Geisinger’s Young Doctors Receive Awards Three Geisinger providers have been recognized by the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) for achievement early in their careers. Interventional cardiologist Nicholas Ierovante, D.O., and family medicine physicians Joanna Kraynak-Appel, D.O., and Hans Zuckerman, D.O., are among PAMED’s Top Physicians Under 40 for 2023. They were nominated by their peers and selected by a committee of PAMED members who yearly honor the best of the best early-career physicians in the state. “We had a lot of great nominations, but these candidates stood out among the rest,” said Kristen Sandel, M.D., PAMED president-elect and chair of the awards committee. “With their ambition and innovative ideas, they will shape and shine bright in the future of medicine.” Dr. Ierovante practices at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton and also serves as assistant professor in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine for Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. He specializes in interventional and structural heart procedures, and he is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, nuclear medicine and echocardiography. His nominator said his “passion for patient care is unparalleled,” and that he “has dedicated his career to serving the citizens of Pennsylvania and exemplifies the future of medicine.” Dr. Kraynak-Appel is the associate director of Community Medicine in Columbia County and assists in managing Geisinger Primary Care clinics in Benton, Berwick, Buckhorn and Elysburg. She is a board-certified physician who specializes in family medicine, and she has clinical interests in women’s health and chronic disease management. Her nominator called her an “incredible person” who “embodies and exceeds all the tenets anyone would want from their physician.” Dr. Zuckerman practices at Geisinger Pottsville and serves as division chief of the Department of Community Medicine for Schuylkill County and Geisinger Kulpmont in Northumberland County. He is a board-certified physician who specializes in family medicine, and he has clinical interests in preventive care, infectious diseases, obesity and women’s health. His nominator said, “as a leader, his patient-centric views and encouraging reminders on why we do what we do are contagious throughout his clinics” and that “he inspires everyone from the support staff to the providers to provide the best possible care to patients.”
Penn Foster Group Plans Largest Graduation Ceremony Penn Foster Group, a leading provider of digital learning solutions for high demand skills and jobs, will celebrate its largest-ever group of high school and career program graduates at its 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, July 29, 2023. This graduation ceremony will honor graduates from the past three years who have not had the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township, PA, this year’s commencement will honor more than 1,200 graduates—some who have traveled from as far as Iceland and the United Arab Emirates for the event—and will be witnessed by an estimated 4,000+ family members and supporters. Penn Foster Group’s largest-yet commencement will feature a number of special speakers and presenters, a live band, and a ton of energy. “Even though distance learning is an individualized journey, I am certain we all went through very similar, if not the same, emotional rollercoasters of getting the work done to get to this point. Being able to share the stage with these folks makes it even more special,” said Garrik Haynes, Ashworth College Graduate of the Year. Following opening remarks from Dr. Andrew Shean, Chief Learning Officer of Penn Foster Group, Dr. Tom Stewart, Vice Chancellor for Social Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at National University System, will serve as the commencement keynote speaker. With over 30 years of experience in education and criminal justice reform, innovation, and transformation, Dr. Stewart has devoted his career to providing development opportunities for underserved and underrepresented individuals and communities. This year’s graduation is also the first big milestone under the new Penn Foster Group name unveiled in April, marking the next phase of its 130+ year history. By bringing together its online education and career training brands, this celebration symbolizes a momentous step forward in Penn Foster’s unwavering commitment to nurturing vital skills for the future workforce. “This year’s graduation is so much more than a celebration—it’s a symbol of overcoming obstacles, defying odds, and unity,” said Stacy Caldwell, General Manager, High School and Career of Penn Foster Group. “Despite the challenges many of our students have faced on their journeys to graduation, they persevered to finish what they started. We are so proud to recognize our incredible students for the first time under the Penn Foster Group name.
