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COVID-19

Williamsport Area School District presents health, safety plan with three options for fall reopening

Stating that it is the strong desire of the district to try to reopen schools in the fall for in-person instruction, Dr. Susan Bigger, assistant superintendent at the Williamsport Area School District, outlined for the board the processes necessary to make it happen Tuesday. Bigger presented the health and safety plan required by the state’s department of education for board approval at their meeting held via ZOOM Monday night. “I don’t know an educator that doesn’t want to be back in class with kids. That is our absolute strong desire to try to reopen for in person ...

Lycoming County commissioners eye pandemic assistance for agency providers

Lycoming County commissioners are expected Thursday to vote on grant applications to ease the burdens of those affected by losses in income due to COVID-19. Following discussion Tuesday, commissioners are expected to approve an application for $290,196 in Community Development Block Grant funding. The grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be eyed for four service providing agencies in Lycoming County, said Kristin McLaughlin, project coordinator with the SEDA-Council of Governments. Commissioners Scott Metzger, chairman, and Rick Mirabito said they are ...

More COVID-19 United Community Funds coming

Regional nonprofit organizations will soon be able to apply for funds during the second phase of funding from the COVID-19 United Community Funds. The funds are offered through a collaborative effort of the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania and United Ways representing Lycoming, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties. To date, the total amount of COVID-19 United Community Funds raised is $763,744, The first phase of funding resulted in over $301,000 in grant awards distributed to 33 nonprofits. In preparation of the second ...

Jersey Shore Town Meeting canceled after new order

JERSEY SHORE — In an emergency meeting held Thursday at 7 p.m., Jersey Shore Borough Council unanimously agreed to cancel the popular annual Town Meeting celebration due to the new order issued by Gov. Tom Wolf that went into effect earlier that day, according to Joseph Hamm, borough manager. The governor’s order prohibits any outdoor events or gatherings of more than 250 people, including all staff for that event. “Council realized the Town Meeting was just not able to meet the requirements,” Hamm said. “We started losing resources that were assisting with the Town Meeting ...

State officials talk schools reopening in the fall

Stressing that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to opening schools in the state this fall, Pedro Rivera, state secretary of education, said that his department is sharing the “most current and endorsed data and information grounded in health and safety” with school administrators so that they can make informed decisions to best meet the needs of their districts. Speaking on a telephone conference call with the press, Rivera and Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of health, both agreed that opening schools in the fall is important for the students who have been out of school ...

Restaurants to fight back; sports teams want fans in stands

HARRISBURG — As Pennsylvania approached 100,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Friday, restaurant and bar owners say they will fight back against Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders to further limit the number of patrons they’re allowed to serve at a time. Wolf’s order this week to reduce ...