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Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023

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Residents learn to expand skills with Google New program offers resources for entrepreneurs SIERRA BOLGER

Sentinel reporter sbolger@lewistownsentinel.com

G

oogle has made it way to Mifflin County to offer support for businesses, both big and small. Digital Coach Josh Miller has been coming to Mifflin County to offer workshops and resources provided

by Google, free of charge. These workshops provide training and resources for local businesses from the different tools and resources within the Google system.

GROW WITH GOOGLE

port,” said Miller.

Grow with Google began in 2017 to help Americans grow their skills, careers and businesses. It provides training, tools and expertise to help small business owners, veterans and military families, jobseekers and students, educators, startups and developers.

Since Grow with Google’s inception, it has helped more than 9,000,000 Americans develop new skills.

Grow with Google has a network of more than 9,000 partner organizations such as libraries, schools, small business development centers, chambers of commerce and nonprofits to help people coast-to-coast.

This program was officially launched in Pennsylvania in mid-May. According to Jim Zubler, director of Downtown Lewistown Inc., Google was looking at potential rural communities that would be interested in hosting these workshops.

“Pennsylvania Downtown Center proposed a list

1909

m

“Since early June, we have made several hundred connections with businesses through workshops and one-on-one sup-

r Helps Americans grow their skills, careers and businesses by providing training and tools to for small businesses. r For information, email joshuam@growwithg.com

“We are offering ongoing workshops and hands-on training that is designed to help small businesses grow. These opportunities are made available at no cost to the business. What makes this beneficial is that a business can continue to attend workshops throughout the year and we have a range of workshop topics that we cover such as connecting with Call,customers, click or stop byonline, today selling and increasing productiviSubmitted photo ty,” said Miller.

Anyone interested in Google Coach Josh Miller conducts a workshop for an inquiring business. booking a workshop or scheduling a one-on-one of communities that met Main Street America. Once with Main Street America session, may contact Millthe qualifications which in- submitted, Google picked and the Pa. Downtown Cen- er at joshuam@growwithg.

Chriscom.

Warfel cluded being credited with us and we began the dialog ter,” said Zubler.

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Health program aims to improve police coverage GREG WILLIAMS

Sentinel reporter gwilliams@lewistownsentinel.com LEWISTOWN — A teenager exhibiting violent behavior at home was just one police call that have been diverted so far to mental health workers this year as part of a pilot program.

Mifflin County Regional Police launched the Police Co-Responder Project in mid-January after seeing the impact it had for the Lewistown Police Department. The program embeds a social work professional within the police department.

In one instance, the teen’s family contacted police after she spiraled and exhibited dangerous behaviors at home, likely from oppositional defiant disorder, a behavior disorder in which a younger person displays a pattern of aggression toward people in authority. In this instance, the teen was targeting her aggression at other family members.

The teen was no longer responding to her medications and felt her relationship with her therapist was inadequate.

“We were able to work with Geisinger to get her immediate treatment at a facility that works exclusively with children,” Mental Health Co-Responder Dusty Sipes said. “When she returned home, we were able to advocate for the child to change providers to find a better fit

for her mental health needs.”

The MCRPD project launched in the summer 2022, when the department was approached by Adult Mental Health Specialist Bob Henry of the Juniata Valley Behavioral and Developmental Services.

“If you speak with law enforcement officers, they will tell you a lot of their calls are related to some type of mental health, substance abuse, homelessness or other type of human services situation,” Henry said. “We see this as a resource for departments to increase officer and public safety while diverting human service situations from the criminal justice system whenever possible.”

The Lewistown Police Department has used a police co-responder since 2021. It handled 400 calls in its first year, according to agency officials.

MCRPD recognized the value of this service to the community and supported the endeavor, said MCRPD Police Chief Andre French.

Police officers are dispatched throughout Mifflin County for a variety of reasons. Some requests for police service are not necessarily criminal in nature.

“Due to call volume and high demand of an officer’s time, officers have no choice but to put a Band-Aid on the situation before leaving the scene for the next call for service,” French explained. “Unfortunately,

this provides only a temporary fix.”

With the addition of a clinician, MCRPD can provide some level of aftercare to those in need. The social worker has the time, training and expertise to work with those in need in hopes of achieving a more permanent solution to the challenges they face.

“We strive to provide the highest level of professional service to our communities,” French said. “The addition of Dusty Sipes and the co-responder program furthers that goal.”

