NeighborWorks NEPA Announces Grant for Aging in Place Services Staff from NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania were joined today by U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) to announce the receipt of a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for the expansion ofAging in Place Services in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. Awarded as part of HUD’s Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP), the grant will fund safety upgrades and home improvement projects in 225 homes to meet the needs of low-income elderly homeowners in Lackawanna and Wayne counties. “Seniors across the nation have made their desire to live in their own homes resoundingly clear, which is why the work that NeighborWorks does is so vital,” said Senator Casey. “These dollars will go directly to seniors who need services and supports such as safety adjustments, home repairs and accessibility modifications that will allow them to live safely and with dignity. I look forward to seeing the benefits that will reach Northeastern Pennsylvania seniors as a result of this grant and I will continue to advocate for a historic federal investment in home and community-based services.” “The Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes is excited to broaden our scope to include the Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP),” Yolanda Brown, Lead and Healthy Homes Program Division Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said of the program expansion. “OAHMP provides funding to assess the needs of low-income, elderly homeowners and make home modifications that are responsive to those needs. The work made possible by these funds help to make activities of daily living (e.g. eating, cooking, moving around the home) easier for our beneficiaries and extend their opportunity to safely age-in-place.” “We are most thankful for the support of Senator Casey and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in supporting our Aging in Place program with this significant investment,” Jesse Ergott, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania President & CEO, said of the award. “Being able to reach more older adults in Lackawanna County, together with the expansion of Aging in Place services in Wayne County, will make a profound impact for the good of older adults in Northeastern Pennsylvania.” Since its inception in 2015, the Aging in Place program of NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania has provided homeowners aged 60 and above with services that focus on assisting them to continue living safely and with dignity in their home and community. Services provided as part of the Aging in Place program include critical safety modifications, home repairs, senior isolation prevention, financial coaching, and more. NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is one of 32 grant recipients across the United States to be receiving funding in this round of OAHMP awards; other grant recipients include local and state government entities, nonprofit agencies, and public housing authorities. Altogether, more than 5,000 beneficiaries nationwide will be reached by services that will assist seniors in continuing to live in their homes. Lackawanna County residents seeking Aging in Place services should contact the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging at 570-963-6707 to ask for an Aging in Place referral. Wayne County residents seeking Aging in Place services are asked to contact the Wayne County Area Agency on Aging by calling 570-253-4262.
Munley Law Announces $4 Million Settlement with Incompetent Trucking Company Munley Law won a $4 million settlement for a client from a shipping company that selected an incompetent trucking company to transport its goods. Munley Law represented a couple that was severely injured in a multi-vehicle accident caused by one of the trucking company’s tractor trailers. According to the complaint, the accident occurred in a construction zone when a tractor trailer was unable to stop because its brakes were not properly adjusted. The truck rear ended the couple, causing a multiple vehicle collision. The accident left the couple with life-altering injuries, including paraplegia and severe back injuries. According to the complaint, the truck carried the mandatory minimum insurance of $750,000. “This settlement will go a long way to help our clients recover from such a horrific accident,” said Marion Munley, lead counsel on the case. “It also sends a clear message to shipping companies to do their due diligence before selecting a carrier.” For more than 60 years, the truck accident lawyers at Munley Law have been recognized nationwide as industry experts. Their attorneys have helped to create many of the laws that protect truck accident victims today. They have won groundbreaking settlements and verdicts for their clients.
