Gerrity’s Announces Purchase of Valley Farm Market Joyce “Mom” Fasula, President of Gerrity’s Supermarkets, is very proud to announce that her family business is adding a tenth location. On Monday, November 15th, the Scranton-based supermarket company will purchase Valley Farm Market in Bethlehem, PA. In recent years, Gerrity’s has opened three Ace Hardware locations and remodeled all of their supermarkets. However, this will be the first new supermarket location in over 15 years. “In the supermarket business, it is important to continue to grow,” Fasula says. “We are proud to invest in the Bethlehem community, especially in light of the current state of the economy.” Valley Farm Market is currently owned by the Schummer Family, who employs over 140 workers. Gerrity’s will be discussing career opportunities with each and every member of the staff. The Fasulas and Schummers have been discussing the sale for several months. During that time, Gerrity’s management team has been stopping into the store. “We have been very impressed by the friendliness of the workers, the quality of the perishables and the condition of the store,” said Fasula. “The store and the staff will fit very well into the Gerrity’s family. Considering how well run the store is, the Fasulas plan to make very few changes to how the store runs. They will also keep the name Valley Farm Market on the building and in the marketing. However, they do plan to make improvements to lighting, the entryway, equipment, and pricing. In addition, they are planning a complete remodel that will begin late 2022 or early 2023. The best news for Valley Farms Employees is that, since they will be new to the Gerrity’s organization, they will be eligible for the new hire bonus of up to $500. Gerrity’s also anticipates hiring 50 additional full and part time people, including skilled positions like butchers, bakers, cooks, and cake decorators, as wells as clerks in every department.
Marion Munley Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 Munley Law is pleased to announce that Marion Munley is listed in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and named the 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation — Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She has been so included in this prestigious list since 2012. A champion of victims’ rights and the civil justice system for over 25 years, Marion is known for her compassionate approach to representing the catastrophically injured and her tireless devotion to her clients and their families. Triple Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial, Civil Practice, and Truck Law, Marion has earned an AV-Preeminent designation from Martindale-Hubbell, the industry’s highest ethical and client satisfaction rating. A leader in the legal community, Marion is an active member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and currently serves on the AAJ Board of Governors and on its Executive committee. She was the firs woman to become Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2018 and is a past chair of the AAJ’s Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. Marion is the second woman in Pennsylvania to become Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Among her other professional affiliations are the American Board of Trial Advocates, the International Society of Barristers, and the Summit Council, an exclusive group of today’s top civil justice attorneys committed to the highest levels of trial advocacy, to obtaining justice for individuals and families who have been hurt by corporate wrongdoing, and to the protection of the civil justice system. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2012, Marion has been named the 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation–Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Last year, she was recognized as Best Lawyers 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury–Plaintiffs for the Allentown metro area. Marion has also been selected to the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for the last 18 years and has been consistently recognized as one of thetop 50 Women Lawyers in Pennsylvania” in Super Lawyers Magazine. A graduate of Temple University School of Law (J.D., 1986), Marion received her undergraduate degree from the University of Scranton in 1983.
Marywood University to Host Wind Symphony Concert Marywood University’s music, theatre, and dance department recently announced that the University’s Wind Symphony will present the world premiere of the John Burns’ work, Fairest Morning on Sunday, November 14, 2021, at 4 p.m., in the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts. The concert is free and open to the public. Patrick J. Burns will direct the band for the premiere. Mr. Burns is an adjunct professor of music at Montclair State University, New Jersey, where he teaches courses in music theory, orchestration, and composition. As a clarinetist, Mr. Burns has performed with many professional ensembles in the New York metro area including: The Metropolitan Opera Summer Ballet Orchestra, the pit orchestra for the Broadway revival production of Camelot starring Robert Goulet, and with the New Jersey Chamber Music Society in broadcasts for National Public Radio and New Jersey Network Television. Also, on the program for that evening will be Omar Thomas’ Of Our New Day Begun. The Marywood Wind Symphony was part of a commissioning body that led to the creation of this powerful work. Of Our New Day Begun was written to honor nine beautiful souls who lost their lives to a callous act of hatred and domestic terrorism on the evening of June 17, 2015 while worshipping in their beloved sanctuary, the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (affectionately referred to as “Mother Emanuel”) in Charleston, South Carolina. This special performance was a collaborative effort among various groups across the Marywood campus including the Honors English classes who wrote program notes, created posters, and interviewed guest artists and participants. It will be a day of reflection, remembrance and celebration. For additional information about the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony Concert at Marywood University, please email dromines@marywood.edu, or call the music, theatre, and dance department at Marywood University, at (570) 348-6268.
