July 2020 Happenings Magazine by Happenings Magazine

INBOX Dear Happenings, I wanted to thank Christine Fanning for her dedicated work on writing the Vietnam Veterans article in Happenings Magazine (April, 2020). She is to be highly recognized for her patience in putting all the stories together and really searching the souls of us who served and why we served and bringing out the lives before and after their service. Wonderful job. –Jim Gray Dear Happenings, Greetings. Thank you for writing about “Hymns and Hymn writers,” and the value they offer especially in these so uncertain days. Someone once said “The hymnal is the layman’s theology book,” and the hymn you sited “O God Our Help in Ages Past,” by Isaac Watts is the best example of Theology For Today! –By His Grace, –Rev. William A. Jones –United Methodist Church, Ret. Dear Happenings, I am a volunteer at State Theatre and was even featured in Happenings once for the Volunteer Spotlight. I always try to look at the magazine at State Theatre and just love the stories. I realized I needed to order a subscription so that I can now have my own copy, all to myself mailed to my home. –Rosamaria Donchez –Bethlehem Dear Happenings, I have to reach out and let you know what a wonderful job you and your editor did on the development of our VNA editorial and ad (May, 2020.) We all loved it! Thank you again for a job well done! –All my best,, –Hope Wormuth –VNA Hospice & Home Health of Lackawanna County

Publisher Art Director Associate Art Director

Paula Rochon Mackarey Lisa Kalaha Ragnacci Peter Salerno

Bookkeeper

Mary Theresa Fielding

Contributors

Christine Fanning Ben Freda Katie Goldovich Melissa Sanko Hayhoe Matthew Jellock Mary Joyce

Account Representative Linette Manley l_manley@happeningsmagazinepa.com

(570) 587-3532 On the Cover: Fond memories of family times spent at local lakes was the inspiration behind the artwork of recent Western Wayne High School graduate Rebecca Klemovich. Published Monthly. Also read at HappeningsPA.com ©2020 HAPPENINGS MAGAZINE All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any process except with written permission.

Happenings Magazine published since 1969 Phone: (570) 587-3532

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CORRECTION The June issue incorrectly referred to the president of Lackawanna College as Dr. Volk. President Volk is actually working toward his doctorate degree. –ED 4

July 2020

contents J U LY

2020

Summer Lovin’ Soak up the sun with life on the lake.

Here Fishy Create fishing tale memories on Lake Cayuga.

Year of the Nurse Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale.

In Focus Jim Ruane’s dedication to Happenings, behind the lens.

Biking Bests Ditch the road, take the trail!

Summer Belles Take a walk down the aisle with this Summer wedding.

Summer Dessert Use what’s in season to create these fruit crisps.

July 2020

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sunday

monday

tuesday

July

wednesday

thursday

friday

saturday

The Zip Code system is introduced on this day in 1963 Canada Day

Dolly the sheep, the first animal reproduced through scientific cloning, was born in 1996

Construction of the Hoover Dam began in 1930

The first passport Dick Clark's was issued in 1796 American

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first men on the moon when Apollo 11 lands in 1969

The Farmer's Almanac was first published in 1792

Bandstand premiered in 1956

The first radio was patented in 1898

The first Etch-aSketch was sold in 1960

The first MLB allstar game took place in 1933

Disneyland Park opened in Anaheim, CA in 1955

Nadia Comaneci becomes the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 in the Olympics in 1976

The first ice cream cone was invented by chef Charles Minches in 1904

St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center The cartoon Drive by Chicken character Bugs Dinner Bunny is introduced in 1940

National Picnic Month National Blueberry Month National Watermelon Month National Grilling Month National Ice Cream Month

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July 2020

Dear Readers: hat a great month and moment in history to spend time at a lake. We’ve so enjoyed gathering lake stories and photos from our readers and we are thrilled to share them with you. Summer days are always limited and if

There’s nothing quite like a sunset over a lake to make us pause Throughout history, photographers and artists of all types have tried to capture the multitude of brilliant hues that appear in a sunset. We are fascinated by these spectacular occurrences as they create a sense of wonder and amazement. June 11, 2020 will now remain a rather sad day for me personally. My dear mother, with whom I have lived for my entire life, sailed quietly and peacefully into her next life, after enjoying a dous health, so her departure, took us by complete surprise. My mother often mused over the shape of clouds. As a painter, she appreciated colors and shapes. She enjoyed simple pleasures of stargazing and searching the heavens for the moon or planets and was always fascinated and appreciative of her Creator. While I will miss my mother tremendously and it will be a huge adjustment for me, I am comforted by many lessons, beliefs and a lifetime of days that we shared together. Adapting to new ways in 2020 seems to have no limit! Once we think we’ve seen it all, along comes another news story that makes our jaws drop open. It’s no wonder that anxiety and depression issues may be on the rise. I believe circumstances force us to wonder where and how solutions can come about. My mother’s life was an example to me, that when I am at a answers. Sometimes a sunset reminds us of the direction in which we need to look. Cheers to you, our dear readers for a peaceful, beautiful and healthy July. Here’s to stargazing, making s’mores under the moonlight and making a big splash into a lake. Dive in and make this July your most fun yet. With Much Love,

Paula Paula Rochon Mackarey, Publisher 1994-Present

Lake Stories

I t isn’t unusual for us to take a call from a concerned camper in the wee hours of the morning. That is exactly what happened one July morning. I had just tucked into bed when the phone rang at 3 a.m. An irate camper asked plaintively, “Can you please turn off your PA system. I cannot sleep!” As I was a bit bleary eyed, it took me a minute or two to remember that we don’t have a PA system. I asked our camper patiently, “What is it you are hearing?” She replied, “Re-set, Re-set.” I thought for a moment and asked “Are you camping near the water? “Why, yes, she replied. I then asked, “Are you sure you aren’t hearing, Ribet. Ribet?” There was complete silence. She then asked, “Did I give you my site number? “No,” I replied. “Good!” she said, and hung up the phone. Jan Keen Keen Lake Camping and Cottage Resort

Have a lake story to share? Email to info@happeningspa.com

July 2020

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Celebrating the

memories of the

t’s been said there are two kinds of people: people who want to live on a lake and those who do. This writer adds a third one: people who don’t realize yet that they want to live on a lake.

Take Ellen and Ed Bugno, for example, who were happily living in Clarks Summit when their good friend decided to sell her home on Lake Winola. People don’t easily vacate their lake homes but the owner had lost her husband and decided to move to HappeningsPA.com

Arizona to be closer to her son. Ellen Bugno said she and her husband had first rights to buy and decided to take the plunge into lake living even though “We weren’t sure we were lake people.” They moved to the lake five years ago on July 4 and soon July 2020

most enduring lake

By Christine Fanning

realized that their lake house with a patio, overlooking a grassy hill, garden, and dock on the lake is just right for them. Lake Winola is a public, 185-acre glacial lake in Wyoming County. A glacial lake is a body of July 2020

HappeningsPA.com

water formed when a glacier erodes the land and then melts, filling the depression created by the glacier. Bugno said there are all sorts of watercraft on the lake including pontoon boats, motorboats, kayaks, wake boats and canoes. There’s swimming, fishing, and tubing. The Bugnos have two kayaks and a pontoon boat. "I love to sit on the pontoon boat in the dark." There are about 250 lakeside homes at Lake Winola and many people who live here are retired. Bugno retired from her information technology position this year. Any lake lover has a litany of wonderful memories that have happened at the lake. The Bugnos are making theirs. They came home early from their winter home in North Carolina to help out their essential worker children with childcare at the onset of COVID19. The Bugnos have four grandchildren. Brieanna and Connor often stay overnight with them at the lake. Daisy and Scarlett will enjoy staying too when they get a bit older.

Lois Morgan’s memories of idyllic summers at Little Elk Lake in Susquehanna County may have spurred her daughters, years later, into lake living. Morgan, 90, often retold stories of her idyllic summer days, sans parents at the cabin her father built. She and her girlfriends would float on the water and read books all day. Once a week her parents would bring the girls food. This is what Judi Johnson, Morgan's daughter e-mailed Happenings about one of her mother’s memories: “While out boating on the lake with her girlfriends during the summer of 1945, nearby church bells began to ‘peal without ceasing’. The girls quickly raced to shore and dashed to the nearest farmhouse where they were met with the cheers and tears of my mother's cousins who had just learned that World War II had ended and their husbands would be coming home. Yes, it was the armistice of August 14, 1945. We never drive by the lake without her telling the story, and I never tire of hearing it.” The pealing church bells are an endearing image for Johnson who has given thought to

Harveys Lake is the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania. In its heyday, it was a popular resort and featured Hansen’s Amusement Park, a sandy beach, attractions like beauty contests, music and dances with top names of the day and steamboat rides.

Karel Zubris,

how news spread back then. “There was no mass media, no connection with the rest of the world. The church bells announced that something was happening.” Both Johnson and her sister, Suzette McHugh, North Carolina, have cottages on Handsome Lake in Fleetille. Johnson and her husband, Doug, live on Amasa Hill Farm, a family-owned and operated dairy farm about one mile away from Handsome Lake. She calls the place at the lake her “little escape” where she often enjoys the company of her five grandchildren: Levi Lynn, Wyatt, Ember, Beau and Ty Johnson. “Lakes run in the family,” Johnson said. “We have fond memories of Doug’s family cottage on Newton Lake. These days, they have more elaborate homes but we like ours to remain rustic. When we go there it’s so peaceful and quiet. There’s no TV, no internet and limited cell phone service. There are no motorboats and lots of ducks and geese and other wildlife. July 2020

Plains, said after the war and after church on Sunday her father, John Gosciewski, a WWII veteran and only son, would take his wife, mother and aunts for a ride to Harvey’s Lake. “He was tall and handsome – like a male model,” she said. Attired in his Sunday suit, he would strike a dare-devil pose on the diving board, in an effort to entertain his mother. Then they would take a steamboat ride around the lake. In modern times, the main recreational uses of Harveys Lake include swimming, fishing, and boating. Now, the beach is private and so is most of the lake.

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Zubris relives the Harveys Lake memories vicariously through her son’s activities. Jason Zubris is on Penn State’s bass fishing team and is president of the team. He is a senior at Penn State Main Campus majoring in agricultural studies and environmental science. He competes in fishing tourneys all over the Eastern United States but his heart is at Harveys Lake when “we reminisce about his grandparents’ lovely memories of the lake.”

Maggie and Bob Pettinato’s lake house has been harboring them in summers for more than 13 years and now it‘s undergone a total renovation. When we spoke, Maggie was getting ready for the trip to their place on Lake George. The Pettinatos and their four children, Will, 21; Emily, 17; Elizabeth, 15; and Alexandra, 14, have a home in Waverly and when they leave for the lake they “turn off the busy clock and turn on the lake clock.” The Pettinatos lived in Connecticut for many years and had friends in Lake George and decided to invest there

because it's “beautiful and unique.” Known as the “Queen of the American Lakes,” with its 109 miles of shoreline and 300 plus islands, Lake George, is a long, narrow oligotrophic (relatively low in plant nutrients and containing abundant oxygen in the deeper parts) lake located at the southeast base of the Adirondack Mountains, in the northeastern portion of New York state. It lies within the upper region of the Great Appalachian Valley and drains all the way northward into Lake 16 14

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June 2020July 2020

Champlain and the St. Lawrence River drainage basin. “Being out on the water is my happy place,” Pettinato said. “The air and the water are really clean and the traditions are the same. We know when it‘s time to water ski, jump off cliffs into the water or drop anchor and hike the waterfalls. The kids learned to swim when they were tiny.” “We have bonfires on the beach and there's a hotel restaurant on Sagamore (Island) that we boat to for special occasions. The children often enjoy a magical trip by boat to “candy island,” otherwise known as Glen Island – a very unique island with a ranger station and small general store (with candy) for all the campers on the tiny islands. The Pettinatos are restoring their lake home in a manner to protect the quality of the lake. “It’s a labor of love,” that their children and their children’s children will enjoy for years to come. The house is a log cabin that used to be part of a hotel, she said. They gutted it, “logs were restored and there are new floors, doors, windows, everything.” June2020 July 2020

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15 17

flew by from Memorial Day to Labor Day.” Some years later her brother Lee – and two of his friends – who was then in his mid 20s, bid on the concession and boats at Gouldsboro and was awarded the three-year contract. Karen, along with cousins of the partners would care for the stand and boats during the week and the partners would handle the weekends. By then they had electricity, running water and a payphone for telephone service. Gouldsboro officially became a state park in 1958.

Karen Clifford’s memories of her days at Gouldsboro Lake, at 7 years old are all about swimming, playing with her dolls and her girlfriends and trying to “help” her parents, Philip and Jane Clifford, who were the first operators of both the concession and boat stand at the lake. Of course, she was too small to staff the counter, but “I always wanted to help the adults.” Her parents would “pay” the lifeguards (college students on their summer jobs) in food to watch Karen. “It was just a refined, wonderful and simple time,” she said. There was no electricity, refrigeration or running water. They operated a generator for electricity and dry ice for the freezers and pumped water from the well. They had walkie-talkies to communicate with each other. “They worked hard. The best part about it was that my grandparents

Marie Egli and Peter Clifford along with my Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Hank Adams would help. My mom, grandmother and aunt would be on the grill and my grandfather and uncle would help my brother and father with the boats. My father had nine brothers and sisters so at some point they would all be at the park with their families during the summer. The summers

“Gouldsboro was pristine,” she said. “It was just a wonderful time. People were friendly, with many repeat visitors coming from Scranton because of the proximity and easy trip up Route 307.”

Erin Hennessey Butler’s family has wonderful memories of their summers at Lake Ariel. She was getting ready to go to the lake the following day when Happenings spoke to her last

month. She and her husband Matt have four daughters: Noel, Maggie, Annie and Emma. This is what she emailed to Happenings: “Lake Ariel is a family tradition that started with the purchase of the first cottage by Anna McDonough (Butler’s great grandmother) in 1927. This tradition has been passed down through our family for decades. It is a place for extended relatives to gather and celebrate during the summer months. We have now expanded our “compound” to more than seven neighboring houses spanning genera-

July 2020

tions – all the way down to fourth cousins.

it and it goes by all too quickly.”

