Ben Franklin Technology Partners Invests in IGNITE Client The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s (BFTP_NEPA) board of directors has approved the investment of $252,500 in support of regional economic development. Five companies from BFTP_NEPA’s 21-county service area received funding. Investments identified as a continuation project indicates that the client achieved pre-determined milestones and is receiving more funding to accomplish additional project work. BFTP_NEPA announced the early-stage company investment of the GUIDE, IGNITE client of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. GUIDE, Scranton Enterprise Center, Scranton, Lackawanna County Ben Franklin Investment: $100,000 Complete the development of a new version of GUIDE’s mobile application and commercialize the app to organizations including mid-sized corporations, first responders, and veteran groups. GUIDE provides a wellness and mental health Software-as-a-Service mobile app. The app combines daily, micro-learning practices with a peer support community to improve mental and emotional well-being and provide personal, professional, and community development.
PennDOT Expands Online Services for People with Disabilities In an effort to help provide its customers with improved service and increased convenience, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that customers who have a Person with Disabilities Parking Placard can now have the option to renew, receive a replacement or update their address on their permanent Persons with Disabilities Parking Placard online from the comfort of their home. “This new online service is an added convenience for customers who need accessible parking ,” said PennDOT’s Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicles Services Kurt Myers. “The commonwealth also benefits from savings from costs associated with mailing products and notices that a product has been renewed.” The initiative, part of PennDOT’s efforts to modernize its operations, cuts down on wait times for customers by eliminating the mail in process and subsequent processing of paperwork. Customers with Temporary Person with Disabilities Parking Placards will also be able to update their address and request replacement identification credentials through this online service. “Making this service available online is a positive move for all Pennsylvanians who seek a Person with Disabilities Parking Placard,” said Lisa Biggica of UniqueSource Products & Services. “It is vital that this important accessibility service is itself, easily accessible and convenient to obtain. It just makes sense for the more than two million Pennsylvanian adults living with a disability.” To renew a placard online or to obtain additional information on services provided, including how to obtain a placard, please visit the Person with Disabilities Information page on the Driver and Vehicle Services website. Placard holders will continue to receive a renewal form by mail approximately 60 days prior to their expiration. Customers may obtain a variety of other driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services. Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.
Treasurer Garrity Announces New Chief Investment Officer Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced that Thomas J. Waters, former Vice President of Corporate Finance with Armstrong World Industries in Lancaster, is joining her senior staff as Treasury’s new Chief Investment Officer (CIO). “I’m extremely confident in Tom’s ability to lead our investment staff, and I’m pleased to welcome him to Treasury as our new CIO,” Garrity said. “Treasury’s CIO plays a crucial role in making sure that state dollars are invested soundly and prudently, and Tom’s experience and leadership will serve taxpayers well. He also has a proven track record of successful mentoring and team building. I look forward to working with him.” Most recently at Armstrong World Industries, Waters directed Armstrong’s treasury and investor relations functions. During his more than two decades with Armstrong, he held a variety of operational and corporate finance roles. Waters also served as the President of TJW Advisory and has held positions with American Airlines, Shearson Lehman Brothers, and E.F. Hutton. Waters, who will start at Treasury in September, earned his bachelor’s degrees in economics and history from Binghamton University and an MBA in finance from the University of California, Berkeley. “I’m thrilled to join the team at the Pennsylvania Treasury and work alongside Treasurer Garrity and her staff,” Waters said. “I will work every day to ensure the best possible investment outcomes for Pennsylvania taxpayers. Managing the state’s assets responsibly and with the highest fiduciary standards is my top priority.” The CIO serves as a chief advisor to the Treasurer and is responsible for the direct management of approximately $40 billion in state assets and provides insight and analysis for Commonwealth investment assets under custody totaling $150 billion, including the state’s three largest pension funds.
