Valley of Progress 2024

By Rick Dandes rdandes@dailyitem.com

LEWISBURG — In 2024, said

Steve Beattie, executive director, of Joint Rail Authority (JRA is an independent part of SEDA-Council of Government), “our focus is on capital improvement, or capital investment, where we will be approaching over $10 million of improvements across our rail network.”

JRA’s role is freight rail, the preservation of freight rail, and promoting economic development.

JRA’s rail network is in the ninecounty area. “So, a lot of our bandwidth will be taken up purely through managing those projects,” he explained.

Locally, JRA has a contractor and will be under construction in June on the Shamokin Valley line for grade crossing from Sunbury to Shamokin. Fifteen grade crossings will be improved. This will create the need for detour plans and some inconvenience to the public, as the crossings are upgraded, Beattie said. The cost of the project is federal money passed through to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Penn DOT). It is called Section 130 Corridor Safety Money.

JRA is in two regional PennDOT districts.

“So, a lot of this year will be implementations,” Beattie said. “Last year we spent a lot of time on planning, engineering, permitting, and getting that all set up for a lot of construction, 2024.

Additionally, JRA will be doing, “with our partners, the Northshore Railroad a rail replacement project at the interchange with Norfolk Southern in Northumberland Borough to replace rail, because the rail in that area is approaching a hundred years old,” Beattie said.

That's about a $1 million rail replacement project. “We have projects elsewhere on the system in Bellefonte and Bald Eagle Valley,” he said.

Celebrating 40th year

JRA celebrated 40 years of incorporation in 2023. This summer, Northshore Railroad will celebrate its 40th year as operator on JRA lines.

The JRA came out of SEDA-COG 40 years ago and has a separate budget, separate board, and separate staff.

“We are a very successful example of a public-private partnership, where the public owns the rail lines. And in this case, the private entity is the operator., and the affiliate railroads that run our lines,” Beattie said.

JRA is responsible for the management of the property, and the real estate, and then the upkeep, rebuilding, renovation, and rehabilitation of the capital assets, which are the crossings, bridges, and rail yards. The operator focuses on the everyday maintenance of the lines and serving the customer.

JRA is made up of nine counties and each county designates two board members to the JRA board of 18.

“We are a large regional organization that touches a lot of municipalities physically, but also through our efforts in economic development,” he said.

Looking back at 2023

JRA started their initiative of our large capital improvement program. All of the work related to engineering, permitting, and getting the funding in place.

“We own a lot of bridges,” Beattie said, “and so there is a lot of permitting related to bridges because some of our bridges are underwater and it affects the banks.”

Another thing JRA did in 2023, JRA also negotiate an agreement with the Bellefonte Historic Railroad Society and restart passenger excursions out in the Bellefonte-Centre County area.”That was a big deal because those excursions had stopped during COVID-19 and had not restarted. This was something the public was looking forward to. And we made that process out there and independent excursion entity. They run separately from the excursion run over here.

“We’re a railroad,” he said. “We are re-investing constantly. T think it is important to note we are a public railroad, a freight railroad.

But no local taxpayer money is used to fund the railroad. Our funding is directly from the freight revenue earned on the freight, besides leasing and licensing parts of our property along the network.”

Photo provided

A 108-inch diameter reinforced concrete culvert is installed on the North Shore Railroad line in Point Township, Northumberland County as part of the Joint Rail Authority’s capital improvement program.

get funding for engineering work to create actual plans for the upgrading of that intersection. The city applied for the Automated Red-Light Enforcement (ARLE) grant, to obtain the funding to begin creating those plans,” Backer said.

“One of the problems with the former Celotex property is there is not an established entrance to this property for developers. The traffic study and these engineering funds are part of the process of rectifying that issue to get that property developed.”

Currently the property is owned by Northumberland County, and Commissioner Sam Schiccatano said he has been working with Sunbury officials for the past year in trying to work out a deal so both the city and county can benefit from the land.

Schiccatano said 2024 is the year for Celotex.

“We are going to be doing everything we can to get this property developed,” he said. “It is truly a great property and to have it just sit there idle is not helping anyone. We will all become much more aggressive in making this happen in 2024.”

Councilman Jim Eister said he wants to iron out a deal with Northumberland County as soon as possible.

“We are all working together to get a plan in place and this property back on the tax rolls,” he said.

The last agreement called for a SOSO partnership between Sunbury and Northumberland County that was proposed by Sunbury and that would cost zero dollars to city residents in order to develop the site that has been vacant for the past eight years.

There had been no movement until 2021 when it was announced that former Gov. Tom Wolf granted a $2 million grant to be used at the 1400 Susquehanna Ave. site.

The funds were to be used to help rehabilitate and redevelop the area. The first phase of the project involves land acquisition costs, upgrades to utilities and stormwater systems and the installation of a traffic light, to provide ease of access.

The city was to purchase the property

for $1.5 million from the county and the county in return was to give $1.5 million back to the city in American Rescue Funds, as a way to help develop the land, thus not costing taxpayers a dime, according to Backer.

In that deal officials stated Northumberland County would appoint three members of the new commission, and Sunbury would appoint three members.

The agreement also states, upon the sale of all or any portion of the real property, Northumberland County shall receive the first $3 million in equitable proceeds.

Any equitable proceeds realized from the sale of all or any portion of the real property, in excess of the $3 million shall be equally divided between the parties, the document states.

Schiccatano said the county rejected the offer and the negotiations stalled at that time.

“We are once again working out the best deal for all of us,” he said. Schiccatano said he meets with city officials often and both sides are trying to figure out a fair proposal and get the site developed. “We all want what’s best for the residents of the county and Sunbury.”

One of the problems with the site is misinformation, officials said.

According to official documents from Sunbury, a study from 2011 and a study in 2015 by Apex Industries revealed low-level traces of contaminants, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(b)flurenthen.

Forty-eight samples were taken across the 22 acres using ground penetrating radar, soil samples and concrete coring. Apex tested for 145 chemicals, but only five were identified above Act 2 standards.

Reports of buried drums, asbestos and steam tunnels were either unable to be identified or posed no risk, the report said.

The plant closed in 2008 and structures on the facility were demolished in 2010.

Apex also found no evidence of fracking, so radiation was not a concern. consultant Raymond Minarovic said at the time.

Sunbury Solicitor Joel Wiest said the city has the documentation stating the site is clean and is not contaminated and can be prepared to be used or sold commercially.

Schiccatano said once a deal is back on the table, officials will keep the public informed.

“We would like nothing more than to let people know the plans,” he said. “Once we get things finalized, we will be more than happy to tell everyone.”

Beginnings of Gilson Snow emerged from middle school classroom

By Marcia Moore mmoore@dailyitem.com

SELINSGROVE - Ski and snowboard manufacturer Gilson Snow has its roots in a Nashville middle school classroom.

Nick Gilson was collaborating with fellow teacher, Austin Royer, a Winfield native and Susquehanna University graduate, on a year-long

“We

“The

on the ground. He’s an amazing leader of people and he’s so even keeled.”

While Gilson, as company CEO, focused on the new business, Royer continued to work remotely with him developing the business while teaching for another two years before joining the firm full time as chief operating officer Royer suggested establishing a headquarters and manufacturing facility in his hometown, where he knew there were available resources.

