Stone House To Host Free Retirement Planning Seminar Stone House will host an educational retirement planning seminar on Thursday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m., designed to help individuals better understand the financial decisions that often arise as retirement approaches. The session will focus on how Social Security, taxes, healthcare, and personal savings can work together as part of a comprehensive retirement strategy. Attendees will explore common retirement planning questions, including when they may be able to retire, when to begin collecting Social Security benefits, how current financial decisions could impact future taxes, and what healthcare options are available after leaving the workforce. The seminar is intended to provide practical, easy-to-understand information in a welcoming environment for those preparing for retirement or looking to strengthen their existing plans. Participants may attend in person at the Stone House Financial Office, located at 103 West Grove Street in Clarks Summit, or virtually through a live online stream. Registration is required, and the virtual meeting link will be provided upon registration. Individuals interested in attending can reserve their spot at https://www.stonehouseinv.com/Retire/.
Lackawanna County Launches Broadband Internet and Speed Test Lackawanna County is taking steps to ensure that all residents and businesses in the county can connect to high-speed and reliable internet. This initiative is part of the Lackawanna County Broadband Assessment Plan study, which is being conducted by the engineering firm HRG. The study is a multi-faceted project that will collect data and feedback over the course of several months to identify broadband service needs and focus future efforts on expanding internet service. A final study and report will outline the findings and proposed next steps with the long-term goal of ensuring reliable high-speed internet is available to everyone in the county. As part of this effort, Lackawanna County is pleased to announce the launch of the Broadband Internet Survey and Speed Test, which will be administered by HRG. Participation in the survey is crucial to gain a better understanding of the user’s experience with internet service. All residents and businesses play a key part in the survey, as the data collected helps bridge the gap in broadband coverage and informs the county of potential broadband service needs. What do residents and businesses need to do? Take the survey from your home or business using a wired or Wi-Fi connection that services your home or business. It’s important not to use your mobile phone data plan, as that will not measure your home broadband speed. At the end of the survey, a speed test will gather results on connectivity speeds. Once the speed test and survey are complete, simply click submit. Starting on Monday, April 13, the survey and speed test will be available online at https://hrggis.github.io/LackawannaBroadband/ and also on the county website at www.lackawannacounty.org. Residents without internet access, or anyone unable to complete the online survey, can download a printable version from the county website or pick up a copy at their local library or municipal building. The survey will take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete and will be open through July 13, 2026. Questions or comments, or to request a hardcopy by mail or email, contact internetsurvey@lackawannacounty.org
Geisinger Hospitals Recognized For Caring For Individuals With Diabetes Five Geisinger hospitals were among just 37 hospitals to be named Recognized Leaders in Caring for People Living with Diabetes, a designation bestowed by The Leapfrog Group in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The national designation program is in its third year and evaluates hospitals based on their care for patients with diabetes during admission, hospital stay and discharge. The program recognizes hospitals aligned with the ADA’s Standards of Care in Diabetes and Leapfrog’s standards for excellence in hospital safety and quality. Geisinger hospitals receiving the recognition were: · Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital · Geisinger Medical Center · Geisinger Community Medical Center · Geisinger Lewistown Hospital · Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital “This recognition is truly an honor. It represents the culmination of our collective efforts to improve the lives of our patients with diabetes through a multidisciplinary approach. We remain committed to making sure our patients get the same high-quality care, regardless of where at Geisinger they got it,” said Brian Jameson, D.O., Geisinger director of endocrinology. “I’d like to thank our colleagues in departments across Geisinger for making the programs and practices to improve diabetes care part of the Geisinger culture.” Recognized hospitals provide safe, high-quality care for people living with diabetes through blood glucose (blood sugar) testing and hypoglycemia protocols, specialized preparation for inpatient surgery, meals and insulin regimen planning, and robust discharge planning for high-risk people with diabetes. Hospitals are assessed in how they implement these processes and structures, and on how well they execute on the standard of care delivered to a random sample of patients.
