PennDOT Announces Upcoming Closing for Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, October 7, 2023, through Monday, October 9, 2023, in observance of the Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day holiday. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services. A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2023 is available online. If you are planning to visit one of PennDOT’s On-Line Messenger Service Centers, please call ahead for hours of operation during holidays. Motorists can check conditions on major roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
The Rotary Club to Host Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends Fundraiser The Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends fundraiser is coming up in October – here are a few event details:Boscov’s offers non-profit organizations the opportunity to sell discount passes giving shoppers 25% on most items purchased during the one-day sale – this year it’s Wednesday October 18.The discount passes are $5 and shoppers get 25% off their purchases (most items there are some exceptions with lower discounts) – a great deal for the shopper and Rotary Club keeps the $5.Historically, the Rotary Club has used these funds to buy dictionaries for local 3rd graders – each 3rd grader gets their own dictionary. The teachers love it because each student gets their own personal dictionary.In addition to the dictionaries, this year they hope to raise enough $ to start Interact Clubs at Scranton High School and West Scranton High.The Club asks each member to sell 5 passes – but notes that more than 5 would be wonderful. If passes can’t be sold it’s OK, selling passes is voluntary, but the value of the ticket is apparent and it’s really an easy sell.IMPORTANT CHANGE – Due to the # of non-profits participating this year, they will have fewer hours to sell tickets in store on the day of sale – meaning greater effort will be needed and there must be emphasis on early ticket sales. The Rotary will still have a table at Boscov’s the day of the sale but not for the whole day – they will need volunteers to staff the table on October 18th. It’s a fun time so sign up with Ty!Ty Holmes is heading up this fundraiser – show support and contact him for discount passes – tdholmes23@gmail.com or 224-436-0110
Everything Natural to Host Natural Food and Products Expo On October 14, 11am-3pm, Everything Natural will host it’s Natural Food and Products Expo 2023: An event created to introduce the community to natural, organic, and healthy products. Everything Natural is aware that consumers everywhere are waking up and wanting to know: What’s in the food? How is it made? They are paying more attention to the impact their food has on people and on the planet. Come and engage with local/regional farmers and vendors some of who include: Swiss Villa Farms, HighVibe.Kitchen, Beekeeper’s Daughter, Two Homes, Young Living Oils, and more. Also on hand will be a New Products Booth which will introduce customers to the newest foods and supplements available in the market. Join Everything Natural for a day of tasting and learning about foods and products that are new and cutting edge in the marketplace. Additionally, in the downstairs studio: 12pm Young Living Oil Make your own perfume w/Essential Oils Tara McAuliffe. 1:30pm HighVibe.Kitchen a cooking demo w/ Rebekah Gillette. Save the date! Spaces are limited for the downstairs workshops and we are encouraging everyone to stop by or call the store to reserve a seat.
Slick Cyber Systems Announces Free IT Assessment Slick Cyber Systems, a leading provider of cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of its FREE IT ASSESSMENT program. Designed to empower organizations with a comprehensive understanding of their network security posture, this initiative offers a range of invaluable services to safeguard digital assets and ensure a secure infrastructure. The FREE IT ASSESSMENT includes: Free Network Evaluation: Our expert team will conduct a thorough analysis of your organization’s network architecture to identify vulnerabilities and potential security risks. Customized Vulnerability Report: You will receive a detailed report outlining the specific vulnerabilities and weaknesses within your network, enabling you to make informed decisions about your cybersecurity strategy. Consultation to Address Your IT Needs: Our seasoned professionals will provide a one-on-one consultation to discuss the findings of the assessment and recommend tailored solutions to address your unique IT requirements. Data Safety Assurance: Protect your sensitive data with confidence, as we offer guidance on data security best practices and the latest threat mitigation techniques. Roadmap to a Safe and Secure Infrastructure: Receive a roadmap outlining actionable steps to enhance your organization’s cybersecurity posture, ensuring a safe and secure digital environment. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the importance of robust cybersecurity measures cannot be overstated. Cyberattacks are growing in frequency and sophistication, making it imperative for businesses of all sizes to fortify their defenses against potential threats. Slick Cyber Systems is committed to helping organizations proactively protect their digital assets and maintain the trust of their clients and stakeholders. “Don’t delay in taking action to protect your organization’s digital assets,” advises Jim Slick, CEO of Slick Cyber Systems. “Our FREE IT ASSESSMENT is a crucial first step toward securing your infrastructure and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your data.” To schedule your FREE IT ASSESSMENT with Slick Cyber Systems and take the first step towards a safer digital future, please visit https://www.slickcybersystems.com/free-it-assessment/ or call 570-371-5800.
