Johnson College Extends Scholarship Support to ‘YES’ Program Graduates

The Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council and Johnson College today announced a partnership and a scholarship opportunity for YES (Your Employability Skills) Northeast Program graduates.

YES, which is administered by the Council, is a 120-hour, one-credit, year-round elective course that addresses the shortfall of basic skills that employers say are lacking in many job applicants. The course covers 38 modules in all, including communication, team building, interview/resume/cover letter writing, completing a job application, personal finance, conflict resolution, and time management.

In order to earn a certification and become a graduate of the program, students must achieve passing scores on both the TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) and the Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test, demonstrate an attendance rate of 95% or better, pass a six-panel drug screen, complete the 120 hours of curriculum, and earn their high school diploma. Since the program began in 2006, more than 8,500 students have enrolled in the program with 2,918 earning their industry-recognized credential.

Starting with the 2021 fall semester, graduates of the program that enroll at Johnson College are eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship. In addition to the scholarship, students will also be awarded four credits based on prior learning assessment.

“The Council is proud to partner with Johnson College, as together we can help out industry by building tomorrow’s workforce today,” said NEPA MAEC president Darlene J. Robbins. “Manufacturers are currently facing a workforce crisis, with approximately 60 percent of today’s unfilled manufacturing jobs being caused by a shortage of applicants that lack proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), as well as employability skills. Through partnerships such as this one, we can bring more young people into high-paying careers by connecting them with the right training opportunities. This benefits not only the manufacturing sector, but all industries that Johnson College graduates may enter.”

“Our partnership with the Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council allows YES Northeast Program graduates to save time and money as they pursue their ultimate goal of entering the regional workforce,” said Bill Burke, M.S., Johnson College Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs. “We look forward to these graduates experiencing Johnson College’s industry-driven, in-demand, hands-on training in a caring environment that we’re known for.”

For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.

The Wright Center for Community Health Names New Director of Geriatric Services Program

Nicole Lipinski, a registered nurse with 25 years of experience working with elderly patients and caregivers, has been named the new Director of The Wright Center for Community Health’s geriatric services program.

Since its debut in July, the program has been recognized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement as an Age-Friendly Health System Partner for providing a full spectrum of comprehensive, safety-net primary health and support services for seniors. Through individualized care plans developed by a team of providers, The Wright Center serves as a trusted primary health advisor for seniors and their families to support independent living.

A key component of the geriatric program is the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Clinic, which provides comprehensive evaluation and testing and is accessible no matter who the patient’s primary care doctor is. The Wright Center is one of only eight health systems across the country selected as an adopter of the innovative Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program created at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

“Our geriatric program was created to meet the need for specialized services that address the physical, mental and behavioral health challenges specific to seniors, especially as we experience an unprecedented growth rate in Pennsylvania’s aging population,” Lipinski said. “Countless families in Northeast Pennsylvania have benefited from this expert care already, which became even more critical as we navigated the challenges the pandemic presented for at-risk older adults, including isolation.”

Lipinski joined The Wright Center in July as the geriatric care manager, bringing decades of experience caring for patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases to the role. She earned her nursing degree from Luzerne County Community College, and her bachelor’s degree in business and master’s degree in healthcare informatics from Misericordia University. She resides in Throop.

For information about The Wright Center’s geriatric services or to make an appointment, call 570-230-0019.

Pennsylvania American Water Seeking Entries for Annual “Protect our Watersheds” Art Contest

Pennsylvania American Water announced that entries are being accepted for its 19th Annual “Protect Our Watersheds” Art Contest. The contest is for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students in schools served by Pennsylvania American Water, as well as individual students who live in the company’s service area. The contest encourages students to tap into their artistic talents to express the importance of protecting water resources across the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania American Water recently sent contest information and applications to nearly 400 schools in its service territory, encouraging teachers to promote the contest as a fun and imaginative way to draw students’ attention to protecting and preserving Pennsylvania’s watersheds. As part of their entry, students must write a brief narrative on the personal impact of watershed protection.

“This contest demonstrates our company’s commitment to watershed education and protection,” said Mike Doran, president of Pennsylvania American Water. “These students will be the next generation of environmental stewards. By stressing the importance of watershed protection at an early age, we can help protect this precious resource for generations to come.”

New this year, participants will have a chance to be featured in the company’s first ever “Protect Our Watersheds” wall calendar. Twelve students’ artwork will be chosen for the calendar, and the grand prize-winning artwork will be featured on the cover along with the student’s essay and short bio.

The deadline for artwork submission is April 23, 2021. Contest rules and entry forms are available on the company’s website. Winners will be selected based on creative vision, artistic talent, understanding of watershed protection and the ability to communicate that understanding. All entrants will receive a Watershed Champion Certificate, and the top seven winners will also receive bookstore gift cards. For additional information, please contact pa.communityrelations@amwater.com.

