Scranton Cultural Center Announces New Security Protocols The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple announces new and enhanced security protocols. These are set to go into effect beginning at next weekend’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” performances (October 27 – 29), presented by Broadway in Scranton. The largest change is a clear bag policy. Under this new policy, only wristlets or wallets up to 4” x 6” x 1” or clear bags up to 12” x 12” x 6” will be allowed into the facility. All other purses, bags and backpacks will be prohibited. “The safety and security of our patrons is of our highest concern,” said SCC Executive Director, Deborah Moran Peterson. “We understand that this new policy will be an adjustment for those visiting our venue, however it is quickly becoming the industry standard.” Additional security measures include wanding and bag checks of all patrons by a security team, as well as the prohibition of items such as smoking materials (lighters, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, matches or other flammable items, e-cigarettes and vaping materials), pocket knives, weapons, or any other threatening objects, bottles, cans, glass containers and outside food or drink of any kind, including water bottles. Should patrons bring any of these items, they will be asked to return them to their vehicles. “We fully support the enhanced security measures being taken by the Scranton Cultural Center to ensure the safety and enjoyment of our Broadway patrons.” said Broadway Theatre League Executive Director Frank Blasi. Patrons are reminded to allow extra time for security screenings to ensure they make it to their seats at the start of the show. It is recommended to arrive at the venue 30-45 minutes prior to show time, allowing an additional 10-15 minutes for parking. Additionally, there is no re-entry into the Center for patrons once they have entered and gone through security inspection. Patrons who exit the building will not be readmitted. For a full breakdown of the Scranton Cultural Center’s 2023-2024 Security Protocols, visit SCCMT.org/security.
Settlers Hospitality Makes It a November to Remember When the calendar turns to November, Settlers Hospitality responds with a collection of special events that capture the essence of the season. The Settlers Inn, Ledges Hotel, and Silver Birches deliver the flavors and festivities that make this a treasured time in the Pocono Mountains. A special salute to members of the armed forces commemorates Veterans Day. Veterans may enjoy a complimentary overnight stay on November 12 at The Settlers Inn, Ledges Hotel, Silver Birches or Hotel Anthracite. The Settlers Inn will also host a welcome wine and cheese on Sunday evening especially for service members along with a fireside chat by Steve Pratt and a photo exhibit in The Undercroft. Reservations are required for overnight accommodation. Guests to The Settlers Inn on November 17 will take a deep dive into the world of truffles. The Italian Wine Dinner boasts an elegant Italian menu of truffle inspired dishes expertly paired with cellar wines featuring Urbani Truffles and Pio Cesare Winery. The sumptuous menu includes dishes such as Truffle Whipped Mascarpone in a Phyllo Cup, Truffle Potato and Lukan’s Farm Egg Stuffed Raviolo with a White Truffle Butter Sauce as well as Creamy Ricotta Cheesecake with Pistachio and Truffle Honey Glaze. Kevin Gaudreau will serve as guest chef for the evening. The James Beard nominee is the owner of the renowned Beech Restaurant in Jamestown, RI. Reservations are required. Every Wednesday beginning November 1, guests to Glass-wine.bar.kitchen will enjoy a Taste of Tokyo. The restaurant located inside Ledges Hotel offers weekly authentic Izakaya style small plate and Japanese brew features. Gorgeous Floral has tablescapes covered for Turkey Day. Attend the Thanksgiving Centerpiece Sip and Snip on November 16 from 5:30-7 p.m. to create your own fresh floral bouquet for the dinner table. The light-hearted evening includes a mocktail or cocktail. Before the big feast, take part in Friendsgiving at Glass-wine.bar.kitchen. The casual celebration on Thanksgiving Eve, November 22, features live music by John Curtin plus food specials. Gather for Thanksgiving in Hawley at the properties of Settlers Hospitality. For a traditional Thanksgiving meal of farm-to-table favorites, make a reservation for Thanksgiving Dinner at The Settlers Inn on November 23. Seating is available from noon-6:30 p.m. Celebrate lakeside with the Thanksgiving Buffet at The Waterfront at Silver Birches on November 23 from noon-5 p.m. You may also opt to stay home and enjoy a Thanksgiving feast with none of the cooking. Both The Settlers Inn and The Dock on Wallenpaupack will offer Thanksgiving Dinner to Go featuring turkey and all the trimmings. Orders must be placed by November 21. Meals will be ready for pick up on November 23 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Settlers Cares Foundation helps usher in the holiday season with an Ugly Sweater Happy Hour on November 28. The evening will feature a crew of celebrity bartenders led by Pocono Travel Network’s Jim Hamill taking over the taps at Runaway Train in Brewery in Honesdale for a worthy cause. Whether it’s a relaxing getaway, memorable meal or unique special event, Settlers Hospitality crafts the finest offerings of the season into exceptional experiences.