Our summer highlights include long days spent on the docks, water activities, boat rides and cookouts. The nights are just extensions of the day with large family gatherings, lively stories, and dance parties in the boathouses. To our family this is more than just a lake. It’s a beautiful and magical place to spend the warm summer months while getting to know, reconnect and remember relatives. It’s a time of year that we all look forward to

For those of us who are unlucky enough not to have a lake in the family -- remember childhood days of trying to find a swimming hole during the hot and humid “dog days?”– swimming holes in our region are at Lackawanna State Park, Frances Slocum State Park, Hickory Run State Park, Tobyhanna State Park, Promised Land State Park, Beltzville State Park, Locust Lake State Park, Tuscarora State Park and Ricketts Glen State Park. H –Christine Fanning

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Get Healthierâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; On the Water

traction from the stress of life.

ow that summer is here we are all looking forward to outdoor activities and nature. Lakes are a popular spot to take in quiet time and also to get exercise, depending on your mood. Water naturally soothes the body and mind. There are so many options for enjoying the water while reaping health, fitness and wellness benefits. Fishing and nature trails are great choices for the days you just want to unwind. Both are calming and soothing and do not require a great amount of exertion. Boat tubing improves strength, coordination and balance. The only requirement for successful water tubing is to hang on tightly to the tube as it is pulled around the lake. 18

Even if the tube flips, you can still keep hanging on but if you do fall off, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll enjoy a nice swim back to it. Water skiing and wakeboarding are high impact, engaging nearly every muscle, thus, providing a total body workout. Not only do you use your lower body to stay up on the skis, but you use your shoulders and arms to hold onto the rope. Getting up and staying up on the skis require balance and core strength. It also revs up your metabolism and burns a lot of calories. Wakeboarding is similar to water skiing in that it is a total body workout. It requires a little more skill when turns and tricks are executed. Both provide a great adrenaline rush which creates a break and disHappeningsPA.com

Canoes and kayaks bring a low impact type of activity. They are similar in that both improve upper body strength and flexibility. They provide low impact cardio on exertion with the option to stop and float along for a bit. A canoe typically has more than one person in a seated or kneeling position and rowing is done using a one-bladed paddle. A kayak is for one person in a seated position with legs straight out using a doublebladed paddle. Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) has become super popular and trending over the last few years. This activity used to be associated only with resorts and fancy beach properties but now has become an activity that you can do anywhere there is a body of water. The boards provide so many health benefits both physically and mentally. Above all, it is a major core workout. Whether July 2020

standing up paddling or kneeling paddling, you are improving core strength and upper body strength. Almost every muscle is used at some point while paddleboarding. Leg muscles work hard stabilizing balance. The arms, back and shoulders are used to move the paddleboard through the water. The core, back and abdominal muscles are constantly engaged while maintaining balance. SUP is a low impact activity but you can up your cardio by paddling for a long period of time or racing a friend. You can also look to join a group class for SUP yoga or a SUP bootcamp. It is a great way to increase overall strength and is safe for just about everyone. There are endless overall wellness benefits to water activities with something for every

fitness level. Most water activities including swimming are great for people who are rehabbing an injury as they are gentle on muscles and joints with improved cardiovascular health and less risk for many diseases and illnesses. Water activities can improve total body strength, balance and coordination. You can also burn a good amount of calories upon exertion, therefore, maintaining or losing weight. Mental health can be significantly affected in a positive way by reducing stress and improving depression and anxiety as water is naturally

soothing. Feel-good endorphins are released from physical activity on the water leading to a happy person. Go make a splash! H â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Jackie Kerekes Jackie Kerekes is NASM Certified Personal Trainer and a NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist. She trains one-on-one clients and does small group training. She has taught a variety of classes including kickboxing, fat burn pilates, spin, barre, strength training, Bosu bootcamps, TRX, and POUND. Additionally, she designed a class named F.I.T. Factor(Functional Interval Training).

MAKE SAFETY A PRIORITY

Visit safewaters.com for facility information

WEAR IT July 2020

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Meet Cover Artist

Rebecca Klemovich

ortheast Pennsylvania native Rebecca Klemovich has fond memories of her years spent with family at local lakes, including Lake Wallenpaupack and Lake Harmony. Whether relaxing and watching the sunset or admiring the local wildlife, swimming or fishing, the lake is the inspiration behind Rebecca’s creation of this month’s cover art. Rebecca is an 18-year-old graduate of Western Wayne High School. She said she has had a passion for art since she was just a child. “My father is a talented oil painter who has shown me the beauty of creating art.” said Rebecca. “Ever since I was young I have been intrigued by the process and concepts of art development.” When developing the cover art for this issue, Rebecca continuously modified the scene, making sure that the piece was both in her style and reflective of what Northeast Pennsylvania wildlife, lakes and mountains would really look like. “My ideas come from my passion to create something with vibrant colors and depth.” Rebecca said. “I work on new pieces and new concepts in order to grow my artistic skills and creative mindset.” As a member of the Class of 2020, Rebecca’s senior year at Western Wayne was cut short. The things she missed most about attending school everyday were the ability to socialize with friends, to finish her artwork in class and just to have new experiences in-person. “Finishing this year at home was much more challenging but extremely eye opening to the everyday things we are blessed with.” Rebecca most enjoys portrait drawing and painting, and prefers to use colored pencils or just plain pen and ink. Outside of her artistic pursuits, she was an all-state volleyball player and a member of Club Volleyball and the Political Science Club. 28

Rebecca lives with her parents John and Lisa Klemovitch and her brother Jacob. Though some of her summer plans have been altered by the pandemic, she remains positive and has learned to appreciate the wildlife around her and the extra time with family. Beginning in the fall, Rebecca will attend Marywood University in its art program and plans to continue to play volleyball throughout her college years. H –Christine Fanning

From NEPA to Winnipesaukee:

How the Lukiewskis became lake dwellers As told to Christine Fanning

avid Lukiewski grew up in the Greenwood section of Moosic. His wife Gail Machinski grew up in South Scranton in the shadow of the Nativity Church on Hemlock St. He attended the University of Scranton and upon graduation in 1975 started a career in consumer product sales, moving quite a bit over his career. In 1989, he joined Welch’s, the Concord Grape Company in the Boston area as their vice president of sales. He retired from Welchs in 2008 as president and CEO. ”My career took me to all 50 states and most continents and I think it’s the reason we love to travel in retirement.” Shortly after Lukiewski retired, their neighbors in Boston invited them over to their lake 30

house on Lake Winnipesaukee in central New Hampshire. ”We had rented a home for the week in the neighborhood with our children and my brother’s family. We spent the day on their boats, kids waterskiing and tubing and swimming. It was an absolutely beautiful day and the lake was amazing. As we drove back to the rental, I said to Gail, ‘I love their Adirondack style home and everything about the lake, if we could ever find something like that, that might be for us.’ Later that evening, Gail came back to the house after walking our dog and said: ‘Remember what you said about living up here if we could find something similar?’ Right down the street was a new home just as we wanted, and a week later we were homeowners on the Big Lake!” HappeningsPA.com

The Lukiewskis live in Moultonborough on the lake’s north end. This is what he told Happenings about the lake: “Lake Winnipesaukee is a spectacular natural resource in central New Hampshire, covering 70 square miles with 285 miles of shoreline. It has 265 islands, many inhabited with large populations and some with just a single home. Some of the islands have small post offices and the Postal Service sails a few antique boats to deliver the mail, which you can also ride on and see the lake from a different perspective. The lake was formed by the glaciers and has many bays and peninsulas so you can explore it all day by boat. At its deepest it can go down 200 feet, but the depth changes constantly and you have to be aware of the buoy system to avoid rocks just below the water. I use a map and a GPS July 2020

just to be safe. One hundred fifty years ago, it became a draw for vacationers from New York and Boston. First in stagecoaches, then rail, then autos. The lake once was full of three-season homes that are now changing over to year’round residences. Today, the Marriott’s and Romney’s have big estates on the lake, and celebrities like Jimmy Fallon live here part time. Fallon even named his daughter Winni. There are Patriots, Celtics and Red Sox players here too, but if you want privacy, the lake is the place to get away from the crowds and fans.

or on Squam Lake, just a few miles north. And yes, there are loons and you hear them all the time on the lake. Bald eagles, moose, bear, and otters are also common sights. Winni is also one of the best fishing lakes on the east coast, with many species, including landlocked salmon and various trout species that grow more than two feet. What attracted you to lake living? Being from Northeast Pennsylvania, we became lake people, the ocean shore not so much. The Northeast

was Camp St. Andrew and when I became a boy scout, my most favorite lake was Goose Pond. At the scout camp every summer, the highlight was swimming and fishing in the lake, earning my swimming and Life Saving merit badges (I flunked canoeing) and doing the “Mile Swim” back and forth across the lake. Back in Greenwood, Ben Sterling, the owner of Rocky Glen Park, allowed our troop to camp in the back of the Glen's lake. We spent much time hiking there and camping out, and skinny dipping in the back of the lake.

Lukiewski family, kids and grandkids,

The lake is probably best known from the movie “On Golden Pond” and older locals still talk about Katherine Hepburn shopping at the local farmer’s markets while filming the movie here. Many of the scenes were filmed on Winni July 2020

Pennsylvania area is blessed with an abundance of beautiful lakes where we spent so much time while growing up in Scranton. I fondly recall every Sunday picnics at Lake Genaro, Clifton Beach and some of the state parks. There HappeningsPA.com

What does lake living entail for you? What do you do frequently/daily? We have a jet ski but our favorite is going out on the lake on our 24-pontoon boat. It’s like a floating living room and It has a big outboard and 31

The house is like a B&B all summer long and we love it. It’s a magnet for the kids and grandkids, and we have a constant flow of visitors – extended family, old friends, lots of Scranton and Greenwood folks too. The house has four guest bedrooms each with their own full bath. Four stone fireplaces and two large game rooms with a pool table and a shuffleboard, and a media room for a rainy day, but few TVs, actually. We want our guests to get out on the decks or screened porch, down to the sandy beach and in the water, or out on the boat.

can get up to 35 mph, so guests and family can waterski and tube behind it. Mostly however, we just float all around Mount Was hington on the lake Lake Winnipesaukee and explore, go out in the evening and watch the most spectacular sunsets, or sail to the several villages that dot the lake, for dinner or an ice cream cone. We have a golden Retriever named Buddy who swims constantly in the lake. Some nights I have to go into the water with a leash to drag him out. He is a wonderful dog and I, along with our many guests like to swim with him and throw his toy into the lake for him to retrieve. I’m also proud to state that he is a certified therapy dog that brings tons of joy to nursing homes, schools and local libraries, visits senior citizens and children who read to him, which he thoroughly enjoys. 32

Lak e W

innipes

Why do you go south for the winter? When we sold our home in the Boston area, we moved full time up to the lake. We gave winter our best shot – snowshoes for hiking on the lake, ice skates, attended the nationally known Pond Hockey tournament on the lake (Ice hockey on the lake) and the huge ice fish-

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Continued on page 34

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ing derby. Even though I grew up in the shadow of Montage Mountain, I never skied, nor did Gail. After two winters we decided we love the lake – for nine months – but we had to get out of the dark, cold and snow in the winter months. Similar to our sudden decision to purchase the lake house, after two days visiting Bluffton, South Carolina, just outside of Hilton Head, we bought our winter home down there. We love the history of the area and live only a few miles from Savannah, a must visit by the way, and Beaufort, and Charleston. We are 20 minutes from some of the nicest beaches on the East Coast and if you like golf, there are hundreds of golf courses in that area. I love most however, the history, Revolutionary War, 34

the Civil War, amazing architecture, it’s everywhere down there. How do you divide time between both places? The two homes are 1200 miles apart. We spend about seven months in New Hampshire, and drive twice a year between the two. We divide the trip into three 400 miles days and Scranton is one of the stops. For that day, we get in some visiting of old friends or family and of course load up the van with Old Forge style pizza, a few rings of kielbasa, maybe some tasty cakes and a hoagie for the road. Oh, and Buddy the dog and Toby the cat.

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Lukiewski grandkids swimming on the 4th of July

The couple has two children, Kyle in the Boston area, and Lisa who lives in Toronto, Canada. Both followed their dad into the consumer products Industry. They have blessed the Lukiewskis with four grandchildren, three girls and one boy, ranging in age from 3 to 6. H –Christine Fanning

July 2020

Don’t Wait! Offer ends 7/31/20

See store for details. Offer Expires 7/31/2020

While supplies last. See store for details. Offer Expires 7/31/2020

1755 Keyser Ave., Scranton, PA • 570-343-1914 Office Hours: Monday - Friday. 9 a.m. -5 p.m. • Evening & Home Appointments Available Upon Request

www.miracle-ear.com Supplies may vary per office. Hearing aids do not restore natural hearing. Individual experiences may vary depending on the severity of loss, accuracy of evaluation, proper fit and ability to adapt to amplification. NY-SPAD0511130642

Cayuga County Fishing Where to Go and What You Will Find

ayuga Lake is the largest of the eleven Finger Lakes, which are named for their long and narrow shape. Expect to find Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Largemouth Bass in the spring and summer. Also find Rainbows and Atlantic Salmon in the tributaries- Cayuga Inlet, Fall Creek, and Salmon Creek. With enough ice in winter, ice fishing can yield Panfish and Pickerel at the north end of the lake and at Milliken Station. Be sure to check out our Bassmaster Elite Tournaments! Owasco Lake is a smaller Finger Lake with a mass of recreational diversity. Due to its smaller size, it tends to be a better option for ice fishing. Look for Lake Trout, Panfish, and Northern Pike, especially at Ensenore Point. Find those species and

Smallmouth Bass year-round. Skaneateles Lake has Smallmouth Bass throughout. Find Bullhead, Panfish, and Pickerel predominantly in the southend. Buffer seasons are good times to fish for Rainbows and Atlantic Salmon. Lake Trout are abundant but tend to be smaller in relation to counterparts in other Finger Lakes. Seek Lake Trout and Yellow Perch while ice fishing. Have your own boat or seeking a guided fishing experience? Charters and Marinas can be found at: www.tourcayuga.com/things-to-do/on-thewater/fishing-charters-marinas/ Lake Ontario may be one of the smaller of the five Great Lakes, but proudly boasts the world record for largest Coho Salmon caught on record, weighing 33 pounds, 7 ounces. Chinook Salmon- commonly called ‘Kings’, are arguably the most sought-after and highly desired by Charters. Steelhead are a rainbow trout with the same migratory patterns as the salmon species. Also find Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, as well as Brook Trout. The whole family can enjoy LOC Derby fishing competitions in Spring, Summer and Fall. Little Sodus Bay in Fair Haven along Lake Ontario has a wealth of fishing opportunities and services. Find most of your charters in this area. This little

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slice of heaven is known for Brown Trout, Bullhead, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass. Even ice fishing is possible due to the shallower waters, find Northern Pike and Yellow Perch. While visiting Fair Haven Beach State Park, venture to Sterling Creek for Steelhead. For a more intimate experience, consider the smaller lakes, rivers and streams. Cross Lake has a unique blend of species with the Seneca River flowing through the lake. Reel in Tiger Musky, sizeable White Perch, and Walleye- especially in the Seneca River and at Jack’s Reef. Common prey species include White Perch, Yellow Perch, and Gizzard Shad, so choose baits that resemble these varieties for the greatest success. Also find large Northern Pike, often in the impressive fifteen-pound range. Do not forget Common Carp and Channel Catfish, which are both large and abundant. For fly fishing, Dresserville Creek near Moravia is a tributary to the Owasco Inlet that offers 4.3 miles of public fishing rights through an easement plan with landowners. Here you will encounter wild Brown Trout, Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout. If species and age diversity is what you seek, try the Owasco Inlet featuring stocked and wild Trout and lake run fish from this and previous years. This is a common spawning ground for a variety of trout species. Find more details at: www.tourcayuga.com/things-to-do/onthe-water/local-lake-guide. H

