Outreach – Center for Community Resources will host its third annual Children’s Career Fair at Outreach, 431 North 7^th Avenue, Scranton on Saturday, August 27, 2022, from 10 AM to 1 PM.

Driving Children’s Futures is this year’s theme as Outreach offers the opportunity for kids of all ages to learn about the multiple forms of vehicles utilized in careers today. A tank, ambulance, fire truck, skid steer, and several other large trucks will be on display for kids to explore while interacting with the professionals that handle them on a daily basis.

It’s never too early for children to think about a career, and research shows that every experience of a child helps develop their understanding of the world. An innovative event that encourages parents and their young or elementary-aged children to engage in career exploration, the Outreach Children’s Career Fair provides an opportunity for children to interact with professionals from numerous businesses and career fields and then dream about what they want to be when they grow up! By introducing young children to potential career options early on in life, parents can keep children focused and engaged in academics throughout their school years, a building block needed to create a well-educated workforce, and help them gain an understanding of their place in the world as productive, employed adults.

Children and parents will have the opportunity to explore over 30 careers through fun and interactive activities. Several local companies will also be offering information on current employment opportunities within their companies.  The Outreach Children’s Career Fair is free and open to all families with children interested in interacting with businesses and exploring future career possibilities!

For more information, please call Lori Ryan at (570)-558-7565.

The Wolf Administration today joined Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful representatives to announce the launch of the statewide anti-litter campaign, “PA Fights Dirty: Every Litter Bit Matters.” 

A litter-prevention campaign was among many state and local government, stakeholder, business, and legislative recommendations in the commonwealth’s first-ever Litter Action Plan released last year.

“As a commonwealth we recognize we need to change behavior, not just clean up the mess,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “With our collective efforts and this litter-prevention campaign we are confident we can reduce litter in Pennsylvania.”

“Every Litter Bit Matters” calls upon Pennsylvanians to ensure every piece of their trash, regardless of size, is disposed of properly. The campaign is based on research that shows only 3% of Pennsylvanians approve of littering, yet 40 to 50 percent litter. “Every Litter Bit Matters” will educate Pennsylvanians on situational littering, such as leaving trash on the ground next to a full can or in a stadium, as well as remind Pennsylvanians that litter of all sizes stacks up and creates problems.

“Litter isn’t just ugly to look at. It can cause environmental contamination and put public health at risk,” said Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh. “Litter can leach chemicals into our land and water, and act as breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus.”

PA Fights Dirty was developed as part of the Wolf Administration’s Litter Action Plan and in response to the 2019 Pennsylvania Litter Research Study, which found Pennsylvania has more than 500 million pieces of litter on its roadways. More than 85 percent of these pieces are less than four inches in size. “Every Litter Bit Matters” encourages Pennsylvanians to properly dispose of even their smallest pieces of trash.

In addition to improving aesthetics and pride, a goal of “Every Litter Bit Matters” is to reduce litter-related costs, which are currently around $350 million each year.

“As we work hand-in-hand with local community leaders, they frequently mention the challenges they face with litter – a challenge that impacts property values, business attraction, quality of life, health, and so much more,” said DCED Acting Secretary Neil Weaver. “By preventing littering from occurring, we are saving communities valuable time and money in litter removal.” 

The event also featured the state’s Young Ambassadors Program, a new partnership with PennDOT and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB). The program – which starts accepting applications today – was recommended in the Litter Action Plan and invites Pennsylvania rising 10th- through 12th-grade students to help keep the commonwealth clean. 

“We are honored to offer the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania Program in partnership with PennDOT. We know the students of today hold the key to a sustainable future. We’re excited to work with and guide this group of Young Ambassadors to implement change in their communities and the commonwealth,” said Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful President Shannon Reiter.  

The students – chosen through a competitive process – will commit to nine months of service in representing and upholding the mission and values of KPB. Other responsibilities include attending a virtual orientation, four virtual education and training workshops, and up to two virtual networking events, organizing and participating in at least one community cleanup event through Pick Up Pennsylvania, conducting one community education event targeting youth in the student’s community and promoting participation on social media.

From September 2022 through May 2023, Young Ambassadors will build community stewardship by inspiring, engaging, and empowering Pennsylvanians to keep their communities clean and develop civic leadership to advocate for clean and beautiful communities across Pennsylvania.

More information and the application for the Young Ambassadors Program can be found on the KPB website.

With education and engagement as critical pieces in litter prevention, Pennsylvania State Police’s work to enforce litter laws was also discussed. From January 1 through June 30 this year, PSP personnel issued 661 citations and 562 warnings in enforcing anti-littering laws.

“The Pennsylvania State Police is committed to keeping Pennsylvania beautiful by enforcing the state’s litter laws,” said Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Robert Evanchick. “Littering is 100 percent preventable with fines beginning at $300. The public is encouraged to report any litter violation they witness by contacting their local law enforcement agency.”

Learn more on the PA Fights Dirty webpage or watch the launch event livestream.

