Grey Towers, Conservation Scouting Merit Badge Awarded to 30 Scouts Scouts Honored with Conservation Badges at Grey Towers National Historic Site Grey Towers Heritage Association proudly hosted a Scouting Badge Award Ceremony on May 4 at the historic Grey Towers National Historic Site, recognizing 30 Scouts from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland for their achievements in conservation and forestry education. Held at the ancestral home of Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and a founding figure in American conservation, the ceremony honored the Scouts’ commitment to environmental stewardship. Through interactive educational programs and hands-on activities, Scouts earned badges that celebrate their understanding of sustainable forestry and conservation practices. “Grey Towers isn’t just a historic site – it’s a living classroom that brings forestry to life for these Scouts,” said Jeff McQuaid, Program Coordinator and Vice President at Grey Towers Heritage Association. “Almost one hundred Scouts have successfully completed the program since we initiated it three years ago. It’s incredibly meaningful to carry on the Pinchot family’s legacy of conservation and forestry through the next generation of conservation leaders.” The event highlights Grey Towers’ ongoing mission to inspire youth engagement in conservation and educate future stewards of the environment, building on the Pinchot legacy that continues to shape natural resource management in the United States. “We met with a U.S. Forester, learned about forest management, identified trees, shrubs, invasive trees, plants and insects, and learned about and climbed the reconstructed Fire Towers at Grey Towers,” explained one Scout. They also learned that Gifford Pinchot, in collaboration with President Theodore Roosevelt, helped create the Boys Scouts of America (scouting was founded in England.) “The public is welcome to tour the magnificent grounds of Grey Towers, hike the Forest Discovery Trail, see the Fire Tower, and visit our museum, burial ground and gift shop,” adds Will Voelkel, Board Member of Grey Towers Heritage Association.
Greater Scranton YMCA Tips for Safety around Water this Summer The Greater Scranton YMCA is offering tips for parents to keep kids safe in and around water this summer The Greater Scranton YMCA wants to ensure that water safety doesn’t get lost in our community’s eagerness to jump into summer. As temperatures rise, kids want to cool off, whether that is in home pools, ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, or oceans. And that means the risk of drowning is as prevalent as ever. For National Water Safety Month this May, the Greater Scranton YMCA is encouraging parents and caregivers to reinforce the importance of water safety skills with the whole family. “As ‘America’s Swim Instructor,’ the Greater Scranton YMCA annually teaches more than 1,500 children valuable water safety and swimming skills,” said Rich Surridge, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “Now more than ever, it’s important to remind parents and caregivers that water safety needs to be top-of-mind as families start to return to their favorite summertime activities.” As part of National Water Safety Month, the Greater Scranton YMCA is encouraging parents to play an active role in promoting water safety and providing five tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for all. Make sure children know to always ask permission before going in or near the water. Teaching your children to be water smart is the first step in water safety – be sure they understand the importance of asking permission before going in or near the water. Never swim alone or without a water watcher. When children are swimming, make sure they are actively supervised at all times. Teach your children that they should only swim in locations where a lifeguard is on duty, or where a responsible adult agrees to watch the children in the water without distractions. Supervise your children whenever they’re in or near water. Whether it’s bath time or taking a dip in a pool or waterfront, make sure your children are within arm’s reach at all times. Don’t engage in breath holding activities. Both adults and children should not hold their breath for a prolonged amount of time while swimming, as this can be dangerous. Wear a life jacket. Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Don’t jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in deep water. If an adult or child finds their friend in deep water unexpectedly, their natural reaction may be to jump in the water to try to save them. Even if they are a great swimmer, a panicked person will overpower them, pulling the rescuer underwater. The Y’s Safety Around Water program teaches the “reach, throw, don’t go” concept of using a long object to reach for them and pull them to safety. By using this technique an adult or child can help their friend without compromising their own safety. Beginning June 9th, the Greater Scranton YMCA will once again offer its Annual Safety Around Water Campaign. The campaign gives children ages three through 14 the opportunity to learn new swimming skills designed to help keep them safe around water. The Safety Around Water Campaign consists of eight swim lessons over a two-week period, four lessons each week, and costs only $25 for both members and non-members. Registration opens Monday, May 12th. The Safety Around Water Campaign is once again supported by the Kiwanis Club of Scranton. To learn more about the Greater Scranton YMCA’s swim programs and Safety Around Water Campaign, please contact Leslie Kopa, Aquatics Director, at lkopa@gsymca.org.
