PennDOT: Voting Open for Paint the Plow ProgramPennDOT: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 4 invites the public to vote on 12 plows decorated by high school students in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Wayne, and Wyoming counties as part of the annual Paint the Plow program. Paint the Plow is a statewide outreach aimed at promoting winter driving safety and fostering appreciation for high school art programs and student creativity. Earlier this year, PennDOT invited students/teens from District 4 to paint plow blades based on the statewide theme “Use Your Reason When It’s Freezin,” The theme was chosen to remind motorists that seat belts save lives and should be worn year-round. Students from Carbondale Area High School, Delaware Valley High School, Dunmore High School, Hanover Area High School, Hazleton Area High School, Honesdale High School, North Pocono High School, Northwest High School, Old Forge High School. Riverside High School, Tunkhannock High School, and West Scranton High School participated. This year, the public is invited to vote through an online survey posted on the PennDOT website District 4 Paint the Plow Voting 2024. The voting form can be found by clicking on the county names within the table. Additional Paint the Plow art programs were held throughout the state and the public may vote on their favorite from each participating district. Participation is limited to one vote per person per district. The plow photo in each district that receives the most votes between December 10 and December 15, 2024, will be deemed the “Fan Favorite” for that area. Along with the “Fan Favorite” award, the blades are also eligible for the“Judges’ Pick” honor that will be determined by PennDOT personnel. The winner in each category will be announced at the end of December. Schools and participants are encouraged to share the link to the contest to promote voting. PennDOT may post thepictures on statewide and regional Facebook accounts, however responses on social media will not count toward the voting totals. For more information on PennDOT’s winter preparations and additional winter-driving resources for motorists, visit the department’s winter website.
New Date! UNC Multicultural Carol Sing Now December 18 DATE CHANGE DUE TO WEATER: United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) is excited to invite the community to the return of our beloved holiday tradition, the Multicultural Carol Sing! This festive event will take place on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Capouse Corner Green Space at 1371 Capouse Avenue in Scranton. UNC will provide lyrics for all attendees so everyone can join in. In addition to music, guests will enjoy piping hot cocoa courtesy of Retro Café and have the chance to create festive crafts. For more information or any questions, please contact Audrey Golosky at agolosky@uncnepa.org or 570-346-6203 ext. 105.
Outreach – Center for Community Resources and its Annual Toyland Workshop Outreach – Center for Community Resources recently held its annual Toyland Workshop at its Seventh Avenue Center in Scranton. Outreach received tremendous support from local donors, businesses, and organizations. These donations provided an array of toys, pajamas, books, and gifts for Outreach families to give to their children on Christmas morning. Families are also provided grocery gift cards to help with the cost of a holiday meal to share. Students at Geisinger College of Health Sciences, and Holy Cross High School each held toy donation drives at their respective campuses. At the same time, Johnson College employees held a drive at their institution to collect gifts. Each drive was very successful, and Outreach is incredibly grateful to each school and all donors for their generosity. It is truly a marvel to see the toddler playroom at the Outreach Seventh Avenue Center overflowing with toys and filled with the spirit of the season’s generosity each and every year. Many of Outreach’s families live below the Federal Poverty Level, and the holidays are often an extra financial burden. Adults come into the Outreach Center and shop for their children, allowing them to choose the toys and books for their children. The Toyland Workshop helps alleviate some of that burden and helps create a bit of Christmas magic.
Geisinger Expands Community Medicine in Lackawanna County Geisinger is adding to its community medicine offerings for patients and members in Lackawanna County. Geisinger Montage, located at 5 Lakeview Commons in Moosic, will provide primary care, ConvenientCare walk-in services, lab, and diagnostic imaging in one newly renovated facility. The primary care clinic and diagnostic services are scheduled to welcome their first patients Monday, Dec. 16, with ConvenientCare slated to open in the first quarter of 2025. Geisinger will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, when members of the community and local media are welcome to tour. Geisinger Montage features 28 primary care exam rooms and six ConvenientCare exam rooms in a 25,000-square-foot space that also serves as a training center for nurses and emergency medical services personnel in Geisinger’s northeast region. “As programs mature, Geisinger Montage will be staffed by eight primary care physicians and four advanced practitioners, making primary care more available to our patients in northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Roger Scott, D.O., internal medicine specialist and director of community medicine in Geisinger’s northeast region. Four more advanced practitioners will staff the ConvenientCare clinic when it opens. Joining Dr. Scott, who is moving his practice to Geisinger Montage, for opening day will be internal medicine specialist Joseph Leo, D.O.; family medicine specialist Saima Mukta, D.O.; internal medicine specialist Michael Jalowiec, D.O., who is a new addition to the Geisinger team; certified physician assistants Thomas Nawrocki and Ripal Patel, and certified registered nurse practitioner Kelly Haikes.
Misericordia University 2024 Winter Commencement Misericordia University’s Winter Commencement ceremony will be held on Sunday, December 15, 2024. The day will begin with Baccalaureate Mass at 10:30 a.m. in Mercy Center Chapel. There is no formal procession for the Mass, and all are welcome to attend. Commencement will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the Anderson Sports and Health Center. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Dr. Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland and a renowned advocate for peace and social justice, will be the commencement honoree and guest speaker.
