United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike encouraging people to Dress Down for Dolly United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike is asking employers to encourage their employees to Dress Down for Dolly on September 25. Employees can dress down, wear some pink and add some Dolly Parton-inspired sparkle, or simply celebrate the day together. Those who participate are also encouraged to donate either $9, $2 or $5 (in honor of 9/25) to United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike. Every dollar raised will support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Lackawanna County, which provides free, age-appropriate books directly to children from birth through age five. To date, more than 110,000 books have been sent to children throughout Lackawanna County through the program, with over 2,800 kids currently receiving books each month. If a dress-down day doesn’t work for your organization, you can consider hosting a bake sale, setting up a “Dolly Day” coffee jar, holding a small raffle or creating your own fun way to honor Dolly Parton.
Click-Video launches HealthConvos Click-Video is pleased to announce the launch of HealthConvos, an interactive patient education platform designed to help healthcare organizations support patients beyond the clinical encounter—without adding more work to their teams. Patients often think of important questions after they leave an appointment. With HealthConvos, they can ask questions in their own words and receive a relevant, organization-approved video answer within a simple, conversational experience. No patient login or personal information is required. Healthcare organizations can make HealthConvos available through a link, QR code, or website embed—without requiring a complex EHR integration. In addition to helping patients find clear information when questions arise, HealthConvos gives organizations insight into aggregate question trends. These trends can help patient education and experience teams identify common areas of uncertainty, recognize gaps in existing resources, and determine what educational content may be needed next. “HealthConvos was built around a simple idea: patient education should begin with the patient’s question,” said Joy Lin, Co-founder, President and CTO of Click-Video. “We want to help healthcare organizations extend trusted support beyond the appointment while making approved education easier for patients to access.” HealthConvos is designed for health systems, hospitals, healthcare practices, patient education teams, patient experience leaders, and organizations working to improve patient understanding and follow-through. To learn more, visit https://health-convos.com.
SWB RailRiders, Volpe Earns International League Player of the Week Award Minor League Baseball has announced its weekly awards for September 1-6 and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Anthony Volpe was named the International League’s Player of the Week. In six games played, Volpe helped the team to five wins against Lehigh Valley and move into a tie for first place in the league. Volpe hit .524 on the week, going 11-21 with eleven hits. He smashed three doubles and three home runs. Theright-hander drove in six runs while scoring eight of his own. Volpe also walked three times and stole five bags.The 25-year-old has hit in .295 in 27 total games since returning to the RailRiders on August 7. In that time,he has smacked ten home runs and seven doubles while driving in 21 runs. Batting second consistently forManager Shelley Duncan, Volpe has also played three different defensive positions including second and thirdbase and shortstop. Volpe joins Tyler Hardman and Yanquiel Fernández as RailRiders position players who have won the award thisseason. Brendan Beck, three times, and Alexander Cornielle have also taken home the honors on the pitchingside. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre begins their series against Rochester, the other team tied for first place with in theInternational League. The RailRiders return to PNC Field on September 15 to wrap up their regular seasonagainst Jacksonville. For more information on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders visit www.swbrailriders.com.
UNC to Celebrate 10th Annual Welcoming Scranton United Neighborhood Centres of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) is inviting the community to celebrate the 10th Annual Welcoming Scranton on Saturday, September 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at UNC’s CEDAR Center. The free, family-friendly celebration will be held in conjunction with UNC’s South Side Farmers Market. For a decade, Welcoming Scranton has brought together longtime residents and newcomers to celebrate the cultures, traditions and people that make up the Scranton community. The event is part of the national Welcoming Week celebration and promotes connection, cross-cultural understanding and a sense of belonging for all. “For 10 years, Welcoming Scranton has created a space where newcomers and lifelong residents can come together to celebrate the many cultures and traditions that make our community stronger,” said Lisa Durkin, UNC President and CEO. “We’re proud of how this event has grown over the past decade and the connections it continues to create across our community.” Throughout the day, attendees can enjoy live music and performances, as well as free face painting and ice cream for children, student-led crafts and activities, a pop-up health clinic and opportunities to connect with local community partners. Welcoming Scranton is free and open to the public. Free activities and ice cream are available while supplies last.
Johnson College Receives Grant for After School STEM Experience Program Johnson College received a $10,000 grant that will support the college’s After School STEM Experience Program, which introduces middle school students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics through engaging, project-based activities. The After School STEM Experience Program will serve 100 seventh- and eighth-grade students from economically disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds in Lackawanna County, including students from NativityMiguel School, Old Forge, Scranton South, Scranton West, Carbondale Area, Susquehanna Community and Lakeland school districts. Held three days a week for four weeks at participating schools, the program allows students to explore robotics, 3D printing, electric circuits, computer programming and computer numerical control (CNC) machining. These experiences strengthen critical-thinking and problem-solving skills while introducing students to engineering and advanced manufacturing concepts. “We’re grateful to the PPL Foundation for investing in the future of our community,” said Dr. Katie Pittelli, president and CEO of Johnson College. “This grant allows us to introduce students to new ideas, technologies and career possibilities at an important stage in their education. By encouraging curiosity and building practical skills, we’re helping young people see new possibilities for their future while strengthening the pipeline of skilled professionals our region depends on.” The program reflects Johnson College’s commitment to expanding educational access and preparing future generations for technical careers that support regional workforce needs. By partnering with local school districts, the college reaches students who may not otherwise have access to STEM enrichment outside the classroom. School principals and guidance counselors help identify students with an interest in these fields, ensuring the program reaches those who will benefit most. Johnson College also provides institutional support to help make the program possible.
