Wayne Bank Parent Company Earns National Recognition Among Top U.S Banks Norwood Financial Corp. , the parent company of Wayne Bank, has been recognized as one of the top-performing banks in the country by Bank Director magazine in its Ranking Banking: The Best U.S. Banks 2026 publication. Jim Donnelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, announced the recognition, which places Norwood Financial Corp. 34th among banks with less than $5 billion in assets. The category included more than 120 financial institutions. For its 2026 ranking, Bank Director evaluated 300 banks using a consistent set of performance metrics based on calendar year 2025 results. Institutions were assessed according to profitability, capital adequacy, asset quality and total shareholder return, with banks grouped by asset size. The publication identified the best-performing banks as those that effectively balance growth and profitability, create long-term shareholder value and execute their strategies while maintaining safe and sound operations. The study also considered factors such as growth, leadership, board oversight and technological innovation. “We are honored to be recognized by Bank Director as one of the top-performing banks in the nation,” said Jim Donnelly, President and CEO of Wayne Bank. “This ranking reflects the strength of Wayne Bank and Norwood Financial Corp., the dedication of our employees, and our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional value to our customers, shareholders, and communities. We remain focused on sustainable growth, strong financial performance, and building lasting relationships that support the success of the individuals, businesses, and communities we serve.” Wayne Bank is a subsidiary of Norwood Financial Corp. and is headquartered in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The bank operates 33 branches throughout Pennsylvania and New York. Norwood Financial Corp. is a Member FDIC, and its stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol NWFL.
Saint Joseph’s Center Announces Upcoming Events Saint Joseph’s Center will host and participate in several upcoming community events throughout September, October and November, offering opportunities for community members to support while enjoying shopping, food and other activities. Sip & Shop for the Saint Joseph’s Center AuctionThursday, September 10, 2026 | 10 a.m.-7 p.m.Amendolaro Noteology, Amendolaro and The Life Studio will host a Sip & Shop event to benefit the Saint Joseph’s Center Auction. Wine and cheese will be available from 4-7 p.m. Noteology will also offer a $30 candle-making class. Registration for the candle-making class is required in advance through Noteology. National Diaper Need Awareness Week Diaper DayWednesday, September 16, 2026 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m.Saint Joseph’s Center In recognition of National Diaper Need Awareness Week, Saint Joseph’s Center will host Diaper Day, inviting community members to help “fill the van” with diapers for the Saint Joseph’s Center Baby & Children Pantry. Special community guest volunteers will join the effort throughout the day. Community members are encouraged to drop off diaper donations between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Annual Chicken Dinner Drive-ThruSunday, September 20, 2026 | 12-4 p.m.Saint Joseph’s Center, 2010 Adams Ave., Scranton Saint Joseph’s Center will host its Annual Chicken Dinner Drive-Thru, with dinners available for $15. Each dinner includes half a chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, a roll, water and a cookie. Dinners must be purchased in advance through the following online ordering link: http://www.stjosephscenter.org/ Pick-up will take place in the Saint Joseph’s Center main center visitor parking lot at 2010 Adams Ave. For additional questions, call 570-963-1290. Fall Sidewalk SaleSaturday, October 3, 2026 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m.320 S. Blakely St., Dunmore Community members are invited to shop Saint Joseph’s Center’s Fall Sidewalk Sale, featuring a wide selection of items, including merchandise perfect for the upcoming holiday season. Saint Joseph’s Center Auxiliary Dennis Crafferty Memorial AuctionFriday, November 6, 2026 at 12 p.m. through Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 8 p.m.Live Online Auction The Saint Joseph’s Center Auxiliary will host its annual Dennis Crafferty Memorial Auction as a live online auction. The event will feature a variety of items and experiences from local businesses, including restaurant gift cards, golf greens fees, hotel stays and more. Through these events, Saint Joseph’s Center continues to provide opportunities for the community to come together while supporting the Center’s programs and services.
NEPA Hospitality Community Comes Together to Support Team Member The NEPA Hospitality Industry will come together for One of Our Own, Gives Back Night: Honoring Steve and Supporting Loren on Monday, August 31, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar. The event will support Loren, who survived a devastating house fire that left him with serious injuries and resulted in the loss of his home and belongings. His brother, Steve, a fellow Harvest line cook, tragically lost his life in the fire. Proceeds from the evening will help Loren rebuild his life, while also assisting with Steve’s burial costs. Guests can participate in an evening featuring live music, guest bartenders, a live auction, raffles and a 50/50, along with an essentials drive for Loren. A GoFundMe will also be available for those who wish to make a direct donation. The Stegmaier, Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar and Food & Fire BBQ Taphouse are helping bring the hospitality community together for this evening of support. Additional details about items needed for the essentials drive will be shared soon. Community members are encouraged to join the event and help Loren during this difficult time.