Wayne Bank Supports The Wayne County Community Foundation Wayne Bank recently presented a $4,000 donation to the Wayne County Community Foundation through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. The contribution will help the Foundation continue offering academically advanced programs benefiting students in the Wayne Highlands, Wallenpaupack Area, and Western Wayne school districts. Ryanne Jennings accepted the donation on behalf of the organization. “Supporting educational opportunities today helps strengthen our communities for the future,” said Jim Donnelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank. “The Wayne County Community Foundation continues to make a meaningful impact by expanding access to programs for local students, and Wayne Bank is honored to help support those efforts.” The Wayne County Community Foundation invests and administers funds to award grants and scholarships while promoting programs that benefit educational, humanitarian, and cultural organizations throughout the region. Through its work, the Foundation seeks to create lasting resources that positively impact Wayne County for generations to come. The donation was made possible through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Mohegan Sun Enhances Gaming Floor With Crapless Craps Mohegan Sun is enhancing the gaming floor with the debut of Interblock’s Crapless Craps in Casino of the Sky. This innovative take on a classic table game offers a fun experience designed to appeal to both seasoned players and those new to Craps. Incorporating 2, 3, 11 and 12 as point numbers for added excitement, Crapless Craps is designed for ease of play, featuring a high-definition, touch-responsive interface and a mechanical dice generator that sits at the top of the game. With $5 minimum bets, the player experience is interactive, intuitive and fully self-paced, allowing guests to control the action while enjoying the anticipation of every roll. This personalized gameplay also provides an approachable entry point for those new to Craps. The “cropless” aspect of the game is due to an alteration in the come-out math that eliminates instant losses on the Pass Line. “Our goal is to ensure every guest feels comfortable jumping into the excitement of table games,” said Jeff Hamilton, President & GM of Mohegan Sun. “Crapless Craps, along with our Hybrid Stadium Gaming areas, are two fun and easy ways to achieve this—giving our guests a seamless and flexible way to learn popular twists on classic table games, all with low minimum bet options.” Located in Casino of the Sky—just beyond the high-energy live Craps tables, past Johnny Rockets—the new offering complements another popular and innovative Mohegan Sun offering, Hybrid Stadium Gaming, which features a live-dealer, multi-table experience from a single player station. Guests can seamlessly switch between and wager on multiple games at once via a user-friendly touchscreen, with options including Craps, Blackjack, Roulette, Three Card Poker and more. Minimum bets always start at just $5. Learn more at mohegansun.com/playing
RailRiders Bring Baby Bombers Back To PNC Field The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are thrilled to announce that their Baby Bombers alternate identity has returned to play. The Baby Bombers will take over PNC Field each Sunday home game for the remainder of the 2026 season. Since 2007, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has been the top affiliate of the New York Yankees, long known as the Bronx Bombers. From the early slugging days of current skipper Shelley Duncan, the 2009 International League MVP and 2025 IL Manager of the Year, to the days of Aaron Judge and Gary Sánchez, to the current run with the likes of Spencer Jones, Jasson Domínguez, and George Lombard Jr., Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has been known for its slugging prowess and top-tier talent. “The Yankees are synonymous with home runs and the best talent in baseball,” said Shawn Reilly, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Team President & General Manager. “As the step before they become the Bronx Bombers, it is a pleasure to watch the next wave of Baby Bombers at PNC Field. Fans have long loved this identity, and it’s a sight to see it come back.” The Baby Bombers uniform is a classic vest-variety jersey in baby blue with the iconic emblem. For more information and Baby Bombers gear, visit www.swbrailriders.com
Dave & Busters Upcoming One Weekend, Two Events ONE WEEKEND – TWO EVENTS What is better than one event at Dave & Buster’s? Two events of course! Join us at Dave & Buster’s Scranton for a TOY-riffic Event! Enjoy exclusive access to Dave & Buster’s for breakfast and photo opportunities with Andy’s Toy Box characters including your favorite Cowboy, Cowgirl and Astronaut! … To Infinity, and Beyond!! Ticket Includes: Banquet style breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, breakfast potatoes, applewood smoked bacon, sausage links and fresh fruit with assorted juices, soda, coffee and tea $10 Power Card with 3-hours of unlimited video game play Photo opportunity with the characters .. bring your camera! Fun activities It’s the perfect way to kick off the weekend with the whole family! Date & Time: Saturday, 06/20/26, 9am-11am Space is limited. Get your tickets today! ANDY’S TOY BOX BREAKFAST TICKET LINK 06.20.26 🏅D&B UNLOCKED PRESENTS: DAD GAMES🏅 This Father’s day, Sunday, June 21, play as a family for your chance to win free game play for a YEAR…plus endless bragging rights for Dad. This Father’s Day, skip the ordinary and level up family time at Dave & Buster’s with Dad Games — a high-energy competition packed with arcade action, family challenges, and unforgettable moments. Grab your team, fuel up with the Ultimate Player’s Pack Banquet (including some of the favorites like Pizza, Burger Sliders, Chicken Bites, Pretzel sticks and more!) and unlimited soft drinks, then hit the midway with your $20 Power Card® to compete in a series of Dad Games challenges, designed to test skill, teamwork, speed, and pure family pride. Whether Dad dominates the leaderboard or the kids carry the squad to victory, one family will walk away with free gameplay for a year and legendary status to match. Date & Time: Sunday, 06/21/26 1pm-4pm Get your tickets to make this Father’s Day one for the record books!
