Scranton Cultural Center Receives Grant From Scranton Area Foundation

The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple received a $25,000 Community Needs Grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to assist with HVAC repairs.

“The last significant upgrade to our system happened about a decade ago,” said Deborah Moran Peterson, Scranton Cultural Center Executive Director.  “We are grateful to the SACF for this Community Needs Grant which helped to support us financially with this expense.”

The funds received will be utilized to complete deferred maintenance and COVID related upgrades to the SCC’s HVAC systems, including repair of mechanical chillers and cooling towers, as well as improvements that ensure energy efficiency of air circulation throughout the most utilized areas building.  The overall goal of the project is to create a better heating and cooling system that will lead to increased utilization and efficiencies, as well as cost savings over time.

October Events Planned at the University of Scranton

Oct. 1     9 a.m. Scranton’s Ready to Run Northeast Pennsylvania Program: “Wanted: More Women Like You in Politics.” Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6326 or email sharon.olechna@scranton.edu.  

Oct. 5     6 p.m. Asian Studies Public Lecture and Meet the Award-winning Author “Life on the Move: Transnational Migration and Cross-Cultural Imagination in Taiwan Literature and Film,” Part 1. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Free. Call 570-941-6312 or email ann.pang-white@scranton.edu.  

Oct. 6     6 p.m. Asian Studies Film Screening and Meet the Award-winning Director of “The Good Daughter.” “Life on the Move: Transnational Migration and Cross-Cultural Imagination in Taiwan Literature and Film,” Part 2. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Free, Call 570-941-6312 or email ann.pang-white@scranton.edu.  

Oct. 7 through Nov. 18  Art Exhibit: “Mayan Narratives: San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala” photographs by Byron Maldonado. Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.  

Oct. 7     5 p.m. Art Gallery Lecture: “Mayan Narratives: San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala” presented by Byron Maldonado. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Reception follows at the Hope Horn Gallery. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.  

Oct. 12     1 p.m. The Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Virtual Speaker Series: “Career Opportunities in the Changing Workplace” with panel moderator Kathleen West-Evans, MPA, CRC. Presented by the J. A. Panuska College of Professional Studies and the Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Endowment. Free. Visit www.scranton.edu/disabilityconference. Call 570-941-7401. 

Oct. 12     7:30 p.m. Ignatian Values in Action Lecture: “On Juneteenth” presented by Annette Gordon-Reed, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times best-selling author. Byron Recreation Complex. Free. Call 570-941-4419 or email community@scranton.edu.  

Oct. 13     Noon.Schemel Forum and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Collaborative Program: “Threats to Equity: The Influence of Social Determinants on Human Behaviors that Promote Well-being” presented Julie Byerley, MD, president and dean of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-7816 or email kym.fetsko@scranton.edu. 

Oct. 15     2 p.m. Art Gallery: “Walking Tour: Scranton Lace Company/Lace Village Site.” Free. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. 

Oct. 15     7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Recital” featuring Andrew Gonzalez, viola and violincello da spalla. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.  

Oct. 19     1 p.m. The Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Virtual Speaker Series: “Embedding Deia: A Cultural-Shift for Business, Communities, and You!” Speakers Hattie McCarter, MS, CRC; CEO of M.E.N.D. Consulting Solutions and certified DEI professional and Stephanie Perry, MSW, LSW DEI consultant. Presented by the J. A. Panuska College of Professional Studies and the Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Endowment. Free. Visit www.scranton.edu/disabilityconference. Call 570-941-7401. 

Oct. 21-23 and 28-30     8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. “Almost, Maine” presented by The University Players. Royal Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Ticket prices vary. Call 570-941-4318 or email players@scranton.edu. 

Oct. 23     9 a.m. Open House for prospective students and their families. Various locations on campus. Registration required. Free. Call 888-SCRANTON or email admissions@scranton.edu.  

Oct. 23     7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Recital” featuring Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, piano. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.  

Oct. 26     1 p.m. The Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Virtual Speaker Series: “A Framework for Community Engagement: A Pathway to Employment” with speakers Cayte Anderson, Ph.D., and Emily Brinck, Ph.D., both are researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, VRTAC-QE. Presented by the J. A. Panuska College of Professional Studies and the Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Endowment. Free. Visit www.scranton.edu/disabilityconference. Call 570-941-7401. 

Oct. 29     7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Jazz Band and guest drummer Carmen Intorre Jr. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. 

