Pennsylvania Treasury Department Praised for PA 529 Pennsylvania Treasury Department has been praised for PA 529 Investment Plan. Morningstar, a financial services company that rates 529 plans across the country, recently reinforced the reasons it awarded the Pennsylvania Treasury Department’s PA 529 College and Career Savings Program Investment Plan (IP) its Gold Rating in November – making it one of only two plans in the nation to receive Morningstar’s highest rating. In a recent article (“Morningstar’s Top-Ranked 529 Plans”), Morningstar praised Treasury’s “aggressive negotiations for lower fees and additional fee breakpoints” which “led to a more positive investor experience.” It also highlighted the department’s “effective and steadfast advocacy on behalf of its investors [which] puts the plan a notch above peers.” “My team and I are proud of the fact that we earned Morningstar’s Gold Rating because it means that we’re doing a great job for the hardworking Pennsylvania families who use the PA 529 IP to save for education,” Treasurer Stacy Garrity said. “Our focus is always on the people who are saving every dollar they can to give their children and grandchildren the education they want and deserve. We will continue working day in and day out to give Pennsylvania families even more reasons to save for their child’s bright future with PA 529.” The PA 529 IP allows families to choose from a variety of investment portfolios, including target enrollment date options, which automatically adjust asset allocations to become more conservative as a child reaches the anticipated date of enrollment in post-high school education. PA 529 IP earnings are dependent upon financial market performance. Since taking office in 2021, Treasurer Garrity has overseen several changes to PA 529 plans, making them more accessible and affordable for Pennsylvania families, including eliminating the minimum deposit to open an account and reducing the minimum contribution to one dollar, on top of multiple fee reductions that have saved more than $11.5 million for families across the whole PA 529 program, which also includes the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP). There are nearly 301,000 combined PA 529 IP and GSP accounts with more than $7.7 billion in assets. The PA 529 College and Career Savings Program helps families steadily and strategically save for future educational expenses like tuition, fees, books, equipment, room and board and more at qualifying technical, collegiate and apprenticeship programs. PA 529 plans offer significant state and federal tax advantages and saving with PA 529 does not impact Pennsylvania state financial aid eligibility. To learn more about PA 529 accounts visit pa529.com, call 800-440-4000 or email pa529@patreasury.gov.
L.R. Costanzo Co. Inc. Completes Project at Johnson College Johnson College has once again teamed up with its long-standing partner, L.R. Costanzo Co. Inc., to erect its latest northeastern Pennsylvania masterpiece: Johnson College’s Ideal Saldi Hall. This new building, serving as a dramatic gateway to all who enter the 44 acre campus, not only welcomes visitors and students, but also stands as a symbol of Johnson College’s innovative spirit. Ideal Saldi Hall houses state-of-the-art classrooms; student areas; computer labs; the Biomedical Equipment Technology program; administrative offices; including Financial Aid, Admissions, Advising, President’s Office; and the “Hallway of Industry.” Spanning two stories, this extraordinary structure features an expansive second floor with a floating, cantilevered classroom above a student gathering area. This impressive edifice overlooks the school’s beautifully landscaped greenspace and alumni garden. A first of its kind on the campus, this building allows for intuitive learning and teaching by featuring a type of “live laboratory” for students. Johnson College requested design features that leave most of the interior building envelope exposed, in order to foster real-world learning. This includes uncovered ceilings, observable structural steel, visible ductwork, and wide open spaces, allowing teachers to bring their classrooms to life by encouraging students to experience, firsthand, what they are learning. “The partnership between Johnson College and L.R. Costanzo began years ago and goes beyond the construction of campus buildings,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College. “Everyone at L. R. Costanzo, including many of our alums, participate in our Professional Advisory Committees and career fairs, interact with our students during their classes and labs, and students frequently visit their construction sites through internships and in-industry tours. Our collaboration shows what it means when we say industry is our students’ campus.” Bringing Real Life Experience to Students Another unique aspect of this remarkable project has been student engagement with professionals from L.R. Costanzo. Senior Project Manager Benjamin Washington and Senior Project Engineer Stephen Peterson regularly serve as guest instructors, providing educational learning throughout course of the project. L.R. Costanzo is also affording paid internships so students can continue learning outside of the college environment. “Our goal is to expose students to true life situations by showing them that what they’re learning in the classroom and labs really does translate in the real world,” states Stephen Peterson, Project Engineer. “In other words, we want to expose them to the various types of jobs in construction, since there is no one path to get there.” Benjamin Washington, Project Manager says, “Taking part in the creation of a building that not only serves as a welcoming showpiece for Johnson College’s constituents, but also provides real time, hands-on learning for its students, has been incredible. Knowing that we are actively contributing to furthering a student’s education has made this job rare and extremely rewarding.” Alumni Involvement Both Johnson College and L.R. Costanzo are proud of their alumni involvement in not only this project, but in numerous other projects along the east coast and beyond. “There are several L.R. Costanzo team members who are proud graduates of Johnson College including myself in 1985 (my father, Tony, 1946, who attended through the GI bill served as my inspiration); Ideal Saldi Hall’s Project Superintendent, Joseph Carlo (1985); and it’s Estimating Manager, Kevin Coolican (1985),” states L.R. Costanzo Vice President of Operations, Matthew Michalek. Project Superintendent and Alumnus Joseph Carlo states, “We take an enormous amount of pride in all our projects, but this one is particularly close to our hearts. Our team is working hard to ensure that this building will exceed expectations.” Michalek continues, “As a locally-owned and operated family company, our leadership strongly supports this wonderful institution. In fact, Louis A. Costanzo served as Board Chair and his son, Louis E. Costanzo served as a Board Member. Currently, our Business Development Executive and Johnson College alum, Candy Frye, 1994, is also Board Member.”
