Progress 2023: Jersey Shore

Jersey Shore focuses on safety, other improvements

By D. EVERETT SMITH Sun-Gazette Correspondent

Safety in Jersey Shore has progressed greatly in recent months as the borough has joined the Lycoming Regional Police Department. The regional police will cover from the Nippenose area to Old Lycoming and Hepburn.

“We are at the edge of the county and a midsize town, we can act as a hub for (first responder) services in Clinton and Lycoming counties,” Cody Hoover, the Jersey Shore borough manager said. “We benefit from the merger in many ways. With it being bigger, we have resources that allow for more officers with specialization like investigations.”

Thanks to the regionalization, the town has saved money.

Hoover said that many businesses in town are expanding like the Bald Birds Brewery and the West Pharmaceuticals.

“With these businesses making themselves larger, we will have lots of job opportunities in town,” Hoover said.

On the recreational front, Hoover said he was excited about the upcoming improvements that will be made to the Thompson Recreation Field. He said residents can expect updates done to the soccer field, and basketball courts.

He said the funds came from COVID money, which was about $875,000. Thanks to other grants, the total funding will be $1 million.

He said the park was almost 50 years ago and in recent years it had fallen into disrepair.

“The parking lot was torn up and the basketball courts (needed repairs),” Hoover said. But thanks to the grants, repairs can be made. He added the park and walkways will become disability compliant, to allow for persons in wheelchairs and scooters to move easily through the park.

“We have a great community spirit here and we want to make sure the tools, for the next generation, are in place to bring people into the burrough,” Hoover said.

One of those tools he mentioned was the new public service building for Jersey Shore and the new regional Lycoming County highway. He said it was going to be a “big building.”

“Phase one of this project goes to bid this year,” Hoover said. He expected the whole complex to be completed by 2025.

On a social level, Hoover said that what makes Jersey Shore such a unique town is the “old style community leagues.”

He cited examples like the Elks Club, Lions, Moose Lodge and the American Legion. These groups are growing and involved in the community.

“Jersey Shore has a lot of positive things going on with a bright future,” Hoover said.

JIFFY MARKET AND DELI INC.

Owner

and more for over 23 years. The store can be reached at 570-398-3499.

Spring checklist for pets

6waystokeepyourpetshappyandhealthy

(Family Features) — Warmer weather means it’s time to spring clean, get grooming and prepare your pets’ diets to support them through the season.

Keep your furry friends happy and healthy this spring with these six tips from the experts at Zesty Paws, an award-winning pet supplement brand:

Give Skin and Coats

a Little TLC: Many pets form winter coats during the colder months to help them stay warm and comfortable then shed the coats in the spring to prepare for warmer temperatures. Some pets may need extra help maintaining their shiny, healthy coats, especially if mats have formed in their fur or if they are breeds that develop a thick undercoat.

Professional grooming, at-home brushing and regular bathing can all be helpful ways to speed up the process to remove some of the extra fur and decrease the prevalence of dander, dust and pollen that can attach to fur and skin through the season.

Add Seasonal Allergy Support with Supplements: Just like humans, furry friends can develop and experience seasonal allergies, too.

Giving your pets’ immune systems some extra support can help ease some common allergy symptoms. Supplements like Zesty Paws Aller-Immune Bites for Cats and Aller-Immune Bites for Dogs are chewables that

provide seasonal allergy support by aiding normal immune functions, skin health and gut flora, and may also help maintain normal histamine levels.

Ease Back into Exercise: The change in weather means more time for outdoor adventures with your pets, but don’t forget to cool down and warm up as you and your pets ease back into the season. Planning for short, leashed walks and timed play sessions can help your pets gradually prepare their hips and joints for fun, warm weather activities.

Watch Out for Pet Pests: Once temperatures start to rise, the tiny, creepy critters start crawling. Fleas, ticks and other pests can cause serious health concerns for pets. This spring, make sure your pest control programs are primed and ready for added protection. Talk to your veterinarian about the best

routine and products for your pets.