One of them was his father, Tim Royer, an accomplished handyman with a workshop at his Winfield property that he turned over to them for a year.

“The workshop went from 300 square feet to 1,500 square feet,” said Austin Royer.

They purchased Royer's late grandfather’s 8-acre Winfield property in 2015, began working with Bucknell University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and started hiring employees.

“We stayed because of the community that we built,” Royer said.

The business grew rapidly and by last year, Gilson snow was producing about 500 ski and snowboards each month.

A fire in November 2022 forced the company’s relocation to Selinsgrove, but they got up to speed quickly and by last December were once again producing 500 boards a month which they sell worldwide.

In its 10th year, Gilson Snow is expanding to include the production of skateboards which Royer said they hope to have on the market in March..

Another product, wakesurfers, which were developed with the help of Bucknell’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will also soon be available for sale, Gilson said. The company is also planning to host the annual Gilson Summer Snow Day event this August at their Selinsgrove location along Penns Creek.

Valley of

Fabtex makes window treatments for national firms

By Anna Wiest awlest@dailyitem.com

DANVILLE - Hidden in Danville is a lesser known business that creates products that get sent out across the nation.

“Fabtex is like a little secret here in Danville,” Eric Frantz, Vice President of Sales at the Danville location, said.

Fabtex, at 29 Woodbine Lane, opened in 1987 and produces window treatments for hospitality and goes after volume hotel brands often seen while traveling. Their products can be seen inside national chain hotel rooms like Holiday Inn’s, according to Frantz, who has been with the company for 22 years.

To put things into perspective, Frantz offered a comparison between Fabtex and Competitors. In 2019, Fabtex produced and installed treatments in 485 Holiday Inn Expresses while their top competitor did only 15, he said.

The process for Fabtex employees begins in the field. “Hotels all have different size windows,” Frantz said. “We go out and measure the windows to make the product and install it. The complication is in the coordination and sizing.”

Back in Danville, the warehouse is filled with sewing machines where the treatments are produced. Items made within the facility include draperies, sheers, valances, cornices, roman shades, blinds and roller shades, Frantz said.

Amber Sherwood, who works on the production floor at Fabtex, has been with the company since 2008. “We’re like a welloiled machines,” Sherwood said. “Everyone knows what needs to be done and can pitch in.”

Once products are made, Fabtex is responsible for shipping them by floor and room number to make the installation process easier, according to Frantz.

In December, Danville employees installed window treatments in 800 rooms on 48th Street in New York City, right at Times Square. In the chaos of holiday season in the city, having the treatments already organized was crucial, Frantz said.

In the next year, Hampton Inn, which is the flagship brand of Hilton, will be switching from shades to drapery and sheers, according to Frantz. The Vice President of Sales said he also anticipates 185 new-build inns from 2024 to 2025 and 310 renovations in 2024, 350 in 2025 and 400 in 2026. While not all of this production will take place in Danville, as Fabtex also has locations in Fullerton, California and Tijuana, Mexico, Frantz said Danville will get their fair share.

All of this is to say, things are not slowing down at Fabtex and they are hiring for positions both on the production floor and in the office. “We have a ton of work headed our way,” Frantz said. All production floor jobs are on-location positions while the office positions can be hybrid or remote. “We try to be flexible,” Frantz said. “We understand people have to get kids on and off the bus.” Sherwood said she and her colleagues are welcoming to new hires. “When new people come in, they can always ask questions and every station actually has its own training book.” Benefits include paid time off, a retirement plan, medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance, company holidays and supplemental insurances and EAP, according to the company site. Open positions at Fabtex can be viewed online at www. fabtex.com/careers/#positions.

Commuter flights set to resume at Williamsport Regional Airport in May

By Rick Dandes rdandes@dailyitem.com

WILLIAMSPORT - Fol­

lowing two and half years without commercial passenger service, commuter flights are set to resume May 23 at the Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT). The service to and from Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., will be provided by Southern Airways Express, a subsidiary of Surf Air Mobility.

Initially, there will be 10 passenger flights a week, each transporting a maximum of nine passengers to or from Dulles. It will be the start of a new era for the airport in Montoursville, which hosted it’s last American Airlines flights in September, 2021.

“Since then we have talked to everybody about resuming commercial service,” said Richard Howell, executive director of the airport. “I actually started talking with them before American Airlines left,” he said during an interview on Wednesday.

Williamsport will provide funding and services to subsidize and support the establishment of the program. The lion’s share of the economic impact comes from the jobs in the area servicing and supporting general aviation.

“The Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority deserves a tremendous amount of credit for restoring air service in Lycoming County,” said U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9, whose district includes the airport. “Their tireless efforts have led to this logistical triumph, and I’m happy to have worked with them to accomplish this goal.”

In preparation for a proposed start date in May, Howell is working with Southern on how the aircraft will be serviced.

“We are working with our TSA (Transportation Security Administration) partners to ensure that we have screeners here. We are working with partners to make sure we can do fueling and deicing. It’s a broad effort to make sure all the pieces are in place for the start.” No capital improvement needs to be made to the facilities, Howell said. “We are fully functional.”

The Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce has worked for decades in partnership with the team at the airport to enhance air services, added Jason Fink, president and chief executive officer at the chamber.

“Williamsport Regional Airport (ITP) is truly a regional airport with businesses who regularly fly to meet with clients, potential customers, for corporate meetings or do work in other markets,” he said.

The production floor is normally a busy area within the Fabtex facility in Danville. By Anna Wiest/The Daily Item

Bucknell University gives students ‘Access and Success’ in new center

By Justin Strawser

Center for; ess & Success

any one time. Brown’s position was made possible by Andrew ‘71 and Janet Bauer Hartman ‘P01, and by the Charles T. Bauer Foundation.

The center will focus on students from the following programs: The Gateway Scholars Program, the Charles T. Bauer Scholars Program, the Posse Scholars Program, Langone and Langone-Walling Scholarships and the Bucknell Community College Scholars Program.

The Gateway Scholars Program, Bucknell’s newest pathway program, enrolls 20 high-achieving first-generation college students each year who demonstrate financial need, providing resources to meet their full needs without loans.

“When we’re thinking about students are first in their families to attend college, we are looking at how to demystify the entire college process, how do we translate it into terms that are approachable and accessible,” said Brown.

“If we’re thinking about the other components of the Gateway Scholars—students coming from a lower socio-economic status—how do we make sure families’ income or wealth is not something that is preventing them from engaging in the full Bucknell experience.”

Program descriptions

The Charles T. Bauer Scholars Program offers need-based Bucknell scholarships to three to five highly qualified students from the city of Baltimore or Baltimore County. The Posse Scholars Program is supported by the Posse Foundation and provides

nell

annual Bucknell scholarships for 10 high-achieving students with leadership potential from under-resourced schools in each of three partner cities of Boston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

The Langone and Langone-Walling Scholarships are annually awarded to 11 prospective students who have evidenced high integrity, loyalty and steadfast determination in their daily lives. Award criteria for both scholarships include service to school, family

or community, or overcoming difficult circumstances.

The Bucknell Community College Scholars Program each year enrolls around 20 high-achieving, low-to-moderate income community college students, providing them with a full-tuition award.

