Progress 2023: Williamsport

Williamsport’s East and West ends continue to grow

By SETH NOLAN Sun-Gazette Correspondent

Community leaders have worked hard the last few years to invest in the city’s East and West ends as more than just residential and commercial areas, but as extensions of a dynamic city with much to offer.

“We’re working so hard to build on all of the parks in this city,” council Vice President Bonnie Katz said. “Parks are one of the most important aspects of any city to promote businesses, a healthy lifestyle, and community life and we have to continue to invest in them.”

The East and West ends of the city boast a healthy commercial footprint, with businesses like New Trail Brewing expanding far from Lycoming County. The industrial section of Reach Road has always been a big employer busy part of the West End.

These sections of the city often get overlooked, but they’ve been successful historic neighborhoods. Many of the parks are in these neighborhoods, Katz said.

“We’ve been passionately working on these parks this year,” she said.

This year, they’ve put in more courts for various sports, a splash pad in Shaw Park, and have the pool in Memorial park ready for this summer.

“I’ve been a big proponent of the splash pads since the beginning,” Katz said.

“They’re fun for the kids, they’re relatively easy to maintain, they’re handicap accessible, and we were able to get community development funds for them.”

The city has a new recreation director, Shaun Walker. Council is excited to sit down with him and discuss the future.

“We haven’t met him yet, but I am sure he’s got some great ideas,” Katz said. “One thing I would like to see is bringing back things like the UPMC Heart Walk and other events that get people out and seeing our beautiful city.”

As far as businesses, Katz said there hasn’t been much change besides the tried and true shops that have made their mark on those regions of the city already.

“Toast’d Bagels moved from downtown to the East End,” Katz said. “While we miss them in that spot, they help fill a gap in the East End. We’re always looking for new things to promote.”

OVERHEAD DOOR OF LYCOMING COUNTY

Overhead Door wins local and national awards

By LORENA BENIQUEZ lbeniquez@sungazette.com

When Jack Schrader, owner of Overhead Door of Lycoming County, received the 2022 Dealer of the Year award from the International Door Association, he knew his team deserved the credit.

“I am really proud of our team to be recognized like that. It represents great service and you are recognized by your peers for integrity in business practices,” said Schrader.

Located at 633 W. Third St., Williamsport, Overhead Door of Lycoming County has been serving residential and commercial customers since 1965.

Additional accolades were garnered in 2022, when Overhead Door of Lycoming County was chosen by the readers of the Sun-Gazette to receive the Best Garage Door Sales award.

“We have gotten the Reader’s Choice Award ever since they started [giving them out]. That says a lot about our employees,” said Schrader.

Staying up to date on new products has always been Overhead’s goal.

Schrader said, “The biggest thing is product development. We have launched a lot of products residentially and commercially.”

He is particularly proud of a new residential garage door opener, called the Infinity, which has a side mount operator for use in minimal headroom conditions.

On the commercial side, Schrader has added a line of high-performance and high-speed garage doors. Schrader invites customers to visit the show-

room to see the varied options they offer.

“We always keep the showroom fresh and rotate out old products,” Schrader said. “We have

Overhead Door of Lycoming County continues to be awarded nationally and locally for its customer service. The company invites the public to stop in to see and touch their products at 633 W. Third St., Williamsport.

samples of different profiles of doors and the customer can come in and we can answer their questions and they can see how things work.”

LORENA BENIQUEZ/ Sun-Gazette

MARKLE’S PLUMBING AND HEATING

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Markle’s Plumbing & Heating, 1020 Dewey Ave., Williamsport, offers plumbing, heating and sewer or drain services to homes and businesses in the Williamsport area. Established in 1952, Markle’s is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on the weekends. Emergency services are available for weekends and evenings.

Markle’s is ‘equipped to handle any enormous job’

From Staff Reports

Tradition matters at Markle’s Plumbing and Heating, 1020 Dewey Ave., Williamsport.

“This store has been a plumbing shop since 1929,” the late Glenn “Pop” Markle Sr. told a Sun-Gazette reporter for an article about 20 years ago.

Glenn “Pop” Markle Sr. began working at the shop as an apprentice plumber in 1940. Glenn T. Markle Jr. began working with his dad at the shop in 1971, when the business only had two other employees. Glenn T. Markle Jr. took over when his father passed away in 2006. Markle’s Plumbing and Heating continued to grow, and today employs manager Tim Peck Sr., technicians Trevor Ault, Scott Nicholas, Tim Peck Jr., Shawn Bauman and Don Blass, secretary/dispatcher Kristen

Gonzales and bookkeeper Alicia Creveling.

Markle’s Plumbing and Heating offers bathroom remodeling, fixture and faulty plumbing repair, faucet repair, gas heater repair, pipe installation and repair, water heater installation and other services.

According to the shop’s website, the staff specializes in residential plumbing and heating and commercial and industrial sewer and drain.

