The Wright Center Welcomes Medical Students The Wright Center welcomed four medical students from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), who will complete rotations at The Wright Center’s community health centers and other locations throughout the region. This year marks the launch of the partnership between The Wright Center and LECOM, which is open to third- and fourth-year medical students. “The goal is to train these medical students in underserved communities, and hopefully, they will stay in Northeast Pennsylvania to complete their medical residencies after graduation,” said Carla Blakeslee, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s clerkships coordinator. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine students, from left, are Sulav Shrestha, Tazeen Malik, Katherine Weir, and Elena Myalo.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity Announces Upgrades to Transparency Portal Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced today that new features have been added to Treasury’s award-winning Transparency Portal, improving access to state budget and spending details. Users can now, for the first time ever, easily compare current revenue received in the current budget year with that received in previous years. The new features also include the ability to dive deeper into both total and federal funds, and to more easily navigate the portal on both desktop and mobile devices, including quick links to budget details, revenue comparisons, and federal funds. “Transparency must always be a central goal of government, especially when it comes to how taxpayer dollars are being spent,” Treasurer Garrity said. “As a fiscal watchdog, I’m always focused on increasing transparency, and Treasury’s Transparency Portal is a vital part of that work. These new updates make it easier than ever for Commonwealth residents to see where their money is going and to hold their government accountable.” The new Transparency Portal updates include: Revenue Comparison – Users can compare revenue received in the current fiscal year with revenue received in previous years back to FY 2018-19. Federal Funds – Users can see funds received from the federal government and how they are used by the Commonwealth. Easy Access to Fund Details – A dropdown menu allows users to easily review the status of a specific fund (such as the General Fund, the Motor License Fund and the Lottery Fund). More Options – When reviewing fund details, users can choose to display data over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years (in addition to 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, year-to-date, and all available). Improved homepage navigation. The Transparency Portal also includes tools to review state budget details, the Fiscal Health Scorecard, which presents financial data comparing Pennsylvania with similar states, and the Treasury Checkbook that discloses payments made by Treasury to its vendors. The Contracts e-Library allows anyone to review more than 500,000 state agency contracts, purchase orders, and amendments valued at $5,000 or more. Treasury’s Transparency Portal includes data back to 2014. Since taking office, Treasurer Garrity has added numerous features to the site, including access to Ledger 5, which tracks unappropriated expenses, and the ability to see county- and state-level data about Pennsylvania’s unclaimed property program, the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program, Keystone Scholars, and the PA ABLE Savings Program. Treasury’s Transparency Portal has won numerous awards, including the 2022 Government Experience Project Award from the Center for Digital Government, the 2018 CIO 100 Award, a Digital Edge 50 Award, and the 2017 PA Excellence in Technology Award. It was a finalist for the NASCIO 2018 Data Management and Analytics Award. Visit Treasury’s Transparency Portal at patreasury.gov/transparency.
Space Time® Mead & Cider Works Takes Platinum at the Cidercraft Awards Space Time® Mead & Cidery Work’s “Leap Year” Cider was awarded Platinum by CiderCraft Magazine in the Natural Cider Category. Space Time® Mead & Cider Works has received several national and international awards for their meads (honey wines) but this is the first major award for their ciders. “I am just overjoyed for the recognition of this wonderful cider made using apples sourced from our local orchard, Miller’s Orchards Farm Market, and made in our ‘shoe box size’ of an urban winery in Dunmore”, said cider maker Dan Schreffler. In 2022 Dan traveled to France to learn from world-class cider makers in Normandy and Brittany. “We took their cider-making skills and philosophy home,” said Dan. “We were very hopeful that we could create worldclass cider from locally sourced fruit given the care and passion of our local growers and the cider-making skills we cultivated.” Leap Year is available for pick up or shipping from the winery at 419 S. Blakely St. in Dunmore (spacetimemeadworks.com) and a future special release at Sabatini’s Bottle Shop and Bar in Exeter.