“When we think about access programs in higher education, we see nationally a lot of trends in first-generation and low economic status,” said Brown. “One of the things we don’t see

BucknelPs SBDC will be

system needs to be proactively armed with the tools of the future. With the Bucknell SBDC’s vision and the power of AI, Central Pennsylvania can look forward to a future where businesses are not only resilient but also ahead of the curve.

The SBDC will provide oneon-one consulting on integrating new AI tools into business operations, and offer enhanced digital media technical assistance.

University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), is developing and launching new services to help individuals use AI tools to start new businesses and help existing small rural businesses to adapt, survive, and thrive in a rapidly evolving business environment. As technology continues to redefine commercial landscapes globally, the local business eco­

Additionally, the SBDC will develop and deliver educational training programs on the use of AI tools & AI best practices for small businesses. Many of these educational programs will be delivered via webinar and will be open to any SBDC client throughout the 67 counties served by the statewide PASBDC network.

Some of the key topics wil include:

■ AI Integration for Small Businesses: Leveraging the potential of generative AI to tap into trillions in dollars in worldwide economic value.

often is intentional outreach around transfers. I think the community college scholarships program is a unique gem in access work. We’re thinking about how to provide the same pathways for really talented students who for whatever reason decided starting their education journey in community college would be a better path for them. What we see in those students is they are top notch in their performance in and out of the classroom.”

The physical space for the Center for Access & Success was renovated with program spaces, social recreational areas, and rooms for students to meet with mentors.

Other new centers

Matt Bailey, the Christian R Lindback Chair in Business Administration and the department chair of Analytics & Operations Management, oversees the Dominguez Center for Data Science. William Meek, the Campbell Jr Rutledge & Eleanor Rutledge Chair in Management & Entrepreneurship and professor of management and organizations, is the interim director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

Both Bailey and Meek said fulltime directors will be interviewed in April to have them in place by the fall semester. The goal is to also house the two centers in the same physical space in an existing building.

The university has always had capabilities in the realm of data science, but a center is needed to bring everyone together for opportunities and connections, said Bailey.

■ Capacity Building: Training local businesses to harness the power of tools like ChatGPT and other AI technologies to improve business operations, customer service, and market competitiveness.

■Ill Tailored AI Tools: Designing solutions specifically for the unique needs of rural and early-stage businesses, ensuring maximum impact and competitiveness.

Year of accomplishments

As SBDC moves forward and anticipates success with ongoing programs, the organization can also point to a record of accomplishments in fiscal year 2023 (Oct. 1, 2022-Sept. 30, 2023)

■ Number of new businesses started by clients of the SBDC

48

■ Capital secured by Bucknell SBDC clients. $10,963,345

■ Total number of jobs supported at businesses assisted by Bucknell SBDC 2,377

■ Total number of individual clients advised and educational program attendees: 604

The Dominguez Center for Data Science will prepare Bucknell students to solve global problems in a digital age through hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for 21st-century careers. The center will also emphasize responsible data use, ensuring students understand how to ethically execute data-driven decision-making.

“We understand that data is part of everything. Every student at Bucknell should have some opportunities to pick up skills for data literacy in this space,” said Bailey. “The intention is to have this center having students be the ambassadors, students can get help from students, offering workshops, speakers series, internship fairs, connection to alums, all that falls under the umbrella of what we’re trying to do.” Students from all three of Bucknell’s colleges will have the opportunity to harness the support and guidance of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. will offer to transform their creative ideas into real-world products, services and ventures that can make a large-scale impact.

“It hasn’t been centralized anywhere on the campus,” said Meek. “We’re thinking about it as a marketplace for people to explore their ideas. If they have things that are non-profit oriented that are orientated in art, or tech, or something they want to pursue because it’s interesting or solves a problem, we want to draw together all the different resources that we have at Bucknell, the Susquehanna Valley, in our alumni network, to make that more possible. We believe there is power in taking action.”

Innovation Engineering Manager Ian Proud leads a project partnership with Bucknell University’s College of Engineering with support from a Manufacturing PA initiative grant, in which an engineering student team and faculty advisor is designing, manufacturing, & commissioning a new machine to solve a production challenge at SBDC client Resilite Sports Products of Northumberland, PA, the world’s leading producer of wrestling mats.

Assistant Director Dennis Hummer leads Bucknell’s two business incubators and is instrumental in developing relationships across the region’s economic development partners. He leads project work supported by a USDA Rural Business Development Grant for StartUp Danville and is launching the development of Bucknell’s 3rd incubator in 2024, StartUp Milton.

Business Consultant Amber Guerrero spearheaded the development of the center’s digital services, mentoring four student marketing consultants, and pro­

viding over 20 businesses with new websites, enhanced online presences, and reinvented digital marketing strategies.

Stumbris, the SBDC director, serves as the moderator for Keystone Edition Business, a monthly public television program featuring insights from entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators in business throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Episodes have frequently featured SBDC clients and consulting staff.

Maureen Hauck retired in 2023, after serving the region’s small business owners for 23 years at the SBDC. Her impact includes having instructed over 5,000 individuals about business planning, startup, and operation. In 2024 Bucknell University will launch anew Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The new center will connect, strengthen and build upon Bucknell’s hallmark entrepreneurial programs, including BizPitch, the Bucknell Small Business Development Center and courses like Management 101

Photo provided

Chris Brown, top center, The Andrew Hartman 71 & Joseph Fama 71 executive director of the Center for Access & Success, has a discussion with a group of students in the Center’s conference room at Taylor Hall at Bucknell University.

Justin Strawser/The Daily Item

Chris Brown is the Andrew Hartman 71 & Joseph Fama 71 executive director of the Center for Access & Success at Buck­

University.

power, wood waste help drive Alderfer Lumber

By Marcia Moore mmoore@dailyitem.com

The job offer came from Alderfer co-owner John Alderfer, who a year earlier was diagnosed with cancer and needed help to grow his company.

“I had about 12 employees and knew I couldn’t get any larger without a general manager. But what were my chances of stealing anyone from WoodMode?” he said.

Neimond said he and his wife, Carolyn, prayed about it and decided in midMay 2019 to take the job at Alderfer.

On the morning of May 13, 2019, when he went to his supervisor at Wood-Mode and told him of his plan to leave the Kreamer business and work for Alderfer, Neimond was shocked by the reaction.

“He shook my hand” and appeared pleased with the news, he said.

A few hours later, the announcement

company providing hardwood lumber and live edge slab in specialty markets, including individual buyers.

In October 2022, Alderfer merged with Brick Mill Furniture Company, of Williamsport, but continues to operate as Alderfer Lumber with Neimond as co-owner.

In 2022, the company was awarded a $2.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant to increase its kiln capacity, storage and upgrades to use wood waste and solar energy for heat and power. The project includes 10-times more ki I n capacity, construction of additional lumber storage and upgrades to utilize wood waste and solar energy for heat and power. The improvements will grow the local workforce.

“We’re doubling the size of storage and potentially adding a showroom in a more visible location,” Neimond said. “Our hope is to become a onestop shop.”

John Alderfer, who retired last September, is confident he made the right choice in Neimond.

“I knew he had the qualities to grow the business,” he said.