The University of Scranton Hosts Acclaimed Pianist On Saturday, Oct. 14, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a recital by critically and popularly acclaimed award-winning pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. Conductor and Director of Performance Music Cheryl Y. Boga says, “I first became of aware of Llewellyn and his incredible talent when my son would text me from his classes at Juilliard to tell me about this amazing 13-year-old who was already enrolled in pursuit of his undergraduate degree and – according to Joseph – ‘played piano like craaaazy!’ Now, at age 26, he is already one of the most virtuosic, vibrant, and socially committed musicians of his generation.” Described as “a gifted virtuoso” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Sanchez-Werner has been performing with orchestras since the age of 6. The California native has played internationally with the Royal Concertgebouw in the Netherlands, CultureSummit Abu Dhabi, the Louvre and Grenoble Museums in France, Smetana Hall in the Czech Republic, State Philharmonic Hall in Slovakia, Verbier Festival in Switzerland, Ashford Castle in Ireland and Gijon International Piano Festival in Spain. In the United States, he has performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center and National Sawdust in New York City, Mary B. Galvin Hall in Chicago, Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, Paramount Theater in Oakland, and the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Art Museum, and Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. In addition, Sanchez-Werner has performed at the Kennedy Center and the White House for former President Barack Obama and current President Joe Biden, for President Peña Nieto of Mexico, Prime Minister Peres of Israel, and President Kagame of Rwanda. Committed to public service, he received the Atlantic Council Young Global Citizen Award recognizing his dedication to social action through music in such countries as Iraq, Rwanda, France, Canada and the U.S. An active chamber musician, Sanchez-Werner has collaborated with Renée Fleming, Eric Owens, Marina Poplavskaya, Richard O’Neill and Cynthia Phelps. He partnered with the Gershwin family on a concert and biographical tribute to the Gershwin brothers, and performed “Hallelujah Junction” for John Adams at his 70th birthday celebration in New York. Sanchez-Werner earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, where he was awarded the Kovner Fellowship, won the concerto competition and was the youngest admittee to each program at ages 14 and 18, respectively. Juilliard was Sanchez-Werner’s second college experience – he became a full-time student at Ventura College at age five, where he completed 170 college credits toward degrees in music and international relations. Sanchez-Werner also earned an Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music, where he was awarded the Charles S. Miller Prize. For further information on the recital, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on Sanchez-Werner, visit llewellynsanchezwerner.com.
