Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center To Hold Jobs Fair The Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center (GMVC) in Scranton is holding a jobs fair on Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 1-6 p.m., according to Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming). GMVC is looking to hire registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse aides and nurse aide trainees. “Nursing professionals with an interest in caring for our local veterans are encouraged to attend the jobs fair to learn what employment opportunities may be available at the center,” said Boback. Commonwealth employment offers competitive pay, time off, retirement and many other benefits. To learn more about the benefits package, visit employment.pa.gov/benefits. “Working at the Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center provides health care professionals an opportunity to hone their skills while embarking on a fulfilling career,” said Vito P. Ruggiero, GMVC commandant. “The positive atmosphere, great benefits, and the enjoyment of serving Pennsylvania veterans and their spouses, make this home a coveted place to work.”
PennDOT Invites Pennsylvanians to Share Feedback The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is accepting construction and maintenance services feedback through an online survey. The public can take the survey through October 14 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2022PDConstruction. “PennDOT team members and our industry partners work hard year-round to support safe and efficient travel,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “Our annual surveys help us look for educational opportunities and gauge perception and performance across the state.” The 24-question survey asks respondents how they receive PennDOT roadway information and how often PennDOT meets or exceeds expectations in construction and maintenance activities. Respondents are also asked about experiences with reporting concerns to the department, and whether or how they use the state’s 511PA traveler information services. Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.
Electric City Axe Throwing Comedy Night Ladies, make a plan for you and your girl posse to break from the worries and stress of life to throw some axes and then listen to some jokes. The ticket price includes an hour of free time to throw axes and then a stand-up comedy show featuring comedians Jeannine Luby and Mary Rapach. You are welcome to bring your own wine or beer and snacks. When Jeannine isn’t chasing squirrels off her birdfeeder, she promotes laughter through wellness programs using Laughter Yoga and creates content for her marketing/communications clients. And sometimes she thinks of jokes while she’s trying to breathe and run at the same time. Mary was recently voted NEPA’s Funniest Comedian…for good reason! They are a co-founder of Scranton Improv and teach improv and stand-up comedy workshops there as well as perform. Mary has performed stand-up and improv comedy throughout NEPA and beyond and has served as the charming and hilarious emcee of many drag shows at The Ritz Theater. Register here!
Join the Chamber Influencers Club The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce launches the Chamber Influencers Club. Join a dynamic group of Chamber members representing a variety of professions and industries. Influencers will be an extension of the Chamber by participating in member ribbon cuttings, assisting with Chamber events, and helping with the promotion of Chamber programs and services. Monthly meetings will be held the second Tuesday of each month at 12:00 PM at various member business locations throughout the greater Scranton area. Join Today! For more information, contact Mari Potis, mpotis@scrantonchamber.com or 570-342-7711, extension 130.
Lackawanna College Sunbury Celebrates Anniversary Jennifer Times know the importance of a quality education. After the pandemic pushed her to reassess her career goals, she attended and graduated from Lackawanna College with an associate degree in Business Administration, which has helped her transition to a job in the business industry. Times went to the College’s Sunbury Center, which celebrated its five-year anniversary on Monday, Aug. 1 with an open house. The event included tours, one-on-one help with the College’s Financial Aid office and other informational sessions. The College also waived application and commitment fees for those who applied during the event. Local dignitaries attended the event, including Philip Campbell, Sunbury Center director; Tom Bogush, regional director of Admissions at Lackawanna College, Sunbury Mayor Joshua A. Brosious; Derrick Backer, Sunbury city administrator; Marc Freeman, Shikellamy Principal; Lynda Schlegal Culver, state representative; Joe Kantz, Snyder County commissioner; Kymberley Best, Northumberland County commissioner; Aimee Buehner, chamber representative; Sierra Woodling, Sunbury Revitalization Inc.; Westley Smith, building owner; and several Lackawanna College alumni. “We are grateful to be part of the Sunbury community and be a place where local residents can get a high-quality education,” said Lackawanna College President Dr. Jill Murray. “We want our degree and non-degree graduates to enter the workforce and succeed. An education from Lackawanna College prepares our graduates to excel in their positions and gives local employers people they can count on.” Lackawanna College strives to provide the local communities it serves with degree programs and training that are needed the most. As the community’s college, the Sunbury Center offers