Johnson College is hosting a Closer Look at its new 2-year Aviation Technology program on June 12, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. inside hangar two at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

Johnson College’s Aviation Technology program prepares students as entry-level technicians with the latest information on diagnosis, repair procedures, preventive maintenance, and necessary safety applications in aviation technology. The program provides students the knowledge and skills outlined in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Mechanics Airman Certification Standard (ACS). It also prepares students to take the FAA licensure exam for general, airframe, and powerplant knowledge. Students will gain an understanding of aircraft structures, systems, engines, finishes, materials, components, procedures, and operation.

The Johnson College Enrollment team and Aviation Technology faculty will be on hand to answer questions regarding the program, career opportunities, and the enrollment process.

For more information or to register, visit Johnson.edu, or contact the College’s Enrollment department at (570) 702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

To learn more about Johnson College’s 2-year Aviation Technology program, visit https://johnson.edu/aviation/.

Helen Lavelle’s “Humanity & Divinity” art exhibition is back by popular demand and now showing at The Gallery of Scranton following its successful debut at La MaMa Galleria in New York City. See the exhibit for the first time in Scranton during a First Friday opening reception on Friday, June 2, from 5-9 p.m.

The Scranton exhibition gives those who were unable to attend the show in New York in January and February the chance to experience this powerful display.

A nationally recognized leader in the advertising industry, Ms. Lavelle’s drawings and paintings explore the artist’s personal journey through pain and vulnerability to resilience and grace.

Acknowledging that loss of life, the pandemic, political climate, racial hatred, war and economic uncertainty have given rise to unprecedented and unbearable pain, Ms. Lavelle’s work puts it center stage. But she does not stop there.

The exhibit, which includes both figurative and landscape pieces, is designed to remind viewers that the path from humanity to divinity lies in a personal connection to nature. “Nature is our greatest teacher,” Lavelle states. “Life and death, love and loss, pain and promise…the opportunity to transform in the face of tragedy, to recover (as does nature) is cellular.”

For Lavelle, painting is a spiritual process. Landscapes created in Ireland while experiencing extreme grief and sorrow express both heaviness and connection to universal energy.

As to her figurative work, Lavelle explains, “Connecting on a deeper level with nature and God
allowed me to portray moments of human vulnerability that are real, raw and honest. I can barely look at them myself.”

Lavelle has had more than her fair share of grief, having lost multiple friends and members of her own
family to addiction, to AIDs, and to the inability for many to move forward in life. She knows that art
heals, brings forth light, even in the deepest darkness.

An advocate for the arts in every genre, she understands that the arts help move people through life’s
circumstances. Her hope is that through this exhibition, people will see something in themselves that is about transformation.

In May 2023 the Greater Scranton YMCA was awarded a $62,500 grant from the City of Scranton’s American Rescue Plan Act Funds. Funding will support the expansion of the Y’s Early Learning Center.

Since the onset of the COVID 19 public health emergency, the need for child care services in our community has grown substantially. Enrollment in the Greater Scranton YMCA’s early childhood education programs has grown by more than 50 percent from 2022 to 2023 with 60 children currently on a waitlist.

The Greater Scranton YMCA is limited in space and at maximum capacity. In order to open an additional 30 child care spots each year, the Greater Scranton YMCA will renovate its second floor, which is currently being used for storage and the location of H VAC. Through renovating the space, the Greater Scranton YMCA will create three new classrooms, each licensed to serve up to 10 children. The classrooms will specifically serve children ages zero to two, as the need for infant care is great.

“We are so grateful to the City of Scranton for their support of our Greater Scranton YMCA and this project,” said Trish Fisher, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “We are excited to get this project underway and cannot wait to welcome more children and families through our doors.”

Annually, the Greater Scranton YMCA is proud to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial assistance to children, adults and families from across our region, allowing them to benefit from all the YMCA has to offer. During our most recently completed fiscal year, the Greater Scranton YMCA awarded $4 91,646 to community members in need.