For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

RailRiders Announce 2021 Schedule

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are pleased to announce the schedule for the upcoming 2021 season. The RailRiders are scheduled to play 72 home games and will open their season on Tuesday, April 6, in Moosic against the Worcester Red Sox.

After the entire 2020 Minor League Baseball season was canceled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, PNC Field served as the alternate training site for the New York Yankees. During the last few months, Major League Baseball reorganized its developmental ranks, essentially creating new leagues and adding several new affiliates across the sport. On February 12, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre announced a 10-year agreement to remain as the Yankees Triple-A affiliate, playing in the newly-formed Triple-A East. The RailRiders were placed in the Northeast Division along with former International League North teams from Buffalo (Toronto) Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia), Rochester (Washington), Syracuse (New York Mets) and Worcester (Boston).

After nearly two decades with the Minnesota Twins, the Rochester Red Wings are now an affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The club in Worcester moved from Pawtucket to a new ballpark set to open this season in Worcester, Massachusetts.

“We are excited to release this schedule as a positive sign towards baseball in Moosic this year,” stated John Adams, Team President of the RailRiders. “While certainly several factors must still be clarified to help us move forward with a safe and successful season, this schedule is the first sign of things to come. The front office is hopeful for the return of baseball and seeing our loyal fans at PNC Field very soon.”

The RailRiders will play their entire 2021 schedule against teams from the Northeast Division in an effort to reduce travel for health and safety reasons.  Each Monday during the season is slated as an off day for travel to better accommodate players and staff. Unlike recent seasons, the 2021 campaign will extend beyond Labor Day, culminating on September 19th in Lehigh Valley.

Go to www.SWBRailRiders.Com for the full 2021 schedule.

This 2021 schedule remains fully subject to change due to the ongoing pandemic, while COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, game times and promotional details will be announced at a later date.

Luxury Suites as well as Full, Half and Partial Season Ticket Memberships are on sale now. The RailRiders front office is open on a limited basis and by appointment only. For more information on the upcoming 2021 season, please visit swbrailriders.com or contact the club by calling (570) 969-2255 and leave a voicemail. Calls will be returned at the earliest possible opportunity.

COLTS Offering Free Transportation for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Beginning Monday, March 1, the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) will offer FREE Shared Ride service to any members of the community who need transportation to and from their scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointments within Lackawanna County.

“I am pleased that COLTS is able to offer this important service,” said COLTS’ Executive Director Bob Fiume. “COLTS is committed to ensuring that transportation is not a barrier for people to get vaccinated and we are prepared to assist people in reaching their vaccine appointments.”

Advance reservations for service are required and service is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Residents will need to call the Shared Ride department at (570) 963-6795 no later than NOON on the business day prior to their appointment. COLTS’ staff members will assist individuals with this process.

When scheduling a Shared Ride trip to a vaccination site, riders must have a confirmed COVID-19 appointment at the location to which they are requesting transportation.

University of Scranton Adds Communication Sciences and Disorders Major

The University of Scranton will offer a new undergraduate major in communication sciences and disorders, which will prepare students to pursue graduate studies in the much-in-demand fields of speech-language pathology, audiology or a related discipline. The new major, housed in the University’s Panuska College of Professional Studies, is currently enrolling students for the fall 2021 semester.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for speech-language pathologists and audiologists is stronger than average for growth and has high earnings potential. For speech-language pathologists, which requires a master’s degree, the job growth projected for 2019-2029 is 25 percent. The median pay for 2019 was $79,120. For audiologists, which requires a doctoral degree, the job growth projected for 2019-2029 is 13 percent. The median pay for 2019 was $77,600.

The new major will focus on the basic science of human communication, including biological, physical, social, and linguistic aspects. Students will develop an understanding of what happens when communication is impaired, and how to treat those impairments. Infused within the program, students will complete the prerequisite coursework required to apply for graduate studies in speech-language pathology and/or audiology. However, if the student chooses an alternate path, the completion of the degree program will prepare the student  for the advanced study in a related discipline such as education, counseling and human services, gerontology, public health, or neuroscience.

Students pursing a major in communication sciences and disorders will complete coursework in statistics, social/behavioral science, biological science, and chemistry or physics. They will develop enhanced critical thinking skills, professional and technical oral and writing skills, and problem-solving skills as they engage in projects that examine and analyze current research, participate in clinical case study reviews, and develop empirical studies that focus on communication disorders. In addition, ethics of clinical research practices and evidence-based practice will be emphasized. Clinical intervention techniques and empirical studies for the assessment and treatment of various communication disorders will be introduced. Students will also be required to orally present a detailed case study and analysis of a specific treatment approach within an evidence-based practice framework.

For additional information, contact the University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 888-727-2686 or email admissions@scranton.edu, or Hope E. Baylow, D.A., assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, at hope.baylow@scranton.edu.

Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital Receives $50,000 Donation

Spirit Halloween stores in the area recently held a virtual check presentation to donate the funds raised by their October Spirit of Children campaign. Six local Spirit stores in the area raised $54,964 for the Child Life Department at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital during the 2020 Halloween season.

Those six stores were located in Bloomsburg, Selinsgrove, Muncy, Scranton/Dickson City, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton.

“The Child Life Department was very thankful for this wonderful donation,” said Allison Naumann, annual giving coordinator at Geisinger Health Foundation. “Child Life intends to use the money to purchase new Shadow Buddy dolls and a new camera for milestone photos for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) families.”

The Child Life Department uses Shadow Buddies in many areas of the children’s hospital. Each doll is condition-specific, reflecting the condition the child has and acting as a hands-on tool to teach them about their illness and treatment. The camera for the NICU will allow families to celebrate milestones such as monthly celebrations, the first time they hold their infants or maybe the first time twins can be together.

Spirit raised the money by asking every customer for a donation or if they would like to round up their change to donate as well, according to Jordon Reese, regional manager for Spirit in Central Pennsylvania.

“Our employees are extremely passionate about our program and know how much it impacts their local children’s hospital. We have numerous contests and lots of friendly competition to truly get as big of a donation as possible with our very short season,” he said. “Spirit of Children Halloween care packages were sent to the hospital as well which included costumes, activity coloring books, crayons and treat bags for the Child Life team to distribute.”  This was the third year that Spirit has supported Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital. The stores have raised more than $130,000 over that time.

Regional Scholastic Art Award Recipients Announced by the Everhart Museum

The Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art, an Affiliate Partner of the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, hosted a virtual award ceremony announcing the winners of the Northeastern PA Regional 2021 Scholastics Art Awards. The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers’ mission is to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world. The awards give students recognition, exhibition, publications, and scholarships. Scholastics is the nation’s longest-running, a most prestigious recognition program for creative teens.

“The 2021 Scholastics Art Awards submissions of the Northeast Region is proof that arts educators are doing a fantastic job. This year’s submissions were some of the best works I’ve seen since the Museum became an affiliate partner in 2018. The level of talent is exceptional,” said Stefanie Colarusso, Director of Programs and Events for the Everhart.

“The arts provide students with a creative outlet to express their personal vision or voice. It is a way for students to express their emotions in a way that is especially meaningful in such uncertain times. It is genuinely refreshing to see the commitment from educators, students, and parents or guardians who support creativity at home and in school, encouraging students to express themselves through art creation.”

This year, made possible by a grant from the Maslow Family Foundation, the Museum received over 400 submissions in various media from Junior and Senior High School students from throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. The awards are Honorable Mention, Silver Key, and Gold Key. Five of the Gold Key award recipients were recognized as American Vision Nominees.

All Gold Key Award and American Vision Nominee recipients are invited to participate in the National Exhibition in New York City and an awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, June 9. 

  • Taylor Vlassis (12th) of Lackawanna Trail Junior Senior High School
  • Kasey Portanova (12th) of North Pocono High School
  • Olivia Outt (12th) of Danville Area High School
  • Matthew Nzasi (12th) of Abington Heights High School
  • Youngeun Choi (9th) of Delaware Valley High School

American Vision Nominees are Sabriya Seid, 12th-grade, Abington Heights High School under the direction of Eileen Healey; Julia Poncavage, 11th-grade Crestwood High School under the direction of Ann Gubitose; Michelle Andia, 12th-grade Delaware Valley High School, under the direction of Christine Sweeney; Milada Burovova, 12th-grade Delaware Valley High School under the direction of Irene Lantz; and Ava Badyrka, 10th-grade Mid Valley Secondary Center under the direction of Samantha McGraw. 

Gold Key Awards were awarded to the following: Michelle Andia (12th) and Matthew Nzasi (12th) of Abington Heights High School; Ava Badyrka (10th), Julia Poncavage (11th) of Crestwood High School; Olivia Outt (12th) and Emma Varano (12th) of Danville Area High School; Milada         Burovova (12th), Asela Chrysann Calvert (11th), Youngeun Choi (9th), Sage Henry (10th), Sophia Miller (11th), and Kendall Mrozinski (12th) all of Delaware Valley High School; Claire Urbas (12th) of Forest City Regional Jr Senior High School; Taylor Vlassis (12th) of Lackawanna Trail Junior Senior High School; Ava Badyrka (12th) of Mid Valley Secondary Center; Cecelia Adams (11th) of Montrose Junior Senior High School; Leah Crawley (10th), Parker Dubiel (12th), Gabrielle Edwards (12th), Kasey Portanova (12th) of North Pocono High School; Aiden Itsalapron (12th) of Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School; Sarah Sulek (12th) of Pocono Mountain East High School; (12th), Maggie Bede (12th), Nancy Ho (11th), and Paige McConlogue (12th) of Scranton High School; and Lilly Maros (8th) of Western Wayne Middle School.

