David Raven, President and CEO of The Honesdale National Bank, announced Greg Gula has been promoted to VP, Chief Credit Officer.

In making the statement, Raven noted, “Greg  has played a significant role in supporting the Bank’s asset quality and enabling the stability of our lending portfolio. We are confident that Greg will continue to contribute to a bright future for HNB and ensure excellent support for the needs of our customers.”

Prior to the promotion, Gula served as VP, Credit Administration Manager, managing credit related services to facilitate needs of bank employees and customers.

Gula began his career with HNB in 2010, and he will continue to mitigate the distribution of bank loans along with other tasks surrounding loan portfolio management in the department.

Commenting on his role at HNB, Gula noted, “Moving into this position affords me the opportunity to help move the bank forward, accepting new challenges and opportunities while remaining true to the solid foundation laid by my predecessors.”

Gula is a graduate of West Scranton High School and attended Penn State University. In his 42 years of banking experience, he has worked mainly in the lending related areas of several regional banks. He has also completed numerous banking courses, training sessions and workshops. His profession allowed the attendance of seminars relating to commercial lending, financial statement analysis, loan documentation and loan loss reserve allowance calculations.

For more information on HNB’s products and services, visit www.hnbbank.bank.

The Board of Trustees of Misericordia University has appointed Daniel J. Myers, Ph.D., professor and acting chairperson of Sociology at American University in Washington, D.C., as the next president of Misericordia University.  Dr. Myers will begin his presidential term on July 1, 2021.

“Dr. Myers brings extensive experience in the areas of planning, new program development, community engagement, faculty development, enrollment management, fundraising, and diversity and inclusion,” says Dr. Deborah Smith-Mileski, chair, Misericordia University Board of Trustees. “His strategic vision and administrative experience will serve this university well into the next century.”

Myers earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, before completing a master’s and doctorate in sociology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is a well-known expert in the study of collective behavior and social movements. He has published books and articles primarily focused on protest and unrest, the diffusion of social phenomena, social psychology, and urban politics. He has won awards for both his research and teaching.

Myers previously served as provost at American University and Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Before that, he spent 17 years at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, serving as vice president and associate provost for Faculty Affairs, Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Letters, and as chair of the Department of Sociology. Myers had also been the director of Faculty Development and Research in the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and he founded and directed the Center for the Study of Social Movements.

“I am tremendously excited to join the Misericordia community and contribute to the wonderful work done by this engaged community,” says Myers.  “I want to thank the search committee, the board of trustees, and all of the faculty, staff, and students who participated in the interview process.  Their testimony about the commitment to the charisms and mission of Misericordia were powerful, meaningful, and resonated deeply with me.”

Myers will succeed Kathleen Owens, Ph.D., who continues to serve as president of Misericordia through June 30, 2021.   Dr. Owens was appointed to serve as president for the 2020-2021 academic year, succeeding Thomas J. Botzman, Ph.D., who left Misericordia for the presidency of the University of Mount Union, Alliance, Ohio, in June 2020. For more information about Misericordia University, please call 570-674-6400 or visit www.misericordia.edu.

Tournament Name: Call of Duty: Warzone / Rumble in Solos

Date: March 18^th, 2021
Time: 4:00 to 7:00 PM EST
Where: https://www.twitch.tv/electriccityesports
Entry Fee: $15 per player
Must be 18+ to enter
Cash prize pool
Capacity: Unlimited 
Sign-up: https://esportsstation.net/

Description: The LZ is hot! Drop into 2021 by joining us for a Call of Duty tournament, Call of Duty: Warzone / Rumble in Solos. Bring your favorite load-outs, operators and comfy slippers to this exclusively online Warzone tournament. Participants will be playing a best out of three in Call of Duty Warzone SOLOS public matches, race to the finish and claim victory. There will be giveaways, cash prizes and more!

Format: 3-Hour Race – best out of three matches. The highest kills averaged after 3 games wins! Players will have a 3 hour period to try to get a high-kill game or a Warzone victory – Warzone victories will add 2 points to your final kill count for that game. At the end of the 3 hours, the player that has the highest average kills in the best out of three games will win.

Johnson College will hold a virtual Open House on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at 6 p.m. via Zoom and an in-person Open House on its campus in Scranton on Saturday, March 27, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register for both or one of the Open House events visit Johnson.edu/openhouse or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

Both Open House events will include discussions about the admissions process, financial aid for those who qualify, and student services such as student life, student support, and career services.

