The Wright Center’s Mobile Medical Clinic to Offer Routine Physicals for Students The Wright Center for Community Health’s medical clinic on wheels, Driving Better Health. To promote the health of school-aged children and teens, The Wright Center for Community Health will begin offering a new service next month aboard its mobile medical and dental unit known as Driving Better Health. The Driving Better Health clinician team will provide students with routine physicals, piloting this expanded service in the Hazleton Area School District. The first event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the Hazleton Area School District Administration Building, 1515 W. 23rd St., Hazle Township. A second event at the same location, and during the same time span, is scheduled for Oct. 25. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Appointments are required. Please bring student’s identification and insurance cards, if available. The Wright Center will never turn anyone away due to inability to pay. For more information or to make an appointment for a student physical, call 570.230.0019 or visit TheWrightCenter.org. The Wright Center’s traveling clinicians noticed a need for this service as they conducted an ongoing series of back-to-school vaccination clinics at multiple school districts in Northeast Pennsylvania, said Christine Wysocky, co-director of certified nurse practitioner and physician assistant services for The Wright Center for Community Health. “In Hazleton, there’s a large pediatric population that has fallen behind in obtaining their vaccines and their yearly physicals,” she said, noting that Pennsylvania requires physicals for every child entering kindergarten, sixth and 11th grades, as well as any new students enrolling from out of state. “With our mobile unit, we can take these services to them.” In addition to physicals, participants at the Driving Better Health clinics on Oct. 17 and Oct. 25 will be able to get routine childhood vaccines for which they are eligible, including chicken pox; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); polio; pertussis; tetanus, diphtheria and tetanus (DTaP); hepatitis B, meningitis; and the flu. COVID-19 vaccines and tests may also be available. For vaccine-only visits, appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted. For these appointments, children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and should have identification, vaccination records and insurance information, if applicable. Uninsured children can be vaccinated under the federally funded Vaccines for Children program. For more information or to schedule a vaccine-only appointment, call 570.230.0019 or visit TheWrightCenter.org. A medical clinic on wheels, Driving Better Health allows The Wright Center for Community Health to treat patients where they are in Northeast Pennsylvania – from traditionally underserved city neighborhoods to rural areas. The 34-foot vehicle includes two fully equipped exam areas, which can be used either for health care services or dental services. The vehicle also has a wheelchair lift. Since it was put into service in late 2020, Driving Better Health has repeatedly been deployed to area schools, senior living centers, homeless shelters and other community gathering spots. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provided a grant that enabled The Wright Center to acquire and outfit the custom-built vehicle, which initially served to help populations of special concern during the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding access to coronavirus testing and vaccines.
The Women’s Resource Center to Host SANE Training at the Anthracite Hotel For survivors of sexual assault, a forensic rape exam (FRE) can be both a key means of collecting evidence against their offender as well re-traumatization of their assault. In an effort to better support survivors and ensure evidence is properly collected the Women’s Resource Center of Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties (WRC), and the Victims’ Intervention Program of Wayne and Pike Counties (VIP) are hosting a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training at the Anthracite Hotel in Carbondale. There is a nationwide shortage of SANEs, especially in rural areas. Of the 80 SANEs in PA, only one is in the northeast. Local survivors looking to utilize her services must either travel to Scranton, likely on their own without the use of an ambulance, or wait for her to be contacted and make the trek out to where they are. This is especially problematic since time is critical for gathering DNA evidence. And that is to say nothing of the mental and emotional load that puts on the survivor. “SANE nurses are a critical component to any healthcare system,” said Ericka Thaxton, VIP’s Medical Advocate. “Not only do they conduct forensic examinations, collect evidence, and provide expert testimony in court, they also offer high quality, trauma-informed patient care, and emotional support for any individual who may fall victim to sexual assault or abuse.” “This is the second time that we have been able to offer the SANE training thanks to the AllOne Foundation,” explained Sabrina Hannon, M.A., WRC’s Medical Advocacy Program Coordinator. “At our last training, we were able to train 12 nurses but unfortunately within the 2 years since that training, most of the nurses have left our area or begun travel nursing. The response we have received from the medical community about the training has been very positive. Nurses want to be trained and medical facilities want their nurses trained but are often unable to provide the in-class training, so programs like ours help fill those gaps.” The training will take place October 9th and October 10th at the Anthracite Hotel in Carbondale. Broken into four sessions, this training teaches Registered Nurses from Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Pike counties how to collect evidence in sexual assault cases with compassion for the experience the survivor has endured.
