Lackawanna County Judge Frank J. Ruggiero Address Keystone College Graduates 

Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas Judge and Keystone College alumnus the Honorable Frank J. Ruggiero will address members of the Keystone College Class of 2024 during the college’s 153rd commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18, at 11 a.m. in Gambal Athletic Center on campus.

Judge Ruggiero’s last visit to campus was in October, 2023 when he served as guest speaker during the college’s Constitution Day program.

“We are delighted and honored to have Judge Ruggiero serve as our commencement speaker,” said Keystone College President John F. Pullo, Sr. ’69. “As a proud Keystone alumnus, his message will have special meaning to members of our graduating class.”

A native of Carbondale, Judge Ruggiero graduated from Sacred Heart High School and earned an associate of arts degree in human services from Keystone in 1991 and a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Penn State University in 1993.

He obtained his juris doctorate degree from City University of New York at Queens College and began his career in the Brooklyn and Queen’s District Attorney Offices. He then served as law clerk to the Honorable Chester T. Harhut of the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas and worked for the Lackawanna County Public Defender’s Office representing indigent criminal defendants in various matters ranging from summary offenses to the highest-grade felonies, including homicide.

While serving as a public defender, Judge Ruggiero entered private practice, concentrating on litigation pertaining to family, criminal, insurance, and municipal law. His client base was vastly diverse from representing individuals in their divorce and family-related matters to representing companies, corporations, and municipalities in complex civil litigation in various State, Federal, and Appellate Courts across the Commonwealth. He was also general counsel for a Reciprocal Insurance Exchange which insures hundreds of governmental entities across Pennsylvania and served as solicitor to numerous municipalities, including Carbondale and Lackawanna County.

On June 16, 2023, Gov. Josh Shapiro nominated him to fill a vacant seat on the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County and on June 30, 2023, was unanimously confirmed by the State Senate by a 50-0 vote. He was elected to a full 10-year term in November 2023.  

Judge Ruggiero has served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and is active in national, statewide, and local associations and has earned national and state honors for his legal and public service. He is also active in several charitable organizations across the region. He is a former president of the Keystone College National Alumni Association and, from 1998 through 2004, served as an adjunct faculty member of political science, law, and criminal justice.

“I’m really looking forward to being back on campus as guest speaker during Keystone’s annual commencement,” Judge Ruggiero said. “Keystone is a wonderful college that has meant so much to me not only during my time as a student but also in the years since graduation. I can’t wait to meet members of Class of 2024 on this special day in their lives.”

Keystone College to Offer Servsafe Class

Keystone College will offer a ServSafe manager certification class on Wednesday, May 15, from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at 120 College Avenue, Factoryville. The training will cover topics involving food-borne illnesses and health risks that commercial food service establishments must learn in order to provide safe food for customers.

ServSafe, a nationally recognized certification program for safe food handling practices, meets Pennsylvania regulations and is accredited by the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation. For more information or to register, contact brenda.lidy@keystone.edu or call (570) 657-0248.

Penn State Football Head Coach to Visit Local Area

Nittany Lions Head Coach James Franklin will be coming to our hometown on Thursday June 6th at 2 locations… The Banks in Pittston and Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter.

Join Penn State football head coach James Franklin alongside current football student-athletes in the Northeastern Pennsylvania and learn all about NIL and what he needs in his toolbox to continue to build a strong team.

If you are interested in more information or sponsoring, please email info@limitless-nil.com or reereemt@gmail.com

For individual tickets click on the links below…

The Banks: https://www.limitlessnil.com/event-details-registration/we-are-nepa-the-banks

Fox Hill: https://www.limitlessnil.com/event-details-registration/we-are-nepa-fox-hill-country-club-1

Lackawanna College and University of Scranton Form 30+ Program Articulation Agreement

Lackawanna College and The University of Scranton collaborate to establish over 30 program articulation agreements, offering pathways for Lackawanna College graduates to transition to The University of Scranton to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

“The formation of more than 30 program articulation agreements between Lackawanna College and The University of Scranton stands as a groundbreaking initiative, reflecting our mission to offer affordable educational opportunities for our students,” Provost of Lackawanna College Erica Barone Pricci, Ph.D., said. “By streamlining credit transfers and offering diverse academic pathways, these agreements allow our students to engage with a large range of bachelor’s programs. This collaborative endeavor underscores our joint dedication to fostering educational accessibility and elevating the academic landscape for our student community.”

These agreements cover 33 bachelor’s degree programs, including majors like accounting, finance and operations management. To be eligible, Lackawanna College students must earn their associate’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and enroll at Scranton within a year of graduation.

Students who meet the criteria can complete their bachelor’s degree at the University within four regular semesters. They also have the opportunity to earn nine credits at Scranton while attending Lackawanna at half of the University of Scranton’s tuition rate.

Additionally, Lackawanna College graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher accepted into a degree program at Scranton through an articulation agreement qualify for a University of Scranton merit scholarship, starting at a minimum award of $20,000 per academic year for full-time students.

For more information about these articulation agreements, visit Lackawanna.edu or contact Lackawanna College at 570-961-7898 or The University of Scranton at 888-SCRANTON.

Keystone College Shares Statement on Status of College: President Remains Hopeful for the Future

On Friday, April 26, 2024, Keystone College President John F. Pullo, Sr. updated members of the college community on the status of the college.  