University of Scranton’s Weiss Hall Earns Prestigious LEED Gold Certification The nation’s leading organization for sustainable building practices recently awarded one of its highest ratings to The University of Scranton’s newest facility, as the U.S. Green Building Council recognized Robert S. ’68 and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall with LEED Gold certification. Opened at the start of the 2025-26 academic year, Weiss Hall is Scranton’s fourth building to achieve LEED certification. The Loyola Science Center is also Gold, while Edward R. Leahy Jr. Hall and the Patrick and Margaret DeNaples Center are Silver. According to James L. Caffrey, DBA, associate vice president for facilities management, Weiss Hall was initially targeted to achieve LEED Silver certification. He described the Gold designation as coming with both “a profound sense of pride and a deep sense of responsibility,” as the University is currently engaged in a seven-year process to become designated by the Vatican as a Laudato Si’ University. Among the major elements that helped Weiss Hall achieve LEED Gold certification are: Mass timber construction: Weiss Hall was built using a sustainable wood product that significantly reduces the building’s carbon footprint. Solar power: Rooftop solar panels generate clean electricity. Natural light design: Large glass windows and walls bring more daylight into the building, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Energy-saving climate systems: High-efficiency heating, cooling and ventilation systems automatically adjust temperatures to reduce energy use. Water conservation: Low-flow fixtures reduce lessen demand on municipal water supplies. “Earning the LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council represents a major milestone for The University of Scranton,” Dr. Caffrey said. “It signifies that Weiss Hall exceeds industry standards for sustainable design, energy efficiency, reduced water use and environmentally conscious construction.” Weiss Hall is a four-story, nearly 90,000 square-foot facility on Madison Avenue. It houses more than 30 offices/research spaces, 12 study rooms, 11 classrooms, six exam rooms, two large seminar rooms and two rooftop terraces. It was built to support both institutional and community excellence, serving as the home for the University’s Small Business Development Center, the University of Success, Student Health Services and the Center for Health, Education and Wellness, as well as the Departments of Cybercrime and Homeland Security and Psychology. Weiss Hall also has a first-floor IDEA Center, which is equipped with cutting-edge equipment for production of various means. LEED certification stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and is recognized worldwide as a marker for achievement and leadership in sustainability.
Greater Scranton YMCA Receives $4,000 BK5K Youth Fund Grant to Support Year-Round Food Program The Greater Scranton YMCA has been awarded a $4,000 grant from BK5K Fund of the Winona Community Foundation to support its Year-Round Food Program, which provides daily meals and snacks to children enrolled in the Y’s Early Learning Centers, Before and After School Program, and Summer Scholars at no additional cost to families. The BK5K Youth Fund of the Winona Community Foundation, organized in connection with the annual BK5K Road Race honoring Bob Kierlin, founder of Fastenal Company, distributes proceeds to youthserving organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to positive youth development. Grant funds will be applied directly to the cost of food. The Greater Scranton YMCA’s Year-Round Food Program serves 352 children each year across its Dunmore and Olyphant Early Learning Centers, YPALS preschool, Before and After School Care, and Summer Scholars program. Meals are prepared onsite daily and follow nutritional guidelines established through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federally funded initiative that sets and monitors meal pattern standards to ensure children receive nutritious, age-appropriate food. “At the Y, we believe every child deserves access to a nutritious meal, no matter their family’s circumstances,” said Rich Surridge, President and CEO of the Greater Scranton YMCA. “Support from our community, like the generous grant awarded by the BK5K Fund of the Winona Community Foundation is instrumental in allowing us to continue to run the Food Program and serve the children in our care.” The Greater Scranton YMCA has operated the Year-Round Food Program since 2019. Enrollment in the Y’s early childhood education programs has grown significantly in that time, including the 2024 opening of the Olyphant Early Learning Center and the 2025 addition of three new classrooms at the Dunmore Early Learning Center. That growth has increased demand on the food program and, alongside rising food costs, created a persistent gap between program expenses and secured revenue. For more information about the Greater Scranton YMCA’s Year-Round Food Program or early childhoodeducation programs, contact Tressa Capoccia, Senior Director of Education, at tcapoccia@gsymca.orgor 570-795-4563
Waverly Community House seeking volunteers The Waverly Community House is looking for volunteers to help the organization in a variety of areas. The organization is located at 1115 North Abington Road in Waverly. It enriches the lives of people and families through educational, recreational and cultural opportunities, and has been in operation since 1920. Volunteers can come in as often as they’d like, whether it’s on a weekly or monthly basis. You can fill out the organization’s volunteer form by clicking here, or call the office at (570) 586-8191. You can also learn more about Waverly Community House by clicking here.
