Marywood Students Join AICUP Day on the Hill A group of six Marywood University students and one staff member recently participated in the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) Day on the Hill in Harrisburg, Pa. They were among 170 attendees from 23 different schools. The annual one-day event, which was held this year on April 9, brings students from AICUP schools across the Commonwealth together at the Harrisburg Capitol Building to advocate on behalf of their institutions and the Pennsylvania State Grant Programs. Participants get the opportunity to meet with legislators and see how the advocacy process works in Harrisburg. The six students, all members of the Student Government Association, met with Pennsylvania State Representatives from Lackawanna County, including Rep. Kyle Donahue, Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, and Rep. Kyle Mullins, as well as Pennsylvania Senator Marty Flynn. Student Government Association (SGA) President-elect Scott Gartley was selected to speak at the event on behalf of Marywood University. Other Marywood student participants were: Ian Kovatch, Rosalyn Page, Aiyanna Jean, Kevin Budveit, and Kelly Royer. Dr. Ross Novak, Dean of Students, accompanied the students during the event. Image ID: Marywood University SGA President-elect Scott Gartley spoke at AICUP’s recent Day on the Hill event on the steps of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pa.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine to Host Community Event Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is hosting a community event: “Nobody’s Fool: Why We Get Taken in and What We Can Do About It” on May 14.
Lackawanna College Awarded $150,000 Grant to Further Assist Parenting Students Lackawanna College received the Parent Pathways Grant for $150,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Education Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education. The funds from this grant will expand existing resources for parenting students to directly impact the persistence of parenting students with tuition assistance, emergency funding, and support services. “We are thrilled to receive the Parent Pathways Grant, allowing us to grow our support services for parenting students,” Brian Costanzo, vice president for government affairs & special projects said. “At Lackawanna, we are dedicated to ensuring that all students, regardless of their family responsibilities, have the resources and support they need to succeed academically and personally.” The Parent Pathways grant aims to provide essential resources directly tailored to the needs of parenting students, ensuring their success in academic endeavors. Initiatives in the grant include childcare costs, scholarships, emergency funds for parenting students who require assistance with an academic or basic need affecting their education. These enhanced support services will benefit approximately 21% of Lackawanna’s parenting learners, providing them with the necessary assistance to navigate the demands of both parenthood and higher education. “We strive to offer as much support as possible to our students, and initiatives like the Parent Pathways Grant help further our mission to provide a quality education to all persons who seek to improve their lives and better the communities in which they live,” Costanzo said. For more information about Lackawanna College and its support services for parenting students, please visit Lackawanna.edu.
The Dime Bank Donates to The Cooperage Project The Dime Bank is proud to support The Cooperage Project’s Pop-Up Club and Romping Radishes programs with a $10,000.00 donation. Both programs at The Cooperage are part of the Earned Income Tax Credit program as an Educational Improvement Organization. Romping Radishes is a hands-on learning experience for kindergarten through second grade focusing on health and community. Interactive activities introduce children to local food production, cultural diversity, social responsibility, and other healthy living and safety topics. The Pop-Up Club is a free after school program for middle school students teaching entrepreneurial skills, various work opportunities, and science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics subjects in a safe, interactive environment. “The Cooperage Project offers students a fun way to continue learning outside of the school environment. We are happy to support this creative community platform,” stated The Dime Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich. Executive Director Arrah Fisher stated, “On behalf of us all at The Cooperage Project, we thank The Dime Bank for your continued support through the EITC program to support Pop-Up Club and Romping Radishes! We are so very grateful for your generosity.” Project Manager Amanda Masters added, “Thank you once again for the support to run the programs that led to these cute smiles!”The Cooperage Project serves students from Wayne Highlands, Wallenpaupack Area, Western Wayne Area School Districts and Cyber and Homeschool Students in Wayne and Pike Counties PA. For more information, contact info@thecooperageproject.org.