Reasons to Get Your Child Involved in Y Afterschool Programming As another summer winds down and a new school year is on the horizon, the Greater Scranton YMCA wants to remind parents and caregivers that the Y’s afterschool program is a place where children can remain active and engaged during their time out of school – a critical time for all school-age children. Below, we’ve listed five reasons your child should get involved with Y afterschool programming once school starts! Physical Activity The Y’s afterschool program combines learning with play. Each day, we provide physical activity which is vital to the overall health and wellbeing of every child in our program. Some physical activities include pool time, outdoor play, gym time and more. Healthy Eating Habits Teaching children the importance of nutrition and healthy eating is key to their success – both in and out of school. The Y’s afterschool program ensures that kids in our community are provided with healthy afterschool snacks when they are in our care and are taught healthy eating habits Academics, Arts & STEMThe Y’s afterschool program helps fill gaps in schools and communities where some academic and recreational activities may be limited. Kids can improve their study habits and reading skills; gain exposure to the arts; find a love for STEM activities and much more. Character Building Kids in our afterschool program at the Y demonstrate improvement in the values, skills, attitudes and behaviors needed for success in school and in life. Kids and teens can achieve, feel a sense of belonging and explore new interests. Check out some of our social and teen programs here. Safety Standards It is vital that children have a safe, enriching environment for learning, both in and out of school. The Greater Scranton YMCA’s afterschool program upholds the highest level of safety standards. For more information about the Greater Scranton YMCA’s Afterschool Program, contact Kevin Mellow, Afterschool and Summer Day Camp Director, at kmellow@gsymca.org.
Norwood Financial Corp Rejoins Russell 3000® Index Logo Mockup by Mithun Mitra Jim Donnelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwood Financial Corp (NASDAQ Global Market – NWFL) and its subsidiary, Wayne Banks pleased to announce that the Company has been included in the Russell 3000® Index, as part of the 2023 Russell U.S. Indexes annual reconstitution.The Russell 3000® Index encompasses and tracks the performance of the 3,000 largest traded U.S. stocks, based on market capitalization. “Norwood Financial Corp is honored to be a part of the Russell 3000 Index, alongside some of the top performing companies in the U.S. This distinguished designation shows our commitment to our shareholders and is a testament to our strong capital position and credit quality metrics. This inclusion will continue to drive awareness of Norwood Financial Corp as an appealing investment as we continue to execute our strategic plans for growth,” stated Mr. Donnelly. The Russell 3000 Index is comprised of the large-cap Russell 1000 and the small-cap Russell 2000 index. The top 1,000 companies having the highest market capitalization make up the Russell 1000, while the next largest 2,000 make up the Russell 2000.
Wright Center Names Deputy Chief Operating Officer The Wright Center for Community Health has named Marianne Linko, LPN, as the deputy chief operating officer and LPN care coordinator. Linko will oversee integrated service lines for dental, lifestyle modification, infectious disease, geriatrics, and behavioral health operations at The Wright Center’s practices, including our new North Scranton Practice and mobile medical and dental unit, Driving Better Health, while providing direction and supervision to staff. She will supervise the director of dental operations and practice managers for the Mid Valley and Wilkes-Barre practices, the site coordinator at the North Scranton Practice, the nurse manager/site coordinator at the North Pocono and North Scranton practices, and the site coordinators for Driving Better Health and School-Based Health at the West Scranton Intermediate School. Linko earned her licensed practical nurse certification from Scranton’s Career Technology Center in 2009. She joined The Wright Center for Community Health in 2011 as a licensed practical nurse at the Mid Valley Practice. Since then, she’s served in several leadership positions, taking over as practice manager at the Mid Valley Practice in 2021. Over the years, she has been recognized many times for her excellent work, including being named as one of the “20 Under 40” by the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal in 2021. The Wright Center for Community Health’s patient-centered medical home has 10 locations in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties that serve more than 40,0000 unique patients annually and ensures everyone in the service area has access to integrated, high-quality, affordable health services, regardless of their insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. For more information about the services provided by The Wright Center for Community Health or the nearest practice location, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570.230.0019.
