Samantha Maloney Joins Sweda Advertising as Social Media Director Samantha (Sam) Maloney began collaborating with Sweda Advertising in 2019 and started as its Social Media Director in 2022. As Social Media Director, Sam will develop compelling social media campaigns that include public relations and outreach strategies, advertising, and community partnerships. Established in 2004, Sweda Advertising is an award-winning full-service agency that provides professional services to some of the region’s most respected businesses, organizations, institutions, and elected officials. Sam Maloney hails from Utah, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Utah and enlisted in the United States Army. She continued her studies at Catholic University, Columbus School of Law in Washington DC, where she earned a JD and received a commission into the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. She was assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg where she regularly jumped out of planes. After receiving her honorable discharge, she moved to New York City and became an Assistant Prosecutor in the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, in Jersey City, NJ, prosecuting Special Victims Unit cases. In 2010, she moved to Scranton and became engaged in advocating for her community through various nonprofits and political campaigns, most notably Women’s Whistle Stop, Women in Philanthropy, the League of Women Voters, and Friends of Lackawanna. She resides in Scranton with her husband Tim and their four fun-loving children.
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Official Earns Certification Dr. Jumee Barooah, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s designated institutional official and a primary care physician, recently earned board certification in lifestyle medicine – an approach that uses small lifestyle changes to treat and potentially reverse chronic disease and prevent illness. One of the fastest growing fields of medicine, lifestyle medicine differs from mainstream medical approaches by emphasizing non-pharmaceutical, non-invasive treatments such as wellness, resiliency, movement and a nutritious diet. Patients are empowered to take their well-being into their own hands by making improvements through manageable changes in daily activities. The Wright Center introduced a lifestyle medicine service line in 2020 to address community needs in Northeast Pennsylvania, including the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension. The Wright Center also wove lifestyle medicine into the curriculum of its graduate medical education programs, aiming to appropriately prepare the next generation of physicians to spare patients the needless suffering and expense of certain serious, long-term illnesses. Chronic disease is responsible for up to 80% of all health care expenditure, yet most health professionals typically treat chronic disease the same way they treat communicable disease: with pills and injections. By contrast, lifestyle medicine encourages physicians to focus on the so-called pillars of health: nutrition, exercise, rest and social connectivity, according to the California-based American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM). At The Wright Center, the lifestyle medicine curriculum will prepare health care providers to complete a thorough patient assessment of current health habits and then introduce individualized treatment plans based on specific risk factors. A Wright Center dietitian, for example, is available to meet individually with patients to develop plans for weight management. “Now seemed like the right time to become certified because of the health care needs of our patients and community and our new lifestyle medicine curriculum,” said Barooah, who received her certification from ABLM. “One common theme in every primary care visit with patients is preventive medicine. I thought I could contribute more to my patients and my resident and fellow physicians by becoming certified.” Lifestyle medicine represents her fourth board certification. Barooah also is certified in internal, addiction and obesity medicine. She sees patients at The Wright Center’s Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn and the Scranton Practice. For more information or to schedule an appointment at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Mid Valley Practice, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Ritz to Host Performance In Celebration of Black History Month The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s comes to life in the three-time Tony award-winning musical revue, Ain’t Misbehavin’. Join five performers on a journey through the timeless music of Thomas “Fats” Waller. You’ll be jumpin’ and jivin’ with memorable songs such as “Honeysuckle Rose”, “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, “Black and Blue”, “This Joint is Jumpin’ ” and “I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling.” One of the most popular, well-crafted revues of all time, the sometimes sassy, sometimes sultry, has moments of devastating beauty that is simply unforgettable. This Joint will certainly be Jumpin’ in celebration of Black History Month. TICKET INFORMATION: RESERVED SEATING $20: Rows D, E, F, H, Jhttps://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/60615 GENERAL SEATING $15: All other seats in the theaterhttps://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/60617 Tickets are also available at the Box Office in the lobby an hour before curtain. Any questions about the seating chart on ShowTix4U, please contact us at RitzPAC.Scranton@gmail.com. All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. Tickets are also available at the Box Office in the lobby an hour before curtain. There is a Chairlift in the Ritz building for handicapped patrons. If you need reserved handicapped seating, please email us at RitzPAC.Scranton@gmail.com to reserve your tickets in lieu of using ShowTix4U.com ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Masks must be worn in the Ritz building.The Black Box Cafe will be open an hour before curtain. Concessions, snacks & drinks from the Black Box Cafe only are allowed in the theater. House opens 30 minutes before curtain. Please contact us at RitzPAC.Scranton@gmail.com or 570-252-4156 with any questions.
Johnson College PA State Vehicle Safety Inspectors Course Enrollment Open Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program is enrolling students in its next on-campus Pennsylvania State Vehicle Safety Inspectors course. Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting March 15, 2022, through March 24, 2022, with hands-on testing beginning on Monday, March 28, 2022. To learn more or enroll, contact the Continuing Education Department at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu. The total cost of the course is $200 for cars and light trucks. There is an additional $75 fee for other vehicle categories. The Pennsylvania State Vehicle Safety Inspection course requirements include 12 classroom hours, a written test, and a two-hour tactile test scheduled independently with the instructor. Students must complete all requirements before receiving certification from PennDOT. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis according to the payment date. Class size is limited to 20 students, so participants are encouraged to register early. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid operator’s license for each class of vehicle they intend to inspect. Classes will be held in the Automotive Center of Weaver Hall on the Johnson College campus in Scranton, PA. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.
