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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference
15th Annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference • October 21, 2022
The NEPA Intergenerational Coalition
announced that the 15th Annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) Conference will be held October 21, 2022
at the Woodlands from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The keynote will be presented by Luzerne County Judge Jennifer Rogers. The Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging, Robert Torres will speak along with many others, including a legal panel of attorneys. Over 40 resource tables will also be featured. Howard J. Grossman, Chair of the Coalition noted, “We are pleased to return to a live conference and to bring more information to GRG families across this region. Support groups for GRG families will also be present. We hope to reach over 200 attendees as we had in 2018 and 2019, and reach both new and past attendees. Last year, we had a virtual conference due to the pandemic.” Registration for the event will open shortly. H
Intergenerational Coalition presents: 15th Annual "Generations of Love" Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference
Friday, October 21, 2022 • 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Objectives:
• •
To ensure that families and community organizations obtain basic knowledge of available community resources.
To explore core issues and concerns of grand families.
at The Woodlands Inn 1073 Highway 315, Wilkes-Barre PA
To register please visit: grgnepa.org or call Howard Grossman for more information at: 570-262-3443
Impacting Wellness
Through Yoga
Yoga’s life-altering practices impact wellness on many levels, driving awareness and enhancing well-being and can be potentially viable therapeutic intervention for people with chronic health concerns and movement limitations.
As a yoga teacher training to work alongside health care providers through worldrenowned program Yoga
Medicine, Joy Zazzera’s learned experience and approach offer adults and aging athletes specific solutions for movement, mindfulness and relaxation. “I practiced yoga with nagging athletic injuries for 18 years before training to become a yoga teacher. Enduring two knee replacements at the onset of 40 drove my passion to serve adults and aging athletes with movement limitations and other health conditions. Since opening Yoga with Joy in 2018 I’ve focused on becoming as knowledgeable as I can be, teaching science-informed practices blended with yoga’s traditional philosophical approaches for living.” Through her studentship with Yoga Medicine, Joy pursues an acute understanding of anatomy, physiology and common pathologies of orthopedic and nervous system dysfunction through the lens of yoga. Also a licensed massage therapist, Joy utilizes complementary approaches with private clientele desiring specific, customized yoga and massage therapy. Joy’s focused, short-commitment format five class yoga series are a hit with her students, and her Restorative Recharge practice, offering a monthly dose of informative self-care, highlight in-person group classes. Solution-focused one-on-one sessions feature a combination of customized yoga and
massage therapy, tailored for working specifically with athletic recovery, orthopedic changes, golden-agers, chronic health condition management, as after-care following physical therapeutic rehabilitation, and for integrating yoga into one’s personal longterm health care plan. Adding a few, specific yoga practices from a well-trained teacher, done as daily habit, may help modify patterns of disease and limitation in the body. “Developing a confident yoga practice is much easier when you feel safe and heard, have a customized plan to follow and understand its purpose. I offer relief by equipping adults with tools that are easy to self-apply in realtime for symptom management, including therapeutic modes of yoga poses, meditation, breathing techniques and self-myofascial release. You can’t always have your yoga teacher or massage therapist with you; adults in my care understand skills for movement, relaxation and improving mindset and feel empowered to apply insight from their time with me, to teach themselves how to reach restorative states as routine self-care.” For more information, see doyogawithjoy.com H
E C njoy a fun family-oriented day at the annual Pennsylvania Heritage Festival September 17 and 18 on the grounds of the Heritage Village and Farm Museum, Alparon Park, Troy, PA. The festival is a step back in time with living history demonstrations, exhibits and tours of the village’s historic buildings. This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the Gregory Inn, known better to locals as the Mitchell House, built in 1822 as a stage coach stop for weary travelers. The Native American Exhibit and related demonstrations highlight the lifestyle of the local Native Americans. On September 17, John Moore aka Susquehanna Jack will provide presentations about the Three Sisters Garden and Frances Slocum, a Wilkes-Barre child abducted by Indians during the American Revolutionary War. A puppet show and hunting/fishing skills demonstrations will also be included. The Heritage Village buildings include: inns and office buildings, a barbershop, a one room school house, a carriage house full of buggies, sleighs and wagons, a children’s church and a sugar house. A tour guide will discuss each building’s history. Check out the village gardens maintained by the Heritage Garden Club. Throughout the village volunteers will demonstrate skills of yesteryear. A Civil War encampment, a host of hands-on activities and a touch of traditional fall activities and foods will also delight visitors. The event is a great opportunity for homeschool students and others to immerse themselves in history. Enjoy a fun-filled day at the Pennsylvania Heritage Festival. Admission is free. H
NEPA Pet Expo October 15
The first-ever NEPA Pet Expo will take place at
the Viewmont Mall, Dickson City on October 15 from 11-5. With over 40 vendors, the event is hosted by the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative. The expo will feature a mix of fun and educational events including vendors showcasing pet products and informational booths on pet care and pet first aid, adoptable animals, information highlighting the work of local shelters and rescues, guest speakers on various animal welfare topics, a microchip clinic for pets with the NEPA Rescue Vet, pet portraits and more! There will be a handful of shelters and rescues participating as vendors who may feature adoptable animals at the NEPA Pet Expo.
