Scranton Primary Health Care Center has been selected as a COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassador Program grant recipient.

Surgo Ventures recently announced the expansion of its COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassador Program, available now in 13 community health organizations with more than 70 individual clinics across eight
states. The program has the potential to reach 20,000 people who otherwise may not receive a
COVID-19 vaccine and has been implemented in partnership with Uber Health and the Vaccine Access Fund, which is managed by LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation).

The incentive program encourages vaccinated patients at participating clinics to tap their social
networks and existing, trusted relationships to have conversations about COVID-19 vaccination. As a
“vaccine ambassador” these patients receive $20 when they text at least three unvaccinated friends or family members and urge them to get vaccinated or bring an unvaccinated person to the clinic for
vaccination. Uber Health transportation to the vaccination appointment can also be arranged by
Scranton Primary as part of this unique endeavor.’

“This program is a prime example of our ability to combine rigorous behavioral science research with
real-world interventions designed to change behavior and promote health equity,” said Hannah Kemp,
Surgo Ventures Vice President of Impact and Growth. “And it has immense potential to be used for any other vaccination or public health campaign.”

The program also equips clinic staff to be vaccine ambassadors by providing a set of personalized,
behavioral science-based scripts for staff to use during interactions with unvaccinated patients.
“We are confident the Surgo Ventures Vaccine Ambassador Program will help us encourage more
people to get vaccinated and protected against COVID-19,” said Joseph H. Hollander, Scranton
Primary Health Care Center CEO. “…we welcome all members of the community to visit our clinic to
learn how to become a vaccine ambassador and participate in this unique opportunity.

Scranton Primary Health Care Center is a Federally Qualified Health Care Center providing quality care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Services include pediatrics, family and internal medicine, women’s health, pre-natal and postpartum services, gynecology, infectious disease care, behavioral health, general dentistry, and ACA counselors to assist people navigating the insurance marketplace. The center is located at 959 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton.

Tobyhanna Army Depot recently had the opportunity to support soldiers from its own community – thanks to a cooperative approach and a program that ensures operational readiness for military units.

Depot personnel from all over the country traveled to the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in Scranton last week, delivering an AN/TSC-185B Satellite Transportable Terminal to the 213th Signal Company of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. The STT, a key piece of field communication systems, is a highly transportable mobile satellite system that establishes secure voice, video and data communications for service members.

The effort was truly a labor of love, according to Brian Warholic.

“Four separate teams and countless members of Team Tobyhanna banded together to make this [the delivery] happen,” he said. “All involved are passionate about Tobyhanna’s mission and supporting our warfighters – especially ones right in our own backyard.” Warholic is a logistics management specialist in the Production Management Directorate.

Originally owned by a National Guard unit in another state, the STT was recommended for maintenance through the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Reconnaissance, Surveillance, or C5ISR, Lifecycle Analysis Team program. CLAT personnel conduct 30-plus missions yearly, joining forces with military units to assess their equipment and identify barriers to readiness. During CLAT missions, assets are evaluated, and a source of repair (SOR) is determined.

Personnel from Tobyhanna’s Asset Management Team then cross-collaborated with the CLAT team to transport the asset to Fort Hood, Texas – where forward depot personnel were ready and waiting to bring it back to operational status.

Artisans at Fort Hood repaired the STT as part of Tobyhanna’s groundbreaking Depot Maintenance Forward effort, which expands its SORs beyond the gates of the Pocono installation. DMF co-locates electronics personnel near units stationed in high-activity locations, eliminating the need to send systems across the world for repair.

In addition to the Fort Hood facility, the depot maintains DMF locations in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; Panzer Kaserne, Germany and Camp Humphreys, South Korea. DMF provides limited repair abilities; assets that require more complex support are sent to Tobyhanna’s main facility in line with the traditional depot maintenance process.

Management of DMF efforts takes place on-site at Tobyhanna through a team dedicated to forward logistics support. Production Controller Nicole Ford noted the DMF approach provides a more cost-effective and quicker turnaround for military units, heightening readiness for America’s military. Ford works in the Production Management Directorate.

Once the asset was fully repaired, the National Guard Bureau decided to reassign the asset to the 213th Signal Company. The AMT then arranged for transportation to Scranton, where depot personnel – including the Fort Hood technicians who repaired the asset – assembled with the unit for an asset acceptance mission (AAM).

A unique approach to depot maintenance, AAMs bring key personnel directly to the unit for a joint inventory, acceptance test procedure and workmanship inspection of the repaired system. Identified issues can be addressed immediately, instead of routing them through complex and time-consuming communication channels – or, worse, leaving the unit responsible for resolving on their own.