For more information about the Greater Scranton YMCA, call (570) 342 8115 or visit the Y online at www.greaterscrantonymca.org

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center’s (NEPIRC) Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team Program is making an impact on high school students throughout northeastern, northern and north central Pennsylvania, just weeks after the program was officially introduced.

Since the program’s launch earlier this spring, the Dream Team Ambassadors have spoken to 4,935 students at 18 different school career events and classroom presentations throughout many of the counties NEPIRC serves, including Bradford, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming.

Kate Logan, quality systems manager for Noble Biomaterials in Scranton, has been an active ambassador, speaking at several high schools this year. Logan has been impressed with her interaction with many of the students she encounters.

“Some students know exactly what they want to be in the future while others did not have a set goal or career in mind just yet. For the students that had some idea, they were pleasantly surprised that their career interests could easily serve the needs of the manufacturing world. The students were surprised to learn about the diverse manufacturing companies locally,” said Logan.

The Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team Program’s 31 ambassadors represent 25 companies. The program introduces high school students, faculty, administrators and parents to younger manufacturing professionals to gain a unique understanding of the vibrant manufacturing sector and the variety of jobs available in our region.

Logan, just like many of her fellow ambassadors, is benefitting as much from talking with the students as she hopes the students benefit from talking with her.

“As a Dream Team Ambassador, I was delighted to be in a classroom setting again. I felt like a student myself learning more about what students hope their futures will be. It was truly a privilege to be given the chance to inspire students on manufacturing industry opportunities and reinforced my own career passions. I am also grateful to have met some new friends among my fellow Dream Team Ambassadors! This was an exceptional experience and impactful to future potential colleagues,” she said.

Max McCabe, project manager for Cheetah Chassis in Berwick, knows that the future of manufacturing in the region rests on the interest of today’s high school students pursuing careers with manufacturing companies.

“I think it’s important to recognize that if I am going to have a future in manufacturing that I will need the generations following me to be interested as well. That means getting out there and showing people what really goes on in the factories and what type of great opportunities are available to them. I take pride in being at least a small voice in advocating for manufacturing careers and this is a great way to do it,” said McCabe.

Dream Team Ambassadors and representatives from NEPIRC participated in the following classroom presentations and high school career fair events this year:

• Scranton High School, multiple classroom presentations – Jeff Tague and Kim Smalley, CANPACK and Matt Wheeler, business advisor, NEPIRC
• Towanda High School Career Day — Jim Winterringer and Nate Halverson, Towanda Metadyne
• JA Inspire Career Fair — Tiffany Weeks, Hydro; Julia Miller, Mitsubishi Chemical Group; Calvin O’Boyle, SIMONA; Jeff Tague, CANPACK; Max McCabe, Cheetah Chassis; Sam Anderline, Greiner; Kate Logan, Noble Biomaterials
• 2023 Career Pathways Fair, Tunkhannock High School — Alec Ciaglia, JAM Works; Sam Anderline, Greiner Packaging and Jeff Tague, CANPACK
• Tioga First Annual High School Job Fair — Matt Wheeler, business advisor, NEPIRC and Mitch Amoriello, production manager, Truck-Lite
• Forest City Regional High School classroom presentation — Jeff Tague, CANPACK and Matt Wheeler, NEPIRC
• Career Technology Center of Lackawanna Countyclassroom presentation – Zach Mulhern, Ashley Machine & Tool
• How It’s Made Career Day at Blossburg Elementary School– Mitch Amoriello and Luke Mann, Truck-Lite
• Valley View High School,multiple classroom presentations — Julia Miller, Mitsubishi Chemical Group and Kate Logan, Noble Biomaterials
• Career Exploration Day at Pittston Area High School— Kim Smalley, CANPACK; Jarad Sarna, EAM Mosca; Kate Logan, Noble Biomaterials and Ian Vestrand, Cornell Cookson
• West Scranton High School classroom presentation — Matt Wheeler, NEPIRC
• Girl Power in STEM Event at Penn State Hazleton — Chelsey Coslett and Courtney Deignan, NEPIRC
• Carbondale Area High School classroom presentation — Kim Smalley, CANPACK

The Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team Program has seen a steady increase in the requests for ambassadors to participate in high school career fairs as well as speaking to classrooms of high school students.