The NEPA Pet Expo aims to educate and entertain the general public on the topics related to animal welfare including pet safety and pet first aid and shed light on the important work that local animal shelters and rescues carry out across Northeastern Pennsylvania. This event will feature various vendors showcasing pet products and information on local resources available. The micro-chip clinic for pets is made possible by the NEPA Rescue Vet. Additionally, the NEPA Pet Expo also aims to educate the public on the work of the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative.
The NEPA Pet Expo is a project of the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative, which is an initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. The NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative was established in 2019 and is made up of a collective of animal shelters, rescues, advocates and sanctuaries in the region who have come together to advance various causes in animal welfare and to increase the collective resources available to these agencies. The NEPA Pet Expo is grateful for the support of the Viewmont Mall to house the 2022 NEPA Pet Expo. The Scranton Area Community Foundation serves as the convener of the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative. H
26th Annual
A Sensational Tribute to Barbra Streisand
starring Sharon Owens
Sharon Owens is Barbra
Streisand! Enjoy an unforgettable performance on October 15 at 7 p.m. at The Theater at North.
Sharon Owens has been recreating the sound and style of Barbra Streisand for over three decades! Sharon began her career in Los Angeles where she began singing Streisand in dinner theatres and cabaret nightclubs. Her uncanny resemblance and vocal ability to sing Streisand started her career as a “Legends in Concert” performer. She then continued performing for “Stars in Concert.” Sharon headlined her own show “Barbra and Frank, The
Concert that Never Was” which was voted Best of Las Vegas in 2008 and ran for six years on the Las Vegas Strip. During her time impersonating Streisand, Sharon won the national Fox TV competition “Performing As” and made it to the finals of the ABC hit show “The Next Best Thing.” Sharon has performed for Access Hollywood, Extra, Entertainment Tonight and Family Feud. She has been in People Magazine and TV Guide as one of the best impersonators in the world. Sharon sold out 32 shows during a six week engagement on the West End of London. She has also toured Australia, Canada, Holland, Belgium and Asia. H
Sharon Owens is Barbra Streisand! She has been recreating the sound and style of the incomparable Streisand with her incredible voice for over three decades! Join us for an unforgettable performance!
Fidelity Bank
Board of Directors
Fidelity Bank’s
Board of Directors know what it means to be part of the fabric of a commu-
nity. With over 360 years of combined business experience, each member has played an integral role in the region’s business landscape. From law and insurance, to education, finance and real estate, the depth and breadth of board members’ business acumen has served the company well since its founding in 1902.
“The bank’s strategic approach is to deliver value to clients through successful relationship management,” says Daniel J. Santaniello, President & CEO. “Because of the strong connections we all have, both on a personal and professional level, we’ve been able to demonstrate our value, creating financial success for all our stakeholders – bankers, clients, shareholders and the community too.”
