Geisinger Community Medical Center among seven Geisinger hospitals that received Gift of Life Donor Program recognition Seven Geisinger hospitals were recently awarded Titanium and Platinum Gift of Life Donor Program (GLDP) designations for their efforts to raise awareness and educate employees, patients and communities about the importance of organ donation through the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP). Geisinger Community Medical Center, Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center received Titanium GLDP designations. Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, Geisinger Medical Center Muncy and Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital received Platinum GLDP designations. “Organ donation has the power to transform lives and give hope to patients waiting for a lifesaving transplant,” said Jason Mitchell, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer, Geisinger, and a member of the HAP Board of Directors. “These recognitions reflect the dedication of our teams to raising awareness about the importance of organ donation and supporting patients, families and communities throughout the donation and transplant journey. Every donor leaves a legacy, and we’re proud to help advance a culture that encourages people to consider giving the gift of life.” The annual HAP Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge encourages hospitals across the commonwealth to increase awareness of organ, eye and tissue donation. HAP partners with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the state’s two organ procurement organizations, the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) and Gift of Life Donor Program, to support the challenge. A full list of winners can be found at haponline.org. To learn more about organ donation or to become a living donor, visit geisinger.org/transplant.
Quandel Enterprises, LLC welcomes Pat Hart as Corporate Director of Safety Quandel Enterprises, LLC has welcomed Patrick “Pat” Hart as Corporate Director of Safety, bringing an experienced construction safety leader, trainer and former first responder to the organization. Hart will lead Quandel’s safety and risk management program across the family of companies, providing strategic direction for safety culture, policies, training and risk management while working closely with safety representatives and operations teams across the organization. A strong field presence will be central to Hart’s leadership. He will work alongside safety representatives and project teams on jobsite audits and inspections, preconstruction safety planning, corrective actions and project-specific safety needs, while remaining visible and accessible to employees in the field. Hart joins Quandel with more than a decade of construction safety leadership experience. Most recently, he served as Safety Director for a Maryland construction firm, leading jobsite safety management, employee training, inspections, job hazard analyses, incident investigations and risk management initiatives. Training has also been a significant part of Hart’s career. An adjunct professor since 2018, he has taught OSHA, CPR, First Aid and AED courses and holds numerous safety and trainer credentials. These include Certified Health and Safety Technician (CHST), Construction Safety and Health Specialist and Advanced Safety certifications, as well as credentials covering OSHA 10 and 30, fall protection, confined spaces, scaffolding, trenching and excavation and other areas of construction safety. Before entering construction safety, Hart served with the Baltimore City Fire Department as a firefighter paramedic, EMT-paramedic and pump operator. His first-responder experience brings an additional perspective to risk assessment, emergency preparedness, training, and decision-making in the field. “Safety is part of how we operate and a responsibility we all share,” said Greg Quandel, President and CEO of Quandel Enterprises. “Pat brings the leadership, field experience, and ability to connect with people that will help us continue strengthening that culture across our organization. His background in construction safety, training, and emergency response gives him a unique perspective on how to identify risk, prepare our teams, and respond when it matters. He understands that safety must be both practical and proactive, supporting our teams where the work gets done and helping everyone take responsibility for their own safety and the people working beside them.” Hart’s leadership will support Quandel’s continued focus on strengthening safety across its companies and job sites and reinforce the organization’s longstanding commitment to Safety: First. Last. Always! and the responsibility shared by every employee to send people home safely at the end of each day.
Cornielle named August International League Pitcher of the Month Minor League Baseball has announced its monthly awards for August and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Alexander Cornielle was named the International League’s Pitcher of the Month. He capped off the month with an eight- inning shutout against Worcester to earn the weekly award as well. Cornielle has been getting stronger and more efficient with each month after beginning the season on the 60-Day Injured List. In August, he boasted a 1.50 ERA through five starts, totaling 25 strikeouts with just ten walks issued. The right-hander pitched 24.0 innings during this time, allowing just four earned runs. Cornielle is the only Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher who has completed the eighth frame this season. The 25-year-old has lowered his ERA to 2.70 in 60.0 innings of work. He has made 14 appearances, 13 starts, with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, racking up 59 strikeouts compared to just 31 walks. He holds a .219 average against in Triple-A. Cornielle joins Brendan Beck as an IL monthly award winner in 2026. It marks the first time in team history that two players have been honored with a monthly award in a single season. Will Warren, Michael King, and Brandon Duckworth have also earned the distinction in their respective Triple-A time with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre continues its series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at PNC Field. The RailRiders have just two more weeks before they wrap up for the summer. For more information on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders visit www.swbrailriders.com.