Johnson College Receives $250,000 to Improve On-Campus ADA Compliance Recently Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, Mayor of the City of Scranton, joined Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College, to announce that the City of Scranton’s Office of Economic and Community Development awarded Johnson College a $250,000 grant to improve Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance across the College campus. Improving Johnson College’s ADA compliance will increase accessibility for faculty, staff, visitors, and, most of all, students, as the College strives to be inclusive to all. The funds will be used to install automatic door openers, access ramps, and ADA-compliant restroom improvements to President’s Hall and the Lemon Street Continuing Education Lab. This grant was made possible through the Federal Community Development Block Grant Program and the Housing and Urban Development Administration. Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public accommodations to provide goods and services to people with disabilities on an equal basis with the rest of the general public. The goal is to afford every individual the opportunity to benefit from Johnson College and to afford Johnson College the opportunity to benefit from all students, faculty, staff and visitors to our campus. Last year, 12.5% of students attending Johnson College registered disabilities with the College. The campus use is increasing with space being used for community events, continuing education activities, community sporting events, and scouting. It is our desire to increase community use of the Johnson College campus and make our facilities accessible to all who visit. All new college buildings have been designed and constructed to be ADA compliant. Some of the initial retrofitting work to existing campus structures has already been accomplished through a City of Scranton Community Development Block Grant several years ago. As guidelines and campus use have evolved, it is prudent to engage a firm experienced in ADA compliance audits to perform a system-wide survey of the Johnson College campus/facilities and make recommendations for improvements to bring us into full ADA compliance.
Lackawanna College Ranked Among Fastest-Growing Colleges Lackawanna College is ranked as the fastest-growing private, nonprofit college in the nation by the Chronicle of Higher Education on their Fastest-Growing Colleges, 2009-2019 list. The publication displays a Fall 2019 enrollment growth of 33% with students enrolled at a bachelor’s or an associate degree institution compared to 2009. The Chronicle states that the data is based on a fall headcount of full and part-time students of degree-granting institutions with at least 500 students. “This amazing growth validates that we are meeting the needs of our students, parents, and our communities,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “Lackawanna College continues to set a standard for providing a high-quality education that’s accessible and meets the growing need for innovative programs that fill in-demand occupations.” From 2009 to 2019, the College added noteworthy programs including the School of Petroleum and Natural Gas; the Sunbury Center; Health Sciences programs like Surgical Technology and Occupational Therapy Assistant; its first bachelor’s degrees in programs including Business, Criminal Justice, and Human Services; and the award-winning Level Up program.
PennDOT Continues Work to Address Bus Driver Shortage PennDOT Deputy Secretary Kurt Myers and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Dr. Noe Ortega today joined the Pennsylvania School Bus Association to encourage interested individuals to obtain Commercial Driver’s License to address bus driver shortage in Pennsylvania. “We want to do our part to encourage those looking for employment or supplemental income to consider obtaining a school bus endorsement to help get our children to school. That’s the critical part of all of this,” said PennDOT Deputy Secretary Myers. “We believe these efforts will help to ensure the safe and effective transportation of our commonwealth students.” To address the shortage, PennDOT mailed a letter from PDE reaching out to approximately 376,000 individuals with Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) to help connect interested drivers with school entities. The letter included information for a survey link for individuals who had an interest in exploring employment opportunities. To date, more than 1,300 individuals have expressed an interest in serving as a school bus driver through the survey. Those interested individuals will now be contacted by their local school districts to discuss next steps in licensure. “We know how challenging this year has been for our schools, communities, and parents; and we know how important it is to form partnerships and pool resources in times of crisis,” said PDE Secretary Ortega. “The Wolf Administration and the Pennsylvania School Bus Association stand committed to supporting our schools as they work to resolve these difficult transportation issues, and we encourage anyone interested in becoming a school bus driver to apply online.” Additionally, PennDOT has temporarily opened CDL skills testing on Mondays – for four weeks. This began this past Monday, October 18. CDL skills testing takes place at 23 locations throughout Pennsylvania. These additional testing appointments are intended to allow those who are interested increased opportunity to schedule time for a CDL skills test. Individuals may schedule a CDL skills test by visiting PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, selecting our Schedule a Driver’s Exam under Driver Vehicle Services, or they may call (717) 412-5300. “The school bus industry has been hit hard by COVID-19, and the Pennsylvania School Bus Association appreciates PennDOT and PDE’s partnership in working through the school bus driver shortage,” said Ryan Dellinger, Executive Director of the PSBA. “Our only goal, at the end of the day, is to ensure that children are able to get to and from school safely on a daily basis. School bus drivers are a critical part of the education system and are the first and last interaction a child gets during the school day, which can be incredibly important for setting the tone of their day. Now, more than ever though, it is incredibly important that we tell their story and recognize them for what they really are: heroes. The Pennsylvania School Bus Association (PSBA) has been working to address the driver shortage as well, through a multi-faceted Driver Recruitment Campaign, which they have been running since July. This campaign includes a content microsite, YouBehindTheWheel.com, that is designed to educate individuals on the school bus industry, walk them through the process of school bus driver training, and to get them interested in applying. From there, the interested individual can access SchoolBusHero.com, which is a public job board that will put these people in touch with local PSBA members who have vacancies. In order to further drive audiences to these websites and raise public awareness of the school bus industry, the PSBA is currently running a digital ad campaign that encompasses Facebook, YouTube, and the general internet. For more information, please contact the PSBA Office at office@paschoolbus.org or at (717) 975-1951.
