Wilkes University Presents The Sordoni Art Gallery The Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University presents “David C. Driskell and Friends: Creativity, Collaboration, and Friendship, Works from the David C. Driskell Center,”a Dr. Roy E. Morgan Memorial Exhibition. The exhibition highlights the artistic legacy of David C. Driskell and his relationships with fellow artists, many of which have a significant place in the art canon. It will be displayed from Nov. 1, 2022, through Feb. 26, 2023. David C. Driskell (1931-2020) was an American artist, scholar and curator recognized for his work in establishing African-American art as a distinct field of study and was cited as one of the world’s leading authorities on the topic. In 1976, Driskell curated the groundbreaking exhibition, “Two Centuries of Black American Art: 1750–1950,” which has been a foundation for the field of African American art history. His teaching career includes institutions such as Talladega College, Howard and Fisk Universities and University of Maryland. He served as visiting professor of art at several universities, including Bowdoin College, the University of Michigan, Queens College and Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. At each institution, he prioritized exposing students to artists and their work through artist residencies, exhibitions, and prolific slide collections. Driskell passed away April 1, 2020, in Hyattsville, Maryland, from complications of COVID-19. He was 88. The exhibition was curated by Sheila Bergman of the University of California–Riverside, Curlee Raven Holton of the Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, and Wilkes gallery director Heather Sincavage. The exhibition is the first of its kind for this collection and explores the work and Driskell’s relationships with such figures as Hale Woodruff, James Porter, Elizabeth Catlett, Kara Walker, Romare Beardon, Keith Morrison, Jacob Lawrence and many more. Original works of art created by Driskell will also be featured, as well as ephemera from the Driskell Papers that exemplify the artists’ unique friendship. All works featured in the exhibition are from the David C. Driskell Center. The center, established in 2001 by the University of Maryland, honors Driskell by preserving the rich heritage of African American visual art and culture. This traveling exhibition will debut at the Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University, and subsequent venues will include University of California-Riverside University of Pennsylvania and University of Maryland. In connection with the exhibit, the gallery will feature a series of events that are free and open to the public: Curator panel discussion, 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 2: Discussions, moderated by Robert Salsburg of WVIA, will center around the pivotal influence David C. Driskell had on the art history canon, his growth as an artist and a career of community building throughout the African American art community. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. Art in Context film screening, 5 p.m. on Nov. 9: Black Art: In the Absence of Light is an illuminating documentary that spotlights the indelible contributions of some of the foremost African American artists in today’s contemporary art world, including Theaster Gates, Kerry James Marshall, Faith Ringgold, Amy Sherald and more. The film will be followed by a discussion moderated by Dan Kimbrough, owner and founder of Park MultiMedia. Advance registration is required for this event by emailing melissa.carestia@wilkes.edu. Spaces are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. Second Saturday Family Hour, 12 to 2 p.m. on Nov. 12: The session is inspired by the work of Kara Walker, one of the most complex and prolific American artists of her generation. Walker gained national and international recognition for her cut-paper silhouettes depicting historical narratives. Participants for this event are invited to make their own cut paper silhouette while viewing one of Walker’s masterpieces in the gallery. Materials will be provided. All experience levels and ages are welcome. Storytime, presented by the Osterhout Free Library, will be at 1 p.m. The Sordoni Art Gallery is located at 141 S. Main. St. in Wilkes-Barre and shares space with the Karambelas Media and Communication Center. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The gallery follows the operating schedule of Wilkes and is closed on University holidays, breaks or due to inclement weather. The gallery will be open by appointment only during the University’s semester break from Dec. 17, 2022 until Jan. 14, 2023. For more information, visit www.wilkes.edu/sordoniartgallery.
FNCB Bank Adds James Kelshaw to Commercial Lending Team FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, today announced that James Kelshaw has joined the commercial lending team as Senior Vice President, SBA Loan Manager. As SBA Loan Manager, Mr. Kelshaw will be responsible for the oversight of the Bank’s U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lending activities. Mr. Kelshaw joins FNCB Bank with 30 years of credit, commercial lending and SBA lending experience. Most recently he served as the Executive Director of the Northeastern Economic Development Company of PA-CDC. He is a graduate of Hazleton High School and King’s College where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master’s in Finance. An active member of the community, he is past vice chairman and current board member of the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress and past vice president and current member of the Hazleton Rotary.