The Wright Center Announces ‘Walk with a Doc’ The Wright Center for Community Health invites residents of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wayne Counties to lace up their sneakers and take a step toward better health by participating in one of three regional Walk with a Doc programs. The doctor-led initiative brings health care providers and members of the community together to enjoy a refreshing and rejuvenating walk with doctors and other health care professionals, who will provide participants with an opportunity to get some exercise, interact with health care professionals, and meet new people. The Wright Center’s Walk with a Doc in Lackawanna County is on the first Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. at the David P. Maslar Memorial Park in Archbald. Walkers should meet at the Laurel Street Trailhead. The next event is on July 6. Walk with a Doc in Wayne County is on the second Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. at the Lacawac Sanctuary, 94 Sanctuary Road, Lake Ariel. The next event is July 13 and is made possible through a collaboration with Lacawac Sanctuary and AllOne Foundation & Charities. The Wright Center’s Walk with a Doc program in Luzerne County is held on the third Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. at Kirby Park. The next event is July 20. Walkers should meet at the park’s main entrance. The doctor-led group walks are open to the community and people of all ages and fitness levels. Participation is free, and pre-registration is not required. Walk with a Doc is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire communities through movement and conversation. Walking as little as 30 minutes a day can improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels, help maintain a healthy body weight and lower the risk of obesity, enhance mental well-being, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, according to the American Heart Association. The Wright Center for Community Health, headquartered in Scranton, operates 10 primary and preventive care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, including a mobile medical and dental vehicle called Driving Better Health. Its practices offer integrated whole-person primary health services, meaning patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health’s Walk with a Doc program, contact Nicole Lipinski at lipinskin@TheWrightCenter.org or Christine Wysocky at wysockyc@TheWrightCenter.org
UNC’s Mid Valley Senior Center Summer Party United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) invites you to join us for our joyous and celebratory annual Summer Party on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 pm at our Mid Valley Senior Community Center at 310 Church Street in Jessup. New and old friends will come together to celebrate the warmth of summer and the very special 103rd birthday of Julia Mellody, a beloved member of our community. Mellody, an active participant at UNC’s Mid Valley Senior Community Center, is known for her love of parties and her favorite food, ravioli. Our special centenarian birthday cookout bash will be filled with joy, laughter, and live music. And, of course, a delicious cake! We invite you to celebrate summer and wish Julia many more happy and healthy years.
