The University of Scranton to Host Conference on Disability The 23rd Annual U.S. Conference on Disability focuses on access, advocacy and employment in the age of artificial intelligence. Danté Q. Allen, the commissioner of the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, will be the featured speaker at the 23rd Annual U.S. Conference on Disability at The University of Scranton on Oct. 9. The day-long conference will feature nationally respected speakers addressing access, advocacy and employment in the age of artificial intelligence. The 23rd Annual U.S. Conference on Disability at The University of Scranton, “The Rehabilitation Act: Learning From Our Past, Knowing Our Present, and Building Our Future,” will feature nationally respected speakers addressing access, advocacy and employment in the age of artificial intelligence, including Danté Q. Allen, the commissioner of the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Registration is required to attend the conference, which begins at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 9 and is offered free of charge. Also speaking at the conference will be Alison Levy, director of the Office of Technical and Information Services at the U.S. Access Board; Kathy West-Evans, director of business relations for the National Employment Team of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation; John Evans, recently retired Vocational Rehabilitation program administrator for employee relations for the State of Washington Department Social Health Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Gary Karp disability awareness speaker, trainer, consultant and author of “Life On Wheels: For the Active Wheelchair User,” among other notable speakers. The annual conference seeks to educate and enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Rehabilitation Act: Learning From Our Past, Knowing Our Present, and Building Our Future.” Commissioner Allen will speak at the opening session of the conference, which begins at 8:30 a.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center on campus. Allen oversees the Rehabilitation Services Administration that provides leadership and resources to assist state and other agencies in providing vocational rehabilitation and other services to individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and integration into the community and the competitive labor market. Born with Spina bifida, Allen is a fulltime wheelchair user, and a staunch proponent of disability rights and equity. He has been a champion in advocating for the awareness of the reduction of healthcare and financial disparities especially among people of color and people with disabilities. He serves as a board member for Resources for Independent Living, Sacramento, a nonprofit that supports the needs of people with disabilities to live as independently as possible. Levy will speak at 10:15 a.m. As a person with disabilities, and with over 30 years of experience in the disability profession, Levy has worked toward improving workplace attitudes and accessibility, and in providing equal opportunity in the post-secondary, public and private sectors. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Access Board, where she serves, is an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards. The agency also provides technical assistance and training on requirements and on accessible design. Kathy West-Evans and John Evans will speak together at the session beginning at 1:30 p.m. West-Evans plays a leadership role with the National Employment Team, a cross-state team of vocational rehabilitation business specialists working through a dual customer approach to develop strategies with business (private, public, and non-profit) to employ and retain the talents of individuals with disabilities across the company or organization. She is a past chair of the Veterans Advisory Council on Rehabilitation and a former commissioner on the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. She is a frequent speaker and has co-authored articles focused on working with business to employ the talents of individuals with disabilities. Born with profound congenital deafness, Evans spent 31 years of public service in the fields of vocational rehabilitation; labor relations; human resource development; disability integration; and the employment of people with disabilities in the workplace. The closing session, which begins at 3 p.m., will feature Karp, whose spinal cord was injured from falling from a tree when he was 18 years old. The author of four books, Karp’s early career was in computer graphics and he later established an ergonomics consultancy. In 2007, he was inducted into the Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame as a disability educator. He was sponsored by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center to speak at rehabilitation centers and to college students across the United States. Most recently, Karp has been an emergency manager and trainer, and currently serves as a reservist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, through which he was deployed to multiple disasters to help people with disabilities access recovery resources and assistance. The Conference on Disability will open at 8:30 a.m. with remarks from University of Scranton President Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J.; Victoria Castellanos, Ph.D.,Dean of the University’s Leahy College of Health Sciences; and Edward R. and Patricia Leahy, honorary conference co-chairs, followed by remarks by Allen. Kathy Stefanelli, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling and human services at The University of Scranton, will also speak at the conference, during the 11:30 a.m. session, and Renée Hakim, Ph.D., professor chair and program director of physical therapy at the University, will discuss “Advances in Rehabilitation Technology to Improve Human Mobility.” A noon luncheon will include an award ceremony and tribute to the late Ralph N. Pacinelli, Ed.D., a lifelong leader in vocational rehabilitation. The conference, which is presented by the University’s Leahy College of Health Sciences and the Edward R. Leahy Jr. Endowment, is free of charge and open to the general public. However, registration is required. Continuing education credits are also offered for some sessions. More detailed information and registration can be found on the disAbility Conference website. For additional questions, contact conference co-chairs Rebecca Dalgin, Ph.D., professor and chair of the University’s Department of Counseling and Human Services, at Rebecca.dalgin@scranton.edu or Lori Bruch, Ed.D, associate professor and faculty fellow, Office of the Provost, at lori.bruch@scranton.edu.
