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Serving Seniors Celebrates 50th Anniversary Serving Seniors, Inc., a nonprofit leader in advocating for and protecting vulnerable older adults in Northeastern Pennsylvania, will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a commemorative dinner on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 5:30 p.m. at La Buona Vita in Dunmore. Founded in the early 1970s as Interfaith Friends, the organization began as a grassroots coalition of faith leaders and volunteers working to improve the quality of life for those in long-term care facilities. In 1975, the group formally reorganized as Serving Seniors, expanding its mission to include a broad range of services aimed at empowering and protecting older adults across the region. “For half a century, Serving Seniors has worked to ensure dignity, safety, and voice for some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Executive Director David Falchek. “The needs of the older adult population haven’t gone away—and are likely greater now than ever.” The organization will honor long-time advocate Dr. Alice McDonnell, professor at Marywood University and recognized expert in gerontology and hospice, with its Legacy of Care Award. State Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich is scheduled to speak. Serving Seniors provides long-term care ombudsman services in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, advocating for residents of skilled nursing and personal care facilities. In addition, the agency offers guardianship and power of attorney services, and serves as a patient advocate for older adults recently discharged from hospitals, particularly those with chronic or complicating conditions. The 50th Anniversary Dinner will bring together community partners, volunteers, and supporters to reflect on the organization’s impact and renew its commitment to protecting and uplifting the aging population in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Tickets for the event are available at https://ticketstripe.com/serving50. For sponsorship opportunities or more information, visit https://servingseniorsnepa.org or call (570) 574-4045.
Pennsylvania Economic Development Associationto Host Fall Conference in Scranton The Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) will host its 2025 Fall Conference at the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center from October 22–24, 2025, bringing together economic development professionals, industry leaders, and community stakeholders from across the Commonwealth. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and Lackawanna County are proud to serve as the conference’s Platinum Sponsors. PEDA is the statewide association of local, state, corporate, and nonprofit economic development professionals. PEDA’s mission is to promote sound economic development policies, to provide leading-edge economic development education, and to nurture an effective statewide economic development network to foster economic growth throughout the Commonwealth. Bob Durkin, president of The Chamber, expresses, “We are both pleased and honored that the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) has selected Scranton as host for this year’s conference. We are looking forward to showcasing some of our area’s most creative and successful economic development initiatives to many of the top professionals in the field, from across the Commonwealth.” This year’s event will feature several staff members from The Chamber as key speakers and moderators, including Bob Durkin, president; Amy Luyster, vice president of business and workforce development; AJ Cimahosky, business development manager; Emily Pettinato, workforce development specialist; and Maria Day, IGNITE program manager.Their participation will highlight regional perspectives on workforce, talent attraction, and business and economic strategies. Local real estate developer Donald J. Rinaldi, president, BEDA Construction, Inc., will be the Conference Keynote Speaker, providing an overview of the “Lace Village” development project. The Chamber leadership is excited to participate in PEDA alongside other strategic leaders from across the region and the state, including: Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, BIDA, CAN DO, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Lackawanna Transit System, KIZ Resources, LLC, Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau, Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, Penn’s Northeast, Pennsylvania American Water, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Pennsylvania Tourism Office, PPL, and Team Pennsylvania. By hosting the PEDA Fall Conference in Scranton, the region will showcase its vibrant business community, forward-thinking leadership, and unique opportunities for collaboration with strategic leaders. For more information on the PEDA Fall Conference schedule or to register, visit www.peda.org.
