BETHLEHEM — St. Luke’s University Health Network has earned national recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for its commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based stroke care, according to a network release from community relations director Samul Kennedy.

Hospitals across the St. Luke’s network — including its Coaldale Miners Campus and Geisinger St. Luke’s sites in Schuylkill County — received 2026 Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus awards, along with multiple Target: Stroke, Target: Type 2 DiabetesTM and Rural Stroke distinctions, Kennedy wrote in the release.

“These awards reflect the extraordinary dedication of our physicians, nurses, therapists, EMS partners and support teams across the network,” Daniel Ackerman, MD, FAAN, section chief of neurology and director of stroke and vascular neurology at SLUHN, said. “Every day, they work together to ensure that patients experiencing a stroke receive timely, evidence-based care that gives them the best opportunity for recovery.”

Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital and St. Luke’s (Coaldale) Miners Campus received the Get With the Guidelines® — Rural Stroke Gold recognition, according to Kennedy’s report.SLUHN earned the honors by “meeting rigorous national standards for stroke diagnosis and treatment, including rapid intervention, adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines and ongoing quality improvement initiatives. The awards recognize hospitals that demonstrate a sustained commitment to improving patient outcomes and reducing the long-term effects of stroke,” according to Kennedy’s release.

For more on SLUHN, go online to https://www.slhn.org.

Chamber, PSU Schuylkill cooperation enhanced

POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce has announced an “exclusive chamber benefit discount on cultural intelligence and grant writing courses.”

The offer is via a “Developing a Cultural Intelligence” initiative with Penn State Schuylkill: “Build Skills for Today’s Diverse Workforce.”

It will be via a Zoom session 1-4 p.m. Oct. 20. People may register at sl.psu.edu/culturalintell.

“Participants will explore how culture influences communication, decision-making and workplace dynamics. Through guided discussion, reflection and applied activities, attendees will gain tools to navigate diverse environments with greater confidence and effectiveness,” according to a chamber flyer.

People may also inquire about a three-course grant-writing series — Getting Ready for Grants, Grant Writing for Beginners and Proposal Writing.

For more, contact the chamber staff at oerickson@schuylkillchamber.com.

Women in Business event at PSU Schuylkill

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — According to a Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce flyer, the Schuylkill Women in Business Luncheon, sponsored by St. Luke’s University Health Network, will be held 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at Penn State Schuylkill Conference Services, 200 University Drive, Schuylkill Haven.

The event contact is Olivia Erickson, who can be reached via email to oerickson@schuylkillchamber.com. To each the chamber, Union Station 1 Progress Circle, Pottsville PA 17901, call 570-622-1942 or email to memberservices@schuylkillchamber.com.

Open-air downtown farm market underway

SHENANDOAH — Schuylkill County’s longest running seasonal outdoor downtown farm market continues its run 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Fridays through November along the east side of the first block of South Main Street.

Launched in the mid-1970s, the market was organized and is overseen by the Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce. The original idea was to increase pedestrian traffic in the downtown business area.

The market provides fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and even baked goods to the community, according to a release from the “Return to Prominence” revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc.

All are welcome to shop the market and enjoy its offerings in an outdoor setting. To contact the chamber of commerce, email to GreaterShenandoahChamber@gmail.com.

MAEA’s offerings varied, plentiful

POTTSVILLE — The Pottsville-based Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association offers myriad training and other sessions for regional employers, including (details at MAEA website):

■ MAEA Power Up Your Workforce professional development opportunities, multiple offerings in August and September at Pottsville and West Hazleton sites.

■ MAEA Fall Golf Tournament 2026, Sept. 11, four-person scramble with 1 p.m shotgun start; registration 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Mountain Valley Golf Course, Barnesville. Sponsorships available with request deadline Aug. 31 for sign confirmation.

■ Stay Calm Under Pressure/Building Resilience at Work, 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 15 in Pottsville.

Those interested may register for these programs or get more information, including fees plus other MAEA offerings, by calling 570-622-0992 or going online to www.nepamaea.com.

MAEA’s main office is at 250 One Norwegian Plaza, Pottsville, PA 17901. It also has a Hazleton area site at the CANBE Innovation Center, 103 Rotary Drive, West Hazleton, PA 18202.

MAEA contacts include: Darlene J. Robbins, MAEA president, drobbins@nepamaea.com; Eileen Kuperavage, director of employer engagement, ekuperavage@nepamaea.com;bNichole Jenan, finance and assistant, njenan@nepamaea.com; Faith Colahan, administrative assistant, fcolahan@nepamaea.com; Courtney Fasnacht, Manufacturers and Employers Council, cfasnacht@nepamaec.com.

Help available at Orwigsburg library

ORWIGSBURG — The Orwigsburg Area Public Library, 216 W. Independence St., is able to provide assistance for folks who need technical help.

Such assistance, by appointment, is provided 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays and 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The library also can provide help for scanning, copying, printing, renting a hot spot, using the computers, using the library WiFi and reading e-books.

To make an appointment, or for more information, call 570-366-1638.

Loans available for eligible projects

POTTSVILLE — Firms looking to expand or to retain or add employees may be eligible for a loan of up to $25,000, according to a Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce flyer.

Business loans are available with the following criteria: Use of proceeds must be for job growth or retention and cannot be a working capital line of credit; use of proceeds could be to buy equipment, software programs for training purposes, CRE improvements and similar items; business must be located in Schuylkill County; collateral could be business assets and/or real estate.

For more information call the chamber, Union Station, 1 Progress Circle, Suite 201, Pottsville, Pennsylvania 17901, at 570-622-1942. More information about the chamber is available online at www.schuylkillchamber.com.

Hamburg readies for hamburger celebration

HAMBURG — The Our Town Foundation’s annual Taste of Hamburger Festival has been set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 5, rain or shine, in downtown Hamburg.

The event, according to an early release, will include more than 80 burger/food vendors, a hamburger eating contest, four stages of non-stop entertainment, beer/wine gardens open until 7 p.m., best burger contests, a dine-and-dash race, artisans and crafters as well as children’s activities.

The foundation also has sent out a call for vendors to “join the flavor explosion” at the festival.

Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information, call 610-562-3106, go online to tasteofhamburger.com or email to tasteofhamburger@gmail.com.