More often than not, you’ll find Mike McGinley around town—supporting local causes, checking out the newest restaurants, attending fundraisers, catching a show, or just soaking up the buzz around town. It’s only fitting that “Around Town” is also the name of his longtime column in the Times Leader, which he’s been writing since 2017, where he shines a spotlight on the people, places and events that make NEPA so special.

Mike grew up in Kingston with his parents and sister in a tight-knit family. He went to Bishop Hoban High School and graduated from King’s College in 2008. He got his start in journalism at the Times Leader, where he began by writing obituaries and eventually worked his way into the newsroom. From there, he pivoted into digital media, landing roles at Solid Cactus and Pepperjam before returning to the Times Leader as a major accounts executive. These days, he works remotely for global tech company impact.com, helping publishers grow their businesses.

Outside of work, Mike stays actively involved in the community. He chairs the board of Junior Achievement of NEPA and is on the planning committee for The Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz, a three-day downtown Wilkes-Barre festival that celebrates jazz with live performances across town.

Today, Mike and his partner Oscar live in Laflin. We caught up with him at Franklin’s to chat about their love of NEPA’s culture—from the arts and food scene to local events and community projects. And of course, we had to ask: Why NEPA?

How long have you lived in NEPA?

38 – almost 39 – years

What do you love about your town?

The hills and the trees. Whenever I need to think about something, work something out in my head, or take a break from reality, I head out for a walk through the hills of Laflin. We have an amazing park at the bottom of Laflin Road with a top-notch track, fields, a bridge overlooking a creek, picnic tables and a play area. I feel calm and collected amongst all of the nature, just a stone’s throw from major highways.

What’s your favorite NEPA restaurant?

There are SO many.

My favorite is Cork Bar & Restaurant in North End Wilkes-Barre. My friend Ruth Corcoran opened it in 2007, and I was immediately attracted to the city vibe nestled in a neighborhood. My grandfather, John Maloney, grew up on Madison Street in North Wilkes-Barre, so I’ve always felt a special kinship with the people in that part of town. I love that I could dine at a fabulous pub and eatery right down the street from where he spent his formative years.

One block away from Cork is The Cobbler, a speakeasy that my friend Rick Simon owns on the corner of North Main and Elm Streets. Stopping in there for an after-dinner drink is the perfect way to end a night. It’s also cool to open the door and be surprised by who you see inside. You never known until you punch in the code and walk in!

What’s your favorite thing to do in NEPA?

Visit all of the local businesses that make up the fabric of NEPA. Support the organizations I care about. Spend time with the people I love the most in the outdoors.

For example, my partner and I love to spend time with our best friends on Harveys Lake in the summers. Being out on the open water, surrounded by all that beauty, is really something. We also enjoy hiking at Frances Slocum State Park and the Pinchot State Forest Hiking Trail.

There are so many local businesses to pop into, too. We love little diners or coffee shops like J&L Coffeehouse in Jenkins Township, Sweet Treet in Kingston and Marie’s Diner in Duryea. There are bars like Rich & Charlotte’s in Harveys Lake where you get a glimpse into individual towns and the pride of the people, as well as Senunas’ Bar & Grill which the Senunas family has operated for more than 80 years in Downtown Wilkes-Barre.

When it comes to organizations, I absolutely love being involved with Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, CASA of Wyoming Valley, and most recently, the Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz

What’s next for you?

I’m gearing up for a fabulous Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz set for June 6–8 in Downtown Wilkes-Barre. It’s the second year for the three-day jazz festival that celebrates Wilkes-Barre as home to the first-ever jazz festival in the country, dating back to 1951. I was asked to be the campaign chair this year, so I’m enjoying promoting and raising funds to make it an amazing festival.

I’m also the chair of the board of directors for Junior Achievement of NEPA, where I am very focused on supporting our staff, helping further our programming in conjunction with school districts and promoting our mission of empowering young people to own their economic success.

My partner, Oscar Flores, and I are also planning a wedding. We thought about the many destinations we could have it—from Mexico to Florida and beyond—but decided we must have it right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, around all those we love and with the area we adore as the backdrop.

Where do you see NEPA heading in the future?

More and more people are realizing they can make a home in NEPA while pursuing any dream or passion they have.

I see people settling here from bigger metropolitan areas due to the increase of remote work. I see them settling here because this is an excellent place to raise a family and have a life of community and peacefulness. With the amazing mountains all around us, you can find your favorite spot, settle down, and enjoy low cost of living, easy access to the interstates, quick trips to shopping and entertainment venues, and so much more.

I always explain to people that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is so close and serves as a gateway to any destination around the world. I work for a global technology company and travel sometimes for work; having the airport in my backyard makes it easy to fly directly to Chicago or Charlotte and, if necessary, then travel anywhere else I need to go.

It’s also a great place to operate a business, and I think more people are starting to realize that. With so many colleges nearby, there is an ample flow of college graduates and a great pool of talent.

Why NEPA?

When I was younger, I interviewed at Google and other companies in larger metropolitan areas. When it came down to it though, I never wanted to leave. I recognized early on how lucky we were here for many of the reasons I’ve mentioned.

My dad told me once that I could do anything I wanted here, and that really stuck with me. He and my mom were educators and coaches, but they encouraged me to always pursue my passions, which led me down a different path than they traveled.

I started my career in journalism at the Times Leader and appreciated that Wilkes-Barre was a two-newspaper town, and also that there were TV, radio stations, and media companies spanning such wide coverage areas. With the advent of DiscoverNEPA, residents and visitors now can see an even fuller picture of all there is to do and love about NEPA. There’s a big media presence because there is a lot to cover in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

For me, the people make NEPA, and I’ve always been impressed by how supportive and close-knit our communities are. People genuinely care about others here. If you open up to people, if you’re friendly, if you want to be in community with others—you will be successful here. Like any place, it’s what you make it. I’ve realized NEPA has so much: diverse restaurants, people of all backgrounds, organizations spanning all industries, and endless opportunities. It’s all about being open and embracing what’s around you.