Leadership Lackawanna Invites Regional Nonprofit Organizations to Submit Project LOIs The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce community leadership and professional development affiliate, Leadership Lackawanna, invites greater Scranton regional nonprofit organizations to submit a Service Project Letter of Intent (LOI) as the first step in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the 2023-24 Core class community service project. The Leadership Lackawanna organization will select multiple projects for the incoming class to work on throughout the program year (October 2023—June 2024). For nonprofit organizations and community groups, this invitation to submit an LOI presents an opportunity to use the services of a talented team of professionals. The group can help you with a project you have had in mind but lack the human resources to accomplish. At the same time, you can expose a group of established and emerging leaders to your organization’s mission and goals. This is a mutually beneficial experience for your agency and these emerging professionals. Projects must have a reasonable scope and budget and cannot include capital campaigns, rebranding/branding/marketing campaigns, or raising large sums of money. For more information on submitting a LOI to Leadership Lackawanna, visit www.leadershiplackawanna.com. Questions may be directed to Leadership Lackawanna Executive Director Nicole Morristell at (570) 342–7711 or nmorristell@scrantonchamber.com. The deadline to submit a LOI is August 18, 2023. About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com. About Leadership LackawannaLeadership Lackawanna, an affiliate of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, is a 501(c)(3) charitable, nonprofit organization in northeastern Pennsylvania dedicated to community leadership and professional development. Leadership’s six programs: Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, Leadership Collegiate, Core, Leadership Fundamentals 2.0, Executive, and Welcome Scranton!—enhance the skills, connections, and knowledge of emerging and established leaders, enabling them better to serve our communities, workplaces, and organizations. Established in 1982, Leadership Lackawanna has created more than 2,500 community leaders. For more information, visit www.leadershiplackawanna.com.
Red Robin Fundraiser for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Starting August 1, a portion of Red Robin‘s sales will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). See the flyer below for details.
Citizens Savings Bank Promotes Brian Drozdick Citizens Savings Bank is pleased to announce the following promotion. Drozdick has been elevated to Assistant Branch Manager and Security Officer. Drozdick received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Scranton. Drozdick started his career with the bank as an Assistant Branch Manager in the South Scranton Branch in June 2012 and was later transferred to Assistant Branch Manager in the Clarks Summit Branch in June 2020. Drozdick had been assisting in many aspects in the security function over the years which made for a seamless transition. In this new position, he will be taking on the additional responsibilities in the role as Security Officer and will continue to be responsible in assisting in the branch daily operations. Drozdick has worked in various banking positions during his career. He resides in Eynon with his wife Noelle, and two children.
National Night Out Against Crime Campaign with Scranton PD The City of Scranton is proud to be presenting National Night Out Against Crime Campaign for 2023. The goal is to promote both law enforcement and community involvement in combating crime. This event invites the citizens of Scranton to come out and enjoy a safe and crime-free night in their community. On Tuesday, August 1, at 6:00 pm the Scranton Police Department will celebrate a night out against crime at the Scranton High School with a large festival for every resident of Scranton to enjoy. Again, the Scranton Police Department, as well as other law enforcement and community service agencies, will provide displays of their programs for the residents to see and experience. The purpose of this event is to educate the community and provide citizens with information on services available to them as well as build community confidence and pride. There will also be refreshments and entertainment provided to all in attendance at no cost. To present National Night Out, we need your help. These projects could not happen without the financial assistance and sponsorship of businesses and organizations within our community. If you would like to donate, any donations made to National Night Out are tax deductible. The advertising pledge will not be used as a political contribution or support political activity in any way. If you would like to participate, the National Night Out Committee would welcome you or anyone from your organization to join us in the festivities at Scranton High School. Please feel free to attend and become involved in this great event. We will provide a station (table and chairs) so you may promote your specific organization to our community. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (570) 558-8304. Thank you for your consideration on this matter.
