The Wright Center Supports the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties

The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education recently donated $10,000 to the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties in support of its annual campaign.

“The United Way and the people we serve every day are grateful for the ongoing support of The Wright Center,” said Gary W. Drapek, president and CEO of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. “Our missions to lift up underserved communities in the region are more important than ever as the global pandemic continues to affect many facets of our lives. This donation will lessen the impact of COVID-19 on those who can least afford it.”

The Wright Center cares for more than 30,000 patients at its eight primary care practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties. The Wright Center for Community Health works to improve the health and welfare of Northeast Pennsylvania by improving access to patient-centric health care services, while The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education builds a sustainable and competent workforce of physicians.

Participating in the ceremonial check presentation ceremony at The Wright Center, from left, are Deborah Kolsovsky, chairperson, United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties’ annual campaign; Gary W. Drapek, president and CEO, United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties; Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO, The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, and Gerard Geoffroy, chairperson, The Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors.

Promote Your Business on the Ice Festival Map

The Scranton Ice Festival wants to promote restaurants, bars, and other businesses downtown!

To promote your business, we are requesting the below info we can add to the map:

  • Days/hours you’ll be open during the festival (fyi – Festival hours: Fri 5-9, Sat 1-9, and Sun 1-5)
  • Very brief business description/tagline
  • What you serve (Food, Alcoholic Beverages, Non-Alcoholic Beverages)
  • Any specials, promos, events, or added services you’ll have available
  • Whether you’re family friendly
  • The preferred website you’d like us to link to (perhaps you’d prefer to link to your menu or your social media)

We’ll be adding this as a layer to our existing map which can be found here.

Email scrantonicefest@gmail.com with your business information.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties is once again offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program to prepare local, state and federal income tax returns for FREE!  There are NO hidden fees or charges – this is a completely FREE Service designed to help people secure all the refunds and credits for which they are eligible.

How do I schedule an appointment?

There’s two ways to schedule an appointment:

  1. Schedule an appointment by clicking HERE
  2. Starting Monday, January 3rd, call 2-1-1 and speak to an agent that can book your appointment over the phone.
    • In the case 2-1-1 doesn’t connect, be sure to call 570.602.3133 to schedule your appointment.  Please leave a voicemail when/if prompted.

When does the VITA program start?

You can schedule your VITA appointment today!  The first day on the schedule for this current tax season will be Friday, February 4th.

What if I want to file my own taxes?

If you’d like to file your taxes on your own, The United Way offers help for those who are comfortable preparing their own taxes online. MyFreeTaxes, powered by TaxSlayer, is available nationwide and includes federal and unlimited state returns FOR FREE while avoiding restrictive eligibility criteria.  There is no age or geographic limitations.  MyFreeTaxes follows the IRS VITA program guidelines and target filers who generally earn around $57,000 or less, but filers with incomes over this threshold will not be blocked from using this FREE Software and will not be charged any fees!

Is VITA for me?

Our VITA volunteers will prepare state, local and federal tax returns for households and senior citizens from Northeast Pennsylvania that have income during 2021 of $57,000. Wage earners and non-wage earners are both eligible.

VITA by the numbers:

During the 2021 tax season, the United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program saved our tax clients $228,300 in fees as we filed 1,522 tax returns for free with $1,658,329 in federal refunds being returned to the community—and the budgets of hard-working area families.

Information about 2022 VITA appointments:

For a complete checklist of what you need for your tax drop-off, a schedule of this year’s appointments, and more CLICK HERE

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Forum, Call for Speakers

We’re looking for passionate speakers to join us as presenters for our third annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Forum, presented by the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council and in partnership with our regional chambers! This year, we will be taking what used to be our webinar series and offering a full day of DEI-focused sessions. We are looking for diverse-owned businesses owners or entrepreneurs and individuals who have dedicated themselves to building diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in their workplaces and in the communities.

Presentations will take place over Zoom on April 12th and will be 30 minutes in length. Selections will be determined at the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council meeting in March and speakers will be notified of their selection soon after applications close. Complete the RFP form before the close of business on February 10th. For any questions, please email Everal at everal@wyomingvalleychamber.org.

