PennDOT, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania DUI Association Urge Responsible, Designated Driving Ahead of Labor Day Holiday The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Pennsylvania DUI Association gathered today with local police agencies and victim’s advocates in the DUI Victims’ Memorial Garden to urge motorists to celebrate responsibly ahead of the Labor Day holiday. “Crashes involving impaired drivers are entirely preventable,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “We are urging motorists to ensure their safety and the safety of others on our roadways by designating a sober driver this Labor Day weekend and every time they drink.” The event featured victim advocate Kelli Donlen, whose nephew Zachary Gonzalez is memorialized in the DUI Victims’ Memorial Garden. The garden, which was dedicated in October 2003 and is located in front of the Pennsylvania DUI Association’s headquarters in Harrisburg, honors and remembers Pennsylvanians who have been killed in impaired driving crashes. Currently, more than 2,200 people are memorialized in the garden. According to PennDOT data, in 2020 there were 2,698 crashes resulting in 39 fatalities statewide over the holiday week beginning Friday, September 4 at 6:00 PM and running through Sunday, September 13. Of those numbers, 231 crashes resulting in 12 fatalities were alcohol-related and 104 crashes resulting in three fatalities were drug-related. Impaired driving enforcement goes beyond checking for alcohol impairment. Law enforcement also work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication or some combination of these. Pennsylvania has approximately 225 Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) or specially trained officers who look for impaired drivers and assist in DUI investigations when drug-impaired driving is suspected. “We honor and remember the lives lost because someone chooses to drive impaired,” said PA DUI Association Executive Director C. Stephen Erni. “Labor Day weekend and every remaining day of the year, the message is clear: Do not drive impaired. Our collective goal is to end the suffering caused by an individual’s choice to drive impaired.” Over this holiday period, the Pennsylvania State Police and local municipal agencies will conduct impaired driving enforcement details as part of a national impaired driving enforcement and education initiative running through September 6. This effort is funded through PennDOT’s statewide annual distribution of more than $4.7 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for impaired driving enforcement. During the 2019 Labor Day holiday enforcement period, troopers made 610 DUI arrests and investigated 45 crashes in which alcohol was a factor. Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and mitigation efforts that were in place throughout Pennsylvania at the time, statistical information was not collected during the 2020 Labor Day holiday driving period. “Travelers are reminded this holiday weekend to slow down, buckle up, and don’t drive impaired or distracted,” said Captain Robert Wagner, assistant director of the Bureau of Patrol with the Pennsylvania State Police. “Troopers are trained to look for impaired driving behaviors and consistent with our highway safety mission have a zero-tolerance approach toward driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.” PennDOT encourages motorists to always plan ahead by either designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation. The public can join the conversation on social media by using #BeSafePA and #DriveSober. To learn more about PennDOT’s efforts to prevent impaired driving or other safety initiatives, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety. For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit psp.pa.gov. For more information on the Pennsylvania DUI Association, visit www.padui.org. The PAcast for today’s statewide Labor Day Impaired Driving media event is now available online at https://pacast.com/m?p=18979.
Marywood University Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Esports Center Marywood University will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new state-of-the-art Esports Center on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 3 p.m., at the Esports Center, in the Nazareth Student Center on the University’s campus. This event is free and open to the media and invited guests. Light fare will be served. At the ribbon cutting, Marywood University dignitaries, including Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., president; Lisa Lori, Esq., chair of the Board of Trustees; and Paul Capoccia, director of the Esports program, will present the new NEPA premier Esports Center to the public. Sister Catherine Luxner, IHM, vice president for mission services, will offer a blessing, in the Marywood tradition, of the Esports Center. Marywood University’s Esports Center features 30 gaming stations, a workspace for broadcast (webcams, microphones), lounge area for team meetings and coaching sessions, coaching tools including smart tvs and white-board set-up, futuristic high-tech lighting, and a WOW factor that will entice all users of the facility. The Esports program at Marywood blends function and practicality into an exciting premier gaming center. With function at its highest level, Marywood will also establish a welcoming culture in which students can interact and be supported. Visiting students and those competing will have a powerful experience. For additional information about the Esports Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, or for questions about the Esports program, please visit marywood.edu/esports, or contact Paul Capoccia, director the Esports program at Marywood University, at pcapoccia@marywood.edu.