Geisinger Names Ilene Wolf Moore New Chief Legal Officer Geisinger today announced the hiring of Ilene Wolf Moore as executive vice president, chief legal officer, bringing to the health system’s executive leadership team a trusted legal advisor with more than 20 years’ experience across a range of healthcare organizations and government roles. Moore has overseen corporate governance, financing, mergers and acquisitions, complex litigation, contracts, payor relations, labor and employment, regulatory compliance and revenue operations for privately held, publicly traded and nonprofit organizations. “Ilene has a deep understanding of the complex business and legal aspects of healthcare, and she will provide the perfect blend of hands-on experience and critical strategic thinking to her role at Geisinger,” said Terry Gilliland, M.D., Geisinger’s president and chief executive officer. “She is the latest addition to our executive leadership team that, combined with our established leaders, positions Geisinger for sustained success and innovation.” Moore most recently served as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Envision Healthcare, where she directed legal strategy and operations across diverse healthcare delivery platforms. Her responsibilities encompassed comprehensive legal leadership for both the organization’s multidisciplinary medical group and its network of ambulatory surgery centers, supporting clinical teams across multiple care settings. Over the last decade, she has held similar leadership roles at Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and DaVita Medical Group. “I have been fortunate to spend the majority of my career working for the betterment of healthcare and with great teams striving to innovate, advance access and support the delivery of high-quality healthcare,” said Moore. “Joining Geisinger at this exciting time in its growth allows me to continue doing what I love most in my professional roles: interacting across the organization to help people succeed and grow while contributing to Geisinger’s continued evolution as a leader in value-based care delivery.” Prior to joining DaVita Medical Group, Moore spent 6 years with Kaiser Permanente, first as general counsel of the more than 1,000 physician multidisciplinary Colorado Permanente Medical Group. She subsequently became general counsel of The Permanente Federation, the national organization that represents all Permanente Medical Groups and collaborates with Kaiser Health Plan and Hospitals to advance integrated care delivery. Earlier in her career, Moore spent 8 years with the Office of the Colorado Attorney General focused on healthcare matters while representing various agencies and regulatory authorities. Moore’s extensive governmental experience provides her with unique insights into healthcare regulations and policy development that will enable Geisinger to effectively navigate the evolving regulatory landscape while maintaining its focus on patient-centered care delivery. Moore earned her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.
Geisinger Hospital Earns National Ranking from Money Magazine Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital ranked in Money magazine’s Best Hospitals for Pediatric Care list Money magazine recently recognized Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital as one of the 2025 Best Hospitals for Pediatric Care. Money’s 2025 list focuses on hospitals that deliver safe, high-quality care with experienced pediatricians and providers who are excellent communicators. A high priority also goes to facilities that are well-equipped to deal with pediatric emergencies. Money ranks the top 75 children’s hospitals that provide excellence in value-based care, patient experience, and price transparency. Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital ranks 32nd out of 75 hospitals making the list and is listed in the top 10 in patient experience. “This is a tremendous acknowledgement of our pediatric staff, who are deeply committed to providing pediatric access with exceptional care,” said Frank Maffei, M.D., Geisinger’s chair of pediatrics. “Our children’s hospital delivers outstanding value of care by keeping our children safe, adhering to the best practice standards and treating our children and families with kindness and authentic compassion. We greatly appreciate the recognition and are dedicated to upholding this distinction in pediatric care.”
Crystal Windows Celebrates 35th Anniversary National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems is marking its 35th anniversary since the company started. The company was founded by Taiwanese-American immigrant Thomas Chen, who came to the United States at 27, speaking no English and with no formal education beyond high school. After spending his first few years here working for others in a variety of jobs, Chen launched Crystal Windows in a small commercial garage in Queens, NY, in 1990, and the rest is history. Today Crystal Windows has over one million square feet of production space in five major factories across the country and employs more than 750 workers. “I started Crystal Windows because I believed home and building owners deserved a quality replacement window that was affordable and would last,” said Chen. “Today our team continues that tradition, designing and producing a broad array of new products that meet today’s stringent energy codes and deliver high quality, all in the most cost-effective manner.” The first event commemorating the 35th anniversary this year was held on Saturday, May 3, for Crystal employees, their families, and other guests. Approximately 800 people attended a celebratory gala in Queens, featuring music, dancing, and a traditional multi-course Asian banquet. Several elected officials also attended to congratulate Crystal on its achievements, and New York Governor Hochul’s Regional Director Aaron Ambrose presented a citation of accomplishment to Crystal Chairman Thomas Chen and CEO Jeffrey Smith. Crystal’s original product line consisted of a simple aluminum replacement window for the New York City apartment house market. Today, Crystal offers over 25 lines of vinyl, aluminum, and uPVC commercial vinyl windows and doors for residential and commercial applications all over the nation. Already extruding vinyl window components in-house, the company vertically integrated further in 2003 with the purchase and expansion of its Union, MO, aluminum profile extruder Gateway Extrusions. Besides launching three additional window production facilities, Crystal has also expanded its in-house engineering, design consulting, product testing, and field services to meet the demands of complex new construction projects requiring custom solutions. Crystal has supplied its quality products for some of the most notable projects across the country, including: the historic OMNI Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC; the expansive city-within-a-city development Harbor Point in Stamford, CT; top security Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego, CA; hotel chains Marriott, Holiday Inn, and Hyatt; and universities in New York, Florida, Michigan, Texas, and Missouri. “Crystal has a long history of strong growth for more than three decades and the company shows no signs of stopping,” said CEO Jeffrey Smith. “There are many new products in development, and plans are underway for new production facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in North Carolina. These new products and plants will help Crystal meet its future growth in exciting new markets.”
Geisinger Cancer Institute receives transportation grant Grant to benefit patients in need of transportation Cancer care will be more accessible to patients now that the Geisinger Cancer Institute has received a yearly grant from the American Cancer Society (ACS). The grant offsets the cost of transportation for patients traveling to and from radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Patient transportation grant funds are awarded to health systems and health system foundations to help patients get to and from cancer-related treatment appointments. The grants are awarded through an application process that focuses on addressing unmet transportation needs of the health system’s patients. “In partnership with the ACS, we are able to help our patients during some of the most difficult times in their lives,” said Lisa Keifer, senior director of radiation oncology at Geisinger. “This grant will allow our patients to stay closer to home to receive the lifesaving treatments and care they need. With this grant, we have been able to provide over 1,623 one-way rides since initiating this program.” Funds are provided to patients on a case-by-case basis. The grant can be used to purchase gas gift cards, cab ride vouchers, parking passes and non-emergency medical transport. To learn more about cancer care at Geisinger, visit geisinger.org/cancerinstitute.
