Library renovations take shape
Reopening set for midJanuary
BY GREG WILLIAMS Sentinel reporter gwilliams@lewistown sentinel.com
The Mifflin County Library in Lewistown
has been a construction zone for about four months now.
Through all the dust and debris, Susan Miriello, executive director of the Mifflin County Library, can see a new library taking shape. The renovated facility will certainly offer a wider range of services and can better serve the community.
“It’s starting to look amazing inside the library,” Miriello said of the $1 million renovation project. “The renovation is so much more than I dreamed it would be. Plus, we got the grant funding in full for phase two, which is so awesome.”
First things first, and that means finishing the initial renovation project. Miriello expects patrons to be quite surprised and pleased with the facility once they walk through the front doors. By the way, those will also be new.
“Yes, the first thing they will notice are the new front doors,” Miriello said.
While the work is moving along, the re-opening date has been pushed back from Thanksgiving to mid-January 2025.
“The commissioners and I agreed that if we did work on the East Wing now then we would avoid a lengthy shutdown next year during phase two,” Miriello explained.
The first phase was funded by the Keystone grant.
“What people don’t realize is that with the exception of the North Wing and parts of the multipurpose room the library was gutted,” Miriello said. “Every inch of wire was removed and replaced. Every ventilation duct was removed and replaced. The HVAC units were replaced and even the flooring in the furnace room was replaced because those pipes were replaced. That stuff was 50
years old and not working anymore.”
Miriello understands how the delay for re-opening the library is inconvenient for patrons. She stresses there are alternatives for some services.
“We can’t help with copies and faxes and even story time for little kids has changed,” Miriello said.
“(Children’s librarian) Miss Kelly (Rodenbaugh) is offering story time at the Penn State Extension Office.
“But let’s not forget our Kish branch library,” Miriello added. “We’ve extended Kish Library hours during our renovation to accommodate our patrons.”
Once completed, the renovations will enable the library and its staff to better serve the community for decades to come.
“Knowing that our community leaders value the library this much that they are actively ensuring library services for the future,” Miriello said of her favorite part of the renovation project.
“Mifflin County had a library in some way since the 1840s. It’s exciting to be a part of this history.”
There have also been some changes made along the way, including a fingerprinting office due to the Mifflin County Library being an Identogo enrollment center for employee clearances.
Plus, two small rooms –large enough to hold about five people – have been added, so patrons can attend Zoom meetings or webinars, or hold small group meetings in private.
“Since COVID, this is the
request I receive the most,
‘Is there a small meeting room we can use?’” Now I’ll be able to say, ‘Yes!’”
Also, the public computer area will be enclosed. Miriello said that particular area of the library isn’t really quiet and that was the reason for the change.
“We don’t shush kids much, some people are hard of hearing,” Miriello explained. “So the computer
area will be a quieter space. The goal for 2025 is to get new public computers that are easier to use at the Lewistown and Kish branches.
We are currently in a contract with a company that is no longer serving our needs
and the contract expires in 2025.”
Most of the library’s infrastructure had to be replaced, which is why the renovation is taking so long,
WESTERN,
HIKING & WORK BOOTS
Submitted photos
Above, the leadership team at the Mifflin County Library had to move more than 18,000 adult fiction and large print books in five days. They placed all of the books on pallets and shrink-wrapped them. Pictured are Library Assistant Director Shelly Sweigart (left) and Children’s Librarian Kelly Rodenbaugh; right, above, The stairwell at the Mifflin County Library; right, The East Wing of the Mifflin County Library, which faces the main entrance, is under construction.
Brown Street building receives facelift
BY SIERRA BOLGER Sentinel reporter sbolger@lewistownsentinel.com
LEWISTOWN
“With (DLI’s) help, we are able to invest in downtown, addressing the exterior of building we are renovating, thus improving the overall character of our community. These improvements help attract more businesses and people into downtown Lewistown.”
Mike Buffington MAB Holdings LLC
Mike Buffington, of MAB Holdings LLC, which owns the property, said “We are extremely appreciative of the support we receive from DLI for facade improvements in downtown Lewistown. With their help, we are able to invest in downtown addressing the exterior of buildings we are renovating thus improving the
See Facade / Page D5
Facade
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character of our community. These improvements help attract more businesses and people into downtown Lewistown.”
