Geisinger to Host Free Events across Pennsylvania

In observance of Earth Day, Geisinger will host free community shred events across northeastern and central Pennsylvania throughout the month of April.

Employees and members of the public are invited to bring any personal or professional confidential documents — such as bank statements, credit card bills and tax forms — to be securely shredded on-site and recycled.

Each person is limited to three boxes. Do not use bins for non-paper waste or garbage.

For more information, call 570-271-6030.

Community shred events:

  • Monday, April 3Geisinger Mt. Pleasant, 531 Mt. Pleasant Drive, Scranton, 7 – 11 a.m.
  • Tuesday, April 4Geisinger Healthplex State College, 132 Abigail Lane, Port Matilda, 7 – 11 a.m.
  • Friday, April 7Geisinger Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, 1175 E. Mountain Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, 7 – 11 a.m.
  • Monday, April 10Geisinger Health Plan, Hughes Center, 9 Stearns Lane, Danville, 7 – 11 a.m.
  • Tuesday, April 11Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital, 1020 Thompson St., Jersey Shore, 7 – 11 a.m.
  • Thursday, April 13Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, 400 Highland Ave., Lewistown, 7 – 11 a.m.
  • Friday, April 14Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital, 4200 Hospital Road, Coal Township, 7 – 11 a.m.
  • Monday, April 17Geisinger Medical Center Muncy, 255 Route 220, Muncy, 7 – 11 a.m.
  • Friday, April 21Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, 549 Fair St., Bloomsburg, 7 – 11 a.m.
  • Monday, April 24Geisinger Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, 1175 E. Mountain Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, Noon – 4 p.m.
  • Friday, April 28Geisinger Health Plan, Hughes Center, 9 Stearns Lane, Danville, Noon – 4 p.m.

FNCB Bank Donates $15,000 to Friendship House

FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, today announced a $15,000 Pennsylvania Neighborhood Assistance Program/Special Program Priorities (NAP-SPP) donation to the Friendship House for their downtown Scranton building renovation project.

The project, which encompasses the Murray Building at 413-415 Biden St. and the Davidow Building at 200-216 Wyoming Ave., when completed, is expected to house substance abuse, mental health and pharmacy services for the community.

“The services Friendship House provides are a great benefit to our community,” said Jerry Champi, FNCB Bank President and CEO. “Our downtown Scranton Community Office is adjacent to the Friendship House’s new location and we are excited to witness the rebirth of two well-known buildings in the city.”

Including the Friendship House donation, FNCB Bank has made NAP-SPP commitments to seven different community projects in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  As a true, local community bank, FNCB is making a difference through volunteerism, donations, and outreach programs.

PA Route 6 Alliance to Hold Informational Webinar

Join PA Humanities and the PA Route 6 Alliance on March 17 from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. to learn about Community Heart & Soul™, an innovative community planning process that engages residents in identifying hopes and ideas for their town.

Since 2015, PA Humanities has been working with Community Heart & Soul to engage residents across the Commonwealth in planning for their town’s future. Twelve (12) communities have gone through the process and seen:

●     New volunteers and leaders emerge

●     Updates to zoning ordinances

●     Valuable community feedback for comprehensive and local community plans

●     New businesses emerge

●     Town beautification efforts launched (facades, updates to parks, community clean ups)

….and so much more. Learn about how PA Heart & Soul can help spark community into planning and development efforts – and how to bring the process to your community!

PA Heart & Soul Information Session is to learn more about Community Heart & Soul, please join for a webinar presented by the PA Humanities to discuss the benefits of this program and how interested communities can start the applications process. Below you will find information about the program, including the link to join the webinar.

PA Route 6 Alliance will be applying for funding for communities within the Route 6 Corridor who wish to apply to become a PA Heart & Soul community.

Outreach Center Coordinates Toyland Workshop

Outreach – Center for Community Resources is currently coordinated its annual Toyland Workshop to provide pajamas, socks, books, educational toys, and grocery gift cards for children and families in our shared community.

Through an incredible outpouring of support, numerous contributions, grants, and in-kind donations by several foundations, corporations, local businesses, charitable organizations, and individuals were made to Outreach for its annual Toyland Workshop.

This year, Outreach is providing gift packages to over 200 participant families. Outreach Family
Development Specialists are delivering gifts to more than 330 children for the holiday season. Many
toys were purchased online through our Amazon Wish List. Contributors that were logged into Amazon Smile had an additional percentage of their purchase donated to Outreach by Amazon in support of the numerous programs provided to our shared community. Students from the University of Scranton and Holy Cross High School also shared their goodwill by collecting toys and adopting Outreach participant families this season.

For more information, please call Lori Ryan at (570)-558-7565. Outreach Center for Community Resources delivers parent/child and workforce development services and programs to the regional community to promote family stability and economic self-sufficiency. Outreach provides evidence-based early childhood programs that help families and children gain the skills needed to be healthy and productive members of the community. Outreach improves the lives of over 4,000 individuals each year with programs that support people as they navigate life’s challenges.

