Johnson College’s Continuing Education program is offering a Forklift Operator Training Course on Saturday, February 20, 2021 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.in the Diesel Technology Center on the College’s campus in Scranton. The cost of the course is $200, but if you are a current Johnson College student or alumni the cost is only $100. Space is limited! Contact the Continuing Education team at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu to learn more and enroll.

The forklift operator training is designed to familiarize students with OSHA Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Requirements (29CFR Standard 1910.178 and ASME B56.1), provide current training requirements under the newly adopted standards and to assist participants in becoming an authorized operator of forklifts through theory and tactile testing. 12 hours of instruction including pre-operational inspection, picking up, traveling and placing loads, parking procedures, refueling, and practical operation.

For additional information on Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program, please call 570-702-8979, email continuinged@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu/continuingeducation.

Lackawanna College has announced that Athletic Department administrators will transition into new roles. Current Director of Athletics Joya Whittington will transition to her new role as the Director of Student Financial Services. She will continue to serve as the College’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Current Assistant Athletics Director, Erik Larson, will move into the Director of Athletics role.

Whittington first joined the College as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach in 2013. In 2015, her early success as head coach led her to Lamar University where she served as an assistant coach for the 2015-16 season. Whittington then returned to Lackawanna College to her previous role and led the Lady Falcons in a successful 2016-17 season. In her role, Whittington oversaw 11 sports and five employees. In addition, she managed recruiting and the day-to-day sports program functions. She also supervised the athletic department’s marketing and social media management in collaboration with the College’s marketing and communications department. Whittington worked with other major departments to build relationships and resources for the coaches, staff and student-athletes and added new athletics programs, including the area’s first women’s collegiate wrestling team. She also assisted with the launch of the College’s esports program. Whittington earned a Master of Business Administration specializing in entrepreneurial studies from Seton Hill University in 2013 and a bachelor’s degree in business in 2011.

Larson has served as the College’s Assistant Athletics Director since 2019. During his tenure, he managed the athletic department’s website, social media accounts and implemented technology to improve the fan experience. He founded and produced the Falcons Corner, a YouTube and podcast series providing weekly recaps of athletic events and previews. This initiative increased the athletic department’s YouTube viewership by 122%. Prior to his position at Lackawanna College, Larson was employed as the athletic director and trainer at Carbondale Area High School. Larson earned a master’s degree in education from St. Joseph’s College and a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Houghton College in 1997.

Learn more at www.lackwanna.edu

February 22, 2021, marks 50 years since a massive fire destroyed the Motherhouse and Seminary on the campus of Marywood University. The blaze, which displaced sisters, demolished a beloved landmark, and left numerous sisters and first responders injured, incredibly did not result in any loss of life. 

This year, the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Sunday, February 21, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. This memorial service is free and open to the public, and can be accessed, at video.ibm.com/channel/ihm-tv.

The four-story structure, which included a wing for Marywood Seminary, also featured a beautiful chapel, space for the novitiate classrooms, dining rooms, dormitories, and housing for the faculty of both Marywood Seminary and College. The building opened on September 8, 1902. Marywood College was established there in 1915, attained University status in 1997, and continues to be a leading educational asset in the region. Marywood Seminary operated until 1971, when the Motherhouse, which had been a monument of the campus from its beginning, was entirely demolished by the tragic fire.

The site where the Motherhouse stood was later commemorated by a Marywood Memorial Commons and has since been reimagined into the Motherhouse and Seminary Morgan Memorial Garden. The Garden leads to the entrance of the Learning Commons, established in 2015, which has become the intellectual and social heart of Marywood University’s campus. The focal point of the Motherhouse and Seminary Morgan Memorial Garden is a fountain, in honor of the IHM Congregation and its founders, at the exact site where the Motherhouse Chapel was once located.

Please join the IHM Congregation, as they celebrate and thank the God of Divine Providence for the life and the spirit of the IHM Motherhouse and all who called it home, at the virtual memorial service on Sunday, February 21, 2021, at 6:30 p.m., at video.ibm.com/channel/ihm-tv. For those interested in viewing photos and video of the Motherhouse, please visit animoto.com/play/g6CJpHwFn80jzSnfbIo45Q.

Pennsylvania American Water announced today that applications are now being accepted for the company’s 2021 Environmental Grant Program. The program offers funding for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and groundwater supplies in local communities.

“Our commitment to protecting the environment runs deep, and we’re proud to support the efforts of local organizations that share our vision,” said Mike Doran, president of Pennsylvania American Water. “Everyone is responsible for protecting our nation’s water supply, and this program is one way we can help communities play an active role in this important effort.”

To qualify, proposed projects must be:

• Located within the Pennsylvania American Water service area
• Completed between May and November of the grant funding year
• Be a new, innovative community initiative or serve as a significant expansion to an existing program
• Be carried out by a formal or informal partnership between two or more organizations
• Provide evidence of sustainability (continued existence after the grant monies are utilized)

A panel of judges will evaluate the applications based on environmental need, innovation, community engagement and sustainability. Information and applications can be found on the Environmental Grant Program page of the company’s website, under News & Community. For additional information, please contact pa.communityrelations@amwater.com. Applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2021 and recipients will be notified in May.

The Prescription Center has the capability of providing same-day, on-site rapid COVID-19 tests to any business and/or long-term care entity who may need a high number of their employees tested quickly and efficiently.

Businesses who so far have found this service to be helpful are those which had an employee test positive, thus exposing other employees to the COVID-19 virus.This testing-service is a quick way to ensure no one else in the office is currently infected.

Businesses are able to schedule a same-day, on-site testing clinic where a pharmacist could come test all employees in the matter of hours with all results coming back within 10-15 minutes after swabbing the client. To schedule call 570-343-2448.

Please note, this is a private-pay service as independent pharmacies are not permitted to bill insurances for the tests. 

Pricing is as follows: 
10 tests: $75/each
11-15 tests: $70/each
16-20 tests: $65/each
21+ tests: $60/each 

Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) announces the bipartisan passage of House Bill 326 from the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee on Wednesday, as well as its passage by the House today. House Bill 326 calls on the National Guard to help establish and operate COVID-19 vaccination sites.

“As I have expressed through press conferences, in committee meetings and on the House floor, this is important legislation to the Commonwealth, to be able to provide Pennsylvanians with a vaccination distribution plan with the help of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

“This bill would provide a critical tool for the Commonwealth, allowing a distribution plan to be established, with a report back to the General Assembly in place so that Pennsylvania no longer sits at the bottom of the pack among states in vaccine distribution. With the COVID-19 vaccination program ramping up throughout the state, we have no more time to spare and must have a fortified plan in place to achieve the mission.

“I want to commend Rep. Tim O’Neal for this bipartisan piece of legislation and thank all of the stakeholders involved, to be able to work together to accomplish the work of the people, when Pennsylvanians need us most. I look forward to the passage of this bill in the Senate and anticipate the governor’s signature shortly thereafter,” said Boback.

Johnson College in conjunction with Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston continues to bring CNC Machining training to Luzerne County. Starting March 1, 2021 students will train to utilize, maintain and program Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines inside Don’s Machine Shop’s classroom and lab at 100 Elm Street, West Pittston. Open enrollment for this 510 Hour CNC class is going on now. Space is limited. To learn more or to enroll, contact the Johnson College Continuing Education Department at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu.

CNC machinists manufacture precision products and components used in a variety of applications such as automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace, transportation, military, and more. Industries throughout northeastern Pennsylvania are currently in need of well-trained CNC machinist.

This 510 hour class for beginner-level students includes theory and hands-on learning experiences. The hands-on training, delivered at Don’s Machine Shop, is on some of the most state of the art equipment in the region. This unique, one-of-a-kind training will help open up new career opportunities right away. This relationship truly demonstrates how industry is a Johnson College student’s campus. Social distancing and mask guidelines will be followed at all times. The cost of the class is $7,500. Financial assistance may be available for those who qualify.

For more information on Don’s Machine Shop visit http://www.donsmachine.com/.

For additional information on Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program, please call 570-702-8979, email continuinged@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu/continuingeducation.

McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC today announced it is opening its first office in the Philadelphia area with the hiring of three veteran local attorneys.

Joan Agran and Garth G. Hoyt have joined McNees as Member attorneys in the firm’s Estate Planning practice group, effective Feb. 1. In addition, McKinley “Sandy” C. McAdoo has joined McNees as Of Counsel attorney, effective Feb. 1. All three are established estate and trust law attorneys and were Shareholder attorneys at another firm in Chester County. They will work from a new McNees office opening in Devon later this spring.

“We are thrilled to welcome these three well-respected and well-known attorneys to the McNees family,” said McNees Chair Brian Jackson. “They have decades of combined experience, deep knowledge of local estate planning and share our Clients First philosophy.”

All three attorneys specialize in providing advice relating to estate planning, tax planning, succession planning, and trust and estate administration. They represent families, individuals, business owners and executives.

Agran earned her law degree from New York University, a Master of Laws in Taxation from Temple University, and her undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island. Hoyt earned his law degree from Cornell Law School, a Master of Laws in Taxation from Villanova University School of Law, and his undergraduate degree from Cornell University. McAdoo earned his law degree from Temple University and his undergraduate degree from Princeton University.

All three are active in the local community.

“We are excited to join McNees and to have access to the array of services the firm offers to provide enhanced value to our clients,” said Hoyt. “We believe the firm’s culture and breadth and depth of subject matter knowledge will greatly benefit our clients.”

“Joan, Garth and Sandy bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, and experience to our growing estate planning practice,” said Vance Antonacci, chair of the McNees Estate Planning practice group. “They will continue to serve clients in the greater Philadelphia region, offering trusted counsel on a wide range of matters.”

The new office will be located at 426 W. Lancaster Ave., Suite 100, Devon, Pa. Clients may contact attorneys Agran, Hoyt and McAdoo by calling 717-291-1177.

Danine and Steve Wool were told their son, Tucker, would probably graduate high school in a wheelchair. At 18 months, Tucker was diagnosed with Perthes disease by a Geisinger family physician. He had a couple of surgeries when he was 5 years old, but the doctors in Philadelphia said that was all they could do for him.

Perthes disease, also known as Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, is a rare childhood condition that affects the hip when the blood supply to the head of the femur is temporarily disrupted. It results in pain, muscle spasms and, for Tucker, limited mobility.

An injury sends Tucker to Geisinger Orthopaedics.

Even with limited range of motion, Tucker became an athlete, playing football, wrestling and throwing for the track team in high school. “He has a remarkably high tolerance for pain,” Ms. Wool says. “He’s 6-foot-2, 290 pounds and can bench-press 410. This is one tough kid.”

Then, when he was 16 years old, an injury sent Tucker to Geisinger, where he met orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Mark Seeley.

“Tucker had an extremely complex hip issue,” Dr. Seeley recalls. “Over time, as the femoral head flattens, it causes labral tears, trochanteric impingement and early arthritis. Although hip replacements have great success, they were not designed for children, who tend to push the limits and extremes of activity.”

Tucker saw surgeons in Philadelphia, but they felt surgery would be too difficult to perform. Still, Dr. Seeley spent several long visits with Tucker and his family discussing the risks and benefits of surgery, as well as the extensive recovery process.

“We also discussed the unpredictable future of his football career, and I explained that my main goal for any surgical procedure is to eliminate pain,” Dr. Seeley adds.

An 8-hour surgery helps Tucker get back in the game

In November 2018, Dr. Seeley treated Tucker’s labral tear and reduced the size of the femoral head so the joint would fit in the hip socket. He also divided the femur to correct the way the ball and socket of Tucker’s hip joint came into contact with each other. The procedure lasted nearly 8 hours.

Tucker spent 8 days in the hospital and 6 days in a rehab facility. Everyone expected him to take 19 months to fully recover, but Tucker surprised them all. When the 2019 football season started, Tucker was back in the game.

“Tucker runs and stretches in ways he hasn’t been able to in years,” says his mother. “It’s a miracle he’s back on the field. I really can’t thank Dr. Seeley enough.”

The Wools also credit Tucker’s Geisinger physical therapist, Karen Horne, who took him to the Williamsport YMCA to work with him in the pool.

“Tucker took physical therapy very seriously,” Mr. Wool says. “He was extremely dedicated and so was his therapist. I don’t think he’d have recovered so quickly without her help.”

Dr. Seeley couldn’t agree more. “The surgery was only one small piece of the puzzle. Tucker needed very directed, consistent physical therapy. To teach a tall, 290-pound teenager how to relearn everyday tasks is not easy. On multiple occasions this required Karen to think outside the box, and I cannot thank her enough.”

Tucker’s legs will always be different lengths, so he has his shoes altered to compensate for the difference. Other than that, and a slight strut when he walks, no one would guess he had such serious hip issues — especially if they saw him out on the field or walking across the stage to get his diploma.