Mohegan Sun Pocono to Host Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular Starring Shawn Klush The“Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular” Holiday Show, starring Shawn Klush backed by The Fabulous Ambassadors makes a trip to Mohegan Sun Pocono this fall! Shawn Klush will grace the main stage on Sunday, December 12th in the Keystone Grand Ballroom with the best sounds of Elvis Presley. This all-ages show kicks off at 3:00pm. Tickets start at $25 and went on sale Monday, October 25, 2021at 10:00am via Ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Pocono Box Office located at Player’s Club. Guests who purchase their tickets at the Box Office will receive one voucher per ticket for $10.00 in Free Slot Play, valid on Sunday, December 12th. Free Slot Play offer is for guests who are 21 and older. The Closest Thing to the King in Concert was born and raised in the small coal-mining town of Pittston, Pennsylvania, and his love of music led him to begin imitating his musical idol, Elvis Presley. Shawn Klush performed in the Poconos region before embarking on a tour of Canada, where he competed in and won the $5,000.00 prize in the “Worldwide Elvis Competition” in Montreal. This piqued the interest of the award-winning Las Vegas show “Legends in Concert,” where he starred as ‘Elvis’ for many years in their Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, Branson, and Atlantic City show rooms. Every January, he performs in the “Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular Birthday Edition Tour,” an extravaganza featuring Elvis’ own musicians, singers, and friends, in major venues across the country. The Luzerne County native has five CDs to his credit. JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, The Jordanaires, The Imperials, DJ Fontana, and Joe Esposito are among the musicians and singers he has shared the stage with. He played Elvis Presley in the CBS and VH1 hit TV miniseries “Shake, Rattle, and Roll.” On Elvis’ 70th Birthday, Shawn became grand champion at the $25,000.00 “World Elvis Tribute Artist Competition”. He then received “The Peoples Choice Award” from Gibson Guitar Co in Nashville for “Best Concert Elvis”. Shawn was then named the “World’s Greatest Elvis” by 6.5 million international viewers on BBC1 Television in the United Kingdom. On the 30th anniversary of Elvis’ passing, Klush was named the ‘First Ever’ “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist” by Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis TN. Shawn has record breaking performances in the US, Switzerland, Canada Australia, the UK and South America. He was named “Worldwide Ambassador of Elvis” at the Las Vegas Hilton where he headlines the annual the Las Vegas Elvis Fest, celebrating Elvis’ historic Las Vegas Performances. For more information on this exciting upcoming event in the Keystone Ballroom at Mohegan Sun Pocono, visit our website.
