Keystone College To Offer Servsafe Class Keystone College will offer a ServSafe manager certification class on Monday, November 7 from 9 a.m.– 5 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.
Geisinger Health Plan Store Holds Ribbon Cutting Geisinger Health Plan Store held a ribbon cutting to celebrate its grand reopening at 2266 Wilkes-Barre Township Marketplace. Open in Wilkes-Barre since 2015, the store, formerly known as Geisinger Community Place, recently underwent renovations and a rebranding to make it easier for residents of Luzerne County to stop in and talk to representatives about healthcare coverage. “Choosing a healthcare plan doesn’t have to be a challenge. This retail space allows for one-on-one conversations to make the process easier,” said Roger van Baaren, chief sales officer for Geisinger Health Plan. “Our goal is to make sure each person who comes through our doors feels welcome and informed as our team helps them find the right coverage for themselves or their families through a variety of plans to meet their needs and their budget.” Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the store is staffed with licensed insurance advisors and customer service representatives who can help answer questions about Medicare Advantage plans, options for individuals and families, Medical Assistance and CHIP for children up to age 19. The space also serves as a community resource for events and special occasions, free of charge. It includes a conference room that fits up to 25 guests, plenty of parking, a computer, projector and screen, internet access and space for food and beverages. In the past, the store has been used to showcase the work of local artists and host community events as well as health and wellness fairs.
Gerrity’s To Give Employees Appreciation Bonus Gerrity’s Supermarkets has spent the past two months transitioning its stores to The Fresh Grocer banner. The project is now close to wrapping up and the owners of Gerrity’s The Fresh recently surprised their 1,300 employees with a bonus of up to $250. “This has been a major effort for our teams. It’s a change that we know makes us better, but it’salso a challenge that involved our entire staff and we’d like to say thanks with this bonus,” saidJoyce ‘Mom’ Fasula, President of Gerrity’s Supermarkets. “Ultimately, we know the conversion isworth it because it will help our customers find even more great products and lower their grocerybill.” The Fresh Grocer specializes in serving high quality, fresh prepared foods to communities inPennsylvania and New Jersey, and is a registered trademark of the retailer owned cooperativeWakefern Food Corp. The transition to the Fresh Grocer format means Gerrity’s customers canexpect new products, services and lower prices but can rest easy that their favorite aspects of theGerrity’s experience will remain, including Gerrity’s ownership, recipes, people, and service. Thestores have converted one at a time each week since August. The Fasula’s have recognized that the process has required everyone to go above and beyond thecall of duty. To show their gratitude for everything their team has done to help Gerrity’s rebrandfrom Shursave to The Fresh Grocer, the Fasula family is giving associates a bonus. Anyoneemployed for the four weeks of each store’s conversion is eligible for an appreciation bonus of upto $250. Full-Time employees will receive $250, and part-time associates is receiving a proratedamount based on how many hours they worked. The amounts received will be prorated based on a40-hour workweek for each of the four weeks. The total investment Gerrity’s is making in theirteam will be over $350,000.
Scranton Area Community Foundation To Host Educational Seminar The Scranton Area Community Foundation, in partnership with the Estate Planning Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, will host Understanding Foundations, Donor Advised Funds, and Other Forms of Philanthropy, an educational presentation with keynote speaker Donald W. Kramer, Esq., on November 3, 2022, at the Century Club of Scranton (612 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton). This presentation aims to give professional advisors an understanding of the rules that distinguish various philanthropic structures. Continuing education is available, including 1.5 hours of CLE credit for attorneys (including .5 hours of ethics credit), 1.5 hours of CPE credit for accountants (including .5 hours of ethics credit), and investment professionals. In addition to professional advisors, this presentation is for nonprofit executives, staff, and board; as well as individuals interested in learning more about charitable structures, philanthropy, and estate planning.Donald W. Kramer, Esq., a Philadelphia attorney and editor of the newsletter Nonprofit Issues®, will share the advantages and disadvantages of private foundations, public charities, donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, single-member limited liability companies, and other forms of charitable activity. Attorney Kramer will compare the limitations of private foundations and will discuss ways to reduce the impact of restrictions for private foundation managers and grantees. He will also share about alternate means for charitable activity and the growth of 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations as non-charitable organizations used for charitable activity.Additionally, the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s President and CEO Laura Ducceschi, along with CEOs from other foundations in Northeastern Pennsylvania, will provide a brief overview of the current landscape of community needs and trends that can inspire philanthropy and drive charitable intent. Registration, which includes lunch, is $25 for the general public ($20 for Estate Planning Council of NEPA Members). Registration is open now at the Estate Planning Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s website, epcnepa.org. The presentation will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will conclude at 2:30 p.m., with the keynote speaker and lunch taking place at noon and the presentation with local foundations beginning at 1:15 p.m.
