The Foundation for Free Enterprise Education is Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders The Foundation for Free Enterprise Education (FFEE) is paving the way for a brighter future by equipping Pennsylvania’s youth with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed. Through its innovative programs, FFEE fosters a deep understanding of the free enterprise system while preparing students for personal and professional success. At the heart of FFEE’s mission is its flagship program, Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW), which has been inspiring high school students for over 46 years. Each summer, students from across the state step into the roles of corporate executives, working in teams to navigate real-world business challenges. Along the way, they develop critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork skills that will serve them for a lifetime. But PFEW is more than a business program—it’s a life-changing journey. Students leave with newfound confidence, lifelong friendships, and a clearer vision for their future. Many participants describe the week as “transformational,” with alumni often calling it the best week of their lives. In 2025, PFEW will debut a Reality Fair, an interactive simulation that teaches students how to navigate real-world financial decisions. From budgeting and managing expenses to saving for the future, this hands-on experience equips students with essential life skills to prepare them for adulthood. FFEE’s programming extends beyond PFEW. The Speaker Series connects students with accomplished professionals from various industries and youth opportunities across the state, offering inspiration and practical career insights. The Stock Market Game™ introduces students to the principles of investing and financial literacy, providing teachers with valuable classroom resources while helping students meet key educational benchmarks. All FFEE programs align with Pennsylvania’s education standards, ensuring they are both impactful and relevant. However, none of this would be possible without the incredible partners who bring these programs to life. Each summer, dedicated professionals, educators, and community members join PFEW as mentors, company advisors, and guest speakers. Volunteering at PFEW is an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of young people while sharing your expertise and enthusiasm. Volunteers often say the experience is as rewarding for them as it is for the students. FFEE also relies on the support of local businesses, schools, and community organizations. These partnerships empower the foundation to offer sponsorships, guaranteeing that every student, regardless of financial circumstances, has access to the unique PFEW opportunity. Together, these collaborations are shaping the next generation of leaders and innovators who will drive Pennsylvania’s economy forward. To support PFEW or to learn more about these vital FFEE programs, visit www.pfew.org or contact VP of Marketing & Development Scott Lee at (814) 833-9576 ext. 8, or scott@pfew.org. Together, we can empower Pennsylvania’s youth to achieve greatness and build a brighter future for all.
Crystal Windows Launches Redesigned Website National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems recently launched its redesigned corporate website, CrystalWindows.com, with new features to enhance the experience of visitors to the website. The new website has completed reorganized content, new product photography and images, an expanded project gallery, greater product resources and documentation, and easier means to contact the company for sales and information. Besides English, the new website content is available in Spanish and Chinese through the click of a translation button, with more languages planned in coming months. “Last year, Crystal embarked on a journey to rebrand and update its marketing materials across the board,” said Steven Yu, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We engaged MarketSmiths, a branding agency based here in New York, for the effort. They started by creating a new logo, which we introduced last year, and since then they have worked with our marketing team to completely redesign our website. The results are impressive and reflect the extraordinary level of products and services Crystal has to offer.” Navigation on the website is faster and more intuitive, and it has been tailored for several key audiences: architects and engineers, general contractors and trades, and owners and developers. Product information is prominent, with new lifestyle photography showing the products installed as well as standalone product images. Product literature is organized with everything needed in one location, including installation accessory information and “how-to videos” to facilitate minor installation adjustments. Another focus of the new website is simplifying ordering and order tracking. A newly redesigned contact form easily directs inquiries to the right department or sales representative. For construction professionals, tracking orders is easier, with the production status of each order updated every hour. Translated versions of select product manuals and guides are available in Spanish and Chinese; other languages are planned in the future. For homeowners looking to buy Crystal products, Crystal will recommend local dealers to assist them, since the company does not sell directly to homeowners. Crystal has an extensive network of dealers and has included focused content for them on the website. Fenestration firms looking to join Crystal’s dealer network can complete a special contact form to learn more. “The information now available on the new Crystal website has been streamlined for greater efficiency, with greatly enhanced visual appeal,” said Yu. “We believe our customers and members of the design and construction community will find the new website exciting, more informative, and much easier to navigate.”