To achieve success, a board of directors must include a variety of perspectives, skills, ages, genders and ethnicities. This parlays into effective decision-making and helps ensure future growth of an organization. While some members have served for decades, such as John Cognetti who has been a director since 1988, other faces are newer to the group. When Fidelity Bank acquired the former Merchants Bank in 2020, the directors knew it would be essential to bring those leaders into the fold. HelenBeth G. Vilcek, a commercial property management company owner, and Richard M. Hotchkiss, an entrepreneur well-versed in family-owned business, joined Fidelity Bank’s Board of Directors then.
“As leaders in their communities, both HelenBeth and Richard are well-known, wellrespected professionals in the Lehigh Valley,” notes Brian Cali, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Not only do they bring their values, heritage and insights about the people in the Lehigh Valley and Slate Belt, but also their rich experience in real estate, construction and finance that provides valuable knowledge we would otherwise not have.”
Dallas Interior
Banking is an ever-changing industry, now more so than ever with rapidly changing technology playing a pivotal role. Banks such as Fidelity must be proactive in attracting and retaining talent both inside and outside the boardroom that will help guide the company and help meet its strategic and operating needs. By adding individuals with diverse professional backgrounds and experiences, Fidelity Bank ensures new views, perspectives and approaches to problem solving. By recruiting these individuals, it is making a conscious effort to make sure the culture in the boardroom facilitates the exchange and consideration of varied perspectives. Those who choose to do business with a community
Pittston Interior
Brian J. Cali
bank can feel good about working with a financial institution that invests in the community as Fidelity Bank does. Part of the decisions about those investments stems from the knowledge the board of directors has about the local community. “I grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania, I built my law practice here, and as such, have a knowledge and appreciation for the values held by those who live and do business in the communities we serve,” said Brian J. Cali, Chairman of the Board. “I think it’s fair to say every board member has the same knowledge about his or her own community, which helps us have empathy and understanding for our clients, where they’ve been and what they hope to accomplish in the future.” Fidelity supports dozens of nonprofit organizations, groups and educational institutions through charitable giving. In 2021 alone, Fidelity Bank provided over $1.8 million. Additionally, its Volunteer Time Off Program or VTO, allows bankers to donate their time to causes they believe in during work hours while still being paid. Over 3,137 hours were given to local organizations throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northampton and Lehigh counties last year. H
Located in New York’s
Hudson Valley, Columbia County can be as relaxing or stimulating as one desires. There is culture, history, recreation, antiques and unique boutiques, farm markets and u pick orchards, bike trails, fishing holes and even a zip line adventure park. For art lovers, galleries, studios and an open air sculpture garden showcase artists' works from around
the world. The architectural masterpiece, Olana, the home of Hudson River School artist, Frederic Church, and President Martin
Van Buren National
Historic Site, anchor Columbia County's many heritage sites. Miles of country roads take you through expansive breathtaking vistas where one can leave the city behind and embrace the countryside either by car or bike. Along the way, stop and visit one of the many tasting rooms on the Scenic Sips Trail. Meander across the Hudson River Skywalk and
Columbia County Tourism take in the beauty of the Hudson River, along with the Catskill Mountains. Year round theater performances, concerts and seasonal summer stock musicals and dance offer entertainment for all ages. Come and enjoy from dawn to dusk or just sit back and relax, you decide. H
St. Ann Maronite Church Lebanese Festival September 18
The Annual Lebanese Festival will be held September 18 at Saint Ann Maronite Church in West Scranton. Celebrating many decades of Lebanese culture, the festival features delicious cuisine such as tabbouleh, hummus, grape leaves, spinach pies, pastries, kibbeh and other Lebanese cuisine. The festival brings together generations of parishioners and community members to connect and learn more about the rich heritage of Lebanese culture in Scranton, which originated more than 100 years ago when a large group of Lebanese families settled in the area in 1903. "Preparing for the festival is a lot of hard work, but there's still time for fun and laughter,” says Reverend Anton Youssef (Father Tony). “We all come together for this occasion.” The event will run Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. 26th AnnualCall (570) 344-2129. H
27th Annual
Sunday Sept. 18, Noon-7 p.m.
