BEYOND THE BYLINE: Downtown Wilkes-Barre’s lights are getting brighter

WILKES-BARRE — English pop star Petula Clark’s iconic song, “Downtown,” kept playing in my head all week.

It started with Mayor George Brown’s 2026 budget proposal, continued with Diamond City Partnership Executive Director Larry Newman’s address to the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association and topped off with Joell Yarmel’s announcement of the $14 million annual economic impact that the F.M. Kirby Center for the Preforming Arts has had.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the good work of John Maday, President of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association, who continues to epitomize the spirit of Downtown Wilkes-Barre day after day after day.

As Petula sang:

“Things will be great when you’re — Downtown

No finer place for sure — Downtown

Everything’s waiting for you”