University of Scranton’s Hope Horn Gallery announces upcoming exhibitions The Hope Horn Gallery at The University of Scranton will present five exhibitions during its 2026-27 season, featuring works by acclaimed artists, educators and collectors while also hosting lectures, receptions and educational programs. The season opens Sept. 8 with “Joy in the Process: Selections from a Regional Collection,” a curated exhibition highlighting artists who have helped shape northeastern Pennsylvania’s arts scene. This curated exhibition features work by John Willard Raught, Graydon Mayer, Hope Cumming Horn, Predrag Djordjevic, Louis Pontone, Cliff Prokop, William Tersteeg and Karl Neuroth, among others. The curator’s lecture will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium, followed by a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on the fourth floor of Hyland Hall. The exhibition will remain on display through Oct. 9. The next exhibition is “Peter Hoffer: Reflections Five Decades of Art,” opening Oct. 19. Hoffer, professor emeritus at Marywood University, has worked for than 50 years as an artist and educator. The exhibition features paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints and collages he produced. The artist’s lecture will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium, followed by a public reception on the fourth floor of Hyland Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition will remain on display through Nov. 20. “Inscapes: Paintings by Leigh Pawling” is the next exhibition, which will open Feb. 1. Pawling, who maintains a studio in Kingston, is a painter who uses systems of mark-making to explore the symbolism of numbers, vertical lines, circles, the figure in motion and nature. Pawling’s artist’s lecture will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium, with a public reception on the fourth floor of Hyland Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition will remain on display through Feb. 26. Next, opening March 8, is “Meditations: Drawings by J.M. Dunn,” an artist and art historian, and professor emerita at The University of Scranton. Dunn has spent a lifetime considering and creating relationships between words and images. Spontaneously produced with marker using an automatic drawing technique, this series is informed by Dunn’s study and understanding of Biblical narratives and Renaissance art. The artist’s lecture will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 12, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium. A public reception will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. on the fourth floor of Hyland Hall. It will remain on display through March 24. The final scheduled exhibition is “Jon Carsman: Painting and Place,” opening April 1. Carsman was born and raised in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Back Mountain region. He was a painter and printmaker known for his vibrant images of forest streams, village roads and urban neighborhoods. Included in the exhibition are acrylic and watercolor paintings representing Carsman’s work from the 1970s and 1980s. The artist’s lecture will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 2, at Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium. A public reception will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. on the fourth floor of Hyland Hall. It will remain on display through May 14. The Hope Horn Gallery is a facility devoted to fostering the arts in northeastern Pennsylvania with exhibitions and programs designed to complement the University’s curricula, encouraging campus and community collaborations, supporting regional artists, providing arts in education opportunities and showing students’ work. All exhibitions, lectures and receptions are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit the Hope Horn Gallery’s webpage.
Joy World Wealth Partners hosting community blood drive Joy World Wealth Partners is hosting a community blood drive in memory of Lindsay Connor Stetson. The drive will be on Friday, September 11 from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. at 125 North Washington Avenue in Scranton. The company hosts this blood drive annually as a way for community members to come together and make an impact. You can make an appointment to donate blood by clicking here.
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.
Johnson College to Host Free “Test Strategies That Change the Game” Workshop on September 10 Unlock the secrets to peak test performance. Many high-achieving students find that mastering effective test strategies and strong time management is the key to translating their knowledge into higher scores. Johnson College’s WAVE Department is hosting a free “Test Strategies That Change the Game” workshop on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Ideal Saldi Hall on its Scranton campus. To register, visit johnson.edu/workshops. The free workshop introduces a focused, proven study system designed to maximize preparation time and significantly boost information retention. Participants will leave with practical tools to approach any exam with confidence and precision. Attendees will explore the underlying structure and design principles of written exams; learn a reliable, step-by-step method for studying, organizing, and retaining crucial information; and master proven techniques to eliminate incorrect answers and improve test-taking accuracy. The workshop is open to individuals ages 15 and older and is free to attend. PA EMS continuing education is included (3.5 hours, other). Space is limited to 65 participants per workshop. For more information, email wave@johnson.edu or call 570-702-8979. WAVE (Workforce Advancement & Value-Added Education) is Johnson College’s hub for continuing education and workforce development. WAVE empowers learners with the skills and knowledge needed to adapt to an ever-changing workforce and achieve long-term career success.
