The Brown Initiative to host 10th Annual Kick-off to Christmas Live Music & Dance Concert Entertainment company The Brown Initiative will host its 10th annual Kick-off to Christmas Live Music & Dance Concert on December 4, 5, and 6 at 97 Bochicchio Boulevard in Covington Township. The performance is a great way to kick off the holiday season with family, friends and loved ones. The event will raise funds for several community organizations and will feature 10+ singers and 20+ dancers, as well as a live band. Tickets will go on sale later in the month of October.
Marywood University’s Center for Law, Justice & Policy Hosting Speaker Series The Courts and Our Community Marywood University’s Center for Law, Justice and Policy is hosting a Policy Perspectives speaker series, “The Courts and Our Community.” The lectures in the series are being offered during the fall semester on several Tuesdays at Noon at the Swartz Center on Marywood’s campus. These events are free and open to the public. The Honorable Karoline Mehalchick and the Honorable Jennifer Wilson, United States judges for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, are coordinating speakers for the series. Judges Mehalchick and Wilson are partnering with Patrick M. Seffrin, Ph.D., professor and director of the Center for Law, Justice, and Policy at Marywood, to present these events, which give participants the opportunity to engage with leading legal professionals and gain insight into key issues coming before the courts that affect the community. The public lecture series provides the opportunity for anyone interested in contemporary issues coming before the courts to hear from legal professionals who specialize in these matters. The following events are scheduled for October and November: Tuesday, October 6: Modern Constitutional Issues – Presented by Magistrate Judge Martin Carlson (Ret.), Assistant United States Attorneys Carl Marchioli and Christian Haugsby, and former Assistant Federal Public Defender Fritz Ulrich, this session will include a discussion of how the Constitution applies to everyday issues and recent interpretation and application of the Constitution by our courts. Tuesday, October 20: Immigration Law – Presented by Professors Jill Family and Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, together with Attorney Tracey Hubbard, this session will focus on the current status of immigration laws in the United States and the interplay of the roles of the immigration proceedings and the federal courts. Tuesday, November 3: Election Law – Presented by Attorneys Donna Walsh and Nicole Boland, together with Marywood Professor Adam Shprintzen, this very timely session will discuss the modern constitutional issues pertinent to election and voting law in the United States. Tuesday, November 17: Advocacy & Judicial Decision Making – Presented by Judge Thomas Vanaskie (Ret.), Assistant United States Attorney Jenny Roberts, and Attorney Christopher Opiel, along with Judges Karoline Mehalchick and Jennifer Wilson, the final session will explore how cases move through the federal court system, the issues attorneys face in advocating for their clients, and how judges ultimately reach their decisions. For more information about the Center for Law, Justice, and Policy at Marywood University, visit: marywood.edu/academics/center-for-law-justice-policy, email legalcenter@marywood.edu, or connect via social media on Facebook (Marywood Center for Law, Justice and Policy) and X (@MU_LEGAL_CENTER).
Joy World Wealth Partners hosting Medicare 101 seminar Joy World Wealth Partners is hosting a complimentary educational seminar titled Medicare 101. It will be on Monday, October 5 at 10:00 a.m. at Joy World Wealth Partners, which is located at 125 North Washington Avenue in Scranton. The seminar will cover Medicare Parts A and B, Part D prescription coverage, Medicare Advantage vs. Supplements and how to avoid late enrollment penalties. Anyone interested in attending the seminar can RSVP by emailing joanna@planwithjoyworld.com.
Employer Resource Network hosting two new hire reporting webinars The Employer Resource Network is going to host two virtual Pennsylvania New Hire Reporting seminars as part of its webinar series. The virtual seminars do not cost employers anything. They will be on November 4 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and on November 6 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Both sessions will have the same content. You can register for the November 4 seminar by clicking here, and for the November 6 webinar by clicking here. You can also register by email by sending your requested session date, name, company and email address to RA-LI-BWPO-ESVCS@pa.gov.
Doug Smith’s Music releases Fall/Winter 2026 Schedule Doug Smith’s Music, located on Prospect Street in Dunmore, has released its Fall/Winter 2026 performance schedule. You can also find the schedule at www.lexingtonentertainment.org.