During the in-person Open House, same day acceptance will be available, if students bring their high school or college transcripts. Tours of each technical area will be conducted and department chairs will be available to review the specifics of their programs. Social distancing and sanitization guidelines will be followed and face coverings must be worn at all times while on campus.

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

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that expiration dates for commercial driver licenses and commercial learner’s permits will be extended for Pennsylvania residents in response to statewide COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

This will be the final extension for the following products’ expiration dates:

• The expiration date for a commercial learner’s permit scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020, through March 31, 2021, is extended through March 31, 2021.
• The expiration date for commercial driver licenses scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020, through March 31, 2021, is extended through March 31, 2021.

Customers with commercial products that are covered by the extension but have not yet been renewed are encouraged to renew their CDL products as soon as possible by March 31, 2021.  No further extensions will be given on these products.

Expiration extension deadlines on non-commercial driver license, photo identification cards, learner’s permits and camera cards ended on August 31, 2020.

For a list of open driver license and photo license centers and the services provided, as well as their hours of operation, please visit www.dmv.pa.gov.  

Customers may continue to complete various transactions and access multiple resources online at www.dmv.pa.gov. 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 schedule a driver’s exam. There are no additional fees for using online services.

PennDOT will continue to evaluate these processes and will communicate any changes with the public.

Additional COVID-19 information is available at www.health.pa.gov. For more information, visit www.dmv.pa.gov or www.PennDOT.gov.

When COVID-19 swept the globe, it caught the collective health care world off guard. While the national news was largely fixated on the bath tissue shortage, health systems were scrambling to shore up their supply of personal protective equipment and other infection-control necessities. Educators at Geisinger realized that Geisinger itself could provide the perfect case study in pandemic response to ensure better preparation for any future plague.

As the coronavirus raged, educators and scientists at Geisinger developed a course,  COVID-19: Health Systems and Pandemics, for audiences ranging from graduate and medical students, to healthcare practitioners looking for relevant continuing education credits and even to the general public interested in infectious disease, how it spreads and what an effective response entails.

“The COVID course brings to bear the type of interactive, just-in-time learning that can only come from an integrated health system like Geisinger,” said V. Scott Koerwer, PhD, EdD, vice dean of GCSOM’s School of Graduate Education. “Our students learned about the pandemic through various lenses, from those of C-suite executives to infectious disease experts, population health professionals, basic scientists and healthcare administrators. Like the pandemic itself, the course changed week by week as our frontline healthcare teams worked to keep our population safe while learning about the virus. This effort is a great representation of learning in a team-based, integrated health system environment.”

“The course arose from misconceptions about the virus,” said William (Andy) Faucett, MS, LGC. “Initially, there was a lot of public confusion. We realized that most students, and even healthcare providers, haven’t had specific virology or pandemic training. Our COVID-19 course fills that gap.”

In October, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine graduate students were the first to enroll in the course. Now the course is available for professional seeking continuing education credits and to the general public, both of whom may pick and choose which sessions of the course they find most interesting and valuable. To view courses, visit https://www.geisinger.edu/education/academics/school-of-graduate-education/covid-19-health-systems-and-pandemics

The course is taught jointly by numerous GCSOM faculty members and an array of Geisinger physicians and scientists, including a module taught by Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD, Geisinger’s CEO. Dr. Ryu’s session examines the healthcare system in pandemic and will provide insight into how to mobilize large systems during a crisis.

COVID-19: Health Systems and Pandemics introduces students to the evaluation, management, scientific underpinnings and impact of a pandemic. The emphasis is on COVID-19 to allow participants to engage in healthcare discussions and planning about the pandemic and future pandemics. Major topics include virology, viral testing, public health, modeling and predictions during a pandemic, clinical manifestations of SARS CoV-2, health system responses and impacts, ethical challenges, and research changes and impacts.