residents the chance to study the latest, high-demand fields such as Medical Assisting, Criminal Justice and Business Administration. “The Sunbury Center provides high-quality education for students in Northumberland and the surrounding counties,” said Philip Campbell, Sunbury Center director. “We are committed to providing a quality education to all who seek to improve their lives and better their communities. We continue to be the community’s college and we take that responsibility seriously.” The Sunbury Center has provided opportunities for students like Times to further their education or get retraining. Without her degree, Times wouldn’t have had the necessary training to perform her business duties at her new job, which include invoices, contracts and insurance work. The College’s online Business Administration program was able to give Times the flexibility she needed to finish her degree on a full-time basis and meet her professional and family obligations. “Because of Lackawanna, I was able to get into my bachelor’s degree program at Arizona State University online and the job I currently have,” Times said. “Although the impact of the pandemic was upsetting, I am in a much better position now having graduated from Lackawanna. The staff and professors there have really prepared me for my career and I can’t say enough nice things about the college.” The Center has several different degrees and certificates students can study. Bachelor degrees include Business, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Restaurant and Foodservice Management and RN to BSN. The Center’s Associate degree programs include Accounting, Business Administration, Business Studies, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts – which will start soon, Cyber Security, Human Services, Petroleum & Natural Gas Technology, Professional Studies and Sport Management. Additionally, the Center has certificates in 3D Printing and Medical Assisting. There are also select programs available online such as Business Administration. Those programs provide students the accessibility to a college education in their own community. “For me its accessibility because our kids are not able to all hop in a car and go down to Bloomsburg University or Susquehanna University,” said Marc Freeman, Shikellamy High School principal. “They can go to college right here. If they get job income then maybe they can travel to the main campus so that offers them accessibility as well.” The College also recently signed an articulation agreement with Susquehanna University. That agreement allows qualifying students guaranteed acceptance as a junior at the university. “The programs we have at Sunbury enable students to stay in the area and save money because they can attend a college right here,” Campbell said. “We are constantly looking for ways for students to also continue their education, whether it’s through one of our own bachelor degree programs or with another university that we have an articulation agreement with like Susquehanna University.” For students like Times, it’s about finding the right place that offers the best education. Lackawanna College fit her requirements so much so that even her husband and son are attending. Her husband has been taking a class or two each semester to help him in his current role. Her son will start in the fall. Both are also hoping to get their associate degrees in Business Administration from Lackawanna. “Three out of four people in my family have attended or will be attending Lackawanna College to further their education,” Times said. “Because of my experience at the school, both my husband and son decided to attend Lackawanna. The College really helps you better yourself and gets you prepared for the workforce. I am definitely in a better position career-wise now than I was before the pandemic.” Prospective students in the Sunbury area looking for more information about the Sunbury Center can visit the College’s website at Sunbury Center at Lackawanna College | Lackawanna College. Students can also call the center at (570) 988-1931 to get more information.
Providence Promotes Dan Confer Providence Engineering is pleased to announce Dan Confer has been promoted to Vice President of Business Development. In his new role, Dan will be responsible, in concert with leadership and the strategic vision of the firm, to oversee the business development and marketing activities of the company. “Dan impressed us as soon as he started working at Providence and has grown into a trusted leader, insightful manager, and proven sales and business executive. His skill and experience are perfectly suited to lead Providence’s expanding business development and marketing teams,” said David Bernhardt, President and CEO of Providence Engineering. Confer joined Providence in 2019 as a business development manager, where he was responsible for developing new business throughout South-Central Pennsylvania and Maryland. These efforts have strengthened Providence’s position as a leading provider of structural and MEP design for the building industry. Confer brings over 13 years of business development experience across the architectural, engineering and construction industries. He has recently been appointed to the Society for Marketing Professional Services Central Pennsylvania Chapter board of directors as a Director At Large. He is also active in many professional organizations in the A/E/C community, as well as several fraternal and community-service organizations. Confer holds a Master of Science in organizational development and leadership from Shippensburg University and a Bachelor of Arts from Dickinson College.
