Score Big Prizes with RailRiders Football Squares Promotion With Super Bowl LVII only weeks away, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are bringing back a fan-favorite promotion with the chance to win great prizes. Fans can purchase flex plans, partial, half or full season memberships to get involved in the RailRiders Football Squares promotion with the opportunity to win big on February 12.Chances to win occur with the score at the end of each quarter and at the end of the game. The scores will reward you with fun prizes and experiences in 2023. Squares correspond with the nuber of packages purchased, so buy multiple plans or memberships for more chances to win!With the purchase of one flex plan, you will receive one square. If you purchase a partial season plan, you will receive two squares. A half-season plan will receive three squares and any full-season membership purchased will net four squares. All squares are placed at random. Winners are determined by looking at the last number in each team’s score at the end of each quarter and then matching those numbers on the grid and seeing which square intersects those two numbers.Winning Outcomes:Match the score at the end of the first quarter and win a RailRiders Beach Package including two beach chairs, two beach towels, two coolers, two Hawaiian Shirts and a $25 gift card to the SWB Team StoreMatch the score at the end of the second quarter and you’ll receive a RailRiders Bobblehead Package featuring SIX bobbleheads- Nestor Cortes, Nick Swisher, Derek Jeter, Aaron Judge, Thor, and a Joe DiMaggio and Billy Martin dual bobblehead- PLUS a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store.Match the score at the end of the third quarter and win a RailRiders Legends Package that includes four tickets to a New York Yankees game, four Geisinger Champions Club tickets for April or May, a game-worn jersey, an autographed Legends Series bat and a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store. • Match the score at the end of the fourth quarter and win the RailRiders Champions Package which includes four tickets to a New York Yankees game, four Geisinger Champions Club tickets for April or May, a game- worn jersey, a Ron Guidry autographed baseball and a $100 gift card to the SWB Team Store.Should the game go to overtime and your square matches the final score after OT, you will win all four of the packages listed above.*Add With Super Bowl LVII only weeks away, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are bringing back a fan-favorite promotion with the chance to win great prizes. Fans can purchase flex plans, partial, half or full season memberships to get involved in the RailRiders Football Squares promotion with the opportunity to win big on February 12. Chances to win occur with the score at the end of each quarter and at the end of the game. The scores will reward you with fun prizes and experiences in 2023. Squares correspond with the number of packages purchased, so buy multiple plans or memberships for more chances to win! With the purchase of one flex plan, you will receive one square. If you purchase a partial season plan, you will receive two squares. A half-season plan will receive three squares and any full-season membership purchased will net four squares. All squares are placed at random. Winners are determined by looking at the last number in each team’s score at the end of each quarter and then matching those numbers on the grid and seeing which square intersects those two numbers. Winning Outcomes: Match the score at the end of the first quarter and win a RailRiders Beach Package including two beach chairs, two beach towels, two coolers, two Hawaiian Shirts and a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store Match the score at the end of the second quarter and you’ll receive a RailRiders Bobblehead Package featuring SIX bobbleheads- Nestor Cortes, Nick Swisher, Derek Jeter, Aaron Judge, Thor, and a Joe DiMaggio and Billy Martin dual bobblehead- PLUS a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store. Match the score at the end of the third quarter and win a RailRiders Legends Package that includes four tickets to a New York Yankees game, four Geisinger Champions Club tickets for April or May*, a game-worn jersey, an autographed Legends Series bat and a $25 gift card to the SWB Team Store. Match the score at the end of the fourth quarter and win the RailRiders Champions Package which includes four tickets to a New York Yankees game, four Geisinger Champions Club tickets for April or May*, a game-worn jersey, a Ron Guidry autographed baseball and a $100 gift card to the SWB Team Store. Should the game go to overtime and your square matches the final score after OT, you will win all four of the packages listed above. *Additional terms, restrictions and conditions may apply. Please ask your sales representative to clarify any concerns. Tickets packages for the 2023 season, both season ticket and flex plans, are available now and Football Squares are on a limited, first-come, first-served basis until Friday, February 10. For more information, please visit swbrailriders.com or contact a ticket sales representative at (570) 969-BALL.
