LYCOMING COUNTY TO GO GREEN FRIDAY
Lycoming County will go green this Friday June 5th. Overall, 16 new counties statewide will go green, which also includes Clinton County. Every county currently in the red phase, will move into the yellow. The governor provided an updated order for counties moving to green to give businesses and residents a clearer picture of what is permitted in that phase of reopening. Some changes include restaurants, personal care business and indoor recreation can resume at 50% occupancy. The document and resources about the governor’s 3 phase reopening plan are available here.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATE
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting 693 new cases of the virus with statewide total cases being 70,735. There were 91 new deaths in the commonwealth, making the total 5,464. Lycoming County has 162 cases and according to the Lycoming County Coroner, 18 deaths.
NEW WARDS, POLLING PLACES FOR JUNE 2ND
Polling places have changed for a few areas in Williamsport for the June 2nd election . According to the sun gazette, Forest Lehman said the number of wards in Williamsport have been reduced from 17 to 13. Many residents are opting to vote by mail, however, if you plan to vote in person you should have been notified if your polling place has changed for this unusual election year.
BACK TO BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD THIS WEEK
UPMC and the Lycoming Chamber of Commerce are hosting a “Back to Business” virtual forum this Tuesday, June 2nd at 2pm. State senator Gene Yaw and state representatives will discuss the re-opening of businesses and the economy in Lycoming County. UPMC’s Medical Director for Infectious Disease will provide information on how businesses can keep their employees and patrons safe. Business Owners can go to UPMCSusquehanna.org/BacktoBusiness for information on how to attend the event.
GROCERY STORE STARTS EXPANDING HOURS
Weis Markets announced this week that they will extend their hours, expand their online pick-up and delivery hours and reopen their deli counters with safety measures in place. The stores’ pharmacies have also resumed their immunization program. Store hours have been extended 7am to 9pm Monday Through Saturday and Sunday hours are 7am to 8pm. In Pennsylvania, the designated shopping time for seniors and those with compromised immune systems is Tuesday mornings from 6am to 7am. The changes are part of the grocery chain’s efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
PENN COLLEGE TO OPEN CAMPUS TO STUDENTS THIS AUGUST
Penn College of Technology has announced it will reopen in the fall for in-person instruction and also for a few weeks in the summer for make-up work that could not be completed before the campus closed down due to the pandemic in March. According to Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour, the campus will open for students needing to make-up work on July27th, August 3rd and August 10th , with the semester scheduled to start for all first-year and returning Penn College students August 17th.
INTERSTATE WORK STARTS MONDAY IN UNION COUNTY
Motorists who drive east and westbound I-80 in Lewis, West Buffalo, and White Deer Townships in Union County will see alternating lane closures on the interstate next week. This Monday and Tuesday, a PennDOT maintenance crew will perform crack sealing along Interstate 80 westbound starting at mile marker 194.5 from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. And on Wednesday and Thursday, crack sealing will take place eastbound starting at mile marker 207 during the same times in the day. Motorists can check conditions on Pennsylvania roadways at 511pa.com.
SEDA-COG OFFERS HOME IMPROVEMENT FUNDS TO SNYDER COUNTY HOMEOWNERS
Penn Township homeowners in Snyder County may be eligible to receive up to $65,000 in home improvements from the Existing Owner-Occupied Housing Program funded with Community Development Block Grant funds. According to SEDA-COG township residents can apply now to get on the wait list by calling Stacy Anderson at 800-326-9310. Eligible repairs include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon and lead-based paint mitigation, and energy-related improvements. Also included are modifications for mobility-impaired residents. Additional requirements for eligible residents may apply.
Sports
MLB
Major League Baseball’s contract guaranteeing minor league players a check whilst waiting out covid-19 is set to expire May 31st. According to the Sun Gazette, at least 10 major league franchises have informed minor league teams that they will continue to pay out despite the expiration.
MiLB
A grant application process has been approved by the City of Williamsport to seek the funds from the Office of the Budget for a new $600 thousand dollar scoreboard at Bowman Field. The grant for renovations for the city owned property needs to be matched through natural gas impact fees, team contributions and donations from city agencies. The total 1.25 million dollar investment also includes work done on third base clubhouses, an expanded press box.
NBA
16 out 30 teams have expressed their preference to restart the season as it once was with the regular 16 playoff’s. This business as usual plan was one of 4 potential plans presented in a meeting between all general managers and has garnered the most support.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says the state’s five professional sports teams, the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, New England Patriots and New England Revolution, can resume practicing at their respective facilities on June 6 as long as the health departments guidelines are followed
