Steamtown National Historic Site Celebrates 107th Birthday Celebrate the 107th birthday of the National Park Service with Steamtown National Historic Site on Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In addition to free admission, there will be no cost to ride Steamtown’s short train rides. Steamtown National Historic Site will commemorate the 107th birthday of the National Park Service with an opening prayer and performance from the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania. This special event will include live music from artists including the Ole 97 Johnny Cash and June Carter Tribute Band, crafts, activities, and feature community partners and National Park Service sites from the local area. Park programming will also be offered throughout the day, including our short train rides, tours of Mattes Street Tower, “Ring of Fire” demonstrations, handcar program with a park ranger, cab tours of the Canadian Pacific Railway No. 2317, demonstrations within the locomotive shop, and a Junior Ranger scavenger hunt activity. Enacted August 25, 1916, the Organic Act established the National Park Service “…to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Plan Your Visit – Located in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, Steamtown NHS is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The park entrance is located at the intersection of Cliff Street and Lackawanna Avenue in downtown Scranton. The physical address is: 350 Cliff Street, Scranton, PA 18503 (GPS: N 41.41, W 75.67). Stay informed by visiting www.nps.gov/stea or @SteamtownNHS on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. General park information is available by calling (570) 340-5203.
Celebrate National Health Center Week at The Wright Center In observance of National Health Center Week, The Wright Center for Community Health will hold a series of special activities across the region including school backpack giveaways, a vaccine clinic, and a special flag-raising ceremony at its primary health care practice in Jermyn. The weeklong celebration, from Aug. 6 to 12, helps to draw attention to the critical role that community health centers play in strengthening our nation’s health and well-being by delivering high-quality, affordable primary health care to underserved populations. This year’s theme is “The Roadmap to a Stronger America.” The Wright Center is one of about 1,400 community health centers in the United States, which collectively serve about 30 million people annually. Community health centers represent the largest primary health care network in the nation. They deliver care to one in 11 people in the U.S., including one in three people who live in poverty, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers, organizer of National Health Center Week. During its observance, The Wright Center will celebrate its health care providers, board members, stakeholders, staff and, most importantly, the more than 41,200 patients across Northeast Pennsylvania who turn to it for their primary health and preventive care needs. The Wright Center operates 10 primary health and preventive care practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health. Together, these clinical locations offer a safety net for the region’s residents, ensuring that everyone in The Wright Center’s five-county service area has access to integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health services, regardless of their insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. The Wright Center, like other community health centers across the nation, is a nonprofit, patient-governed organization that provides high-quality, comprehensive health care to rural and other medically underserved areas, treating all patients regardless of income or insurance status. More than 61% of The Wright Center’s patients fall at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines, nearly 32% are insured through Medicaid or CHIP, and just over 18% are insured through Medicare. As part of the weeklong celebration, The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, will raise the newly designed Jermyn Borough flag at a ceremony beginning at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 11. The flag, designed in 2019 by borough resident Amy Ryczak, features a green cross that honors Jermyn as the birthplace of first aid. Speakers at the event will include Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, and state Rep. Kyle Mullins, who represents Jermyn as part of the 112th Legislative District. Other events planned at The Wright Center’s clinics and in the community for National Health Center Week include: Tuesday, Aug. 8: Backpack giveaway, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Wright Center for Community Health Hawley Practice, 103 Spruce St., Hawley.Wednesday, Aug. 9: Back-to-school vaccine clinic with Driving Better Health mobile medical and dental unit, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hazleton Area High School, 1601 W. 23rd St., Hazle Township. Walk-ups are welcome upon vaccine availability, but appointments are preferred. Call 570-230-0019 to schedule an appointment.Saturday, Aug. 12: Backpack giveaway and children’s art activity, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., South Side Farmers Market, 526 Cedar Ave., Scranton. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570.230.0019.
Bedrock Technology to Hold Electronic Recycling Event Bedrock Technology will hold a electronic recycling event with a portion of proceeds going to the Scranton Area Community Foundation. See flyer below for details.