Johnson College Announces New Board Members and Officers Johnson College’s Board of Directors has appointed seven new members and newly elected officials. The recent additions to the board include William Bochicchio, Jr., COO and General Manager of Five Star Equipment; Laura Bracey, Director of Human Resources and Operations at Bracey, Inc.; Kim Fanning, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Martz Bus; Thomas Kirkpatrick, Fixed Operations Director at Toyota of Scranton; Justin A. Marchuska II ’94, co-founder and member of Marchuska Brothers Construction; Grace McGregor Kramer, Director of Strategy and Operations at McGregor Industries, Inc.; and Mark Reese, President of Schiff’s Restaurant Services, Inc. Newly elected officials as of 2022 include J. Patrick Dietz, Senior Vice President of Peoples Security and Bank, as Chairperson; Atty. Kris E. Fendrock, Esq., partner at Myers, Brier & Kelly, LLP, as Vice Chairperson; and Nicholas J. Scarnato ’80, retired business executive, as Treasurer. William Bochicchio, Jr. joined the board in 2022. Attending Villanova University, he received a bachelor’s degree from its business school before attaining a master’s degree in accounting/consulting. Bochicchio also holds a CPA license. He resides in Peckville, Pa. Laura Bracey joined the board in 2023. In addition to this role, she has recently been elected as a member of the Chamber of Commerce Life Board and currently serves on the Wakefern Produce Committee. She graduated from the University of Scranton with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts. She resides in Moscow, Pa. Kim Fanning joined the board in 2023. Outside of Johnson College, she also serves as the Treasurer of the Moosic Redwings Softball Association. She attended the University of Scranton where she attained her MBA in Finance. She resides in Moosic, Pa. Thomas Kirkpatrick joined the board in 2023. This is his first time serving as a board member. He resides in Clarks Green, Pa. Justin A. Marchuska II ’94 joined the board in 2023. He also serves as a member of Broome-Tioga Workforce NY, Community Potential, and Binghamton University Athletic Board. He is an alumnus of Johnson College where he attained an associates degree in Building Construction Technology. He resides in both Binghamton and Skaneateles, N.Y. Grace McGregor joined the board in 2023. She is an active member of the community, serving as a board member of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and Scranton Tomorrow. She is an executive committee member of Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resources Center (NEPIRC) and the New York/Philadelphia Advisory Board of the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT). McGregor also serves as President of the Alumni Board of Governors at Scranton Preparatory School and Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. In previous years, she served on the Transition Advisory Committee on Economic Development for Governor Josh Shapiro and Delegate to the Democratic National Convention. She attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where she attained a bachelor’s degree in Economics with concentrations in Finance and Operations. She resides in Scranton, Pa. Mark Reese joined the board in 2023. He has previously served the College as a member of the Perkins Committee. He completed four years of plumbing apprenticeship while working in the Local Plumbers Union. He resides in Peckville, Pa. J. Patrick Dietz is the Chair of the board. He joined the Johnson College board in 2017 and is also a member of the Audit, Operational Excellence, and Governance Committees. Mr. Dietz is also the Chairman of the Salvation Army of Scranton Advisory Board. He obtained his MBA from Marywood University and is a Senior Vice President / Commercial Loan Officer at Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company. He resides in South Abington Township, Pa. Atty. Kris Fendrock is entering her eighth year on the board and is serving as the Vice Chair. Previously, she was the Governance Committee Chair. Fendrock is a partner at Myers, Brier & Kelly, LLP in Scranton. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas and a Juris Doctorate from Penn State Dickinson Law School. She resides in Waverly, Pa. Nicholas J. Scarnato ’80 is the Treasurer of the board. He recently retired from his role as Chief Commercial Officer at Producto in Endicott, NY. He graduated from Johnson College in 1980 with an Associate in Applied Science in Electronics and Fluidics. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Binghamton University. Before joining Producto, Scarnato held positions in Engineering, Project Management, Business Development, and Strategic Development for major Aerospace Corporations spanning 40 years. He resides in the Southern tier of New York.
