Commonwealth Health Scranton Donates Peanut Butter To help address hunger in our community and in celebration of National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day on April 2, Commonwealth Health Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton have donated more than 900 jars of peanut butter (and other nut butters) to CEO Weinberg Food Bank and Bread Basket of NEPA. All of that peanut butter was donated by Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital employees, medical staff members, volunteers and The Wright Center during the recent Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive. According to Feeding America, 12.7 percent of residents in the Lackawanna County struggle to put food on the table. The Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive was launched to help support individuals who are facing food insecurity, which is a social determinant of health. “With the rising cost of basic life necessities such as food, more and more individuals and families are reaching out for help just to get by. Local food banks are struggling to keep up with this increasing demand.” Said Greg Drapek, Commonwealth Health Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton board member. “ The success of the Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive will not only provide a helping hand to so many in need, but is also indicative of the kindness and long standing support of our community that has been the hallmark of our employees.”Peanut butter is one of the most requested items for food banks because it is highly nutritious and has a long shelf life. Unfortunately, many food banks in America report it is also one of the least donated food items. Other foods needed by food banks include non-perishable items such as cereals, pasta, and canned foods such as soups, vegetables, beans or fruit.People can support CEO Weinberg Food Bank and Bread Basket of NEPA by volunteering their time, hosting a food drive, donating food and/or money.
Johnson College to Host Annual Carpentry Auction Johnson College’s Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology program will host an auction to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, inside the Moffat Student Center on the Johnson College Scranton campus. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the auction starts at 6:00 p.m. The auction is open to the public. More than 60 items will be available to bid on, including cutting boards, tables, cabinets, a bookcase, and more. All items were created by students in the Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology program. Many of the items were made from re-purposed material. The 2022 Carpentry Auction raised $5,781 to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA. To learn more about the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA, visit https://cacnepa.org/.
Tobyhanna Army Depot Collaborating with U.S. Army Information Systems Employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot are leading the charge to connect warfighters in the field with their leadership back at home. The depot is now collaborating with the U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command to lead the Mission Command Facility (MCF) workload across the Department of Defense. The MCF effort is an offshoot of the Home Station Mission Command Center effort, which established and modernized joint operations mission centers around the world. Similar to a situation room, the facilities are outfitted with high-end teleconferencing equipment such as projectors, video monitors, microphones, and speakers for real-time communication, visibility and decision-making. Taking over the mission represents a classic opportunity to meet a customer need and own a niche market, according to Robert Hagenbaugh. “Although the formal HSMCC program concluded, units across the world were eager to get their own command centers to increase communication,” he said. “Tobyhanna quickly stood up our own program to fill a gap in the market, and we have a heavy demand for these state-of-the-art installations.” Hagenbaugh is an engineering technician in the Production Engineering Directorate. Tobyhanna’s initial support for HSMCCs provided electricians and equipment installers. The quality product provided by those teams led to an expanded scope of work, which included custom cabinetry, wood fabrication, networking support, wireless installation, and full-spectrum engineering support – all of which has endured through the new MCF program. Hagenbaugh noted positive word of mouth was a big driver in the workload’s expansion. “Our customers love us. I’m proud to say we have never left a job with an unhappy customer. That level of work speaks for itself – and every happy customer leads to another opportunity for this workload.” A MCF mission begins with a site survey, where engineering personnel develop exact customer needs. Personnel then develop the installation proposal, acquire equipment once the proposal is approved and assemble the installation team. To accomplish this broad scope of work, the MCF program requires support from a cross-functional group of employees across the depot. Mission teams include employees from a variety of Tobyhanna organizations, to include C4ISR, Production Engineering and Systems Integration and Support. The teams also have support back on-post at Tobyhanna from Production Management and other mission support organizations. MCF installations are part of a bigger push across the services to modernize facilities and increase communication stability. “The Army now operates in a multi-domain battlefield. The MCF updates/ installations gives joint Commanders the latest technologies to monitor and execute missions real-time, every single day,” said Hagenbaugh. Because of the high demand for the MCFs and the complex nature of the mission, volunteers are always needed, said Engineering Technician Patrick Mullen. “We are always looking for members of Team Tobyhanna willing to travel the world in support of this dynamic workload – specifically those with audio-visual, telecommunications, or information technology backgrounds. Desirable certifications and/or trainings include those from Avixa, BICSI, and Crestron. We welcome all qualified members of Team Tobyhanna who want to be a part of the MCF mission team!” Ronald Kolment, Chief of the SATCOM Integration and Testing Engineering Branch, lauded the entire team that supported the MCF workload. “This is a great team, and I’m very proud of the work that they do.” Upcoming MCF missions will take place in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Japan, Korea, and Texas. Current depot employees interested in volunteering for an MCF mission should contact the MCF Coordinator at (570) 615-8087. MCFs are a critical part of warfighter readiness, and the mission directly aligns with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035, which has four focus areas: Investing in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications. TOBY2035 aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense’s premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider. Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners. Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters. About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.
