NEPA Gives Raises Over $1.24 Million in 24 Hours The Scranton Area Community Foundation is proud to announce that on Friday, June 4, 2021—in just 24 hours—218 local nonprofit organizations worked together to collectively raise a total of $1,246,121 for NEPA Gives, surpassing its $1 million dollar goal. NEPA Gives was hosted by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, in partnership with The Luzerne Foundation, Greater Pike Community Foundation, Wayne County Community Foundation, Carbon County Community Foundation, The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center (NCAC), and other community sponsors to raise awareness about the critical work nonprofit organizations carry out across the region and to help charitable organizations raise much-needed funds, especially during these challenging times. “In this second year of NEPA Gives, we are overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of the people of the Northeastern Pennsylvania region,” stated Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “We believe that especially now, during these challenging post-pandemic recovery times, it was important to provide an opportunity for nonprofits to raise much-needed funds to support their efforts, and we are grateful that the generous people in Northeastern Pennsylvania responded so well.” NEPA Gives, which accepted donations online at nepagives.org on Friday, made history as the single largest day of philanthropy in Northeastern Pennsylvania for the second year in a row. A handful of checks and offline donations are still coming in, so the total will likely increase in the coming days ahead. Over 5,766 donors generously supported NEPA Gives. NEPA Gives was also generously supported by numerous sponsors including Moses Taylor Foundation, DiscoverNEPA, Cumulus Media, Shamrock Communications, Hawk Family Foundation, Schwartz Mack Foundation, Women in Philanthropy, the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative, the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, and many others. Adding to the momentum, over $450,000 in prizes and matching incentives were awarded to participating nonprofits for notable achievements, all sponsored by generous businesses, foundations, and donors across the region. 218 nonprofit organizations from across eight counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania participated in the 24-hour fundraising event including The Diocese of Scranton, Equines For Freedom, NeighborWorks Northeastern PA, Women’s Resource Center, Countryside Conservancy, St. Joseph’s Center, Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science, and Art, and United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania. To celebrate the historical and monumental giving day, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti made an official proclamation declaring June 4, 2021, as NEPA Gives Day. During the day on Friday, a small handful of host sponsors and community guests gathered at the Hilton Scranton Hotel & Conference Center to broadcast a live-streamed event with updates and excitement which aired on nepagives.org throughout the day. The Scranton Area Community Foundation partnered with Scranton-based team Posture Interactive to host the live broadcast. This was the second year for NEPA Gives. Last year, NEPA Gives raised over half a million dollars for 167 nonprofit organizations. To learn more about #NEPAGives, visit nepagives.org or contact Brittany Pagnotti, Communications Manager of the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203.
Marywood University Welcomes the Catholic Women’s Conference Marywood University will host the Catholic Women’s Conference on the University’s campus on Saturday, June 19, 2021, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The cost of the conference is $40 for in-person attendance or $20 for virtual attendance. To register, please visit www.cwcnepa.com. The Catholic Women’s Conference titled; “Refresh your Faith with Merciful Love” will feature various speakers including: Father Chris Alar, MIC, reveals the beauty and powerful message of Divine Mercy. He wrote and produced the popular “Divine Mercy” 101 and “Explaining the Faith” DVD series. Father Alar explains the “merciful love” that comes from the Divine Mercy feast, image, novena, chaplet, and hour of mercy, and how to incorporate them into your spiritual life.Theresa Bonopartis will bring attendees on her personal healing journey through Divine Mercy. Her reflections will help attendees through issues of their own healing journey.Sister Virginia Joy will illuminate how much God loves you with His Merciful Love. She will help attendees to look deeper and re-encounter their own goodness in the ups and downs of life.Music finale with Taylor Tripodi. Taylor grew up in a small suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. She is the oldest of nine children, who taught her that you have to speak up in order for your voice to be heard. Taylor uses her voice to bring God glory and praise, inspiring all who hear her to praise Him with her.Celebrant for the conference is The Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Bambera, D.D., J.C.L. Bishop Bambera will celebrate the Mass for the Refresh Your Faith Catholic Conference for Women.Jeannine Lesante, vice president of marketing for SamSon Productions/SSPTV, will serve as the Hostess for the Catholic Women’s Conference. Ms. Lesante teaches Public Speaking at King’s College, from which she also graduated in 1997. Jeannine’s nonprofit, “Making A Difference,” has raised thousands of dollars for worthy events in NEPA. For additional information about the Women’s Catholic Conference or its featured speakers, please visit www.cwcnepa.com.
PennDOT Extends Expiration Dates for Apportioned Vehicle Registrations The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that the expiration date for apportioned vehicle registrations for Pennsylvania residents that were set to expire between May 31, 2021 and June 16, 2021 are extended through June 16, 2021. Apportioned registrants should mail their apportioned renewal applications to the Department for processing, or it may be completed in person at the Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg, at 1101 S. Front Street, Harrisburg. Apportioned invoices may be paid by certified check, cashier’s check, money order or wire transfer. Certified check, cashier’s check, money orders should be made payable to: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Customers in need of apportioned registration renewals now have until on June 16, 2021 to complete the renewal process. For more information on Driver and Vehicle Services, please visit www.dmv.pa.gov. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services. Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation.