United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike Distributed Grants at Campaign Kickoff The United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike is delighted to announce the distribution of $63,000 in grants to several deserving Wayne County nonprofit organizations. These grants aim to empower and strengthen our community by providing essential support for a range of initiatives that benefit our residents and improve the quality of life in Wayne County. With the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike’s 2023-2024 Campaign in full swing, these grants were the result of generous contributions during last year’s fundraising efforts. The recipients of these grants were selected through an application and review process, in which a group of Wayne County volunteers evaluated applications based on their potential impact, alignment with our community’s needs, and ability to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors. The following nonprofit organizations, along with their program, have been chosen to receive funding: The ARC of Northeastern PA: Advocacy Services Child Hunger Outreach Partners (CHOP): CHOP in School Pantry and Backpack Programs The Cooperage: Bright Kids Diakon Child, Family and Community Ministries: RSVP of Berks, Pike and Wayne Counties Program Girls on the Run – Lehigh Valley and Pocono: GOTR Wayne County Program Expansion Habitat for Humanity: Multi-Family Home Honesdale Communities That Care: Communities That Care – Scholarship Program Hose Co. No. 1- Honesdale Fire Department: Can you lend us a Hand (Tools) Lacawac Sanctuary: Youth Environmental Stewardship Institute Maternal & Family Health: Nurse-Family Partnership Program Salvation Army: Back-to-School Clothing Program Second Harvest: Expanded Food Access Victims Intervention Program: Victims Intervention Program Wayne County Public Library: Wellness in Winter at the Wayne County Public Library Wayne County Community Foundation: Wayne County Drug and Treatment Court Fund Workforce Wayne: WP Shine United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike is dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation among local nonprofits, and these grants are just one way we work towards achieving that mission. We believe that by supporting these organizations, we can create a stronger, more resilient community for everyone. A Campaign Kickoff event was held the night of Tuesday, September 19th at Wallenpaupack Brewing Company where the grants were distributed amongst Wayne County’s best. The United Way formally began their campaign in Wayne and Pike County as they also welcomed Pike County under their wing of the 100+ year tradition of the United Way serving Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Marywood University to Host Forum Addressing Violence with Bestselling Author The Defenders of Democracy, a nonpartisan grassroots advocacy organization currently focused on a collaborative community approach to violence prevention, will host a forum in response to the growing epidemic of violence in our country. The forum, “A Community Confronts Violence: A New Vision,” will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Nazareth Hall, Marywood University. The event is free to attend and is open to the public. Michael Fanone, the former District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Officer who nearly died on January 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., will be the keynote speaker. Officer Fanone will discuss his bestselling book, Hold the Line, which addresses many of today’s most critical issues and how they impact our lives. Joining Officer Fanone will be Dr. Matthew Schaffer, the Director of Psychological Services at Marywood University and an expert in threat assessment, who will lead an interactive discussion about creating a community initiative to prevent violence in our region. The event’s goal is to bring together the various governmental, public, and private entities working on violence prevention and to explore models that have been effective in other communities and countries. The Defenders of Democracy was established and is administered through the Scranton Area Community Foundation to foster issues in civic engagement. “The Scranton Area Community Foundation supports events that bring the community together to work on solutions that enhance the quality of life for all people in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” stated Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “This event aims to convene the community to work on solutions that address violence within our communities. It is an important topic that has come up more and more frequently in community conversations, both locally and nationwide.” Copies of Officer Fanone’s Hold the Line book will be available for sale. Officer Fanone will stay to autograph copies following the event. Munley Law is the presenting sponsor. While the event is free and open to the public, registration is required. Register at https://www.campusce.net/marywood/course/course.aspx?catId=62.
FNCB Bank Supports UNICO Scranton Coat Drive With $1,000 Grant FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, has announced a $1,000 grant to UNICO Scranton to help purchase new winter coats for children in need at Friends of the Poor in Scranton. “We take for granted having a warm coat when temperatures drop, but for many in our community, this is not always the case,“ said Michael Cummings, FNCB Bank Senior Vice President, Marketing Manager. “In addition to our donation, we encourage folks to drop off new or gently used men’s, women’s, and children’s coats at any FNCB Bank location in Lackawanna County to help tackle this need.” The support of UNICO Scranton and the Friends of the Poor is part of FNCB’s larger Community Caring initiative. A true, local community bank, FNCB Bank is making a difference through volunteerism, donations, and outreach programs.