The agencies agree there was not any specific situation that prompted the expansion to MCRPD. “We have seen a lot of success over the last two years with the pilot program in Lewistown Borough and knew we wanted to expand throughout the county,” Henry added. “Ideally and hopefully eventually, we would have co-responders around the clock that could assist all police departments in the county.

“The program benefits police by assisting in situations where a social work response is more appropriate than a law enforcement response,” he added. “It reduces the need for police to assume the role of a social worker and allows them more time for law enforcement activities. To the individuals it serves, the program offers a pathway to linkages with community services that can help address the situations that lead them to law enforcement attention.”

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Lewistown, PA—D3

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MC Commons attracts new businesses “Historically, we’ve operated quite a few enclosed malls,” Gumberg said of LG Realty Advisors, based out of Pittsburgh. “Consumers no longer want to

BY GREG WILLIAMS Sentinel reporter

gwilliams@lewistown sentinel.com

222

BURNHAM — Excuse Brian Gumberg if he doesn’t remember much of the hoopla when the Mifflin County Commons opened in 1991.

The principal for LG Realty Advisors, which has owned and operated the shopping center from the start, was only nine years old at the time.

For decades, shoppers had frequented the Greater Lewistown Shopping Plaza and Weis Shopping Plaza (now Ollie’s Bargain Outlet) which lined North Logan Boulevard in Burnham.

The Commons was trying to carve out its own niche. More than 30 years later, the 41-year-old Gumberg is trying to make certain the shopping center's future remains bright.

Submitted photos Over the past few weeks, three new stores Shown is the Giant in the have been announced — Mifflin County Commons.

Five Below, Starbucks and T-Mobile — that will open their doors by early 2024.

That leaves one small 1,080-square-foot vacancy in the 200,000-square-foot mall.

There are many ways to contact The Sentinel: Call: Write: e-Mail:

717-248-6741 The Sentinel P.O. Box 588, Lewistown, PA 17044 sentinel@lewistownsentinel.com

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Gumberg said.

The Giant has continually remodeled its store in the Commons while adding services like a gas station.

“We feel great where we’re at...We’re working really hard to re-tenant to meet today’s retail needs and serve the communities that we’re a part of.”

Brian Gumberg LG Realty Advisors

222

walk through malls to get to retailers. They want to walk through the front door and be there.”

The Mifflin County Commons offers that type of experience as each retailer has its own individual entrance. The mall is anchored at one end by Giant Food Store, which has been a tenant since day one, and Hobby Lobby and Big Lots, which more recently split the space that formerly housed K-mart.

“Our mission critical is attracting solid and strong anchors that will re-invest in their stores,”

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When an anchor, like K-mart, does leave, it can have devastating effects on the remaining tenants and the mall overall.

Kmart closed in 2016 and Big Lots and Hobby Lobby didn’t open until 2022.

“Hobby Lobby and Big Lots really re-activated the left-hand side of the shopping center,” Gumberg explained. “The other tenants rely on the anchors to bring in traffic. If you look at Giant, consumers make frequent See MC Commons / Page D4

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D4—Lewistown, PA

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023

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Submitted photos

Left, Shown is an aerial view of the Mifflin County Commons; above, parking lot view of the Mifflin County Commons.

Commons Continued from Page D3

trips to the grocery store … once, twice, three times a week.

“That’s why it’s so important to have strong anchors to try and drive daily shoppers and foot traffic,” he added.

“When it creates traffic, all the tenants are going to benefit.”

Finding anchors isn’t always easy. Gumberg explained traditional big box re-

tailers are looking for smaller retailer spaces as they focus less on being a one-stop shop.

“The anchor tenants today realize they can be good at a number of things and not everything,” he said.

For example, Hobby Lobby sells a mix of home décor accessories and seasonal items, while Big Lots has a strong presence with furniture and home goods.

“They’re not trying to be a clothing store, pharmacy and grocery shop all at once,” said Gumberg, referring to retail giants like Walmart and Target.

“We feel great where we’re at,” he added. “We’re working really hard to re-tenant to meet today’s retail needs and serve the communities that we’re a part of.”

Having strong, stable anchors also can help attract solid retailers to fill out the remaining storefronts. While Giant has been there since the opening, Cost Cutters, Dollar Tree and Friendship Bookstore have become familiar names as well.

“There are a couple of tenants that have been there since day one,” Gumberg said. “As retail changes,

we’re trying to offer a fun and “As the retail environment lineup – call me to discuss!” diverse shopping experience changes, we’re looking for the Gumberg explained. for our customers.” next great tenant to join our While anchor tenants can help attract other strong retailers, Gumberg also believes it’s important not to create a competitive environment between the retailers in the Commons.

