Johnson College Continuing Education Announces Late Summer and Fall Courses

Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program recently announced its late summer and fall course offerings. The courses are for adults who want the opportunity to improve their skills, which will also help them stay ahead of the competition, learn new technologies, and advance in their current careers.

The courses and start dates include:

Pennsylvania Emissions Inspector Training and Testing on August 10 and August 24, 2022.

Pennsylvania State Vehicle Safety Inspection on August 9, 2022.

Fundamentals of Welding on August 9, 2022.

Fundamentals of Welding and Intermediate Gas Metal Arc Welding GMAW on August 9, 2022.

Medical Assistant Program on August 30, 2022.

Forklift Operator Training on September 24, 2022.

Basic Maintenance on November 1, 2022.

For more details on each course and how to register, visit johnson.edu/continuingeducation or contact the Continuing Education team at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu.

College to Host Inaugural Fall Fest

Johnson College will host an inaugural Fall Fest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 1, 2022, on the College campus in Scranton, PA.

This free-admission event will feature a variety of activities for all ages. Enjoy live music by The Hometown Boyz while browsing an array of handcrafted items from local artisan and craft vendors. Children can make their own crafts in a Kid’s Corner as families delight in free games, prizes, and activities throughout the day. Feeling hungry? Attendees can grab a bite to eat or warm up with some hot chocolate and cider from some favorite, local eateries.

Community members can explore the Johnson College campus by participating in an all-ages scavenger hunt or by viewing demonstrations from a variety of highlighted program areas across campus.

Additionally, Johnson College will hold its first-ever Cornhole Tournament presented in partnership with NEPA Cornhole. The tournament will feature two divisions so that anyone from beginners to pros can play with double elimination. The social division registration fee is $20 per two-person team and the competitive division fee is $40 per two-person team. Teams can pre-register online at https://johnson.edu/fallfest/, or register at the door from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Prizes for social division: 1st place is $100 cash; 2nd place is $50 in gift cards. Prizes for competitive division: 1st place is $300 cash; 2nd place is $150 cash.

Various sponsorships for the event as well as spaces for artisan, craft, and food vendors are available. Those interested in sponsoring the event or participating as a vendor can register at https://johnson.edu/fallfest/ or contact College Advancement via email at jeidenberg@johnson.edu or by phone at 570-702-8991.

Proceeds from Fall Fest will benefit the Johnson College Annual Fund, which helps to maintain important scholarships, programs, and facilities to continue providing hands-on learning to Johnson College students.

From Nose to Tail: Summertime with Our Pets

By Jamie Laubenstein ‘07, CVT

Originally published in the June 24, 2022, edition of the Valley Advantage.

https://www.thevalleyadvantage.com/community-columns/from-nose-to-tail-summertime-with-our-pets/article_f72d6d7f-7e5a-5072-8140-aa58e5f3464c.html

In  the warmer summer months, we find ourselves spending more time outside. Whether we are hosting a summer barbecue, hiking or cooling off in the water, many of us include our furry friends in all our activities.

Enjoying summer celebrations can be made even better by taking extra precautions to ensure our canine and feline companions are having as much fun as we are.

Our first question this month is, “Can my pet eat the food we prepare during our backyard barbecue?”

Gathering around the grill for some delicious barbecue is an excellent idea for us but not for our four-legged companions. While barbecue sauce elevates our culinary experience, it often contains onions and garlic, which can be toxic to dogs. Sharing even a tiny amount of food or scraps can be enough to cause diarrhea or vomiting in most dogs.

We should also avoid giving our pets corn on the cob and ribs. Bones should not be given to our furry friends because they can potentially cause gastrointestinal blockage.

However, some foods — if prepared without oils and are deboned— like chicken, turkey, salmon, and some vegetables, including sweet potatoes can be shared, in moderation, with our pets.

“I’ve taken my dog on hikes with me, but can I take my cat?” is our second question.

Getting outside to explore the trails or cooling off at a lake is often enjoyed by our canines and, yes, our feline companions, too. Did you know that you can train your cat to hike with you on a harness, just like dogs?

Often, this is made easier if you start training when your cat is very young and use a combination of leash walking with an open window carrier. Exploring the environment is excellent physical and mental stimulation for our pets.

Keeping cats and dogs on a harness and leash helps protect them from being injured by wildlife (porcupine quills) and prevents them from harming small native animals, including chipmunks and birds.

Hydration is just as crucial for our hiking companions, too. Bring extra water and a collapsible bowl on every trip.

Remember to keep your pets on appropriate flea, tick and heartworm preventatives to avoid unwanted parasite infestations.

Our third question is, “How do I know when my pets are stressed when fireworks are going off in our neighborhood, and what can I do to calm them down?”

Our pets can tell us how much stress they feel simply by us watching their behavior during these activities. Stressed-out animals exhibit behaviors such as hiding, pacing, being excessively clingy, vocalization, and having accidents (urinating/defecating) in unusual areas of the house. These behaviors can occur at any time in your pet’s life, and it is not uncommon for pets to become less tolerant of outside activities as they age.

Not to worry, there are things you can try at home to help manage and decrease that stress and anxiety. It’s important to understand that the loud and sudden boom of the firework, like thunder, often causes the most stress to our pets.

The best practice is to be proactive around the holidays and have a plan in place before the noise gets your pet upset. Having a room in your house prepared for your pet before the loud noises start is vital. The room should be quiet and dimly lit.

You can also try playing calming music to soothe your pet and help take their focus off the sound of the fireworks. Distraction aides like Kong puzzle toys filled with a tasty treat and/or thunder shirts, designed to release endorphins, may also help your pet.

Contacting your veterinarian about different medication protocols for such events is also an excellent idea. Your vet can help you combine several of these suggestions to manage your pet’s anxiety appropriately.

Summertime with our pets can be extremely rewarding, filled with moments that make wonderful memories. By being proactive and creative, we can share all the parts of the summer, including barbecues, exploring and outdoor festivities with our cherished companions in a way that is rewarding to them, too.

Jamie Laubenstein, AS, CVT, ’07 Johnson College alum, is a full time CVT Instructor at the Johnson College Veterinary Nursing program as well as a clinical rotation instructor at the Animal Care Center on campus. She has been part of the veterinary field for 19 years.