Comcast (Xfinity) Mobile Speed Improved by 150 Percent “PowerBoost,” a Feature Available to All Xfinity Mobile Customers that Delivers WiFi Speeds Up To 1 Gig, is Credited for Delivering the Superfast Speeds Xfinity Mobile Consistently Ranks Faster Than Competitors in Comcast Markets Ookla’s latest Speedtest Intelligence® research credits Xfinity Mobile’s PowerBoost for delivering customers 150 percent faster speeds since the innovative feature launched in 2024. PowerBoost delivers speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) over WiFi at home or at millions of WiFi hotspots across the country. The feature is free to all Xfinity Mobile customers. “Xfinity Mobile combines its WiFi network resources, 5G capabilities, and PowerBoost technology to enhance the connectivity experience for its customers,” said Kerry Baker, Industry Analyst, Ookla. “The integration of these technologies reflects the ongoing industry focus on creating better solutions for evolving user demands.” PowerBoost provides Xfinity Mobile customers with more than enough speed to stream, game, video call, or browse and have a high-quality experience. Xfinity Mobile is one of the fastest growing mobile services in the industry with more than seven million customers and counting since the service launched. “From the very beginning Xfinity Mobile has delivered an unparalleled wireless experience for the way consumers use mobile today, to get online,” said Kohposh Kuda, senior vice president, Xfinity Mobile, Comcast. “The superfast speeds delivered by PowerBoost are the latest in a long line of game changing features that our customers can enjoy, whether that is saving hundreds of dollars1 by switching from the Big Three mobile providers, customizing their account to fit their unique household needs, or keeping loved ones safe from cyber threats with our advanced cybersecurity features.” Nearly 90 percent of Xfinity Mobile smartphone data travels over WiFi and because Comcast delivers the best WiFi experience, now with speeds up to a gig, that is the primary reason why the service consistently ranks faster than competitors in Comcast markets2. Xfinity Mobile customers with the latest devices automatically connect to millions of WiFi hotspots across the country and receive up to gig speeds delivered by PowerBoost. And, as the Ookla report notes, Xfinity Mobile speeds will continue to get even faster as consumers upgrade to new devices capable of taking advantage of the faster speeds. PowerBoost is another innovation made possible by Comcast’s state-of-the-art network, designed to provide an exceptional Internet experience to more than 63 million homes and businesses and across more than 23 million WiFi hotspots. It represents years of research, technological advancements, and significant investments, including over $20 billion in the past five years, in development and infrastructure. 1 Xfinity Internet req. Compares 2 Xfinity Mobile Unlimited lines and lowest price 5G plans of top 3 carriers. Data thresholds and actual savings may vary. 2 Based on consumer testing of mobile WiFi and cellular data performance from Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® data in Q1-Q2 ’24 for Comcast service areas, including its WiFi footprint, verified by Ookla for Comcast’s analysis.
The Wright Center: Give blood – it saves lives! As we settle into 2025 and leave the holiday rush behind, you might find your schedule has a little more breathing room. If so, consider making a difference by donating blood at a local blood drive. Early in the year, blood supplies often dip to critically low levels nationwide and locally. Several factors contribute to this: donations decline during the busy holiday season, many people are sidelined by seasonal illnesses like the flu or COVID-19, and inclement weather frequently disrupts scheduled blood drives. It’s fitting, then, that January is National Blood Donor Month – a time to spotlight the urgent need for blood donations. This marks the 55th annual observance of National Blood Donor Month, first proclaimed in January 1970 by President Richard Nixon and supported by a U.S. Senate resolution. Decades later, raising awareness remains as important as ever. According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets every two seconds – for surgeries, cancer treatments, traumatic injuries, and more. A single blood donation can save up to three lives. Each year, about 6.8 million Americans donate blood, resulting in the collection of approximately 13.6 million units of whole blood and red blood cells. However, only about 3% of the eligible population participates. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, especially those with type O blood, which is most frequently used by hospitals. In Northeast Pennsylvania, there are many opportunities to give blood. The local Red Cross chapter hosts regular blood drives, and is Bloodmobile frequently travels across the region. The requirements to donate are straightforward: you must be at least 16 years old, in good health, and weigh over 110 pounds. The Wright Center is proud to partner with the Red Cross and other community organizations throughout the year to host blood drives. These events have a significant impact. During the 2023-24 fiscal year, donations at our blood drives saved up to 582 lives. Our next event, the “Students Save Lives” blood drive, will take place on Monday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at our community health center at 501 S. Washington Ave. In collaboration with students from Scranton Preparatory School, this drive will support area cancer patients undergoing treatment. You can sign up to donate at RedCross.org. Beyond donating, the Red Cross also welcomes volunteers to serve as blood donor ambassadors. These individuals greet and register donors, answer questions, and provide support at the refreshment table, helping ensure a positive experience that encourages repeat donations. Other volunteers act as transportation specialists, delivering lifesaving blood products to hospitals. Please consider using some of your free time to donate blood or volunteer at a drive. It’s easy, virtually painless, and immensely rewarding. Plus, there’s the added bonus of a free cookie! Maura Longstreet, MSN, CRNP, FNP-BC, is certified registered nurse practitioner at The Wright Center for Community Health North Scranton, 1721 N. Main Ave. She is accepting new patients of all ages.