“We try really hard not to have tenants compete with one another, so they can be successful operating their own businesses,” he said.

So, what’s next after the Commons becomes fully occupied? There’s always something coming up.

Visit The Sentinel online at:

www.lewistownsentinel.com

Derry Township announces improvements to Kish Park

Sentinel photo by SIERRA BOLGER

(From left) pictured are Derry Township Supervisor John Sipe, Mark Pudlo, Eric Delk, Ashley Dierich, Jodi Leininger and Sam Grim from T-Mobile as well as Derry Township Supervisors Donald Warntz and Kelly Shutes.

They pose Thursday at the community event held at Kish Park announcing the donations they received to move forward with the Master Plan.

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Write:

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LEWISTOWN — Derry Township officials held a surprise announcement event last mont to announce to the public that they received grants for phase one of the Master Plan.

This plan includes gutting and upgrading the bathrooms located by the baseball fields at Kish Park.

Josh Garver, park manager, discussed the plans for phase one which included taking out all of the current equipment and bringing in bigger and more updated equipment. This equipment included ADA accessible ramps.

T-Mobile donated $50,000 toward this project as well as Westly Robinson who came on behalf of DCNR. Robinson’s organization donated $250,000 with Derry Township matching that amount.

Robinson thanked everyone for coming and expressed his excitement to rehabilitate and make the park more beautiful.

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Lewistown, PA—D5

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Internet supplier extends broadband reach

BY SIERRA BOLGER Sentinel reporter

sbolger@lewistown sentinel.com LEWISTOWN — In 2020, Cody Wian and his wife, Lindsey, had just moved to an area where they discovered they had no internet service.

Wian recalls contacting two other major internet providers locally, but were told they would have to pay an “outrageous” amount of money to those companies to provide them with internet into their development in Reedsville, since each company had main lines more than half a mile away.

Instead, Wian used his resources and started his own supplier, Mifflin County Wireless.

Mifflin County Wireless just celebrated its threeyear anniversary and are serving 1,500 homes and businesses. They have a total of six employees from the area who understand the frustrations with finding affordable internet.

“Our mission is to provide affordable and reliable high speed internet to areas who do not have another option,” said Wian.

Mifflin County Wireless currently has 10 towers including one in McClure, Reedsville, Decatur, McVeytown, Belleville, Lewistown South, Lewistown North, Mattawanna, Strodes Mills and

Submitted photos

Above, Climber Shane Imler and Alvin King on top of a 300’ tower in McVeytown; left, employees of Mifflin County Wireless, Michael Buffington, Cody Wian and Lindsey Wian, as well as David Dupert, Jack Wessels, Brandon Deamer, Kyle Zimmerman pose for a photo.

Oden’s open fourth Dunkin’ location GREG WILLIAMS

Sentinel reporter gwilliams@lewistown sentinel.com REEDSVILLE – As youngsters, when it was time to make the donuts, Erik and Amy Oden were always more than eager to help their parents. Whether Mom and Dad needed them or not.

Their parents, Gary and Sue Oden, moved to Lewistown in 1977 specifically to open the Mister Donut on Electric Avenue in Burnham. Amy and older brother Gary Jr. were raised in Lewistown. Younger brother Erik was born and raised there, too, and still lives in Lewistown.

Owning a donut shop made every day like a Thanksgiving feast for the Oden kids, who were dazzled by the countless options for flavors of donuts.

“My parents would tell

us stories that we would call our dad and put our donut order in for when he got home,” joked Amy Oden-Bitner, who has since taken over as the franchisee with younger brother, Erik.

“I worked there when it was Mister Donut. We were always in the stores.

“Erik is seven years younger than me, so it was Dunkin’ when he started working in the business,” she added. Erik has remained in the business for 20-plus years, and Amy calls him, “the heart and soul of the company.”

Gary and Sue Oden have since retired to South Carolina but are still involved in the business.

After the original Mister Donut franchise folded in 1991, the Burnham location became the Oden’s first of four Dunkin’ Donuts in Central Pennsylvania.

They opened a Mister Donut – now a Dunkin’ – in

Lock Haven in August 1981 as well as another Dunkin’ on Route 522 South, Lewistown, in 2008.

Now, they’ve added a fourth location as the new Dunkin’ in Reedsville opened on Friday, Aug. 18.

The new Next Gen restaurant occupies a 2,441-squarefoot space, offers a first-hand look at Dunkin’s store of the future experience, with a modern design that provides a fresh, friendly, vibrant and engaging environment.

