The Wright Center Tribute Dinner A tribute dinner in honor of pioneering physician and longtime community leader Dr. Robert E. Wright and his late wife, Carole, will be held this fall to benefit one of the couple’s favorite charitable causes: the tuition-free NativityMiguel School of Scranton. Event sponsorships and reserved dinner seats are currently available for the school’s 2022 Tribute Dinner fundraiser, which is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the University of Scranton’s DeNaples Center. Donations honoring the Wrights by those who are unable to attend the dinner are also being accepted. Proceeds from the campaign will support the school’s mission of “breaking the cycle of poverty, one student at a time.” The Wrights left an enduring legacy on Northeast Pennsylvania’s educational landscape by, in part, helping to establish the NativityMiguel School of Scranton, an independent Catholic co-educational middle school for students of greater economic need in the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre areas. The school began instructing its first class of fifth-graders in 2015. Today, the small but impactful institution educates more than 60 students in grades five through eight. Dr. Wright, a Lackawanna County native, also founded and led the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, forerunner of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, and was instrumental in the startup and ultimate success of The Commonwealth Medical College, now known as the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Carole Wright supported those monumental projects, which collectively serve the region as a physician workforce pipeline to help meet the ongoing need for primary care doctors and other health care practitioners. A practice manager, Carole Wright also was vital to the establishment and growth of her husband’s hematology/oncology practice – the first of its kind in the region. And she was a consistent servant-leader, aiding many area nonprofits as a volunteer, a board member and a benefactor.
The Dime Bank Celebrates Employee Milestones Each year The Dime Bank holds a dinner celebration to acknowledge and honor their employees who are celebrating five-year incremental career anniversaries with The Dime Bank. This year, thirteen employees were honored: Cynthia Burdick with 45 years of service; Ruth Daniels with 35 years; Cindy Galloway with 30 years; Irene Selvaggi with 25 years; Ekaterina Pereyra with 15 years; Kim Metz, Donna DiChiaranti, and Laura Novak each with 10 years of service; and Jeffrey Roche, Cassandra Dean, Jared Newbon, Katelyn Donat, Brianna Connelly with 5 years of service each. Thirty-seven 2020 and 2021 honorees were also invited to this year’s dinner to celebrate with their teammates since dinners weren’t held due to COVID and instead The Dime Bank donated the value of the dinner to area food banks. President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich stated, “Our employees are what makes The Dime Bank so unique. Their positive attitude, dedication, and loyalty bring the ultimate experience to our customers. We appreciate each person’s contribution to our team as we celebrate their commitment to The Dime Bank, to our customers, and to our communities.”
Johnson College Receives Pledge Peoples Security Bank & Trust has pledged $150,000 to Johnson College in support of its $5 million comprehensive, five-year capital campaign, Innovation at Work. Peoples Security Bank & Trust has provided continued support for student programs and scholarships at Johnson College through its monetary contributions. “Peoples Security Bank & Trust is inspired by Johnson College’s vision to be an innovative, experiential, and multi-disciplinary technical hub for the next generation of trailblazing leaders across all industry sectors,” said J. Patrick Dietz, Johnson College Board Chair and Senior Vice President of Peoples Security Bank and Trust. “The college has an extensive history of both nurturing and advancing the career paths of some of the brightest young minds, and the Bank is pleased to bestow a gift that will help to unlock the full potential of the Innovation at Work capital campaign, broadening access to valuable resources and programming for all students.” The Innovation at Work campaign consists of four components that will create an environment for continued growth and success: the construction of Ideal Saldi Hall, a new gateway building that will become the official entrance to the campus and include new lab and classroom spaces; the expansion of Woolworth Hall, which houses on-campus lab space for programs including Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and Electrical Construction Technology; the creation of a Transportation Education Center; and support of the College’s Annual Fund and student scholarships. For more details about the Innovation at Work campaign, visit johnson.edu/innovationatwork.
Marywood University Earns Military Friendly® School Designation Marywood University has earned the 2022-2023 Military Friendly® School designation. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2022-2023 survey, with 665 earning special awards for going above the standard. The 2022-2023 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans. “We are thrilled to have earned this distinction as a Military Friendly® School,” said Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., Marywood president. “At the heart of this recognition is our steadfast and ongoing commitment to support the distinctive educational needs of our veteran, current military, and dependent students at Marywood University, so they can maximize both their military experience and their Marywood education when entering the civilian workforce.”