The Wright Center Becomes Training Site for Life Support The Wright Center for Community Health: Longtime paramedic Carmen Passaniti knows that saving the life of a person in cardiac arrest often depends on what happens even before emergency responders arrive on the scene. “If someone doesn’t start CPR,” he says, “the chance of a successful outcome is very, very small. Without that early intervention – without basic life support – nothing really matters.” Passaniti recently joined The Wright Center for Community Health, where he is leading an effort to provide various levels of life support training to anyone in the region who wants or needs it, ranging from hospital and health center employees to people with no connection to the medical field. The Wright Center recently became an American Heart Association (AHA) training site, allowing it to begin delivering important services to the communities it serves in Northeast Pennsylvania. For professionals who are required to get certifications and recertifications, it will provide affordable trainings in Basic Life Support, Heartsaver CPR, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS). For beginners, Passaniti will cover topics such as how to identify the signs of sudden cardiac arrest and how to use an automated external defibrillator, the device used to jolt a heart back into rhythm. All trainings will adhere to the AHA’s training site guidelines, which are widely considered the gold standard. By establishing the new training site, The Wright Center will be able to efficiently certify and recertify its own employees, including physicians, nurses, and other clinicians, while addressing broader community needs. A well-established AHA training center in Lackawanna County recently ended operations, leaving emergency responders, college students enrolled in health care programs, daycare workers, pharmacists, and others searching for options. The debut of The Wright Center’s training site also coincides with a surge in public interest in CPR certification programs. A high-profile incident involving NFL player Damar Hamlin, who was resuscitated on the football field during a nationally televised game in January, brought the reality of cardiac arrest into people’s living rooms. “When it happens in a very public venue such as a Monday Night Football game with millions of people watching, it kind of brings more people to the classroom,” says Passaniti. “They say, ‘Maybe I should learn how to do that.’ Because it can truly make a difference.” Hamlin, who survived the incident and has since resumed playing, has partnered with the AHA to issue a social media challenge, the “Damar Hamlin #3forHeart CPR Challenge.” The campaign urges participants to do three things: learn “hands-only” CPR, donate to AHA in support of CPR education and training, and encourage three friends to do the same. Any first-timers who attend Passaniti’s basic-level training courses are coached in not only the skills they need but also the confidence. Many novices are understandably concerned that if they help a stranger in an emergency, they might do more harm than good. Others worry they might expose themselves to legal liability. Passaniti explains there are Good Samaritan laws in each state to protect helpers, and intervention is crucial for these life-and-death situations. “Anything you do is a positive,” he says. “People may be worried about doing the technique wrong, they’re worried about causing injury. But it’s better to try. Some CPR is better than no CPR.” More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospital settings each year in the United States, according to the AHA. Yet in only about 40 percent of those cases do the victims get the immediate help they need before the arrival of emergency responders. CPR, if administered immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, according to the AHA. That’s why people like Passaniti are eager to spread training throughout the community, increasing the odds that life-saving help might be close at hand when needed at homes, houses of worship, workplaces, sports fields, and other social spaces. ‘Chain of survival’ Passaniti, 65, seems perfectly suited for his new role at The Wright Center, where he works among many familiar faces. “I’ve known Carmen for years,” says Sheila Ford, vice president of quality, safety, and enterprise policy compliance and integrity. “All of our doctors know him. For decades our physicians and residents, as well as clinical staff, have received BLS, ACLS and PALS training with Carmen.” “Carmen, has just been a pillar of the community” she adds, “Our clinicians value his expertise with the American Heart Association’s gold standard for life support certifications. Creating a clinical community gold standard is important for the patients and the communities we serve.” In 1972, at age 14, he became a junior firefighter for the Dalton Fire Company, where he continues to serve to this day as ambulance captain. In both volunteer and paid capacities, he has devoted decades to protecting lives and property. He served as a paramedic in Lackawanna County during the pioneering days of the profession. In addition to responding to calls, he then became active in managing training programs to properly prepare others who work in the emergency response field throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. Passaniti now holds the title of director of employee health and continuing medical education