The Dime Bank Declares Cash Dividend

On December 21, 2023, the Board of Directors of Dimeco, Inc. (OTCQX: DIMC) declared a dividend of $0.40 per share. This dividend is an increase of $0.02 from the dividend declared in September 2023, bringing dividends to $1.54 per share, or $.08 greater than dividends declared in 2022.

A dividend of $.40 per share produces a yield of 4.60% based on the December 21, 2023 market value of $33.50 per share.

Dividends are payable to shareholders of record on January 2, 2024. The dividends will be paid on January 25, 2024, the anticipated date to release earnings for the year ended December 31, 2023.

President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich commented, “At Dimeco, we hold our shareholders in high regard and increasing the dividend is a way to show our appreciation. We thank our shareholders and customers for their continued support, and we wish everyone a prosperous 2024.”

Dimeco, Inc. reported third quarter 2023 assets of $986 million, loans of $710 million and deposits of $785 million. Dimeco, Inc. is the holding company of The Dime Bank, a full-service financial institution serving Northeast Pennsylvania. Dimeco, Inc. trades on the OTCQX Marketplace under symbol DIMC, operated by OTC Markets Group. For more information on Dimeco, Inc. and The Dime Bank, visit www.thedimebank.com.

Geisinger Welcomes Scranton Primary Care Practice

A trusted provider of primary care in Scranton will join Geisinger in the new year. Effective Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, the practice of Michael Gilhooley, M.D., will become Geisinger Primary Care Scranton.

The clinic will remain at its location at 821 Oak St., Suite 1, where patients will be able to continue seeing the practitioners they know and rely on, and will keep the same phone number: 570-703-0539.

A Scranton native and board-certified internal medicine physician, Dr. Gilhooley has served Lackawanna County for nearly 30 years and has held clinical and academic leadership positions at several of the area’s institutions of medicine and learning. His partner, Marisa Siekierka, PA-C, has 20 years of experience evaluating, educating and treating patients and performing minor in-clinic procedures.

Together, they specialize in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect adults and management of health conditions that range from simple to complex, chronic or acute. Dr. Gilhooley has a clinical interest in geriatric medicine, and he is experienced in working collaboratively with skilled nursing facilities to best care for his patients.

After attending The University of Scranton for his undergraduate education, Dr. Gilhooley earned his medical degree at Temple University in Philadelphia. Returning home, he completed his residency training in the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, which is now part of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education.

“Scranton is my childhood home and my community,” said Dr. Gilhooley. “I’m proud to have served my neighbors for many years, and I’m honored to continue caring for them with Geisinger, a nationally renowned health system with the same focus on caring, excellence and quality that we’ve always maintained at our family-friendly practice.”

To transition to Geisinger, the practice will close from Jan. 8 through 12, during which time patients can visit ConvenientCare Scranton at 3 W. Olive St. for any urgent needs. ConvenientCare Scranton is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Patients can save their spot online at geisinger.org/urgent.

PS Bank Supports Lackawanna Trail School District

PS Bank is proud to support the Lackawanna Trail School District for the 2023-2024 academic year with a charitable contribution of $5,000. PS Bank is a committed supporter of the district as well as the greater Factoryville, Nicholson, and Dalton communities.

This year’s donation supported the purchase of new curtains for the high school’s auditorium, which is named after PS Bank. In acceptance of the monetary donation, Business Manager Keith Glynn said numerous other projects were also funded including tools for vocational education, supplementary health class resources, and consumer science curriculum materials.

Anthony Gabello, President & CEO of PS Bank knows that supporting public education is the foundation of a prosperous community and is proud to have such a great relationship with Lackawanna Trail. “PS Bank is proud to support the Lackawanna Trail School District again this year. Serving the students and faculty of the district with our annual sponsorship allows school leadership to continue to provide a quality educational experience,” stated Gabello. “We appreciate the ongoing relationship we have with Lackawanna Trail, its students and their families.”

PS Bank serves the Lackawanna Trail community at 118 College Avenue, Factoryville. For more information about banking at this branch, please reach out to Janice Bevacqua, Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager at jbevacqua@psbanking.com.

The Greater Scranton YMCA Receives Grant from PPL Foundation

The Greater Scranton YMCA is pleased to announce it has received a $2,500 Energizing Education grant from the PPL Foundation. These funds will support the Summer Scholars Program, a six-week academic and enrichment program designed for elementary students who are struggling with reading. The goal of the program is to prevent summer learning loss through a combination of literacy instruction, enrichment activities aligned to literacy instruction and positive youth development opportunities.

Without access to educational activities during the summer, children who are already behind in reading are at risk of falling further behind their peers. For children who need additional help with their reading skills, the Greater Scranton YMCA is proud to offer the Summer Scholars Program for children entering first, second and third grades at the Mid Valley and Dunmore School Districts. The Summer Scholars Program supports cognitive, physical and social-emotional growth while focusing on helping children improve their literacy schools. Breakfast and snack are provided and the program is offered at no cost.

