Marywood University Exploring Visual Language Exhibit An exhibit, Exploring Visual Language, is on view at The Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art, located in the Shields Center for Visual Arts on Marywood University’s campus, from April 11 – June 6, 2022. The exhibition considers that all artists, from early cave painters to contemporary artists, have used a visual language to express themselves. This language is ever evolving, complex, and simple; it has rules and no rules; it is as unique as one individual artist and it is universal. In conjunction with Professor Collier Parker’s Drawing and Painting classes, the Exploring Visual Language exhibit provides an opportunity to reflect on the many approaches to image making from representational, to abstract, to non-representational work, using many materials and all sizes. It is hoped that by studying these important works, students will expand their visual language and grow in their ability to express their vision. Featured artists include: Nicholas Africano, William Bailey, John Beerman, James Biederman, Sandro Chia, Chuck Close, Robert Cumming, Jim Dine, Al Held, Jasper Johns, David Salle, Robert Schultz, and Chihung Yang. Gallery hours for The Maslow Study Gallery are Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday, 2-4 p.m., and Saturday, 1-4 p.m. For additional information about Marywood art exhibits, please visit marywood.edu/galleries/exhibitions or call (570) 348-6278.
HNB Supports Abington Community Library with EITC Donation The Honesdale National Bank was once again authorized to make approved contributions under the Commonwealth’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. HNB designated $3,000 of their approved allotment to the Abington Community Library. The funds, donated by HNB, will support K-12 educational opportunities. HNB President & CEO, Thomas E. Sheridan Jr., stated, “Access to public libraries is important throughout the education of children and young adults.” He said, “We are excited to continue to serve our area by supporting this organization and contributing to their funding.” The Abington Community Library is part of the Lackawanna County Library System. The Library is located at 1200 West Grove Street in Clarks Summit, PA. The Honesdale National Bank, established in 1836, holds the distinction of being the area’s oldest independent community bank headquartered in Northeastern PA, with offices in Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. The Honesdale National Bank offers personal banking, business banking and wealth solutions. HNB is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender with NMLS ID # 446237.
Geisinger Aims to Curb Aggressive Behavior Against Staff with Visitor Pledge Geisinger has instituted a partnership pledge between its patients and visitors and its healthcare workers to remind people that hospitals and outpatient clinics are places of hope, healing and respect. Incidents of aggression and violence against Geisinger staff have noticeably increased over the past two years. This partnership pledge outlines behaviors that are not acceptable as employees work to care for patients. According to Sean McGinley, senior director of security operations at Geisinger, there was a 21%rise in incidents involving patients or visitors exhibiting combative behavior across Geisinger from 2020 to 2021. Combative behavior can range from unusual verbal aggression to full-blown physical assault. “Healthcare workers are trained to take care of patients on their worst days. It’s part of the profession they accept and handle with grace and compassion,” said Ron Beer, chief administrative officer in Geisinger’s northeast region. “That said,they deserve to do their jobs without fear of violence or aggression. For healthcare workers, verbal abuse or physical injury from the patients and guests they care for is not acceptable.” The pledge specifies that aggressive behavior will not be tolerated. That means: •No abusive language •No threatening behavior •No physical assaults •No weapons or illegal drugs •No harassment or discrimination of any kind Those who violate these guidelines will lose visitation privileges. The pledge also calls out that in Pennsylvania, it’s a felony to assault a healthcare worker. Anyone who does so will be removed from the property and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Posters and flyers with the pledge are displayed in emergency rooms, hospital screening areas and outpatient facilities.All patients and visitors are asked to read the pledge when entering Geisinger hospitals and clinics. By choosing to help keep healthcare workers safe,everyone can guarantee better care for themselves and their community Beer added, “Our caregivers have devoted their professional lives to the communities they serve. They should never feel unsafe at work.I’m humbled to be part of a care team that never wavered in their commitment during the COVID pandemic. They have been there —and continue to be there —to care for their communities.They simply ask that their communities be there for them in return.”
American Pickers to Film in Pennsylvania The American Pickers are excited to return to Pennsylvania! They plan to film episodes of The History Channel hit television series throughout your area in June 2022. American Pickers is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on The History Channel. The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them. As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, they want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. They hope to give historically significant objects a new lease on life while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way.The Pickers have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them. We at American Pickers continue to take the pandemic very seriously and will be following all guidelines and protocols for safe filming outlined by the state and CDC. Nevertheless, we are excited to continue reaching the many collectors in the area to discuss their years of picking and are eager to hear their memorable stories! The American Pickers TV Show is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a large,private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through,send us your name, phone number, location, and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call (646) 493-2184; Facebook: @GotAPick
Johnson College and Don’s Machine Shop Offering CNC Machining Training Johnson College in conjunction with Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston continues to bring CNC Machining training to Luzerne County. Starting June 20, 2022 students will train to utilize, maintain and program Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines inside Don’s Machine Shop’s classroom and lab at 100 Elm Street, West Pittston. Open enrollment for this 510-Hour CNC class is going on now. Space is limited. To learn more or to enroll, contact the Johnson College Continuing Education Department at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu. CNC machinists manufacture precision products and components used in a variety of applications such as automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace, transportation, military, and more. Industries throughout northeastern Pennsylvania are currently in need of well-trained CNC machinist. This 510-hour class for beginner-level students includes theory and hands-on learning experiences. The hands-on training, delivered at Don’s Machine Shop, is on some of the most state-of-the-art equipment in the region. This unique, one-of-a-kind training will help open new career opportunities right away. This relationship truly demonstrates how industry is a Johnson College student’s campus. The cost of the class is $7,500. Financial assistance may be available for those who qualify. Since starting over 30 years ago Don’s Machine Shop, Inc. has grown to be one of the largest machine shops in Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley. Their 77,000 square foot climate-controlled facility contains millions of dollars’ worth of modern equipment that are continually upgraded. Don’s Machine Shop, Inc. employs 30 people and makes machine parts for companies around the globe. Many things have changed since this business started over 30 years ago, but their commitment to providing quality parts and service will never change. For more information visit http://www.donsmachine.com/. Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a supportive environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance their careers. Johnson College degrees become essential careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912 and is the region’s only technical college, offering 17 associate degree, 4 academic certificate, and 31 continuing education programs. A low student-to-instructor ratio supports an emphasis on hands-on learning. Located in Scranton on a 44-acre campus, the College is an accredited, private, non-profit, co-educational institution with a strong tradition of working with regional businesses and industries to ensure a skilled and qualified workforce. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.
