Geisinger and the Waverly Police Department have partnered to purchase a K9 police dog to support law enforcement activities and maintain patient and staff safety at Geisinger Marworth.

The dog, a German Shepherd named Wyatt, will join the department this summer after completing the required K9 training.

At Marworth, Geisinger’s inpatient substance use disorder treatment campus in Waverly, Wyatt will perform regular searches to find and prevent the use of illicit substances, supporting patients’ ongoing recovery efforts.

“Unfortunately, addiction is a relentless and all-consuming illness, and sustained recovery is a life-long journey,” said Jordan Barbour, director of operations for Geisinger addiction medicine. “The ability to perform random searches primarily serves as a deterrent, but also supports the safety of the patient community.”

Previously, Geisinger contracted with a private agency to perform monthly K9 searches of the Marworth campus. The public-private partnership between Waverly PD and Marworth will allow both entities, as well as the broader Waverly community, to have access to Wyatt’s K9 capabilities.

“We are beyond thankful to welcome our newest member of the police force K9 unit, Wyatt,” said Kenneth James, chief of the Waverly Police Department. “We could not have welcomed him without support from our community and partnership with Geisinger. Having a dedicated narcotics K9 team is an efficient and effective way to help eliminate drugs from Marworth. This creates a safer environment for both patients and staff and reduces criminal activity both inside and outside the facility. Wyatt is a great asset to our team, and I know his duties for the community will not go unnoticed.”

For more information about Geisinger’s partnership with the Waverly PD, visit Geisinger.org/Wyatt or call 866-250-5730.

Jeffrey Johnson, D.M.A., Conn., has been named as the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Marywood University. He will begin his tenure on July 1. Before his appointment at Marywood, Dr. Johnson was the Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, and a professor of music at the University of Bridgeport.

Dr. Johnson’s distinctive career at the University of Bridgeport began in 1998, and his experience includes service as both a faculty member and academic administrator, including director of the music program [1998-2016]; director of first-year seminar [2006-2010]; retention specialist [2012-2013]; assistant provost for student success [2016-2018], and associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences [2018-2020].

Acclaimed by students for his high-energy teaching, Dr. Johnson was named Distinguished Teacher of the Year in 2002. He earned his teaching stripes at the Boys Choir of Harlem, where he served as associate director of artistic education [1994-1998].

A published author and recognized expert in his field, Dr. Johnson’s first two books drew upon set theory and graph theory from mathematics to develop compositional possibilities in music. His more recent scholarship, resulting in the publication of two additional books, explores historical features of performance practice. Dr. Johnson has reviewed classical music for The Boston Globe, Stamford Advocate, Hartford Courant, and Greenwich Time. Additionally, he serves on the board of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. He has been a regular broadcaster on WMNR Fine Arts Radio since 2015, hosting a three-hour program, Sunday Morning Classics, and curating the long-running program, Evening at the Opera, on Tuesday evenings.

Dr. Johnson earned his D.M.A. in composition from Boston University, and he holds an M.A. from the Eastman School of Music and a B.S. in composition from Ithaca College.

The Scranton Public Library will be hosting a Day of Giving fundraiser on June 15.

For 24 hours, the library will be raising money to benefit the programs & services at its four branches – the Albright Memorial Library, Lackawanna County Children’s Library, Library Express Bookstore, and the Nancy Kay Holmes Library. Its goal is to raise $2,020.

The library’s Day of Giving fundraiser will help replace the money usually raised during their annual Swingin’ on Vine block party in May which had to be cancelled this year due to the pandemic.

“While the library has several sources of funds, we still rely on fundraising efforts to help support new and continued services at our libraries. Now more than ever, it is important for the Scranton Public Library to help our community,” says Scott Thomas, library CEO.

The library has added new services to help the community including hosting virtual meetings through Zoom and curbside pickup for library materials. While stay-at-home orders were in effect, we offered and will continue to offer eBooks, downloadable movies, online story hours, and one-on-one technology help. The library will be reopening soon, and we will be providing, once again, direct access to books, DVDs, Blu-Rays, printing, faxing, local history & genealogy research assistance, and programs for all ages.