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Photos: Matt Champlin and @eastcoastoutdoors

Country Inns

and B&Bs BUTTERMILK FALLS INN

Luxury lodgings on a 75-acre Hudson River Estate includes guest rooms with fireplaces, carriage and guest houses with pet and childfriendly options. Enjoy a country breakfast, Spa, Henry’s restaurant, trails and Buttermilk’s own Millstone Farm with an organic kitchen garden and orchard and animal rescue sanctuary. Milton, NY. 845- 795-1310. www.buttermilkfallsinn.com

COLONIAL BRICK INN & SUITES Come and enjoy Pennsylvania hospitality at its finest. Call to reserve your special occasion package. Winter ski or summer golf packages, we will cater to guests all seasons of the year. New meeting room and free Internet in rooms. 25161 Route 11, Hallstead. 570-879-2162 or 1-800-290-3922 www.colonialbrickinn.com

KEUKA LAKESIDE INN

Hammondsport’s exclusive lakefront accommodations on the shores of Keuka Lake. This Inn offers 17 comfortable rooms and spectacular views with an on-site boat launch and docking available. Find us on Facebook and at 24 Water St., Hammondsport, NY 14840. (607) 569-2600, www.keukalakesideinn.com

THE JAMES MANNING HOUSE Warm, charming, historic B&B welcoming you with the comforts of home and all the modern amenities in three well-appointed guest rooms including; queen beds, private baths, electric fireplaces, central AC, TV, WiFi, gardens and more. Enjoy a chef’s choice home-cooked breakfast each morning. Friendly hospitality and five-star service. Honesdale, PA 570-253-5573

THE ROSEMONT INN BED AND BREAKFAST Enjoy the elegance of this 1859 renovated home in the Historic District of Montrose. Cozy get-aways, retreats, parties & reunions are made memorable here. 11 guest rooms with private baths. Lovely amenities. In-house catering available. Within walking distance to downtown. 165 Lake Ave., Montrose, PA (570)-278-7600 www.therosemontinnbb.com

Van Gorders’ Furniture

an Gorders’ Furniture is a fourth-generation family business that has served Northeast Pennsylvania and the surrounding region for nearly 85 years. They source the largest selection of classic and rustic lifestyle furniture in the tri-state region. Van Gorders has three showrooms in Honesdale, Milford and at Lake Wallenpaupack with great deals on outdoor furniture and top-quality American-made brands, like Old Hickory Furniture, Country Value Woodworks, Green Gables, La-ZBoy, Vaughan-Bassett, Best Home Furnishings, Marshfield Furniture, Fireside Lodge Furniture and Rolf Glassware. Also find handcrafted one-of-akind heirloom quality pieces by skilled local artisans.

Bring the outdoors inside with a new piece of nature-inspired furniture or a nature-themed lamp or area rug featuring fabulous wildlife such as black bears, white-tailed deer, bald eagles and other beautiful bird species. Support your health and improve your sleep with high quality Sealy Posturepedic and Stearns & Foster mattresses. Find the perfect recliner with all the right options to provide hours of welldeserved relaxation in your country home or rustic retreat. Power-browse in a welcoming, nopressure showroom to find the perfect gift for your favorite outdoor enthusiast. A caring and knowledgeable staff, many of whom have been with the business for decades, is always available.

Gift certificates (a great wedding, shower or housewarming idea) can now be purchased at www.vangorders.com. Grab a great deal on markdown or clearance items or see an assortment of clearance options on the website. These items are priced to sell and ready for delivery. H

SUMMER FUN

Now Accepting Applications 62 or older, handicapped or disabled. Rent based on 30% of your income. Includes all utilities except cable and telephone. CLOSE TO ALL THE AMENITIES 230 Lackawanna Avenue • Olyphant, PA

570-489-4756 July 2020

COSTA’S FAMILY FUN PARK Offering go-karts, water slides, laser tag, mini-golf, bumper boats, batting cages and more. Fun forthe whole family! Our snack bar features family favorites and Hershey’s hand-dipped ice cream. Open daily midJune–Labor Day and weekends Spring and Fall. Route 6 Hawley. 570-226-8585. www.costasfamilyfunpark.com

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Cedar Crest College Helping prepare for care at the highest levels of nursing worst time of their lives, understanding what they are going through and advocating for the patients in need,â&#x20AC;? said Davenport.

On the front lines of organ donation, Ashanti Davenport RN, BSN, CCRN, PHRN, CPTC works at the crossroads of patients and families, life and death. She is a transplant coordinator for Gift of Life, an organ procurement organization that coordinates organ and tissue donation at acute care hospitals and transplant centers across northeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. Her post nominal letters, CCRN is an acronym for Critical Care RN, PHRN for Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse and CPTC for Certified Professional Technical Communicator. Davenport is on the frontlines of an uphill battle. Her hours are long and there is greater demand for organ donation than available supply. She is regularly called to ICUs all across the region to evaluate patients based on referral and donation candidacy. According to Gift of Life, approximately 120,000 people in the United States, and close to 6000 in our area alone are waiting for an 40

organ transplant. Every day a patient dies waiting for the life-saving gift of an organ transplant Davenport talks to the families to explain the importance of organ and tissue donation and the potential to save lives. She approaches each conversation with empathy for the family while championing for the potential donation recipients. Those are not easy conversations. "Healthcare is always changing and every institution and family is different and unique, but the hardest part is talking to families in the HappeningsPA.com

Davenportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role requires more than an interest in nursing to be successful. Growing up, she experienced great nurses caring for her ill father which ultimately motivated her to pursue a career in healthcare. Her role also demands a unique combination of critical care expertise, administrative experience and a passion for helping those in great need. According to Davenport, her preparation began at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Once clinical rotations began, it was clear that she had chosen the right career and the right school to support her on that journey. From the small class experience to professors providing individual guidance, Davenport was feeling more prepared with each semester. "The professors provided the support I needed to grow as I went through the curriculum and then clinicals made it clear I was on the right path,â&#x20AC;? Continued on page 42

Continued from page 40

said Davenport. Her clinical rotations exposed her to a variety of career paths through different hospitals and settings and the opportunity to choose her focus. She ultimately set her sights on critical care and the emergency room. Davenport remembers, “Critical care is when patients and families need someone the most, and I wanted to be there for them.” Davenport spent her first four years as a registered nurse caring for high-level patients in ER and trauma units at Lehigh Valley Health

Network's Cedar Crest hospital. She then took the opportunity to explore the administrative side of nursing working for the state of Pennsylvania doing medical review for procedures and prior authorization for longterm and home care. When the administrative role had her missing the bedside, she headed to Reading Hospital to care for patients in the trauma and surgical intensive care unit. It’s as if Davenport’s education and experience laid a clear path to being a transplant coordinator and playing a critical role in the lives of many. She is grateful for

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her supportive family, especially her parents Kim and her late father Lloyd, grandparents, and boyfriend, Justin, for being part of her journey. “Once I complete the recovery and know that the lifesaving gifts someone has selflessly given are going to save someone else’s life and I got to be part of supporting that donor and family to make the donation happen and save lives. At the end of the day, that feels good." H –Christine Fanning

July 2020

Maryann E. Cortese-Rubino Healthcare Executive, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono Maryann E. Cortese-Rubino is a professional healthcare executive and transformational leader with extensive knowledge in acute, sub-acute and post-acute transitions of care. Cortese-Rubino is vice president, Patient Care Services for Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono, a 250-bed licensed acute care hospital, level 3 trauma center, employing approximately 500 registered nurses. Lehigh Valley HospitalPocono is one of eight hospitals in the Lehigh Valley Health Network. Cortese-Rubino is responsible for the operational, quality and financial management of Patient Care Services. She is accountable for management of operations, care delivery systems, patient care quality and financial strategies for MedicalSurgical Services, Perioperative Services, Critical Care Services, Emergency Services, Trauma Services, Behavioral Health Services, Obstetrics and Gynecology Services, Pediatric and NICU Services, Central Sterile Services, Care Coordination Services and Pastoral Care Services. Cortese-Rubino previously was associate vice president for a regional integrated health system with 12 hospital campuses and a 550,000-member health plan where she was responsible for overseeing the regional operational activities and enhancement of quality for two Level II Trauma Center Hospitals (275 licensed beds, employing approximately 600 RNs and 270 licensed beds, employing approximately 500 RNs). Prior to her acute care responsibilities, she served as a director of Clinical Operations and chief nurse in the sub-acute setting and has extensive experience and success reducing hospital readmission rates, improving care transition and length of stay, developing and driving patient quality and safety standards of clinical practice, improving patient experience and service excellence, improving employee relationships through engagement, team building and professional development, while meeting or exceeding financial KPIs. Cortese-Rubino holds a master of science with a concentration in Healthcare Administration and Human Resource Administration from the University of Scranton and earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Wilkes University. 44

She is Nurse Executive Advanced-Board Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a Licensed Pennsylvania Nursing Home Administrator. She is currently a Nurse Executive Fellow with the GE Health Management Academy and is enrolled in the University of Aspen Colorado Nursing Practice Doctoral Program. She is a Certified Change Management Associate by the Prosci Global Affiliate Network-Navigators Management Partners. Cortese-Rubino has a strong background in Studer, Lean Principles and Value Based Care. As principal of Extreme Healthcare LLC, she has consulted with acute, sub-acute and post-acute health care systems. She has been described as a visible, hands-on, influential, serving leader and driver for results with clear vision, very strong social and team building skills. She enjoys working with diverse interprofessional teams in a collaborative and respectful atmosphere. She is very open and transparent when communicating. H

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July 2020

Emergencies don’t wait. Neither should you. Visit LVHN.org/COVIDSAFE

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‘Where Grace Flows Mercy Thrives’ –Ikechukwu Izuakor Jill Kuenzli, RN, has worked in the Emergency Department at Guthrie for five years. Guthrie is a not-for-profit, integrated health care system designed to offer patients a fullspectrum of health services incorporating primary care, complex specialty care, behavioral health services, surgical services, inpatient care, durable medical equipment services, home health, long-term care, palliative care and hospice care. It’s integrated approach creates a better experience for patients and is working to decrease the cost of the delivery of health care. ER nurses treat patients coming through hospital emergency departments for a variety of reasons including trauma, injury, and acute-onset symptoms. ER nurses learn to quickly triage patients based on immediate observation and acute assessment skills, then to treat symptoms in order of life-threatening priority. Kuenzli said her mother was the most influential person in her decision to enter the 46

I'm glad that I am able to provide comfort to my patients and their family when they are going through a difficult time. This is far from an easy job, but I feel blessed to have a career that is fulfilling and rewarding. My favorite memories from my career are those that illustrate how one person can make an enormous difference in someone’s life by providing help and support in both big and small ways. healthcare field. “I remember her pride when she became a nurse and her dedication to helping her patients. I watched her grieve after a tough shift, celebrate after a good outcome and always provide comfort to others. She touched many lives through her work and I was inspired to do the same.” Kuennzli said she loves the teamwork in her profession. “It's difficult for me to choose a favorite part of my job.There is an enormous sense of pride, satisfaction and camaraderie when we pull together to save a life. Although it's often difficult, HappeningsPA.com

In a world where knowledge, efficiency and competency is paramount to improving the lives of our patients, it is difficult for us to deal with the unknown, she said. “However, this pandemic does bring to the forefront one of my favorite things about this profession. Right now, what's shining for the world to see is our ability to pull together when things get tough; our ability to rise, to adapt, to make amazing things happen under challenging circumstances -- and to do it all with grace.” H –Christine Fanning July 2020

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Chief Executive Officer’s Commitment Leads to Action ary Wetherall, RN, MSN, HN-BC, and Chief Executive Officer of NEPA Community Healthcare had an appreciation for healthcare long before the official start of her nursing career. She had been a receptionist for a busy Ear, Nose and Throat practice (ENT) in 1980’s Manhattan and even practiced as a lay midwife, traveling the countryside and “catching babies” in her Volkswagen bus.

Inspired by the events of September 11, 2001, Wetherall ultimately found her way back to nursing school at Marywood University and began her career as a registered nurse in 2005. In 2008, she achieved her board certification in holistic nursing with a renewed commitment to caring science within the nursing paradigm. After a number of exciting and transformative years spent in the emergency department, Wetherall returned to education and earned her master’s degree in nursing leadership and management from Walden University. Simultaneously, she became a member of executive leadership with the Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers where her passion for community-based health and population management took root. Wetherall joined NEPA Community Health Care in 2013 48

serving as the chief operating officer and was appointed chief executive officer later that same year. Since that time, she has expanded the organizational footprint by more than 100 miles and, in building on a foundation

tors of Archangel Airborne and as the associate manager of Global Nursing with RAD-AID International. She frequently travels to the heart of high-risk areas to deliver nursing care and much-needed supplies, assess the efficacy of organizational efforts, and apprise the continued need. Her passion and demonstration of leadership by example also led her to be honored at the Third Annual Celebration of International Nurses Day at the United Nations in May 2019.

of primary care, she established additional service lines of psychiatry, behavioral health and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Wetherall and her husband Paul have nine children and six grandchildren (so far)! They enjoy the outdoors as well as practicing yoga as both instructors and students. As a lifelong learner, Wetherall plans to start her Doctor of Nursing Practice with Duquesne University this fall, focusing on Executive Nurse Leadership and Health Care Management with a concentration in Transcultural Nursing.

Community Health Centers understand that the majority of patients lead busy lives with fulltime personal and professional commitments. NEPA Community Health Care maintains extended clinical hours, reserves same-day appointments for sick visits, welcomes walk-ins, and treats every patient regardless of insurance coverage!

