PennDOT Honors Star of Excellence Recipients At a ceremony in Harrisburg today, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll recognized 31 PennDOT employees for their outstanding performance with the Star of Excellence Award, PennDOT’s highest recognition. Ralph Del Rosso and Jeremiah Gonzalofrom PennDOT’s Engineering District 4 which represents Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyomingcountieswere among the honorees. “I’m continually impressed by the hard work and dedication of the PennDOT team,” Secretary Carroll said. “These folks work tirelessly each day to provide safe and efficient transportation for Pennsylvania’s residents.” Carroll and other department executives honored Ralph Del Rosso and Jeremiah Gonzalo during an event held at the State Museum of Pennsylvania. “Both Ralph and Jeremiah have truly excelled in their service to the traveling public in northeast Pennsylvania,” said Richard N. Roman, P.E., District Executive for PennDOT Engineering District 4, based in Dunmore. “They are both stars within our organization and have developed meaningful relationships with property owners doing business with PennDOT.” Ralph Del Rosso Ralph Del Rosso has been employed by PennDOT Engineering District 4 for over 30 years and has been the Right of Way Administrator for over 20 Years. Ralph’s knowledge of the Department’s policies and procedures stems from years of experience on a multitude of transportation projects. He has a keen eye for detail which has helped him be a successful team leader and manage nearly 100 active jobs. He has converted all related files digitally allowing his team to easily access documents for projects increasing accessibility and productivity for the Department. Ralph attends public meetings and speaks with legislative contacts to discuss sensitive issues and consistently manages to explain complicated policies and procedures in a clear and concise manner. As Ralph is nearing retirement, he continues to teach his method of plan reviews and to pass on the skills he has utilized over the past 20 years to his successors. Jeremiah Gonzalo Jeremiah Gonzalo’s daily accomplishments continue to highlight the strategic themes of the Department. As District Permits Manager, Jeremiah is responsible for reviewing and approving all Highway Occupancy Permits for developments occurring in PennDOT Engineering District 4. His quality customer service has developed strong relationships prompted innovative ideas and promoted safety within the District. His promptness in service has ensured that progress is made towards Traffic Information Services and Highway Occupancy Permit approval without delays for submissions on eight major developments proposed in the Hazleton area. These developments are impacting the Route 424 corridor totaling upwards of 28 million square feet of warehouse space and require significant coordination with the District permits units and all the consultants and developers during the process. Jeremiah’s efforts have been recognized by developers who have continuously informed the District of their appreciation, in particular, the assistance provided by Jeremiah in moving the process along. The Star of Excellence Awards are presented annually to employees who represent the department’s values of service, performance, and integrity. The recipients represent a variety of organizational positions, spanning from highway maintenance and driver and vehicle services workers, to traffic control specialists, communications staff, and design and engineering specialists. Information about infrastructure in District 4, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D4Results. Follow local PennDOT news on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.
Johnson College to Host Regional College Fair Johnson College is hosting the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre College Fair on Wednesday, October 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Moffat Student Center Gym on the College’s Scranton campus. This public event will give attendees the chance to learn more about local colleges and universities, connect with admission representatives from across the region, and have questions about everything from academics to campus life answered. Participating schools include Johnson College, Keystone College, Kings College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University, Misericordia University, Penn State Scranton, University of Scranton, and Wilkes University. To register for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre College Fair, visit Johnson.edu/collegefair or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu. About Johnson College Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a supportive environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance in their in-demand careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912 and is the region’s only technical college, offering 18 associate degrees, four academic certificates, and over 30 continuing education programs. A low student-to-instructor ratio supports an emphasis on hands-on learning. Located in Scranton on a 44-acre campus with a satellite campus serving the greater Hazleton area, the College is an accredited, private, non-profit, co-educational institution with a strong tradition of working with regional businesses and industries to ensure a skilled and qualified workforce. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.
USS Scranton Commanding Officer and Crew to Visit the City of Scranton In conjunction with the USS Scranton Commanders’ Commemoration Committee, the City of Scranton will be welcoming Commanding Officer Jeffrey Ransom and five of his officers to the City. The crew will tour City Hall, the Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center, local universities, and other attractions. The Committee has planned a Public Gathering for the public and community stakeholders to participate in honoring the crew’s visit. Details: Welcome Reception in Honor of the Commander of the USS Scranton Wednesday, October 11 6:00 PM: Reception and Light Refreshments 7:00 PM: Presentation of Colors and Speakers Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, 525 Pine Street, Scranton, PA 18509 Speakers will include Congressman Matt Cartwright, Mayor Paige Cognetti, C.O. Ransom, President of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Bob Durkin, USS Scranton Committee Chairman Matthew A. Berger, Dean of the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Julie Byerley, and Veteran’s Promise representative Patrick Heart. Members of the public wishing to attend should RSVP to Committee member Liz Dengler at 570-575-3826. For media inquiries, contact Kaitlin Scott, Executive Assistant to Mayor Cognetti, at 570-780-1207.
