Human Resources Foundation of NEPA Welcomes New Director The Human Resources Foundation of NEPA is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Card as Foundation Executive Director. The Human Resources Foundation, established in 2015, provides financial support to programs and services that benefit individuals with disabilities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. A Wayne County native, Daniel has served the community for many years and in several ways: as President of the Lions Club, President and Treasurer of the Wayne Economic Development Corporation, and President of the Workforce Investment Group, just to name a few. As Foundation Director, Daniel hopes to utilize his skills and the relationships he has developed to fulfill the mission of the Human Resources Foundation. Please join us in welcoming Daniel Card, HRF Executive Director, as he continues the work of the Foundation by supporting services to individuals and programs of Northeast Pennsylvania. To welcome Daniel, or inquire about HRF’s programs, please contact Daniel.card@hrfnepa.org.
Geisinger offering Super Saturday flu shot clinics The best defense against getting the flu is by getting a flu shot. This year, Geisinger is making it easier to get one by hosting three Super Saturday flu vaccine events through October. Select Geisinger community medicine offices are hosting drive-thru flu shot events for patients and Geisinger Health Plan members ages 3 and older. Select Geisinger 65 Forward Health Centers are also offering walk-in or drive-thru flu vaccine events for patients and Geisinger Health Plan members age 65 and older. All Super Saturday flu vaccine events are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The additional Super Saturdays are October 2 and October 16. “While we had a relatively mild flu season last year, we cannot let our guard down against the flu this year,” said Stanley Martin, M.D., Geisinger director of infectious diseases. “This year it’s going to be critical for everyone who is able to be vaccinated against the flu to help keep unnecessary flu hospitalizations to a minimum. Getting your flu vaccine is the best way to do that.” Flu season generally begins in late October and runs through May. Getting vaccinated early in the season is the best defense to keep yourself and those around you flu-free, Martin said. There are 23 Geisinger community medicine offices hosting the drive thru flu events, including: Geisinger Bellefonte (819 E. Bishop St.)Geisinger Berwick (2200 W. Front St.)Geisinger Bloomsburg Reichart Road (2407 Reichart Road)Geisinger Dallas Family Practice (114 Lt. Michael Cleary Drive)Geisinger Frackville (701 W. Oak St.)Geisinger Healthplex State College (132 Abigail Lane)Geisinger Healthplex Woodbine (16 Woodbine Lane, Danville)Geisinger Kingston (560 Pierce St.)Geisinger Kulpmont (119 Nevada Drive)Geisinger Lewisburg (250 Reitz Blvd.)Geisinger Lewistown Community Medicine (21 Geisinger Lane)Geisinger Lock Haven (68 Spring St.)Geisinger Lycoming (780 Broad St., Montoursville)Geisinger Milton (155 S. Arch St.)Geisinger Moshannon Valley (210 Medical Center Drive, Philipsburg)Geisinger Mountain Top (35 S. Mountain Blvd.)Geisinger Mt. Pleasant (531 Mt. Pleasant Drive, Scranton)Geisinger Mt. Pocono (126 Market Way)Geisinger Orwigsburg (300 Hollywood Blvd.)Geisinger Pittston (42 N. Main St.)Geisinger Pottsville (529 Terry Reiley Way)Geisinger Selinsgrove (201 Roosevelt Ave.)Geisinger Tunkhannock (10 Trible Drive) There are six Geisinger 65 Forward Health Centers hosting flu events. Drive-thru vaccines are available at: Geisinger 65 Forward Kingston (499 Wyoming Ave.)Geisinger 65 Forward Hazleton (20 Diana Lane, West Hazleton)Geisinger 65 Forward Scranton (3 W. Olive St.) Walk-in flu vaccines are available at: Geisinger 65 Forward Milton (5170 Route 405)Geisinger 65 Forward Shamokin Dam (30 Baldwin Blvd.)Geisinger 65 Forward Wilkes-Barre (41 S. Main St., Midtown Village) There’s no need to preregister to get a flu shot. Remember to wear a mask and loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to the upper arm. When arriving at a drive-thru vaccination site, follow all directional signage. You will need to fill out a short electronic form before receiving your flu shot. Remain inside your vehicle next to an opening window, and be aware that staff will not enter vehicles to provide flu shots. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older, Martin said. There are certain people who are considered most vulnerable for contracting the flu, including pregnant women, patients with asthma and other respiratory infections, heart and lung conditions, diabetes and anyone over age 65. Caregivers for children between 6 months and 3 years old, who can’t be vaccinated at the Geisinger primary care drive-thru events, should make an appointment with their pediatrician’s office for a flu shot. For a full list of Super Saturday flu vaccine events, as well as helpful tips on staying flu free this season, visit geisinger.org/flunews.
