Johnson College Hosts Annual 3D Printing Competition Johnson College hosted its annual 3D Printing Competition for local high school students on Friday at its Scranton campus. The competition was an opportunity for students from Forest City, Wallenpaupack, and the Wilkes-Barre STEM Academy to showcase their abilities and creativity using science, technology, engineering, and math. Using 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) skills, participants designed and printed gravity hooks that picked up objects of various weights and sizes. The student who placed first, Michael Andrews from the Wilkes Barre Area STEM Academy, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Johnson College as well as a $50 gift card from Matterhackers. Second place was awarded to Danielle Holzapfel and third place to Kai Puma Stehlilk, both from Wallenpaupack Area High School. The event, which was sponsored by OpenBuilds, The New Jersey Chapter of SAMPE, GreenGate3D, and Automated Lifestyles, featured a keynote address given by Stephanie and Isaac Budmen, founders of Budmen Industries, the manufacturer of the award-winning Buildini 3D printer. Some of the College’s local industry partners were also in attendance to discuss future employment opportunities with the students. To learn more about Johnson College’s STEM opportunities for local school districts, visit johnson.edu
Outreach – Center for Community Resources 35th Anniversary Kickoff Outreach – Center for Community Resources is celebrating our 35th Anniversary of moving families forward. Formerly the Employment Opportunity & Training Center of NEPA (EOTC), Outreach serves over 4,500 individuals each year by helping them move towards economic self-sufficiency and family stability. We invite you to celebrate our 35th Anniversary and have an “axe-ceptional” and fun evening with Outreach by attending our kickoff celebration at Electric City Axe Throwing, 1141 Capouse Avenue, Scranton on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, from 5 PM to 7 PM. Enjoy Axe Throwing, food, beer, wine, raffles, and more. Tickets are limited to 60 guests, so purchase them soon! Visit www.outreachworks.org for tickets and information, or call Lori Ryan at the office: (570)558-7565. Scan QR Code to purchase tickets! Outreach is happy to kick off our celebration at Electric City Axe Throwing, a veteran-owned business in Scranton. Owners Jose Bataller and Sam Williams first met in 2017 while serving in the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group program at US Embassy Podgorica, Montenegro. Three years later, they were inspired by their visit to FXBG Axes, owned and operated by their former Detachment Commander, Gunnery Sergeant David Crawley, and his wife, Krista Crawley. Jose and Sam decided that Scranton was the perfect spot for axe throwing. Outreach is proud to serve Veterans and is excited about the opportunity to partner with Electric City Axe Throwing as our kickoff to our yearlong celebration. Please consider joining Outreach for a fun evening and support a Veteran-owned business in our community. Outreach Center for Community Resources delivers family educational and workforce development services and programs to the regional community to promote family stability and economic self-sufficiency. Outreach provides evidence-based early childhood programs that help families and children gain the skills needed to be healthy and productive members of the community. Outreach programs support families experiencing adverse life events, including economically disadvantaged families, individuals seeking services that are involved in the Women’s and Veteran’s Treatment Court System, residents at the Lackawanna County Prison, and justice-involved juveniles. Outreach improves the lives of over 4,500 adults and children each year with evidence-based family development, early childhood education, adult GED services, and workforce programs that support them as they navigate life’s challenges
NeighborWorks Receives Contribution NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) recently accepted a contribution from The Dime Bank (Dime), in the amount of $10,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP).The contribution will support the Scranton Beautiful Blocks Program for 2023. Beautiful Blocks, which is jointly sponsored by NeighborWorks and the City of Scranton, provides matching grants of up to $1,000 to each member of a group of at least five Scranton residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. Grants are awarded annually through a competitive application process.“As a community bank, The Dime Bank is proud to partner with NeighborWorks and contribute to their efforts of revitalizing neighborhoods and building community connections. We are excited to be part of their Beautiful Blocks program that encourages team work among neighbors and invests in property improvement,” stated William Boyle, The Dime Bank Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer.“We want to sincerely thank The Dime Bank for their generous contribution towards this year’s Beautiful Blocks program in Scranton,” said Jesse Ergott, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania President & CEO. “We are grateful for their commitment to making a positive impact in our community and beyond.”
DIMECO, INC. Declares Cash Dividend On March 23, 2023, The Board of Directors of Dimeco, Inc. (OTCQX: DIMC) declared a dividend of $.38 per share for the first quarter of 2023, which represents a dividend yield of 4.05% based on the closing stock price of $37.50. The dividend is payable on April 27, 2023, to shareholders of record on April 6, 2023. This dividend is an increase of $0.02 per share, or 5.56% over the dividend declared for the same period 2022. President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich, stated, “Our shareholders’ investment is the foundation for the sustained growth of Dimeco, Inc. The increased dividend is our way to show that we value their continued support and commitment.”
Clarks Summit University to Host Spring Concert On April 29 at 7 p.m. and April 30 at 6 p.m., Clarks Summit University will present their 2023 Spring Concert “A New Day Has Begun” in the historic Murphy Memorial Library on the Clarks Summit Campus. This concert will have an underlying theme of spring, hopefulness and positive reflection. Attendees will experience a very broad spectrum of repertoire at the concert. With everything from classical to jazz to bluegrass, the 2023 Spring Concert spans many musical genres to appeal to a wide audience. This musical array will be performed by Music Education and Worship Studies majors, and also students from many of CSU’s other programs. The evening will feature duets, a women’s choir, solos and much more. Aside from the concert’s vast musical offerings, the 2023 Spring Concert provides a chance for everyone to reflect on themes of hope communicated through music. Music Department chair and professor Adam Schwamb, said, “in the busyness of life, a concert like this is always a good time to re-center oneself by hearing beautiful things. We have a gem in the community in terms of the arts.” At CSU there’s an active arts scene recognized for its quality. According to Schwamb, many community musicians recognize CSU as a place of high levels of musicianship. “We should be intensely proud of how hard our students are working for something that’s not part of their degree audit. They do it because it’s valuable to them and they want to share it with others.” For more about the Spring Concert and all on-campus happenings, visit ClarksSummitU.edu/events.
