Woodloch Selected for Nation’s First Onsite Respite Facility

Two long-standing partners dedicated to providing relief and renewal for those affected by cancer are joining forces to create a transformative space – the nation’s first onsite respite facility, For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Center at Woodloch. Projected to open in 2026, this innovative center will serve more than 4,000 people annually and redefine cancer care in Pennsylvania.

For nearly two decades, Montgomery County-based For Pete’s Sake Cancer RespiteFoundation has helped families take a break from cancer through meaningful, restorative experiences. Similarly, Woodloch Resort, renowned for its world-class hospitality in the Pocono Mountains, has offered family-focused getaways for over 65 years. Since 2011, the organizations have collaborated to support patients, loved ones and caregivers navigating the cancer journey.

This joint venture consolidates all For Pete’s Sake’s services into one signature location in Hawley. A $3.5 million grant through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program brings the project closer to its $25 million fundraising goal, complementing significant contributions already secured.

“So many of us have been touched by this terrible disease,” said Sen. Lisa Baker, a project advocate. “This infusion of state dollars is a significant investment that will help leverage the corporate, foundation, and private donations required to establish this premier complex right here in northeastern Pennsylvania.”

Woodloch owner Bob Kiesendahl, a cancer survivor, understands the value of reconnecting with family and self during difficult times. “Since Woodloch’s inception, our purpose and ‘why’ has been to make the world a better place,” Kiesendahl said. “Our partnership with For Pete’s Sake was forged after our first conversation, and our shared mission has strengthened our bond over the last 13 years, bringing us to this milestone moment.”

Set on 32 acres, the 34,000-square-foot campus will feature amenities designed with input from oncology professionals, addressing the emotional, financial, spiritual and physical challenges of cancer in a safe, restorative environment. Features include a dining room serving 60,000 meals annually, an art room, a chapel, yoga space, a swimming pool for water therapy and nature trails. Groundbreaking is scheduled for spring 2025, with completion in 2026. For Pete’s Sake serves adults with all cancer types, partnering with hospitals and cancer centers such as Penn Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, St. Luke’s, Jefferson Health, Allegheny Health Network, Alliance Cancer Care, Geisinger, Fox Chase and UPMC. Patients must be nominated by their oncology team to participate.

Jennifer Coleman, diagnosed with cancer in 2023, experienced the program firsthand with her family.

“At that point, we didn’t know if I would respond to the treatments,” Jennifer said. “When faced with such uncertainty, it was comforting to have a beautiful place to be together, away from all the chaos of cancer, and sit with my husband simply watching our kids playing in the sun, enjoying the lake and laughing again.”

A year later, Jennifer and her daughter Corrine are giving back as facilitators for new families, appreciating the profound impact of the program from both perspectives.

“Our outcomes data proves that respite makes a significant therapeutic impact on patients, caregivers, and their families, strengthening communication, relationships, resilience, and quality of life,” said Marci Schankweiler, founder and CEO of For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation. “We are profoundly grateful to everyone making this dream a reality, including Gov. Shapiro, Sens. Baker and Brown, and Reps. Fritz and Olsommer.”

For more information on how to get involved, please visit www.RespiteTransformed.org.

The Honesdale National Bank Promotes Mortgage Manager

Thomas E. Sheridan Jr., President, and CEO of The Honesdale National Bank, announced Deborah Saracino has been promoted to VP, Residential Mortgage Manager.

In making the announcement Sheridan stated, “Debbie’s extensive experience and leadership in mortgage lending are tremendous assets to our team.” He continued, “Her knowledge and commitment to excellence will greatly contribute to our success and help us achieve our strategic objectives, ensuring we continue to deliver outstanding service to our clients.”

As VP, Residential Mortgage Manager, Saracino will be responsible for the comprehensive management and oversight of residential mortgage operations. This includes the production, processing, closing, and servicing of mortgage loans. She will ensure the seamless execution of all phases of the mortgage lifecycle, maintaining high standards of accuracy, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

Currently residing in Penn Lake, PA, she brings over 30 years of experience in mortgage lending. Her extensive career includes roles as a mortgage loan officer and as a mortgage department manager, showcasing her comprehensive expertise in the industry.

In commenting on her new role at the bank, Saracino noted, “My entire career is about making the dream of homeownership a reality. The joy I have witnessed in doing so, is amazing.”

Outside of the Bank, she is on the Board of Directors of the Penn Lake Association. Additionally, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two grandchildren.

Scranton Area Community Foundation Receives Donation from Minooka Subaru

Minooka Subaru recently presented the Scranton Area Community Foundation with a check in the amount of $47,647 which comes from their latest Share the Love® event where the Scranton Area Community Foundation was selected as the hometown charity for Minooka Subaru’s customers to support during the event. This is the sixth year that Minooka Subaru has partnered with the Scranton Area Community Foundation as the hometown charity to support. To date, Minooka Subaru has donated over $200,000 to support the Minooka Subaru Fund of the Scranton Area Community Foundation which provides charitable support to the community.