Clubhouse315 hosting Boots & Brews Music Fest on September 12 Clubhouse315 in Wilkes-Barre is hosting the Boots & Brews Music Fest on Saturday, September 12. Doors will open for the event at 2:00 p.m. and the music will begin at 3:00 p.m. The event will feature food trucks, corn hole, an indoor game room, face painting, giveaways, artisan vendors, line dancing, frozen drinks, a full bar and more. There will also be a “Hole In One” golf simulator competition with cash prizes ranging from $500 to $10,000. The music festival is a family-friendly event that people of all ages can attend. Everyone is encouraged to wear their best country gear. Lawn chairs are also permitted. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Kids ages 5 and under are free.
Steamtown Hot Yoga & Barre hosting belly dancing workshop on Sunday Steamtown Hot Yoga & Barre in Scranton’s Lace Village will host a belly dancing workshop on Sunday, September 13 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. No experience is necessary for the workshop, and attendees are invited to bring a friend or family member along. Attendees will explore various movements with Philadelphia-based dance performer and instructor Amalia. The room will not be heated for this workshop. Tickets are $30 per person. You can register for the workshop by clicking here.
Allied Services Marks 50 Years of National Rehabilitation Week This year, Allied Services is celebrating National Rehabilitation Week from September 14-20, and will also celebrate 50 years of the observance. Allied Services in Scranton organized what would become Rehabilitation Week in 1976 as an opportunity to celebrate patient success stories and recognize the professionals helping individuals recover and rehabilitate from serious injuries and illnesses. The local observance continued each September and gradually expanded beyond northeastern Pennsylvania. Through the advocacy of Allied Services leadership and the formation of the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation, the effort reached a national audience. The foundation helped recognize individuals who had benefited from rehabilitation while educating medical organizations and the public about the value of physical rehabilitation at a national scale. A major milestone came in 1993, when President Bill Clinton issued a presidential proclamation designating September 19–25 as National Rehabilitation Week, helping establish the observance on a national stage. From celebrating at the 1996 Paralympic Games to recognizing honorary national champions from Presidents Bush and Clinton to the first-ever hearing-impaired Miss America, Heather Whitestone, National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, founded by Allied Services, has always embraced overcoming disabilities and achievements through physical rehabilitation. Fifty years after its beginnings in Scranton, NRW continues to highlight rehabilitation’s ability to restore function, independence and quality of life for individuals recovering from stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, limb loss and other complex conditions.
Marywood University Earns Strong National and Statewide Rankings from Niche Marywood University has earned strong national, statewide and regional recognition in the 2027 Niche College Rankings, which evaluated more than 4,000 colleges and universities across the United States. Marywood earned notable placements across a wide range of categories, demonstrating the University’s strength in academics, value, student experience, and several of its signature programs. Among Marywood’s 2027 rankings are: #63 Best Catholic Colleges in America #7 Best Catholic Colleges in Pennsylvania #47 Best Colleges for Architecture in America #10 Best Colleges for Education in Pennsylvania #23 Best Value Colleges in Pennsylvania #30 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania A grade for Student Wellness Marywood also ranks #16 among the Best Small Colleges in Pennsylvania, the highest-ranked local institution in the category. The University earned additional high marks for Best College Dorms in Pennsylvania (#7), Best College Campuses in Pennsylvania (#23), Top Private Universities in Pennsylvania (#25), Best College Food in Pennsylvania (#25) and Colleges with the Best Academics in Pennsylvania (#27), along with positive placements in numerous other categories. Niche combines data from sources including the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation with enrollment and alumni earnings statistics, tuition and financial aid information, and more than one million student and alumni reviews. Marywood’s strong showing across academic, value, campus, and student experience categories reflects the University’s continued commitment to “students first”, providing students with an exceptional education and an environment in which they can thrive. To view Marywood University’s complete list of rankings, go to niche.com/colleges/marywood-university/rankings.
Johnson College offering free OSHA training at its Scranton campus Johnson College is now a Host Training Organization with the Mid-Atlantic OSHA Training Institute Education Center (MAOTIEC). This new partnership will allow Johnson College and the Education Center to work together to provide certified OSHA training to employers and employees throughout the region. To celebrate this new partnership, Johnson College is offering the OSHA 7515 – Job Hazard Analysis course free of charge on Saturday, October 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at its Scranton campus. The course covers OSHA guidelines for developing a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). Topics include the purpose and requirements of a JHA, the relationship between worker tasks and tools in the work environment, identifying job hazards before they occur and techniques for completing a Job Hazard Analysis. Students will also participate in activities focused on using a Job Hazard Analysis. No prerequisites are required for the course. Student materials, lunch and refreshments are included for in-person classes. Space is limited for this course, and those interested in it can click here to register.
