Wayne Bank Appoints Chairman of the Board The Board of Directors of Norwood Financial Corp (NASDAQ Global Market – NWFL) and its subsidiary, Wayne Bank, announced the appointment of Lewis J. Critelli as Chairman of the Board of Norwood and Wayne Bank. Mr. Critelli will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwood Financial Corp and Wayne Bank on May 9 of this year and has enjoyed a long and distinguished banking career of over forty years. He joined the Bank in 1995 as Chief Financial Officer and has served as President and CEO for both the Company and the Bank since 2010. Under his leadership, the Company had three successful acquisitions and expanded into new markets in Pennsylvania and Upstate New York. The Company’s total assets increased from $529 million to over $2.1 billion as of March 31, 2022. Prior to joining Wayne Bank, Mr. Critelli held various leadership roles for ten years in the Lehigh Valley banking industry. He earned a B.S. in Finance from Penn State in 1981 and an M.B. A. from Lehigh University in 1988. He also holds a Bank Administration Institute Degree in Community Banking Financial Management from the University of Wisconsin. With a strong dedication to the local community, Mr. Critelli is actively involved with many organizations. He is a past President of the Wayne Economic Development Corp (WEDCO). He is also on the Board of Trustees, Director of Resource Development, and Co-Chair of the Wayne County Division, for the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, as well as past Chair of the 2019 United Way Campaign. Mr. Critelli is a past President and Treasurer for the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and a past Treasurer and Director for the Chamber of the Northern Poconos. He has served on the Board of Directors for both the Greater Honesdale Partnership and the Center for Developmental Disabilities. A Honesdale Lions Club Member, Mr. Critelli was also Treasurer and on the Board of Trustees for the Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary. He is past President for the Wayne County YMCA and past Treasurer for the Honesdale Rotary Club. Mr. Critelli serves on the Board of Trustees of the Villaume Foundation and has served on various committees of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association at the state and local level, including Government Regulations, Legislative, Education, and Taxation. Mr. Critelli stated, “It is my honor and privilege to serve Norwood Financial Corp and Wayne Bank as we continue to grow, serve our customers and communities, and build shareholder value.” Mr. Critelli resides in Honesdale with his wife, Lisa.
NBT Bank Listed in Forbes 2022 World’s Best Banks NBT Bank has earned a spot on the Forbes World’s Best Banks list released on April 13, 2022, and is the highest ranked bank based in New York and the highest ranked bank in Connecticut and Vermont. NBT is one of only 75 banks in the United States to be included on this list, out of the tens of thousands of financial institutions globally that are able to be considered for the recognition. “We’re incredibly honored to have earned this powerful affirmation that NBT truly has the best team in community banking,” said NBT Bank President and CEO John H. Watt, Jr. “As a community bank, our customers are at the core of all we do and their satisfaction is the driver of our success.” The rating is based on customer satisfaction. Forbes surveyed more than 45,000 customers around the globe for their opinions on their current and former banking relationships. The banks were rated on overall recommendation and satisfaction, as well as five subdimensions: trust, terms and conditions, digital services, customer services and financial advice.
RailRiders Bring Back READing RailRoad Program The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce the return of their READing RailRoad program this spring and summer courtesy of Red Robin. READing RailRoad allows children aged 4-13 the chance to read five books and be rewarded for their work with a free ticket to an upcoming home game at PNC Field and a coupon from Red Robin. “The READing RailRoad is a simple way to keep your child reading outside of their school,” stated Jordan Steiner, the RailRiders Director of Community Relations. “We all know how rewarding sitting down with a book already is and this is a great way to add some fun and incentive plus a sense of accomplishment doing just that!” Printable bookmarks are available on the Community tab of swbrailriders.com or physical copies are available at any of the participating libraries in the area. Those libraries are: Abington Community Library Osterhout Free Library Clymer Library Pike County Public Library Hazleton Area Public Library Pittston Memorial Library Hoyt Library Taylor Community Library North Pocono Public Library Tunkhannock Public Library Parents/Guardians must register their child or children by sending their name, their child’s name, phone number, and mailing address to communityrelations@swbrailriders.com. As each book is finished, the reading log on the bookmark must be completed and the parent/guardian must initial each numbered box. When all five books are read, parents must send a completed copy or photo of the bookmark to communityrelations@swbrailriders.com. The ticket link to redeem one free Field Reserved ticket per participant will be emailed to the parent/guardian once the child has completed the five books and submitted proof. Additional tickets for friends and family will be available for purchase through the link. All tickets are digital and there is a limit of one (1) Field Reserved ticket per child who participated. There is also a limit of one (1) bookmark per child this season. The ticket voucher is redeemable for any 2022 regular season home game – tickets and seating are subject to availability. The coupon for Red Robin is good for a free kid’s meal with the purchase of any adult item. For more information or to print the bookmark, visit swbrailriders.com.
