The Settlers Inn Earns Wine Spectator Restaurant Award The Settlers Inn was honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2022 Restaurant Awards, which celebrates the world’s best restaurants for wine. “I want to congratulate all 3,169 restaurants that earned one of Wine Spectator’s three awards for their devotion to all things wine,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “These awards not only guide our readers to dining establishments with impressive wine lists and outstanding service, but also serve to honor restaurants for their achievements and commitment to maintaining pristine cellars. We are thrilled to reveal our 2022 Dining Guide, which points to places where wine drinkers are warmly welcomed.” “It’s a privilege to earn this recognition from Wine Spectator as an acknowledgement of our commitment to providing superior wine service to guests of The Settlers Inn,” states CEO/Owner Justin Genzlinger. “To be distinguished as one of only two restaurants in Northeast PA to receive this prestigious award is an honor. We’re proud of our Sommelier, Claude Briere, and Director of Food and Beverage Steven Vennie, who have cultivated an award-winning wine experience for our guests.” Wine Spectator began its program to recognize the world’s best wine lists in 1981. There are three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award—with 1,782; 1,290; and 97 winners this year in each respective category. The Settlers Inn won the Best of Award of Excellence. Recipients display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Wine Spectator’s special Restaurant Awards issue becomes available to readers July 12. Follow the Restaurant Awards on Instagram (@wsrestaurantawards), with hashtag #WSRestaurantAward, and at Restaurants.WineSpectator.com, where all winners can be searched by location and sorted by attributes including name, proximity, award level, cuisine and pricing. Winners are also profiled in the free Restaurant Awards app, available for iPhone and iPad users.
Citizens Savings Bank Announces Promotions Citizens Savings Bank in Clarks Summit has announced the promotions of Walter Belasky and Keleena McNichols. Mr. Belasky has been promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President/Collections Manager in the Collections Department at Citizens Savings Bank. Walter earned certifications in Security and Fraud Investigations and is a member of the PDCFlow organization. Looking back on his career with the bank, Walter started in January 2020 as a Full Time Collector and was then promoted in January 2021 to the role of Collections Manager. In this new position, Walter will continue to be responsible for the supervision, organizing, planning, and directing of the institution’s loan collection activities in accordance with the institution’s policies and participate in special assignments as directed by senior management or the Board of Directors. Mr. Belasky resides in Moscow. Ms. McNichols has been promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President/Loan Operations Manager of the Loan Operations Department at Citizens Savings Bank. Ms. McNichols earned her degree in English from Marywood University in 2008 and has held several roles at the bank throughout her career. Looking back on her 14 years with the bank, Keleena started her career as a Customer Service Representative/Teller in our South Scranton Branch. She was elevated to Customer Service Specialist in 2010 and then became a Collector in 2015. In 2019, Keleena took on the role of Assistant Loan Operations Manager and then was elevated to Loan Operations Manager in 2021. Keleena is also Co-Founder and Board Member for Fight 4 Vets and has been Treasurer of the Betty Welby Foundation for the previous 16 years. In this new position, Keleena will continue to be responsible for the supervision, organization, planning and directing the bank’s loan operations function and participate in special assignments as directed by senior management or the Board of Directors. Ms. McNichols resides in Scranton.
