Treasurer Reminds Veterans to File Discharge Documents Locally Treasurer Stacy Garrity and James M. Zugay, Recorder of Deeds in Dauphin County and President of the Pennsylvania Recorders of Deeds Association (PRODA), today reminded Pennsylvania veterans to register their military discharge paperwork with their local recorder of deeds office. “Military discharge papers are crucial documents for veterans to keep, and Recorder of Deed offices can provide easy access to official copies if the originals get misplaced or lost,” said Treasurer Garrity, a retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel. “It’s important that my fellow veterans know about and understand the importance of this great resource, and I urge them all to make sure they have their paperwork on file with their county’s recorder of deeds.” “Recorders are proud to serve as a custodian of DD214s for our veterans who have honorably served our country,” said Zugay. “We have recorded thousands of these documents, but our hope is spread the word that recording these documents in our office is a way to preserve them in a safe and confidential way if they are needed for any reason in the future.” Recorders are required by Pennsylvania law to accept and maintain military discharge papers from veterans. This is the only document protected as private – DD214s are not public record. If a veteran or their family loses the original paperwork, or it is lost due to a flood, fire or other natural disaster, certified copies can be obtained from the Recorder of Deeds office where the documents were stored. Without this county-level process, veterans would be forced to go through the federal government to receive replacement documents, which can be a cumbersome process. To have military discharge papers recorded, veterans will need to provide their DD214 or NGB22 and, in some cases, a valid photo I.D. Veterans should contact their county Recorder of Deeds to ensure proper documentation. There is no fee associated with recording military discharge papers. “I hope all veterans will take some time to register their discharge papers with their local county Recorder of Deeds,” Garrity said. “It’s a great service that can make things much easier in the future if their original documents get misplaced or destroyed.” Recorders of Deeds have had the authority in Pennsylvania to collect military discharge papers since 1868. To find your county recorder of deeds, visit PRODA’s website at padeeds.com/county-officials.
Marywood University Appoints New VP for the Student Experience Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., president of Marywood University, Scranton, Pa., has appointed Jeffrey Kegolis, Ph.D., to the position of vice president for the student experience (VPSE), effective July 6, 2023. “Dr. Kegolis brings an understanding of our culture and mission, as well as a wealth of expertise in serving students directly,” stated Sister Mary Persico, IHM. “This is exciting work that gets to the heart of who we are in our efforts to put students first.” The areas within the Student Experience include: the Office of Student Engagement, Housing and Residence Life, Student Health Services, the Counseling/Student Development Center, Retention and Advising, and the Dean of Students. Dr. Kegolis’ career in higher education spans more than two decades and features extensive experience in multiple areas of student services, including leadership programs, campus engagement/activities, residence life, fraternity and sorority life, and student conduct, among others. His passion throughout his career has focused upon helping others, where he served as a cluster facilitator for Leadershape©, presented to student leaders at the National Association of Australian University Colleges, Inc. (i.e., NAAUC), served for multiple years on the planning committee for The Placement Exchange (i.e., TPE), and developed and facilitated a customized communication module of leadership training, “Fundamentals of Leadership,” for Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. Dr. Kegolis most recently served as the director for student conduct and assessment at The University of Scranton. Prior to that, while at Bowling Green State University, in Bowling Green, Ohio, he was an assistant dean of students in the office of campus activities, and later an assistant dean of students in the office of the dean of students. Additionally, he was an assistant professor of psychology at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. where he also began his professional career in higher education as an assistant director of residence life. Dr. Kegolis earned his Ph.D. degree in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University. He also is a graduate of Marywood University, where he earned a master of science degree in counselor education with secondary school certification. He holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a neuroscience concentration from King’s College.