The Day of Giving fundraiser will be held online on the library website: https://lclshome.org/support-albright-memorial-library/. Donations made via check or cash will also be accepted and can be dropped off in-person at the library or mailed to Scranton Public Library, C/O Donations, 500 Vine Street, Scranton, PA 18509.

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was planned to be a year full of transition for Dress for Success^® Lackawanna. As America holds its breath working toward reopening, on Friday, June 5, this not-for-profit let out a sigh of relief finally opening the doors to its new and improved location.

Now located on the second floor of The Marketplace at Steamtown, opposite the Crunch Gym, Dress for Success Lackawanna’s new 4,500 square foot location boasts a variety of features to benefit its growing client base – a population only amplified by the staggering unemployment rates caused by the pandemic.

The 75% increase in square footage enabled the 501(c)3 to  create a more welcoming and accommodating space for the organization’s growing programming and client engagement. The space boasts a large boutique for its clients’ career suitings, a large multi-media conference room to host career development programming and a private computer room for one-on-one career coaching, resume writing and job search activities.

“We’ve been planning this move for a long time and are excited to finally be transitioning into our new site,” said Dress for Success Lackawanna Executive Director Mary Ann Iezzi. “Women in particular have been hit very hard during this challenging time. This pandemic will leave its mark on our community in many ways. But we are determined as an organization to continue to provide women with the support they need. This larger location gives us the opportunity to expand our services, in particular, our career development programs that will help women continue to prosper in their careers and in life.”

Located in the heart of downtown Scranton, the new location provides increased accessibility for its clients that often rely on public transportation as well as ease of accessibility for community members that offer their support through clothing and monetary donations.

As a nonprofit organization, Dress for Success Lackawanna, like so many others in our community, continues to be hit hard by the loss of revenue. Nearly a third of Dress for Success Lackawanna operating budget comes from fundraising, which includes the canceled annual luncheon that makes of up 30% of that goal.

“This new space truly elevates the resources and experiences we are able to provide our clients, giving them a positive environment to start their new chapter,” said Iezzi. “We are hopeful that the new location will also increase our visibility and accessibility for potential donors and volunteers to sustain our mission.”

The new site will be open Monday thru Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with donations by appointment only. Keeping the safety of donors, staff and volunteers as priority, clothing donations are temporarily on hold. Those interested in donating funds or future clothing donations can reference https://lackawanna.dressforsuccess.org/ for updates or follow them on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Limited Services Available at Additional PennDOT Driver License and Photo License Centers in Yellow Phase Counties

Also Offering Designated Hours for Customers 60 and Older

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that beginning Friday, June 5, 2020, additional Driver License and Photo License Centers in yellow phase counties will reopen, adhering to restrictions on work and social interaction set by Governor Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

These re-openings are in addition to those previously announced on May 28, 2020.

The following driver license centers will reopen with limited services beginning Friday, June 5:

• Reading Driver License Center, 530 East Lancaster Avenue, Suite 5, Shillington;
• Dublin Driver License Center, 161 North Main Street, Dublin;
• Bensalem Driver License Center,4201 Neshaminy Boulevard, Suite 131, Bensalem;
• Malvern Driver License Center, 225 Lancaster Avenue, Malvern;
• Granite Run Driver License Center, 1097 West Baltimore Pike, Media;
• Dunmore Driver License Center, 81 Keystone Industrial Park, Dunmore;
• Lancaster Regency Square Driver License Center, 131 Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster;
• Lancaster East Driver License Center, 2090 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster;
• Lehigh Valley Driver License Center, 1710 Hoover Ave, Allentown;
• Whitehall Driver License Center, 1101 MacArthur Road, Allentown;
• Huntingdon Valley Driver License Center, 2022 County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley;
• Norristown Driver License Center, 1700 Markley Street, Suite 30, Norristown;
• King of Prussia Driver License Center, 143 South Gulph Road, King of Prussia;
• Easton Driver License Center, 2473 Nazareth Road, Easton;
• Arch Street Driver License Center, 801 Arch Street, Philadelphia;
• South 70th Street Driver License Center, 2904 South 70th Street, Unit 8, Philadelphia;
• Whitman Plaza Driver License Center, 330 West Oregon Avenue, Philadelphia;
• West Oak Lane Driver License Center, 7121 Ogontz Avenue, Philadelphia; and
• Lawndale Driver License Center, 919-B Levick Street, Philadelphia.

