Scranton Resident Joins Lackawanna College Faculty Brianna Florovito was born and raised in Archbald and currently lives in Scranton. She is a new instructor in Lackawanna College’s business division. Her first day in the classroom will be Monday, January 22. “I am excited for this new opportunity,” said Florovito. “I am passionate about helping people figure out what they truly want to pursue in life.”Florovito is a graduate of Valley View High School, Rutgers University, and Wilkes University, Wilkes University. During her education, she spent time studying at Budapest Hungary Central European University.
NEPA Alliance Announces New Staff Member Jeffrey Box, President & CEO of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, is pleased to announce that Madison Kuzdro has joined the NEPA staff as an Accountant. Madison will be responsible for performing accounting functions for all of NEPA’s financial activities and subsidiaries. Madison earned a dual major in Accounting and Financial Planning and a Minor in Forensic Accounting from Marywood University. She resides in Peckville.
Dress for Success Lackawanna: Honor Women Making An Impact Campaign Join Dress for Success Lackawanna on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 8:30 am at the Scranton Hilton & Conference Center as we partner with The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce to celebrate inspirational women in northeastern Pennsylvania. Our annual Women Making an Impact campaign, held during Women’s History Month, honors local women in our region who inspire inclusion, and influence others by making a positive impact within their organization or community. This is an exciting opportunity to show your recognition and support by sponsoring a woman you know who is making an impact. At the International Women’s Day breakfast event, Dress for Success Lackawanna will be highlighting 31 impactful women from the six counties that we serve. $500 “INSPIRE” Sponsorship includes: Honoree nominee (1) Honoree recognition in pre and post-event promotion, website & social media Honoree complimentary ticket (1) to the International Women’s Day Breakfast Recognition at our 25th Anniversary Celebration Event on May 16th, 2024 Please submit your sponsorship by Friday, January 26th, 2024. Should you have any questions, please reach out to me at 570-941-0339 or email me at lackawanna@dressforsuccess.org. Thank you for helping the women in our community receive the recognition they deserve! Link to nomination form here: https://bit.ly/HonoreeRegistration
Marion Munley Presents at the American Association of Justice’s Truck Litigation Marion Munley of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys recently presented at the American Association of Justice’s (AAJ) Truck Litigation Group Members Only Meeting in Florida on “Rule of 3.” Widely recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s most prominent and widely respected truck accident lawyers, Marion is Triple Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial, Civil Practice, and Truck Law. Marion has earned an AV-Preeminent designation from Martindale- Hubbell, the industry’s highest ethical and client satisfaction rating. A leader in the legal community, Marion is an active member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and currently serves as its Treasurer. Marion was the first woman to become Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2018 and is a past chair of the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. Marion is the second woman in Pennsylvania to become Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Among her other professional affiliations are the American Board of Trial Advocates, the International Society of Barristers, and the Summit Council, an exclusive group of today’s top civil justice attorneys committed to the highest levels of trial advocacy, to obtaining justice for individuals and families who have been hurt by corporate wrongdoing, and to the protection of the civil justice system. During her career, Marion has received some of the highest honors a lawyer can receive. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2012, Marion has been named the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She has also been recognized as Best Lawyers® 2022 and 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania and 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury-Plaintiffs for the Allentown metro area. Marion has also been selected to the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for the last 18 years and was recently named to the 2023 “Top 10” Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List. A graduate of Temple University School of Law (J.D., 1986), Marion received her undergraduate degree from Scranton University in 1983.
SWB RailRiders Game Day Staff Job Fair The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will hold a game day staff job fair on Saturday, February 10, in the club level at PNC Field from 10 A.M. until 2 P.M. The 2024 home opener is set for April 2 and the RailRiders are seeking game day employees for the upcoming season. Prospective employees will fill out applications, and the front office staff will do interviews on the spot during the job fair. “Game day employees are vital to our fan experience at PNC Field,” said Katie Beekman, the General Manager of the RailRiders. “Customer service is a key component during every game and event. We are looking for dedicated individuals who will take pride in working at the ballpark.” Interviews for game day staff will begin at 10 A.M. and will run until approximately 2 P.M. The RailRiders are looking for game day employees to fill numerous roles within the organization. Game day staff includes bat boys/ girls, ball boys/ girls, premium level attendants, EMTs, grounds crew, parking attendants, video/ production assistants, ticket sales representatives, ticket takers, and ushers. The team is also looking for members of the Pinstripe Patrol, the RailRiders on-field promotions crew, as well as fun zone employees. Legends Hospitality, the official catering, concessions, and merchandise provider of the RailRiders, will also conduct interviews on February 10. Legends is seeking concession supervisors, stand leads, cooks, warehouse runners, dishwashers, and cashiers. In addition, Legends will hire bartenders, suite attendants, club attendants, and retail associates. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age with working papers. Individuals will choose the open position that best suits their interests or needs, but may be considered for other positions based on availability. The Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Legends Hospitality are equal opportunity employers and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class. For more information, contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-BALL or visit swbrailriders.com.