Silver Key was awarded to the following students: Matthew Nzasi (12th) of Abington Heights High School; Sabriya Seid (12th), Kiera Chillis (12th) of Danville Area High School; Michelle Andia (12th), Anna Bailor (12th), Jarett Baka (12th), Sage Henry (10th), Joclyn Irons (12th), Kendall Mrozinski (12th), Gavin Munro (12th), Rachel Richter (11th), Ethan Sansolis (11th) all of Delaware Valley High School; Emily Johannes (12th), and Kyle Soden (12th) of Honesdale High School, and Leah Crawley (10th), Gabrielle Edwards (12th), Maya Kulick (11th), Kasey Portanova (12th ) of North Pocono High School; Aiden Itsalapron (11th) of Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School, Maggie Bede (12th), Sadie Bracey (12th), Sarah Goldberg (12th), Mia Macavage (11th), and Sharon McConlogue (12th) all of Scranton High School; Amaya Cruz (12th) of Stroudsburg High School; Lilly Maros (8th) of Western Wayne Middle School; Porter Dawson (10th) of Williamsport Area High School; and Luke Duthie (11th) of Wyoming Seminary Upper School.

Honorable Mention was awarded to Matthew Nzasi (12th) of Abington Heights High School; Briauna Hausser (10th) of Blue Ridge High School; Noelle Stamm (12th) of Danville Area High School; Michelle Andia (12th), Cayden Bell (12th),  Milada Burovova (12th), Noelani Felix (11th), Joshua Flick (12th); Kristen Henry (12th), Bryan Morley (12th), Gavin Munro (12th), Rachel Richter (11th), and Ethan Sansolis (11th) all of Delaware Valley High School; Claire Urbas (12th) Forest City Regional Jr Senior High School; Ha Young Kim (11th) Homeschooled; Kyle Soden (12th) and Claragail Wheeler (10th) of Honesdale High School; Alexandra Dejesus (10th) of Mid Valley Secondary Center; Abby Kutalek (12th) of Montrose Junior-Senior High School; Leah Crawley (10th), Parker Dubiel (12th); Gabrielle Edwards (12th); Maya Kulick (11th); Kasey Portanova (12th) all of North Pocono High School; Leilani Chung (12th) of Pleasant Valley High School; Deanna Hoffner (12th), Shelby Jurasits (12th), Sarah Sulek (12th) of Pocono Mountain East High School; Kayla Walsh (12th) of Reach Cyber Charter School; Madelyn Casey (12th); Sarah Goldberg (12th), Mia Macavage (11th), Paige McConlogue (12th), Emma McNally (12th), Abigail Wilson (11th), Kathryn Wozniak (11th) all of Scranton High School; Lyric Ray (12th) of Stroudsburg High School; Anna Brown (7th), and Grace Ronacher (8th) of Wayne Highlands Middle School; Bailey Stanford (12th) of Wilkes-Barre Area School District – CAPAA, and Carter Dawson (11th) of Williamsport Area High School.

“On behalf of the Everhart Museum and our regional arts community, I’d like to congratulate all student artists for the fantastic display of work created this year. It is an honor to represent the Northeast Region as a National affiliate of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards,” exclaimed Stefanie Colarusso.

All Gold Key and American Vision winners will advance to national judging and be invited to a National Exhibition in New York City. Jurors select national recognition work based on three criteria: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal vision. National Awards will be announced on March 17, 2021, at artandwriting.org, and an awards ceremony held at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, June 9. 

To view the virtual exhibition, please visit the Everhart Museum’s YouTube Channel or click here.

Turkey Dinner Giveaway This Sunday on the Johnson College Campus in Scranton

Toyota of Scranton, Johnson College & ShopRite are hosting a no-contact drive-through turkey dinner giveaway this Sunday, February 28 at 11 a.m. on the Johnson College campus in Scranton. Meals will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, with a limit of four meals per vehicle, until all 250 pre-prepared meals are handed out. ShopRite is donating all of the food, while it will be prepared and packaged by Toyota of Scranton staff and Johnson College students. 

Vehicles will enter the Johnson College campus via its north entrance, at the light across from Schiff’s. Once on campus, vehicles will be directed to line-up for pick-up. Johnson College students and Toyota of Scranton staff members will load the meals into each vehicle’s hatch or trunk. This no-contact procedure is to keep everyone safe and healthy during the pandemic. Face coverings and gloves will be worn by all volunteers. Vehicles cannot line up on campus before 11 a.m. and cannot park on Main Street.

For day-of event information or interview coordination, please contact Doug Cook at 570-702-8920 or Melissa Carestia at 570-702-8928.