| Northeast
PA Business Journal |
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Business Notes
The
Arrowhead Lake Community Association, Pocono Lake, recently hired F.
X. Browne Inc. to perform a septic system management study for their
two lakes. The purpose of the study is to determine whether
pollutants from malfunctioning septic systems are adversely
affecting water quality in the lakes. F. X. Browne Inc. is an
environmental consulting firm with a national reputation in lake and
watershed management, stormwater management, water and wastewater
planning and design, GIS development and land use planning.
The
Black Rock Brewing Co., Wilkes-Barre, has opened an all new luncheon
program. A serve-yourself bar (all you can eat and as many trips as
you'd like) is available Monday-Friday from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. for
the fixed price of $5.95 plus tax. Beverages cost extra. The menu
changes daily but it always contains selections from a soup, a
salad, two hot entrees, one cold entree and dessert. The entrees are
rotated each week but always include a fish item on Friday. While
the express luncheon is available both as eat-in or take-out, the
regular luncheon menu is still available, as before, from 11:30
a.m.-5 p.m. The daily menu can be found at its Web site at
www.blackrockbrewing.com or call 270-7625.
Broad Mountain Nursing
and Rehabilitation Center, Frackville, announces the launch of its
new Web site, www.bmnrc.com. The new site, designed and hosted by
Schuyl Inc., Pottsville, focuses on making information available
about the center, its services and care, 24 hours a day. Visitors
also have the opportunity to download pamphlets about its services.
Along with being able to access information about Broad Mountain's
care and services, the center aims at giving the visitor the full
view of life at Broad Mountain. The site features various pictures
of patients, the various therapy programs and its summertime patio.
Visitors can also fill out a pre-admission form to start the process
of admission to the center.
The Columbia-Montour Area Business
and Education Partnership is seeking businesses to host eighth grade
students this fall. During the week of Oct. 21-25, students from
middle schools in Columbia and Montour counties will be given the
opportunity to spend a day at a local business to experience the
demands and challenges of the 21st century work place, of which they
will one day be a part. In addition to being a useful career and
work force exploration tool for students, it also gives businesses a
chance to promote themselves and make tomorrow's work force aware of
the career opportunities in the region. Any business hosting a
student will be expected to pick up the student(s) who will be
spending a day with them at their school at 9 a.m. on the morning of
their choice from Oct. 21-25 and return the student(s) to their
school between 1-2 p.m. that day. Business hosts are also asked to
provide lunch for the students. Throughout the day, the business
host may wish to allow their students the opportunity to job shadow
with one or more employees, tour the facility and/or visit the
various departments within their business. Students will be required
to complete a questionnaire pertaining to their student in the work
place experience. The intent of this program is to get students
thinking about career options and what will be expected of them upon
entering the work force, so businesses are welcome to impart this
information to students in a form they believe to be the most
appropriate. Interested businesses can contact the partnership
office at (570) 784-8040, ext. 3364 or via e-mail at
rknorr@cmvt.tec.pa.us or skessler@cmvt.tec.pa.us for more
information.
Also, the Columbia-Montour Area Business and
Education Partnership has completed a presentation called Project
Inform on the importance of career exploration and is seeking
audiences. Through a computer-generated program, partnership
steering committee members present career information to a group of
employees at a local business, school, civic organization or chamber
of commerce meeting. The presentation includes information about
today's changing work force and how anyone who knows a student can
help them make informed career decisions. It emphasizes the fact
that there are many career options to consider, and that while one
student might successfully earn their bachelor's, master's or
doctorate degree, another might be most successful earning their
associate's degree or completing another form of training. For
further information on Project Inform, call (570) 784-8040, ext.
3364, or e-mail rknorr@cmvt.tec.pa.us or
skessler@cmvt.tec.pa.us.
Elixir Staffing, a subsidiary of
OneSource Companies, has been established as a full-service staffing
firm dedicated to filling the staffing needs of healthcare, nuclear
and retail pharmacies. Elixir Staffing will focus on ensuring
balanced staffing for the industry. Charlie Davenport has been
appointed manager of Elixir Staffing and will oversee all recruiting
and staffing activities. He has been with OneSource Companies for
over 24 years, providing professional recruiting and staffing
services.