Freshen Up Bedding and Bowls: It’s important to keep a clean environment by scrubbing, sweeping and vacuuming regularly to decrease allergens in the home. When you’re tackling this year’s spring cleaning, remember to put your pets’ bedding and bowls on the list, too. Updating or disinfecting your pets’ blankets, litter boxes, toys and other supplies is a good way to keep them feeling safe and comfortable in the home.

Schedule an Annual Vet Visit: Spring is a good time to schedule your pets’ annual vet visits. Make sure they’re up to date on all vaccinations, get their dental health checkups and re-evaluate nutrition plans. Find more advice for keeping your pet healthy and happy at zestypaws. com.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Alan Willits poses for a picture with Dale Koons as employee Penny Summers looks on at the Jiffy Market and Deli Inc., 115 Pennsylvania Ave., Jersey Shore. Willits has owned the one-stop-shop offering prepared and fresh food goods, a variety of beverages, PA lottery and skills games, tobacco products

Erv’s Meat Market, 229 S. Main St., Jersey Shore, offers quality specialized meats and cheeses, including house-made bologna, hot dogs, sausage and bacon. Erv’s also makes smoked meats and cheese as well as seasonal soups. Now owned by Dave and Mary Closs, Erv’s has jumbo chicken wings on sale for $2.99 per pound and whole frozen turkeys on sale for 99 cents per pound while supplies last.

Personal Care Services at Owners celebrate first anniversary at Erv’s Meat Market

By MARK MARONEY mmaroney@sungazette.com

About this time of year the fresh ham at Erv’s Meat Market is available to order in time for Easter dinner.

The special holiday is just four months from the first anniversary in July that Mary and Dave Closs have operated the small meat shop at 229 S. Main St. in Jersey Shore.

The couple are carrying on a tradition that Erv Rauch had with this community for 40 years before it was operated by Doug and Lorie Rauch.

The store sells its own freshly-made bologna, sticks of delicate smoked and seasoned meats and store-made hot dogs.

“We use Country Store meats and we have center cut pork chops, smoked pork chops and we grind our own burger meat fresh each day,” Mary Closs said. Sirloin for hamburgers and other meals is lean as can be. Erv’s can accommodate those who have venison to be processed.

It’s never been measured but it’s sort of a 90%10% preparation to keep much of the fat out but keep just a little fat in.

Plans are to have canned fruit and pickled cauliflower, hot peppers, macaroni and pasta salad, broccoli salad, dill pickle salad, potato salad and pickled eggs.

“I’m thinking of making some cranberry fluff for the holiday,” Closs said.

In season the market will try to get some fresh fruits and vegetables and make kabobs.

Dave and Mary’s brother-in-law Vincent help keep the store operating.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

THE MOTTER AGENCY

Strong, stylish spring home upgrades

5projectswherebricktakescenterstage

(Family Features) — Springtime is a perfect opportunity for homeowners to begin planning renovations to enhance the interior and exterior of their living space.

Because of its strong performance capabilities, low maintenance and design flexibility, brick is a popular building material choice when looking to improve or refresh your home in time for warm-weather hosting season.

Often selected for its functional benefits, brick is available in a wide array of colors, textures and sizes that can match varying design styles, from modern to traditional and almost everything between. If you’re considering adding brick to your home’s aesthetic, consider these five projects to tackle this spring from the experts at GlenGery, one of the largest brick and stone manufacturers in North America.

Basement or patio bar — As homeowners spend more time at home, they often look to maximize livable space. One way to take advantage of unused living space is building a basement or patio bar, which provides an area for entertaining. Using an exposed brick wall can help designate the bar area and separate it from the rest of the basement, or lining a bar counter with brick can create a rustic contrast against the bar’s seating.

Fireplace — To change the look and feel of a room almost instantly, you can use brick to give a fireplace a facelift or make it a focal point of your home.

