LIFE Geisinger Wilkes-Barre opens May 3

Older adults in Luzerne County can get the help they need to continue living independently at home as LIFE Geisinger, a day program for seniors, opens its newest location Monday in south Wilkes-Barre.

Located at 592 S. Main St. in Wilkes-Barre, the new facility provides comprehensive health and medical care to adults age 55 and older who would otherwise be confined to a nursing home.

“LIFE Geisinger has served Luzerne County residents for several years at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre and we are excited to be able to expand those services with a brand-new facility,” said Dr. Richard Martin, LIFE Geisinger medical director. “During this pandemic, it’s important that seniors not only get the medical care they need, but also have access to frequent social activity to enhance their quality of life. LIFE Geisinger provides participants with all that and more.”

The new 14,200-square-foot facility includes primary care services with full exam rooms, recreational space, a rehabilitation gym, bathing facilities, a laundry room and a serving kitchen. This triples the capacity of the program in Wilkes-Barre to 150 participants.

Previously, LIFE Geisinger operated a small, satellite program at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre with 55 participants, who will transfer to the new location.

H. Joyce Morano, M.D., will serve as staff physician at the LIFE Geisinger senior center in Wilkes-Barre as well as at the center located at 2300 Adams Ave. in Scranton. At full operation, LIFE Geisinger Wilkes-Barre will have about 50 full-time employees.

For more information about LIFE Geisinger, call 570-808-4780 or visit go.geisinger.org/LIFE.

Planned Community Events Observe Scranton Jane Jacobs Festival

The Center for the Living City, with community partner organizations including The University of Scranton, will offer a series of events for the Observe Scranton Jane Jacobs First City Festival. 

On May 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Scranton community members are invited to attend for a special event, Community Conversation: A Scranton City Dialogue. This Jane Jacobs inspired community conversation will focus on questions and themes she raised in a seminal 1987 letter to the City about “what Scranton is, has been, and can be.” This community dialogue event will be held via Zoom. For more information, please visit scranton.edu/ScrantonCityDialogue. Registration is required for this event at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ObserveScranton.

This community dialogue is sponsored by The University of Scranton and The Center for the Living City in partnership with United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA, NeighborWorks of NEPA, Scranton Tomorrow, Valley in Motion, the Greater Scranton MLK Commission and the Scranton Area Ministerium.

This special virtual dialogue event is a part of the Observe Scranton “Jane Jacob’s First City Festival,” a weeklong celebration of Jane Jacobs’s life and legacy hosted by The Center for the Living City.  Festival events will take place in Scranton, PA and virtually from May 4, 2021, through May 8, 2021. Highlights include the Book Launch of Jane Jacob’s First City: Learning from Scranton, Pennsylvania and a Story Slam. In-person events will follow all Covid safety protocols. For more information about Observe Scranton and the festival events and exhibits, please visit observescranton.org.

The Observe Festival will also offer a variety of events as a part of the First Friday Scranton offerings this May 7 from 5 – 9 p.m.  At the Observe Festival HQ, community members are invited to participate in an interactive art exhibit that will allow participants to share their thoughts about the past, present and future of Scranton. This event will take place at 600 Spruce Street and is sponsored by The University of Scranton in partnership with The Center for the Living City and United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA.

Another First Friday and festival offering is coordinated by the Northeast Art Project (NEAP) the “Light the Night Ride,” a community bicycle ride and contest, to Scranton. Community members can participate by either coming down to enjoy the incredible display or register in advance to participate. For more details or to register your bike for Light the Night Ride, visit NEAP’s website, northeastartproject.com, contact via email at admin@northeastartproject.com, or follow Northeast Art Project on Instagram and Facebook.

