Wayne Bank Promotes Steve Daniels Jim Donnelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, is pleased to announce the promotion of Steve Daniels to Executive Vice President and Director of Consumer Banking. “Steve plays a tremendous part in the success of Wayne Bank, and I am proud to announce his promotion. He consistently pushes himself and other employees, driving high-tech financial solutions and expanding our reach. His leadership, expertise, and commitment have earned him this promotion, and I am honored to have him lead our Consumer Banking Division,” said Mr. Donnelly. Daniels joined Wayne Bank in 2011 and has held various roles during his tenure. He most recently served as Senior Vice President and Director of Consumer Banking, where he was responsible for leading and streamlining the products and services of the Bank’s Consumer Banking Division. Daniels holds a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and is a graduate of the PBA Advanced School of Banking. He has recently graduated from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking, where he also completed the Wharton Leadership Program at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to serving as Co-Chair of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, Daniels is also the Co-Chair of the Talent and Financial Development Committee of Wayne Tomorrow, as well as past President of the Honesdale Area Jaycees. A lifelong resident of Wayne County, he resides in Milanville with his wife, Ali, and son, Russell.
University of Scranton, University of Success Accepting Applications for 2025 The University of Scranton’s University of Success, a four-year pre-college mentorship program, is now accepting applications for the upcoming 2025 academic year that begins this summer. Students who are currently in the eighth grade are eligible to apply. The University of Success is an academic and enrichment program funded entirely by corporate and foundations grants, so there is no charge to students and their families. The program’s goal is to assist first generation college-bound students to successfully complete high school and gain entrance into a college or university. Accepted students will begin the program with a two-week residential summer academy which will be held on the campus of The University of Scranton from Sunday, July 6, to Friday, July 18. Upon completion of the summer program, the students will continue to meet for enrichment sessions during their high school career. The deadline for submission of applications is Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Applications may be obtained by emailing Margaret Loughney, University of Success program director, at margaret.loughney@scranton.edu. Applications may also be obtained online the University of Success website.
The Wright Center: Give blood – it saves lives! As we settle into 2025 and leave the holiday rush behind, you might find your schedule has a little more breathing room. If so, consider making a difference by donating blood at a local blood drive. Early in the year, blood supplies often dip to critically low levels nationwide and locally. Several factors contribute to this: donations decline during the busy holiday season, many people are sidelined by seasonal illnesses like the flu or COVID-19, and inclement weather frequently disrupts scheduled blood drives. It’s fitting, then, that January is National Blood Donor Month – a time to spotlight the urgent need for blood donations. This marks the 55th annual observance of National Blood Donor Month, first proclaimed in January 1970 by President Richard Nixon and supported by a U.S. Senate resolution. Decades later, raising awareness remains as important as ever. According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets every two seconds – for surgeries, cancer treatments, traumatic injuries, and more. A single blood donation can save up to three lives. Each year, about 6.8 million Americans donate blood, resulting in the collection of approximately 13.6 million units of whole blood and red blood cells. However, only about 3% of the eligible population participates. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, especially those with type O blood, which is most frequently used by hospitals. In Northeast Pennsylvania, there are many opportunities to give blood. The local Red Cross chapter hosts regular blood drives, and is Bloodmobile frequently travels across the region. The requirements to donate are straightforward: you must be at least 16 years old, in good health, and weigh over 110 pounds. The Wright Center is proud to partner with the Red Cross and other community organizations throughout the year to host blood drives. These events have a significant impact. During the 2023-24 fiscal year, donations at our blood drives saved up to 582 lives. Our next event, the “Students Save Lives” blood drive, will take place on Monday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at our community health center at 501 S. Washington Ave. In collaboration with students from Scranton Preparatory School, this drive will support area cancer patients undergoing treatment. You can sign up to donate at RedCross.org. Beyond donating, the Red Cross also welcomes volunteers to serve as blood donor ambassadors. These individuals greet and register donors, answer questions, and provide support at the refreshment table, helping ensure a positive experience that encourages repeat donations. Other volunteers act as transportation specialists, delivering lifesaving blood products to hospitals. Please consider using some of your free time to donate blood or volunteer at a drive. It’s easy, virtually painless, and immensely rewarding. Plus, there’s the added bonus of a free cookie! Maura Longstreet, MSN, CRNP, FNP-BC, is certified registered nurse practitioner at The Wright Center for Community Health North Scranton, 1721 N. Main Ave. She is accepting new patients of all ages.
