Special Edition

October 14 15 Events around the area are getting us ready to have a HOWL-ing good time!  Danielle Weinschenk has all the details of the upcoming dueling pianos,  Leadership Lackawanna fundraiser, “Howl at the Moon”!  Kevin Young  tells us it’s time for the “Howl-O-Ween” Pet Parade to benefit Pawsitively For The Animals. PA State Police Master Trooper David Peters with Troop N Hazleton, joins us with information about The Hill Impact Program starting in January.  If you have donated blood, you have donated plasma as well. Anita Brikman from Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association is getting the word out about how important it is to donate plasma more frequently.  Did you know menopause can impact your dental health?  If you said no…you’re not alone. Sarah Chavarria,  President of Delta Dental of California explains what a new survey found and what women need to know and do. 

You don’t have to travel to Greece to enjoy a captivating Greek musical journey.  The Rossetti Foundation for the Arts & Culture invites you to the Greek Odyssey Concert. Ken Hussey and Dr. Joe Olivieri have the details of the evening which will showcase the extraordinary talents of acclaimed Greek-American soprano Julie Ziavras.

Lissa with our Audacy sister station 98.5KRZ has details of an upcoming Corn Hole Tournament. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Get in on the fun and if you would like to help out by donating your services or gifts, she tells us how.  Regena Spratling, PhD, RN, President, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) also joins us to tell us why getting the latest COVID 19 vaccine is important. 

This past week Dr. Katalin Kariko PhD. adjunct professor at The University of Pennsylvania and her colleague Drew Weissman received the Nobel Prize for Medicine. Just days before I spoke with her as she was receiving another award. It’s all part of her inspirational story detailing years of research that spurred development of the COVID 19 vaccines. 

September 30 October 1  Healthcare is an ever expanding field, especially for those starting to look for a career. The Northeast PA Area Health Education Center has partnered with the Northern Tier Industry & Education Consortium to bring the 2nd Annual Healthcare Career & College Exploration Event to the Viewmont Mall, Dickson City. Valerie Williams, Health Educator  with the Northeast PA Area Health Education Center is here with details of the event which will include hands-on experience.  Talking about careers, Seed Your Future’s, Fall Green Career Week is coming up.  Executive Director Jazmin Albarran tells us about agriculture and horticulture jobs you may not be aware of  and where right here in our area you can get the education you need. September is Suicide Awareness Month.  What signs should you be aware of? How can you approach the subject with a friend or loved one? Dr. Yolanda Graham, M.D. is a psychiatrist, and the senior vice president chief clinical/chief medical officer with Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health. Dr. Graham shares suggestions and resources everyone should know about. 

September 23 24 There is a Senior Fair coming up this week and  Beth Pantano, Community  Liaison with Griswold Home Care has your invitation and all the details.  Rebecca Rybak Northeast Highway Safety Program, wraps up National Child Passenger Safety Week with reminders to keep the kids safe!  Dr. Katalin Kariko PhD.  adjunct professor at The University of Pennsylvania and Professor at University of Szeged,  Hungary. Just part of her inspirational story includes receiving an award for years of research that spurred development of the COVID 19 vaccines. This past week, at the United Nations, the focus has been on climate change. Lois Bower-Bjornson is the Southwestern Pennsylvania Field Organizer with the Clean Air Council.  She joins us with details of a recent survey on air quality here in the Keystone State and growing support to limit methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.  

September 16 17  Two Cancer Day Survivor Celebrations are coming up. Amanda Marchegiani Community Relations Coordinator with Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Cancer survivor Day  Chair of the events Susan Drumgould have the details on where and when.  The Wilkes Barre VA recently received 4 out of 5 stars for quality of care for Veterans. The Under Secretary for Health at the Veterans Health Administration  Dr. Shereff  Elnahal joins us with details on what that means for area veterans. Jennifer Spitler Regional Program Outreach Coordinator with the PA Department of Military and Veteran Affairs DMVA is getting the word out just some of the many local events for area  veterans. Now is the time to get your flu vaccine, before the start of the flu season.  Dr. Gregg Sylvester, is the Chief Health Officer, at CSL Seqirus, one of the largest influenza vaccine providers in the world explains why getting it early is important.  Brad Close, President of National Federation of Independent Business is here to tell us about the Main Street Tax Certainty Act in the U.S. House of Representatives which would make tax relief permanent for small businesses. The National Federation of Independent Business supports making the 20 Percent Small Business Deduction Tax permanent and why it’s crucial for small businesses to stay open and thrive.