Ernie's Photography, Frackville, has stepped into the
virtual world of the Internet with its new Web site,
www.erniesphoto.com, designed and hosted by Schuyl Inc., Pottsville.
The site, available 24 hours a day, features an abstract design of
its well-known building and allows visitors to tour various
galleries of work done by Ernie's owners, Cindy and Bill Turner. The
virtual gallery includes seniors, children, families and a special
"etcetra" section for those portraits that are of their own
uniqueness. Once they take a stroll through the on-line gallery,
visitors can choose to set up an appointment for their own portraits
by filling out the appointments form. The new Web site also includes
a special candid section in which special candid shots from various
events Ernie's participates in will be displayed and available for
printing. The Turners plan to make available various candid shots
from homecomings, dances, proms and special events for visitors to
the site.
On Aug. 14, 2002, EMCEE, White Haven, received a Nasdaq
staff determination indicating that the company fails to comply with
the minimum bid price requirement for continued listing set forth in
marketplace rule 4310(c)(8)(D), and its securities are, therefore,
subject to delisting from the Nasdaq smallcap market. EMCEE has
requested a hearing before a Nasdaq listing qualifications panel to
review the staff determination. However, there can be no assurance
the panel will grant the company's request for continued listing.
With operations in White Haven and Burlington, Ky., EMCEE has over
42 years of RF experience. Its products are installed in more than
100 countries.
The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce
recently welcomed Country Junction as its newest member. Country
Junction opened for business in the former Stroud building on Mundy
Street, Wilkes-Barre Township. The new store features 45,000 square
feet of retail space and seeks to serve all customers' home
decorating needs. A big screen theatre and snack area are just a few
of the junction's unique features. The Ashley furniture line is
prominently displayed as well as country decorations, nautical
products, baskets, wind chimes and a complete candle shop. An
outdoor fall festival featuring seasonal decorations is open in
September, Oct. and November and the store has tentative plans to
add a restaurant. With headquarters in Lehighton, Country Junction
also operates stores in Quakertown and Hazleton.
Hillside Farms
Dairy Store, Trucksville, has entered into a marketing relationship
with Northeast Dairy Distributors, Hanover Industrial Park, for the
wholesale distribution of fluid milk products. Hillside Farms Dairy
began doing business in 1977. Situated on Hillside Farms in
Trucksville, the store and processing plant were built to package
and locally market the milk produced on the farm. Over the years the
company has built a strong local reputation as a provider of fresh
milk and ice cream. Today, Hillside is one of two small fluid milk
dairies left in Luzerne County.
Manufacturers Resource Center,
Bethlehem, announces a new HR toolkit that is designed for small
manufacturers who are unsure about what HR issues they need to
address and whether their company is in compliance with state and
federal mandates, or just in need of ongoing HR advice. The MRC
formed partnerships with human resource professionals to act as HR
mentors at reduced rates. MRC field agents will deliver the initial
HR company assessment and oversee all the work. MRC partners, Dick
Cipoletti, RCC Associates, or Sheryl Fleming-Chromey, the
Productivity and Performance Center, will provide the professional
HR expertise. The cost of the toolkit is $1,500 for one year and
will benefit smaller manufacturers in a variety of ways, including
below market prices for more indepth, follow-on projects such as
rewriting and fine-tuning job descriptions and employee handbooks,
and compensation packages. For further information, contact Walt
Hoffert, director of client services at (610) 758-4569.
After
developing Web sites and on-line applications,
www.northeastdigitalphoto.com has gone FrontPage. Realizing that
business owners can benefit more by being able to maintain, modify,
and monitor their own Web sites, Northeast Digital Photo has totally
switched its Web site design, management, and hosting to the
Microsoft FrontPage XP platform. In conjunction with this decision
NEDP has been accepted to the WPD program at Microsoft. Although
making a Web site from scratch requires experience and a truckload
of patience, with Microsoft FrontPage virtually anyone can maintain,
modify, and truly use a professionally made Web. That's just one of
the reasons for NEDP's switch to the FrontPage system. NEDP has made
Webs for all sorts of businesses from car lots to sporting goods
stores, and will soon be releasing details for free Web site
development for churches and non-profit organizations.
