New Law Enhances Flood Mitigation Program

Legislation to enhance Pennsylvania’s flood mitigation program sponsored by Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) has been signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf.

Act 65 of 2022, formerly House Bill 1598, amends the Flood Plain Management Act by transferring the administration of the act to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), replacing the Department of Community and Economic Development. The change provides the Commonwealth with the ability to increase its percentage of federal hazard mitigation funding and allows PEMA to work with municipalities to ensure their programs meet federal regulations.

“Flooding is a major concern in many of the communities I represent which are seeking all the help they can get to prevent the damage caused by high water,” said Boback. “By making PEMA the lead agency to oversee flood plain management, Pennsylvania is expected to see a 5% increase in federal funding for mitigation projects.” 

“Flooding touches every county in the Commonwealth and is one of the most frequent disasters that affects the state,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “Having responsibility for the administration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) moved to PEMA will provide for greater continuity of the program and integration with other Federal Emergency Management Agency programs that our agency coordinates with the local municipalities. It will also assist us in obtaining an Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan, which will lead to additional federal funding in the future to lessen the impacts of future disasters to citizens of the Commonwealth.”

Act 65 will take effect 60 days.

Purple Star School Program Coming to PA Schools

A bill sponsored by Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) to establish the Purple Star School Program in Pennsylvania has been signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf.

The Purple Star School Program supports military-connected children as they relocate to new schools due to a parent’s change in duty station. Military-connected children include those of service members on active duty, and in the National Guard and Reserves. 

“Under the new law, schools are encouraged to identify and assist students of transient military personnel as they adapt to their new location,” said Boback. “Moving from school to school, as these students often do, is never easy. I am pleased the program will now be in place to help make this difficult transition much easier for kids in military families.” 

Under Act 69 of 2022, formerly House Bill 1867, Pennsylvania public and non-public schools will be designated as Purple Star campuses by the Department of Education if they demonstrate military-friendly practices and meet certain requirements such as: having a military liaison staff member; a webpage that includes resources for military students and families; and professional development training opportunities for staff members on issues relating to military students. School district participation in the program is voluntary.

Pennsylvania now joins 30 other states that have Purple Star designation programs.

Act 69 will take effect in 180 days.

Lackawanna College officials recently appointed Reid, formerly the director at the Towanda Center, to his new position in Tunkhannock. Replacing Reid as the new Towanda Center Director is Kelly White.

“Brad and Kelly both bring extensive experience in education and community service to their respective roles, which will help us continue our mission of being the community’s college in Tunkhannock and Towanda,” said Lackawanna College President Dr. Jill Murray. “They will improve existing college programs, help strengthen our local partnerships and seek new opportunities for us to provide additional community resources.”

Lackawanna’s centers offer the communities they serve targeted programs that can help both local businesses and employees succeed.

“Brad and Kelly will continue our work of delivering high-quality degree and non-degree programs that prepare students to succeed in the workforce,” said Tom Bogush, regional director of Admissions at Lackawanna College. “They are dedicated professionals who are involved in their communities and understand the impact training and education has on the local workforce.”

Reid said his immediate plans are to provide community members access to post high school education so graduates can enter the local workforce with the training they need. He also wants to develop partnerships with businesses and the community.

For example, when he was in Towanda, Reid worked with a local organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger to create a pop-up food pantry for those in need.

“Our goal is to provide an education and service to the local community,” said Reid, a Tunkhannock native. “We do that by working together to meet their needs. We have a decent number of first-time students at Lackawanna College. So many students and parents come here at first not knowing what to expect. We help them work through the unknown. We’re there for them during their time here at Lackawanna. It’s so satisfying to see these students graduate, enter the workforce and be successful.”

Besides serving as center director in Tunkhannock and Towanda, Reid worked as online recruitment and CRM administration specialist in Admissions for Lackawanna. Prior to working at the college, Reid held several higher education positions at Penn Foster and New Horizons Learning Centers. He also worked at TMG Health and JT’s Automotive Group.

Reid earned his associate degree in Business Administration and bachelor’s degree in Business and Management from Lackawanna College. He also is planning to start a master’s of Business Administration in the fall.

The center in Tunkhannock is relatively new, having only been open for about a year and serves about 50 students. The center not only offers a variety of degrees and certificates catered to the local community but also the School of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which moved to the Tunkhannock location as a way to better serve those who are seeking training in that field.

As the new Center Director in Towanda, White also has plans to continue to meet the needs of the local community by strengthening existing programs, building partnerships and looking for ways to better serve the community.