Nay Aug Park Wednesday Concerts June 16TOM HAMILTON JAZZ SEXTET6:00 pmJune 23WEST 3RD STREET JAZZ/FUNK BAND6:00 pmJune 30FORTUNES6:00 pmJuly 7ELECTRIC CITY STEEL DRUM BAND6:00 pmJuly 14ERIN MALLOY & FRIENDS6:00 pmJuly 21JUNG BERGO6:00 pmJuly 28BOBBY BAIRD DIXIELAND BAND6:00 pmAugust 4KERRY KENNY BAND6:00 pmAugust 11OLD FRIENDS6:30 pmAugust 18BARNEY BOYS6:00 pmAugust 25SHADES OF TIMEwith Paulette Cost6:00 pmAugust 28THE NEW PARAMOUNTSfeaturing Paulette Cost6:00 pmSeptember 1LENOXVILLE BAND6:00 pm Funded by Scranton Recreational Authority with additional funding from City of Scranton, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Lackawanna County Department of Arts & Culture produced by Scranton Recreational Authority and Scranton Music Association.
Geisinger Health Plan Ranked Best Commercial Health Plan in Pennsylvania For the second year in a row, Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) ranked best among commercial health plans in Pennsylvania for member satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study. Now in its 15th year, the annual study measures satisfaction among members of 150 health plans in 22 regions throughout the United States. Results are based on responses from 32,066 commercial health plan members from January through March 2021. Six key factors are examined through the study, including billing and payment, cost, coverage and benefits, customer service, information and communication, and provider choice. The study also measures several other key aspects of the experience and member engagement. GHP earned the top score for cost in the study, which measures the reasonableness of premiums, deductible, prescription copay and doctor visit copay. “Healthcare should be easy and affordable for everyone, especially now,” said Kurt J. Wrobel, GHP president and executive vice president of insurance operations for Geisinger. “Despite unprecedented challenges over the past year, this study tells us that our members and patients continue to get the quality of care they have come to expect from the name they trust most with their health. They will always come first, no matter what.” As part of an integrated health system, GHP maintains a provider network of more than 48,000 care providers and 130 hospitals across Pennsylvania. More than half a million members — including businesses of all sizes, individuals and families, as well as Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medical Assistance beneficiaries — trust GHP for their healthcare coverage.
Outreach Seeks Your Support in Building a Stronger Community Have you dreamed of making history? Of course; we all have. On Friday, June 4, you have a chance to be a part of history during northeastern Pennsylvania’s day of giving, known as NEPA Gives! Outreach – Center for Community Resources respectfully requests your support during the 24-hour NEPA Gives event on Friday, June 4, 2021. From 12:00 a.m. to 11:59:59 p.m. on June 4, donations made to Outreach through the NEPA Gives platform will support Outreach programs promoting family stability and economic self-sufficiency. Every gift makes a real difference in the lives of men, women, and children in YOUR community seeking hope for a brighter tomorrow. To learn more about Outreach and the individuals and families we serve, visit the Outreach NEPAGives page at https://www.nepagives.org/organizations/outreachworks. Thank you in advance for your generosity to our organization! Sponsored by Scranton Area Community Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, Greater Pike Community Foundation, Wayne County Community Foundation, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center (NCAC), NEPA Gives is a one-day online giving extravaganza that’s all about giving back to the community. To learn more about the #NEPAGives campaign, visit nepagives.org.
The Dime Bank Announces PennCFL Challenge Winners The Dime Bank is thrilled to announce winners of The Dime Bank sponsored Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy (PennCFL) Stock Market Challenge competition. Paige Schmidt, a student at Honesdale High School under the leadership of Ms. Barbara Lutat, triumphed in the Pike & Wayne Stock Market Challenge competition by finishing in first place in the High School Division. Read More Kevin Scissons, a student at Preston School under the leadership of Mr. Don Burchell, finished in first place in the Middle School Division. Read More Lakota Kinney, a student at Damascus School under the leadership of Mr. Don Burchell, finished in second place in the Middle School Division. Read More Logan Arthur, a student at Carbondale High School under the leadership of Ms. Licia Olivetti, finished in third place in the High School Division. Read More Reilly McNish, a student at Wallenpaupack Area School District under the leadership of Mrs. Argyro Paspalas, finished in third place in the Middle School Division. Read More Rosa SanClementi, a student from the Wallenpaupack Area School District, finished top ten in the state in the Spring Statewide 2021 Elementary School Division. Rosa worked under the leadership of her teacher, Mrs. Argyro Paspalas. Read More Congratulations Paige, Kevin, Lakota, Logan, Reilly, Rosa, and their teachers Ms. Lutat, Mr. Burchell, Ms. Olivetti, and Mrs. Argyro Paspalas on job well done! PennCFL provides to all students in grades K -12 in Pennsylvania a world-class, web-based stock simulation platform and curriculum. The cutting-edge, real-time stock game is derived from Stock-Trak’s University Platform, which is used in over 80% of the top business schools in the United States. The Dime Bank is proud to sponsor programs such as PennCFL that promotes financial education in our local schools.