The University of Scranton Hosts Election Panel Discussion University students posed thought provoking questions on the upcoming to panelists at the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) panel discussion. University of Scranton students from the International Relations course taught by Gretchen Van Dyke, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, posed thought-provoking questions on the upcoming presidential election to panelists at an event hosted by Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) on campus. The panel discussion will air on PCN stations across the commonwealth on Monday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. It will also be posted to their website. Participating in the panel discussion at the University, were, from left: Francine Schertzer, senior vice president and chief content officer for PCN-TV, moderator; and panelists Jean Wahl Harris, Ph.D., professor of political science at the University; Borys Krawczeniuk, a reporter with WVIA; Brit Crampsie, principal for Brit Crampsie Communications; and Christopher Nicholas, principal for Eagle Consulting. The discussion will air on PCN stations on Monday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m., and will air on PCN stations on Monday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m., and will also be posted to their website. Scranton was one of just four colleges from across Pennsylvania selected to participate in PCN’s panel discussions about the election. The college panel discussions from the other schools will air at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 17-19. Panelists participating in Scranton’s discussion were: Jean Wahl Harris, Ph.D., professor of political science at the University; Borys Krawczeniuk, a reporter with WVIA; Brit Crampsie, principal for Brit Crampsie Communications; and Christopher Nicholas, principal for Eagle Consulting. Francine Schertzer, senior vice president and chief content officer for PCN-TV, was the moderator.
The Wright Center Receives Donation from UNICO UNICO supports The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement’s mission. The UNICO National Scranton Chapter recently donated $200 to The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement’s (TWCPCE) food pantry program. It’s the fifth year UNICO has donated to TWCPCE, which helps many of the most under-resourced individuals and families in Northeast Pennsylvania, including those experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, social isolation, poverty, or other hardships. Participating in the presentation at The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary care community health center in Jermyn, from left, are Kara Seitzinger, The Wright Center’s executive director of public affairs and advisor liaison to the president/CEO; Amy Yando, president of UNICO Ladies Auxiliary; Mary Mararra, co-chair of TWCPCE; and Helayna Szescila, The Wright Center’s deputy chief governance officer.
Mohegan Pennsylvania to Host Contestant Search for “The Price is Right” The Price is Right Contestant Search Comes to Mohegan Pennsylvania Mohegan Pennsylvania is hosting a special contestant search for renowned CBS game show, The Price is Right! on Wednesday, October 9th, at 11:00am – 2:00pm at the Keystone Grand Ballroom On Wednesday, October 9th, guests at Mohegan Pennsylvania will get the chance to tell producers why they should be selected to be on one of the most beloved game shows in the country. Two lucky semi-finalists will be selected and travel to Los Angeles. The winner will be called to “Come on Down!” and play the game on national television! The Price is Right Contestant Search is open to guests ages 18 and older. All participants must be 18 years of age at the time of the application and a legal resident of the United States who currently resides in the states/Washington D.C. at the time of the application. Parking at Mohegan Pennsylvania for guests under 21 years of age is located at the hotel lobby entrance in Lot B or Lot C. All auditions are recorded and provided to The Price is Right producers for consideration. Guests are encouraged to dress to impress! Solid colors appear best on TV, so all participants should wear what they would wear on the show. The first 400 guests to register will be guaranteed an audition. Guests can visit pahomepage.com/price-is-right for full details and required forms. This event at Mohegan Pennsylvania is in partnership with WBRE channel 28.