Marywood University Students, Alumni, and Staff Volunteer to Spring Clean at Nay Aug Park in Scranton

Marywood University students, alumni, staff and family members volunteered this past weekend to help clean up Nay Aug Park, Scranton, Pa. Organized by The Greenhouse Project, and Debbie A. Frable Welby and Paul Welby, Memorial Rose Garden chairpersons, Scranton, Pa., Marywood volunteers assisted with work on two areas for new flower beds and benches. The volunteers cleaned, weeded, raked, and bagged more than sixty bags of leaves, and they spread two truckloads of red mulch.

Pictured (left to right) are: Logan Casebolt, family member; Mary Errico Casebolt, Marywood University alumna; Ann O’Brien, assistant director of Service-Learning and Community Service; Sarah O’Brien, (front) family member; Tommy Flynn, undergraduate student; Sister Rachel Terry, IHM, campus ministry associate; and Courtney Loughlin, graduate student.

PennDOT Survey Seeks Pennsylvanians’ Feedback on Automated Vehicles

On behalf of Pennsylvania’s Highly Automated Vehicle (HAV) Advisory Committee, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced the launch of a survey designed to gain an understanding of Pennsylvanians’ perceptions and knowledge of automated vehicles.

The HAV Advisory Committee was established by Act 117 of 2018 and is a partnership between public and private key stakeholders that has the power to advise and consult the Secretary of Transportation on each aspect of connected and highly automated vehicles. This includes developing technical guidance, evaluating best practices, and reviewing existing laws, regulations, and policies.

The committee is making strides in preparing for this transformational technology, and seeks to gauge Pennsylvanians’ understanding of the technology, level of comfort and expectations.

“Automated vehicle technology is rapidly advancing, and many features are already available in newer vehicles,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “It is important that the department understands how Pennsylvanians feel about this technology, to help us shape our education and communication focus going forward.”

The survey is available at this link, and takes and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

For more information on PennDOT’s efforts in the realm of automated vehicles visit the Automated Vehicles page on PennDOT’s website.

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.

Museum Adventure Weeks to Return to Everhart this Summer

Museum Adventure Weeks are back this summer at the Everhart Museum. Three (3) sessions of summer camp are planned with two unique options for young explorers, both encouraging learning, exploration, and discovery. Adventures in the Museum campers will have the opportunity to explore the indoor and outdoor environments at Nay Aug Park while participating in socially distanced activities when in the museum. Adventures at Home is a week-long adventure toolkit, including all
materials for campers to explore the museum collection from home. Adventures at Home include the option to participate in LIVE virtual classes, tours, and activities with Museum staff on designated virtual weeks. The Museum uses Google Classroom for all virtual participation.

WHAT: Museum Adventure Weeks
WHEN: June 21st-July 30th
GRADES: Kindergarten through 6th
COST: Adventure in the Museum: $180 member, $200 non-member
Adventure at Home: $40 member, $45 non-member
Registration; Opens on May 3rd

Museum Adventure Weeks center on the creative exploration of the Everhart Museum collection and the Nay Aug Park environment. Each week, campers will experience a new topic or theme that uses both art and science in a hands-on, multi-modal approach to learning. Instructors will use visual thinking strategies and inquiry-based learning to talk about art and art objects from around the globe.

WEEK 1: NATURE WEEK
“LENNY’S FIRST FLIGHT”
Adventure at Home Dates: June 21st-25th
Adventure in the Museum Dates: June 28th-July 2nd

WEEK 2: ART WEEK
“THE LAND AROUND US”
Adventure at Home Dates: July 5th-9th
Adventure in the Museum Dates: July 12th-16th

WEEK 3: MYSTERY WEEK
“THE DIGS!”
Adventure at Home Dates: July 19th-23rd
Adventure in the Museum Dates: July 26th-30th

To learn more about Museums Adventure Weeks or to register, parents and guardians are encouraged to visit Summer at the Everhart on the Museum’s website
https://everhart-museum.org/museum-adventure-summer-program/ or email
assistant.programs@everhart-museum.org. Museum Adventure Week is funded in part by Arts Engage!, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC), the Overlook Estate Foundation, and the Maslow Family Foundation.

