PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), and Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC) hosted an event today urging motorists to slow down and pay attention in work zones ahead of National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). The week, which runs April 11-15, is designated to highlight the critical importance of safe driving through work zones. The theme of this year’s NWZAW is “Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down.”

“We are beginning another construction season,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Too often this means hazards for the men and women who are delivering improved roads and bridges. These workers deserve to get home safely. Please slow down and never drive distracted, especially in work zones where roadway conditions can change every day.”

According to preliminary PennDOT data, in 2021 there were 1,617 work zone crashes, resulting in 15 fatalities. Additionally, since 1970, PennDOT has lost 90 workers in the line of duty. The PA Turnpike has lost 45 workers since 1940.

With a mock work zone in the background, PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton referenced the hazards of working so close to live traffic. “Our crews are doing their jobs, day in and day out, mere inches from live traffic,” Compton explained. “Our colleagues have been injured and lives have been taken when drivers do not pay attention to construction signage, respect posted speeds or maintain a safe distance.”

In Pennsylvania, there are two distinct programs related to active work zones. Under Title 75, Section 3326, motorists caught by police driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted for failing to drive at a safe speed, automatically lose their license for 15 days. Additionally, fines for certain traffic violations — including speeding, driving under the influence, and failure to obey traffic devices — are doubled for active work zones. The law also provides for up to five years of additional jail time for individuals convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone.

Under Title 75, Section 3369, fines are allowed to be administered through the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program. Pennsylvania’s AWZSE program, first implemented in March 2020, uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record motorists exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more using electronic speed timing devices. AWZSE systems are only operational in active work zones where workers are present. Work Zones that have an AWZSE system present and active will have unique signs in advance of the enforcement area, alerting drivers to the upcoming enforcement. Registered owners receive a warning letter for a first offense, a violation notice and $75 fine for a second offense, and a violation notice and $150 fine for third and subsequent offenses. These violations are civil penalties only; no points are assessed to driver’s licenses.

In 2021, PSP supported 101 projects for work activities where existing enforcement remains the most effective tool. The combination of existing and automated enforcement continues to be applied in a complementary manner and is yielding benefits in Pennsylvania work zones.

“Increased penalties in work zones and the implementation of the AWZSE program have made Pennsylvania’s work zones safer,” said Major Robert Krol, Director of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Patrol. “The PSP is committed to supporting safety across Pennsylvania’s roadways.”

Results included in the AWZSE Annual Legislative Report released online today show that the program is meeting its goals of reducing work zone speeds, changing driver behavior, and improving work zone safety for both workers and motorists.

During 2021’s primary construction months (April – November), speeding in AWZSE enforced work zones was reduced to 20 percent of all traffic, down from 35 percent at the start of the program. Similarly, excessive speeding (11 mph or more over the posted speed limit) was reduced to three percent from eight percent at the start of the program. Additionally, improvements in driver behavior have been observed through not only sustained speed reductions in AWZSE-enforced work zones, but also smaller, but measurable, reductions at times when AWZSE is not in effect in those zones.

“Ultimately, this program is not about issuing violations,” said Gramian. “The goal is to change driver behavior. We want all motorists to slow down and drive safely so that enforcement programs like AWZSE are no longer needed.”

Associated Pennsylvania Constructors Executive Vice President Robert Latham emphasized that highway workers risk their lives every day in order to maintain a roadway system that is safe for the motoring public. “We’re asking that motorists do their part to keep highway workers safe, too,” said Latham. “It only takes a moment of distraction to cause an injury or fatality. Slow down and stay alert.”

For more information on the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program, including a list of projects where the units are deployed, visit https://workzonecameras.penndot.gov/.

For more information on work zone safety, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety.

For more information on work zone safety and an opportunity to take the safe-driving pledge, visit https://www.idriveorange.com/.

Photos and video from this event will be available at www.pacast.com.

University of Scranton to Host Conference on Ethics and Excellence in Public Service

The University of Scranton will host the Inaugural Conference on Ethics and Excellence in Public Service for public officials, leaders of nonprofit organizations and students on April 9 on campus. The half-day, in-person conference begins at 8 a.m. with registration and refreshments and will take place on the fifth floor of Brennan Hall.