Available in a variety of colors and textures, Glen-Gery’s diverse, premium portfolio of more than 600 brick and stone products can elevate your living room’s style in a big way and create a more inviting area to share with family and friends. An outdoor fireplace is another option for extending livable space in a cozy way that can be used throughout the year.

Accent wall — Create a statement in or outside your home with a brick accent wall. Accent walls can help bring color, texture and beauty to homes by breaking up the monotony of monochromatic color or decor, creating visual interest and dimension. While brick in a running bond pattern is expected, you can spice up rooms with an unexpected bond pattern like a stacked bond for modern appeal or herringbone for a rustic look.

Kitchen backsplash — One of the most overlooked areas of kitchen design is the backsplash. While its job is to protect your kitchen walls from the never-ending assault of kitchen splatters, there’s no reason it can’t look good, too. Brick backsplashes can accommodate most home designs and styles thanks to the versatility of shapes, colors, finishes and sizes available.

Black or white glazed brick works well with more modern kitchens while irregular brick containing an abundance of texture and a messy mortar application can complete rustic farmhouse kitchens. An option like GlenGery’s virtual design tool, Picture Perfect, can help you visualize projects in your home to see what fits your style and needs.

Brick skirt — For added curb appeal, consider adding a brick skirt around the foundation of your home. Given its resilient, durable and energy-efficient qualities, brick can help provide better insulation and protection while also adding visual appeal to the exterior of your home through texture, color and contrast. The skirting can also continue through to the front porch floor and steps, helping balance out the elevation of your home.

For more inspiration for your next home renovation project, visit glengery. com.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Ye Olde Print Shoppe, 902 Allegheny St., Jersey Shore, is owned by Bryan K. Edwards and offers a variety of printing services, from raffle tickets and business cards to letterheads, invitation, resumes and more. Full color or black and white options are available. For more information, call 570-398-2117.

Penton Automotive, 579 Old Route 220, Jersey Shore, offers a variety of automotive services including state

emissions inspections, tires

alignments, wiring repair, detailing and more. The shop offers military, student, fleet and first-time customer discounts, as well as

drop-off services. Give them a call at 570-398-5555 or visit their website, pentonautomotive.com,

MARTINA GUERRA GOLDSMITH

Martina Guerra Goldsmith, 1102 Allegheny St., Jersey Shore, offers a wide array of gold and silver jewelry, with and without gemstones. Martina Guerra, who graduated with a bachelor’s in fine arts from Kutztown University and earned her graduate gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America, offers custom designs, engraved jewelry, elk tooth ivory jewelry and keepsake jewelry made from the ashes of cremated loved ones. For more information, visit martinaguerra.com or call the shop at 570-398-1833.

UPMC LOCK HAVEN

New hospital model caters to area’s needs

UPMC recently announced a new innovative hospital model at UPMC Lock Haven that would convert services to an outpatient emergency department, the first of its kind in the commonwealth under the new guidance provided for Innovative Hospital Model.

“We still have all the same services, exceptional providers and staff, and resources that we’ve been offering the community for years — operationally behind the scenes, things are a little different, but the patient experience is the same,” said Jeff Muenzer, M.D., medical director, Emergency Department, UPMC Lock Haven. “This model is not a new one in general, it’s just new to Pennsylvania. As the first in state, all eyes are on Lock Haven to succeed, and we are committed to showing this as a viable option for others as well to keep essential emergency services in their communities. We’re doing everything we can to ensure that when someone comes through the doors, no matter what their emergency may be, we can care for them.”

In addition to the outpatient emergency department, which will be staffed 24/7 by a team of physicians and nurses, UPMC specialists will continue to offer outpatient services for foot and ankle, and pain management on the campus at 24 Cree Drive, Lock Haven.

“The most important thing is you can come to us for any and all your concerns. This is our community as well — we live

in and know the community — and we’re here for you,” Dr. Muenzer said.

PHOTO PROVIDED