Wolf Administration Hosts Roundtable Discussion with Teens on Safe Driving During a face-to-face forum at Red Land High School in Lewisberry today, representatives from the Pennsylvania departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Education and Pennsylvania State Police, as well as local education and law enforcement representatives shared their collective driver safety knowledge with students from Red Land and Cedar Cliff high schools. “Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens,” said PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services Kurt Myers. “Parents and teachers have an important role to play in helping new drivers establish safe driving habits.” The forum was held to call attention to teen driver safety and share important information directly with teen drivers during the nationwide observance of Teen Driver Safety Week October 16-22, and gave students an opportunity to directly ask questions of the panel. From 2017 to 2021, there were 81,364 crashes involving at least one 16- to 19-year- old driver in Pennsylvania, resulting in 480 fatalities. 66 percent of those crashes involved a teen driver driving too fast for conditions (25,721 crashes), driver inexperience (8,707), driver distraction (12,411) or improper/careless turning (13,092). There was a total of 53,673 crashes with one or more of these factors. The risk of a crash involving any of these factors can be reduced through practice, limiting the number of passengers riding with a new driver, obeying all rules of the road, and using common sense. “Setting a good example in the driver’s seat is one of the most important things you can do as a parent or caregiver of a teen driver,” said Colonel Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “Positive examples include eliminating distractions in the vehicle, obeying the speed limit, never driving while impaired, and remembering to buckle up every time.” PennDOT suggests that parents consider the following recommendations to help their children become safe and responsible drivers: Set a good example with your own driving habits.Have regular conversations with your teen about safe driving skills before they get their learner’s permit.Establish a parent/teen driving contract.Ride with your teen occasionally after they receive their license to monitor driving skills.Enforce observance of speed limits and other rules of the road.Strongly encourage your teen to avoid distractions behind the wheel, such as talking or texting on their cell phone.Limit the number of passengers they have in their vehicle. Limit the number of passengers they have in their vehicle. State law prohibits 16- and 17-year-olds with a junior license from driving with more than one unrelated passenger under the age of 18 years old for the first six months. After the first six months, a junior driver shall not drive a vehicle with more than three unrelated passengers under 18 years old. Limit dawn, dusk, and nighttime driving until your teen gains more experience and enforce a curfew. Remember, state law prohibits 16- and 17-year-olds with a junior license from driving between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AMGradually increase the amount of time/distance your teen is permitted to drive. “Driving a car requires experience, skill, and undivided attention – all factors that improve with repetition and training,” said Acting Department of Education Secretary Eric Hagarty. “Through driver education training programs, teenage drivers receive valuable instruction that prepares them to get behind the wheel, keeping themselves, their passengers, and fellow drivers safe on the road.” As part of ongoing efforts to educate and assist teen drivers, PennDOT invites teens, their parents, teachers, and others to share video messages on Instagram about the personal costs of a crash, close calls, and advice on avoiding crashes. Anyone can join in this important conversation by using the hashtag #PATeenDriver.
Representative Karen Boback News Boback’s Bill to Rename a Wyoming County Bridge in Honor of Veterans and First Responders Awaits Governor’s Signature A bill sponsored by Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) to rename a Wyoming County bridge in honor of local veterans and first responders was sent to the governor’s desk for his signature after its unanimous final approval by the House of Representatives on Tuesday. “As majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, I have a great understanding of the sacrifices made by our veterans and first responders,” said Boback. “Now everyone who travels over this bridge will forever be reminded of their contributions to our country and communities.” Boback’s measure designates the bridge carrying State Route 29 over the Susquehanna River in Tunkhannock Borough and Eaton Township, Wyoming County, as the “Wyoming County Veteran and First Responder Bridge of Valor.” The bill also directs PennDOT to erect and maintain signs in both directions displaying the new name of the bridge. Boback’s legislation was one of two dozen bridge or highway renaming proposals included in House Bill 2637. Boback Receives Guardian of Small Business Award Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) was honored to receive the Guardian of Small Business award from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) for the 2021-22 session of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The award is based on a voting record which encourages the success of small and independent businesses. Pictured with Boback are, from left, Jeff Wakeen and Warren Hudak, NFIB Pennsylvania Leadership Council members. Boback Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from City & State Pennsylvania Magazine Nearing the end of her eighth and final term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from City & State Pennsylvania Magazine. The award was presented during a ceremony last week in Philadelphia. In its latest issue, the magazine honored 50 of the “most prominent leaders in Pennsylvania government, advocacy, labor, business, academia and media who are over the age of 50.” Ten of them, including Boback, were also Lifetime Achievement Award winners, “who have made lasting contributions to Pennsylvania by helping shape their communities through successful business endeavors, civic engagement and service to local and state government.” “What a surprise to be recognized in this way for a lifetime of accomplishments, including my years in the Legislature,” said Boback. “This is certainly a highlight in my life!” Boback holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and taught in the public school system for 33 years. She served as majority chairman of the House Children and Youth Committee and currently serves as majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. Boback sponsored and helped to initiate a myriad of legislative measures that make Pennsylvania a better place to live and raise children.