She could not be more excited about the future of the organization she leads and the countless ways there are to continue positively impacting her community. She hopes readers will feel the benefit of its presence here and know that there will always be a place for you at NEPA Community Health Care. H

Wetherall is an active humanitarian, serving on the board of direcHappeningsPA.com

–Christine Fanning

July 2020

Why Having Your Hearing Checked Annually is Important here are two main reasons to visit a hearing healthcare professional: for specific care related to possible or previously-diagnosed hearing loss, or for an annual hearing test. An annual hearing test is as important as a primary care physician’s checkup for many reasons:

Hearing loss is often gradual By the time most people notice hearing loss on their own, the extent of that loss is already quite advanced. Even if signs of hearing loss have not been noticed, it’s still important to get hearing tested once a year. If you start to lose some hearing ability, you’ll be ready to address it so that it can’t negatively affect your life. A hearing healthcare professional isn’t the only way to monitor hearing ability. Look for any signs of hearing loss that may occur in your daily life. Determine if any of the following ring true:

a sound is coming. You sometimes think sounds or voices seem muffled or have trouble understanding young children or people with higher-pitched voices. You sometimes have trouble understanding speech when you are not facing the speaker or you need to turn up the volume on the TV in order to hear comfortably, even though others say it's too loud. You sometimes withdraw from social settings to avoid conversational embarrassment or you have had someone mention that you may have an issue with your hearing. You spend a lot of time in very loud environments or you experience a ringing, buzzing or whooshing sensation in your ears. Untreated hearing loss affects your health and happiness

You sometimes have trouble hearing while on the phone or you have difficulty hearing conversations in noisy environments and often ask people to repeat themselves.

Although many people don’t want to believe it, chances are good that there will be some sort of change in hearing health over time. People of any age can experience hearing loss, whether that be from excessive noise levels at concerts, sporting events, or work environments, or simply as a result of getting older. Consider these statistics:

You strain or use a lot of effort to hear everything in a meeting or conversation or have difficulty pinpointing the direction from which

12.5% of American children between the ages of 6 and 19 have had permanent hearing damage from overexposure to loud noise

July 2020

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14% of American adults between the ages of 45 and 64 have some type of hearing loss 30-40% of American adults over the age of 65 have some type of hearing loss 50% of American adults over the age of 75 have some type of hearing loss In most situations, the longer you wait to see a professional, the worse your hearing will get. It’s also been linked to many different health concerns (heart disease, dementia, depression, sleep apnea and brain shrinkage, etc.) Untreated hearing loss can also cause a dip in earning power and create a tension in workplace relationships. Personal relationships may also suffer, as communication with loved ones will likely be strained and this can lead to frustration. Taking early action to address hearing loss can make all the difference. The use of hearing aids has been shown to improve brain function, combat those professional and personal setbacks and improve overall quality of life. The sooner you know you have hearing difficulties, the sooner you can take action and find the right solution. Annual hearing exams can provide peace of mind that you’re doing everything you possibly can to take care of your hearing health and maintain quality of life. Take the first step today in finding a hearing healthcare provider and scheduling an appointment. H 49

Saint Joseph’s Center Auxiliary Announces plans for Summer Festival 2020 ware of ongoing concerns and potential risk for the safety and well-being of the community, an alternative to the Saint Joseph’s Center Auxiliary’s Summer Festival is now planned for the last week of July.

On Sunday, July 26 the auxiliary will host a drive-thru chicken dinner at Marywood University. “This is the ideal solution. Not only has the auxiliary hosted a fall chicken dinner for the last 10 years, but it is also a throwback to the 1960s and ‘70s when the auxiliary hosted a very successful annual chicken dinner,” said Sr. Maryalice Jacquinot, IHM, Saint Joseph’s Center president annd chief executive officer. The chicken will be prepared by Shannon Ives, owner of Mr. Yock’s BBQ, Lake Ariel, over specially-designed wood grills. The menu also includes potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, a dinner roll, water and a cookie which will be prepared indoors and packaged following all safety guidelines. Tickets are required in advance and can be purchased via the Saint Joseph’s Center website, www.stjosephscenter.org, email at auxiliary@stjosephscenter.org or by phone at 570-207-6656.

Left to right: Theresa Gilhooley, Sister Maryalice Jacquinot & Suzanne Fletcher

to share impactful stories about the important work of Saint Joseph’s Center through the annual Telethon. In 1996, the Summer Festival was moved to the spacious, beautiful campus of Marywood University, and one year later, Joe Snedeker, then a part-time meteorologist, offered his support through a long-distance bike ride. Over the past 22 years, the Go Joe Bike Ride has grown in popularity with Joe riding hundreds of miles each year to raise critical funds for individuals and families. “One constant in the history of Saint Joseph’s dating back to 1888 is the commitment shown by the community. The care and concern expressed through donations, volunteerism and charity enables our services to continue to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities as well as those experiencing homelessness,” Jacquinot said.

The Summer Festival has a rich history dating back to 1961 when auxiliary members sponsored a backyard party for St. Joes’ and its neighborhood children to get to know one another. Since those early years, the Summer Festival has evolved while maintaining its strong sense of community and reputation for delicious, homemade food. The Summer Festival is the largest annual fundraising event hosted by the auxiliary to benefit the programs and services offered by Saint Joseph’s Center. In the 1970s the festival menu was expanded to include ethnic favorites and traditional picnic items, as well as games and activities for the entire family. The involvement of WNEP in the 1980s expanded its reach to engage all of Northeast and Central Pennsylvania and 50

WNEP will host the annual Telethon on Saturday, July 25 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Viewers can tune in to learn more about the positive ways that Saint Joseph’s Center is impacting lives. Go Joe 23 will still offer cyclists of all skill levels a chance to bike ride for Saint Joseph’s Center. To register for the Go Joe Ride Along, visit the Saint Joseph’s Center website at www.stjosephscenter.org. Additional opportunities to support Saint Joseph’s Center’s Auxiliary are listed on the website. “Throughout the weeks of the pandemic, adaptability became an increasingly important skill. For those of us privileged to work with children and adults who experience challenges across their lifetime especially living with an intellectual and/or physical disability, we see everyday examples of what it means to show adaptability, courage, trust and perseverance and to do so with hope and joy," Jacquinot said. "It is because of them that we go forward with confidence that all will be well." H

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July 2020

Happenings photographer shares his love for nature By James Ruane as told to Christine Fanning

am a lifelong resident of Scranton. I have never been married, and don’t have any children. I was always interested in art and photography. Each of my siblings is artistic. My brothers Bob, Tom and Mike Ruane were all outstanding drawers, painters, sculptors and woodworkers. My brother Tom is also a talented machinist and Mike is excellent at plumbing. Tom and my late brother Bob had incredible talent in woodworking. I was amused when I heard they were called the Macgyvers by their friends because "they could make anything." I remember my dad, Robert Ruane, taking family photos and my mother, Catherine, had large family photo albums with their friends in the late ‘40s. They would sometimes reminisce

with us about the great times they had with their friends and relatives. My father also carried a camera with him during the Korean War; this documentary power of photography impressed me. So, I picked up a camera and made photos of my family and friends.

Just recently I was looking at pictures of friends at an old swimming hole we called the Van Dykes. I made them around the age of 12 and It reminds me of a Norman Rockwell painting called “No Swimming.” It’s nice to reminisce. An old friend I recently sent the photos to

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July 2020

said: 'We really had a lot of good times when we were kids.” Three of the seven boyhood friends in the photo have passed, so it is good to preserve those memories. My father was a skilled cabinet maker and draftsman and earned his degree at Johnson School of Technology, (Now Johnson College). My parents bought an old house in 1960 and my dad remodeled it from attic to cellar and built all of the kitchen cabinets. I think that is where my brothers got their skills. My father taught them how important it was to learn to do something creative with your hands. I was "all thumbs," so I was more into reading, singing, painting and trying to write. My mother and sister Kathleen and I were also talented singers. So the arts played a large part in my family. It wasn’t until 1979 that I rediscovered my interest in phoJuly 2020

tography. My brothers and their friends bought land in the mountains of Potter County on the edge of the Susquehannock State Forest and spent years building a cabin. I would frequently go along to spend some time in the mountains, trading manual labor for room and board. It was at that time Bob suggested that I buy a camera to document the building of the cabin. I think he recognized I was better at documenting things than at building. So I bought a Minolta X700 camera along with an assortment of lenses. 300mm, 100mm macro, 50mm and a wide-angle landscape lens and a strobe and tripod. On our down-time after work, we would spend time doing something fun and interesting. Hiking, swimming, cooking, fishing, and as young men and women drinking lots of beer! The mountains of Potter HappeningsPA.com

County and the Susquehannock State Forest are a rugged and beautiful place. I liked to hike, camp and bike, and I took my camera with me to capture the beauty of the natural world I saw around me. All types of animals were abundant in the forest; bears and deer were seen almost daily; some of the buck we saw in the autumn had majestic antlers -- that would have made the cover of any outdoor magazine -and some black bear we estimated to be in the sevenhundred pound range. At night the coyotes would howl forlornly and owls could be heard calling their familiar, “Who cooks for you.” All different species of birds inhabited the forest, songbirds like wrens, red winged blackbirds, goldfinch, cardinals, scarlet tanagers, rosebreasted grosbeak and Baltimore orioles, serenaded the canopy. The majestic bald 53

eagle was a frequent visitor to Lyman Run Lake, and hawks and turkeys were abundant. Smaller animals we saw daily, and although more common than larger ones, they were a welcome distraction from our labor.

scape photographers. I studied the techniques used by Ansel Adams, Art Wolfe, Galen Rowell, Frans Lanting and especially John Shaw.

Squirrels, and chipmunks foraged and nested nearby and the occasional skunk, opossum, porcupine, weasel and fox would pass by; at night an army of raccoons could be heard marching through the woods. Cherry Springs State Park was only a mile from the cabin and is listed as a Gold Tier in the Top 10 International Dark Skies Stargazing areas along with Acadia N.P. ME. and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand. Many a night our necks were sore from gazing at the stars and watching shooting stars quietly streak across the sky more impressive than any noisy and artificial fireworks display assembled by humans. In 1986 we had a front row seat to view the return of Halleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Comet last seen in the night sky in 1910. Only a 90minute drive from the cabin was the elk herds that were reestablished in Pennsylvania after being hunted to extinction in the 1870s and the vast and stunning Allegheny National Forest. It was from these experiences that I developed my love of nature and the effect it has on 54

the human soul. I found nature could be visually appealing as well as spiritually uplifting; all of my most successful photos contain an emotional impact as well as a visual one. As my interest in photography deepened and improved over the years I decided I would learn everything I could about the technical aspects of the craft. In the autumn of 1990, I enrolled in the Associate Degree program at LCCC in Nanticoke. There I met an outstanding instructor and photographer who became a mentor and inspiration. For the next few years, Sam Cramer taught me the skills I would need to become proficient in photography. He also introduced me to the work of some of the world's best nature and landHappeningsPA.com

John Shaw became the nature photographer I best tried to emulate. Shawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s macro photography is incredible and I could easily follow his technique, photographing local flora and fauna. Photographers of other genres also made a deep impression on me: Margaret Bourke White, Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange; also, the flower portraits of Robert Mapplethorpe and the color photography of William Eggleston. As my portfolio grew I began looking for a medium to showcase my work. In 1997 some of my photos were accepted by Happenings Magazine. The art department at Happenings does outstanding work and brings publishing in NEPA to an artistic level that is unparalleled. The magazine itself is a work of art, and I am always impressed that they use my photos in the most appropriate and artistic fashion. Over the last three months, I have been locked down keeping my mother company. During this time I have been organizing and editing my older slides for digitizing and printing a portfolio of my best work. I hope the advertisers and readers of Happenings Magazine enjoy viewing my work in the pages of the magazine as much as I do. H July 2020

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Arthur Breese Director of Diversity and Inclusion Geisinger Health System rthur Breese, director of diversity and inclusion for the Geisinger Health System, grew up in Wilkes-Barre and as a young person was drawn to social justice and advocacy. His favorite question was “why” and he knew he wanted to help eradicate prejudice and discrimination.

His parents, James and Barbara Breese strongly encouraged him to further his education. “They taught me that life would be difficult as a young black man, so you need to be the best and the most educated to get a good start in life. They also exposed me to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at an early age and my faith has grown stronger in Jesus, especially during difficult times.They also taught me to respect everyone, especially elders.” As a teenager, he delivered the “Times Leader” newspaper in two neighborhoods in the Heights section of Wilkes-Barre. “It taught me a strong work ethic. Many times, the papers were late for delivery in the morning so I would make calls to my early customers to explain. I liked it (the job) because I got to know a lot of people and many of my customers were elderly, so I loved listening to their stories.” Breese was accepted at Temple University and in 1983, he left Northeast Pennsylvania. “When I arrived in Philadelphia I was in culture shock. In Wilkes Barre, I knew every person of color and when I arrived in North Philadelphia, in the summer of 1983, everyone looked like me. My roommate was an international student, so everything was falling into place to prepare me for this work. My first teacher of color was at Temple University in the 56

African American studies department. I knew from that day what I wanted to do but I didn’t know the term or the job role. Breese graduated from Temple University and Misericordia University and earned degrees in the arts and science. “I had planned to work as a counselor in the mental health system. I did that right out of college but realized that wasn’t where my passion was.” Cultural diversity exists when population differences are well represented within a community. These include race, ethnicity, age, ability, language, nationality, socioeconomic status, gender, religion and sexual orientation. The feelings he had about prejudice and discrimination when he was a child and his determination to “fix” it are being exercised at Geisinger. He explained that companies, like Geisinger, that embrace diversity and inclusion are more profitable, have stronger returns, have increased employee engagement, are more innovative, have improved patient outcomes, better communications and better collaboration. HappeningsPA.com

“To society, cultural diversity is important because our country, workplaces, and schools increasingly consist of various cultural, racial, and ethnic groups. We can learn from one another, but first, we must have a level of understanding about each other. Learning about other cultures helps us understand different perspectives within the world in which we live. It helps dispel negative stereotypes and personal biases about different groups. In addition, cultural diversity helps us recognize and respect “ways of being” that are not necessarily our own. So that as we interact with others, we can build bridges to trust, respect, and understanding across cultures. Furthermore, this diversity makes our country a more interesting place to live in, as people from diverse cultures contribute language skills, new ways of thinking, new knowledge, and different experiences.” Some folks say you can’t go back. But Breese came back to WilkesBarre, and lives in the Iron Triangle section with his partner, Gregory Gonos. “There is never enough time in the day and I always want to do more,” he said. In the year of COVID 19 he has learned to be more agile and nimble with change. “Adaptability is a tremendous asset in the face of adversity,” he said. As a man of color we asked Breese how he is emotionally and physically reacting to the events happening in the country with the police killing of black men? “Not much has changed since the Civil Rights era,” he said. These crimes have been reported in the past. However, what is different is the technology. Technology is the game changer. No longer can you say you can’t believe July 2020

it because the videos are uploaded to social media within minutes. It is so rewarding to hear the voices and see the diversity of the protestors. However, the change must be systemic and not surface dressing. It is nice to see that Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben are planning to change their images, and the removal of confederate statues, but that change will not improve black lives. We need deep systemic change within the educational system. We need to ensure that resources are equal and the quality of the teachers are certified, ensure health insurance for all and examine, expose and address the health disparities. Lastly, we need to ensure that the justice system is equitable. Breese recommends that readers watch the video on the Ted Talk Hour on WVIA, “The Dangers of A Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice — and warns that if we hear only a single

