Marywood University Veterans Day Ceremony In commemoration of Veterans Day, Marywood University’s Office of Military and Veteran Services and its Student Veteran Alliance (SVA) will honor those who are serving and those who have served our country on at an 11 a.m. ceremony on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at the Marywood’s Veterans Resource Center, 2236 N. Washington Avenue, Scranton, Pa., on the University’s campus. Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., Marywood University’s president, will offer remarks. Peter Howey, a recent Marywood alumnus and a Navy veteran, will serve as guest speaker. “Echo Taps” will be played by two student trumpeters from Marywood’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department, Isiah Ortiz and Zachary Houston, while Marywood student vocalist Leanne Onofrio will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The ceremony site will feature Flags for the Fallen, an outdoor display of thousands of U.S. flags that honor those who have fallen while serving our country. Raul E. Santana Nuñez, M. Ed., Marywood’s director of military and veteran services, is coordinating the event, which is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served following the ceremony at the Veterans Resource Center, Noon-3 p.m. “Veterans Day gives the Marywood community and the public the opportunity to pray, reflect, and honor those who have served or are serving, with special recognition of and respect for those service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Mr. Santana Nuñez.
Representative Karen Boback News Boback’s Bill Commemorating Tuskegee Airmen Needs Governor’s Signature to Become Law A bill sponsored by Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) that would designate March 29 of each year as “Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day” in Pennsylvania passed unanimously in the Senate last week. House Bill 2586 now awaits the governor’s signature to become law. “Nearly 100 Tuskegee Airmen came from western Pennsylvania, more than any other region in the nation,” Boback said. “It is important that we both remember and honor this group of outstanding state residents who put their lives on the line for our nation and Commonwealth, all while in the face of racial adversity.” The Tuskegee Airmen were the first group of African-American military aviators, fighting with exemplary courage and distinction during World War II. Despite facing rigid racial barriers and constant segregation, these airmen were among the most accomplished and effective pilots of the entire war. Upwards of 900 pilots who graduated from Tuskegee Airfield flew 1,578 missions and 15,533 sorties, destroying 261 enemy aircraft and earning themselves more than 850 medals, collectively. The bill also would require an annual proclamation from the governor encouraging all public schools and educational institutions to observe and conduct exercises recognizing the Tuskegee Airmen and their sacrifices. The governor has 10 days to sign, veto or allow the bills to become law without his signature. If signed, the new law would take effect in 60 days. Boback’s Bill to Assist Older Foster Youth Awaits Governor’s Signature After Senate Approval – A bill sponsored by Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) aimed at helping older foster youth in Pennsylvania find more permanent family connections passed unanimously in the Senate on Wednesday. House Bill 1866 now awaits the governor’s signature to become law. “It is imperative that we do all we can to help foster youth in Pennsylvania find a permanent family before reaching adulthood and, if that doesn’t happen, to ensure they at least have positive family and community connections,” said Boback. “My bill helps these young people to make the often difficult transition into adulthood with a support system in place. I am so pleased we were able to get it across the finish line before the end of the current legislative session.” House Bill 1866 builds on existing state requirements that foster youth receive counseling and other services as they grow older, including the identification of family members who may be willing to assume a primary caretaker or other supportive role. The measure also ensures those requirements are fully and effectively implemented. If signed, the new law would take effect in 60 days.
SWB RailRiders Sets 2023 Home Game Times The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced their home game times for the 2023 season. The new campaign starts on March 31 and the 150-game slate runs through September 24, including 75 games at PNC Field in Moosic. The first pitch for all but two weeknight games throughout the season will be at 6:35 P.M. Saturday games in April and May will start at 4:05 P.M. and shift to 6:05 starting on June 10 for the remainder of the summer. All Sunday games will begin at 1:05 P.M. in 2023. Games on May 9 and 23 will have a 6:05 P.M. first pitch. The RailRiders will host two school day games in 2023 with 11:05 A.M. start times. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hosts Omaha on Wednesday, May 10, and Worcester on Wednesday, May 24, in the early games. The final Saturday game of the home schedule, September 16 against Buffalo, is set with a 4:05 P.M. start. Promotions and giveaways will be announced at a later time and all game times are subject to change. Season ticket memberships, including full, half, partial and a flex plan are on sale now. Find more information online at swbrailriders.com or by calling (570) 969-2255.