Lackawanna Winter Market – Chamber Holiday Showcase The 2022 Holiday Showcase is an opportunity for you to feature 1-3 products and/or services in a brief live interview conducted by The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. This event will recorded and shared on The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and Lackawanna County social media platforms throughout the holiday season. Sign Up to Participate Today Vendor set up must be completed by times noted below at The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce offices, 222 Mulberry Street, Scranton, PA. Vendor space not set up by start time will be forfeited. Off street parking in the chamber driveway is available for unloading, set up and duration of filming. Set up by 9:15 AM – Show starts at 9:30 AMSet up by 1:15 PM – Show starts at 1:30 PM Vendors will be assigned 5’ of table-top space in the Chamber boardroom, which are pre-set tables, secured together and cannot be moved. (We will work with any special requests for vendors with larger products.) Camera and host will move around the room from vendor to vendor interviewing individually for maximum of five (5) minutes per vendor. After your recording you will have a few minutes to pack up your products, please keep your set simple to allow easy transition to the next businees. Questions and additional information: Vendors should be prepared to have one (1) representative on-camera who can speak with host about featured products at minimal length and answer questions from host as part of the sales process. On-air representative should also be knowledgeable about vendor purchasing, payment, delivery/shipping options and product availability. Lackawanna Winter Market Vendors please contact Anthracite Events for more information.
Commonwealth Health Earned National Recognition Regional Hospital of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital have earned national recognition from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 “Best Hospitals” guidebook. ACC uses this publication to highlight hospitals and health systems that implement high standards in patient care and protocols to ensure best cardiovascular outcomes are delivered to every patient, every time. Commonwealth Health’s two hospitals are recognized for their participation in four ACC registries, honored with four accreditations and Regional Hospital of Scranton has achieved a HeartCARE Center designation. Regional Hospital of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital are the only hospitals in Northeastern PA with this level of commitment to proven quality heart programs. “We are proud of this recognition,” said Dr. Nishant Sethi, Regional Hospital of Scranton Heart & Vascular Institute interventional cardiologist. “This national recognition demonstrates the level of commitment our entire team has for delivering quality care to heart patients in our local community.” In the publication, the ACC recognizes all hospitals and facilities that participate in National Cardiovascular Data Registries (NCDR) or have received an accreditation or certification from ACC Services. ACC’s NCDR is cardiology’s most established, comprehensive registry offering. Participants are committed to ensuring evidence-based cardiovascular care, improving patient outcomes and lowering health care costs. Facilities achieving an ACC accreditation are committed to establishing a method for sustainable quality improvement.
Allied Services Receive Donation Local business, TOPP Business Solutions, recently presented Allied Services with a donation of $6,500 in support of the Team Allied Services and You. This annual charity campaign raises awareness and funds for children and adults with disabilities, life-changing injuries, and chronic illness served by Allied Services. TOPP Business Solutions is headquartered in Scranton and is a provider of printing equipment, document management solutions, IT services, and other support services to businesses throughout Northeast, Central, and the Leigh Valley of Pennsylvania. They are long-time supporters of Allied Services, regularly supporting the non-profit’s vocational training and employment programs for individuals with disabilities. “Allied Services is an asset to the communities it serves. You don’t realize the true scope of what it does for our area until you or a member of your family needs to utilize their support. TOPP is proud to be part of Team Allied Services and You,” says Chris Falzett, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Topp Business Solutions. The charity campaign will culminate on November 6, 2022, when a team of more than 70 runners will participate in the TCS New York City Marathon. Among them will be Michael Cummings of Cummings Insurance in Scranton. Michael and the other runners are raising funds for patients and residents at Allied Services.
