Save the Date! Celebrate The Big Band Mural, October 4! The Big Band mural by artist Eric Bussart pays tribute to the significant contribution local musicians made to the national Jazz movement during the Big Band era. Featuring famous artists such as the Scranton Sirens, the Dorsey Brothers, and Duke Ellington, the mural is located at 217 Wyoming Avenue, Downtown Scranton. The Big Band is the fifth, and largest, mural produced through Scranton Tomorrow’s Mural Arts Program.
WVIA Conversations for the Common Good: Trust in Our Elections Fair and secure elections are the bedrock of our democracy. However, many members of our community have little information about what happens after they cast their ballots. As we head into the general election in November, WVIA, and Keep Our Republic invite you to attend this informative, nonpartisan event dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of the 2024 election process and equipping our community to combat misinformation surrounding election integrity. At this event, experts from across the state and from our community will talk about what’s new for Pennsylvania’s elections in 2024, how votes are counted, certified, and audited, and answer questions on topics like mail-in ballots, the role of the courts and media in elections, how technology impacts election security, and what federal, state, and local governments are doing to combat election interference. This event will provide valuable insights to help you stay informed for the upcoming November 5th election. We hope to see you there. Doors open at 6:30pm. Panelists Borys Krawczeniuk – Reporter, WVIA News The Honorable Thomas I. Vanaskie (Ret.) Mike McDonald – Director, Office of Policy, PA Dept. of State John Christy – Commissioner, Monroe County
Escarra honored as International League’s Player of the Week Catcher JC Escarra hit six home runs and drove in 12 to help pace SWB in Syracuse. Minor League Baseball has announced its weekly awards for September 2-8 and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s JC Escarra was tabbed as the International League’s Player of the Week. The RailRiders won five-out-of six games in their road series at the Syracuse Mets last week thanks, in large part, to Escarra’s efforts. Escarra went 8-for-17 to bat .471 in five games. The lefty hit six home runs to help drive in a dozen runs, a fifth of the RailRiders runs scored in the series. He also scored nine of his own while walking three times. In the series opener, he doubled and walked before homering in his final plate appearance of the evening. He began Wednesday’s contest with another two long balls, recording one in three consecutive at-bats. The 29-year-old swatted home runs on Friday and Saturday, again in his first at-bats of the day. In the series finale, Escarra launched a grand slam for his sixth homer of the week. Escarra was originally selected by Baltimore in the 15th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft. After being released before the 2022 season, he played in independent ball and internationally before New York signed him as a free agent in 2024. Escarra began the season with Double-A Somerset before being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 19. He has played in 41 games for the RailRiders, working a .305 average. Escarra has split time between catcher, his primary position, and first base. He averages around a 20% caught stealing rate. Escarra joins Pitchers-of-the-Week Clayton Beeter (April 8-14) and Edgar Barclay (July 29 – August 4) as RailRiders’ IL weekly honorees this year. Escarra is the first SWB position player to nab a weekly award since Estevan Florial in late June to early July of the 2022 season. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre begins its final homestand of the 2024 season Tuesday night against Lehigh Valley. The RailRiders are four games back of the Columbus Clippers heading into the final two series of the season. For tickets to games against the IronPigs this week or for promotional information, visit swbrailriders.com or call (570) 969-2255.
