Rescue & Restore Church Fundraising Banquet Join Rescue & Restore Church for dinner and an evening of hope and encouragement with Auntie Anne Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne’s® Pretzels. The “Beauty for Ashes: Nothing In Life Is Wasted.” fundraising banquet will take place on Friday, August 26th from 7-9 p.m. at Fiorelli Family Catering. Anne Beiler, better known as Auntie Anne, the Founder of Auntie Anne’s® Pretzels, the world’s largest hand-rolled pretzel franchise. Anne’s journey towards success began many years before she rolled the first pretzel when she and her husband experienced any parent’s worst nightmare – losing a child. This propelled Anne into years of darkness, depression, sexual abuse, and despair, but out of her pain came purpose and the desire to persevere towards personal and professional success. Many television shows have featured Anne’s Entrepreneurial insights and personal story, including Secret Millionaire, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, ANDERSON, and Food Court Wars. Many of us can relate to Anne’s personal struggles. Her mission is to help women overcome the pain, blame, and shame of their past by sharing their stories so they can lead with purpose. We hope you’ll join us for this very special evening! Register here.
Outreach Hosts Parent Café for Fathers Outreach recently invited Fathers to attend our Parent Café that was held on June 10, 2022, from 10 am – 11:30 am. The topic of the Parent Café was Dad Talks and featured Pennsylvania State Representatives Kyle Mullins and Thom Welby, sharing their experiences as Fathers. Outreach hosted over 20 participants that spent a morning with their peers and some of the Family Development Specialists from Outreach to share stories, concerns, joys, and accomplishments in a supportive environment. Attendees and their children also received the book “Just Me and My Dad”. Outreach offers a variety of programs that promote family stability and economic self-sufficiency, with respect for the individual and with the highest professional standards. Outreach improves the lives of over 4,000 adults and children each year with evidence-based early childhood education, parenting, family, and workforce development programs that support individuals as they navigate through life’s challenges. While many Outreach families and individuals come from disparate and often-times difficult circumstances, all share one common trait: Hope for brighter tomorrows.
Geisinger Specialist Recognized as “Everyday Hero” Ami; Sharma; MD; Infectious; Desease; Hindi; Scranton Geisinger physician Amit Munshi Sharma, M.D., an infectious diseases specialist at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) with its Everyday Hero award. This award, launched by PAMED in 2018, is designed to showcase physicians who exceed expectations in their profession and in providing patient care. Dr. Sharma was nominated by his peers due to his clinical work during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work included effectively treating and managing more than 1,000 patients admitted to Geisinger Community Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the efficient use of the electronic medical record by designing specific smart phrases to improve work efficiency. He designed an infection control approved workflow document for obtaining consent from patients affected with COVID-19 who agreed to take convalescent plasma, while providing effective and continuous training and teaching of trainees (residents and students) about donning and doffing of personal protective gear during the pandemic. Dr. Sharma was also involved in international collaboration with researchers through webinars about various and aspects of COVID-19 treatment. Upon receiving the award, Dr. Sharma was surprised and humbled. “I don’t like being singled out, but then I realized this is really a recognition for my entire team. We worked hard before COVID and even harder since, so it really means a lot to be recognized,” he said. To his colleagues and team, he is known as the “meducator” for his love of education and “paying it forward” to the team around him. Dr. Sharma was born in India, where he attended medical school at B.J. Medical College Pune. He completed his residency and a fellowship in infectious diseases at the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University where he also earned his master’s degree in public health. When asked why he chose to focus on infectious diseases, Dr. Sharma said, “I love to solve puzzles and figure things out. That’s how infectious diseases is for me. When I can study something and come to a conclusion, that’s how I am rewarded.” Patients and medical colleagues can nominate PAMED member physicians for this award at pamedsoc.org/everydayhero.
PennDOT Urges Caution in Work Zones The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is reminding motorists to drive safely in work zones after there have been several incidents of work zone intrusions resulting in motorists hitting PennDOT employees or equipment. The most recent crash occurred on June 5, 2022 when a PennDOT employee was struck by a motorist while working on a bridge resurfacing project in Allegheny County. The employee suffered injuries requiring medical attention and transportation to a hospital. “Work zones may be a temporary inconvenience, but these workers all deserve to get home safely,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Please slow down and never drive distracted, especially in work zones where roadway conditions can change every day.” According to PennDOT data, in 2021 there were 1,649 work zone crashes, resulting in 16 fatalities. Additionally, since 1970, PennDOT has lost 90 workers in the line of duty. In addition to crash data from police reports, PennDOT monitors work zone safety with internal reports. From January 1, 2020 to June 7, 2022, there have been 300 reported intrusions in PennDOT work zones. Of those work zone intrusions, 31 resulted in injuries to PennDOT employees, 66 caused damage to PennDOT equipment or vehicles only, and 203 did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so. In Pennsylvania, there are two distinct programs related to active work zones. Under Title 75, Section 3326, motorists caught by police driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted for failing to drive at a safe speed, automatically lose their license for 15 days. Additionally, fines for certain traffic violations — including speeding, driving under the influence, and failure to obey traffic devices — are doubled for active work zones. The law also provides for up to five years of additional jail time for individuals convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone. Under Title 75, Section 3369, fines are allowed to be administered through the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program. Pennsylvania’s AWZSE program, first implemented in March 2020, uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record motorists exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more using electronic speed timing devices. AWZSE systems are only operational in active work zones where workers are present. Work Zones that have an AWZSE system present and active will have unique signs in advance of the enforcement area, alerting drivers to the upcoming enforcement. Registered owners receive a warning letter for a first offense, a violation notice and $75 fine for a second offense, and a violation notice and $150 fine for third and subsequent offenses. These violations are civil penalties only; no points are assessed to driver’s licenses. For more information on work zone safety visit, www.PennDOT.pa.gov/Safety. For more information on the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program, including a list of projects where the units are deployed, visit https://workzonecameras.penndot.gov/.
NET Credit Union Awards Scholarships NET Credit Union awarded $5,000 in scholarships to two local recipients: a high school student and a college/trade school student. NET Credit Union believes in giving back to our community and in helping our members reach their goals. Each recipient receives a $2,500 scholarship. Scholarship requirements include: Applicant must be a NET Credit Union member.Must have proof of a B average or better and proof of attendance.Must submit a 1,000 word essay with a cover page answering the question below: Saving for the future isn’t always easy. School, rent, food and other life expenses can quickly take up the majority of your budget. What are your savings goals? How are you planning to save for the future? Is there a product or service you’d wish NET Credit Union offered that could help you save better? Alicia Farrell, our High School Scholarship Winner, is a senior at Abington Heights High School. She plans to study Biology at Elizabethtown College Honors Program in the fall. Olivia Hudak, our College/Trade School Scholarship Winner, currently studies Pre-Law at The University of Scranton.
Black Cat Bakery Grand Opening The Black Cat Bakery grand opening will be help from 10am to 7pm on June 18th at 720 S Keyser Ave, Taylor, PA. If you like the unique, unusual and artsy we are the bakery for you. All are welcome. We will selling tickets at the door and having raffle for a specialty cake (worth over $400!) at the end of the night. We will have a paired down menu upon opening with some very special treats for summer. Including Watermelon Jalapeño, Mango Salsa, Prickly Pear and Rose, and Strawberry Balsamic cupcakes.