Lectures include:

• Virology, taught by Michael A. Sulzinski, PhD, of GCSOM. These sessions include an introduction to Virology and SARS CoV-2, as well as an examination of testing, antiviral chemotherapies, and vaccine design.
• Transmission Dynamics of Infectious Diseases, taught by Mushfiq Tarafder, PhD, MPH, MBBS of GCSOM. This module explores the basics of infectious disease transmission dynamics, and mathematical modeling of droplet transmission, particularly with SARS-CoV-2.
• Pandemic Preparation and Response, taught by Reema Persad-Clem, PhD, MPH of GCSOM. These sessions examine mitigation via quarantine and other strategies, in addition to the roles of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state, local and tribal authorities.
• Clinical Manifestations and Management of SARS-CoV2, taught by Stanley Martin, MD, Geisinger. Dr. Martin will discuss the diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2, antiviral therapy, risk factors for developing severe disease in COVID-19 and differing methodologies for preventing the spread of SARS CoV-2.
• The Healthcare System in a Pandemic, taught by Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD, Geisinger’s CEO. Dr. Ryu will explore leadership, finances and planning, as well as the impact of a pandemic on healthcare providers and workers.
• Ethical Issues in a Pandemic – Public Health versus the Individual Patient, taught by Dan Davis, PhD, Geisinger. This module examines ethical issues surrounding the treatment of patients in isolation – limiting interactions with support systems.
• Research during a Pandemic, taught by Michelle N. Meyer, PhD, JD, Geisinger. The final session looks at the effect of a pandemic on research, recruitment changes and fair allocation of scarce drugs or trials slots in a pandemic.

To view courses, visit https://www.geisinger.edu/education/academics/school-of-graduate-education/covid-19-health-systems-and-pandemics

Paul Capoccia was recently named director of the new esports program at Marywood University. One of a select number of colleges and universities across the nation to offer a competitive esports program, Marywood is responding to the ever-increasing number of students seeking this option, as the esports industry continues to explode throughout the country.

As Marywood’s director of esports, Mr. Capoccia is responsible for launching and growing a competitive and exciting program. Planning to introduce three initial games, including Overwatch, League of Legends, and Rocket League, Mr. Capoccia is also looking to add sports simulation games and other single-player titles if room allows.

Giving students a better experience is at the heart of introducing esports at Marywood. Mr. Capoccia said, “Giving students a better overall experience through cutting-edge technology, while also continuing to grow our campus in innovative ways, is the optimal goal. Esports is a great opportunity for students who want to compete, as well as for students who are interested in participating in other capacities, including communications and art. It’s interdisciplinary in so many different ways.”

A graduate of Marywood University, Mr. Capoccia made his first step into esports while he was a student at the University. Through a business plan competition, Mr. Capoccia developed a business plan for esports, marketed the plan, and presented it to an audience of business peers. From that point, he never lost his love of esports, and he used the business plan competition as a learning experience.

Mr. Capoccia explains that the esports program will be housed in the athletics department at Marywood University and will be treated as an athletic team that is eligible for all the benefits of other traditional sports, including conferences, nutritionists, athletic trainers, team apparel, etc. Additionally, Mr. Capoccia will develop summer camps/conference experiences to assist with developing a healthy community of athletes. “The health and well-being of student esports athletes is as important as any other physical sport player,” he said.

Floor plans for the facility in hand, Mr. Capoccia and a team of University experts are working with a consulting firm to blend function and practicality into an exciting state-of-the-art gaming center. He said, “We want function at its highest level first and to establish a good culture in which students can interact and be supported. Visiting students and those competing will have a powerful experience. I’m excited for students to see the facility.”

Mr. Capoccia understands that the sport of gaming is community oriented, and the esports community will be identical to other athletic teams with a strong team environment and atmosphere. Teammates will work and socialize together on other projects in gaming, including other competitions and charity marathons—whatever Marywood students are passionate about.

Realizing that any coach or director who expects their student athletes to perform must be experienced in the field, Mr. Capoccia has been fortunate to have worked in esports long enough and hard enough to have tried nearly everything in the esports field, including functioning as a player, coach, administrator, manager, tournament organizer, caster, producer, observer, social media/marketing director, event lead, collegiate consultant, content creator, curriculum creator and coordinator, and more.

Patrick Murphy, director of athletics at Marywood University, said, “We are incredibly excited to welcome home Paul Capoccia as our esports director at Marywood University.  Paul’s experience, knowledge, regional contacts, and his passion and love for Marywood University make him the perfect fit for this position. Our esports program will be able to draw new and unique students, compete nationally, generate diverse revenue streams, and prepare our student-athletes for careers in the esports industry, because Mr. Capoccia understands how it’s done well, by knowing the industry inside and out.”