The Ritz Celebrates 115th Anniversary The Ritz Theater & Performing Arts Center, at the heart of downtown Scranton, opened over a century ago – Labor Day – and was first known as “The Poli,” NEPA’s premier vaudeville theater which hosted the best performers of all time – Harry Houdini, W.C. Fields, Mae West, Ray Bolger, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Fannie Brice, Will Rogers & many more! This incredible building with its rich history is entering its 115th anniversary in September and is currently the home of the Creative and Performing Arts Academy (CaPAA) of NEPA – a vibrant arts program for kids, teens and adults serving over 300 students from all over NEPA. Students come to the Ritz for a variety of classes in theatre, music, and dance in addition to over two dozen productions throughout the year including The Ritz Mainstage Players, a semi-professional audition-based company offering full musicals and plays for all ages. We are so thrilled that performers of all ages can still experience the magic of this classic vaudeville theater nearly 115 years after Sylvester Poli first opened the doors on Wyoming Avenue. The Ritz Theater’s legacy continues to shine brightly in downtown Scranton! This family-owned operation has become a cornerstone of NEPA’s arts community and is committed to building a positive, safe, and welcoming atmosphere for friends, families, and neighbors to celebrate the arts for generations to come. Come and Celebrate with a slice of Birthday Cake!!
Autumn Train Rides at Steamtown Enjoy the cooler weather and fall foliage aboard a train at Steamtown National Historic Site! Rail experiences vary from short 30-minute trips exploring the park’s historic railroad yard to full-day trips through the Poconos. Visitors can purchase advance tickets for our autumn excursions (Sep.-Oct.) online through recreation.gov or on-site at our Information Kiosk during regular business hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, daily. Tickets for our short train rides, the Scranton Limited and Caboose Experience, are not available online or for advance purchase and must be purchased on-site at the Information Kiosk, the day of your visit. All ticket sales will be credit card only. 2022 Autumn Excursion Schedule Specific event information, including ticket prices, can be found by visiting the event calendar on the park website anytime. Saturday, September 24th – Carbondale: Autumn MarketplaceSaturday, October 1st – East Stroudsburg: Pickle Me PoconosSaturday, October 8th – Gouldsboro: Pumpkin PatchSaturday, October 15th – Delaware Water Gap: Fall FoliageSaturday, October 22nd – Tobyhanna: Fall Foliage and Town TourSaturday, October 29th – Gouldsboro: Ghoulsboro Halloween Short Train Rides – offered through November 5, 2022: The Scranton Limited or the Caboose Experience will operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, as staffing permits. Departure times are: 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:15pm, and 2:30pm.Tickets are $6 for adults and kids over the age of 5; kids 5 and under are free. Tickets must be purchased on-site at the Information Kiosk, the day of your visit. Tickets are valid for unlimited rides on the date of purchase; seating availability is first come, first served. On dates we run our longer excursions, Short Train Rides may be cancelled due to limited crew availability. To check on the status of the Short Train Ride schedule the day of your planned visit, please call 570-340-5204. NOTICE: Masking requirements in NPS buildings and on passenger coaches are based on local conditions. Updates are posted weekly, on Fridays, to www.nps.gov/stea.Train rides are subject to cancellation due to mechanical issues, inclement weather, or crew availability.
WVIA’s Announces Keystone Edition Business Moderator WVIA, the PBS and NPR affiliate for northeastern and central Pennsylvania, has announced that Steve Stumbris, Director of the Bucknell University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), will serve as moderator for the next season of Keystone Edition Business. Stumbris takes on the role after local entrepreneur Kristopher B. Jones served as moderator for the first two seasons of the program. “It was an amazing honor to serve as host of Keystone Edition Business for two seasons and work side-by-side with an incredible staff of WVIA producers and media professionals. I’m excited for Steve Stumbris as the new host and know that he will have the requisite support to thrive,” said Jones. “We are so grateful to Kris Jones for building the Keystone Edition Business brand. With his energy and insights, Keystone Edition Business became a must-watch program for the business community and aspiring entrepreneurs,” said WVIA President and CEO Carla McCabe. “We look forward to this new chapter and are thrilled to welcome Steve, whose experience and expertise have helped thousands of Pennsylvania businesses to start and grow.” “I’m excited to be joining WVIA and look forward to sharing the stories of business leaders and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania as the moderator of Keystone Edition Business,” said Stumbris. “The Commonwealth’s rich history of industry is matched only by the burgeoning new innovations that are driving the economic development of the future.” The next season of Keystone Edition Business will premiere on Monday, October 10th with The State of Business, which will highlight the current statistics and business trends in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. The upcoming season will also cover the topics of inflation/recession, downtown businesses, locally made products, immigrant-led businesses, female founders, youth entrepreneurship, and agricultural businesses. This season will feature the inclusion of live studio audiences and questions for each of the program tapings. Reservations are free but limited and can be made at wvia.org/events.