The annual conference is a key initiative of the University’s recently launched Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS) with the goal of helping to provide a foundation for ethical governance in Northeastern Pennsylvania by developing and nurturing a community of scholars, public officials and citizens dedicated to improving and protecting democracy at the state and local level.

“We expect that the conference will help connect state and local governing officials to one another and make them aware of the opportunities and training offered by the Center,” said JoyAnna Hopper, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science and co-director of CEEPS. “Additionally, we expect that the Conference will offer scholars interested in promoting and protecting democracy through the study of ethics at the state- and local-level an opportunity to present and share research. That research can be disseminated through the Center and shared with community members and state and local governments.”

Dr. Hopper also sees the conference as a way to introduce University students to issues concerning ethics and government effectiveness and further engage them in career opportunities in the public and government service sector. University students will participate in a panel discussion about their efforts in 2020 to increase voter registration among young adults.

Additional topics covered in panel discussions at the conference include “Local Government Ethics Boards and Codes;” “Grant writing: Best Practices for Local Governments;” and “Legislative Pay, Per Diems, and Ethics.”

The conference will conclude with a luncheon keynote address by author Craig Wheeland, Ph.D., a noted scholar in the area of public administration and senior vice president for academics and professor of public administration at Villanova University. Dr. Wheeland has published numerous articles and has also published two books on the topics of local government and urban politics. His research on city management has received external funding from organizations such as the American Political Science Association.

Additional information and a schedule of speakers can be seen on the Conference on Ethics and Excellence in Public Service webpage.

Registration is required to attend and fees vary for the conference. Reservations and additional information is also available online. A $15 registration fee includes all meals and materials for the day.  If you are unable to pay the $15 registration fee, there is an option on the registration form that will allow you to register and attend without paying the fee. The conference is free for students.

The University of Scranton health and safety protocols in place on April 9 outlined in the Royals Back Together plan must be followed by conference attendees.

For additional information, email ceeps@scranton.edu or contact Sharon Olechna, administrative assistant for the Political Science Department, at 570-941-6326 or by email at sharon.olechna@scranton.edu.

P. Timothy Kelly, Esq. Named to 2021 – 2022 Best Lawyers

P. Timothy Kelly Esq., of the Scranton Pennsylvania law firm of Needle Law PC has been named to the 2021-2022 edition of Best Lawyers.

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by current recognize Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to make sure they are currently still in private practice. Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.

Tim has been named in the category of Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs

Learn more about Tim.

Lackawanna College School Supply Closet

Lackawanna College Registrar’s Office Connecting Kids with Educational Tools (ROCKET) Project cut the ribbon on a supply closet, a store environment where local K-12 educators, school staff and nonprofit organizations can shop for much-needed school supplies for free.

Located in Healey Hall at the College’s main campus in Scranton, the revamped program includes a website with an online ordering system. The supply closet, paired with the website, will allow teachers to order supplies and pick them up in a COVID-safe setting.

Since 2010, the ROCKET project has distributed nearly 5,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to local elementary schools, serving 3,800 children across northeastern Pennsylvania.

“The Lackawanna College ROCKET Project is an extension of our social impact goals. This project has been in existence since 2009 and we are proud to continue this tremendous initiative with our largest local district,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “The supply closet ensures that elementary school children will have the tools they need to succeed and will continue to have access to educational pathways.”

The ROCKET Project’s website and ordering system was developed by web development and hosting startup, Machi-Systems. Machi-Systems is also a client of the College’s business incubator, the Venture Lab.

Educators, school staff, & non-profit organizations can request access to shop the ROCKET Project Supply closet at https://lcrocketproject.org/.

Geisinger Doctors to Participate in Susan G. Komen Breast Health Panel

Four Geisinger staff members are participating in a virtual roundtable discussion as a part of the Komen Breast Cancer Education Series: Am I High Risk and What Does That Mean? to promote breast cancer awareness.