September 9 10 From the Wilkes Barre Scranton International Airport,  Eric McKitish Director of Marketing/Communications and Air Service Development and Denise Price, Assistant Director of Public Safety have the details of the 3rd Annual Wheel Life Experience.  A golf tournament to benefit the Hazleton Area Recreation Program known at  HARP. Executive Director Christie Provanzo joins us.  It’s time to visit the library!  Rick  Miller, MLS  Executive Director  Osterhout Free Library and System Administrator of the Luzerne County Library System tells us..now you don’t even have to leave your home and that’s not all!  Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner or SANE training is coming up and Registered Nurses are encouraged to take part.  Sabrina Hannon, Medical Advocacy Program Coordinator with Women’s Resource Center and Ericka Thaxton, Medical Advocate for Victims Intervention Program in Wayne and Pike counties explain why getting more certified is so critical.  What would you do if you witnessed a crime? To tell us what you should do,  PA State Police Trooper Anthony Petroski with Troop N Hazleton.  

September 2 3  Monday is Labor Day.  Gary Perna  President and CEO of The United Way of Greater Hazleton Inc. Gary tells us the United Way is putting focus on children, especially to help them succeed in School. “The Dolly Parton Imagination Library” and  “The Nurse Pantry” are just a few of the programs he’s getting the word out about.  Track suits, MTV, acid washed jeans, neon fashions, shoulder pads, Members Only jackets, lace, swatch watches,  breakdancing,  David Parmelee General Manager,  Little Theatre of Wilkes Barre, Michael Speranzo,  Director of  Little Theatre of Wilkes Barre’s  upcoming production of “The Wedding Singer” Take a chill pill, you’re guaranteed to have an like totally, fer sure awesomely, rad, totally tubular, time. No psych..yes Way!    Bill O’Boyle Member of the Organizing Committee of the Luzerne County Arts/Entertainment Hall of Fame and Times Leader Staff Writer/Columnist has all you need to know about the upcoming inaugural class being inducted on October 14 at Mohegan Pennsylvania. 

August 26 27   It’s almost  Labor Day Weekend! The 14th Annual Memorial Pet Walk and Car Show to benefit Tracey’s Hope Hospice Care and Rescue for Domestic Animals will be happening. Denise Kumor has the details.  Also it’s a Labor Day Weekend tradition, “Valley With a Heart Benefits” John Davis explains it best..”We Do It For The Kids”.  It’s back to school time! Children and adults with food allergies must be cautious because they can be life threatening. FARE-Food Allergy Research and Education has great information that everyone should be aware of.  Joining us is Dr. Kelly Cleary, Senior Director of Education and Support Programs with FARE. PennDOT and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful remind students interested in The Young Ambassadors of PA program you have until September 14th to return your applications. Kylie McCutcheon explains this exciting program not only helps them work to keep PA beautiful, the skills and experience they receive now will stay with them and may help shape future careers. 

August 19 20   Payments of the student loan debt of 40 million people, estimated to be about $430 billion dollars will come due in October. What should borrowers know? I found out from Brian Walsh,  SoFi’s expert Student Loan Manager. The Veterans Administration may have the job you are looking for.  Dr. Aaron Lee is Executive Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Office of Human Capitol Service with the jobs available and how you can apply. The Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program is a government program that helps eligible households get the internet they need for school, work, health care and more. Alejandro Roark, Bureau Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC  AI is showing up everywhere and now is also making travel less complicated. Ross Borden, AI expert and the founder of leading travel publisher Matador Network, and co-founder of Guide Geek is here to explain. You could ask..where are places I can take my dog with me to eat? But before you go, Dr. Rena Carlson, President-elect of the AVMA has advice so your pup will be prepared. Dr. Mahesh V. Jayaraman is a neurointerventionalist at Rhode Island Hospital. He’s here with a reminder, stroke can happen to anyone at any time. He has what you need to know.

August 12 13   When the kickstands go up next Saturday, hundreds of motorcyclists will be riding to support the Gino Merli Veterans Center Resident Welfare Fund.  Robert Champagne has the details on the 4th Annual Gino Merli Veterans Benefit Ride. The works of local playwrights will be brought to the stage at Actors Circle Providence Playhouse in Scranton. Cathy Rist Strauch has your invitation.  Hazleton Rotary Club welcomes their new president, Michele Kushmeder. She’s here with the details of their biggest fundraiser of the year,  The Beer and Wine Fest.  The healthcare field is growing and changing. Executive Director Debra Youngfelt and Health Educator, Valerie Williams, with Northeast PA Area Health Education Center are encouraging exhibitors to be a part of their upcoming October event and let area students know about all the careers they offer. Before Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the largest tax break for seniors into law in Scranton recently, he joined  Audacy’s Nancy and Jason.