Marywood University to Offer Professional Continuing Education Nursing Home Administration Program Marywood University’s Professional Continuing Education department will offer a 120-Hour Long-Term Care Nursing Home Administration (NHA) and Refresher Program during the fall 2021/spring 2022 academic semesters. Each of the sixteen courses is approved for 7.5 continuing education hours by the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators. Also serving State of Pennsylvania licensing renewal requirements, interested individuals can register for courses as needed or register for the entire series. Dates, programs, and presenters planned for the fall 2021/spring 2021academic semesters include: September 30, 2021— Health Support Services: Pharmacy Medical Records and Diagnostic Services with Tom Snader and Stephanie Sakson.October 1, 2021 —Personnel Management and Labor Relations with Jim Silkworth.October 14, 2021 — Social Services, Family and Community Relationships, and Patient Rights with Maria Hastie and John R. O’Brien.October 15, 2021 – Understanding Regulations: Deficiencies, Plans of Correction, and Quality Assurance with James Miller, NHA.October 28, 2021— Strategic Planning: Marketing and Public Relations with William BachmanOctober 29, 2021 – Nursing Department and Patient Care Management with Karyn Hildebrand.November 11, 2021— Role of Government in Health Policy Regulation and Reimbursement with William Kammerer.November 12, 2021 – Nutrition and Dietary Needs of the Long-Term Care Resident with Sandy Gaul.December 2, 2021— Gerontology: Diseases of Aging Death and Dying with Peggy Steinberg.December 3, 2021 – Risk Management: Safety and Insurance with Matt Alfiero.December 16, 2021 – Facility Support Services: Building, Grounds, Housekeeping, Laundry, and Central Supply with Karyn Hildebrand.December 17, 2021 – Fiscal Management: Budgeting and Accounting with Michael P. Kelly, MPA, NHA and Kevin Noone.January 27, 2022 – General Administration and Organizational Management of Nursing Homes with Noelle Lyon-Kovaleskie.January 28, 2022 – Medicare PPS Case Mix & Third-Party Reimbursement with James Miller.February 10, 2022 – Rehabilitation Services and Special Care with Gary Duncan.February 11, 2022 – Preparing for Licensure: Certification Surveys and Meeting the Other Regulatory Requirements with Noelle Lyon-Kovaleskie. All courses will run on the dates listed from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., in the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life, on Marywood University’s campus. Each course is $150. The NHA Refresher is only $525. For additional information, or to register, please visit Marywood Professional Continuing Education Opportunities, or call Jill Schroth, Director of Professional Continuing Education & Workforce Development, at (570) 340-6061.
More than 96 Percent Vaccinated at Scranton The University of Scranton announced today that more than 96 percent of its students, faculty and staff who are on campus for the fall semester are fully vaccinated. The University implemented a vaccine requirement for the return of in-person classes and activities for the fall 2021 semester, which began on Monday, Aug. 30. Vaccination rates above 90 percent were found to be an important for resuming normal campus activity, according to a recently released study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Students attending classes on campus were required to submit vaccine information through the school’s Student Health Services and employees were required to attest to their vaccination status through the Office of Human Resources. In accordance with Pennsylvania law, students and employees could request a waiver to the vaccine requirement for religious or medical reasons. Students attending fully-online graduate courses were not required to submit vaccine information. According to University records, nearly 96 percent of students and more than 97 percent of staff are fully vaccinated. The University expects these percentages to increase in the coming weeks as individuals with one dose of the vaccine receive their second dose. Unvaccinated members of the University community who were granted a waiver to be on campus during the fall semester must participate in weekly PCR testing and wear a mask when indoors and when outdoors when social distancing is not possible, among other health and safety requirements as outlined in the University’s Royals Back Together plan. Vaccinated individuals do not need to participate in COVID-19 surveillance testing. Following CDC guidelines, the University will adjust indoor masking requirements for vaccinated individuals based on community spread. A Mask Status tile on the Royals Back Together webpage will indicate if masks are required indoors for vaccinated individuals, as well as other health and safety requirements. (Currently, the University is requiring all individuals to wear masks indoors through Oct. 4, and the access to the campus is limited to University community members, invited guests and others as outlined in its Royals Back Together plan. The University will update information on or before Oct. 4).
