Increases in opioid overdoses in Pennsylvania varied by county during COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the opioid epidemic, according to our new research, which finds that opioid overdoses increased in Pennsylvania in 2020 compared with 2018 and 2019. Yet general trends obscure critical local variations. Specifically, 19 Pennsylvania counties saw statistically significant increases in opioid overdose rates. The people who live in those 19 counties are […]
4 NEPA women break stigma of pole dancing with new Scranton studio opening Oct. 30
From a press release: A studio specializing in an often misunderstood art form, pole dancing, will open soon in downtown Scranton. Four local women – Ashley Matthews of Dunmore, Anjannette Roczniak of Old Forge, Shyla Lintz of Pittston, and Francesca Goldsack of Gouldsboro – teamed up in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic to open […]
F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre installs new air purification system for entire building
From a press release: After being closed for more than a year due to COVID-19, the F.M. Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre has announced the addition of a new air purification system for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system that runs throughout the entire building. The system, manufactured by Global Plasma Solutions and installed […]
Scranton Fringe Festival hosts COVID-19 vaccine clinic at AfA Gallery on April 22
From a press release: The Scranton Fringe Festival is partnering with the Rite Aid of Hamlin to host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for the general public on Thursday, April 22 at the AfA Gallery in downtown Scranton from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A minimum of 200 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered by representatives […]
Scranton and Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick’s Day parades postponed until September
On Sunday, the Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade Association announced that it will move its annual event from March to Saturday, Sept. 18, and today, Mayor George C. Brown followed suit and postponed the Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick’s Day Parade to Sunday, Sept. 19. These are tentative dates, as the onset of the coronavirus pandemic postponed and […]
Historic Hawley building becomes the Hawley Hub for art, theatre, dance, yoga, and more
From a press release: The Hawley Hub, an innovative new project taking place in downtown Hawley, is putting out a call for all dreamers, makers, movers, shakers, and self-recreators. The Hawley Hub has reclaimed the old Murray building on Main Avenue as a multi-purpose space for the community with an emphasis on the arts and […]
La Festa Italiana in Scranton canceled due to coronavirus concerns
First it was the Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade – then the coronavirus came for the Italian Festival. This morning, Lackawanna County and festival organizers announced that La Festa Italiana, scheduled for Sept. 4-7 on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton, has been canceled. The massively popular Labor Day weekend event typically brings more than 80 food […]
Staying safe as states start to reopen and assessing risk when reconnecting with friends and family
Editor’s note: Now that states are relaxing social distancing restrictions, people desperately want to see friends and family, go to a restaurant, and let our kids have playdates. Even grocery shopping sounds fun. But how can you do that and still stay safe? Here, an epidemiologist who is immune-compromised himself walks you through some decision-making. […]
How to shop safely at the grocery store amid the coronavirus pandemic
Wear a mask, but skip the gloves. Don’t sanitize the apples. And if you are older than 65, it’s probably best to still order your groceries online. As a food virologist, I hear a lot of questions from people about the coronavirus risks in grocery stores and how to stay safe while shopping for food […]
How drawing helped a Penn State professor cope with his mental illness and combat stigma
I’ve lived much of my life with anxiety and depression, including the negative feelings – shame and self-doubt – that seduced me into believing the stigma around mental illness: that people knew I wasn’t good enough, that they would avoid me because I was different or unstable, and that I had to find a way […]
