Griffin Pond Animal Shelter Wag-O-Ween Postponed Griffin Pond Animal Shelter has made the difficult decision to cancel its inaugural Wag-O-Ween 5K and Pet Costume Parade which was scheduled to take place Saturday, Oct. 16, at McDade Park, Scranton. Despite positive public reception of the event, advance race and pet costume registrations were not high enough to make the events engaging and competitive for participants. Seeing a pattern in lower turnout amongst other local races, shelter officials believe concerns about COVID-19 and the highly transmissible delta variant may have impacted event registration. While shelter officials are disappointed they needed to cancel this year’s event, they are planning to have the event next fall. For more information, please contact Jackie Galvin, M.S., development and communications director, at 570-586-3700, ext. 522 or jackie@griffinpondas.com.
Outreach Center for Community Resources 2021 Mighty Oak Awards – Gerrity’s Supermarkets and the Scranton Primary Health Care Center Outreach invites the community to attend the 2021 Mighty Oak Awards on October 6, 2021, as we honor service-minded pillars that have provided essential services to the region since the beginning of the pandemic. The Mighty Oak Awards will be honoring Gerrity’s Supermarkets and Scranton Primary Health Care Center. These organizations support the community and provide vital services. Scranton Primary Health Care Center opened its doors in 1978 as a Federally Qualified Health Center to provide care to the uninsured and under-insured. Scranton Primary provides care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Scranton Primary continues to serve that mission by offering pediatrics, family & internal medicine, women’s health & gynecology, perinatal care, infectious disease care, behavioral health and general dentistry, as well as helping people navigate the insurance marketplace. Scranton Primary has been offering COVID-19 rapid testing and vaccinations as soon as they became available. Last year, Scranton Primary treated almost 12,000 patients, resulting in nearly 42,000 visits to their three offices. Over a century ago, in 1895, William Gerrity founded a small meat shop named Gerrity’s Market at 345 Railroad Avenue in Scranton. Though the business has been in the Fasula family for over 40 years, the 126-year-old Gerrity name has remained. From the flagship store in West Scranton, which opened in 1980, to the eight additional locations, Gerrity’s Supermarket stands today as one of the oldest and most well-known local businesses. Today, Gerrity’s is run by Joyce “Mom” Fasula and her son Joe Fasula. The Fasula family attributes their success to the vision of their father, Neal Fasula, and Joseph Gerrity (son of William) and his family. Most of all, however, they credit the hard work and dedication of their 1,100 team members. They are very grateful for the loyalty and support of their customers in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. Gerrity’s continues to serve their customers and protect the health of all those who enter their stores, maintaining operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Outreach invites the community to attend the Mighty Oak Awards and honor these community pillars in a beautiful outdoor venue at the Glenmaura National Golf Club starting at 5:30 pm. The Mighty Oak Award is the signature event for Outreach and highlights the agency’s acclaimed work with residents of Lackawanna County and the surrounding counties in our region. Outreach is grateful to M&T Bank, Gerrity’s Supermarkets, and TOPP Business Solutions for their sponsorship of the Mighty Oak Awards. For additional information and to purchase tickets, please contact Outreach at 570-558-7565.
Marywood University Art Galleries Announce Exhibits The exhibit, Printmaking: Art & Process will be on display in the Mahady Gallery, located on the campus of Marywood University, through October 23, 2021.The exhibit, “George Catlin – North American Indian Portfolio” will be on display in the Mahady Gallery, located on the campus of Marywood University, from November 6, 2021 through December 11, 2021. The Mahady Gallery, located in the Shields Center for Visual Arts on the campus of Marywood University is hosting two exhibits this fall: Printmaking: Art & Process, and George Catlin – North American Indian Portfolio. Fall 2021 gallery hours are Monday and Wednesday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 1-4 p.m. Both exhibits, as well as the gallery talk, are free and open to the public. Through October 23, 2021 Printmaking: Art & Process takes an educational approach showcasing the variety of printmaking and printing processes through a collection of privately owned prints from various artists, posters and student and faculty work. Works selected drop a wide net over the traditional printmaking to commercial offset printing. Sub-categories include social issue posters, works from a print portfolio exchange and a display of tools to help explain the process. November 6, 2021 – December 11, 2021 “George Catlin – North American Indian Portfolio,” will feature 31 hand-colored prints by American Artist and Author, George Catlin. Born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, his paintings of Native American scenes have become an invaluable record of Native American culture in the 19th century. A Gallery Talk will take place on Wednesday, November 17, at 3 p.m. For additional information on the art exhibits at Marywood University, please visit www.marywood.edu/galleries, or call (570) 348-6278.
The Ritz Performing Arts Center to Host Trunk or Treat The Ritz Theater and Performing Arts Center invites kids of all ages to attend this free fun-filled event with over 50 trunk hosts on Saturday, October 30 from 1-4pm. Families, businesses, groups, and student organizations will line the 200 block of Wyoming Avenue to hand out candy and goodies. This event includes fun activities and games for all in attendance. This is a fun alternative or addition to door to door trick or treating. If you are interested in joining the fun by becoming a trunk host, please call Carole Mason at 570-435-9012 or email carole_mason217@yahoo.com.