Fidelity Bank Announces Officer Status Appointments To Bankers Dunmore, PA – June 12, 2026 – Fidelity Bank is proud to announce the appointment of several bankers to Officer status, recognizing their leadership, performance, and commitment to delivering exceptional client service. “These promotions reflect the strength of our bankers and the dedication they bring to their roles every day,” said Daniel Santaniello, Chief Executive Officer. “Each of these bankers consistently demonstrates our commitment to partner with our clients and our communities to achieve success, and they play an important role in our organization.” Grace Wingler, Deposit Operations Team Lead, has been appointed to Officer status. Wingler is recognized for building strong relationships throughout the Bank and consistently delivering operational and client-facing success. A recipient of the 2025 Service Quality Partner of the Year award, she demonstrates a commitment to strong controls, risk management, and exceptional client service. Katherine Rooney, Consumer Banking Project Manager, has been appointed to Officer status. Rooney quickly established trust-based relationships across the organization and is known for her transparency, professionalism, and ability to drive alignment across complex, cross-functional initiatives that strengthen project outcomes. Casey Rauch, Trust Operations Manager, has been appointed to Officer status. Rauch is a leader in operational excellence, playing a key role in system conversion and ongoing process improvements. She continues to drive efficiency, automation, and innovation within Wealth Management operations. Jesse Lick, Business Relationship Manager, has been appointed to Officer status. Lick has demonstrated strong professional growth and production performance while supporting local businesses and entrepreneurship. His analytical expertise and relationship-building skills make him a valued partner to both clients and colleagues. William Davis, Security Manager, has been appointed to Officer status. Davis is a highly trusted leader in security and fraud investigations, strengthening the Bank’s security practices and proactively protecting both clients and the organization through disciplined risk management and collaboration. Timothy Anderson, Business Analyst and Applications Manager, has been appointed to Officer status. Anderson is a trusted partner across the organization, delivering practical technology solutions that enhance operations while supporting key initiatives including automation, analytics, and system integrations. Maura Nealon, Assistant Controller, has been appointed to Officer status. Nealon is a collaborative and solutions-oriented banker who contributes to operational efficiency, automation, and regulatory adherence while driving continuous process improvement within her department.
Wright Center Dentist Named To State Advisory Board Dr. Caitlin McCarthy, local site director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education and a practicing dentist dedicated to expanding access to oral health care in Northeast Pennsylvania, has been selected to serve on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Oral Health Program Oral Health Plan Advisory Group. Dr. McCarthy was appointed to a two-year term from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, and will represent Pennsylvania’s provider sector. She was selected to help guide the implementation of the Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan 2020-2030, a statewide framework focused on improving oral health outcomes, reducing disparities, strengthening the oral health workforce, and expanding access to preventive and restorative dental care. The Oral Health Plan Advisory Group provides recommendations to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Oral Health Program regarding priorities for implementing the state’s oral health plan and champions initiatives designed to improve oral health across the commonwealth. The advisory group includes representatives from multiple sectors involved in oral health promotion, education, policy, clinical care, and public health. “I am honored to serve on the Oral Health Plan Advisory Group and contribute to efforts that improve oral health across Pennsylvania,” said Dr. McCarthy, of Jenkins Twp. “Every patient deserves access to high-quality oral health care, regardless of where they live or their circumstances. I look forward to working with colleagues from across the commonwealth to help advance solutions that strengthen our dental workforce, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes for all Pennsylvanians.” A Scranton native and West Scranton High School graduate, Dr. McCarthy received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and completed a General Practice Residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Muhlenberg Hospital. She earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton, graduating with dual majors in biology and biomathematics while also completing minors in biochemistry and English. During her undergraduate years, she was inducted into five honor societies, consistently earned dean’s list recognition, and participated in an international service trip to Guyana. Building her career around serving the communities that shaped her, Dr. McCarthy joined The Wright Center in 2019 and played a key role in launching dental services at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, located in South Side at 501 S. Washington Ave., Suite 1000. Since then, she has provided comprehensive dental care to a diverse patient population, including many individuals and families who face barriers to accessing routine oral health services. Her daily work gives her firsthand insight into issues that remain significant challenges throughout Pennsylvania, including workforce shortages, affordability concerns, access barriers for Medicaid recipients, and disparities in oral health outcomes among underserved populations. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. McCarthy also serves as local site director of The Wright Center’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program, offered through a partnership with New York University Langone Health Dental Medicine. In this role, she helps train and mentor future dentists while supporting community-based dental education and workforce development initiatives throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. Her leadership reflects The Wright Center’s integrated approach to improving community health by simultaneously expanding access to high-quality oral health services and strengthening the future dental workforce through community-based training. “Dr. McCarthy’s selection to the Oral Health Plan Advisory Group is both a well-deserved recognition of her expertise and a reflection of the meaningful contributions she continues to make to oral health care in our region,” said Kimberly McGoff, director of dental operations at The Wright Center. “As an exceptional clinician, respected educator, and dedicated advocate for accessible, patient-centered care, she understands firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing both patients and dental professionals. Through her leadership in clinical practice and dental residency education, she has helped improve access to care while shaping the next generation of oral health providers. Her experience, insight, and unwavering commitment to service will make her a tremendous asset to this important statewide effort to strengthen oral health outcomes for all Pennsylvanians.”