“We are very pleased that we exceeded our expectations in terms of the number of manufacturing ambassadors, the number of companies embracing the program and the geography of where they are located. The diversity of the participants in this program with respect to their backgrounds, employers and hometowns is what’s enabling us to participate in career programs at so many different schools,” said Eric Joseph Esoda, president and CEO, NEPIRC.

“As our manufacturing community continues to see the value in this program, we hope they will volunteer some of their team members if they are not already engaged in the effort, and as the schools see the program taking off we are hopeful that more and more schools will invite us in for presentations.” he said.

NEPIRC’s school outreach efforts are made possible by the Pennsylvania Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant approved by the Department of Community & Economic Development in 2022.

Information about NEPIRC Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team Program can be found on the program’s new website, nepirc.com/dreamteam.

School faculty and administrators interested in having a Dream Team Ambassador speak at a career fair, to a specific classroom, or other school event should contact Jenelle Osborne, Dream Team project coordinator via email, jenelle@nepirc.com.

Celebrate the area’s industrial heritage with the return of Steamtown National Historic Site’s Railfest and Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum’s Arts on Fire on Saturday, June 17, 2023.  Both sites are excited to be collaborating to provide an interactive experience showcasing our community’s history. In addition to free admission, there will be no cost for Steamtown’s short train rides. A complimentary shuttle service will be available throughout the day to transport visitors between Steamtown NHS and the Scranton Iron Furnaces.

Steamtown’s Railfest event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Programming will be offered throughout the day, including our short train rides, the Scranton Limited yard shuttle and the Caboose Hop experience, cab tours of the Union Pacific 4012 and Canadian Pacific 2317, tours of Mattes St. Tower, demonstrations within the locomotive shop, “Ring of Fire” demonstrations, and a Junior Ranger scavenger hunt activity. Several community partners will be in attendance as well.

Anthracite Heritage Museum’s Arts on Fire will take place at the Scranton Iron Furnaces from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. with a ceremonial lighting of the furnace and will feature arts demonstrations, food trucks, live music, and the return of Hot Metal to the furnaces.  Artist and sculpture professor Brian Glaze will fire up his cupola furnace and melt iron.  Scratch blocks will be available for your artistic expressions in cast iron.

Stay informed by visiting www.nps.gov/stea or @SteamtownNHS on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Learn about the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum by visiting www.anthracitemuseum.org or @AnthraciteHeritageMuseum on Facebook and @AnthraciteMuse on Twitter.

Located in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, Steamtown NHS is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From Interstate-81 follow exit 185 (Central Scranton Expressway); then follow the brown and white signs to the park entrance at Lackawanna Avenue and Cliff Street (GPS: N 41.41, W 75.67). General park information is available by phoning (570) 340-5200 or by visiting the park website anytime.

This summer, local youths ranging from ages five through 13 will have the opportunity to participate in summer day camps, which are focused on connecting children to nature. They will take place at the Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center, 93 MacKenzie Rd., Covington Township, PA.

Each weeklong camp takes place at LCEEC’s beautiful 211-acre property and LEED Gold Certified facility. The property is home to native plants and wild animals, forested areas, a stream, a marsh, meadows, instructional gardens and both indoor and outdoor classroom space. Campers will spend time exploring natural habitats and playing summer games while the experienced staff guides campers through innovative experiential activities including hiking, stream and forest ecology, environmental activities, nature-based art projects and much more.

Focusing on discovery and teamwork, children gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all life while daily interactions with one another helps develop cooperation skills and encourage friendships. A low camper-to-counselor ratio ensures children are safe, supervised and engaged in activities that keep their minds and bodies healthy. 

Camp themes change weekly and include Honey Bee Conservation, Wilderness Survival, Backyard Habitats, Closer Look, Eco Explorers and Eco Quest. For more information or to register contact the Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center at (570) 842-1506 or email yaniks@lackawanna.edu.