Applications Now Open for 3 Leadership Lackawanna Programs

Leadership Lackawanna, the premier community leadership and professional development affiliate of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, is now accepting applications for three of its programs.

Leadership U with Penn State Scranton

  • For Lackawanna County High School Seniors (Apply as a Junior)
  • Application Deadline May 7
  • Collegiate Level Course on Community Engagement, Financial Literacy, and More. Earn 3 College Credits!
  • In-Person Program Begins June 30
APPLY

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

  • For Lackawanna County High School Juniors (Apply as Sophomores)
  • Application Deadline May 7
  • Leadership program to gain real-world experiences in the areas of philanthropy, non-profit organizations and community service
  • Program Begins October 2021
APPLY

Core Program

  • For Lackawanna County Professionals
  • Application Deadline June 30
  • Areas of focus include leadership, interpersonal communications, equity, community development, project management, history and more
  • Program Begins September 2021
APPLY

SBA Announces Application Opening for Restaurant Revitalization Fund

SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced the U.S. Small Business Administration will begin registrations on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 a.m. EDT and open applications on Monday, May 3, 2021, at noon EDT for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted. 

“Restaurants are the core of our neighborhoods and propel economic activity on main streets across the nation. They are among the businesses that have been hardest hit and need support to survive this pandemic. We want restaurants to know that help is here,” said Administrator Guzman. “The SBA has focused on the marketplace realities of our food and beverage businesses in designing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to meet businesses where they are. And we are committed to equity to ensure our smaller and underserved businesses, which have suffered the most, can access this critical relief, recover, and grow more resilient.”

Established under the American Rescue Plan, and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides a total of $28.6 billion in direct relief funds to restaurants and other hard-hit food establishments that have experienced economic distress and significant operational losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Funds must be used for allowable expenses by March 11, 2023. 

“Recognizing the great urgency to help restaurants keep their doors open – and with a clear mandate from Congress – the SBA worked at a breakneck speed and is excited to launch this program,” said Patrick Kelley, SBA Associate Administrator, Office of Capital Access. “From day one, we engaged with diverse stakeholders in the food industry community to make sure we built and delivered the program equitably, quickly, and efficiently.”

In preparation, the SBA recommends qualifying applicants familiarize themselves with the application process in advance to ensure a smooth and efficient application experience, specifically by:

  • Registering for an account in advance at restaurants.sba.gov starting Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 a.m. EDT.
  • Reviewing the official guidance, including program guide, frequently asked questions, and application sample.
  • Preparing the required documentation.
  • Working with a point-of-sale vendor or visiting restaurants.sba.gov to submit an application when the application portal opens. [Note: If an applicant is working with a point-of-sale vendor, they do not need to register beforehand on the site.]

Attending a live recorded virtual training webinar:

For the first 21 days that the program is open, the SBA will prioritize funding applications from businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. All eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications as soon as the portal opens. Following the 21 days, all eligible applications will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Consistent with the legislation and the intent of Congress, the SBA continues to take steps to ensure the equitable distribution of relief, particularly for the smallest businesses, by creating a $9.5 billion set-aside: $5 billion for applicants with 2019 gross receipts of not more than $500,000; $4 billion is set aside for applicants with 2019 gross receipts from $500,001 to $1,500,000; and $500 million for applicants with 2019 gross receipts not more than $50,000.

For more information, visit sba.gov/restaurants or in Spanish at sba.gov/restaurantes.

The Honesdale National Bank Promotes Brian Wilken to VP, Business Development Officer

David Raven, President and CEO of The Honesdale National Bank, announced Brian Wilken, is now Vice President, Business Development Officer.

In making the statement, Raven noted, “Brian embodies the spirit and culture of our HNB team, and his contribution and support to our customers and community is second to none. He understands that our customers success translates to not only our bank, but our community as a whole.”

In his current role, Wilken provides the bank with business development opportunities and growth strategies involving our products, services, and business relations.

