Mohegan Sun Pocono to Celebrate 15th Anniversary Mohegan Sun Pocono (MSP) turns 15 next month. In honor of this historic milestone, full bands will be returning to Breakers during the first weekend of November! MSP will also rollout a $40,000 Anniversary Extravaganza, T-shirt giveaways, a Wheel of Fortune Anniversary Spin event and more, beginning November 1st. Entertainment The long-awaited return of full bands at Breakers, one of the top Live Music Bar’s in PA, is in full swing. In celebration of Mohegan Sun Pocono’s 15th Anniversary, on Friday, November 12th, Pennsylvania’s premier blues-rock, power-trio, Dustin Douglas and the Electric Gentlemen, hit the stage for a much anticipated performance at 8:30pm. On the very next evening, November 13th, Ken Norton & The Fuchery are slated for an 8:00pm show. Highlighting this evening is a yet to be announced, very special performance from a four-time Grammy-nominated and Multi-Platinum recording artist! Win Big! Other 15th Anniversary celebrations are planned throughout the property such as the $40,000 Anniversary Extravaganza from 5:00pm-9:00pm on Sunday, November 14th,where one lucky Momentum member will be selected every 15 minutes to win $1,500 Free Slot Play with a grand prize winner taking home a $15,000 cash prize at the end of the night. Momentum members can earn sweepstakes entries by simply playing their favorite slots and tables from Monday, November 1st through Sunday, November 14th with 15X entry multipliers on Tuesdays, November 2nd and November 9th. On Friday, November 10th from 5:00pm – 9:00pm, the Wheel of Fortune Anniversary Spins promotion is sure to be a crowd-pleaser as well, as five Momentum members will be randomly selected every thirty minutes to win five free $15.00 spins on the exciting Wheel of Fortune Mystery Link slot machines! Another $15,000 in cash is up for grabs with a special anniversary Spin it to Win It promotion on Thursday, November 11th from 6:00pm – 10:00pm where five winners every thirty minutes will spin the triple prize wheel to try and win the $15,000 cash grand prize! Exclusive 15th Anniversary T-shirts will also be given away on Friday, November 12th, starting at Noon. The first 500 Momentum Members to earn one Status Point, and then print their voucher at any Promo Kiosk, can redeem it for a free shirt! Cheers to 15 Years! On Saturday, November 13th, Momentum members will have the chance to earn a special commemorative edition BrüMate Hopsulator Trio. Keep your favorite beverages cold with the most versatile can cooler in the world. For more information on all things 15th Anniversary at MSP, visit www.mohegansunpocono.com/15th-anniversary.html
The University of Scranton Announces November Events Note: Access to the campus is currently limited to members of the University community, invited guests and others as listed in the Royals Back Together plan. Campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. Nov. 4 Noon. Schemel Forum and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Collaborative Program: “This Community’s Medical College: How advances in pedagogy and technology, and the pandemic, have shaped medical education in the 21st century” presented by Steven Scheinman, M.D., president and dean, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine; executive vice president and chief academic officer, Geisinger. Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Nov. 7 9 a.m. Open House for prospective students and their families. Various locations on campus. Registration required. Free. Call 888-SCRANTON or email admissions@scranton.edu. Nov. 9 5:30 p.m. Schemel Forum and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Collaborative Program: “Beethoven’s Deafness: Psychological Crises and Artistic Triumph” presented by Richard Kogan, M.D., clinical professor of psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College and artistic director, Weill Cornell Music and Medicine Program. Reception to follow. Scranton Cultural Center at Masonic Temple. Registration required. $30. Call 570-941-6206 or email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. Nov. 12 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” The University of Scranton Jazz Ensemble with guest artist Benny Benack III, voice and trumpet. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Nov. 17 7:30 p.m. 35th Henry George Lecture: “The Value of Money: Currencies, Bonds, Bitcoin” presented by Yuliy Sannikov, the Jack Steele Parker Professor of Economics at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-4048 or email janice.mecadon@scranton.edu. Nov. 18-20 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. “The Addams Family” presented by Liva Arts Company. PNC Auditorium, Loyola Science Center. $7. Call 570-941-7401 or email joelle.cote@scranton.edu. Nov. 20 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Symphonic Band. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Joins The Wright Center A licensed clinical social worker with experience as a psychiatric therapist and clinical supervisor has joined The Wright Center for Community Health’s Mid Valley Practice at 5 S. Washington St., Jermyn. Danielle D. Sholcosky, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., C.P.R.P., of Dickson City holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies with a minor in human development and family studies from The Pennsylvania State University. She earned her Master in Social Work degree with a behavioral health specialization from Marywood University. A licensed clinical social worker and licensed social worker, Sholcosky previously worked as a psychiatric therapist at NEPA Community Health Care and as a clinical supervisor and psychiatric therapist at NHS Human Services Agency of NEPA. Sholcosky also served as a support specialist at Step-by-Step, Inc. At the Wright Center, Sholcosky will provide outpatient individual, group and family therapy services to mental health and substance use disorder patients. To schedule an appointment with Sholcosky at the Mid Valley Practice, please call 570-230-0019
PennDOT Highlights Collaborative Pilot Project to Pave Roadway with Recycled Plastic Officials from the state Departments of Transportation (PennDOT), Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Environmental Protection (DEP), and General Services (DGS) today highlighted a pilot project to pave part of a Ridley Creek State Park roadway with an asphalt and recycled plastic mixture. The project, coordinated through PennDOT’s Strategic Recycling Program which is funded through DEP, includes two quarter-mile roadway stretches surfaced with an asphalt/recycled-plastic mix. The material is intended to strengthen the roadway surface without leaching plastic material into the surrounding environment. “Transportation is integral in our communities and we are always evolving our operations,” PennDOT Acting Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Mike Keiser said. “We are very pleased when we can pursue innovations bringing benefits to the public, our transportation assets, and our environment.” The material being tested supports interagency goals to increase the commonwealth’s sustainability in operations while supporting deployment in the state overall. Potential benefits include: Extended useful life of asphalt pavements;Diverting waste plastics from landfills and helping to establish a viable market for these plastics; andContinued ability to reuse asphalt millings in future recycled-asphalt pavement applications. “DEP is proud to support this project in partnership with PennDOT through the Strategic Recycling Program,” said Pat Patterson, DEP Southeast Regional Director. “Recycling is a fundamental environmental principal and DEP supports any effort that diverts waste from landfills.” The pilot project location was chosen in coordination with sibling agencies and supports increased emphasis on sustainable practices. The pilot is incorporated into a 1.5-mile reconstruction project within the park from the entrance to Pavilion 14. The rest of the roadway is being paved with a standard asphalt mixture to provide a comparison for the new material over the five-year evaluation period. “Sustainability is at the core of DCNR’s mission and we are pleased that one of our 121 state parks was selected to be a part of this innovative pilot project,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “We look forward to testing this new technology based on the expected benefits, and are hopeful that it is a model for future successes in Pennsylvania – especially with regards to state agencies collaborating to create more sustainable operations and policies across the commonwealth.” Through the Pennsylvania Department of General Services, the GreenGov Council is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to ensure that state government agencies play a lead role in energy sustainability, conservation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Among their goals are efforts to integrate sustainability and energy high-performance standards in building construction, lease, or renovation through the DGS Public Works deputate which is responsible for all state government non-highway construction projects. “Through the PA GreenGov Council, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to improve the effect our activities have on the environment, especially with other construction and renovation of our facilities,” said GreenGov Council Director Mark Hand. “Our Public Works deputate currently has 79 active projects with 173 in queue and a portfolio valued at nearly $2 billion. These projects will require plenty of paved areas and we look forward to collaborating with PennDOT’s Strategic Recycling Program by identifying pilot projects within our agency to assist their efforts to evaluate this asphalt and recycled plastic mixture technology.” 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.