Complete with a new, warm interior color palette, the restaurant also offers atmospheric lighting, convenient drive-thru, complimentary Wi-Fi and an innovative tap system.

The owners anticipate the restaurant creating about 30 new jobs for the area.

“We try to support the area as our many customers have supported us for 46 years,” Amy said. “There are a lot of franchises in town.

We are lucky to live here and raise our kids here, too.”

Amy now lives in Reedsville. Older brother Gary Jr., who is not in the business, lives in Slovenia with his family.

Dunkin is open seven days a week. Their hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the drive-thru; and 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. lobby.

Treaster Valley, as well as three additional towers that are currently pending approvals with locations unknown at this time.

In July of this year, Mifflin County Wireless announced an expansion project to service more homes and businesses in Mifflin County. The expansion was made possible by the installation of new non-line-of-site equipment

on the company’s towers and network updates.

In the past, the company’s service required a direct line of sight to one of its towers, which left many places unserviceable due to trees and other obscurities.

With the new LTE equipment, they can provide services, utilizing Citizens Broadband Radio Service.

The Mifflin County commissioners supported this expansion project with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Currently, six of the Mifflin County Wireless towers have LTE equipment.

For information on how to receive high-speed internet service, call (717) 3634382.

Those interested can also refer to an interactive map at www.mcwinternet. com or fill out the contact form on the website if you’re not sure if you have a line of sight to a tower.

When asked how they are different from other wireless companies in the area, Wian expressed how being a part of the community and customers being able to walk in or talk with a local employee over the phone is the biggest difference as well as, unlike other companies Mifflin County Wireless has no contracts and no price increases for existing customers.

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D6—Lewistown, PA

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023

The Sentinel

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Sentinel photo by TOM LAUB

Snappy’s Convenience Store will be the location for Jersey Mikes in early 2024.

Sentinel photo by SIERRA BOLGER

Workers make renovations to the interior of the PA CareerLink.

Jersey Mikes store to open early 2024 CareerLink upgrades underway

BY RAINIE MINER

GREG WILLIAMS

Sentinel reporter gwilliams@lewistownsentinel.com LEWISTOWN – Customers will soon be able to stop in for a meal or grab takeout using the drive-thru at a new restaurant in Lewistown.

Jersey’s Mikes is expected to open a new location at 10405 Route 522 South, across the street from Harbor Freight, in early 2024. The location will use a 1,600-square-foot space formerly occupied by Taco Bell.

Bennett Williams Commercial Real Estate, based in York, made the announcement on its X app

recently. The franchise owner of the Jersey Mike’s restaurant in State College decided to expand to Mifflin County.

“They signed a lease about a month ago,” said Blake Gross of Bennett Williams Commercial Real Estate, the listing agent for the property. “We expect construction to begin in about 30 to 60 days.”

The property is owned

by J.J. Powell Inc., which offers heating and cooling products and services and is based in Philipsburg.

J.J. Powell also operates a Lewistown location at 520 S. Main St. The Jersey Mike’s location will share a space with Snappy’s convenience store and gas station. Gross said the franchise owner

was drawn to the Route 522 location because of the capability to offer drive-thru service to customers.

“The drive-thru was definitely a bonus,” he explained. “It certainly helps with takeout.”

According to Jersey Mike’s website, the company was at one point seeking a general manager for the Lewistown location at a salary of $65,000 year plus commission. That job post has expired. The restaurant address listed was 2135 S. Atherton St. in State College, which is where a current Jersey Mike’s is located.

The Lewistown location is not yet listed among the restaurants that are scheduled to open soon on Jersey Mike’s website.

Special to the Sentinel LEWISTOWN -- The CareerLink in Lewistown is receiving some much needed updates. The space has not been updated for almost 20 years, creating a need for many cosmetic changes.

The projected costs for the upgrades is approximately $80,000. The costs will be covered by the tenants of the CareerLink building, including the official tenant of the building, the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit. Tenants of the building are funded by state and federal grants.

The interior of the building will be getting upgrades including new vinyl plank flooring, fresh paint in most of the rooms, and many windows will also be replaced.

Last fall, the CareerLink completely replaced the lighting throughout the building.

These upgrades are projected to be completed by the end of the 2023 calendar year.

“The community gets a lot of use out of the building, so it’s important for us to make sure it is updated and available for them to use,” explained Nick Felice, President and CEO of the Mifflin County Industrial Devel-

opment Corporation. The community will also benefit from this project. The new lighting is more cost efficient, benefiting the community by eliminating a portion of the cost, which is covered by taxpayer dollars. The flooring being installed in the building is heavy duty vinyl, which will prevent safety hazards such as slipping and falling caused by residue from harsh weather.