Stone House Investment Celebrates New Office in Clarks Summit Stone House Investment Management is thrilled to announce the opening of its new office location at 103 West Grove Street, Clarks Summit, PA, below Kelly Dental. This expansion marks an exciting milestone as Stone House continues to grow and extend its services to the Lackawanna County area. To celebrate this grand opening, Stone House will be hosting an open house on January 24th, starting at 1:00 PM. Guests are invited to visit the newly renovated office space, meet the team of financial advisors, and learn more about their services such as retirement income planning, business investment services, and personal wealth management. The open house will run until 6:00 PM, providing ample opportunity for community members to drop by at their convenience. In addition to the open house, Stone House is proud to sponsor a live ice carving at the Clarks Summit Ice Festival that evening. The ice carving will take place at 6:00 PM in the pocket park on Depot Street. “It will be great to kick off our grand opening around such a treasured, community event,” says Mike Cravath, a Lead Advisor on the Stone House team. The Advisors are also excited to be extending into Lackawanna County with a holistic strategy, focusing on more than just how much you have saved for retirement. Advisors also consider key areas such as tax, estate, and generational planning, which provides a comprehensive approach for your financial wellbeing. “We’re excited to start working with more clients in the valley and look forward to serving the community with a local office presence,” said Ryan Vassil, a Lead Advisor at Stone House. “Our team is committed to helping everyday people feel secure with their financial plans.” For more information about the open house or their services, please contact Stone House at 570-507-8946 or visit their website at stonehouseinv.com.
Maternal and Family Health Services: Honoring Cervical Cancer Awareness Month January marks the beginning of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the importance of early detection, education, and access to care in the fight against cervical cancer. As the President and CEO of Maternal and Family Health Services (MFHS), I am proud to lead an organization that is dedicated to empowering women to take control of their health, supporting them with the resources and services they need, and ensuring they have access to the critical screenings that can save their lives. Cervical cancer, while preventable, continues to claim lives every year, especially among women who face barriers to healthcare access. But through consistent screenings, education, and HPV vaccinations, we have the power to reduce the incidence of this devastating disease and improve outcomes for women everywhere. At MFHS, we are committed to providing the essential healthcare services women deserve. As a trusted partner in reproductive and maternal healthcare, we offer a range of services designed to make preventive care and screenings accessible, affordable, and welcoming. This month, and every month, let us take action to protect our health, spread awareness, and advocate for better access to care for all women. Schedule a screening, talk to your healthcare provider, and know that you are not alone in this journey. MFHS is here to support you every step of the way. We are proud to offer services that make women’s health a priority, and we are committed to breaking down the barriers to care that too often prevent women from seeking the screenings and treatments they need. MFHS has HPV vaccines and same day appointments available. To learn more about cervical cancer, screenings, or to schedule an appointment, visit mfhs.org. or call 570-595-4496. Together, we can reduce the impact of cervical cancer and ensure that every woman has the opportunity to live a healthy, empowered life. Maria Montoro Edwards, PhD President & CEO, Maternal and Family Health Services
Marywood University Student, Former Chamber Intern and Sister Present in San Diego Marywood senior multimedia communication students Liz and Maddie Adams, twin sisters who co-founded and host the podcast, Courageously Kind, are traveling to San Diego to share messages of kindness and self-esteem with children and families affected by facial differences. Their presentation will take place on Saturday, January 18, at the Girls Scouts of San Diego Balboa Service Center in San Diego, CA. This effort began after Liz shared her story about her facial disfigurement and condition. She wanted to inspire others to be kind to those who look different. Her twin sister, Maddie, suggested starting a podcast to encourage others to be kind. Courageously Kind got its start as a quarantine passion project while the two Brackney, Pa. natives were still seniors in high school. The initiative has grown throughout their college years to include a worldwide audience of more than 170,000 followers in 70 countries. Their upcoming presentation, in collaboration with ConnectMed and the University of California San Diego, will seek to equip kids with tools to boost their self-confidence and to share kindness with others in their community. It is a part of a research study led by UCSD and ConnectMed, to show the impact of peer-to peer-support groups on social image, wellbeing, and self-esteem.