Mohegan Sun Arena to Host Harlem Globetrotters The World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their newly reimagined Spread Game tour to over 200 cities in 2021-2022 starting on December 26th, 2021. The Spread Game Tour is a basketball event like no other. Ankle-breaking moves, jaw-dropping swag, and rim-rattling dunks are only some of the thrill you can expect from this fully modernized show. Part streetball from the players who defined it, part interactive family entertainment, the new tour will show off the best of the Globetrotters in a dazzling exhibition of talent and game. The Spread Game Tour introduces new premium fan experiences with unprecedented access and interaction, including celebrity court passes, meet and greets with players, and the #SQUADZONE, where fans have the opportunity to feel like part of the show. The Globetrotters will be playing at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza on Saturday, February 12th, 2022 at 5 p.m. Harlem Globetrotters fans can get the best seats before tickets go on sale to the general public during pre-sale by signing up to become a Preferred Customer at HarlemGlobetrotters.com. Preferred customers receive exclusive access to the pre-sale offer code. To order tickets online: www.harlemglobetrotters.com. Tickets went on sale to the general public on Tuesday, October 12th at Ticketmaster.com and in person at the NBT Bank Box Office at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Johnson College Announces New Associates Degree Program Students can now enroll in Johnson College’s new two-year associate degree Welding Fabrication Manufacturing Technology program. The program will start during the fall 2022 semester. The two-year program prepares students for entry-level work in the welding industry. Students learn industry methods such as plasma arc, shielded metal arc, and gas metal arc welding, as well as techniques and critical skills for today’s welding workforce, including safety, print reading, and weld symbols. Program graduates are prepared to sit for various American Welding Society certifications and can work as welders, fabricators, fitters, ornamental metal sculptors, welder helpers, or in similar roles within the welding field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Welding Technology field has a 3% growth potential through 2029. Graduates entering this field have the opportunity to make a medium annual income of up to $44,190. Typical welding industry employers include structural steel fabricators, custom metal shops, industrial contractors, shipyards, pipe and pressure vessel fabricators, and retail welding sales. “Johnson College is adding this two-year associate degree Welding Fabrication Manufacturing Technology program because of the increasing demand from industry for highly skilled welders in today’s workforce,” said Dr. Kellyn Williams, Johnson College’s Chief Academic Officer. “This program, along with our one-year welding certificate program, creates options for potential students interested in entering the highly in-demand welding industry.” To learn more about Johnson College’s new Welding Fabrication Manufacturing Technology Program visit https://johnson.edu/weldingfabrication.
The Wright Center to Bring COVID-19 Vaccinations to South Side Farmers Market The Wright Center for Community Health is partnering with United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania to provide onsite flu and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations, including third doses of Pfizer, on Saturday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Side Farmers Market, 601 Cedar Ave., Scranton. The regional health care provider will utilize its 34-foot mobile medical clinic, Driving Better Health, to provide services in conjunction with its community partners. The 500-block of Cedar Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic to ensure safe, easy access to the mobile clinic and free information about health care services available at The Wright Center for Community Health. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for ages 16 and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends Pfizer third-dose boosters be given six months after the second dose in these categories: Older adults (ages 65 and above) and those living in long-term care facilities; adults ages 50-64 at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions; adults ages 18-49 with underlying medical conditions should consider a booster, and adults 18-64 who work in health care and institutional settings, such as teachers, health care workers, daycare staff, grocery works and people in shelters or prisons. The CDC also recommended that people with compromised immune systems who had previously received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine get a third shot of the same type to boost their protection from COVID-19. The third shot should be administered at least 28 days after the second dose. People interested in receiving a vaccine are encouraged to pre-register online at TheWrightCenter.org or by calling 570-343-2382. Walk-up appointments also are welcome throughout the day. People seeking vaccination services are asked to bring a photo ID and insurance cards. For those who are uninsured, The Wright Center will never deny health care services based on a patient’s inability to pay. “The Wright Center for Community Health works collaboratively with community agencies to make outreach to underserved communities in Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Robin Rosencrans, practice manager for Driving Better Health. “Our mobile clinic makes vaccinations more accessible for people who otherwise might not have necessary transportation for appointments with their primary care providers.” Driving Better Health features two fully equipped examination operatories and a medical staff aboard the mobile medical unit. It is a way to bring health care to the region’s most vulnerable, underserved populations. It is staffed by a multidisciplinary, bilingual primary care team of clinicians who will deliver primary health care to those most in need.