Outreach – Center for Community Resources Will Host 2024 Mighty Oak Awards Outreach – Center for Community Resources will host the 2024 Mighty Oak Awards on Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic. The Mighty Oak Awards honor pillars in Northeastern Pennsylvania for their leadership and contributions to the community. This year’s event will recognize two individuals who exemplify Outreach’s mission: Attorney Tobey Oxholm III and Ms. Anne Quinn Butler. Attorney Carl “Tobey” Oxholm III will be awarded the Mighty Oak Award for helping individuals receive pardons as the creator of the Pardon Project of Pennsylvania. Atty. Oxholm has worked with Outreach to expand the Pardon Project to Lackawanna County. He graduated from Harvard Law and the Kennedy School of Government in 1979 and previously served as Chief Deputy Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia and General Counsel for Drexel University. He lives in Gouldsboro with his wife of forty-six years, Kim. Ms. Anne Quinn Butler is this year’s Beth Beh Community Spirit Award. Ms. Butler has been a part of the Outreach community for two decades. She previously was employed at Outreach as the Life Skills Program Manager at the Lackawanna County Prison. Since stepping down from her role, she has continued volunteering at Outreach by serving on various committees and is a Past President of the Board of Directors. She enjoys spending time with grandchildren and children in her free time, traveling, and gardening. Beth Beh Community Spirit Award recognizes and honors an individual or group with a long-standing devotion to community service through education, volunteer work, and citizen connections. Beth Beh founded the Women’s Employment Program (WEP) in 1986, the flagship program of the Employment Opportunity Training Center (EOTC), now Outreach. She devoted her life to developing and expanding community services that focused on single mothers and children in the region and provided mentorship to childcare professionals. The Mighty Oak Awards will include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live music, and basket raffles. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased online at www.outreachworks.org or by contacting Lori Ryan, Community Outreach & Resource Development Manager, via email at lryan@outreachworks.org or by calling 570-558-7565. Outreach Center for Community Resources delivers family educational and workforce development services and programs to the regional community to promote family stability and economic self-sufficiency. Outreach provides evidence-based early childhood programs that help families and children gain the skills to be healthy and productive community members. Outreach programs support families experiencing adverse life events, including economically disadvantaged families, individuals seeking services that are involved in the Women’s and Veteran’s Treatment Court System, residents at the Lackawanna County Prison, and justice-involved juveniles. Outreach improves the lives of over 5,000 adults and children annually with evidence-based family development, early childhood education, adult GED services, and workforce programs that support them as they navigate life’s challenges
Princeton Review Recognizes Scranton Science Labs, Service engagement Students say Scranton professors take an investment in each individual and truly care about their students in The Princeton Review Best 390 Colleges. The Princeton Review selected The University of Scranton among “The Best 390 Colleges” in the nation and ranked Scranton No.17 in the country for “Best Science Lab Facilities,” No. 23 for “Students Most Engaged in Community Service,” and No. 23 in the country for “Best-Run Colleges The Princeton Review has named The University of Scranton as one of the best colleges in the nation for the 23rd consecutive year. The well-known college guidebook also ranked Scranton among the “Best Science Lab Facilities” (No. 17) in the country. This is the eighth year Scranton has made this national list of just 25 schools deemed to have the finest laboratory facilities. The Princeton Review also ranked the school No. 23 in the nation for “Students Most Engaged in Community Service” and No. 23 in the country for “Best-Run Colleges.” Students quoted by The Princeton Review praise the University’s outstanding facilities, approachable faculty and supportive alumni network. Students noted the investment the University has made in laboratory and simulation spaces that resulted in “academic buildings [that] are the greatest strength of the school because most have nice classrooms and places to study that foster learning.” The students also mentioned the small class sizes, capped at around 35 students, that ensure “the professor [is] able to know your name and take an investment in each individual.” According to Princeton Review, many Scranton students describe professors as being “very easy to reach” and “truly [caring] about their students.” Students also said that alumni can be counted on to keep looking out for Scranton students and graduates, which the Princeton Review credited for helping to explain the University’s consistently high 99 percent graduate job-placement rate. Scranton is among just 14 percent of schools in the nation to be listed in the 2025 edition of the “Best 390 Colleges” guidebook to be selected and recommended by The Princeton Review as one of the top colleges in the country. The Princeton Review does not include an overall ranking of the schools selected as the best in the country, however they do publish rankings of schools in 50 categories based on results of their surveys of 168,000 students at the 390 colleges included in the book. Information from the surveys is also used in the profiles included about each school in the publication. The 2025 edition of the guidebook published online on Aug. 27. In addition to The Princeton Review, U.S. News has ranked Scranton among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 30 consecutive years, placing the University No. 5 among the “Best Regional Universities in the North” its 2024 edition of the “Best Colleges” guidebook.
Are You Taking Full Advantage of Your Health Insurance Coverage? Now is a good time to review health insurance policies to ensure you will get the most out of plan benefits, especially if you have already met the annual deductible. Many insurance plans will cover most, if not all, costs for eligible medical procedures and treatments once an individual meets the deductible and out of pocket maximum, making the second half of the year an opportune time to schedule any necessary or elective medical procedures that may have been postponed to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. We encourage everyone to take full advantage of the preventative care and medical services available through their health plans,” said Michael Curran, CEO of Commonwealth Health Regional Hospital of Scranton. “If you’re contributing toward your premium, it’s a ‘use it or lose it’ situation, so make sure to utilize all of the benefits you’re entitled to before the year ends and deductible and out-of-pocket payment responsibilities reset.” For example, someone who has a $2,000 deductible and a $4,000 out-of-pocket maximum is responsible for paying for many medical expenses until they reach the $2,000 threshold. Once they pass this mark, the insurer begins paying a larger portion of the cost of services eligible through in-network providers. And when they reach the $4,000 out-of-pocket maximum, insurers will pay the total cost for eligible services. Remember, monthly premium payments do not count towards deductibles, and in most cases, copays do not count either. And once a new policy year begins, both deductible and out-of-pocket maximum contributions return back to zero. Dr. Rourke Decker, Family Medicine with Commonwealth Health Physician Network highlights another critical aspect of leveraging health insurance benefits: preventative care. “Regardless of whether your health insurance is through an employer, the Marketplace, or Medicare, preventative care is generally covered—including annual wellness appointments and immunizations,” said Dr. Decker. “Many people skip an annual physical because they ‘feel’ healthy, but these appointments can reveal underlying issues that might not yet show symptoms, when they’re easier to treat.” Key screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, and elective surgeries, such as joint replacements and hysterectomies, may also be less expensive once you’ve reached your deductible. But, plan early since sometimes these services can be harder to schedule during the second half of the year as more people catch up on their healthcare needs. And, in the case of surgeries, there may be a process that takes time before the procedure can be scheduled. To check off one or more of these procedures from your to-do list, request an appointment today with your primary care physician. You deserve the best care.