Scranton Area Community Foundation Grant supports The Wright Center The Wright Center for Community Health was recently awarded a $3,000 grant by the Scranton Area Community Foundation in support of the collaborative Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support program (Healthy MOMS) that focuses on helping pregnant women and new mothers overcome addiction and embrace a life in recovery. Through the CHILDCARE Helps MOMS work program, the grant will support working mothers in the Healthy MOMS program who need assistance paying for emergency child care costs. The program provides financial assistance so mothers can return to work, closing the gap until the mother receives subsidized child care assistance. The grant will be able to fund 67 weeks of child care. The project fulfills an unmet need by providing financial assistance for mothers in the Healthy MOMS program who are seeking to return and remain in the workforce. In addition, Healthy MOMS participants are offered blanket services that include medication-assisted treatment and addiction services, counseling, primary health care, OB-GYN care, parenting tips, legal advice and a range of other supports. The program promotes the well-being of both mom and newborn, ideally engaging them in wrap-around services until the child turns 2 years old. Launched in 2018, the program serves Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. To date, Healthy MOMS has supported more than 300 mothers and 189 babies. “We are grateful for the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s financial support and the community partnerships that enable this program to touch two generations in our regional communities,” said Maria Kolcharno, the director of addiction services and a leader of the Healthy MOMS program at The Wright Center. “The lack of affordable child care continues to be a challenge for women enrolled in Healthy MOMS.” In addition to primary care, oral health and women’s health services, The Healthy MOMS program realizes that mothers with substance use disorder would be identified via Social Services, such as the local Child Welfare Office, via the legal system, and by additional MAT providers in the area. Mothers who enter the Healthy MOMS program always have a choice as to who their medical providers will be. For more information about the Healthy MOMS program, call 570-955-7821 or visit HealthyMOMS.org.
NEPIRC Professional Achieves Lead Auditor Designation The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) is pleased to announce that the organization’s Lean Enterprise Consultant, Brian Matyjevich, recently completed the British Standards Institution’s (BSI’s) ISO 14001:2015 Lead Auditor Training course and successfully obtained designation as an ISO 14001:2015 Lead Auditor with competencies in Environmental Management Systems, Management Systems Auditing and Leading Management Systems Audit Teams. Mr. Matyjevich’s designation as an ISO 14001:2015 Lead Auditor complements his existing professional portfolio, which includes ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100:2016 Rev D Internal Auditor credentials, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Professional and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certificates, along with numerous environmental and project management credentials. BSI is an Exemplar Global certified training provider and examiner certification provider. Mr. Matyjevich’s completion of BSI’s review course and related examinations document his abilities in designing and carrying out environment audits in compliance with the guidelines for ISO 14001 on behalf of clients; assisting clients in evaluating their ISO 14001 strategy and accomplishing ISO 14001 certification in an expedient and cost-effective way; leading client ISO 14001 audit teams; and helping companies better understand the applicability and benefits of environmental management and the ISO 14001 standard. “Companies that have implemented an environmental management strategy and achieved ISO 14001 certification have recognized improved overall efficiencies, reduced operating costs, enhanced stakeholder and customer relationships and better success in winning new business as environmental impacts enter more and more procurement specifications and customer requirements,” said Mr. Matyjevich. Since joining NEPIRC in 2020, Mr. Matyjevich has assisted a multitude of manufacturers in developing environmental, workplace safety and continuous improvement systems. Manufacturers across NEPIRC’s 11-county service region are encouraged to contact Mr. Matyjevich at Brian@NEPIRC.com to schedule a one-on-one no-cost environmental strategy consultation with him and a NEPIRC Business Advisor. Brian also offers no-cost Employee Health & Safety Gemba Walks and assessments to manufacturers across northeastern, northern and parts of central Pennsylvania.
Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company Promotes Jeffrey Drobins Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company today announced the promotion of Jeffrey Drobins to Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of the Bank. Drobins previously was Senior Vice President and Market President for Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company’s Lehigh Valley and New Jersey markets, which consist of three locations in Lehigh and Northampton Counties and one location in Middlesex County. He joined the Bank in 2014. “Jeff has consistently achieved strong results for Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company, most recently in his position as Market President for the Bank’s Lehigh Valley and New Jersey market,” said Neal Koplin, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer. “Additionally, Jeff has helped lead the expansion of the Bank into the New Jersey market and has played an instrumental role helping guide the Bank through the COVID-19 pandemic. We are excited to welcome Jeff into his new role and we look forward to his continued leadership.” As Chief Lending Officer, Drobins is responsible for profitable growth in commercial, consumer and mortgage lending and for ensuring that borrowers receive an exceptional banking experience. He will also be responsible for leading the origination, portfolio management and credit quality across all lending products. A resident of Schnecksville, PA, Drobins serves on the board of directors of the Greater Easton Development Partnership and the board of directors of the Lehigh Valley Zoo. He is past treasurer and board of directors for the Lehigh Valley Academy and past board of directors for the Lehigh Valley Chamber’s Young Professionals Council. Drobins is a member of Leadership Lehigh Valley Class of 2012, is a recipient of the Lehigh Valley Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 award, and a recipient of the Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal’s Forty Under 40 Spotlight. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University.
Marywood Professor and Graduate Students Present at Convention Dr. Vijayachandra Ramachandra, professor of communication sciences and disorders at Marywood University, and first-year speech-language pathology graduate students, Kirsten Van Louvender, Kelli Moreno, and Angela Genter, recently presented their research, “Meow and Oink Lead to a Right Spatial Bias: Implications for Aphasia Therapy,” at the 2022 American Speech-Language and Hearing Association Convention, which was held in New Orleans, La., from November 17-19. In this study, the investigators explored how the brain processes different types of words and environmental sounds using neuropsychological methods called visual and tactile line bisection. The findings of this study have important implications for treating people with aphasia, a disorder caused due to a stroke or a head injury and which can affect a person’s ability to communicate. For additional information about the communication sciences and disorders department at Marywood University, please visit marywood.edu/academics/csd, or contact the Admissions Office at (570) 348-6234. Additionally, prospective undergraduate students can email YourFuture@marywood.edu and prospective graduate students can email GoGrad@marywood.edu for more information. IMAGE ID: Pictured left to right are Marywood University research presenters, Kirsten Van Louvender, Moscow, PA; Dr. Vijayachandra Ramachandra, East Stroudsburg, PA; Kelli Moreno, Hebron, MD; and Angela Genter, Scranton, PA.
