As Geisinger safely resumes operations and provides more services at clinics, hospitals and outpatient centers, the health system has updated its visitation policy. Visitation remains limited but Geisinger’s revised policy now allows doulas to accompany delivering mothers and two visitors for most inpatients.

The health and safety of patients, staff, visitors and the community remain the top priority for Geisinger when considering its visitation policy. Family and friends are still encouraged to find alternatives ways of visiting, such as phone calls, Facetime, Skype and other means when possible.

The update allows hospitalized adult patients two designated visitors who should not change throughout the hospital stay. These two visitors can visit twice a day, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. Visits can last up to two hours during each time period.

Under the updated policy, a certified doula is permitted to accompany a delivering mother, along with the mother’s support person. The doula is considered part of the expectant mother’s care team. They will be screened before entering Geisinger facilities and are required to wear a mask and follow all other policies and procedures when caring for a patient. If the doula tests positive for COVID-19, they may continue to support the patient virtually, but may not visit the patient on-site.

Additional visitation updates are as follows:

• All inpatients on acute psychiatric units (one designated visitor during visiting hours specific to the unit)
• Patients who are medically unstable (two designated visitors)
• Patients who are at the end of life but not COVID-positive or under investigation for COVID (two visitors)
• Patients undergoing surgery or procedures (one single-time visitor immediately after the procedure)
• Delivering mothers (one support person, plus a certified doula as part of the care team)
• Patients who are minors and those with limited decisional capacity (up to two parents or guardians)
• Patients who have altered mental status, an intellectual, developmental or cognitive disability or a communication barrier (two visitors)
• Patients with disruptive behavior, where a family member is key to their care (one visitor)
• ED patients (one designated visitor)

Approved visitors are subject to the following guidelines:

• Be 18 years of age or older and in good health
• Bring a form of identification
• Not have symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, recent loss of taste or smell or flu-like illness suggestive of COVID-19
• Not have active COVID-19 infection
• Be symptom-free for at least 14 days if they previously had active COVID-19 infection
• Complete health screening, including a temperature check, at the entrance before entry
• Must bring and wear their own masks at all times while in the facility
• Respect social distancing guidelines of 6 feet from all others
• Wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer before entering and after leaving a patient’s room
• Use the same entrance for entry into and exit from the hospital.
• Identify themselves and stay in designated areas (not travel throughout the facility)

Patients who have an appointment at a Geisinger clinic, laboratory or radiology may have one person accompany them, if necessary.

To find out more information about how Geisinger is safely resuming services and opening facilities, visit Geisinger.org/safe.

NBT Bank is moving forward on a plan that restores lobby access by appointment while enacting new protocols to protect the safety of its employees and customers.

The phased approach to reopening branch lobbies includes a market-by-market analysis of conditions, close coordination with local government and health officials and strict adherence to state and federal guidelines. Customers are encouraged to visit www.nbtbank.com/access to learn about their preferred branch hours and service options.

“NBT has spent weeks developing a thoughtful approach that both expands branch access and ensures that our employees, customers and communities remain safe,” said NBT Bank President of Retail Community Banking Joseph R. Stagliano. “This first step of reopening lobbies to customers by appointment enables us to safely add another service option as we continue to support customers and local businesses through this new and challenging environment.”

Customers visiting NBT lobbies can expect new protocols to ensure customer and employee safety, including:

• Face coverings required to be worn inside
• All customers must bring identification
• Fewer customers will be allowed in the branch at the same time
• Directional floor stickers will provide guidance to promote social distancing
• Plexiglass screens are in place in teller windows and customer service desks
• Hand sanitizing stations are available in all branch lobbies

In addition, NBT has implemented increased cleaning of all branches with extra focus on high-touch surfaces like ATMs, doors, counters and drive-up windows.

“It is important to note that NBT will continue to monitor the Coronavirus environment and adjust as necessary to ensure the proper level of safety is maintained throughout our branch network,” said Stagliano. “We also want to remind customers that they can access digital banking services 24/7.”

Every nine minutes, somebody in the U.S. dies of a blood cancer. In today’s uncertain times, cancer patients need support now, more than ever. A Carbondale woman and a Clarks Summit man have been named the winners of this year’s Northeast PA Man & Woman of the Year of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Eastern Pa Chapter.

The two winners, Matt Beynon of Clarks Summit, and Linda Walsh of Carbondale raised a Northeast Pa record breaking $14,340 and $21,342 respectively, to support LLS’s goal to find cures for blood cancers and ensure that patients have access to lifesaving treatments.

During a spirited 10+ week fundraising period, beginning with a kickoff celebration, candidates across the country competed in honor of a local boy or girl who is a blood cancer survivor to raise the most funds to ensure a world without blood cancers.

The Northeast PA campaign kicked off in mid-March with a party at Cooper’s Seafood House in Scranton and within days the state was shut down and all fundraising plans had to be revamped.  The Northeast Pa candidates refused to allow Covid-19 to deter their plans for raising money for blood cancer research and they continually pivoted and adjusted their fundraising plans to a virtual platform.

Candidates and their campaign teams were judged solely on virtual fundraising success this campaign season, each dollar counting as one vote. Their totals are then considered for the national title. Candidates in each LLS chapter across the country vie for the local title, and the highest fundraisers earn the title of National Man & Woman of the Year. The national titles will be awarded to the top fundraisers in the country.

