Harley-Davidson has had a 43 percent drop in their profits in the past quarter. The company announced that they will be investing $70 million to increase their product and brand awareness. (Source: www.cpbj.com)
The Lebanon County Conservation District held a free Manure Management Plan (MMP) workshop on Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lebanon Valley Agricultural Center at 2120 Cornwall Road in North Cornwall Township. Any operation that stores or uses manure has to have a MMP. This workshop helped attendees in completing their MMP. (Source: www.ldnews.com)
The Capital BlueCross retail store in Hampden Township temporarily stopped using laboratory services from Theranos. This was a result of government findings reporting clinical deficiencies at one of Theranos’ labs. Capital BlueCross requested to suspend all laboratory services from Theranos and Theranos approved this request. Theranos was using traditional methods to test blood instead of using new lab equipment. This caused their blood test results to be not as accurate. (Source: www.cpbj.com)
Century 21 Krall Real Estate held its annual awards luncheon at Hidden Still Spirits in Lebanon. This company ranked first in listings sold in Lebanon County. Century 21 Krall Real Estate earned the Century 21 Gold Medallion Office Award and the Quality Service Pinnacle Office award for 2015. Melissa MacBride was the top producer in 2015. (Source: www.ldnews.com)
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to households making under $54,000 annually. The program helps to provide assistance to individuals so they can finish their tax returns and receive their tax refunds, putting money back into their pockets. The VITA program is sponsored by several community partners in Lebanon County, including the United Way of Lebanon County and VITA’s newest program partner, Harrisburg Area Community College’s Lebanon Campus. In addition, VITA is also supported by the following groups: Lebanon County Community Action Partnership, Lebanon Valley College, PROBE, RSVP of the Capital Regionand numerous community volunteers. (Source: www.unitedwaylebco.com)
On Thursday, Jan. 28, at StoneRidge Poplar Run, the United Way of Lebanon County’s campaign chair, David Warner of Buzgon Davis Law Offices, announced that the 2015/2016 “Great Things Happen When We LIVE UNITED” Campaign raised a total of $1,781,728.73. WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, Lesher Mack Sales and Services Inc., Philhaven, and G.F. Bowman were sponsors for the event, and the Lebanon Daily News, Kapp Advertising Services Inc., and WLBR/WQIC were media partners. Warner and United Way board president, Phil Hess of Philhaven, presented the following companies with awards: Bayer Healthcare, students of Cornwall Lebanon School District, PRL Inc., Northwest Savings Bank, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, Jonestown Bank & Trust Co., and GAF. Jere Gish of WGAL was the evening’s emcee.
Commuter Services of Pennsylvania announced the officers and members who will serve on the 12-member Susquehanna Regional Transportation Partnership board of directors. Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Greg Buckler was appointed to the board, among other individuals. Teri Giurintano of Lebanon, executive director of Lebanon Transit, will serve as the chair of the board. Commuter Services of Pennsylvania works to create and provide different commuting options to limit the pollution and the amount of congestion on the roads. (Source: www.ldnews.com)
Members 1st Federal Credit Union has announced Christian Zellers has been named regional assistant vice president for the Lancaster/Lebanon area.
Hershey’s Chocolate World is revamping their free chocolate-making tour. This will be the third time that the tour has been redone since it first opened to the public in 1973. New enhancements will include new photo features, new candy-themed cars, and enhanced sets utilizing digital technology. The ride’s beloved cows will remain. The ride will be closed for three weeks for renovations, and will reopen while construction continues. Expected completion is May. The ride is being redone by Granaroli Design and Entertainment and On Track Themes. (Source: www.cpbj.com)
The United Way of Lebanon County’s “Prize Patrol” gave prizes to three local, randomly selected citizens that pledged to United Way’s 2015/16 “Great Things Happen When We LIVE UNITED” Campaign. Gay Kaylor of The Hershey Company won a hot air balloon ride for six people, sponsored by Dr. Al and Ginny Alley of Lebanon. Flor Martinez of the Hershey Lodge won the “Choice” prize, and she chose a cash payout courtesy of Fulton Bank. A 2015 Hyundai Accent from Ebersole Hyundai was given to Matt Bragg of Bluescope Buildings North America as a prize. Ebersole, Keller Bros. Ford, Klick-Lewis and Ladd Hanford Auto Group sponsored the car giveaway.