Wayne Bank Staff Member Receives Honor Student Recognition Anna Van Acker, Assistant Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer of Wayne Bank, achieved honor student status from the Pennsylvania Bankers Association’s (PA Bankers’) 2023 School of Commercial Lending. Honor students are selected for outstanding academic achievement on a final examination. Jim Donnelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, stated, “Anna’s strong work ethic and dedication to her customers makes her an asset to our commercial lending team. I am so pleased, but not at all surprised by her tremendous achievement. Her commitment to ensuring she remains knowledgeable on the latest banking products and procedures for her co-workers and her customers is admirable. Congratulations, Anna!” Van Acker has served the banking industry for five years and joined Wayne Bank in 2021 as a Commercial Loan Associate. She specializes in commercial property mortgages and construction loans, equipment financing and lines of credit, customized acquisition financing, capital projects, and USDA loans. She is very active in the community and serves on the boards of the Wayne Pike Building Industry Association, Pennsylvania Builders Association, and Professional Women in Building. Anna holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton. PA Bankers’ School of Commercial Lending provides educational content similar to 200- and 300-level college course study. Topics for this program include: business development, credit structuring, the practical application of commercial lending knowledge, and client and internal communication. PA Bankers has been bringing banks and bankers together for more than 125 years to learn, grow, serve and engage with their peers, communities and lawmakers. The association has built a strong reputation as a leading advocate for pro-banking policies at the state and federal levels, as well as the delivery of quality education, products and services for banks of all sizes and their employees. Wayne Bank is a subsidiary of Norwood Financial Corp., Member FDIC, and is located in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The Bank has 29 Community Offices serving Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Lackawanna, and Luzerne Counties in Pennsylvania, along with Delaware, Sullivan, Otsego, Ontario, and Yates Counties in New York, including those offices operating under the Bank of Cooperstown and Bank of the Finger Lakes brands. The stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol— NWFL
PennDOT, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Seeking Students for Young Ambassadors Program The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful are inviting 10th -12th grade students from around the state to help keep Pennsylvania clean and beautiful through the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania program. The program seeks to build community stewards and civic leaders by inspiring, engaging, and empowering young Pennsylvanians to not only keep their communities clean and beautiful but also to become ambassadors in their community for a shared vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. Applicants should be passionate about the environment and committed to making Pennsylvania the best place to live, work and play through volunteerism and leadership. The Young Ambassadors program provides opportunities for high school students to train and network with industry leaders, state agencies, local media and the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful network to increase leadership and problem solving skills and prepare them to continue to make differences in their communities and beyond. “Young people across the Commonwealth are instrumental in the effort to curb litter and environmental degradation, now and in the future,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “It’s inspiring to see the rising stewards of Pennsylvania’s environment taking on such an active role in clean-up efforts around the state.” “We are honored to offer the Young Ambassadors Program in partnership with PennDOT for the second year. The program exceeded our expectations last year, so we are eager to meet the new slate of students with the passion to implement change in their communities and the commonwealth,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We hope to not only inspire a sense of community ownership but also highlight the importance of engaging community members, local businesses and organizations in identifying issues and partnering to find solutions.” Chosen candidates will commit to serve as an Ambassador from October 2023 through May 2024 and represent and uphold the mission and values of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. Other responsibilities include: attending 6 mandatory virtual education sessions;conducting a community assessment and creating a summary presentation;organizing and participating in at least one community cleanup event through pick up Pennsylvania and conducting one community education event or activity. There will also be non-mandatory education sessions from a variety of topics. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will provide education and training to program participants on such topics related to the impact of litter on roadways, litter prevention, waste management and recycling, civic engagement and related public policy, volunteer management, and social media marketing. The program will provide networking opportunities to not only build a sense of community within the program but also to promote professional development of the individual students. In addition, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has partnered with Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania funded by the NiSource Charitable Foundation to provide Job Shadow Days to select Ambassadors. The Young Ambassadors program was recommended in the commonwealth’s Litter Action Plan announced by the Governor’s Office in November 2021 and is funded by PennDOT. Applications are being accepted August 1 through September 14. Students will be chosen through a competitive application process. Students interested in applying should visit keeppabeautiful.org and choose Programs, Education then Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania or contact Kylie McCutcheon at 724-836-4121 x114 or kmccutcheon@keeppabeautiful.org. Subscribe to statewide PennDOT news and traffic alerts at www.penndot.gov/news or choose a region under “Regional Offices.” Information about the state’s infrastructure and results the department is delivering for Pennsylvanians can be found at www.penndot.gov/results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
Munley Law Partner Sworn in as Treasurer for the AAJ Munley Law is pleased to announce that truck accident lawyer Marion Munley was sworn in as the Treasurer for the American Association for Justice (AAJ). The American Association of Justice is a 20,000-member organization of plaintiff attorneys dedicated to protecting the rights of trial by jury. The mission of the AAJ is to promote justice and fairness for injured victims, safeguard victims’ rights, and strengthen the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public safety and health. Marion has held several positions in the AAJ over the years. She was elected as the AAJ Parliamentarian in 2022 and has served on the Board of Governors and its Executive Committee. In 2018, she was the first woman to become the Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigations Group and received the organization’s Robert W. Munley Champion of Justice Award in 2020. Marion is widely recognized as one of the most prominent and widely respected personal injury lawyers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She has won many multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for injury clients throughout the United States, including one of the largest truck accident settlements in Pennsylvania. She is triple board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law, Civil Practice Advocacy, and Truck Accident Law. She is the second woman in Pennsylvania to become board certified as a Civil Trial Advocate. She has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America since 2013 and was named the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She was recently named a 2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer and is among the Top 10 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for 2023.