A graduate of Marywood University, Mr. Capoccia earned his bachelor of arts degree in English with a minor in mathematics, and he earned his master of arts degree in communication arts with a concentration in media management. Additionally, he is a current student of the National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors (NAECAD).

Mr. Capoccia’s association with Marywood goes back to his childhood. He grew up swimming in the facility that is now the Center for Architectural Studies, and he attended outdoor summer concerts on campus before he could walk. Mr. Capoccia said, “I knew where I wanted to go to college—it was never a question that I would attend Marywood, as it has always been home. I’m now excited for the opportunity to come home.”

Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) has announced the appointment of Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) to serve on the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council for the 2021-22 Legislative Session.

“I am honored to receive this appointment by Speaker Cutler to serve on PEMA’s Council,” said Boback. “This council is instrumental in creating the policy for emergency management throughout the Commonwealth and leading its direction. As majority chair of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, I look forward to coordinating these two positions regarding good policy and good legislation, ultimately supporting the protections people of the Commonwealth have come to expect.”

The council membership includes the governor; the lieutenant governor; the secretaries of the various state departments with emergency response and recovery capabilities; the leadership of the General Assembly; and representatives of county and municipal government associations, labor, business and industry, and the private sector. The council also acts as the State Emergency Response Commission which oversees the various hazardous materials emergency preparedness and response requirements contained in the federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA Title III).

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our community, one of the realities that hasn’t changed is the fact that many people don’t have the resources to feed themselves or their families.

Fortunately the Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton remains able to alleviate this need. Since 1978, the Kitchen has been serving a free, hot, nutritious meal to approximately 250 men, women and children each day. In addition to the traditional daily midday meal, the Kitchen has also provided an evening meal on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5‑6 p.m.

In recent years the Mid-Valley Outreach Program was launched in conjunction with several parishes to offer weekly meals in Carbondale, Archbald and Olyphant. The Kitchen also operates the Saint Francis Client-Choice Food Pantry and the Saint Francis Free Clothing Store.

The Kitchen has been able to do all of this via the dedicated service of staff and volunteers, and with financial support from the community – primarily through the annual Host‑for‑a‑Day campaign. The 2021 campaign is now underway.

The Host‑for‑a‑Day campaign seeks contributions of $100 or more. This helps the Kitchen provide the daily meal.

In effect, each contributor becomes a “host” for a day. Contributors may then select a date on which they, or someone they designate, will be recognized as the provider for that meal.

During the pandemic, the Kitchen has modified its program by providing the daily midday meal in Scranton in take-out containers. The evening meals were suspended for a time but resumed at the end of July, also as take-outs. The Mid-Valley Outreach Program also had to be suspended, but meals in Carbondale resumed in December. The food pantry and clothing store are open, with safety precautions in place.

“Naturally this has been a challenging time and we have made changes to ensure the safety of our guests, staff and volunteers,” said Rob Williams, the Kitchen’s executive director. “Throughout this period, however, we have provided a meal in some fashion every single day. We are truly blessed!”

Michele Bannon, a member of the Kitchen’s Advisory Board, is chairing the campaign and leading the effort with her fellow board members.

“The community has always supported this campaign in a wonderful way,” she said. “This year the need is greater than ever, and we are hopeful that our supporters will again join with us to sustain the mission of the Kitchen.”

This year’s Host‑for‑a‑Day campaign is being conducted with safety precautions in place. Traditionally the members of the Kitchen’s Advisory Board contact supporters they have sold tickets to over the years. This year the majority of the past contributors to the campaign are receiving an appeal directly from the Kitchen through the mail.

Also, out of concern for the health and safety of benefactors and board members, the typical Appreciation Reception that concludes the campaign will not be held in a gathered way. Instead, the culmination of the campaign will be marked with a Virtual Celebration consisting of a pre-recorded program. The release date will be Wednesday, April 28, at 6 p.m. Information on how to view the program will be announced as details are finalized.

Anyone who does not receive an appeal through the mail can make a Host‑for‑a‑Day gift by calling the Kitchen at 570-342‑5556, or sending a check to Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Avenue, Scranton PA 18509. Donations can also be made online at: www.stfranciskitchen.org or facebook.com/stfranciskitchen

Those who would like to sponsor the Virtual Reception are asked to call the Kitchen at 570-342‑5556.