WVIA Announces News Director WVIA, the PBS and NPR affiliate for northeastern and central Pennsylvania, has announced that Julie Sidoni is the organization’s new News Director. Sidoni will start at WVIA on October 4, 2021. As WVIA’s news director, Sidoni will lead WVIA’s investment in local journalism and will oversee WVIA’s local coverage across all of the station’s television, radio, and digital platforms. “We are thrilled that Julie will be guiding WVIA’s journalism team. Our priority in the past year has been to increase local output across platforms and have deeper conversations that effect change,” said WVIA President and CEO Carla McCabe. “With Julie’s extensive career serving northeastern and central Pennsylvania and her knowledge of the issues that matter most to the people we serve, Julie is uniquely positioned to lead this public service for the WVIA community by adding a journalistic perspective.” “With over 20 years of covering stories in our region, we are very excited to have Julie come aboard,” said Ben Payavis II, WVIA Chief Content Officer. “We look forward to the contributions she and her team will bring to the radio programs Morning Edition and All Things Considered, as well as our public affairs television series, Keystone Edition.” Julie began her award-winning journalism career in public radio, at the NPR affiliate WDUQ-FM in Pittsburgh. She also spent time learning the business as a producer at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh before graduating from Duquesne University, and soon landed her first on-air television reporting job at WJAC-TV in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. A year and a half later, she was hired as a reporter for WNEP-TV in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and spent nearly 20 years there as an anchor/reporter. Aside from her work in the news business, Julie is also a writer and has been awarded a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. She is also an adjunct professor in the School of Communications at Wilkes University, teaching undergraduate public speaking. The St. Marys, PA native now calls Kingston home. She lives there with her husband, Attorney Jeffrey Yelen, and her two sons, Charlie and Jack. “I have loved serving my community all these years through my work at WNEP. I’m now very much looking forward to putting those years of experience into practice here at WVIA,” Sidoni said. “I learned how to be a journalist from my colleagues in public television and radio, so in many ways, this feels like a homecoming.”
Geisinger and Acadia Healthcare Break Ground for New Behavioral Health Center Geisinger and Acadia Healthcare Company held a groundbreaking ceremony for Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Northeast, a new 96-bed inpatient behavioral health facility. The event occurred on the site of the new facility at 60 Glenmaura National Blvd. in Moosic. Slated to open in the fall of 2022, the facility is a joint venture between Acadia Healthcare, the nation’s largest provider of behavioral health services, and Geisinger, which serves more than 1 million people across 45 counties in Pennsylvania. The center will address the growing need for accessible, high-quality behavioral health services in northeastern Pennsylvania. The facility will provide care for adult, pediatric and adolescent patients who struggle with acute symptoms of behavioral health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This array of acute behavioral health services provides a level of care unparalleled in northeastern Pennsylvania, especially for children and adolescents. The facility represents an approximately $40 million investment in the community. “The need for behavioral health resources is a national issue that we also face here in northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Jaewon Ryu, M.D., J.D., Geisinger’s president and chief executive officer. “Geisinger is committed to making better health easier for all of the communities we serve, and we are excited to partner with Acadia to provide these much-needed services close to home for our patients.” “We’re thrilled to have an opportunity to introduce this new facility to Moosic and the surrounding communities,” said Debbie Osteen, chief executive officer of Acadia Healthcare. “We are so proud to work together to address a rising need in this area. This facility, like all in the Geisinger network, will become a strong member of the community, collaborating with all organizations, hospitals and first responders.” Geisinger and Acadia will open a similar facility in Danville, with construction slated to begin in 2022. These two new centers will allow Geisinger to consolidate inpatient behavioral health programs from Geisinger Medical Center, Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital and Geisinger Community Medical Center, providing additional capacity and expanded private room availability at those hospitals. Together, the new facilities are expected to create approximately 200 new jobs by 2024. Pictured in photo are: Matthew Walsh, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Geisinger; Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD, president and chief executive officer, Geisinger; Justin Coffey, MD, chair, psychiatry and behavioral health, Geisinger; Michael Genovese, MD, JD, chief medical officer, Acadia Healthcare; Isa Diaz, senior vice president of strategic affairs, Acadia Healthcare; John Hollinsworth, executive vice president of operations, Acadia Healthcare; Heather Acker, vice chair of the Geisinger Board of Directors; Virginia McGregor, chair of the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Board of Directors and member of the Geisinger Board of Directors.