Stone House Investment Celebrates New Office in Clarks Summit Stone House Investment Management is thrilled to announce the opening of its new office location at 130 West Grove Street, Clarks Summit, PA, below Kelly Dental. This expansion marks an exciting milestone as Stone House continues to grow and extend its services to the Lackawanna County area. To celebrate this grand opening, Stone House will be hosting an open house on January 24th, starting at 1:00 PM. Guests are invited to visit the newly renovated office space, meet the team of financial advisors, and learn more about their services such as retirement income planning, business investment services, and personal wealth management. The open house will run until 6:00 PM, providing ample opportunity for community members to drop by at their convenience. In addition to the open house, Stone House is proud to sponsor a live ice carving at the Clarks Summit Ice Festival that evening. The ice carving will take place at 6:00 PM in the pocket park on Depot Street. “It will be great to kick off our grand opening around such a treasured, community event,” says Mike Cravath, a Lead Advisor on the Stone House team. The Advisors are also excited to be extending into Lackawanna County with a holistic strategy, focusing on more than just how much you have saved for retirement. Advisors also consider key areas such as tax, estate, and generational planning, which provides a comprehensive approach for your financial wellbeing. “We’re excited to start working with more clients in the valley and look forward to serving the community with a local office presence,” said Ryan Vassil, a Lead Advisor at Stone House. “Our team is committed to helping everyday people feel secure with their financial plans.” For more information about the open house or their services, please contact Stone House at 570-507-8946 or visit their website at stonehouseinv.com.
RailRiders: Score Big Prizes with Football Squares Promo Promotion awards fans at the end of each quarter and with the final score on February 9 Super Bowl LIX is just weeks away and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are bringing back the Football Squares promotion to upgrade and reward new ticket package purchases with great prizes and experiences. Fans can purchase flex plans, partial, half or full-season memberships to get involved in the RailRiders Football Squares promotion with the opportunity to win big on February 9. Chances to win occur with the score at the end of each quarter and at the end of the game. Matching scores will reward you with fun prizes. Squares correspond with the number of packages purchased, so buy multiple plans or memberships for more chances to win! With the purchase of one flex plan, you will receive one square. If you purchase a partial season plan, you will receive two squares. A half-season plan will receive three squares and any full-season membership purchased will net four squares. All squares are placed at random prior to the big day. Winners are determined by looking at the last number in each team’s score at the end of each quarter and then matching those numbers on the grid and seeing which square intersects those two numbers. Winning Outcomes: Match the score at the end of the first quarter and win a RailRiders Prize Pack that includes one white Hawaiian shirt, one blue Hawaiian shirt, a Vejigantes pint glass, a pair of RailRiders flip flops and a $25.00 gift card to the SWB Team Store. Match the score at the end of the second quarter and receive a Roberto Clemente SWB replica jersey, one Jackie Robinson SWB replica jersey, a Squints bobblehead and a $25.00 gift card to the SWB Team Store. Match the score at the end of the third quarter and get two Yankees vouchers (two New York Yankees tickets per voucher), four Geisinger Champions Club tickets to an April or May RailRiders game, one game-worn jersey, an SWB football jersey, one SWB mug PLUS a $25.00 gift card to the SWB Team Store and you’ll get to throw a first pitch prior to a 2025 Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre home game. Match the score at the end of the fourth quarter and win two Yankees vouchers (two New York Yankees tickets per voucher), four Geisinger Champions Club tickets to an April or May RailRiders game, one Jasson Domínguez bobblehead, an SWB tote bag, one autographed baseball PLUS a $100.00 gift card to the SWB Team Store and you’ll throw a first pitch prior to a 2025 Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre home game. If the game goes into overtime and your square matches the final score after OT, you will win one of each previously mentioned promotional items, two Yankees vouchers, four Geisinger Champions Club tickets to an April or May RailRiders game, one autographed baseball PLUS a $100.00 gift card to the SWB Team Store and you’ll get to throw a first pitch prior to a 2025 Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre home game. Additional terms, restrictions, and conditions may apply. Please ask your sales representative to clarify any concerns. Ticket packages for the 2025 season, including all season ticket memberships and flex plans, are available now and Football Squares are on a limited, first-come, first-served basis until Friday, February 7. For more information, please visit swbrailriders.com or contact a ticket sales representative at (570) 969-BALL.