WVIA, New look and Big Vision: Public Phase of Capital Campaign WVIA opens doors to reimagined headquarters and invites community to build the future of public media. On Wednesday evening, WVIA hosted a historic celebration at its newly renovated headquarters in Pittston, Pennsylvania, proudly marking a major milestone in the station’s history and publicly launching a $10 million Building the Future capital and programming campaign. The private ribbon-cutting event welcomed early campaign investors, committee members, and special friends of WVIA for an elegant evening of champagne toasts and behind-the-scenes tours of the modernized facility. Guests were among the first to experience the magic of the fully reimagined station, now equipped to serve future generations with public media services in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. The celebration also marked the official start of the public phase for WVIA’s Building the Future campaign that will shape the future of WVIA. The campaign, which has operated quietly until now, has already secured strong early support with over $7.26 million raised from private, regional, and state funding toward the $10 million goal. The campaign empowers further innovation and growth in four key areas of service: Education, Journalism, Arts & Culture, and Local Content & Storytelling. WVIA was awarded a total of $3 million in grants from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) of Pennsylvania for the building revitalization. In addition, WVIA received a $225,000 grant from The Pennsylvania Local Share Account (LSA) program sponsored by Jenkins Township. WVIA is grateful for the unwavering support from Governor Josh Shapiro, Senator Marty Flynn and Representative Jim Haddock as well as from the Jenkins Township Board of Supervisors. “We are grateful to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for selecting WVIA and to Jenkins Township for sponsoring WVIA as recipients of these grant programs. Through public and private funding collaborations, we are truly building a public media service that will empower this region with unparalleled and trusted media content for generations to come” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President & CEO. “For nearly 60 years, WVIA has been a trusted voice and vital resource for our region. This renovation reflects not just a physical transformation, but a renewed commitment to serving our community in deeper, more impactful ways,” said McCabe. “Thanks to our generous early investors, we now enter the public phase of this campaign with great momentum and vision for the future.” The redesigned headquarters is tailored to the evolving demands of modern media and is better equipped to meet the changing needs of our region—offering enhanced studio spaces, flexible production environments, and state-of-the-art technology that will allow WVIA to respond more quickly, creatively, and effectively to the issues, stories, and educational needs that matter most to the communities we serve. “WVIA is a community gem, a gift from generations that came before us, and our responsibility is to protect and nurture it for the benefit of future generations. Our generous campaign lead investors believe in WVIA’s value and essential services. An investment in this campaign is an investment in our community. We are now excited to invite individuals throughout our region to stand with us by investing in our bright future” said Kate Sickora, Chief Development Officer. With the public launch now underway, WVIA invites community members, businesses, and philanthropic partners to join in shaping the next chapter of public media services in Pennsylvania. For more information or to donate to the campaign, visit the official website page here.
WVIA Nominated for Nine Mid-Atlantic Emmy’s August 7, 2025 – WVIA is thrilled to announce it has been honored with nine nominations for the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards, including the prestigious nomination for Overall Excellence. This station-wide recognition underscores WVIA’s ongoing dedication to crafting high-quality, impactful programming that captivates and inspires viewers and preserves the stories that have shaped our region. The Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards celebrate excellence in television production across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. This year, WVIA’s nominations span a diverse array of categories, highlighting the dedication to storytelling, journalism, and community engagement. “At WVIA, storytelling is at the heart of everything we do,” said Carla McCabe, President & CEO of WVIA. “Being nominated for the Overall Excellence award is an extraordinary honor. It speaks to the passion and purpose that drive our entire team. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their creativity and dedication recognized in this way. These nominations are more than accolades—they’re a reflection of our mission to serve the community with programming that informs, connects, and inspires—for years to come.” WVIA’s nine nominations are as follows: Overall ExcellenceWVIA – Carla McCabe, President & CEO, WVIA Health/Medical NewsKeystone Edition Health: She Beat Cancer – Tim Novotney, Director/Camera/Editor Sports – One Time Special The Forgotten Dynasty: Scranton Eagles – Ben Payavis, Producer/Director; John Mikulak, Director of Photography; Ron Andruscavage, Audio/Drone/Camera Historical/Cultural- Short FilmVIA Short Takes: The Secret Beneath Hazleton – Tim Novotney, Director/Camera/Editor Entertainment-Long Form ContentThe Story of Palma: A Musical Fable – Ben Payavis, Director/Editor; Larry Vojtko, Associate Producer/Score Reader; Erika Funke, Associate Producer; George Graham, Audio Producer/Mix; Lisa Mazzarella, Narrator/Associate Producer; Ron Andruscavage, Production Manager Human Interest – Long Form Content2024 Little League Challenger Exhibition – Ben Payavis, Producer; Ken Sawyer, Play-By-Play Announcer; Tom Speicher, Color Commentator Magazine Program NEPA @ Work -Alexander Monelli, Director/Camera/Editor VIA Short Takes #503 – Ben Payavis, Executive Producer; Alexander Monelli, Cinematographer/Editor/Director; Tim Novotney, Cinematographer/Editor/Director; John Alaimo, Producer/Director/Editor News/Program Promotion/PSA – Single Spot NEPA @ Work Trailer – Alexander Monelli, Director/Camera/Editor WVIA was nominated in categories such as short films, human interest, long-form content, and technical achievements, underscoring the broad range of expertise and creativity within the content team. “At WVIA, we believe that storytelling has the power to connect and strengthen our region,” said Ben Payavis II, Chief Content Officer. “These nominations recognize our ongoing commitment to serving as a trusted voice—bringing to light the stories that matter most to our communities and preserving the rich heritage that defines us.” The winners of the Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards will be announced at a gala event on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Marriott Downtown Philadelphia. Read the full list of nominees here.