Scranton Cultural Center Announces Menopause the Musical on November 17 Broadway in Scranton just announced the international hit show Menopause The Musical® is coming to the Scranton Cultural Center for one night only November 17 at 7:30 PM. Menopause The Musical® is a groundbreaking celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “The Change.” Beginning Monday, August 31 at 10AM, tickets will be available online at BroadwayInScranton.com and in person at the Scranton Cultural Center box office. Box office hours are Monday – Friday 10AM – 5PM and Saturday 10AM – 2PM. Now celebrating 25 years of female empowerment through hilarious musical comedy, Menopause The Musical® has evolved as a “grassroots” movement of women who deal with life adjustments around 40 by embracing each other and the road ahead. What began with 76 women in an Orlando perfume shop-turned-theater laughing, kicklining, and celebrating menopause for the first time became a global movement. The musical shattered the stigma around menopause and turned a once-taboo topic into a badge of honor. Set in a department store, four women meet while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing similarities among one another, the ladies joke about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain, and much more. These women form a sisterhood and a unique bond with the entire audience as they rejoice in celebrating that menopause is no longer “The Silent Passage.” It’s the Hilarious Celebration of Women and The Change!® Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, playwright Jeanie Linders created Menopause The Musical® to celebrate women at every stage of “The Change.” The laughter-filled 90-minute production gets audience members out of their seats and singing along to parodies from classic pop songs of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. The original Menopause The Musical® debuted in Orlando, Florida, and ran Off-Broadway for four years, performing for more than 1,500 audiences, followed by a U.S. national tour that is still running today. In 2007, it opened internationally in the United Kingdom and has performed in countries including Australia, South Korea, Brazil, France, Slovenia, and many more. It was also the longest-running musical in Las Vegas history. Beloved for 25 years and seen by more than 17 million, Menopause The Musical® has played every state in the continental U.S., more than 500 cities worldwide, and has been translated into nine languages. The production’s Book and Lyrics are by Jeanie Linders. The creative team includes Director Seth Greenleaf, Music Supervisor and Additional Arrangements Alan J. Plado, Assistant Director Kim Simari, Choreography Supervisor Teri Adams, and Assistant Music Supervisor Roberta B. Wall. Columbia Artist Theatricals represents the production. The Menopause The Musical® team invites audiences—both new and returning—to join the party that celebrates you, changes lives, sparks conversations, and — like its sisterhood — shows no signs of slowing down.
Chop Out Hunger to host Feeding the Future Dinner Chop Out Hunger’s Feeding the Future Dinner will take place on Wednesday, October 14 at 5:00 p.m. at Constantino’s Event Venue on Lackawanna Trail in Clarks Summit. This year, the organization will honor Dalida Walton, a member of Chop Out Hunger’s Board of Directors and a philanthropist in northeastern Pennsylvania. Tickets are $125 per person and can be purchased by clicking here. There are also sponsorship opportunities available.
The Wright Center to host Tinnitus Support Group meeting in September The Wright Center for Community Health will host a Tinnitus Support Group meeting on Friday, September 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Mid Valley Community Health Center at 5 South Washington Avenue in Jermyn. There are options to attend in person or virtually. The meeting is for people who are, or know someone who is, experiencing ringing, buzzing, whooshing or other sounds in their ears or head. Attendees can get support, practical advice and a sense of community at the meeting. The group is open to anyone who experiences tinnitus and those who want to learn more about it. There are meetings on the first Friday of every month at the Mid Valley Community Health Center in Jermyn. No RSVP is necessary for the meeting. For more information or to receive the virtual link, contact Joe Kelly, community health worker at The Wright Center for Community Health, at kellyj@TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
Tobyhanna Army Depot Advances New Military Family Housing Development Construction is moving forward on Tobyhanna Army Depot’s new military family housing community, with the Cadence Communities at Tobyhanna project entering its vertical construction phase. First announced in 2023, the development will bring 35 new homes to the installation for military families. After months of site preparation, civil infrastructure and utility work, crews have begun shifting their focus to the construction of the homes. Civil infrastructure work is now substantially complete, and framing has started on two building pads. Additional pads will move into construction as the project progresses. The completed community will include 17 duplex-style buildings with a total of 35 homes. Of those, 19 will feature four bedrooms and 16 will feature three bedrooms. Each residence will have two-and-a-half bathrooms, while one four-bedroom home will be a standalone residence designed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements. The project remains on schedule for completion in the first quarter of 2027. The neighborhood’s roadway, named Radio Way, also reflects Tobyhanna Army Depot’s history and connection to its mission. Depot Commander Col. Benjamin L. Kilgore highlighted the importance of the project as construction moves into a more visible phase. “Seeing this project move from site development into vertical construction is an exciting milestone for Tobyhanna Army Depot,” said Kilgore. “This new housing represents a significant investment in our military families and strengthens our ability to support the warfighters who serve here.” Depot Sgt. Maj. Cory P. Alkire emphasized the role military housing plays in supporting warfighters and their families. “The warfighter on the front lines, whether in garrison, training, or deployed, always depends on the support and structure of the most important investment they fight for: their families,” said Alkire. “Now that vertical construction has begun, we are one step closer to providing our local community with a new, amazing resource their families can enjoy for decades to come.” As framing continues and additional building pads enter construction, the new residential community is becoming increasingly visible. Once completed, the development will provide modern housing while enhancing Tobyhanna Army Depot’s ability to support military families and the warfighters who serve at the installation.