Scranton Tomorrow: Downtown Scranton Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt Continues As part of Scranton Tomorrow’s Fall into Downtown Campaign, businesses in Downtown Scranton, and beyond, are displaying scarecrows in planters and storefronts to Scare Up Some Business, through October 31. As a seasonal twist to this year’s Scranton Scarecrow Display, we’ve added a Scavenger Hunt to the promotion, making it even more fun to shop, dine — and spot scarecrows — in the Electric City!How to play: Click on the image of our trusty detective above, and you’ll find the weekly Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt clue on our Facebook page. New clues will be posted every Friday.Find the featured scarecrow at a participating business in Scranton. (Hint: for a list of participating businesses, click here).Snap a selfie with the scarecrow, and post it to your Facebook page. Tag Scranton Tomorrow and use #scrantonscarecrows. (One post per scarecrow, please). That’s it! When you complete steps 1-3, your name will automatically be registered to win a prize pack. The scavenger hunt runs through October 31, giving you multiple chances to spot a scarecrow and enter! To maximize your chance to win, play every week. The winner will be drawn at random on November 1.
City Lights Church to Participate in Walk for Freedom On October 16, abolitionists all over the world will come together to shine a spotlight on human trafficking for A21’s 7th annual Walk For Freedom. This event is a collective effort led by A21, a global anti-human trafficking organization dedicated to abolishing slavery everywhere, forever. Walk For Freedom is A21’s global response to human trafficking, rallying tens of thousands of people in cities around the world to fundraise and walk for the millions enslaved today. A21 combats modern-day slavery through a multi-dimensional approach: Reach, Rescue, and Restore. Walk For Freedom is an integral part of A21’s efforts to reach the vulnerable and prevent human trafficking from ever happening in the first place, as well as reaching people with the information to recognize and report human trafficking. In 2019, A21 had 500 walks in 50 countries around the world. Collectively, there were over 85 million people reached through social media. Each step mattered. Every step made a difference. But there are millions who have yet to be freed—and we will continue to walk, to show up, and to raise awareness for the victims in our cities and around the globe still trapped in slavery. This year our local actions will multiply into a greater global impact than ever before. A21’s hosts are rallying their communities and taking action. The event is not a protest, but a silent, single-file walk on behalf of the millions of men, women, and children who are trapped in slavery today. City Lights Church is hosting the walk in the Scranton area. Register for the walk here. If you have any questions, please email jesse@clcscranton.org.
SBA Covid-19 Relief Programs and Services Webinar The U.S. SBA Eastern PA District presents information on pandemic assistance and programs and services available for small businesses on October 6. This is a no cost webinar. Registration is required; register here. Presenters: Steve Dixel, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania District Director, and Sonia Smith, Public Information Officer Steven R. Dixel serves as the district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Eastern Pennsylvania District Office, where he is responsible for the delivery and leadership of the agency’s financial and business development programs throughout the eastern 40 counties of Pennsylvania. He has nearly 30 years of federal service, during which he has worked for three federal agencies in the Financial and Operations fields throughout his career. Prior to his appointment as district director, Dixel served as Business Operations Officer at the SBA’s Office of Field Operations, where he oversaw day-to-day financial operations, planning, and risk management affecting nearly 40% of the SBA’s workforce. Dixel also served as Senior Analyst with the SBA’s Office of Chief Financial Officer, where he provided technical financial research and analysis related to SBA’s loan portfolio and other programs. Dixel was awarded SBA’s 2014 Mission Support Award – the highest honor given to an SBA employee – by the SBA’s Administrator for demonstrating outstanding service in the successful accomplishment of SBA’s mission and strategic goals. Dixel holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics/Management and a Master of Business Administration. He is also a graduate of the Partnership for Public Services, Excellence in Government Program. Sonia Smith joined the US Small Business Administration Eastern Pennsylvania District Office in 2013. She is SBA’s Public Information Officer for the 40 counties in Eastern Pennsylvania as well as the Economic Development/Lender Relations Specialist for Wayne and Pike Counties. Sonia is a subject matter expert on women business owners, encore entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial reentry (ex-offenders) programs, microlending, and mission-focused community-based lending. Sonia has taken the lead in SBA programs for small business such as the Rural Initiative and the Pandemic Capital Programs. In addition, Sonia manages the official Twitter account for the district office – so follow the office @SBA_EasternPA. She previously served as the Economic & Business Development Program Administrator for the County of Bucks, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the government, she founded, financed, and directed a technology company and then structured its sale to a publicly traded company after more than 10 years of operation. Ms. Smith has an extensive career in banking with Mellon Bank (now Citizens Bank) and CoreStates Bank (now Wells Fargo). Ms. Smith is a bilingual, first-generation American and holds a B.S. degree from Penn State in Quantitative Business Analysis with an Economics Minor. Sonia, a breast cancer survivor, volunteers with Fox Chase Cancer Center as an inspirational speaker.