Wilkes University Presents The Sordoni Art Gallery The Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University presents “David C. Driskell and Friends: Creativity, Collaboration, and Friendship, Works from the David C. Driskell Center,”a Dr. Roy E. Morgan Memorial Exhibition. The exhibition highlights the artistic legacy of David C. Driskell and his relationships with fellow artists, many of which have a significant place in the art canon. It will be displayed from Nov. 1, 2022, through Feb. 26, 2023. David C. Driskell (1931-2020) was an American artist, scholar and curator recognized for his work in establishing African-American art as a distinct field of study and was cited as one of the world’s leading authorities on the topic. In 1976, Driskell curated the groundbreaking exhibition, “Two Centuries of Black American Art: 1750–1950,” which has been a foundation for the field of African American art history. His teaching career includes institutions such as Talladega College, Howard and Fisk Universities and University of Maryland. He served as visiting professor of art at several universities, including Bowdoin College, the University of Michigan, Queens College and Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. At each institution, he prioritized exposing students to artists and their work through artist residencies, exhibitions, and prolific slide collections. Driskell passed away April 1, 2020, in Hyattsville, Maryland, from complications of COVID-19. He was 88. The exhibition was curated by Sheila Bergman of the University of California–Riverside, Curlee Raven Holton of the Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, and Wilkes gallery director Heather Sincavage. The exhibition is the first of its kind for this collection and explores the work and Driskell’s relationships with such figures as Hale Woodruff, James Porter, Elizabeth Catlett, Kara Walker, Romare Beardon, Keith Morrison, Jacob Lawrence and many more. Original works of art created by Driskell will also be featured, as well as ephemera from the Driskell Papers that exemplify the artists’ unique friendship. All works featured in the exhibition are from the David C. Driskell Center. The center, established in 2001 by the University of Maryland, honors Driskell by preserving the rich heritage of African American visual art and culture. This traveling exhibition will debut at the Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University, and subsequent venues will include University of California-Riverside University of Pennsylvania and University of Maryland. In connection with the exhibit, the gallery will feature a series of events that are free and open to the public: Curator panel discussion, 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 2: Discussions, moderated by Robert Salsburg of WVIA, will center around the pivotal influence David C. Driskell had on the art history canon, his growth as an artist and a career of community building throughout the African American art community. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. Art in Context film screening, 5 p.m. on Nov. 9: Black Art: In the Absence of Light is an illuminating documentary that spotlights the indelible contributions of some of the foremost African American artists in today’s contemporary art world, including Theaster Gates, Kerry James Marshall, Faith Ringgold, Amy Sherald and more. The film will be followed by a discussion moderated by Dan Kimbrough, owner and founder of Park MultiMedia. Advance registration is required for this event by emailing melissa.carestia@wilkes.edu. Spaces are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. Second Saturday Family Hour, 12 to 2 p.m. on Nov. 12: The session is inspired by the work of Kara Walker, one of the most complex and prolific American artists of her generation. Walker gained national and international recognition for her cut-paper silhouettes depicting historical narratives. Participants for this event are invited to make their own cut paper silhouette while viewing one of Walker’s masterpieces in the gallery. Materials will be provided. All experience levels and ages are welcome. Storytime, presented by the Osterhout Free Library, will be at 1 p.m. The Sordoni Art Gallery is located at 141 S. Main. St. in Wilkes-Barre and shares space with the Karambelas Media and Communication Center. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The gallery follows the operating schedule of Wilkes and is closed on University holidays, breaks or due to inclement weather. The gallery will be open by appointment only during the University’s semester break from Dec. 17, 2022 until Jan. 14, 2023. For more information, visit www.wilkes.edu/sordoniartgallery.
FNCB Bank Adds James Kelshaw to Commercial Lending Team FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, today announced that James Kelshaw has joined the commercial lending team as Senior Vice President, SBA Loan Manager. As SBA Loan Manager, Mr. Kelshaw will be responsible for the oversight of the Bank’s U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lending activities. Mr. Kelshaw joins FNCB Bank with 30 years of credit, commercial lending and SBA lending experience. Most recently he served as the Executive Director of the Northeastern Economic Development Company of PA-CDC. He is a graduate of Hazleton High School and King’s College where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master’s in Finance. An active member of the community, he is past vice chairman and current board member of the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress and past vice president and current member of the Hazleton Rotary.