The Wright Center President/CEO Appointed to National Committee Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the Partnership for Quality Measurement’s (PQM) Endorsement & Maintenance Committee Advisory Group on Cost and Efficiency. The federally funded, consensus-based PQM brings together leaders and experts from across the health care spectrum to evaluate and endorse performance measures. Its mission is to ensure that measures are evidence-based, patient-centered, fair, and effective in driving quality improvement nationwide. Dr. Thomas-Hemak will contribute her clinical and leadership expertise to the Endorsement & Maintenance Cost and Efficiency Committee’s 45-member advisory group in evaluating and refining measures that assess total health care spending, resource use, and efficiency, ensuring they drive higher quality, lower cost care, improve value, and promote better use of health services across the U.S. health system. A quintuple board-certified primary care physician in internal medicine, pediatrics, addiction medicine, obesity medicine, and nutrition, Dr. Thomas-Hemak sees generations of patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley in Jermyn, her hometown, alongside her executive leadership. She is recognized nationally for her work in advancing community-based primary health care models, access to care, and interprofessional health care workforce development. An alumna of Scranton Preparatory School and the University of Scranton, she earned her medical degree as a Michael DeBakey Scholar from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston before completing Harvard’s Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program in Boston. She returned to Northeast Pennsylvania to practice medicine, driven by a profound commitment to the community that shaped her. She joined The Wright Center in 2001, rose to president in 2007, and assumed the role of CEO in 2012. Guided by a people-over-profit philosophy, Dr. Thomas-Hemak has built The Wright Center into one of the nation’s largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums, shifting physician training from hospitals to community-based health centers and preparing nearly 450 learners each year, many of whom remain to serve locally. She has expanded a network of 13 community health centers and a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, delivering compassionate, high-quality, whole-person primary health services in rural and underserved populations. Under her leadership, The Wright Center has integrated primary care, behavioral health, dental, school-based, and advanced health information services to ensure accessible, coordinated care for all. Under Dr. Thomas-Hemak’s leadership, The Wright Center has garnered numerous accolades, including designation by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike; a Pennsylvania Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence and Coordination Center for Medication-Assisted Treatment; a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Top 30 Site for National Primary Care Innovations; recognition as both a University of California, San Francisco, Center of Excellence in Primary Care and an American Association of Medical Colleges’ Premier Primary Care Residency; membership in the prestigious 2024 American Medical Association ChangeMedEd Consortium; and leading partner in the Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) program for pregnant women and new mothers with substance use disorder. Following the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model, The Wright Center for Community Health’s Clarks Summit, Mid Valley, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre locations achieved National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home certification. Dr. Thomas-Hemak also leads The Wright Center’s engagement in the Keystone Health Information Exchange and its catalytic role in a public television-based education campaign aimed at accelerating the wide-scale adoption of local, regional, and national health information interoperability. A founding member of the consortium that established the Scranton-based Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Dr. Thomas-Hemak is the governor for the Eastern Region of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians (PA-ACP), the nation’s largest medical-specialty organization, and is vice president, as well as a founding board member, of the American Association of Teaching Health Centers, which represents community-based Teaching Health Centers that train primary care physicians. She serves on numerous local, regional, and national health care and medical education nonprofit governing boards, cross-sector committees, and workgroups, including HRSA’s Council on Graduate Medical Education, a federal advisory committee that assesses and recommends actions on physician workforce trends, training issues, and financing policies. She is also the governing board chair and executive committee member of the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NEPA AHEC), a member of the National Association of Community Health Center’s (NACHC) New Health Center CEO Affinity Group, Women Leaders, and an advisory board member of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s Health Center Controlled Network. Additionally, she serves as a board member of the National AHEC Organization; the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s Undergraduate Medical Education-Graduate Medical Education (GME) Task Force: GME Growth in Action Group; the Pennsylvania Patient-Centered Medical Home Advisory Council; Keystone Accountable Care Organization; The Institute; and the Center for Health and Human Services Research and Action. Dr. Thomas-Hemak has received