Indraloka Animal Sanctuary helps rescued hen A hen that Indraloka Animal Sanctuary rescued from a commercial egg farm recently underwent an emergency surgery to save her life. Bridget is one of 43 hens that Indraloka recently rescued after a commercial egg farm in Orangeville, Pennsylvania, lost its egg contract. Thousands of hens needed placement, and sanctuaries and rescue organizations mobilized to save as many as possible. But last week, animal caregivers noticed something was wrong with the hen. She appeared frightened and in pain. Staff immediately transported her to Indraloka’s on-site vet clinic. An examination and diagnostic testing revealed an obstruction serious enough to require surgical intervention. During the procedure, Dr. Leslie Interlandi removed a large amount of inflammatory material commonly referred to as “lash eggs.” Despite the name, lash eggs are not actually eggs. The term commonly describes inflammatory material associated with disease of a hen’s reproductive tract. For Bridget, the obstruction had become a medical emergency. “Bridget is a powerful example of why rescue is only the beginning for hens coming out of commercial egg production,” said Dr. Leslie Interlandi, Indraloka’s resident veterinarian. “Even after they reach safety, their bodies can continue to experience serious reproductive problems. Bridget was in significant distress when she came into the clinic, and without intervention, the obstruction could have become life-threatening. She doesn’t need to produce anything for us now. Our only concern is helping her heal and giving her the chance to live comfortably as a hen.” Bridget successfully underwent surgery. She remains under close veterinary supervision while the team determines when she is healthy enough to return to her flock.
PIDA Announces Fourth Quarter 2026 Loan Interest Rates The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) has announced fourth-quarter interest rate options for qualifying loan applications received through Dec. 31, 2026. Financing options cover eligible real estate, equipment, working capital, pollution prevention and energy efficiency projects. Traditional PIDA Real Estate Loans For loans financing eligible land and building costs, borrowers have the following options: Loans with regular amortization: A fixed rate of 6.25% for the full loan term, up to 15 years, or an initial rate of 5.25% fixed for seven years. 10-year loans with a 20-year amortization period: A fixed rate of 6.25% for the full 10-year term, or an initial rate of 5.25% fixed for five years. For either reset option, the rate adjusts after the initial fixed period to the then-current 10-year Treasury yield. The adjustment is limited to an increase or decrease of 2 percentage points, and the new rate remains fixed for the rest of the loan term. Additional Loan Options PIDA-MELF equipment loans: 6.25% fixed for the full loan term. Export finance working capital and accounts receivable lines of credit: 6.25% fixed for 12 months. Pollution prevention and energy efficiency loans: 2.00% fixed for the full loan term. PIDA-SBF account loans: 5.00% fixed for the full loan term. PIDA-CED account loans: 5.00% fixed for the full loan term. PIDA-SBF and PIDA-CED Eligibility PIDA-SBF account loans provide lending amounts of up to $1,000,000 for real estate loans and $400,000 for equipment for eligible businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees worldwide at the time of application. Eligible enterprises include agricultural processors and producers, industrial and manufacturing businesses, research and development, hospitality, defense conversion, recycling, computer-related services, construction and child day care. PIDA-CED account loans provide real estate, equipment and/or working capital financing of $200,000 or less for eligible retail and service businesses located in an eligible distressed area. Applicants must have 100 or fewer full-time employees worldwide at the time of application. A reset interest rate is currently unavailable for real estate loans funded through either account because statutory provisions cap interest rates at 5.00%. For more information about the program and application process, visit the PIDA program page.
Geisinger Community Medical Center to implement entrance security screenings Oct. 5 As part of a phased implementation of entrance security screenings at each of Geisinger’s hospitals, Geisinger Community Medical Center will introduce security screenings on Monday, Oct. 5. These public-entrance screenings are intended to keep the hospital safe for all who work, receive care or visit their loved ones in the facility. Weapons of any kind, including firearms and knives, are prohibited from all Geisinger facilities. People should not bring these items with them when entering a Geisinger hospital or clinic for an appointment or visit. Any weapon found through the entrance screening will not be allowed to enter the facility and must be returned to the owner’s vehicle. Beyond the screening already in place at the emergency room, Geisinger Community Medical Center will screen patients and visitors at all public entrances on the medical center campus. Screening will take place from the time each entrance opens to 8 p.m. when visiting hours are over. After 8 p.m., all visitors must enter the hospital through the emergency room. When the screenings begin, the hospital’s public entrance on Colfax Avenue will become an employee-only entrance that requires proxy badge access. Patients and visitors arriving for Women’s Health appointments will need to use the hospital’s main entrance on Mulberry Street to reach the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Guest Services team will help guide patients during the transition. Because they will pass through metal detectors similar to those at airports and courthouses, everyone using public hospital entranceswill be asked to remove metal objects from their pockets. If the detector activates, a security officer will conduct a scan with a handheld device. Geisinger has used a similar process with metal detectors at all emergency room entrances since 2021, preventing thousands of weapons and other dangerous items from entering its facilities. “Our hospitals are places of healing,” said Sean McGinley, associate vice president of police and security operations for Geisinger. “We take security seriously and are continuing to improve and enhance our tools and training. This is yet another investment we’re making for the safety of our employees, patients and visitors.” Since March, the Pennsylvania-based health system has implemented entrance screenings at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital, Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital and Geisinger Medical Center Muncy. All Geisinger hospitals are expected to adopt the security measure by the beginning of 2027.