Barry Isett & Associates Appoints New Positions Brandon Trate Founded in 1977, Barry Isett & Associates has expanded its multi-discipline engineering and consulting services to enrich local communities and provide all-encompassing services for its clients. Over years of growth, the company’s shared values of service, balance, team, and ownership have remained at the forefront. Since its establishment in Lehigh Valley over 45 years ago, Isett has expanded to nine offices and 250+ associates. Chris Kotch To support company growth and client success, Isett has appointed three associates to assume new positions across several offices. Brandon Trate, PG will assume the role of Vice President of the Lehigh Valley Region. Mr. Trate, former Vice President of the Field Division, has extensive knowledge across environmental, forensic, geotechnical, survey, construction materials testing, and project management disciplines. As Vice President of the Lehigh Valley Region, Mr. Trate will provide executive-level project and client management across Isett’s multi-discipline services. Formerly serving as Isett’s Vice President of the Southeast PA Region, Chris Kotch, PG, will assume the position of Vice President of the Field Division. Mr. Kotch brings years of experience in environmental sciences along with client and project management. Mr. Kotch will be overseeing Isett’s Environmental Consulting, Forensic Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Survey, and Construction Materials Testing departments and services. Erin Burke “I am excited for my new role as Vice President of the Field Division and look forward to supporting our field services and client’s success,” Mr. Kotch shared. With over 20 years of experience in marketing and client management, Erin Burke will serve as the company’s Vice President of the Southeast Pennsylvania Region. As a Delaware Valley native, Ms. Burke emphasizes her support of the local community and is engaged within the region. As Vice President, Ms. Burke will focus on providing executive-level communication and oversee the management of multi-disciplines projects.
Scranton Tomorrow Make Downtown Scranton the Place to “Bee” Downtown Scranton is buzzin’ with business this fall! Fall Into Downtown Scranton, a project of Scranton Tomorrow, features promotions throughout the month of October encouraging everyone to support local. Our theme, “The Good of the Hive,” is creating quite a buzz as we celebrate the installation of our latest Downtown mural, which is part of artist Matt Willey’s international “The Good of the Hive” project. When you shop and dine in Downtown Scranton, you help to create a healthy economy for everyone in your colony — family, neighbors and friends. We think that’s pretty sweet! Honey & Harvest Restaurant Week, October 12 to 15Restaurants, pubs and cafés infuse honey into special dishes and signature drinks as part of Honey & Harvest Restaurant Week, October 12 to 15, in Downtown Scranton: 16th WardAV Restaurant & LoungeBar PazzoCatch21 Seafood and SteakChef Von & MomThe Garden RestaurantPeculiar KitchenSambuca Italian Grille & Bar Tequila Mexican Bar & Grille Make a beeline to Downtown Scranton for fall fashionTime to update your wardrobe? Boutiques and salons in Downtown Scranton have the latest fall styles, and plenty of options to shop your way: in store, online, curbside pickup and delivery. For a list of Downtown retailers and salons, visit our Downtown Scranton Shopping Guide. International muralist Matthew Willey paints in Downtown Scranton Scranton Tomorrow’s Mural Arts Program continues with the installation of a mural honoring honeybees on the Scranton Civic Ballet Company building, Rear 234 Mifflin Avenue, Downtown Scranton. The mural is part of artist Matthew Willey’s global art project, The Good of the Hive. This project is made possible with support from the Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, Lackawanna County Commissioners, Lackawanna Heritage Valley, The University of Scranton, Space Time Mead and Cider Works, Terrana Law Firm, and Lackawanna College. ‘The Good of the Hive’ master class and lectureArtist Matthew Willey will present a master class and lecture, “The Good of the Hive,” on Friday, October 14, at 6 p.m., in the theater at Lackawanna College, 501 Vine Street, Downtown Scranton. The event is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first-served. Lackawanna College is the academic sponsor of this event. Photo by Dani Case thegoodofthehive.com
Munley Law Marion Munley Speaks at Melvin M. Belli Society Seminar Munley Law is pleased to announce that Marion Munley recently spoke at the Melvin M. Belli Society 74th Annual Seminar in Seattle, Washington. She spoke on the topic, “Using Electronic Evidence on a Case.” The Melvin Belli Society was created in 1981 to promote the international exchange of ideas among trial lawyers through meetings and education. The Melvin Belli Society was created in 1981 to promote courtroom excellence through the international exchange of ideas among the country’s top trial lawyers via meetings and education. This national organization is named after one of America’s most famous trial lawyers, Melvin M. Belli, who has been called the “Father of Demonstrative Evidence” for his pioneering work in illustrating in court the nature of his clients’ injuries.