PS Bank Donates to Neil Armstrong Elementary School PS Bank recently made a donation of $4,000 to Neil Armstrong Elementary School in Scranton. This contribution, made possible through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, will help fund instructional materials for early literacy programs, including materials used during before-school and after-school tutoring. The donation will support the school’s ongoing efforts to enrich student experiences, both inside and outside the classroom. Neil Armstrong has strong participation in before-school and after-school tutoring sessions, and the PS Bank donation will allow for teachers to have greater access to materials to enrich those programs. “We are so grateful for PS Bank’s generous donation,” said Jennifer Bradley, Principal of Neil Armstrong Elementary School. “This funding will make a huge impact on our ability to provide enhanced educational resources to our teachers who facilitate the before-school and after-school tutoring program.” The donation holds special significance for PS Bank, as the school is located in the heart of North Scranton where PS Bank is set to open a new branch this spring. PS Bank President & CEO Anthony Gabello,who attended Neil Armstrong Elementary School growing up, expressed deep pride in supporting the institution that shaped his early educational experience. “It’s a true honor to give back to the school that played such a pivotal role in my own education,” said Gabello. “Neil Armstrong Elementary School has always been a cornerstone of the North Scranton community. We’re proud to support their efforts and look forward to continuing to invest in the future of Scranton’s students.” PS Bank’s donation is part of the bank’s commitment to supporting educational opportunities in the community through the EITC program, which allows businesses to provide financial support to approved educational organizations while receiving a tax credit in return.
Allied Services Receives Donation from Peoples Security Bank & Trust Peoples Security Bank & Trust Donates $50,000 to Support Pediatric Rehabilitation at Allied Services Allied Services recently welcomed representatives from Peoples Security Bank & Trust (PSBT) to the John P. Moses, Esq. Pediatric Rehabilitation Center in Scranton to celebrate a generous $50,000 contribution through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). This investment underscores PSBT’s commitment to enhancing pediatric rehabilitation services for children in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. standing front from left: Nancy Jeffers, Vice President, Senior Commercial Loan Officer, PSBT; Lynne Duncan, MS, CCC/SLP, Allied Services; Karen Kile, MS, OTR/L, Allied Services; Danielle Burrier, MS, CCC/SLP, Team Manager, Allied Services; back row from left: Joseph Ferriti, Executive Vice President, Northeast Market President, PSBT; Cathy Guzzi, PT, DPT, MS, Assistant Vice President of Rehab Therapies; Robert Cole, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Analytics Officer, and Director of Graduate Medical Education, Allied Services The donation, made possible through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s NAP Tax Credit Program, helps ensure that Allied Services can continue providing life-changing therapies and specialized care to more than 1,200 children annually. “We are deeply grateful for the continued generosity of Peoples Security Bank & Trust,” said Robert Cole, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Analytics Officer, and Director of Graduate Medical Education at Allied Services. “Community partnerships like this are essential in ensuring that children facing physical and developmental challenges receive the comprehensive care they need to reach their full potential. PSBT’s commitment to our pediatric rehabilitation programs is truly making a difference in the lives of local families.” For over 30 years, the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) has encouraged community participation and partnerships among nonprofits, businesses, and residents to benefit distressed areas and low-income populations. NAP tax credits provide an incentive for corporate partners to invest in nonprofit projects, helping to revitalize Pennsylvania communities and support vital services like pediatric rehabilitation at Allied Services. Allied Services extends its heartfelt appreciation to Peoples Security Bank & Trust for their generous $50,000 investment in the John P. Moses, Esq. Pediatric Rehabilitation Center. Their support directly impacts the lives of children in need of specialized rehabilitation, empowering them to thrive and achieve their goals.
