Melissa Gilbert – EMPOWER Conference Keynote Speaker The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce Melissa Gilbert, Emmy winning, Golden Globe nominated actor, director, producer, and NY Times Best Selling author, as the keynote speaker for the 2023 EMPOWER NEPA Women’s Leadership Conference. The 2023 EMPOWER NEPA Women’s Leadership Conference will be held on Thursday, April 13 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. Melissa Gilbert is an Emmy winning, Golden Globe nominated actor, director, producer, and NY Times Best Selling author. As a producer her recent film Guest Artist, written by and starring Jeff Daniels premiered in 2019 at The Santa Barbara International Film Festival. As an actress Melissa’s career began at the age of 2 appearing in commercials and guest spots. Melissa achieved iconic status by the age of 19 after a 10 year run on the television classic Little House On The Prairie (Golden Globe Nomination). She has starred in over fifty television movies and feature films including The Miracle Worker (Emmy Nomination), The Diary of Anne Frank and Splendor in the Grass. Her television series credits include Little House on the Prairie (Golden Globe Nomination, 2 Young Artist Awards), Sweet Justice, Stand By Your Man and Secrets and Lies for ABC. Her company, Halfpint Productions, produced several films including The Miracle Worker (Emmy Award). Melissa made her stage debut in 1979 as Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker”. A member of the legendary Actor’s Studio, Melissa’s other professional theater credits include Laura in Glass Menagerie, Elma Duckworth in Bus Stop, Melissa Gardner in Love Letters, and Rose White, a role she created, in “A Shayna Maidel,” (Outer Critic’s Circle Award and Theater World Award). In 2008 Melissa also created the role of Ma in the Guthrie Theater’s presentation of Little House on the Prairie:The Musical, and toured north America the following year. In 2014 Melissa played M’Lynn in a production of Steel Magnolias at the Totem Pole Playhouse. Melissa’s off Broadway credits include If Only:A Love Story at the Cherry Lane, The Dead 1904 with the Irish Repertory Company and My Brilliant Divorce at the New Ohio Theater. Most recently Melissa starred in the premiere of the critically acclaimed play When Harry Met Rehab at the Greenhouse theater center in Chicago. As an author Melissa has penned three best-selling books; Prairie Tale: A Memoir (New York Times Best Seller) Daisy and Josephine, a children’s book and My Prairie Cookbook. Her fourth book, Back To the Prairie: A Home Remade, A Life Rediscovered, written for Simon and Schuster’s Gallery Books, was released in May of 2022. In 1996, Melissa made her television directing debut with the ABC after school special “Me and My Hormones.” Melissa was president of Screen Actors Guild for two terms 2001-2004. She served on the executive council of the AFL-CIO, The California Film Commission and in 2016 was the democratic nominee for Michigan’s 8th congressional district. In 2015 Melissa and her husband Timothy Busfield co-starred, co-wrote and co-produced the multi-award winning short film “One Smart Fellow.” Gilbert was honored with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award and when she was twenty-one, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Melissa is very proud to tell people that her star is just a short walk from her father’s. She is the proud mother/stepmother of six sons and one stepdaughter. She is also grandmother/step-grandmother to her absolutely perfect, brilliant grandchildren, Lulabelle, Ruby, Eli, Vito, Aury, Bowen and Ripley .
Marywood’s Aviation Program – Top Ten Flight Schools in PA Marywood University’s Aviation Management program is ranked #5 among the “2023 Top Ten Flight Schools and Universities in Pennsylvania” by Academic Ground, an online international scholarship finder service aimed at helping students find scholarships and grants. The global portal includes school reviews, study-abroad programs, and other information aimed at helping students grow professionally. Marywood University is the only university in the region that offers a bachelor’s degree in aviation management with two tracks, including one for pilot/flight operations, for those who wish to become pilots, and one for airline management, for those whose interests are on the business side of airport operations and management. Having a combination degree in both aviation management and business is a distinctive asset to students’ professional career advancement opportunities. Pilot ground instruction is provided on-campus, while flight operations are arranged through an exclusive contract with Wyoming Valley Airport (KWBW), approximately a half hour from Marywood’s campus.