Valley of Progress

Nottingham Village offers variety of options

Independent living, personal care available on 105-acre campus

By Francis Scarcella fscarcella@dallyitem.com

NORTHUMEBRLAND — Nottingham Village continues to make improvements in its facility and care for its residents.

Nottingham Village, one of the most recognizable independent living and personal care home in the Valley, sits on a scenic 105-acre campus and provides a safe and engaging community to call home, according to Nottingham Village executive Andrew Misener.

“Nottingham Village has every level of care, offering

short term rehabilitation and therapy to independent living and personal care,” he said.

“Nottingham also offers specialized memory care for Alzheimer’s and dementia, and is proud to be a 5 Star rated Skilled Nursing Facility and voted Best In The Valley for seven straight years.”

Misener said the facility offers renovated one, two and three-bedroom, country homes, all with attached insulated garages and the option for a screened in porch or a year-round sunroom. “We have so many options

and can even customize a home for your needs,” he said.

“Our country homes are located on quiet streets, perfect for walking and located on a large campus with ponds and paths to explore. Have the comfort of maintaining your independence while enjoying the added convenience of assistance when needed from the outstanding Nottingham team.

“While you are here, forget about maintenance hassleswatch your lawn being meticulously cared for and snow effortlessly removed from your front window.”

Misener said Nottingham Village commitment to quality care extends to Heather Court, the facility specifi­

cally designed and staffed for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia, which features a traditional home-like layout.

“Heather Court provides a calming and secure atmosphere not found anywhere else in the Valley,” he said.

“Nottingham Village also offers sought-after apartments in our retirement center, providing both independent living and personal care services. This flexibility allows residents to seamlessly transition as their needs evolve, without the need to relocate to another community in the future. Residents also enjoy exquisite meals at our dining room, enhancing their living experience.”

Misener said Nottingham Village prides itself on excellence in care.

“With optimal staff-to-patient ratios, compassionate and highly trained personnel, and mouthwatering scratch cooking overseen by an onsite dietitian, residents can expect unparalleled quality.. Our state-of-the-art therapy gym, equipped with the latest modalities, further solidifies our reputation as the preferred choice for short-term rehabilitation,” he said.

“Convenience is paramount at Nottingham Village, with medical and dental offices, as well as pharmacy delivery, all conveniently located on our campus. Schedule appoint­

ments with ease, thanks to Family Medicine of Evangelical and Legacy Dental PC, both available onsite.” Sales Director A1 Seidel said anyone looking for more information can contact him.

“Discover the tranquility, care, and sense of community that Nottingham Village offers, where your home evolves with you, providing peace of mind at every stage of life,” he said.

“As a family-owned and operated community for over 45 years, Nottingham Village has been and will continue to be an integral part of the Susquehanna Valley Community.”

To arrange a tour or request more information, call A1 Seidel at 570-473-8366.

“Looking

sustainably for our customers.

The company increased planned infrastructure investments to $14.3 billion from 2024 to 2027 compared to the prior plan of $11.9 billion from 2023 to 2026.

These investments are expected to result in 6.3% average annual rate base growth through 2027, up from 5.6% over the prior plan period.

The company also said it remains on track to deliver its targeted annual operation and maintenance savings of at least $175 million by 2026, with $120-$ 130 million of annual savings planned by the end of 2024 from the company’s 2021 baseline.

These expected savings will be driven largely by transmission and distribution operations as PPL continues to deploy scalable technologies and data science across its utility portfolio.

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Forum for networking, resources, and communication

Voice for small business owners

Meets monthly 3rd Monday 6pm

Photo provided Smart grid devices, like the one pictured in this installation on the PPL Electric grid, are helping to improve reliability across the entire PPL service region.

Exciting programming coming this year!

History & Heritage Program

The Divas sung by Karen Meeks (4/6)

Storyteller Art & Music Series

- Biblical Storytelling: "Not Your Grandma's Bible Storytime" by Peterson Toscano (4/27)

Additional performances and events to be announced soon!

Banquet hall and commercial

kitchen rentals available now for:

Weddings, Receptions, Conferences, Fundraisers, Dinners, Small Stage Performances, etc.

SRI is a community and economic development nonprofit Ail proceeds from programs, performances and events are reinvested back into the community to revitalize Sunbury.

Multi-family housing project in Philadelphia among the 2024 projects at Apex Homes

By Justin Strawser jstrawser@dailyitem

finished feed a week, which equals 416,000 tons of finished feed a year. The location will be used to support its hog production business, said Ott.

The taller part of that tower is the load-out part of the facility. The finished feed is staged in a portion of that tower. The feed trucks will come in to that load-out bay. The feed by gravity will be loaded into the feed trucks, he said.

“Construction has been going very well,” said Ott. “The mild winter has helped. Equipment is going in the mill (on Feb. 22). The biggest new construction in the spring is we’ll be working on the railroad bed with the ballast and tracks.”

The product will be brought in either by truck or train, said Ott.

William Fink, the on-site facility manager, said the constriction process has been “excellent.”

“With the weather conditions we’ve had, we’ve been able to stay right on track,” said Fink. “We ordered equipment a long time ago. Tt’s starting to show up at the site. Even with the long lead times, we were able to get it ordered early enough.”

“Right now, a lot of the activity is construction,” said Ott.

“There’s a lot to do. We have hired a mill manager and maintenance supervisor. Later in the summer, we’ll be looking to hire 15 people for the feed mill side and 25 drivers for the transportation division. We wanted management on staff so they could be part of everything.”

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team (GAT), a group of economic development professionals who report directly to the governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania.

The company received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $255,000 Penn­

sylvania

Atlantic Culinary Environments designs, installs kitchens, eateries and dining facilities nationwide

By Anna Wiest

Photo provided

to 58, according to the company President.

“If you look at every business metric that anyone would analyze, we’re very strong in every category,” Timco said. “If you are an employee at Atlantic, you are in a very good place and we are very happy with where we are as a company and within the industry.”

While that all sounds great, Timco noted that, like any company, Atlantic goes through their fair share of hiccups along the way, but they continue to go about their business professionally.

“We are very proud of how we go about our business, the quality of our work, the attention to detail and the fact that we try to exceed our customers expectations,” he said. “These are the reasons why Atlantic has been so successful.”

Craig Rodarmel and Mark LaMont, two of the five individuals who founded the company, are still owners of the business.

Rodarmel currently serves as the CEO and LaMont as the Vice President. Timco said having the two founders still with the company brings a sort of history that is not replicable. “To have that sort of history with the ownership says a lot about Atlantic,” he said.

From start to finish, the operations of Atlantic take place inhouse. When the sales department brings on a new customer, they come up with a game plan and budget which is then sent to the design team, according to Timco.

“The design team will come up with a concept for the customer to review,” the company President said. “From there, we take it to our engineering department to come up with the drafts and whatnot.”

The plans are then handed over to project management who will oversee the entire plan. “They’ll take the ball and start running with it.

They do all the necessary purchasing of equipment, materials and whatnot until we are ready to manufacture,” Timco said. “We handle all manufac-

turing here.”

Once fabrication is complete, the installation team bring the project to life for the customer. Though Atlantic does occa-

sionally use outside partners for installation, the company installs about 80-percent of what they manufacture, according to Timco.

One change on the horizon for Atlantic is an adjustment to their industry focus.

“We are very heavily weighted in the campus industry. Most of that work is in the summer months: June, July and August,” Timco said.