Presidential Inauguration Celebrates The University of Scranton’s Jesuit Mission The Ignatian mission of The University of Scranton will take a preeminent role in the Inauguration of Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., as the 29th president of The University of Scranton. The Inauguration will occur as the Society of Jesus celebrates an Ignatian Year, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the conversion of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. The Inauguration theme, “A Fire that Kindles Other Fires,” is quoted from Decree 2 of the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus. The Decree reads: “Legend has it that Saint Ignatius, when he sent Saint Francis Xavier to the East, told him: ‘go, set the world alight.’ With the birth of the Society of Jesus, a new fire was lit in a changing world. A novel form of religious life came about, not through human enterprise but as a divine initiative. The fire that was set alight then continues to burn in our Jesuit life today, as was said about Saint Alberto Hurtado, ‘a fire that kindles other fires.’ With it, we are called to set all things alight with the love of God.” The formal Inauguration Ceremony for Father Marina will take place on Friday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m. on campus for members of the University community and invited guests. The University will livestream the event. A luncheon will immediately follow the ceremony. In addition to the Inauguration Ceremony, an Inauguration Mass is planned for Saturday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m. on campus. An Inauguration Concert, set for Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, will feature an original work composed for the Inauguration by David Lantz III, titled “To the Ends of the Earth.” The events coincide with Family Weekend. Parents and family members visiting campus for the weekend are welcome to attend the Inauguration events. Thomas MacKinnon, vice president for university advancement, and Gretchen Van Dyke, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, are serving as co-chairs for the Inauguration Celebration. Additional information is available on The Inauguration of Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., website.
Vejigantes to return in 2022 Copa de la Diversión The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce that they will continue to participate in Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión during the 2022 season. The RailRiders will play on select dates as the “Vejigantes” next season to honor and recognize the growing Latino population in Northeastern Pennsylvania. 76 clubs across Minor League Baseball participated in Copa de la Diversión this season. Seven new teams will join in 2022 and two additional teams that didn’t participate this season will return next summer. Each of the 85 participating MiLB teams, covering 33 U.S. states, will transform its on-field brand to a culturally relevant Latino persona, representing an extension of the team’s and community’s identity. The Vejigante is a brightly-colored, folkloric masked character that is a blend of African, Spanish and Caribbean influences and a key figure in several annual celebrations. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre first adopted this identity in 2019 for Copa de la Diversión. 2022 Copa de la Diversión dates will be announced at a later time. The RailRiders have five games at PNC Field remaining this year, returning home from September 22-26 to host the Syracuse Mets in Triple-A Baseball’s Final Stretch. Tickets are available at swbrailriders.com.
PennDOT, Pennsylvania State Police Highlight National Child Passenger Safety Week The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project (PA TIPP) are encouraging drivers to take advantage of safety seat check resources across the state as the agencies mark National Child Passenger Safety Week (CPSW) from September 19 through September 25. Additionally, Saturday, September 25 has been designated as “National Seat Check Saturday.” “Seat belts and car seats are the best defense in a crash,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “PennDOT urges all parents and caregivers to take time this week to learn more about the importance of correctly selecting, installing, and using car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.” Car seat checks will be held across the state the week of Child Passenger Safety Week. Visit PA TIPP’s webpage for a list of events. PSP personnel certified as Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians will be conducting free child seat fitting events across the state. Caregivers can have their car seats checked for suitability, receive instruction on the proper installation, and have seat(s) installed, learn to properly harness a child in a seat and check seats for recalls. A full list of local free car seat fitting events is available on PSP’s website. According to national statistics, car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury by up to 71 percent for infants and 59 percent for toddlers; however,46 percent of car seats and booster seats are installed or used incorrectly. Through June 2021, members of the PSP have conducted 406 child safety seat inspections and discovered 239 cases of misuse. Throughout 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted seat checks, but PSP completed more than 850 checks and found more than 350 misuses by drivers. In 2019, over 1,600 checks were completed with more than 600 misuses observed. The checkups are designed to teach proper installation and use of child safety seats and keep children across the commonwealth safe. To advance their public safety missions, PennDOT and PSP invest in community resources across the state. PennDOT funds resources such as training and educational materials for more than 200 fitting stations across Pennsylvania. In coordination with CPSW and Seat Check Saturday, local police will focus on proper child seat usage during a statewide CIOT Child Passenger Safety enforcement running from September 11 through September 24. In addition, each PSP Troop has designated walk in days where drivers can have their child safety seats checked free of charge. Pennsylvania’s primary seat belt law requires all occupants younger than 18 to wear a seat belt when riding anywhere in a vehicle. Children under the age of two must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, and children under the age of four must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday. “Parents and caregivers are encouraged to educate themselves and seek out assistance to properly install child passenger safety seats,” said Colonel Robert Evanchick, Commissioner of the PSP. “Keeping our youngest passengers safe should be a priority for everyone. Troopers who are certified as child passenger safety seat technicians are available to assist anyone who has questions or needs help installing a child seat.” A secondary law also requires drivers and front-seat passengers 18 or older to buckle up. If motorists are stopped for a traffic violation and are not wearing their seat belt, they can receive a second ticket and second fine. Because of the potential dangers associated with air bag deployment, children 12 and younger should always ride buckled in a vehicle’s back seat. “The best way to protect your child is to place them in the right car seat for their age and size and to correctly secure it in the back seat of the vehicle,” said Angela Osterhuber, Director of the Traffic Injury Prevention Project. “Child passenger safety technicians are available to teach you how to use your car seat correctly.” PA TIPP also offers the following tips: Select a car seat that is right for the child’s age and size;Fill out and return the registration card for your seat so you’ll know if it is recalled because of a problem;Read and follow the car seat instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual for information on correctly installing the car seat in the vehicle;Use the car’s seat belt or the LATCH system when installing the car seat;Make sure the car seat’s harness is correctly adjusted and fits snugly; andUse a tether strap when installing a forward-facing car seat, following manufacturer’s instructions. For more information on child passenger safety, visit PennDOT’s Safety Page. For a list of state police car seat safety inspection locations and dates, visit the PSP Public Safety webpage. For more information on how to keep passengers safe, or if you are unable to afford a car seat, call 1-800-CAR-BELT or visit www.pakidstravelsafe.org to find the nearest car seat loan program. Information on Child Safety Seat Inspection Stations and Community Car Seat Checkup Events is also available on the website.