(from left to right): Pat Corbett (Minooka Subaru), Laura Ducceschi (Scranton Area Community Foundation), Joe Corbett (Minooka Subaru), Mike Shields (Minooka Subaru).

Allied Services Urgently Requests Assistance for Dog

Allied Services is reaching out to the community for urgent assistance regarding a 6-year-old, 40-pound male dog named Odin. Odin is currently in need of immediate rehoming and medical attention after the recent passing of his owner.

Odin, a friendly dog who has never been to a veterinarian and is not vaccinated, has developed a rash on his back and legs. His family, located in Nanticoke, PA, is unable to provide the necessary care or financial support for his medical needs. While the Luzerne County SPCA has generously offered assistance with food, the family is looking for help in securing a caretaker, foster, or permanent home for Odin as soon as possible.

The family is willing to transport Odin to any location in the NEPA region and is seeking any available resources to cover his care and rehoming fees. Financial assistance is available to offset adoption or care costs for those able to help.

If you can offer assistance or know of potential solutions, please contact Laurie at Allied Services’ Pet Peace of Mind program at 570-290-3285 (call or text).

We appreciate your dedication to animal welfare and your continued support of the animals in our community.

The NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative is reaching out to the community for urgent assistance regarding a 6-year-old, 40-pound male dog named Odin. Odin is currently in need of immediate rehoming and medical attention after the recent passing of his owner.

Odin, a friendly dog who has never been to a veterinarian and is not vaccinated, has developed a rash on his back and legs. His family, located in Nanticoke, PA, is unable to provide the necessary care or financial support for his medical needs. While the Luzerne County SPCA has generously offered assistance with food, the family is looking for help in securing a caretaker, foster, or permanent home for Odin as soon as possible.

The family is willing to transport Odin to any location in the NEPA region and is seeking any available resources to cover his care and rehoming fees. Financial assistance is available to offset adoption or care costs for those able to help.

If you can offer assistance or know of potential solutions, please contact Laurie at Allied Services’ Pet Peace of Mind program at 570-290-3285 (call or text).

We appreciate your dedication to animal welfare and your continued support of the animals in our community.

Johnson College Now Enrolling for Medical Assistant Program

Johnson College is now enrolling for its Medical Assistant program at its Scranton campus. The program will run Mondays through Wednesdays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. beginning January 6, 2025.

This program prepares students to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office. Functions include preparing patients for examination, treatment, routine laboratory procedures, pharmacology, and taking and documenting vital signs. Plus, students will learn the fundamentals of phlebotomy and venipunctures, anatomy & physiology, and medical terminology encountered in the field. Students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties required of a medical assistant.

The class fee is $6,000 and is approved by PA CareerLink for those eligible for funding through their local CareerLink.

To learn more or to enroll in the Medical Assistant course, visit https://johnson.edu/continuing-ed/medical-assistant/ or contact the College’s Continuing Education department at continuinged@johnson.edu.

Misericordia University to Honor Dr. Mary McAleese at Winter 2024 Commencement

Misericordia University is proud to announce that Dr. Mary McAleese, the first President of Ireland from Northern Ireland and a renowned advocate for peace and social justice, will be the commencement honoree at the university’s Winter Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, December 15, 2024. McAleese will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree during the ceremony. 

Dr. McAleese served as President from 1997 to 2011, during which she championed the theme of “Building Bridges.” Her presidency was marked by significant contributions to peace and reconciliation in Ireland, including the historic state visit of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 2011. With a rich background as a barrister, journalist, and educator, Dr. McAleese has made lasting impacts in the fields of law and social justice.

Born in Belfast in 1951, Dr. McAleese was the eldest of nine children and grew up in a challenging environment during The Troubles. Her commitment to social justice led her to co-found several organizations, including Belfast Women’s Aid and the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform. She has authored multiple books, including “Reconciled Being: Love in Chaos” and “Here’s the Story: A Memoir.”

In addition to her presidential duties, Dr. McAleese has held prominent academic positions, including Reid Professor of Criminal Law at Trinity College Dublin and Chair of the Von Hugel Institute at Cambridge University. She is a recognized leader in higher education, having chaired the European Union Commission’s High Level Group on the Modernization of Higher Education.

Misericordia University looks forward to celebrating Dr. McAleese’s achievements and contributions to society during the commencement ceremony. It will be livestreamed on YouTube beginning at 2:00 p.m. A schedule of commencement-related information and events can be found by clicking here.

