PA CareerLink to Hold Second Chance Hiring Event

PA CareerLink will be doing a hiring event on Wednesday, July 26th. The hiring event will be centered around helping second-chance participants find employment. We’ll also have speakers from the PA Department of Labor & Industry and Lackawanna Pro Bono. They will be providing information about federal programs and legal options for both participants and employers. Attached is the flyer with the details

The Wright Center for Community Health Opening North Scranton Practice

The Wright Center for Community Health is expanding access to health care by establishing the North Scranton Practice, which will begin accepting patients on Monday, July 17.

The new practice at 1721 N. Main Ave., Scranton, will offer a full complement of primary and preventive care, addiction and recovery services, and other supportive service lines. The North Scranton Practice location formerly housed Dr. Paul Remick’s family practice under Horizon Medical Corp. Dr. Remick retired June 30. 

With the new location, The Wright Center for Community Health offers a network of nine permanent locations across Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties that, together with its mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health, serves more than 40,0000 unique patients annually and ensures everyone in the service area has access to high-quality, affordable health services, regardless of their insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay.

A Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, The Wright Center for Community Health’s patient-centered medical home is an essential community provider of safety-net primary and preventive health services, a state-designated Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence, and a Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinic.

The North Scranton Practice, open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., is accepting appointments for new patients. To schedule an appointment, call 570-346-8417 or go to TheWrightCenter.org and click on the appointment link near the top of the page. To see a complete list of clinic locations, hours of operation, and services, visit TheWrightCenter.org.

Upcoming Healthcare Panel Discussion

The Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Myers, Brier & Kelly, LLP, and Maternal and Family Health Services, Inc. invite you to the 2023 HealthCare Panel Discussion.

Rep. Joanna McClinton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will engage in a dynamic and informed dialogue with Dr. Julie Byerley, the Dean of the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, and Maria Montoro Edwards, Ph.D., President of Maternal and Family Health, which serves over 90,000 citizens annually in 17 counties.

The panel will discuss workforce challenges and maternal family health issues. The panel will be moderated by WVIA’s Tracey Matisak.

Learn More

Beware! Scam Involving Employee Retention Credit

The law office of Ufberg & Associates recently sent out communication regarding a scam surrounding the employee retention credit. Below is the text from Ufberg & Associates.

Employee Retention Credit

The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) was designed to provide a refundable tax credit for businesses that continued paying employees while shut down during the COVID-19 Pandemic, or for businesses that had a significant decline in gross receipts during the eligibility periods. However, with this resource came the opportunity for misuse and abuse.

Schemes and Scams

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has learned that third party promoters have developed schemes to entice businesses to apply for the ERC, who may otherwise not be eligible for the ERC. Third party promoters are continuing to engage in marketing campaigns designed to have businesses enlish their services to apply for ERC and then charging businesses 10%, 20%, 30% for more of the amount of the ERC for their services. The IRS reacted to these developments by adding the ERC to its “Dirty Dozen” list in March of 2023.

The IRS’s “Dirty Dozen” list is an annual list generated by the IRS listing potential scams and schemes that put taxpayers and the tax professional community at risk. The list is aimed at helping raise awareness to protect honest taxpayers from potential bad actors.

The IRS Commissioner made the following statement on this issue: “The aggressive marketing of these credits is deeply troubling and a major concern of the IRS. Businesses need to think twice before filing a claim for these credits. While the credit has provided a financial lifeline to millions of businesses, there are promoters misleading people and businesses into thinking they can claim these credits. There are very specific guidelines around these pandemic-era credits; they are not available to just anyone. People should remember the IRS is actively auditing and conducting criminal investigations related to these false claims. We urge honest taxpayers not to be caught up in these schemes.”

Warning Signs

The aggressive marketing from these promoters can come in a variety of forms, such as radio, television, and online advertisements. Additionally, promoters have been sending out fake letters from non-existent groups, such as the “Department of Employee Retention Credit” urging businesses to take immediate action in applying for ERC.

The IRS has provided some warning signs of an aggressive ERC marketing that businesses should be wary of. These included:

  • Unsolicited calls or advertisements mentioning an “easy application process.”
  • Statements that the promoter or company can determine ERC eligibility within minutes.
  • Large upfront fees to claim the credit.
  • Fees based on a percentage of the refund amount of the ERC claimed.
  • Aggressive claims from the promoter that a business qualifies for the ERC before any discussion of the group’s tax situation. In reality, the ERC is a complex credit that requires careful review before applying.
  • The IRS also sees aggressive suggestions from marketers urging businesses to submit the claim because there is nothing to lose. In reality, the IRS would expect those improperly receiving the credit to repay the credit — along with the potential assessment of substantial interest and penalties.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Work with a Trusted Tax Professional — Employers who believe they may be eligible for the ERC should contact a trusted tax professional and not rely on the advice of any individual or company soliciting these credits.
  • IRS urges employers not to apply for ERC if the employer does not have a reasonable belief that the employer is legitimately qualified for this credit.