Acclaimed Cellist Mark Kosower to Perform at the University of Scranton Performance Music at The University of Scranton will welcome back acclaimed cellist Mark Kosower, principal cellist of The Cleveland Orchestra, for a solo performance as part of his unique recital series “Bach for Humanity,” on Sunday, Oct. 24. The recital will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. The concert is open to all members of the University community and invited guests. Admission is free. Seating arrangements will include provisions for socially distancing between groups attending together and masks must be worn by audience members at the recital. Kosower has performed at the University several times in recent years. In 2018, he launched “Bach for Humanity,” a three-year commitment to bringing the composer’s cello suites and arrangements of his violin sonatas and partitas to both conventional and nonconventional venues, including concert halls, educational institutions, community centers and senior residences, through Ohio, the region and the nation. Kosower will also offer a masterclass for members of the University’s string orchestra during his visit. Currently the principal cello for the Cleveland Orchestra, Kosower has been called “a virtuoso of staggering prowess” by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. From 2006 to 2010, he served as the solo cellist of the Bamberg Symphony in Germany. Kosower has performed as soloist with symphony orchestras throughout the world, including Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, China National Symphony in Beijing, National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, and is a frequent guest at international chamber music festivals, including Santa Fe, Eastern Music, North Shore Chamber Music, Japan’s Pacific Music Festival and Colorado’s Strings Music Festival. He has recorded for the Ambitus, Delos, Naxos International and VAI labels, and was the first cellist to record the complete music for solo cello of Alberto Ginastera, which he completed for Naxos. From those recordings, he was described as a “powerful advocate of Ginastera’s art” by Music-Web International, and Strings Magazine noted of his Hungarian music album (also with Naxos) that “the music allows Kosower to showcase his stunning virtuosity, passionate intensity and elegant phrasing.” A member of the faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Kent Blossom Music Festival, Kosower also teaches a week of classes at California:s Hidden Valley Music Seminars in Carmel Valley each summer, and has served as a visiting distinguished professor at the University of Oregon. He has given masterclasses around the world, and served as professor of cello and chamber music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from 2005-2007. Kosower’s June 2020 appearance on Performance Music’s “Scranton Isolation Informances” series can be viewed at: https://fb.watch/8CQacWoKHI/. All audience members must wear masks throughout the performance. University campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. Please check Performance Music’s website, scranton.edu/music, within 24 hours of the recital for the most current information on audience COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., masking, vaccination, distancing, etc.). For more information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more on Kosower, visit clevelandorchestra.com/discover/meet-the-musicians/cellos/kosower-mark.