Hours of operation at the above locations will be Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM. Wednesday and Thursday between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM will be designated times for customers 60 years or older.

As the Driver License Centers open, they will offer limited services. Customers will be able to obtain the following services as they plan their visit to one of these centers:

• Commercial Driver License (CDL) transactions, including renewals, replacements, Medical Examiner’s Certificates (MECs), date of proof transactions, Hazardous Material Recertifications, and related transactions;
• Initial issuance transactions, including out-of-state transfers, permit testing, ID card issuance, and related transactions;
• Photo license services;
• Driver license restoration services that cannot be completed online or via mail;
• Medical-related testing; and
• Non-U.S. citizen transaction processing.

For a list of driver license and photo license centers that will be open during the yellow phase, as well as their hours of operation, please visit www.dmv.pa.gov.

Customers who have driver’s skills tests scheduled on or after June 5 at these locations will be able to obtain a driver’s skills test. The skills test has been modified to mitigate potential exposure of PennDOT staff and customers while maintaining the integrity of the testing process.

Customers whose driver’s skills tests were canceled due to the COVID-19 emergency will be given priority in rescheduling skills tests by contacting the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services Call Center at 717-412-5300. All other customers will be able to schedule a skills tests in the appointment system beginning June 20, 2020.

Customers seeking renewal of their non-commercial license or ID should renew online or by mail to avoid an unnecessary visit to the Driver License Center.

In an effort to support social distancing and reduce initial volume and demand at driver license centers, the following customer services will not be initially available:

• REAL ID applications and transactions, however, pre-verified customers can apply for REAL ID online; and
• Transactions or services that can be completed online at www.dmv.pa.gov.

The following Photo License Centers will reopen beginning Friday June 5:

• Harleysville, 345 Main Street, Harleysville; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Lancaster, 1356 Harrisburg Pike, Suite 101 Lancaster; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Lawndale, 919-B Levick Street, Philadelphia; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Oxford, 310 Limestone Road, Oxford; hours of operation will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Pottstown, 978 East High Street, Pottstown; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Upper Chichester, 486 Conchester Highway, Aston; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

The following Photo License Centers will reopen beginning Wednesday June 10:

• South Waverly, 2523 Pennsylvania Avenue, South Waverly; hours of operation will be Wednesday, 8:30 AM – 4:15 PM.

The following Photo License Centers will reopen beginning Thursday June 11:

• Ardmore, 30 Greenfield Ave., Ardmore; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Langhorne, 516 N. Oxford Valley Rd., Langhorne; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Roosevelt Blvd, 9475 Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Upper Darby, 5233 West Baltimore Avenue, Clifton Heights; hours of operation will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

The following Photo License Centers will reopen beginning Friday June 12:

• Mayfair, 6420 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

The following Photo License Centers will reopen beginning Monday June 15:

• Allentown, 5 American Parkway, Allentown; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

The following Photo License Centers will reopen beginning Monday June 22:

• Hecktown, 216 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem; hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

In all reopened centers, the following COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place:

• Customers will be prescreened and asked brief questions regarding any potential symptoms of COVID-19;
• Customers will be required to wear masks while in the facility;
• Seating will be reduced at all Driver License Centers to make social distancing easier to maintain six feet distances between each seat;
• The number of customers will be limited to correspond with available counter stations and available seating in the customer waiting area only;
• Admittance to the facility will be limited to only the customer requiring service, unless assistance is needed by an accompanying person;
• Plexiglass sneeze guards have been installed at each counter to protect customers and employees;
• Cleaning protocols have been enhanced to sanitize facilities on an ongoing basis; and
• Markings on floors have been added to assist with social distancing along with signage to communicate special instructions to customers.

As PennDOT reopens driver license and photo license centers, services will be in high demand, and customers should expect longer than normal waits. PennDOT staff will work with each customer when they arrive to plan their visit, with additional staff serving as greeters to screen documents and provide information for a smooth and safe transaction as possible. PennDOT apologizes for this inconvenience and appreciates customers’ understanding during this transition.

Customers may continue to complete various transactions and access multiple resources online at 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; and driver license and photo ID duplicates. There are no additional fees for using online services.

PennDOT will continue to evaluate these processes and will continue to reopen other locations as soon as safely possible. We will continue to communicate any reopening and changes with the public.

Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Parking Lot

DRIVE-IN STYLE PERFORMANCE on Saturday, July 18 at 8 p.m.

TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY AT 10 a.m.

The ASM Global managed Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza will host Northeast PA’s first-of-its kind “Drive-In” Live Event experience featuring Jim Gaffigan: “Drive-Thru Comic” on Saturday, July 18 at 8pm in the Mohegan Sun Arena’s parking lot sponsored by Geisinger.

Tickets for Jim Gaffigan are $150 per vehicle, and go on sale Friday, June 12 at 10am exclusively via Ticketmaster.com.  Only touchless, mobile tickets administered through the Ticketmaster app (iOS | Android) will be valid for these performances.

A limited number of Gold Circle ($300) & Silver Circle ($250) parking spaces will be made available for this performance. Gold Circle and Silver Circle parking guarantees a spot in the first few rows in closest proximity to the stage.

A maximum of four (4) occupants will be permitted per vehicle. Up to 1,000 vehicles will be permitted for the event.

Social distancing measures will operate in accordance with Pennsylvania guidelines:

• Vehicles will be spaced to accommodate social distancing.
• Cars will park in a staggered fashion to achieve spacing and best visibility.
• Patrons must remain inside their vehicle cabins.
• Patrons may only leave their vehicles to use restrooms or to obtain concessions (if being served), and will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
• Portable, single-stall restrooms will be cleaned frequently.

Additional information for these first-of-a-kind concert experiences:

• Jim Gaffigan will be LIVE and in-person on stage.
• Passenger vehicles only. No motorcycles, buses, party buses, limousines, RV’s, bicycles, or foot traffic allowed. ADA accessible vehicles will be permitted.
• All tickets are general admission and spots cannot be reserved.
• Event is rain or shine.
• Event will take place in the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Parking Lot. All cars must enter through the Main Entrance from Highland Park Blvd.
• Concessions availability is to be determined. No alcohol permitted inside the arena parking lot.
• Absolutely no tailgating or out-of-vehicle gatherings.
• Attendees will be able to hear the concerts via FM radio. Details day of show.
• Cars with more than four occupants will be turned away without refund.
• Vehicles are subject to search upon entry.
• No pets allowed.

For day-of:

• Once parked, vehicle relocation is not permitted.
• Please follow parking attendants’ directions to your parking spot.
• Please pull forward into the spot — don’t try to back in.
• If you wish to park with your friends, we recommend you meet away from the venue and drive in together.

State guidance on social distancing, public gatherings and certain procedures and practices is subject to change. Mohegan Sun Arena will keep customers informed of changes as they pertain to these events at www.MoheganSunArenaPA.com. For a list of frequently asked questions as it pertains to this event, please visit www.MoheganSunArenaPA.com/events/JimGaffigan

About Jim Gaffigan

Jim Gaffigan is a five-time Grammy nominated comedian, actor, writer, producer, two-time New York Times best-selling author, two-time Emmy winning top touring performer, and multi-platinum-selling recording artist. He is known around the world for his unique brand of humor, which largely revolves around his observations on life.

