Commonwealth Health Earned National Recognition Regional Hospital of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital have earned national recognition from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 “Best Hospitals” guidebook. ACC uses this publication to highlight hospitals and health systems that implement high standards in patient care and protocols to ensure best cardiovascular outcomes are delivered to every patient, every time. Commonwealth Health’s two hospitals are recognized for their participation in four ACC registries, honored with four accreditations and Regional Hospital of Scranton has achieved a HeartCARE Center designation. Regional Hospital of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital are the only hospitals in Northeastern PA with this level of commitment to proven quality heart programs. “We are proud of this recognition,” said Dr. Nishant Sethi, Regional Hospital of Scranton Heart & Vascular Institute interventional cardiologist. “This national recognition demonstrates the level of commitment our entire team has for delivering quality care to heart patients in our local community.” In the publication, the ACC recognizes all hospitals and facilities that participate in National Cardiovascular Data Registries (NCDR) or have received an accreditation or certification from ACC Services. ACC’s NCDR is cardiology’s most established, comprehensive registry offering. Participants are committed to ensuring evidence-based cardiovascular care, improving patient outcomes and lowering health care costs. Facilities achieving an ACC accreditation are committed to establishing a method for sustainable quality improvement.
Allied Services Receive Donation Local business, TOPP Business Solutions, recently presented Allied Services with a donation of $6,500 in support of the Team Allied Services and You. This annual charity campaign raises awareness and funds for children and adults with disabilities, life-changing injuries, and chronic illness served by Allied Services. TOPP Business Solutions is headquartered in Scranton and is a provider of printing equipment, document management solutions, IT services, and other support services to businesses throughout Northeast, Central, and the Leigh Valley of Pennsylvania. They are long-time supporters of Allied Services, regularly supporting the non-profit’s vocational training and employment programs for individuals with disabilities. “Allied Services is an asset to the communities it serves. You don’t realize the true scope of what it does for our area until you or a member of your family needs to utilize their support. TOPP is proud to be part of Team Allied Services and You,” says Chris Falzett, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Topp Business Solutions. The charity campaign will culminate on November 6, 2022, when a team of more than 70 runners will participate in the TCS New York City Marathon. Among them will be Michael Cummings of Cummings Insurance in Scranton. Michael and the other runners are raising funds for patients and residents at Allied Services.
The University of Scranton Events November and December Events Planned at The University of Scranton Through Nov. 18 Art Exhibit: “Mayan Narratives: San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala” photographs by Byron Maldonado. Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Nov. 6 9 a.m. Open House for prospective students and their families. Various locations on campus. Registration required. Free. Call 888-SCRANTON or email admissions@scranton.edu. Nov. 8 7:30 p.m. 36th annual Henry George Lecture: “Still Worth the Trip? Modern-Era Busing and other Lessons from Urban School Reform” presented by Parag Pathak, Ph.D., professor of economics, MIT. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-4048 or email janice.mecadon@scranton.edu. Nov. 10 Noon. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “On Democracy, Inequality and Jazz Improvisation” presented by Wayne Winborne, Ph.D., executive director, Institute of Jazz Studies, assistant professor arts culture and media, Rutgers University-Newark. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-7816 or email kym.fetsko@scranton.edu. Nov. 12 7:30 a.m. Schemel Forum bus trip to New York, New York, to August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” $150. Registration required before Sept. 30. Spaces are limited. Call 570-941-7816 or email kym.fetsko@scranton.edu. Nov. 12 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Symphonic Band. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Nov. 17 7 p.m. Lecture: “Forced Removal of the Lenape People: History and Homecoming” presented by Curtis Zunigha, enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians and co-founder/co-director of the Lenape Center. The event is part of “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story,” a project supported by a NEH grant led by The University of Scranton and community partners. McIlhenny Ballroom, The DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-4419 or email community@scranton.edu. Nov. 17-19 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. “Rent” presented by Liva Arts Company. The Royal Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. $5. Call 570-941-7401 or email livaartscompany@gmail.com. Nov. 18 6 p.m.. Schemel Forum with the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Collaborative Program: The Royden B. Davis, S.J. Distinguished Author Award Event honoring Ayad Akhtar, Pulitzer Prize winning and Tony Award nominated playwright, novelist and screenwriter. McIlhenny Ballroom, The DeNaples Center. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-7816 or email kym.fetsko@scranton.edu. Nov. 18 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton String Orchestra. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Dec. 2 Noon. Schemel Forum’s Munley World Affairs Luncheon Series: “How Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine Changed the World” presented by Trudy Rubin, Worldview columnist, The Philadelphia Inquirer. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-7816 or email kym.fetsko@scranton.edu. Dec. 3 8 p.m. Performance Music: “54th Annual Noel Night” featuring The University of Scranton Singers and Chamber Ensembles. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Dec. 5 5 p.m. Community Relations Roundtable: “The Journey from ‘Immigrant’ to Citizen” featuring local resource speakers from a range of backgrounds, in collaboration with the Schemel Forum. The event is part of “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story,” a project supported by a NEH grant led by The University of Scranton and community partners. PNC Board Room, Brennan Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4419 or email community@scranton.edu. Dec. 9 Noon. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “Process of Peace, Palermo: An Experience, a Model” presented by Leoluca Orlando, professor, former mayor of Palermo, honorary mayor of Palermo Huila Columbia and cofounder of Global Parliament of Mayors. Rose Room, Brennan Hall or remote. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-7816 or email kym.fetsko@scranton.edu. Dec. 11 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert.” Performance Music student musicians perform solo, duet, trio and small group renditions of a variety of Christmas favorites. Houlihan-McLean Center. Admission: one new unwrapped toy, new toiletry items or a monetary donation. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. The University of Scranton Will Present a Recital by Pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-werner On Sunday, Oct. 23, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a recital by critically and popularly acclaimed award-winning pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. Conductor and Director of Performance Music Cheryl Y. Boga says, “I first became of aware of Llewellyn and his incredible talent when my son (Joseph) would text me from his classes at Juilliard to tell me about this amazing 13-year-old who was already enrolled in pursuit of his undergraduate degree and – according to Joseph – ‘played piano like craaaazy!’ Now, at age 25, he is already one of the most virtuosic, vibrant and socially committed musicians of his generation.” Described as “a gifted virtuoso” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Sanchez-Werner has been performing with orchestras since the age of 6. The California native has played internationally with the Royal Concertgebouw in the Netherlands, CultureSummit Abu Dhabi, the Louvre and Grenoble Museums in France, Smetana Hall in the Czech Republic, State Philharmonic Hall in Slovakia, Verbier Festival in Switzerland, Ashford Castle in Ireland and the Gijon International Piano Festival in Spain. In the United States, he has performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center and National Sawdust in New York City, Mary B. Galvin Hall in Chicago, Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, Paramount Theater in Oakland, and the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Art Museum and Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. Pulitzer Prize-winning Author Ayad Akhtar Honored at University of Scranton Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-nominated playwright, novelist and screenwriter Ayad Akhtar will receive the 2022 Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award from The University of Scranton’s Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library on Friday, Nov. 18. The award will be presented at a reception and dinner in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. Reservations and tickets are required for the dinner and award presentation, which begins at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the Library Endowment Fund, which supports special gifts for the Weinberg Library collections and services. Akhtar was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2013 for his play “Disgraced,” which also received a Tony Award nomination. The play examines the role of religion, politics and identity in post-9/11 America. His play “Junk,” about junk bonds and Wall Street culture of the 1980s, won the 2018 Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History. His work has been published and performed in over two dozen languages. Akhtar is the author of “Homeland Elegies,” which The Washington Post called “a tour de force” and The New York Times called “a beautiful novel…that had echoes of ‘The Great Gatsby’ and that circles, with pointed intellect, the possibilities and limitations of American life.” His first novel, “American Dervish,” was published in over 20 languages. In addition to “Junk” and “Disgraced,” his plays include “The Who & The What” and “The Invisible Hand,” which received the Obie Award, Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award and Olivier, among other accolades.
