Treasurer Garrity Returns Bronze Star to WWII Veteran’s Family During a ceremony at VFW Post 92, Treasurer Stacy Garrity returned a Bronze Star to the family of the late Frank Musto, a U.S. Army veteran who served his country in World War II. “It’s an incredible honor to return this Bronze Star to the Musto family,” Garrity said. “Frank Musto enlisted when he was just 19 years old and served our country during World War II. He was wounded during battle in France. As a fellow veteran, and on behalf of the entire Commonwealth, I extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude for Frank’s service and his and his family’s sacrifices for our country.” “We’re all very proud of our father’s service in World War II, and it means the world to us that the Bronze Star is now back with his family,” said Ron Musto, one of Frank Musto’s sons. “Our entire family would like to thank Treasurer Garrity and her team at the Treasury Department for taking care of these military decorations and for making sure they were reunited with us.” In addition to the Bronze Star and related military decorations, an engraved bullet casing from Musto’s military funeral was returned to his family at the ceremony, including several of his children and grandchildren. Like most tangible unclaimed property, these military decorations – along with a black and white photo of Frank Musto and several other items – were received by Treasury as the contents of a safe deposit box. It was determined that the box owner was Frank’s late son Jody Musto, so Treasury staff researched by scouring newspaper articles and the internet to find prospective family members or heirs to the property. Treasury staff made cold calls and eventually connected with the family to start the return process. The Musto family had thought the contents of the box were lost for good after an unsuccessful attempt to obtain a list of its contents from the bank. For his military service, Frank Musto was also awarded a Purple Heart, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Those medals were already in the family’s possession. The Pennsylvania Treasury works diligently to return all unclaimed property with special attention given to military decorations and memorabilia. Since taking office, and including today’s returns, Treasurer Garrity has returned 262 military decorations including 3 Purple Hearts and 2 Bronze Stars. Treasury has returned a total of 560 military decorations and memorabilia. Treasury’s vault still holds hundreds of military decorations including Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars, Legion of Merit awards, campaign medals, military identification tags and more representing every branch of the military and nearly every major conflict. These items are never auctioned and are held in Treasury’s care in perpetuity or until a rightful owner is found. Treasury’s dedicated military decoration database can be searched by visiting patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property/medals.
NEPA Gives is Tomorrow NEPA Gives—a one-day online giving extravaganza that’s all about giving back to the community. Scranton Area Community Foundation, Carbon County Community Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, Greater Pike Community Foundation, Wayne County Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Endless Mountains have teamed up to host NEPA Gives. For 24 hours—from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59:59 p.m.—on Friday, June 3, 2022, donors may make secure donations to their favorite local nonprofit organizations through the NEPA Gives online platform. Donations to participating nonprofits will be enhanced with bonus funds provided by NEPA Gives sponsors—making donor dollars stretch further! Nonprofits will also be eligible for cash prizes. Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving residents in Northeastern Pennsylvania can participate in NEPA Gives. And, anyone can donate!
The Scranton Cultural Center Announces Free Concert Enjoy a concert given by the United States Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple on July 1 at 7:00 p.m. The concert, entitled “America the Beautiful” is free and open to the public. The Concert Band & Soldiers’ Chorus are the oldest and largest of The U.S. Army Field Band’s performing components. Founded in 1946 and 1957 respectively, these two ensembles combine to present joint concerts on their national tours. They have performed in all 50 states and 30 foreign countries for audiences totaling hundreds of millions. The 60-member Concert Band and 29-member Soldiers’ Chorus perform regularly in some of the most famous concert halls in the world, and just as often in the humblest auditoriums in the smallest of communities. The joining of these two ensembles allows them to offer unparalleled versatility of programming, ranging from orchestral masterworks and operatic arias to Sousa marches, jazz classics, and Broadway musicals. The band and chorus also perform independently, and have recently shared the stage with such ensembles as the Boston Pops, the Cincinnati Pops, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. In addition to their national tours, formal concerts, chamber recitals, and educational outreach, members of the Concert Band & Soldiers’ Chorus frequently represent the Army at formal and ceremonial functions, including the Presidential Inaugural Parade, presidential funerals, the Army All-American Bowl, and diplomatic efforts overseas. To learn more about the military’s most traveled musicians, visit ArmyFieldBand.com. The United States Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus concert is sponsored by LT Verrastro and supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts. The concert will take place in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Theatre at 7:00 p.m. with the doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase. Tickets are free to the public and are required for admission. They can be acquired at the Fidelity Bank Box Office at the SCC in person or by calling (570) 344-1111, or via Ticketmaster. For additional information and a full schedule of events, visit SCCMT.org.