The University of Scranton Opens Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service “All public service is a trust given in faith and accepted in honor,” words inscribed over the front door of the Finance Building in Harrisburg, remind U.S. Senator Bob Casey of the promise and expectation of public servants, and, now, can be words to inspire and guide the work of the new Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service at The University of Scranton. Senator Casey was among the speakers at the opening of the Center that will serve 13 counties in Northeast Pennsylvania. In his remarks, he quoted from the mission of the Center “to advocate for and promote the common good of all through programs that support the development of ethical and competent public officials and of civically knowledgeable, responsible and engaged community members,” noting that the region– and the nation – need both competent and ethical leaders now more than ever. JoyAnna Hopper, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science and co-director of the Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service, said in her remarks that “according to Pew Research Center, public trust in government has been near to historic lows for more than a decade.” She said the work of the Center “will reach out to local community members, providing them with the tools and resources they need to hold their elected officials accountable. We plan to engage with public officials or those who hope to run for office to help educate and provide support, through workshops, certificate programs and opportunities for networking.” Dr. Hopper, who will co-direct the Center with University Political Science Professor Jean Harris, Ph.D., also said the Center will provide internships, research opportunities, mentorships and training that will allow University students to “become competent and ethical leaders in our local communities.” Clara Downey, a junior political science major at the University who is serving as an intern for The Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service, said in her remarks that she has seen “first-hand what Dr. Hopper and Dr. Harris are working to offer students, and similarly how important it is for students, most especially Jesuit educated students, to be active and knowledgeable voters. The work we are starting here in the Center will enable my peers and I to not only be better people, but to enact real change in our world, because locality is where that has to start.” Downey, Easthampton, Massachusetts, is also a Student Government Senator at Scranton. Also speaking at the opening were Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, and Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service will be housed in the University’s Political Science Department of the College of Arts and Sciences. The 13 counties served by the Center are Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Montour, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming. Members of the Center’s Steering Committee are Michael Allison, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Political Science; Julie Schumacher-Cohen, assistant vice president for community engagement and government affairs; Michael Jenkins, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice and Criminology and executive director of the University’s Center for the Analysis and Prevention of Crime; Matthew Meyer, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy and faculty director of the Gail and Francis Slattery Center for the Humanities; and Donna Witek, professor, Weinberg Memorial Library. The University offers a new major in public policy and service. Additional information about the Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service can be seen on its website (www.scranton.edu/ceeps), or by contacting Dr. Harris or Dr. Hopper at the Political Science Department at CEEPS@scranton.edu or 570-941-6326.
Rep. Boback Announces Drive-Through Veterans Expo at Luzerne County Fairgrounds Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, announces a first-ever drive-through Veterans Expo to be held on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Luzerne County Fairgrounds in Dallas. “This year, due to the ongoing pandemic, I have decided to hold my first-ever drive-through Veterans Expo at the Luzerne County Fairgrounds,” said Boback. “This format gives us the opportunity to comply with any mitigation orders and allow us to continue to serve and thank the veterans of the 117th Legislative District. The event will go on rain or shine, and we are thankful to Luzerne County Fairgrounds for their hospitality. I hope to see all of our veterans there!” Simply follow the signs, placed at the fairgrounds and each attendee will be given a bag filled with information and materials from groups and agencies specific to veterans. American Legions throughout the 117th Legislative District will be at the event with collection boxes for discarded or faded flags. There is no cost to attend and no need to RSVP. For more information, contact Boback’s Dallas district office at 570-675-6000.
The Wright Center for Community Health Launches Online Smart Bot “Neo” The Wright Center for Community Health recently launched “Neo,” a secure patient-friendly smart bot on its website to help new and existing patients directly schedule appointments, refill prescriptions, learn about available COVID-19 services and more. By clicking on the easily identifiable icon, located at the bottom right-hand corner of the website (TheWrightCenter.org), consumers can start a convenient chat session with a live agent. “Neo” can find the nearest primary care location, help schedule an appointment, refill prescriptions, share the latest COVID-19 information, address billing questions and more. “Neo” begins the online interaction with the user by asking for a first name. It then offers a suite of options. The consumer can select, for example, assistance with making an office appointment with their primary care provider for themselves or a family member. “The Wright Center for Community Health strives to be on the cutting edge of technology when it comes to providing and delivering the best health care and information possible in Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Jignesh Y. Sheth, M.D., chief medical officer and senior vice president at The Wright Center. “The new technology is all about making it more convenient for patients to take care of their health needs while empowering them to schedule appointments directly online without having to go through a call center.” Users of the technology can also navigate the system to address their COVID-19 needs. The smart bot allows them to go through a menu of options that will help them effortlessly address vaccination, testing or monoclonal antibody infusion therapy appointments or ask general questions about the pandemic. In addition, “Neo” has learning capabilities that will streamline and personalize future interactions with the smart technology. HIPAA compliant, the friendly chatbot is safe and secure when it comes to protecting patient privacy. The bot also will be phased into Facebook Messenger and eventually allow for direct SMS texting capabilities.