“We actually took on a little too much this part summer and weren’t able to handle it as we would’ve liked.

We have made a business decision to pull back a little bit from the campus industry and try to grow our business in other markets such as health care, industry and business, micro markets, etc.”

This redistribution across clientele will be a big change for the company. “Moving forward, we want to try to level out our business and do a little more work in the markets we are soft in right now,” Timco said.

This photo shows a campus kitchen project

Northway Industries builds cabinets and furniture, gives back to the community

By Marcia Moore

mmoore@dailyitem.com

MIDDLEBURG - Before his passing in 2010, Northway Industries founder Ken Battram established a trust so the Middleburg-based company would continue without him and contribute financially to the larger community.

Today, the company that produces cabinets and furniture components is starting its 58th year in business and has been contributing up to $50,000 each year to the Valley community since the establishment of the Battram Community Fund in 2022.

“We’ve continued the charitable giving” that was Battram’s goal, along with job creation, said Northway Industries President and CEO Elwyn Peachey.

“We’re working for more than just dollars. I think everyone wants to be part of the larger good.”

Profits are reinvested into the company, returned as bonuses to employees and spent throughout the community, said Peachey who has worked 31 years at Northway Industries.

“We’ve given away between $20,000 and $50,000 a year in the past two years,” he said Peachy.

There were 11 recipients last year, including Reliance Hose Company in Middleburg to update equipment; East Snyder Recreational Association for equipment maintenance; Middlecreek Area Community Center’s food distribution program; Lewisburg Children’s Museum’s Count Me In program; new tool boxes for SUN Area Technical Institute and Middleburg Revitalization Committee (MRC).

The $5,430 provided to MRC helped fund handicap-accessible playground equipment in Charles Park.

“We had no ADA-compliant equipment. We’re so thankful,” said

Jerome Rahm has been employed at Northway Industries in Middleburg for seven months.

MRC secretary Brenda Dombrowski of the donation.

Northway Industries was established in Selinsgrove in 1966 and relocated to Paxtonville Road in Middleburg two years later where it has been operating since.

Employees work four, 10hour shifts each week in the 100,000-square-foot facility that received $400,000 in equipment improvements in 2023.

Jerome Rahm joined the company seven months ago and has been working closel with veteran staff, like Mike Klinepeter, a 34year employee.

“There are a lot of people who’ve

By Rick Dandes

“We

“I

The

Part of the Driving PA Forward program, this grant was developed under the Shapiro administration, to improve air quality statewide by driving transformation from older, high-polluting diesel engines to clean transportation technologies.

“Clean air is crucial in ensuring a healthy environment,” said Jessica Shirley, state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) interim acting secretary.

“That’s why we see it as our mission to address one of the most significant air quality challenges facing our commonwealth— emissions from transportation.

These recommendations mark the highest-dollar awards in any round, for any Driving PA Forward Initiative funding program, showing a step forward in Pennsylvania’s effort to reduce these emissions by getting more clean trucks on the road in the communities that need them.”

DEP is awarding $39,605,578 to 16 applicants for the battery-electric replacement of dozens of vehicles, including home delivery trucks, refuse/recycling trucks, terminal tractors, and the hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle replacement of two terminal tractors and their supporting charging infrastructure.

The 2022-2023 Medium and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Pilot Grant also focuses on funding projects located in underserved and disproportionately impacted communities, such as Environmental Justice and Act 47-designated communities.

The trucks will operate in Milton, Sunbury, Lewisburg, Northumberland and for the company's clients in those areas. Chris Patton, Vice President of Watsontown Trucking said, “We work with almost all the manufacturers in the Valley, including ConAgra, Furmano Food, and PlayPower. We’ll utilize our ZEVs in servicing those customers.”

been here a long time and know how to do everything,” said Rahm.

Employees are the backbone of the company, said Peachey. The past year was very productive, he said, which is allowing the trust to expand its charitable giving this year by adding scholarships to benefit Valley students who intend to pursue careers in the woodworking manufacturing industry. Grants will also be offered to area schools in need of new woodworking equipment.

For more information about the trust and the application process for grants and scholarships, visit https:// www.battramcommunityfund.org/

Watsontown Trucking currently has five zero emission vehicles, or ZEVs, and they operate “at our warehouse and logistics operation in Dublin, Virginia,” Patton said. Patton said the ZEVs in use are all for local shuttle operations.

“But in the future, trucks are going to have to have much more robust length of haul for them to be used on over-the-road application.

And there is going to have to be charging infrastructure supporting it,” he said.

Marcia Moore/The Daily Item

Marcia Moore/The Daily Item Northway Industries employee Mike Klinepeter builds countertops in the Middleburg plant.

yet another machine which will

be used to separate coffees and mix and match them in packaging.

Oakes said he is thankful for the support he has received from the public and state officials through the process of taking a one time garage business to a world-wide forum.

In 2022, State Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Executive Deputy Secretary Mike Hanna toured the facilty on the Walnut Street Extension and said he was impressed with the developments made by Fresh Roasted Coffee.

Former Gov. Tom Wolf secured $1.77 million in funds for Fresh Roasted Coffee.

Oakes said the plant runs 24 hours a day and he is thankful for his dedicated employees.

“We have a great and smart team,” he said. “I couldn’t do any of this without them.”

Wolf himself once toured Fresh Roasted Coffee and praised the 84,000-square-foot former Sunbury Textile Mill. Fresh Roasted Coffee is also continuing to grow its tea line, Oakes said.

“It continues to keep growing,” he said. Fresh Roasted Coffee has obtained BPI commercial composting certification for their

By Anna Wiest

DiSimone assured Bonnie that recovery from hip replacement surgery would be easier than her knees. She put her trust in Dr. DiSimone — and he was right.

“I was up and walking right after surgery, Bonnie said. “I felt great.”

The total joint replacement program at UPMC Williamsport offers a complete approach to care, including presurgery rehab and joint replacement classes. Same-day joint replacement surgery is available for those who qualify.

UPMC Williamsport also received The Joint Commission’s “Gold Seal of Approval” for advanced total hip and knee replacement and the UPMC Health Plan Hip and

Knee Joint Replacement Surgery Center of Excellence.

Bonnie was surprised at the level of care she could get so close to home.

“Why would I go to a big city when there’s such a great facility right here, with great specialists just 10 minutes away?” she said.

In addition, Bonnie can’t say enough about the personalized care she received at UPMC Williamsport.

"The staff was so great,” she said “They called me a few days after I went home to see how I was doing.”

Now, Bonnie is pain-free. She’s back in the barn, and on her tractor, doing everything she loves. “My life was turned around, and now I can do anything,” she said.

Dr.

Rusty Rail Brewing Company to put food truck on the road

By Justin Strawser jstrawser@dailyitem .com

ferent experiences that will make us even more of a destination and grow our distribution outside. We want to give people a reason to experience and come to the brewery and find out who we are.”

The Rusty Rail Food truck was launched in February. A specialty menu was developed based on favorites from the restaurant on a smaller plate basis. It will be mostly handholds at affordable price points.

“The plan is to move it around,” said Schrader. “It will give us an opportunity to reach a crowd that we’re not reaching, attend festivals, place it at some of our wholesalers or retail partners.”