Keystone College to Host Ceremony For the last 11 years, Keystone College has enjoyed a proud relationship with The Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust. This summer, that affiliation will be taken to an even greater level. On June 28, The Dennis Farm will be honored during a special sesquicentennial Bell Presentation Ceremony as one of Pennsylvania’s most revered historical landmarks in celebration of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026. The ceremony will take place at The Dennis Farm in nearby Brooklyn Township, Susquehanna County, followed by a luncheon at Keystone. In addition to members of the Keystone community and officials from The Dennis Farm, the event will include numerous local, state, and national public officials and dignitaries. The Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of The Dennis Farm. The 153-acre historic farm was purchased and settled by the ancestors of Denise Dennis, free African Americans who journeyed to northeastern Pennsylvania from Connecticut in the late 1700s. Today, The Dennis Farm serves as a living tribute to the lives and accomplishments of this remarkable family and Ms. Dennis serves as president and CEO of the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust. In 2012, Keystone began hosting The Dennis Farm Symposium and Field Tour, an annual on-campus conference which also included guided tours of The Dennis Farm conducted by Keystone students. “Keystone College is truly honored to host a luncheon honoring The Dennis Farm, recognizing the vital role it has played in our nation’s history,” said Keystone College Interim President John F. Pullo, Sr. “We look forward to celebrating with everyone from The Dennis Farm, as well as our many guests from the local community and beyond. This will truly be a special day for the entire Keystone community and our entire region.” Under Ms. Dennis’ leadership, The Dennis Farm, which is open to the public, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places; featured in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture; honored by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Historical and Museum Commission and Department of Agriculture, and listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s map of rare African American historical sites in the Northeast United States. “There are very few places like The Dennis Farm, where we can walk for acres and acres and know that when the nation was young, free African Americans owned and worked this land – by and for themselves – and that even today it is in the stewardship of the same family,” Ms. Dennis said. “ ‘The Farm’ as we call it, represents a little-known chapter in the story of the United States, and with our partners we are working to ensure that the property with its rich history and natural environment is preserved for future generations.” Additional details regarding the Dennis Farm reception will be released in the near future.
Johnson College Announces New Associate Degree Students can now enroll in Johnson College’s new two-year Aviation Technology associate degree program scheduled to begin with the Fall 2023 semester. The Aviation Technology program prepares students as entry-level technicians with the latest information on diagnosis, repair procedures, preventative maintenance, and necessary safety application in aviation technology. Through a partnership with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, students will complete air frame and power plant instruction in a lab located at the airport, pending approval by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This opportunity will provide students with a very unique and hands-on learning experience in industry. The program will provide students with the knowledge and skills outlined in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Mechanics Airman Certification Standard (ACS) in preparation for the FAA licensure exam for general, airframe, and powerplant knowledge. “The aviation technology industry expects rapid-paced growth within the next decade,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, Johnson College’s President and CEO. “Johnson College is prepared to meet that demand by offering our students hands-on experience and training on campus and at in-field labs, giving them an advantage to succeed in this in-demand industry. Students within this program will be prepared for careers in the aviation technology industry as aircraft mechanics, airframe mechanics, aviation technicians, aircraft specialists, and similar roles. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the aviation technology field has a 6% growth potential through 2031. Graduates have the opportunity to earn a median annual income of up to $65,550. “We’re excited to have this new partnership with Johnson College”, said Carl R. Beardsley, Jr., AVP Executive Director. “This new degree program will greatly benefit the aviation industry, and we support Johnson College in its efforts to meet the demand in these fields in the world of aviation.” Johnson College has received a three-year Advanced Technological Education grant for $307,706 from the National Science Foundation to support the Aviation Technology program. For more information about or to enroll in this program, please contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.
Catherine McAuley Center’s to Host Discussion The Catherine McAuley Center is hosting a Menstrual Equity Discussion on Wednesday April 12, 2023 at 9:00AM. Help end period poverty. Half the population menstruates, 500 million cannot afford period products.
WVIA’s Employee Accepted into Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy Vicki Austin, Senior Director of Grants and Education at WVIA, has been accepted into the Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy will bring leaders from across NEPA together for a year-long series of retreats, workshops, and action learning projects relating to workforce development. Through this acceptance, Vicki will become part of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunity Fellows Network, joining Fellows from fourteen (14) previous Academies in eleven cities in the US and Canada. “I’m looking forward to contributing my time, in collaboration with other leaders, to the growth of our local workforce ecosystem,” said Vicki Austin. “This gives each of us the opportunity to jointly respond to a regional need while strengthening partnerships across communities.” The Academy provides a forum for local leaders to work collaboratively to identify local and regional systems-based challenges and create shared solutions for economic opportunity for all. Fellows work with leading practitioners throughout the country as they deepen networks; strengthen systems leadership skills; apply race, equity, and systems change frameworks to their work; and increase understanding of effective strategies and programs. To learn more about the Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy, please visit https://safdn.org.
Keystone Mission uses Grant Funds In June 2022, Keystone Mission received an $18,500 grant through the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Spring 2022 Community Needs grant cycle. The funds were used for the operation of the Scranton Innovation Center for Homeless & Poverty and for expanding programmings such as the Go Green Team and Pathfinders Program.
