WVIA To Broadcast a Mind Over Matter Discussion WVIA will broadcast Mind Over Matter: The State of Mental Health in NEPA live from the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton, PA on Thursday, October 27 at 7 p.m. Part of WVIA’s Mind Over Matter mental health initiative, The State of Mental Health in NEPA will feature Moderator Tracey Matisak and a panel of regional mental health experts to discuss the state of mental health in NEPA based on a critical needs assessment. Hear stories from people who are coping with mental health challenges and find out where to get help. Admission is free but limited. Panelists include: Dr. Sanjay Chandragiri, Associate Professor of PsychiatrySarah Wodder, Psy.D., LP, LPC, President, and CEO, Scranton Counseling CenterDawn Zieger, Associate Vice President, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Geisinger Reservations can be made at: wvia.org/mindovermatter
WVIA To Broadcast Pennsylvania’s Congressional District Debate Live WVIA will broadcast the 2022 9th Congressional District Debate live from the WVIA Studios in Pittston, PA on Friday, October 21 at 7 p.m. The debate will simulcast live on WVIA-TV and WVIA Radio and will livestream on WVIA’s Facebook and Youtube channels as well as at wvia.org. The live debate for the 9th Congressional District will feature incumbent Congressman Dan Meuser (R) and Amanda Waldman (D). Information on Dan Meuser can be found at https://www.meuserforcongress.com Information on Amanda Waldman can be found at https://waldman4pa.com The producer and moderator of the debate will be WVIA’s Larry Vojtko. Panelists for the debate will be Brian Smith, City Editor of the Pottsville Republican, Francine Schertzer, Sr. Vice President and Chief Content Officer, PCN, and Andy Mehalshick, lead member of the Eyewitness News I-Team, WBRE.
WVIA’s Announces Keystone Edition Business Moderator WVIA, the PBS and NPR affiliate for northeastern and central Pennsylvania, has announced that Steve Stumbris, Director of the Bucknell University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), will serve as moderator for the next season of Keystone Edition Business. Stumbris takes on the role after local entrepreneur Kristopher B. Jones served as moderator for the first two seasons of the program. “It was an amazing honor to serve as host of Keystone Edition Business for two seasons and work side-by-side with an incredible staff of WVIA producers and media professionals. I’m excited for Steve Stumbris as the new host and know that he will have the requisite support to thrive,” said Jones. “We are so grateful to Kris Jones for building the Keystone Edition Business brand. With his energy and insights, Keystone Edition Business became a must-watch program for the business community and aspiring entrepreneurs,” said WVIA President and CEO Carla McCabe. “We look forward to this new chapter and are thrilled to welcome Steve, whose experience and expertise have helped thousands of Pennsylvania businesses to start and grow.” “I’m excited to be joining WVIA and look forward to sharing the stories of business leaders and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania as the moderator of Keystone Edition Business,” said Stumbris. “The Commonwealth’s rich history of industry is matched only by the burgeoning new innovations that are driving the economic development of the future.” The next season of Keystone Edition Business will premiere on Monday, October 10th with The State of Business, which will highlight the current statistics and business trends in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. The upcoming season will also cover the topics of inflation/recession, downtown businesses, locally made products, immigrant-led businesses, female founders, youth entrepreneurship, and agricultural businesses. This season will feature the inclusion of live studio audiences and questions for each of the program tapings. Reservations are free but limited and can be made at wvia.org/events.