The Wright Center Expanding Healthy MOMS Program The Wright Center for Community Health received a $62,000 grant from the Wilkes-Barre City Health Department to expand a program that helps moms and their babies build a solid foundation to begin their lives in recovery from opioid use disorder. The Wright Center’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) program will receive funding through a two-year grant. The grant is provided by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Services block grant, which the state allocated to the city’s health department for distribution. Members of the Michael Steiner American Legion Jessup Post 411 Ladies Auxiliary recently presented a $2,000 check to representatives of The Wright Center for Community Health’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) program. The Healthy MOMS program is a multi-agency effort that The Wright Center co-founded in 2018 to help combat the opioid crisis. It was launched in Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties but has grown to serve women and their families throughout much of Northeast Pennsylvania. The program is modeled after a program of the same name in Ohio and aims to help pregnant women and new mothers achieve and maintain sobriety. To date, it has supported more than 500 mothers and 282 babies, including 137 mothers in Luzerne County. “When I started working with Healthy MOMS in 2020, we had five moms in Luzerne County. Now, just four years later, we have 38 active moms,” said Marcella Bicksler, the lead program manager for the Healthy MOMS program. “We know there’s a huge need. Our goal is to help 50 Luzerne County mothers this year, and this grant will make that goal achievable.” To expand the Healthy MOMS program in Luzerne County, The Wright Center will leverage its existing behavioral health services and its state-designated Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence (COE) to provide extensive community outreach, education, prevention efforts, and opioid pregnancy recovery and medication-assisted treatment services. The program provides access to prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care and access to certified recovery specialists, psychiatrists, board-certified addiction medicine physicians, licensed social workers, and licensed clinical social workers. “We’re uniquely qualified to lead these initiatives,” said Maria Kolcharno, The Wright Center’s Healthy MOMS program manager and director of addictions services. “Our work helps dismantle the stigma frequently linked to addiction and boosts mothers’ self-esteem during and after pregnancy, aiming to enroll them in recovery support services for two years to prevent relapse.” Kolcharno said the program’s success can be attributed to The Wright Center’s approach to delivering whole-person primary health services and connecting Healthy MOMS clients with a variety of wraparound services — from help with housing and utility bills to access to food pantries, clothing supply closets, and many other social services — that encourage healthy behaviors for the mothers and babies. Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown said he looks forward to seeing the work The Wright Center will do in the future to help build strong families. “We are pleased to be a community partner with The Wright Center to provide a much-needed service for moms-to-be and their babies,” said Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown. “This program provides a core foundation for all aspects of a healthy mom and baby so they can thrive successfully in our community.” For more information about the Healthy MOMS program, visit healthymoms.org.
Episode Twenty-One: All Things Chamber is at Scranton Counseling Don’t Miss the Update Do you have an exciting offer, discount or deal you’d like to extend to fellow members? Let us know and we’ll pass it along to the 1,500+ Chamber members and their 70k+ employees! Want to offer 20% off a service, 10% off their first order, give them a free consultation? Tell us more and we’ll tell everyone! Submit your Bonus Benefit by July 26th! Chamber Day presents a great opportunity for you and your employees to enjoy discounted admission to Montage Mountain Waterpark. Members can purchase $15 tickets which includes all water attractions ($10.99-$14.99 savings off regular one-day admission ticket) Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE MEMBER BENEFITS
Treasurer Stacy Garrity Announces Property Tax/Rent Rebate Payments Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced that approximately 442,000 payments totaling about $266 million were disbursed today to Pennsylvanians who have been approved for this year’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. “This is an all-time record for day one of the Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program,” Treasurer Garrity said. “More people than ever before are eligible for rebates, thanks to great work by the General Assembly and the Governor to expand the program. This money can make a huge difference – especially for the many Pennsylvanians who are struggling to make ends meet, and I encourage everyone who is eligible to apply for their rebate. Treasury will continue to make payments on a rolling basis as we receive approvals from the Department of Revenue.” Of the payments sent today, 56 percent were processed via direct deposit, while 44 percent were paper checks mailed via the U.S. Postal Service. The General Assembly and the Governor expanded the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program this year to increase household income limits for rebates to $45,000 for homeowners and renters (up from $35,000 and $15,000, respectively). Claimants may exclude half of their Social Security income. The maximum standard rebate is now $1,000 (up from $650). Payments will continue to be processed as applications are approved by the Department of Revenue and received by Treasury. The deadline to apply has been extended to December 31, 2024. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits Pennsylvanians age 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older. For more information about eligibility and how to apply, Pennsylvania residents can contact their state legislators, visit the Department of Revenue’s website or call 888-222-9190. Applications can be submitted online with Revenue’s myPATH system. Those who have already applied can check the status of their rebate by clicking on the “Where’s My Rebate?” tool available on this page.