The Wright Center for Community Health recognizes the power of nursing with new quarterly award A licensed professional nurse at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley received the inaugural Nursing Excellence Award for her exceptional dedication, unwavering commitment, and continuous demonstration of what it means to be an outstanding nurse. Taylor Spencer accepted the award from David Hall, vice president and enterprise chief operating officer at The Wright Center, at a ceremony at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton on Wednesday, Sept. 30. “The idea for this award came from recognizing the important role nursing leadership plays in the success of our enterprise,” Hall said. “Nurses are often at the center of patient care, team development, and day-to-day operations, and strong nursing leadership has an impact that extends far beyond one department or one shift.” The Wright Center will present the Nursing Excellence Award quarterly to celebrate nurses who set the standard for exceptional leadership. Kari Machelli, chief nursing and community engagement officer at The Wright Center; Marianne Linko, deputy chief operating officer at The Wright Center; and Tiffany Richmond, nurse manager at The Wright Center, nominated Spencer. Their nominations cited her meticulous attention to detail, including her chronic care management duties, and the support she provides to new nurses during their training. Spencer, who began working at The Wright Center in November 2024, said she was grateful for the recognition. “I feel honored to be the first person to receive the Nursing Excellence award,” she said. “All of the nurses at The Wright Center go above and beyond for our patients and our clinical care teams every day, and this award recognizes that hard work.”
HNB Celebrates 190 Years with Community-Wide Sweepstakes and “Feed the Need” Initiative – For 190 years, The Honesdale National Bank (HNB) has been privileged to grow alongside the people, businesses, and communities it serves. As the Bank marks this historic milestone in 2026, HNB is inviting customers, employees, and community members throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania to join in a celebration centered on giving back, strengthening connections, and making a meaningful impact together. The Bank’s 190 and Counting Sweepstakes serves as the centerpiece of the anniversary celebration, giving participants the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a $1,900 grand prize while also supporting HNB’s Feed the Need Food Drive. Through the initiative from October 1 – November 21, 2026, HNB aims to collect 190 boxes of food for local pantries, helping neighbors facing food insecurity across the communities the Bank proudly calls home. “Reaching 190 years is a remarkable achievement, but this milestone is about much more than our history,” said Kate Bryant, President and CEO of The Honesdale National Bank. “It is a celebration of the people who have made HNB what it is today. Our employees, customers, shareholders, and community members are at the heart of our longevity and overall success. For generations, we have been fortunate to build meaningful relationships throughout our region, and we believe the best way to honor that legacy is by giving back together. Through the 190 and Counting Sweepstakes and Feed the Need Food Drive, we are turning our anniversary into an opportunity to support our neighbors and strengthen the communities we proudly serve. The anniversary campaign reflects HNB’s core values of Heart and Humanity, Nurturing Community, Brave Integrity, Meaningful Relationships, and Elevating Together. These values have guided the Bank for nearly two centuries and continue to shape how HNB serves its customers and supports local organizations, businesses, and families. Community members can participate in multiple ways, including submitting a sweepstakes entry by contributing food donations at local HNB offices. Every food donation helps advance the Bank’s goal of providing 190 boxes of food to area pantries, demonstrating the power of collective action and community partnership. “Whether someone has banked with us for decades, joined us recently, works for our organization, or simply lives in one of the communities we serve, this celebration belongs to all of us,” Bryant added. “Together, we can make our 190th anniversary a meaningful reflection of the relationships that have sustained HNB for generations and will continue to shape a strong future for our communities.” To learn more about the 190 and Counting Sweepstakes, view official rules, and submit an entry, visit: www.hnbbank.bank/190
