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Virtual Mall to aid brick-and-mortar stores opens Monday

What may be the first Virtual Mall in the United States is slated to open Monday. According to a news release, this venture into virtual reality is the brainchild of entrepreneur Art Lieberman, who owns several companies in Central Pennsylvania, many of which deal with credit card processing. The idea came along as Lieberman took notice that brick-and-mortar businesses in his locale were being devastated by COVID-19. He thought creating a mall where people could order from locals without leaving their homes might help the stores survive. Lieberman found his software provider in ...

Pandemic garbage boom ignites debate over waste as energy

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — America remains awash in refuse as new cases of the coronavirus decline — and that has reignited a debate about the sustainability of burning more trash to create energy. Waste-to-energy plants, which produce most of their power by incinerating trash, make up only about half a percent of the electricity generation in the U.S. But the plants have long aroused considerable opposition from environmentalists and local residents who decry the facilities as polluters, eyesores and generators of foul odor. The industry has been in retreat mode in the U.S., with ...

Miles Welby a Candle Company opens downtown

You “might as well” stop on by downtown Williamsport if you are in the market for unique candles. Miles Welby a Candle Company, owned by South Williamsport graduate Tyler Spooner, sells 100% soy, non-toxic candles. “We try to be as natural as possible,” Spooner said. The idea ...

Knoebels raises pay to lure staff

ELYSBURG (AP) — Knoebels is hiking its starting pay rate by up to $1 as it seeks to hire several hundred more workers at its understaffed park this summer. The amusement resort also will give employees and new hires 16 and older a chance to win a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer valued at more than $23,000 as an incentive to work at the park. The park, which celebrated its 95th birthday on the Fourth of July, was holding a job fair on Thursday and said it may hire employees on the spot. Knoebels’ workforce is around 1,450 heading into tonight’s job fair, park spokeswoman Stacy ...

National shortage hinders firework sales

Some would think that firework and sound ordinances within local municipalities would hurt the local firework tents and businesses but the reality for most businesses this year is that shipping delays and lack of supply is more of a hindrance, but still manageable. “There is a national ...

Demand, price for used cars increasing

LEHEIGHTON (AP) — Some used car dealers are buying certain trucks and SUVs for the same prices that they were sold for new two years ago. Used vehicles are the latest industry to experience price hikes due to the pandemic and subsequent recovery. Not unlike in the currently booming housing market, there are a lot of buyers and not a lot of inventory available — which means prices that can be as high as new cars were a couple of years ago. “There’s not enough product and way too much demand at this point. Anytime I can get a vehicle, it goes right away. It’s hard to ...