Johnson College Receives $2,500 Grant Johnson College has been awarded a $2,500 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, managed by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. This grant will support low-cost spay and neuter surgeries as well as vaccines for low-income pet owners in our community. As many people struggle to feed their families every week, family pets, while loved dearly, are not always updated on rabies vaccines and spay/neuter procedures until finances are available. This grant will help these families take proper care of and responsibility for their pets covering blood work, surgery, anesthesia, and pain medication. The grant will also provide low-cost rabies vaccines. Johnson College’s Veterinary Nursing Program prepares students to join an animal care team as entry-level technicians. Their tasks can include collecting samples, performing lab tests, taking radiographs, preparing the surgical suite, assisting in surgery, monitoring anesthesia, and providing general nursing care to patients. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredits the program. Students become Certified Veterinary Nurses upon passing the Veterinary Technician National Exam. “This grant will greatly support both our Veterinary Nursing Program students and low-income pet-owning families within our community,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College. The care and treatment of these pets will give our students hands-on training to prepare them for their national exams and to enter the workforce.”
Johnson College Forklift Operator Training Course Johnson College’s Continuing Education program is offering a Forklift Operator Training Course on Saturday, December 17, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Diesel Truck 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 alum the cost is only $100. Space is limited! Visit johnson.edu/continuingeducation or contact our 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 assist participants in becoming an authorized operator of forklifts through theory and tactile testing. Nine hours of instruction including pre-operational inspection, picking up, traveling, and placing loads, parking procedures, refueling, and practical operation.
Artworks To Host “Purely Pastel”Art Exhibit Join us at ArtWorks Gallery and Studio on First Friday, November 4th, from 5-9 pm for Purely Pastel, an exhibition of recent works by Lisa Cunningham and Joe Kluck. LISA CUNNINGHAM is an artist based in Northeastern Pennsylvania who creates two-dimensional works of art using soft pastels as her desired medium. About her work, the artist states, “It is my intention to create work that allows us to stay connected with the places we see and experience every day. Architecture in our environment, throughout our cities and rural landscapes, incorporates history, culture, and purpose for each of us.” A classically trained, representational artist with degrees in fine art and education, Cunningham finds inspiration through travel and the simple things that exist in everyday life. Cunningham’s work is represented by Patricia Hutton Galleries (PA), Sheldon Fine Art (FL), and Cooper & Smith (CT). JOE KLUCK is an artist based in Northeastern Pennsylvania who creates two-dimensional works of art using soft pastels as his desired medium. Kluck’s accolades include earning Master Pastelist status from the Pastel Society of America and Master Circle Status from the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS). Throughout his career, he has concentrated his studio practice on depicting subject matter, including but not limited to automobiles, landscapes, still life imagery, and favorite past times. In addition to his work as a Pastelist, Kluck has specialized in hand-carved gold leaf signage, teaching through visual art, and working as a Cartoon Artist, where his 1980’s “Onionhead” series was featured in newspapers across the U.S., South Africa, and the Phillippines.
WVIA Announced as RACP Recipient WVIA has been announced as the recipient of a $2.25 million dollar award from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) of Pennsylvania.“We are grateful to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for selecting WVIA as a recipient of RACP funding among so many worthy applications. For over 50 years, WVIA has been proud to serve this region, and we look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence for generations to come” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President, and CEO. “Thank you to our board members and community leaders who advocated on behalf of WVIA for this grant award as well as James Davis and the team at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies for their support in the process.”
Keystone College To Offer Servsafe Class Keystone College will offer a ServSafe manager certification class on Monday, November 7 from 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. at 120 College Avenue, Factoryville.The training will cover topics involving food-borne illnesses and health risks that commercial food service establishments must learn in order to provide safe food for customers.
