Latest news with #RACP
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State awards Sharon Regional $2 million for improvements
SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) — A $2 million infrastructure improvement grant has been awarded to Sharon Regional Medical Center. Sen. Michele Brooks (R-50) made the announcement on Friday. The grant is being awarded through the Commonwealth's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). 'This funding for Sharon Regional demonstrates the commitment at the state level to ensure additional quality healthcare remains sustainable and available to the residents of Sharon and surrounding region,' Brooks said in a news release. 'The successful reopening of Sharon Regional Medical Center has been a critical victory for increased capacity, and the overall health and safety of our community; in addition, the investment of these funds will continue the established commitment from local and state leaders to help the hospital grow and thrive.' The release said a minimum of $500,000 will be for enhancements to the hospital's catheterization laboratory, and the remaining funds will be to enhance the hospital's physical plant. Medical Properties Trust, the company Sharon Regional leases the hospital's property from, is also working on projects such as replacing the hospital's roof. 'These infrastructure upgrades are an important step forward for Sharon Regional,' said Butch Eavenson, interim CEO of Sharon Regional, in the release. 'They lay the foundation for consistent, high-quality care and reflect the commitment of those working hard to restore essential services in our community.' Patient care services will continue during construction. Timelines for construction are still being finalized. 'The work underway at Sharon Regional is focused on creating a strong and sustainable foundation for care delivery,' said Radha Savitala, founder of Tenor Health Foundation. 'Investing in the facility is a critical part of ensuring patients can rely on the care they need, close to home.' The RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the design, acquisition, and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wilkes-Barre council approves alcohol exceptions for Fine Arts Fiesta, Rockin' the River
Apr. 11—WILKES-BARRE — City council members unanimously approved temporary alcohol suspensions for two of the local area's biggest cultural events: the Fine Arts Fiesta on Public Square and the Rockin' the River series of concerts on the River Common. The Fine Arts Fiesta exception was noted as being for the wine-tasting area and only applies to wine. Malted or brewed beverages and liquors will still be prohibited on Public Square when the fiesta takes place from Thursday, May 15, to Sunday, May 18. The Rockin' the River exception is for three consecutive Fridays — July 11, 18, and 25 — this summer. The council's resolution on the matter notes that the designated area for open consumption of alcoholic beverages will be clearly identified on those dates by the event's sponsors, the Luzerne County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Public comment Mayor George Brown received significant backlash from residents in attendance at Thursday's meeting for his comments — which were recently printed in a local publication — regarding the city's strategies for handling homelessness. Residents April Pahler, Anthony Farah and Jasmine Rodriguez each took an opportunity to poke at the city's homelessness policy, specifically the methods with which a homeless camp was removed in Kirby Park in July 2024. The residents and council members came to some understanding about the resources available to the city's homeless population, and Brown defended his comments and policies. "If you saw the pictures or if you were over along the river and saw what the two encampments had done over there and put my firefighters and my police officers in danger — going over there at night with no lights and trying to walk through buckets of feces, buckets of urine, needles, and everything else that was over there that's going to create a safety hazard for these people that are trying to provide first aid and try to help them out — yeah, I think I did the right thing, and I would do it again," Brown said. During Brown's response to the residents' concerns, one meeting attendee stood up and shouted at the Mayor. "Absolutely inhuman [how] you're treating our neighbors here. Absolutely disrespectful. You should be ashamed of yourself. This council should be ashamed of yourselves by the way you treat the most vulnerable people in our community," the resident hollered as he was escorted from the council's chambers by police. Additional resolutions In addition to the alcohol allowances, the council also: —Approved the celebration of Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22, and the promotion of earth-friendly foods and a healthier food system in the city. —Reappointed Patricia Unvarsky to the Traffic Committee. —Authorized the proper city officials to file a Project Management Proposal with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) Grant in the amount of $750,000 for assistance with King's College Student Success Center Project. —Authorized the proper city officials to sign any and all necessary documents related to awarding the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Stell Enterprises, for the Bog Phase II All-Inclusive Playground/Park Project in the amount of $431,532.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Candidate for McGloin vacancy worked as consultant for Dem panel's director