The AAM effort began as a pilot between Tobyhanna’s DMF program and the National Guard Bureau – garnering high praise from customers and military members. The effort has since been expanded to include National Guard assets repaired at Tobyhanna proper. More than 40 AAMs have been completed to date.

Warholic says the AAM process benefits all – especially military members in need of equipment and support.

“AAMs close the maintenance loop between Tobyhanna and our customer, heightening confidence in our maintenance efforts. Because the AAM is a collaborative experience with both parties involved, units know for sure the product they are receiving back is complete and 100% operational. These in-person experiences help build strong relationships between depot personnel and our customers, which is priceless.”

Unit personnel also lauded the effort and Tobyhanna’s performance.

“Our team is extremely excited to get this new equipment – it’s a good day when your equipment comes from Tobyhanna Army Depot. We appreciate the chance to develop a direct relationship with the people who support us, and this process no doubt increases our operational readiness,” said SSG Jonathon Janes, the unit’s supply sergeant and warrant officer candidate.

Tobyhanna leadership also celebrated the event and applauded the efforts of all involved.

“This was a wonderful team effort,” said Joseph Fantanarosa, director of Field Logistics Support.

Support for previous STT programs earned Tobyhanna high accolades, such as the 2020 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards Program, Robert T. Mason Award and the Army Chief of Staff Logistics Excellence Awards Program, Army Award for Maintenance Excellence.

AAMS and the DMF program are directly aligned with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2028 – specifically the C5ISR Readiness line of effort focused on ensuring military members have the tools and equipment to face any conflict. The plan focuses on posturing the depot to be competitive in the future.

Tobyhanna will facilitate future AAMs in Guam, Idaho, New York and South Carolina.

WVIA has received two 2022 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy ® Award nominations for the original programs “The Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite” and “VIA Short Takes 201”.

“We are extremely honored that the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has recognized these wonderful programs,” said Carla McCabe, President/CEO of WVIA. “Our Emmy® nominated team continually produces programs that celebrate our region and give them a platform to be seen across the country.”

“We are grateful to be recognized by our peers in the industry,” said Ben Payavis II, WVIA Chief Content Officer, and Executive Producer. “This is the third year in a row that VIA Short Takes has been nominated and we are looking forward to presenting more stories of our region in the next season of VIA Short Takes coming this fall.”

“The Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band (SJFBB) in collaboration with WVIA is honored to receive this Emmy award nomination,” said Marko Marcinko, Artistic Director, Conductor, and Drummer of the SJFBB. “The Jazz Nutcracker Suite, arranged for big band by Shorty Rogers, is a wonderful live music performance that has brought joy and enthusiasm to so many that have witnessed it and to be recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for this program is absolutely fantastic.” 

Nominations Include:

ARTS – LONG FORM CONTENT (SINGLE PROGRAM)
“The Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite”- WVIA
Ben Payavis II, Editor
Kris Hendrickson, Editor
George Graham, Sound & Audio Mix
Neil Prisco, Editor & Graphic Design

MAGAZINE LONG FORM (SINGLE PROGRAM)
“VIA Short Takes 201”- WVIA
Ben Payavis II, Editor
Jim Donnelly, Producer/Director/Editor
Kris Hendrickson, Producer/Director/Editor
John Alaimo, Producer/Director/Editor
Ron Andruscavage, Producer/Director/Editor

About The Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite

The Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite is performed by the 17-piece Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band under the direction of Marko Marcinko, with music by Peter Tchaikovsky and arrangements by Shorty Rogers. 

Playing the historically familiar melodies from the Nutcracker Ballet, this jazz big band takes a more modern approach to the familiar. This Nutcracker production tells the classic story through the power of the music and spoken word.

The Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite is available to watch anytime online here.

About VIA Short Takes 201

This episode in the WVIA short documentary series VIA Short Takes features five stories highlighting the people and places of interest in northeastern and central Pennsylvania. The stories included are “PM Magazine” “A Soldier’s Duty: A Reflection of 911” “The Historic Eagles Mere Toboggan Slide” “Erika Funke’s Introduction to the Arts” and “Last of the Paddle Wheel Ferries”

VIA Short Takes is a documentary web series produced by WVIA featuring topics ranging from dramatic and edgy to cute, quirky, thrilling, and more. “Short Takes” aims to provide an entertaining look at the people and places that make Pennsylvania (and beyond) so unique. 

VIA Short Takes is available to watch anytime online here. 

The full list of this year’s nominees can be found here. The 2022 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy® Awards will be presented at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel on Saturday, October 1, 2022.

Misericordia University will hold its 31^st Annual Golf Tournament in Memory of Arnie Garinger on Monday, September 12^th at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club (Mountain Top, PA).