PA Treasurer Announces Increased Contribution Limit for PA ABLE Accounts Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced that the annual contribution limit for PA ABLE, a savings program for people with disabilities, increased to $19,000. The change is a result of IRS inflation adjustments for 2025 and took effect January 1, 2025. The previous limit was $18,000. “This increase in the contribution limit expands opportunities for Pennsylvanians with disabilities to live more independently by saving for the future without hurting their eligibility for important benefits,” Treasurer Garrity said. “More than 10,000 people have opened PA ABLE accounts, and they’ve saved more than $144 million. It’s a program that has truly changed lives for the better.” PA ABLE accounts offer tax-advantaged savings options to people with qualifying disabilities, so they can save and build assets without affecting eligibility for means-tested federal and state benefits such as Supplemental Security Income and Medical Assistance. Additionally, account owners who are employed may be able to contribute beyond the $19,000 limit. PA ABLE offers seven investment options to choose from, plus a checking account with a debit card. Funds are easy to access and may be used for a wide range of expenses, such as healthcare, housing, education, assistive technology, adaptive vehicles, and more. No federal or state income tax is paid on account growth or withdrawals when used for qualified expenses. In November, Treasurer Garrity announced a fee cut for ABLE account owners after the National ABLE Alliance, of which Pennsylvania is the largest member, surpassed 45,000 funded ABLE accounts. That marked the fifth time PA ABLE fees have been reduced since Treasurer Garrity took office. Starting in 2026, the federal ABLE Age Adjustment Act, championed by former U.S. Senator Bob Casey, will make millions more Americans – including one million Veterans – eligible to save with ABLE accounts. Currently, a person’s disability must have onset prior to their 26th birthday to save in an ABLE account. The ABLE Age Adjustment Act will increase that age to 46. To learn more about how to save with PA ABLE, including eligibility, visit paable.gov, call 855-529-ABLE (2253), or register for an upcoming webinar at paable.gov/webinars.
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s 22nd Annual CASUAL Day Announces Chair Alessandro Smeraldi, MD is chair for the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s 22nd Annual CASUAL (Colon Cancer Awareness Saves Unlimited Adult Lives) Day for a second year. Building on the momentum he gained last year; he is once again teaming up with his wife Gail and other healthcare professionals to bring awareness to the importance of colon cancer screening. Alessandro Smeraldi, MD is a board-certified vascular surgeon. Dr. Smeraldi recently retired, focusing on his family and his health. He is proud to have served his community these many years. He maintains ties with the Society for Vascular Surgery and Society for Vascular Ultrasound. Additionally, he serves as a clinical professor of surgery at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton. Dr. Smeraldi draws daily strength from the love of his wife, Gail, and their children Hayley and Caleb. CASUAL Day, set for Thursday, March 27, 2025, is a dress down day to raise awareness for colorectal cancer in northeast Pennsylvania. On this day, participants dress casual while wearing specially designed socks, hats, and/or t-shirts. The focus of this awareness campaign is to have a casual conversation about colon cancer. All proceeds from the event stay in NEPA and go towards the Cancer Institute efforts to raise awareness and support to support colorectal cancer prevention, early detection education and screenings. For more information about CASUAL Day and how you can participate, please call the Cancer Institute at (570) 904-8808 or visit www.cancernepa.org.