One way White is doing that is by holding a summer bootcamp for students to learn more about how to navigate the college admissions process. The first bootcamp will be held in mid-August and will help students and their parents learn more about writing college essays, financial aid and other topics.

“This is the community’s college and I’m always looking for different ways to better serve the needs of our population,” White said. “I really feel like I’ve found my calling in life with higher education. This position gives me a great opportunity to serve traditional students as well as non-traditional students.”

White also has a background in education and community service, having worked and volunteered for several educational and non-profit organizations. Before joining Lackawanna, White most recently served as the executive director of the Greater Wyalusing Chamber of Commerce. She also served as a teaching assistant at Wyalusing Valley Children’s Center, chief operations officer at Grovedale Winery, director at the Bradford County Regional Arts Council, director at Northern Tier Partnership for Arts in Education and director at Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts.

Additionally, she served as executive director of the Wyalusing Area Education Foundation, manager and director of events at Grovedale Winery, and writer and photographer at The Rocket-Courier. White studied Creative Writing and Communications at the University of Pittsburgh and volunteers with several educational and community organizations. The Towanda center opened in 1993 and has about 80 students attending. Towanda offers several associate and bachelor’s degrees as well as certificate programs in Health Science.

Lackawanna College also announced South Abington Township Resident and retired Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Kevin F. Mahoney as the new Police Academy Director. 

Mahoney brings over 25 years of law enforcement experience with the Pennsylvania State Police to the position. Prior to his appointment as Academy Director, Mahoney served as an Assistant Director of Academy Operations for Lackawanna College. At the time of his retirement from the State Police in June of 2021, he served as Commander of the Criminal Investigation Section for Troop R Dunmore, which encompasses Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne and Pike Counties. 

In his role, Mahoney will develop and oversee, and provide direction for the Lackawanna College Police Academy, including curriculum development and instruction and student recruitment. 

“Lt. Mahoney is a proven leader who shares Lackawanna College’s commitment to the community,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “His extensive history in law enforcement and experience with the Academy will serve as an asset to the College. We look forward to continuing to grow the Police Academy through his leadership.” 

Mahoney also served seven years in the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards; three years as an Investigator, and four years as the Commander of the Eastern Section of the Internal Affairs Division. 

Mahoney is the recipient of three State Police Commissioners Significant Operation Service Awards, two Area Commanders Letters of Commendation, the 2015 Baltimore Riots Service Award, and the Blooming Grove Service Award. 

He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy and holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Scranton.

Lackawanna College announced South Abington Township Resident and retired Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Kevin F. Mahoney as the new Police Academy Director.

The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement and the Abington Community Library are presenting the three-day children’s camp, “A Day of Animals, Science and Literature,” at Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Dalton on Aug. 16-18 from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

The following is the camp schedule:

• Tuesday, Aug. 16: “Healthy Me and Piggies” for students in grades K-4
• Wednesday, Aug. 17: “Happy, Healthy, Hopeful Heroes” for students in grades 5-8
• Thursday, Aug. 18: “Mammals, Medics and Manuscripts” for students in grades 9-12

The camp costs $25 per participant and includes lunch, but scholarships are available at the Abington Community Library. All children must be registered in advance on the Indraloka website at www.indrakola.org.

Round Room Live and Nickelodeon announced the first 50 plus cities for the U.S. tour of Blue’s Clues & You! Live On Stage, a brand-new theater production based on the hit preschool television series Blue’s Clues & You!, with a special stop in Wilkes-Barre on December 15^th, 2022. Featuring all the beloved characters from the series, including Blue, her friends Magenta, Rainbow Puppy and many more, this new original musical adventure will have kids of all ages singing and dancing in the aisles. Tickets go on sale July 15^th at 10am, with presales beginning today.  For tickets and additional information, visit Ticketmaster.com or MoheganSunArenaPA.com.

Featuring an all-new story crafted by Blue’s Clues co-creator Angela C. Santomero, and under the direction of industry veterans John Tartaglia (Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Tarzan and Shrek the Musical at The Muny) and Melanie Lockyer (Allegiance, Les Misérables at the Fresno Grand Opera, Smokey Joe’s Café and Miss Saigon at Music Theatre Wichita), Blue’s Clues and You! Live on Stage will delight kids and parents alike with an array of distinctive puppets and puppetry techniques, as well as intricate scenic design utilizing LED video screens to transport audiences through moments and worlds unique to Blue and her friends.  Families will also enjoy a mash-up of fan-favorite music from the television series and a lineup of brand-new original songs that will have kids up and out of their seats moving to the beat.