Noteology Celebrate First Anniversary in New Location Scranton Tomorrow leaders and members of the Downtown Scranton business community recently celebrated a milestone for one of their own. On July 26, Noteology, a boutique perfumery and custom studio, marked its first anniversary at 537 Wyoming Avenue, Downtown Scranton. In honor of the occasion, Co-owners Danielle Fleming and Mark Bonfiglio expressed their gratitude to their supporters. “We’re deeply grateful to our customers, team members, friends, and family for their continued support,” Fleming said. “None of this would be possible without them.” Fleming and Bonfiglio have been active members of the Downtown Scranton Business community since 2013 when Noteology joined the Downtown landscape at 401 Biden Street. They regularly participate in Downtown events and promotions as a collaborative partner and supporter. In November, they will celebrate their 10th anniversary in business. Be sure to follow Noteology on social media for more information on how they plan to celebrate. To learn more about Noteology, visit www.noteology.com or call (570) 343.2100.
Johnson College Enrolling Students Into Distance Learning Program Johnson College is now enrolling for its Fall 2023 Distance Learning Program for high school and adult students in Wayne, Pike, and Susquehanna counties. It creates a direct route for students to complete any of Johnson College’s seventeen 2-year associate’s degree programs and ultimately a fulfilling career with family-sustaining wages while staying in their communities. To learn more about this program or to register for courses listed below, please visit johnson.edu/distance-learning-program/ or email the Johnson College enrollment team at enroll@johnson.edu. Students will have interactive, two-way access to Johnson College faculty and participate in remote education, discussions, testing, and skill demonstrations via high-tech telecommunications equipment in classrooms at Forest City Regional High School, Honesdale High School, Wallenpaupack Area High School, and Western Wayne High School. Furthermore, Lakeville Library, Newfoundland Library, and Pleasant Mount Library will be equipped with laptops to give community residents access to career exploration services and information about courses at Johnson College. In addition to the distance learning opportunity this program provides, students will have access to Johnson College’s full array of on-campus support services including tutoring, counseling, career services, financial aid, internship opportunities, and exposure to industry from day one. Distance learning will help high school and adult students reach their full potential and connect with the region’s essential careers already in demand. Distance learning courses available at all participating high schools will include: VMR 151-1 Introduction to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair – Tuesdays, 2 to 3:50 p.m. PRG 103-1 C Sharp – Tuesdays, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. BUS 101-1 Introduction to Business – Mondays, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. WTC 153-3 Gas Metal and Flux Cored Arc Welding – Tuesdays, 5 to 5:50 p.m. WTC 154-3 Gas Metal and Flux Cored Arc Welding I Lab – Thursdays, 5 to 9 p.m.
Waverly Community House to Host Events The Waverly Community House will be hosting multiple events in the next coming weeks. On August 13 @ 1:00 pm, they will host Montrose: The Underground Railroad and the Civil War Era This program will cover the history of Montrose, Pennsylvania, the Susquehanna County seat. Destination Freedom Program Manager, EJ Murphy, will highlight the town’s connection to the Underground Railroad, local anti-slavery and abolitionist movements and various aspects of the Civil War era history. The event is free and open to the public. On Friday, August 18th, The Comm will once again host its annual tennis court fundraiser, Cocktails for the Courts. This popular summer party will take place from 6-8 PM on The Waverly Community House Front Lawn. Tickets are $35 in advance at waverlycomm.org, or $40 at the door. Admission includes, wine, beer, a signature drink, […] On Monday, September 18th, the Waverly Community House will host their Golf Comm Classic at Glen Oak Golf Club Click HERE to register! Captain & Crew Format: This tournament will feature competition in men’s, women’s, and mixed divisions. Entry fee includes 18 holes of golf and cart, buffet lunch, cocktail hour, and buffet dinner. About the Tournament: $10,000 Hole in One, Contests and Prizes, Snack Shack, […]
PS Bank Ranked #1 in PA and #42 Nationally on American Banker List PS Bank is pleased to announce it has been ranked as the #42 highest bank on American Banker’s list of the Top 200 Community Banks under $2 billion in the United States as published in its June 2023 edition of the magazine. The 2023 ranking marks the eleventh consecutive year that Peoples Ltd. (PPLL) was included among institutions that are ranked based on three-year average Return on Equity (ROAE). For the fourth time in five years, Peoples Ltd. was the highest-ranked Pennsylvania-based institution on this list. With a three-year average ROAE of 14.84%, PS Bank continues to be a strong bank proudly serving customers throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania. Anthony J. Gabello, President & CEO, said “I am extremely proud of the hard work being done on a daily basis by our PS Bankers throughout the communities we serve. Earning the #42 ranking from American Banker and the highest ranking in Pennsylvania is a testament to the dedicated service we provide to our customers and to our strength as a community bank.”