Scranton Tomorrow Honey & Harvest Restaurant Week SHOW ME THE HONEY! Dinner in Downtown will be a little sweeter October 12th-15th as we sink our teeth into Honey & Harvest Restaurant Week! Our downtown master chefs will be cooking up specials, mixing cocktails, and serving YOU the most delicious honey themed menus all week long! Make a plan to hit them all! Be sure to follow us on Facebook & Instagram this week as we preview what’s cooking! 16th WardAV Restaurant & LoungeBar PazzoCatch21 Seafood and SteakChef Von & MomThe Garden RestaurantPeculiar Kitchen SambucaItalian Grille & BarTequila Mexican Bar & Grille Visit our website
Treasurer Stacy Garrity Announces Winners of PA 529 Day Promotion Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced the top award winner of Treasury’s 529 Day promotion, which was available for new PA 529 GSP accounts opened in May 2022. The winning account owners, Zach and Brittany Hebert of Allegheny County, received a deposit of $5,290 in the new PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) account they opened for their son. PA 529 College and Career Savings Program accounts are designed to help PA families steadily and strategically save for future educational expenses – including universities, community colleges and trade schools – with significant state and federal tax advantages. “It’s tremendous to be able to help families save for their child’s future in this impactful way,” Garrity said. “This one-time infusion will certainly boost the Hebert family’s savings for their child, and I hope their story will motivate more families to start saving with PA 529. I look forward to providing more incentives for PA 529 account owners, and to those who may be thinking about opening a PA 529.” “As new parents, countless everyday expenses constantly pop up and make saving for the future challenging,” said promotion winner Zach Hebert. “Through the PA 529 program, we have been able to set-up recurring, consistent contributions to an account for our son’s education. We’ve been able to enjoy peace of mind that comes with knowing we’re setting our son up for success. Although college is certainly not the only path for success, the PA 529 program, and this extremely generous award, help to ensure our son will have a full range of educational opportunities. And for that, we are incredibly grateful.” The 529 Day Promotion also included 59 county-specific winners of $529 deposits for their new PA 529 GSP accounts. Awards were available for all 67 counties as part of the promotion, and 59 counties had at least one new account opened. All award deposits were paid for with surplus earnings from the GSP fund. “Continuing education is extremely important to both my husband and I,” said Franklin County winner Melinda Rush. “We each obtained bachelor’s degrees immediately after graduating high school and went into the workforce afterwards. We want to set ourselves up financially to provide our children with the same opportunity.” “I was so excited to win,” said Wayne County winner Susan Grosso. “I just moved to PA and decided to start my kid’s college savings in my new home state. I rarely win contests, but my kids are the real winners here.” “Opening a PA 529 College Savings Plan is a win-win proposition,” said McKean County winner Mary Pierotti. “Anyone can open an account with whatever amount they choose and receive professional money management to save for postsecondary education for a loved one. You can choose a plan that fits your investment style. I’m glad I opened a 529 account when my son attended college years ago. Now, I’m taking care of my grandson’s future, too.” “This promotion reached all corners of the Commonwealth,” Garrity said. “The extra deposits will help new account owners as they save for their children’s future. We’re excited to help families save and to see their children succeed.”
‘The Good of the Hive’ Artist Master Class, Lecture and Mural As members of Scranton Tomorrow’s Mural Arts Committee and their partners prepare to unveil the latest in a series of public art works in downtown Scranton, two upcoming events will showcase the message behind Matthew Willey’s “The Good of the Hive” mural: A master class and lecture with the artist on Oct. 14 and a mural dedication at First Friday on Nov. 4. Willey is installing “The Good of the Hive” mural on the Scranton City Ballet Company building, Rear 234 Mifflin Ave., Scranton. A project of Scranton Tomorrow, presented by The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, “The Good of the Hive” is made possible with support from community sponsors, including the Lackawanna County Commissioners, Lackawanna Heritage Valley, The University of Scranton, Space Time Mead and Cider Works, Terrana Law Firm, and Lackawanna College. Willey is a world-renowned muralist who is raising awareness about the importance of pollinators through his art. He’s been painting the bee-themed mural in Scranton since late August, and the piece will be complete at the end of October. The project brings him closer to achieving his personal commitment to hand-paint 50,000 honeybees — the number of bees in a healthy, thriving hive — in murals around the world. “Matthew’s work is much more than an inspiring mural,” said Rose Randazzo, chairperson of Scranton Tomorrow’s Mural Arts program. “It’s a movement. Scranton is now connected to a global initiative to save the bees through public mural art.” As a gift to the community, Willey will present a master class and lecture, “The Good of the Hive” on Friday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m., at Lackawanna College, 501 Vine Street, Scranton. The event is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first-served. Lackawanna College is the academic sponsor of this event. “We are honored to be the premier sponsor of this unique mural project that will be on display in our city for years to come,” said Kara Seitzinger, director of public affairs and advisor liaison to the president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “Matt’s work is inspiring communities around the world to think collectively, in the same way that honeybees do. The health of a honeybee hive is the perfect metaphor for the health of a community. “We encourage the community to attend his lecture to hear his fascinating story and insights,” she added. The completed mural will be unveiled at a dedication ceremony at the Scranton Civic Ballet Company building, Rear 234 Mifflin Ave., on Friday, Nov. 4, at 5:30 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited to the celebration. Willey has shared the stories of “The Good of the Hive” through speaking engagements around the world, at the United Nations, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the German and French Embassies in Washington, D.C., Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Duke University, Georgetown University, the Planetary Health Alliance 2018 annual meeting in Scotland, many podcasts, including the National Education Association, and educational institutions throughout the U.S. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Reuters London, The Today Show, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, and countless other publications and media channels. Willey’s mission is to ignite radical curiosity and active engagement around planetary health issues through art, bees and storytelling. His vision is a world filled with people that see and experience the beauty and connectedness of all things. “The hive I’m creating is a metaphor for us all: no matter your color, nationality, religion, gender, age or economic status. This piece of art is an idealized picture of health to focus on as we work toward solutions,” Willey said. The worldwide mural project demonstrates perseverance in the face of adversity. Six years into an estimated 20-year project, Willey has created 35 murals and installations with over 8,600 hand-painted bees. He has reached hundreds of thousands of people and created large-scale works at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington D.C., Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in New York City and Burt’s Bees Global Headquarters in Durham, North Carolina. In 2021, Scranton Tomorrow launched its Mural Arts Program. Designed to transform the downtown landscape, and connect communities, murals reflect the city’s history and qualities that make Scranton unique. Featuring QR codes at each site, visitors are encouraged to use their smartphones to embark on brief, self-guided video tours to learn more about the history and theme of each piece. Through partnerships with professional artists specializing in mural art and conservation, a set of guidelines for public art projects has been developed as part of the program. To learn more, visit https://www.scrantontomorrow.org/muralart.