The Dime Bank Promotes Valerie O’Hare President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich announced the promotion of Valerie O’Hare to Assistant Vice President, Training Manager at The Dime Bank. O’Hare joined The Dime Bank in 2013 as an assistant branch manager. In 2015, she was appointed to the position of trainer. In 2022, O’Hare was promoted to training manager. With 26 years of banking experience, O’Hare oversees the training program for approximately 170 employees including new hire, compliance, and universal banker training. She provides operational and procedural support to the staff, writes standard operating procedures, manages the training budget, and provides additional training for staff as needed. O’Hare also visits the local schools to provide financial literacy to students and serves on multiple committees within the bank. O’Hare is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association (PBA) School of Banking and Advanced School of Banking. O’Hare was recognized as the 2017 Emerging Leader. In 2020, O’Hare was presented with the PA Bankers H.Y.P.E. (Highlighting Young Professionals’ Excellence) “Developer” award. O’Hare recently committed her time as a volunteer for the United Way of Lackawanna/Wayne/ Pike. The Dime Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich stated, “Please join me in congratulating Val on her well-deserved promotion. Val is a dedicated professional who has consistently displayed a passion for the banking industry and a commitment to delivering exceptional training resources to our staff. I am confident that Val’s extensive banking knowledge, expertise, and leadership skills will be instrumental in driving growth and success to The Dime Bank. As Val takes on her new role, we look forward to seeing her achievements and contributions to the bank in the years to come.”
WVIA Announce New Documentary: Eddie Durham American Public Television (APT) and WVIA have announced the debut of a new WVIA original documentary titled WHAM Re-Bop-Boom-Bam: The Swing Jazz of Eddie Durham, coming in February. The film will be broadcast on over 250 APT member stations nationwide. Eddie Durham was an American jazz guitarist, trombonist, composer, and arranger. He was one of the pioneers of the electric guitar in jazz music. Through the testimonials of family, friends and devoted fellow musicians of all ages, Wham-Re-Bop-Boom-Bam: The Swing Jazz of Eddie Durham follows the musical journey of this often overlooked, but totally unique, musical genius. “Eddie Durham was an innovator who helped shape a whole era of American music, no question. But he also had that rare gift of being able to bring people together, in bands and in life, across multiple generations and widely varying social backgrounds. He found the best in everyone, and everyone who knew him was a better musician and a better person for it,” said Producer Kris Hendrickson. “Our hope is that this documentary will help more people get to know Eddie Durham and, consequently, bring more people together through their appreciation for and admiration of him.” Produced and directed by WVIA’s Kris Hendrickson and Executive Producer Ben Payavis II, along with Music Director and Producer Loren Schoenberg of The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, the film will be presented and distributed by American Public Television. WHAM Re-Bop-Boom-Bam will air on public television stations nationwide in February 2024 (check local listings for airdates). The documentary also gave students of The Juilliard School in New York City an opportunity to perform original Eddie Durham arrangements that had never been recorded, allowing the next generation of jazz musicians to bring Eddie’s music to life for themselves. “It’s so important to honor Eddie Durham’s legacy and to play his music, especially for young people,” said Dr. Aaron Flagg, Chair and Associate Director of Juilliard Jazz. “That really helps them understand the journey that the great American music known as jazz has taken.” This film provides a unique look into the life and career of Eddie Durham, including details from those who knew him best. The story of Eddie Durham is told through interviews with an array of jazz musicians such as Russel Malone, Vincent Gardner, James Chirillo, jazz historians Robert O’Meally, Dennis Spragg, and more. It also includes interviews with Durham’s daughter Marcia and sons Eric and Terrance. “There’s been a lot of talk about roots; roots of civilization, families, of art, and history. When it comes to music in America, very few artists have deeper roots than Eddie Durham, and finally, a documentary has been produced to reveal how deep his story truly is. Above all, it’s a story of talent, perseverance, and love”, said Producer Loren Schoenberg. The trailer for WHAM Re-Bop-Boom-Bam: The Swing Jazz of Eddie Durham can be viewed here. For a full list of PBS stations carrying WHAM Re-Bop-Boom-Bam: The Swing Jazz of Eddie Durham, please visit our website here, or contact your local station directly.