Geisinger Health Plan Store Holds Ribbon Cutting Geisinger Health Plan Store held a ribbon cutting to celebrate its grand reopening at 2266 Wilkes-Barre Township Marketplace. Open in Wilkes-Barre since 2015, the store, formerly known as Geisinger Community Place, recently underwent renovations and a rebranding to make it easier for residents of Luzerne County to stop in and talk to representatives about healthcare coverage. “Choosing a healthcare plan doesn’t have to be a challenge. This retail space allows for one-on-one conversations to make the process easier,” said Roger van Baaren, chief sales officer for Geisinger Health Plan. “Our goal is to make sure each person who comes through our doors feels welcome and informed as our team helps them find the right coverage for themselves or their families through a variety of plans to meet their needs and their budget.” Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the store is staffed with licensed insurance advisors and customer service representatives who can help answer questions about Medicare Advantage plans, options for individuals and families, Medical Assistance and CHIP for children up to age 19. The space also serves as a community resource for events and special occasions, free of charge. It includes a conference room that fits up to 25 guests, plenty of parking, a computer, projector and screen, internet access and space for food and beverages. In the past, the store has been used to showcase the work of local artists and host community events as well as health and wellness fairs.
Gerrity’s To Give Employees Appreciation Bonus Gerrity’s Supermarkets has spent the past two months transitioning its stores to The Fresh Grocer banner. The project is now close to wrapping up and the owners of Gerrity’s The Fresh recently surprised their 1,300 employees with a bonus of up to $250. “This has been a major effort for our teams. It’s a change that we know makes us better, but it’salso a challenge that involved our entire staff and we’d like to say thanks with this bonus,” saidJoyce ‘Mom’ Fasula, President of Gerrity’s Supermarkets. “Ultimately, we know the conversion isworth it because it will help our customers find even more great products and lower their grocerybill.” The Fresh Grocer specializes in serving high quality, fresh prepared foods to communities inPennsylvania and New Jersey, and is a registered trademark of the retailer owned cooperativeWakefern Food Corp. The transition to the Fresh Grocer format means Gerrity’s customers canexpect new products, services and lower prices but can rest easy that their favorite aspects of theGerrity’s experience will remain, including Gerrity’s ownership, recipes, people, and service. Thestores have converted one at a time each week since August. The Fasula’s have recognized that the process has required everyone to go above and beyond thecall of duty. To show their gratitude for everything their team has done to help Gerrity’s rebrandfrom Shursave to The Fresh Grocer, the Fasula family is giving associates a bonus. Anyoneemployed for the four weeks of each store’s conversion is eligible for an appreciation bonus of upto $250. Full-Time employees will receive $250, and part-time associates is receiving a proratedamount based on how many hours they worked. The amounts received will be prorated based on a40-hour workweek for each of the four weeks. The total investment Gerrity’s is making in theirteam will be over $350,000.
Scranton Area Community Foundation To Host Educational Seminar The Scranton Area Community Foundation, in partnership with the Estate Planning Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, will host Understanding Foundations, Donor Advised Funds, and Other Forms of Philanthropy, an educational presentation with keynote speaker Donald W. Kramer, Esq., on November 3, 2022, at the Century Club of Scranton (612 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton). This presentation aims to give professional advisors an understanding of the rules that distinguish various philanthropic structures. Continuing education is available, including 1.5 hours of CLE credit for attorneys (including .5 hours of ethics credit), 1.5 hours of CPE credit for accountants (including .5 hours of ethics credit), and investment professionals. In addition to professional advisors, this presentation is for nonprofit executives, staff, and board; as well as individuals interested in learning more about charitable structures, philanthropy, and estate planning.Donald W. Kramer, Esq., a Philadelphia attorney and editor of the newsletter Nonprofit Issues®, will share the advantages and disadvantages of private foundations, public charities, donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, single-member limited liability companies, and other forms of charitable activity. Attorney Kramer will compare the limitations of private foundations and will discuss ways to reduce the impact of restrictions for private foundation managers and grantees. He will also share about alternate means for charitable activity and the growth of 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations as non-charitable organizations used for charitable activity.Additionally, the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s President and CEO Laura Ducceschi, along with CEOs from other foundations in Northeastern Pennsylvania, will provide a brief overview of the current landscape of community needs and trends that can inspire philanthropy and drive charitable intent. Registration, which includes lunch, is $25 for the general public ($20 for Estate Planning Council of NEPA Members). Registration is open now at the Estate Planning Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s website, epcnepa.org. The presentation will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will conclude at 2:30 p.m., with the keynote speaker and lunch taking place at noon and the presentation with local foundations beginning at 1:15 p.m.