PennDOT, KPB Name Students Chosen for Young Ambassadors Program The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) today announced the slate of Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania for 2022-2023. The new-to-Pennsylvania program seeks to build community stewards and civic leaders by inspiring, engaging, and empowering young Pennsylvanians to not only keep their communities clean and beautiful but also become ambassadors in their community for a shared vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. The program, being administered by KPB, was recommended in the commonwealth’s litter action plan, announced by Governor Tom Wolf in November 2021. Students applied to the program and were chosen through a competitive application process. The students have committed to eight months of service as an ambassador while representing and upholding the mission and values of KPB. From October through May 2023, they will also develop civic leadership skills and experience to champion and advocate for clean and beautiful communities across Pennsylvania. 2022-2023 Young Ambassadors of PA: Allegheny County Andy Forrester, Grade 11, Pine-Richland High School;Cale Klaff, Grade 12, Pine-Richland High School;Eli Majocha, Grade 12, Highlands High School; andLuke Anderson, Grade 10, Pine Richland High School. Bradford County: Corben Conklin, Grade 11, Athens Area High School. Butler County: Carmen Skal, Grade 12, Butler Senior High School. Cambria County Jensen Westrick, Grade 12, Central Cambria High School; andMaddie Ostinowsky, Grade 12, Bishop Carroll Catholic High School. Chester County Henri Brunel, Grade 12, Conestoga High School; andNaomi Tzoanos, Grade 11, Owen J. Roberts High School. Columbia County: Brady McNamara, Grade 11, Central Columbia High School. Cumberland County Ania Chandra, Grade 12, Cumberland Valley High School;Morgan Stellfox, Grade 10, East Pennsboro Area School District; andZahra Anjum, Grade 11, Cumberland Valley Virtual Academy. Dauphin County: Eleana Rijo, Grade 10, Susquehanna Township High School. Delaware County CJ Chen, Grade 11, Strath Haven High School; andSage Baker, Grade 10, Strath Haven High School. Erie County Emma Burkett, Grade 12, Northwestern High School;Tanvi Udgiri, Grade 11, Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy; andGianna Stewart, Grade 11, Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy. Indiana County Anna Layden, Grade 11, Purchase Line Junior Senior High School; andVia Krimin, Grade 12, Indiana Area Senior High School. Lackawanna County: Grace Beckish, Grade 10, North Pocono High School. Lancaster County: Stella Blue Weaver, Grade 12, JP McCaskey High School. Lehigh County Adrian Chavez, Grade 10, Nazareth Area High School; andSiddhant Khandelwal, Grade 12, Parkland High School. Lycoming County: Jaden Nixon, Grade 12, St. John Neumann Regional Academy. Monroe County: Rese Schlameuss, Grade 11, East Stroudsburg High School South. Montgomery County Claudia Brach, Grade 12, Perkiomen Valley High School;Ri Sringari, Grade 12, Perkiomen Valley High School; andRudra Patel, Grade 12, Souderton Area High School. Philadelphia County: Minping Nie, Grade 11, Central High School. Pike County: Fawn Dutcher, Grade 10, East Stroudsburg High School North; andAngelique Smalls, Grade 11, East Stroudsburg High School North. Washington County: Abby Salzman, Grade 12, California Area High School.
Precision Software Innovations To Meet Restaurants Across the US Precision Software Innovations has been developing technology solutions for thehospitality and restaurant industry since 2009. The founder and CEO, Gino Piccolino is aformer restaurant owner and knows the struggles restaurant owners face on a dailybasis. That is why he created a company designed to help grow and improverestaurants with their personalized solutions. They are currently set up in restaurantsacross the US and Canada. Precision offers an array of solutions for a variety of restaurant types. They are knownfor their Cloud POS Systems, but they also offer 3rd party integration, Handheld Tablets,Online Ordering/Branded Apps, a Management Platform on multiple formats, Self-Service Kiosks and much, much more! “Our team loves traveling to demo our products for restaurant professionals acrossthe country. It gives us the opportunity to show potential customers how we cansimplify their business and solve their daily challenges. We also get to network with arange of business and integration partners that help us see new ways to improve ourservices.” In the upcoming weeks, Precision will be attending culinary and restaurant tradeshowsacross the US showcasing their Cloud POS and other restaurant solutions to potentialclients. They will have their newest product, Self-Service Kiosk, on full display at alltradeshows, which they offer in free standing, tabletop, counter and wall. “Tradeshows allow us to meet a wide variety of restaurateurs who share theirexperiences and how they operate. As a result, it is a win-win for Precision since we gain new clients and use theirexpertise to enhance our offerings.”
Marywood University’s “Dietitian for a Day” Program Marywood University is hosting a “Dietitian for a Day” program on Tuesday, November 15, from 9:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., in the O’Neill Center for Health Families on the University’s campus. The program is free and open to anyone considering a career in nutrition and dietetics. The program offers students an opportunity to learn what a dietitian is and about the different areas in which dietitians practice. Attendees will gain hands-on experience in several practice areas including sports, clinical and community nutrition, food science, and food service. The program also includes a session with admissions and financial aid counselors, a tour of Marywood’s campus, and lunch. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with the nutrition and dietetics faculty as well as current students. Attendees will gain a clearer picture about the career opportunities for a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the types of classes, course material, and supervised practice involved in being a nutrition and dietetics major. Marywood’s Nutrition and Dietetics department provides coursework that prepares students to provide nutrition care in a variety of settings. Register online by November 10 at https://admissions.marywood.edu/register/DietitianNov22 to attend “Dietitian for a Day.”