“ A champion of victims’ rights and the civil justice system for over 25 years, Marion is known for her compassionate approach to representing the catastrophically injured and her tireless devotion to her clients and their families. Triple Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial, Civil Practice, and Truck Law, Marion has earned an AV-Preeminent designation from Martindale-Hubbell, the industry’s highest ethical and client satisfaction rating. A leader in the legal community, Marion is an active member of the American Association for Justince (AAJ) and currently serves on the AAJ Board of Governors and on its Executive Committee. She was the first woman to become Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2018 and is a past chair of the AAJ’s Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. Marion is the second woman in Pennsylvania to become Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Among her other professional affiliations are the American Board of Trial Advocates, the International Society of Barristers, and the Summit Council, an exclusive group of todays top civil justice attorneys committed to the highest levels of trial advocacy, to obtaining justice for individuals and families who have been hurt by corporate wrongdoing, and to the protection of the civil justice system. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2012, Marion has been named the 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Last year, she was recognized as Best Lawyers® 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury-Plaintiffs for the Allentown metro area. Marion has also been selected to the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for the last 18 years and has been consistently recognized as one of the “top 50 Women Lawyers in Pennsylvania” in Super Lawyers Magazine. A graduate of Temple University School of Law (J.D., 1986), Marion received her undergraduate degree from the University of Scranton in 1983.
The Wright Center ‘The Good of the Hive’ Artist Lecture Travelers on the 200 block of Mifflin Avenue in Scranton have noticed a buzz of activity over the past several weeks, as muralist Matt Willey creates his unique work of honeybee art for his initiative, “The Good of the Hive,” on the side of the Civic Ballet Theater building. A world-renowned mural artist who is raising awareness about the importance of pollinators through his art, Willey has been painting the bee mural since late August. His newest painting brings Willey closer to his personal commitment of hand-painting 50,000 honeybees — the number of bees in a healthy, thriving hive — in murals around the world. Lackawanna College, the academic sponsor of the mural project, will host a lecture by Willey on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. at the school’s theater, 501 Vine St., Scranton. Seating for the free event, which is open to the public, is on a first-come, first-served basis. Willey is an artist, an activist and environmentalist. His work aims to spread knowledge about the pollination process, the importance of honeybees in the world, and spark deeper conversation using bees as a metaphor for the health of human communities. The completed mural at the Civic Ballet Theater, 234 Mifflin Ave., Scranton, will be unveiled during a special reception on Friday, Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m. Light fare will be served during the event. “We are honored to be the premier sponsor of this unique mural project that will be on display in our city for years to come,” said Kara Seitzinger, director of public affairs and advisor liaison to the president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “Matt’s work is inspiring communities around the world to think collectively, in the same way that honeybees do. The health of a honeybee hive is the perfect metaphor for the health of a community. “We encourage the community to attend his lecture to hear his fascinating story and insights,” she added. Willey has shared the stories of “The Good of the Hive” through speaking engagements around the world, at the United Nations, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the German and French Embassies in Washington, D.C., Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Duke University, Georgetown University, the Planetary Health Alliance 2018 annual meeting in Scotland, many podcasts, including the National Education Association, and educational institutions throughout the U.S. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Reuters London, The Today Show, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, and countless other publications and media channels. Willey’s mission is to ignite radical curiosity and active engagement around planetary health issues through art, bees and storytelling. His vision is a world filled with people that see and experience the beauty and connectedness of all things. “The hive I’m creating is a metaphor for us all: no matter your color, nationality, religion, gender, age or economic status. This piece of art is an idealized picture of health to focus on as we work toward solutions,” Willey said. The worldwide mural project demonstrates perseverance in the face of adversity. Six years into an estimated 20-year project, Willey has created 35 murals and installations with over 8,600 hand-painted bees. He has reached hundreds of thousands of people and created large-scale works at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington D.C., Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in New York City and Burt’s Bees Global Headquarters in Durham, North Carolina.
