Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Unveil 2025 Promotional Slate

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are thrilled to announce their exciting 2025 promotional schedule. Fans can look forward to a season filled with fun giveaways, special appearances, fireworks, theme nights, and much more! This year’s promotional calendar will feature 11 fireworks nights, four Copa de la Diversión games, and three brand-new custom jerseys, along with unique events for all ages.Opening Night and Early Promotions The 2025 season kicks off on Tuesday, April 8, when the RailRiders host the Rochester Red Wings. Gates open at 5:30 P.M., with the first 1,500 fans receiving a 2025 magnetic schedule. First pitch is at 6:35 P.M., followed by the season’s first fireworks show.To celebrate Opening Night, fans can Beat the Clock and save big on tickets! Tickets purchased online between 10:00 and 10:59 A.M. will be just $4 plus fees. Prices increase to $6 plus fees from 11:00 A.M. to Noon, and $8 plus fees from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. This offer is only available for online purchases.Copa de la Diversión & Specialty Nights The first of four Copa de la Diversión games takes place on May 8 (Thirsty Thursday) against the Red Wings. The RailRiders will also take on their alternate “Vejigantes” identities on June 24, July 31, and August 30.Additional highlights include STEM School Days on May 14 and 28, presented by Penn State Scranton, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre. Students will participate in a trebuchet competition before enjoying the game at 11:05 A.M. These games will feature STEM-related activities and local business displays.On May 17, the RailRiders will join Minor League Baseball’s Malmö Oat Milkers for a night of quirky fun in partnership with Oatly, the world’s largest oat milk company.Special Giveaways & Theme Nights Several special promotions will take place throughout the summer, including:

  • May 18 – The first 500 kids 12 and younger receive a CHAMP squish.May 30 – Scout Night, followed by a Scout campout.May 31 – Military Appreciation Day with a camo hat giveaway for the first 1,500 fans and military-themed jerseys worn by the RailRiders.June 13 – Girl Scout Night, with an overnight campout following the game against Syracuse.June 14Amazing Golf Ball Whacker Night featuring Christopher McDonald, who portrayed Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore, with a custom bobblehead giveaway for the first 1,500 fans.
  • Fans can also look forward to Sensory Friendly Days on June 29, July 6, and August 31, offering a sensory-safe environment for fans of all ages.Themed Events & Fireworks The RailRiders’ Friday Night Fireworks begin on May 30 and will continue after every Friday home game for the rest of the season. Other fun theme nights include:
  • July 4 – Military-themed jerseys auctioned off to benefit Camp Freedom, followed by an extended fireworks show presented by the PA Lottery.July 11 – Christmas in July, complete with holiday decorations and a post-game fireworks show.July 12 – Margaritaville Night with a Hawaiian shirt giveaway and custom jerseys benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.August 1 – Faith & Fellowship Night with fireworks.August 16Harry Potter Night™, featuring custom jerseys, RailRiders Platform 93/4 socks for the first 1,500 fans, and a special photo op with house elves.August 2 – 90s Night, complete with a 90s Dance Party on the Geisinger Plaza.
  • The season concludes with Fan Appreciation Day on September 14, honoring all who make RailRiders baseball possible.Ticket Information Single-game tickets, along with season ticket plans (full, half, partial, and flex), are available now. Purchase tickets online at www.swbrailriders.com or at the PNC Field Box Office.For more information or to book your group for a promotional event, please contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-2255.All promotions, theme nights, and giveaways are subject to change. Additional details will be announced as the 2025 season approaches.

    The Wright Center Resident Physician Earns National Award for Advocacy Work

    A resident physician in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program received a national award for his advocacy work in Washington, D.C.

    Dr. Usman Rana accepted the National Association of Community Health Centers’ (NACHC) 2025 Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award at the association’s Policy & Issues Forum held Feb. 5-8 in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes efforts to educate federal and state legislators about community health centers and to establish and expand grassroots advocacy efforts at health centers across the country. 