Pennsylvania Treasury Launches New Employer Tax Credit Program The Pennsylvania Treasury is pleased to announce Pennsylvania’s New Employer Tax Credit for matching contributions to employee PA 529 and PA ABLE accounts. The new employer tax credit encourages Pennsylvania employers to contribute to their employees’ PA 529 and ABLE accounts. Beginning in January 2025, Pennsylvania employers will be eligible to claim a 25% state tax credit against the aggregate amount of all matching contributions to employee 529 and ABLE accounts of up to $500 per employee per tax year. For more information, contact Jolene Miraglia, Regional Program Manager, Pennsylvania Treasury at jmiraglia@patreasury.gov or visit patreasury.gov/consumer. PA 529 New Employer Tax PDF PA 529 College & Career Savings PDF
My Benefit Advisor and Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Accounts Is an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Account (ICHRA) Right for Your Company? An ICHRA enables employers to allocate a fixed dollar amount to employees on a tax-free basis, which employees can use to purchase individual health insurance through the marketplace or private insurance providers. This arrangement provides a high degree of flexibility, allowing employees to choose the specific coverage that aligns with their unique health needs and family situations. For employers, this flexibility offers a valuable opportunity to design personalized benefit solutions that cater to a diverse workforce. By implementing an ICHRA, employers can offer a benefits strategy that provides value to employees while aligning with the company’s own financial and operational goals. The first objective for a business owner is to assess whether an ICHRA is an appropriate fit for their organization. Unlike traditional group health plans, ICHRAs are often most advantageous for small to mid-sized businesses, or companies with a widely dispersed or diverse workforce. For example, in industries with high levels of seasonal or part-time workers, traditional group plans may be financially burdensome, especially if the employees have varying insurance needs. By evaluating the organization’s workforce composition, turnover rate, and budgetary considerations, decision makers can determine if an ICHRA makes sense. One word of caution, there are complexities concerning ICHRAs that need to be fully understood before considering them as a part of any employee benefit package. It’s best to consult with a professional for advice and direction. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at gscc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Rob Higginbotham at (800) 377-3536. This e-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to the sender. After notifying the sender of the error, you should immediately delete this e-mail from your system. Please be aware that any unauthorized disclosure, dissemination, distribution, duplication or use of the e-mail contents or any attachments therein is strictly prohibited.
Mohegan Pennsylvania Set to Celebrate Mardi Gras Live music, costume contests, food and drink specials, and more to take place starting Friday, February 28th It’s time to get jazzy at Mohegan Pennsylvania! On Saturday, March 1st, guests can step in to a world of beads, bling, and live bands as The Hive Taphouse is set to host a Mardi Gras Masquerade Ballfeaturing live music, a costume contest, and food and drink specials. Plus, guests can collect beads and celebrate with food specials and custom drinks at Molly O’Sheas, Latitudes, The Crafty Stir, and Slice’d! Mardi Gras inspired food and drink specials will be offered at various venues across property from Friday, February 28th through Tuesday, March 4th, unless otherwise specified. On Saturday, March 1st, The Hive Taphouse will transform into the ultimate Mardi Gras celebration and guests are invited to not miss a beat! Live entertainment featured during the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball will include Light Up The Moon from 9:30pm – 12:30am. Guests who come dressed in their best Mardi Gras themed costume will be eligible to participate in a costume contest, where $250 Mohegan Pennsylvania gift cards will be awarded to the winners of categories “Best Mardi Gras Couple” and “Most Creative”. Judging for the costume contest will take place from 8:00pm – 10:00pm and winners will be announced at 10:30pm. Drink specials at The Hive Taphouse include the King Cake Martini, which consists of whipped vodka, Amaretto and half & half, with purple and green icing on the rim, and the Hive Hurricane, made with light & dark rum, lime juice, orange juice, peach purée, and grenadine. For food specials, guests can indulge in Andouille Sausage and Smoked Chicken Gumbo, Shrimp Étouffée with Cajun Rice, and Classic Red Beans & Rice. Drink specials at Molly O’Sheas include the Skelliking Day, which consists of Jameson whiskey, peach schnapps, orange juice, peach syrup, and grenadine and the Boulevardier Mollys Way, made with bourbon, Aperol, and sweet vermouth. Those looking for a bite at Molly O’Sheas can try their Shrimp Po Boy which consists of zesty battered shrimp, served on a roll with lettuce, tomato, and house-made remoulade, or their Crab and Artichoke Dip, which is a blend of whipped cream cheese, artichokes, red peppers, crab, and spices, topped with cheddar jack cheese and served with tortilla chips. Molly O’Sheas food and drink specials will be available Friday, February 28th through Sunday, March 2nd. Latitudes Bar will change their coordinates to New Orleans and feature the Sweet Hurricane, made with light & dark rum, fresh squeezed lime and orange juice, passion fruit puree, and orange and cherry garnish, and the Mardi Gras Cocktail, made with tequila, fresh orange juice, strawberry syrup, and blue curaçao. Over at The Crafty Stir, guests can enjoy a New Orleans Dark Roast Chicory Coffee, a King Cake Latte made with espresso, caramel syrup, cinnamon, brown sugar, and milk, topped with cinnamon and colored sprinkles, and the Bananas Foster Latte consisting of espresso, milk, and a mixture of cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, and banana syrup. Last but not least, Slice’d will offer Beignets and a Shrimp Po’ Boy Stromboli. For more information about Mardi Gras at Mohegan Pennsylvania, visit the Mohegan Pennsylvania website.