coordinator at The Wright Center. His duties include overseeing the health aspects of the new employees’ onboarding requirements and ensuring employees remain up to date on health mandates such as vaccinations. He will also spearhead a two-year effort to have The Wright Center’s new training site designated as an AHA training center, a distinction earned by training a certain number of people annually and meeting other standards. “Carmen is so passionate and committed to it,” adds Ford. “And he’s done this before. This is not a road he hasn’t traveled.” Passaniti was deeply involved in managing the former Community Life Support ambulance company and the recently closed Commonwealth Health EMS (CHEMS) training center, where he had been clinical manager. Even as he reaches an age at which many people opt to retire, the West Abington Township resident feels compelled to continue to conduct trainings, so he can teach and inspire younger generations. “It’s something I truly enjoy doing,” Passaniti says. He also knows that, for some of the people he trains, there will be more at stake than a feeling of accomplishment or a certification. A life will hang in the balance. A fast-acting family member or bystander will step in, use their training, and forge the first link in a so-called “chain of survival” that begins with basic life support and connects to skilled emergency responders and, finally, to hospital professionals. The outcome, while never certain, can be spectacular. “Someone is going to see their family again,” says Passaniti. “They’ll leave the hospital neurologically intact and go home with the same quality of life.”
The Second TechCelerator Cohort Selects the Eight Participants The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Lackawanna County, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of NEPA, The Chamber’s IGNITE program, and tecBRIDGE announce the start of the second cohort and participants of TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty. “We are really excited to again partner with Lackawanna County, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of NEPA, and tecBRIDGE on this initiative that opens the door for aspiring entrepreneurs to advance their dreams of business ownership,” shares Bob Durkin, president and CEO of The Chamber. In another round of competitive application process, eight new participants were chosen. All eight were selected for their unique for-profit, tech-based business ideas, commitment to completing the 10-week program, and creating a company and jobs based in Lackawanna County. The eight participants are: BarBase, INAS (I Need a Speaker), KM Arms, NEPA Lifestyle, Rentchexx, LLC, STAIPUT, The Brian Trust, and Washboard. The second cohort started on Tuesday, October 3, at the Chamber’s TekRidge Center in the Jessup Small Business Park. Participants will walk away with solid networking skills and a foundational understanding of finances, marketing, business strategy, and more. For those who successfully meet the requirements, $10,000 reimbursement of business expenses will assist the participants in launching their venture. PHOTO: Front Row from Left to Right: Don Webster, Executive Director of tecBRIDGE & TechCelerator @ Lackawanna County Program Administrator; Larry Puleo, TechCelerator @ Lackawanna County Program Instructor; Paul Capoccia, TechCelerator Participant; Robert Durkin, CEO and president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Chris Chermak, Lackawanna County Commissioner; Frank Sorokach, TechCelerator Participant; Michael Smitchell, TechCelerator Participant; Aileen Exeter, TechCelerator Participant; Nick Rosati, TechCelerator Participant; Brianna Florovito, IGNITE program manager; Back Row from Left to Right: Ken Okrepkie, Regional Manager for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of NEPA; Austin Dembesky, TechCelerator Participant
The Wright Center Becomes Training Site for Life Support Longtime paramedic Carmen Passaniti knows that saving the life of a person in cardiac arrest often depends on what happens even before emergency responders arrive on the scene. “If someone doesn’t start CPR,” he says, “the chance of a successful outcome is very, very small. Without that early intervention – without basic life support – nothing really matters.” Passaniti recently joined The Wright Center for Community Health, where he is leading an effort to provide various levels of life support training to anyone in the region who wants or needs it, ranging from hospital and health center employees to people with no connection to the medical field. The Wright Center recently became an American Heart Association (AHA) training site, allowing it to begin delivering important services to the communities it serves in Northeast Pennsylvania. For professionals who are required to get certifications and recertifications, it will provide affordable trainings in Basic Life Support, Heartsaver CPR, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS). For beginners, Passaniti will cover topics such as how to identify the signs of sudden cardiac arrest and how to use an automated external defibrillator, the device used to jolt a heart back into rhythm. All trainings will adhere to the AHA’s training site guidelines, which are widely considered the gold standard. By establishing the new training site, The Wright Center will be able to efficiently certify and recertify its own employees, including physicians, nurses, and other