Discovery MI Preschool Expands and Rebrands Discovery Montessori will open a second campus in North Scranton this September and expand its educational programs to include grades 1-3. Discovery Montessori (Providence), located on N Main Ave Scranton, will initially host 30 students across preschool, kindergarten and first grade. Second and third grades will be added in the coming school years as students move up and the school’s capacity increases to 45 students. In keeping with Montessori philosophy and practice, students will be in multiage classrooms of 3-6 years old and 6-9 years old. To reflect the school’s commitment to Montessori methods and its expansion into early elementary, the school has rebranded to Discovery Montessori and unveiled its new logo. Marianne Davis, President of the Board of Discovery Montessori explained, “With the addition of the North Main Avenue location, we are excited to expand our services beyond preschool and kindergarten to students in the first three primary grades. Given this expansion, it was confusing to be called a preschool when we offer so much more. Our new name emphasizes our approach of using the Montessori educational platform for our students which has been our objective since we first launched the school.” “A core part of our mission since day 1 has been to ensure at least half of our students attend at no cost or reduced tuition and we are pleased to confirm this commitment across our whole student body.” The school was recently awarded a Community Needs Grant of $18,500 by The Scranton Area Community Foundation to help open Discovery Montessori (Providence). “This grant will be instrumental in helping us purchase the materials, furniture and supplies required to open the new center this September,” added Ms. Davis. The Scranton Area Community Foundation President and CEO, Laura Ducceschi explained the grant, “Our Foundation is proud to support organizations that provide improved educational opportunities for children and young adults in the area. Providing a strong educational base for youngsters reinforces the value of inquisitive learning and launches life-long learning.” Discovery Montessori is set to be accredited by the American Montessori Society in December 2022, following a five year accreditation process. “This is a major achievement that underscores our faithful adherence to Montessori philosophy and practice. As the only accredited Montessori school in Scranton, parents can be confident that we provide quality programs that meet strict standards and protocols,” said Ms. Davis. Discovery Montessori ensures that a minimum of half their students come from families with low to moderate incomes through a range of community partnerships and subsidies. Tuition free places are provided through Head Start and Pre K Counts. The school also accepts Child Care Works subsidy for tuition and participates in Scholarship programs through United Way. Through these partnerships and programs, currently 75% of their students receive free or reduced tuition. Discovery Montessori incorporates learning through play alongside structured learning to ensure the social, academic, physical, and emotional development of each child in the school. Their unique approach to education enriches the whole child, sparking a love of learning that sets students on the path to future success in school and beyond. Discovery Montessori was selected the Non-Profit Organization of the Year in the SAGE Awards presented by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
Disaster Blaster Launches National Franchise System Local Scranton area business, Disaster Blaster, recently announced that franchise opportunities are now available! Presently offering Disaster Blaster franchises for sale in 31 states (and growing), Disaster Blaster and their management team are excited to welcome and support Disaster Blaster franchises as they open and grow in their local markets. As the premier mitigation and restoration firm in our area, Disaster Blaster brings a great deal of expertise to all of their franchises, providing them the support they need to grow their local Disaster Blaster businesses. A big step for a local business from our area, Disaster Blaster will be providing training and ongoing support to all franchises. The Disaster Blaster management team has over 25 years of experience in operating an indoor environmental, mitigation, and restoration company locally and offers a wide range of services including, but not limited to, water damage mitigation, mold remediation, radon mitigation, asbestos abatement, basement waterproofing, infectious disease disinfection, and hazardous drugs cleanup. With its full array of services, they offer a unique system that is virtually recession-proof and seasonally consistent. Disaster Blaster will continue to develop additional new services, as well as roll out new sales and marketing efforts and national programs as the franchise system grows. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who has interest in owning their own business. Anyone interested in applying to purchase a new franchise should call either Matthew or Gary Lyons at (302) 242-1042.
Telespond Senior Services New President and CEO The Board of Directors of Telespond Senior Services, with offices in Scranton and Kingston, announced the appointment of Donna O’Toole Sedor as President/CEO effective August 8th. Sedor replaces Joseph J. Grilli, MPA, DPA, who is retiring. Sedor holds extensive experience in communications, fundraising, and program development. A dedicated community leader, Sedor also served as a chamber of commerce vice president for nearly 25 years. As president and CEO, Sedor will oversee day-to-day operations, community awareness campaigns, and fundraising at Telespond Senior Services. Since 1974, the non-profit organization has provided on-site adult day care services, in-home personal care and a robust, volunteer-led senior companionship program to the residents of Lackawanna County and surrounding communities. Currently, Telespond has plans for two new initiatives to further support the region’s seniors: a Foster Grandparent program and an on-site Advocacy Center. To support the development of both initiatives, Grilli has been retained to advance and implement new Programs. In this part-time consulting position, Grilli will also continue to act as liaison for charitable foundations and grants. Prior to joining Telespond Senior Services, Sedor served as Employment Navigator at Up Steps: A Program of New Roots, Inc. in Wilkes-Barre. Before working at Up Steps, Sedor held positions in program leadership and development at the Arc of Luzerne County, the Women’s Resource Center, and the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association. She was Vice President of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce from 1990 to 2014 and has taught courses in public speaking and public relations at Wilkes University since 1987. Anne Brennan, current secretary and outgoing chair of Telespond’s board of directors, thanks Dr. Grilli for his unwavering commitment to the organization’s mission. “Joe has worked tirelessly to promote and expand Telespond’s services,” she says. “He has helped renew the agency’s reputation as an essential service provider for our community’s aging population, and the board is grateful he will continue to serve as a consultant.” She welcomes Sedor to the organization on behalf of the board and says, “We believe that she will bring the same level of enthusiasm and dedication to Telespond’s mission.”