The Ernest and Margaret Lemnitzer Memorial Fund, administered by the Trust Department at The Honesdale National Bank and local Honesdale businessman, Paul Meagher, continued its support of those pursuing higher education with the awarding of scholarships to 2022 graduates with a total distribution of $48,213.99.

The Ernest and Margaret Lemnitzer Memorial Fund was created by these prominent Honesdale residents to support designated charitable organizations within Wayne County, as well as, to provide scholarships to deserving graduates of Wayne Highlands High School.  Ernest was the brother of the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Honesdale resident, Lyman Lemnitzer.

Emma Hocker, the 2022 recipient of the “Ernest and Margaret Lemnitzer Nursing Scholarship” is enrolled to attend Bloomsburg University to study nursing in the fall. She is a 2022 graduate of Wayne Highlands High School. The selection of the nursing scholarship recipient is made by the Women’s Auxiliary of the Wayne Memorial Hospital and is based on scholastic achievement. This scholarship totals $17,517.50.

The Honesdale National Bank Trust Department has managed the investments of the Memorial Fund since its inception in 1991. Through prudent investment of the trust assets, grants in excess of $2.5 Million have been paid to qualifying recipients to date. A total of $407,893.46 has been distributed through the Ernest and Margaret Lemnitzer Scholarships alone. For more information about the HNB Financial Group, please call 570-253-3355 or visit the HNB Corporate Center in Honesdale. 

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.  For more information on HNB’s products and services, visit www.hnbbank.bank.

For the tenth year, the Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game at the Little League World Series will be broadcast live on Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania’s PBS affiliate, WVIA, and be shared with stations across the United States. The game will air live from Volunteer Stadium at the Little League^® International Complex in South Williamsport, Pa., on Saturday, August 27th, at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Each summer during Championship Saturday of the Little League Baseball^® World Series, two local Little League Challenger Division^® programs are given the unique opportunity to play in a once-in-a-lifetime game on Volunteer Stadium in the Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game. Featured in this year’s game will be Mason (Ohio) Youth Organization Little League and Cambrian Park Little League (San Jose, Calif.)

“WVIA has been a proud partner with Little League on the Challenger Game for the past 9 games. This is one of the most heart-warming productions we do each year, and we are excited to share the stories of the teams from Ohio and California with the rest of the country. It’s really the players that make the game so special.” Said Ben Payavis II, WVIA Chief Content Officer.

The 2022 Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game showcases the opportunities that the Little League Challenger Division provides to more than 30,000 children with physical and intellectual challenges at more than 900 leagues worldwide.

Allied Services Hospice and Palliative Care and Home Health divisions have been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall caregiver and family satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20% of all eligible SHP clients for the 2021 calendar year.

The annual SHPBest™ award program was created to acknowledge Hospice and Home Health providers that consistently provide high-quality service to families, patients,  and caregivers of patients receiving care. The 2021 award recipients were determined by reviewing and ranking the overall CAHPS and HHCAHPS Hospice and Home Health survey satisfaction scores for more than 2,500 providers. With one of the largest benchmarks in the nation, SHP is in a unique position to identify and recognize organizations that have made family and caregiver satisfaction a priority and have been rewarded for their efforts with high marks on the surveys.

“SHP is proud to present the SHPBest awards to our top-performing customers. We commend these organizations for their continuous focus on delivering the highest quality of care to their patients”, said Rob Paulsson, President of SHP.

Melissa Kelleher, RN, BSN, Assistant Vice President, Allied Services Home Health, credits the strength and depth of her staff’s professional experience and training, and their commitment to putting patients first with the agency’s latest industry award.

“Our Home Health team goes above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients. This latest award is a demonstration of our team’s dedication to delivering quality care where and when our patients need us,” said Kelleher.

Since 2015 Allied Services Hospice & Palliative has been trusted by more than 3,000 families to provide compassionate care for their loved ones. The program provides community-based palliative care, at-home hospice care, continuous hospice care, and inpatient hospice care and respite care at its Hospice Centers in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

“It’s an honor to receive this award”, commented Laura Marion, RN, BSN, Assistant Vice President, Allied Services Hospice and Palliative Care. “It’s a credit to our staff and volunteers and the personal commitment they show to each and every patient and family member. Our team goes above and beyond to provide compassionate care that makes patients and families feel safe and well supported. Whether it’s the Pet Peace of Mind program, music, massage or pet therapy, veterans’ recognition program, or continuing education for our staff, we’re going to continue to work hard to provide the best possible care and support for those we serve.”

Sarah Kenehan, Ph.D., a University of Scranton alumna and former professor of philosophy at Marywood University, was named executive director of the Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Ignatian Humanities, effective July 5.

Since joining the faculty at Marywood University in 2009, Dr. Kenehan has taught courses in business, environmental and animal ethics, and global, climate and food justice. She served as the chair of Marywood’s Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, director of their Women’s Studies Program, and was the co-founder and co-chair of Pacers for Justice and Peace. She also served on dozens of other committees, including the Rank and Tenure Committee and Student Evaluation of Teaching Task Force.