Mantec Inc. is surveying local businesses to see how the Gigabit Revolution broadband line that will be installed this year will affect them. The broadband speed would be 100 times faster than current services. Overall this new service could help improve design services, planning, production, and even sales. (Source: www.cpbj.com)
On Feb. 10, 2016, Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. in Lebanon County appointed Troy A. Peters as President and CEO. Peters is also a new member of the board of directors. Former President Richard J. Newmaster Jr., will continue as chairman of the board of directors.
Habitat for Humanity of Lebanon County will begin work on a new site, located at 1042 Lehman St., Lebanon, in March. The planned starting date is March 13. The house was originally damaged by a fire and was donated by Arlene Zellers. If anyone (over 16) would like to volunteer, they can contact Habitat for Humanity of Lebanon County at habitat@habitatlebanon.org or (717) 867-1044 for more information.
Northwest Savings Bank plans to close seven of its 21, full-service branches in April as a result of a decrease in retail offices’ foot traffic and more customers using online/mobile banking. Company-wide, 24 out of the bank’s 176 full-service branches are closing and two will be converted to drive-up only. These branches will close at the end of business on April 26. The midstate branches closing include 1 E. Chocolate Ave. in Derry Township, 922 Columbia Ave. in Lancaster, 770 Cumberland St. in Lebanon, 2483 Stiegel Pike in Schaefferstown, 120 N. Fourth St. in Wrightsville, 2220 S. Queen St. in York Township, and 1055 Baltimore St. in Penn Township. (Source: www.cpbj.com)
F.N.B. announced that it will continue to use Metro Bank’s former headquarters in Swatara Township and its current center of operations in downtown Harrisburg once it officially acquired Metro. (Source: www.cpbj.com)
A free W.E. R.O.A.R Summit - Women Entrepreneurs: Relationships, Opportunities, Assistance and Resources - event will be held Wednesday, March 30, from 5 - 9 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel located at 701 Penn St. in Reading. The summit, intended for seasoned business owners, entrepreneurs, and start-ups, includes special breakout and training sessions led by business experts. Attendees can network and learn about the resources available for small businesses. This event is offered by the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center, The Pennsylvania Community Development and Finance Corp, Tompkins VIST Bank, and the United States Small Business Administration.
Lancaster City Alliance announced they will be moving later this year to a new location at 115 E. King St. in Lancaster. This is the same address that the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry plans to move to as well. This is part of an effort to create a county-wide business center at the building location. The businesses could move into this new location as early as November of this year. (Source: www.cpbj.com)
WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital has partnered with the Lebanon Valley Mall to create two walking circuits throughout the interior of the mall as part of its Healthy Steps for Lebanon Valley Mall Walkers program. Circuit 1 goes down the middle of the mall, and one lap equals 1/5 of a mile. Circuit 2 follows the same general path as Circuit 1 but takes walkers closer to the stores and around the mall’s hallways. The program kicked off on Jan. 14, 2012. To complement the program, the mall and hospital initiated the “Lebanon valley Mall Walkers 8 Week Challenge” which requires participants to walk 40 miles in the 8-week period. The program began Jan. 16 and ends March 13. (Source: ldnews.com)
Lebanon Valley College celebrated its 150th anniversary at a Founders Day event on Tuesday, Feb 23. Along with this event, LVC will host a variety of events throughout the year. (Source: ldnews.com)
The Lebanon Community Theatre’s production of “The Water Engine” opened on Thursday, March 3.
Avflight, an aviation services company, has been granted permission by Harrisburg International Airport’s board to build a general aviation complex beside the former terminal site. This complex will feature 5,000 square feet of office space and a 30,000-square-foot hangar. The board likewise approved the renewal of two existing Sunoco easements for natural gas pipelines, and voted to accept a number of aviation-related legislative actions for 2016. (Source: cpbj.com)
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank was recognized at the Central Penn Business Journal’s 2016 Nonprofit Innovation Awards as a winner in the brand identity/unique marketing campaign category. The American Red Cross of Central Pennsylvania won in the collaboration category. The awards ceremony was held Friday, Feb. 26, at the Wyndham Garden York. (Source: cpbj.com)
Woodland Contractors is celebrating their 29th year serving the Lebanon Valley community. (Source: ldnews.com)