The food truck will be available for summer events, like the Central PA Slamfest, or community events, like the Mifflinburg’s Oktoberfest, said Schrader.

Paul and Eric John, owners of RitzCraft in Mifflinburg, in 2009 acquired the former Mifflinburg Body Works and refurbished it to include a new, state-of-the-art cabinet manufacturing line for Legacy Crafted Cabinets. Rusty Rail Brewing Company was incorporated in 2013 and the restaurant opened in 2015.

Over the last decade. Rusty Rail has expanded into a regional production brewery with partnerships with 15 wholesale distribution companies. It has products in grocery stores, con-

Cody Shaffer will be one of the people helping with the

venience stores, restaurants, taprooms and independent distributors in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey and New York.

The Rusty Rail taproom is a full-service restaurant of casual fine dining with American cuisine. It has a full-service wedding venue, 23 luxury suites, and space for corporate, charity and community events.

The business started with one employee and has grown to 123 full-time and part-time employees. That includes restaurant, taproom and kitchen staff, wholesale distribution, event and wedding planning, sales support and production.

Its beer lineup is ever-changing with hundreds of different beers over the years. They produce 20 to 30 new releases each year.

Fog Monster, the brewery’s New England Style I PA, is its most popular beer. It is a hazy unfiltered IPA with juicy fruit and pronounced characteristics form the Azacca, El Dorado, Citra, Mosaic & Amarillo hops, then ends with a subtle bitter finish.

Wolf King, Fool’s Gold and Blue Collar Blonde are also popular beers, said Schrader.

Roller coaster builder’s career takes him around world

By Rick Dandes rdandes@dailyitem.com

SUNBURY - Late last year, Great Coasters International owner Clair Hain, of Sunbury, was in Saudi Arabia and China.

This year, it’s off to Europe, Asia and the Middle East again.

As a renowned wooden roller coaster designer and builder, Hain, who began his company in 1994 with then-partner Mike Boodley, was recently given a prestigious lifetime achievement award — a Golden Ticket Legend designation — by Amusement Today magazine.

Hain, 55, has improved the track construction technique, working with both wood and steel. But woodies are the

“I’ve

16

In

“I’m

Hain said.

In September he was in Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya water park,

17-year-old working for a local

Phoenix project when they first met.

“You can say that Knoebels is where he cut his teeth,” Knoebel said. “Fast forward to Clair as co-owner of his own company. He has always been a straightforward, hard-driving, and reputable individual. We have the utmost confidence in all projects that Clair is associated with.”

Hain said he has a good feel for what riders want and customers can afford.

“For quite a while the design had to be the biggest and the baddest,” he said.

“But money has gotten tight in the last few years. Now it is not so much the biggest and baddest. They’re looking for the most bang for the buck. The wooden coaster is the bang for the buck.”

At the moment, his designers are working on four new rides.

“I want to keep the budget $5-8 million each,” Hain said. “That’s what parks are going to spend.”

His knowledge, history and reputation in the industry are the kinds of qualities that fit the description for Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket awards. According to the publication, “people become legends because of their major accomplishments or their long-running status of noteworthy effort.”

The award is given to individuals, facilities and attractions that have set the standard for excellence and being the “Best of the Best” within the amusement industry.

“I was surprised, I was humbled by the award. I almost cried,” Hain said. A Shikellamy graduate, Hain has kept his business headquartered in Sunbury.

Great Coasters has 11 employees working out of his office suite, nine designers, and anywhere from 50 to 500 carpenters whom he could call on as needed.

That is a far cry from the eplace where his career started — the bedroom in his mother’s house.

He had an early fascination with roller coasters and said he wasn’t exactly sure why.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I guess I like challenges. I like stress because it motivates me more. I’m always trying to figure out new ideas, new avenues to get into.”

Still, he never could have imagined how successful the business would become.

“I had a vision of success,” Hain said. “This coming year, we are going to be the busiest we have been in a long time. This past year I did a lot of traveling. I did well.”

new Rusty Rail food truck this year.

Robert Inglis/The Daily Item

Robert Inglis/The Daily Item

The Rusty Rail Brewing Company will be on the move this year in their new food truck.

Robert Inglis/The Daily Item

Great Coasters International owner Clair Hain stands with some of his new roller coaster chassis in his workshop near Sunbury.

‘We’re turning the internship into research’

Students trained, certified to monitor, manage watersheds

By Marcia Moore mmoore@dailyitem.com

SELINSGROVE - Workforce development has been given a boost in addition to the restoration and research projects being done through the partnership between Susquehanna University and Chesapeake Conservancy.

For Matt Wilson, director of Susquehanna’s Center for Environmental Education and Research and Freshwater Research Institute (FRI), the workforce development program is an important aspect in the collection of research data.

Last summer, four students were trained and certified to manage invasive plant species found in watershed restoration sites. Another four students will work in the program this summer.

“We’re turning the internship into research. We’re trying to develop good data on what works” in restoration projects, said Wilson.

Savannah Rhoads, a 2018 SU graduate, is one of several alumni who studied at FRI located on Sassafras Road in Selinsgrove and is continuing the relationship with Wilson as a watershed and program specialist at Union County’s Conservation District.

“It’s a full-circle opportunity,” Rhoads said of being able to continue the work she was involved in as an undergraduate.

Other graduates who are also still involved with restoration and stream monitoring projects being undertaken

by the university and Chesapeake Conservancy are Rebecca Harner, an environmental education specialist at Raymond B. Winter State Park; Bailey Coder, watershed specialist at Mifflin County Conservation District and Abby Sieg Frey, an education and watershed

specialist/farmland preservation at Columbia County Conservation District.

“We are building a local workforce,” said Adrienne Hobbins, a program manager with Chesapeake Conservancy who works with Wilson at FRI.

Together, the conservancy and the university are working to obtain funding to bolster skills needed in the workplace.

They’ve already secured a $2 million grant form the U.S. Forestry Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program which will allow the team at FEI to grow plants in the greenhouse for restoration efforts of area streams.

Wilson said the partnership not only allows the university to train and frequently retain workers in the area, but provides an opportunity for people working at FRI to “try kooky things.”

One of those “kooky” ideas was realized last fall when Wilson received permission from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to install beaver dam analogs, or manmade structures, to prevent erosion in a stream near FRI.

While used in other parts of the U.S., the restoration technique is new for Central Pennsylvania.

“We’re already seeing positive results,” said Wilson.

Spruce up your budget and save! Join the 2024 Community Savings Challenge! Schedule your financial checkup today!

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Knoebels workers prepare for 98th season/D5

CSVT bypass project re­

for

in

Photo provided

Susquehanna University’s Freshwater Research Institute Director Matt Wilson, seated at right, meets with Savannah Rhoads, a Union County Conservation District watershed and program specialist, seated left, and Adrienne Hobbins, a Chesapeake Conservancy program manager.

Photo provided

Evangelical speciality clinics provide women’s health, surgical consultations, vascular services

By Justin Strawser jstrawser@dailyitem

is one issue, but time and convenience are other issues.”

The Selinsgrove Speciality Clinic opened on Dec. 18. The building where the clinic resides also houses Physical Therapy of Evangelical-Selinsgrove and the Evangelical Regional Mobile Medical Services Training Center.