A candidate the Lackawanna County Democratic Committee advanced to potentially replace former Commissioner Matt McGloin worked as a consultant for the committee's executive director, documents obtained by The Times-Tribune show. Former county economic development Director Brenda Sacco is listed as a 'consultant' on a document related to a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant that businessman and developer Alpesh Patel, the committee's executive director, secured for a hotel and event space project at the former Gertrude Hawk property on Drinker Street in Dunmore. Patel applied in 2023 for $3 million in RACP funding to support the hotel development and secured a $500,000 state grant for the project last year. State Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore, announced in November the $500,000 RACP award to Alsqstop Real Estate LLC, Patel's firm. It was one of nearly 20 local projects Flynn highlighted for receiving RACP funding. Sacco — who led the county's Department of Planning and Economic Development for about five years before McGloin and fellow Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan dismissed her in January 2024 — is one of three candidates the Democratic Committee advanced for consideration by the judges of the County Court of Common Pleas to potentially succeed McGloin, who resigned last month. County President Judge James Gibbons recently paused that replacement process after Gaughan and the county challenged it in court. The process that played out late last month saw county Democratic Party leaders, including Patel and county Democratic Chairman Chris Patrick, use a scoring rubric to narrow a list of 18 applicants for the vacancy to three finalists. Those three finalists — Sacco, Olyphant Borough Council President James Baldan and Scranton School Director Robert J. Casey — were put before the county party's full executive committee, which voted to advance them to the judges. Sacco is identified as a 'consultant' on a state 'Grantee Selection & Partner Portal Assignment Worksheet' related to Patel's Dunmore project. The worksheet identifies the grantee for the project and the people, including Sacco and Patel, who'll be granted permission to upload documents and access and view project information through a 'partner portal.' County economic development Director Kristin Magnotta, whom Gaughan and McGloin hired shortly after dismissing Sacco, said Sacco worked as a consultant for Patel after her separation from the county. 'She was hired by Al,' Magnotta said of Sacco. 'She was not a consultant for Lackawanna County.' Specific details of Sacco's consulting work and whether it is ongoing remain unclear. Neither Sacco nor Patel responded to multiple attempts to reach them for comment and context. But the apparent business relationship preceded the Democratic Committee's advancing of Sacco as a finalist to replace McGloin as commissioner. Gaughan has criticized that process as nontransparent and politically tainted. Patrick has defended the process in the face of those criticisms, and unequivocally defended Sacco's resume and qualifications Wednesday. Patrick said he didn't know anything about Sacco's consulting work, but pointed to her professional background and extensive economic development experience with the county. Consulting on a development project involving grant funding would be consistent with her background and expertise, he said. Sacco joined the county economic development office in August 2013 as deputy director of operations and finance under Director George Kelly, who left in January 2019. Kelly ran for commissioner that year as incumbent Democratic Commissioner Jerry Notarianni's running mate, but didn't advance beyond the primary. Commissioners elevated Sacco in early 2019 to replace Kelly as director, initially in an acting capacity. She served through the next administration of Notarianni, fellow Democratic Commissioner Debi Domenick and Republican Commissioner Chris Chermak, often earning praise for her performance. Gaughan and McGloin gave no specific reason for letting her go. 'Brenda Sacco has a resume that would blow your mind if you looked at it,' Patrick said, noting he furnished the judges with three good candidates. 'And Brenda Sacco, if anybody wants to dispute her qualifications let me say this to you, she's more qualified by her resume to be the county commissioner than Bill Gaughan, Chris Chermak, Matt McGloin and probably 10 commissioners before (them).' The rubric party leaders used to determine which three highest-scoring applicants to put before the full executive committee included points for government, professional and economic development experience, experience developing or helping to develop budgets, educational background and experience working for or with the county Democratic Committee. Patrick, who provided those details last week, acknowledged Wednesday that Patel participated in the process. 'Al Patel's involved in my process because he's my executive director, he's been my executive director for three years,' Patrick said, noting Patel wasn't making final decisions. 'I make final decisions as the chairman.' Prior to the committee's Feb. 27 vote to advance Sacco, Baldan and Casey, Gaughan held a press conference to introduce Dunmore Mayor Mark 'Max' Conway Jr. as his preferred choice to replace McGloin. He later blasted the committee process as opaque, arguing it 'threatens to turn the county over to a small group of politicos.' Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan concludes a press conference after announcing Dunmore Mayor Max Conway, right, as his preferred choice to replace former Commissioner Matt McGloin in the Commissioners Conference Room at the Government Center in Scranton Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Conway has also criticized the process. 'I think most people see this process for what it is,' he said the day after the committee vote. 