PennDOT Announces Public Open House and Comment Period for Partnership 81 Project The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced the launch of a public comment period from July 26 through August 26, 2022, for the Partnership 81 Project in Luzerne County. An in-person public open house will be held on Wednesday, July 26 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with formal presentation at 6 p.m. at Wilkes-Barre High School, 2021 Wolfpack Way, Plains, PA 18705, to introduce the project and answer questions from the community. The Partnership 81 project is a 7.5-mile reconstruction of I-81 from mile marker 161.2 in Hanover Township to mile marker 169 in Wilkes-Barre Township focused on improving regional as well as local transportation needs. The project study area spans from two miles north of the Nuangola exit to approximately one mile north of the Highland Park Boulevard exit. Partnership 81 is currently in the design phase. Once the design is set, the project will be procured as a Public-Private Partnership (P3). There is no tolling anticipated to be included as part of this project. Construction is not expected to begin before 2025. The Partnership 81 public comment period will provide the community with an opportunity to share feedback and comments based on the preliminary design plans and environmental impacts. Information about the project including a project overview, project displays, and methods to provide comments, will be available to be viewed online beginning July 26, 2022 on the PennDOT District 4 Luzerne County public meeting website at https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-4/PublicMeetings/Luzerne%20County/Pages/default.aspx. Click on “Partnership 81” in the blue box to review project details and provide feedback via the online comment form. PennDOT staff and design consultants will be available to answer questions at the open house on July 26. Feedback received during the comment period and at the public meeting will be reviewed and taken into consideration by PennDOT. The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation/interpretation services, have special needs, or concerns that require individual attention, please contact Stephen Sartori, Project Manager, at (570) 235-2964, or email at c-ssartori@pa.gov. Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891.
Viewmont Mall Supports Community with Back to School Drive Viewmont Mall is celebrating the upcoming academic year by encouraging our local community to “Let’s Pull Together!” Viewmont Mall is partnering with local nonprofit, Boys and Girls Club of NEPA, to set all students up for a successful school year. From August 1 through September 6, shoppers can drop off their donations of backpacks and school supplies for students in need. The donation bin is conveniently located in Center Court. Shoppers will also be able to check the progress of how much has been collected and encourage the community to “Let’s Pull Together!” “We want this school year to be a success for students, and with the partnership of Boys and Girls Club of NEPA, we are excited to provide tools for students to reach their achievements,” said Rosemary Bohenek, Marketing Coordinator for Viewmont Mall. Being prepared for learning with the essential supplies is the first step for students to reach their academic goals. Suggested supplies for the drive include: BackpacksLunchboxesPens and pencils, Highlighters, Colored pencils, crayons, and markersGlue sticksFolders, Notebooks & Loose-leaf paper To assist shoppers in their search for school supplies and backpacks to support the “Let’s Pull Together” drive, items can be found at the following retailers: Shoe DepartmentDick’s Sporting GoodsClaire’sMacy’sJCPenney Viewmont Mall will also ring in the new school year by hosting the “Back to School Get Together” Viewmont Mall Back to School Get Together on Saturday, August 20 from 12 – 2 p.m. Families are encouraged to bring a donation to the school supply drive. Kids will have the opportunity to decorate notebooks (while supplies last) and enjoy other activities including music, magic show, character appearances, glitter tattoos, balloon art and more.