Colbert & Grebas Nominated for ‘Best of the Best’ by Times Leader The information below is provided if you would consider voting for Colbert & Grebas in the Best of the Best event offered by the Times Leader. The direct link to vote is: https://www.timesleader.com/bestofthebest#/gallery?group=504601 Thank you for your continued support in serving the elder population in our communities.
City of Scranton Reminds Businesses to Submit 4th Quarter Payroll Preparation Tax Businesses Reminded that the Deadline for Submitting the 2024 Fourth Quarter Payroll Preparation Tax Return is February 28, 2025 Entities conducting business within the City of Scranton are reminded that the due date to submit their fourth quarter tax return for the 2024 Payroll Preparation Tax is February 28, 2025. A person shall be deemed to be conducting business within the City if they engage, hire, employ, or contract with one or more individuals as employees, partners, or is self-employed and, in addition, does at least one of the following: Maintains a fixed place of business within the City; Owns or leases real property within the City for profit; Maintains a stock of tangible, personal property in the City for sale in the ordinary course of business; Conducts continuous solicitation within the City related to such business; or Utilizes the streets of the City in connection with the operation of such business (other than for the mere transportation from a site outside the City, through the City, to a destination outside the City.) Institutions who are exempt from the Payroll Preparation Tax as a result of their status as a nonprofit are required to file quarterly returns claiming their exemption. Returns submitted after February 28, 2025, will be subject to penalty and interest on the balances due. The Payroll Preparation Tax is a tax levied separately by both the Scranton School District and the City of Scranton. The 2024 Payroll Preparation Tax rate for the Scranton School District is 0.7553 percent and the 2024 Payroll Preparation Tax rate for the City of Scranton is 0.2787 percent. The combined 2024 Payroll Preparation Tax rate is 1.034 percent. The City of Scranton and the Scranton School District have both appointed Berkheimer Tax Innovations, Inc. to administer the Payroll Preparation Tax on their behalf. Tax forms are available on Berkheimer’s website at hab-inc.com/pptforms. Additional information, including Frequently Asked Questions, can be found at scrantonpa.gov/payroll-prep-tax-information, https://www.scrsd.org/departments/business-office and www.hab-inc.com/ppt-faq. Please direct all questions regarding the Payroll Preparation Tax to Berkheimer by emailing ebpt@goberk.com or by calling (610) 599-3140.
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Griffin Pond Partners with Scranton Comedy Club Griffin Pond Animal Shelter is partnering with Scranton Comedy Club on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at The Scranton Holiday Inn, 200 Tigue Street, Dunmore, Pa. 18512. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through the QR code on the flyer. They are $25.00 a person and $200 for a group of 10 ten people. All proceeds benefit Griffin Pond Animal Shelter. Come out and laugh, and have some fun with all of us!
Johnson College Receives $5,000 from Fidelity Bank Johnson College received a $5,000 EITC contribution from Fidelity Bank to support students in the College’s Industry Fast Track Program. The Industry Fast Track Program (IFT) is a joint partnership with area school districts and the College. The program offers high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to simultaneously enroll in secondary and post-secondary coursework on the Johnson College campus. Students remain enrolled full-time at their high school while attending classes at Johnson College. Fidelity Bank’s contribution to Johnson College is part of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. For information about how to participate in EITC program with Johnson College, visit Johnson.edu/eitc.