Wayne Bank Launches Customer Care Service Center Lewis J. Critelli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, is pleased to announce the opening of the Bank’s new Customer Care Service Center. The purpose of the Customer Care Service Center (“the Center”) is to provide customers with a quick and convenient way to receive immediate assistance on any of the Bank’s products and services. “We are so pleased to introduce our new Customer Care Service Center,” remarked Mr. Critelli. “Wayne Bank is committed to providing the best possible customer experience throughout our Corporate Office and Community Office network. With the new Center, customers can make one phone call and receive immediate assistance with their banking, whether they have a question about our mobile banking app or want to apply for a home equity loan.” Currently, customers may reach the Center by phone, however plans for future technological enhancements include email contact as well as a live chat feature. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Robert J. Mancuso commented, “Wayne Bank is constantly on the lookout for new technology-based solutions to add value to our customers. The Customer Care Service Center will make contacting us a more streamlined and efficient process, for both our customers and our back office employees.” The Center currently has a team of five experienced and knowledgeable bankers ready to answer questions and help customers with any of their financial needs. The team is led by Vice President and Customer Care Service Center Manager, Tanyia Vannatta, who formerly served as manager of Wayne Bank’s Callicoon Community Office. “The Customer Care Service Center team is excited and ready to assist customers with anything they may need,” explained Mrs. Vannatta. “We have a conscientious and dedicated team here with a combined 23 years of customer service experience, so our customers are in great hands.” Wayne Bank’s Customer Care Service Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon. The Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-598-5002 or 570-253-1455.
Marion Munley Named 2022 “Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs” Munley Law is pleased to announce that Marion Munley has been named “Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs,” Northeastern Pennsylvania, by Best Lawyers. Marion has been named to the “Best Lawyers in America” list every year since 2012. Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing. Lawyers must have at least ten years of experience practicing law to be considered. Additional recognitions are also awarded to individual lawyers with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location. A leader in the legal community, Marion is an active member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and currently serves on the AAJ Board of Governors and on its Executive Committee. She was the first woman to become Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2018 and is a past chair of the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. Marion is the second woman in Pennsylvania to become Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Among her other professional affiliations are the American Board of Trial Advocates,the International Society of Barristers, and the Summit Council, an exclusive group of today’s top civil justice attorneys committed to the highest levels of trial advocacy, to obtaining justice for individuals and families who have been hurt by corporate wrongdoing, and to the protection of the civil justice system.
RailRiders Boyle Honored by Triple-A East Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitcher Sean Boyle has been honored as Triple-A East’s Pitcher-of-the-Week for August 16 through 22. On August 19, Boyle tossed a no-hitter in game two of a doubleheader against the Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park; a 5-0 RailRiders victory. Boyle, 24, made his first-ever Triple-A start on August 19 and the seventh of his professional career since being drafted by the New York Yankees in the 25th round out of Dallas Baptist University in 2018. He walked one and hit one batter in the complete-game effort, striking out six and throwing 95 pitches to no-hit the WooSox. The right-hander had never thrown more than 66 pitches in any of his previous 45 pro outings. Boyle’s no-hitter was the second by the RailRiders this season, joining the performance by Luis Gil, Reggie McClain and Stephen Ridings on July 21 against Rochester, which also netted Gil Pitcher-of-the-Week honors for his effort. Boyle also worked the first four innings of a seven-inning no-hitter for Hudson Valley on July 10. It was the first seven-inning, complete game no-hitter by a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher since Robert Ellis on June 6, 2004, against Louisville. Boyle has pitched at three levels this season, compiling a 6-3 mark with a 2.17 earned run average over 62.1 total innings pitched. The RailRiders continue a two-city road trip Tuesday, August 24, at Lehigh Valley and return to PNC Field on August 31 to host the Buffalo Bisons. Tickets for the upcoming 14-game homestand, which also welcomes Rochester back to PNC Field, are available online at swbrailriders.com.
Dunmore Winery Announces Finalists for Label Competition Space Time Mead & Cider Works is sponsoring its 3rd Annual Label Art Competition. Four finalists have been selected from sixteen submissions. This year’s theme is the “Overview Effect” – a shift in perspective, attributed to astronauts “experiencing firsthand the reality of the Earth in space. During the past year, many of us had their own shift in perspective and priorities caused by the global pandemic. “I love the creativity and hard work that went into this year’s entries – from literal interpretations to more abstract.” Says Dan Schreffler. “Again, it was hard to choose just 4 out of all the entries, and will be even harder to pick just one winner.” Two prizes will be awards – $250 for the Judges’ Selection and $100 for the People’s Choice Selection. Online voting is is open now until August 29th. Each vote is $5 with proceeds from the contest going to the Everhart Museum. To vote: http://www.spacetimemeadworks.com/labelcompetition.html. Winners will be announced Thursday September 1 at the winery and via traditional and social media outlets.