several prestigious state and national awards for her leadership, mentorship, and advocacy initiatives, including: the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce 2025 Athena Award for career excellence, service, and women’s empowerment; the 2024 Wilford Payne Health Center Mentor Award from PACHC; the 2024 Hometown Scholars Advocacy Award from NACHC and A.T. Still University; the 2022 Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award from NACHC for her efforts in engaging Congress and expanding grassroots advocacy; and the 2020 Ann Preston Women in Medicine Award from the PA-ACP for advancing women’s leadership in medicine. City & State Pennsylvania has also named her a Trailblazer in Health Care and one of Pennsylvania’s 100 most powerful and influential female leaders. She and her husband, Mark, have three children, Mason, Maya, and Antoinette. Dr. Thomas-Hemak is the daughter of the late William Thomas and Johanna Cavalieri Thomas, who lives in Archbald.
The Wright Center Interns Gain Hands-on Experience The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education hosted 26 high school and college interns over the summer, providing hands-on experience for students following multiple career paths. The interns were assigned to several departments, including administration, clinical, finance, legal, and marketing and communications. Their experience was capped off with an Internship Poster Capstone event, which board members, executives, and employees attended to hear students discuss their projects and answer questions about their findings, internship experience, and future plans. Attendees at the annual event cast ballots for the scholarly posters. Prizes were awarded to the top three vote-getters: First place: Katherine Mena Pereyra, of American University in Washington, D.C., created the scholarly poster, “Advocacy Coffee Connections: Understanding the Big Beautiful Bill. She was mentored by Aimee Wechsler, director of government affairs at The Wright Center. Second place: Noah Lynch of Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, for his research poster, “Increasing the Uptake of PrEP Among Women.” The project focused on educating providers and women in the community about the importance of pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, which can significantly reduce the risk of contracting HIV. Melissa Bonnerwith, grants administrator at The Wright Center’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinic, was his mentor. Third place: Shane Cegelka, of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, showcased his poster, “The Importance of Proper Informed Consent in Healthcare.” Cegelka was mentored by Jennifer Walsh, Esq., senior vice president and chief legal and governance officer, and Courtney Kuschke, paralegal, at The Wright Center. To learn more about internship opportunities, visit TheWrightCenter.org/internships.
The Wright Center Resident Presents at National Cardivovascular Conference An Internal Medicine resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education presented research at a national conference for cardiovascular innovations. Dr. Shehroze Tabassum, a first-year medical resident based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, attended the Cardiovascular Innovations Meeting in Austin, Texas, in July. At the three-day conference, which focused on state-of-the-art therapy for peripheral, coronary, and structural heart disease, Dr. Tabassum presented research on peripheral artery disease (PAD) mortality trends in patients 25 and older with metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of developing heart disease and other chronic illnesses. He led a research team, which included Dr. Douglas Klamp, the Internal Medicine Residency Program director, chief medical education officer, senior vice president, and physician chair of resident and fellow talent acquisition at The Wright Center, and Wright Center Internal Medicine resident physician Dr. Aroma Naeem, that analyzed data using a free, online public health information system maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The team examined data collected between 2000-2019 about patients’ gender, race and ethnicity, state, census region, and metropolitan status. “We found a decline in PAD-related mortality among patients with metabolic syndrome,” Dr. Tabassum said. “However, notable disparities persist across demographic and regional groups, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and further research.” Dr. Tabassum, a native of Faisalabad, Pakistan, developed an interest in cardiology through a combination of clinical exposure and academic curiosity. “It was a pleasure and an honor to represent The Wright Center on a national stage,” Dr. Tabassum said. “Attending a conference with so many like-minded professionals was a great opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from leading experts, and stay updated on the latest advancements in cardiovascular care.” The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education was established in 1976 as the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, a community-based internal medicine residency program. Today, The Wright Center is one of the largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums in the nation. Together with consortium stakeholders, The Wright Center trains resident and fellow physicians in a community-based, community-needs-responsive workforce development model to advance its mission to improve the health and welfare of communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s residency and fellowship programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. For more information, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-866-3017.