'I knew who the three finalists were an hour before the vote and the meeting started. How is that possible?' Whether the Democratic Committee process will ultimately stand remains to be seen. The question will be decided in court. County solicitor Donald Frederickson and attorneys with the Scranton law firm Myers, Brier & Kelly filed a petition last week on behalf of Gaughan and the county asking the county court to amend a March 6 order on the process of replacing McGloin. They specifically seek an amendment bringing the order into compliance with Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 1908, effectively removing the Democratic Committee from the process of filling McGloin's seat for the almost three years remaining on his unexpired term. Rule 1908 says the county court, not a political party, 'shall receive applications from any interested candidates for the position' pursuant to a deadline established by the court. The legal matter will proceed before a panel of Senior Judges Carmen D. Minora, Robert A. Mazzoni and Vito P. Geroulo, who will hear arguments and rule on issues raised in Gaughan and the county's petition. Whether the county remains a party to the legal action also remains to be seen after the solicitor representing Chermak, Paul J. LaBelle, asked in a court filing Monday for the county to be removed as a party. Chermak opposes the county's involvement.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Shapiro announces largest grant to a Muslim organization in Pennsylvania
Governor Josh Shapiro announces grant to the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society in Philadelphia. (Photo by John Cole/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) PHILADELPHIA — Describing it as the 'center of the universe in this community,' Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Al-Aqsa Islamic Society on Tuesday evening to announce a $5 million grant for the community center. 'I know that right now, as we're facing, tumult overseas and we're facing a lot of rising hate here at home, institutions are more important than ever before, and having community centers like this are more important than ever before,' Shapiro said to the room full of people sharing iftar, the meal eaten in the evening to break their Ramadan fast. The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant is the largest grant in the history of the commonwealth given to a Muslim organization, according to Shapiro's office. The expansion will result in 12 new classrooms, a gym, and more spaces to bring the community together. Asif Hussain, Chairman of the Board of Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, says the goal is to have an 'academic center of excellence' in the school, Al-Aqsa Academy. Currently, he said the K-12 school has about 300 students and they have a wait list as the community has grown in recent years. 'The idea would be to have a primary, secondary, and high school all in one building, and for students who are enrolled in primary education to stay for graduation, and this become a very important part of their development and their future endeavors,' Hussain said. He added the school currently has a 100% college placement rate and he would 'love to see' 3,000 students enrolled. A lot of the children and teenagers are African and Middle Eastern and come from impoverished backgrounds, Hussain said, and that all of the students at the school receive scholarships and financial aid to help pay for their tuition. He said the school utilizes the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) as part of the scholarships given to students, which he's described as 'very helpful.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Shapiro said his administration has increased funding for education 'to a level never seen in the Commonwealth.' 'These are really wonderful kids,' he said. 'I think it's important to invest in centers of community.' Shapiro said at the governor's residence recently, he heard from members of the Muslim community expressing 'fear because of the policies and the approach of the Trump administration.' 'Tomorrow (Wednesday) night, I'll be hosting an iftar at the governor's residence, and I expect that will come up in conversation,' Shapiro added. 'It does in nearly every room I'm in, especially with the Muslim community.' Shapiro described it as a 'moment' where he thinks communities are 'fearful of the federal government.' 'And that's deeply concerning to me, and I want the Muslim community to know that they are welcome here in Pennsylvania,' Shapiro said. 'They are warmly embraced in Pennsylvania, that I've got their back and I'm going to protect them.'
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City Hall going green for the first time in decades
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti unveiling a surprise Friday night ahead of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Green lights have been put into the top of gothic wheel windows at Scranton City Hall atop the bell tower. This marks the first time that the tower lights have been lit in decades , according to the release. This is a part of the $4.7 million restoration project aimed at preserving the 137-year-old historic city landmark. The last major renovation of City Hall happened in 1980, the year before it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The City Hall renovation project, funded by the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) and a portion of the City's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, is expected to be finished this spring. The green lighting will continue from the tower through St. Patrick's Day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
