Geisinger Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine for All Employees Today, 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic and facing another surge in infections, hospitalizations and deaths, Geisinger is announcing all employees will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 15. Rooted in values for safety and high-quality care, the decision requiring employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine follows months of careful study and discussion. “Based on overwhelming evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, we believe this is the right decision at the right time to protect our patients and employees and slow the spread of this deadly virus in our communities,” said Jaewon Ryu, M.D., J.D., Geisinger’s president and chief executive officer. “We understand that some employees who have consciously chosen to not get vaccinated may be disappointed by this decision. We hope they will understand that this is a necessary step to protect the health of our patients and their colleagues.” In addition to current employees, the COVID-19 vaccine requirement includes all new employees, faculty, medical staff, residents, fellows, temporary workers, trainees, volunteers, students and temporary staff, regardless of employer. Employees must complete a Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine series by October 15. All new employees will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment beginning on October 15. “With new variants taking hold, causing rising COVID-19 numbers locally, nationally and in our hospitals, our communities can’t afford for health care workers to be out of work because of COVID-19,” Ryu said. “Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our employees have worked tirelessly, under challenging and unprecedented circumstances to continue delivering world-class care to our friends and neighbors, and this now includes requiring our employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.” An exemption process is available for employees who have a documented and very specific medical reason or sincerely held religious belief that preclude them from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Geisinger has similar vaccination requirements for employees to be protected from viruses like influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis and more. Today’s announcement aligns with the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Group Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Nurses Association, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and many more that have strongly recommended COVID-19 vaccine requirements for health care workers. Geisinger stands with these respected organizations in putting the safety of its patients and staff first. Currently, about 70 percent of Geisinger employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. These employees and all those who meet the COVID-19 vaccine requirement by October 15 are showing a commitment to our values and keeping our patients, communities and co-workers safe. As a thank you for living Geisinger’s values, all non-executive leadership employees who meet the COVID-19 vaccine requirement or receive an approved exemption will be paid a one-time $500 bonus in late October. In addition to COVID-19 vaccines, Geisinger continues to follow other safety measures to prevent the virus’ spread, including requiring masks in all buildings, limiting visitation, and reducing capacity in public spaces to encourage physical distancing. For the latest COVID information, including Geisinger’s policies, visit geisinger.org/coronavirus.
Clarks Summit University Job and Ministry Fair As Clarks Summit University is making preparations for the school year, the Office of Student Development is grateful to reinstate the Job and Ministry Fair on campus. The fair gives local businesses, churches and organizations a chance to connect with students to share employment and volunteer opportunities. The fair will be held Friday, Sept. 10, from 10-11 a.m. at CSU’s on-campus Recreation Center. Marilyn Luster, director of student employment and career readiness, sees it as more than just a chance for students to get a job or sign up to help a non-profit; she wants to give businesses an “opportunity to partner with us in the development of our students.” CSU is committed to preparing Christ-Centered, Career-Ready graduates through academics, co-curriculars and experience-based learning platforms. Off campus jobs and ministries can be part of the intentional student preparation process. “We are thankful for the partnerships we have had with local employers, churches, and non-profits in the greater Scranton area, and we are continuing to seek more partners who are willing to invest in our students,” says Luster. “CSU students have the reputation within our community of having strong character and being honest, hardworking, diligent and consistent. We value the relationships our students have developed with local employers, ministries and non-profits. We are excited for another year to provide the opportunity to send our students into the community to work and serve.” Local businesses, churches and other organizations can reserve a table to present job, ministry and volunteer opportunities at the 2021 Job & Ministry Fair. Hundreds of residential undergraduate students will attend. Employers and organizations will be provided with an eight-foot table and can request an electrical outlet. They are also welcome to request two or more tickets to enjoy lunch with our students and staff beginning at 11:30 a.m. Please bring your own tablecloth, sign and promotional material. Registration is free and quick! Employers and organizations can reserve a table at 2021 Job & Ministry Fair through the Registration Form here: https://clarkssummitu.wufoo.com/forms/clarks-summit-university-job-ministry-fair. There is limited space available, so please register by August 27. Questions can be directed to Marilyn Luster at mluster@clarkssummitu.edu or 570.585.9316. Future employment, internship, volunteer and ministry opportunities for on-campus students can also be directed to Luster throughout the year.