Markle’s Plumbing and Heating is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. According to the website the business offers free estimates, free water testing and a 30-day service warranty. Seven fleet trucks assist Markle’s Plumbing and Heating in providing prompt service.

“We are equipped to handle any enormous job,” the website says.

VAN CAMPEN MOTORS

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Van Campen Motors’ service department, 601 W. Third St., Williamsport, “treats the needs of each individual customer with paramount concern,” proclaims their website, vancampenmotors.net/. “We know that you have high expectations, and as a car dealer we enjoy the challenge of meeting and exceeding those standards each and every time. Allow us to demonstrate our commitment to excellence!”

LORENA BENIQUEZ/Sun-Gazette Nikolaos and Jean Lenios own Nik’s Goldworks, located at 1140 Hancock St., Williamsport. The jewelry store

Nikolaos’ talent for crafting filigree designs.

Downtown thriving, parks getting upgrades

By SETH NOLAN Sun-Gazette Correspondent

Downtown Williamsport has had a successful return as the arts and entertainment hub of Lycoming County through the perseverance of its unique small businesses.

Officials are continuing to invest in ways that will bring people to see those businesses. This year, a major effort was put into development of the city’s parks.

The Lycoming County Mall officially closed its doors to walking in late February, highlighting the dynamic state of retail in the area. Retail in Downtown is a piece of the experience of Williamsport once again.

“We’re finding what we talked about several years ago when investing in retail downtown is being proven,” said city council Vice President Bonnie Katz. “People don’t want to go to the big malls or the stores.”

Katz, who owns a downtown business herself, has seen the Downtown area change over the years, but what’s unique about the area is how many businesses stay.

“Most of us hung on,” Katz said. “We have so many incredible mom and pop shops downtown and we’re still here. These businesses tend to be more considerate to people that walk into stores they’ve worked so hard to build up. People want to feel wanted when they walk into a business.”

In addition to those legacy mom and pop shops in Downtown Williamsport, are some new businesses breaking ground in the last few years. John Ryan Brewing at the edge of the Downtown area on East Third Street, Rosko’s Brew House on Pine Street, and Miles Welby Candle Company and The Tria Prima Tea Company both on West Fourth Street are some of the most recent additions, to name a few.

“Do we want to see more (businesses)? Of course we do,” Katz said. “But we’re thrilled with where we are. How many small towns can say they’ve had so many businesses hanging in there throughout the past few years like that?”

A large piece of investing in the city is focusing on making the parks more accessible to residents and those visiting here.

“We’ve taken a more hands-on approach with the parks and the kids of the communities this year,” Katz said.

Many of the city’s parks are outside of the Downtown area, but Brandon Park and Way’s Garden Park are two important aspects that should be viewed as central city community centers.

“Looking ahead, we’re going to be fixing up the baseball fields in Brandon Park,” Katz said. “That park has had so many water problems in the past, but we’ve done a lot to address that issue. Way’s Garden Park is another jewel of our city and we’ve been doing a lot to make sure that it keeps running smoothly.”

Casale, Bonner, Hillman and Southard P.C. helps neighbors

By LORENA BENIQUEZ lbeniquez@sungazette.com

“We are proud to represent ordinary people and to help them get through whatever problems life may throw at them,” said Bret Southard, a partner with the Williamsport law firm Casale, Bonner, Hillman and Southard, P.C.

Located at 331 Elmira Street in Williamsport, the law firm has been representing local clients since 1956. Bankruptcy, business law, criminal defense, estate planning, family law, real estate, social security and workers’ compensation are the legal areas they provide clients with customized representation.

“We really are a law firm that helps people. We help them to buy homes. We get them through very difficult family breakups. We help people form businesses. We are there to help with

estate administration, when a loved one has passed away. We are there to help people when they have been seriously hurt either on the job, or in everyday life,” said Southard.

Southard is proud of his working class roots as well as those of his fellow lawyers.

“Almost all of the lawyers at our firm come from working class fam-

ilies. My father drove a potato chip truck and my mom was a teachers’ aide and school bus driver,” he said.

Those roots help keep the lawyers grounded when representing their clients. According to their website casalebonner. com, “We have been the firm our neighbors have trusted for the peace of mind that their interests will be protected.”

community

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Pictured clockwise starting at top left are attorneys Bradley Hillman, Bret J. Southard, Bryan Fitzcharles and Norman M. Lubin, of Casale, Bonner, Hillman and Southard, P.C.

LORENA BENIQUEZ/ Sun-Gazette

Kurt and Marie Kane are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their restaurant, Long Island Pizza, 435 Hepburn St. The family business is offering pierogi or seafood pizzas and cheese calzones to name a few of the dishes available.

Long Island Pizza to celebrate 20 years

By LORENA BENIQUEZ lbeniquez@sungazette.com

When a customer walks into Long Island Pizza in Williamsport, Kurt Kane greets each one with a warm and hearty hello. Even if Kane is slammed with work, he always takes the time to make everyone feel welcome.