Marywood University Celebrated EMPOWER Campaign at Launch Event On Friday, at an outdoor celebratory launch event, Marywood University announced the public phase of its comprehensive campaign, EMPOWER: The Campaign for Marywood. The event, which featured the popular local band, The Chatter, kicked off the campaign as well as Marywood’s Alumni and Family Weekend. Alumni, students and their families, faculty, staff, and members of the greater community attended the announcement and the celebration that followed. EMPOWER is a multi-year effort to raise $30 million with three priority areas: to create access to education through scholarships for students with financial need, to reimagine campus through the construction, renovation, and renewal of buildings and spaces to support growing programs and next-gen learning, and to enhance the student experience through annual and endowed philanthropic support. To date, Marywood has raised $24 million from alumni, parents, and friends of the University during the quiet phase of the campaign. During the event, Marywood University President Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D. introduced the official campaign video, and followed its presentation by stating, “Through the EMPOWER campaign, we are embarking on a journey that transcends the boundaries of our campus. The impact of this campaign will ripple far beyond these walls, reaching into the very heart of our local community and contributing to the development of the region.” She continued, “By empowering our students, by fostering innovation and learning, we are sparking a chain reaction that will uplift our local communities, stimulate economic growth, grow the workforce, and inspire a brighter future for all.” Campaign co-chairs, Marywood Board of Trustees Chair Lisa Lori, Esq. and Marywood Trustee Robert Tamburro, followed Sister Mary, with Atty. Lori noting, “Marywood’s commitment to education has always been steadfast, empowering students to believe in themselves and serve their communities…Together, we will create, reimagine, and enhance the future of Marywood University.”
The Chamber Announces the 2023 SAGE Awards Finalists The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce announces the finalists for the 2023 SAGE Awards, the Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence. The SAGE Awards honor outstanding local businesses and nonprofits for their talent, creativity, and innovation. The winners will be announced on Friday, November 3, at The Chamber Gala, a black-tie optional event that will be held at the Scranton Art Haus. More than 90 applications were received for this year’s awards, and nearly 40 community leaders and professionals volunteered to review applications and select finalists. The Chamber is proud to honor businesses and nonprofits that are making valuable contributions to the region and contributing to our overall quality of life. The finalists, in each category, are: Business of the Year BDA Architects, LLC. Titan Tree Service, Inc. United Sports Academy Community Involvement Excellence Alter House Restaurant Sordoni Construction Services, Inc. Tobyhanna Army Depot Customer Service Excellence NET Credit Union Tech42 LLC. TheKimmy Marketing and Communications Excellence Posture Interactive The Honesdale National Bank Wayne Bank New and Emerging Business of the Year LFG Life Fitness Goals Market Share Consulting Serenity Care Personal Care Community Non-Profit Organization of the Year Scranton Counseling Center Scranton Jazz Festival WVIA Products and Services Excellence I NEED A SPEAKER Merut Construction Reed Advisory Group, LC. Small Business of the Year Blu Elefante Events Ski Shack The Training Loft Workplace Excellence Children’s Service Center of the Wyoming Valley The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education Woodloch Resort 2023 Milestone Award Recipients New for 2023, the Member Milestone Award recognizes businesses and nonprofits celebrating an anniversary in 5-year increments. Each business and nonprofit will be recognized and presented with a certificate. American Heart Association BDA Architects, LLC. Fidelity Bank Goodwill Industries of Northeastern Pennsylvania Highland Associates, Ltd. Inspired Studio Montage Mountain Resorts Needle Law PC Outreach – Center for Community Resources Ski Shack Space Time Mead & Cider Works Talerico’s Tropical Winery Tobyhanna Army Depot WNEP WVIA Additionally, all SAGE Award finalists can also win the People’s Choice Award, where the winner will be chosen by a community wide online vote, available on www.scrantonchamber.com from Monday, October 9 through Friday, October 13.
Keystone Mission Secures Public Shower Access Keystone Mission successfully advocated and secured public shower access for the unhoused population it serves in the City of Scranton at its facilities open for public use. Guests at Keystone Mission’s Innovation Center now have access to showers at Scranton’s Weston Field House, to preserve their health, safety, and dignity just as all other members of the public, thanks to a meeting with agency leaders and personnel.Shower access allows guests to clean up for job interviews, obtain job interviews, and other opportunities that would not be available to them.