The Wright Center Celebrates National Health Center Week 2022 The Wright Center for Community Health will join with similar organizations and advocates across the United States next week in marking National Health Center Week, Aug. 7-13. The observance provides an opportunity for the nation’s Community Health Centers to raise public awareness about the vital role they play in delivering affordable, nondiscriminatory health care to communities in need, including rural, high-poverty and other historically underserved areas. Health centers provide comprehensive care to nearly 30 million patients at about 11,000 sites located across every U.S. state and territory. Collectively, these health centers save the nation’s taxpayers more than $24 billion each year through the prevention of emergency, hospital and specialty-care costs. The Wright Center, which operates primary care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, will celebrate this year’s observance with a series of activities that both reflect its mission and pay homage to the many constituencies on which Community Health Centers rely for their ongoing success: dedicated board members, employees, patients and community partners. The Wright Center’s events include multiple community outreach activities in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, many of them featuring the center’s mobile medical unit called Driving Better Health. For example, the mobile medical unit will be used to conduct a COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, at Lackawanna County Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. In addition to offering pandemic-fighting vaccines and boosters, The Wright Center’s employees will be on hand to distribute Narcan, an important tool in the effort to reduce drug overdose deaths amid the ongoing opioid crisis, and encourage voter registration through the Vot-ER initiative, a nonpartisan campaign to boost participation in the electoral process. Other events to be held as part of The Wright Center’s observance of National Health Center Week: Driving Better Health appearance at the New Roots Heartwood Center, 100 S. Wyoming St., Hazleton, with COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Aug. 8. The Heartwood Center is a provider of homeless and recovery support services. Food bag distribution at The Wright Center for Community Health Kingston Practice, 2 Sharpe St., Kingston, from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10, while supplies last. The limited number of free bags will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Children’s Health Day activities to be held in conjunction with the weekly South Side Farmers Market, 526 Cedar Ave., Scranton, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13. The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement will offer COVID-19 test kits, a limited number of free school backpacks and children’s art activities. COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinic with Driving Better Health vehicle at the newly opened Keystone Mission Transformation Center, 290 Parkview Circle, Wilkes-Barre, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15. The clinic will be open to clients of the Keystone Mission program that serves homeless men as well as to the broader public, including residents of the neighborhood’s nearby public housing complexes. For more information about The Wright Center’s National Health Center Week activities and other public events, visit its online calendar at TheWrightCenter.org/events.
Misericordia University Plans Open House Misericordia University will hold an open house for high school students and their parents from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday, August 20, 2022. Check-in will begin at 9:00 AM at the Anderson Health and Wellness Center. The open house event for high schoolers and their parents is the chance to experience the campus, meet students, visit with professors, and speak with admissions and financial aid representatives. Students and their families will tour the campus before having meetings with faculty in their academic program. After lunch, learn more about the admissions and financial aid process, hear more from current students, and then tour some of the specialized facilities with students in their major. Throughout the event, there is a chance to win a door prize, giveaways, play trivia, and fun photo opportunities. Prospective students will be able to tour numerous buildings, including the 40,000-square-foot John J. Passan Hall, 100 Lake St., Dallas. Passan Hall houses state-of-the-art simulator laboratories and classrooms in the nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology programs of the College of Health Sciences and Education. Also slated for touring is the Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Science Center, which embodies a commitment to advanced technology and infrastructure that lends itself to superior teaching, learning, and research with a state-of-art facility. If students and their parents are looking for a college that delivers a powerful education and a personal experience, then look no further than Misericordia University. Misericordia is a small, private university that delivers a hands-on, transformative education to all who seek it. Misericordia makes sure that each student receives a personalized experience along with the resources to achieve their goals. For more information contact the Misericordia University Admissions Office at 570-674-6264 or email at admiss@misericordia.edu to register now visit our website at https://www.misericordia.edu/admissions/admissions/open-house
Hospice of the Sacred Heart Receives Donation Hospice of the Sacred Heart recently received proceeds in the amount of $2,000 from the 5th Annual Sean Powell Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the Kids Kloset, a pediatric patient initiative of Hospice of the Sacred Heart. The tournament, in memory of Sean Powell, was held July 16th at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor. The Kids Kloset is a storage locker containing free items offered to pediatric patients and young children dealing with the loss of a loved one. Items include toys, games, electronic devices, books and learning tools. The Hospice of the Sacred Heart Kids Kloset is supported in part by a generous grant from AllOne Foundation and Charities and the Sean Powell Memorial Golf Tournament. The mission of Hospice of the Sacred Heart is to provide comfort, care, hope and choice to patients and their families, while guiding them through the end of life journey.