The
Northeast Network's membership drive is underway until Oct. 20. Its
membership is comprised of women from all different backgrounds and
of various ages from throughout northeastern Pennsylvania, including
business owners, executives, stay-at-home mothers, artists, writers
and young professionals, and focuses on all aspects of modern
women's lives. Membership is $25 per year and includes a special
discounted price for dinner meetings, its free quarterly newsletter,
a membership directory, and special rates for networking/display
tables at its meetings, where members can market their particular
business. All dinner meetings feature predinner networking and guest
speakers on various topics that are chosen based on membership
surveys. For further information or to become a member, call Amy
Gruzesky, public relations chair, at (570) 823-3445 or e-mail
gruzesky@wilkes.edu.
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance's
international trade program has received several international
business leads. Businesses from various countries in the Middle East
have recently issued the following product/service
requests:
Chile: Several companies have requested sources for
various products, including mobile equipment electrification
systems, irrigation systems, paper, electrical discharge protective
clothing and gloves for industrial electricians, protective plastic
film, and sun and energy control film.
Israel: An importer is
seeking sources of natural caffeine or caffeine derived from natural
sources for commercial application.
Jordan: A businessman is
interested in exploring the possibility of establishing an amusement
water park and would like to enter into a dialog with any potential
suppliers of rides, pools, etc.
Turkey: The Ministry of Defense
is seeking three procurements: a mobile approach and loading system
for aircraft, snow shoveling, sweeping and blowing vehicles, and
rubber-wheeled mobile cranes.
International trade leads are
delivered to the NEPA through the state of Pennsylvania's network of
International Offices. For additional details about these trade
leads, contact the NEPA immediately as these are time-sensitive
leads. Program contact is Michael Horvath at (570) 655-5581.
Long
known for producing "degrees that work," Pennsylvania College of
Technology marked a milestone in September with a different type of
production that works: the television show "Penn College and You."
On Sept. 3, the public affairs series began its eighth season of
extending faculty and staff expertise at the Pennsylvania State
University affiliate to viewers across the country. Thanks to 24
cable outlets in eight states, the Universityhouse Channel on the
DISH Network's direct broadcast satellite system and broadcast
station WFMZ in the Greater Lehigh Valley, "Penn College and You"
will be shared with more than 10 million television households
during its new season. Episode topics for the new season include car
buying and maintenance; children and play; home energy efficiency;
career decision-making; computers as a learning tool; material
transformation; technology in the office; home entertaining, and
travel tips/vacation planning.
Pennsylvania College of
Technology, a special-mission affiliate of the Pennsylvania State
University, is offering diagnostic medical sonography ultrasound
courses for practicing sonographers and other qualified individuals
through June 2003. The courses, which are being provided in
conjunction with Penn College's School of Health Sciences and the
Technology Transfer Center, can benefit those seeking ultrasound
registration, registry review, continuing education credits or
entry-level instruction. The following course is tentatively
scheduled for fall 2002: "Vascular Sonography," 48 hours, Oct. 5, 6,
26 and 27, November 9 and 10, tuition cost, $489. The following
courses are tentatively scheduled for spring 2003: "Ultrasound
Physics," 48 hours, January, February and March, dates to be
announced, cost, $489; "OB/GYN," 48 hours, February, March and
April, dates to be announced, cost, $489; "Abdominal Sonography," 32
hours, May and June, dates to be announced, cost: $389; Registry
Review for Abdominal Sonography, Ultrasound Physics and OB/GYN,
projected date: July, cost, $100 per course. For course scheduling,
contact the Technology Transfer Center at (570) 327-4775. For course
content and eligibility requirements, call (570) 320-8007.