As a scholar, Dr. Kenehan has studied extensively the works of John Bordley Rawls, an American moral and political philosopher in the liberal tradition, and has published three books on climate justice: “Climate Justice and Feasibility: Normative Theorizing, Feasibility Constraints, and Climate Action” (Rowman Littlefield International, 2021); “Climate Justice and Feasibility: Principles of Justice and Real-World Climate Politics” (Rowman Littlefield International, 2021); and “Food, Environment, and Climate: Justice at the Intersections” (Rowman Littlefield International, 2018). She has published numerous articles on academic journals, contributed to book chapters, and presented at more than 30 international, national and regional conferences and meetings.

Dr. Kenehan earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and philosophy from Scranton in 2002 as a member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. She was a member of the Women’s Cross Country Team at Scranton. She also earned her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee, and her Ph.D. from the University of Graz in Austria.

Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) observed National Hire A Veteran Day on July 25 by highlighting Veterans across the workforce.

The observance, created in 2017, serves as a call to action for employers to augment their workforce with veterans, who bring a unique blend of skills and practical experience to the workplace. Nearly a quarter of the depot’s workforce has prior military experience.

U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army veteran Michael Cook currently serves as a Logistics Management Specialist at TYAD. He is responsible for managing several key projects at the depot.

Cook said he decided to serve in both the Marine Corps and Army to go out and see the world.

“I served six years in the Marine Corps and I just wanted to see the world a little bit and come back home and work on the family farm. One day, I am home and down the road lived a First Sergeant. We got talking and he said ‘Hey you should join the Army,’ – jokingly,” said Cook. “Fast forward a few months, I joined the National Guard and got transferred to Alabama. I spent 12 years in the Army National Guard on active duty. For four years of that time, I was sent on various deployments in Southwest Asia, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. I also did many humanitarian missions all over the world as well.”

Cook said that he admires TYAD’s ability to easily integrate veterans in their community.

“Tobyhanna does real well at branching out to the veteran community to get their skill sets and put them to use. Some people come home from the military and they don’t know what else to do,” said Cook. “It’s been a good open door for me and not only that, but it feels like you get a sense of giving back to the military, country by helping serve those soldiers, sailors and airmen that come here. Tobyhanna gives you a gateway to use the experience that you’ve gained and the hands-on training you’ve gotten from using equipment whether it be a handheld radio, a HMMWV, etc…”

Cook also praised the depot for ensuring personnel are prepared for whatever task comes their way.

“The good thing is that Tobyhanna empowers their employees to educate themselves. They embrace that,” said Cook. “I’ve gotten so many different certificates and things that I’ve done through Tobyhanna to help me in my career and future career. They help you set up for your longevity of your career here.”

The TYAD Veterans Council helps support Northeastern Pennsylvania’s veteran community on and off the depot. Cook serves as Vice President and has served on the council for nearly his entire 17-year depot career. He says he understands how a veteran may feel unsure of what to do next once they leave the service, so he takes pride in that the council helps the veteran community with any questions or concerns.

“There’s not an easy crossover from the service to the civilian world. At Tobyhanna, we have different job skills and abilities that veterans can continue to use and help maybe improve some current depot assets for future technologies and soldiers,” said Cook. “Tobyhanna is very open-armed to military veterans and embraces their experiences and knowledge.”

Air Force veteran Lori Terpak appreciates working at Tobyhanna Army Depot, as it allows her to continue serving her nation – even after she took off her uniform.

Four years of service gave her extensive knowledge in the command and control career field, working in high-pressure situations as an Emergency Actions Controller. Terpak and her team were responsible for monitoring and completing quick reaction checklists for aircraft – a task that often included making emergency notifications to senior leadership within tight timeframes. She says the dynamic position was excellent preparation for her future career with Team Tobyhanna.

“My Air Force service certainly helped shape my ability to support the depot’s unique and constantly-changing mission.”

After completing her military service, Terpak returned to her native Northeastern Pennsylvania and started a depot career in 2009 as an administrative assistant in the Production Management Directorate – where she still works today as a Logistics Management Specialist, supporting tactical radio programs.   Terpak serves as the project manager over several fabrication efforts, requiring her to rely on her Air Force experience for quick and accurate decision-making.

Depot leadership lauded Terpak and celebrated how her military insight brings value to Tobyhanna’s mission.

“Lori’s first-hand knowledge of the warfighter experience drives her to work above and beyond to ensure the best quality and value for our customers,” said Anthony Portanova, chief of the Secure Communication Branch in the Production Management Directorate.

Terpak also noted that being a mother to four and step-mother to two children, who range from teenager to toddler, has taught her valuable lessons.

“I’ve had to learn to be more adaptable and organized – skills that have truly benefited me as a project manager,” she said, laughing.

While her free time is very limited, Terpak enjoys spending time with her large family, watching her children play sports, and exploring the world.

Veterans interested in future career opportunities with Team Tobyhanna can apply through USAJobs at www.usajobs.gov.