Wilken will continue to provide his experience of 12 years in the financial industry and a whole career in business development to HNB as VP, Business Development Officer.

In mentioning his role at HNB, Wilken noted, “This truly is such a rewarding career. I love my job, I get to help people wade through financial decisions every day. Helping their family or their business. I work for an institution that has made helping customers a priority for 185 years, and it’s an honor to carry on that legacy. I also have the privilege to work with an amazing group of people who truly care about customers, the community we serve, and each other.”

Wilken is a Honesdale native, graduating from Honesdale High and receiving an Associate’s Degree from SUNY Cobleskill. He is an active member of his community. He is a member of the Grace Ridge Church, President of the Greater Honesdale Partnership, board chairman of the Human Resources Foundation, Board member at Wayne Tomorrow, member of Honesdale Eagles, member of Honesdale Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons #218, member of the Anthony Wayne Royal Arch Chapter, member of the Savonia Comandry, and member of the Wayne Pike Shrine Club. 

Outside of the bank, he is the father of two young men, Ben and Zack, with his wife Emily Wilken. In his free time, he enjoys hunting and golfing. The Honesdale National Bank, established in 1836, holds the distinction of being the area’s oldest independent community bank headquartered in Northeastern PA, with offices in Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties.  The Honesdale National Bank offers personal banking, business banking and wealth solutions.  For more information on HNB’s products and services, visit www.hnbbank.bank.

Greater Scranton YMCA’s Harry P. McGrath Memorial Golf Tournament & Dinner

The Greater Scranton YMCA’s 2nd Annual Harry P. McGrath Memorial Golf Tournament & Dinner Celebration will take place Friday, May 21st at Glen Oak Country Club. While the golf portion of the day is sold out (interested golfers can be added to a waiting list), the evening portion of the event is open to everyone, not just golfers, and dinner tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Following the completion of the golf tournament, the evening celebration will begin with cocktails at 6:00 p.m. and the dinner/program at 7:30 p.m.

Harry McGrath was a proud member of the Greater Scranton YMCA. He specialized in education law, advocating for the rights of all students, particularly those with special needs. It became his passion to improve the quality of education for children living in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Proceeds from the tournament will support the Y’s Summer Learning Loss Prevention Program, a six-week program serving rising first and second grade students who are struggling with reading and are attending the Dunmore and Mid Valley School Districts.

“Our dad worked tirelessly so that children in this area had the necessary tools to succeed in school,” said Betsy McGrath Ardizoni, Event Coordinator and Greater Scranton YMCA Board Member. “The Summer Learning Loss Prevention program is consistent with his goal of using his legal career to positively impact the lives of the children he was privileged to represent, and our family is humbled and grateful to honor his legacy through a program he would undoubtedly support.”

Committed sponsors thus far include:

  • Gold Sponsors: Highmark Health; Universal Printing Company LLC
  • Silver Sponsors: Jen Ricci State Farm; Haggerty, McGrath, Collins, O’Rourke and James Families
  • 19th Hole Sponsors: The Perry Law Firm; J. Conrad Bosley Appraisal Services; Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC; Fellerman & Ciarimboli
  • Backpack Sponsors: Vanston & James Funeral Home; Northeastern Rehabilitation Associates, PC; Topp Business Solutions; P&W/Washo, Inc.; DePietro’s Pharmacy; NET Credit Union
  • Additional Sponsors: Frank O’Neill Law Office; The Wood Grille; Helbig Meditation and Arbitration; Malone and Rosetti Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; Timothy and Janet Brier; Joanne Cantafio & Family in Memory of Anthony “Taps” Cantafio; Pat and Christine Philbin; PNC Bank; University of Scranton Athletics; Dick and Richard Conaboy; Maloney Law, P.C.; Northeastern Envelope Company, Inc.; Thomas Lyons and Mesko Glass and Mirror

For more information about the tournament, visit the Greater Scranton YMCA’s website or contact Betsy at (570) 768-6118.