The Greenhouse Project Honeybee & Harvest Day at Nay Aug Park The Greenhouse Project is excited to announce a community fall festival: Honeybee & Harvest Day on Saturday, Oct 2, 2021 from 12-4 p.m. at The McNulty Greenhouse in Nay Aug Park. It’s a free, family-friendly, all ages community day which celebrates Honeybees and the harvest season. The event features an all-ages Honeybee Costume Parade through Nay Aug Park, harvest demonstrations, apple cider making, pumpkin & face painting, local food and vendors, music, and fun craft activities. The Honeybee Costume Parade encourages everyone making their own honeybee costume and joining the fun. Participating “Bees’ ‘ will gather to form the parade in Nay Aug Park, in the parking lot near The Treehouse at 12 noon. The parade will begin shortly after, and march with members of the Scranton High School Band on the way to The McNulty Greenhouse where the Honeybee & Harvest Day festival will take place. On route to The Greenhouse, the parade will briefly stop to honor some of our essential “worker bees” at Geisinger CMC at 12:30. Executive Director Jane Risse states, “The Greenhouse Project is so pleased to offer Honeybee & Harvest Day. It will be a lively celebration of honeybees and other pollinators and their vital role in the production of our food. We invite members of the community to come join in The Honeybee Costume Parade and festival. It will be a lively visual spectacle that further proves that Scranton is a happening destination.” Honeybee & Harvest Day is sponsored by Geisinger and Toyota of Scranton, and hosted in cooperation with Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority (SMRA) and the City of Scranton. For further details, visit www.scrantongreenhouse.org or email getGHPinfo@gmail.com .
Dimeco, INC. on OTCQX Investment Market The Board of Directors of Dimeco, Inc. is pleased to announce that Dimeco, Inc. (OTCQX: DIMC), the parent holding company of The Dime Bank, a Pennsylvania state-chartered bank that serves Northeast Pennsylvania, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. Dimeco, Inc. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink® market. Dimeco, Inc. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “DIMC.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com/stock/DIMC. Graduating to the OTCQX Market marks an important milestone for community banks in the U.S. public markets. The OTCQX Market enables banks to maximize the value of being a public company by providing transparent trading and easy access to company information for shareholders. To qualify for OTCQX, community banks must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. President and Chief Executive Officer of Dimeco, Inc. and The Dime Bank, Peter Bochnovich stated, “At The Dime Bank, we believe in creating amazing customer experiences and that intention encompasses our shareholders, too. Since 1905, we have been making a difference in the lives of those we touch by helping generations of customers realize their goals and dreams. We want our Dimeco investors and potential investors to have access to financial information that is easy to understand and helpful in making their investment decisions. We aim to generate broader recognition by investors, enhance shareholder value, and emphasize The Dime Bank’s commitment to the communities we serve.” Boenning & Scattergood, Inc. acted as the company’s OTCQX sponsor.