“The Greater Scranton YMCA is so grateful to the PPL Foundation for their generous grant award,” said Trish Fisher, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “Providing all children with access to educational opportunities over the summer months is crucial to continued academic success. Our Summer Scholars Program targets young students who are struggling with reading, providing them with the tools and resources needed for success at the start of their next school year.”

For more information about the Summer Scholars Program, contact Helen Cruser at hcruser@gsymca.org.

Hospice of the Sacred Heart Receives Grant from Scranton Area Community Foundation

Hospice of the Sacred Heart recently received a $7,000 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to support a pediatric patient initiative called the Kids’ Kloset. The grant is part of the Scranton Area Community Foundation Community Needs Grant Fund.

The Kids’ Kloset is open to Hospice of the Sacred Heart pediatric patients and their siblings. Electronics, arts and crafts, stuffed animals, games and various toys are made available at no charge. The hospice also makes every effort to fulfill special requests for items not stored in the Kids’ Kloset.

“Infants, children and adolescents facing a life-limiting illness deserve a gift now and then to bring them joy. We are grateful to the Scranton Area Community Foundation for their financial support to help make this program flourish,” said Diane Baldi, CEO, Hospice of the Sacred Heart.

The Kids’ Kloset is located at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart office on E.D. Preate Drive in Moosic. We are proud to offer exemplary pediatric hospice care in conjunction with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

The mission of Hospice of the Sacred Heart is to provide comfort, care, hope and choice to patients and their families, while guiding them through the end of life journey.

Keystone College Receives Grant to Benefit Veterans

Keystone College has received funding from a local charitable foundation to improve the lives of the men and women who have served their country through military service.

Keystone has received a $5,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation to help implement the Keystone College Veterans Success Program. The program will provide targeted information and guidance on emerging educational opportunities and customize services for veterans, including financial aid, scholarships, and vocational training programs. The goal of the initiative is to empower veterans with the knowledge, resources, and educational training they need to enhance their careers and improve their lives.

Administered by the Scranton Area Foundation, the Robert H. Spitz Foundation primarily awards grants to registered nonprofit organizations that support initiatives and programs serving the residents of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“We are very grateful to the Robert H. Spitz Foundation and the Scranton Area Foundation for helping Keystone in this important initiative to assist our nation’s military veterans,” said Keystone College President John F. Pullo, Sr. “Keystone has a long and proud history of serving those who have given so much to defend and support our nation’s freedom. This focused initiative continues that tradition.”

For the second consecutive year, Keystone has been listed as a school which is “Best for Vets” by Military Times Magazine, a national publication which serves veterans and active military members. 

Keystone’s selection was compiled through the magazine’s extensive research, including data from the federal Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs, to determine those schools which best serve veterans through educational opportunities, financial assistance, and services.

In previous years, Keystone has also been listed as a top school for veterans by other national military and veterans publications. Founded in 1868, with a commitment to providing an education to Civil War veterans and their families, Keystone is home to the Elmer Hawk ’48 Veterans Center, which serves as the headquarters for the Keystone Armed Services Club.

The Veterans Center offers a comfortable and convenient meeting place for this special group of Keystone students who have given so much to their country. Students can meet with each other, complete their school assignments, or simply relax, read, visit with friends and family members, or watch television while waiting for their next class.

Recognized as one of the best educational values in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Keystone offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree options in liberal arts and science-based programs in business, communications, education, natural science, environmental science, and social sciences. Located on a beautiful 276-acre campus 15 minutes from Scranton, Pa. and two hours from New York City and Philadelphia, Keystone is known for small class sizes and individual attention focused on student success through internships, research, and community involvement.

Outreach- Center for Community Resources Receives Donations from Local Donors

Outreach – Center for Community Resources received a generous donation of toys from local donors, including Holy Cross High School, Johnson College, the Kiwanis Club of Scranton, Covenant Presbyterian Church Women’s Group, and Bret and Sarah Naugle. The donated toys will allow Outreach families to pick out gifts to give to their children on Christmas morning as part of Outreach’s annual Toyland Workshop.

Outreach supports families experiencing adverse life events. For many of these families, the additional costs of the holiday season can be burdensome. Outreach seeks to alleviate some of this stress with help from local organizations and donors.

Each year, Outreach’s Toyland Workshop provides families with much-needed support during the holiday season and a little Christmas magic. Outreach families are welcome to “shop” the workshop, which provides every child with a toy, a book, and a warm pair of pajamas. Donated toys and pajamas are categorized by age and size, allowing caregivers to select the perfect present for their child. Additionally, caregivers are provided with a grocery gift card to assist with purchasing food for a holiday meal.

Outreach is grateful to the many individuals, families, and organizations who purchased toys or pajamas for local children. This event would not be possible without the generosity of others in the community. Through this generosity, the Northeastern Pennsylvania community has helped advance Outreach’s mission of family stability and economic self-sufficiency.