‘Duty to Report Disappearance of a Child’ Bill Passes Judiciary Committee Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) announced the passage of her legislation by the House Judiciary Committee that would require a report about a missing child be made within 24 hours after his or her whereabouts became unknown. The bill does offer protection for guardians who have a legitimate reason to believe the child is safe with someone else. “This bill was a response to the highly publicized trial of Casey Anthony. Ms. Anthony was acquitted of the murder of her child, even though the evidence showed she failed to report the child missing for nearly a month,” said Boback. “The legislation is written to ensure a parent could not be prosecuted for an innocent mistake, but only under circumstances where the conduct is completely unjustifiable.” House Bill 488 would require proof that a parent’s silence exhibited a reckless disregard for a risk of harm to a child, or for the child’s health, safety or welfare under the circumstances. The requirement that the parent act with recklessness would, for example, protect a divorced parent who may not have knowledge of their child’s whereabouts, but who has a reason to believe the child is with the other parent or a friend. The duty will extend to natural parents as well as stepparents, adoptive parents, guardians and custodians. A violation would be a felony of the third degree, punishable by up to seven yearsconfinement and $15,000 fine. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
Geisinger Surgeon Completes 200th Robotic Assisted Pediatric Spine Surgery As of May 2021, Geisinger’s Dr. Meagan Fernandez has performed more than 200 robotic-assisted pediatric spine surgeries at the Pennsylvania-based Geisinger Musculoskeletal Institute. Geisinger’s Musculoskeletal Institute is the only pediatric hospital in Pennsylvania using robotic assisted technology for pediatric spine surgery. Robotic-assisted spine surgery has already been used in adults. But those surgeries are largely focused in the lumbar spine, where the robot guides the surgeon in placing a small number of screws. In pediatric surgeries, the surgeon covers a much larger area with significantly more screws. Dr. Fernandez specializes in treating pediatric sports injuries, ACL reconstruction and meniscus injuries, fractures and traumatic injuries, and scoliosis. For her pediatric spine surgeries, she uses the Medtronic Renaissance™ system, the first robotic spine assist technology used in Pennsylvania to treat pediatric patients with scoliosis that requires surgery. Renaissance™ is designed to improve the safety and accuracy of implant placement in spine surgery. A certified child life specialist accompanies Dr. Fernandez during clinic to help young patients cope using play therapy and activities. The child life team also helps children understand why they are getting certain tests and can answer questions about the equipment. Dr. Fernandez joined Geisinger in 2011 and is a 2005 graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed an orthopedic surgery residency in 2010 at UPMC Pinnacle in Harrisburg and a pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowship in 2011 at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta. Dr. Fernandez is a member of professional organizations including the Scoliosis Research Society, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North American, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association.
Scranton Cultural Center to Launch Concert Series with Young Lion The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple will launch its free outdoor summer concert series with Young Lion on June 11. Young Lion offers a blend of roots, rock and reggae and is comprised of members Jamie Zaleski, Lion Sanford, Chris Condel and Angelo Miraglia. The show will take place outside the Scranton Cultural Center at 420 N. Washington Avenue. “It has been a long hiatus for in-person events, which is what we thrive on” said Deborah Moran Peterson, SCC Executive Director. “We have enjoyed being able to connect with our audiences virtually through the past year, and we are so grateful to be able to welcome back the community with this free concert series.” Young Lion began playing together for Sarah Street Grill’s George Wesley Tribute Night in December 2016 in Stroudsburg, PA. Chris Condel and Lion Sanford were George’s bandmates, and Jamie Zaleski (of the Southside Bandits) fronted the band for most of the tribute night. They decided to keep working together, and have since added Angelo Miraglia on keyboards to round out their sound. Young Lion’s blend of roots, rock, and reggae is accomplished by the different playing styles and experience of its members. Young Lion live performances include improvisation on their songs to provide listeners with a fresh experience every time you hear them perform. All current CDC Guidelines will be followed at each performance with any updates being shared via social media. All performances will run from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM; a cash bar with light fare will open at 6:00 PM prior to each show. Additional performers in the series include Erin Malloy & Friends (July 9), The Mule Team (August 13) and Blind Choice (September 10). To learn more about the Scranton Cultural Center and its upcoming events, visit SCCMT.org. The free outdoor summer concert series is sponsored by LT Verrastro, Truly Hard Seltzer, UGI Utilities Inc. and Fidelity Bank. It is supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.