WVIA To Broadcast a Mind Over Matter Discussion WVIA will broadcast Mind Over Matter: The State of Mental Health in NEPA live from the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton, PA on Thursday, October 27 at 7 p.m. Part of WVIA’s Mind Over Matter mental health initiative, The State of Mental Health in NEPA will feature Moderator Tracey Matisak and a panel of regional mental health experts to discuss the state of mental health in NEPA based on a critical needs assessment. Hear stories from people who are coping with mental health challenges and find out where to get help. Admission is free but limited. Panelists include: Dr. Sanjay Chandragiri, Associate Professor of PsychiatrySarah Wodder, Psy.D., LP, LPC, President, and CEO, Scranton Counseling CenterDawn Zieger, Associate Vice President, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Geisinger Reservations can be made at: wvia.org/mindovermatter
Barry Isett & Associates Adds to Staff Barry Isett & Associates, Inc. (Isett), a multidiscipline engineering firm with offices in Olyphant, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and six other offices in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, welcomes eight new associates to three departments, including Project Management & Construction Services, Code Inspection & Plan Review and Transportation. Kristen Wolfe, NCIDQ, M.A., IIDA, CHID, of Jessup, joined as a Project Manager serving the firm’s Olyphant office. Previously of BDA Architects, she comes to Isett with over two decades of experience as an interior designer and project manager. Ms. Wolfe is skilled in all aspects of design and construction with an emphasis on the higher education, K-12 and healthcare markets. Since joining Isett, she has primarily served as a project manager and owner’s representative for commercial, government and educational projects. Jim Jones, BCO, of Langhorne, onboarded as a Code Specialist based in the Bucks County office. Mr. Jones brings almost 30 years of experience as a Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Inspector with Lower Southampton Township to his new role. At Isett, he will continue to focus on code enforcement and building inspections in our southeast PA region. Charles (Chip) Stalega, of Berwick, joined the Hazleton Office as a Property Maintenance/Zoning Inspector after a multi-faceted career in numerous market sectors. With experience in financial and insurance services, IT and insurance inspection, Mr. Stalega will continue to advance his career in code services by serving the Wyoming Valley region and its surrounding areas. Ronald Kimes, BCO, of Stroudsburg became a member of the Code Services & Plan Review Department as the Regional Municipal Code Manager in our Stroudsburg office. Mr. Kimes previously spent almost 14 years as the Code Enforcement Officer for Stroudsburg Borough where he specialized in specialized in administering and enforcing zoning, building, preservation, property maintenance, and subdivision and land development ordinances. At Isett, he will oversee projects under his jurisdiction and serve as a technical consultant on various code matters. Brian Focht, of Willow Grove, joined as a part-time Fire Inspector in our Bucks County office. A firefighter paramedic for Horsham Fire Company as well as Warrington Township Emergency Services, Mr. Focht brings extensive experience in emergency services training including fire prevention and protection. At Isett, he will conduct fire inspections throughout the southeast PA region. Vincent Miller, of Wilmington, DE, joined as a part-time Fire Inspector based in our Delaware Valley office. Mr. Miller has a long history as a firefighter and has training as an emergency medical technician. In conjunction with his new role at Isett, he also serves as a training administrator at the Delaware State Fire School. Truman Heberlig, of Mount Holly Springs, came on board as a Property Maintenance/Zoning Inspector in the Capital Region office. He holds previous experience with a local engineering firm performing quality control testing, construction materials testing and reviewing plans and specifications. Mr. Heberlig holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Dickinson College. Jerrid Dinnen, PE, PTOE of Moscow, was brought into the Transportation Department as a Project Manager based in the Greater Scranton office. He holds a 22-year background in project management, traffic engineering, transportation planning, highway design and municipal engineering for multiple firms in NY and NJ. Mr. Dinnen is experienced in large-scale projects for both the public and private sectors.