Keystone Mission: Giving Thanks Despite the Circumstances

Before being served a Thanksgiving Meal, guests at Keystone Mission’s Scranton Innovation Center location stood in front of their peers to give thanks.

To encourage an atmosphere of gratefulness, staff asked if anyone wanted to share what they were thankful for. Several individuals who were waiting for a meal rose their hand to talk about what God has been doing in their life despite their current circumstance.

One guest gave glory to God about finally being cancer free. Another encouraged those around her that real community is found “the walls of Keystone Mission.”

“Though we may think without a home or stable job, there wouldn’t be much to be thankful for. Their testimonies were eye opening, and I believe it gave everyone in that room – volunteers, staff, other guests – a new perspective on their own situation,” says Jillian Mirro, Communications & Marketing Manager.

In total Keystone Mission served over 280 meals across their locations in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre for Thanksgiving.

“We are grateful to each volunteer who assisted in serving and prepping a dish for our guests. This means so much to our guests. It’s amazing how a simple act of kindness can go a long way during the holiday season,” says Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Executive Director.

Tobyhanna Army Depot Recognizes Supervisor for Leadership Excellence

Respect, trust, and accountability – Gilchrist earns Supervisor of the Quarter through expertise and values

For his strong leadership, subject matter expertise, and stabilization of a crucial depot program, Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) Tactical Missile Branch Chief Don Gilchrist has been named TYAD’s latest Supervisor of the Quarter.

Over the course of a three-decade career, Gilchrist has worn many hats. An Air Force veteran, Gilchrist carried on his family’s tradition of service to our nation. He served and worked for the Air Force for 16 years before joining the ranks of Team Tobyhanna as an Army civilian over a decade ago.

Gilchrist’s appointment as Tactical Missile Branch Chief is the latest chapter of an accomplished and dynamic depot career that has included time spent in tactical radio, satellite communications, and in Sidewinder missiles as both a Production Controller and most recently as a Logistics Management Specialist. As branch chief, Gilchrist oversees three weapons programs – Sidewinder, Maverick, and Harpoon.

Gilchrist’s approach to ensuring the branch is successful in completing its mission of providing readiness to our warfighters is two-pronged. Gilchrist first relies on his depot experience, in addition to his Air Force munitions experience, as a firsthand playbook for how to best meet the needs of customers and set members of his team up for success.

“32 years I’ve been doing the same thing. When the customer comes in or the customer calls, when they talk about the program and things that they need, I totally understand where they’re coming from,” said Gilchrist. “In the same way, I can look at my employees and understand where they’re coming from and say, ‘I was where you are.’”

Perhaps, most importantly, Gilchrist’s experience has been instrumental in shaping his leadership style.

“It’s like [Tobyhanna Army Depot Deputy Commander] Rob Lantka says, and it’s right from the military – respect, trust, accountability – I expect that in my workers, and my workers should expect that in me. Accountability is very important – we all have a mission to do, and we owe it to the warfighter to deliver a top product.”

Gilchrist believes in order to be a successful leader, create a positive workplace, and in turn maximize efficiency, one must seek to understand their employees while maintaining a healthy supervisor-employee relationship.

“I understand you have a supervisor side to things, and you have to be the supervisor. But learning our people is a component, I believe, of being a good supervisor. They’re not just a name, they’re just not a number on a form that you sign – they are human beings, and you have to establish those relationships.”

When the branch was in need of a leader and at risk of falling behind on orders, depot leadership knew Gilchrist’s extensive knowledge and commitment to the values of respect, trust, and accountability made him an ideal candidate. After agreeing to an initial 120-day assignment, 120 became 240, and 240 became 360 until the position was posted and earned by Gilchrist.

In nominating Gilchrist for the Supervisor of the Quarter award, TYAD Avionics Division Chief John Stochla said, due in large part to Gilchrist’s leadership, the branch has enjoyed improved performance. A particular point of pride is the Sidewinder workload meeting its performance-to-promise schedules and assets per month goals, despite past challenges including parts obsolescence, lightning delays, humidity control issues, and test equipment sustainment issues.

Stochla said Gilchrist’s expertise and leadership style work in harmony to foster a healthy working environment in which employees can enjoy their work while best supporting our nation’s warfighters.

“As a subject matter expert from his years of working in the shop and his time as the Logistics Management Specialist for the Sidewinder Program, he is uniquely qualified to oversee this complex workload. Due to this experience, he has been able to identify bottlenecks in the process and make timely decisions to address them,” said Stochla. “Don promotes teamwork and employee development and displays a high level of energy and enthusiasm. He gives direction, provides guidance, and fields any questions or concerns that his employees might have. He takes the time to listen to their concerns and takes appropriate action. He passes information up to keep his chain of command informed, whether it is a good or bad news story. He exemplifies the Army core values, and it shows. He is respected by his peers and employees.”

