NEPA Gives Appeal Letter From the HRC

It goes without saying that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been widespread and unforgiving.  While the health and wellbeing of both those we serve and those we work alongside are paramount, we must also face the financial impact the coronavirus has left in its wake.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of Diversity Rocks, HRF’s annual fundraising event, for two consecutive years.  Donations generated through Diversity Rocks fund both community-giving initiatives and HRC programs, all of which support individuals with disabilities.  For 2021, it was necessary to consider an alternate way to fundraise without risking the health and safety of our community.

Together, HRC and HRF have decided to partner with NEPA Gives for 2021:HRC as a participating organization, and HRF as a supporting foundation.  NEPA Gives is a multi-county, completely virtual fundraising opportunity.  Nonprofits seek to raise funds in a one-day-only event, hosted by several local community foundations.  This year, HRC and HRF will join this event occurring virtually on June 4th, 2021 at nepagives.org.

We ask once again for your help to continue serving and supporting individuals with disabilities in our community.  Thank you for your generous donation and assistance.

To donate, go to: www.nepagives.org/organizations/hrcinc and click “donate”.

Sincerely,

John J. Martin Esq.                                         Brian Wilken 

Board Chairman, HRC                                   Board President, HRF

Marywood University Receives Distinguished Chapter and Advisor Awards

Marywood University’s National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) Chapter recently received the Distinguished Chapter Award. Additionally, Haleigh Zurek, assistant director for campus programming, received the Distinguished Advisor Award from the NSLS.

Marywood University’s NSLS Chapter was one of five from the more than 700 NSLS Chapters that received the Distinguished Chapter Award. The University’s NSLS Chapter will receive $700 and each executive board member of the chapter will receive $50.

Haleigh Zurek, winner of the Distinguished Advisor Award from NSLS, will receive $150.

NSLS Chapter Advisors are vital in the development, perpetuation, and strength of the NSLS mission. Not only are they mentors and leaders to the executive board and local chapter members, but they also serve as a liaison with the campus administration.

Marywood University’s Chapter of the NSLS is overseen and facilitated by the Office of Student Engagement. Inductees of Marywood’s NSLS Chapter Honor Society work with Marywood’s Office of Student Engagement to complete various steps prior to being inducted into the Society. These steps include Orientation, Leadership Training Day, meetings with Success Networking Teams, and Live Speaker Broadcasts. Marywood’s NSLS Chapter induction rating during the 2019-2020 academic year was among the Top 50 from the more than 700 NSLS chapters across the country.

NSLS is the nation’s largest leadership honor society. Students are selected by their college for membership based on either their academic standing or leadership potential. Candidacy is a nationally recognized achievement of honorable distinction. With more than 700 chapters, the NSLS currently has more than a million members nationwide.

For additional information about Marywood University’s NSLS Chapter, please visit The University’s Student Engagement office, at marywood.edu/studentactivities/index.html, or call (570) 340-6016.

ConvenientCare+ Now Open at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre

Better health is easier for those in Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding communities now that there’s a new option for care. A first-of-its-kind Geisinger ConvenientCare+ is now open on the Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre campus.

Geisinger ConvenientCare+ is a new type of advanced outpatient clinic. The “plus” means there are additional resources and staffing, so you can see a physician who has access to laboratory and imaging services, intravenous treatments, nebulizer therapies and other higher-level services that are not typically offered in a primary care or a walk-in clinic.

Patients can be referred to ConvenientCare+ by their family physician or walk in, so it’s ideal for those having difficulty with current treatments or a sudden worsening of a chronic condition. ConvenientCare+ is here when you need urgent care but can’t see your primary care doctor or specialist on the same day.

“We’ve designed this space for people to receive outpatient treatments and monitoring in a more comfortable setting,” said Bradley Brocious, D.O., medical director of Geisinger ConvenientCare+. “This location is here for those who need treatment their primary care doctor can’t provide at their office, but don’t require the level of care an emergency room provides. We work together with a patient’s doctor or specialist to address any health needs and take care of possible health problems sooner. We also help to coordinate next steps for follow up care.”

The Geisinger ConvenientCare+ replaces the Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre Urgent Care walk-in clinic. It offers the same level of walk-in care previously offered, plus additional services for more serious conditions that aren’t emergencies. You can also visit ConvenientCare+ for common health issues like infections, abdominal pain, migraines, cold and flu symptoms, allergies, earaches, tick removal, sprains, minor cuts, sinus infections and more.

“We want to help people receive care in the most appropriate, easily accessible and affordable setting, all of which becomes easier with ConvenientCare+,” said Dan Landesberg, associate vice president of operations, Geisinger Northeast. “This location expands the adult urgent care services previously offered at Geisinger South-Wilkes Barre, and our investment in this type of model fills a gap for patients in accessing the right health care services in the right place.”

The Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre ConvenientCare+ is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more about Geisinger ConvenientCare+, visit geisinger.org/plus.

FNCB Bank Removes Masks on Dunmore Buck and Penn State Nittany Lion

FNCB Bank employees officially removed the masks that have been in place on the “Dunmore Buck” and Penn State Nittany Lion outside of their branch since the early stages of the pandemic.

“Both the Buck and Lion have been fully vaccinated and in accordance with the new CDC guidance, will no longer need to wear their masks as they enjoy many beautiful days at Dunmore Corners,” said Michael Cummings, Vice President, Marketing Manager.

Fidelity Bank Awards Over $1 Million in EITC Contributions

Fidelity Bank recently presented non-profit organizations and educational institutions with Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funds totaling over $1.054 million. Ranging from $1,000 to $141,000 per organization, the amount of financial support the Bank has been able to provide to organizations has nearly doubled since 2019.

“We are pleased to partner with Fidelity Bank through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program,” said Melissa Turlip, Director of Programming, Commonwealth Charitable Management, Inc. “Funds were provided to twelve high schools in northeastern Pennsylvania to support Dual Enrollment programs.  The funds offset the costs for participating students to earn college credits while in high school and are a huge benefit to hundreds of students.”

“As a community bank, Fidelity is proud to invest in the communities we serve,” said Daniel J. Santaniello, president and CEO, Fidelity Bank. “With so many families and school districts facing economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for funding is more important than ever. The local students who benefit from the enriched educational experiences provided by these funds are the future. We wish them great success as they pursue their educational goals and dreams.”

The EITC program provides tax credits to eligible businesses contributing to scholarship and educational improvement organizations. In keeping with Fidelity Bank’s commitment to support the communities it serves, the program benefits students in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. Through partnerships between local businesses, parents, and scholarship organizations, EITC funding gives local students opportunities for better educational outcomes.

More Than 96,000 Jobs Supported Through NBT Bank’s PPP Funding Efforts

Since the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) opened in 2020, NBT Bank has funded over 6,000 loans exceeding $830 million in relief. These funds support small businesses and not-for-profit organizations in the communities NBT serves.

“With more than $285 million secured through 3,000 loans in 2021, the average size PPP loan at NBT for this most recent round of funding was $94,000,” said NBT Bank President and CEO John H. Watt, Jr. “In total, we provided support to organizations that employ 96,000 workers.”

The organizations supported by the PPP loans secured through NBT Bank include numerous main street retailers and minority and women-owned businesses, as well as rural hospitals and nursing homes, human and family services organizations, farms and other agricultural businesses, educational institutions, manufacturers, restaurants, contractors and construction businesses.

“The banking industry has played a crucial role in delivering relief through the PPP loan program to provide businesses and non-profits and their employees with a bridge to the post-pandemic economy. At NBT, we are proud of our team and their efforts to leverage our lending, operational and technical expertise to aggressively support this program,” concluded Watt.

PennDOT Encourages Public to Join Telephone Town Hall

As part of the ongoing public comment period for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study exploring sustainable transportation funding options, a telephone town hall meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at 6:00 PM EST.

The telephone town hall will provide an opportunity to comment on the statewide PEL study in addition to an active virtual public meeting, accessible online through June 1, 2021, at www.penndot.gov/funding.

The public may pre-register for the telephone town hall, but it is not required. There are three ways to join the telephone town hall:

Those who cannot join the telephone opportunity are encouraged to review and participate in the on-demand virtual public meeting that began on April 29. Public comments can be submitted directly from the meeting website or via other comment submission methods, including:

The PEL study, in support of the PennDOT Pathways program, is being conducted to identify near- and long-term alternative funding solutions and establish a methodology for their evaluation. The Transportation Revenue Options Commission (TROC), which was established by Governor Tom Wolf’s Executive Order on March 12, received the draft PEL study and will receive the final version when completed.

For more information about the PennDOT Pathways program, visit www.penndot.gov/funding.

PennDOT will make all reasonable modifications to policies, programs, and documents to ensure that people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency have an equal opportunity to participate in all of its programs, services, and activities.

To request assistance to participate in the virtual public meeting or review the PEL study, please contact PennDOT’s Communications Office by emailing dotcomm@pa.gov or calling 717-783-8800 from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. PennDOT will not place a surcharge on an individual with a disability or those with limited English proficiency to cover the costs of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy. If you have other questions or challenges, please contact PennDOT’s Bureau of Equal Opportunity to request help by emailing RA-penndoteoreports@pa.gov or calling 1-800-468-4201; TTY (711).

Subscribe to statewide PennDOT news and traffic alerts at www.penndot.gov/news or choose a region under “Regional Offices.” Information about the state’s infrastructure and results the department is delivering for Pennsylvanians can be found at www.penndot.gov/results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews and like the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot/.