Downtown Lewistown Inc. supported these projects with reimbursements matched with investment from the property owner. The projects were made possible in part by a $50,000 allocation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development and support from the Board of Directors of Downtown Lewistown Inc.
A Committee of interested and involved community leaders initially reviewed the project in terms of the level of rehabilitation, and work that would address compliance with basic health, safety, and building codes. This recommendation was then forwarded to Downtown Lewistown, Inc. Board of Directors for their concurrence and approval. Additionally, exterior inspections of the properties are conducted by the Borough Code Enforcement Office and Downtown Lewistown, Inc. Executive Director prior to and at the conclusion of the project. Once the project is complete, the exterior of the properties must meet current codes as stipulated by the International Property Maintenance Code for Existing Buildings. A maintenance agreement is
South Brown Street,
also required for applicants ensuring compliance with property maintenance and retention of the improvements proscribed by the Program. These reimbursement grants are intended to utilize a minimal amount of public funding to leverage significant, long lasting, visible, and appropriate improvement to commercial and mixed-use properties in the Downtown. For more information regarding investment opportunities in Downtown Lewistown, contact Jim Zubler, executive director at the Downtown Lewistown Inc.
Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology
– Practical Nursing Program –(P) 717-248-3933
APPLY NOW www.theacademy.net/ practical-nursing
office, at 152 East Market Street Suite 109. He can be reached by phone at (717) 248-9606, or email at jim@downtownlewistown. com.
Sentinel photo by LIV SUYDAM 19
Lewistown, recently received a facelft.
Lewistown area sees unprecidented growth
Chamber director optimistic for future of downtown
BY BRIAN CARSON Sentinel reporter bcarson@lewistown sentinel.com
New shops, restaurants and retail establishments line downtown Lewistown’s streets, marking an unprecedented period of economic growth in Mifflin County, according to local business leaders.
“I’ve never seen growth like we are experiencing right now,” said Rhonda Kelley, director of the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce. “Things looked bleak after the Bon Ton closed downtown. Now, we can barely keep up with ribbon cuttings for new businesses.”
The surge stems from multiple factors converging at once. “It’s kind of like a positive, perfect storm where all these different facets were happening at the same time,” Kelley explained.
Young entrepreneurs who previously left the region after high school now choose to stay and launch businesses.
“One thing would be the best and brightest are not leaving our area,” Kelley said. “We have many who are staying and opening businesses.”
East End Coffee emerged as a community hub, spurring additional development. “They’ve done so much for our downtown because now we have a place where people can gather and talk. It’s become a hub, a place to meet up,” Kelley said.
Investors like Mike Buffington and John Pannizzo transformed vacant buildings into smaller, affordable spaces.
“They’ve put substantial amounts of money into our downtown and surrounding areas, taking these large buildings that sat vacant for years and cutting them up into smaller bites so small businesses could afford to rent them,” Kelley said.
The addition of the Geisinger School of Nursing brought students downtown, increasing foot traffic for local establishments. Similar growth patterns appeared in Reedsville, where Revival Kitchen’s success encouraged East End Coffee to open a second location. Reedsville Creamery soon followed. This local business momentum caught the attention of national chains. Starbucks and Chipotle moved into the area after observing the economic indicators.
“Some of these larger
Sentinel file photos
Above, the Geisinger School of Nursing in downtown Lewistown, is credited with bringing nursing students to downtown; right, students learn about monuments in downtown Lewistown; far right, pictured is an ice sculpture outside the historic courthouse in downtown Lewistown.
chains don’t invest without doing a lot of research. Obviously, they see growth in our future, or they wouldn’t have invested the money to come here,” Kelley said. To support emerging businesses, the Chamber partnered with Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation (MCIDC) to create an entrepreneurial meetup. “We
“Things looked bleak after the Bon Ton closed downtown. Now we can hardly keep up with ribbon cuttings for new businesses.”
Rhonda Kelley Director of Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce
started this meetup so they could get together every other month and hang out together, talk about their future plans, discuss any issues they might have, support one another,” Kelley said.
Infrastructure improvements complement business growth. The Rothermel Trail offers recreation space for residents and visitors. In Burnham, two local mothers spearheaded fundraising efforts to build a pump track for cyclists.