clinicians, while addressing broader community needs. A well-established AHA training center in Lackawanna County recently ended operations, leaving emergency responders, college students enrolled in health care programs, daycare workers, pharmacists, and others searching for options. The debut of The Wright Center’s training site also coincides with a surge in public interest in CPR certification programs. A high-profile incident involving NFL player Damar Hamlin, who was resuscitated on the football field during a nationally televised game in January, brought the reality of cardiac arrest into people’s living rooms. “When it happens in a very public venue such as a Monday Night Football game with millions of people watching, it kind of brings more people to the classroom,” says Passaniti. “They say, ‘Maybe I should learn how to do that.’ Because it can truly make a difference.” Hamlin, who survived the incident and has since resumed playing, has partnered with the AHA to issue a social media challenge, the “Damar Hamlin #3forHeart CPR Challenge.” The campaign urges participants to do three things: learn “hands-only” CPR, donate to AHA in support of CPR education and training, and encourage three friends to do the same. Any first-timers who attend Passaniti’s basic-level training courses are coached in not only the skills they need but also the confidence. Many novices are understandably concerned that if they help a stranger in an emergency, they might do more harm than good. Others worry they might expose themselves to legal liability. Passaniti explains there are Good Samaritan laws in each state to protect helpers, and intervention is crucial for these life-and-death situations. “Anything you do is a positive,” he says. “People may be worried about doing the technique wrong, they’re worried about causing injury. But it’s better to try. Some CPR is better than no CPR.” More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospital settings each year in the United States, according to the AHA. Yet in only about 40 percent of those cases do the victims get the immediate help they need before the arrival of emergency responders. CPR, if administered immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, according to the AHA. That’s why people like Passaniti are eager to spread training throughout the community, increasing the odds that life-saving help might be close at hand when needed at homes, houses of worship, workplaces, sports fields, and other social spaces. ‘Chain of survival’ Passaniti, 65, seems perfectly suited for his new role at The Wright Center, where he works among many familiar faces. “I’ve known Carmen for years,” says Sheila Ford, vice president of quality, safety, and enterprise policy compliance and integrity. “All of our doctors know him. For decades our physicians and residents, as well as clinical staff, have received BLS, ACLS and PALS training with Carmen.” “Carmen, has just been a pillar of the community” she adds, “Our clinicians value his expertise with the American Heart Association’s gold standard for life support certifications. Creating a clinical community gold standard is important for the patients and the communities we serve.” In 1972, at age 14, he became a junior firefighter for the Dalton Fire Company, where he continues to serve to this day as ambulance captain. In both volunteer and paid capacities, he has devoted decades to protecting lives and property. He served as a paramedic in Lackawanna County during the pioneering days of the profession. In addition to responding to calls, he then became active in managing training programs to properly prepare others who work in the emergency response field throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. Passaniti now holds the title of director of employee health and continuing medical education coordinator at The Wright Center. His duties include overseeing the health aspects of the new employees’ onboarding requirements and ensuring employees remain up to date on health mandates such as vaccinations. He will also spearhead a two-year effort to have The Wright Center’s new training site designated as an AHA training center, a distinction earned by training a certain number of people annually and meeting other standards. “Carmen is so passionate and committed to it,” adds Ford. “And he’s done this before. This is not a road he hasn’t traveled.” Passaniti was deeply involved in managing the former Community Life Support ambulance company and the recently closed Commonwealth Health EMS (CHEMS) training center, where he had been clinical manager. Even as he reaches an age at which many people opt to retire, the West Abington Township resident feels compelled to continue to conduct trainings, so he can teach and inspire younger generations. “It’s something I truly enjoy doing,” Passaniti says. He also knows that, for some of the people he trains, there will be more at stake than a feeling of accomplishment or a certification. A life will hang in the balance. A fast-acting family member or bystander will step in, use their training, and forge the first link in a so-called “chain of survival” that begins with basic life support and connects to skilled emergency responders and, finally, to hospital professionals. The outcome, while never certain, can be spectacular. “Someone is going to see their family again,” says Passaniti. “They’ll leave the hospital neurologically intact and go home with the same quality of life.”