WVIA Announces Original Documentary Film Chronicling the 2022 Southern Columbia Area High School Football Tigers WVIA has announced its next original documentary film will chronicle the 2022 Southern Columbia Area High School Football Tigers as they chase a PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc.) record sixth consecutive state championship. Award-winning WVIA filmmaker Alexander Monelli will tell the story of their season from the locker room to practices to the sidelines of the games, giving viewers an up close and never-before-seen look at of one of the top high school football programs in the state. Located in rural Catawissa, Pennsylvania (near the world-renowned Knoebels Amusement Resort), the film aims to discover what makes the small-town team so successful year after year while simultaneously chronicling its great history. The documentary will also delve into some of the history of high school football in northeastern and central Pennsylvania, exploring programs like George Curry’s old Berwick Bulldogs and comparing them to Southern Columbia. The film will feature interviews with the 2022 Southern Columbia football team and its coaches alongside interviews with former NFL players Henry Hynoski (Southern Columbia, New York Giants) and Bo Orlando (Berwick, Houston Oilers), as well as former WNEP sports director Jim Coles, who covered Southern Columbia and regional high school football for 33 years. “We have this incredible story right in our own backyard. The Southern Columbia football program was almost shut down in 1980 because of a 26-game losing streak and poor player turnout. It is now the perennial state champion with the winningest high school football coach in Pennsylvania history,” said filmmaker Alexander Monelli. “Everyone has their theory (good and bad) about how Southern is so dominant every year. I’m looking to answer that question with this film. And the real answer might just surprise you.” “What I hope people will say after this documentary is ‘they do things the right way,” said head coach Jim Roth. “As far as the way we work, the way we treat players, the way we interact, and then the rest takes care of itself and translates into wins.” “Southern Columbia High School football is a unique story, and we are excited to give our viewers an up-close and personal view of this team,” said Ben Payavis II, WVIA Chief Content Officer. “WVIA takes pride in shining a light on the stories of our region and giving them a platform to be shared with the world.”
WVIA Announces Addition to its Board of Directors WVIA, the PBS and NPR affiliate for northeastern and central Pennsylvania, has announced that Jonathan H. Weis will be joining its Board of Directors. Jonathan H. Weis is chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Weis Markets, a Mid-Atlantic food retailer with 198 locations in seven states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and West Virginia. As president and chief executive officer, Mr. Weis oversees all aspects of Weis Markets’ operations and management. He is a member of the company’s executive committee and board of directors. “It is an honor to have Jonathan join the Board here at WVIA,” said Carla McCabe, WVIA president and CEO. “Jonathan’s experience and expertise will bring valuable insights to the board and the station as a whole.” “We’re pleased to welcome Jonathan as the newest Member of the WVIA Board. Along with the Weis family’s long-standing commitment to the community, he will add perspective through Weis Markets’ presence that is reflective of our diverse, 22-county, Public Media Service Area” said L. Peter Frieder, Chair of the WVIA Board of Directors. Mr. Weis joined the company full-time in 1989. Early in his career, he worked in produce merchandising, grocery procurement and store operations. Mr. Weis subsequently worked in Weis’ real estate department, and in 1996, he became the Company’s vice president of property management and development. In 2004, he became vice chairman and corporate secretary. A graduate of Shikellamy High School in Sunbury, Pa., Mr. Weis holds a B.A. from Yale University. He has served on various boards including Susquehanna University’s Board of Directors.
HNB Supports WVIA with EITC Donation The Honesdale National Bank was once again authorized to make approved contributions under the Commonwealth’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. HNB designated $2,500 of their approved allotment to WVIA Public Media. The funds, donated by HNB, will support educational programming. HNB President & CEO, Thomas E. Sheridan Jr., stated, “The accessibility of public media will continue to be important to our communities.” He said, “We are glad that we are able to continue to serve our area by contributing funding for this program.” Kirsten Smith, Grants & Education Officer at WVIA stated, “Thanks to the HNB’s EITC contributions, WVIA will be visiting many children in our shared region with educational programs to benefit their literacy and STEM needs. I will be certain to inform you of that progress and punctuate how impactful your EITC donations always are in doing wonderful things for children and families in our region.” WVIA-FM is a non-commercial, public FM radio station licensed to serve Scranton, Pennsylvania and is the National Public Radio member station for Northeastern Pennsylvania. The station is owned by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Educational Television Association along with its sister television station, WVIA-TV.
WVIA Announces New Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel WVIA Announces Kristen Mackrell Clark as New Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel WVIA, the PBS and NPR affiliate for northeastern and central Pennsylvania, has announced Kristen Mackrell Clark Esq. as the organization’s new Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel. Kristen comes to WVIA from Myers, Brier, & Kelly, LLP where she served as an attorney representing educational institutions and non-profit organizations. While there she focused on helping clients with corporate governance, business planning, tax planning, and individual and corporate tax audits. Prior to working for Myers, Brier, & Kelly, LLP, Clark worked as a Certified Public Accountant specializing in individual and corporate taxation. Kristen has been honored by her peers every year since 2018 as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star and in 2015, she was recognized as a Top 20 Under 40 Business Professional by the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal. She attained her Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law, Master of Accountancy from the George Washington University, and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. “We are extremely fortunate to have a team member with such a unique combination of skills,” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President, and CEO, “Hiring Kristen in this critical leadership role demonstrates our ability to once again attract top talent at WVIA who want to be a part of our exciting future.” “I am thrilled to be joining the dynamic leadership team at WVIA,” Clark said. “I look forward to using my legal and accounting experience to serve in the dual role of Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel. Carla and her team are building something exciting at WVIA, and I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of strengthening this community treasure for our region.”