Johnson College Fall 2022 Distance Learning Program Johnson College is now enrolling for its Fall 2022 Distance Learning Program for high school and adult students in the rural areas of Wayne, Pike, and Susquehanna counties. It creates a direct route for students to complete any of Johnson College’s seventeen 2-year associate’s degree programs and ultimately a fulfilling career with family-sustaining wages while staying in their communities. To learn more about this program or to register for courses listed below, please visit Johnson.edu/usda-registration or email the Johnson College enrollment team at enroll@johnson.edu. Students will have interactive, two-way access to Johnson College faculty and participate in remote education, discussions, testing, and skill demonstrations via high-tech telecommunications equipment in classrooms at Forest City Regional High School, Honesdale High School, Wallenpaupack Area High School, and Western Wayne High School. Furthermore, Lakeville Library, Newfoundland Library, and Pleasant Mount Library will be equipped with laptops to give community residents access to career exploration services and information about courses at Johnson College. In addition to the distance learning opportunity this program provides, students will have access to Johnson College’s full array of on-campus support services including tutoring, counseling, career services, financial aid, internship opportunities, and exposure to industry from day one. Distance learning will help high school and adult students reach their full potential and connect with the region’s essential careers already in demand. Distance learning courses available at all participating high schools will include: BUS 105-1 E-Commerce – Mondays, 4 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. CDT 123-1 Surveying & Mapping – Wednesdays, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ART 110-1 Contract Drawings – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. ART 105-2 Blueprint & Schematic Reading – Fridays, 1:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. ART 110-4 Contract Drawings – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. PRG 101-2 Programming for Enterprise – Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Additionally, a special job training course in intermediate shielded metal arc welding will be available through Honesdale High School. This 8-week, 90-hour course will provide the necessary knowledge and skills for an entry-level welder. Through theory and hands-on practice, students will learn oxy-fuel, gas tungsten arc (TIG), gas metal arc (MIG), and shielded metal arc (Stick) processes. Lectures will include basic metallurgy, welding codes, non-destructive examination, and welding symbols. Emphasis will be placed students’ ability to prepare material and perform welding of fillet and grieve welds in carbon steel using E7018 electrodes in all positions. Students will have the opportunity to take the qualification test. This program is funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.
Boback’s Bill to Create a Day Care Program for Older Veterans Passed by House Legislation that would create an elderly veteran’s day care program within the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), sponsored by Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming), was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives recently. “We have a deep feeling of gratitude and admiration toward the men and women who have served our country, said Boback, who chairs the House Veterans Affair and Emergency Preparedness Committee. “This program would provide an additional layer of support for these veterans and their families.” Boback’s proposal would establish an adult day care program to be known as “Community-Based Palliative Care,” Under the legislation, the DMVA would administer a non-hospital specialized medical care in a veterans’ home or with a partner in a related health care facility licensed by the Department of Health to veterans who are living with a serious illness. “For veterans facing challenging medical conditions or illness, palliative care can provide relief from pain and suffering – and can offer additional benefits for family members who may be acting as a veteran’s informal caregiver,” Boback added. “The ultimate goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family, regardless of diagnosis.” House Bill 1972 now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Geisinger Health Plan Ranked Best Commercial Health Plan For the third year in a row, Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) ranked best among commercial health plans in Pennsylvania for member satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study. In its third consecutive win, GHP earned a 17-point increase year-over-year. The study examines several key factors, including cost, coverage and benefits, customer service, information and communication, and provider choice, all of which Geisinger rated higher in than the previous year. “Health coverage should be affordable for everyone, especially in times like these,” said Kurt J. Wrobel, GHP president and executive vice president of insurance operations for Geisinger. “It is no easy feat to be named the top insurance plan in Pennsylvania, but this study shows that our members and patients get the quality of care they deserve and expect from the name they trust most with their health. At Geisinger, we always have, and always will, put our patients, members and communities first.” The 2022 study was conducted among commercial HMO, PPO and POS health plan members drawn from online panels. Results are based on responses across 147 health plans in 22 market-based U.S. regions as identified in the 2022 study. Of the 147 plans evaluated, 139 are eligible for ranking. As part of one of the country’s most well-established integrated health systems, GHP maintains a provider network of more than 29,000 doctors and 100 hospitals across Pennsylvania. More than half a million members trust GHP for their healthcare coverage. To learn more about J.D. Power’s rankings, visit http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2022061