Registration open for Johnson College’s Women at the Workbench workshops Johnson College is now accepting registrations for its Women at the Workbench: Electrical and Carpentry Workshops, hands-on, one-day experiences designed for individuals looking to build confidence and develop practical skills in a welcoming and supportive environment. The Electrical Workshop will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while the Carpentry Workshop will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Both workshops will be held at the college’s Scranton campus. The cost is $65. Registration is available at johnson.edu/workshops. For more information, contact the college’s WAVE team at wave@johnson.edu or 570-702-8979. Electrical Workshop:Participants will learn the basics of electrical work in a supportive, hands-on environment. Under the guidance of a skilled female electrician, they will explore essential skills such as working with outlets and switches. The workshop is designed for beginners and anyone looking to build confidence with tools and gain practical electrical skills. Carpentry Workshop:Participants will learn essential carpentry skills, including how to measure, cut and assemble materials while completing their own individual projects. The workshop is ideal for beginners and anyone looking to build confidence with tools while developing practical, hands-on carpentry skills. These workshops, offered through Johnson College WAVE’s (Workforce Advancement & Value-Added Education) department, offer more than just technical instruction. They provide an opportunity to step up to the workbench, gain practical, hands-on experience and walk away with something you built yourself, along with the confidence and skills to keep building. The workshop is open to participants 18 years and older. All are welcome.
The Wright Center expands commitment to accessibility across websites, documents and digital media The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education is strengthening its commitment to digital accessibility through a partnership with TechA11y, a Pennsylvania-based provider of AI-powered technology designed to help organizations continuously monitor and improve digital accessibility and compliance. Through the partnership, TechA11y has deployed its accessibility technology and services across The Wright Center’s primary website and affiliated digital properties, including TheWrightCenter.org, HealthyMOMS.org, TheWrightGraduation.org and other digital assets. The initiative also extends to The Wright Center’s PDF documents and digital media, providing a more comprehensive approach to making online information and resources accessible to people of all abilities. For The Wright Center, the initiative reflects both a desire to address accessibility requirements and a broader commitment to ensuring that patients, families, learners and community members can access important information and digital resources without unnecessary barriers. “Access has always been central to the work of The Wright Center, and today that has to include digital access,” said Paul Krzywicki, executive director of marketing and communications at The Wright Center. “Our websites and digital resources are important ways that patients, families, learners and members of our communities connect with our enterprise. We want those experiences to be welcoming and accessible to everyone. Our partnership with TechA11y gives us a continuous approach to improving accessibility as our digital content evolves.” Rather than treating accessibility as a one-time project, the partnership establishes an ongoing accessibility program across The Wright Center’s digital presence. TechA11y’s continuous compliance infrastructure monitors covered websites for accessibility issues, generates and deploys remediation, responds to changing and dynamic web content and documents remediation activity over time. The engagement also includes accessibility remediation services for PDF documents and digital media. The partnership includes accessibility services for: TheWrightCenter.org, The Wright Center’s primary digital presence; HealthyMOMS.org, supporting information and resources connected with the Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (MOMS) program; TheWrightGraduation.org, supporting The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s graduation community; PDFs and other digital documents; digital media requiring accessibility remediation; and other digital assets. Digital accessibility presents an ongoing challenge for organizations because websites and other digital resources are constantly changing. New pages are published, documents are uploaded, media is added, third-party components change and users encounter content in different contexts. TechA11y was designed to address that environment as continuous compliance infrastructure rather than as a one-time accessibility audit or user-facing widget. The initiative reflects a shared view between The Wright Center and TechA11y that digital accessibility should be considered part of an organization’s broader commitment to serving its community. For individuals with disabilities, accessible digital resources can affect the ability to locate health information, learn about available programs and services, understand educational opportunities, access documents and media and interact effectively with an organization online. By integrating accessibility into the ongoing operation of its digital properties, The Wright Center is extending its commitment to access into the digital experience.