NeighborWorks Celebrates Family Fun at the West Scranton Fall Festival NeighborWorks had a wonderful time sharing in the fun at Clover Field and Allen Park for the second annual West Scranton Fall Festival, presented by PNC this past Saturday. Activities across the day included food and entertainment, children’s activities, bounce houses, yard games, a fire pit, s’mores, live music, and more! Over 600 people attended the festival across both events. They thank sponsors: presenting sponsor PNC Bank, gold sponsor Posture Interactive, silver sponsor Citizens Savings Bank, and bronze sponsors Bold Gold Media Group, Brianna Keeler from Comparion Insurance Agency, Fidelity Bank, the Scranton Area Community Foundation, and the University of Scranton. Food vendors were El Buen Amigo, The Little Ladybug Bakery, Hangin with the Big Dogs, and Fidelity’s ice cream truck. Live music was provided by Tori V & The Karma and Grupo Zona. We want to extend and additional thank you to the Youth Arts Coalition of NEPA, Scranton Fringe, Dani Long Legs and the Eclectic Circus, Kyle Mertz Juggling, DJ Cola, and our amazing volunteers! This initiative is part of the NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania West Scranton Revitalization Plan.Please contact Miranda Pace at mpace@nwnepa.org, or 570-558-2490 for additional information.
Johnson College Receives EITC Contribution from Peoples Security Bank & Trust Johnson College received a $12,000 EITC contribution from Peoples Security Bank & Trust to support the College’s Industry Fast Track program. Peoples Security Bank & Trust’s contribution to Johnson College is part of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The program offers businesses a tax credit for supporting state-approved educational improvement programs. Johnson College is approved to accept EITC contributions in support of its STEM outreach programs and Industry Fast Track program. Johnson College’s Industry Fast Track program offers high school students from participating area school districts an opportunity to enroll simultaneously in secondary and post-secondary coursework at Johnson College. The course meets state requirements for high school graduation while providing college-level courses. Students remain enrolled full-time at their high school while attending classes on the College’s campus. To learn more about Johnson College’s Industry Fast Track program, visit johnson.edu/dual-enrollment-at-johnson-college.
Keystone Mission Holds First Poetry & Worship Night Keystone Mission held their first Poetry & Worship Night on Saturday October 14th at their Scranton Innovation Center for Homeless & Poverty, where local community and Keystone Mission guests bonded over worship and poetry readings. With the help of Garry Melville of Party Poets, guests, staff, and visitors were encouraged to step up to the mic and share their heart with the crowd. This event was created to make the arts more accessible for the homeless community in Northeast PA. Individuals facing homelessness are often embarrassed by their appearance and hygiene and are not comfortable going into seated establishments.
PennDOT Outlines Winter Preparations, Guidance for Public Readiness, and Employment Opportunities Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency DirectorRandy Padfield, and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) Chief Executive Officer Mark Compton today held a media briefing to outline plans for winter services, highlight job opportunities, and discuss how the public can prepare for the season. “The safety of every Pennsylvanian is a top priority of the Shapiro Administration. We’ve been preparing for this winter since the last one ended,” Carroll said. “Across Pennsylvania, the team at PennDOT is hard at work fixing our roads, highways and bridges – making it easier and safer for Pennsylvania drivers while creating good paying jobs. Keeping our roads as safe as possible is a team effort, and we’d love to have people join our team.” The public can access travel information on nearly 40,000 state-maintained roadway miles year-round at www.511PA.com, and during the winter they can find plow-truck locations and details of when state-maintained roadways were last plowed. The information is made possible by PennDOT’s Automated Vehicle Location technology, which uses units in the over 2,600 department-owned and rented plow trucks to send a cellular signal showing a truck’s location. To help the public prepare for the season and share information about winter services, PennDOT offers operational information and traveler resources on its winter web page. The site also has a complete winter guide with detailed information about winter services in each of PennDOT’s 11 engineering districts. Each year, the PTC readies itself to confront the winter elements by properly preparing its entire fleet of trucks, plows and salt spreaders and training more than 425 licensed equipment operators so they are ready to activate 24/7 staffing this fall. Turnpike traffic and weather operations are also at the ready. The team’s focus is to fully understand the conditions on the roadway and to keep the Turnpike system as free of snow and ice as possible. “Fall has arrived in Pennsylvania, and that means that wintry weather is not far