The Arc of Northeastern PA Names New Executive Director The Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania, a non-profit organization committed to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities IDD, has named Marsha Pigga their new Executive Director. The Arc-NEPA is a grassroots organization formed in 1955 by a group of parents seeking public education for their children with IDD. Since that time a growing number of parents, neighbors, and members of the business and professional communities have faced numerous challenges in advocating for children and adults with IDD. Previously, Ms. Pigga was the Executive Director of Domestic Violence Service Center which is a nonprofit organization committed to working towards an end to the problem of domestic violence in our culture. Domestic Violence Service Center is founded in the belief that violence in the home is a crime, primarily committed against women and children, which has a devastating impact on the lives of all family members and society as a whole. Prior to the Domestic Violence Service Center, Marsha served as the Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania where she delivered over 20 years of experience in non-profit administration providing mission-focused results through team-oriented strategic processes. Her culmination of experience working in mental health counseling and mental health administration fostered her success in creating a culture of care to further the mission. Ms. Pigga holds a MA from Marywood University and a BS from King’s College. She served as a Student Assistance Program Regional Trainer and Commonwealth Prevention Alliance State Board Member and is a former member of the Scranton Counseling Center Board of Directors, Trauma Informed Care Community Committee, NEPA Task Force Against Human Trafficking and the University of Scranton Graduate Nursing Program-Community Advisory Board. “We are thrilled to welcome Marsha Pigga to The Arc, said Bill Burnell, Board President. “She brings an impressive combination of experience, vision, and energy. Her passion for service aligns with The Arc’s mission of ensuring that people with IDD in Northeastern Pennsylvania are valued, respected, and fully included in the community.” Pigga expressed enthusiasm about joining The Arc. “I welcome the opportunity to lead an organization that has such a wonderful impact on the community,” she said. “To continue the mission and hard work will be a privilege.”
The Settlers Inn Earns Award for World’s Best Restaurant for Wine The Settlers Inn has been honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2025 Restaurant Awards, which celebrate the world’s best restaurants for wine. “A wine list is a restaurant’s identity in print, and this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners reflect both deep knowledge and a passion for discovery,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “I proudly present the 3,811 restaurants worldwide that earned a Restaurant Award this year—we raise a glass to all our winners.” “The Settlers Inn team is proud to be the only restaurant in Northeast PA to receive the Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence in 2025,” explains Sommelier Claude Briere. “We have curated a wine list covering the most important wine regions of the world, packed full of gems for everyone to experience. From novice to connoisseur, there is a wine for everyone to discover, at prices that can accommodate all budgets.” Launched in 1981, the Restaurant Awards represent the world’s only program focused exclusively on restaurant wine service. They are assigned on three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award, with 2,010; 1,704; and 97 winners this year in each respective category. The Settlers Inn has won the Best of Award of Excellence for the fourth consecutive year. Best of Award of Excellence recipients display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Wine Spectator’s special Restaurant Awards issue is available to readers now. Follow Wine Spectator on Instagram (@wine_spectator) and use hashtag #WSRestaurantAwards for posts about this year’s awards. WineSpectator.com/Restaurants also features coverage of winners, interviews with leading wine directors, wine picks and pairing tips from sommeliers at award-winning programs. In the Restaurant Search, all winners can be searched by name, location, award level, cuisine, wine specialties and pricing. Winners are also profiled in the free Restaurant Awards app, available for iPhone and iPad users.