Geisinger’s Northeast Hospitals Certified as Comprehensive Heart Attack Centers

Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center (GWV) and Geisinger Community Medical Center (GCMC) recently became the second and third hospitals in the country to earn The Joint Commission/American Heart Association (AHA) Comprehensive Heart Attack Center Certification, joining Geisinger Medical Center (GMC) in Danville in establishing a national precedent for coordination among care teams who treat patients on the heart attack spectrum.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, depriving the heart of oxygen. Much of the damage to heart muscle takes place in a short period of time after a heart attack, so timely care is critical for preserving heart function.

“No one expects to have a heart attack, but when it happens, we offer extraordinary care close to home for our patients and members,” said Yassir Nawaz, M.D., director of interventional cardiology and co-medical director of the Comprehensive Heart Attack Center Certification program for Geisinger’s northeast region. “With three certified medical centers, we’re taking a full-team approach to diagnosing and treating chest pain patients in northeastern and central Pennsylvania.”

At GWV, GCMC and GMC, chest pain patients can expect the highest level of care delivered as quickly as possible.

Already recognized as Joint Commission/AHA Mission Lifeline® Heart Attack Receiving Centers for their ability to treat the most severe type of heart attack by restoring blood flow to the heart, GWV and GCMC have shown their commitment to making better health easier for patients and members in northeastern Pennsylvania through achieving certification. They stand ready to care for all chest pain patients, including those who:

To accomplish this, hospital leaders, interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, advanced practitioners, nurses, emergency medicine physicians, heart failure specialists, life support specialists, emergency medical services (EMS) providers, pharmacists and care managers must collaborate closely to accommodate a patient’s unique care needs. After a heart attack, cardiac rehab therapists are an integral part of the team as well.

  • Go to the emergency room with chest pain
  • Have heart attacks and need blood flow restored quickly
  • Go into cardiac arrest outside of a hospital
  • Need open-heart surgery
  • Need advanced therapies for heart failure or life support

“Whether a patient comes in with mild chest pain or having a serious cardiac event, it’s all hands on deck,” said Cinde Bower-Stout, R.N., M.H.A., cardiovascular quality manager and director of the Comprehensive Heart Attack Center Certification program at Geisinger. “Day-to-day frontline care after a heart attack is just as important. Lab assessment, pain management and preparation for discharge and self-care through education and therapy are all key factors in patients achieving and maintaining good quality of life.”

Rigorous onsite review at both medical centers included evaluation of records for patients who were currently admitted or had been cared for since the beginning of the year and assessment of quality measures including leadership engagement, collaboration with EMS, medical decision making, systemwide approach to quality improvement, performance improvement projects and engagement with pharmacy at the bedside.

“Comprehensive Heart Attack Center Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Mark Pelletier, R.N., M.S., chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Geisinger for having the first three hospitals to reduce variation in clinical processes and strengthen program structure and management framework for cardiac patients.”

PENNDOT Data Shows Pennsylvania Roundabouts Reducing Fatalities, Injuries, and Crashes

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that according to department data, fatalities, injuries, and crashes decreased overall after intersections at 33 locations were replaced with 36 roundabouts.

“We continue to see that Pennsylvania’s roundabouts save lives and reduce crash severity,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “While they aren’t the right option in every intersection, we’re pleased that they help to make our roadways safer.”

PennDOT recently reviewed data for 36 roundabouts on state routes at intersections that were previously stop or signal controlled. These roundabouts were selected based on having at least three years of crash data available before and after the roundabouts were built. This accounts for a total of 387 before years and 220 after years of data.

Department data from 2002 through 2021 – based on police-submitted crash reports and weighted based on the number of before and after years, but not for increases in traffic volume – shows the following:

  • Suspected serious injuries were reduced by 76%;
  • Suspected minor injuries were reduced by 22%;
  • Possible/unknown severity injuries were reduced by 70%; and
  • Total number of crashes decreased by 9%.

Unfortunately, there was one fatality in one of the roundabouts; however, there were a combined three fatalities prior to the installation of roundabouts at the 33 locations.

In addition to the 36 roundabouts meeting the selection criteria, 38 other roundabouts have been built on state routes with 16 more under construction and 15 in final design.

The roundabouts included in the review are at the following intersections:

  • Allegheny County:
    • Route 3070 (Ewing Road) and Business Route 376 Ramp, opened in 2011.
  • Beaver County:
    • Route 68 (Adams Street), Route 1034 (Brighton Avenue) and Route 6018 (Brighton Ave./Rhode Island Ave.), opened in 2011.
  • Berks County:
    • Route 222 and Route 662, opened in 2018.
  • Bucks County:
    • Route 2043 (Trevose Road) and Somerton Road, opened in 2012; and
    • Route 213 (Bridgetown Pike/Maple Avenue) and Route 2010 (Bridgetown Pike), opened in 2016.
  • Butler County:
    • Route 3024 (Glen Eden Road), Powell Road and Freshcorn Road, opened in 2015; and
    • Route 228 and SR 2005 (Saxonburg Blvd.), opened in 2018.
  • Chester County:
    • Route 82 (Doe Run Road) and Unionville Road, opened in 2005;
    • Route 52 (Lenape Road), S. Wawaset Road and Lenape Unionville Road, opened in 2014; and
    • Route 3062 (Strasburg Road), Romansville Road and Shadyside Road, Opened in 2017.
  • Crawford County:
    • Route 6/19 (Main Street) and Route 198 (South Street), opened in 2017; and
    • Route 6/19 (Main Street) and Route 198 (Brookhouse Street), opened in 2017.
  • Cumberland County:
    • Route 34 (Spring Road), Route 1007 (Sunnyside Drive) and Mountain Road, opened in 2014; and
    • Route 2004 (W. Lisburn Road) and Grantham Road, opened in 2018.
  • Dauphin County:
    •  Route 39 (Linglestown Road) and Route 3019 (Mountain Road), opened in 2011;
    •  Route 322 (Governor Road) and Homestead Lane, opened in 2016; and
    •  Route 322 (Governor Road) and Meadow Lane, opened in 2016.
  • Delaware County:
    • Route 1023 (N. Newtown Street) and Route 1046 (St. Davids Road), opened in 2008; and
    • Route 320 (Chester Road), Rutgers Avenue and Fieldhouse Lane, opened in 2014.
  • Erie County:
    • Route 19 (High Street) and Route 97, opened in 2014; and
    • Route 5 and Route 4016 (Millfair Road), opened in 2018.
  • Luzerne County:
    • I-81 Exit 178, Airport Road interchange (three roundabouts), opened in 2015;
    • Route 2008 (Middle Road) and Espy Street, opened in 2017;
    • Route 415, Church Street, Lake Street and Main Street, opened in 2018; and
    • Route 2008 (Middle Road) and Kosciuszko Street, opened in 2018.
  • Mercer County
    • Route 718 (Dock Street) and Connelly Boulevard, opened in 2018.
  • Monroe County
    • I-80 Exit 310 and Route 2028 (Broad Street), opened in 2018.
  • Montgomery County:
    • Route 29 (Gravel Pike) and Route 73 (Big Road), opened in 2009.
  • Philadelphia County:
    • Route 4013 (Park Drive) and Route 4015 (Walnut Lane), opened in 2018.
  • Washington County:
    • Route 519 (two connected roundabouts) – Route 519 and Brownlee Road, and Route 519 and Thompson Eighty Four Road, opened in 2015; and
    • I-70 Exit 32 and Route 2040 (Wilson Road), opened in 2018.
  • York County:
    • Route 116 (Main Street) and Hanover St. and Roths Church Road, opened in 2007; and
    • Route 74 (Delta Road) and Bryansville Road, opened in 2008.

Roundabouts are frequently installed to address intersections with safety issues but may also be installed to improve traffic flow as well as other reasons such as traffic calming, and to facilitate pedestrian mobility. 

Although roundabouts are safer and typically more efficient than traditional signalized intersections, they may not always be the best option due to topography or other reasons, such as property impacts, capacity issues and proximity to other intersections.

Roundabouts are recognized by the Pennsylvania State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) as an innovation that has become standard practice within the transportation community. The Pennsylvania STIC facilitates the rapid implementation of proven, well-researched and documented state, regional, national and international technologies, tactics, techniques and other innovations that are new to Pennsylvania. The STIC also supports the implementation of the Federal Highway Administration’s Every Day Counts (EDC) innovations.

Wendy Davis Joins HNB

Thomas E. Sheridan Jr., President, and CEO of The Honesdale National Bank, has announced Wendy Davis has joined HNB as Branch Supervisor of the HNB Lake Wallenpaupack Office.

In making the announcement Sheridan stated, “Wendy has a superior understanding of the industry and has great influence in the local community.” He continued, “Her skills and expertise will play a huge part of her role to support our customers.”

As Branch Manager, Davis will be responsible for running and growing the Lake Wallenpaupack Branch as effectively and efficiently as possible.

She is a graduate of Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake, NY with a degree in Liberal Arts/Elementary Ed.

Her previous banking experience was with the most recent Wells Fargo, First National Bank of Pennsylvania (FNB), Wayne Bank, HSBC, Provident Bank, and with her very first job in the industry was with LA Bank.  

In commenting on her new role at the bank, Davis noted, “I am so excited to be here at HNB! After working for other institutions, there is nothing more rewarding than working for a hometown community bank! I feel right at home with HNB!”

Outside of the bank, she is an avid outdoors enthusiast and enjoys volunteering in the community.