Ten
current Penn State graduate students will be the first to receive
$5,000 awards to support work on their dissertations from a fund
created by a $1 million gift from the university's Alumni
Association. The first winners, in what will be an annual
competition, were selected this spring to each receive $5,000 that
will be placed in their student accounts in the fall. The awards are
designed to provide recognition and support for doctoral candidates
who have passed their comprehensive examinations and who have had
their dissertation topics approved. Nominations were solicited from
among 90 doctoral programs at Penn State with the top two
nominations from each college constituting a pool of premier
nominations that were forwarded to a selection committee. From this
pool of candidates, two students were selected from the five
categories of fine arts and humanities, social sciences, physical
and computational sciences, life and health sciences, and
engineering. This year's winners are Heather C. McCune, art history;
Brandon E. Dugan, geosciences; Sungwon Kim, materials; Shilpa Mehta,
biochemistry and molecular biology; Isis K. Mullarky, pathobiology;
Harihara Prasad Natarajan, management science, operations and
logistics; Jennifer Schwartz, sociology; Joseph Sherwin, engineering
science and mechanics; Catherine E. Thomas, English literature, and
Michael A. Trakselis, chemistry.
A full-service advertising
agency staffed by some of the area's most experienced marketing
professionals, Sire Advertising opened shop in the Lewisburg
Professional Building, Suite 24, 23 North Derr Drive, Lewisburg.
Products and services include print and broadcast advertising, Web
development, media management, Internet marketing, search engine
optimization, corporate identity packages, marketing strategies, and
public relations packages. Poised to deliver high-end creative
combined with sound marketing solutions, Sire Advertising is headed
by Shawn Felty, company president and creative director. An industry
veteran who has worked in an array of capacities within several
Pennsylvania agencies, Felty has enjoyed success with clients
ranging from small local businesses to some of the world's largest
corporations. Also part of the Sire Advertising management team is
Derek Fincke, who will serve the company as vice president and copy
director. An established writer, editor, and designer, Fincke brings
an innovative eye to Sire Advertising and looks forward to helping
clients push their creative efforts to new levels. Advertising
professionals who have performed virtually every function within an
agency environment, Felty and Fincke have worked together as a
creative team for over seven years, a relationship which will help
ensure the symmetry of the Sire approach. For more information on
Sire Advertising or to set up an appointment with an account
executive, call (570) 971-6689.
For individuals who are in the
process of downsizing their household, Slifer House Museum,
Lewisburg now offers a free appraisal service with the understanding
that the items will be donated to the museum. Through an arrangement
with Slifer House advisory board member and local art dealer Owen
Mahon, individuals who are downsizing, moving, remodeling or want to
get rid of old items of value can donate them and have them
appraised for free. Most individuals can then claim a charitable
deduction based on the appraisal on their federal income taxes. The
museum will store the donated items until a sufficient quantity has
been accumulated to hold a public auction. Proceeds of the sale will
benefit the museum's endowment fund, thus assuring the future of
Slifer. For more information, please call Gary Parks, Slifer House
director at (570) 524-2245.
Two 19th century maps recently
donated to Slifer House Museum on the campus of RiverWoods Senior
Living Community, Lewisburg have been added to the permanent
collection. Donated by Muncy resident Jim Down and his late wife
Jean, the oldest map is dated 1856 and depicts Union County.
Published by Thomas H. Paschall and James Keily in Philadelphia, it
is almost certain that the Slifer family possessed a similar map.
While a state senator, Eli Slifer was instrumental in creating
Snyder County out of part of Union County and moving Union's county
seat to Lewisburg. Eli Slifer's company, the Frick and Slifer Boat
Yard is depicted on the map. After the Dows donated the item, the
collections committee approved its conservation. The map is soon to
return to Slifer and will be installed over the fireplace in the
master bedroom. Anyone wishing to contribute to the conservation of
the map can send a donation to the museum and indicate that the
donation is for the above conservation. A second map has been
donated to the museum through the generosity of Tina Thomas, founder
of Faustina's Gallery, Lewisburg. Dating from 1884, this map
features a panoramic view of the town of 'Lewisburgh.' Individual
buildings are carefully delineated with the interiors of several
businesses detailed. D.H. Bailey and Co., Boston produced this map.
Slifer House is open for tours Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1-4 p.m.
or by appointment. For further information, contact Parks at (570)
524-2245.
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PA Business Journal 2002 |
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