LCEEC Announces Expansion of Conservation & Natural Resource Certificate Program

The Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center (LCEEC) has announced the expansion of its popular Conservation and Natural Resource (CNR) certificate program. Now, students can take the program at their Environmental Education Center in Covington Township or at their Towanda or Sunbury locations. The program is currently accepting applications for the fall semester and is set to begin in August 2021.

During this 15-week accelerated program, students will complete five undergraduate-level field biology courses at the LCEEC located on 211-acres of diverse habitat in Covington Township, Pa.

The curriculum focuses on the conservation and interpretation of our natural environment. The program includes instruction in environmental interpretation, wildlife management, freshwater ecosystems, dendrology, and ornithology.  Students will also experience both classroom and hands-on field training throughout the program.

The CNR certificate is appropriate for anyone seeking a career as a park ranger or in a related field. Students may also take individual courses. Courses are transferable into two or four-year degree programs. Upon graduation, students will receive a CNR certificate and transcripts of their undergraduate coursework.

Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2021 semester and financial aid is available. The CNR program is also approved for WIOA funding for displaced workers or individuals with high financial need. Please call PA Career Link for Lackawanna County to verify WIOA funding eligibility.

For more information about the program, please visit lackawanna.edu or contact Sharon Yanik-Craig at yaniks@lackawanna.edu or call (570) 842-1506.

Downtown Scranton Dining Guide by Scranton Tomorrow

We’re updating, and improving, our Downtown Scranton Dining Guide, and we want to be sure we haven’t missed anything.

Please take a moment to review your free listing and let us know if you’re dining options and delivery services are still accurate:

Downtown Scranton Dining Guide

Your listing in the Downtown Scranton Dining Guide is provided free of charge as a service to our business community during COVID-19.

Please Send Updates to:
Liz Baldi, Project Coordinator
lizbaldi@scrantontomorrow.org

Marywood University’s Society of Collegiate Journalists Chapter Wins Multiple Awards at National Contest

Marywood University’s Chapter of the Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ) recently won multiple first, second, third, and honorable mention awards at the Society for Collegiate Journalists National 2021 Contest.

Thomas Kerrigan, Clarks Green, Pa., won first place in the category of Feature Photography for his photo, “Goat Yoga;” and Emily Scholl, Quakertown, Pa., Jenny Ngyuen, Scranton, Pa., and Michael Basta won first place for their Multimedia Series titled, “Media That Matters.”

Second Place was awarded to The Wood Word, Marywood University’s online student-run newspaper; Sydney Toy, Carbondale, Pa., for her Enterprise Series titled, “Border Stories (Part 1 and II)”; Ellen Frantz, Camp Hill, Pa., and Briana Ryan, Shenandoah, Pa., for their Beat Reporting; and Eric Spivak, Scranton, Pa., for the Column or Commentary category.

Third place winners include Michael Basta, Pittston Pa., in the category of News Photography; Ellen Frantz for News Story; Brendan Murphy, Stroudsburg, Pa., for Sports News; Thomas Kerrigan, Ellen Frantz, and Marli Hoskins, Moosic, Pa., for the category of Television News Package; and the TV Marywood Staff (TVM) in the category of Television Commercial/PSA, for the “Stay Home: A Public Service Announcement.”

Honorable Mentions were awarded to The Wood Word in the category of Social Media Presence Overall Excellence; Jennifer Flynn, Cranford, N.J., in the category of Infographic for “Covid19 precautions and subsequent student survey sheds light on campus”; Emily Scholl, Justin Kucharski, Olyphant, Pa., and Megan Reynolds, Moscow, Pa., for Multimedia Series; Elizabeth Deroba, Bloomsburg, Pa., for Enterprise Series; and Emma Rushworth, Tunkhannock, Pa., Ellen Frantz, Erin Kane, Scranton, Pa., Richard Andrus, Honeoye Falls, N.Y., and Michael Basta, for Television News Package.

Senior SCJ Chapter students Briana Ryan, SCJ president, and current editor-in-chief at The Wood Word, received the Medal of Merit, and Certificates of Merit were presented to Autumn Bohner, Domsife, Pa., digital content lead designer at The Wood Word, and Justin Kucharski, SJ secretary and former editor-in-chief at The Wood Word.

The Society for Collegiate Journalists is the nation’s oldest honor society for student media leaders. Journalism is a foundation of democracy, and, to ensure its future, SCJ focuses on professional development at the collegiate level. SCJ advances ethical, accurate, and innovative collegiate journalism nationally and creates a strong network of advocates for First Amendment education. Lindsey Wotanis, Ph.D., president of the National SCJ Board, serves as advisor for the SCJ Chapter at Marywood University, which, to date, has inducted more than 100 students to its SCJ Chapter.

For additional information about Marywood University’s Multimedia Communication Department, please visit marywood.edu/commarts, or call the Office of Admissions at (570) 348-6234.