“This is a first for Evan to bring women’s health services down to Snyder County,” said Wolfe. “Previously, all our services were offered at Lewisburg at one of our Lewisburg locations or the hospital.”

‘Great opportunity’

Wolfe said this is a “great opportunity” to open the clinic in Selinsgrove so patients don’t have to travel to Lewisburg and open more access by providing services for women’s health. The goal is to continue to complement the women’s services and build on other programs as community needs evolve, he said.

A full range of women’s health services for patients of all ages will be available, including ultrasound for expecting mothers. The specialty clinic offers large, comfortable spaces, convenient parking, six traditional exam rooms, and a minor procedure room in a convenient location for patients of Snyder County and surrounding areas. Accepting new patients and scheduling existing patients at the Selinsgrove location, OB/GYN of Evangelical staff, including physicians, physician assistants, and midwives will be seeing patients Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at the specialty clinic.

Over the past few years, Evangelical has expanded its number of practitioners, physicians, physician assistants and certified nurse midwives in the Lewisburg practice location. Physical space became a limiting factor in expansion, said Wolfe.

Dr. Russell J. Stankiewicz, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Evangelical, said the clinic is a “full-scope OB/ GYN.”

“In other words, we do prenatal care, gynecology, annual exams, consultations for emergency rooms, family practice,” said Stankiewicz. “It’s fullscope. It’s the same thing we do at the hospital, but we’re coming down here so we can gather more patients at Snyder County and the outlying areas. It’s more an outreach.”

Stankiewicz said Evangelical has to work within their catchment areas.

“This is an opportunity for patients to come here that maybe live in Selinsgrove or Trevorton,” he said. “It’s a little easier than coming all the way up to the hospital. We have just about everything anybody would need. It’s an effort for us to be more available for patients and provide them with the services they need.”

Williamsport clinic

The Williamsport Speciality Clinic opened in October. The specialty clinic, which focuses on providing

access to key services for those in the more northern tier of the Hospital’s service area, will initially offer surgical consultations for patients who may need to consider surgery or who will be having a surgical procedure at Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg and some vascular services provided by staff of the Heart and Vascular Center of Evangelical.

The clinic has five offices and fully functional exam rooms. It does not have any diagnostic testing, said Wolfe.

“For our surgical patients, this clinic provides the opportunity of convenience for consultations,” said Wolfe.

“For vascular patients, it brings Evangelical experts to them in a new way at the new location and broadens our ability to reach those with vascular needs. This is one more way we are meeting the needs of patients who are not immediately in the Hospital’s direct service area and answers the call to bring medical care more directly into communities.”

Specialty clinics may be the wave of the future for Evangelical, said Wolfe.

“We're certainly trying to expand beyond just Lewisburg,” he said. “We’ve been here in the community, taking care of this region, for much time. To better serve the patients, we’re coming to where they’re at. Why not try to take care of the community in your local community?”

Evangelical Community Hospital to join WellSpan Health

Pending

By Justin Strawser jstrawser@dailyitem.coM

LEWISBURG -

By Justin Strawser/The Daily Item

Nicole Hoover, a vascular and ultrasound technician, demonstrates how to use an ultrasound machine at Evangelical Community Hospital’s new speciality clinic in Selinsgrove.

By Justin Strawser/The Daily Item Evangelical Community Hospital’s new speciality clinic that focuses on women’s health opened in Selinsgrove in December.

Pictured are Dr. Russell J. Stankiewicz, left, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Evangelical, and Brian Wolfe, vice president of physician and clinic practices.

Danville Area Community Center plans for big changes, including renovations

By Anna Wiest

a new, trendy sport, found a home within the DACC where dedicated players gather to in the gym to play on three courts. “12 people can play at a time and we have groups come in to play five to six times a week,” Ingraham said.

The sport is popular among older generations, who use it to maintain their strength and mobility, Giesen added.

The pool is the DACC's pride and joy, according to Ingraham. It supports several swim teams, including the Danville High School team, the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce YMCA team and the DACC’s own summer team.

The community center hosts a 100 mile swim challenge every year which challenges swimmers to lap 100 miles throughout the year. The club record is 800 miles, Ingraham said.

The DACC also offers swimming lessons for both children and adults.

Renovations

DACC members are looking forward to the large-scale renovations set to hit the building soon.

Some of the new feature coming to the center include “Danville’s Living

Gov. Josh Shapiro

Room,” which will offer a space for residents to congregate, which people already do in the building, according to Mark Lawrence Giesen, Director of Community Engagement.

“We’re really formalizing what people are already doing,” Giesen said.

What now serves as the community room at the community center will become a second fitness studio, according to Ingraham.

The renovation will also allow for the DACC to bring back preschool.

The preschool will be located in the current aerial yoga space and will have its own bathroom. The playground will also be moved to be located by the preschool space, Ingraham said.

New signage on the outside of the building will be an eye-catching display, Giesen added.

If enough funding is acquired, the community center plans to build a multi-sport court where the play­

tractnew agricultural businesses, including energy and conservation endeavors, and to continue to build the future of agriculture in Pennsylvania.

■ $5.6 million to reform the Dairy Margin Coverage Protections that protect dairy farmers fromz harmful price fluctuations.

“We understand that our economic success is dependent on our rural communities and our farmlands, Shapiro said.

“There’s real innovation happening all across our commonwealth, especially on our farms. That’s why my budget places a special emphasis on agriculture, I want to help more farmers upgrade their equipment and take advantage of the latest technology through our Ag Innovation funding.”

The governor’s budget proposes several investments, including:

M $10.3 million in agriculture innovation to help support and at-

■ $5 million for a new state laboratory in western Pennsylvania that will provide much needed testing capacity, helping with rapid diagnosis and mitigation of future highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks across the state.

■ $1.7 million in cloud computing solutions and migration of state laboratory data to a more advanced information management system.

■ $655,000 to fund a new state program for agricultural seed certification and trade assistance that will grow Pennsylvania’s role as a national and international agricultural leader.

■ $145,000 for a novel pest detection program using dogs to prevent pest outbreaks without the expensive and potentially harmful use of pesticides.

ground is currently. The court would allow members to play mini soccer, pickle ball and basketball, according to Ingraham.

The community center has applied and been approved for a $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant through the state government. DACC is exploring other similar opportunities and seeks additional grant funding through state and federal governments as well as foundations and private entities, Giesen said.

The DACC is also seeking community support through a capital campaign. As of February 22, the community center had reached $1.2 million of their $1.5 million goal.

By

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Strength training equipment is shown in the gym at The Danville Area Community Center.

By Anna Wiest/The Daily Item

ride, previously worked with hydraulics and the new version will run with DC electric motors. It will be located on Knoebels Boulevard next to the Alamo restaurant.

The ride that temporarily replaced the PowerSurge is called Rock-OPlane. The ride is similar to a Ferris wheel, but with eight enclosed ride cars that rock as the ride moves. Guests can control part of their ride experience with a handle in the car, which can either make it more mild, or more thrilling, said Yutko.

Rock-O-Plane’s destination has not yet been decided.

Sky Slide’s future

The Sky Slide, which has been closed since 2020, will be refurbished and reopened to the public. The giant rocket ship features a climb to the top and a piece of carpet to ride down the slide to the bottom.