Geisinger to Host Hiring Events As Geisinger continues recruitment efforts to help make better health easier for the communities of northeastern and central Pennsylvania, the health system will hold in-person hiring events in Danville, Pittston, Williamsport, and Reedsville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 25. Those attending the events will have the opportunity to discuss career opportunities at Geisinger, potential sign-on bonuses and recruitment incentives, and benefits including retirement programs, parental paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and health insurance on the first day of employment. Attendees should bring an updated resume as there will be opportunities for on-site interviews for certain positions. Geisinger offers a variety of career opportunities within departments that provide direct patient care and those who support operations. Openings throughout Geisinger’s operations in northeastern and central Pennsylvania include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists, patient care unit assistants, pharmacy technicians, phlebotomists, social workers, environmental services technicians, and food service workers, among others. The hiring events will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the following locations: Geisinger Office Building, 32 Justin Drive, DanvilleGeisinger CenterPoint, 300 Keystone Ave., PittstonHoliday Inn Williamsport, 100 Pine St., WilliamsportHoliday Inn Express & Suites Reedsville, 30 Happy Valley Dr., Reedsville “Our staff plays a critical role in bringing important health services close to home for our patients, members and neighbors,” said Jeff Lowry, director of recruitment for Geisinger. “Additionally, we work to provide the area with career growth opportunities with competitive salaries and benefits. We are always looking for talented and dedicated individuals to join our team and work to make better health easier for our communities.” Registration is encouraged, but not required for the Oct. 25 hiring events. Walk-ins are welcome. Visit jobs.geisinger.org/hiring to register and view all roles that are eligible for sign-on bonuses and hiring incentives. To learn more about job opportunities at Geisinger or to sign up for Geisinger job alerts, visit jobs.geisinger.org.
Wolf Administration Hosts Roundtable Discussion with Teens on Safe Driving Representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), State Police, Department of Education and local education and law enforcement representatives held a face-to-face forum at Cedar Cliff High School in New Cumberland today, sharing their collective knowledge with students from Cedar Cliff and Red Land high schools to mark Teen Driver Safety Week in Pennsylvania. “We can all do our part to make highways safer by working together to help new drivers gain valuable experience and knowledge,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Parents and teachers are an integral part of establishing a mentality of safety behind the wheel amongst teen drivers.” The forum was held to call attention to teen driver safety and share important information directly with teen drivers during the nationwide observance October 17-23. The question-and-answer format gave teens a chance to glean valuable information from knowledgeable sources they may not otherwise interact with. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens. From 2016 to 2020, there were 82,066 crashes in Pennsylvania involving at least one 16-to-19-year-old driver resulting in 530 fatalities. Of those crashes, 45.6 percent involved the driver driving too fast for conditions (18,635 crashes), driver inexperience (7988), driver distraction (8,574) or improper/careless turning (7,490). A total of 39,399 crashes included one or more of these factors. The risk of a crash involving any of these factors can be reduced through practice, limiting the number of passengers riding with a new driver, obeying all rules of the road, and using common sense. “Parents and caregivers should encourage safe driving behavior long before their teen gets a learner’s permit by consistently modeling good habits behind the wheel,” said Colonel Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “Set a positive example by ensuring everyone in the car is buckled up, eliminate distractions in the vehicle, obey the speed limit and remember to drive defensively.” PennDOT suggests that parents consider the following recommendations to help their children become safe and responsible drivers: Set a good example with your own driving habits.Have regular conversations with your teen about safe driving skills before they get their learner’s permit.Establish a parent/teen driving contract.Ride with your teen occasionally after they receive their license to monitor driving skills.Enforce observance of speed limits and other rules of the road.Strongly encourage your teen to avoid distractions behind the wheel, such as talking or texting on their cell phone.Limit the number of passengers they have in their vehicle.Limit dawn, dusk, and nighttime driving until your teen gains more experience and enforce a curfew. Remember, state law prohibits 16- and 17-year-olds with a junior license from driving between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AMGradually increase the amount of time/distance your teen is permitted to drive. “Driving a car requires experience, skill, and undivided attention,” said Department of Education Secretary Dr. Noe Ortega. “Driver education training programs are invaluable in preparing teenage drivers to get behind the wheel, keeping themselves, their passengers, and fellow drivers safe on the road.” As part of ongoing efforts to educate and assist teen drivers, PennDOT invites teens, their parents, teachers, and others to share video messages on Instagram about the personal costs of a crash, close calls, and advice on avoiding crashes. Anyone can join in this important conversation by using the hashtag #PATeenDriver. Like the Department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation and Instagram at www.instagram.com/PennsylvaniaDOT. Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews.