Authentic Lebanese Food & Pastry, Gift Baskets, 50/50 Raffle, Souvenirs 1320 Price Street West Scranton, PA
Scranton Area Community Foundation Supports Community Well-Being in Connell Park
T C he Scranton Area Community Foundation awarded Valley In Motion (VIM) a 2021 Innovative Impact grant of $12,500 to improve health and wellness in the Connell Park area of Scranton. This Community Well-Being work strengthens the environment in which people interact with their health, including increased access to recreation, fresh foods and support services. With this grant, VIM is conducting community engagement with residents of Valley View, Sky View and Hilltop residential developments, identifying their top health priorities and beginning to implement their preferred solutions. VIM is working with a dozen partners to support residents’ priorities. The Scranton Area Community Foundation has been a member of the NEPA Blue Zones Exploratory Committee, supporting local improvements in infrastructure so that healthy choices are easy choices. VIM is a non-profit that fosters community and quality of life in the Lackawanna Valley. VIM President Gus Fahey can be reached at 570-346-0600 or gus@valleyinmotion.org. VIM’s website is at www.valleyinmotion.org. H
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PNC Bank The Evolution of Banking at Your Local Branch
From digital payments to video banking, the way consumers conduct basic financial transactions has changed substantialfeedback and insights gleaned from its customers. Between May 2022 and the end of 2026, more than 60% of its 2,600 branches nationwide will convert to a new and digital banking will allow us to meet our customers where they are by providing that sweet spot of convenient digital tools and meaningful side-by-side personal interly throughout the past decade, format. Basic financial transac- actions.” and the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the trend toward digital banking. However, brick-and-mortar bank branches continue to play an essential role for many consumers tions will begin to be completed using automated or self-service solutions, such as ATMs and video banking, freeing bankers’ time to hold more in-depth conversations Those who are less comfortable with the latest technologies and who may be feeling anxious about these changes can put their concerns aside, according to McCann, when it comes to important financial “At a time when both physical facilities and conversations. Industry digital tools are critical to banking customers, experts say more a new way forward is emerging.”changes are coming down the pike to meet consumers’ evolving needs and to provide the right mix of digital tools and experiences, with more personalized human interactions at brick-and-mortar bank locations. and truly engage with customers in offering financial advice, expertise and solutions to help them meet their financial goals. “We remain committed to making who notes that bankers also will be available to spend time helping customers understand the digital tools available to them, within and outside of the branch. At a time when both physical facilities and Leading the charge in implement- a positive difference for our cus- digital tools are critical to banking ing some of these changes is one tomers and communities and to customers, a new way forward is of the largest diversified financial helping all move forward finan- emerging. services institutions in the United States, PNC, which is embarking on a multi-year conversion of its retail cially,” says Kevin McCann, retail growth and innovation executive for PNC. “We believe the balance Learn more by visiting www.pnc.com. H branch network in response to we will strike between physical
Maggie Hemphill Brian Maguire&
Maggie Hemphill met
her future husband, Brian Maguire, in 8th grade at South Scranton Intermediate School. Maggie, daughter of Liz and Matt Hemphill, graduated from Scranton High School, the University of Scranton and later the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University with a Doctor of Medicine. She is currently working as a resident physician specializing in anesthesiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Brian Maguire, son of Mike and Erin Maguire, graduated from Scranton High School, University of Scranton and the Beasley School of Law at Temple University with a Juris Doctorate. He is currently working as an assistant district attorney for the City of Philadelphia.
Brian proposed in July of 2020 outside of the Art Museum in Philadelphia with a solitaire radiant cut ring on a rose gold band. The wedding ceremony was at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton on May 28, 2022. The couple had a bagpiper at the conclusion of ceremony to exit the church, a nod to their Irish heritage.
The reception was held at The Scranton Cultural Center, with “dress to impress” themed attire. Maggie herself wore three dresses throughout the day, one for the ceremony, one for dinner and one for dancing. Her seamstress also made Brian a custom pocket square from the fabric of all three dresses. The couple hired a fashion sketch artist, Dallas Shaw, to live sketch their guests’ outfits throughout the reception as favors.
Maggie and Brian were thrilled to be surrounded by so many families and friends since the Covid-19 pandemic. Maggie’s grandfather, former Scranton mayor
Jimmy Connors, offered the blessing at dinner. Maggie also loved celebrating with her bridal party on the trolley that rode around downtown Scranton.