For over 35 years, Outreach has made helping families thrive our highest priority. Outreach builds strong families and communities by offering resources for employment training, parenting, early childhood education, youth mentoring, community reentry, adult GED services,  wrap-around case management, and more. Outreach improves the lives of nearly 5,000 adults and children annually with evidence-based workforce and family development programs that support individuals as they navigate life’s challenges.

FNCB Bank Spreads Holiday Cheer with Toys for Tots Donation Drive

FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, is pleased to announce they recently held a Toys for Tots drive that brought in hundreds of donated toys for children in Northeast Pennsylvania.

The drive was conducted in all 16 community offices as well as FNCB’s Corporate Centers in Dunmore.

Midge MacArthur, FNCB Bank Dunmore Community Office Manager, spearheaded the project.

“The generosity of our customers and employees is truly incredible,” said MacArthur. “Every year we do this, the number of toys donated increases. It’s because of this generosity, that many kids in NEPA will have a brighter holiday season.”

The support of Toys for Tots is part of FNCB’s larger Community Caring initiative. As a true, local community bank, FNCB Bank is making a difference through volunteerism, donations and outreach programs.

Marywood University President Announces Retirement

Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D.,the 12th President of Marywood University, has announced to the Board of Trustees her decision to retire from her role, effective June 30, 2024. 

Sister Mary was elected President of Marywood University by the University Board of Trustees in April 2016 and began her presidential tenure on July 1, 2016. Throughout her eight-year tenure, the University endowment has nearly doubled and maintained a fiscally responsible status, even during universally challenging financial times in higher education and while the industry as a whole has faced a national downturn in enrollments. 

To further strengthen Marywood’s future, Sister Mary is presently guiding the University’s $30 million comprehensive campaign, which is set to conclude upon her retirement. The campaign is designed to fund new construction and academic spaces on campus, to provide scholarships for students, and to enhance the student experience. The state-of-the-art Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion, an addition to the O’Neill Healthy Families Center, which will house all students who study the Health Sciences, will be dedicated in May 2024. 

Since 2016, several signature programs have enjoyed expansion, including the Physician Assistant and Architecture programs, and several innovative programs in Respiratory Therapy, Construction Management, and Biotechnology were launched. Last spring, the Living City Lab at Marywood University was established and dedicated to the memory of Jane Jacobs, an urbanist and activist from Scranton; this entity is housed in the Insalaco Center for Studio Arts. Sister Mary also launched the Center for Law, Justice, & Policy, as a precursor to the engagement of students in programs that will lead to legal-related professions. Additionally, the University established the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, out of which grew the Center for Truth and Racial Healing.

Sister Mary’s belief that universities exist to serve the communities that surround them was realized, in part, with the purchase of Marywood Heights, the former Holy Family Skilled Nursing Facility, which is home to nearly 90 residents. Marywood Heights is the first UBRC (University Based Retirement Community) in Northeast Pennsylvania. In addition, the NativityMiguel School of Scranton was relocated to Marywood University in 2019 and is now a permanent addition to campus. 

Sister Mary has represented Marywood to the broader higher education community through service on boards and by her presence in the public arena, including a six-year term on the Board of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, during which time she assumed the role of Chair for one year. She was an appointee of Governor Tom Wolf to the PA Humanities as a Director for six years and also assumed the role of Chair for some of her tenure there. In 2019, Sister Mary was asked to deliver the Commencement Address at the Catholic University of East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya. She currently serves as one of ten members on the Governor’s task force for Higher Education in the Commonwealth of PA and has chaired several Middle States site visits during her years as Marywood’s President.

Sister Mary’s leadership has led to global accomplishments, such as online graduate Business programs to students from the Tsingsua Holdings Zijing Education Group in Beijing, China, and from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Support, Alexandria, Egypt. The Office of Global Education also was established during her presidency. Through this office, dozens of students from South Korea spend one semester at Marywood and do practical nursing training in local hospitals and clinics. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic arose, Sister Mary guided Marywood through unprecedented, uncertain times, successfully navigating challenges and positioning Marywood to thrive in the aftermath of a global pandemic. The University was able to pivot quickly to sustain its mission and to assist the community to curb the spread of the virus and minimize the pandemic’s consequences. Additionally, she brought national retail partnerships to campus, including Starbucks, the Gear Shop, the Apple Store, and the Amazon Store, to provide an enhanced campus culture to students.

“On behalf of the Trustees, I wish to acknowledge our admiration for Sister Mary, her collaborative leadership, and her bold vision for Marywood,” stated Board President, Lisa Lori, Esq. “Sister Mary has been an inspiration to us all. Throughout the years, and long before her tenure as President, Sister Mary promoted the mission and core values of our University. She has kept them ever before our students, staff, faculty, and administration as the collective light that guides all we do.”

The Board of Trustees will launch a national search for Sister Mary’s successor. The Board of Trustees has hired a search firm/consultant and will be forming a search committee, which will include members of various stakeholder groups. The position is expected to be posted in early January 2024, with a plan to announce finalists for the position in March and a President-Elect by early April 2024.