Johnson College: Hazleton Campus Enrolls for New Pharmacy Technician Program Johnson College is now enrolling for its new Pharmacy Technician program at its satellite campus, Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center in Hazle Township. The program will run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9:30 p.m. beginning January 7, 2025. This comprehensive 50-hour program will prepare students to work as a pharmacy technician in retail or other pharmacy setting. Course content includes pharmacy medical terminology, the history of pharmacy, the pharmacy practice in multiple environments, pharmacy calculations and measurements, reading and interpreting prescriptions, and defining drugs by generic and brand names. Through classroom lectures and hands-on labs, students will review dosage calculations, drug classifications, the “top 200 drugs”, I.V. flow rates, sterile compounding, dose conversions, aseptic technique, the handling of sterile products, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), dispensing of prescriptions, inventory control and billing and reimbursement. This program meets the requirements needed to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certified Board (PTCB) exam as well as the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Pharmacy Technician (PTAC) exam. Participants of the Pharmacy Technician program will be eligible to participate in an optional, 80-hour clinical externship. Requirements for the externship include a resume; waiver; release form; statement of health; vaccines for MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B series, Tdap (within the last 10 years); a TB test (within the last 12 months); background check; drug screen; and state registration if applicable. The total cost of the course is $1,650 which includes textbooks, a PTCB exam voucher, and a PTCB prep course. To learn more or to enroll, visit https://johnson.edu/continuing-ed/pharmacytech/ or contact the Continuing Education Department at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu.
Jeannine Luby Warms Up Scranton Residents with Laughter The temperature hung around 29 degrees but the sunshine and laughter made it feel much warmer when the Connell Park Walking Club gathered on the last Saturday in November. Jannine Luby’s businesses, Laugh to Live, a Scranton-based business, collaborated with Valley in Motion’s Connell Park Walking Club to provide stress-lowering laughter yoga before the Club’s weekly walk around the park. With a lot of breathing in and out, clapping and chants of ho ho ho, ha ha ha and hee hee hee, it didn’t take long for the group to connect, smile and experience the many researched benefits of laughter. Some of the benefits are: healthier blood flow, lower cortisol (stress hormone), boosted endorphins (hormone that helps to manage pain and improve mood), lower blood glucose and more. Gus Fahey, president of Valley in Motion that supports the walking club project said, “The laughter yoga on Saturday was great. It was awesome the way Jeannine kept up the enthusiasm on a cold morning!” Luby was happy to see share laughter yoga with the small group who gathered so they could understand how valuable laughter can be as a resource for self-care and overall well-being, especially at this time of year when we tend to set high expectations and busy schedules. “It’s important that we hit the pause button on our running around and on all of the noise that is out there on social media. It can feel overwhelming. Sometimes we can help ourselves by simply taking a few deep breaths. Add belly laughs and you’re helping yourself recharge to face those long to-do lists.” If you’re interested in healthy activities to lower your stress and anxiety and to boost overall wellness, follow the Connell Park Walking Club on Facebook for their walk schedule and follow Laugh to Live on Facebook for live daily morning laughter yoga throughout the month of December.
Keystone Mission Christmas Meal Operation – Volunteers and Donations Needed Keystone Mission’s Scranton and Wilkes-Barre Innovation Centers for Homelessness & Poverty are gearing up for the Christmas season. Following the success of serving over 280 meals during Thanksgiving, the team is preparing for an even greater impact this December. On Monday, December 23rd, Keystone Mission will host a special Christmas Meal for individuals experiencing homelessness. The Scranton Innovation Center will begin serving at 12 PM, followed by the Wilkes-Barre Innovation Center at 4 PM. “As the colder weather drives more people indoors, we’re distributing additional winter supplies and serving more meals,” says Jillian Mirro, Communications & Marketing Manager. “We encourage the community to get involved—not just during Christmas, but throughout the season—by donating essential items or volunteering.” Keystone Mission is currently seeking volunteers to assist with the Christmas Meal, whether by serving food or contributing needed items. For more information on volunteering or bringing a dish to share, please visit www.KeystoneMission.org/volunteer. For more information on most needed items, please visit www.KeystoneMission.org/donate-goods.
The Queen City Presents The first Kris Kringle Market and Festival of Light Parade 11am – Santa arrives via Sleigh 11:30-3:30pm – Free Photo with Santa 11am -2pm – Free horse drawn sleigh & Carriage rides 11:30 to 3:30 – Free Live Entertainment each half hour 11-4pm – Free Activities for Kids and adult Raffles 11am-7pm – 10 Food Vendors 4:30pm – Parade of Lights on Lackawanna Ave. 5pm – Petting Zoo with a Live Camel, Donkey, Sheep & Goats 6pm – Living Nativity by Rescue & Restore Church with live animals 7pm – Drawing for Raffles & Grand Prize The Grand Prize is a 20”X16″ Original Oil Painting of the Train Station at Christmas by former Mayor Jayme Morano Sr. 11-7pm – Merchants & specials with wandering Minstrels, Choirs and Actors along Main Street There are Free Tickets for the Grand Prize to the first 10 Visitors to participating Merchants on Lackawanna Ave. There will be other Tickets for purchase available at the event. Entertainment includes: 11am – DJ Gordo MC & Music,11:30 – Susan Anderson 12pm – Ron Schoonover, both music of the season, (Times may vary) 1pm – Mid Valley Cheerleaders & Jr Cheerleaders, 1:30pm – Mid Valley Elementary Choral Group, 2pm – Johnston School of Irish Dance, 3pm – Rescue & Restore Church Choir, 3:30pm – Kelly Patrick School of Dance, 4pm – Double R Twirlers