“Congratulations to our winners, and to all of our candidates and campaign team members who participated in this year’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign,” said Lauren Iannucci, LLS Eastern Pa Executive Director. “Cancer will not wait for COVID-19 to go away. And blood cancer patients can’t wait either. These exceptional volunteers are all relentless and determined individuals and leaders in their communities. Together, we are getting closer to LLS’s goal of a world without blood cancer.”

Through programs like Man & Woman of the Year, LLS has invested nearly $1.3 billion in research to advance breakthrough therapies. The funds raised through LLS’s Man & Woman of the Year are used for:

• Research to advance targeted therapies and immunotherapies that are saving thousands of lives;
• Blood cancer information, education and support for patients;
• Policies that ensure patients have access to blood cancer treatments.

Visit the Man & Woman of the Year website (www.mwoy.org) and learn how you can become engaged with LLS.

Electric City Escape is happy to announce that we will be reopening this Friday, June 26. We will be operating at 50% capacity with extra safety procedures to keep our customers and staff safe. Check out our website to see our COVID-19 Safety Policies.

Our reopening is a bittersweet announcement because we will only be remaining open until July 26, 2020. At that point, we will be closing the doors at our location in downtown Scranton. After several months of closure and with an uncertain future, we feel it is time to take a pause for our business. In the future, we hope to reopen with bigger and more exciting adventures. Until then, we are extremely grateful for each experience over the past 4 years.

To our loyal customers, we had so much fun creating these escape games for you. We enjoyed meeting all of you and will miss you greatly. Thank you for all of the good times and supporting our small business!

To our current staff members and all those who have worked at ECE over the years, we appreciate you all! You are amazing individuals and we could not have built this business without you. Thank you for all your hard work!

If you are hoping to try any of our escape rooms, there’s still time! Please make your reservation on our website. If you have purchased a gift card, you can use it during this time. Feel free to contact us by email with any questions.

Thank you for your support and understanding. We hope to see you again soon!

With Gratitude,
Ryan & Amy
Electric City Escape Owners

Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company is pleased to announce the recent promotions of Susan Hubble to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Timothy Kirtley to Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, and Joseph Ferretti to Executive Vice President, Northeast Market President.

Susan Hubble, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer 

Susan Hubble serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company. She has been with the bank for twenty years and has held several positions in Information Technology. Prior to joining the bank Susan managed Information Technology at a Bombardier train manufacturing facility in upstate New York. She received a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certificate and is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association School of Banking. As part of her role at the bank she oversees the bank’s Information Technology strategy, program and Business Continuity Plan.

Timothy Kirtley, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer 

Mr. Timothy Kirtley joined Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company in July of 2016 as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. He has 28 years of banking experience and has served in a variety of credit risk management, commercial banking, and other leadership roles throughout his banking career. In his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, he will be responsible for enterprise-wide risk management activities for the bank. He has earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration from The Ohio State University. His community involvement includes serving on the United Way of Lackawanna County’s Transforming Children’s Futures Community Cabinet

Joseph Ferretti, Executive Vice President Northeast PA Market President

Joseph Ferretti has been with Peoples Security Bank since 1997. In his new role as Executive Vice President, Northeast PA Market President, he is responsible for all banking functions of the Northeast PA Region which includes lending, branch banking sales, and cash management services.

The Scranton Area Community Foundation accepted a $5,000 donation from Center City Print for the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund on Friday.

Alex Molfetas, owner of Center City Print in Scranton and Kingston, made the contribution to the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund after selling posters and yard signs featuring an illustration of a nurse with a mask featuring the American flag to help essential workers facing urgent financial needs during the pandemic. This contribution will directly support nonprofit organizations that are helping healthcare workers affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

“Center City Print takes great pride in giving back to the community,” stated Molfetas. “We wanted to make a difference to show support to healthcare workers in the community who are affected by this crisis.” He added, “The Scranton Area Community Foundation has been a great partner helping us to carry out our desire to give back during these challenging times.”

Molfetas made the special print illustration available online through Center City Print’s website, offering posters and yard signs ranging from $3 to $14 with all proceeds going directly to the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund. The posters and yard signs can be spotted on display in various locations across the region.

“We are grateful for the support from Center City Print to the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund,” stated Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “To date, because of generous support from charitably-minded businesses like Center City Print, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has been able to distribute nearly $900,000 in emergency funding to over 100 nonprofit organizations across the region through the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund,” she added.

The Scranton Area Community Foundation created the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund in March to rapidly deploy responsive and flexible resources to community-based nonprofit organizations working with those who are impacted by COVID-19 and the related economic, social, and health-related consequences of the crisis. In addition to the support from Center City Print, the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund has been supported by numerous businesses and foundations including the Margaret Briggs Foundation, Wells Fargo, the Northeastern PA Health Care Foundation, the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, PPL Foundation, The Robert Cavanaugh Family Trust, M&T Bank, the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, Minooka Subaru, the Willary Foundation and many other generous individuals and charitable funds.

To apply for a grant from the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund, nonprofit organizations can visit www.safdn.org/covid19. The Foundation will receive input on grant decisions from an advisory committee composed of partner organizations and representatives from the foundation, nonprofit, and civic sectors.

To make a contribution to the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund, please visit www.safdn.org/covid19 or contribute by check made payable to the Scranton Area Foundation indicating “COVID-19 Fund” in the memo mailed to the Scranton Area Community Foundation, 615 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 102, Scranton, PA 18510.

For more information on the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund, please contact Brittany Pagnotti, Communications Manager of the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203.