Munley Law Presents at Women in Trial Travel Summit Marion Munley of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys recently presented at the Women in Trial Travel Summit April 3-7, 2024 in Punta Mita, Mexico. The focus of her presentation was handling truck cases. Widely recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s most prominent and widely respected truck accident lawyers, Marion is 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 Justice (AAJ) and currently serves as its Treasurer. Marion 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. During her career, Marion has received some of the highest honors a lawyer can receive. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2012, Marion has been named the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She has also been recognized as Best Lawyers® 2022 and 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania and 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 was recently named to the 2023 “Top 10” Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List. A graduate of Temple University School of Law (J.D., 1986), Marion received her undergraduate degree from Scranton University in 1983.
Tobyhanna Army Depot Celebrates Leadership Lackawanna Graduates Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) is celebrating three new graduates of Leadership Lackawanna’s Core Program. Established in 1982, Leadership Lackawanna is an affiliate of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce which aims to cultivate community leadership and professional development for individuals who live or work in Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania. Over a ten-month course, participants in the Core Program gather once a month for leadership development training with a variety of local professionals and specialists. In addition to monthly training, participants spend additional time out of class working on community projects that benefit local non-profit organizations. This year’s TYAD graduates are Electrician Scott Burti, Organizational Development Specialist Tara Floyd, and IT Project Manager Shaun Young. Each graduate expressed gratitude for the opportunity to network with individuals from other organizations and gain a broader perspective on the needs of the local community. Floyd noted that the unique nature of the Core Program led to her sending in her application. “I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from employees on their experience in the program,” Floyd said. “I like that the program combined monthly sessions learning about leadership principles with an applied project in the community.” Burti said the goal of both professional and personal growth are key to the program’s successes. “I met a group of extraordinary individuals whom I might not have crossed paths with otherwise and created lasting relationships,” Burti said. “Professionally, I gained more project management experience, honed my leadership skills, and have an increased confidence in my future impact to TYAD.” Throughout the program, each participant worked with other area professionals on projects across Lackawanna County that positively impacted local groups and organizations. Young and Burti worked in the same project group. The group worked on a renovation project for the Catherine McCauley Center whose mission is to serve those experiencing homelessness with housing programs, case management, and support services. “For this project, we renovated two rooms in the group home to create an inclusive and dignified space for families to remain together during a crisis,” Young said. “This program has made me more aware of the programs and efforts going on in my community, provided the opportunity to meet new members of my community, and contribute to my community.” “The home we undertook was in Scranton and served women and children experiencing homelessness,” Burti said. “We renovated two spaces, one for children and the other for teens. Both rooms are now freshly painted and furnished with new flooring throughout. They’re welcoming spaces where younger residents can find comfort while in transition.” Floyd’s group worked on creating a fitness space for Outreach – Center for Community Resources in Scranton. Outreach offers workforce and family development programs to support individuals and families facing some of life’s challenges. “Our team’s project was to provide a fitness center in their new building for adolescents and young adults to build healthy life frameworks,” Floyd said. “The team raised over $10,000 for the project and was able to purchase premium fitness equipment for the center.” All three participants encourage other members of Team Tobyhanna who may be interested in strengthening their leadership skills, networks, and connections to their community to participate in Leadership Lackawanna. “I highly encourage anyone interested in developing leadership skills and competencies to participate in the Leadership Lackawanna Core Program,” Floyd said. “The program allows for plenty of networking opportunities, learning about the local region and community, and executing a community service project to give back to individuals and support nonprofits in the area.” Young spoke highly of the skills strengthened by the program. “It is an opportunity to be more involved in your community while developing your own personal growth, potentially even becoming an active leader in your community,” Young said. “You will develop leadership, interpersonal, and project management skills that you can use professionally and personally.” Burti echoed the sentiments of both of his TYAD colleagues. “If you’re looking to grow professionally and/or personally, this program is for you,” Burti said. “The program will challenge you to get you outside of your comfort zone where true growth happens. Sign up and don’t look back!”