Lastly, if you wish to seek further information about the ERC, you can find additional information from the IRS by following the link: Employee Retention Credit Resource.

Disclaimer: This communication from the law office of Ufberg & Associates provides a general overview of new legal developments. It is not intended to provide legal advice. If you have questions or would like more information about how these developments may affect your businesses, please contact Ufberg & Associates at (570) 341-8800.

Marywood Students to Participate in Global Business Plan Competition

Five students from Marywood University’s School of Business and Global Innovation have been selected to participate in the X-Culture Global Business Week in Lublin, Poland, from July 12-19, 2023.

X-Culture is an international business plan competition in which students compete on teams composed of other students from around the world on real-life projects, set up by companies seeking to enter international markets. Each year more than 10,000 students participate in X-culture from over 400 institutions around the world. The top 150 students are invited to participate in the X-culture international symposium annually.

The following Marywood University students have been invited for participation:

Michael Romano, Maywood, N.J., a junior business management major; Daniel Gomez, Miami, Fla., a sophomore sports management major; Gabrielle Trosh, Newfoundland, Pa., a junior financial planning in business management major; Joel DeCarli, Archbald, Pa., a junior business management major, and Madison Guelho, Stroudsburg, Pa., a junior business management/health services administration major.

Dr. Chris Speicher, their professor on this project and the Executive Director of Marywood’s School of Business and Global Innovation, said, “These students are our rock stars! They stand out in any situation, and they will be wonderful ambassadors for Marywood while in Poland, participating in this symposium and business plan competition.”

For more information about Marywood’s School of Business and Global and its programs, go to marywood.edu/academics/business.

University of Scranton Adds Prestigious School to “3-3” Law Program

The University of Scranton and Seton Hall University School of Law have signed a direct admissions agreement that will allow Scranton students who meet program requirements to be eligible for admission to the prestigious law school after just three years at Scranton. The agreement will take effect beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year.

The agreement, commonly referred to as a “3-3 program,” will allow Scranton students to earn a bachelor’s degree from Scranton and a juris doctor (J.D.) degree, or a master of legal studies (M.L.S.) degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in six, rather than seven years. After completion of their junior year at Scranton, the agreement allows eligible J.D. students to earn up to 30 credits – and M.L.S. students to earn up to 18 credits – for their bachelor’s degree requirements, during the first year at Seton Hall Law. Approved first-year law courses would count toward both the student’s law degree and his or her bachelor’s degree at Scranton.

To be eligible for the 3-3 J.D. direct admission program with Seton Hall Law, students must have completed three years of coursework and have earned a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.63 at the time of matriculation to law school and have scored at or above 161 on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), in addition to meeting other required recommendations, character and fitness requirements, and remaining in good academic and discipline standing through matriculation at Scranton.

To be eligible for the 3-3 M.L.S. direct admission program with Seton Hall Law, students must have completed three and one-half years of coursework and have earned a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 at the time of matriculation to law school, in addition to meeting other character and fitness requirements, while remaining in good academic and discipline standing through matriculation at Scranton.

Scranton has a Pre-Law Advisory Program that helps students navigate the law school application process throughout their undergraduate years. The program also offers assistance to Scranton alumni who wish to apply to law school. The University offers a concentration in legal studies. Scranton also has 3-3 program agreements with Boston College Law School, Duquesne University School of Law, Penn State Law and Villanova School of Law.

In the past four years, more than 130 Scranton graduates have received acceptance into more than 50 law schools throughout the United States, including to some of the country’s most prestigious law schools.

For more information, visit Scranton’s pre-law webpage, or contact Matthew Meyer, Ph.D., pre-law advisor and professor of philosophy at The University of Scranton, at 570-941-5814 or matthew.meyer@scranton.edu.

University of Scranton Graduates Win Scholarships

University of Scranton class of 2023 graduate Elise Westhafer, Reinholds, and class of 2022 graduate Isaiah Livelsberger, Hanover, have been awarded 2023-2024 Fulbright Student Scholarships, the premier international academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Competitive, merit-based scholarships allow recipients to spend a year conducting research or teaching abroad.

Westhafer received a Fulbright Award to Slovenia where she will conduct research focusing on neurotransmitters in the aging brain at the University of Ljubljana. Livelsberger, received a Fulbright Award to Guatemala where he will study judicial reform in Guatemala by carrying out research at the Rafael Landívar University and at the Association for Research and Social Studies in Guatemala City.