WVIA Receives Four Awards WVIA receives four 2022 Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Awards WVIA has received four 2022 Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (PAB) Awards for programs in three categories. WVIA received two PABs in the Outstanding Radio Feature Story/Report/Series 2022 category for WVIA Keystone Edition: Dushore Resident Marks 9/11 To Remember The Fallen and WVIA Keystone Edition: Kids Count. The Pennsylvania PBS program Battling Opioids: Part Eight, which was produced by WVIA won in the Outstanding Television Public Affairs Program/Program Series 2022 category. WVIA also received a PAB for its co-production with the Scranton Jazz Festival of The Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite in the Judges’ Merit-TV-2022 category. “WVIA is honored to be recognized for our efforts in both radio and television,” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President, and CEO. “The programs that received awards showcase our continued commitment to providing the highest quality arts, news, and information to the people of northeastern and central Pennsylvania.” “It is always an honor to be recognized by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters for the work that we do,” said Ben Payavis II, Chief Content Officer at WVIA. “I am proud of the work our award-winning team continues to produce for our region.” Listeners can hear the award-winning pieces anytime on-demand at wvia.org. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, please visit https://pab.org.
Julie Sidoni to Serve as Moderator on WVIA’s Call the Doctor WVIA News Director Julie Sidoni will serve as moderator of the upcoming 34th season of WVIA’s television series Call the Doctor. The season will feature an updated look and presentation when it premieres Wednesday, March 2nd at 7 p.m. on WVIA TV. The new season will feature 16 episodes that will premiere Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. on WVIA TV. “Call The Doctor is a program that viewers have come to rely on for more than 30 years,” said Sidoni. “The newly-formed WVIA News team is ready and excited to report on a number of health and medical topics, contributing to the show in a way that hasn’t been done before.” “We believe having the show premiere in consecutive weeks along with Julie’s experience reporting health issues in our region allows us to better serve our audience and address their medically related questions,” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President, and CEO. “We are excited to premiere a new look and style for this program this season while still presenting the information our viewers look for each week,” said Ben Payavis II, WVIA Chief Content Officer. The new season of Call the Doctor will kick off with “Missed Health Screenings Due to COVID-19” on March 2nd, followed by “Lung Cancer on the Rise: Types and Treatments” on March 9th, “All About Alzheimer’s Disease” on March 16th, and “The Future of Telehealth” on March 23rd. Show topics to be featured later in the season include obesity/bariatric surgery, prostate cancer, breast cancer, COVID-19 side effects, joint replacement, back injuries, arthritis, sleep disorders, and more. More information on the upcoming season can be found at wvia.org/ctd. Watch a preview for the first episode of the season here. Viewers can call in with their questions ahead of time to have them answered on-air by calling 1-833-408-9842.