Barberlife Barbershop taking part in Community Resource Pop-Up event Barberlife Barbershop LLC will be one of the businesses taking part in a Community Resource Pop-Up event on Friday, September 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The goal of the event is to provide resources to people in need in a welcoming environment. The event will be outside the shop at 34 South Main Street Suite 19 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Attendees will be able to find behavioral health resources, substance use and recovery information, local service and support connections, and community conversation and outreach. This event is free and open to the community. No appointment is needed.
NRG Controls celebrating 50 years of innovation, service & growth NRG Controls is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades of innovation, customer service and growth in the building automation industry. Founded in 1976 by Tom McClay in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, NRG Controls began as a small automatic temperature controls (ATC) contractor with four employees. Five decades later, the company has grown into a full-service building systems integrator serving customers across Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia, and Ohio. “I was a little reluctant to start the company,” recalled McClay, who spent the first 32 years of NRG Controls’ history helping shape its culture, values, and vision before retiring in 2008. “I was 27 years old at the time, had a wife and a small child, but still had that spirit that led me to do it in the first place.” Today, NRG Controls employs nearly 200 professionals at four branch offices and serves more than 300 customers. The company provides integrated building system solutions that help organizations operate smarter, safer and more efficiently, including building automation systems (BAS), security and access control, fire alarm and life safety systems, lighting controls, energy management and service and preventative maintenance programs. “Reaching 50 years in business is more than a milestone for NRG Controls,” said Dave Sholtis, Chief Executive Officer. “It is a reflection of our loyal customers, employees and partners who have placed their trust in us. Our success was built on relationships, technical expertise, and a commitment to delivering value. As we celebrate the company’s history, we are also focused on implementing the next generation of solutions and opportunities for our customers and employees.” Throughout its history, NRG Controls has continually adapted to the evolving building automation industry. What began as a building controls company has expanded to encompass security, life safety, lighting, energy management and other integrated solutions designed to help organizations manage increasingly complex facilities. The 50th anniversary comes during a period of continued momentum for the company. Recent milestones include the acquisition of Nexgen Automation in Harrisburg, expansion into new territories and the addition of new services. These efforts have strengthened NRG Controls’ ability to serve education, healthcare, government, commercial, industrial and institutional customers with integrated building system solutions.
Ricky Gower Joins Fidelity Bank as Vice President, Business Development Officer Daniel J. Santaniello, President & Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank, announced Ricky Gower has joined Fidelity Bank as Vice President, Business Development Officer. In his role, Gower will focus on developing, cultivating, and growing business and commercial banking relationships throughout the market. He will work closely with business clients to understand their unique financial needs and help them achieve both their short- and long-term goals. His responsibilities also include strengthening existing client relationships, generating new business opportunities, and increasing the Bank’s visibility within the communities it serves. “We are excited to welcome Ricky to Fidelity Bank,” said Santaniello. “His extensive banking experience, commitment to relationship building, and deep ties to the Lehigh Valley make him a tremendous addition to our team. Ricky’s community-focused approach aligns perfectly with our mission of helping individuals, businesses, and communities thrive.” A resident of Slatington, Pennsylvania, Gower earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Economics from Moravian University and is a graduate of Bethlehem Catholic High School. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Gower is actively involved in several community organizations. He serves as Board Secretary for the Lehigh County Redevelopment Authority, is a Finance Committee Member for the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority and serves as Treasurer of the Main Street Lehigh Valley Foundation. Reflecting on his new role, Gower said, “It is great and refreshing to be a part of an amazing team of local bankers who are family-oriented and have a huge opportunity to positively impact the markets we serve.” Outside of work, Gower enjoys spending time with his wife, Jessica, and their three children, Lena, Nico, and Evie. The family enjoys outdoor activities, including beach vacations, snowmobiling in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, and exploring new destinations together.