UNC’s 8th Annual Welcoming Scranton Celebration United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) invites the community to our 8th Annual Welcoming Scranton Celebration on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 10 am to 1 pm at 526 Cedar Avenue, at the corner of Alder Street, in Scranton. This fun-filled celebration is in conjunction with our South Side Farmers Market. Welcoming Scranton, a part of Welcoming Week, is a national celebration that warmly embraces long-term residents and newcomers, fostering a sense of belonging in our shared community. It promotes cross-cultural understanding and raises awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. Family, friends, and neighbors can look forward to a wide range of diverse activities at Welcoming Scranton. Enjoy the upbeat Latin sounds of Grupo Zona, free ice cream from Scoopz Ice Cream Truck, free face painting with local artist Monica Noelle, and free balloon animals with Becky Corby. Many other community resource organizations will also be joining us. Shop our 15+ Farmers Markets vendors and their one-day special $5 deal, purchase authentic Mexican food from El Buen Amigo, and challenge your mind with cultural trivia, activities, and games from UNC’s Community Revitalization and Education Departments for fun prizes. For more information, please contact Chrissy Manuel, UNC’s Director of Development and Communication, at 570.878.5643 or cmanuel@uncnepa.org.
Two Chamber Members Collaborate to Spread Joy this Month Two Chamber members who love to promote joy and positivity are collaborating on the event “Light and Laughter” to offer an evening of comedy and connection. Chamber members Jeannine Luby and Megan Alpert are working together through their respective businesses, Laugh to Live and Joy World Wealth Partners to present an evening of joyful laughter. Jeannine Luby is producing the stand-up comedy show on Friday September 20 that will feature comedians Micki Orlowsky, Mary Rapach, Luby and Pittsburgh’s high energy comedian and mental health advocate Gab Bonesso, that will be hosted by Joy World Wealth Partners at 125 N. Washington Ave. in downtown Scranton. Doors open at 6:30PM and the show begins at 7PM. This event is a nonalcoholic event for adults 18 and over. Both women are excited for this opportunity to collaborate on an event that will bring people together to share in the levity of laughter that helps to lower stress, lift moods and open minds. Given that September is National Suicide Prevention Month $10 from every $25 ticket purchase will be donated to the nonprofit John Malvizzi Foundation, an organization named after an area man who died by suicide a few years ago. The Foundation was started by his daughter Nina Judge with the mission to “provide families and communities with the resources needed to increase mental health awareness and improve their quality of life.” Nina says she also wants to encourage transparency when it comes to talking about mental illness so that we can remove the stigma and people who need help will seek it and feel comfortable talking with a friend or family member about their feelings. Seats are limited, so advanced ticket sales are encouraged at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/999356461077?aff=oddtdtcreator
Aging Together in PA Town Hall: Elder Justice & Dignity Pennsylvania is home to more than 3.4 million older adults, the fifth highest total in the country, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Currently one in four Pennsylvanians is age 60 and older. By 2030, this number will rise to one in three. In response to that, WVIA and WITF are assembling a panel of experts to discuss Pennsylvania’s 10-year plan to meet the needs of the Commonwealth’s older adults and the circumstances that led to its inception. We’ll explore the challenges faced by older citizens and their caregivers, what services are currently available in our area, and how we can work together to ensure the safety, dignity and joys of aging in PA. Our panelists include: Jason Kavulich, Secretary, PA Department of Aging Patricia D’Antonio, Executive Director, National Center to Reframe Aging Velma Carter-Dryer, Advocate for Older Pennsylvanians Kristen Lees Haggerty, PhD, Project Director, National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment
