Johnson College Signs Dual Admission Agreement

Johnson College and Bloomsburg University signed a dual admission transfer agreement on April 27, 2022. Through this agreement, students who apply for dual admission and graduate from Johnson College’s Electronic Engineering Technology program are guaranteed admission to Bloomsburg University. They will enter with at least full junior standing in Bloomsburg University’s Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology program.

Johnson College students transferring to Bloomsburg University must meet minimum cumulative grade-point average requirements and satisfy all other transfer requirements. All agreements become effective in Fall 2022.

“Creating a pathway for our students to achieve a bachelor’s degree at Bloomsburg University ensures they continue to build on their Johnson College hands-on education to advance their future careers,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College.

“True to our mission of educating the students of Pennsylvania and beyond, this agreement will ensure that Johnson College students have a seamless transition to Bloomsburg University, creating the best path forward to future success,”  said BU President Bashar Hanna.

The University of Scranton Presents Romeri Duo Concert

Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a recital by the father-son duo of organist John A. Romeri and flautist John Romeri on Saturday, May 7.

The recital will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue.

Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

A church musician for nearly 50 years, John A. Romeri has served in Catholic churches and cathedrals across the country. Most recently, he served as the first director of music for the newest American cathedral, Christ Cathedral in Orange County, California. While there, he established the Cathedral choirs, Diocesan Choir and Diocesan Children’s Choir. In addition, he served as the host of “Music from the Tower,” a weekly radio program focused on sacred and classical music.

 “We are very excited to welcome this dynamic father-son duo, and to introduce them for the first time to our concert hall and its mighty Austin,” said Cheryl Y. Boga, director of Performance Music at The University of Scranton.

John A. Romeri’s choirs have toured the United States, Europe and Canada, and he has served in leadership positions with the American Guild of Organists, the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and Pueri Cantores.  Through the years, he has received a number of awards, including the Westminster Choir College Alumni Merit Award and the Paul Creston Award from St. Malachy, the Actor’s Chapel in New York City.

Meanwhile, his son, John Romeri, is the co-founder and artistic director of the Broadway Chamber Players, a group of Broadway pit musicians who play chamber music concerts in New York’s Theater District. In addition, he maintains an active teaching and performance schedule throughout the Northeast, often performing with the Stamford, Delaware, Harrisburg and Lancaster symphonies, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and Philadelphia Virtuosi and Black Pearl Chamber orchestras, as well as at St. Paul’s Chapel of Trinity Wall Street and Central Park’s Shakespeare in the Park.

For many years, the younger Romeri has been a sought-after musician for numerous Broadway shows, among them “Carousel,” “Wicked,” “Miss Saigon,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “My Fair Lady,” “The King and I,” “She Loves Me,” “An American in Paris,” “On the Town,” “Les Misérables” and “Beauty and the Beast.” He has also performed music for such television shows as “Mildred Pierce,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “The Sound of Music Live!” and “Peter Pan Live!”

The Houlihan-McLean Center’s Austin Opus 301 symphonic organ was built in 1910 by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut, for Scranton’s Immanuel Baptist Church. Restored and re-dedicated by the University in 2005, the organ is one of the few rare surviving original examples of early 20th-century organ building, possessing a total of 3,178 pipes, 45 ranks and four manuals. The instrument is maintained by artist/technicians from Emery Brothers/Dieffenbach organs.

For the performance, audience members are required to wear a higher-grade mask (N95, KN95, KF94 or double masking) at all times. Please check Performance Music’s website, scranton.edu/music, within 24 hours of the concert for the most current information on additional required audience COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., masking, vaccination, distancing, etc.).

For further information on the recital, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on John A. Romeri, visit johnromeri.com. For more on John Romeri, visit www.broadwaychamberplayers.org/about.

The Greater Scranton YMCA to Host Job Fair

The Greater Scranton YMCA will host a job fair at its facility on Saturday, May 14th from 12:00-3:00 p.m.

Imagine going to work knowing that what you do each day positively affects the lives of the people in your community. Working at the Y, you’ll discover more than a job—you’ll enjoy the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of those around you. At the Greater Scranton YMCA’s Job Fair, come learn about all full-time and part-time positions available, including: Lifeguards, swim instructors, welcome center attendants, child watch attendants, monitors, teachers, assistant teachers, summer day camp counselors and maintenance techs.

The Job Fair will be located in the Greater Scranton YMCA’s Welcome Center on Saturday, May 14th from 12:00-3:00 p.m. The Greater Scranton YMCA is located at 706 North Blakely Street, Dunmore, PA 18512.

For more information or questions, contact Ken Brewster, Aquatics Director, at kbrewster@greaterscrantonymca.org or call (570) 828-3112. For a listing of job opportunities at the Greater Scranton YMCA, visit the YMCA online at https://www.greaterscrantonymca.org/jobs.

Helen Lavelle Art Sales To Benefit Ukraine

Helen Lavelle, award winning artist and Creative Strategist at the advertising agency that bears her name, will be a featured artist in May at POSH @ The Scranton Club. Lavelle’s exhibit of more than a dozen paintings will debut at First Friday Scranton on Friday, May 6.

A portion of the proceeds of art print sales during the exhibit will be donated to St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church to benefit all people suffering during the war in Ukraine. “Every artist has an opportunity to give back in a way that not a lot of people do. This is my way of doing that,” states Ms. Lavelle.

The exhibit will include two of Lavelle’s original pieces – a painting of Jesus Christ entitled “Love One Another” and a painting of Mahatma Gandhi entitled “Be The Change”. Posters of these two pieces will be available for a donation, with 100% of proceeds going to support Ukraine. “We are most grateful for Ms. Lavelle’s support,” states Pastor Reverend Myron Myronyuk. “The needs become greater with each hour that passes.”

A nationally-recognized leader in the advertising industry, Lavelle is also an advocate for the arts in all genres. Her figurative, landscape and abstract work is held in corporate and private collections worldwide.

For more information on Lavelle or to view and purchase her artwork, visit https://helenlavelleartist.com/.

United Gilsonite Laboratories Wins Innovation Award

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania will present United Gilsonite Laboratories with an innovation award during the virtual iXchange this month.

This year’s iXchange theme is Innovators: Past, Present, and Future.

The 2022 Ben Franklin Technology Partners innovation award winners are:

Tobyhanna Army Depot Mental Health Resources

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and team members at Tobyhanna Army Depot have a wealth of resources available to support them.

One resource is the depot’s Employee Services Center (ESC), available 24/7 to provide short-term counseling and support for a variety of issues.

ESC’s mission focuses on prevention, education, training and short-term counseling in the areas of substance abuse, suicide, sexual assault, and employee work/life well-being. All services are confidential and take place on post.

Brittany Anderson, the ESC’s Community Support Advocate, is a board-certified clinical counselor who specializes in family situations as well as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She says there are differences between ESC services and the traditional mental health care model.

“Our services are not intended for long-term mental health treatment. Instead, we offer members of Team Tobyhanna brief, solution-focused counseling. During sessions, we work with clients to help them balance their stress and create a foundation for their next steps.”

Clients with issues that require long-term treatment are referred out to therapists and/or services in the community tailored to meet employee needs. However, ESC support doesn’t stop once a referral is made.

“Even after referral, we maintain contact and offer follow-ups to ensure Tobyhanna Army Depot is an environment that supports employees during their times of need. We want employees to know that we’re here as they move through their journeys,” said Anderson, stressing that the ESC’s main focus is ensuring Team Tobyhanna gets the proper support they need.

“At the end of counseling, we hope our clients leave with an improved quality of life and the ability to address their challenge. Team Tobyhanna – if you need help, please reach out. We will never turn anyone away.”

The ESC is led by Ricardo Horn, a licensed social worker who earned his Master’s Degree from the Marywood University School of Social Work. As the Chief of the ESC, he oversees formal programs such as the Employee Assistance Program, Army Substance Abuse Program, and the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Program.  Horn joins Anderson in providing mental health care to the depot population and leads a biweekly lunchtime mindfulness group focused on helping employees reduce stress. The group earns high praise from participants.

“The mindfulness group allows me to hit ‘pause’ on my work day and refocus my thought process, which lowers my stress,” said Joseph Lucas, an electronics mechanic in the C4ISR Directorate. John Tetlak agreed.

“Practicing mindfulness promotes ardency and alertness; so, rather than reacting automatically, you observe the mental process from a non-judgmental perspective. Mindfulness Training is helping me increase my patience and tolerance in stressful situations by reducing negative emotions,” he said.

According to the World Health Organization, one in four people worldwide is affected by a mental health issue or disorder. Horn encourages depot employees to seek help when needed.

“Despite the prevalence of mental illness in America, the stigma associated with counseling still prevents many people from getting the help they need,” said Horn. “Seeking help is a sign of courage and should never be viewed as a weakness or personal shortcoming.”

The services of the ESC are available to all Department of Defense employees and their immediate family members.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the ESC office at (570) 615-8873. If you or a loved one are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the ESC Hotline at (570) 615-5591.