Join Neighborworks at the fifth annual West Scranton Fall Festival This year, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is excited to present its fifth annual West Scranton Fall Festival! This event is FREE to the public and will be held on Saturday, September 19 from 12 p.m. noon to 5 p.m. at Clover Field (400 W Locust St, Scranton). The West Scranton Fall Festival is an annual family-friendly event celebrating the fall season. The NEPA Scene live music stage will feature an incredible lineup of local talent including DJ duo Cowgirl Pills and live music acts Tori V & The Karma and Brendan Michael Smith & The Susquehanna Boom Co. The festival will also feature food trucks, bounce houses and face painting for the kids, free caricature portraits, the Steamtown National Historic Site Ring of Fire, a live animal demonstration, mini golf, booths from local community partners providing activities and giveaways, and free popcorn for all.
NEPA Philharmonic & Partners Launch RxArts NEPA in Lackawanna County The NEPA Philharmonic — in collaboration with United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike Counties; the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging; Age Friendly Lackawanna; and Marywood University Music Therapy & Visual Art Therapy — announces the launch of RxArts NEPA, one of Pennsylvania’s first dedicated arts prescription programs for older adults. The innovative pilot initiative is designed to connect under-resourced adults age 55 and older with meaningful arts experiences that promote mental health, enhance quality of life, and combat loneliness and social isolation. The program provides six free daytime arts events over a six-month period, featuring a variety of arts disciplines based on participant artistic preferences and wellness priorities, to include music, visual art, drama, and other creative experiences. A two-year economic and qualitative analysis on the impacts of the program is underway in partnership with The Institute. The program is currently open to Lackawanna County residents age 55 and older along with their caregivers, with priority given to low-income individuals and those with limited access to social and artistic opportunities. Events for the inaugural cohort will be free and held monthly on select Tuesday afternoons from September through February at Marywood University; food and transportation assistance will be available to ensure accessibility for participants in need. Interested and eligible participants or care providers can submit a free referral for themselves or someone else, available at https://agefriendlylackawanna.com/arts-therapy/. “Arts prescribing is a creative way to reduce and combat social isolation among older adults,” says Sara McDonald, Director of the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging. “Through this partnership with the NEPA Philharmonic, older adults and caregivers will connect to meaningful activities, programs, and social activities aimed at creating social connections, building a sense of belonging, reducing loneliness, and connecting with others from our community. The Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging is grateful for this partnership and opportunity to pilot this innovative program. Programs like this are what make Lackawanna County the ideal Age Friendly Community!” “Social and arts prescribing programs are growing in their impact, reducing healthcare costs and improving health outcomes across more than 30 countries and dozens of cities and states in the United States,” says Chason Goldschmitz, NEPA PHIL Executive Director. “The NEPA PHIL is proud to be part of the Age Friendly Lackawanna collaborative and to partner with United Way and Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, and we are excited to utilize the unique power of arts experiences to address the growing and critical health needs of our region, especially for older adults, through one of Pennsylvania’s first programs of this kind.” Prospective participants for RxArts NEPA may self-refer or be referred by healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, county agencies, and municipal partners. Following a referral, a dedicated Arts Navigator will contact prospective participants to confirm eligibility and assess interests, artistic preferences, and wellness goals. Selected participants will join a cohort of more than 25 older adults and their caregivers who share similar interests and wellness priorities. Each cohort member will participate in six arts-centered experiences over a six-month period. Lunch and transportation assistance will be provided as needed through the support of local partners. The program is designed to support a broad range of wellness outcomes, including cognitive enrichment, confidence, empathy, creative expression, mobility, motivation, relaxation, reminiscence, resilience, socialization, happiness, and improved sleep quality. Organizers expect the initiative to measurably reduce social isolation while contributing to improved mental health and quality of life throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. While the program is currently exclusive to Lackawanna County residents age 55 and older, the NEPA PHIL seeks to expand the program throughout the region with additional cohorts in 2027 and 2028. Support for this program has been provided by the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging; United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike; and the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy and Community Needs initiatives. For more information about Age Friendly Lackawanna and the RxArts NEPA program, visit https://agefriendlylackawanna.com/arts-therapy/. For more information about the NEPA PHIL and upcoming public events, please visit https://nepaphil.org/.