FNCB Supports Students at Allied Services FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, has announced an $85,000 Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to Allied Services dePaul School for Dyslexia. The non-profit school in Scranton serves children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, providing specialized instruction to assist students in identifying their learning style and maximizing their abilities. Students from 19 local school districts attend the full-time school serving grades 1 through 8. FNCB’s donation directly funded student scholarships for families in need. “The work the teachers, staff and administration at the dePaul School do is amazing,” said Jerry Champi, FNCB Bank President and CEO. “As a community partner, we are proud to support their efforts and help a large number of students reach their full potential.” The support of Allied Services dePaul School for Dyslexia is part of FNCB’s larger Community Caring initiative. As a true, local community bank, FNCB Bank is making a difference through volunteerism, donations and outreach programs. Since 2010, FNCB has contributed just under $2,500,000 to local educational and scholarship organizations through the EITC initiative.
DaKor Furniture and theKimmy Hosting Pop Up Shop This Weekend Visit DaKor Furniture – 306 S. State St. in Clarks Summit – will be hosting a pop up shop this weekend on Saturday, January 29 and Sunday, January 30 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Stop by to visit local small businesses including theKIMMY and more!
You’re Invited: We Are Alaska An inspiring, fun, and interactive online experience with Ebersmith Travel and Holland America Line You’re invited to explore Holland America Line’s Alaska Cruises and Land+Sea Journeys from the comfort of your own home with an expert resident guide who knows all things Alaska. Ask questions or listen in as others share experiences and tips about cruising this incredible region. We’ll also discuss special promotions that will be available only to those who join us! Register: www.ebersmithtravel.com/virtual-alaska
NET Credit Union Expands Partnership with Lackawanna College NET Credit Union recently furthered their partnership with their Preferred Partner Group, Lackawanna College, by offering tuition-free classes to NET employees. Under the agreement, qualifying NET Credit Union employees can pursue an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree at Lackawanna College. Lackawanna College offers over thirty different degrees, majors, and certificates. “We are excited to further our relationship with NET Credit Union with this free tuition announcement. We are also grateful for NET’s investment in their employees as well as their trust in us to offer them an amazing opportunity to continue their education,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. Our programs are designed to meet the relevant needs of today’s workforce by making college affordable and accessible for everyone.” “The Lackawanna College Business Partnership Scholarship Initiative helps businesses of all sizes develop and retain employees,” said Jeff Gregory, Director of College Enrollment Partnerships. “A partnership with Lackawanna College includes a tuition scholarship that can be offered to employees, allowing the workforce to pursue a bachelor’s or associate degree.” “This program will simultaneously help grow our employees’ personal development, as well as the capabilities of our business. NET Credit Union is thrilled to partner with Lackawanna College in this program,” states Clarence Baltrusaitis, NET Credit Union CEO. Lackawanna College is a Preferred Partner Group of NET Credit Union. This means all students, staff, and faculty are eligible to Bank on NET. The tuition program not only benefits our relationship with Lackawanna College, but it also strengthens our employee benefits. NET Credit Union looks forward to furthering our partnership with Lackawanna College.
Marywood University Featuring Two Art Exhibits Marywood University’s art galleries, including the Mahady Gallery and the Suraci Gallery, both located in the Shields Center for Visual Arts, are featuring two art exhibits from January 29-March 4. Both have opening receptions on January 29, 2-4 p.m., with each exhibit featuring gallery talks in February. Details include: Mahady Gallery: Paul Plumadore: PaperWorks Opening Reception, January 29, 2-4 p.m.; Gallery Talk, February 2, 2 p.m. Paul Plumadore’s solo exhibition, PaperWorks, will consist of hand cut paper montages, shadowboxes, archival giclee prints, and books; a total of 90 works in all. Mr. Plumadore has been creating collage and related artworks since the late 1970s. He has been a professional dancer (The Paul Taylor Dance Company) and an illustrator (The New York Times, RCA Records). He first started showing his art in gallery settings at The 2015 Northeastern Biennial which was held at Marywood University. In 2021, his artwork was presented for the fourth time at Art of the State held at The Pennsylvania State Museum in Harrisburg, PA. Suraci Gallery: Julie Stark: Revisiting Beginnings NYC Streets 1983-1985 Opening Reception, January 29, 2-4 p.m.; Gallery Talk, February 17, 2 p.m. Julie Stark, a native of Kutztown Pennsylvania, moved to New York City in 1983 for her last BFA semester to intern with the Artist-Photographer Cindy Sherman. As an apprentice for Sherman, Stark worked in the photo industry learning and honing skills in set and location lighting, darkroom film processing, and worked as a fine printer. Stark went on to receive a BFA degree from Kutztown University with a concentration in photography and film. Eventually, she sought a job in video post-production to have access to editing equipment, early digital compositing and motion graphics. She worked at National Video Center in New York City for five years learning video post-production, which led her to a position of Post-production Art Director for USA Networks. It was here that she began combining all these skills into compositing live action, with computer generated elements and entered the world of film visual effects. Stark moved to the west coast in 1990 and began working in the film industry. She worked as a film compositor, and compositing and lighting supervisor on many feature films such as, Life of Pi (which won an Oscar for VFX in 2013), Happy Feet, Golden Compass, Django Unchained, Harry Potter, Fast and Furious, and countless others, until leaving the industry in 2013 to work on her artistic endeavors full time. Presently, Julie is the owner/operator of Stark Juice, a cold press juice company. For additional information about art exhibits at Marywood University, please visit marywood.edu/galleries/exhibitions or call (570) 348-6278.
