Progress 2023: Southern Tier

By LORENA BENIQUEZ lbeniquez@sungazette.com

Since the completion of the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway, communities in the area are awaiting the overall impact it will have on residents and businesses. According to William Lowthert, Lewisburg borough manager and treasurer, there has already been one positive result.

“We are seeing less traffic on Route 15 northbound and southbound and eastbound and westbound traffic on Market Street or Route 45, we are seeing less truck traffic,” said Lowthert.

“We are still not sure how the thruway will affect us but we hope traffic will be reduced on Route 15 when it is completed,” said Arthur Masser, a supervisor in nearby Gregg Township.

While the thruway is one of the biggest changes in the region, there are far more. For instance, downtown Lewisburg is undergoing a multi-stage project to mitigate flooding from Limestone Run.

“We have been doing a lot of work in our downtown parks along Limestone Run, which runs through downtown Lewisburg. In addition to the recreation improvements, we have been implementing floodplain restoration activities, which creates areas for flood waters to expand into during high water events,” said Lowthert.

Recreation improvements include a new playground donated by Lewisburg’s Playworld, a playground equipment manufacturer. Dubbed

the Hufnagle Park Kidsburg Playground, the park opened up last year.

A nature play area has also been added to Hufnagle Park.

According to Lowthert, “The construction of a nature play area connects kids to nature. They can walk in the creek, jump on rocks and walk on logs.”

Construction will ramp up in May for one more project in Hufnagle Park, which will add more seating.

“Construction will start in May and finish by December. There will be 100 percent more seating,” said Lowthert.

He added that the central section of the park will be closed during construction but restrooms and playgrounds will remain open.

As for Gregg Township, the Great Stream Commons industrial park in Gregg Township will add two new businesses this year. Bimbo Bakeries is building a new struc-

ture for production and an unnamed business is constructing a warehouse facility.

“The industrial park has been underdeveloped for the past 20 years. Now, it will be used for what it was intended to be,” said Masser, who admits that the vacant industrial park has perplexed him for quite some time.

Those new businesses will join Snappy’s, which opened last year at the entrance to the industrial park. The convenience store has a Grille restaurant, 12 gas pumps and an additional diesel pump. Masser said that prior to Snappy’s opening, residents had to travel to find diesel fuel.

As a lifelong resident of Gregg Township, Masser is happy the area is growing and Great Stream Commons is attracting much needed businesses.

He said, “It is refreshing to see something new.”

ON THE COVER

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Brookside Homes is an award-winning home-building business based in Selinsgrove. Brookside recently opened a new Sales & Design Center, located in the Giant Plaza, 1905 E. Third St., Williamsport.

The

device with BrainHearing™ technology.

with our brains and not our ears. Oticon More helps your brain decipher intricate

relevant sounds for better speech understanding with less effort and the ability to remember more.

direct streaming from iPhone® and Android™. And with the sound

SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY HEARING PROFESSIONALS

Family of hearing experts keeps customers happy

Susquehanna Valley Hearing Professionals in Lewisburg has been providing hearing health care services since 2007.

The practice is locally owned and operated by Doctors of Audiology, and sisters, Angela Muchler and Kelly Cormell. Completing the team and providing individualized pediatric through geriatric audiology services is the doctors’ mother and office manager, Rita Cormell.

The doctors’ interest in audiology began when they volunteered at Camp Victory and loved helping the children at the camp who had hearing loss issues.

That love and interest caused both to earn their doctorate degrees in audiology from Bloomsburg University — and that love and interest continues to be on display as the doctors take pride in helping each patient make the right decisions regarding their hearing needs and solutions.

The team at Susquehanna Valley Hearing Professionals provide a variety of services including: evaluation of dizziness and balance problems, industrial audiology, hearing conservation services, tinnitus evaluation and testing, hearing aid evaluation and dispensing, hearing aid adjustment and servicing, custom ear protection, assistive listening devices, specialized auditory testing and ear cleaning.

Additionally, they are able to offer repair of most makes and models of hearing aids as well as the batteries and accessories that keep them running.