In letters to Keystone students and their parents and to faculty and staff, President Pullo emphasized that Keystone, as it has maintained in the past, is continuing to pursue discussions with an investment partner to secure an agreement which would be in the best interest of Keystone, its students, and the entire college community. While those talks are ongoing, President Pullo noted that he is “growing more confident in successfully concluding those discussions.”

While those discussions continue, President Pullo noted that Keystone continues to work with its accrediting organization, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), on elements of a “teach out plan” to protect students. The need for such a plan arose because of an  MSCHE requirement as a result of a “complex substantive change” after a planned partnership with the Washington Institute for Education and Research (WIER) concluded unsuccessfully in March. As noted in the past, such a procedure is a typical measure taken by accreditors in response to such changes being withdrawn. MSCHE also requested that the College submit a “Substantive Change for Closure” which is a procedural step required to enact a teach out plan. The “Substantive Change for Closure” can be withdrawn by the college if not needed.

While acknowledging this can be a stressful time for everyone, President Pullo, a 1969 Keystone graduate, encouraged Keystonians to remain optimistic about the future. For example, in his letter to students, he said, “I am proud of you all and applaud your persistence in staying the course in spite of the visibility we’ve received in the press and in social media. In the words of freshman Brock Kreider, ‘Keep your head high and keep going….Keep driving and keep doing what we are doing.’” 

He concluded: “That’s the Giant spirit, and what energizes me every day to keep fighting for this College, so many years after I was a student here just like you. Thank you for everything you are doing and your loyalty to Keystone.”

Four Allied Services Clinicians Earn Specialist Certification in Treating Parkinson’s Disease

Four members of the therapy team at Allied Services Luger Scranton Rehab Center recently earned an advanced certification for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. Stacey Williams, PT, DPT, CNDT, Sondra Morgan, PT, DPT, MHA, Dawn Van Horn, PT, MS, and Laurie Griggs, PTA, all earned the PWR!Moves® Certification.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurologic disorder. It affects motor planning and cognitive regions in the brain. Recent advances in basic and clinical science research suggest exercise and learning approaches may protect, repair, and optimize function in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR!) is an approach that targets the multiple motor, sensory, cognitive, and emotional symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. The PWR!Moves® Certification teaches the theory and practice of utilizing dynamic moves during therapy to help patients with Parkinson’s improve fitness, counteract their PD symptoms, and increase their daily activity. PWR!Moves® is just one of the treatment protocols provided at Allied Services outpatient rehab centers in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Wayne Bank Holds Annual Meeting of Shareholders

The 153rd Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Norwood Financial Corp, parent company of Wayne Bank, was held in person on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 6th & River, Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

Matters presented to, and approved by, stockholders were the re-election of company directors Lewis J. Critelli, James O. Donnelly, and Meg L. Hungerford, the ratification of S.R. Snodgrass, P.C., as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and the approval of the Norwood Financial Corp 2024 Equity Incentive Plan.

The Annual Meeting also included presentations to shareholders from President and Chief Executive Officer, James O. Donnelly and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, William S. Lance.

Chairman Lewis J. Critelli welcomed shareholders and introduced the Directors present at the meeting. He then turned the meeting over to Mr. Donnelly, who conducted the formal business portion of the meeting.

Mr. Lance provided shareholders with a detailed report of the Company’s financial results for the 2023 fiscal year. Among the highlights of the Company’s performance in 2023 cited by Mr. Lance, was loan growth of 8.8%, deposit growth of 3.9%, and an increase in cash dividends paid to shareholders.

Mr. Donnelly’s address included the results for the first quarter of 2024 and a summary of the opportunities in many of the Company’s markets. Mr. Donnelly noted first quarter earnings were $4.4 million, earnings per share (diluted) were $0.55 per share, total loans increased 4.5% annualized, total deposits increased 9.8% annualized, and the net interest margin was 2.79%.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had total assets of $2.3 billion, total loans outstanding of $1.6 billion, deposits of $1.8 billion, and stockholders’ equity of $181.2 million.

Johnson College to Hold Instant Decision Day for Veterans and Current U.S. Military Service Members

Johnson College’s Instant Decision Day for Veterans and those currently serving in the U.S. Military will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. virtually and inside Ideal Saldi Hall on the Johnson College Scranton campus. To register to attend in person or virtually, visit Johnson.edu/instant.

During the Instant Decision Event, Johnson College will provide prospective veteran students and those currently serving in the U.S. military with an immediate enrollment decision. They must supply their high school transcripts and can bring their college and military transcripts if applicable. It is highly recommended that the prospective student completes an application before attending.

Applications for Johnson College’s Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, and Veterinary Nursing programs are excluded from instant decisions.

Johnson College Hazleton Now Enrolling for Medical Assistant Course

Johnson College’s Continuing Education program is now enrolling students in its Medical Assistant course at its satellite campus, Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center in Hazle Township. The course will begin on May 20, running Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This program prepares students to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office. Functions include preparing patients for examination, treatment, routine laboratory procedures, pharmacology, and taking and documenting vital signs. Plus, students will learn the fundamentals of phlebotomy and venipunctures, anatomy & physiology, and medical terminology encountered in the field. Students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties required of a medical assistant.

The class fee is $5,000 and is approved by PA CareerLink for those eligible for funding through their local CareerLink. To learn more or to enroll in the Medical Assistant course, visit https://johnson.edu/continuing-ed/medical-assistant/ or contact the College’s Continuing Education department at continuinged@johnson.edu