They played music and popped champagne. “When we arrived at the reception, no one wanted to get off the trolley!” she recalled.
Maggie and Brian honeymooned in Hawaii.
The couple provided this advice to future couples: "Do a first look of your reception space together as a couple! It’s a perfect way to take it all in and appreciate the little details before the party starts. Planning tipspreadsheets will be your best friend! They are my love language.” H –Elizabeth Haikes
Rebecca Fiorillo Tyler Hughes&
Rebecca Fiorillo and Tyler Hughes
were married on July 15, 2022. Rebecca, daughter of Neil and Karen Fiorillo, graduated from Abington Heights High School and later Misericordia University with a bachelor's in psychology and a doctorate in physical therapy. She currently works as a physical therapist at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis. Tyler, son of Judy and TJ Hughes, graduated from West Side High School and later SUNY Cortland with a bachelor’s in sports management. He is currently an NFL scout for the Indianapolis Colts.
The couple knew each other through mutual friends but officially met at the bar one night in 2019. Tyler asked for her number and they dated for two years. Tyler had been living and working in Indiana for the last seven years and Rebecca officially moved out there at the beginning of 2021 to start their lives together. They recently bought their first home and are soaking up every second with their adorable puppy Buddy.
Tyler proposed in June of 2021 when the couple was visiting New Hampshire for Rebecca’s cousin’s wedding. They were on a walk at Prescott Park in Portsmouth when Tyler popped the question on a beautiful pier that overlooked the water with Rebecca's dream cushion-cut halo ring.
The wedding and reception were held at the Banks Waterfront in Pittston, PA. The outdoor ceremony overlooked the Susquehanna River, followed by the reception inside. The reception included drone footage from the day, which included live editing. As the guests were entering the venue for the reception, clips were already playing from the couple’s first look, ceremony and cocktail hour. The guests talked about the videos all night.
The couple spent 10 days in Greece
for their honeymoon. They went to Santorini and Mykonos and had the most relaxing time.
The couple provided this advice to future couples: “Don’t be afraid to break traditions and do things how you want them to be done. It is your day. Although the process could be stressful at times, try to not sweat the small stuff, as people will never remember/notice.” H –Elizabeth Haikes
The Honeymoon
Thankfully, some things never go
out of style, including the 16th Century word, honeymoon, and its meaning, paraphrased thusly: a month-long (hence, moon) sweet time (honey) spent together after a marriage.
By the 18th Century, the word honeymoon began to refer to a deliberate vacation spent together after the wedding. The first usage appears in a collection of German folk stories by Johann Karl August Musäus, translated by Thomas Beddoes, according to the Oxford English dictionary: “The new-married couple spent their honey-moon in Augspurg, in mutual happiness and innocent enjoyments, like the first human pair in the garden of Eden.”
The first native-English usage appeared in 1804 and was published in London and written by Maria Edgeworth: "Mr. and Mrs. Ludgate went down in the hoy (Nautical: a small coaster vessel) to Margate, to spend their honeymoon in style.” (insider) In the 20th Century much was made about the betrothed couple's plans for their honeymoon and the bride’s “going away outfit.” It used to be “de rigueur'' that the bride would change out of her wedding gown and into an outfit suitable for traveling. The bride and groom would bid goodbye to their guests, the bride would throw the bouquet to a lucky hopeful, and the bride and groom would drive off on their honeymoon. Of course a comprehensive description of the bride’s gown and the bridesmaid’s dresses along with the bride’s going away outfit would be published in the bridal section of the local newspaper. These days, social customs have changed. Many married couples have been living together prior to marriage, so the wedding reception is focused on the celebration rather than on the rite of passage. “Whereas the white wedding dress traditionally symbolized a young woman's purity, the going away outfit represented her new status as a young married woman. It was stylish, respectable and suitable for traveling.” (louisaameliajane.au) –Christine Fanning 74 H Rebecca and Tyler Hughes honeymooned in Greece, visiting Santorini and Mykonos.
Country Inns and B&Bs
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 Shawnee Playhouse
Musicals, Dramas, Comedies, Children's Shows. Call us at 570-421-5093 or go to our website at theshawneeplayhouse.com for more information on shows, dates and times.