The roundtable, hosted on Tuesday, April 5, will provide an overview of what high risk for breast cancer means and how it is determined. It will cover screening options as well as how, when and why being at high risk is considered when building a treatment plan. 

Participants include Jacqueline Oxenberg, D.O., associate surgical oncologist and director of the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center; Mary Wolf, P.A., high-risk breast physician assistant; Rachel Schwiter, genetic counselor; and Tatianie Jackson, associate diagnostic radiologist.

To register for the panel, visit whova.com. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with a virtual networking session followed by the roundtable discussion.

For more information on cancer care at Geisinger, visit Geisinger.org/BreastCare.

Marywood University to Honor Sister Gail Cabral, IHM

Marywood University’s Ninth Annual Community Leadership Celebration on Thursday, May 5, 2022, will honor Sister Gail Cabral, IHM, Ph.D., C.M.F.C., licensed psychologist and a member of Marywood’s psychology/counseling faculty for the past 52 years. The event is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Center for Athletics and Wellness on the University’s campus. During the celebration, Sister Gail will receive the University’s Lead On Award, in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education, to service, and to the common good.

The Community Leadership Celebration, Marywood’s signature fundraiser, provides special support to Marywood students and honors individuals in the community who exemplify Marywood’s core values in leadership and service to others. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the President’s Innovation Fund, which supports Marywood students through initiatives that enhance the academic experience in the IHM tradition.

For 56 years, Sister Gail has been a professed member of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM). Throughout her more than five decades of teaching psychology, she has worked with students on undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. She was the first director of Marywood’s Ph.D. program in human development and also served as the chairperson of the psychology department. She is a member of the University’s distinguished order, Cor Mariae-Pro Fide et Cultura (C.M.F.C.), a distinction of esteem and appreciation awarded upon her twentieth year of faithful, full-time faculty service.

Regional, national, and international communities have benefitted from her professional expertise. Along with many other faculty and administrators, Sister Gail worked on the Department of Defense grant that brought the Military Family Institute to Marywood, leading to numerous studies on the effects of relocation on adolescents in families in all branches of the armed services. She traveled to Africa to teach with the African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC) four different times, as well as to England and to other locations in Europe. She continues to teach the African Sisters online. Through a Pennsylvania Humanities Council grant, Sister Gail gave a series of seminars on women’s autobiographies throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

She frequently presented workshops on friendship development in children and adolescents, as well as child care and stress, to various community groups and organizations. Her board memberships included St. Joseph’s Hospital, and then Marian Community Hospital, in Carbondale, Pa., and she also was a member of the Synod of the Diocese of Scranton. Additionally, she chaired the local chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation for many years.

Sister Gail holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a master of science in education from Marywood, as well as a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America. She received a National Endowment for the Humanities for a two-month seminar in autobiography at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She has researched, taught, and presented on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator; gender differences; social-cognitive development, particularly in the area of friendship relations; and the relationship of psychology and religion.

Tickets and event sponsorships are available now. Please visit marywood.edu/support/clc or call (570) 348-6238 for more details about honoring Sister Gail Cabral, IHM at Marywood University’s Community Leadership Celebration on May 5.

Nominate a Military Hero for Tobyhanna’s Warfighter Award

Tobyhanna Army Depot is seeking nominations for its Warfighter of the Quarter award. 

This award recognizes the service and sacrifice of regional Active-Duty and Reserve Component military personnel and their family members. It also celebrates the direct link between the work of Team Tobyhanna and the readiness of our Armed Forces. 

Unit commanders and leaders are invited to nominate a deserving service member by completing the form at this link: https://forms.gle/KVh89JocSpHYcqaR6

Nominations must be for current service members and must come from their unit leadership.

The award will be presented at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Railriders Armed Forces Night on May 28.

More than 30 deserving Warfighters have received this honor. Sergeant First Class (SFC) Frank E Boehme, Jr. of the 109th Infantry Regiment out of Easton, PA – and a member of the TYAD workforce – was recognized as the first Warfighter of the Quarter of 2022 in February.