The Waverly Community House to Host Frederick Douglass Talk

E. J. Murphy, Project Coordinator for the Waverly Community House’s Destination Freedom: Underground Railroad Walking Tour of Waverly will host a talk on Frederick Douglass and Northeastern Pennsylvania, entitled “But Because He is a Man”. This program will highlight the effect that Douglass’ influence had on local and national events during the Civil War era as well as his connections, both direct and indirect, to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

E.J. Murphy is an educator and public historian from Scranton, PA.

The talk, sponsored by Toyota of Scranton and Peoples Security Bank & Trust will be held on Sunday, February 20th at 1:00 PM in The Comm auditorium. This educational program is appropriate for school-aged children.

Free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted for the Destination Freedom Project.

Reservations suggested. Call the Comm office: 570 .586.8191 Or click HERE for online reservations.

Narayana S. Murali, M.D., Named Chief Medical Officer of Medicine Services at Geisinger

Geisinger announced that Narayana Murali, M.D., will serve as the new chief medical officer of medicine services at Geisinger. This leadership position will oversee Geisinger’s strategic plan and operations for the medicine, cancer, and women’s and children’s institutes throughout the system.

Dr. Murali has served as executive vice president of care delivery and chief strategy officer at Marshfield Clinic Health System in Marshfield, Wis., since 2014, where he was heavily involved in driving and shaping its transformation.

“Geisinger is always working on ways to make better health easier for our patients. Bringing Narayana Murali, M.D., on board as the new chief medical officer of medicine services will further our mission to enhance care for our patients, our members and our communities,” said J. Edward Hartle, M.D., executive vice president and system chief medical officer. “Given Dr. Murali’s wealth of experience and expertise and his passion for always enhancing patient care, we’re confident that he will continue to set the bar even higher for us to deliver a premier patient experience.”  

“After 15 fulfilling years at Marshfield Clinic Health System, I’m honored to be joining Geisinger,” said Dr. Murali. “This system has a longstanding history in the community and is nationally recognized for innovating healthcare. Geisinger’s patient-first mindset is one many in the healthcare industry aspire to follow, and I look forward to finding ways to transform the industry by creating an exemplary patient experience in our communities.”

As the new chief medical officer, Dr. Murali will work closely with institute chairs to develop strategic plans that address customer expectations, as well as quality and cost of care with the goal of driving change for the betterment of patient care and Geisinger communities.

Dr. Murali earned his medical degree at the University of Madras in India, completed his internship at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pa., and his residency at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education in Rochester, Minn. He also completed a National Institutes of Health-sponsored Clinician Investigator Training Program and a fellowship in kidney disease at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, as well as the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.

City of Scranton Launches Online Permitting and Licensing Portal

Mayor Paige G. Cognetti announced that the City of Scranton has officially launched a new online permitting and licensing portal powered by cloud software provider OpenGov. The City is now inviting residents to apply for a select group of permits and licenses online via the new online service portal, accessible HERE. Over the next few months, more permit and license types will be added to the portal.

When the City of Scranton decided to make the transition to online permitting, its primary goal was to move away from a long-standing paper-based process. Along with streamlining internal processes, residents will experience convenient self-service, the ability to track, manage, and converse about applications in a single portal, and conditional forms that will improve application accuracy and reduce application time. Applicants will be able to print their permits and licenses from home and receive email notifications updating them when there are changes to their applications.

This move is part of a greater transformation of the City’s IT platform, which is rooted around four core applications: OpenGov Financials, OpenGov Citizen Services, NeoGov, and Cartegraph which will individually be utilized to modernize the City of Scranton’s Financial, License and Permitting, HR, and Fleet Management systems throughout 2022.

The City will continue accepting paper applications for the time being. The City will also maintain its current payment methods but will be moving to online payments soon.

