Garden of Cedar Celebrates 2024 Success

The Garden of Cedar’s second year of operations has come to a close. The highlight of 2024 was the commencement of full-scale operations at the Garden of Cedar’s annex located at 921 Cedar Ave. which doubled the capacity of the Garden. Truckloads of topsoil were added during the Spring. Soon thereafter a distribution network reaching out to approximately 100 families was established. During summer, eggplant, tomatoes, and corn were popular. The Indigo Spoon Foundation was back on site with their popular summer lunch program. The employees of Citizens Savings dedicated their harvest to the neighborhood community. 

During the season we experienced growing pains as air bound and ground intruders took a liking to Garden plantings. See damaged corn crop picture. A soil test indicated several vital soil nutrients are needed for a productive 2025 planting season.

Steps are being taken to discourage pests humanely. Natural compost and cow manure will be added to the soil to provide nutrients. Marywood University students designed and built several functional sculptures which will be installed at the Garden of Cedar. The Garden’s annex will get a storage shed. Quality seeds and seedlings will be purchased and the ongoing bills must be paid.   

Best wishes for a joyous holiday season & a Happy New Year!

SWB RailRiders Holding Game Day Staff Job Fairs in January

Interviews to be conducted at PNC Field for upcoming 2025 campaign

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will hold two game day staff job fairs in January as they prepare for the 2025 season. The job fairs will be held in the club level at PNC Field on Wednesday, January 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M., and on Saturday, January 18, from 10 A.M. until 1 P.M. The home opener is slated for April 8 and the RailRiders are seeking game day employees for the upcoming season. Prospective employees will fill out applications and the SWB front office staff will do interviews on the spot during the job fair.

“Customer service is essential to what we do at PNC Field,” said Katie Beekman, the General Manager of the RailRiders. “We are always looking for dedicated individuals who want to be a part of our summer family.

These game day positions are an important part of making great experiences memorable for every fan.”

Interviews for game day staff will begin at 5:30 P.M. on January 15 and at 10 A.M. on January 18. The RailRiders are looking for game day employees to fill numerous roles within the organization. Game day staff includes 50/50 vendors, bat boys/ girls, club level attendants, EMTs, grounds crew, parking attendants, press box staff, ticket sales representatives, ticket takers, video/ production assistants and ushers. The team is also looking for members of the Pinstripe Patrol, the RailRiders on-field promotions crew, as well as fun zone employees.

Legends, the official catering, concessions and merchandise provider of the RailRiders, will also conduct interviews at both job fairs. Legends is seeking cashiers, concessions cooks, prep cooks, suite attendants and retail associates.

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age with working papers. Individuals will choose the open position that best suits their interests or needs, but may be considered for other positions based on availability. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

For more information, contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-BALL or visit swbrailriders.com.

American Water Charitable Foundation Announces State Strategic Impact Grants

The American Water Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., and Pennsylvania American Water, announced today that the Foundation awarded State Strategic Impact Grants to 15 organizations across the Commonwealth, totaling $215,000 in funding.

“The Chester County Food Bank is incredibly grateful for Pennsylvania American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation,” said CCFB CEO Andrea Youndt. “Through their generosity, more children in Chester County have access to the healthy food they need to thrive, especially over weekends and school breaks. Pennsylvania American Water is committed to our community, and we look forward our continued partnership with them.”

The State Strategic Impact grant is part of the Foundation’s 2024 Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program, focusing on three pillars of giving: Water, People and Communities. State Strategic Impact grants support high-impact projects and initiatives throughout American

Water’s national footprint.

“Collaboration is key to truly making a positive change in the communities we call home,” said Thom Chiomento, Pennsylvania American Water vice president of business development, government and external affairs. “We’re proud to partner with nonprofits across Pennsylvania that are dedicated to continuing such important work. It’s an honor to assist them in those efforts with this financial support from the American Water Charitable Foundation.”

Below is a list of the grantees from across Pennsylvania, along with details on their respective projects and award amounts:

Carrie Williams, president of the American Water Charitable Foundation, stated, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Pennsylvania American Water to help support organizations that provide critical resources and programs throughout Pennsylvania. The State Strategic Impact Grant program underscores our commitment to strengthen communities served by American Water.”

Learn more about the American Water Charitable Foundation here, and review Pennsylvania American Water’s 2023 Community Impact Report summarizing the company’s outreach efforts.

Johnson College Receives Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Grant

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has awarded Johnson College a $20,000 Hunger-Free Campus grant to address students’ food security needs. This grant was awarded to Johnson College after receiving a two-year designation as a Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus. This is the College’s second full Hunger-Free Campus Grant and second two-year designation as a Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus.

Grant funds will be used to maintain the College’s Scranton Campus’s food pantry, the Refuel Station, and establish a full pantry at its Hazleton campus to serve all Johnson College students experiencing food insecurity.

The Refuel Station is currently located in the Community Hub on Johnson College’s Scranton campus and offers non-perishable foods, personal care items, and school supplies. The funds will also provide supplies for mini pantry carts located across Scranton and Hazleton campuses and off-site training laboratories.