Crystal Window & Door Systems Expands Operations at Northeast PA Facility National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems has expanded operations at its Northeast Pennsylvania facility outside of Scranton with the addition of several Crystal products to the lineup of products fabricated there. The expansion allows the company to keep up with demand and keep lead times short. Crystal Windows’ new construction Series 300 and Series 400 vinyl windows and the Series 1500 and Series 1600 vinyl sliding patio doors are all now fully assembled at the Scranton factory. These products join the Series 100 vinyl window line, popular with distributor stock programs, and the Series 1240 and 1280 aluminum patio doors already assembled there. “Crystal Pennsylvania is continuing to grow despite the current industry challenges,” said Steve Chen, President of Crystal Windows. “With our 336,000 square foot facility, we’ve capitalized on the space to add product lines and allow other Crystal plants to focus production on new heavy commercial products for regional markets.” Crystal Pennsylvania (Crystal PA) also has expanded its insulated glass unit (IGU) fabrication capabilities. The facility now can produce IGUs with several spacer systems, including GED Intercept and Edgetech SuperSpacer. Production of triple-pane IGUs has also ramped up significantly with increased market demand for greater energy efficiency. Crystal PA’s automated glass line features highly efficient GED and Billco advanced production equipment which can handle large glass panels. Most of the products fabricated at Crystal PA are shipped directly to job sites and customers throughout the Northeast, MidAtlantic, Southeast, and central MidWest regions, including major developments in Crystal’s newest markets in Texas, saving shipping costs and time. Longer distance shipments are handled by Crystal’s logistics partner JB Hunt. Shipments in the northeast region are usually handled by Crystal’s own truck fleet. Crystal plans to add more new equipment this year, including vinyl saws, welders, and comer cleaners with associated tooling to handle additional C1ystal products. Building improvements, a new rooftop sign, and enhancements to employee break areas are also in the works. “The new equipment we have already added here recently has improved our operating efficiency and reduced lead times,” said Chen. ·”Further improvements this year will continue the trend, and it will allow us to satisfy demand even more effectively and improve deliveries to our customers.”
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education to Host Scholar’s Day The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education will host the annual Scholars Day poster competition on Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the auditorium of The Wright Center for Community Health – Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., Scranton. The event brings together over40 medical students, residents, and fellows from The Wright Center, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM), Geisinger’s Internal Medicine residency, and A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA). The annual program recognizes and celebrates scientific inquiry through scholarly poster presentations on clinical case reports, quality improvement, and research. The Wright Center partners with ATSU-SOMA to serve as a training and educational site for medical school students and physician assistants. Dr. Simin Nasr, a faculty member in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Family Medicine Residency, will deliver open remarks and launch the first of three poster display sessions. Attendees can discuss projects with presenters and enjoy refreshments. Three judges – Dr. Milos Babic of The Wright Center, and Dr. Pragya Dhaubhadel and Dr. Qi Shi, both of Geisinger – will review each poster and discuss the work with the presenter before grading them. Dr. Tata Mbugua, a University of Scranton professor and director of the undergraduate programs, will give a keynote speech on governance and advocacy for best practices in pediatric care. Dr. Edwin Mogaka, The Wright Center’s Family Medicine resident leader for scholarly activity, will present awards for first, second, and third place for each poster session. Award recipients will give brief presentations on their work before claiming their prize. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education was established in 1976 and today is one of the nation’s largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums. Together with consortium stakeholders, The Wright Center trains residents and fellows in a community-based, community-needs-responsive workforce development model to advance their shared mission to provide whole-person primary health services to people of all ages regardless of their insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. The Wright Center offers ACGME-accredited residencies in three disciplines: family medicine, internal medicine, and physical medicine & rehabilitation as well as fellowships in cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology, and geriatrics. For information about The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-866-3017.
Johnson College to Host 31st Annual Golf Tournament Johnson College will host its 31st Annual Johnson College Open on Friday, May 17, 2024, at the Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountain Top, PA. All proceeds from the annual golf tournament support the Johnson College Presidential Scholarship Fund. Last year’s tournament raised over $50,000 to support the Presidential Scholarship Fund. The scholarships are presented each fall to full-time students demonstrating financial need to finish their educational journey. To learn more about this event, visit johnson.edu/golf.