Geisinger Ribbon Cutting at Healthplex CenterPoint in Pittston After a yearlong $80 million construction project, Geisinger unveiled the results, celebrating the impending opening of Geisinger Healthplex CenterPoint. The 124,000-square-foot outpatient specialty facility will offer improved availability and convenience of in-demand services from same-day surgery to eye care and diagnostics. A ribbon cutting was held at 1201 Oak St., near state Route 315, Interstate 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which was chosen for its proximity to patients in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. Scheduled to open Monday, Aug. 1, the healthplex will offer surgery and endoscopy; bone, muscle and joint care; urologic services; eye care and eyewear; and physical and occupational therapy, as well as laboratory and diagnostics. ConvenientCare and orthopaedic urgent care services are expected to open in the fall. With ample space to expand programs and accommodate new care providers, the healthplex will offer more appointments and reduce wait times for patients to see specialists. It also groups complementary services, like orthopaedics and diagnostics, so patients can stay at one facility for related appointments. According to market forecasts, the aging population of northeastern Pennsylvania will drive an increased need for these services through 2030. “We’re outgrowing our footprint at our hospitals in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre,” said Ron Beer, chief administrative officer for Geisinger’s northeast region. “Healthlplex CenterPoint makes better health easier for patients and members in two counties by providing care in an easy-to-reach location away from the bustling activity of our medical centers.” The healthplex also creates 154 jobs and frees up space at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center and Geisinger Community Medical Center to explore opportunities to expand acute care services like emergency medicine and trauma programs. Care teams at Healthplex CenterPoint will offer treatment options that previously were limited in availability in the region. The most consolidated and comprehensive urology practice Geisinger has ever established in northeastern Pennsylvania will offer same-day care for patients with emergent conditions like kidney stones or inability to urinate. Bolstering a wide range of sports medicine as well as hand, and foot and ankle services, the orthopaedics team will also perform arthroscopic hip procedures. A complete subspecialty eye-care program will feature ophthalmic providers capable of delivering virtually any service a patient may need. It includes neuro ophthalmology care and pediatric ophthalmology care. The team will also perform LASIK surgery, a first for Geisinger in the northeast region. The diagnostics suite adds two new MRI machines, along with computed tomography (CT) and X-ray capability, significantly expanding imaging services in the region. Designed with a focus on patient comfort in a space that previously housed a Walmart, the healthplex features a café, an atrium with outdoor green space and seating, and facial recognition technology for easy check-in. It also provides abundant parking and is accessible by public transportation. Adapting an existing building for new use brings needed services to Pittston Township in an environmentally friendly way. The project avoided energy-costly demolition, preserved undisturbed land that might otherwise have been used for new development, and created sustainable green space and gardens. “Residents and leaders in this community welcomed this project with open arms and will share in its positive impacts on health and the local economy,” said Beer. “Together, we succeeded in contributing to the vibrance of an area we all love. A space that once buzzed with commerce will now care for the community for years to come.” For more information on Geisinger Healthplex CenterPoint, visit Geisinger.org/healthplexcenterpoint.
Cancer Institute Names Chair for 30th Annual Cancer Survivors Day Michele Frigoletto, has been named chair for the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s 30th Annual Cancer Survivors Day- Honoring, Remembering, Sharing. Michele (Mick) Frigoletto is a fourth-generation barber and owner of Mick’s Barbershop on Main Street in Honesdale. Using her professional skills, Mick created a fundraiser in 2011 to benefit NRCI called Buzz Off Cancer. Attendees get their hair, beards, mustaches, and undercuts buzzed for a donation. Since inception, Buzz Off Cancer has raised over $30,000. Mick is also a five-year breast cancer survivor. She loves being able to give back to her community to support local events and causes. Mick lives in Cherry Ridge Township with her husband, Michael. She is a mother to Alexandra, Evan, Braden and Nathaniel and a grandmother to Waylon, Magnus, and Winifred. Cancer Survivors Day is a dual-location event set for Saturday, September 17 at McDade Park in Scranton and Saturday, September 24 at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. The event registration begins at 10:00 a.m. and the program begins at 10:30 a.m. It’s free of charge although pre-registration is encouraged. The events feature the Circle of Survivors, an activity during which every person in attendance can say a few words about their experience with cancer. Conversation and light refreshments provide an additional opportunity for connection and support. Cancer survivors, their families, and friends, as well as caregivers and healthcare professionals are invited to attend. For more information, go to www.cancernepa.org or call the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute at (570) 904-8808.