The grant will also expand assistance to students applying for benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and increase students’ access to off-campus community resources.

“The Hunger-Free Campus program ensures that Johnson College students can focus on their academic goals without the stress of hunger,” said Kellyn Williams, Vice President of Special Programs and the Hunger-Free Project Director at Johnson College. “This program continues to assist our efforts to stock our campus food pantry, provide meal vouchers, and make it easier for students to meet their basic needs while pursuing their education. By addressing food insecurity, this program contributes to improved mental and physical well-being, leading to better academic performance and overall college success for students.”

The Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Initiative aims to build a coalition of colleges and universities focused on addressing hunger and other basic needs for their students; create opportunities for connection among student hunger advocates; provide resources and strategies for campuses; and support opportunities to apply for grants related to addressing food insecurity.

Students who may need assistance at Johnson College may reach out to the Community Hub to access the student food pantry and to discuss other options and resources such as local food banks and the State’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The Wright Center to Host Tinnitus Support Group

The newly-formed Tinnitus Support Group of Northeast Pennsylvania will meet on Friday, Jan. 3, at 2 p.m. at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. Virtual meeting options are available for those unable to attend in person.

The support group welcomes individuals living with tinnitus, their loved ones, and anyone interested in understanding this complex audiological and neurological condition. Participants will have the opportunity to connect, share their experiences, and explore coping strategies in a compassionate and supportive environment.

At the January meeting, guest speaker Dr. Erin Walborn-Sterantino will discuss the neurophysiological model of tinnitus, the role and proper use of sound therapy, and more.

Dr. Walborn-Sterantino is an audiology doctor specializing in treating tinnitus and sound sensitivity disorders. Over the course of her nearly 30-year career, she has dedicated herself to helping patients reclaim their quality of life through innovative, compassionate care and evidence-based practices.

She has studied under many of the field’s leading researchers, including Dr. Pawel Jastreboff, the pioneer of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. She integrates this evidence-based approach with a holistic, mind-body perspective, tailoring treatment to each individual’s needs. Dr. Walborn-Sterantino is also a qualified teacher of mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Her practice emphasizes empowering patients through education, mindfulness techniques, and comprehensive sound therapy, reflecting her belief that effective tinnitus care addresses both the auditory and emotional dimensions of the condition.

For more information or to obtain the virtual meeting link, contact Nicole Flynn, director of the geriatrics service line at The Wright Center for Community Health, at flynnn@TheWrightCenter.org or 570-230-0019.

Marywood University Historian to Present Free, Virtual Talk on “Victorian Vegetarians”

Dr. Adam Shprintzen, a historian of nineteenth century America and Associate Professor of History at Marywood University, is presenting a free, virtual talk for the Maine Historical Society about the history of vegetarianism in 19th-century America on Monday, January 13, at 7 p.m.

Dr. Shprintzen will look at the lively history of early American vegetarianism and social reform. Vegetarianism, practiced in the United States since the country’s founding, has been misunderstood and understudied, especially with regard to the early years of the movement. Through the Civil War, the vegetarian movement focused on social and political reform, but, by the late nineteenth century, it became a path for personal strength and success in a newly individualistic, consumption-driven economy. This development led to greater expansion and acceptance of vegetarianism in mainstream society.

Featured in national publications ranging from the New York Times to Slate, Dr. Shprintzen is a frequent guest on podcasts and radio shows. He is the author of The Vegetarian Crusade: The Rise of an American Reform Movement, 1817-1921. Presently, he is researching the history of the Automat and its place in popular memory.

While the Zoom presentation is free and open to the public, registration is required. This program is offered as a companion to the organization’s exhibit, Maine’s Untold Vegetarian History, which is on view through May 17, 2025.

To register for this virtual event, visit the Maine Historical Society’s event website: mainehistory.org/events/food-of-the-future and follow the registration link.

Wayne Bank Announces KlariVis Banking on Brillance Recipient

Jim Donelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, is proud to recognize and announce employee Kayla Dixon as a winner of KlariVis’s 2024 Banking on Brilliance Award.

Dixon, who currently serves as Assistant Vice President and Consumer Loan Officer for Wayne Bank, has been an integral part of the Bank for over twelve years. Her experience has positioned her as a dependable decision-maker and team leader – both attributes of which have enabled Dixon to push herself and her fellow employees, landing her on KlariVis’s list of award recipients.

Each year, KlariVis, a solution-focused company for bankers, recognizes those leading the charge in community banking. Awards go to not just any individuals – but to women who go above and beyond to enhance their communities. The Banking on Brillance Award specifically recognizes these remarkable women in banking who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in driving transformation through innovation and data.

“Our team thrives because of leaders like Dixon, who bring ingenuity and expertise to the forefront,” stated Mr. Donnelly. Her exceptional skills in data analytics not only drive results but also set a new standard for women in banking leadership.

This Banking on Brillance Award through KlariVis reflects her groundbreaking contributions and her dedication to shaping the future of our industry.”

Dixon is one of many women leading the financial services field into 2025. She has acted as a main player in the Bank’s adoption of KlariVis’s enterprise data platform and continues to share her knowledge with her teammates to derive insights and advance the data-driven banking practices of Wayne Bank.

Dixon is actively involved in her community, serving on various school and sports committees. This balance between her professional and personal life helps her maintain a well-rounded perspective in all that she does. She resides in Waymart with her husband, John, and their three children, Finley, Natalie, and Logan.

Use New Year’s resolutions to pursue attainable health goals

The holiday season might be in full swing, but I have no doubt many of you are already looking forward to setting some fresh life goals for 2025.

There’s nothing wrong with making New Year’s resolutions, as they allow us to strive for genuine self-improvement, often in the areas of overall health and well-being.

That’s all for the better, although we should resist the temptation to aim too high – at least at first. My advice is to set small goals that, over time, can lead to bigger, more sustainable successes that ultimately result in a healthier you.

So, with that in mind, here are some potential health-related resolutions you might want to pursue in the coming year:

  • Adjust your diet to include more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables while reducing red meat, sweets, and overly processed foods.
  • Moderate your alcohol consumption, as research continually reveals its detrimental effects on long-term health.
  • Pursue regular exercise, whether through a gym membership, regular runs, walks around your neighborhood, or whatever fits your schedule best.
  • Prioritize better sleep. The quality of our sleep regimen profoundly affects our overall quality of our life.
  • Practice self-care: resist self-criticism, invest in therapy, find time for hobbies and activities that make you happy, adopt a mindfulness or meditation routine, or treat yourself to a massage or manicure. Make time each day to focus on your needs.
  • Volunteer with a local organization or nonprofit – doing good for others can significantly boost your sense of fulfillment.  
  • Limit social media and overall screen time, something many of us can benefit from reducing.
  • Make more time for family and friends. While material things are nice, investing in deeper relationships ultimately leads to a more fulfilling life.

While offering these suggestions, I should also point out that The Wright Center is fully committed to improving people’s long-term health through our lifestyle medicine initiative, which is based on the concept that poor lifestyle choices drive most modern chronic illnesses in America.

Lifestyle medicine is focused on helping patients and their families improve their health and overall quality of life by adopting a host of long-term lifestyle behaviors, including eliminating tobacco use, improving diet, practicing stress relief techniques, increasing physical activity, strengthening personal relationships and connections, and adjusting sleep habits for better, more restorative rest.

Our team is trained in both conventional medicine and lifestyle medicine, and we work closely with patients to create a personalized lifestyle self-care plan that’s not only easily implementable but sustainable. These modifications can go a long way toward preventing or managing chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes (type 2), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, cancers that are lifestyle-associated (e.g., prostate and breast), osteoarthritis, chronic pain, chronic autoimmune diseases, and chronic psychological stress.

The science is clear on this – a healthier lifestyle leads to a healthier, longer, happier life. And if that’s at the core of your 2025 New Year’s resolutions, I’m happy to report you’re on the right track. On that note, happy holidays and happy New Year!

Ajit Pannu, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician, is accepting patients of all ages at our Dickson City Community Health Center. Dr. Pannu is also the associate program director of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, where he completed his residency.

I NEED A SPEAKER OFFERS SPECIAL PRICING ON WORKSHOPS

Get the Most Value from Your Training and Development Budget

I Need A Speaker is offering public speaking training at a special price during December 2024 and January 2025.

“Many companies have unused training funds at the end of the calendar year. Using that money to schedule one or two training sessions will benefit individuals on public-facing teams, such as sales, marketing, customer service, or related departments,” said Autumn Bohner, marketing communications manager for I Need A Speaker.

The special rate of $3,800 includes one day with six hours of training, a workbook, and lunch for participants. Workshops will be taught by Tricia Richards-Service, PhD, who has taught public presentation for more than 20 years. She is the founder and president of I Need A Speaker, a global online platform for qualified speakers at all price points.

This offer is valid for on- or off-site workshops for up to 12 people. Off-site workshops are available at your choice of two pre-selected venues: one in Wilkes-Barre, and one in Scranton.

To be eligible, clients must book the workshops for dates in January 2025. A travel fee will be applied for clients who are more than 75 miles from Scranton, PA.

“Professional development is a great way to motivate and reward employees,” said Bohner. “What a wonderful, practical way to end one year or begin another.”

For more information or to book your training date, email info@ineedaspeaker.com.

Imagine Performing Arts Center Presents Christmas Wonderland

Mark your calendars for our enchanting Christmas Wonderland Event happening in just 2 weeks! 

Join us for a wonderful, family-friendly experience filled with free crafts, tasty snacks, and the chance to take photos with Santa. Enjoy a delightful short play performed by our talented Imagine Alumni, who are now studying at some of the top performing arts schools across the nation. This is an event you won’t want to miss! Plus, your participation helps support our spring season. We can’t wait to celebrate the holiday spirit with you!

All inclusive Tickets Available NOW!