A $10,000 grant could spark an entrepreneurial dream Scranton, PA — A business idea in Lackawanna County could lead to $10,000. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce has announced a new entrepreneurial program called TechCelerator @Lackawanna County: a collaborative effort of Lackawanna County, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA, TecBRIDGE, and the Chamber. The goal is to inspire entrepreneurs with early-stage, tech-based ideas to start a small business in Lackawanna County. Businesses that complete the program requirements will receive $10,000 in grant funding to offset their start-up costs. “Lackawanna County is thrilled to help facilitate the funding for entrepreneurs to see their dreams get started right in our county. Individuals who are even considering starting a tech-base business should apply to the TechCelerator @Lackwanna County program. Our goal is to see our community’s base diversify and new businesses be successful from start to finish in their entrepreneurial journey,” shared Jerry Notarianni, Chairman of the County Commissioners. TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty is a ten-week in-person experience where participants have access to formal mentors, educational opportunities, and access to subject matter experts on topics like business formation strategies, customer discovery, marketing, financial planning, and risk management. The result of the ten weeks is to build, share, and present a business plan for their early-stage companies. The program will be presented in collaboration with the Small Business Development Center, Carbondale Technology Transfer Center, The Penn State Scranton Launchbox, and the Lackawanna College Venture Lab. “Supporting entrepreneurship is at the core of the Chamber’s mission: to Attract, Sustain and, in this case, Grow in our region. This is a natural extension of our ongoing efforts to assist business start-ups through the IGNITE program, where our regional network of partners is working together to provide the platform for entrepreneurial success,” says Robert Durkin, President of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Hoping to ignite the county’s entrepreneurial spirit again, this unique program may very well change the participants’ worlds with $10,000. “One of the hardest parts of starting a business is taking the initial step to do it,” said Brianna Florovito from the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce affiliate, IGNITE. She continues, “[…] the TechCelerator program was created to walk entrepreneurs through the steps they need to take to establish their businesses and then provide them with the funding to grow.” The TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty is a competitive application process. All with ideas or early start-ups are encouraged to submit applications but not all will be selected to participate. To apply, visit the Chamber’s affiliate, IGNITE website at IGNITE.ScrantonChamber.com. Applications are due by January 16. To apply, visit IGNITE.ScrantonChamber.com and look for TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty. About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.
Governor Wolf Announces 32 Municipalities to Improve Traffic Safety with Enforcement Funds Governor Tom Wolf today announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will distribute approximately $15 million in Automated Red-Light Enforcement (ARLE) funding to 32 municipalities statewide to fund 36 safety projects. Pennsylvania’s ARLE program aims to improve safety at signalized intersections by providing automated enforcement at locations where data shows red-light running has been an issue. “This program helps communities across the state make important investments in traffic flow and safety,” Gov. Wolf said. “These improvements complement the many road, bridge and multimodal projects happening in Pennsylvania.” Grant funding is supplied by fines from red light violations at 36 intersections in Philadelphia. State law specifies that projects improving safety, enhancing mobility and reducing congestion can be considered for funding. Municipalities submitted 151 applications, totaling $46 million in requests. Projects were selected by an eight-member committee based on criteria such as safety benefits and effectiveness, cost, and local and regional impact. This investment brings the total dollars awarded through the ARLE funding program to $127.79 million, funding 537 transportation enhancement projects since 2010. The 36 approved projects are as follows: Adams County Conewago Township – $55,094 for guide rail safety improvements. Allegheny County Carnegie Borough – $10,422 to install radar feedback signs on Forsythe Road.Coraopolis Borough – $298,250 for traffic signal replacement to include overhead signals to reduce redlight running and pedestrian accommodations.Hampton Township – $175,000 for S. Pioneer Road roadway safety improvements to include replacing out of date guiderail.McCandless Township – $451,483 for