WVIA News Awarded Grant for New Full-Time Journalist WVIA was recently awarded a grant through the Williamsport Lycoming Competitive Grant Program at the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania to support the addition of a dedicated, full-time WVIA News reporter to exclusively cover Williamsport and the Lycoming County region. The position has now been filled by Chase Bottorf, a Lock Haven native, providing dedicated WVIA News coverage to the area. Bottorf is a graduate of Lock Haven University and holds a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in writing. Having previously been a reporter for the Lock Haven news publication, The Express, he comes with an existing awareness of the unique issues in the Lycoming County region, and has ties to the local communities. “I am extremely excited to work for WVIA in bolstering community-based reporting in Northcentral Pennsylvania,” said Bottorf. “While working with the station, under the NPR/PBS umbrella, I hope to achieve greater transparency within the community and tackle stories that will benefit the area as a whole. This, and at the same time, garner experience that will help push my boundaries in the field of journalism overall.” Mr. Bottorf will be responsible for reporting and producing stories exclusive to the Lycoming County region on WVIA’s radio and digital platforms. He will focus on the many complexities of the Williamsport area by providing in-depth coverage of local issues and community engagement opportunities with residents of the region. Bottorf will work out of the WVIA Studios Lycoming County Bureau in the Community Arts Center on West 4th Street in Williamsport. Bucking the national trends of shrinking staff and non-local ownership groups, WVIA has grown – and is quickly becoming the source for balanced, local news throughout the 22-county region it serves. Founded in 2022, WVIA News has grown to a team of six full-time journalists in less than two years. “First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania is thrilled to support WVIA’s continued expansion into Lycoming County,” stated Betty Gilmour, Director of Grantmaking, First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania. “With a dedicated journalist closely involved in the greater Williamsport and surrounding area, residents will become more knowledgeable about the place they call home, opening new avenues to a more connected community.” This is the second grant-funded news position for WVIA News since its founding in 2022. These additions to WVIA’s growing news department are evidence of the level of support from donors and the community for local nonprofit journalism and the level of commitment from WVIA to fill the need for such.
Scranton Cultural Center Hosts “The Classic Rock Show – World Tour 2024” The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple is pleased to announce The Classic Rock Show – World Tour 2024, kicking off in Scranton on March 21 at 7:30 PM. This electrifying production by CMP Entertainment features all the hits from Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, AC/DC, The Beatles, Dire Straits, Meat Loaf, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton, Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who, Boston, Toto, Van Halen, Fleetwood Mac and more. The Classic Rock Show is an amazing opportunity for rock fans, young and old, to celebrate three decades of the world’s greatest classic rock music with a stunning multi-million dollar sound and light show to match. Note-for-note, anthem after anthem, riff after riff and solo after solo – the night will culminate in a show-stopping guitar duel that is definitely not to be missed. The show will take place in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Theatre and is presented by Magic City Productions and the Scranton Cultural Center. Tickets start at $44.30. A VIP Sound Check Experience Pre-Show Package is available for an additional fee. Doors will open at 7:00 PM and a cash bar and concessions will be available. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning January 26 at 10 AM at the Fidelity Bank Box Office at the SCC in person or by calling (570) 344-1111, or via Ticketmaster. For more information or to view a full schedule of events, visit SCCMT.org.
FNCB Bank Donates to Keystone Mission FNCB Bank, through the FNCB Bank Charitable Foundation, today announced a $5,000 donation to Keystone Mission in support of their new Wilkes-Barre Innovation Center. The Wilkes-Barre Innovation Center, opened on October 23, 2023, acts as an educational and hands-on facility for both men and women experiencing homelessness in Northeastern PA. The facility provides a place to receive meals, clothing, showers, and the ability to meet with community service providers. The Keystone Mission donation is part of FNCB’s larger Community Caring initiative. As a true, local community bank, FNCB is making a difference through volunteerism, donations, and outreach programs.