In their new location at 2824 Old Turnpike Road (Rt. 45), Lewisburg, just west of their previous location, Susquehanna Valley Hearing Professionals now has more space and are able to offer two hearing testing booths.

Having two booths makes it easier to schedule patients for appointments. The testing booths also offers other advantages. They provide a superior testing experience and better results for the patient.

For more information or to schedule your evaluation call 570-524-3277

One word that is synonymous with CENTURY 21 Colonial Real Estate is growth. CENTURY 21 Colonial has put up another recordbreaking year by shattering all sales and listing milestones from the past 43 years. Some of these highly sought-after records include total sales volume, total listings taken, and least amount of time on the market before sold.

We’ve been awarded CENTURY 21’s Quality Service Pinnacle Award every year since the programs start in 2002. Our office has seen a lot of growth internally; more local, professional, full time, real estate agents have been added to our team from our surrounding area to service our community needs better. We’ve added agents to fill needed areas that help us in serving the following sectors of real estate: commercial sales & leasing, active farm & ranch sales, land, and residential sales.

CENTURY 21 Colonial Real Estate is well aligned to handle all our clients’ needs for the 2023 year. We are proud of being a generational family-owned company for so many years and allied with a franchise that has been in the real estate business for so long. CENTURY 21 Colonial Realtors strive to conduct business at a high level while giving our customers 121% satisfaction and customer service.

“We are grateful to have served our neighbors for 43 years and we look forward to building upon our relationships with our past, present, and future clients. Thank you for allowing our family to serve yours.” ~ Devin O’Rourke, Broker/Owner of CENTURY 21 Colonial Real Estate.

Put the power of three to work for you

Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield are boldly investing in the people and communities of Pennsylvania, together, as Commonwealth University.

Commonwealth U is an affordable, student-centered academic powerhouse with top programs. Get ready to tailor your degree with more than 80 proven, accredited programs and access to more minors, courses, and faculty experts than ever.

Uncommon opportunities lead to unbelievable experiences. Traditional, in-person instruction continues at all campuses, and new technology-enabled classrooms create real-time collaborative learning to expand your academic options, from bachelors, masters and doctoral programs to associates degrees, certificates, and even high school dual enrollment.

That’s harnessing the power of the combined resources of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield as Commonwealth University.

With nearly 99% of our students

employed or in grad school within a year of graduation, we provide a financially responsible degree option to prepare you for in-demand careers. In fact, we’ve frozen tuition for the past four years! Together, we’re committed to making college even more accessible and affordable for students through our Community Scholars program that provides up to $28,000 in merit scholarships for qualified students at 50 local school districts.

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Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield continue to offer a robust slate of student activities, clubs, events and campus life for an unforgettable college experience, plus a full complement of NCAA athletic programs at each campus.

And with the connectivity of our campuses, you have even more opportunity to form lifelong friendships.

This bold investment in your longterm success begins today. Learn more at commonwealthu.edu.

BROOKSIDE HOMES

FOUR FRIENDS VINEYARD

PHOTO PROVIDED

In 2009, Tina Day and her late husband Kenneth began producing award winning wines at Four Friends Winery. Their location at 528 Cemetery Hill Road, Montgomery, offers great views to go along with the extensive lineup of wines. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday the winery is also available for special events, including weddings. Four Friends features wine-themed events throughout the year, and they have live music every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. May through August. Come out and enjoy the views, the music or events, and the wines.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Brookside Homes will soon celebrate 45 years in business with an award-winning reputation based on the solid foundation of its two owners, Randy Davis and Steve Wagner. A new Sales & Design Center is located in the Giant Plaza, 1905 E. Third St., next to Hobby Lobby. Brookside has model home locations in Selinsgrove and Mansfield.

PHOTO PROVIIDED

Fedder’s Jewelers, 65 S. Front St., Milton, has served the area for 37 years.

They offer a wide selection of diamond and gemstone jewelry, birthstones, men’s accessories, sliver, watches and clocks, and more. Fedder’s also offers professional, on-site jewelry repair. Clockwise from top left, jewelry shown is: turquoise pendant and ring set in yellow gold; antique ring in yellow and white gold; opal and tanzanite ring set in yellow gold; raspberry sapphire and diamond ring in white gold; and blue sapphire and diamond ring in white gold.