That warmth also emanates from the rest of the Kane family working there.

“We have four kids and three of them work here — Gabriel, Noah and Victoria,” said Marie Kane, who has been married to Kurt for 29 years.

Located at 435 Hepburn St., Long Island Pizza’s employees make everyone feel like family and they especially pride themselves on their customer service.

“We cater to our customers. Sometimes we will have a customer who can’t have cheese and they will bring their

own dairy-free cheese,” said Marie.

And to keep customers happy, they like to change up their menu.

“We added pasta salad and we have been doing seasonal specials and we have been mixing up our desserts,” said Marie.

For the Lent season, Marie is especially excited about their pierogi pizza. Using her grandmother’s pierogi recipe, they will top pizza with the mixture from inside the Polish pockets.

Also for Lent, Long Island will make seafood pizza with shrimp, scallops and crab in an alfredo sauce along with tuna melt pizza, tuna subs and cheese cosmos.

As the restaurant’s 20th anniversary approaches in December, the family is keen to honor that milestone.

“We are working on that but we haven’t decided how we are going to celebrate yet,” Marie said.

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Clothier owner Francis Ciccarelli, left, and son Matthew Ciccarelli stand outside the store at 138 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, where it began as a family-operated business in 1986. “We can fit you from head to toe,” said Francis when asked what makes this family-operated menswear specialty store unlike others. The store’s Facebook page is updated daily with new merchandise.

Kinley Jewelers celebrates 75 years

By LORENA BENIQUEZ lbeniquez@sungazette.com

Since Elmer Kinley opened the doors to Kinley Jewelers in 1948, the Williamsport store continues to be a family run business 75 years later.

Located at 131 W. Fourth St., the store offers a sumptuous array of jewelry and gifts.

“We have one of the largest inventories,” said Jade Kinley, adding that includes everything from necklaces, rings, bracelets and watches.

As for the stones that adorn their pieces, the store offers natural and lab grown gems. In addition to jewelry, the store also sells chandeliers, crystal, purses, clocks and much more.

And if they don’t already have a specific item in their inventory,

Kinley Jewelers will craft a custom jewelry piece.

“We can make what you need come true,” said Debbie Kinley, The jewelry store is now creating a database that will store customers’ wish lists.

“We will have the top ten items on file,” said Jade.

In addition to jewelry sales, the store repairs watches, jewelry and grandfather clocks. Their excellent customer service provides home visits for grandfather clocks, since they are often too large to

move. Jade said there are three big jewelry trends they are seeing right now.

“Pearls are coming back for younger people and they are worn casually,” she said.

In addition, she says that pre-owned Rolexes and other high end watches have been selling briskly. And lastly, stackable rings continue to be on trend.

Jade said, “You can stack up bands in fun ways using your current wedding band.”

LORENA BENIQUEZ/Sun-Gazette

Jade, Jared and Debbie Kinley display the many gold chains they stock at the family business, Kinley Jewelers. Located at 131 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, the jewelry and gift store is seeing an uptick in pearl jewelry sales to a younger generation.

LORENA BENIQUEZ/Sun-Gazette The Backhouse Cafe Coffee and Tea, located at 901 W. Fourth Street in Williamsport, is nestled in a Victorian house offering coffee, espresso, tea and hot cocoa. In addition, the coffee house offers live entertainment, homemade baked treats and quiche on Fridays and Saturdays.

Large Selection of Lamps

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LEO’S PIZZERIA

Today in History: March 16, Obama nominates Garland

Today is Thursday, March 16, the 75th day of 2023. There are 290 days left in the year.

Today’s highlight in history:

On March 16, 1968, the My Lai (mee ly) massacre took place during the Vietnam War as U.S. Army soldiers hunting for Viet Cong fighters and sympathizers killed unarmed villagers in two hamlets of Son My (suhn mee) village; estimates of the death toll vary from 347 to 504.

On this date:

In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew reached the Philippines, where Magellan was killed during a battle with natives the following month.

In 1802, President Thomas Jefferson signed a measure authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

In 1935, Adolf Hitler decided to break the military terms set by the Treaty of Versailles by ordering the rearming of Germany.

SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

Mark Mangiardi, owner of Leo’s Pizzeria, shows off a cheese pizza topped with fresh basil at the Williams Street restaurant. Leo’s offers a variety of specialty pizzas and experiments often with different flavors and ingredients.

LORENA BENIQUEZ/Sun-Gazette

Jake D. Weber, left, and Jarrett A. Jones, right, are financial advisors with Moff & Associates, providing clients with financial strategies. Located at 130 Court St., Suite 205, Moff & Associates assists clients with estate planning, investment advice and retirement planning, to name just a few of their services.

LORENA BENIQUEZ/Sun-Gazette

The Bullfrog Brewery, located at 229 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, is a brewpub, restaurant and live music venue. The brewery is a community-minded business incorporating farm to table practices, whether they are serving a craft brew or a dish.