PennDOT Student Art, Safety Program The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is inviting high school students in the northeast region to participate in the annual Paint the Plow art outreach. The program challenges youth to take a predetermined theme and incorporate it into an original mural that they paint on one of PennDOT’s snow plow blades to promote winter driving safety and foster appreciation for school art programs and student creativity. The 2022 theme, “Put Down the Device in Snow and Ice,” was chosen to draw attention to the need for motorists to give themselves ample time for travel during wintry weather in order to arrive safely to their destination. Paint the Plow was piloted in Cambria County in 2015 and later expanded to several surrounding counties and across the state. In the northeast region last year, students in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties participated. Students in public and private schools are eligible to participate, though school officials must make the arrangements. Plow delivery and pick up dates vary by county. The program categories may be modified based on participation numbers. Additional information on the program, including the guidelines for participation, can be found online at www.penndot.pa.gov or may be obtained by Jessica Ruddy at jeruddy@Pa.gov or 570.963.4044. PennDOT cannot provide financial support for supplies or travel expenses connected with this program but does make every effort to publicize the contributions of the schools and the students. This will include, but is not limited to, social media postings, postings on the PennDOT website, media press releases and public displays at a local PennDOT facility. Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District4. Follow PennDOT’s northeast region on Twitter or Facebook.
Johnson College Signs Dual Admission Agreement Johnson College and Bloomsburg University signed a dual admission transfer agreement on April 27, 2022. Through this agreement, students who apply for dual admission and graduate from Johnson College’s Electronic Engineering Technology program are guaranteed admission to Bloomsburg University. They will enter with at least full junior standing in Bloomsburg University’s Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology program. Johnson College students transferring to Bloomsburg University must meet minimum cumulative grade-point average requirements and satisfy all other transfer requirements. All agreements become effective in Fall 2022. “Creating a pathway for our students to achieve a bachelor’s degree at Bloomsburg University ensures they continue to build on their Johnson College hands-on education to advance their future careers,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College. “True to our mission of educating the students of Pennsylvania and beyond, this agreement will ensure that Johnson College students have a seamless transition to Bloomsburg University, creating the best path forward to future success,” said BU President Bashar Hanna.
Run for the Roses to Benefit NeighborWorks This year, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is partnering with The Country Club of Scranton to be the benefiting organization of their Kentucky Derby Party – Run for the Roses. A portion of the event ticket and 50/50 raffle proceeds benefits NeighborWorks. It will be held on May 7, 2022 from 5-8pm at the Country Club of Scranton. For over 14 years, Run for the Roses has emulated the festivities present at the Kentucky Derby. Complete with multiple areas to view the live broadcast of the horse race, passed hors d’oeuvres and an outdoor venue, it celebrates the 185-year-old race held at Churchill Downs racetrack. Event goers are encouraged to dress up in “Derby attire” complete with large hats, bow ties and colorful sun dresses and suits. The event will feature food, an open bar, cigar lounge & bourbon bar, derby drink features and a 50/50 raffle. Pre-registration is $85 per person, and non-members can pre-register with a credit card by May 2, 2022. To make a reservation, call 570-586-2311 by May 2, 2022. For more information on the event, please go to the country club’s website here.
Summer AmeriCorps VISTA Positions at NeighborWorks AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Volunteer Looking for a fun and meaningful way to spend your summer? NeighborWorks is seeking two responsible, self-motivated individuals to provide 10 weeks of service, June 6 to August 14, 2022, through AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). NeighborWorks is a nonprofit organization that revitalizes neighborhoods and creates opportunities for families to improve their lives through quality housing and financial guidance. VISTA Summer Associates are an integral part of our dedicated, hardworking team, which is devoted to bringing low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. About the Position Coordinating volunteer home repair projectsInstalling home safety kits for seniorsAttending community eventsCoordinating neighborhood and park cleanupsMaintaining vacant lotsPicking up litter along main commercial corridorsDocumenting quality of life issues (property code violations, missing street signs, etc.)Gathering stories from residents in written, audio, and video formats This position requires a commitment to serve as a full-time team member for a 10-week period this summer. Although this is a non-salaried volunteer position, VISTA Summer Associates receive a bi-weekly living allowance of $575.40 and are eligible for an education award or cash stipend at the end of their term of service. For more information about the AmeriCorps VISTA program, visit americorps.gov. Qualifications U.S. citizen at least 18 years of ageAbility to work independently on a variety of projects and lead others in service activitiesExcellent verbal and written communication skillsBasic computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft OfficeValid driver’s license and privately owned vehicle for service-related travel How to Apply Applications will be accepted until May 2, 2022, or until the positions are filled. To apply, email your resume to Todd Pousley, Neighborhood Revitalization Manager, at tpousley@nwnepa.org.
Starry Knights Learning Center Earns ECE Champion Award Starry Knights Learning Center received the Equity in Early Childhood Education (ECE) Champion Award, honorable mention level. The Department of Human Services Acting Secretary Meg Snead announced the Equity in Early Childhood Education (ECE) Champion Award recipients to programs across the commonwealth. More than 50 ECE providers were awarded based on their ability to enhance equitable practices within their program as part of providing quality services for children and families. “Early Childhood Education professionals, providers and programs have been such an inspiration during the pandemic, and it should come as no surprise they are also leading equity and inclusion efforts as well,” said Acting Secretary Snead. “Month of the Young Child is focused on bringing attention to the needs of young children and their families and to recognize ECE programs and services that meet those needs – including equity and inclusion.” “It has been a rough two years for ECE programs, and I am so proud to highlight programs that are going above and beyond during this time,” said Deputy Secretary of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Tracey Campanini. “The work around equity and inclusion is so important and we really wanted to make sure that work was recognized and celebrated.”