Johnson College Receives $5,000 Grant from PPL Foundation Johnson College has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the PPL Foundation to support an English as a Second Language (ESL) to Credential pilot program. The program was created through a collaboration among Johnson College, United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC), Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC), and CareerLink of Northeastern Pennsylvania. As part of the pilot program, eight participants will work with UNC to learn English and receive case management services, EOC to obtain their GED, Johnson College to complete career technical training, and finally CareerLink of Northeastern Pennsylvania for employment services. The funding from the PPL Foundation will be used to support participants in the career technical training portion of this program to obtain supplies and support needed to help them succeed. They will enroll in one of three short-term training opportunities at Johnson College to earn recognized industry credentials including CNC Operator Training, Basic Maintenance, and Medical Assistant. “Johnson College’s Industry and Community Engagement department continues to look for ways to engage and create pathways for vulnerable populations to complete training as we know it can lead to high-demand occupations and ultimately life-sustaining wages,” said Dr. Kellyn Williams, Associate Vice President of Special Programs at Johnson College and director of the pilot program. The pilot program closely aligns with the PPL Foundation’s focus on sustainable communities and improving lives through collaboration with community partners. Through this educational collaboration, Johnson College hopes to address workforce shortages throughout the region, build strong communities, strengthen our regional economy, and set participants on a pathway to fulfilling careers with family-supporting wages.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity Announces Improvements to Pennsylvania Tax Appeal Process Extended time to appeal and new mediated settlement process available for certain state tax appeals. Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced numerous improvements to Pennsylvania’s tax appeals process which will benefit Pennsylvania taxpayers. The changes apply to tax appeals filed on or after January 27, 2025, when Act 123 of 2024, which amended the Tax Reform Code of 1971, took effect. “These are significant improvements which make the tax appeal process more fair for hardworking Pennsylvanians and businesses,” Treasurer Garrity said. “The new law removes unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles – and it will save both the state and its taxpayers time and money. I want to thank Sen. Scott Hutchinson, Rep. Tim Briggs, and every member of the General Assembly who supported these important changes with tremendous bipartisanship.” Pennsylvanians seeking to resolve tax disputes with the Department or Revenue (DOR) for personal income taxes, fiduciary income taxes, employer withholding taxes and pass-through assessments will now have 90 days (previously 60) to file their appeals with the Board of Finance & Revenue (BF&R). BF&R can also grant a 30-day extension for late-filed applications for these types of tax appeals if good cause is shown. In addition, taxpayers filing certain appeals will be able to request a mediated settlement conference at no cost to them. Those requesting a mediated settlement conference have 30 calendar days to do so following the filing of their tax appeal. BF&R also has the discretion to refer an appeal to a mediated settlement conference. This new mediated settlement process will reduce litigation costs for taxpayers and serve as an alternative to formal, lengthy and costly court appeals. Treasury estimates that up to 500 cases annually could be eligible for this new process. Act 123 of 2024 was supported by numerous organizations, including the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the NFIB, and the Pennsylvania Society of Enrolled Agents. The new law was sponsored by Sen. Hutchinson (R-21) and earned great bipartisan support in the General Assembly. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Briggs (D-149). BF&R is an independent administrative tax tribunal, administered by the State Treasurer, responsible for the second and final level of administrative appeal (with minor exceptions) before appealing to court. Its Board consists of three members – two are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate; the third is the State Treasurer or her designee and serves as Chair. For further guidance on procedures to request a mediated settlement conference, visit patreasury.gov/bfr.
Providence Pregnancy Center Opens New Maternity Home in Scranton Since its inception, Providence Pregnancy Center (PPC) had a goal of opening a maternity home in addition to its bustling Resource Center. The increased cost of living and lack of housing have left pregnant women in crisis without the support they need. When PPC purchased their property on North Main Ave, the Board envisioned turning one of the buildings on the property, a four-bedroom home, into a welcoming house that would allow mothers and children to stay together, filling this critical service gap. Casa de Maria will house up to four pregnant women (and their children up to age 5). Unlike any other maternity home in the region, women will have access to safe housing and be able to keep their small children with them while benefiting from a program designed to help them achieve stability and independence. Other maternity homes are not equipped to allow children to move in with their mothers during pregnancy, making women choose between remaining with their existing children or housing. Renovations of the home have been a work in progress, funded through donations and volunteers. Recently, PPC received two generous donations towards the renovations from the Scranton Area Community Foundation and the Robert H. Spitz Foundation. These funds were instrumental in helping the organization finish some important projects. “We receive calls every week asking if we can accept residents. We’ve been working diligently to finish this project, and we’re so excited to share that we’re ready,” says Jessica Freyne, Executive Director. “We anticipate welcoming our first residents in March, so we want to invite the community to come celebrate all the progress we’ve made,” says Freyne. PPC is hosting an Open House at Casa de Maria on Sunday, February 23rd, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Guests can tour the newly renovated home, visit the pregnancy resource center, and stop by Reborn Boutique, their women’s thrift store. Fr. Eric Bergman will dedicate the home to Our Blessed Mother, and there will be light refreshments. Please RSVP online at www.ppcscranton.org/events, by calling PPC at 570-341-7045 or by emailing help@ppcscranton.org.