The Wright Center’s Mobile Medical Clinic to Offer Routine Physicals for Students The Wright Center for Community Health’s medical clinic on wheels, Driving Better Health. To promote the health of school-aged children and teens, The Wright Center for Community Health will begin offering a new service next month aboard its mobile medical and dental unit known as Driving Better Health. The Driving Better Health clinician team will provide students with routine physicals, piloting this expanded service in the Hazleton Area School District. The first event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the Hazleton Area School District Administration Building, 1515 W. 23rd St., Hazle Township. A second event at the same location, and during the same time span, is scheduled for Oct. 25. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Appointments are required. Please bring student’s identification and insurance cards, if available. The Wright Center will never turn anyone away due to inability to pay. For more information or to make an appointment for a student physical, call 570.230.0019 or visit TheWrightCenter.org. The Wright Center’s traveling clinicians noticed a need for this service as they conducted an ongoing series of back-to-school vaccination clinics at multiple school districts in Northeast Pennsylvania, said Christine Wysocky, co-director of certified nurse practitioner and physician assistant services for The Wright Center for Community Health. “In Hazleton, there’s a large pediatric population that has fallen behind in obtaining their vaccines and their yearly physicals,” she said, noting that Pennsylvania requires physicals for every child entering kindergarten, sixth and 11th grades, as well as any new students enrolling from out of state. “With our mobile unit, we can take these services to them.” In addition to physicals, participants at the Driving Better Health clinics on Oct. 17 and Oct. 25 will be able to get routine childhood vaccines for which they are eligible, including chicken pox; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); polio; pertussis; tetanus, diphtheria and tetanus (DTaP); hepatitis B, meningitis; and the flu. COVID-19 vaccines and tests may also be available. For vaccine-only visits, appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted. For these appointments, children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and should have identification, vaccination records and insurance information, if applicable. Uninsured children can be vaccinated under the federally funded Vaccines for Children program. For more information or to schedule a vaccine-only appointment, call 570.230.0019 or visit TheWrightCenter.org. A medical clinic on wheels, Driving Better Health allows The Wright Center for Community Health to treat patients where they are in Northeast Pennsylvania – from traditionally underserved city neighborhoods to rural areas. The 34-foot vehicle includes two fully equipped exam areas, which can be used either for health care services or dental services. The vehicle also has a wheelchair lift. Since it was put into service in late 2020, Driving Better Health has repeatedly been deployed to area schools, senior living centers, homeless shelters and other community gathering spots. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provided a grant that enabled The Wright Center to acquire and outfit the custom-built vehicle, which initially served to help populations of special concern during the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding access to coronavirus testing and vaccines.
The Women’s Resource Center to Host SANE Training at the Anthracite Hotel For survivors of sexual assault, a forensic rape exam (FRE) can be both a key means of collecting evidence against their offender as well re-traumatization of their assault. In an effort to better support survivors and ensure evidence is properly collected the Women’s Resource Center of Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties (WRC), and the Victims’ Intervention Program of Wayne and Pike Counties (VIP) are hosting a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training at the Anthracite Hotel in Carbondale. There is a nationwide shortage of SANEs, especially in rural areas. Of the 80 SANEs in PA, only one is in the northeast. Local survivors looking to utilize her services must either travel to Scranton, likely on their own without the use of an ambulance, or wait for her to be contacted and make the trek out to where they are. This is especially problematic since time is critical for gathering DNA evidence. And that is to say nothing of the mental and emotional load that puts on the survivor. “SANE nurses are a critical component to any healthcare system,” said Ericka Thaxton, VIP’s Medical Advocate. “Not only do they conduct forensic examinations, collect evidence, and provide expert testimony in court, they also offer high quality, trauma-informed patient care, and emotional support for any individual who may fall victim to sexual assault or abuse.” “This is the second time that we have been able to offer the SANE training thanks to the AllOne Foundation,” explained Sabrina Hannon, M.A., WRC’s Medical Advocacy Program Coordinator. “At our last training, we were able to train 12 nurses but unfortunately within the 2 years since that training, most of the nurses have left our area or begun travel nursing. The response we have received from the medical community about the training has been very positive. Nurses want to be trained and medical facilities want their nurses trained but are often unable to provide the in-class training, so programs like ours help fill those gaps.” The training will take place October 9th and October 10th at the Anthracite Hotel in Carbondale. Broken into four sessions, this training teaches Registered Nurses from Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Pike counties how to collect evidence in sexual assault cases with compassion for the experience the survivor has endured.
