Christmas and Advent traditions at Marywood University continue this year, with protocols in place to ensure safe, in-person experiences, and opportunities for prayer, cultural events, and community service endeavors. “Making Spirits Bright” is Marywood’s way of encouraging prayer, sharing gifts, and uplifting people throughout the holiday season, starting on December 1 and continuing through New Year’s Day. 

“After all the challenges we’ve faced since the pandemic began, we want people to have something to anticipate and celebrate,” said Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Marywood’s President. “This sacred season encompasses preparation, sharing, and rejoicing. We think our collective efforts to count our blessings, to give back to the community, and to celebrate our cherished traditions, in simple but meaningful ways, certainly will make spirits bright.”

 “Making Spirits Bright” will kick off officially with the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in the Marywood University Rotunda on December 1 at 4 p.m. Seasonal music from student musicians will be featured. For safety reasons, the tree lighting event is closed to the public and will be open only to Marywood students and staff. However, the public may view the tree during the normal operating hours of the Liberal Arts Center, Monday through Friday, December 2-22, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Masks must be worn inside all Marywood buildings.

Student groups will partner Marywood’s Grounds/Maintenance staff in campus decorating efforts on Thursday and Friday afternoons in the second and third weeks of November and in community service projects organized through the Office of Service Learning and Community Service. Students can vote for their favorite décor during the campus Office Decorating Contest, sponsored by the Student Government Association. A $250 donation will be given to the winning office’s favorite charity.

Service projects include On-Campus and Virtual Giving Trees and a Community Christmas Card project, and these efforts are running from November 2-December 1. Gifts for the Giving Tree are due at the Tree Lighting ceremony on December 1, and drop off boxes will be available at the event as well as on campus. Beneficiaries of these service efforts are Friends of the Poor, Marywood Heights and Our Lady of Peace residents/staff, NativityMiguel Scranton students/staff, veterans and active members of the military, and agencies who work with the local homeless population. 

Marywood will continue to spread cheer by making the campus festive for the community with its 3^rd Annual Light Up Campus event. Following the tree lighting ceremony on December 1, and throughout the holiday season, members of the local community are welcome to drive through Marywood’s campus to see the main Christmas display at the Arch and the other seasonal outdoor displays after 4:30 p.m. 

Additionally, Marywood’s award-winning, student-run radio station, VMFM 91.7, will once again become Christmas 91.7 and continue its traditional community gift of broadcasting commercial-free Christmas music, 24/7, beginning Wednesday, December 1, at 4 p.m., and continuing through New Year’s Eve. Those who do not live within the station’s local broadcast range can stream it for free online or through the Tune-in app. 

Concerts and spiritual celebrations are free and open to the public. Masking protocols must be followed at in-person events.

Concerts include: 

• Chamber Singers Holiday Concert, Sunday, December 5, 4 p.m., at the Marian Chapel. This performance will include the famous “Alleluia” by Randall Thompson, the popular setting of “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre, and Carol Barnett’s spectacular “Hodie,” as well as carol settings and other sacred and secular music by American composers.
  
  
• Guitar Ensemble: Holiday Concert for a Global Community, Wednesday, December 8, 7 p.m., at the Marian Chapel. This concert is being produced in partnership with Marywood’s Center for Global Engagement. During the concert, hear a musical holiday message that Marywood President Sister Mary Persico IHM wrote especially for the event, spoken by the student musicians in several different languages.
  
  
• String Project Holiday Gala Concert, Thursday, December 9, 6:30 p.m., at the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts. This concert features the children and student teachers from Marywood’s String Project. They will be playing music from around the world and some holiday music to welcome in the season.

Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the feast day of the IHM Sisters, will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 8, at Noon in the Marian Chapel. This is planned as an in-person Mass with limited space available. Masking protocols must be followed. 

During Advent, the IHM Sisters will videostream two Evening of Prayer Events on Wednesday, December 1, and Wednesday, December 15, both at 6:30 p.m., at: https://video.ibm.com/channel/ihm-tv. 

For information on Marywood’s Christmas events, event registration links, and related resources, visit marywood.edu/makingspiritsbright. 

Munley Law is pleased to announce that Marion Munley recently spoke at the Kentucky Justice Association. Drawing on her extensive trial expertise, Marion spoke to the Association on “Using the Defendants’ Words Against Them to Develop Your Trial Story.”

A champion of victims’ rights and the civil justice system for over 25 years, Marion is known for her compassionate approach to representing the catastrophically injured and her tireless devotion to her clients and their families. Triple Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial, Civil Practice, and Truck Law, Marion has earned an AV-Preeminent designation from Martindale-Hubbell, the industry’s highest ethical and client satisfaction rating.