Geisinger 65 Forward Health Centers Promote Fitness Patients at Geisinger 65 Forward Health Centers in Buckhorn, Scranton, and State College recently enjoyed activities designed for fun and socialization while promoting health and fitness for older adults. The Buckhorn group met in spacious Bloomsburg Town Park where they started their session with fitness education. Afterward, they did brain exercises, which combine physical activity and on-the-spot thinking challenges and played games like ladder ball and cornhole. The State College members took their walking group to the scenic campus of the PA Military Museum in Boalsburg before stopping for smoothies at a nearby café. And the Scranton contingent got creative with patriotic garland crafts and enjoyed a “Wheel of Fitness” exercise class. 65 Forward Health Centers offer senior-focused primary care for Geisinger Gold Medicare Advantage members, including longer appointments to help manage chronic conditions and laboratory and diagnostic imagery services under one roof. They also help members meet their fitness goals with state-of-the-art equipment, exercise classes, and wellness coordinators, and address senior isolation by offering social and educational group activities. Research shows isolation and loneliness are common problems among people 65 and older and can have a negative impact on physical and mental health. A healthy social life can be a critical component in maintaining their wellness. Compared to a similar population cared for in a traditional primary care model, 65 Forward patients have had about 15 percent fewer hospital admissions and about 40 percent fewer emergency department visits. For more information, visit geisinger.org/65forward.
NRCI Announces 2023 Tribute to Courage Honoree for Spirit of Hope Celebration The Board of Ambassadors will honor Dr. Christopher A. Peters as the 2023 Tribute to Courage Honoree at their upcoming Spirit of Hope Celebration set for Friday, November 10, 2023, at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Dr. Christopher A. Peters is a Radiation Medicine Associates of Scranton (RAMAS) partner. He is the medical director of Northeast Radiation Oncology Centers (NROC) and its director of clinical research. In 2012, Dr. Peters joined the Board of Directors of the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute (NRCI) and served as Board Chairman in 2017 and 2018. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Dr. Peters has served as the physician Co-Chair of, the Health Care Division, for the Annual United Way Lackawanna and Wayne County Annual Campaign from 2012 to 2022. He was elected President of the Lackawanna County Medical Society in 2016. Dr. Peters graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society. After completing an internship in Internal Medicine at Case Western Reserve MetroHealth, he performed his Radiation Oncology residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, serving as Chief Resident in his final year. The Board of Ambassadors is a group of individuals and business leaders in northeast Pennsylvania who have come together to raise funds & awareness to fight cancer in the local community through their support and promotion of a gala event. The Spirit of Hope Celebration benefits the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s Community-Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program. This program helps individuals in northeast Pennsylvania get their recommended colorectal, breast, cervical, and lung cancer screenings. For more information about the upcoming Spirit of Hope Celebration, please call the Cancer Institute at (570) 904-8808 or visit www.spiritofhopecelebration.org.
Swift Kennedy Hires Chris Young Swift Kennedy is pleased to announce the hiring of Chris Young as our Small Business Insurance Solutions Representative. Chris comes to Swift Kennedy with 12 years in the banking industry working with small businesses. He is passionate about ensuring that the needs of small businesses are met when they are offering group employee benefits & HR services. Chris will be responsible for the Mid-Atlantic region sales and services for Swift Kennedy’s Small Business Insurance Services Program. Small Businesses’ insurance needs have often been under-served when it comes to group employee benefits. Swift Kennedy has created a benefits platform to give clients more services and access to programs that help attract and retain employees, as well as provide much-needed guidance and service for day-to-day insurance and HR needs. President & CEO, Jerry Calistri, says the addition of an SBIS department will give clients and prospective clients the resources they need to help better run their businesses. Often groups in the 2-20 employee market don’t have a dedicated HR or benefits staff member to administer these programs. Much of this is due to costs, but simply not having a staff member who understands the market, has time to educate staff, answers questions, and negotiates renewals is costing business owners much more in the long run. Our Small Business Insurance Solutions department addresses these issues for business owners. Chris has the right mindset and understanding to fully help small businesses enjoy a better benefits experience!
FNCB Bank Donates to Vocational Training Programs at Allied Services FNCB Bank announced its support for Allied Services with a $5,000 donation to the Vocational Services Division. FNCB served as a co-presenting sponsor of the Allied Services 2023 Vocational Services Golf Classic. The charity tournament was held Monday, July 24, 2023, at Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic, Pa. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the annual tournament benefits individuals with disabilities participating in training and employment programs provided by the non-profit health system. Allied Services Vocational Services Division serves over 500 individuals with disabilities each year. Individuals with disabilities enrolled in the program receive specialized training, development of work-related skills, and supervision and guidance in the workplace as needed. The goal of the program is to support and empower individuals with disabilities as members of the workforce.