For more information, please visit Tobyhanna’s official Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/teamtobyhanna or contact Tobyhanna’s Community Relations Specialist, Katie Nolan, at (570) 615-9884.

HRC’s Matt Giansanti to Debut at Milford Theater

Matt Giansanti of Milford, PA is slated to appear on the Milford Theater stage April 30th for a rendition of the play, “Death of a Salesman.” The 1949 tragedy written by American playwright, Arthur Miller, centers on the loss of identity and the inability of New Yorker Willy Loman to face change within himself and society. Viewers will be taken on a ride through Willy’s life as a traveling salesman, husband, and father by way of a tumultuous series of montages, dreams, and arguments. The original play won the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play, and is considered by many critics to be the best play of the 20th century.

Matt has been involved with the Human Resources Center for many years. He is presently part of the HRC’s Small Group Employment program receiving support from a professionally trained job coach to help assist him when needed. Matt takes great pride in his work at the Pike County Commissioners office and is now set to take stage in an exclusive one-weekend debut! The Human Resources Center provides home, community, and employment services to individuals with disabilities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Matt’s interest in the world of entertainment came to fruition in December of last year when he released a documentary about his brother entitled, “My Brother, My Hero Forever.” The release was a smash success. Matt now turns to his next adventure: live stage acting.

You can catch Matt in “Death of a Salesman” at Milford Theater on Saturday April 30th at 7pm and Sunday May 1st at 2pm. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased on the Milford Theater’s website at www.themilfordtheater.com. The Human Resources Center would like to congratulate Matt on his latest creative endeavor. Break a leg!

The theater has decided to add an additional showing Friday April 29th at 7pm due to popular demand.

The Story of Us, The Office Mural in Scranton

Do you love The Office TV show as much as we do? Scranton Tomorrow is thrilled to announce its upcoming mural, The Story of Us: The Office’s relationship with Scranton. This one‐of‐a‐kind art piece will capture the relationship between The Best Hometown of The Office and its beloved characters. The design features large‐scale black and white portraits of the seventeen characters, contrasted with a colorful geometric pattern background, imagery, and quotes that represent significant objects and moments throughout the show’s nine seasons. Standing at 30 feet high and 120 feet long, it will be huge!

For  nearly  30  years,  Scranton  Tomorrow  has  served  the  Scranton  community  as  a  non‐profit  economic development organization focused on growth of downtown and enhancing the lives of its residents and visitors. Scranton Tomorrow spearheads numerous projects and initiatives in the Downtown Scranton Business District, including the Electric City Classic, First Fridays, and most recently, the Mural Arts Program. The Mural Arts program has transformed numerous bare walls and building facades into open  air  galleries  featuring  large‐scale  murals  that  express  Scranton’s  history,  culture,  diversity,  and  creativity.

The Story of Us will be hand painted by Philadelphia based fine‐arts muralist Kala Hagopian founder of Hagopian Arts, an independent female‐owned and operated public art initiative. Having received a Certificate in Painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 2009, she has worked with a large range of clients, including: nonprofits, corporate developers, small businesses, and personal residences. Scranton Tomorrow is thrilled to have her expertise in capturing photo‐realistic images that are interspersed with bright patterns creating stunning masterpieces. Kala’s featured work includes collaborations with the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Women’s Conference, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, The Philadelphia Marathon, Amazon.com, and many others.
Scranton Tomorrow’s Mural Arts program needs your help to make this massive mural become real! Only through your love of The Office, love of art, and love for The Electric City will this monumental mural get underway. Through your support, you will join us in paying homage to The Office’s enduring popularity and creating a legacy for all to enjoy. Please join us in supporting The Story of Us and donate at Indiegogo today!

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, contact Rose Randazzo Pizzuto, Chairperson Scranton Mural Arts Program at Rose@scrantontomorrow.org and 570.575.0666, or Steve Ward, Scranton Tomorrow Mural Arts Program, Team Leader at 570.963.5901. You can also visit Scranton Tomorrow’s website. Scranton Tomorrow and The Story of Us can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.