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story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Breese said at benefit of his career is that “I get to do what I love. I also love to help others and change hearts and minds. The biggest benefit I get is to see the remarkable growth that our system has achieved.” He points to his “ beloved parents, Mr. and Ms. James Breese, Dr. Martin Luther King, Howard Ross and Maya Angelou as role models. He advises young black men to “Go to college/university and get a terminal degree.” A terminal degree is the term used to describe the highest degree available in any given academic discipline. “If you’re not interested in that, get an apprenticeship or trade education and never stop learning! Read as much as you can. My last bit of advice is to vote and participate in

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government on the local, state and federal level. He said It is crucial to teach our children a multicultural curriculum. “Unfortunately, students today are not exposed to diverse teaching, learning styles, diverse readings and authors and a diverse classroom. Our students in the Northeast Pennsylvania region don’t hear diverse perspectives so they believe their experiences are the same as everyone else’s experiences. In his time off he enjoys preparing family recipes and baking holiday cookies. He loves to read (currently “Virtual Intelligence” and “Dare to Lead”), exercise on his Peloton bike and spend time with family and friends. H –Christine Fanning

••••• The Trails are Open!

ooking for a great summer activity? The D&H and O&W Rail-Trails are now open as well as the Endless Mountains Trail. Social distancing recommendations of at least six feet apart unless traveling in family groups is required. Dogs must be kept on leashes and trash must be packed and removed. One of the most popular trailheads for biking is in Simpson at Morse Avenue. Bike 20 miles north to Ararat on improved trail, or try the Forest City Trailhead to bike or hike north. The Union Dale Trailhead (behind Cable’s) is a good place to access the D&H to travel south or north. The less popular trailheads are Herrick Center, 58

Fiddle Lake Road and Ararat. These trailheads all have access to improved trail for the best biking. North of Ararat, trail exploration is best done by hiking. These northern sections of trail are less used, but still provide interesting sites and fewer people. Starrucca (Little Ireland Rd) Trailhead provides great hiking north or south. Hike Lanesboro to Brandt A great trail section to explore on foot is the LanesboroBrandt section. It is located just shy of the New York Border and is well worth the drive, whether you’re traveling along Rt 171 or 1009, the scenery is inspiring. Parking in Luciana Park at the base of the Starrucca Viaduct, a 173 year HappeningsPA.com

old stone structure, you truly experience awe while standing in the presence of the arches. You can get right on the trail that is adjacent to the parking area and head left. The trail will lead you over the 1904 reconstructed bridge that lifts you above the rushing waters of the Starrucca Creek. As you continue, you’ll cross over Rt 1009 (Viaduct St) to pick up the trail. Look for the creek on your left. Trees line the way but, look to your right beyond the trees to see the stone ledges covered in moss, holding up an upper trail known as the Jefferson Line. As you continue, you’ll notice it starts to disappear to an eroded area. Be sure to look to the left. In the creek, you’ll see remnants of a turntable structure with the water running swiftly over it. July 2020

Make your way up the knoll on your right and you’ll end up on the Jefferson Line for a short time, but it will take you back to the lower D&H Trail. As you continue, look to the right to see the dramatic, natural beauty of moss-covered rock ledges, a little waterfall and fern gully just below. A bridge with a bench is up ahead; stop and enjoy the sounds and the scenery. Continue down the trail, looking to the left. Notice a stone foundation which was the site of C. Schlager & Co. Just a little further down, look to your right and see the stone foundation of what was the Stickley Furniture Company. A half-mile more and you’ll reach the end of this section of trail at the state route crossing. The creek will be roaring on your right. Look for the streambank restoration project

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with a fence lining the trail. You can continue on the trail to Steven’s Point to look for the next big improvement; walks and hikes along this section will be planned in the coming months. The Rail-Trail Council has many programs scheduled throughout the year, at least three per month, including nature hikes, historical strolls, bike rides and walks. Call 570-679-9300 for a brochure of the D&H Rail-Trail

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with suggested bikes rides and hikes. A series of challenges planned for the month of September will include running or biking or walking. www.neparailtrails.org H

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The merging of science and the arts in the life of Erica Rogler

rica Rogler, grew up in Tunkhannock and appreciates the goodness and generosity of its people. “Folks are so friendly and generous with their time, talents and resources. I also enjoy the natural beauty of Wyoming County and the historic nature of our downtown.” She and her husband Omar Comacho, live in a quaint home in town that was built in the 1890s. They have three pets: “a rescue dog, Daisy who gets along with Mitzi, the sweetest cat and Pepe our younger cat who is full of mischief. They keep us entertained,” Rogler said. Rogler has a degree in chemical engineering from Penn State, following in the footsteps of her engineer dad, Tom Rogler, who worked at Procter and Gamble. She also has 17 years of administrative, grant writing, and organization experience. “My first job, which I loved, was as a page at the Tunkhannock Public Library. I love reading and it was a perfect fit. I worked the circulation desk, shelved books, helped patrons and more. It 60

nity that instructors come to us with class ideas too. If it fits the Dietrich’s mission and we think there is an interest, we will usually give it a try. That is how our American Sign Language classes started, and they really fill a need in our community.”

showed me how invaluable libraries are to communities.” After earning a degree in chemical engineering we wondered how she made the transition to the arts. “I graduated in December 2001 when the job market wasn’t that great after 9/11. While searching for a job, I started working at the Dietrich Theater as a supervisor and projectionist. I was soon asked to help with planning and administering classes and events and I was hooked. Our community is really great at letting us know what classes and events they are interested in taking. There also is so much talent in our commuHappeningsPA.com

Children’s programs have a large following and they love it all, she said. Pottery and Sculpture, Music for Littles, Digital Arts, nature presentations, Trash to Treasures Art classes, Digital Arts Camp, LEGO Animation, Drawing and Painting, Theatre and Visual Arts camps and more. Rogler points to Margie Young, the founding cultural programming director at the Dietrich Theater. “She asked me to work with her the year classes and events began in earnest at the Dietrich in 2002. She taught me so many invaluable skills from planning and administering programming to writing grants and promotion. She and my other theater coworkers instilled in me early on the importance of making programming at the Dietrich accessible to all people in our region. To that end, all programming is made available for free or at a nominal fee and need-based scholJuly 2020

arships are available- no questions asked. Margie retired last year but I am fortunate that she still volunteers time each week to help us fulfill the Dietrich’s mission. I also work closely with Mary Turner, the Dietrich’s assistant cultural programming director, to bring programming to our community.” Rogler said she has had the privilege of being surrounded by so many strong women in her life. “Besides Margie, I think first of my grandmother Elizabeth, an immigrant who divorced her husband and raised three girls on her own while working in a time when that wasn’t typically done. I think of my mother Ingrid who taught me the importance of the arts and giving to your community. She has been teaching quilting to all ages in our region for 36 years. And I think of the incredible women and men who had the vision, dedication and determination to reinvent and reopen the Dietrich as a movie theater and cultural center and who work to make the Dietrich what it is today.” George and Elmer Dietrich opened downtown Tunkhannnock’s Dietrich Theater as a one-screen theater in 1937. It was the hub for entertainment for the community and thrived for many years until the mall cineplexes July 2020

became big in the late 1980s and Dietrich closed. In 1998 a group of citizens sat around a kitchen table and discussed the possibility of bringing the Dietrich back. They knew the town missed its movie theater so they decided to form the Wyoming County Cultural Center, a 501c3 non-profit, and started to raise funds to buy the theater. The group decided at that point that the Dietrich would be so much more than a movie theater and that revenue from the movies and grants would be used to provide cultural and educational programming for all ages in Wyoming County and the surrounding communities. After three years and completing over $1 million in renovations the Dietrich opened in 2001, as a two-screen theater and cultural center. It was well received by the community and programming began to grow. There were exhibits and classes and events for all ages. The Dietrich's first foreign, independent and art film festival was launched in 2003 and now the theater hosts four seasonal film festivals each year featuring over 84 foreign and independent films. In 2006 the Dietrich purchased an abandoned gas station lot next to the theater and began a community campaign to expand the historic theater as more screens were needed to keep the Dietrich viable. In 2009 construction was complete and the historic

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theater expanded from two to four screens with two studio spaces, a concession stand, a children’s room and three galleries. The Dietrich continues to show first-run films, host film festivals, offer a variety of classes and events, as well display art and history exhibits. In a typical year 350 films, classes, and events are enjoyed by over 70,000 children and adults at the Dietrich.

“What I love about the Dietrich is how committed the community is to their movie theater and cultural center,” said its executive director, Erica Rogler. “After the flood of 2011, more than 300 volunteers came forward to help bring the theater back to its glory. And during our closure due to Covid-19 and now during the early days of the Dietrich’s reopening, the community is there once again.” Patrons have so many memories of going to the movies at the Dietrich as a child or on a first date. And now younger generations have the opportunity to continue making memories at the Dietrich. “I always like it when patrons share those memories with us." H –Christine Fanning

COME VISIT THE ENDLESS MOUNTAINS O F N O R T H E A S T E R N PA !

www.endlessmountains.org â&#x20AC;¢ 800-769-8999

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Glenda Shoemaker Owner & Operator, J.R’s Hallmark Tunkhannock, PA Glenda Shoemaker is the owner and operator of J.R’s Hallmark in Tunkhannock — a unique and friendly gift shop that is definitely not your average Hallmark! J.R’s Hallmark has been family-owned for over 30 years, when Glenda’s mother, Janet Shoemaker and friend Rachel Raker first opened its doors in October 1988. Today J.R’s remains a local favorite, providing the community with a one-stop destination for fun gifts, heartfelt greeting cards and familiar, friendly faces. How has J.R’s Hallmark adapted during these tough times? Our last day open was March 16 and we did not reopen until May 22. I went to work daily even when we’re

stand a chance today. Technology is great but it also requires a ton of work. I will always be an old school girl but to navigate in today’s world you have to be an expert with all of the tech tools as well. We are looking into an online experience for the store. We also have a few other ideas in the works that we are keeping under wraps!

closed, to try and figure things out. In retrospect that actually was the best thing to keep my mind occupied. Now that we are open, we have scaled our hours back and are continuously trying to determine what our customers need and want. As business owners, we tend to control everything that we can and as that is now out of the window for the unforeseen future, it’s maddening! Hopefully people will start to heal a bit and start venturing out. We miss them for sure! How has the shop continued to evolve over the past 30 years? You have to be on top of everything just to

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How do you continue to “make people happy”? Our customers are our family. Since we are in a small town we know most people that come into our store, and if not, we try to make them feel like we do. We go above and beyond; that is one of those "lessons" that I was taught in my first life career, working for Albert and Carol Mueller of the McDonald's Franchises out of Clarks Summit. Thankfully those important lessons have never left me! What do you hope your legacy will be? In a way I am already seeing that come around; it warms my heart. How great to experience your own legacy while it is actually happening. If you take the time to stand back and notice it is a pretty sweet thing. I see little ones who used to come behind the counter have now become adults who bring their own children to the store. I think of us as a safe place, where people can share their happiness July 2020

and (yes) their sadness as well. I hope that they think of us in that same way. Operating as a mother-daughter duo for many years, what lessons have you learned? I’ve been able to realize just how hard of a worker my Mother is. She nearly raised me by herself; I really don’t remember her ever complaining. She made it look so easy and I was definitely a handful in my younger years. We had a ton of laughs and for the most part always got along — there may have been a few back door slamming incidents on my part and she might have done a bit of stomping off, but those were few and far between! Over 30 years is a lot of great memories. What makes J.R’s special? We have always tried to stay away from anything that everyone else is doing. We tried to be careful listeners and are always trying to get our customers what they want, even if that means a special order. We have worked with local artisans, have always searched for the “Made in America” brand and are constantly searching for something new and different. Every employee has a say in the decisions made here and I think that it shows — teamwork at its best. Our employees are some of the most hardworking, loving and loyal people that I have ever met. They have gotten me through some tough times; they are absolutely family! What does picking up a card for a friend or loved one mean to you? To me it shows a person’s heart; that someone would think of you even when you think that no one possibly could; card givers are very special people. They are lifesavers to some, and while you might think that you are just sending a card, the recipient knows better. What would you like readers to know most about J.R.’s Hallmark? There is no better time than right now to shop local. In the wake of the pandemic, it is a crucial time to start supporting local businesses as Pennsylvania continues to go Green. With this necessary support, small businesses like J.R’s Hallmark can continue to provide unique, friendly and meaningful shopping experiences for all to enjoy. H July 2020

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Jennifer O’Hara

Daniel Erickson

ennifer and Daniel met in Raleigh, North Carolina in September 2016. They had travelled from where they both lived, in Washington DC, to help mutual friends fix up their new house. Jennifer and Daniel’s first date took place at Chadwick’s in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Jennifer brought her standard poodle puppy, Henry, and the couple sat on an outdoor patio. Future dates included fun and entertaining adventures, from walking Henry in the dog park to hosting Green Bay Packer football parties. When Daniel asked Jennifer’s father for permission to marry his daughter, her father responded that he thought Daniel “seemed to have a calming effect on Jennifer.” Known as a perfect match, the couple valued kindness, honesty, loyalty, love and hard work. Both sets of parents provided inspiration for the couple as they modeled loving relationships themselves. The couple became engaged on Jennifer’s 30th birthday, on March 1, 2018. Daniel popped the question during their ski trip to Snowshoe, West Virginia. After a 14 month engagement, the coupled married on May 18, 2019. About 140 guests gathered at Montage Mountain for the wedding. The ceremony took

place on the top of the North Face overlooking a spectacular view of the entire valley. Jennifer’s favorite part of the day was the confetti toss as the couple exited the ceremony, 52 66

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accompanied by bagpipes, a nod to Jennifer’s Irish roots. Jennifer remembers that “confetti hung in the air for what felt like forever.” Montage Mountain held significance for the couple. Jennifer had spent many family weekends at the ski resort as a child and the couple fell in love with the ambiance of the lodge. They especially loved the funky coal miner mural behind the bar and the dreamy pendant lights. Their wedding style was whimsical, romantic and fun. Jennifer and her mom put together the entire DIY event! Daniel’s Aunt Julie created the vibrant floral arrangements which tied everything together. The colors and atmosphere mirrored their personalities and they enjoyed seeing their family and friends relaxing and dancing the night away. Even Daniel’s 95-year-old grandfather, Leroy, a WWII vet was able to make the trip from Wisconsin. Additionally, friends traveled from Virginia, New York City and Ireland. The couple went on an African Safari honeymoon and currently reside in Alexandria. Daniel owns Erickson Landscaping and Jennifer is a Program Integrator for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition Logistics and Technology. Jennifer, a native of Olyphant, attended Bishop O’Hara High School and The University of Scranton where she is active with the Operations Management Program and as alumni career coach. They are expecting their first child in October 2020. H Photos: Leah Daniels

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Dr. Lear Von Koch Lear Von Koch, MD & Associates Dr. Lear Von Koch appears much younger than his stated age of 74. He’s on his feet 12-hours or more a day. His private cardiothoracic surgical practice in Scranton has seen countless heart patients over 40 years and he has performed more than 20,000 heart surgeries. He’s in great physical shape which he attributes to genetics and an exercise regimen he calls “no elevators.” He takes the stairs at Regional Hospital two at a time. With good health and an illustrious career under his belt, we wondered what’s next on his bucket list. “Getting through the pandemic,” he said. Koch played baseball in high school and college, and was offered a tryout with the Philadelphia Phillies. However, an experience as a teenager set his mind in a different direction. He started to harbor a desire to go to dental school. “I thought I’d be an oral surgeon,” he said. However, the universe had other ideas for the Army brat who grew up in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania; Alabama, Virginia and Berlin, Germany. At Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Koch met the famous pioneer heart surgeon Dwight Emary Harken, M.D., who took him into his operating room. “A light turned on,” Koch said.