Steamtown National Historic Site Seeking Vendors for Event Steamtown National Historic Site (NHS) is seeking proposals from vendors to provide mobile food services on Saturday, June 17, 2023 for the site’s Railfest event. Those submitting proposals will be required to follow the latest version of the FDA food code, follow Temporary Food Event (TFE) guidance provided by the Office of Public Health (OPH), and hold a NPS Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) with Steamtown NHS. For additional information, applications, or clarification of requirements, please e-mail stea_permits@nps.gov or visit: www.nps.gov/stea/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm Steamtown’s 2023 Railfest event is being offered in partnership with the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum’s Arts on Fire event held at the Scranton Iron Furnaces. Both sites are excited to be collaborating to provide an interactive and immersive experience showcasing our community’s industrial heritage. Details are still being ironed out for the events which are expected to include activities such as an iron pour, live music, arts programming, and more! Updates will be forthcoming. Located in downtown Scranton, PA, Steamtown NHS is currently open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; at the time of the event and during summer months, hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From Interstate-81 follow exit 185 (Central Scranton Expressway); then follow the brown and white signs to the park entrance at Lackawanna Avenue and Cliff Street (GPS: N 41.41, W 75.67). General park information is available by visiting the park website anytime.
Johnson College Receives Grants Johnson College has been awarded two Area Development Grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). These grants will support regional workforce training capabilities with campus-wide equipment upgrades and the development of two mobile training laboratories for STEM technology and building trades technology. The grants total $430,000 and include College matching funds of $215,000. The mobile laboratories include 35’ trailers outfitted with student workstations and equipment for training in STEM and the building trades. Equipment is interchangeable and the laboratories will be configured as needed for hands-on education. While identical in the scope of flexible training capabilities, both the first and second mobile laboratories will be deployed in two unique equipment configurations depending on the location and need for each. They will serve different training needs at the same time. The mobile training laboratories will be used to help develop a pipeline for students entering the trades by providing remote, hands-on learning to high school students that are enrolled in the College’s Dual Enrollment and Industry Fast Track programs. Using the latest tools and technology, younger students from rural school districts will experience first-hand, the wider range of STEM-related and building trades education and career opportunities available to them. Additionally, the College plans to deliver short-term, customized training programs at industry partner locations to enhance the skills of essential workers. “These mobile labs will allow us to bring opportunities to those in rural areas who don’t currently have access to hands-on education due to barriers including distance and transportation,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, Johnson College’s President and CEO. “I am excited that with support from the Appalachian Regional Commission, more people will have access to STEM and building trades training.” The two cutting-edge mobile laboratories will serve Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Susquehanna, and Wayne counties. Both will help Johnson College reach more students and industry partners in rural locations and provide access to education and jobs that may not have existed, or been more difficult for them to previously obtain. The new equipment funded under the grant will enable Johnson College to upgrade campus technology and deliver the most up-to-date training to students to prepare them to enter Appalachia’s growing essential workforce. Programs receiving technology upgrades include automotive technology, civil design, electrical engineering technology, heavy equipment technology, welding technology, electrical construction technology, biomedical equipment technology, and computer information technology. This project will build the College’s capacity to help regional employers meet the growing demand to fill essential positions in the workforce and promote economic development, thus improving the economic prosperity of this region’s students, workers, industry, and communities
Wayne Bank Finance Team Inducted into PA Bankers Association Wayne Bank’s William S. Lance, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Nancy Hart, Senior Vice President and Controller, were recently recognized by the Pennsylvania Bankers Association (“PBA”) for their 40 years of service to the banking industry. New inductees to the 40-Year Club, Mr. Lance and Mrs. Hart were honored at the PBA Group 3 meeting that was held in March. Jim Donnelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank said, “We are so proud to congratulate Bill and Nancy on achieving this milestone of service to the community banking industry. It is a privilege for Wayne Bank’s customers, shareholders, and employees to enjoy the benefit of their extensive experience, leadership, and dedication after 40 impressive years in banking.” A graduate of the University of Scranton, Mr. Lance has served the banking industry