behind,” Compton said. “With winter weather ahead, preparation, planning and coordination are crucial. The agencies here today have spent all year meticulously planning and preparing our crews and resources so that when the first snowflakes fall, we can properly deploy what is needed and where. We also know that your planning ahead for winter driving is critical as well. Take the time now, if you haven’t already done so, to be sure your vehicle is ready by checking your tires, wiper blades, battery and anti-freeze.” For more information check out the Safety Keys | PA Turnpike. In discussing traffic safety, Carroll announced that PennDOT is adding 15 variable speed limit, or VSL, signs – which quickly reduce speed limits when visibility or roadway conditions call for lower speeds – bringing the statewide total to 78 locations: 36 locations along I-80 in Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, and Union counties (mile marker (MM) 97-210); Six locations on I-80 in Clarion and Jefferson counties on the approaches to Emlenton Bridge (MM 42-45), North Fork Bridge (MM 78-81), and Kyle Lake Bridge (MM 92-95); and 36 locations along I-81 from I-78 to I-80 in Lebanon (five locations), Luzerne (seven locations), and Schuylkill (24 locations) counties. VSL signs quickly reduce speed limits when visibility or roadway conditions present the need for more cautious driving. Preliminary results show this solution effectively slowed traffic 4-9 mph during winter road conditions at the 63 locations last winter. Additionally, crashes decreased by an average by 22% on I-80 in Clearfield County last winter when compared to the previous five-year average. Locations were chosen based on crash and weather data, such as frequency of wintry conditions that demand safer driving, and where crashes caused by whiteout conditions led to roadway closures of more than three hours. While the VSLs are in place, permanent speed limit signs are covered, and the normal posted speed limit is displayed on the VSL unless visibility or winter weather conditions call for slower speeds. When speed limits are reduced, a yellow light at the top and bottom of the VSL will be flashing to ensure motorists are aware of the change. With more than $197 million budgeted for this winter’s statewide operations, PennDOT deploys about 4,700 on-the-road workers, has more than 700,000 tons of salt on hand across the state and will take salt deliveries throughout the winter. PennDOT is actively seeking over 700 temporary equipment operators statewide for the winter season to supplement the department’s full-time staff. Details on minimum requirements, such as possession of a CDL, as well as application information, are available at www.employment.pa.gov. Through the same website, job seekers can apply for nearly100 other non-operator winter positions such as diesel and construction equipment mechanics, welders, clerks and more. If motorists encounter snow or ice-covered roads, they should slow down, increase their following distance and avoid distractions. Last winter in Pennsylvania, preliminary data shows that there were 135 crashes resulting in one fatality and 61 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways where aggressive-driving behaviors such as speeding or making careless lane changes were factors. “Road conditions during inclement winter weather can change very quickly, making it exceptionally important to have a reliable method of receiving timely updates about hazardous weather conditions,” Padfield said. “It’s always a good idea to make sure others know your estimated travel time, and have some basic emergency supplies in your car, like water and a phone charger, along with any specialized items needed for young children or pets.” Padfield said it’s also important to know the difference between a weather watch and warning: A watch means there is increased risk of a hazardous weather event, but its occurrence, location, or timing is still uncertain. Pay attention to forecasts and plan out what you will do if/when it occurs. A warning means the weather event is imminent or is happening. Take immediate action to protect lives and property. In addition, snow squalls can often produce dangerous and deadly travel hazards on otherwise clear winter days. The National Weather Service now issues “Snow Squall Warnings” which alert drivers of whiteout conditions and slippery roadways, so motorists can avoid traveling directly into these dangerous squalls. Motorists should prepare for potential wintry weather by ensuring they have supplies in their cars before heading out: food, water, blankets, extra gloves and hats, cell phone charger, hand or foot warmers, windshield brush and scraper, and any specialized items like medications or baby and pet supplies. For more information on PennDOT’s winter preparations and additional winter-driving resources for motorists, visit the department’s winter website. Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 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. 511PA is also available through a free smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X. Subscribe to statewide PennDOT news and traffic alerts or subscribe to news in a specific county or region. Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