Gilchrist said he owes a great deal of the success he has enjoyed to his team and tries to pay it forward every chance he gets.

“I can sit there as supervisor and say do this, do that, or puff myself up – it means absolutely nothing. You have to have a good team, and I have a great team. I can’t say enough good things about them and the hours that they put in,” said Gilchrist.

“I’ve had a lot of good mentors over time to say go this direction or try this or try that. And I’ve tried to do that same thing with the younger employees I have to give them direction because they’re the future, and I want to empower them to say you can do whatever you want.”

When he’s not at Tobyhanna, Gilchrist enjoys camping and serves as the Pastor of Lakeville Community Church in Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania.

Friendship House Awarded Grant for ABA Staff Recruitment

Friendship House ABA Program Awarded Staff Recruitment Initiative – NEHC Foundation Grant

Friendship House was recently awarded a three-year grant from the Northeast Health Care Foundation in the amount of $45,000 to support its efforts to recruit and retain staff working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This grant will provide one-time sign on bonuses for both clinical staff and direct care staff hired by Friendship House.

According to Alex J. Hazzouri, President/CEO at Friendship House “this grant through the Northeast Health Care Foundation is critically important to support our efforts to recruit staff to work in our Autism Center and community-based programs serving children with autism. Staffing these programs has been a challenge for all agencies. Through this grant, Friendship House is optimistic we will be able to hire additional staff, enabling us to provide these critical services to more children in Lackawanna County”.

Friendship House, well known for its services provided to children with ASD and their families provides these services in a state-of-the-art Center located on East Mountain in Scranton. The Center provides a structured day program for children 18 months to 7 years of age, delivering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services during the child’s developmental years. This early intervention initiative is viewed as a critical step to position the child to achieve their full potential as they move into the school setting.

The Friendship House Autism Center provides one-to-one staffing when needed and group services for those children needing less support. The program is clinically supervised by four Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBAs) who develop individualized treatment plans and provide clinical support to the staff delivering direct care services. The BCBAs and other clinical staff also work closely with the child’s family to ensure skill development within the Center is transferred to the home settings.

As the child prepares to graduate from the Center Program to enter a school district program, the BCBAs and other clinical staff work closely with the child, family and school district to develop a transition plan for the child which may include the provision of Friendship House staff supporting the child in their new school district program.

The Wright Center – “Prioritize Vaccine as Peak Flu Season Approaches”

William Dempsey, M.D., serves as chief population health value-based care officer for The Wright Center. He provides comprehensive whole-person primary health services as a board-certified family medicine physician and serves as medical director at The Wright Center for Community Health Clarks Summit.

It’s great that we’re now fully into the holiday season. Not so great – ‘tis also the season for highly contagious respiratory illnesses.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I can’t implore you enough to go out and get up to speed on your flu vaccination. It’s safe, it works, and it will keep you and your loved ones from getting sick.

As it happens, this week is National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 2-6). Coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the annual observance serves as a helpful reminder to people that there’s still time to get your flu shot this season.

Flu season usually begins around late September or early October, which is actually the ideal time to get vaccinated. From there, it increasingly accelerates until it peaks between December and February. In some years, infections can even occur as late as May.

Flu symptoms typically surface within a couple of days, and the virus shares many of the same effects as COVID, including fever, chills, dry cough, body aches, headaches, stuffy/runny nose, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

The best thing you can do to protect yourself from the flu – and minimize its symptoms if you do contract it – is to get the annual flu shot, which allows protective antibodies to develop in your body within two weeks or so of vaccination.

The flu vaccine is available to anyone ages 6 months and older, and CDC studies have shown that vaccination reduces the risk of contracting the illness by about 40% to 60% among the general public. For the 2024-2025 flu season, all vaccines in the United States are “trivalent” vaccines, meaning they protect against three different influenza viruses: an influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and an influenza B/Victoria virus.

For certain vulnerable populations, vaccination is especially critical given the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and even death. Among those people are pregnant women, young children, adults ages 65 and older, and those with serious health conditions like cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, asthma, and kidney disease. Every year, thousands of children are hospitalized with severe flu, according to the CDC.

We at The Wright Center for Community Health take flu vaccinations very seriously. We’re now providing flu shots at all of our locations throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. To schedule an office visit that includes vaccination, call 570-230-0019 or go online to use the express scheduling system at TheWrightCenter.org.

I should also mention that many local pharmacies offer free flu shots to insured customers, and numerous local employers provide flu vaccinations as a free service to their workers.

The holidays are a wonderful time, and you certainly don’t want a case of the flu to upend your fun plans.  So, get your flu shot – it’s safe, effective, readily available, and one of the best gifts you can give yourself and others this season.