Marywood University Hosts Rabbi Daniel Swartz Rabbi Daniel Swartz to Present a Dialogue about Vocation at Marywood University A free lecture about vocation, exploring the intersection of faith, service, and social justice, is set for 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, in the McGowan Conference Room, Swartz Center for Spiritual Life, on the campus of Marywood University. Rabbi Daniel Swartz, spiritual leader of Temple Hesed in Scranton and a renowned Jewish environmental author with over 30 years of experience, will lead attendees in a conversation about answering the call to serve and dedicating their energy toward fulfillment and justice—both personally and across the entire community. One of the major journeys many people face is the realization of their life’s purpose or vocation. The dialogue presented by Rabbi Swartz will consider vocation from the perspective of how God calls people to serve in the world, or as the type of work that one feels suited to doing, to which individuals are willing to give all their time and energy to fulfilling. As an institution of higher education, Marywood University supports its students in identifying and developing their personal and professional vocations, encouraging them to become lifelong learners and to achieve their full potential. To learn more about Marywood University, go to marywood.edu.
Marywood University Features Art History Teaching Exhibition The exhibition, “Art History Teaching Exhibition,” is currently running in the Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art through March 19, 2025. Featured artists include Bernd and Hilla Becher, Evelyn Hofer, Barbara Kasten, Denny Moers, Robert Rauschenberg, Dan Rizzie, and Kenneth Snelson Mark Webber, art history Instructor and exhibition co-curator, noted, “Given the opportunity to bring together a selection of works from the Maslow Collection, and with two courses involving art and architecture—one generally Medieval, the other specifically Greek—I enjoyed the challenge of pulling work that might refer to, or start conversations about these topics with my students.” Webber continued, “With the help of Curator Ryan Ward, I found both direct and indirect references to structure—physical and compositional. Visitors can toy with the references to obscured artifact, improbable balance and the ongoing use of ancient architectural theme.” The Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art, located within the Shields Center for Visual Art on Marywood’s campus, is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information on Marywood art galleries, visit marywood.edu/galleries.
Johnson College Receives Grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation Johnson College has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation to establish a medical assistant laboratory at the College’s satellite campus, Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center in Hazle Township. The designated laboratory space is being converted into two distinct clinical areas – a hospital room and a physician’s office – to provide a full range of training experiences for students enrolling in the program. These facility updates will allow Johnson College to provide the latest in hands-on education and training to meet the needs of the healthcare industry throughout the region and beyond. The Medical Assistant program is part of the College’s Continuing Education initiative. The program prepares students to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office including preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine laboratory procedures, pharmacology, and taking and documenting vital signs. Students learn the fundamentals of phlebotomy and venipunctures, anatomy, and physiology, and medical terminology encountered in the field. Upon completion of the program, students are prepared to take the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam. To learn more about Johnson College’s Continuing Education Medical Assistant program, visit https://johnson.edu/continuing-ed/medical-assistant/.
