The Wright Center – “Prioritize Vaccine as Peak Flu Season Approaches” William Dempsey, M.D., serves as chief population health value-based care officer for The Wright Center. He provides comprehensive whole-person primary health services as a board-certified family medicine physician and serves as medical director at The Wright Center for Community Health Clarks Summit. It’s great that we’re now fully into the holiday season. Not so great – ‘tis also the season for highly contagious respiratory illnesses. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I can’t implore you enough to go out and get up to speed on your flu vaccination. It’s safe, it works, and it will keep you and your loved ones from getting sick. As it happens, this week is National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 2-6). Coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the annual observance serves as a helpful reminder to people that there’s still time to get your flu shot this season. Flu season usually begins around late September or early October, which is actually the ideal time to get vaccinated. From there, it increasingly accelerates until it peaks between December and February. In some years, infections can even occur as late as May. Flu symptoms typically surface within a couple of days, and the virus shares many of the same effects as COVID, including fever, chills, dry cough, body aches, headaches, stuffy/runny nose, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The best thing you can do to protect yourself from the flu – and minimize its symptoms if you do contract it – is to get the annual flu shot, which allows protective antibodies to develop in your body within two weeks or so of vaccination. The flu vaccine is available to anyone ages 6 months and older, and CDC studies have shown that vaccination reduces the risk of contracting the illness by about 40% to 60% among the general public. For the 2024-2025 flu season, all vaccines in the United States are “trivalent” vaccines, meaning they protect against three different influenza viruses: an influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and an influenza B/Victoria virus. For certain vulnerable populations, vaccination is especially critical given the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and even death. Among those people are pregnant women, young children, adults ages 65 and older, and those with serious health conditions like cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, asthma, and kidney disease. Every year, thousands of children are hospitalized with severe flu, according to the CDC. We at The Wright Center for Community Health take flu vaccinations very seriously. We’re now providing flu shots at all of our locations throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. To schedule an office visit that includes vaccination, call 570-230-0019 or go online to use the express scheduling system at TheWrightCenter.org. I should also mention that many local pharmacies offer free flu shots to insured customers, and numerous local employers provide flu vaccinations as a free service to their workers. The holidays are a wonderful time, and you certainly don’t want a case of the flu to upend your fun plans. So, get your flu shot – it’s safe, effective, readily available, and one of the best gifts you can give yourself and others this season.
Mohegan’s Jingle at The Hive Returns with Holiday Fun Jingle at The Hive Taphouse Returns to Mohegan Pennsylvania with SantaCon, Brunch with Santa & more!Now through January 1st The Hive Taphouse ramps up Holiday Entertainment, Events and Festive F&B specials Mohegan Pennsylvania is thrilled to announce the return of the ultimate holiday experience in NEPA, Jingle at The Hive Taphouse. Now through Wednesday, January 1st, guests can head over to The Hive Taphouse to experience a decked out holiday pop-up takeover that promises to bring the festive spirit to Northeast Pennsylvania. The holiday celebration kicks off with the much-awaited return of Shorty Long & The Jersey Horns on Thanksgiving Eve! From festive food & drink specials to holiday inspired special events, Jingle at The Hive Taphouse has something for everyone. Jingle at the Hive Taphouse is open from 9:00am – 10:00pm on Sundays, Noon – 10:00pm on Mondays – Thursdays, and Noon – 1:00am on Fridays & Saturdays. Special Events Experience special holiday events throughout the month of December! On Saturday, December 7th at 7:00pm, Jingle at The Hive Taphouse will feature SantaCon! SantaCon events continue to grow in popularity and allow guests to dress up as Santa and other famous holiday characters – and at Mohegan Pennsylvania those festive costumes will directly compete with one another from 8:00pm – 10:00pm! At 11:00pm, winners of the contest will be announced and a $250 Mohegan Pennsylvania gift card will be awarded to the winners of best Santa, Elf and Ugly