Intermediate Beekeeping Certificate Registration Open The Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center is accepting registrations for Intermediate Beekeeping Certificate which will begin Sept. 2, 2021. The Intermediate Beekeeping certificate is part of an intensive multi-level program designed to provide students with a deep understanding of honey bees and beekeeping. The three levels of certification are as follows: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. The Intermediate program is designed to support beekeepers who have completed the Beginner Beekeeping Certificate or have kept bees for two or more seasons. By the end of the course, beekeepers will be able to grow their apiary, improve their colonies beyond the beginner level and maintain a sustainable apiary. Upon successful completion of the course, students will earn an Intermediate Beekeeping Certificate and will be prepared to take the Advanced Beekeeping Certificate program, which is set to begin Spring 2022. The Intermediate Beekeeping program runs every Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00pm from Sept. 2 to Nov. 4. The cost is $250 for the certificate, textbook not included. The program will be held at the Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center (LCEEC) which is located at 93 MacKenzie Road, Covington Township. For more information about the program, please visit lackawanna.edu or contact Sharon Yanik-Craig at yaniks@lackawanna.edu or call (570) 842-1506.
PennDOT, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania DUI Association Urge Responsible, Designated Driving Ahead of Labor Day Holiday The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Pennsylvania DUI Association gathered today with local police agencies and victim’s advocates in the DUI Victims’ Memorial Garden to urge motorists to celebrate responsibly ahead of the Labor Day holiday. “Crashes involving impaired drivers are entirely preventable,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “We are urging motorists to ensure their safety and the safety of others on our roadways by designating a sober driver this Labor Day weekend and every time they drink.” The event featured victim advocate Kelli Donlen, whose nephew Zachary Gonzalez is memorialized in the DUI Victims’ Memorial Garden. The garden, which was dedicated in October 2003 and is located in front of the Pennsylvania DUI Association’s headquarters in Harrisburg, honors and remembers Pennsylvanians who have been killed in impaired driving crashes. Currently, more than 2,200 people are memorialized in the garden. According to PennDOT data, in 2020 there were 2,698 crashes resulting in 39 fatalities statewide over the holiday week beginning Friday, September 4 at 6:00 PM and running through Sunday, September 13. Of those numbers, 231 crashes resulting in 12 fatalities were alcohol-related and 104 crashes resulting in three fatalities were drug-related. Impaired driving enforcement goes beyond checking for alcohol impairment. Law enforcement also work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication or some combination of these. Pennsylvania has approximately 225 Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) or specially trained officers who look for impaired drivers and assist in DUI investigations when drug-impaired driving is suspected. “We honor and remember the lives lost because someone chooses to drive impaired,” said PA DUI Association Executive Director C. Stephen Erni. “Labor Day weekend and every remaining day of the year, the message is clear: Do not drive impaired. Our collective goal is to end the suffering caused by an individual’s choice to drive impaired.” Over this holiday period, the Pennsylvania State Police and local municipal agencies will conduct impaired driving enforcement details as part of a national impaired driving enforcement and education initiative running through September 6. This effort is funded through PennDOT’s statewide annual distribution of more than $4.7 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for impaired driving enforcement. During the 2019 Labor Day holiday enforcement period, troopers made 610 DUI arrests and investigated 45 crashes in which alcohol was a factor. Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and mitigation efforts that were in place throughout Pennsylvania at the time, statistical information was not collected during the 2020 Labor Day holiday driving period. “Travelers are reminded this holiday weekend to slow down, buckle up, and don’t drive impaired or distracted,” said Captain Robert Wagner, assistant director of the Bureau of Patrol with the Pennsylvania State Police. “Troopers are trained to look for impaired driving behaviors and consistent with our highway safety mission have a zero-tolerance approach toward driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.” PennDOT encourages motorists to always plan ahead by either designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation. The public can join the conversation on social media by using #BeSafePA and #DriveSober. To learn more about PennDOT’s efforts to prevent impaired driving or other safety initiatives, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety. For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit psp.pa.gov. For more information on the Pennsylvania DUI Association, visit www.padui.org. The PAcast for today’s statewide Labor Day Impaired Driving media event is now available online at https://pacast.com/m?p=18979.
Marywood University Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Esports Center Marywood University will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new state-of-the-art Esports Center on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 3 p.m., at the Esports Center, in the Nazareth Student Center on the University’s campus. This event is free and open to the media and invited guests. Light fare will be served. At the ribbon cutting, Marywood University dignitaries, including Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., president; Lisa Lori, Esq., chair of the Board of Trustees; and Paul Capoccia, director of the Esports program, will present the new NEPA premier Esports Center to the public. Sister Catherine Luxner, IHM, vice president for mission services, will offer a blessing, in the Marywood tradition, of the Esports Center. Marywood University’s Esports Center features 30 gaming stations, a workspace for broadcast (webcams, microphones), lounge area for team meetings and coaching sessions, coaching tools including smart tvs and white-board set-up, futuristic high-tech lighting, and a WOW factor that will entice all users of the facility. The Esports program at Marywood blends function and practicality into an exciting premier gaming center. With function at its highest level, Marywood will also establish a welcoming culture in which students can interact and be supported. Visiting students and those competing will have a powerful experience. For additional information about the Esports Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, or for questions about the Esports program, please visit marywood.edu/esports, or contact Paul Capoccia, director the Esports program at Marywood University, at pcapoccia@marywood.edu.