“For years, we’ve heard, ‘Oh, there was nothing for young people to do.’ Well, now there’s this wonderful pump track where different levels of cyclists can go out there and ride,” Kelley said.
Housing remains a key challenge. “We need housing at every income level,” Kelley said. “As we continue to grow and move forward, we need to focus on additional housing options.”
The expanded amenities influence employment patterns. First Quality, while relocating employees to the area, found candidates responded positively to community improvements like the new multi-sports facility.
“When my children return to visit, they say, ‘This doesn’t even look like Lewistown,’” Kelley said. “Sometimes it’s nice to hear from fresh eyes what a great thing we have here.”
The growth creates a self-reinforcing cycle. Each new business makes the area more attractive for additional investment.
Established businesses expand while entrepreneurs identify new opportunities. National chains validate the market through their presence.
“I think it all works together to raise our quality of life as well as feed our economy and feed our workforce,” Kelley said.
Beyond retail and dining, athletic facilities promise to bring more events and visitors to the region. New sports fields enable tournaments and competitions previously impossible because of facility limitations.
“You’re going to see a lot more events held here we couldn’t hold before,” Kelley said.
Miriello said.
“People will be amazed,” she added. “I post construction photos on Facebook, but since many people don’t have FB we updated our webpage. There, people can also view before and after photos. If you can think of it, it’s been replaced.”
There’s a new front desk, new lights, new outlets, new flooring in the stairwell, a new entrance to the stairs, new and additional restrooms and a new entrance to the children’s room.
Miriello, Kelly and administrative staff will also have new offices.
“Our administrative assistant’s office was, in 1975, the staff bathroom, so she’ll have an office,” Miriello said. “It’s amazing! And eventually the facade, the outside brick, will be replaced.
“Now that everything is different, the staff has to figure out where the bookcases go because everything has changed,” Miriello added. “We have to be sure we have a place for 11,700 children’s books and over 18,000 adult fiction books. That’s what I’m working on now, the placement of the bookcases.”
The second phase of the project includes the North Wing, multi-purpose room, and expansion to the North Wing. Once the library reopens, some of the familiar spaces have been rearranged a bit.
Some new lingo: the East Wing now houses adult fiction; the North Wing is for non-fiction and the former home for children’s books; and the new multi-purpose room was formerly the Carola Stuckenrath Community Room.
“This also includes the most exciting aspect of our renovation and that is welcoming Penn State Extension employees and programming to our new facility,” Miriello said. “They will be housed with us in the
new expansion.”
That also means a new name for the building, which will be called the Mifflin County Community Learning Center. “The library will still have our MCL sign and entrance and PSE will have their own entrance and signage, but a Learning center sign will be along Wayne Street,” Miriello explained. “The commissioners approached me with this idea a couple of years ago and I’m thrilled. “I’m hopeful that this partnership will bring more people into the library, they will get a library card and
check out books because the overall goal is to ensure library service to Mifflin County for the next 50 years,” Miriello added.
Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish said bringing the Penn State Extension programming to the library to help create a learning center is a win-win situation. “It will become a modern facility with an improved atmosphere,” Kodish said.
“We currently lease space downtown,” Kodish added. “We own the library building, and we can see those two entities as a great combination.”
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The Chamber continues supporting this growth through education and networking programs. Regular ribbon-cutting ceremonies celebrate new businesses.
“I joke I’m soon going to have to take out stock in a red ribbon factory because we have gone through a lot of red ribbons,” Kelley said.
For longtime residents, the changes represent a dramatic shift from past economic challenges. Empty storefronts transformed into bustling businesses. Historic buildings found new purposes. Young professionals choose to build careers in their hometown.
The momentum shows no signs of slowing. With established infrastructure, proven market demand, and support systems for new businesses, Mifflin County positions itself for continued economic development.
“I think we have tremendous momentum right now, and I see absolutely no reason it won’t continue,” Kelley said. “I think we’re going to see more and more people who work on this side of the mountain stay on this side of the mountain instead of living in another county.”
For a community once struggling with vacant buildings and limited opportunities, the business renaissance signals a new chapter in Mifflin County’s economic story.
The main entrance of the Mifflin County Library takes shape.