Garinger spent 30 years at Misericordia in a variety of capacities. He truly embodied the charisms of Misericordia and was a friend of the athletics program. He started the varsity golf program and served as its first coach with his co-coach Jack Hoover. The duo led the Cougars to eight consecutive top-two finishes at the PAC Championships, including two titles. In 1998, he was named PAC Coach of the Year. Garinger also founded the Cougar Club Golf Tournament, which is why the tournament bears his name and serves as the primary fundraiser for MU Athletics for 31 years.

His daughter, Amy (Garinger) Brozena ‘84 said, “Arnie loved and adored Misericordia, golf, students, and athletics. We are honored that Misericordia carries on his legacy with this tournament to benefit student-athletes.”

The entry fee for the 31^st Annual Tournament is $150 per player, which includes cart and greens fee, range, breakfast, lunch, and prizes, including a hole-in-one prize sponsored by Bonner Chevrolet for a 2022 Chevy Equinox. For those that are Misericordia Alumni or Employees, the entry fee is at a discounted rate of $130 per player. Registration starts at 9:00 am with a shotgun start at 10:00 am.

This year’s sponsors include J & J Restaurant and Bar, PNC Bank, Bonner Chevrolet, Battaglia’s Sporting Goods, CK Cantina & Grill, Paul Zaengle ’97, Scott Hein ’95, Jonathan Brassington ’95, RJ Accounting/Robert Tugend ’99.

To register please use the following link: https://athletics.misericordia.edu/news/2022/6/18/mens-golf-misericordia-athletics-hosting-31st-annual-golf-tournament-september-12.aspx

Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics and electrical engineering at The University of Scranton, will lead a $399,211 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant-supported collaborative research project entitled “Measuring Daily Ionospheric Variability and the 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipse Ionospheric Impacts Using HamSCI HF Doppler Shift Receivers.” As the lead principal investigator, Dr. Frissell will work with students at the University of Scranton, collaborators at Case Western Reserve University, and volunteers across the nation to study how dawn, dusk, and solar eclipses affect the electrified portion of the upper atmosphere known as the ionosphere. This will be done using a network of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stabilized/synchronized high frequency (HF) receivers (known as Grapes), which were developed as part of the $1.3 million NSF-funded HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS) project he was awarded in 2019.

An annular solar eclipse will take place on Oct. 14, 2023 and a total solar eclipse will take place on April 8, 2024.

 “These are the last solar eclipses to traverse the continental United States until 2044, and are therefore important, time-sensitive, information rich opportunities for running unique and ‘controlled’ ionospheric experiments,” said Dr. Frissell. “This project takes advantage of the unprecedented opportunity to study the ionospheric impacts of the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses and the daily ionospheric variability associated with dawn/dusk transitions.”

A better understanding of the impact of ionospheric disturbances is imperative, because these changes can affect crucial navigation and communications systems.

According to Dr. Frissell, this new NSF grant will fund an additional 30 Grape receivers that will be deployed throughout North America. Volunteers from the HamSCI amateur radio community will be able to fund and field additional stations. All stations will run continuously from deployment through at least the end of the project in 2025, and will capture the 2023 and 2024 eclipses. The grant will also support master’s and Ph.D. level student participation in the research data collection and analysis.

“This project will also establish a new network of measurement instruments that, due to its low- cost and operation by volunteers, has the potential to provide measurements for years to come,” said Dr. Frissell, who also noted that results of the project “will be shared widely with the amateur radio community through presentations at amateur radio conventions, local clubs, and publication in amateur radio magazines and journals.”

In a news release announcing NSF funding received by The University of Scranton and Marywood University, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright said, “(t)he bright and talented STEM students trained by Marywood today become the Dr. Frissells of tomorrow, conducting cutting edge scientific research, but whether in the classroom or in the field, scientists and professors need funding to do their important work. As the chair of the Commerce-Justice-Science subcommittee that funds the National Science Foundation, I am proud to support this essential investment in education and research.”

In addition, Dr. Frissell was awarded a highly-competitive, five-year $616,054 NSF CAREER grant in 2020 to apply sophisticated, physics-based atmospheric/ionospheric models to extensive data sets collected through the international network of ham radio operators.

Dr. Frissell joined the faculty at Scranton in the fall of 2019. He earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and a bachelor’s degree in physics and music education from Montclair State University in New Jersey. He is the founder and lead organizer of the international citizen science space physics research collective known as the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI.org). HamSCI is recognized as an official NASA Citizen Science Project.

Mohegan Sun Pocono is excited to announce that the legendary rocker and reality TV star, Bret Michaels, will perform live at Mohegan Sun Pocono’s Outdoor Concert Venue on Friday, September 30th for a 7:30pm show. This Friday at 10:00am, general admission tickets for this 21+ show will go on sale for $50 via Ticketmaster.com. Purchase your tickets at the Mohegan Sun Pocono Box Office, located at the Hotel Front Desk, and receive a voucher for $10 Free Slot Play!