for over forty years, including the last 13 years at Wayne Bank. In his current position as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, he is responsible for managing the finance division of the Bank. His duties include finance and accounting activities, interest rate risk management, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Mr. Lance has a history of involvement with the Pennsylvania Bankers Association and has served the organization in various capacities, including Secretary of Group 3 since 2011. Mrs. Hart joined the Bank in 1979 as a member of the Bookkeeping Department. Over the course of her career with Wayne Bank, she has held positions in the Loan Department, as a Branch Manager, and as a Finance Manager in the Accounting Department. In 1997, Mrs. Hart was promoted to Controller and Assistant Secretary. In 2015, she was promoted to her current title of Senior Vice President. Nancy holds an associate degree with honors in Banking and Finance through the American Institute of Banking. She has also completed a two-year Graduate School of Banking and Financial Management program and is a graduate of the PBA’s School of Banking. The Pennsylvania Bankers Association, located in Harrisburg, is the state’s leading banking trade association representing an expansive and diverse membership. The Association offers extensive continuing education programs, government relations representation on behalf of the industry, and provides numerous products and services for banks and their employees. Wayne Bank is a subsidiary of Norwood Financial Corp., Member FDIC, and is located in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The Bank has 29 Community Offices serving Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Lackawanna, and Luzerne Counties in Pennsylvania, along with Delaware, Sullivan, Otsego, Ontario, and Yates Counties in New York State, including those offices operating under the Bank of Cooperstown and Bank of the Finger Lakes brands. The stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol— NWFL.
Geisinger School of Nursing Receives Support In conjunction with the sold-out Lewistown Social – an evening of dinner, dancing and stargazing – Geisinger Health Foundation is holding an ornament sale to support the Geisinger School of Nursing. “I had great experiences with my time at the school, including huge amounts of clinical time and hands-on experience… something that you just can’t replace,” said Kade Myers, 2020 graduate and inpatient registered nurse in the Geisinger Lewistown Hospital intensive care unit. “I think this is a huge piece that contributed to who I am as a nurse today.” The sale is open to everyone, and anyone interested in purchasing an illuminated ceramic star ornament can do so for $20 at go.geisinger.org/stars. One of three designs will be randomly chosen for each recipient. Ornaments can be picked up any day between April 24 and May 12 at: Geisinger Lewistown Administration BuildingGeisinger Health Foundation in DanvilleGeisinger Wyoming Valley Medical CenterGeisinger Community Medical CenterAt the Lewistown Social for those who’ve registered to attend Purchasers can also choose to have an ornament delivered to a deserving Geisinger nurse during National Nurses Week, May 6 through 12. Geisinger Health Foundation will follow up with those who choose this option to collect delivery information and a personal note. Email FoundationEvents@geisinger.edu or call 570-214-0400 with questions.
PennDOT Accepting Unsolicited Public-Private Partnership Proposals Submission period applies to PennDOT-owned projects and infrastructure The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Office of Public-Private Partnerships (P3) announced today that it is accepting unsolicited proposals for transportation projects from the private sector through April 30. The submission period applies to PennDOT-owned projects, infrastructure, and services. During this period, the private sector can submit proposals offering innovative ways to deliver transportation projects across a variety of modes including roads, bridges, rail, aviation, and ports. Proposals can also include more efficient models to manage existing transportation-related services and programs. Unsolicited proposals are being accepted through 11:59 PM on April 30. Instructions on how to submit a project and information on the unsolicited proposal review process can be found on the state’s P3 website. PennDOT holds an unsolicited proposal period in April and October each year. The private sector may also submit applications for non-PennDOT-owned assets directly to the P3 board during this time. Transportation entities outside of the governor’s jurisdiction, such as transit authorities and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, may establish their own timelines or accept proposals year-round. The state’s P3 law allows PennDOT and other transportation authorities and commissions to partner with private companies to participate in delivering, maintaining, and financing transportation-related projects. As part of the P3 law, the seven-member Public Private Transportation Partnership Board was appointed to examine and approve potential public-private transportation projects. If the board determines a state operation would be more cost-effectively administered by a private company, the company will be authorized to submit a proposal and enter into a contract to either completely or partially take over that operation for a defined period of time. The next unsolicited proposal acceptance period will occur in October. To learn more about P3 in Pennsylvania, including active projects, visit PennDOT’s website.