THE LIGHT BARN

PHOTO PROVIDED

PHOTO PROVIDED

Shown are just a few of the Quoizel lamps available at The Light Barn, Route 522, Selinsgrove. For over 45 years, The Light Barn has provided full lighting solutions to the Susquehanna Valley and beyond.

Benjamin T. Moyer Furniture of Sunbury is Northeastern and central PA’s exclusive dealer of Shifman two-sided cotton mattresses. Four components make Shifman mattress sets the finest handmade bedding in the world: natural materials, two-sided construction, 8-way hand-tied box springs and hand tufted mattress. Stop and see David J. Moyer, president of Benjamin T. Moyer Furniture, shown featuring the natural cotton used in construction Shifman mattresses.

“SERVING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ALL OF PENNSYLVANIA”

We can easily help you insure your Camp - Cottage - Travel Trailer - MotorhomeATV - Side by Side - UTV - Snowmobile or Boat! We offer all types of Commercial and Life Insurance!

HOOVER’S BERNINA SEW LLC

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Hoover’s is an authorized Bernina dealer founded by the Hoover family in 1987. They began business in space on the family farm and relocated several times. Current owner/operator, Leon Hoover, erected their current building in 2008. Hoover prides himself on providing top-quality equipment and service. Hoover’s offers Bernina sewing, quilting and embroidery machines as well as software, accessories and a large selection fabric types and colors. Those interested in sewing or improving their sewing may take a wide variety of sewing, embroidery and quilting classes. Shown is just a small sampling of the hundred’s of available fabrics and Bernina sewing machines in-stock.

PURITY CANDY

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Purity Candy Company has been creating family traditions for over 116 years. From hand-crafted personalized Easter eggs to chocolate specialties and sweets, generations have come to us to fill their Easter baskets. Come visit us at our factory store, 18047 Route 15 South in Allenwood and retail store at 422 Market St., Lewisburg. The online store is always open, and we ship worldwide, www.puritycandy.com.

On tap: Booze still allowed on Amtrak in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H.

(AP) — Riders on an Amtrak train that runs from Maine to Boston can continue to buy alcoholic beverages during the 35-mile stretch of the trip that goes through New Hampshire as officials said they plan to work out a “creative solution” to avoid violating a state liquor law.

The Amtrak Downeaster takes passengers 145 miles from Brunswick, Maine, to Boston. The train includes a cafe car that serves alcohol.

The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, a quasi-government agency that has a service agreement with Amtrak, said it was told by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission that the train can’t serve alcohol during the New Hampshire portion of the journey. There’s a

law that forbids serving alcohol that hasn’t been purchased in the state.

The liquor commission “will initiate a simple change in statute to ensure there is no further confusion” to allow alcohol sales to continue, spokesperson E.J. Powers said.

In a statement Tuesday, the commission said that the Massachusetts-based company that provides the train’s food and beverage service “inadvertently acknowledged that it had been in violation” of New Hampshire’s law as it was in the process of renewing its license to serve alcohol on the Downeaster.

The commission, which granted the renewal, said it is “exploring a creative solution, laying tracks for a unique partnership between New Hampshire and Maine.”

Meanwhile, alcohol sales will continue as usual.

With 99% of our students employed or in grad school within a year of graduation, we provide a financially responsible degree option to prepare you for in-demand careers. In fact, we’ve frozen tuition for the past four years!

Together, we’re committed to making college even more accessible and affordable for local students and have agreements with 50 area school districts to provide:

Guaranteed On-Campus Housing

At our Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield, or Clearfield locations

Up to $28,000 in Renewable Scholarships

GPA: 3.8-4.0 $28,000 ($7,000/year)

GPA: 3.5-3.79 $24,000 ($6,000/year)

GPA: 3.0-3.49 $16,000 ($4,000/year)

GPA: 2.5-2.99 $12,000 ($3,000/year)

Seniors must complete a university application to be considered for scholarships

learn more:

commonwealthu.edu/local