Hospice of the Sacred Heart Resumes Remembrance Walk Hundreds of walkers are expected to pause and remember their loved ones in a unique and special way at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Remembrance Walk. The walk will take place on Saturday, October 7th at McDade Park in Scranton for the first time since 2019. The event did not take place in 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Registration begins at 8:30 am and the walk will kick off at 10 am. The Wright Center is the presenting sponsor. The one-mile walk around scenic McDade Park is wheelchair accessible and pet-friendly. The $25 registration fee ($30 after September 20th) includes lunch and a long-sleeve t-shirt with a customizable pin-on bib, so participants can walk in memory of a loved one. Teams of five or more are $20 each and children 12 and under are free. There will be a DJ, basket raffle, children’s activities, a ceremonial bell ringing and ice cream. Proceeds from the walk will help support Hospice of the Sacred Heart programs and services. The event will begin with an opening prayer by Msgr. Thomas M. Muldowney, Pastor, Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Moscow and WNEP-TV anchor and reporter, Stacy Lange, will start the walk. Diane Baldi, Hospice of the Sacred Heart CEO, will be available for interviews. Those wishing to participate individually or as a team can register online at www.HospiceSacredHeart.org, by calling 570-706-2400 or at McDade Park the day of the walk.
FNCB Bank Donates to Support School STEM Program FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, has announced a $10,000 Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to the Crestwood School District. FNCB’s grant will be used to support the school’s STEM program for middle school students. Since 2010, FNCB has contributed $3,000,000 to local educational and scholarship organizations through the EITC initiative. The support of the Crestwood School District is part of FNCB’s larger Community Caring initiative. A true, local community bank, FNCB Bank is making a difference through volunteerism, donations, and outreach programs. Photo Caption – FNCB Bank presents a $10,000 Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to the Crestwood School District in support of their STEM programs. Since 2010, FNCB has contributed $3,000,000 to local educational and scholarship organizations through the EITC initiative. Back L-R: Shelby Chase, teacher; Gerald Marley, teacher; James Zabiegalski, teacher; John Gorham, principal, Crestwood High School; and Sara Parsons, business manager assistant. Front, L-R: Lorilee Rozitski, teacher; Deb Kennedy, FNCB Bank vice president, retail market manager; Natasha Milazzo, superintendent, Crestwood School District; and Kris Toronzi, FNCB Bank community office manager. About FNCB Bank FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, continues as one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s premier community banks — offering a full suite of personal, small business, and commercial banking solutions with industry-leading mobile, online, and in-branch products and services. FNCB remains dedicated to the communities it serves with an ongoing mission to make your banking experience simply better. For more information on the BauerFinancial 5-Star rated FNCB, visit www.fncb.com.
Marywood University Offers Depression and Mood Disorder Screening Program According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2014), depression is the most common mental health issue among adults. The World Health Organization (2016) estimates that 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression worldwide. Screening for depression and other mood disorders provides individuals and families with the opportunity to identify warning signs early and to connect with appropriate treatment. It is important to note that symptoms can look different across and within cultures. Marywood’s Psychological Services Center Depression Screening Day, set for October 5, 2023, serves as a supportive community initiative to connect the public with mental health resources. Through this program, free depression screenings are offered at Marywood’s Psychological Services Center, located in the McGowan Center on the university’s campus. The screenings will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each screening lasts for approximately 15 minutes. Early recognition and treatment of depression provide the best opportunity for recovery. The screenings offered at Marywood University’s Psychological Services Center are free, confidential, brief, and require no appointment or commitment. Although the screenings are not diagnostic, they do provide valuable insight. Additionally, screenings can help to identify symptoms associated with depression or other mood disorders and clarify if help may be needed. For questions about depression screenings or other mental health concerns, please contact Marywood’s Psychological Services Center at (570) 348-6269. Written by: Harry Ossolinski, M.S. (Psy.D. Candidate) and Emily Banfield, M.A. (Psy.D. Candidate), who are students in Marywood University’s Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program.
McCarthy Flowers Expands McCarthy Group Florists, headquartered in Lackawanna County since 1952, acquired Peoples Flowers in Albuquerque, NM in July, a four store floral operation opened in 1944. Peoples Flowers is the largest florist in New Mexico, and brings the 10th state to McCarthy Group Florists’ footprint, President Kevin McCarthy announced. It brings McCarthy locations to 26 nationally, and McCarthy remains the largest family owned Florist in the country. McCarthy Flowers was founded by Bud McCarthy in 1952, who was joined by his father Ernest. Bud’s son Brian took control in 1987, and fourth generation Kevin became President in 2020. The McCarthy Group employs over 500 nationally with 80 plus delivery vans, and handles finance and accounting in Lackawanna County for the group. Kevin states that “critical mass” for increased Buying Power is paramount. McCarthy Flowers began importing flowers directly. Kevin McCarthy states that the “additional critical mass” added to McCarthy Group Florists with these new acquisitions continue to keep McCarthy’s relevant and dominant in the retail floral industry.