Child Hunger Outreach Program Hosts Pasta Dinner Fundraiser CHOP Out Hunger will host a special Pasta Dinner Fundraiser. For $15, you can enjoy a meal prepared by Pettinato’s Restaurant, including pasta with a meatball, salad, bread & butter, and dessert. Convenient and ready to enjoy at your leisure! But that’s not all—each meal purchased provides a meal to a child in need. All proceeds from this event will go directly towards funding CHOP Out Hunger’s vital programs that support children, seniors, and families facing food insecurity in our community. Get your tickets today and make a real difference!
Marywood Features New Art Exhibit “Expand: Concepts of Space in the Maslow Collection” exhibit runs through October 18th. The Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art is currently featuring an art exhibit, “Expand Concepts of Space in the Maslow Collection,” which will run through October 18. In partnership with the School of Architecture’s Foundation Design course, this exhibition invites the viewer to explore the question, “What is space in artmaking?” Featuring a diverse selection of artists working primarily in abstraction, the exhibition examines how space is defined through techniques such as shaping, screening, layering, wrapping, and twisting. These works challenge and blur the boundaries between the two-dimensional and the three-dimensional, and encourage a deeper investigation into the nature of spatial perception itself. Featured artists include: Jurgen Albrecht, Alice Aycock, Robert Cumming, Aaron Fink, Peter Halley, Clint Jukkala, Denny Moers, Ad Reinhardt, Joel Shapiro, Anthony Sorce, Frank Stella, Ryan Ward, and Terry Winters. For more information on Marywood art galleries, visit marywood.edu/galleries.
Pachee’s Spa Offers Pumpkin Facial Feature Pumpkin season is amongst us, and at Pachee’s Spa, it’s no different. This fall, experience a Facial that will excite your senses – the “Probiotic Pumpkin Facial”! This pumpkin enzymatic treatment is formulated with pumpkin enzymes, hydroxy acids, topical probiotics and infused with retinol, while super-rich pomegranate and pea antioxidants fight free radical damage. The “Probiotic Pumpkin Facial” is ideal for YOU if you’re on the go, a first-timer, struggling with sluggish/dull skin, have fine lines and wrinkles, or experience breakouts!Book your appointment today at Pachee’s Spa, and put your best face forward! All active members of the Scranton Chamber of Commerce will receive 10% OFF their treatments!!!
The Honesdale National Bank Adds New VP Thomas E. Sheridan Jr., President, and CEO of The Honesdale National Bank, announced Brandon Brown has joined HNB as VP, Commercial Lender. Brandon Brown, VP, Commercial Lender In making the statement, Sheridan noted, “Brandon’s extensive experience and dedication to fostering strong client relationships align perfectly with our commitment to providing exceptional financial services” He continued, “We are confident that his leadership will drive growth, further solidifying our presence in the community.” Brown is a graduate of Lake Lehman High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Lock Haven University. Currently residing in Wilkes Barre, PA, he started his 11-year career in the financial industry at a local financial institution as a universal banker and progressively advanced to his current role. He has consistently engaged directly with business clients, demonstrating a keen interest in the dynamic nature of business operations and the continuous evolution of enterprises. In this role, he is responsible for addressing the lending needs of businesses and investors daily. This includes engaging with clients and key influencers to review and discuss the various lending options that HNB provides for their business or client requirements. In describing his recent move to HNB, Brown said, “After the first week with HNB, I have found the experience to be exceptional. The team has been notably welcoming and accommodating, creating a positive and supportive environment. I look forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead.” In his free time, he is actively engaged in his son’s extracurricular activities, particularly soccer. He is currently serving as a coach for the Hanover Area Youth Soccer program. Additionally, he dedicates himself to cultivating Chestnut trees. Each year, he grows approximately 1,500 trees, which are distributed to clients across the Eastern United States.
Junior Achievement of NEPA Seeks Volunteers for YES! Day The Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania‘s YES! Day schedule is filling up with schools all over NEPA with our first few YES! Days fast approaching! They are looking for volunteers to help make this the best experience for the students. If you, or someone you know, would like more information on how to get involved in this morning program, click here to learn more! The Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania is currently looking for volunteers for our upcoming YES! Day Experiences. This morning program teaches important life skills, career readiness, and personal finance to our local students. To make these program a success, we need your help!