PennDOT Enhances 511PA for Penn State Football Travel Planning The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is encouraging motorists traveling to Penn State home football games this season to plan their trip using the real-time travel information available online at www.511PA.com/psf. New in 2019, 511PA includes travel information for every Penn State home football game, beginning with this Saturday’s game against Ball State. Throughout the season, travel information will be available beginning the Thursday before each home game through the Monday after. “Our goal is to help motorists plan ahead by providing them with as much information as possible,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “By providing this real-time information, motorists can more easily plan the route that works best for them as they travel to this exciting event.” The Penn State football page, hosted through the department’s 511PA.com traveler information website, is dedicated to monitoring traffic conditions on the primary travel routes to the event. Travel times and alerts are provided for each parking zone: West Zone (access via Atherton Street to Park Avenue); East Zone (access via U.S. 322/I-99 to Park Avenue); North Zone (access via Fox Hollow Road); and South Zone (access via University Drive and Porter Road from College Avenue/U.S. 26). Users can see incidents, construction, weather forecasts and alerts, traffic cameras, and traffic speeds on the map. The page also includes the 2021 Beaver Stadium Parking Map. PennDOT’s Central Region Traffic Management Center is also supporting Penn State Football game days by posting real-time travel information on dynamic message signs and transmitting audio messages on highway advisory radio systems to assist travelers. For more detailed information on work zones and roadway restrictions motorists may encounter in or around State College, visit the PennDOT District 2 Regional Page. The public can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles in Pennsylvania by visiting www.511PA.com. The service, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
Tech Support Now More Accessible at Tobyhanna Army Depot The solution to common information technology (IT) solutions is now just a stroll away for employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot. The Customer Service Branch (CSB) recently opened its Walk-In IT Service Desk in Building 11. In the new facility, IT technicians will be available to address simple customer issues on the spot, loan IT equipment, and assist users in entering help tickets for situations that require more complex solutions. Matthew Raup, Chief of the CSB, says the addition of the walk-in area will benefit both the customer and CSB staff. “The launch of our new walk-in area is a direct response to feedback from our customers. We strive to be more accessible and responsive to their needs as well as good stewards of the resources required to support the depot’s overall mission,” adding that the new walk-in area expands user options for reporting IT issues. “There are multiple ways for users to reach out to us – allowing each customer to choose the method that is best for them. We encourage our customers to reach out by walking in to our physical location, calling the Service Desk, e-mailing our group mailbox or submitting a Service Ticket themselves using the online ticketing system.” IT staff are looking forward to the new process, according to Jessica Barto. “Our team is excited about the new walk-in area and the opportunity to be more available to help our customers with their technology needs.” Barto is an IT specialist in CSB. The effort is directly aligned with the depot’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2028, which has four focus areas: Investing in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications. TOBY2028 aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years. The CSB Walk-In Service Desk can be found on the first floor of Building 11. It is open daily from 0700-1630, with the exception of a lunch period from 1200-1230 daily and from 1400-1500 on Wednesdays for the CSB weekly staff meeting. Users should note the location is closed on RDO Fridays. For more information, please call X56677. Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for C5ISR systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners. Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters. About 3,700 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.
Southwestern Energy Sponsors Lackawanna College’s School of Petroleum & Natural Gas Lackawanna College announced Southwestern Energy as the official sponsor of the School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Drilling and Production Lab located in the new Tunkhannock Center as part of an eight-year partnership with the company. “Southwestern Energy comes to Lackawanna College with a similar goal of building a skilled workforce in Northeastern Pennsylvania in the energy sector,” said Susan Gumble, program director for the College’s School of Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG). “The company’s proven leadership in the industry and commitment to creating a positive impact in the communities they serve makes them an ideal partner.” As part of the sponsorship, Southwestern Energy will receive naming rights to the drilling and production lab, which will be used for hands-on instruction. Funds from the partnership will be used to support the School of PNG degree and certificate programs. “Southwestern Energy is proud to partner with Lackawanna College on their move to Tunkhannock which will provide local students with enhanced educational opportunities and the skills necessary for employment in the natural gas industry,” said Mike Narcavage, Southwestern Energy’s Senior Community and Government Affairs Manager. “Our partnership goes back many years, and SWN has benefitted from Lackawanna College’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Program by hiring summer interns as well as graduates of the program to be full-time employees of our production, measurement, and maintenance teams. We look forward to continue building this successful partnership for many years to come.” Lackawanna College offers associate degree programs in petroleum and natural gas business administration and technology along with certificate programs in natural gas technician and compressor/engine mechanic. For more information on Lackawanna College School of Petroleum and Natural Gas programs, visit Lackawanna.edu.
