Online educator spurs $3,500 donation for physical fitness

Having a safe place to playfully stay active helps children develop physical and social skills and maintain a healthy weight. Understanding the value of a playground prompted Mike Thompson, an E-Learning developer for PPL’s Technical Development and Improvement group, to raise more than $3,500 for a new one in Bloomsburg.

Thompson organized a 5K run/walk May 11 in the Bloomsburg Town Park, home of the former Kidsburg playground, which was taken down shortly after the 2011 flood made it unusable. The large wooden structure, built in the early 1990s through donations and volunteer help, provided a creative play area for local children.

“Being able to run, climb and pretend is an important part of growing up,” Thompson said. “Also, I know from personal experience with losing weight that if physical activity is fun, kids will play longer and harder.”

More than 150 people participated in the event. The money will be donated to Kidsburg 2.0/BTPIA, a community group that is raising funds needed to rebuild a playground in a higher location in the Bloomsburg Town Park. More about the community effort can be found at http://kidsburg.org/.

PPL supported the event with a financial donation, T-shirts and a banner for the event. PPL employees Mimi Mylin, senior information specialist; Bob Rodriguez, stockman; and Lisa Helsel, senior engineer; helped with registration and tracking runners’ times. Co-workers from Thompson’s work group, Dennis Knepper, director; Paul Ward, manager; and Keri Krasley, project manager; drove up from the Allentown area to run in the event.

Mike Thompson, left, stands next to Kidsburg chair Deb Huckans after the race, which was successful despite a light morning shower.

People power helps clean Berwick Borough during United Way Day of Caring

Susquehanna’s Human Resource Department helped clean up parts of Berwick Borough as part of a Week of Caring sponsored by Berwick Area United Way earlier this month.

“Despite the hard work, we had fun working side-by-side with our neighbors picking up trash and doing other small tasks that helped make the borough look brighter,” said Carol Moody, director of Human Resources at Susquehanna.

From left, Bob Acker, administrative coordinator; Jillian Brennan, senior human resources consultant; Steve Sublett, Human Resources manager; Lisa Valeski, senior human resources consultant; Carol Moody, director-Human Resources; and Gary Young, Human Resources manager.

Red Cross Bloodmobile at Tower’s Club May 29

The American Red Cross bloodmobile will be at the Susquehanna Tower’s Club, 255 Confer’s Lane, Berwick, on Wednesday, May 29 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Family and friends of PPL employees are encouraged to attend.

All blood types are needed. Bring some form of valid identification.

During registration, donors can donate in honor of someone who has recently needed or will soon need blood. The Red Cross, a United Way supported agency, will provide a card to send to the person in need.

To make an appointment, contact Melody Masich (ETN 254-3468) or at mjmasich@pplweb.com. You can give blood every 56 days.

PPL supports local community college’s dental clinic

PPL Corporation has donated $25,000 over a three-year period to Luzerne County Community College’s Benco Dental Clinic at the College’s Health Sciences Center in downtown Nanticoke.

The donation will help LCCC continue to provide its students with educational opportunities as well as offer health and wellness programs to the citizens of Luzerne and other counties. The Benco Dental Clinic at LCCC serves the region’s disadvantaged residents, elderly, and children through the volunteer efforts of local dentists and LCCC students.

“Affordable access to education and health-care services is important to the community and reflects PPL’s commitment to improving the quality of life in northeastern Pennsylvania,” says Jeff Helsel, vice president of Nuclear Operations at PPL’s Susquehanna power plant. LCCC has the only accredited program in dental hygiene in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Shown at the plaque dedication at the LCCC Benco Dental Clinic are, from left, first row -- Dr. Deborah Vilegi Peters, Mountain Top, dean, nursing and health sciences, LCCC; Cathryn Brown, Clarks Summit, director, dental health LCCC; and Carol Moody, Berwick, manager for human resources, PPL Susquehanna.

Second row -- Dr. Gary Mrozinski, Taylor, dean, business and technologies, LCCC; Thomas P. Leary, Kingston, president, LCCC; Rich Beasley, Scranton, regional community relations director, PPL; and Jeff Helsel, Bloomsburg, vice president of nuclear operations, PPL Susquehanna.