Bret Michaels is a rock music megastar who’s career spans more than three decades.As both the front man for Poison and as a solo artist, Michaels has sold over 50 million records worldwide. Michaels has numerous chart-topping singles to his name, such as Every Rose Has It’s Thorn, Go That Far and Nothing But A Good Time to name a few.

The Poison front man has built his brand piece by piece and retaining ownership and control of his own personal brand has solidified him as a successful entrepreneur. In the words of former Viacom CEO Judy McGrath, this has made Bret a ‘cultural touchdown’. Michaels has produced and starred in record-breaking hit TV shows that include Rock of Love with Bret Michaels, Life as I know it with Bret Michaels and Travel Channel’s Bret Michaels Rock My RV. Michaels is also a Celebrity Apprentice winner and was voted “Fan Favorite” by fans of the hit NBC show.

Michaels, the son of a veteran and a lifelong diabetic, has always made giving back a priority throughout his career. His Life Rocks Foundation continues to provide support to many charities and causes around the globe.

To learn more about this show and to purchase tickets, visit mohegansunpocono.com

Munley Law is pleased to announce that Partner Marion Munley was elected as the Parliamentarian for the American Association for Justice (AAJ) at its annual convention in Seattle, Washington.
The American Association of Justice is a 20,000-member organization of plaintiff attorneys
dedicated to protecting the rights of trial by jury. The mission of the AAJ is to promote justice and fairness for injured victims, safeguard victims’ rights, and strengthen the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public safety and health.

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. She was the first woman to become Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2017 and is a past chair of the AAJ’s Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. Marion is also active in the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, serving on its Board of Governors and Executive Committee.

Marion serves as the President of the Melvin Belli Trial Lawyers Society. 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 the “top 50 Women Lawyers in Pennsylvania” in Super Lawyers Magazine. In 2022, Marion was recognized as one of the “top 100 Lawyers in Pennsylvania” by Super Lawyers Magazine. Marion has been named a Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer for the past four years and was recognized as one of the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America for 2017 and 2019.

A graduate of Temple University School of Law, Marion received her undergraduate degree from the University of Scranton.

The workplace has been rapidly evolving over the past few years, and keeping up with the best tools and practices to attract and retain a strong workforce is essential for Human Resources professionals.

The PA Chamber is proud to present, in partnership with iSolved, a FREE upcoming webinar for HR leaders who are excited to learn more about employee retention tools and emerging trends in the ever-changing HR world on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. During the information-packed event, iSolved’s Director of Employee Engagement and HCM Solutions Consultant will cover:

•  Keys to employee retention
• The importance of employee well-being
• Understanding employees’ pre- and post-COVID mindsets
• Why companies are losing quality candidates
• The changes that businesses are making in time, technology and investment – and why that is making all the difference

This program is a free, PA Chamber Member-Sponsored Webinar and is open to Pennsylvania’s business community.  To learn more about isolved, click here

Geisinger vascular laboratories across the system recently earned testing reaccreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).

Vascular ultrasound is used to diagnose diseases of the blood vessels in all parts of the body except the brain and heart. It is essential to the early detection of life-threatening conditions like carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease, intestinal artery disease, renal artery blockage, abdominal aneurysms and blood clots.

Early diagnosis and treatment of these conditions helps prevent potentially deadly or disabling complications like stroke, ruptured aneurysms and limb amputation.

The IAC grants three-year accreditation in the areas of extracranial cerebrovascular testing, peripheral venous testing, visceral vascular testing and peripheral arterial testing. Accreditation provides reassurance for patients that a vascular laboratory delivers consistent, quality care and is dedicated to continuous improvement. 

Accreditation means:

• A facility has undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts in the field.
• A facility upholds processes that comply with national standards.
• A facility has standards in place for patient and personnel safety.

“This accreditation is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our vascular diagnostic teams across the system,” said James Elmore, M.D., chair of Geisinger’s Department of Vascular Surgery. “Geisinger has a long history of excellence in vascular diagnostics and treatment, and we’re proud to maintain accreditation from an organization that holds the same high standards.”

Accredited Geisinger vascular laboratories:

• Geisinger Healthplex State College, Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Lewistown Hospital for extracranial cerebrovascular testing, peripheral venous testing, visceral vascular testing and peripheral arterial testing

• Geisinger Community Medical Center, Geisinger Lewistown, Geisinger Mifflintown, Geisinger Mount Pocono, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, Geisinger Tunkhannock and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for extracranial cerebrovascular testing, peripheral venous testing and peripheral arterial testing

• Geisinger Phillipsburg for extracranial cerebrovascular testing