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Cuts Ribbon at New Location The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the new office space and feature their new logo on Thursday, August 26, 2021. The new office is located at 312 Adams Ave, Scranton. After the ribbon cutting, office tours were available. 2021 marks the Cancer Institute’s 30th anniversary year. Back row, from left to right: Adam Basalyga, Bedrock Technology, Frank Suraci, Bedrock Technology, Michael Frigoletto, DeLuca Frigoletto Advertising, Robert Durkin, President, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Holly Carron, NRCI Board Member, Dr. Samuel Lesko, Medical Director, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Brian Doughton, District Director for Senator Marty Flynn, and Bill Davis, Chief of Staff for Pennsylvania State Representative Kyle Mullins. Front row, from left to right: Amanda E. Marchegiani, Community Relations Coordinator, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Ann Crisanti, Chief Financial Officer, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Susan Belin, NRCI Board member and NRCI founder, Karen M. Saunders, President, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Mayor Paige Cognetti, Representative Bridget Kosierowski, Laura Toole, Executive Vice President, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Karen Ryczak, Director of Surveillance and Navigation Programs, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, and Jennifer Manganello, District Staff for Congressman Matt Cartwright.
Swift Kennedy Helps Employers Stay Compliant As if high inflation and Covid issues were not enough to deal with, local business owners must now also grapple with a slew of new federal government regulations. “Whether we’re talking about OSHA, DOL, or other regulations, employers are struggling to stay compliant in order to avoid time-consuming audits and high penalties,” said Jerry Calistri, President and CEO of the insurance brokerage firm Swift Kennedy & Associates. Compliance Guidance That is why Swift Kennedy offers business owners access to virtual tools to help answer the pressing compliance questions they often have when faced with new regulations. These tools inform employers when laws change and advise them about compliance with the revised rules. The resources also enable them to stay ahead of legislative deadlines and access timely information about the latest industry trends. Benefit Notices Swift Kennedy not only provides business owners with compliance guidance, but also generates many government-mandated benefit notices to help them avoid violating ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, and other laws. These documents include Wrap Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) and Wrap Plan Documents, which wrap around the companies’ certificates of insurance and benefit plan booklets. The agency also provides clients with detailed information about the distribution requirements of these notices. These requirements are important, because when employers who are plan administrators fail to maintain and distribute certain documents like SPDs to plan participants within a set timeframe, their companies may be faced with audits and/or stiff penalties. ACA Monitoring and Reporting Many large businesses also need help complying with the Affordable Care Act’s tax regulations, such as its employer shared responsibility provisions. Swift Kennedy offers these clients strategic planning, as well as the digital tools needed for plan implementation, monitoring of hourly activity, and generation of monthly reports in order to prepare for annual IRS reporting and audits. COBRA Administration For businesses with employees who choose to continue their company health insurance coverage after leaving employment, Swift Kennedy offers COBRA administration, which includes providing HIPAA certificates and required letters, as well as employer reporting. Companies using this service rather than in-house COBRA administration usually see substantial savings. So, what is the best way for business owners to ensure that their companies comply with the tangled web of federal government regulations? “I advise employers to meet with an experienced insurance broker, who can help them analyze their benefit plans for compliance and set up a roadmap to prevent any violations in the future,” said Calistri, who is a Certified Healthcare Reform Specialist.
Geisinger Receives Grant to Develop Diagnostic Tool for Genetic Disorders A team of Geisinger researchers has been awarded a $5 million grant from the National Institute of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute to develop a tool that will allow healthcare providers to diagnose a genetic basis for select medical conditions in real time. Determining that a medical condition has a genetic basis can have a significant impact on the course of treatment. The proposed High Impact Phenotype Identification System (HIPIS) will shorten the time between onset of symptoms and discovery of a genetic basis for 13 medical conditions, improving patient care and outcomes. “Complex diseases frustrate patients and create a burden on healthcare systems through multiple hospitalizations and frequent testing,” said Marc Williams, M.D., professor at Geisinger’s Genomic Medicine Institute and principal investigator for the project. “Enabling physicians to access genetic information in real time could prevent much of this burden by eliminating the gap between onset of symptoms and genetic diagnosis.” The research team has identified 13 “high-impact” conditions with a high likelihood of having a genetic basis or for which a genetic diagnosis would significantly affect or alter management of the condition. These include pediatric epilepsy, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and congenital kidney disease, among others. An analysis of Geisinger’s electronic health records showed that the average time from symptom onset for one of these conditions to diagnosis as a genetic condition is 3.5 years, and in some cases can take up to 12 years. This delay in genetic diagnosis can affect the patient’s treatment and overall health outcomes. Working alongside experts in each specialty, researchers will develop models that can identify patients with documented clinical signs and symptoms of these high-impact conditions and allow healthcare providers to screen for and diagnose a genetic basis in real time. The team will also analyze clinical workflow to determine the best points at which to present genetic information to providers. “This project is a compelling example of something we do well at Geisinger – using robust genomic and clinical data to help make better health easy for our patients,” said Adam Buchanan, M.S., M.P.H., associate professor and director of Geisinger’s Genomic Medicine Institute. Geisinger has an exciting research environment with more than 50 full-time research faculty and more than 30 clinician scientists. Areas of expertise include precision health, genomics, informatics, data science, implementation science, outcomes research, health services research, bioethics and clinical trials.