A leader in the legal community, Marion is an active member of the American Association for Justince (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’s 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 todays 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.

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2012, Marion has been named the 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Last year, she was recognized as Best Lawyers® 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury-Plaintiffs for the Allentown metro area. Marion has also been selected to the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for the last 18 years and has been consistently recognized as one of the “top 50 Women Lawyers in Pennsylvania” in Super Lawyers Magazine. A graduate of Temple University School of Law (J.D., 1986), Marion received her undergraduate degree from Scranton University in 1983.

Lackawanna College is hosting a fundraising dinner that will benefit families who have children with cancer.

The Pinkies Updinner is slated for November 12 at Lackawanna College’s student-run restaurant, 409 on Adams. Proceeds will benefit the Pinky Swear Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps families with a child in cancer treatment with financial and emotional support.

“The emotional and financial toll that this disease can have on a family is devastating,” said Stephanie McDaniels, faculty advisor for the Lackawanna College Pinky Swear chapter. “We are honored to coordinate this event to support Pinky Swear. The funds raised help families with rent or mortgage payments, groceries, transportation, and other expenses, which helps children with cancer and their families maintain a sense of normality.”

Event tickets will be $50 and will include a buffet-style dinner from The High Bridge House and 15 raffle tickets. Raffle prizes include a two-night stay to Resorts Atlantic City with $100 lunch or dinner credit, a one-night stay to The French Manor and wine tasting at Blue Ridge Estate Vineyard & Winery, and various themed baskets.

Tickets for the Pinkies Up dinner are available now online at https://www.lackawanna.edu/pinkiesup/. Raffle tickets can be purchased separately from the event online. For questions, contact Stephanie McDaniels by email at mcdanielss@lackawanna.edu.

What exactly is a selfie museum? Part art gallery, photo studio, and interactive experience, the phenomenon of the “selfie museum” has popped up in most major US cities and traveled around the world. Born out of the “do it for the gram” era of highly visual social media feeds, these museums satisfy the quest for a like-worthy pic. Visitors are immersed in a variety of creative visual spaces and encouraged to play, pose, and capture the moment to share as they please.

Not just a selfie museum, Say Cheese, the photo museum, utilizes a hands-free technology that gives users the ability to move freely while snapping pics sans photographer. This innovation opens up a world of new possibilities, and new angles, for budding photographers, filmmakers, content creators and possible STEM program integrations. It’s truly a space for creative freedom, and a good deal of fun!

Say Cheese is coming to The Marketplace at Steamtown with a soft opening set for Halloween day. Chanel Fields, the innovator behind this venture, promises an interactive and immersive pop-culture experience that appeals to all ages. If you would like to know more, check out Facebook/Say Cheese The Photo Museum Co. or visit themarketplaceatsteamtown.com/entertainment

Geisinger is relocating its West Hazleton-area ConvenientCare walk-in clinic in a move that will offer more space for services and triple the number of exam rooms, helping to make health care easier.

Geisinger ConvenientCare West Hazleton will relocate just a couple doors down from its current location in the West Hazleton Plaza. The new 18 Diana Lane location is adjacent to the Geisinger 65 Forward Health Center. The larger space will feature six exam rooms and offer X-ray imaging services, which weren’t available at the previous site.

Geisinger ConvenientCare West Hazleton is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Staffed by advanced practitioners, the walk-in clinic provides care for anyone age 1 and older. ConvenientCare clinics are the best place to go for minor health issues that can be resolved in a single visit. These include cold and flu symptoms, allergies, earaches, tick removal, sprains and minor cuts.

You can visit geisinger.org/urgent to check wait times at ConvenientCare locations and use the online check-in to hold your place in line to be seen. To learn more about Geisinger ConvenientCare, visit Geisinger.org/UrgentCare. The clinics accept most major insurance plans and offer reasonable copays.

To stay at a safe distance from others and to minimize time in the clinic’s reception area, you’re encouraged to use the online check-in feature and bring one visitor only if medically necessary. Masks are required for everyone at Geisinger facilities, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

The Value of Money: Currencies, Bonds, Bitcoin” will be discussed at The University of Scranton’s 35th Henry George Lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 17. The lecture, presented by Yuliy Sannikov, Ph.D., the Jack Steele Parker Professor of Economics at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

The lecture is free of charge and open to members of the University community and invited guests.

Dr. Sannikov is an economic theorist whose work has not only broken new ground in methodology, but has had a substantial influence on applied theory. He has made significant contributions to the study of dynamic games, which have applications for the design of securities, contract theory, macroeconomics with financial frictions, market microstructure and collusion.

