still have the feeling of being a neighborhood credit union and knowing our members.

What inspired you to join the board of Cross Valley Federal Credit Union, and how long have you been involved?
I initially joined the Supervisory Committee in 2018 where I was able to learn the inner workings of Cross Valley. In 2019, I had the opportunity to join the Board of Directors and have been serving as the Vice-Chair since 2023.

What professional or personal experiences do you bring to the board that help guide your decision-making?
I have an audit and compliance background so I definitely have a regulatory mindset.

What’s one initiative or goal you’re passionate about for the credit union’s future?
I am most excited about financial literacy education and helping young members start preparing for their future.

If you had to describe the credit union in three words, what would they be and why?
Caring. Opportunity. Community. The individuals who work at Cross Valley care about helping the members. This includes the tellers, branch managers, executives, all the way to the CEO and Board of Directors. The opportunities are available to members at all stages of life. The credit union has a continued commitment to the community.

If you could give one piece of financial advice to our members, what would it be?
The one piece of advice I have to our members is to not be afraid to ask for help. Whether it is determining what your financial goals are, developing a personalized plan on how to achieve them, or simply reassuring that you are on the right plan, we can all benefit from meeting with a trained financial counselor to review our financial wellbeing. Taking the first step is the hardest so if you do not know where to begin, schedule a meeting with a financial counselor for a discussion that is personalized to you.

Graduation is an exciting time—whether you’re heading to college, starting a job or figuring out what’s next. No matter your path, good financial habits now will set you up for success! Here are some simple tips to help you manage money wisely and build a strong financial future.

1. Create a budget and stick to it: A budget helps you track income, expenses and savings so you don’t overspend. Try apps like Mint or download the free WealthWise budget spreadsheet to make things easy.

2. Start saving yesterday: Open a savings account and get into the habit of saving a portion of every paycheck. For new savers, it can often be a difficult habit to grasp, but a bit of determination can really add up when you check your account and see how it’s grown. Even $10 a week adds up over time!

3. Use credit wisely: A credit card is one of the easiest tools to start building your credit score—but only if used responsibly! Start off small and pay off your balance on time and in full each month to avoid interest charges. Like saving, mastering this habit at an early age can skyrocket you into financial security early in life.

4. Avoid unnecessary debt: Student loans and car payments add up fast. Only borrow what you truly need and look for scholarships, grants and used cars to save money. Do your best to avoid unnecessary loans and high balances by keeping things simple.

5. Learn about financial tools: Cross Valley offers checking accounts, savings plans and free financial counseling to help you get started. Stop by or visit our website to learn how we can help!

Your future is full of possibilities—start smart, save wisely and set yourself up for success!

Dear Cross Valley Member,

Did you know that credit unions originated in Germany in 1846? The first U.S.-chartered credit union followed in 1909 in New Hampshire. From the very beginning, the credit union movement was built on a simple but powerful idea: ordinary working people coming together to support each other’s financial well-being. That’s why, as a member, you have a “share” in your credit union—you’re not just a customer, but an owner.

So why am I sharing this history with you? Because as a credit union member, you deserve to know about potential threats that could impact your financial future and our ability to continue providing you with the best possible services.

Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives, which means we are exempt from federal corporate income tax on our earnings. This exemption allows us to focus entirely on helping our members succeed financially. When we make a profit, those funds go right back to you—through financial education programs like Wealth Wise, Financial Reality Fairs and Fraud Prevention, as well as lower fees, better loan rates, higher dividends on savings and ongoing investments in technology and services to enhance your experience.

Unfortunately, big Wall Street banks and certain politicians in Congress want to change that by imposing new taxes on credit unions. But let’s be clear—this isn’t just a tax on credit unions. It’s a tax on you and the 140 million Americans who choose credit unions over traditional banks.

By taxing not-for-profit credit unions, big banks are working to eliminate competition and boost their own profits—at your expense. It simply doesn’t make sense to penalize hardworking people for choosing a financial institution that puts their needs first.

This is an urgent matter, and we need your help. Please take action today by contacting your U.S. Representative and Senators. Tell them: Don’t tax my credit union. It’s easy—just visit this link to send a message to your elected officials.

Together, we can protect your credit union—and the millions of families nationwide who rely on credit unions for their financial well-being. Your voice matters. There’s nothing more powerful to elected officials than hearing directly from constituents like you.

As always, my team and I are here to support and guide you. Think of us as your first resource whenever life’s financial challenges arise. Let us find a way to help you.

Sincerely,

Traci Donahue,

CEO, Cross Valley Federal Credit Union