Marywood University to Host Annual Lackawanna County College Fair Marywood University will host the Annual Lackawanna County College Fair on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, from 7-8:30 p.m., in the Center for Athletics and Wellness on the University’s Campus. Prior to the College Fair, a Higher Education Presentation will take place at 6:15 p.m., and a Financial Aid Presentation will take place at 7:15 p.m., both at the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life in the McGowan Community Room. This event and the presentations are free and open to the public. Representatives of more than 50 colleges and universities, from both in and out of state, will attend the Annual Lackawanna County College Fair and will be available to offer information and answer questions. High School juniors and seniors are encouraged to attend. For additional information about the Annual Lackawanna County College Fair held at Marywood University, please call the Office of Admissions at Marywood, at (570) 348-6234, or email Sarah Polinchak, senior admissions counselor, at scpolinchak@marywood.edu.
PennDOT Data Shows PA Roundabouts Reduce Fatalities, Injuries, Crashes The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that fatalities, injuries, and crashes decreased overall at 26 roundabouts at 23 locations in the time since they were built, according to department data. “The modern roundabout is simply safer than the traditional intersection,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Though not the right option for every intersection, data shows that when installed, roundabouts save lives and reduce crash severity.” PennDOT recently reviewed data for 26 roundabouts on state routes at intersections that were previously stop or signal controlled. These roundabouts were selected based on having at least three years of crash data available before and after the roundabouts were built. Department data based on police-submitted crash reports spanning the years 2000 through 2020 shows that fatalities at these locations were reduced by 100 percent and the total number of crashes decreased by 22 percent. Additionally: Suspected serious injuries were reduced by 81 percent;Suspected minor injuries were reduced by 36 percent;Possible/unknown severity injuries were reduced by 76 percent; andProperty damage-only crashes increased by 13 percent. In addition to the 26 roundabouts meeting the selection criteria, 36 other roundabouts have been built on state routes with 19 more in construction and 20 in final design. The roundabouts included in the review are at the following intersections: Allegheny County: Route 3070 (Ewing Road) and Business Route 0376 Ramp, opened in 2011;Beaver County: Route 0068 (Adams Street), Route 1034 (Brighton Avenue) and Route 6018 (Brighton Ave./Rhode Island Ave.), opened in 2011;Bucks County:Route 2043 (Trevose Road) and Somerton Road, opened in 2012,Route 213 (Bridgetown Pike/Maple Avenue) and Route 2010 (Bridgetown Pike), opened in 2016;Butler County: Route 3024 (Glen Eden Road), Powell Road and Freshcorn Road, opened in 2015;Chester County:Route 0082 (Doe Run Road) and Unionville Road, opened in 2005,Route 52 (Lenape Road), S. Wawaset Road and Lenape Unionville Road, opened in 2014,Route 3062 (Strasburg Road), Romansville Road and Shadyside Road, Opened in 2017;Crawford County:Route 6/19 (Main Street) and Route 0198 (South Street), opened in 2017;Route 6/19 (Main Street) and Route 0198, opened in 2017;Cumberland County: Route 0034 (Spring Road), Route 1007 (Sunnyside Drive) and Mountain Road, opened in 2014;Dauphin County:Route 0039 (Linglestown Road) and Route 3019 (Mountain Road), opened in 2011,Route 322 (Governor Road) and Homestead Lane, opened in 2016,Route 322 (Governor Road) and Meadow Lane, opened in 2016;Delaware County:Route 1023 (N. Newtown Street) and Route 1046 (St. Davids Road), opened in 2008;Route 0320 (Chester Road), Rutgers Avenue and Fieldhouse Lane, opened in 2014;Erie County: Route 19 (High Street) and Route 97, opened in 2014;Luzerne County: I-81 Exit 178 (three roundabouts), opened in 2015Route 315 (Airport Road) and Williams Street and SB Ramp,Route 315 (Airport Road) and NB Ramps and Terminal Road and Navy Way Road,Williams Street and SB ramp;Luzerne County: Route 2008 (Middle Road) and Espy Street, opened in 2017;Montgomery County: Route 0029 (Gravel Pike) and Route 0073 (Big Road), opened in 2009;Washington County: Route 519 (two connected roundabouts) – Route 0519 and Brownlee Road, and Route 519 and Thompson Eighty Four Road, opened in 2015;York County:Route 116 (Main Street) and Hanover St. and Roths Church Road, opened in 2007;Route 74 (Delta Road) and Bryansville Road, opened in 2008. Roundabouts are frequently installed to address intersections with safety issues but may also be installed to improve traffic flow as well as other reasons such as traffic calming, and to facilitate pedestrian mobility. Although roundabouts are safer and typically more efficient than traditional signalized intersections, they may not always be the best option due to topography or other reasons, such as property impacts, capacity issues and proximity to other intersections. Roundabouts are recognized by the Pennsylvania State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) as an innovation that has become standard practice within the transportation community. The Pennsylvania STIC facilitates the rapid implementation of proven, well-researched and documented state, regional, national and international technologies, tactics, techniques and other innovations that are new to Pennsylvania. The STIC also supports the implementation of the Federal Highway Administration’s Every Day Counts (EDC) Initiatives. To educate Pennsylvanians on how to navigate a roundabout, the department created a video on how to use both single and multi-lane roundabouts whether in a vehicle, on a bicycle or on foot. The video can be accessed by visiting the roundabout page on www.penndot.gov or by visiting the department’s YouTube channel.
Tribute to The Beatles at Scranton Cultural Center It’s time to GET BACK to where you once belonged with the return of live shows at the Scranton Cultural Center. RAIN – A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES opens its 2021 Tour in Scranton on Wednesday, October 6. Tickets, priced at $35, $45, $55, and $65, are on sale NOW at BroadwayInScranton.com and in person at the Scranton Cultural Center box office (M-F 10A-2P). A $3.00 facility fee is added to each ticket and additional handling charges apply to online and phone orders. For group rates, call the Broadway Theatre League office at 570.342.7784. This mind-blowing performance takes you back in time with the legendary foursome delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is “the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!” (Associated Press). Experience the world’s most iconic band and come celebrate The Best of Abbey Road Live with RAIN – A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES. In addition to the updated sets that include state of the art LED, high-definition screens and multimedia content, RAIN will bring the Abbey Road album to life with the launch of the 2021 Tour. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. Let RAIN take you back with all of the greatest hits along with all of your other Beatles favorites! This adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends! Like The Beatles, the onstage members of RAIN are not only supreme musicians, but electrifying performers in their own right! For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: www.BroadwayInScranton.com Join the conversation with RAIN on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RainTribute, follow RAIN on Twitter @raintribute, Instagram: @RainTribute and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/RainTribute For additional information and electronic images, contact Ali Basalyga (ali@nacentertainment.com).