Dr. Sannikov’s work highlights how even simple and well-studied models can yield new insights. His most recent work tackled complex models in finance and macroeconomics. His methods allow models to include the most important forces and deliver results that are much more relevant. He is one of the few theorists in many years to have introduced a truly novel tool that changed the way theory is done.

Dr. Sannikov was awarded the John Bates Clark Medal in 2016. The Clark Medal is awarded annually to the American economist under the age of forty who is judged to have made the most significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge. He received the Fischer Black Prize in 2015 and the Kiel Excellence Award in Global Economic Affairs in 2014.

Dr. Sannikov’s numerous scholarly articles have appeared in Econometrica, The American Economic Review: Macroeconomics, The Journal of Finance, The Review of Economic Studies and several other journals. 

Dr. Sannikov received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Princeton University in 2000 and a Ph.D. in business administration from the Stanford School of Business in 2004. He was a professor in economics at Princeton University from 2008 to 2016.   

Considered the preeminent public lecture series on economics in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Henry George Lecture Series is presented by the University’s Economics and Finance Department and the campus chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, an international honor society for economics. Among the distinguished list of speakers who have spoken at previous lectures are 11 winners of the Nobel Prize in Economics: David Card (2021), Paul Romer (2018), Robert Shiller (2013), Tom Sargent (2011), Peter Diamond (2010), Paul Krugman (2008), Joseph Stiglitz (2001), George Akerlof (2001), Amartya Sen (1998), Robert Lucas (1995) and Robert Solow (1987). The lecture series is named in honor of the 19th century American economist and social reformer and is supported financially by a grant from the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation.

For more information about the Henry George Lecture, call 570-941-4048 or email janice.mecadon@scranton.edu. For information regarding campus access and other health and safety information, visit the Royals Back Together webpage.

The Wright Center for Community Health and the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement are collaborating on a paid scholarship program that will educate, train and employ up to 10 medical assistants for the regional health care provider.

The scholarship program prepares individuals for an exciting and rewarding career in health care without out-of-pocket expenses for tuition. The National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement offers a one-of-a-kind training model that combines flexible online learning with a paid internship in a primary care clinical setting over 29 weeks. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. The scholarship is worth $6,000.

Students will also receive personalized training with experienced medical professionals at The Wright Center for Community Health during the clinical portion of their education while earning $10 per hour. After completing the educational component of the program, students will sit for the National Healthcareer Association Medical Assistant examination to receive their Certified Clinical Medical Assistant credential. Students who complete the national training program have an 85% pass rate.

The 10 students who accept the scholarship will be eligible for employment at The Wright Center for Community Health’s practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties, which serve patients in a five-county region. New medical assistants will receive $18 per hour upon successfully completing the program and passing the certification examination, and agreeing to a two-year commitment to work at the local health care provider.

“Medical assistants are integral members of our patient care team,” said Kathleen Barry, deputy chief operating officer at the Wright Center for Community Health. “We are pleased to offer this opportunity to regional residents who are looking for a rewarding and exciting career, while addressing the health care needs of community members in the region.”

A medical assistant is responsible for assisting doctors and nurses in providing care to patients in hospitals, offices of physicians and other health care facilities. Duties could include recording and updating medical histories and contact information in patient files, scheduling patient appointments and performing standard care procedures, such as taking blood samples, measuring and recording vital signs, and more.

The employment outlook for medical assistants is projected to grow 18% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 104,400 openings are projected annually, on average, over the decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The deadline to apply for the scholarship program is Sunday, Nov. 14. Interested applicants can apply at nimaa.edu/admissions. Please call 570-230-0111 for more information.

Michael Sidney Fosberg, founder of Incognito Inc., grew up believing he was white; then, in his early 30s, he learned that he is actually Black. Penn State Scranton will host Fosberg on Thursday, Nov. 4 at noon in the Study Learning Center’s Sherbine Lounge, he will present, “Nobody Wants to Talk About It – Race, Identity and the Difficulties in Forging Meaningful Conversations”.

For more than a decade, Fosberg has toured the country performing his autobiographical play, “Incognito” at schools, colleges corporations, government agencies, community organizations and military bases. The play is based on his personal experiences in learning of, and discovering, his Black biological father.

After hundreds of presentations and in-depth dialogues, Fosberg has assembled a set of tools and takeaways useful in navigating uncomfortable conversations about race and identity. 

He will share these tools at this presentation, with the goal of providing a road map to more authentic and meaningful conversations and authentic dialogue.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Nicole Paolicelli in Penn State Scranton’s Student Activities Office at 570-963-2703 or email: ntp10@psu.edu. You can also visit the speaker’s website at: www.incognitotheplay.com

October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Team Tobyhanna took the opportunity to recognize the contributions of team members with disabilities, as well as those who support them.