    Dr. Rana, a 40-year-old resident physician from Pakistan, became interested in advocacy efforts after a federal policy change prevented him from completing his geriatrics fellowship at The Wright Center in 2022. Observing leadership’s efforts at The Wright Center to support him and other affected fellows inspired him deeply. While the fellowship path shifted, prompting Dr. Rana to join The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, the experience sparked his commitment to advocacy work. 

    “I had no idea what was happening in Washington, D.C., or how it affected health care here in Scranton or across the country,” he said. “I realized that being a voice for your community, colleagues, and patients can work miracles.”

    For the past two years, Dr. Rana has been involved in The Wright Center’s Advocacy Team, first as a resident leader and now as the resident chief. In addition to educating his colleagues about issues, Dr. Rana has participated in several advocacy opportunities on Capitol Hill. He focuses on several topics, including the need for long-term reauthorization of the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, increased funding for community health centers like The Wright Center, and improved access to health care and prescription medication.

    In his nomination for the NACHC award, leaders at The Wright Center noted Dr. Rana’s remarkable efforts to continue building a culture of advocacy within the enterprise and the larger community.

    “Dr. Rana, The Wright Center’s chief resident of advocacy for public health priorities, is a remarkable physician servant leader in support of our work to enact policy change in our nation’s public health policies. In this role, he is a member of the advocacy committee of our governing board and works closely with The Wright Center’s Advocacy Team,” said Jennifer Walsh, Esq., senior vice president and chief legal and governance officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “His passion is helping to elevate the key role that physicians can play in helping to shape federal and state policies to better serve patients, their families, and the communities they serve.”

    While in Washington, D.C., to accept the NACHC award, Dr. Rana joined several other leaders from The Wright Center in meeting with legislators on Capitol Hill, including freshman U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, who took office in January. He represents Pennsylvania’s 8th District, which includes Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike counties, as well as most of Luzerne and Monroe counties. 

    Dr. Rana said sharing patient stories with U.S. Representative Bresnahan and other federal, state, and local leaders is an effective way to educate them on the role The Wright Center and other community health centers across the country play – not just in providing affordable, high-quality, nondiscriminatory, whole-person primary health services to everyone, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay, but also as educational powerhouses addressing the growing shortage of primary care physicians nationwide.

    “Sharing these stories creates an impact that can lead to positive change,” Dr. Rana said. “It’s something that I want to continue to do even after I graduate in June and begin providing medicine, hopefully here in the region.”

    Outreach Receives Grant to Support Adult GED Program

    The Robert H. Spitz Foundation has awarded a $20,000 grant to support Outreach’s Adult GED Program.

    Since 2021, Outreach has been offering individualized GED tutoring and preparation for individuals in Scranton free of charge. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that individuals with a GED earn, on average, 25% more than those without (2022). Outreach offers flexible, personalized instruction and subject-specific tutoring that allows individuals to learn at their own pace and around their work and family schedules.

    GED programming aligns with Outreach’s mission to help individuals and families gain economic self-sufficiency and family stability. Many GED participants are able to advance their careers upon completing their GED credential. For more information on the GED program, call Outreach at 570-348-6484

    Frank Caputo, Grants and Scholarships Manager, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Joel Skivington, GED Instructor and Lori Chaffers, President/CEO, Outreach – Center for Community Resources; and Cathy Fitzpatrick, Director of Grants and Scholarships, Scranton Area Community Foundation.

    NET Donates AEDs to the Taylor Community

    NET Credit Union recently donated three AED’s to the Taylor Borough. An AED, Automated External Defibrillator, is a portable life-saving device to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. This life saving device provides electrical shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm.

    The Taylor Police Department will keep the AED’s in their patrol cars. Hopefully, these devices will not have to be used, but if so, the department is prepared in case of emergency.

    “Being able to support our local communities is an honor. Budgets are tightening for everyone, and being able to donate some potentially life saving equipment without burdening taxpayers is a win for us all,” states Clarence Baltrusaitis, CEO of NET Credit Union.