Jewish Family Service of NEPA Receives Grant Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania was one of the recent recipients of a grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation for the 2022 grant cycle. The grant in the amount of $10,000 will assist with General Operating Support for the organization. Grants from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation are administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Pictured in photo from left to right: Sheila Nudelman Abdo, ACSW, LCSW, JFS Executive Director; Atty. Jack Nogi, Robert H. Spitz Foundation Trustee; Marguerite Bushwick, LCSW, NCG, JFS Social Worker. Established in 1915, Jewish Family Service is a human service organization, which reflects the Jewish tradition of caring and compassion for all people in need. Through professional counseling, advocacy, and educational programming, our services seek to enhance and strengthen the quality of individual, family, and community life. It is this agency’s mission that drives all services and activities of Jewish Family Service. The Scranton Area Community Foundation has been working to enhance the quality of life for people across the Northeastern Pennsylvania region over the past 66 years, serving the community as a steward, a grantmaker, a charitable resource, and a catalyst for change and growth. The Scranton Area Community Foundation is a public 501c3 community foundation with assets of more than $50 million and more than 215 charitable funds. More information about the Scranton Area Community Foundation can be found at www.safdn.org.
Doctor Joins The Wright Center The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education have named Dr. Richard Weinberger as deputy director for Allied and John Heinz Services and core faculty for the Internal Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency programs. He will oversee the development and execution of strategies to enhance The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s programs at Allied and John Heinz as deputy director. He will also assist the designated institutional official in assessing, implementing, and developing new graduate medical education programs and will serve on the Graduate Medical Education Committee. In addition, Dr. Weinberger will serve as a core faculty member of the Internal Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency programs. In that role, he will treat patients and supervise resident physicians, medical students, and interprofessional health learners at The Wright Center for Community Health and Allied and John Heinz clinical learning environments. He will also see patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn. Dr. Weinberger is board certified in internal medicine and geriatric medicine and a fellow of both the American College of Physicians and American College of Osteopathic Internists. He has a long history with The Wright Center. After graduating from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, he completed his internal medicine residency at the Scranton-Temple Residency program, the precursor to The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. For decades, he has worked in private practices in Lackawanna County, most recently with Horizon Medical Corp. For more information about the locations and services provided by The Wright Center for Community Health, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019. Call 570.866-3017 or email GMErecruitment@TheWrightCenter.org for more information about The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education.
Martina McBride Returns to the F.M. Kirby Center Country music star Martina McBride will return to the F.M. Kirby Center on Thursday, September 28th as part of the PNC Celebrity Series. Ticket Prices:$39.50, $59.50, $79.50, $89.50, and $99.50 plus feesKirby Member Presale: Thursday, July 26th at 10:00 A.M.Public Onsale: Friday, July 27th at 10:00 A.M.Tickets can be purchased online at kirbycenter.org, ticketmaster.com, at the F.M. Kirby Center Box Office during regular business hours, Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M., or by calling 570-826-1100. To become a Kirby Center member visit: https://www.kirbycenter.org/support/membership/ About Martina McBride Multiple Grammy® nominee Martina McBride has sold over 23 million albums to date, which includes 20 Top 10 singles and six #1 hits. Martina McBride has earned more than 15 major music awards, including four wins for Female Vocalist of the Year from the Country Music Association, and won three Academy of Country Music for Top Female Vocalist. Martina has been awarded 14 Gold Records. Nine Platinum honors, three Double Platinum Records, and two Triple Platinum Awards. Martina was awarded the Covenant House Beacon of Hope Award and the Music Business Association’s prestigious 2015 Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic efforts on behalf of domestic violence. Martina has released two cookbooks – the first, Around the Table, a full-color illustrated collection of her favorite recipes, hosting tips, practical menu planning advice, and themed décor inspiration. She released her second book, Martina’s Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life, in October 2018. Most recently, Martina was honored with the Cliffie Stone Icon Award at the ACM Honors event for her impactful contributions to country music. When Martina isn’t in the studio, she focuses her time on charitable causes dear to her heart through her Team Music Is Love charity initiative. McBride resides in Nashville with her husband, John, and their three daughters. You can keep up with her on Facebook, as well as Twitter and Instagram. For tour dates, please visit her website.