Geisinger Introduces Customizable Zero-Interest Payment Plans Furthering its mission to make better health easier for the communities it serves, Geisinger is introducing a new AI-backed, customizable approach to medical billing where patients have the power to select zero-interest payment plans that that can be paid over a timeline of their choosing. Partnering with fintech startup PayZen, Geisinger is the first major health system in the United States to implement this AI-backed financing solution to create customized billing solutions that will help patients more easily afford out-of-pocket medical expenses within their personal budgets. With this partnership, patients receiving Geisinger bills for out-of-pocket expenses will be invited to pay the bill in one lump sum, or over many months, on a timeline that works for their personal financial situation. If they elect to pay their balance over time, they can choose from several customized payment plans, all without fees or interest. The payment plans will be made available to all Geisinger patients with out-of-pocket balances over $250 after insurance payments. “Everything we do at Geisinger is done in an effort to make better health easier for our patients, members and communities. This includes making it simpler to afford and pay medical bills with no-interest plans on friendly, customizable terms,” said Robert Dewar, Chief Revenue Officer at Geisinger. “We understand that everyone’s financial situations are different and it’s our obligation to make sure our patients don’t avoid or put off necessary care for financial reasons.” This new approach has proven popular. During the initial rollout, 82% of patients enrolled after receiving their customized monthly payment plan, with an average monthly payment of $52. Geisinger and PayZen are enrolling hundreds of patients in the program each month. “Out of pocket medical bills can put a strain on any patient’s household budget. PayZen seeks to address that strain with technology that allows us to customize payment plans that meet whatever a patient’s budget requires,” said Itzik Cohen, PayZen CEO and co-founder. “Geisinger is an early adopter of this technology that has the potential to revolutionize health care payments to better meet the needs of patients.”
Scranton Cultural Center Announces “A Brother’s Revival” Concert The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple will present “A Brother’s Revival” on November 12 at 7:30 PM in its Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Theatre. “A Brother’s Revival” proudly features David Goldflies, who was a member of the Allman Brothers Band from 1978-1982 as well as Mike Kach from Dickey Betts Great Southern. Former Allman Brothers Band bassist David “Rook” Goldflies has brought the driving energy and joy of the Allman Brothers Band’s music to life with his group, “A Brother’s Revival.” Adding to the band’s deep southern roots is vocalist/keyboardist Mike Kach from Dickey Betts Great Southern. “A Brother’s Revival” captures the beauty and intensity of the soaring double leads of Duane Allman and Dickey Betts. The drumming of Butch Trucks and Jaimoe, along with the unique timpani performance mid-show, are brought to life by “A Brother’s Revival’s” two drummers who drive the band like a freight train rolling down the Georgia train tracks. “A Brother’s Revival” is sponsored by The Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, LT Verrastro and Fidelity Bank. Tickets for “A Brother’s Revival” will be on sale on August 26 at 10:00 AM. Tickets range from $28.25 – $48.25 (includes fees) and are available for purchase at the Fidelity Bank Box Office at the SCC in person or by calling (570) 344-1111, or via Ticketmaster. For more information or to view a full schedule of events, visit SCCMT.org.
The Dime Bank Announced as 2021 Plan Sponsor of the Year Winner The Dime Bank is proud to have been announced as the 2021 Plan Sponsor of the Year winner in the Corporate 401(k) <$25MM category. The annual Plan Sponsor of the Year awards program recognizes retirement plan sponsors that show a commitment to their participants’ financial health and retirement success. The 2021 awards had nine categories to allow for the most accurate comparisons across plan types and sizes. When asked about the success of The Dime Bank’s 401(k) plan, Chief Human Resources Officer Jill George stated, “We have such a good relationship with both our record keeper, Fidelity Investments, and adviser, L.R. Webber. I never hesitate to call on them. We have a great practice to discuss the pros and cons of plan features. We’re a three-legged stool of retirement planning, and this has made the plan the one it is today.” Retirement plans require an organized, well-documented process to fulfill a fiduciary obligation. The Dime Bank’s 401 (k) plan does so much more than that! The Dime Bank’s plan offers annual education sessions with retirement specialists so participants can see how they can best be ready for retirement. The plan provides auto enrollment with safe harbor matching, auto escalation to encourage increased retirement savings and Target Date Fund investment choices. The Dime Bank pays the administration costs of the plan so employees can save more for retirement. All of the information is easily accessible on employees’ mobile devices. To read more about why The Dime Bank’s plan is so special and why The Dime Bank was chosen as a winner, go to the Plan Sponsors Award listing.