Attorneys Travis Eckersley and Jack Price Made Partners at Oliver, Price and Rhodes Attorneys Travis Eckersley and Jack Price have been made partners at Oliver, Price and Rhodes. Attorney Eckersley joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2019. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Delaware Law School at Widener University. He received his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University in Boston and is a graduate of Lackawanna Trail High School. He has worked in both public and corporate accounting and was previously employed as the Assistant Public Defender for Wyoming County. He is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States Middle District of Pennsylvania. Attorney Eckersley concentrates his practice on corporate and non-profit law, corporate finance, criminal defense, civil litigation, and estate planning and administration. Attorney Price joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2020. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law, graduating cum laude. He received his undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University and is a graduate of Dunmore High School. He served as a law clerk for the Honorable James A. Gibbons in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas and as a Deputy District Attorney in the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office. He is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States Middle District of Pennsylvania. Attorney Price concentrates his practice on business and civil litigation, personal injury law, criminal defense, municipal law, and estate planning and administration
Geisinger Neurosurgeon Shares Information for Stroke Awareness Month Below is a piece on strokes by Geisinger Neurosurgeon Dr. Clemens Schirmer. All strokes involve potential damage to an area of the brain. And all strokes have the same symptoms — which makes it easier to know when to seek help. But strokes have different causes, and that means different treatments and different recovery paths. Strokes fall into two categories: Ischemic stroke Hemorrhagic stroke Most strokes — almost 90 percent — are ischemic. These happen when blood flow through the artery to the brain becomes blocked, usually by a blood clot. There are two types of ischemic strokes: Embolic stroke Thrombotic stroke An embolic stroke occurs when a blood clot travels to the brain and becomes lodged inside an artery. Thrombotic strokes happen when a blood clot forms inside one of the brain’s arteries. Treatment involves removing the blockage as quickly as possible. A hemorrhagic stroke happens when the brain leaks blood, damaging or destroying brain cells. Hemorrhagic strokes are typically caused by high blood pressure and aneurysms but can be caused by malformations or fistulas. There are two types of hemorrhagic strokes: Intracerebral hemorrhage Subarachnoid hemorrhage Intracerebral are the most common types of hemorrhagic strokes, they Intracerebral occur when bleeding takes place within the brain. Subarachnoid hemorrhage strokes take place when bleeding occurs between the brain and the spaces that immediately surround it due to a ruptured aneurysm or malformation. Treatment of hemorrhagic stroke focuses on controlling bleeding and reducing pressure in the brain. You’ve probably heard of “mini” or “warning” strokes. The technical term for these is transient ischemic, or TIA, stroke. With a TIA, blood flow to the brain is usually blocked for less than 5 minutes and symptoms resolve within 24 hours, and usually much faster. But a TIA is a warning sign that a future, more severe stroke may occur. A TIA stroke requires immediate treatment and should be managed carefully, just like any other stroke. Doing so can lower your risk of having a major stroke. Knowing the warning signs of a stroke and calling 911 as soon as possible can have a big impact on recovery. Use the acronym BE FAST to remember the signs and know when to seek help: Balance difficulties Eyesight changes Face drooping Arm weakness Speech difficulty Time to call 911 The good news is that up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented through healthy lifestyle behaviors: Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables Maintaining a healthy weight Exercising regularly Limiting alcohol intake Not smoking If you think you may be at risk for having stroke, talk to your healthcare team. For more health and wellness tops, visit Geisinger.org/balance.
UNC’s Carbondale Farmers Market is Re-Opening with New Vendors United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) invites all to their Grand Re-Opening of the Carbondale Farmers Market. The Market will be open every Thursday, starting May 9from 3:00pm-7:00pm at UNC’s Fallbrook Senior Community Center at 185 Fallbrook Street in Carbondale. With 12 new vendors, the market will include fresh coffee beans from Milestone Coffee Roasting, canned vegetables and salsas from Canned Classics, decadent chocolate bars and sweets from Electric City Sweets, freshly made breads, muffins and scones from The Patchwork Kitchen and fresh baked cookies from The Little Ladybug Bakery. Make sure to bring your appetite for authentic Puerto Rican food provided by Amor de Mami and authentic Mexican foods from El Buen Amigo! And get ready to stock your freezers with fresh beef, pork and chicken from Winola Farm, fresh eggs from Berger’s Hollow, and produce from Purple Pepper Farm. With more vendors to come, this is a weekly farmers market you will not want to miss! Be sure to stop by all the vendors, take a seat, and relax to music provided by UNC. UNC Farmers Markets accepts SNAP/EBT and all benefit holders can receive an extra $2.00 for every $4.00 spent while shopping. For more information about SNAP/EBT, Food Bucks, or to be a cooking demonstrator, contact Taylor Burdick, UNC Carbondale Farmers Market Manager, at tburdick@uncnepa.org. UNC’s Carbondale Farmers Market is generously funded by Moses Taylor Foundation. Be sure to like us on Facebook to find out about upcoming demonstrations and programs. If you are interested in becoming a vendor, email tburdick@uncnepa.org.