Wayne Bank Launches Customer Care Service Center Lewis J. Critelli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, is pleased to announce the opening of the Bank’s new Customer Care Service Center. The purpose of the Customer Care Service Center (“the Center”) is to provide customers with a quick and convenient way to receive immediate assistance on any of the Bank’s products and services. “We are so pleased to introduce our new Customer Care Service Center,” remarked Mr. Critelli. “Wayne Bank is committed to providing the best possible customer experience throughout our Corporate Office and Community Office network. With the new Center, customers can make one phone call and receive immediate assistance with their banking, whether they have a question about our mobile banking app or want to apply for a home equity loan.” Currently, customers may reach the Center by phone, however plans for future technological enhancements include email contact as well as a live chat feature. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Robert J. Mancuso commented, “Wayne Bank is constantly on the lookout for new technology-based solutions to add value to our customers. The Customer Care Service Center will make contacting us a more streamlined and efficient process, for both our customers and our back office employees.” The Center currently has a team of five experienced and knowledgeable bankers ready to answer questions and help customers with any of their financial needs. The team is led by Vice President and Customer Care Service Center Manager, Tanyia Vannatta, who formerly served as manager of Wayne Bank’s Callicoon Community Office. “The Customer Care Service Center team is excited and ready to assist customers with anything they may need,” explained Mrs. Vannatta. “We have a conscientious and dedicated team here with a combined 23 years of customer service experience, so our customers are in great hands.” Wayne Bank’s Customer Care Service Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon. The Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-598-5002 or 570-253-1455.
Marion Munley Named 2022 “Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs” Munley Law is pleased to announce that Marion Munley has been named “Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs,” Northeastern Pennsylvania, by Best Lawyers. Marion has been named to the “Best Lawyers in America” list every year since 2012. Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing. Lawyers must have at least ten years of experience practicing law to be considered. Additional recognitions are also awarded to individual lawyers with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location. A leader in the legal community, Marion is an active member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and currently serves on the AAJ Board of Governors and on its Executive Committee. She was the first woman to become Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2018 and is a past chair of the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. Marion is the second woman in Pennsylvania to become Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Among her other professional affiliations are the American Board of Trial Advocates,the International Society of Barristers, and the Summit Council, an exclusive group of today’s top civil justice attorneys committed to the highest levels of trial advocacy, to obtaining justice for individuals and families who have been hurt by corporate wrongdoing, and to the protection of the civil justice system.
RailRiders Boyle Honored by Triple-A East Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitcher Sean Boyle has been honored as Triple-A East’s Pitcher-of-the-Week for August 16 through 22. On August 19, Boyle tossed a no-hitter in game two of a doubleheader against the Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park; a 5-0 RailRiders victory. Boyle, 24, made his first-ever Triple-A start on August 19 and the seventh of his professional career since being drafted by the New York Yankees in the 25th round out of Dallas Baptist University in 2018. He walked one and hit one batter in the complete-game effort, striking out six and throwing 95 pitches to no-hit the WooSox. The right-hander had never thrown more than 66 pitches in any of his previous 45 pro outings. Boyle’s no-hitter was the second by the RailRiders this season, joining the performance by Luis Gil, Reggie McClain and Stephen Ridings on July 21 against Rochester, which also netted Gil Pitcher-of-the-Week honors for his effort. Boyle also worked the first four innings of a seven-inning no-hitter for Hudson Valley on July 10. It was the first seven-inning, complete game no-hitter by a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher since Robert Ellis on June 6, 2004, against Louisville. Boyle has pitched at three levels this season, compiling a 6-3 mark with a 2.17 earned run average over 62.1 total innings pitched. The RailRiders continue a two-city road trip Tuesday, August 24, at Lehigh Valley and return to PNC Field on August 31 to host the Buffalo Bisons. Tickets for the upcoming 14-game homestand, which also welcomes Rochester back to PNC Field, are available online at swbrailriders.com.
Dunmore Winery Announces Finalists for Label Competition Space Time Mead & Cider Works is sponsoring its 3rd Annual Label Art Competition. Four finalists have been selected from sixteen submissions. This year’s theme is the “Overview Effect” – a shift in perspective, attributed to astronauts “experiencing firsthand the reality of the Earth in space. During the past year, many of us had their own shift in perspective and priorities caused by the global pandemic. “I love the creativity and hard work that went into this year’s entries – from literal interpretations to more abstract.” Says Dan Schreffler. “Again, it was hard to choose just 4 out of all the entries, and will be even harder to pick just one winner.” Two prizes will be awards – $250 for the Judges’ Selection and $100 for the People’s Choice Selection. Online voting is is open now until August 29th. Each vote is $5 with proceeds from the contest going to the Everhart Museum. To vote: http://www.spacetimemeadworks.com/labelcompetition.html. Winners will be announced Thursday September 1 at the winery and via traditional and social media outlets.