Mohegan Reveals New Name for PA Destination: Mohegan Pennsylvania Mohegan, the developer and manager of high-profile entertainment resorts in the US and beyond, is excited to announce that the first destination to bring gaming to Pennsylvania in 2006, will now be known as Mohegan Pennsylvania. “We recently refreshed our corporate name, going from Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment to Mohegan,” said Ray Pineault, CEO of Mohegan. “Many of our partners, stakeholders and valued guests commonly refer to our brand as ‘Mohegan,’ so the new title is a strategic decision that truly encapsulates our capabilities and values. To also create synergy across the Mohegan portfolio, especially as we continue to grow in-line with the Mohegan Tribe’s vision, destinations like Mohegan Pennsylvania have also rolled out a rebrand.” This refreshed name change follows the rollout of Project Starlight, which will soon include the completion of a $10 million renovation to Mohegan Pennsylvania’s 237-room hotel. Other property enhancements as part of Project Starlight include the The Hive Taphouse, which is a new bar and live music venue home to a great entertainment calendar, various flat screens for the big game, 20+ beer options and a full dining menu. The Hive Taphouse is also home to Topgolf Swing Suites where guests can play virtual golf on well-known PGA courses and try their hand at other activities like the Quarterback Challenge. A new seasonal outdoor terrace bar (Embers Terrace), also opened this past summer and quickly became a hot spot for enjoying live music, relaxing by fire pits, playing lawn games, and sipping top-notch wine. “There is so much to be excited about as we approach the new year and that excitement stems from our dedicated team and leadership,” said Anthony Carlucci, President & GM of Mohegan Pennsylvania. “With a new name, revamped hotel, new attractions and the continued unrivaled guest service that has exemplified our brand and all Mohegan properties, we’re thrilled about the next phase of Mohegan Pennsylvania.”
Tobyhanna Army Depot Single Shelter Switch Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) can add the Single Shelter Switch (SSS) to its list of ever-growing workloads. Part of the Tactical Network Transport – At The Halt (TNT-ATH) system group, the SSS is a shelter system that provides robust voice, video, and data communications for global data exchange from anywhere on the planet between various United States Military Units, as well as other friendly coalition forces. Tobyhanna provides diverse support for this system including overhauls, minor resets and repairs. The SSS is very similar to another TYAD workload, the AN/TTC-59 Joint Network Node (JNN). Once upon a time, the Army used these two systems for different purposes. The SSS was used more for phone communications and the JNN for network communications. As time passed and technology evolved, the SSS has grown to also feature network communication capabilities. The SSS workload was acquired based on TYAD’s proven ability to adapt to network and information technology (IT) heavy related systems. Although the internal components of the SSS are now very similar to that of a JNN, TYAD employees would not have ever developed an understanding of how to maintain a SSS without its counterpart. IT Specialist Dan Harnden said he believes IT and network heavy workloads will be prominent at TYAD in the future, so this is a positive sign for the kinds of work depot employees can successfully handle. “Doing successful work on these systems is a sign of how TYAD is adapting to the needs of the United States Army,” said Harnden. “Gaining this knowledge really opens up our possibilities here at the depot.” C4 & Logistics Engineering Division Chief Chester Tracewski and Division Operations Manager Anthony Brandi agreed, saying they believe Tobyhanna has the capability to support the many customer needs. “Tobyhanna’s full-scale support of satellite communications systems provides our diverse customer base with a ‘one-stop shop’ for their readiness needs.” The Network Integration Technology Enhancement (NITE) modernization effort refreshes the Army’s widely fielded TNT-ATH equipment, which is reaching end of life. TYAD engineers have regularly assisted CECOM engineers to locate suitable replacement parts no longer available, as well as added insight for ways to achieve smaller tactical footprints of the equipment for future developments.
NRCI Spirit of Hope Celebration Finalize Event Details The Board of Ambassadors met last week at Montage Mountain to finalize plans for the upcoming Spirit of Hope Celebration set for Friday, November 11, 2022, at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The 2022 Spirit of Hope Tribute to Courage Honoree is Bob Durkin, President of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. The Board of Ambassadors is a group of individuals and business leaders in northeast Pennsylvania whose purpose is to raise funds and promote a gala event in support of cancer screening awareness throughout the region.
Commonwealth Health and Jersey College Open Nursing Program To train additional caring and skilled nurses, Jersey College and Commonwealth Health have collaborated to establish a School of Nursing on Moses Taylor Hospital’s campus, serving the greater Scranton region. The Jersey College Hospital-Based Professional Nursing Program at Moses Taylor Hospital is a six-semester program, culminating in an Associate Degree in nursing, providing its graduates with opportunities to become a registered nurse. Inaugural classes begin in January and students can enroll now. “Jersey College and Commonwealth Health have worked together for many months to develop a unique nursing education experience,” said Greg Karzhevsky, Chancellor of Jersey College. “From our initial meetings, the Commonwealth Health leadership teams have shared our vision for this collaborative model of educating future nurses to care for patients in Northeastern Pennsylvania.” With more than 12,000 square feet of classroom and office space, the Scranton program combines the teaching experience of a college and the clinical expertise of a hospital. This hospital‐based track offers students the ability to learn the art and science of nursing from within a hospital setting. Students are able to experience a seamless transition from classroom theory to clinical application. “The need for nurses in this market and across the country has been high for some time and is expected to continue,” says Todd Burda, CNO of Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton. “Among other factors driving need, nurses have many employment options. We believe that engaging with well-educated students to share the values, philosophies and practices of Commonwealth Health hospitals will help us care for our communities into the future.”