WVIA Presents Kansas City Jazz WVIA released the ticket price includes the concert as well as a desserts and wine after-party. The concert will last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes with a brief intermission. We encourage you to bring a picnic dinner and after the concert ends, enjoy a dessert and wine after-party with the musicians and the community. A romping, stomping seven-piece band will be here on July 21st to celebrate the legacy of the great American genius Eddie Durham. He was the man behind one of the most quintessential hits of the 20th century, Glenn Miller’s In The Mood, and the resident genius in the original Count Basie band. Loren Schoenberg will serve as the music director for the dynamic seven-piece band showcasing Eddie Durham’s sound. For decades, Eddie Durham’s story was largely overlooked until 2024 when WVIA released the original documentary film Wham-Re-Bop-Boom-Bam: The Swing Jazz of Eddie Durham. This documentary is currently airing on over 250 public television stations throughout the United States, bringing well-deserved recognition to Eddie Durham for his significant contributions to the world of jazz. Loren Schoenberg is a senior scholar of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, on the faculty at The Juilliard School and has taught at Manhattan School of Music and the New School. Schoenberg has lectured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the White House, the New York Philharmonic, Stanford University, and the Aspen Institute. Schoenberg, a tenor saxophonist/pianist, has played and recorded with Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Heath, Eddie Durham, Marian McPartland, Clark Terry, John Lewis, Christian McBride, and Buck Clayton, and he was musical director for Bobby Short from 1997 to 2005. He also received two Grammy awards for best album notes in 1994 and 2004. Schoenberg has been published widely (including in The New York Times), and his book, The NPR Guide to Jazz, was released in 2003. In 2001, he led the effort to establish the National Jazz Museum in Harlem and served for more than a decade as its executive director, creating many of its signal programs and enlisting Christian McBride, Jonathan Batiste, Ken Burns, and Wynton Marsalis to help further the museum’s mission.
The Swiftwater to Open New Fine Dining Restaurant The Swiftwater is proud to announce the opening of its in-house fine dining restaurant, “The Olivet,” on June 10th, 2024. Situated within the heart of the Poconos, The Olivet promises to offer an unparalleled culinary experience, blending exquisite culinary artistry with a sophisticated ambiance. Elegant Ambiance The Olivet offers an exquisite space that seamlessly blends the fresh mountain air with a refined dining atmosphere. Gather to enjoy a sophisticated culinary experience, complemented by expertly crafted cocktails and a serene ambiance. The restaurant features indoor and outdoor seating on their garden patio under the stars. The Olivet’s floor to ceiling glass doors are fashioned to seamlessly open to the patio during the warmer seasons. The indoor dining room is a blend of wood beams, glass chandeliers, and gold accents. The bar features a marble countertop, custom gold centerpiece, and gold floral accent lights. A Feast for the Senses The Olivet’s menu is a testament to culinary excellence, offering a diverse array of dishes that cater to discerning palates. Highlights for dinner include Braised Pork Belly, Beetroot Burrata Salad, 12oz. New York Strip Au Poivre, Ricotta Gnudi, and Green Walk Hatchery Rainbow Trout. The bar features a full cocktail, wine and beer menu with signature drinks like the Olivet Martini, Swiftwater Manhattan and Black Diamond Negroni. Highlights for breakfast include Candied Bacon Eggs Benedict, Brûléed French Toast, and Shrimp and Grits. Pair that with a cup of Moka Origins coffee and you’ll start the day ready for adventure. Reservations and Contact Information The Olivet will be open to the public for breakfast and dinner service daily. Breakfast is available 7am-11am and dinner will be served from 5pm-10pm Sunday-Thursday and 5pm-Midnight. Friday and Saturday. Reservations can be made through The Swiftwater website or by calling the restaurant directly at (570) 895-0000. For more information, please visit TheSwiftwater.com.
Lexington Entertainment Releases Fellows Park Sunday Concerts Schedule Lexington Entertainment has released the Fellows Park Sunday Concerts Schedule. All concerts are FREE to the public and are held at Fellows Park Sundays from 4:30 to 6:00 pm 1000 to 1098 Fellows Street in West Side (Corner of Fellows Street and South Main Avenue) Information: 570-983-6485 __________________________________________________________________________________________ June 9 DUSTY VINYL 4:30 pm June 16 JOE STANKY & THE CADETS 4:30 pm June 23 IMPASTAS 4:30 pm June 30 DOUG SMITH’S DIXIELAND ALL-STARS 4:30 pm July 7 JOHN STEVEN’S POLKA BAND 4:30 pm July 14 FABULOUS FORTUNES 4:30 pm July 21 X’TERRA 4:30 pm July 28 JACK MEAD & the 3rd STREET BAND 4:30 pm August 4 LITES OUT 4:30 pm August 11 TOM HAMILTON JAZZTET 4:30 pm August 18 RETRO ALLIANCE & WIGGY DIGGY BAND 4:30 pm August 25 Rain Date 4:30 pm