signal component updates project at 21 locations throughout the municipality. Upgrades include accessible pedestrian signals, equipment for flashing yellow arrow operations, controller replacements and rewiring of existing signal equipment.Penn Hills Township – $565,292 for traffic signal replacement at Frankstown Road (SR 0400) & Beulah Road (SR 0130). Butler County Butler Township – $249,504 for Pittsburgh Street & McCalmont Road/Vogel Road traffic signal modernization. Improvements include new mast arms to replace strain poles, new signal heads and reflectorized back plates. Cranberry Township – $350,000 for Route 19 and Short Street traffic signal upgrade and modernization. Improvements include new mast arms to support additional signal heads, new controller to allow for advanced signal timings.Penn Township – $446,706 for signal replacement and reconfiguration at Route 8 and Airport Road to include new mast arms to replace strain poles. Dauphin County Londonderry Township – $32,421 for Colebrook Road (SR 341) and Schoolhouse Road (T-494) intersection warning signals. Delaware County Chester City – $115,831 to improve PA 291 and 322 off-ramp/Jeffrey Street Traffic Signal. This project will convert the intersection from a flashing red/yellow configuration to a fully signalized intersection.Radnor Township – $120,350 for a bridge height warning system at the SEPTA underpass on King of Prussia Road.Yeadon Borough – $287,000 for MacDade Boulevard & Church Lane traffic signal and pedestrian accommodation improvements. Erie County Erie City – $395,769 for installation of 30 accessible pedestrian signal buttons to improve pedestrian safety. Fayette County Fayette County – $352,000 for Bullskin Township signal upgrades at three intersections along US 119. Improvements include radar detection systems to allow for more streamlined flows of traffic, siren preemption systems and battery back-up systems to allow the equipment to operate during outages which frequently happen along this roadway due to flooding. Franklin County Waynesboro Borough – $49,000 for the replacement of flashing school signs and the installation of speed limit driver feedback signs. Lancaster County East Petersburg Borough – $113,600 for traffic signal upgrades at SR 72/Enterprise Road and SR 72/Miller Road. Improvements include stop bar radar detection, advanced radar detection, pedestrian countdown timers and reflectorized back plates.Ephrata Borough – $222,400 for intersection safety and signal improvements at three intersections in the Borough. Improvements include radar detection, pedestrian improvements and new mast arms. Lebanon County Heidelberg Township – $12,823 to install solar radar speed signs at the approaches to the intersection of Route 501 and East and West Reistville Road. Lycoming County Montoursville Borough – $465,000 for SR 2014 and Walnut Street traffic signal replacement.Muncy Borough – $162,000 for pedestrian crosswalks safety improvements. This project will implement pedestrian activated rectangular rapid flash beacons (RRFB), high-visibility pavement markings, flexible post pedestrian crosswalk signs, approach crossing signage and LED in-roadway warning light (IRWL) crosswalk system. Mercer County Sharon City – $400,000 for State Street traffic signal and pedestrian improvements, including performing a traffic timings study, implementing a coordination plan, and updating intersections to include pedestrian pushbuttons and GPS timeclocks as required.Springfield Township – $413,500 for signal equipment improvements including replacement of the existing flashing beacons, emergency vehicle preemption, radar vehicular detection, battery backup power supply, and vehicular signal heads with retroreflective backplates. Mifflin County Derry Township – $306,500 for Electric Avenue/Logan Boulevard Corridor Signal Upgrades to include coordinating 5 traffic signals. Monroe County Delaware Water Gap Borough – $52,725 for the placement of three electronic radar speed limit display signs. Montgomery County Cheltenham Township – $420,250 for traffic signal equipment upgrades at three intersections to include installation of ADA compliant pedestrian pushbuttons and countdown pedestrian signal heads.Cheltenham Township – $343,700 for traffic signal equipment and pavement marking upgrades at the intersection of Rices Mill Road and Glenside Avenue.Lansdale Borough – $156,000 to install two (2) ground mounted controllers, perform traffic counts, update timings, new pedestrian signal heads and push buttons and retroreflective backplates. Northampton County Northampton Borough – $156,538 for the installation of the Main Street/10th Street/Nor-Bath Trail pedestrian rectangular rapid flashing beacon. Philadelphia County Philadelphia City – $7,000,000.00 for the following 4 programs in the city: Citywide Intersection Modifications, Modern Roundabouts, Bike Network Curb Separation and Citywide Traffic Calming. Pike County Milford Borough – $19,080 to purchase and install electronic speed display signs at the four (4) main entrances to the Borough. Westmoreland County Salem Township – $389,000 for US 22 Traffic Signal Safety Upgrade Project to include LED vehicular signals with reflectorized backplates, LED “SIGNAL AHEAD” over the road warning flashers, LED pedestrian count down signals and Pedestrian latching push buttons. York County Hanover Borough – $487,287 for Downtown Route 94/116/194 Traffic Congestion & Pedestrian Safety Improvements. To include modernizing the intersections to include APS pedestrian signals, 3-second advance pedestrian phasing, flashing yellow arrow signals, 12-inch signals, and high visibility crosswalks at both intersections, and a new controller cabinet/assembly and signal mast arm poles at the Center Square intersection to accommodate the flashing yellow arrow signals. For more information, visit PennDOT’s website. MEDIA CONTACTS: Governor’s Office, ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov, 717-783-1116Alexis Campbell, PennDOT, 717-783-8800
Lavelle Strategy Group to Present Exhibition in New York City Lavelle Strategy Group is honored to present their art exhibition “Humanity & Divinity” at La MaMa Galleria.This show will be on view in the East Village Gallery at 47 Great Jones Street New York, NY (between Bowery and Lafayette Streets) from January 14 to February 4 2023, Thursday through Sunday from 1-7 PM, with an opening reception scheduled on Saturday, January 14, from 5:30-8:30 PM. My drawings and paintings explore my personal journey through pain and vulnerability to resilience and grace. The exhibit is curated by C. Finley, founder of the Every Woman Biennial-NYC, London, LA. The exhibit, which includes both figurative and landscape pieces is designed to remind viewers that the path from humanity to divinity lies in a personal connection to nature. For me, painting is a spiritual process. Landscapes created in Ireland while experiencing extreme grief and sorrow express both heaviness and connection to universal energy. An advocate for the arts in every genre, I understand that the arts help move people through life’s circumstances. My hope is that through this exhibition, people will see something in themselves that is about transformation.
NEPIRC Helps Manufacturers in Statewide Industrial Resource Center (IRC) Program The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) recently received data voluntarily provided to independent researchers by 541 small and mid-sized manufacturing firms across Pennsylvania throughout 2022, and subsequently verified by the U.S. Department of Commerce, confirm that the statewide Industrial Resource Center (IRC) initiative – the Commonwealth’s flagship program for strengthening the competitiveness and resiliency of smaller industrial firms – generated significant positive results amidst a turbulent economy. Over the past 12 months, manufacturers that utilized IRC professional services avoided 4,099 layoffs while adding 1,226 full-time workers to their payrolls. They also realized $398.9 million in retained sales and secured $108.9 million of new customer orders as results of their IRC assistance. In addition to growing their workforces and increasing top-line revenue numbers, companies that performed consultative projects with their regional IRC reduced their non-personnel operating costs by $43.1 million over the past 12 months and invested more than $212 million in new equipment, facility expansion, advanced technologies and workforce training. Over the past three years, since the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, services provided by the IRCs across Pennsylvania have enabled manufacturers to avoid 12,565 layoffs, create 3,506 new manufacturing jobs and increase revenues by nearly $370 million. Pennsylvania’s IRC initiative consists of seven affiliates – DVIRC, Catalyst Connection, the Innovative Manufacturers’ Center (IMC), MANTEC, the Manufacturers’ Resource Center (MRC), NEPIRC and NWIRC. “Over the past year, nearly 2,000 small and mid-sized manufacturers across Pennsylvania called upon their regional IRC to help them address the lingering challenges of the pandemic, the emerging threats of unpredictable domestic and global economies and the persistent shortage of qualified workers. The outstanding results reported by the 541 companies selected to participate in the impact process conducted by an outside entity are impressive – but also reflect just a fraction of the true impact of IRC services upon Pennsylvania’s manufacturing economy,” said Eric Joseph Esoda, President & CEO of NEPIRC, the IRC that services manufacturers across northeastern, northern and north central Pennsylvania. In addition to providing specific monetized impacts, 442 of the 541 firms that participated in the study indicated that working with their IRC improved their overall competitiveness, and 468 stated that they anticipate using their IRC again in the future and would recommend their IRC to other Pennsylvania manufacturers. More detailed survey analyses are available by contacting Eric@NEPIRC.com.