Lackawanna County Literacy Committee Holds Book Drive The Lackawanna County Literacy Committee is launching a book drive to collect used books that will be distributed to families in Scranton. Books will be collected in bins across Lackawanna County. At this time, the Lackawanna County Literacy Committee is looking for businesses that would be interested in placing collection bins in their place of business. Bins will be provided and delivered at collection locations at no cost. Interested businesses should contact Patricia Hein at pdakhein@comcast.net or Sandie Lamanna at sslamanna@aol.com for additional information.
Lackawanna College Sonography Program Secures $35,000 Grant The Lackawanna College Sonography program is excited to announce it has received a grant award of $35,000 from the Robert Y. Moffat Family Charitable Trust to purchase state-of-the-art equipment. The grant will fund the purchase of one Mindray sonography machine, providing students hands-on training with cutting-edge technology. The sonography program is currently seeking to purchase a total of five new sonography machines to meet the demand of its recently expanded cohort sizes and to replace older equipment. The grant award will help achieve this goal with the purchase of one new Mindray machine. “Securing new equipment for the program is as essential as having current books for the classroom, without the machines for our students to learn on were missing one half of the picture,” said Mary Kay DelRosso, Assistant Director of Sonography at Lackawanna College. “We can teach them the mechanical and informational aspects of sonography but until they apply it to the scan, it’s of no value to them.” The college’s sonography program has grown rapidly over the past several years. Between 2022 to 2024 the sonography program as whole has experienced a six-fold increase in its enrollment in both Cardiac and Vascular Sonography programs, along with the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program tripling its enrollment. “We’ve seen about an 80% increase in enrollment this semester over our previous semester and had to increase our max capacity of students in the program to 30,” said DelRosso. “This grant is also helping increase the number of machines we have and allows our increased number of students to spend time on these machines. We need to make sure they receive practical and efficient experience on the machines. In order for that to happen we need to have more machines in the room to meet the demands of all the new students.” The Sonography Program at Lackawanna College serves both its learners and the wider local community of patients by readying qualified healthcare professionals to fill these in-demand, frontline positions in the medical field. The purchase of new equipment through the grant is part of a greater expansion in the program to train students into workforce ready graduates. The Lackawanna College Sonography program was notified of this grant award on November 15, 2024 and the program will likely purchase the new equipment in early 2025. “I know I speak for everyone in the department, including the students, that we are very grateful for these kind of donations. Being able to put the students on new machines and make them well-prepared after graduation is the core of our program,” said DelRosso.
Johnson College Announces the President’s List Dr. Katie Pittelli, President & CEO of Johnson College, has announced the President’s List of students who have completed the 2024 Fall Semester with a grade point average of 3.70 or higher. Edgar Acevedo, Electrical Construction Technology, Scranton, PA; Anthony Agrella, Electrical Construction Technology, Pittston, PA; Zekiel Alejandrez, Physical Therapist Assistant, Greentown, PA Holden Aylesworth, Computer Information Technology, Nicholson, PA; Charlize Barhite, Veterinary Nursing, Clifford Twp., PA; Tiffany Beckham, Radiologic Technology, Scranton, PA; Colleen Cannon-Augustine, Physical Therapist Assistant, Jenkins Twp., PA; Brady Carpenter, Computer Information Technology, Clarks Summit, PA; Cole Chesna, Welding Fabrication & Manufacturing Technology, Honesdale, PA; Ashlee Coe, Veterinary Nursing, Hawley, PA; Matthew Collier, Architectural Drafting & Design Technology, Throop, PA; Cameron Collins, Electrical Construction Technology, Jermyn, PA; Kenneth Cotton, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Clifford Twp., PA; Emma Danowsky, Veterinary Nursing, Lewisburg, PA; Gerard Dolinsky, Diesel Truck Technology, Scott Twp., PA; Andi Fedorchak, Welding Fabrication & Manufacturing Technology, Carbondale, PA; Alec Fisher, Automotive Technology, West Wyoming, PA; Ethan Gardiner, Electrical Construction Technology, Summit Hill, PA; Hanaa Gohsler, Architectural Drafting & Design Technology, Dickson City, PA; Jennifer Gonzalez Rodriguez, Radiologic Technology, Scranton, PA; James Hancock, Automotive Technology, Clarks Green, PA; Cameron Hedgelon, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Honesdale, PA; Emanuel Hernandez, Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology, Scranton, PA: Jacob