Johnson College Forklift Operator Training Course Johnson College’s Continuing Education program is offering a Forklift Operator Training Course on Saturday, December 17, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Diesel Truck Technology Center on the College’s campus in Scranton. The cost of the course is $200, but if you are a current Johnson College student or alum the cost is only $100. Space is limited! Visit johnson.edu/continuingeducation or contact our Continuing Education team at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu to learn more and enroll. The forklift operator training is designed to familiarize students with OSHA Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Requirements (29CFR Standard 1910.178 and ASME B56.1), provide current training requirements under the newly adopted standards, and assist participants in becoming an authorized operator of forklifts through theory and tactile testing. Nine hours of instruction including pre-operational inspection, picking up, traveling, and placing loads, parking procedures, refueling, and practical operation.
WVIA Announced as RACP Recipient WVIA has been announced as the recipient of a $2.25 million dollar award from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) of Pennsylvania.“We are grateful to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for selecting WVIA as a recipient of RACP funding among so many worthy applications. For over 50 years, WVIA has been proud to serve this region, and we look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence for generations to come” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President, and CEO. “Thank you to our board members and community leaders who advocated on behalf of WVIA for this grant award as well as James Davis and the team at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies for their support in the process.”
Keystone College To Offer Servsafe Class Keystone College will offer a ServSafe manager certification class on Monday, November 7 from 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. at 120 College Avenue, Factoryville.The training will cover topics involving food-borne illnesses and health risks that commercial food service establishments must learn in order to provide safe food for customers.
Geisinger Health Plan Store Holds Ribbon Cutting Geisinger Health Plan Store held a ribbon cutting to celebrate its grand reopening at 2266 Wilkes-Barre Township Marketplace. Open in Wilkes-Barre since 2015, the store, formerly known as Geisinger Community Place, recently underwent renovations and a rebranding to make it easier for residents of Luzerne County to stop in and talk to representatives about healthcare coverage. “Choosing a healthcare plan doesn’t have to be a challenge. This retail space allows for one-on-one conversations to make the process easier,” said Roger van Baaren, chief sales officer for Geisinger Health Plan. “Our goal is to make sure each person who comes through our doors feels welcome and informed as our team helps them find the right coverage for themselves or their families through a variety of plans to meet their needs and their budget.” Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the store is staffed with licensed insurance advisors and customer service representatives who can help answer questions about Medicare Advantage plans, options for individuals and families, Medical Assistance and CHIP for children up to age 19. The space also serves as a community resource for events and special occasions, free of charge. It includes a conference room that fits up to 25 guests, plenty of parking, a computer, projector and screen, internet access and space for food and beverages. In the past, the store has been used to showcase the work of local artists and host community events as well as health and wellness fairs.
Gerrity’s To Give Employees Appreciation Bonus Gerrity’s Supermarkets has spent the past two months transitioning its stores to The Fresh Grocer banner. The project is now close to wrapping up and the owners of Gerrity’s The Fresh recently surprised their 1,300 employees with a bonus of up to $250. “This has been a major effort for our teams. It’s a change that we know makes us better, but it’salso a challenge that involved our entire staff and we’d like to say thanks with this bonus,” saidJoyce ‘Mom’ Fasula, President of Gerrity’s Supermarkets. “Ultimately, we know the conversion isworth it because it will help our customers find even more great products and lower their grocerybill.” The Fresh Grocer specializes in serving high quality, fresh prepared foods to communities inPennsylvania and New Jersey, and is a registered trademark of the retailer owned cooperativeWakefern Food Corp. The transition to the Fresh Grocer format means Gerrity’s customers canexpect new products, services and lower prices but can rest easy that their favorite aspects of theGerrity’s experience will remain, including Gerrity’s ownership, recipes, people, and service. Thestores have converted one at a time each week since August. The Fasula’s have recognized that the process has required everyone to go above and beyond thecall of duty. To show their gratitude for everything their team has done to help Gerrity’s rebrandfrom Shursave to The Fresh Grocer, the Fasula family is giving associates a bonus. Anyoneemployed for the four weeks of each store’s conversion is eligible for an appreciation bonus of upto $250. Full-Time employees will receive $250, and part-time associates is receiving a proratedamount based on how many hours they worked. The amounts received will be prorated based on a40-hour workweek for each of the four weeks. The total investment Gerrity’s is making in theirteam will be over $350,000.