“We are thrilled to bring Blue’s Clues & You! Live On Stage to families all across the country,” says Stephen Shaw, tour producer and co-president of Round Room Live. “Blue’s Clues is a beloved show that has captivated children for generations. We are honored and excited to be bringing such iconic characters to the stage in a riveting, engaging production that the whole family will enjoy.”

“Blue’s Clues & You! Live On Stage brings an exciting original story to life through unique elements, dynamic staging and original music compositions that will have the audience out of their seats dancing and singing along from beginning to end,” said Pam Kaufman, President Consumer Products and Experiences, Paramount. “This brand-new production and the phenomenal creative team behind it truly deliver on our commitment to deliver the very best entertainment experience to kids and families.”

Blue’s Clues & You! Live On Stage is an epic new musical adventure that will help fans discover the joy of singing, dancing, and creativity the Blue’s Clues & You way–with hugs, friends and laughter, while using their smarts and their very own Handy Dandy Notebooks to help figure out Blue’s Clues. The show centers on Blue, Josh and their friends who need help conjuring up a magical theater show. The audience will have to solve Blue’s Clues to find out what Josh needs to make the show. With Broadway-style song and dance, this production pulls out all the stops. Kids of all ages will watch Josh and Blue skidoo to amazing places, make a rainbow with Magenta, create a music video with Rainbow Puppy, float in outer space, and so much more!

Nickelodeon’s hit preschool TV seriesBlue’s Clues & You! has a new generation of kids searching for clues with beloved puppy Blue and new live-action host Josh Dela Cruz. The series features new CG-animation for Blue, Magenta and Rainbow Puppy, brand-new elements and refreshed iconic items from the original series including an updated Handy Dandy Notebook equipped with smartphone technology and the return of fan-favorite characters. Blue’s Clues & You!, produced by Nickelodeon Animation in Burbank, Calif., is currently in its third season, airing weekdays at 11 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

Now that the show is being brought to theaters around the country in an original new musical adventure, we are thrilled that a dynamic stage performer has been cast to play the character of “Josh” to delight and entertain audiences across all the tour markets.

In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Blue’s Clues & You! Live On Stage tour producers and venue management teams continue to work diligently on plans to provide a safe environment for audience members, touring personnel, and venue staff. For updates on the venue policies, please visit www.MoheganSunArenaPA.com.

Fans can visit www.bluesclueslive.com now for tour dates and ticket information, and follow Blue’s Clues & You! Live On Stage on social media for exclusive tour content.

FOLLOW BLUE’S CLUES & YOU! LIVE ON STAGE

Official Website: www.bluesclueslive.com
Facebook: @BluesCluesLive
Twitter: @BluesCluesLive
Instagram: @BluesCluesLive

FOLLOW ROUND ROOM LIVE

Official Website: www.roundroomlive.com
Facebook: @roundroomlive
Twitter: @roundroomlive
Instagram: @round_room_live

Disney Silhouette artist, Keith Donaldson, will be at AH Baby + Co hand cutting silhouette portraits on Friday July 22, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

$40 per child includes 2 matted facing copies.
Additional copies are $10 each and oval frames are $15.

Sign up for a 10 minute time slot by sending @ahbabyco_events a DM or calling the store at 570-609-2229. There is a $7 deposit to hold your spot.

Due to shipping delays, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are rescheduling their Vejigantes jersey replica giveaway, but will add a post game fireworks show.

The Vejigantes jersey replica giveaway was slated for Saturday, July 16, when the club hosts the Louisville Bats on a Copa de la Diversión night at PNC Field. Delays in transit will push the giveaway to Friday, August 12, when the RailRiders host the Worcester Red Sox. 

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is adding a post game fireworks show to the schedule on July 16. Gates open at 5 P.M. and the first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 P.M.

For tickets to the upcoming homestand or information on all promotions, visit www.swbrailriders.com.

Minooka Subaru recently presented the Scranton Area Community Foundation with a check in the amount of $44,149 which comes from their recent Share the Love® event where the Scranton Area Community Foundation was selected as the hometown charity for Minooka Subaru’s customers to support during the event. This is the fourth year that Minooka Subaru has partnered with the Scranton Area Community Foundation as the hometown charity to support. To date, Minooka Subaru has donated over $160,000 to support the Minooka Subaru Fund of the Scranton Area Community Foundation which provides charitable support to the community.

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