Koch earned his medical degree from Baylor in 1972 and remained there for his surgical training.

He went to the dean of both the medical and dental schools. “This was in 1969, the year that the rivalry between the heart doctors Debakey and Cooley transpired. That summer of 1969, my life changed, I wanted to be a heart surgeon,” he said. The deans told him to follow his dreams.

During 10 years in Texas, Koch and his wife Janet had two children. Janet missed her family in Massachusetts and wanted to live in the northeast. So, when Sr. William Joseph, administrator of Mercy Hospital in Scranton, invited Koch to interview for a cardiovascular surgery position, Janet approved.

He had earned a degree in biophysics from Yale, studied at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he worked with bioengineering devices including artificial organs before going to Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Medical Center where he worked with Dr. Debakey and Dr. Cooley.

Koch checked with his father, Col. Lear Koch: “What do you know about Scranton? ‘Scranton,’ his dad said, “‘you sure you want to go there, it’s an old coal town.’”

Despite his dad’s advice, the Kochs visited Scranton for a three-day interview. “I met a lot of people. The

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cardiologists and others were very welcoming.” He found the Mercy Hospital visit to be a great opportunity. I’d be a bigger fish in a small pond.” He imagined a career as a cardiac surgeon operating on adults and children. “I was fascinated by congenital heart disease and I wanted to be just like my idol Dr. Denton Cooley” (a cardiothoracic surgeon famous for performing the first implantation of a total artificial heart). At the time Koch interviewed at Mercy, Dr. Wayne Chiavacci was practicing pediatric cardiology. After a few years, he left and babies born with congenital heart disease were referred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Koch continued to perform open-heart surgery, on teenagers and adults with bicuspid aortic valve disorder (the most common congenital heart condition) and other defects. After all this time here Koch’s son had advised his dad that maybe it’s time to move on, pick up and go someplace new, but Koch says he remains devoted to this area. Koch’s children, Kent and Kelly are distinguished in their own fields. Kent Koch is an attorney in Miami and Kelly earned a doctorate from Columbia in social psychology and works in biostatistics in Cincinnati. Both are strong tennis players. Kent was a nationally ranked junior player and had a tennis scholarship to the University of Virginia. Kelly played No. 1 at Prep over four years. Janet, unfortunately, died more than 20 years ago from complications of diabetes. “I’m a hard worker and I love what I do. It’s been a blessing for me,” he said. “I like being here without the disadvantages of a large metropolis. This is a good, good place to live. I’m in a long-term relationship with Helen, an ICU nurse from Taylor who can do just about anything. She’s a great nurse and gourmet cook and she tolerates my lifestyle. We have an amazing camaraderie.” It is Helen’s penchant and talent for cooking that complements Koch’s wine hobby. He is an “oenophile” (connoisseur of wines) -- "I like pairing wine with food.” He started with California Napa Valley wines and now collects other varieties and enjoys matching wine and food. “A little wine is good for you,” he said. “Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin thought the same way.” He does have more entries on his bucket list. He has been back to Berlin for a reunion with his July 2020

schoolmates. “I’d like to go back again," he said. In his high school days, West Berlin was isolated by the Wall, which “wasn't bad for a high school kid. We actually had the best of everything. Now I am turning into a reunion goer... Yale college, medical school, and old friends.” Koch follows Formula One racing. Thirty years ago he drove to Montreal to attend the Grand Prix du Canada and he still goes annually. He’s also an old car enthusiast. “I liked to watch them go by as a kid.” He has a couple of old cars and enjoys driving them. He’s met many famous people. Besides the famous doctors he studied under, there was President Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) and President George W. Bush, a friend, Yale classmate and baseball teammate. Koch and Bush connected in Scranton when he visited here in 2003. His favorite books are “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” He’s just read “Get Well Soon” by Jennifer Wright about historical plagues. “Read it,” he said. “It will give you pause and make you think.” We asked the doctor how healthcare can be revised, reformed and updated in America. “We need a medical messiah,” he offered. “Someone to find the right path and delivery. One hundred years from now atherosclerosis and cancer will hopefully be cured, it will be genetically manipulated out of existence. We need to keep an open mind on what works and try to deliver a two-tier healthcare system. Much of the work I do is pro bono, I just take care of people.” As for the region, Koch said he hopes there is more interest in nursing and medicine, that young people will make their homes here and that the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) will thrive. He points to the importance of the Wright Center and GCSOM both of which he has collaborated with. Matt Mullen, his protege, was in the inaugural class of The Commonwealth Medical College. Mullen, the son of Mike Mullen, a retired Scranton Times photographer, and Julie Cippola Mullen, is currently a resident at the University of Virginia Medical Center in cardiothoracic surgery. “When he finishes next year he’ll come back. I’ll mentor him and he’ll take over for me. That’s big on my bucket list!” H –Christine Fanning

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Bernardina Maldonado

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Penn State Scranton Student A native of Oceanside, California, Bernardina Maldonado now calls northeast Pennsylvania home. She is working on obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in IT Software Design and Development with a minor in Security Risk Analysis at Penn State Scranton. Maldonado, who now resides in Nanticoke, is an Air Force veteran who had attained the rank of technical sergeant and served on active duty working as an Aerospace Warning and Controls Systems Interface Control Technician from January 2001 to January 2008. She worked at both U.S. and international military locations, including Eglin Air Force

base in Florida; Osan Airforce Base, Republic of Korea; Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho; March Air Force Base in California; and was also deployed to Balad Air Force Base in Iraq. In January 2008, she left active duty, and joined the Air Force Reserves, where she served until April 2012. Now at Penn State Scranton as an adult learner, she is not your typical traditional-aged college student, but has embraced the experiences offered at the campus. She has attended the University’s IST (Information Sciences and Technology) Future Forum at University Park, an annual career fair exclusive to students in the University’s College of IST, and regularly attends Penn State Scranton IST Club meetings. This spring, she was one of three students who undertook a special project to create a new website for the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging; the project was presented at the campus’ annual Undergraduate Research Fair Web Showcase –

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an annual event the campus hosts each year to highlight the research that students and faculty members conduct. The event was held virtually this year. Maldonado loves the technology field, which is why she chose her course of study. “I enjoy a challenge, and coding is just that. It also is a great feeling when you develop something and see it in action. Anything you can imagine, you have the possibility of creating,” she said. “There are so many (career) possibilities, but I hope to work with the military in some capacity.” Her commitment to her studies has not gone unnoticed. “Bernardina is an incredible attribute to our campus community,” said Enrollment Specialist Stacy Shattuck. “She is a full-time student and mom. She has maintained great grades and a phenomenal attitude. She has brought so much of the strength, focus, dedication and hard work she enhanced while in the Air Force to her classes, and our campus as a whole. We are truly lucky to have a student like Bernardina as part of the Penn State Scranton family.” H

July 2020

Cherry/Pineapple Crisp /1 R

his is a quick, fruity summer dessert to satisfy a sweet craving with little prep time. I love this recipe because of its simplicity and diversity. Substitute cherry pie filling with apple, blueberry, or strawberry pie filling to make an assortment of fruit desserts.

Ingredients: 1 box of yellow cake mix 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into squares 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, undrained ½ cup of chopped pecans

Compliments of JoAnn Marianelli Finnerty, Bella Faccias 72

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F for glass pan (325°F for nonstick pan). Spread crushed pineapple with juice in ungreased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Spread can of cherry pie filling evenly over crushed pineapple. Evenly spread box of cake mix over the cherry pie filling. Cut stick of butter into small squares and spread evenly across cake mix. This will create a nice crust. Add chopped pecans to the top and spread cake. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until topping is slightly brown. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream. VARIATION Mix together 1 Pkg. (1.9 oz) of maple and brown sugar instant oatmeal to ½ cup of pecans and spread over the top of the cake. Serve whipped. Buon Appetito!

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July 2020

See You on the Deck!

Where Our Family Cares for Yours IOR LIVING FACILITY

BEST SEN

Supportive Living Memory Care Living 1300 Morgan Highway â&#x20AC;¢ 570-587-7709 thepinesatclarkssummit.com

July 2020

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My Top Ten Tips for Getting Admitted to the College of Your Dreams

hroughout the many years that I have worked with many students and families on the college admissions process, the following tips have proven to be the best advice for students who wish to get admitted to the college of their dreams.

1. Apply as early as possible and meet all application deadlines. 2. Be sure to complete the entire application (including any supplements) and have someone else check it for accuracy. 3. Be very organized throughout the process. Keep a folder with all application information and save copies of everything! 4. Include a resume which lists all academic information, and school, community, and work activities.

clergy, etc. who can best speak to your personality and character. Be sure to allow enough time (at least three weeks) for recommenders to write the letter(s).

7. Remember to send all documents requested by the collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;high school/college transcript, standardized test scores, if required, resume, letters of recommendation and essay(s). If you are applying online and but also need to mail specific documents, be sure to include a brief explanation stating which information is included.

5. Write an outstanding essay. Be very clear and stick to length requirements. Let the person reading it to get to know you as a person. Be very 8. Be honest on your applicatactful and appropriate. tions. Honesty is the best policy. Admissions represen6. Request excellent letters of tatives can and often do recommendation from those check your information for administrators, teachers, validity. coaches, advisors, employers, 74

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9. Ace the college interview. Be sure to prepare for possible questions. Tell the interviewer why this is your dream school! 10. Do your homework and thoroughly research all aspects of your dream school. Ask a lot of questions about what it is like to be a student at the particular school. Be certain that the school is indeed your dream school. Keep in contact with the admissions representative responsible for your area of the country. NEPA Career and College Counseling Associates is available to help students find their dream school. Contact Jennifer Severini-Kresock at (570)702-5700 or jkresock@nepacareerandcollegecounseling.com H July 2020

John Mackarey, LUTCF Agent, New York Life Insurance Company Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency.

220 Penn Avenue, Suite 100 Scranton, PA 18503 Phone: 570-340-1320 Email: John@JohnMackarey.com

GOLF GUIDE BUCK HILL GOLF CLUB

Play through Buck Hill Golf Club’s wooded, rolling mountainside terrain, and experience the timeless design of golf architect Donald Ross. Ridge line silhouettes, relentless undulations, and classic subtleties punctuate this premier, 27-hole semi-private course. End your day with dinner at the Fairway Grille. 570-595-7730 or visit buckhillfalls.com/amenities/golf PANORAMA GOLF COURSE

NEPA's best kept secret golfing destination! Family owned and operated for 50+ years. See new and exciting changes. Golf course & grill room available for family outings, business meetings, leagues and tournaments. 25 minutes north of Scranton. 570-222-3525 www.panoramagc.com SCOTT GREENS GOLF CLUB–

Nicely maintained and challenging nine-hole golf & teaching facility in Scott Township. Home of “A Swing for Life” Golf Academy featuring Teaching Professional Scotty McAlarney a “Top 100” W.G.T.F. Instructor. We make golf “fun for the whole family!” Minutes from Clarks Summit, Rt. 81, Scranton and the valley area. Great membership SHADOWBROOK INN & RESORT–

Designed by Geoffrey Cornish, this sprawling 6,000 yard/par 71, 18 hole golf course boasts rolling greens, open skies and mountain views. Shadowbrook Golf Course is the ideal location for tournaments and offers an onsite pro shop, group rates, league play, individual and corporate memberships. 570-836-2151 201 Resort Lane Tunkhannock, PA. STONE HEDGE GOLF CLUB

18-hole championship golf course masterfully carved out of lush rolling hills and meadows of Northeast Pennsylvania's beautiful Endless Mountains. A relaxing natural habitat to play the game at its best. Golf our mature links. Dining available in our in-house restaurant, The Hedge. 570-836-5108 www.stonehedge-golf.com COUNTRY CLUB AT WOODLOCH SPRINGS–

Celebrating over 25 years, Woodloch’s spectacular 18-hole championship golf course winds its challenging way over 6,579 yards of fern-carpeted forests, lush wetlands and broad upland meadows. Four sets of tees on every hole so all levels can be accommodated. 4.5 STARS- Golf Digest’s Best Places to Play. Outside tee-times can be made up to four days in advance. 570-685-8102. 76

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July 2020

WHERE TO CAMP

Treasure H•U•N•T•I•N•G KEEN LAKE CAMPING & COTTAGE RESORT

Lark Mountain MarketSee what everyone’s talking about at the area’s first co-op antique mall. Handicap accessible–climate controlled, we offer a wide variety of items: quality antiques, hard to find collectibles, furniture, home decorating accessories, jewelry, coins, military, breweriana, lighting & more. 306 Wilkes-Barre Twp., Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Twp. 570-822-8855 www.LarkMountainMarketplace.com Plains Antiques and Home Furnishings Plains Antiques and Home Furnishings is the largest Antique Mall in the Wilkes Barre, Scranton area, featuring 50 Vendors with high quality items. Antique to Retro, including Furniture, Glassware, Lighting, Jewelry, Pottery, Artwork, Quality Collectables, and more. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! 29 East Carey Street, Wilkes Barre, PA. 18705. 570-270-3107 www.plainsantiques.com

Find your “Aaaaaahhhh” at the lake… MSN says “We’re cool.” Country Living says we’re a “Must see.” Camp, glamp, or nest in a cozy cottage and enjoy all the fun and beauty of our private lake with fishing, boating, swimming, and more. This is your time… throw a horseshoe, paddle a kayak, relax in the Pocono mountain sunshine. It’s time to gather at the lake and let out a nice deep “Aaaaaahhhh.” 570-488-6161 .www.keenlake.com

SHORE FOREST CAMPGROUND– Nestled in the beautiful Endless Mountains on a five-acre lake. Heated Pool/spa, camp store, snack bar, game room, crafts, hayrides, weekend activities, and so much more! Cabins, Cable TV/Wi-Fi available. Camping at its best! Halfway between Scranton and Binghamton and only a half mile from Rt 11 in Hop Bottom. Shoreforestcampground.com shoreforest@gmail.com 570-289-4666

CINEMA-FLEA FAIR

NE Pennsylvania’s Largest Flea Fair Sundays, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

CIRCLE DRIVE-IN THEATRE Cinema: Fri., Sat., & Sun. nights Phone 489-5731 for features & times Business Rte 6 • Scranton/Carbondale Hwy.

