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Williamsport unemployment rate remains consistent

The unemployment rate in Williamsport remained consistent from May to June, which is consistent in comparison to a statewide decline and national rise by a tenth of a percent each. However, from May to June of this year, the Williamsport Metropolitan Statistical Area experienced a growth in labor force by 200, an increase in employment by 100 jobs and a consistent unemployment of 3,400. “We’re recovering to the point where it’s not a giant recovery number month-over-month. We’re now seeing seasonalities come into numbers,” Steven Zellers, an industry and business analyst ...

Free virtual job-skills training program to be expanded statewide

After 20 years in retail ended with a layoff from a Lancaster craft-supplies store, Shawn Gollatz felt it was time to reconsider his career path. “I did a lot of soul searching,” said Gollatz, 40, of Millersville, before deciding to make a drastic change from retail to another industry that piqued his interest — information technology. Gollatz faced just one small problem. He didn’t have any credentials in IT. “I have a passion for computers, infrastructure, systems and coding. But I had no idea how to get started and get my foot in the door. I’m not going to be able ...

Beech Creek business earns Charles Bryant Award

INDIANAPOLIS — Redmond’s Complete Comfort of Beech Creek was named one of three 2021 Charles Bryant Award winners. The Charles Bryant Award, named for the company’s founder, recognizes loyal Bryant Factory Authorized Dealers (FAD) that epitomize the characteristics of Charles Bryant, including professionalism, quality, reliability and community spirit. Bryant, a leading supplier of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, is a leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold ...

Small farms thriving amidst pandemic reopenings

While some local farms and agribusinesses are still adapting to the ever-changing pandemic, some of those businesses have been thriving with the interest in home cooking increasing again. “The pandemic didn’t affect the bees,” said Brenda Aucker, owner of Aucker’s Apiary. “(As ...

Muncy you-pick produce farm adapts to COVID regulations

MUNCY — The Green Barn Berry Farm, located at 7299 Armstrong Road in Muncy, has remained busy amidst the pandemic restrictions being tightened and loosened but have taken the opportunity to stop and “take a breath and enjoy everything on a daily basis.” Robyn Schreiber, owner, said ...

A waste coal-burning, crypto-mining pirate ship sets sail

KENNERDELL (AP) — In March 2017, Bill Spence got suddenly, catastrophically sick. A part of his pancreas died. His gall bladder failed. When he got to the emergency room, the doctors found kidney cancer. “Let’s see if you can make it 48 hours,” his doctor told him. Just a few weeks earlier, Mr. Spence, a cheerful tower of a man whose signature ponytail had been updated to a gray man bun, had walked into the Scrubgrass waste coal plant that he had just bought and hung a black pirate flag in the office. The coal plant was a pirate ship, he announced. “We sink or profit ...