The Wright Center, Scranton Resident Dreams Of Becoming Kidney Doctor While Hoping For Life-Saving Transplant Patrick Gallagher dreams of finding ways to improve kidney transplants or pioneering medical breakthroughs to help people with kidney disease. He just needs a kidney first. The 21-year-old Scranton resident’s kidney troubles began in the womb. He was diagnosed with posterior urethral valves, which occurs when abnormal flaps of tissue in the urethra block the flow of urine out of the bladder. This causes urine to back up, leading to swollen kidneys, a damaged bladder, and potential kidney failure. Two decades later, after countless hospital stays, a kidney transplant at age 5, and nine years of dialysis treatments, he is hoping for another miracle. He’s on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) kidney transplant waiting list. However, Patrick and his parents, Roxane and William Gallagher, are hoping to find a living donor to increase the chances that his transplant will be a success. While the family waits, Jennifer Kalinowski, a board-certified registered nurse family practitioner at The Wright Center for Community Health North Scranton, and her team make sure Patrick and his parents remain as healthy as possible. “I always say that I’m the exception to every rule,” Patrick said with a laugh as he and his parents talked about his lifelong medical battle. “Maybe this time we’ll get good news.” Patrick is no stranger to hospital rooms. Two days after he was born, he was flown to Hershey Medical Center for his first surgery. Complication after complication and infection after infection followed, his parents said. In 2010, when Patrick was 5, his doctors put him on the UNOS waiting list. There are currently over 90,000 people on that list for a lifesaving kidney transplant in the United States, according to UNOS. Kidneys are by far the most in-demand organ, making up more than 86% of the entire national transplant waiting list. Within two days of Patrick being listed, a kidney was found. The Gallagher family rushed to Hershey Medical Center, where Patrick underwent the transplant. “I don’t remember too much about that time,” Patrick said, adding that his strongest memories from that year were the family’s trip to Disney World three months later, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “What I remember most is that I was too scared to go on the Haunted Mansion Ride.” When they returned from Disney, Patrick went right back to Hershey Medical Center for more care. Years of complications continued, including a month-long coma when he was in third grade. About nine years ago, doctors decided the donated kidney had reached the end of its usefulness, and Patrick had to begin dialysis. At first, he underwent a nightly procedure done at home called peritoneal dialysis. When infections and scar tissue became too much of a problem, Patrick had to switch to hemodialysis at a DaVita clinic in Scranton three times a week. The process leaves Patrick feeling fatigued and foggy. It’s impossible for him to have a job or go to college. He became a patient at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2024, and the family travels to the Iron City several times a year to see specialists. Back at home, Kalinowski and her team at The Wright Center for Community Health North Scranton are doing what they can to keep Patrick and his parents healthy. While Patrick has a strong support system as he battles his chronic illness, not all patients are so lucky, the nurse practitioner said. “We’re a community health center, so part of our role is to advocate for our patients,” Kalinowski said. “In addition to providing whole-person primary health services, we want to make sure our patients are connected with the right specialists, that they’re getting their tests, going to their appointments, and that they feel heard about what’s going on in their lives.” Patrick has been put back on the transplant list, but it will be harder to find a match this time, according to Roxanne Gallagher. That’s why the Gallaghers are hoping to find a living kidney donor, which would increase the chances of a successful transplant. There were 6,521 kidney transplants from living donors in the U.S. in 2025, according to UNOS, roughly 24% of the 27,573 total kidney transplants performed that year. For more information, visit Patrick’s Kidney Place on Facebook or visit UPMC.com/LivingDonorKidney. While he waited for news, Patrick spent a week in June serving as a counselor at Camp Kydnie, a sleepaway camp especially for kids with kidney disease in Millville, Pennsylvania. Patrick has been attending the camp since 2013 and says it’s a rare chance to be around other children battling different kinds of kidney disease. “We do archery and arts and crafts and, before I had the dialysis port, I would go swimming,” he said, adding later that working with kids just like him is a goal he’s had since he was young. “My dream job is a pediatric nephrologist, or maybe doing medical research about kidney disease. It’s something I’ve been saying since I was 5, or maybe even younger.”