In addition to traditional federal hiring practices, Tobyhanna utilizes the Schedule A Hiring Authority, which provides non-competitive avenues for qualified applicants with disabilities to gain federal employment.  According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 61 million adults – one in four – in the United States live with a disability.

Employees with disabilities have a robust support system at Tobyhanna, starting with the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office, whose mission is promote and support EEO in the workplace through compliance with applicable laws.  The EEO Office has four staff members, ready and willing to aid to employees with disabilities.

One of those employees is Sign Language Interpreter Stacy Hoila, who supports 10 deaf or hard-of-hearing employees across the depot.  A veteran interpreter with 26 years of experience, she connected with her mission while in college studying forestry.

“I took an American Sign Language (ASL) class as an elective and found I was easily able to learn this complex language.  As time went on, I became fascinated by the unique and diverse culture of deaf people.  It didn’t take me long to decide I wanted to make my interest a career,” she said.

After working in the private sector for 24 years, Hoila joined Team Tobyhanna in 2019.  In addition to her interpreting duties, she also serves as an advocate for deaf and hard-of-hearing employees.

“Most people don’t realize that, for many deaf people, English is not their first language. For some, ASL comes more naturally because it is visually based in comparison to English, which is a spoken language. So, when you need to communicate with a deaf person, doing so through an interpreter is the best option.”

Hoila also noted that many misconceptions about deafness exist among the general public.

“One thing people always say to me is that they assume all deaf people can read lips and can do so well.  What they don’t realize is that only about 30% of English words are available on the lips – the rest of the words are formed inside your mouth and throat,” adding that people should try watching television with the sound muted to understand how difficult reading lips can be.

Depot photographer Thomas Robbins doesn’t let his disability get in the way of his passion:  documenting the world around him.  Born with an extremely rare congenital birth defect, Robbins underwent amputation of his lower right leg at just one year old.  Acclimating to this disability was challenging for Robbins, who says that many commonplace activities were more difficult for him.

“For most of my life, I couldn’t get my prosthetic wet.  So, simple daily tasks that able-bodied individuals may take for granted – taking a bath or shower, swimming, enjoying a ride at a water park – would require me to remove my prosthetic, which was often embarrassing and could be dangerous.  Fortunately, prosthetic technology has rapidly advanced, and I can now function like most able-bodied individuals.”

Robbins joined Team Tobyhanna under the Schedule A hiring authority, serving first as a Tools and Parts Attendant in the Tool Crib.  He says the hiring experience was unique.

“In the private sector, I would not typically disclose my disability when applying for a job. Working for TYAD, I don’t feel that my disability negatively impacts my opportunity for advancement,” adding that the depot has been an ideal employer.

“Tobyhanna is the most considerate facility I’ve ever worked at.  There are plenty of accommodations for individuals with disabilities such as myself.”

 Robbins says that co-workers of an individual with disabilities can be supportive by being sensitive and open-minded to the topic.

“I think that each disabled person has a different story. Some people are comfortable talking about their disability, while others are not. Respecting an individual’s privacy if they choose to not talk about their disability is important, and we shouldn’t make assumptions about an individual because of their disability.”

Matthew Powell always had a strong desire to support America’s warfighters, but his cerebral palsy (CP) kept him from enlisting in the military.  According to him, working at Tobyhanna Army Depot is the next best thing.

“As an Army civilian, I appreciate that I can still serve my country and those who defend it – regardless of my disability.”

According to the CDC, CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. Symptoms and severity vary from person to person.  Powell, who was diagnosed after a premature birth, says his case of CP is mild.

“While symptoms of CP can be very severe, I have what is classified as partial paralysis.  What people will notice is that I don’t move very quickly.  But, that doesn’t mean I can’t do a job like an able-bodied person,” adding that the challenges presented by his CP are mitigated by his fantastic colleagues.

“We are committed to working together, and I’m lucky that my co-workers will volunteer for tasks that may be daunting to me – and, in return, I take on tasks that might be difficult for them.  It’s all about teamwork,” he said.

As a Technical Writer/Editor, Powell works with other professionals to create technical manuals for military equipment operators.  He applauded the depot for being an inclusive workplace.

“Tobyhanna has been welcoming and accommodating to me as a person with disabilities.”

Powell is also committed to living life to the fullest, despite his CP.  One of his many hobbies is competitive arm wrestling, a sport that has earned him accolades including two Pennsylvania championships and a national championship.  Individuals with severe physical, psychiatric and/or intellectual disabilities who are interested in learning about the Schedule A hiring authority can contact the TYAD EEO Office at (570) 615-7880 or visit the Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/hiring/#url=Schedule-A-Hiring-Authority