“We are pleased to announce the launch of the city’s new online permitting and licensing portal powered by OpenGov’s Citizen Services Suite,” said Mayor Cognetti. “Maintaining long-standing, outdated processes is not a viable option for a modern city. Our taxpayers demand better services and replacing the City’s operating technology is an opportunity to change in how we meet our constituents’ needs and, especially with improved permitting services, support our economic development efforts.”

For additional help applying online, you can come to the front office in City Hall when it is open to the public, or you can go to the Scranton Public Library. The library offers free access to computers and trained library staff to assist patrons one-on-one. In the near future, the Library will offer free classes to teach the public how to use the Citizen Portal. These classes will be held in the library’s Technology Lab and taught by the computer instructor. Community members can reach the library by calling (570) 348-3000.

Email ahallock@scrantonpa.gov with questions.

The Wright Center Distributing Free At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits

The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement is holding two drive-thru distribution events of free at-home COVID-19 test kits for the public on a first-come, first-serve basis on Saturday, Feb. 5 in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. Each vehicle will receive five test kits while supplies last.

In conjunction with the Kingston fire and police departments, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement will hand out test kits from 6-7 p.m. in the parking lot of the fire department, 600 Wyoming Ave. Guests are asked to follow this route: Go to West Dorrance Street off of Wyoming Avenue and take a left onto Welter Lane. Stay on Welter Lane until arriving at the fire department’s parking lot. Follow the traffic route outlined by orange cones and exit the event onto Sharpe Street.

The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement is also holding an at-home COVID-19 test kit giveaway at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, from 6-7 p.m.

“Time and again, our community partners have come forward to work with us during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Laurie LaMaster, associate vice president of Patient & Community Engagement. “Thanks to Kingston fire and police officials, and the Jermyn and Archbald police departments, we are able to respond to the needs of the community and provide this needed public service.”

To help facilitate an efficient distribution, the public is asked to pre-register. Simply fill out the form at TheWrightCenter.org/covidtest, print out the confirmation page and present it to a volunteer handing out test kits. The pre-registration process does not guarantee the availability of a test kit.

The Wright Center is also reminding participants to abide by COVID-19 mitigation standards by wearing masks and remaining in vehicles at all times.

For complete and up-to-date information about The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement’s community distributions of at-home COVID-19 test kits, please follow the organization’s social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or go to TheWrightCenter.org.

The Wright Center for Community Health is respectfully asking the public to refrain from calling and going to clinical locations during normal business hours to ask about at-home test kits. Call volume and clinician capacity are reserved to address primary health services and prescription refills.

PennDOT Invites Public to Participate in Safety Citizens Program

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites Pennsylvanians to participate in its Safety Citizens program, which encourages community members to answer traffic safety questions in original and creative ways.

Traffic safety topics are introduced bi-monthly posing a question for the public to answer. Participants can answer by submitting an original piece of artwork, such as a short video, a poem, or a drawing. Selected submissions are displayed on PennDOT’s statewide social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The program was recently updated to include new topics for 2022 and the addition of links to coloring pages and kids’ activities to encourage young Pennsylvanians to participate.

According to PennDOT data, in 2020 there were 1,129 fatalities on Pennsylvania roadways.

Individuals, classes, families, clubs, or other groups are encouraged to participate in this safety initiative as a program challenge.

The first topic for 2022 is Drowsy Driving. Participants are asked to submit a response to the question “What do you think are the best ways to avoid drowsy driving?” The kids’ challenge for the topic is to draw a picture of other ways to travel if someone is too tired to drive. Submissions are due by Monday, February 28.

Upcoming topics will include bicycle and motorcycle safety, commercial vehicle safety, seat belt and child passenger safety and impaired driving.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Being a Safety Citizen is being a leader by inspiring your family, friends, and community to practice safe behaviors on the road. Whether traveling by vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle or on foot, everyone has the opportunity to be safer on the road.

Additional information on the program, including the details and guidelines for participation, can be found online at www.PennDOT.gov/SafetyCitizens or questions can be emailed to SafetyCitizens@pa.gov. Interested participants are encouraged to check the website frequently for updates about future topics.