“The Fulbright awards will give both exceptional graduates the ability to pursue research they are passionate about with world-class experts in their fields,” said Kara Kofira Bishop, University of Scranton Fulbright Program adviser. “An ardent researcher, Elise will work with Dr. Nina Vardjan, a member of the medical faculty at the Institute of Pathophysiology at the University of Ljubljana, to study brain metabolism and neuronal function to gain a better understanding of age-related decline. Zealous in pursuit of social justice, Isaiah will work with Professor Byron Morales of the Jesuit-run Rafael Landívar University, and Pablo Hurtado of the Association for Research and Social Studies to analyze how judicial institutions in Guatemala were impacted by the recently-retired International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala.”

According to Bishop, the Fulbright program awards grants based on the recipients’ records of academic achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. This year’s awards continue Scranton’s decades of success with the Fulbright program.  Since 1972, a total of 129 University students have been awarded Fulbrights.

Johnson College to Host Open House

Johnson College will hold an on-campus Open House on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, from 5 to 7 p.m. on its Scranton campus. To register to attend the Open House, visit Johnson.edu/openhouse or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

Open House will include discussions about the admissions process, information about financial aid for those who qualify, and student services such as student life, student support, and career services. Plus, same-day acceptance will be available for many programs if students bring their high school or college transcripts. Tours of each technical area will be conducted and program directors and instructors will be available to review the specifics of their programs.

FNCB Bank Announces Staff Promotions

FNCB, locally-based since 1910, announced several staff promotions.

Christina Baker, Banking Officer, Community Office Manager II

Christina Baker has been promoted to Banking Officer, Community Office Manager II where she is responsible for strengthening existing relationships and creating new relationships to grow the Bank’s deposits and loans to increase branch profitability, all while delivering world class customer service.

Miss Baker joined FNCB Bank in July 2021, where she was Personal Banker III and most recently Community Office Manager. Prior to joining the bank, she gained experience as a Universal Banker with Mellon Bank, and as a Head Teller, Retail Branch Assistant, and Loan Officer at Community Bank NA.

She is a graduate of North Pocono High School and has completed Leadership Lackawanna’s Leadership Fundamentals 2.0 program. She resides in Elmhurst Township with her husband Christopher, daughter Victoria, and son Ean.

Debra Burnett, Banking Officer, Human Resources Generalist

Debra Burnett has been promoted to Banking Officer, Human Resources Generalist where she is responsible for coordinating the internal and external staffing process to identify, evaluate, and on-board qualified candidates.

Miss Burnett joined FNCB in 2017 and most recently was a Human Resources Generalist. Prior to joining the bank, she worked for Gentex Corporation and Keystone College.

She is a graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School and Keystone College with an associate degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in human resources management. She resides in Carbondale with her husband Richard, and has two children, Nicole and Richard.

Michael Darter, Assistant Vice President, Community Office Manager

Michael Darter has been promoted to Assistant Vice President where he is responsible for strengthening existing relationships and creating new relationships to grow the Bank’s deposits and loans to increase branch profitability, all while delivering world class customer service.

Mr. Darter joined FNCB Bank in 2021, and most recently served as Community Office Manager. Prior to joining the bank, he gained twenty years of management experience in mortgage banking and retail banking with different companies including Santander, Citizens Bank, CitiBank (CitiFinancial), First NLC Financial, and Ameriquest Mortgage.

He is a graduate of Freeport High School (NY). He resides in Drums with his son Jacob.

Paula Kashuba, Banking Officer, Community Office Manager II

Paula Kashuba has been promoted to Banking Officer, Community Office Manager II where she is responsible for strengthening existing relationships and creating new relationships to grow the Bank’s deposits and loans to increase branch profitability, all while delivering world class customer service. In her time with FNCB Bank, she has worked in Customer Care, served as a Customer Service Representative, a Personal Banker, Assistant Community Office Manager, Community Office Manager, and most recently Banking Officer, Community Office Manager II.

Christopher Moshinskie, Banking Officer, Community Office Manager II

Christopher Moshinskie has been promoted to Banking Officer, Community Office Manager II where he is responsible for strengthening existing relationships and creating new relationships to grow the Bank’s deposits and loans to increase branch profitability, all while delivering world class customer service.

In his time with FNCB Bank, Mr. Moshinskie has been an Assistant Community Office Manager, Community Office Manager I, and most recently Community Office Manager II. Prior to joining FNCB, he was a Licensed Banker at Citizens Bank.

He is a graduate of Bay Shore High School (NY) and the University of Phoenix with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He was awarded a certification in the Foundations in Leadership Program, provided through FNCB. As an active member of the community, he is an assistant coach within the Jessup Youth Sports Association. He resides in Jessup with his wife, Danielle, and children Gianna, Alivia, Logan, and Dominic.