“It’s been a part of the park for so long, and it’s been dormant for years,” said Yutko. “We keep getting asked about it, and we’re committed to bringing it back.”

The ride started as a horizontal rocket ship with a video show about space travel that would physically move guests. Riders were given candy called “space food” after the experience, said Yutko.

At some point, the rocket ship was flipped vertically and renovated as a slide, said Yutko.

Bayern Kurve not ready yet Knoebels is also making progress in the complicated process of bringing the Bayern Kurve back to life. The 32-passenger, circular-tracked ride that will be the park’s fastest once open at nearly 70 mph. Restoration is complete, so control system programming.

ride assembly, and extensive testing is up next, said Yutko. The ride was manufactured in 1963 for the German carnival circuit by

Anton Schwarzkopf, of the same company that designed the defunct Jet Star Roller Coaster, formerly at Knoebels. They rested for decades in

Rodessa, La., before being transported 1,315 miles on four tractor-trailers to Knoebels.

Big anniversaries

The Old Mill, located near the Haunted Mansion, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the Twister roller coaster is celebrating its 25th anniversary. “To celebrate the Old Mill’s 50th anniversary, we invited our full-time team to submit ideas for a new ice cream flavor,” said Matt Schell, Food Service Manager. “There were a lot of great ideas that we’ve narrowed down to three for our team to vote on. We'll announce the winner just before the park opens and the flavor will be available all season.”

The Twister Roller Coaster is also turning 25 years old in July. The wooden roller coaster, with a duration of 2 minutes and 10 seconds, reaches speeds of 51.5 mph and is 101.6 feet at its highest point.

Both the Old Mill and the Twister

will have special merchandise in the park this year.

Yutko also said the steering committee for the park’s 100th anniversary in 2026 has been formed. They have given the green light for several projects, but the details of those projects are not ready for a public announcement yet.

Other notable changes

The park will see more than a dozen new menu items this year. That includes Pizza Flights consisting ol cheese, buffalo ranch, white broccoli and pepperoni; and two Mexican platters at the International Food Court.

New motorboats are being built. The Impulse coaster, the Old Smokies train bridge and the Giant Wheel are being repainted. It will be the first full season for the character meet and greet. Guests can meet Kozmo, Dexter and Piper. The opening weekend is April 27-28. The park is open 12 to 7 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

“The

“In

cided it wasn’t realistic to expect residents in unserved and underserved areas to submit their own challenges.

“We teamed up with a group out of Penn State, led by Sascha Meinrath, who has done a ton of work in this space,” Wakeman said.

“They have created some really cool tools to look at the speeds people are actually getting and the speeds that companies are claiming they’re getting.”

DRIVE has embedded the group’s speed test into their website.

The test can be accessed at https://driveindustry.com/ speedtest/ and should take less than a minute to run, according to Hippensteel.

DRIVE would like residents in their five counties to run the test from their homes, particularly those who live in rural areas.

The test will prompt users to type in their address and it will present a map. Wakeman cautioned to make sure the location shown on the map is the user’s house, and, if not, to be sure to move the pin shown on the map to the correct location. Users will then be wasked what kind of service they are running the test from (wifi, wired service, cellphone, etc.).

The test can be run multiple times on different devices or at different times of the day or week to ensure any service changes are noted in the data.

“Even if you do it multiple

times at different times, the more information we have, the better,” Hippensteel said.

The Penn State team will receive the data from the tests done in DRIVE’S fivecounty area and will return it to DRIVE who will then be able to determine what changes should be made, according to Wakeman.

“The goal of the challenge is to very clearly define what's unserved, what’s underserved and where the areas that we need to spend the BEAD money are,” Wakeman said.

The DRIVE executive director said people are calling the BEAD funding “once-in-a-generation kind of money.”

Before the state begins spending those funds, Wakeman said they need to know where it is needed most.

“If your service is bad and you know your service is bad. help us prove your service is bad,” Wakeman said. While DRIVE does not anticipate any particular county being significantly worse than the others, they expect the rural areas in all five counties to be the most unserved and underserved areas.

“At this point, everybody talks about broadband like utility,” Wakeman said. “It’s like sewer, water, electricity or natural gas — you have to have it.”

DRIVE will be collecting data through the test until the end of March, according to Wakeman.

Robert Inglis/The

season this year.

Robert Inglis/The Daily Item

Bailey Stank does some maintenance work on one of the bumper cars at Knoebels Amusement Resort.

Geisinger continues to invest in the community

By Anna Wiest awiest@dailyitem.com

DANVILLE

Currently,

Daily Item file photo

Geisinger plans to build a 96-bed inpatient behavioral health facilityh on the east side of the St. Cyril’s property in Mahoning Township, shown above. The construction, expected to be completed next year, could eventually employ about 200 people.

“We will be moving existing staff, but this is a great workforce development opportunity for Danville,” Zieger said. “We expect to be able to offer employment opportunities for around 200 individuals. We will be hosting training programs to help people develop in their career.”

In addition to making behavioral health care more accessible, the facility will also free up space at Geisinger’s main campus in Danville for other needs, Brosious added. “When the psych hospital opens, which we expect to happen in the summer of 2025, we will be able to backfill our current unit here at Geisinger Medical Center with another inpatient unit so we will get

right around 20 more beds and we can reclaim that space for medical and surgical care as opposed to behavioral health care,” she said.

Geisinger is also making efforts to expand outpatient behavioral health care, Zieger said. “We’ve added 74 providers in the last two years in a market where mental health providers are a shortage area, so I’m really proud to be at Geisinger at this time,” she said. “Our patients need us and Geisinger has really stepped up to make this investment in mental health care.”

The company has also invested in a Magnet designation. With Geisinger Medical Center being Magnet certified, the patients and families who

CSVT bypass project remains on track for completion in 2028

By Marcia Moore mmoore@dailyitem.com

live and pass through the community benefit from the clinical skill and commitment of their nurses, according to Crystal Muthler, chief nursing officer for Geisinger’s Central Region. “Hospitals re-designate every four years. Our recent designations was Geisinger Medical Center’s fourth designation,” Muthler said. “Magnet hospitals tend to have better quality metrics, lower mortality rates, higher staff retention rates and

many informed consumer seek out magnet organizations for care because it tells them those things.”

The designation is also an advantage for the hospital when it comes to recruitment, Brosious added. “I think it also helps us recruit talent to the area. Nurses who are looking to make a move see this as an attractive option when they’re weighing choices,” she said.

Nurses have all the power of

choice right now and health systems face a national shortage, the Geisinger team said.

“By 2026, PA will have largest RN nursing shortage of any state across the country,” Muthler said. “From a Magnet-perspective, less than 10-percent of hospitals in the nation are able to achieve Magnet and less than two-percent do it four times. So the ability to recruit into that environment has been very helpful.”

W.F. WELLIVER & SON CONTINUES EVOLVING EVEN AFTER 52 YEARS!

Since 1972, W.F. Welliver & Son have been opening

“It

“We hope to see” similar

expected to be open to traffic in early April, and other projects in the southern section.

Work on moving 5 million cubic yards of earth is 60 per-

cent completed, and crews will build nine bridges and four noise walls over the next couple of years, said Beck.

In late 2025 or early 2026, the third and final construction project for paving and interchanges will be awarded.