Pennsylvania Highlights Transportation Innovations The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced the release of the department’s Focus on Innovations report, which showcases innovations recently developed and implemented across the organization. “Innovation is absolutely essential to our operations, and we have seen how celebrating our successes acts as a continuous driver of new ideas across the department,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “One of the best things we can do to continue cultivating innovation at PennDOT that will ultimately benefit our customers is to encourage and recognize the amazing talents of our workforce; this publication helps us to do just that.” Innovation at PennDOT stems from many sources, including employee-driven innovations councils and committees, an employee suggestion system (IdeaLink); smart practice sharing tool (WorkSmart); the State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC); and every day suggestions and solutions discovered by PennDOT employees at all levels across the state. Available in an interactive format on the department’s website, Focus on Innovations entries are categorized by Construction, Maintenance, Safety and Traffic Operations, Driver and Vehicle Services, Aviation and Public Transportation. Some of the latest implemented innovations include: An Adopt A Highway supply pick-up box, constructed and strategically placed so Adopt A Highway crews can safely retrieve supplies at curbside locations. Automated Flagger Assist Devices (AFAD), allowing flagging to be conducted by a single crew member, from a safer location, at one-tenth the cost per day when compared to contracted flagging services. Raising paint truck exhaust stacks to prevent the compressor from overheating, which has nearly eliminated equipment down time due to overheated compressors. The report also features the more recent progress and successes of the STIC. Since its inception in 2012, the STIC remains committed to supporting and promoting the development and deployment of the Federal Highway Administration’s Every Day Counts innovations as well as others that exist at the state, national and international levels that may be well-suited for implementation in Pennsylvania. The STIC advanced several innovations in 2021, including a Certified Concrete Finishers Course, a STIC innovation that requires 60 percent of concrete finishers certified on PennDOT projects, which will help eliminate mistakes with concrete finishing and reduce the amount of rework due to concrete scaling. Predictive Work Zone Analysis (FREEVAL-PA), also advanced in 2021, is an innovative analysis tool based on the Highway Capacity Manual that can be used to analyze work zones’ effect on traffic flow. It guides PennDOT’s decision-making process for implementing lane closures, crossovers, or other traffic control measures and helps minimize congestion and delays during construction or maintenance projects. The Pennsylvania STIC brings together a diverse team of transportation stakeholders to forge an environment of imagination and ingenuity to pursue specific innovations and their rapid implementation to deliver a modern and high-quality transportation system to the citizens of Pennsylvania. Subscribe to statewide PennDOT news and traffic alerts or choose a region to subscribe to. Information about the state’s infrastructure and results the department is delivering for Pennsylvanians can be found at www.penndot.pa.gov/results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
WM Sites Offering Free Disposal to Cleanup Projects WM’s Alliance Landfill in Taylor and Beach Lake Transfer Station in Berlin Twp., Wayne County, are offering free waste disposal in April to groups that register their spring cleanup projects with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’ s (KPB) Pick Up Pennsylvania program. Michelle Dunn, Pick Up Pennsylvania coordinator, said groups planning cleanups can register their projects and receive free gloves, bags and vests while supplies last through KPB at www.KeepPABeautiful.org (Programs/Pick Up PA). Ms. Dunn said the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association have arranged for free waste disposal for registered cleanup projects. Free disposal is available at Alliance and the Beach Lake Transfer Station through April. KPB’s statewide cleanup effort in 2021 attracted more than 6,000 volunteers who removed 1,100 tons of waste and recyclables from 4,430 miles of roadsides, shorelines and trails. Project volunteers last year also picked up and properly disposed of almost 23,041 waste tires and planted more than 102,000 trees, shrubs and flowers. “Plenty of litter and other waste remains to be picked up,” Ms. Dunn said. “We estimate that there are over 500 million pieces of litter spoiling Pennsylvania’s roadsides.” According to the state’s 2020 litter study, more than two-thirds of this litter is cigarette butts and bits of plastics. Motorists and pedestrians are the leading sources of litter. The report also found litter is impacting the taxes we pay. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spent more than $65 million to remove litter from roadsides between 2014 and 2018 and the state’s nine largest cities, including Allentown and Scranton, spend $68.5 million a year on litter prevention, education and cleanup. “You can make a difference in your community by working together and I encourage scout and church groups, youth sports organizations, neighborhood associations and workplace teams to register an event at keeppabeautiful.org and celebrate spring by helping to clean up our state,” Ms. Dunn said. “And if you are an individual or family interested in joining an existing event, please contact our office and we will try to match you with a local cleanup project.”