The Dime Bank Declares Cash Dividend The Board of Directors of Dimeco, Inc. (OTCQX: DIMC) declared a dividend of $0.40 per share, payable on July 25, 2024, to shareholders of record July 1, 2024. This dividend is a 5.3% increase, or $0.02, over the dividend declared in June 2023. Based on the closing stock price of $35.89, this represents a dividend yield of 4.46%. President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich commented, “We are dedicated to acknowledging our shareholders for their ongoing support and investment in Dimeco, Inc. This dividend serves as a testament to that commitment. Our objective is to sustain our growth and profitability trends, all while delivering top-notch financial products and services to our valued customers.” Dimeco, Inc. is the holding company of The Dime Bank, a full-service financial institution serving Northeast Pennsylvania. Dimeco, Inc. reported first quarter 2024 assets of $1 billion, loans of $744 million, and deposits of $845 million. Dimeco, Inc. trades on the OTCQX Marketplace under symbol DIMC, operated by OTC Markets Group. For more information on The Dime Bank and Dimeco, Inc., visit www.thedime.bank.
Wayne Bank Announces Continued Support of Public Libraries Jim Donnelly, President and CEO of Wayne Bank, is pleased to announce Wayne Bank will once again support the Wayne Library Alliance (WLA), with a corporate donation through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) of $10,000. The WLA is a central organization created to manage and coordinate operations and services between independent libraries for financial support and includes seven member libraries in Wayne County, PA. The gift was made possible on behalf of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program offered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting through the Department of Community and Economic Development. According to Mr. Donnelly, “We are thrilled for the opportunity to continue donating to the Wayne Library Alliance through the EITC program this year. The WLA is entirely dependent upon donations, as well as county and state funding, to provide their services to the libraries and patrons, which include educational programs and online services. We are honored to support its mission to provide accessible educational resources to our community. Our continued partnership reflects our dedication to investing in the future of our neighborhoods.” For more information on ways to support your local public library, please visit www.waynelibraries.org.
Wayne Bank Honored with Community Award Wayne Bank has been honored with one of the prestigious Pillar of the Community Awards by FHLBank Pittsburgh. This recognition is a testament to the bank’s unwavering commitment to community service and excellence in local engagement. Wayne Bank received the award at their Member Appreciation Event in Philadelphia on June 10th, 2024, and celebrated alongside other distinguished recipients. Pillar of the Community Awards are presented to member financial institutions that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community development. Awardees have also demonstrated exemplary efforts and effective use of FHLBank’s community products. This award is FHLBank’s highest organizational honor and is presented annually to select FHLBank members in recognition of their commitment to community revitalization. “We are deeply honored to receive this award,” said Jim Donnelly, CEO of Wayne Bank. “Our commitment to the community is at the heart of everything we do! This recognition inspires us to continue our efforts to make a positive difference in the communities we serve.” Wayne Bank has a long history of community involvement, including making close to 400 contributions to local schools, food banks, first responders, and charitable organization throughout the year in 2023. Their generous and caring employees have participated in countless community events including parades, fundraisers, races, and many more. Along with their community involvement, Wayne Bank was chosen as a Pillar of the Community because of their commitment to providing their communities they serve with innovative banking technologies and tools. By utilizing the First Front Door program, they have funded households and provided down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers. By partnering with the Home4Good program, they’ve supported over twenty projects and have helped the homeless or people at risk of homelessness by providing grants to fund the initiative of securing homes for those in need. Lastly, they’ve supported small businesses in their region through Banking on Business and the Banking on Business Inclusion and Equity Fund. These funds were used in financing the startup, maintenance, or expansion of a business, while also utilizing the Community Lending Program to create commercial developments and a hotel.