Sweater costume! Additionally, Leighann & Co. will be providing the live holiday entertainment from 8:30pm – 12:30am! SantaCon is for guests 21 years of age or older and is completely free to attend. Guests will have an opportunity to compete against one another during Jingle at The Hive Taphouse’s Holiday Hat and Hair Contest! On Saturday, December 14th from 8:00pm – 10:00pm, guests are invited to show up in their best holiday hat or festive hair style and compete for bragging rights and special prizes! The first, second and third place winners in each category will receive a $75 Mohegan Pennsylvania Gift Card, Champagne Brunch at The Hive Taphouse for two, and Top Golf for two, respectively. Winners will be announced at 10:30pm. On Sunday, December 15th, The Hive Taphouse will provide fun for the whole family as Brunch with Santa is set to take place from 9:00am – Noon. Throughout the brunch, guests will be able to meet and take photos with Santa! The Hive Taphouse’s revamped Champagne Brunch Buffet features fresh made-to-order eggs and omelets, a sweet assortment of pastries and muffins, soups and salads, a rotating selection of your favorite chicken, beef and seafood dishes, and a mimosa or glass of champagne with $5 refills for adult guests. Kids under 3 are free! Guests under the age of 21 must enter through the Racing entrance adjacent to parking lot A and always be accompanied by an adult. On Saturday, December 21st, guests will have another opportunity to compete against one another during Jingle at The Hive Taphouse’s Holiday Beard and Mustache Contest! From 8:00pm – 10:00pm, guests are invited to show up with their best holiday beard or mustache and compete for bragging rights and special prizes! The first, second and third place winners in each category will receive a $75 Mohegan Pennsylvania Gift Card, Champagne Brunch at The Hive Taphouse for two, and Top Golf for two, respectively. Winners will be announced at 10:30pm. Additionally, trivia and karaoke continue on Fridays with special holiday themes! On Fridays, December 6th, 13th, and 20th beginning at 7:30pm at Jingle at the Hive Taphouse, guests can take part in Holiday Trivia Nights with DJ Tommy where the top three teams will win a Mohegan Pennsylvania gift card! Following trivia, guests are invited to stay for Christmas karaoke where they can sing along to their favorite Christmas songs and other holiday season favorites all night long. Entertainment Jingle at The Hive Taphouse is also home to a live music stage which will feature popular local bands performing holiday classics along with their own crowd pleasers. The lineup of top-notch holiday entertainment includes: Wednesday, November 27th | Shorty Long & The Jersey Horns Saturday, November 30th | The Jason Dumm Band Saturday, December 7th | Leighann & Company Saturday, December 14th | Rumor Has It Saturday, December 21st | Until Sunrise Friday, December 27th | Bad Liars Saturday, December 28th | Chasing Ashlee Signature Cocktails featured during Jingle at The Hive Taphouse Guests can enjoy signature holiday cocktails during the whole month of December! Jingle All The Way | Bulliet bourbon, orange liqueur, sour mix, topped with merlot The Grinch | Captain Morgan, orange liqueur, Kool-Aid, sprite Christmas Vacation | Vanilla vodka, peach schnapps, pineapple juice, sour mix Dining Specials Jingle at the Hive Taphouse is offering multiple holiday dining specials in addition to a full dining menu, featuring a wide variety of dishes like appetizers, flatbreads, salads, wings, burgers, sandwiches, tacos and entrees. Santa’s Helper | Open face roasted turkey sandwich with a smoked bacon and fresh apple cider gravy Sleigh Bells Ringing | Maple chicken and carved ham Monte Cristo with Swiss cheese and cranberry mayo Comin Down the Chimney (OL’ Smokey Burger) | ½ pound burger with smoked Gouda cheese, candied bacon and smoked paprika aioli
FrommConnect Names New General Manager Fromm, a leading independent electrical distributor in the Mid-Atlantic region since 1923, announced the appointment of Chris Kline as General Manager of FrommConnect LLC, a subsidiary specializing in design, fabrication and labor-saving solutions and services for manufacturers and electrical contractors. Kline brings over 25 years of experience in process engineering, automation system design, workplace safety, and cybersecurity. He previously served as Fromm’s Industrial Automation Group Manager from 2003-2013 and most recently as Sales and Engineering Manager for Grantek Corporation in Allentown. Kline will oversee FrommConnect’s sales and operations at the company’s state of the art facility in Reading. “We are excited to welcome Chris Kline back to Fromm,” said John Hanna, President and Chief Operating Officer. “His technical expertise and business leadership skills will help advance our mission to provide innovative solutions that improve our customers’ bottom lines.”