The TIU has been the official tenant of the CareerLink building for many years.

Felice noted that the TIU and MCIDC have a very good tenant-landlord relationship. “In this market, it’s important for us to be able to rely on each other,” Felice said. “They are very reliable. They’re really good tenants.”

CareerLink offers services and support for various demographics. “They try to help whoever walks through their doors,” Felice said. At the CareerLink offices, you are able to register for unemployment and receive assistance with finding a job. Careerlink offers Career Readiness programs, young mother support and training programs, career counseling and a resource referral network. The upgrades to the building will ensure a nice environment for CareerLink to continue offering support to people in the community.

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The Sentinel

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Visitor’s Bureau expands Goose Day’s reach Drone show attracts new audiences From Staff Reports LEWISTOWN — Pennsylvania may be the home to a famous holiday that celebrates a groundhog, but it’s also home to a unique, quirky holiday that celebrates geese: Goose Day. With roots dating back to 1786, Goose Day has been a tradition in the Juniata River Valley and is officially celebrated in both Mifflin and Juniata Counties on Sept. 29 each year.

Legend has it that if you eat goose on Sept.

29, you will ensure wealth and prosperity for the coming year.

It all started in 1786 when a young Englishman named Archibald Hunter settled his account on Sept. 29 with his landlord, a Pennsylvania Dutchman named Andrew Pontius. Hunter had his accounts under one arm and a goose under his other arm. Looking confused, Pontius learned that in England, eating goose on St. Michaelmas Day (Sept. 29), would bring good luck.

Generations of people in the Juniata River Valley have observed this long-standing holiday by dining on goose, thus ensuring wealth and prosperity for the coming year. In recent years, a wide variety of events and activities have increased all over the two-county region to make the holiday a great reason to visit the Juniata River Valley this fall.

As you stroll into the small towns in this central Pennsylvania region, the love of geese becomes quite evident as you start noticing goose statues on the street corners, geese in the windows of downtown businesses, and even a flock of goose decoys displayed in the front yard.

Head to downtown Lewistown and on some days, you’ll see a See Goose / Page D8

Submitted photos

Above, onlookers enjoy the Goose Day light show. Left, Goldie the Goose poses with a Goose Day statue in Downtown Lewistown during Goose Day celebrations.

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D8—Lewistown, PA

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023

The Sentinel

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Goose Continued from Page D7

20-foot-tall goose wind dancer gracing the front porch of the Historic Courthouse on Monument Square.

For any first-time visitors to Goose Day, a visit to the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau office is a must to not only learn about the holiday, but also to grab a prepared list of events and activities happening elsewhere that day.

The official list of events and goose dinners was released Sept. 1st on the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau’s website at www.

JRVVisitors.com. The list features something for everyone thanks to the many local businesses who believe in the holiday’s ability to draw visitors, boost the local economy, and instill community pride.

“We publish the activity list almost a month before the celebrations begin so people can do a bit of research and plan their trip in advance,” says Jenny Landis of the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau.

“And if you want to be certain to get your lucky goose, call ahead for a reservation.”

The downtown Lewistown merchants banded together to create a funfilled evening called Lucky Friday, which featured several local musicians, food trucks and food specials, a large vendor area, and bring your 1950s attire for the “Goose Lightning” photo shoot inspired by the

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Submitted photo

Nicole Swanger, left, and Roxie Garrett, pose in the 1950s inspired ‘Goose Lightning’ photo shoot during Lewistown First Friday in September. movie, Grease.

New this year, and usually seen in larger cities, a “first of its kind” drone light show took this year’s Goose Day to new heights.

Performed by Firefly Drone Shows of Michigan, the customized drone show featured 200 illuminated, synchronized, and choreographed drones that flew into various aerial formations including many custom Goose Day designs.

Additionally, five new wild geese found their way to town just in time for Goose Day. Public Art Project goose sculptures were installed. So far, 32 fiberglass goose sculptures have been painted by local

professional artists and are displayed throughout the two-county area. To follow the flock, visit www.cpartnerships.com/follow-theflock.

Connecting runners of the past to those of present-day is the Goose Day 5K and the Goose Day Road Rally, which continue to be fan favorites with many individuals signing up to take part in one or both events. The race is a flat, fast run and is an excellent course for a new personal record or first time 5K runner. The rally was a day of searching for clues and answering questions while driving around Mifflin County.

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