NeighborWorks NEPA 2024 Beautiful Blocks Program NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is pleased to partner with the City of Scranton, City of Carbondale, and City of Pittston to announce the block groups selected for funding in the 2024 Beautiful Blocks program cycle. Our 2024 cycle will see a total of 155 properties in Scranton, 34 properties in Carbondale, and 44 properties in Pittston being awarded grant funding., NeighborWorks staff and local officials expect to see a significant positive impact in neighborhoods where projects are set to take place. A full list of groups receiving funding is attached to this release. Beautiful Blocks is a home improvement program which provides matching grants of up to $1,000 per property to groups of residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. 2024 represents the debut of the Beautiful Blocks program in the City of Pittston, as well as the sixth consecutive program cycle in the City of Scranton, and the fourth consecutive cycle in the City of Carbondale. Members of selected groups have until November 1 to complete their individual exterior home improvement projects, with all participating properties being eligible for up to $1,000 in matching grant funding. Participating properties in the City of Scranton that are completing sidewalk repair and replacement projects are also eligible for up to $4,000 in funding for their projects, in an effort to increase walkability in the Electric City. Resident groups are also eligible for a $500 stipend to conduct a community celebration or service project.For our 2024 cycle, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania anticipates awarding $335,000 to projects in Scranton, $73,000 for projects in Carbondale, and $38,000 for projects in Pittston. The total of $446,000 awarded is the most in any year since the Beautiful Blocks program was launched in 2019. According to NeighborWorks President & CEO Shane Powers, “Beautiful Blocks continues to be a powerful catalyst for community transformation, bringing residents together to enhance their neighborhoods. We are excited to announce our expansion into Pittston, adding to our existing communities in Scranton and Carbondale. This year, we saw an unprecedented level of interest in the program, resulting in the highest number of applicants ever for Beautiful Blocks. We deeply appreciate the support from our funding partners who make this growth possible and look forward to fostering even more physical improvements to homes and stronger connections between neighbors in all three communities.” “Neighborhoods within the City of Carbondale continue to thrive!” Carbondale Mayor Michele Bannon said of the impact of Beautiful Blocks. “We have a record number of teams in our 2024 Beautiful Blocks program thanks to the incredible staff at NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania. We are excited to have multi-year teams returning and new teams forming relationships to make an impact on their neighborhoods together. Our neighborhoods formed because we need each other to succeed, and we enjoy building our lives within our communities together.”“Thriving, United, Safe and Joyful…. that’s the City of Carbondale’s goal for our Neighborhoods!” Beautiful Blocks in Carbondale is made possible with support from Coterra Energy, First National Bank, Wayne Bank, Honesdale National Bank, FNCB, NBT Bank, Gentex, and the Carbondale Lackawanna Industrial Development Corporation (CLIDCO).“We are grateful for the positive impact NeighborWorks NEPA has on our neighborhoods through the Beautiful Blocks program,” Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti said of the program’s impact. “This program brings residents together for a common goal, improves residences, and increases property values.” Beautiful Blocks in Scranton is made possible with support from the City of Scranton, with additional support from the Regional Foundation, First National Bank, PS Bank, Coterra Energy, M&T Bank, Peoples Security Bank, and Community Bank, NA.“I am extremely excited about our new partnership with NeighborWorks,” Pittston Mayor Michael A. Lombardo said of the program’s launch in his city. “Our initial phase of the beautiful blacks program has already proven to yield significant success. 44 total projects were approved and organized into five block groups. This program gives us another tool toward neighborhood revitalization. Congratulations to all participants.”Beautiful Blocks in Pittston is made possible with support from Coterra Energy. Over the first five cycles of Beautiful Blocks in the City of Scranton, more than 420 individual projects have been completed by Scranton residents, grouped into 57 block groups. More than $353,000 in grant funding has been distributed to as part of these projects, with participating residents contributing more than $923,000 in matching funds to improving their neighborhoods. In the first three years of the Beautiful Blocks program operating in Carbondale, 12 groups of neighbors have participated by completing 73 exterior improvement projects, with more than $62,000 in grant funding awarded. This grant funding helped to leverage more than $140,000 in funds invested from participating homeowners. Residents of Scranton, Carbondale and Pittston who are interested in participating in future cycles of the Beautiful Blocks program are encouraged to access more information by visiting the program homepage at https:// www.nwnepa.org/programs/beautiful-blocks.html. More information is also available by contacting Gerard Hetman, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania Community Development Specialist, at (570) 558-2490 or ghetman@nwnepa.org.