Johnson College Accepting Students for CNC Machining Training at Don’s Machine Shop In conjunction with Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston, Johnson College is now accepting students for its next CNC Machining training in Luzerne County. The course begins Monday, November 1, 2021. During this course, students will train to program and utilize Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines. All class and lab work is completed inside Don’s Machine Shop’s classroom and lab at 100 Elm Street, West Pittston. The relationship with Don’s Machine Shop truly demonstrates Johnson College’s dedication to making industry our students’ campus. This 510-hour class for beginner-level students includes theory as well as practical learning methods. Students will receive hands-on training on some of the most state-of-the-art equipment in the region. This unique training experience will open up new career opportunities right away. Industries throughout northeastern Pennsylvania are currently in need of well-trained CNC machinists. CNC machinists manufacture precision products and components used in various applications such as automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace, transportation, and military-related industries. Per the Bureau of Labor Statics, metal and plastic machine workers, including CNC Machinists, have the opportunity to earn a median annual income of up to $38,270. Cost for the CNC training class is $7,500 and funding sources may be available for those who qualify. Space is limited. To learn more or to enroll, contact the Johnson College Continuing Education Department at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu. Since starting over 30 years ago, Don’s Machine Shop, Inc. has become one of the largest machine shops in Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley. Their 77,000 square foot climate-controlled facility contains millions of dollars’ worth of modern equipment that is continually upgraded. Don’s Machine Shop, Inc. employs 30 people and makes machine parts for companies around the globe. Many things have changed over the past three decades, but Don’s Machine Shop’s commitment to providing quality parts and service will never change. For more information, visit http://www.donsmachine.com/.
Greater Pike Community Foundation’s Snyder Fund supports FSA’s PA 211 Help Line The Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania (FSA) recently received a $5,000 grant from the Greater Pike Community Foundation’s Richard L. Snyder Fund in support of the nonprofit’s Pennsylvania 211 Northeast / Help Line program that provides free information and referrals to emergency health and human services in Pike County. FSA’s PA 211 NE / Help Line is a free and confidential service that helps people in the communities of Pike County face life’s challenges by connecting them to local resources. The service is available 24-hours a day, seven-days a week, 365 days a year to any resident in Pike County. It saves time and frustration by eliminating the need to navigate a maze of health and human service agencies by organizing all available resources in one localized database. Contacting 211 connects people to highly trained and experienced caseworkers who can address a diverse set of needs. The database provides information that connects people in need with vital services to address food and housing insecurity, crisis management, emergency shelters, vaccination sites, health clinics, domestic violence, utility and rent assistance, home-delivered meals, mental health, drug and alcohol services, and much more. “We are thankful to have the Greater Pike Community Foundation and Richard L. Snyder Fund as regional partners in ensuring people have free access around the clock to the information and referral services they need to meet their needs,” said Janyne Gurnari, interim chief executive officer of Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania. “The pandemic and its repercussions have reinforced the value of community foundations and the vital work they do to support and build resilient, family sustaining communities.” The Greater Pike Community Foundation enables generous people, families, and local businesses to maximize their charitable support through organized, targeted, long-term community philanthropy. The foundation provides a permanent and personal way to give back to the region that so many have nurtured and maintained through the years. For more information about establishing a fund, or to discuss how to realize charitable goals, please contact Jenni Hamill, executive director, at jennihamill@greaterpike.org or call her at (570) 832-4686. Additional information about the foundation is available at www.greaterpike.org or on its Facebook page, Facebook.com/GreaterPike. “The Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania provides a vital service to residents of Pike County through its Pennsylvania 211 Northeast program,” said Hamill. “The board and foundation are proud to be able to support a worthwhile program that has a positive impact in the daily lives of the residents we serve.” A group of involved and concerned members of the community established FSA in 1895 in order to provide diverse services that empower children, individuals, seniors and families to reach their full potential by building healthier relationships, and ultimately stronger communities. Today, FSA’s 13 programs provide services to residents in 17 counties, including Bradford, Clinton, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne and Wyoming counties. Any resident in PA 211 NE’s coverage area can access it by calling 211, texting 211 (898-211, plus a zip code), or by logging on to www.pa211ne.org. For more information about FSA or to support its programs, please log on to www.fsanepa.org, call, (570) 823-5144, or email, families@fsanepa.org. Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania received a $5,000 grant from the Greater Pike Community Foundation’s Richard L. Snyder Fund in support of the nonprofit’s Pennsylvania 211 Northeast / Help Line program that provides free information and referrals to emergency health and human service needs 24-hours a day, seven-days a week, 365 days a year. PA 211 NE / Help Line is a free service that helps people in Pike County face life’s challenges by connecting them to the local resources they need. Participating in the ceremonial check presentation, from left, are Paul Krzywicki, senior grant writer and communications manager, Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Jenni Hamill, executive director, Greater Pike Community Foundation.