489-5731 or 876-1400 • circledrivein.com

July 2020

SPRUCE LAKE

Fun • Adventurous • Jesus • Friendships Ages 7 to 18 • Your spectacular summer awaits... 888 acres, waterfalls, 8 miles of hiking trails, vista view, get a feel for summer overnight & day camps. 5389 Route 447, Canadensis, PA sprucelakecamp.org HappeningsPA.com

Fidelity Bank

Announces Promotions aniel J. Santaniello, President & CEO, Fidelity Bank is pleased to announce the following promotions:

Lori Barrett has been appointed Assistant Vice President. Lori joined the Wealth Management Divisionas a trust officer. With a background in law, she brings a depth of knowledge to her co-workers, clients and prospects.

Angelo DeCesaris has been named a Senior Vice President. He will assume the role of Regional Commercial Group Leader, responsible for Business Relationship Managers and the Business Banking team in the Northeast region. He serves commercial clients from the Kingston office with a focus on Luzerne County. Joseph Tomko has been appointed a Senior Vice President. He is a Business Relationship Manager focused on the Lackawanna County market. Highly regarded by his peers, he has a loyal client base because of his solid guidance and attention to needs.

Angelo DeCesaris

Joseph Tomko

David Saxton

Carlo Ramelah

Carlo Ramelah has been Lori Barrett appointed Vice President. Carlo joined Fidelity Bank and leads the Bank’s IT group as the Information Technology Manager. He recently coordinated and implemented the transformation of bankers into remote workers due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Kathleen Solsman has been appointed to Officer Status. Kathy is the Bank’s Business Relationship Administrative Manager, handling all administrative support and overseeing sales efficiencies. Her extensive reporting skills, ability to develop new processes, and her focus on internal relationships has made her the go-to person, relied upon by many.

Matthew Stroney has been appointed to Officer Status. Matthew quickly rose to the position of Credit AdminiKathleen Solsman strator. He has a strong understanding of the Bank’s reporting infrastructure, developed an expertise in software programs and focuses on continuous improvements to master the Credit Administration reporting. Fidelity Bank has built a strong history as trusted

advisors to customers served, and is proud to be David Saxton has been appointed an active member of the communities it serves. Assistant Vice President. Dave’s With 21 branches located throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh talents in graphic design and strategic Valley, Fidelity Bank offers full-service Trust & focus on aligning the Fidelity Model Matthew Stroney Investment Departments, a mortgage center, and an array of personal and business banking Experience has created a strong brand products and services. The Bank provides 24 hour, 7 day a presence in his role as Technology and Digital week service to customers through a variety of digital banking tools, branch offices, online at www.bankatfidelity.com, and Client Experience Officer. through the Customer Care Center at 1-800-388-4380. H

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July 2020

Careers Grow Here ATTEND ACHIEVE ADVANCE • Professional Development Courses • Certi昀cate Programs • Personal Enrichment Courses • Online Certi昀cates & Courses • Customized Workforce Training

keystone.edu/pdi | 570-945-8621 | pdi@keystone.edu

July 2020

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Jeffrey Marquardt Clarks Summit Resident Joins Wright Center as New Executive effrey Marquardt, former president and CEO of Telespond Senior Day Services, has been named director of The Wright Center’s new geriatric program.

cal, mental and behavioral health challenges specific to seniors – presents a significant challenge to countless families in Northeastern Pennsylvania, leading to the creation of this new program.

Set to debut July 1, the program has already been recognized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement as an Age-Friendly Health System Partner for providing a full spectrum of comprehensive, safety-net primary health and support services for seniors. Through individualized care plans developed by a team of providers, including an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Clinic that will provide comprehensive evaluation and testing, The Wright Center serves as a trusted primary health advisor for seniors and their families to support independent living. “Our new geriatrics program will provide medical care and support services for a broad range of issues seniors currently face. We intend to design individual care plans for seniors who are living independently, often with multiple chronic health conditions and disabilities,” Marquardt explained. 80

Appointments can now be scheduled for The Wright Center’s geriatric service by calling 570-941-0630.

“Basically, we are going to make sure vulnerable seniors have a support system in place to assure they’re not just living a long life, but also living a high-quality life.” Marquardt, an executive with 30 years of experience in business, logistics, sales and facility and systems management, earned his bachelor’s in international business from George Washington University. He resides in Clarks Summit with his family. The unprecedented growth rate of Pennsylvania’s aging population, compounded by an undeniable, primary care physician shortage – including the number of doctors who specialize in the physiHappeningsPA.com

The Wright Center’s mission is to improve the health and welfare of our community through inclusive and responsive health services and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve. This mission is carried out in two complementary entities: The Wright Center for Community Health (TWCCH) and The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education (TWCGME). TWCCH is a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike with a growing network of nine existing community health centers throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties that provide safety net, comprehensive primary and preventive healthcare, including medical, dental, mental health/substance abuse and Ryan White HIV services, to medically underserved populations regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. TWCGME is the largest, national Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Consortium that is dedicated to training compassionate, highly skilled physicians in community immersed clinical learning networks collectively striving to address our nation’s physician shortage and related healthcare access disparities. H

July 2020

Wayne Bank Helps Local Businesses with Paycheck Protection Program ayne Bank is pleased to announce that over the past few months, they were able to assist over 700 local businesses in obtaining Paycheck Protection Program loans to help ease the challenge the COVID19 crisis has created.

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress earlier this year, the Paycheck Protection Program was created to provide emergency relief for business owners with 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses. As an approved Small

July 2020

Business Administration Lender, Wayne Bank participated in the Paycheck Protection Program to support existing customers, as well as help other local businesses across the Bank’s market area in Pennsylvania and New York. “We are proud to have helped so many local businesses obtain the funds needed to keep their businesses running and their employees on payroll,” said Executive Vice President and Chief

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Lending Officer, James F. Burke. “Our mission at Wayne Bank is to help our local businesses and communities. Our dedicated team worked tirelessly to sustain businesses through this challenging time.” Visit www.waynebank.com. Wayne Bank is a subsidiary of Norwood Financial Corp., Member FDIC, and is located in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The Bank has 27 Community Offices serving Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties in Pennsylvania, along with Delaware and Sullivan Counties in New York State. The stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol— NWFL. H

................... N O T A B L E

NURSES

2020

Kalèi Kowalchik 2020 BSN alumna, Penn State Scranton During her time at Penn State Scranton, Kalèi Kowalchik, an honors nursing student, found that she enjoyed nursing research and embarked on many opportunities within the Penn State system (as well as at national conferences) to present her research.

Knowing Nightingale Linda McAndrews Gift of Scholarship. Her home health and hospice research efforts with the Lackawanna County Visiting Nurses Association earned her three Student Engagement Network grants from the University, and she coauthored an article that appeared in MedSurg Matters, the official newsletter of the Academy of MedicalSurgical Nurses.

Two of her main research projects were: Identifying community members’ perception of palliative care, with the goal of determining whether educational intervention would be associated with changes in attitude and knowledge in community members, which could help aid healthcare planning and decision-making in the future; and Studying nurses’ perceptions of palliative care and the impact it has on referrals in the acutecare setting. Through the study, she found that improving access to palliative care education and increasing dedicated hospital resources can help acute-care nurses understand and appropriately refer patients. As an undergraduate at Penn State Scranton, she presented her research projects at multiple Undergraduate Research Fairs at the campus, as well as at regional PSU research fairs and national conferences. Kowalchik is the recipient of multiple awards and honors, including: the Penn State Alumni Association’s Greater Scranton Chapter’s Pride of Lions Award; multiple Peer Mentors Appreciation and Peer Tutors Appreciation awards; and the Eric A and Josephine S. Walker Award. She also received the John and Patricia Atkins Scholarship; the Edna and Thomas F. Zenty Trustee Scholarship; and the 82

The 2020 honors nursing graduate now has her sights set on taking her NCLEX test, obtaining her R.N. license, and will be pursuing her doctorate degree this fall at Penn State, where she is enrolled in the university’s B.S.N. to Ph.D. program. Once she has her license, she plans to work in the home health and hospice field while continuing her schooling. “I aspire to continue researching and become a professor to provide positive learning environments and opportunities to other college students,” she says. “As a nurse and future educator, my goal is to continue to improve and advance the science and art of nursing and give back to the community.” A resident of Olyphant, where she lives with her boyfriend, Adam and their dog, Arlo, Kowalchik says she is thankful for the opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom that Penn State Scranton provided that allowed her to develop professionally, academically and personally. “Choosing to attend Penn State Scranton was one of the best decisions I made. I have had many opportunities to conduct research and shape the future of nursing.” H

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July 2020

Geisinger President and CEO Dr. Jaewon Ryu named among Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives

eisinger President and CEO Jaewon Ryu, M.D., has been named to Modern Healthcare’s list of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives. This is the second straight year Dr. Ryu has made the annual list. Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives listing honors physician and nurse leaders working in the healthcare industry who are deemed by their peers and an expert panel to be the most influential. Nominees were selected based on actions they took this year to help their respective organizations achieve or exceed financial, operational and clinical goals; steps they took to establish or contribute to a culture of innovation and transformation on local and national levels; and examples of how they have addressed the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Triple Aim of improved community health, a better patient experience and lower costs. Judging for the final ranking consisted of reader voting and input from Modern Healthcare senior editors. “It is such a privilege to lead a truly unique organization like Geisinger, which continues to provide world-class care to its patients and members through 84

programs like Geisinger at Home, MyCode Community Health Initiative and 65 Forward,” said Dr. Ryu. “The work of the staff each day to safely meet our communities’ health needs is inspiring, especially as we continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. I am so proud to be a part of Geisinger as we continue to make health easier in our communities.” As part of his selection to the prestigious list, Dr. Ryu was recognized for his efforts in expanding community care programs and a patient-first approach to care. Dr. Ryu, who was named Geisinger’s interim president and CEO in November 2018 before being formalized as the leader of the organization in June 2019, has led a redesign of the health HappeningsPA.com

system’s primary-care operations by creating an environment where clinicians are freed up to spend more time with patients. As a result, the system builds on its legacy of innovative care models that drive greater value, outcomes, and affordability.

About Geisinger Geisinger is committed to making better health easier for the more than 1.5 million consumers it serves. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes 13 hospital campuses, a 600,000-member health plan, two research centers and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. With 32,000 employees and 1,800 employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. H July 2020

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS! Your Mom and Dad spent a lifetime caring for you, now you may find yourself caring for them. RN Clinical Coordinator • 24 Hour Staffing Private & Semi-Private Suites with Full Private Bath Individually Controlled HVAC Daily Laundry & Housekeeping Services Planned Social Activities & Outings Resort Style Dining • Transportation to Local Doctor Visits

A Senior Living Community “For Peace of Mind & Quality of Life”

Nestled in the Rolling Hills of Wayne County

150 Noble Lane, Bethany, PA • 570-251-3463 www.bethanyseniorliving.com

July 2020

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Comfort and Care Remain: The New Normal at the Dental Office

ovid-19 has changed many things about our daily lives, and that includes dental care. On March 19, 2020, the American Dental Association, ADA, and the PA Department of Health issued recommendations for PA dentists to postpone all but emergency treatment. Offices that could garner the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and meet the stringent requirements for infection control, could remain open for emergency treatment. Horizon Dental Care was able to stay open for emergencies. Dr. John Evanish, III, President and CEO, admits it was a challenge. “We rushed to prepare with securing enough PPE supplies, establishing protocols and screening processes, and training staff," he said.

Horizon Dental Care already saw a large number of emergencies during a normal week but they were inundated with calls. “No one knew how long the restrictions would last and many people were concerned about being able to get care,” according to Evanish. “It was busy, but we were grateful to help patients in urgent need and also take the burden off busy hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers.” On May 8 the Governor and the Secretary of Health lifted restrictions on non-urgent and elective dental procedures to allow dental offices to see patients for most regular care. Dr. Evanish acknowledges the decision for the restrictions early on that limited dentists. Dental procedures have the potential to be risky because power tools used in the mouth aerosolize droplets, which could spread COVID-19 if the patient is infected. However, he has always felt confident in his team’s ability to provide care safely with proper precautions, sterilization procedures and PPE equipment. “Dentists are uniquely positioned to handle the current situation,” said Dr. Evanish. “Infection protection and control procedures have always been a huge part of providing dental care. Even before Covid-19 we were already practicing high levels of universal precautions, which HappeningsPA.com

are always mandatory in a medical facility,” he said. Evanish and his team have carefully planned and revised their office procedures to greatly minimize the risk of infection. Patients are also asked to wait in their cars. At the beginning and end of each day, employees are screened for symptoms and have temperatures checked. All high touch surfaces are sanitized multiple times, daily among many other precautions. The offices strictly adhere to the appropriate level of PPE. “The heightened levels of PPE our doctors and staff are donning is quite an ensemble,” he laughs. “We’re so used to that face-to-face connection with patients. Our team is covered from top to bottom with N95 mask, face shields, gowns, gloves and eye protection. I want patients to know that our familiar, friendly smiles are behind all the material and they will still receive the high level or comfort and care,” he said. Horizon Dental wants to remind readers that going to the dentist is still safe. Dental issues rarely go away on their own; delaying treatment can result in worsening symptoms and complications. “We completely understand, reader’s apprehensions. I want them to know they are in good hands with us. Avoid putting your oral health at risk. Our dental office is safe, and we are here to help,” he said. For over twenty-five years, Horizon Dental Care has striven to set the standard for personalized, worry-free and affordable dentistry treating patients of all ages.Their services include routine cleanings, family dentistry, emergency dental services, sedation, cosmetic, full mouth reconstruction and implants. They also specialize in senior dental care with an in-house, fullservice denture lab. Four convenient offices serve patients in Scranton, Hawley, Honesdale, and Stroudsburg. New patients are welcome. www.horizondentalcares.com .H July 2020

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MEN

NEPA

President of LCCC Speaks on Community College As a teenager in his first job, Thomas P. Leary, president of Luzerne County Community College (LCCC), recalls working at Toytown in Wilkes-Barre. “It was 120 degrees,” he said. The paint smell was strong and I worked on the line eight hours a day.” His second job was in the shoe department at The Boston Store which later became Boscov’s in Wilkes-Barre. “I lasted four hours,” he remembered. At the end of the shift I told the manager I wasn't coming back.” The following summer he returned to Toytown. The story and the manner in which he relates it offers a glimpse into the personality of this lifetime educator who says he gains energy from being around people. He says he talks a lot, and he does, but it’s all very interesting. President Leary loves history and he loves being in the classroom, so in addition to his duties as president, he finds time to be an adjunct professor in history and political science. As a history professor, we felt compelled to ask how, with the upheaval in this country, he thinks the nation can move forward successfully: 88