Johnson College Announces New Board Members and Officers Johnson College’s Board of Directors has appointed seven new members and newly elected officials. The recent additions to the board include William Bochicchio, Jr., COO and General Manager of Five Star Equipment; Laura Bracey, Director of Human Resources and Operations at Bracey, Inc.; Kim Fanning, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Martz Bus; Thomas Kirkpatrick, Fixed Operations Director at Toyota of Scranton; Justin A. Marchuska II ’94, co-founder and member of Marchuska Brothers Construction; Grace McGregor Kramer, Director of Strategy and Operations at McGregor Industries, Inc.; and Mark Reese, President of Schiff’s Restaurant Services, Inc. Newly elected officials as of 2022 include J. Patrick Dietz, Senior Vice President of Peoples Security and Bank, as Chairperson; Atty. Kris E. Fendrock, Esq., partner at Myers, Brier & Kelly, LLP, as Vice Chairperson; and Nicholas J. Scarnato ’80, retired business executive, as Treasurer. William Bochicchio, Jr. joined the board in 2022. Attending Villanova University, he received a bachelor’s degree from its business school before attaining a master’s degree in accounting/consulting. Bochicchio also holds a CPA license. He resides in Peckville, Pa. Laura Bracey joined the board in 2023. In addition to this role, she has recently been elected as a member of the Chamber of Commerce Life Board and currently serves on the Wakefern Produce Committee. She graduated from the University of Scranton with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts. She resides in Moscow, Pa. Kim Fanning joined the board in 2023. Outside of Johnson College, she also serves as the Treasurer of the Moosic Redwings Softball Association. She attended the University of Scranton where she attained her MBA in Finance. She resides in Moosic, Pa. Thomas Kirkpatrick joined the board in 2023. This is his first time serving as a board member. He resides in Clarks Green, Pa. Justin A. Marchuska II ’94 joined the board in 2023. He also serves as a member of Broome-Tioga Workforce NY, Community Potential, and Binghamton University Athletic Board. He is an alumnus of Johnson College where he attained an associates degree in Building Construction Technology. He resides in both Binghamton and Skaneateles, N.Y. Grace McGregor joined the board in 2023. She is an active member of the community, serving as a board member of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and Scranton Tomorrow. She is an executive committee member of Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resources Center (NEPIRC) and the New York/Philadelphia Advisory Board of the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT). McGregor also serves as President of the Alumni Board of Governors at Scranton Preparatory School and Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. In previous years, she served on the Transition Advisory Committee on Economic Development for Governor Josh Shapiro and Delegate to the Democratic National Convention. She attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where she attained a bachelor’s degree in Economics with concentrations in Finance and Operations. She resides in Scranton, Pa. Mark Reese joined the board in 2023. He has previously served the College as a member of the Perkins Committee. He completed four years of plumbing apprenticeship while working in the Local Plumbers Union. He resides in Peckville, Pa. J. Patrick Dietz is the Chair of the board. He joined the Johnson College board in 2017 and is also a member of the Audit, Operational Excellence, and Governance Committees. Mr. Dietz is also the Chairman of the Salvation Army of Scranton Advisory Board. He obtained his MBA from Marywood University and is a Senior Vice President / Commercial Loan Officer at Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company. He resides in South Abington Township, Pa. Atty. Kris Fendrock is entering her eighth year on the board and is serving as the Vice Chair. Previously, she was the Governance Committee Chair. Fendrock is a partner at Myers, Brier & Kelly, LLP in Scranton. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas and a Juris Doctorate from Penn State Dickinson Law School. She resides in Waverly, Pa. Nicholas J. Scarnato ’80 is the Treasurer of the board. He recently retired from his role as Chief Commercial Officer at Producto in Endicott, NY. He graduated from Johnson College in 1980 with an Associate in Applied Science in Electronics and Fluidics. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Binghamton University. Before joining Producto, Scarnato held positions in Engineering, Project Management, Business Development, and Strategic Development for major Aerospace Corporations spanning 40 years. He resides in the Southern tier of New York.