Penn State Scranton Center for Business Development and Community Outreach

Penn State Scranton has an Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Professor that is looking for businesses /organizations in our area that have a needed project that can be incorporated into his Spring semester course. 

The students are seniors who have completed all courses in our IST program including networking, programming, organizational processes, databases, and security. There will be about 4 teams of 3-4 students who will be able to work on a specific industry IT real world project. The project can have a wide range of employer interaction from weekly to much less frequently. The majority of the work will need to be accomplished offsite of the employer’s premises. Projects can be in web design, networking, programming, software analysis, security, business process, or other IT related topics. There is no compensation allowed as this is a class project. We have worked successfully in the past with large and small companies in our area on a wide variety of projects. We hope that we can find some great projects that can help our local businesses as well as our students.

Please let us know if you and your colleagues have any needs in this area and would entertain some collaboration. Email us at ScrantonOutreach@PSU.edu

The professor makes the final decision as to the proper fit of projects for the course.

Outreach To Hold Annual Mighty Oak Awards

Outreach – Center for Community Resources will host its annual Mighty Oak Awards honoring pillars in our community for their leadership and contributions on September 29, 2022 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic.

The 2022 Mighty Oak honorees include:

Daniel Santaniello, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank. Dan has dedicated his life not only to his profession but also to his community’s civic engagement through supporting philanthropic organizations throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.

Linda Ciampi, former Executive Director of Outreach, spent six of her over 25-year career forwarding the mission of Outreach through her commitment to overseeing operations and providing leadership that ensured excellence in providing evidence-based programming to families, adults, and children in northeastern Pennsylvania.

A new award, the Beth Beh Community Spirit Award, will be presented this year to The Lackawanna County Penn State Master Gardeners. The award is to recognize their service in beautifying the grounds of Outreach and partnering with local organizations to provide instruction on gardening while improving neighborhoods throughout Lackawanna County.

Chelsea Manganaro – EMPOWER Wellness Presenter

Owner, Nearme Yoga & Nearme Cafe

Wellness Presentation: Yoga for All

Come take a break to be present, relax, and get inspired to move your stiff body. This yoga class will be accessible to all levels from beginner to advanced, with an option to use a chair. 

Bio:

Chelsea Manganaro (500RYT) is the owner of Nearme Yoga in Moosic & Peckville, Nearme Cafe, and NEPA Yoga Festival. She has created and expanded her businesses with the idea of connecting a community with the goal to spread as much love and knowledge of yoga and wellness as she can. 

Nearme Yoga & Cafe creates an environment where inclusion, consistency and community take priority – one yoga class, one coffee cup & Buddha Bowl at a time.

Behind every small business there’s a real family, and Nearme Yoga & Cafe is no exception. Owner Chelsea Manganaro always had passion for hospitality in her professional and personal life, and brought her ambitious vision to the local community with the first location of Nearme Yoga & Cafe here in Moosic.

Nearme Yoga is a creation sparked by passion and community needs. It is and will continue to grow and morph into what is needed in each and every community it makes it way to. Chelsea left her career with Lockheed Martin in 2019 to pursue this vision 100%. She believes that in a world of ceaseless innovation, sometimes taking the most basic of human needs and providing it to the community can make the most fulfilling life. Healthy, affordable and attainable food mixed with mindfulness and keeping our bodies healthy allows so many people to make their way to better versions of themselves. 

We have been able to help and change so many peoples lives for the better. This spirals way beyond a yoga class, it is just the start. Having the Cafe and store has allowed people to come and experience the look and feel of the yoga studio without the fear of actually committing to a class. Many people have started yoga because they were able to see the space before hand. Although the goal for the business was always to franchise, it really took COVID to shake up the business model and create what we call is our ecosystem. 

Find out all studio information at nearmeyoga.com and nearmecafe.com for cafe info.

HNB Celebrates 185 Years of Supporting Local Communities

On December 26 The Honesdale National Bank officially celebrated 185 years in business. The Bank recognizes the milestone as an example of its achievements, but considers it more a testament to its ability to support the financial needs of the local area for years to come.

Earlier in December, Thomas E. Sheridan, Jr. rejoined HNB to reprise his role as president and CEO of the oldest financial institution headquartered in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Back at the helm, his sights are set on establishing the course for the Bank’s promising future by harnessing tradition.

The historical financial institution based in Honesdale, Pa has done anything but remain stagnant since its inception, often bringing the first of improved customer experience offerings to the area such as the first TV Auto Bank Drive-Up system in 1968, to its most recent deployment of a checking product suite that focuses on benefits that enable their customers to take advantage  of all aspects of their life, including protection, wellness and promotion of shopping in our local communities through exclusive deals and discounts. 