Griffin Pond Animal Shelter Hosts Wag-O-Ween 5K and Pet Costume Parade Griffin Pond Animal Shelter will host its inaugural Wag-O-Ween 5K and Pet Costume Parade Saturday, Oct. 16, at McDade Park, pavilion 1, 1 Bald Mountain Rd., Scranton. Registration and check-in are from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., and the race begins at 10. At the event, runners are invited to wear their favorite Halloween costume or running gear as they dash through a 5K course designed by Scranton Running Company. The top male and female runners in each age category will receive a medal. The runners who compete in costume also will vie for the scariest, funniest, best superhero, and most unique costume prizes. All runners will receive a complimentary Griffin Pond Animal Shelter Wag-O-Ween 5K and Pet Costume Parade t-shirt. Registration is $35 and can be completed at www.runsignup.com/griffinpond. Following the race at approximately 11:30 a.m., Griffin Pond will host a Halloween pet costume parade. Parade participants should check in at 11 a.m. at pavilion 1. During the event, pet owners will escort their pets as they contend for the funniest, cutest, most creative, and most unique costume prizes. Parade registration is $15. The shelter also has numerous sponsorship options available which are great advertising vehicles for businesses or a way to honor someone. To register for the parade or as a sponsor, please visit www.griffinpondanimalshelter.com/wag-o-ween-5k. All proceeds will benefit the shelter’s canine and feline enrichment program. For more information, please contact Jackie Galvin, M.S., development and communications director, at 570-586-3700, ext. 522 or jackie@griffinpondas.com.
Lackawanna College and Wilkes University Sign Early Entrance Agreement Lackawanna College has signed an agreement that will give students early entry into Wilkes University’s Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program. Students in the Lackawanna College Bachelor’s in Professional Studies English Writing concentration can begin pursuing master’s degree credits at Wilkes University. “This new opportunity lets Lackawanna students participate in undergraduate and graduate-level course work at the same time,” said Adrienne Asbury, Lackawanna College Dean of Curriculum and Faculty Affairs. “This partnership will benefit students academically, socially, and financially, as it will enable them to embark on their master’s degrees while still undergraduate students and avail themselves of all the resources Lackawanna College and Wilkes University have to offer.” “We are very excited to welcome Lackawanna College students to our nationally renowned graduate creative writing program,” said David Hicks, Wilkes University Director and Faculty of Practice in the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing. “Our graduate program is focused not only on the craft of writing but on the community of writers and the career of writing.” The agreement will be effective for the 2021-2022 school year and students will be able to start the master’s degree program during the January or June residency at Wilkes University. All credits completed at Wilkes University will be transferrable to Lackawanna College to meet degree requirements.
The Greater Scranton YMCA to Host Hoot & Howl Halloween Party The Greater Scranton YMCA is inviting families from across our community to join us for our free Hoot & Howl Halloween Party at the Y on Saturday, October 23, 2021. The event will feature a costume contest, DJ, magician, Family Haunted Walk, refreshments and more. The celebration will begin at 12:00 p.m. and will end at 3:00 p.m. “We are thrilled to offer a free Halloween event at our facility that welcomes all members of our community,” said Trish Fisher, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “Following more than a year of social distancing and disruptions to seasonal celebrations, we are proud to provide children and families with some excitement!” Children of all ages are welcome. Costumes are optional. While pre-registration is not required, it is preferred. For more information or to RSVP, contact Brandon Whipple, Health & Wellness Director, at bwhipple@greaterscrantonymca.org or (570) 828-3116.