Holmes, Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology, Dalton, PA; Brooke Iverson, Physical Therapist Assistant, Wilkes-Barre, PA; Michael Kishel, Computer Information Technology, Pittston, PA; Steven Kollar, Computer Information Technology, Trucksville, PA; Henry Korman, Electrical Construction Technology, Lakeville, PA; Harrison Kubilus, Electrical Construction Technology, Scranton, PA; Skyler LeClere, Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology, Beach Lake, PA; Anthony Lemobruni, Aviation Technology, Moscow, PA; Corey Lesnefsky, Diesel Truck Technology, Olyphant, PA; Lucas Lorenzetto, Automotive Technology, Throop, PA; Paul MacDonald, Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology, Scranton, PA; Daniel Marcus, Electrical Construction Technology, Greeley, PA; Jessica Miller, Veterinary Nursing, Mechanicsburg, PA; Carter Mistishin, Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology, Lake Ariel, PA; Tyler Moskosky, Architectural Drafting & Design Technology, Simpson, PA; Sean Munson, Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology, Nanticoke, PA; Weston Nugent, Diesel Truck Technology, Lake Ariel, PA; Edward Peguero, Automotive Technology, Scranton, PA; Caitlyn Philips, Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology, West Wyoming, PA; Ronald Pritchard, Architectural Drafting & Design Technology, Damascus, PA; Alyssa Resio, Radiologic Technology, Old Forge, PA; Vincent Rinaldi, Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology, Scranton, PA; Christian Rivera, Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology, Wilkes-Barre, PA; Keith Rowlands, Electrical Construction Technology, Jermyn, PA; Abigail Schroder, Architectural Drafting & Design Technology, Scranton, PA; Wyatt Sickler, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Tunkhannock, PA; Caiden Stancik, Electronic Engineering Technology, Clarks Summit, PA; Madison Stashak, Physical Therapist Assistant, Nanticoke, PA; Sierra Stonier, Veterinary Nursing, Monroe Twp., PA; Andrew Styborki, Electrical Construction Technology, Dalton, PA; Ragu Subedi, Computer Information Technology, Scranton, PA; Arthur Taylor, Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology, New Milford, PA; Nicholas Thayer, Mechatronics Technology, Pittston, PA; Logan Treat, Welding Fabrication & Manufacturing Technology, Falls, PA; Noah Wijaya, Automotive Technology, Roaring Brook Twp., PA.
Jeannine Luby Sponsors ‘Laugh A Latte’ Chamber member Jeannine Luby, owner of Laugh to Live, recently collaborated with Scranton organizations NEPA Networkers and Urban Co-Works to offer local professionals the opportunity to warm up on a cold January morning. Luby sponsored the event ‘Laugh A Latte’ that brought together about 20 attendees for coffee, conversation and a sampling of stress-relieving laughter yoga. Luby and NEPA Networkers Board President Bob Courtwright greeted participants.
The Honesdale National Bank Celebrates William Schweighofer’s 50th Anniversary Honat Bancorp, Inc., and The Honesdale National Bank are proud to celebrate William “Bill” Schweighofer’s remarkable 50-year milestone with the Bank. Bill’s dedication and expertise have made him an integral part of the bank’s history and growth. Bill served as CEO for several decades before stepping down in 2013. Since then, he has continued to play a pivotal role at HNB as Chairman of the Board of Honat Bancorp, Inc. and The Honesdale National Bank. “For the past 50 years Bill has led this Bank not only with a strong business sense, but with heart,” said Roger Dirlam, Vice Chairman of the Honat Bancorp, Board of Directors. “We are truly grateful for the pride and passion with which he continues to drive our Bank and community forward.” Kate Bryant, CEO of The Honesdale National Bank, noted, “Bill’s consistent dedication and outstanding leadership have been critical to our strength and stability. His commitment to excellence and genuine service to the community has profoundly impacted both the Bank and the region we serve.” Bill’s leadership has helped navigate the Bank through significant evolution in the financial industry, ensuring that HNB remains a pillar of stability and trust for its customers. His risk-management and service-centric approach have led to numerous strategic initiatives that have driven the Bank’s growth and customer satisfaction. HNB extends its heartfelt congratulations and deep gratitude to Bill Schweighofer for his 50 years of exemplary service. The Bank is grateful for his continued contributions and leadership into the future. Bill’s legacy at HNB is a testament to his dedication and the high standards he has set for himself and his colleagues. The Honesdale National Bank, established in 1836, holds the distinction of being the area’s oldest independent community bank headquartered in Northeastern PA, with offices in Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Lackawanna, and Luzerne Counties. The Honesdale National Bank offers personal banking, business banking, and wealth solutions. For more information on HNB’s products and services, visit www.hnbbank.bank.