Maternal and Family Health Services Elects Board Officers Maternal and Family Health Services (MFHS), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of families, recently elected a new slate of board officers. These individuals bring a diverse and dynamic range of expertise, which will help further the organization’s mission to provide essential health services, education, and advocacy for women, children, and families in the communities we serve. The newly appointed board officers include: Chair: Christine Jensen, Site Administrator, Pennsylvania Career Link Vice Chair: Lake Ryan Gemzik, Chief Operating Officer/SVP of Finance and HR, Building Blocks Learning Center Treasurer: Suzanne Fletcher, CPA, CGMA, Retired Secretary: Jesse Simon, IT Tech Support, Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. These distinguished leaders collectively possess vast experience that will help guide MFHS as it continues to address the ever-evolving needs of families. “We are thrilled to welcome this new slate of board officers who bring an impressive breadth of knowledge and a shared commitment to our mission,” said Maria Montoro Edwards, President and CEO of MFHS. “Each of these individuals brings a unique perspective that will help ensure that MFHS remains a vital resource for the families we serve.” MFHS expresses its deep gratitude for the time, dedication, and leadership these new board officers bring. Their ongoing commitment to MFHS’s mission will play a key role in helping the organization create lasting, positive change for families in need.
The Wright Center’s Scranton Practice Gets National Recognition Two of The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary and preventive care community health centers again received national commendations from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., and The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, at 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., have successfully maintained their NCQA’s Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition, a prestigious certification that affirms the two community health centers’ ability to provide the right care at the right time through innovative tools, systems, and resources. Both community health centers initially earned the NCQA voluntary accreditation in 2021 and undergo a formal review to ensure they comply with the Washington, D.C.-based organization’s high standards. For patients, this accreditation serves as a trusted mark of quality, signifying The Wright Center’s dedication to continuous improvement and prioritizing the needs of patients under the PCMH model of care, which fosters stronger patient-provider relationships, enhances the management of chronic conditions, and elevates the overall patient experience. The PCMH model has also increased staff satisfaction and reduced health care costs. “This recognition is a testament to the exceptional dedication and expertise of our care teams, who harness technology, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and prioritize delivering the highest standard of care,” said Dr. Jignesh Y. Sheth, senior vice president and chief medical and information officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “The National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home seal underscores the unwavering commitment at The Wright Center to our patients’ well-being, ensuring accessible, coordinated, and patient-centered care that always puts their needs first.”
I Need A Speaker Welcomes Four New Team Members I Need A Speaker is proud to announce the addition of four new members to its growing team: Autumn Bohner as marketing communications manager, Keith Hickox as video production manager, Michelle Riley as marketing communications specialist, and Brooke Trusty as digital marketing manager. (Clockwise, starting from top left) Keith Hicox, Brooke Trusty, Michelle Riley, Autumn Bohner In their new roles, Bohner, Hickox, Riley and Trusty will be integral members of the marketing team, contributing to the outreach and engagement efforts to connect qualified speakers with event planners. They will be responsible for creating digital content that amplifies the organization’s mission and message while fostering connections with event planners in the I Need A Speaker directory and expanding outreach to new organizations. “I am thrilled to have such talent on this growing team,” said Tricia Richards-Service, founder and president of I Need A Speaker. “I Need A Speaker is well positioned to add value and deliver exceptional service to the organizations, speakers and event planners we serve.”