“The benefits that community banks bring to the areas we serve is a point of pride,” said Sheridan.  “The directors, management team, and staff at HNB have done an outstanding job in moving the bank forward.  They have targeted their efforts on helping our area to prosper by focusing on what is best for our customers.  In each and every role, HNB’s people are truly concerned with assisting our customers and willing to provide the extra effort to help.” 

Sheridan believes that bankers serve a unique and important role in helping communities grow. Ultimately, aiming to elevate all of the factors that make our communities such a desirable place to live, play and work

In the Bank’s historic service span, Sheridan noted there have been many extreme challenges to the economy.  He shared how HNB not only persevered, but more importantly, helped improve many difficult situations for local businesses and families to help the area forge new beginnings. 

“Experience has taught us that the greatest innovations are often the result of the need to overcome some significant challenge.  The pandemic has forced many of us to face changes.  With many people being relieved of the need to live within commuting distance of work, our area is now a residential option for telecommuting.   We are very fortunate to live in an area that still embraces the spirit of community.   We look forward to providing banking services for the business opportunities of an expanding area and new customers providing that growth,” he said. 

“The HNB team spends their time and talents thinking of ways for the Bank to better meet the needs of our customers at every stage of life,” said Sheridan.

Facing what could be a turbulent year ahead with prospects of inflation, recessions, regulatory scrutiny and more, HNB bodes confidence in its service model as it also prepares to crest $1 billion in assets.

Echoing the steps that have been taken in recent years by the Bank’s leadership team, Sheridan stated, “We will continue our quest to stay ahead of the technology curve.   With each advancement in technology the ease, speed and security of meeting our customer’s needs is improved and with that comes a better banking experience. Most importantly, we will not lose sight that personal service will always be important in meeting our customer’s needs.”

“Our concern for the wellbeing of the people and businesses who bank with us has been the foundation upon which we have built such a long history,” Sheridan said.  “This is the standard that has been set and passed on throughout the years among employees and board members.   I am looking forward to having the opportunity to contribute to progressing that mission.”

NeighborWorks NEPA Launches Mobile Toolkit Program

NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is pleased to announce the launch of the Mobile Toolkit program.

The Mobile Toolkit is a trailer-based collection of outdoor tools and equipment that can be transported and used for cleanups, tree-plantings, and other outdoor projects. The Mobile Toolkit will be available for use by local nonprofit organizations, neighborhood groups, and others to complete neighborhood improvement projects. Tools available in the Mobile Toolkit include a lawnmower, walk-behind and hand-held string trimmers, shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, and various hand-held tools.

“The Mobile ToolKit represents a great step forward in our capacities to aid our community partners in the area of neighborhood revitilization,” Jesse Ergott, NWNEPA President & CEO, said of the initiative. “The tools and equipment available for use through this program will allow neighborhood groups to accomplish projects that may not be possible otherwise.”

The Mobile Toolkit has served as the team service project for the Community Leadership Instittue (CLI) team from NWNEPA.

Organized and hosted by NeighborWorks America, the CLI program brings together teams of neighborhood leaders from NeighborWorks Network member organizations across the United States to strengthen the capacity of the participants to make positive change in their communities. The CLI timeline includes action planning sessions, skill-building workshops and a yearlong service project implementation period.

CLI team members include Thom Welby, Henry Matute, Andy Chomko, Anne McNally, Tim Schwartz, Robert Philbin, Eric Myers, Robert Gattens, Meegan Possemato, and Holly Yorkonis.
For more information, or to reserve the Mobile ToolKit for an upcoming neighborhood project, visit nwnepa.org/mobiletoolkit, or contact Gerard Hetman at 570-558-2490 or ghetman@nwnepa.org.

RailRiders Community Home Run Derby

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are proud to partner with T-Mobile for the Community Home Run Derby at 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 29, at PNC Field. 100 participants will have the chance to swing for the fences to win great prizes from T-Mobile and the RailRiders.

“We are looking forward to bringing this great, new event to PNC Field,” said Katie Beekman, the General Manager of the RailRiders. “T-Mobile is a tremendous partner, including their support of our Hometown Heroes program and now this Community Home Run Derby. We really do think fans will have a great time with this new event and the chance to hit home runs like our RailRiders.”

Registration is open to the first 20 participants in five age groups: 16-19, 20-24, 25-30, 31-35 and ages 36 & up. Each participant will receive 15 swings and a variety of targets will be placed around the field with points accrued based on distance. The top three point-winners from each category will move on to the final round. One champion will be crowned in each of the five age groups.

Hopeful participants can register now and contestants will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis based on age groupings. Visit swbrailriders.com now to register on the T-Mobile Community Home Run Derby page.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is playing in Worcester through July 4 and opens a seven-game, six-day set against the Syracuse Mets on July 6. Single-game tickets for the upcoming homestand are available now online at swbrailriders.com.