WVIA Announces New Original Documentary Film This June marks the 50th anniversary of Hurricane Agnes’s devastation of Northeastern Pennsylvania. WVIA will commemorate the day with Agnes 50, a multiplatform initiative that will explore the events of June 23rd 1972, as well as the response in the years after. The initiative will include the original documentary film Agnes 50: Life After the Flood, focusing on different communities that were affected by the flood. Excerpts from the documentary will air on WVIA’s social channels in the weeks leading up to the broadcast premiere on Thursday, June 23rd at 9 p.m. Watch the trailer for Agnes 50: Life After the Flood here: wvia.org/agnes On the evening of June 23rd WVIA TV will present an evening of programming that will include a live hour-long episode of Keystone Edition with area experts discussing the impact of Hurricane Agnes on our region at 7 p.m., followed by a special broadcast of the 1997 historical documentary Remembering Agnes at 8 p.m. The WVIA original film, Agnes 50: Life After the Flood, premieres at 9 p.m., followed by the WSKG original production Agnes: The Flood of ’72. In addition, Memories of Agnes, a digital series, will launch in spring 2022. This series will provide those who lived through the Agnes disaster the opportunity to share their first-hand accounts of the flood through user-generated content and archival film and photos. WVIA News will feature a companion series of stories on WVIA Radio and at wvia.org/news throughout the coming months that will cover additional aspects of our region’s history with flooding. Learn more about WVIA’s Agnes 50 initiative at wvia.org/agnes About Agnes 50: Life After the Flood What have we learned in the years since Agnes? What actions have communities taken since that date? To properly explore the fallout from Agnes over the past five decades and to assess steps our region is taking or should be taking in order to prepare for the challenges of inevitable flooding in the future, WVIA will premiere a feature documentary directed by award-winning filmmaker Alexander Monelli that will cover key communities along the Susquehanna River, including Berwick, Bloomsburg, Danville, Forty Fort, Milton, West Pittston, Selinsgrove, Tunkhannock, Towanda, and Wilkes-Barre. Various officials, residents, and community leaders will share memories of Agnes, describe how their towns were affected, and discuss the work that has been done over the years to mitigate the adverse effects of future flooding. Interviewees include David DeCosmo (former WYOU news broadcaster), Andrew Stuhl (professor at Bucknell University), Lara Fowler (professor at Penn State University), Wilkes-Barre Fire Chief Jay Delaney, Jim Charles (Selinsgrove Flood Task Force), Chris Belleman (Executive Director, Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority), among others. “This documentary is really about the people of the Susquehanna watershed and how we’re all connected,” said the film’s director Alexander Monelli. “When I started this film, I never knew there were so many issues related to flooding, and they’ve been ongoing since 1972. What one town does to mitigate flooding may impact another town downstream. It raises questions about our responsibility to our own community, our neighbors downstream, and nature as a whole. I’ve met so many fascinating people while filming, and I can’t wait to share this documentary with everyone.” “As the region’s premier storytellers, we believe sharing the stories of Hurricane Agnes and the communities affected will help shine a light for future generations to learn from,” said Ben Payavis II, WVIA Chief Content Officer. “The topic and its ramifications are so large that we knew one program alone wouldn’t be enough to cover its scope. That is why we have created this multiplatform initiative and full evening of programming.” “Education is at the core of what we do at WVIA, and we believe that preserving and learning from our local history is essential to the growth and future of our communities,” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President, and CEO. “In addition to the creation of this new documentary, WVIA Education will be creating a curriculum plan based on WVIA’s Remembering Agnes and Agnes 50: Life After the Flood documentaries that will be made available to all area school districts.” WVIA June 23rd, 2022, Television Programming 7 p.m. – Keystone Edition Reports: Agnes 50 – Live Broadcast Fifty years ago, life in the Susquehanna Valley changed forever as Hurricane Agnes devastated the area, and the Susquehanna River inundated homes and streets, destroying everything it touched. Keystone Edition Reports takes a look back at the toll Agnes took, how the valley bounced back, and what the future holds. 8 p.m. – Remembering Agnes – Remastered A special presentation of the remastered 1997 historic documentary. Eyewitnesses reminisce about the hours just before, during, and after the worst natural disaster to devastate the east branch of the Susquehanna River Valley in the greater Wilkes-Barre/Scranton metropolitan area of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Hurricane Agnes and the resulting flood occurred in late June 1972 and affected thousands ever since. 9 p.m. – Agnes 50: Life After the Flood – Broadcast Premiere On Friday, June 23, 1972, Pennsylvania suffered the wrath of Hurricane Agnes, which at the time was the costliest hurricane to hit the United States and would claim the lives of 128 people in the storm’s path. Now, at the 50th anniversary, WVIA explores what we as a region have learned from the Agnes tragedy. Half a century later, how did this epic event permanently change our communities – economically, physically, and emotionally? What have local communities done over the past decades to address and mitigate potential flooding in the future? Have we done enough? Followed by Agnes: The Flood of ’72 On June 19th, 1972, the first hurricane of the season, Agnes, crossed over the Florida Panhandle and quickly headed back out to sea. With sustained winds of just over 75 miles per hour, Agnes was considered a low-level threat by most weather experts. They were wrong. By June 22nd the remnants of Agnes stalled over the northeastern United States, dumping up to 22 inches of rain in some areas, including the Elmira/Corning region of New York. The devastating flooding that followed would result in one of the worst natural disasters in the region’s history and change the landscape of the region forever. Produced by WSKG. This special block of programming will re-air on Saturday, June 25th beginning at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, June 26th beginning at noon.