On the silver screen, his many credits include Three Kings, Super Troopers 1 & 2, and Chappaquiddick. 2019 is Gaffigan’s biggest year to date with an astonishing eight films releasing,  three which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival including Troop Zero with Viola Davis and Alison Janney, Them That Follow and Light From Light – with many festival goers calling Gaffigan the “King of Sundance.”

Gaffigan also had two films this year in which he was the lead. They are a comedic film Being Frank — which opened Father’s Day Weekend — and American Dreamer, a dark thriller that opened 9/20. American Dreamer is grand finale of 2019 for Jim, and features him as an ride share driver who moonlights as a private driver for a drug dealer. Both films are now available for download.

In April 2019, Gaffigan was seen alongside Alec Baldwin and Salma Hayek in Bron Studios’ Drunk Parents. Additionally, Gaffigan recently released his unprecedented 7th stand up special, Quality Time with Amazon Studios making history as their first original comedy special. He also continues to tour around the world.

In addition to two seasons of the critically acclaimed semi-autobiographical The Jim Gaffigan Show, which he wrote and produced with his wife Jeannie, and his widely popular stand-up comedy specials, Gaffigan has guest starred on many television comedies and dramas, ranging from Portlandia and Bob’s Burgers to the HBO cult hits Flight of the Concords to dramatic roles in Law & Order.

Gaffigan regularly does humorous commentaries on CBS Sunday. Last year Jim served as master of ceremony at The Al Smith Memorial dinner.  In 2015, Gaffigan had the great honor of performing for Pope Francis and over 1 million festival attendees at the Festival of Families in Philadelphia.

Gaffigan and his wife currently live in Manhattan with their five loud and expensive children.

As Geisinger continues reopening its clinics and welcoming patients and members back for procedures, the health system is announcing the successful discharge of more than 500 patients who were treated for COVID-19 across its Pennsylvania hospitals.

Of those more than 500 patients, about 150 of them spent time in one of Geisinger’s intensive care units. More than 95 of them were on ventilators and transitioned off during their hospital stay.

“As a large health system, we’re fortunate to have a dedicated staff and resources to provide a high level of care to our communities,” said J. Edward Hartle, MD, Geisinger executive vice president and chief medical officer. “The staff’s effort during these challenging times is inspiring and we’re grateful for their commitment to meeting the health needs of our patients, members and communities now and into the future.”

Geisinger’s clinical efforts were led by a multidisciplinary team that meets regularly to review and adapt treatments for patients with COVID-19. In addition, Geisinger leveraged its specialized programs and staff to provide care options not widely available in its communities. Innovative solutions like ECMO, which isn’t a treatment specific for COVID but can help when a ventilator is no longer sufficient, and convalescent plasma have been used in caring for patients.

The health system is also participating in large clinical trials to better understand the latest treatment options.

This milestone comes as Geisinger begins consolidating its COVID treatment areas and begins offering more services that were paused during the pandemic. With declining numbers of new positive cases locally, the health system is gradually returning services and reopening clinics with extra safety precautions and measures to stop the spread of the virus in the community.

“As we continue to bring back more services and reopen facilities, we will do it the right way and with safety at top of mind,” said Dr. Hartle. “We’re here for our community and are ready to provide safe care.”

To learn more about how Geisinger is safely caring for its patients, visit Geisinger.org/safe.

Geisinger has discharged the following totals of patients from each of its hospitals, as of June 8:

• Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center (Wilkes-Barre): 157
• Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre (Wilkes-Barre): 3
• Geisinger Community Medical Center (Scranton): 160
• Geisinger Medical Center (Danville): 95
• Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital (Bloomsburg): 3
• Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital (Shamokin): 5
• Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital (Jersey Shore): 12
• Geisinger Lewistown Hospital (Lewistown): 18
• Geisinger Holy Spirit (Camp Hill): 71