    NET Credit Union opened their Taylor Branch at 900 S Main Street in the summer of 2023. We encourage the community to become a member of our credit union. Because of our members, we are able to give back with donations like this.

    Pictured L to R: Clarence Baltrusaitis, NET CEO; Police Chief Brian Holland, Taylor Borough Police Department; Jessica Hernandez, NET Taylor Branch Manager; Loni Kavulich, Mayor of the Taylor Borough; Cindy Bellucci, Taylor Borough Manager; Jim Digwood, Taylor Borough Councilman; Ken Mickavicz, Taylor Borough Council President; Fran DeAngelo, Taylor Borough Council Vice President; Chuck McKeel, Taylor Borough Councilman.

    Marywood University Art Students Earn Addy Awards for Creative Work

    Several Marywood art students earned Addy awards for their creative work from the American Advertising Federation NEPA chapter, at a ceremony held at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center on February 28. They competed against other students from Penn College of Technology, Susquehanna University, Wilkes University, and the University of Scranton.

    Award categories and Marywood student winners include the following:

    Judge’s Choice (both students and professionals compete for this award):

    Caroline Flynn, sophomore graphic design; Jaws poster

    Student Gold Addy, Best of Show (both professionals and students compete for this award) and People’s Choice:

    Stephanie Klemick, senior graphic design; Fruit Cups packaging

    Klemick also won the Rising Star award, given to senior students or young professionals under the age of 24 in the field, which is based on their achievements and contributions to the community. Klemick’s gold award winning entry will advance to the regional competition, with students from several states competing, and then, if she wins, she will advance to the national competition.

    Student Silver Addy awards:

    • Jess Sunar, senior illustration major; illustration series
    • Julia Perpetua, senior graphic design; juice packaging
    • Lilli Millon, graduate student; Marywood strings poster
    • Sabrina Resuta, senior graphic design; chocolate packaging

    Honorable mentions were awarded to:

    • Emily Duris, senior graphic design
    • Melissa Bostjancic, senior graphic design; Bostjancic was also nominated for the Rising Star Award.
    • Stephanie Klemick, senior graphic design
    • Sabrina Resuta, senior graphic design
    • Lilli Millon, graduate student

    Photo ID, from left to right: Julia Perpetua, Emily Duris, Lilli Millon, Melissa Bostjancic, Stephanie Klimek, Caroline Flynn, Jess Sunar. Also recognized, but absent from the photo, was Sabrina Resuta.

    Johnson College Now Enrolling for OSHA Training Course

    Johnson College is now accepting enrollments for its 30-hour, non-credit OSHA training course at the Scranton campus. The course will run from April 22 to May 3, 2025, with classes scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The final week will feature classes on Monday, May 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., and Thursday, May 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

    Participants will gain comprehensive knowledge on a range of essential safety topics, including fall protection, electrical safety, personal protective equipment (PPE), and more. The course, which is delivered through in-person classroom instruction, is designed to help individuals reduce workplace accidents, ensure compliance with federal safety standards, and foster a culture of safety within their organizations.

    The OSHA 30-hour training is ideal for individuals in leadership roles, those seeking advanced safety training, and employees in the general industry workforce. Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will receive the official OSHA 30 General Industry Outreach Course Completion Card.

    The cost for the course is $600.

    For more information or to reserve a spot in the course, visit johnson.edu/continuing-ed/osha-30. You can also contact the Continuing Education team at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu.

    Johnson College to Host Spring Open House

    Johnson College will hold its Spring Open House on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on its Scranton campus. To register to attend the Open House, visit Johnson.edu/openhouse or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

    The Open House will include discussions about the admissions process, information about financial aid for those who qualify, and student services such as student life, student support, and career services. Plus, same-day acceptance will be available for many programs if students bring their high school or college transcripts. Tours of each technical area will be conducted and program directors and instructors will be available to review the specifics of their programs.