“Every time in history when there’s been a crisis, an opportunity to change direction emerges. Look at this country at the end of the second world war -- we emerged as the leader of the world. Now, there’s been a terrible pandemic, people fear contracting it and they worry about their family, their grandparents and about losing their job. Now we have a moral question to answer, and in the fear associated with the the pandemic and rightful expressions of protest regarding racism, we have the opportunity to redefine who we are. This country was built on freedom but also the ability and willingness to change and adapt. We can continue to perfect this country through self examination to make it stronger and better and kinder.” HappeningsPA.com

Leary, who still resides in his hometown of Kingston, has one son, Patrick. Thirty years ago, he had been accepted into law school, but when he took a part-time position at LCCC as assistant director of admissions, he found “a dynamic workplace” and envisioned a “bright, promising future in the small college, even though at the time it had just eight buildings and no trees or grass. Today the main campus has 16 modern buildings, along with seven off-campus centers of secondary education, both in Luzerne County and other communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania. During his career at LCCC, Leary has served in several senior leadership positions including vice president of student development for nine years. In February, 2008, he was inaugurated as the sixth president of the college. As chief executive, his days are “constantly busy, unpredictable and exciting.” “I’m kept on my toes, but I never lose my sense of responsibility and my entire focus is on the students,” Leary said. “A community college is the best place to be. I have lots of ideas and initiatives and when they don’t work out quickly enough July 2020

I may become frustrated. Then I walk out on campus, see a group of students, stop and ask them what’s up, and after 10 to 15 minutes my disappointment has diminished. The whole point is the students.” He recalled a conversation he had with the director of fundraising back when he first became president. She did not have to tell him a big part of his job would involve fundraising. The thought did not excite him but he said it has become one of is most enjoyable duties. He particularly enjoys raising money for scholarships. “We went from $2 million to $9 million in gifts,” he said. We have benefitted from incredible generosity.” Leary said he wants readers to know that LCCC provides the opportunity for students to become whatever they want to become. “Dreams are encouraged, supported and fulfilled here. We have a supportive faculty and a diverse enrollment where there’s no distinction among individuals.” Diversity, he said, is one of the best attributes in a college where the average student age is 28. “Everyone is treated the same way. We meet each person where they are and move them forward.” He said he can’t say enough good things about his college faculty.

July 2020

The most popular majors at LCCC are what Leary calls “recession-proof.” Nursing, business, criminal justice, plumbing and heating get graduates out in the field and working. What do students want from their community college? “Many of them have to work

while going to school, so we have to support flexible scheduling, online delivery and good tutoring and peer tutoring. Many students want internships for practical experience. Technology students want a practical education with businesses that will hire people with such experience. Other students want to transfer to four-year colleges. So, we have dual admission agreements, articulation agreements and full transfer of credits to many of the universities.” In the little spare time he has, Leary enjoys reading (history,

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of course); and (what else) being around people. Luzerne County Community College is a public community college in Nanticoke, offering more than 100 academic, technical, and career programs. The institution has an open admissions policy for most programs,

and has more than 35,000 graduates. Open admissions implies that a school's enrollment is not competitive. This means that all qualifying students (students with a high school degree or GED, or those who wish to pursue a GED) are welcome to apply and enter the program without additional qualifications or performance benchmarks. LCCC Centers are located in Berwick, Hazleton, Pittston, Wilkes Barre, Scranton, Shamokin, and Watsontown. H –Christine Fanning

AWARD WINNING FINE ART NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES RUANE

August 2016

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Go to HappeningsMagazinePA.com and click Subscribe Now. To place an order call (570) 587-3532 ext. 124 or print and mail to P.O. Box 61 Clarks Summit PA 18411. Rates good in the U.S. Only. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. Subscriptions are not refundable.

DINING Note! All hours are subject to change without notice. Call ahead, consult website and facebook pages of each individual restaurant for updated information, specials and menu items available.

Coney Island Lunch 515 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton 570-961-9004 Texas-wiener.com TuesdaySunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Delivery by Doordash!

Abbiocco 639 N. Blvd., Clarks Summit 570-319-9633 Abbiocco.net Tuesday-Saturday, 3-8 p.m. Dinner menu with weekly desserts and a special entree.

Coopers Seafood House 701 N. Washington Ave. Scranton 570-346-6883 www.coopers-seafood.com 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Special menu featuring soups, sandwiches, appetizers, salads, desserts and dinners and weekly features. Open 7 days.

Andy Gavin's Eatery & Pub 1392 N. Washington Ave., Scranton 570-346-8864 AndyGavins.com MondaySaturday noon-6 p.m. 90% of menu available. No soup or seafood delivery to your door. Armetta’s 329 Northern Boulevard, Chinchilla 570-586-5492 Armettaspizza.com TuesdayThursday, 11 a.m.-8.p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.-9 p.m. Barley Creek Brewing Company, Inc. 1774 Sullivan Trail, Tannersville, 570-629-9399 www.barleycreek.com 10:45 a.m. - 8 p.m. Brewery with an expanded wine permit and spirits! Colarusso’s in Clarks Summit 100 East Grove St., Clarks Summit 570-586-0608 Monday-Sunday 11 a.m-8 p.m. & Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Cork Restaurant 463 Madison Street, Scranton 570-270-3818 www.corkdining.com 2 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Thursday-Sunday Dino & Francesco's Pizza & Pasta House 1002 S. State St., Clarks Summit 570-587-4306 dinoandfrancescoscs.com Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Lunch, dinner and soup specials Fairview Cafe 250 Route 390, Tafton 570390-7860 Fairviewcafe.net Friday - Sunday 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Fire and Ice on Toby Creek 111 South Main Street, Trucksville 570-696-3580 www.fireandiceontobeycreek.com 2 p.m.-7.p.m., Thursday-Sunday Fratelli's Pizza & Pasta House 1249 Providence Rd., Scranton 570-344-7414 HappeningsPA.com

fratellispizzaandpastahouse.com Monday-Thursday & Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. & Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 10% discount for military Kelly’s Pub and Eatery 1802 Cedar Ave., Scranton 570-346-9758 www.kpehotwings.com MondaySaturday 4-8 p.m Lake Sheridan Bar & Grill 145 Pedrick Rd., Nicholson 570910-0092 Seven days, 4-8 p.m. Leonor’s Eatery & Crazy Fruits 135 N Main St., Moscow 570-8436542 Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. & Sunday, noon-8 p.m. Mamma Mia’s Pizza 419 Poplar St., Scranton 570-9631720 Seven days, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Market Street Bar & Grill 223 West Market St., Scranton 570507-9560 Sunday & Monday, 4-8 p.m. & Tuesday-Saturday, 12-8 p.m. McGraths Pub & Eatery 112 E Main St., Dalton 570-563-2668 Sunday-Wednesday, 3-8 p.m./Thursday.-Saturday., Noon-8 p.m. Mendicino’s Pizza & Family Restaurant Shoprite Complex, Covington Twp. 570-842-2070 www.mendicinospizza.com Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Full menu daily, lunch and dinner specials PAZZO Restaurant 2011 Highway 315, Pittston 570602-4400 www.pazzo315.com Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 4-7 p.m.

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around the region Pettinato’s Restaurant 78 Dundaff St., Carbondale 570282-5860 Monday-Saturday 4-8 p.m. & Sunday, 4-6 p.m. Full family meals for four, $40-45 POSH@The Scranton Club and the Colonnade 404 N. Washington Ave., Scranton 570-955-5890, POSHScranton.com, Thursday-Saturday 4-8 p.m. Russell’s 1918 Ash St., Scranton 570-961-8949 WednesdaySaturday, 3-9 p.m. Savory Maza 200 N. Main St., Scranton 570-9692666 savorymaza.com MondayThursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sacco’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant 208 Meadow Ave., Scranton 570-342-2500 Saccositalian.com Seven days, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sibio’s Restaurant 1240 Quincy Ave., Dunmore 570-346-3172/570-961-9274 Sibiosrestaurant.com TuesdaySaturday 4-8:30 p.m. Limited menu selection The Garden Mediterranean Restaurant 116 N Washington Ave., Scranton 570-299-1723 www.thegardencafeandgrill.comTuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Family specials The Beaumont Inn 4437 SR 309 Dallas 570-675-7100 www.thebeaumontinn.com Noon-7 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday.

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The Highlander Pub 2700 Highland Boulevard, Archbald 570-521-4143 clubatthehighlands.com Open seven days, 11 a.m. Pizza, BBQ and more. The New Cafe 829 Old State Road Clarks Summit 570-319-9111 www.thenewcafe.com Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m-2 p.m. & 4-7 p.m.

www.shawneeinn.com/on-site-dining/gem-and-keystonebrewpub/ Thursday-Sunday, 3:30-7:30 p.m. Villa Maria 1610 Washburn St., Scranton 570-347-8010 https://oneway2fun.com/listing/ villa-maria-restaurant/ Seven days, noon-10 p.m. Free dinner for children in need 3-6 p.m., MondayFriday $9 grab and go menu, noon9 p.m. Sunday-Saturday

The Gem and Keystone Brewpub 526 River Rd, Shawnee on Delaware 570-424-0990

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Who is the cutest of them all?

Emmie Emmie, says Cheryl Jencarelli, loves playing outside, going hiking and hanging around the family. She lives in Stroudsburg.

Dillon Dillon, says Mariah Dunn, is a happy rescue dog who loves playing in the dirt, chasing squirrels, long walks and barking at his neighbors. He lives in Duryea.

Mickey Mickey, says Raymond Victory, loves playing with his toys and teasing people to take them from him. He lives in Lake Ariel.

Cooper Melissa Battle says Cooper loves playing with his ball, giving kisses and getting attention. He lives in South Abington Township.

Bailey

Hamilton Hunter

Bailey, says Sarah Hart, loves being with his family no matter where they are at. He lives in Scranton.

Linda Aswad says Hamilton Hunter loves his cousins, friends, his toys and his mom! He lives in Archbald.

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July 2020

reoinnth... a s e t o v The et of the M

Vote for your favorite July pet at www.HappeningsMagazinePA.com! The winner receives a Happenings bandana!

Parker Parker, says April Sarnick, loves being around people and going out in the community. He lives in Plains.

Clarke Bonnie D'Ulisse says Clarke loves bird watching and climbing the refrigerator to nap. He lives in Tunkhannock.

July 2020

Juneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s P is Jett ! ulations Congrat

Crouton Crouton, says Emily Shumaker, loves wrestling and getting whatever she wants. She lives in Scranton.

Emma Emma, says Jeff Petrucci, loves hanging out on the deck and listening to music. He lives in South Abington Township.

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Dak Lynn Woods says Dak loves playing that he would want to play 24 hours a day , 7 days a week if it was possible. He lives in Shavertown.

Sammie, Witten & Nittany Sue Kemp says Sammie, Witten & Nittany love cuddling, chasing things and being mischievous. They live in Reading.

Achievements in Three Sports

ports have been a constant in the life of Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame inductee Joy Gallagher. Last year, her many accomplishments in basketball, softball and volleyball throughout both high school and college were recognized by this organization. Born and raised in Hazleton, PA, some of Joy's fondest memories came from attending basketball games at Hazleton High School with her family as a child. "My grandfather, Ed McCluskey, was a great athlete in Hazleton," she said. "He played many sports but most notably was a

member of the 1944 Hazleton High basketball team that made it to the state finals. So growing up, I played every sport I could â&#x20AC;&#x201D; soccer, little league, baseball, basketball â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and picked up volleyball when I got to high school." Joy attended her grandfather's high school, where she achieved success in basketball, softball and volleyball. For basketball, she was a shooting guard but played the 1-5 various parts in her career. She became a three-time First Team Wyoming Valley

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Conference (WVC) all-star and two-time WVC Player of the Year. She was also named MVP of the WVC senior all-star game and was selected to participate in the PA East-West all-star game in Pittsburgh, PA. On the softball team, Joy played mainly shortstop and third base, but also played infield and was a backup catcher. She became a four-time First Team all-star, and during her senior year, became an MVP of the WVC. Playing both front row and back row in volleyball, Joy was selected twice to the WVC AllStar Team. For all three sports, she earned two school athlete awards: the Reading Eagle Lower Anthracite Female Athlete of the Year and the Scotty Roman Award for outstanding athlete, male or female, in Hazleton Area High School. Joy received a full scholarship to play basketball at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. During her four years at July 2020

Wagner she scored 1,158 points earning her a spot in the college's 1,000 points club. In her sophomore season, she set the school record with 11 single-game three pointers against Boston University. During that same year, she led the NCAA Division-1 ranks with 3.5 three-point field goals made per game while breaking the school's single-season record with 99 three-point field goals. During her junior season she was a Second Team All District-1 and Academic All-American, and as a senior she became First Team Academic All-American District-1. She was named the 2006 Northeast Conference (NEC) Student Athlete of the Year and became the first recipient in Wagner College history of the NCAA postgraduate scholarship. Also during her senior year, Joy joined the college's softball team and became a twoyear starter. She tallied a 21 game hitting streak, batted 0.333 and garnered second team AllNEC accolades. She was selected to the Academic AllAmerican Softball Team, and was inducted into the Hazleton Area Sports Hall of Fame. Joy considers being

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recognized by the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame a tremendous honor. "Listening to the accomplishments of my fellow inductees — from Olympic and professional athletes to trailblazers for women in sports and leaders in their various communities. I am humbled to be recognized among this incredible group of athletes and leaders," she said. Joy graduated magna cum laude with a BS in chemistry and a MBA in Management from Wagner College. Afterward she earned a PhD in chemistry from the Pennsylvania State University. This led her to her current career with Dow, where she spent the first five years working in research and development. Today, sports are still a very important part of Joy's life. She is involved in various adult leagues in the Philadelphia area, including a women's basketball league and women's softball league. She is also trying new athletic endeavors — flag football and golf — and coaches many cycling and fitness classes in her community.

result of my participation in sports has been the people," she said. "The teammates I have had the privilege of playing with over the years create a lifelong bond. The skills learned on the field of competition are transferable into life and emanate throughout my entire career — on and off the field of play. Working together toward a common goal, perseverance, dealing with adversity, valuing and celebrating a diversity of backgrounds and skill sets are all keys to a winning team and success through many platforms." Joy currently lives in the Norristown area with her husband Jay and two dogs, Coco and Lucky. She and her husband are currently setting out to visit every major league baseball stadium in the country. H - Ben Freda

"While the individual accolades are easy to point to, the most important

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